🗓️ Welcome to the March edition of the EdTech Connect newsletter!

Recent EdTech Connect research reveals over half of institutions in higher education have not integrated AI into decision-making processes, showing a significant gap in technological adoption. Meanwhile, Dr. Carolyn Daniels at Barry University is enhancing online learning by leveraging Pictory to create engaging video content, boosting student engagement by 500%.

This month's EdTech Connect podcast covers digital strategies in higher education, focusing on marketing evolution, adaptive techniques, SEO and social media practices and digital fundraising innovations from leaders in the highered space.

Plus, don’t miss:

How DBS slashed costs and streamlined opps
Free Webinar How Site Search Can Make or Break Your Web Redesign
March Survey: Help us build our new AI Academy (details below)
Everything You Need to Know: HigherEd news you can't miss
Trending Solutions on EdTech Connect: Top companies catching attention
ETC by the Numbers: How we're growing since last month!

🖊️ Become a member of EdTech Connect—Membership is always free! Streamline your EdTech decisions with insights from 4,000+ colleges worldwide.

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AI Adoption in Higher Ed: A Snapshot of Where We Stand

by Jeff Dillon

According to the latest EdTech Connect survey, higher education’s AI integration remains in its early stages:

53.6% of institutions are yet to adopt AI for decision-making.
42.9% use AI narrowly, primarily for limited, task-specific decisions.

Enrollment Management: A Missed Opportunity? Despite its potential to enhance recruitment and retention:

57.1% of institutions don’t leverage AI in enrollment processes.
Just 28.6% apply basic AI analytics to enrollment data.

What’s Next? These gaps highlight room for innovation. Curious how peers are navigating AI integration?

Read the Full Story

How Dr. Carolyn Daniels is Enhancing Online Learning with Video

At Barry University, Dr. Carolyn Daniels is leveraging Pictory to transform her online social work courses. With over 30 years of experience in social work education, Dr. Daniels understands the importance of creating a dynamic and engaging virtual classroom.

Using Pictory’s script-to-video feature, Dr. Daniels creates 2-minute videos that complement her students’ readings, offering visual explanations and emotional context. In just 5-8 minutes, she produces high-quality videos right before class, boosting engagement and providing additional learning resources.

What Dr. Daniels appreciates most about Pictory is it's simplicity. The platform allows her to integrate voiceovers and background music that set the emotional tone, essential for her social work students who must connect deeply with the material.

The results are clear: Dr. Daniels has seen a 500% increase in student engagement and saved 250% more time on content creation (link 1). This efficiency allows her to focus on what matters most—fostering meaningful student interactions.

The Takeaway: You don’t need advanced tech skills to bring video into your courses. Pictory enables educators to create impactful video content quickly, enhancing engagement and learning outcomes.

Start for free with Pictory today!

Read the Full Story

Free Webinar: How Site Search Can Make or Break Your Web Redesign

A website redesign is more than just a fresh look, it’s a chance to improve how users engage with your institution online. But too often, redesigns focus on aesthetics while ignoring a critical piece of the user experience: site search.

With 43% of visitors heading straight to the search bar, a poor search experience can lead to frustration and lost engagement, no matter how visually appealing the site is.

Jeff Dillon, Founder of EdTech Connect will moderate this discussion on why search should be the foundation of every website redesign -- joined by Elliott Mower, Mediacurrent and JF Boisvert, SearchStax

You'll learn:

✔ How intelligent site search enhances UX, drives engagement, and boosts conversions

✔ Why an iterative redesign approach leads to better long-term success

✔ Strategies to ensure search remains an asset—not an obstacle—after launch

Don’t let search be an afterthought. Secure a spot now to rethink the way users navigate and experience your website!

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

10 am PT / 1 pm ET

Seminole State College Slashes Costs and Streamlines Operations with Innovative Document Management

Seminole State College, recognizing the inefficiencies and high costs associated with its outdated document management systems and manual processes, embarked on a transformative journey with dbs Software & Services, a leader in document management solutions. The college implemented the dbs Document Management Suite, comprising Docubase Education Suite PRO, LiveForms™ PRO, and dbs eSign PRO, to overhaul its campus-wide document-related operations.

The adoption of this suite tackled major challenges. It replaced paper forms and disparate apps with a centralized, secure, and flexible system. Docubase Education Suite PRO streamlined document capture, indexing, and storage.

This allowed the college to maintain a “Single Source of Truth” for all student documentation. LiveForms™ PRO digitized heavily used forms and introduced streamlined workflows. It also reduced digital signature costs by moving from DocuSign to their efficient platform. The dbs eSign PRO transformed faculty contract management. It automated preparation, approval, and signature collection processes, significantly reducing manual intervention and errors.

This comprehensive overhaul has not only enhanced operational efficiency and security at Seminole State College but has also resulted in a rapid return on investment. The intuitive design of dbs solutions encouraged swift adoption, enabling the college to focus more on delivering exceptional educational services and less on administrative burdens.

Read the Full Story

EdTech Connect Podcast: Listen & Subscribe

The EdTech Connect Podcast keeps higher ed professionals like you informed on the latest technologies reshaping teaching and learning.

Your host Jeff Dillon explores emerging trends and innovative applications that are redefining education.

🔊 Catch Latest Episodes:

#23: The Future of Higher Ed Digital Strategy with Joel Goodman

Joel Goodman (Bravery Media) unpacks the evolution of digital strategy in higher ed marketing—from storytelling to data-driven decision-making. Learn how leading institutions are balancing creativity and ROI. Listen Now

#24: Mastering Digital Marketing with Cheryl Broom

Cheryl Broom tackles the shifting landscape of higher ed recruitment. Discover adaptive strategies for reaching Gen Z, optimizing multi-channel campaigns, and measuring what actually moves the needle. Listen Now

#25: SEO & Social Media Tactics with Maya Demishkevich

Maya Demishkevich breaks down actionable SEO and social media practices tailored for higher ed. Spoiler: It’s not just about algorithms—it’s about human connection. Listen Now

#26: Digital Fundraising Strategies with Kim Verstandig

Kim Verstandig reveals how universities are reimagining donor engagement in the digital age. From AI-driven analytics to virtual stewardship, explore tools that amplify fundraising impact. Listen Now

Subscribe & Stay Ahead

March Survey: Help us Create the Best Higher Ed AI Academy

We're building a tailored set of AI courses designed specifically for higher education professionals like you—ensuring you get the most relevant, practical knowledge to stay ahead.

Help us get it right by letting us know which topics matter most to you!

Take the 1-minute survey!

February Survey Results: AI Adoption Surges in HigherEd - 75% Use for Content Creation

Our recent survey asked: “How are you currently using AI tools in your job?” Here’s what we learned:

75% use AI for content creation and editing (think reports, lesson plans, emails).
58% deploy AI for research and information gathering (data analysis, literature reviews).

Why This Matters

The data underscores AI’s growing role as a productivity multiplier, streamlining routine tasks like drafting content and sourcing information. This shift suggests institutions are prioritizing tools that reduce repetitive workloads, improve accuracy, and free up time for higher-impact work.

Everything You Need to Know

🤖 Chatbots in HigherEd: From Clunky Bots to AI Powerhouses

Gone are the days of chatbots that couldn’t tell a tuition deadline from a lunch menu. Post-2020, LLM-driven systems now handle financial aid queries, course registration, and even mental health check-ins—all while syncing seamlessly with campus platforms like Canvas and Banner. Institutions report faster response times and happier students. See how AI is rewriting the rules of student support.

🎓 Texas’ Free Microcredentials: Skip the Debt, Grab the Skills

Why pay $1,000 for a certificate when UT and Coursera are offering them for free? From data analytics to project management, these bite-sized credentials focus on what employers actually want—no gen-ed fluff. Over 50,000 learners have already enrolled. Explore how this partnership is redefining “ROI” in higher ed.

🔗FL DOGE Task Force: Blockchain Meets the Lecture Hall

Florida’s DOGE Task Force isn’t just hyping Web3 buzzwords. They’re piloting blockchain to verify credentials instantly and building adaptive learning platforms that adjust to student performance in real time. Early adopters like FIU are already seeing retention bumps. Get the inside scoop on their tech-first strategy.

⚠️ Generative AI in Class: Innovation vs. Integrity

ChatGPT can draft a term paper in seconds—but should it? Educators are grappling with AI’s double-edged sword: boosting creativity vs. enabling plagiarism. Tools like GPTZero are emerging as “AI detectors,” but the debate rages on. Join the conversation on balancing tech and ethics.