I love Educause because there’s always buzz.  This year, it seemed to hit a high-pitched fervor.  The show comes alive and takes on a character of its own as technology leaders from across the country and globe share the challenges and issues that each of them is facing.  It takes on even more character in a city like Philadelphia where the sights and sounds of the Reading Terminal Market swirl around bustling show-goers who are trying to get in a quick Ruben sandwich in between sessions.  And, I was thrilled to know that the author of DIY-U, Anna Kamentz, would be there, imparting her unique perspective about students who will necessarily be designing their own unique ways to get a higher education.

One IT afficiando said to me, “It seems like each year, there’s a word that defines the show, and I think this year, it’s ‘cloud.’”  Someone else commented, “No, it’s the whole ‘open’ thing.” Another said, “Well, I think it’s really all about ‘remediation’ and ‘standards’ because our funding is going to hinge on this.”  It seems like everyone wants to find that one thing that will really impact them and their institutions, trying to get ahead of the wave so they don’t get engulfed by it.  Others said, “shared services, video, blended learning.”  I was most impressed by those colleges and universities that seem to be doing it all, driven by a unified vision around what’s really achievable.

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Tags: #EDU11, education, educause, higher education

Each year, EDUCAUSE surveys IT leaders in higher education to compile a list of Top 10 IT Issues. These issues will be top of mind at EDUCAUSE 2011, which is taking place this year in Philadelphia. Please visit us at booth 1227 to speak directly with Cisco subject matter experts and discuss how Cisco solutions solutions can help you improve student outcomes, increase efficiency, enhance safety and security, and expand research capabilities.

Here’s a summary of the demonstrations that will be featured in our booth.

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Tags: #EDU11, education, educause, higher education

Steve Jobs, one of the most creative—and effective—innovators in modern America, has died. He was born to single mother. His father was an immigrant. His unmarried parents gave him up for adoption. He never graduated college. By conventional standards, any one of these factors would have made him destined for mediocrity at best, a drain to society at worst. And yet, he not only thrived, but altered the world forever through a combination of unrivalled creative expression and business acumen.

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Tags: Apple, corporate social responsibility, CSR, education, Steve Jobs, think different

Higher education IT leaders from around the world will be converging in Philadelphia on October 18 -- 21, for EDUCAUSE 2011. One look at the conference program is all that it takes to conclude that “EDUCAUSE 2011 is the best thinking in higher education IT.”

With such a robust program this year, deciding which sessions to attend is harder than ever. Make sure to take in these sessions that showcase the use of video and collaboration technologies to transform teaching and learning and expand education opportunities:

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Tags: #EDU11, edtech, education, educause, higher education, ICT, IT, learning

Introducing the Cisco Education Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) team!

Welcome to the first in a series of postings from the Cisco ANZ education team on what’s happening Down Under.

We’ll be providing updates on news, research and commentary across the higher education, K-12 as well as vocational education and training sectors.

Our first blog post focuses on Pymble Ladies College (PLC), an independent school in Sydney, Australia for girls from Kindergarten to year 12. It has recently partnered with Cisco to implement a range of video technologies for teachers and students to learn, collaborate and interact with experts in particular fields, anywhere in Australia or across the world.

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Tags: classroom, collaboration, communication, connection, education, K-12, PLC, Pymble Ladies College, student, Sydney, teachers, technology, video