CR80News | Simulations help faculty ID at-risk students

Thursday, January 8, 2009

New software has been introduced by Web-based computer training company Kognito aimed at helping professors identify so-called at risk students, which could prompt students to obtain counseling. The software is intended to give college faculty another weapon in helping to prevent shootings, such as the one at Virginia Tech about two years ago.

“You can see clearly if a person is just an overwhelmed freshman or [someone] who has a serious issue,” said one college professor who underwent training provided by the software.

The Kognito program includes a 45-minute, step-by-step process that examines grades, attendance, and class participation–along with behaviors such as rudeness, argumentativeness, extreme nervousness, or avoidance of eye contact. If more intervention is warranted, the professor can then meet one-on-one with the student, asking him a series of questions, the answers of which could lead to further counseling.

Every year since 1998 Beloit College has released the Beloit College Mindset List. Created by Beloit’s own Keefer Professor of the Humanities Tom McBride and former Public Affairs Director Ron Nief, it was created as a reminder to faculty of dated references, and quickly became a catalog of the rapidly changing worldview of each new generation. Most students entering college for the first time this fall - the Class of 2014 - were born in 1992.

Blackboard integration improves campus communication

Blackboard recently announced integration for Blackboard Learn and Blackboard Connect to extend its capabilities in mass notification and alerts for colleges and universities, and deliver communications in modes that students and faculty prefer.

UTA security breach exposes 30,000 medical files

The University of Texas at Arlington was recently victimized by an outside computer attack, which resulted in unauthorized access to medical files belonging to nearly 30,000 faculty, staff and students, according to a local news report.

Microsoft supports on-campus ID management

Microsoft has partnered with InCommon Affiliate for a program that’s responsible for providing the education community with a way to connect with affiliate partners who are able to help build the necessary underlying online infrastructure on campus that supports federated access.

Automated library service exposes student and faculty personal data

The College Center for Library Automation in Tallahassee sent out notices about a software upgrade that may have left about 30,000 students, faculty and staff Social Security numbers and other private data vulnerable for theft, according to a local news article.

GPS tracks Chicago area school bus riders

The Palos Heights School District 128 in Chicago is using GPS technology to track its students allowing the district to keep up with the student–when he or she first entered the school bus and when the student exited the district’s care.

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Simulations help faculty ID at-risk students