--- title: "Leslie's List: Pre-Holiday Break Edition" description: Leslie's List gives rounds up all the latest higher ed and ed tech news of the week in one easy-to-read blog, perfect for perusing over your morning coffee. image: https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hub/16036/file-2178836925.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-pre-holiday-break-edition#main-content) # Echo360 - Uses - [ Higher Education ](https://echo360.com/uses/) - [ Continuing Medical Education ](https://echo360.com/continuing-education/) - Platform - [ Video ](https://echo360.com/platform/enterprise-video/) - [ Engagement ](https://echo360.com/platform/student-engagement) - [ Analytics ](https://echo360.com/platform/analytics) - [Stories ](https://echo360.com/stories) - Connect - [ Blog ](https://echo360.com/blog) - [ News ](https://echo360.com/connect/news) - [ Events ](https://echo360.com/connect/events) - [ Support ](https://echo360.com/customer-portal-login/) - [ Contact ](https://echo360.com/connect/contact) - [Login ](https://echo360.org/login?afterLoginUrl=%2Fhome) - [Documentation ](https://absolut.kohorta.co/documentation) # Leslie's List: Pre-Holiday Break Edition by [Echo360](https://info.echo360.com/author/echo360) on December 12, 2014   ![LesliesBlog-v3-blue-green-2](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hub/16036/file-2178836925.jpg) ![stay-awake-all-night-to-study](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hub/16036/file-2214946336.jpg?width=475&name=file-2214946336.jpg) First I’d like to thank my colleague Fred for producing such a great blog last week as I was off meeting with one of our great customer institutions. Of course, all of the instructors and students at the school were wrapping up classes and starting preparations for finals before heading off for a much-deserved holiday break. To all the students I met last week and students with looming exams everywhere, best of luck and go get ‘em! So it’s no surprise that this week’s list of higher education and ed tech tidbits starts with the oft-dreaded Finals Week: - One [study](http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/rethinking-low-completion-rates-in-moocs/55211) looks at the dismal completion rates of MOOCs from the perspective of a student’s “intent to finish” a course. Of course, “intent” leaves much room for interpretation. Despite the fact that these numbers are higher than your average MOOC completion rate, I’m still not sold on all the hype as a viable alternative to a face-to-face or blended education experience. - As students get ready for finals, there’s no shortage of creative ways to fuel up and power through. Here’s a look at how students across the US are coping with stress and all-night study sessions (yet another reason [video review](http://echo360.com/what-you-can-do/lecture-capture) might come in handy), including [taking study breaks to play with therapy kitties and puppies](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/09/getting-through-finals-week_n_6297430.html). Probably a good time to check out your Starbucks stock! - When it comes to numbers and higher education, [Josh Kim](https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/higher-ed-numbers) has pretty much covered all the bases. This particular number caught my eye: Over 5 million students are involved in [distance (online) learning](http://echo360.com/what-you-can-do/distance-learning-and-moocs).  This is over a quarter of all students! - Speaking of numbers, what's the hiring outlook for IT professionals in higher education going into 2015? [*Campus Technology*](http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2014/12/11/Hiring-Outlook-in-Higher-Education-IT.aspx?Page=1) breaks down the skills universities are seeking in potential applicants along with the unique advantages and challenges in this sector. So that’s it for this week’s round up. Next week will be our final edition of 2014 (yikes, time flies when you’re having fun!). Until then, hope those of you on break get a healthy dose of R&R and enjoy the season!   Spread the word: [Share this blog post on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-pre-holiday-break-edition) [Share this blog post on Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-pre-holiday-break-edition) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-pre-holiday-break-edition) ![Echo360](https://info.echo360.com/hubfs/Echo360_Logo.png) #### Echo360 Follow me on my website Follow me on Facebook Follow me on LinkedIn Follow me on Twitter We’re passionate about teaching and learning! 3M+ students love our active learning technology for a more collaborative, social and engaging college experience. ### Leave a comment: ## Related Articles [![](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hub/16036/file-1927320679.jpg) ](https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-moving-and-funding-edition) ### [Leslie's List: Moving and Funding Edition](https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-moving-and-funding-edition) Welcome back to **Leslie’s List**, where I wrap up every week by sharing some of my favorite posts and... by [Echo360](https://info.echo360.com/author/echo360) [![](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hub/16036/file-1927320679.jpg) ](https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-pre-thanksgiving-edition) ### [Leslie's List: Pre-Thanksgiving Edition](https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-pre-thanksgiving-edition) by [Echo360](https://info.echo360.com/author/echo360) [![](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hub/16036/file-2651533496.jpg) ](https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-sweet-sixteen-edition) ### [Leslie's List: Sweet Sixteen Edition](https://info.echo360.com/leslies-list-sweet-sixteen-edition) by [Echo360](https://info.echo360.com/author/echo360) #### Segment - Mid market - Small business - Early stage - Enterprise #### Top features - Primary - Secondary - Tertiary - Bonus #### Resources - Blog - Academy - Doc - Developer #### Community - Twitter - Facebook - Youtube - Instagram - LinkedIn --- [![Absolut theme logo](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Absolut%20copy%20no%20related%20articles%20section/images/brand/absolut-logomark-nobg.png?width=30&height=111&name=absolut-logomark-nobg.png "Absolut theme logo")](https://info.echo360.com/) ©Copyright 2026. 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