Posts by mike @change.org
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Rules for Huge "Race to the Top" Education Grants Released
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Arizona Charter School with Ivy League Teachers is Big Success
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After Bedtime Books, Could Morning Math Be Next Education Success?
Huge Increase of Chinese Students Enrolling in US Colleges, Helping Reducing Deficit
Published November 21, 2009 @ 05:54AM PT
There are protests in California over college fees, but the protests are unlikely to seriously concern university authorities considering the dramatic increase in the number of Chinese students enrolling into US universities. Though they do not yet outnumber Indian students, they represent an enticing method for administrators to fill gaps in their budgets.
98,510 Chinese students came to study in the U.S., in the last year (an increase of 21%) whilst India sends 103,260 (an increase of 9%). This may make universities less willing to compromise on increasing tuition fees, but it is of course also having the impact of softening any increases — if no students came, the budget deficit would be substantially greater.
And it's not just the education system which benefits from foreign students' money, "Foreign students bring $17.8 billion to this country," explained Allan E Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education, to the NYT. Meanwhile, universities are also opening franchises in India and China, extending their university's brand from Durham N.C. to New Delhi, allowing them to train students without even requiring them to come to the U.S. Higher education is changing, and Chinese and Indian students are both helping fund the U.S. college system, whilst simultaneously challenging American policymakers to stop being so complacent when it comes to education.
California Raises Tuition Fees By 32%, Students Occupy Buildings to Protest
Published November 20, 2009 @ 11:20AM PT
California has been forced to raise tuition fees by almost a third to close a widening budget gap. Facing a $1.2 billion deficit, higher fees are required to mitigate a loss of funding. Fees will gradually rise of the coming years, with students facing a heavier burden as they progress. The president of the University of California system explained to the WSJ that the drastic measure "is designed to provide access, maintain quality and stabilize the fiscal health of the university." He further believes low income students will be hardly effected by the changes.
Students aren't so convinced. And they aren't taking the risk of ever rising fees lying down. They have occupied university building to protest. That dozens of students were arrested indicates that this isn't a minor issue, but one that goes to the heart of further education in America: how much students should be expected to pay and when high-fees become too expensive and start becoming exclusionary. The New York Times proposes that students take a semester off in order to save money, saving their parents money, and allow themselves to gain to valuable experience of the working world. But once students do go back to college, if they think it's worth it, they'll feel the full force of the higher fees. A holiday won't solve this problem.
Universal Education is an Investment in Our Future
Published November 19, 2009 @ 03:54PM PT
This is a guest-post from the Education & Gender Equality team at UNICEF.
Question: What do the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Convention of the Rights of the Child have in common? Answer: They both celebrate 20 years this November 2009.
The Convention on the Right of the Child is slowly reaching its majority. Since the adoption of the Convention in 1989, many things in the world have changed, the Berlin wall fell as did child mortality in many places around the world. The Convention has supported measurable advances in child survival and development, raised awareness of and expanded solutions to child protection risks and promoted child participation as a fundamental right of children.
Despite great advances, young people today face increasing challenges that require them to be more creative, adaptable and resilient than ever before. Poverty, climate change, conflicts and natural disasters, along with the economic crisis, call for more sustainable solutions. In 2007, 101 million children of primary school age – 53 million girls and 48 million boys – were not attending school. Universal primary education is a particular challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where 46 million children were out of school in 2007, and South Asia, with 35 million out of school that same year. Education is thus the key to solving many of the problems of the global community. A relevant, quality education will ensure that these children become individuals who reach their full potential.
Too Many Teachers, Not Enough Money, 125,000 Positions Cut
Published November 16, 2009 @ 07:13PM PT
Recently, America lacked teachers and many feared that it didn't have enough. But thanks to the economy we aren't going to run out of educators any time soon. America is now experiencing a teacher glut. It's not just that we trained too many teachers, but also that the economy is causing schools to slash the number of positions, reports the AP. And not just a few positions have been lost, but a whole 125,000. That's half the number of the positions that the Obama administration has claimed to have created and saved through stimulus investment.
Many teachers who planned to retire are staying on to work longer, and many people laid off from other fields are trying their luck as teachers, boosting numbers. One Texas school district reported 5,000 applicants for 322 positions. Only in Math is there a lack of teachers, as demand for teachers in all other 60 subjects has declined. Recently qualified teachers will have begun their training expecting a wide range of schools to pick from on completion of their training, but many in the teaching community are now suggesting that new teachers need to be more flexible about where they're willing to work.
A Soldier's Perspective Helps Educate Under-Achievers
Published November 10, 2009 @ 03:50AM PT
Martha Kinney explains how decades of military training worked well for her outside of the military, finding it of great use as a teacher at a community college. She explains that understanding military training has helped her "to mold nascent scholars out of the under-performing, ill-prepared students who frequently show up in my community college classroom." She makes an extra effort to fully communicate exactly what her expectations are, showing what success looks like by performing the tasks in front of them.
Kinney is also fond of checklists, and the "Crawl, walk, run" method of moving through steps slowly, then gradually, as soldiers / scholars gain confidence and ability, allowing them to be increasingly independent, and increasingly speed up. This is especially useful for under-achievers who can go at their own pace, and over-achievers who can quickly progressing whilst still being thoroughly drilled with the fundamentals. Martha Kinney has also maintained a constant evaluation of training effectiveness from her Army days — evaluating her own performance alongside that of her students. This methodical approach shows just how important it is to have variety in our classrooms, with teachers bringing in a wide side of diverse skills and sharing them. From Navy Seals to ex-cops, there are lots of success stories.
New Ed Tech Director Appointed, But is She too Close to Business?
Published November 06, 2009 @ 09:42AM PT
Educational technology has a new leader, coming from one of the most well respected, and education-fond corporations out there. Following months of rumor and anticipation is has been announced that former Apple executive Karen Cator will lead education technology initiatives at the Department of Eduction.
She outlined here philosophy by explaining "We need to craft an entirely new research agenda around this issue so people can’t write that technology doesn’t work. We know it works...but we need to get good at saying and articulating what exactly technology can do” reports EdWeek. Cator used to be a teacher, and was formerly technology director in Alaska, but some critics fear that she isn't so concerned with skills, but most interested in inserting the concerns of business into schools.
Off to a quick start, the Department of Edcuation is asking for your help to update the National Technology Plan, and what direction it should take under the leadership of Karen Cator. Submit you suggestions: "What would you like to see considered in the National Educational Technology Plan?"
Let Kids Run the Banks To Educate Them for the 21st Century
Published November 05, 2009 @ 05:08PM PT
Educating children is changing. It must change. Computing literacy and learning about the digital world is crucial, but kids also need to be geared to be literate in solving problems, thinking creatively and collaborating. Arithmatic, reading and writing are no longer sufficient skills for the US to able to compete globally. New Hampshire Public Radio explain how schools are preparing their students for the 21st century by building these skills, partnering with multinational corporations and local business to develop a new modern curricula.
The curricula of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is being implemented in 14 schools. They've determined that most schools and policy makers are too focused on an old model: mastery of four core subjects. They think that's not enough for success: global competence, civic engagement and financial literacy are now just as important.
It's done in math by teaching the subject in a wider context - linking it to business practices and giving students more basic financial skills. Partnerships are made with credit unions, and students have in some schools then set up their own branches to understand marketing, finance, and in turn teaching younger schools by operating a bank-in-school program for middle and elementary schools. These skills are crucial, and can be easily layered on top of currents subjects to create a more rounded, specific, and engaging curricula, so a students will never ask "Why am I being taught this, it'll never be any use."
