tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47556378186068194332024-03-18T00:31:07.601-07:00Education BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger586125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-38167796820711658712024-02-29T15:16:00.000-08:002024-02-29T15:16:56.839-08:00Could a Robot Be Your Child’s Next Best Friend? Meet Moxie.<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">There’s been a lot of hand-wringing in the public arena
lately about the evils and dangers to our children of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9407706/">social media</a>
and time spent with <a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/children-and-screen-time">electronic
devices.</a> And there’s a lot of validity to those concerns. Reportedly,
children’s mental health is in decline, with more and <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nurturing-resilience/202308/why-is-our-childrens-mental-health-getting-worse">more
children reporting feelings of anxiety and depression</a> all the time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, I was tickled to learn about an AI robot for children
that promotes positive learning outcomes by focusing on emotional learning. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The newly-introduced <a href="https://moxierobot.com/">Moxie
robot</a> uses <span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">play-based
conversational activities to support age-appropriate learning for kids ages
5-10. It’s self-described as a “tutor, mentor, friend.” It uses play-based
learning to help children regulate emotions, build self-confidence, communicate
clearly, develop positive relationships, think creatively, and problem solve.
For just one example, watch this </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Ju9yLXoR-3Y"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">video</span></a><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> in which Moxie teaches a child about
affirmations (positive statements to oneself to build self-confidence and
self-motivation).</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Moxie is expensive, thus will not be a possibility for every
family. And user reviews of the robot are <a href="https://reviewed.usatoday.com/accessibility/content/moxie-robot-review-kids-social-companion">mixed</a>,
with some parents extremely appreciative of the device’s emotional
skill-building capacity, and others complaining that the device’s AI appears
simplistic. Nevertheless, I am encouraged by the focus on emotional health in
the kids’ robot space.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is <b><i><u>not</u></i></b> a plug for Moxie. It’s just
new and seems different from the rest. The other robots for kids I’m familiar
with focus on substantive learning, helping kids learn discrete facts and
concrete skills (such as coding). <a href="https://www.makeblock.com/blogs/buyer-guide/top-12-smart-robot-toys-to-ignite-your-child-s-imagination">Here</a>
and <a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/robots/g24516168/robotics-for-kids/">here</a>
are listings of some other robots specifically designed for kids.</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}span.hgkelc
{mso-style-name:hgkelc;
mso-style-unhide:no;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-62161987925040367522024-01-29T22:46:00.000-08:002024-01-29T22:46:19.403-08:00How to Pay for College<p>Not by loans and not by income sharing! Although these are today’s common ways of financing higher education. They are legal exploitation of the less endowed citizens.<br /><br />In a civilized society, education, in any form, should be a legal right of every subject, and paid for by the government (or the society as a whole). In many countries this is already the case for elementary school, to learn spelling and arithmetic. If this makes sense, then logic demands that any further learning should also be paid for by the State, for it’s in the public interest to have a well educated populace, to the maximum possible.<br /><br />That means that the population needs to vote to increase taxation or otherwise raise the funds to finance more education. It’s because of this lack of initiative and consensus that today’s conditions exist. Therefore, politicians and taxpayers, please get your act together and make education a national priority, financing it properly, as you’ve done for elementary school already.<br /><br />This doesn’t mean pumping money into high cost and for-profit institutions. Of course whatever “free” education must be provided in a frugal yet highly effective format. In my humble opinion, ONLINE is the answer here. At least, I’m sure, 90% or more of the learning CAN be done ONLINE.<br /><br />It may take some time until progressive nations will come to that status. So, in the meantime, there are many ways of how whatever education can be obtained at minimal or no cost at all. Most of that is ONLINE and which we’ve been highlighting in our blog since years.<br /><br />That raises another issue though, i.e. the question of the reputation or perceived prestige of the college one is going to attend. From my experience, though, that issue is highly overrated. If we check the list of success stories, in business (examples: Walt Disney, Ted Turner = founder of CNN) and government (examples: Winston Churchill, Harry Truman), we’ll find that many did NOT graduate from a prestige college, yet got their education through very ordinary institutions, if not through hard knocks in an ordinary life.<br /><br />The truth is that education need not be obtained through name schools, but can be obtained in many other ways as well, maybe in many ways even better.<br /><br />And again, in today’s world, ONLINE is one great avenue therefor. <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-32596121987243994812023-12-29T10:21:00.000-08:002023-12-29T10:21:13.613-08:00Happy New Year 2024!<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m taking a little break from researching and writing blog
posts to celebrate the December holidays and the New Year. Hope you have been
doing the same (enjoying quality time with family and friends).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s a few highlights from 2023 if you’re looking for
something to read:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://education.feedspot.com/elearning_blogs/">100 Best E-Learning
Blogs and Websites</a></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.vhslearning.org/blog/7-of-the-top-influential-education-blogs-to-read-in-2023">7
of the Top Influential Education Blogs to Read in 2023</a></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://blog.symbaloo.com/webmixes/2/40-best-online-learning-websites-in-2023">40
Best Online Learning Websites in 2023</a></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://vocal.media/education/the-10-best-online-learning-blogs-for-education-in-2023">The
10 Best Online Learning Blogs for Education in 2023</a></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/bid/245884/11-Incredible-eLearning-Blogs-To-Be-Thankful-For">11
Incredible eLearning Blogs to be Thankful For</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>I’d love to hear what online education topics you, our
readers, are interested in learning more about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Email me your suggestions </i></b><a href="mailto:michele@straube.com"><b><i>here</i></b></a><b><i>,
and we’ll see what we can do.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i> </i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy New Year!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i> </i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:decorative;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-70435710254484105712023-11-30T13:46:00.000-08:002023-11-30T13:46:15.799-08:00AI Controversies Increase Appetite for Computer Science Education<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Artificial intelligence (AI) is the topic of the day.
Previous blog posts have explored the <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2023/02/chatbot-ai-can-enhance-educational.html">benefits</a>
and <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2023/01/will-chatbot-ai-change-assessments-for.html">challenges</a>
of chatbot AI (ChatGPT) in higher education. ChatGPT has been in the news again
recently with the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/22/sam-altmans-back-heres-whos-on-the-new-openai-board-and-whos-out.html">drama</a>
surrounding the firing and re-hiring of its founder, Sam Altman. A health
insurance company has been <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/unitedhealth-lawsuit-ai-deny-claims-medicare-advantage-health-insurance-denials/">sued
by surviving family members</a> for allegedly denying necessary medical care
based on faulty AI algorithms, contrary to doctors’ medical advice. Recent
negotiations with the <a href="https://wdet.org/2023/09/06/how-innovations-like-ai-affect-labor-negotiations/">Autoworkers
Union</a> and the <a href="https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/actors-reach-settlement-with-studios">Actors
Union</a> have centered on the impacts of AI on union members’ jobs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, it’s not surprising that more and more college students
want to major in computer science, with a specific focus on AI. The <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/wa-students-flock-to-computer-science-and-ai-adds-to-the-allure/?utm_source=marketingcloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Education+Lab+newsletter+for+11-23-2023_11_23_2023&utm_term=Active%20subscriber">number
of graduates</a> from the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School (their
school for computer science) doubled in the past 5 years and tripled in the
past 10 years. At other schools in the state of Washington, students in the
computer science programs have tripled and quadrupled in the past 10 years. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Student interest in computer science is so high, in fact,
that it’s <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/academics/2023/11/02/high-demand-comp-sci-degrees-leads-enrollment-caps">overwhelming
colleges’ ability</a> to provide the desired education. At the University of
Michigan, there is a separate application process for the computer science
major, designed to limit the number of students in the program. The University
of Maryland requires a minimum grade in the introductory computer science courses,
and a minimum GPA overall, before a student can be accepted as a computer
science major. At Columbia University, computer science majors no longer have
to select a specialty within the program (like AI or software development), resulting
in a reduction of overall class sizes and a more interdisciplinary student body.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Institutions of higher learning are not the only source of AI-related
coursework. Amazon, the company, has a new <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/aws-free-ai-skills-training-courses">AI
Ready Initiative</a> to provide free AI skills training to 2 million people around
the world over the next two years (by 2025). The initiative includes new free
AI and generative AI courses, and scholarships for 50,000+ high school and
college students. These new courses supplement an <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/training/learn-about/machine-learning/">existing
curriculum</a> of 80+ free and low-cost courses about AI and generative AI. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And if you want a little help filling out your application
to get into the computer sciences and engineering program at the University of
Washington, a student has developed a <a href="https://getuwmajor.com/">website</a>
outlining the rubric that the UW admissions staff use to evaluate applications.
Should help you write an essay that focuses on what the college wants to hear?</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style> <br /></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-41437032683613139512023-10-27T15:40:00.003-07:002023-10-27T15:40:40.731-07:00Home Schooling Remains Popular Post-Pandemic<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">When schools were shut down during the height of the Covid
pandemic, students’ learning went virtual. Most students logged onto classes
hosted by the schools they attended pre-pandemic, and have since returned to
the in-person classroom at their traditional schools. Some students/families,
however, opted to switch education gears and embraced home schooling – a learning
environment which does not usually include a traditional in-person classroom.
Many of those students/families continue to practice home schooling.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/09/26/home-schooling-vs-public-school-poll/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most">reported
by the Washington Post</a>, a recent poll “suggest[s] that American home
schooling is evolving from a movement into a practice — no longer driven by
shared ideology and political goals but by circumstances specific to individual
families.” Some families avoid traditional schools out of fear (health fears
about continued exposure to covid and other illnesses), safety fears (related
to school shootings and bullying), or moral fears (related to the content of
public school education). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But other families value the flexibility that home schooling
provides, allowing a better mix of book learning, experiential learning and
extracurricular activities. Home schooling also often better addresses the
needs of students with special needs or learning disabilities. Not unlike the
post-pandemic “work from home” movement, it’s all about creating a life that
maximizes the value of the time you devote to each task.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Home schooling is also starting to look different than it
did in the past. The pre-pandemic model usually involved a parent staying home
to deliver the instruction him/herself or facilitating the students’ learning
via online classes. Post-pandemic, plenty of families continue to follow that
labor-intensive model. But for other families who want the benefits of home
schooling but don’t want to be the teacher/facilitator, a marketplace is
developing to coordinate the learning environment without actually being a “school.”
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/interactive/2023/homeschooling-microschools-pods-esa-vouchers/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most">Washington
Post article</a> cites several options: A micro-school, where students are
dropped off for the day and a “guide” (not a teacher) coordinates the students’
access to online lessons. Hybrid schools allow students to spend some of the
day interacting with other students, and some of the day learning alone at
home. Co-ops draw on the relative talents of member parents to cover all the
academic disciplines.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It will be interesting to see what the future of home
schooling holds.</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style> <br /></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-59604227290547087682023-09-25T14:09:00.003-07:002023-09-25T14:09:36.218-07:00NASA Launching New Website, Streaming Service and App<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">In a July 27 <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-launches-beta-site-on-demand-streaming-app-update-coming-soon">media
advisory</a>, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
announced the upgrading of its <a href="http://www.nasa.gov">www.nasa.gov</a>
and <a href="http://www.science.nasa.gov">www.science.nasa.gov</a> websites,
with future launch of an on-demand streaming service (NASA+) and an upgraded
NASA app to enable all people to access their world-class web content from any
device. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can watch a short video of the new website <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrlDv-ts2f0">here</a>. NASA encourages
users to visit the <a href="https://beta.nasa.gov/">beta website</a> and
provide feedback for improvement. My short visit to the beta website was very
interesting. There was plenty of information about NASA activities (NASA News, NASA
Newsletter, image of the day). There were collections on specific topics: Earth
Information Center (satellite observations of earth), humans in space, earth
and climate, solar system exploration, welcome to the universe. And perhaps
most fascinating, there was <a href="https://beta.nasa.gov/nasatv/">NASA TV</a>,
providing live coverage of various NASA missions. Find the schedule of NASA TV daily
programming <a href="https://beta.nasa.gov/nasatv/">here</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The upcoming NASA+ on-demand streaming platform will be family-friendly,
free-of-charge and ad-free. It will include existing videos and some new
series, all focused on NASA missions past and future. NASA says they will be “putting
space on demand and at your fingertips.” NASA+ will be available through the
NASA app on most phones, streaming media players (e.g., Roku, AppleTV, FireTV)
and through the web on laptop and desktop computers.</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-76203590186442846602023-08-27T09:31:00.002-07:002023-08-27T09:31:21.670-07:00K-12 Virtual Public Schools Become Permanent Post-Covid<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">K-12 virtual school – aka learning online – became a
necessity during the Covid pandemic. There has been a lot written since the
pandemic ended about the shortcomings of that experience, but some school
districts have also recognized its value. New York City, for example, has
decided to make its high school-level virtual school program permanent, based
on student demand. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I encourage you to read the full article on this in TIME
magazine: <a href="https://time.com/6305516/new-york-city-virtual-school-permanent/">Why the
Nation’s Largest School District Is Making Virtual School a Permanent Option</a>.
But for those of who like to read the punch line first, here are my key
takeaways:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Students value the “found time”, losing in some
cases a multi-hour round-trip commute just to get to and from the physical
school building.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Students value the ability to learn at their own
pace, whether that be faster or slower than their fellow students in a physical
classroom.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A flexible schedule allows students to pursue
extra-curricular and enrichment activities when they are available (e.g., going
to a museum in the middle of the day), or to balance employment with education.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A flexible schedule allows students to do their
schoolwork at the time of day when they learn best (think night owls).</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Virtual learning curricula are now designed to support
various learning and communication styles (think introverts).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are links to some permanent virtual public school programs
in the US:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.schools.nyc.gov/schools/X636">Virtual Innovators Academy</a>,
New York City NY (currently 9<sup>th</sup> and 10<sup>th</sup> grade, planning
to add one grade a year)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://virtual.jordandistrict.org/">Jordan
Virtual Learning Academy</a>, Bluffdale Utah (K-12)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/70924">Atlanta Virtual Academy</a>,
Atlanta GA (middle and high school, part-time)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://cava.k12.com/">California
Virtual Academies</a>, Simi Valley CA (K-12)</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:decorative;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 -2147483647 0;}@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-46014219679345166292023-07-27T10:42:00.002-07:002023-07-27T10:42:28.646-07:00Lifelong Learning: So Many Opportunities, So Little Time<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m several years into retirement and always looking for new
things to learn. Not for credit or working towards a degree or certificate;
just for the pleasure of new knowledge. They say learning new things keeps
dementia at bay; I just say it’s fun.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are some examples of free and low-cost learning
platforms for people of every age:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://oyc.yale.edu/">Open Yale
Courses</a>, introductory courses taught by Yale faculty, free. Example online
classes:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Introduction to Ancient Greek History</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Financial Theory</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>And my favorite, a course I’ve taken and learned
a lot from:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being">The Science of
Wellbeing</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://pll.harvard.edu/catalog/free">Harvard
online courses</a>, courses taught by Harvard faculty, free. Example online
classes:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Introduction to Computer Science</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>New Ideas for Nonprofit Leaders</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Contemporary China: The People’s Republic,
Taiwan and Hong Kong</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Fundamentals of Neuroscience</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.osherfoundation.org/olli.html">Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes</a>,
classes offered for seniors (50+) through local universities (often professors
as instructors), varying costs. Check <a href="https://www.osherfoundation.org/olli_list.html">here</a> to see if your
local university hosts an Osher Institute. Example online classes:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Basic Watercolor Introduction (offered through <a href="https://continuinged.utah.edu/_resources/images/_cece/osher/catalogs/23-08004-osher-u23-brochure-web.pdf">University
of Utah</a>)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Yoga for Movement and Flexibility (offered
through University of Utah)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/">Smithsonian Associates</a>,
classes offered through the Smithsonian Institution (the world’s largest museum,
education and research complex), varying costs. Example online classes:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Achieving Balanced Compositions in Photography
($45-55)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Frida Kahlo: Her Art and Life ($25-30)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>George Washington in Barbados: A Remarkable
Journey ($20-25)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Inside Smithsonian Libraries: the Cullman
Library ($40-50)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.onedayu.com/">One Day
University,</a> offering hundreds of videos of past in-person lectures by
university faculty, membership at $8.95/ month or $139/year. Example videos:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>President Ike: The Legacy of Dwight D.
Eisenhower</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>New Class/New Images: The Remarkable James Webb
Space Telescope</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The Amazing World of Frequency: From Bad Vibes
to Good Vibrations</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The Universal Timekeeper: Reconstructing History
Atom by Atom</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just do a little googling on your own and you’ll be
surprised how many different learning opportunities you’ll find online. Enjoy!</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:decorative;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 -2147483647 0;}@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}</style> <br /></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-79933216606191945902023-06-29T14:12:00.003-07:002023-06-29T14:12:57.717-07:00The “Miracle” of Improved Reading Scores? Back to Basics<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">We’ve been hearing a lot recently about how elementary
school students’ <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/21/1183445544/u-s-reading-and-math-scores-drop-to-lowest-level-in-decades">reading
scores declined drastically</a> as a result of pandemic shutdowns. And in the
US, the southeastern (aka deep south) states have <a href="https://bellwether.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Education-in-the-American-South-Historical-Context-Current-State-and-Future-Possibilities.pdf">historically
had low reading scores</a>, even pre-pandemic. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, imagine everyone’s surprise to hear about the “<a href="https://apnews.com/article/reading-scores-phonics-mississippi-alabama-louisiana-5bdd5d6ff719b23faa37db2fb95d5004">Mississippi
Miracle</a>,” in which several deep south states have dramatically improved
their 1-4<sup>th</sup> graders’ reading scores, <i>despite</i> the pandemic. “Mississippi
went from being ranked the second-worst state in 2013 for fourth-grade reading
to 21st in 2022. Louisiana and Alabama, meanwhile, were among only three states
to see modest gains in fourth-grade reading during the pandemic, which saw <span class="linkenhancement"><a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-education-covid-46cb725e08110f8ad3c1b303ec9eefad" target="_blank">massive learning setbacks</a></span> in most other states.” (<a href="https://apnews.com/article/reading-scores-phonics-mississippi-alabama-louisiana-5bdd5d6ff719b23faa37db2fb95d5004">AP
article</a>)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What explains this improvement in reading abilities in
historically under-performing states? Two common-sense things:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1) a focus on phonics, and (2) early
screenings for struggling readers and learning disabilities. These states have
trained their elementary school teachers in the science of teaching reading
(formerly known as phonics), and have provided targeted resources to schools
with the lowest reading scores. At least one state (Mississippi) has also stated
clear expectations for students, parents and teachers: children will meet a
minimum standard of reading abilities by the end of third grade <a href="https://apnews.com/article/reading-third-grade-phonics-bd9a14dd348d88c2b11e2dce38829a8e">or
be held back</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One other critical component of the “Mississippi miracle” is
its student-centered nature. Teachers meet children where they are in reading,
and devise strategies to help each student address their own personal
challenge(s) in learning reading. That could be a learning disability like dyslexia;
it could be lack of opportunity to read and practice; it could be not knowing
the basics.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teaching phonics is a method well-suited to online learning,
whether used by a teacher in a physical classroom to maximize the use of
limited time, or whether used by teachers and parents as an adjunct to in-class
learning. Find tried-and-true online phonics teaching resources (some free,
some at a small charge) <a href="https://www.commonsense.org/education/lists/favorite-phonics-games-apps-and-websites">here</a>
and <a href="https://www.ateachableteacher.com/free-phonics-websites-for-kids/">here</a>
and <a href="https://numberdyslexia.com/7-phonics-reading-programs-to-try-online/">here</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}span.linkenhancement
{mso-style-name:linkenhancement;
mso-style-unhide:no;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-11953022369515133912023-05-30T17:20:00.003-07:002023-05-30T17:20:33.446-07:00Social Media Use Is Affecting Our Kids’ Mental Health<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The US Surgeon General issued an <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf">advisory</a>
in late May suggesting that children and adolescents are over-using social
media, and that this poses a risk of harm to their health and mental
well-being. As many as 95% of teenagers aged 13-17 reported they used social
media regularly, while as many as a third of teenagers reported they were on
social media “almost constantly.” Observing that the teenage years support
rapid brain and emotional development, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that “<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we are in the middle of a
national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an
important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.” </span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Surgeon
General’s advisory contains several <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/23/surgeon-general-issues-new-advisory-about-effects-social-media-use-has-youth-mental-health.html">practical
suggestions</a> for making social media safer for children and teenagers. Policymakers
should develop safety standards and find ways to limit access to harmful social
media. Technology companies should become more aware of the negative impacts of
their social media platforms and work with other stakeholders to improve
systems to provide greater safety for child and teenage users. Parents and
caregivers should become more aware of the nature and level of their children’s
social media use and establish realistic guidelines for its use. Surgeon
General Murthy intends to prohibit his own children from accessing social media
until they are at least 13 years old, but may reconsider that decision and wait
until they are 16 years old. Children and teenagers can raise their own
self-awareness about how much and which social media they participate in, and
learn to self-regulate their exposure to it. Finally, researchers should prioritize
social media and youth mental health research to inform the development of best
practices for social media use.</span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
American Psychological Association has recently issued its <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/teens-and-social-media-how-to-nurture-good-digital-citizens/">own
health advisory</a> on the harm of teenagers’ use of social media, highlighting
the </span></em>need for fostering social media literacy and digital
citizenship. Digital citizenship curriculum materials developed in conjunction
with the Harvard School of Education are available for just this purpose. <a href="https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship/curriculum">Common
Sense Education</a> offers lessons plans and activities by grade level (K-12).
The curriculum for grades K-2 addresses questions such as: How do we balance
our time with technology? How do you stay safe online? What footprints are you
leaving online? What are ways you can be kind online? How do you stand up for
people you care about? How do you know something you hear or see is true?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It's been a very long time since I was in second grade. But
I think I’d learn a lot from this curriculum. Our children’s mental health future
depends on all of us raising our awareness about the benefits and pitfalls of
social media use, and taking steps to manage it wisely.<i></i></p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-51102919077496097812023-04-30T09:42:00.003-07:002023-04-30T09:42:50.332-07:00Going to College for Free is Getting Easier<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The objective of the Straube Foundation (sponsor of this
blog) is to show how anyone anywhere can obtain quality education at little or
no cost. So I was particularly happy to read that the city of Boston
Massachusetts is <a href="https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/03/30/boston-tuition-free-community-college-expansion">expanding
its tuition-free community college offerings</a>. All Boston city residents,
regardless of age, income or immigration status, will now be able to attend one
of six partner community colleges free of charge. Both tuition and fees will be
covered for associate degrees and certificate programs at the six participating
schools. For some students, up to $2,500 of overdue past tuition and fees will also
be waived. Learn more <a href="https://www.boston.gov/departments/workforce-development/tuition-free-community-college-plan?utm_source=WBUR+Editorial+Newsletters&utm_campaign=d71adc5907-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_03_30_11_32&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d0781a0a0c-d71adc5907-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D">here</a>.
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Boston’s decision is part of a recent trend at the state
level to encourage post-college-age adults to get a degree that will help them
find employment in high tech industries like clean energy and advanced
manufacturing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In some states, the new programs will cover tuition, fees
and textbooks for community college students. Under Massachusetts’ <a href="https://www.mass.gov/doc/fy-2024-budget-recommendation-budget-brief-massreconnect/download">MassReconnect
program</a>, anyone over 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent will be
able to attend one of 15 community colleges for free (tuition<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">, <span class="markedcontent">fees, books and supplies</span></span>).
It appears that degrees can be taken in any subject. The <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/reconnect">Michigan Reconnect program</a> offers
free tuition and fees to anyone over 25 with a high school diploma to earn an
associate degree or complete certain skill certificates. The <a href="https://tnreconnect.gov/">Tennessee Reconnect program</a> offers grants
to pay the amount of tuition and fees unpaid for by other state or federal aid
programs. Eligible students must be over 25 years old, and can pursue any
degree at any institution, but the grant amount will be limited to the cost of a
community college associates degree or skills certificate.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">These are just examples of the free
college education that is currently available in the United States. Most are
in-person colleges, but post-Covid offerings may include online options. A
summary of the various state programs can be found <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/are-community-colleges-free/">here</a>.</span></p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}span.markedcontent
{mso-style-name:markedcontent;
mso-style-unhide:no;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-35973695112863367972023-03-30T14:10:00.002-07:002023-03-30T14:10:26.227-07:00US News 2023 Rankings for Best Online Programs<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The US News & World Report has issued its <a href="https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/rankings">2023 rankings
for the best online programs</a> at regionally accredited institutions. Top
three in various categories:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bachelor’s programs:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of Florida</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide
(tie)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of Illinois – Chicago (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MBA programs:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Indiana University – Bloomington (Kelley) (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
(Kenan-Flagler) (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of Southern California (Marshall)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate business programs:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Indiana University – Bloomington (Kelley)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of California (Marshall) (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate criminal justice programs:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of California – Irvine</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of Massachusetts – Lowell</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Sam Houston State University</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate education programs:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Clemson University (Moore) (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of Florida (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of Illinois Urbana – Champaign</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate engineering programs:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of California – Los Angeles (Samueli)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Purdue University – West Lafayette</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Pennylvania State University – World Campus</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate computer information technology programs:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Columbia University</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Johns Hopkins University (Whiting) </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Virginia Tech </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Graduate nursing programs:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of South Carolina</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Duke University (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Ohio State University (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>University of Alabama (tie)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:decorative;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 -2147483647 0;}@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}</style> <br /></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-82244448459553180342023-02-27T08:29:00.002-08:002023-02-27T08:29:25.588-08:00Chatbot AI Can Enhance the Educational Experience<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">In <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2023/01/will-chatbot-ai-change-assessments-for.html">last
month’s blog post</a>, we outlined the challenges that <a href="https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/">ChatGPT</a> presents for assessment, or
how it can support cheating without getting caught. In this month’s post, we’ll
explore how chatbot AI can enhance the educational experience. And it can.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2023/01/09/chatgpt-educational-friend-or-foe/">Brookings
Institution</a> suggests that “[u]sed in the right way, ChatGPT can be a friend
to the classroom and an amazing tool for our students, not something to be
feared.” They analogize chatbot AI to calculators. The calculator does the
routine math processing, while the student has to know which processing to ask
the calculator to do and how to interpret the results. Similarly, in a writing
exercise, ChatGPT can collate all the relevant background information; but the
student still needs to do the synthesis and know which information to ask for.
And the students can exercise their editing skills to make the
ChatGPT-generated draft an A+ paper. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">UCLA law professor <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-chatgpt-can-improve-education-not-threaten-it/">John
Villasenor</a> is encouraging his students to generate first drafts of his
assignments using ChatGPT, and teaching them to use the draft report or brief
ethically. “To remain competitive throughout their careers, students need to
learn how to prompt an AI writing tool to elicit worthwhile output and know how
to evaluate its quality, accuracy and originality.” He still plans to hold his
students to the usual academic and honor code standards (accurate facts,
well-organized text, no plagiarism), but helps them learn to use chatbot AI as
a valuable research tool.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of the concern about ChatGPT has come from academics in
the humanities, where a written work product is the usual basis of assessment.
Some academics in more technical fields are institutionalizing the calculator
analogy and allowing students to use chatbot AI to do the mundane calculations
underlying more sophisticated analysis. <a href="https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2023/01/24/chatgpt-threat-education">Matthew
Lang</a>, an economics professor at University of California Riverside, says:
“In a course like econometrics, where students are required to work with data
throughout the course, ChatGPT can be particularly beneficial. It allows for a
reduction in time spent on tedious tasks such as data loading and
troubleshooting, which can be a source of frustration for students. This
enables me as an educator to focus more on the critical analysis of empirical
models, leading to a deeper understanding of the subject for my students.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/technology/chatgpt-schools-teachers.html">Some
teachers</a> have used ChatGPT as a tool to make their own lives easier. They’ve
asked the chatbot to develop lesson plans or to draft quizzes. One creative use
of the chatbot was to develop a class activity: “write a script for a ‘Friends’
episode that takes place at the Constitutional Convention.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chatbot AI is here to stay, both in education and in the
real world after graduation. As teachers, let’s embrace it and use it to make
our students ever more knowledgeable and accomplished. They may even ask
ChatGPT to write you a thank you note!</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-11748483907533116502023-02-09T09:51:00.003-08:002023-02-09T09:51:58.668-08:00Study Hall Scholarships Available Until March 7, 2023<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://gostudyhall.com/">Study Hall</a>, an online
program offered by Arizona State University (ASU), offers anyone the
opportunity to learn what it’s like to be in college without the commitment to
BE in college. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are videos about “How to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>College” and “Fast Guides to Majors” that
give the potential college student a taste of what being in college is all about.
“<a href="https://gostudyhall.com/how-to-college/">How to College</a>” videos range
from “How to Apply to College” to “How to Choose a Major” to “How to Pay for
College.” Majors included in the “<a href="https://gostudyhall.com/fast-guides/">Fast
Guides</a>” are anthropology, psychology, education, political science,
English, nursing, sociology, history, sustainability, social work, mechanical
engineering, inter-disciplinary studies, data science, health sciences,
computer science, criminology, biology, electrical engineering, mass
communication and business. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Study Hall participants can take a <a href="https://gostudyhall.com/courses/">select number of college-level courses</a>
through ASU without enrolling in college first. If you decide after getting
your grade that you would like to enroll in college, you can claim college
credits then. And the credits are valid at any higher education institution
that accepts transfer credits from ASU. Courses available include Intro to
Human Communication, Rhetoric and Composition, Real World College Math and US
History to 1865.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Learn more about Study Hall opportunities <a href="https://gostudyhall.com/courses/#section_faqs">here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a $25 charge for taking a course,
and a $400 charge to claim college credit after finishing the course.
Scholarship pricing is available to anyone who registers for a course by March
7, 2023. Courses must be completed and the credit added to your transcript by August
9, 2023 to qualify for the scholarship pricing.</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-3781540565456231382023-01-31T13:32:00.003-08:002023-01-31T13:32:38.922-08:00Will Chatbot AI Change Assessments for Online Instruction?<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">There have always been many ways for students to cheat in
the classroom. Sometimes the cheating can be detected, and other times not. I
had a case of plagiarism in the first higher education course I ever taught.
The student almost got away with it, but made the mistake of writing about my
specialty subject area. He copied verbatim (text and graphics) an
as-yet-unpublished research paper that a colleague had asked me to peer review
just months before. I recognized it immediately, confronted the student, and
appropriate disciplinary action was taken. After that, I started using
plagiarism checkers (e.g., <a href="https://www.turnitin.com/">Turnitin</a>),
but I’m not sure that an unpublished draft would have raised any red flags.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, with the introduction of artificial intelligence
chatbots that can write papers and reports from scratch (e.g., <a href="https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/">ChatGPT</a>), the problem of catching
cheaters has become more complicated. Even if the instructor suspects that a
report or paper is not the student’s original work, there is no way to prove
that the student used an AI chatbot to write it. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/16/technology/chatgpt-artificial-intelligence-universities.html?searchResultPosition=1">many
stories</a> about what individual teachers are doing to address the AI chatbot
challenge. Some are requiring students to write their first drafts of papers in
the classroom, using computers that can monitor where they go to do their
research. Some are moving away from requiring written papers to having more
oral exams and handwritten assignments. Many schools have banned use of the AI
chatbots on their school computer networks. Others are moving away from
open-book or take-home assignments.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some are planning to use AI chatbot-generated reports as a
springboard for critical analysis. What’s missing in the chatbot’s analysis.
Are there other ways to interpret the same research results? Other instructors
are trying to revise their materials to focus on literature and other texts
that the AI chatbots may not have been “trained” on. And to focus their testing
on critical analysis, rather than synthesis of easily researched material (the
AI chatbot is good at synthesis, less skilled at analysis). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Online education will be affected in similar ways by the AI
chatbot revolution. Online instructors will be equally stumped to identify
chatbot-informed papers and test results. In some ways, the online platform may
make it even easier for students to fool their instructor with AI
chatbot-generated content. Some of the responses being tested in
brick-and-mortar classrooms (e.g., in-person testing and paper-writing) cannot
easily be implemented in an online format. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What to do to ensure that online students produce original
work? Share your ideas with our readers by <a href="mailto:michele@straube.com">emailing
me</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the end, it’s the student who is most harmed by cheating.
They don’t learn the material, and that may come back to haunt them in the
post-graduation real world. </p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-59184584117826971172022-12-30T17:26:00.000-08:002022-12-30T17:26:04.102-08:00Happy New Year 2023!<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m taking a little break from researching and writing blog
posts to celebrate the December holidays and the New Year. Hope you have been
doing the same (enjoying quality time with family and friends).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s a few highlights from 2022 if you’re looking for
something to read:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.thinkorion.com/blog/best-online-learning-education-platform">11
Best Online Learning Platforms for 2022</a></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://blog.feedspot.com/elearning_blogs/">100 Best E-Learning Blogs and
Websites</a> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://www.edapp.com/blog/top-e-learning-blogs/">The 10 Top E Learning
Blogs</a> </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://zapier.com/blog/online-course-platforms/">The 9 best platforms to
create and sell online courses in 2023</a></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><a href="https://elearningfeeds.com/top-elearning-blogs/">Top eLearning Blogs</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>I’d love to hear what online education topics you, our
readers, are interested in learning more about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Email me your suggestions </i></b><a href="mailto:michele@straube.com"><b><i>here</i></b></a><b><i>,
and we’ll see what we can do.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i> </i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy New Year!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i> </i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:decorative;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-16692123055868052952022-11-30T09:44:00.000-08:002022-11-30T09:44:00.614-08:00Mindfulness Practice Improves Academic Performance<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">This blog writer has been intrigued by the benefits of
mindfulness for a long time. We even offered <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2020/09/setting-yourself-up-for-success-as.html">free
access to mindfulness resources</a> a couple years ago. Looks like schools are coming
to the same conclusion, with some having their students <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/02/27/804971750/schools-are-embracing-mindfulness-but-practice-doesnt-always-make-perfect">practice
mindfulness</a> a few minutes every day. Why?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://innerexplorer.org/ie-program">Some research
suggests</a> that students’ regular mindfulness practice resulted in <span class="green">28% higher grades </span>in reading, math, and science, a <span class="green">43% decrease </span>in teacher stress, and schools experienced a <span class="green">60% decrease </span>in behavioral issues. A <a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/19/01/making-time-mindfulness">2019 Harvard
study</a> found that sixth graders doing mindfulness practice four days a week
increased their ability to focus and regulate their emotions, reduced their
stress, and improved their learning capacity. Additionally, mindfulness <a href="https://nicenews.com/health-and-wellness/inner-explorer-nonprofit-brings-mindfulness-to-schools/">lowers
stress levels</a> in students, faculty, staff <i>and</i> parents.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are many mindfulness apps, but some programs are
specifically designed for the school environment. <a href="https://innerexplorer.org/">Inner Explorer</a> is a highly recognized
program that provides audio sessions for use in K-12 classrooms and at home. <a href="https://www.mindfulschools.org/">Mindful Schools</a> offers online
training programs to build institutional capacity, online K-12 mindfulness curricula,
and online mindfulness coaching. <a href="https://learning2breathe.org/">Learning
to Breathe</a> is an award-winning book-based mindfulness program for
adolescents. <a href="https://mindup.org/">MindUp</a> (featured in a <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2021/01/mindup-mental-and-emotional-wellness.html">previous
blog post</a>) offers an extensive online curriculum for social and emotional learning,
including mindfulness practice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re interested in becoming a mindfulness guide in schools,
the <a href="https://mindfulnessinschools.org/course-schedule/">Mindfulness in
Schools Project</a> offers online trainings.</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}span.green
{mso-style-name:green;
mso-style-unhide:no;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-28976180741924740902022-10-31T11:15:00.001-07:002022-10-31T11:15:30.290-07:00Search for Fully Effective Internet Connection in Rural US Continues<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">We’ve written before about the <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2021/02/">need for universal broadband,</a>
usually defined as access to the internet for all regardless of physical
location. Today I’m going to share my personal experience with looking for an
effective internet connection in rural Washington, which underscores the
complexity of the problem. Especially if your need for an internet connection
is online education.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six months ago, I lived in a major western US city and got
my internet via Google fiber. 1 gigabit download and upload speeds, no data
caps, $70/month. To put it simply, I got spoiled.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then I moved to the Pacific Northwest, 15 minutes from the nearest
town and surrounded by beautiful tall trees. As I queried my neighbors about
what they do for internet access, I got a lot of different answers and a lot of
sighs. One neighbor has no TV and no internet access, and relishes the
solitude. Other neighbors used their cell phones as a hotspot, but that needed
a cell booster to work and the cell booster had to be placed in the perfect
location (sometimes at the top of a tree up at the road). Most used the same
satellite company, but complained about slow service and data caps; don’t
stream a lot of TV or you’d run of data by the middle of the month we were told.
One neighbor had two satellite dishes and paid double monthly service to increase
the useable data. Of greatest interest and concern to me, no-one was highly
satisfied with their internet set-up (except the one neighbor without
internet).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The house we bought already had a satellite dish from this
one company, so we decided to use them. Our monthly cost was $150 for 25 Mbps max
download speeds and 60 GB high speed data. Other plans were much more expensive
for marginally faster download speeds and varying data caps. We watch very
little TV, but we do a good number of zoom calls. Our data ran out in the
middle of the month. In the past few months, the company has added the option
of paying for additional data when you run out. Last month, that cost me an
additional $100, for a total monthly cost of $250.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I researched other satellite internet providers and found
they all offered the same “deal”. Low speeds, low data caps. If I was trying to
take courses online, this would not work. I’d either have to miss the second
half of the months’ classes, or pay a small fortune to keep the high speed data
flowing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We paid a deposit for <a href="https://www.starlink.com/">Starlink</a>
as soon as we moved in, and last month got the notice that service was now
available in our area. We paid for the satellite dish ($500) and have it set up
on the back porch. Our monthly cost is $110, with up to 60 Mbps download speeds
and no high speed data caps. Problem solved, right? Not exactly. Yes, we can
watch TV to our heart’s content, and emails, websites and videos download
quickly. But our zoom screen regularly locks up. Starlink says that’s because
the dish is not placed properly; there should be no tall trees anywhere near
the dish. We live in a forest! I’ve also heard that some neighbors have decided
against Starlink because of the trees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once again, not an ideal setup for online learning, where
classes via zoom are the norm.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I recently learned that Amazon is working on <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon-to-open-new-kirkland-plant-to-build-project-kuiper-satellites/?utm_source=marketingcloud">Project
Kuiper</a>, satellites that will provide internet service anywhere. The
research and development part of the project launched in 2019. Amazon just
announced that satellite production would start in early 2023. The first two
prototype satellites will also launch in early 2023. Amazon has contracts in
place to launch its satellites as they are produced, but I haven’t read when
Amazon will start offering this satellite-based internet service. Likewise, no
details are available about cost or capacity of the Amazon satellite service.
Hopefully it will be an improvement on what already exists.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-40408381340419680142022-09-22T13:08:00.001-07:002022-09-22T13:08:17.849-07:00The Reasons to Move to Online K-12 Education Are Growing<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">When this blog <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2007/09/">first started in 2007</a>, our
mission to promote online learning for everyone everywhere at little or no cost
was aspirational. Fast forward 15 years (to October 2022), the infrastructure for
mass online learning generally exists and the reasons for moving in that
direction are ever more compelling.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In our <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2022/08/disaster-or-opportunity-in-person.html">last
blog post</a>, we talked about the teacher shortage facing US K-12 schools as
they reopen for in-person fall classes. School administrators seem focused on potential
solutions that have the potential to water down the learning experience
(increasing class size, reducing in-class student time, using less qualified
individuals as teachers), with few schools turning to online options for providing
the missing instruction.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Recently, the US K-12 public school system was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/18/us/school-conditions-2022/index.html">given
a D+ grade</a> based on failing infrastructure. Many schools, especially in low
income neighborhoods, have no air conditioning as temperatures rise to unhealthy
levels due to climate change. Some schools have no heat, leaking pipes and
crumbling buildings. Others have bug infestations. The go-to solution for these
infrastructure problems is to find scarce public funding to renovate and
rebuild. No schools seem to be looking at totally rethinking how to provide public
education to avoid the infrastructure problem altogether: moving the education
online.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One common argument against online learning, especially for younger
students, is that in-person connection is critical to helping children learn to
work well with others, to know how to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>behave
in a community. I’m going to push back on that argument and suggest that <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2021/01/mindup-mental-and-emotional-wellness.html">interpersonal
skills <i>can</i> be addressed through online instruction</a>, and are also
addressed well through family interactions and extracurricular activities. In
the business community, there is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/01/remote-work-culture/">increased
recognition that in-person contact is not</a> the only way to develop
connection and a desired group culture. Paying attention to interpersonal
connection, being intentional about promoting that skill and opportunity, is highly
effective.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I believe, however, that the biggest resistance to online
learning is fear of change. Many school districts pivoted to online education
during Covid. This was done under time pressure, so the results are not necessarily
ideal, but they were a good first step and demonstrated that providing universal
K-12 education virtually is doable. The lessons learned from these crisis
experiments can prove useful in designing a more effective online education
system of the future.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A family can choose to do online learning now. The amount of
available materials is overwhelming. Tuition-free online public school exists
as an opt-in endeavor (examples <a href="https://www.k12.com/online-public-schools.html">here</a> and <a href="https://www.connectionsacademy.com/">here</a>). There are free curricula
for homeschoolers (examples <a href="https://discoveryk12.com/">here</a> and <a href="https://howtohomeschoolforfree.com/full-online-homeschool-curriculum/">here</a>).
Subject-specific courses are available online to supplement the existing
in-person school curriculum (state-by-state available courses <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/free-online-public-schools-4148138">here</a>). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But, for now, it’s up to each family to decide whether to
pursue online learning for their children, and the in-person public school
system continues to struggle. Here’s hoping for a future where our mission has
been accomplished, and all K-12 students can go to school online and excel.</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-23387407919829164472022-08-31T12:47:00.000-07:002022-08-31T12:47:03.930-07:00Disaster or Opportunity? In-Person Schools Reopen Amidst Severe Teacher Shortage<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The end of summer is almost upon us and signs of school
reopening are all around. Store sales on school supplies, ever-increasing hourly
pay to hire school bus drivers, packed campgrounds as families take that one
last summer trip. And I’m seeing <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/08/03/school-teacher-shortage/">article</a>
after <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/29/us/schools-teacher-shortages.html">article</a>
after <a href="https://www.wfmz.com/news/cnn/us-national/nv-school-district-to-resume-classes-with-1-400-job-vacancies/video_4babc1f0-c1de-5470-acc7-865fdd6c101e.html">news
story</a> about the “catastrophic” shortage of teachers to staff in-person
classes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What and where is the shortage? There is no hard data (yet),
but the estimates are huge. The state of Nevada has over 3,000 unfilled
teaching jobs. Illinois has over 2,000 teaching positions that are open or filled
by inadequately trained people. The largest five school districts in Houston
have as many as 1,000 openings for teachers. The lack of teachers is especially
dire in certain fields like math or special education, and in rural schools.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What’s causing the teacher shortage? There are many reasons
being posited. Teachers are exhausted from dealing with the Covid-induced
education chaos. Some are unwilling to teach within the new state-level
politically motivated constraints about what topics can be covered in the
classroom. For example, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/florida-moves-to-restrict-what-schools-can-teach-about-systemic-racism">Florida
has recently enacted legislation</a> prohibiting teachers from covering many
aspects of our country’s racial history. And, of course, there is the fact that
teaching is no longer a highly respected profession in the US and teachers generally
receive very low pay.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What’s being done about it? Some school districts are going
down to four days a week of classes for the fall, while others are increasing
class size. Some jurisdictions are lowering the requirements to be a teacher, in
some cases encouraging veterans and college students to step into the classroom
despite having no training to do so or having school administrators serve as
substitute teachers. At least one state will allow teachers with experience
teaching math at private schools to teach in the public school system while
gaining the requisite certification over the next few years. US President Joe
Biden has recently announced <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/31/biden-job-search-companies-partner-take-teacher-shortage/7941397001/">initiatives</a>
to recruit additional individuals to the teaching profession. And, if they have
the resources, some schools are increasing teacher pay or providing other desirable
benefits (e.g., a relocation bonus for teachers willing to move to their state,
a retention bonus to entire teachers to stay on the job, classroom supplies). Very
few schools seem to be looking at online resources, but Tucson Arizona is filling
its void of math teachers with online tutoring during the school day.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This situation is alternately described as “catastrophic,” “severe,”
“alarming” and “a crisis.” Many education specialists are concerned that the fixes
for the shortage (especially increased class size and less qualified teachers)
will provide long-term and irreversible harm for the students and their
learning. They are probably right. It is also possible, however, to look at the
situation as an opportunity to institutionalize, improve and expand some of the
online educational options piloted during the two years of the Covid pandemic.</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-59461151146192463822022-07-31T12:15:00.002-07:002022-07-31T12:15:23.145-07:00Teaching Reading Online<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Many young children in the US are behind in learning how to
read, especially after 2+ years of online or hybrid learning during the Covid
pandemic. A <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/08/us/pandemic-schools-reading-crisis.html?campaign_id=2">New
York Times article</a> cites to <a href="https://www.curriculumassociates.com/-/media/mainsite/files/i-ready/iready-understanding-student-learning-paper-fall-results-2021.pdf">studies</a>
showing that <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“a </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">third of children
in the youngest grades are missing reading benchmarks, up significantly from
before the pandemic.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The general
disruption of learning caused by various school districts’ on-again and
off-again teaching during the pandemic is one cause for this situation. Another
primary cause for reduced learning of reading skills, however, is a lack of
phonics and phonemics awareness teachers. And the teachers that have the
necessary background to teach reading basics are often going to higher-paying
jobs like tutoring.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As the pandemic
continues into its third year, we can assume that many young students will
still be learning online. So, what are some strategies to increase the
effectiveness of teaching reading online?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.hmhco.com/blog/how-to-teach-reading-virtually-in-the-online-classroom-5-tips"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One first grade teacher</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> reflected on which strategies work best for
her in person and created analogous systems for her online classroom. In
person, the teacher would split the students into small reading groups, and
work with students one-on-one as needed to work on specific skills. For online
classes, this teacher recommends using two devices (one showing the book being
read, and one for personal interaction with the students) to simulate the
interactivity of reading together. She also splits her students into smaller
reading groups based on reading level. Whiles these small groups are working
together online, the teacher makes sure that she works one-on-one with each
student each week. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another in person
strategy was sending students home with physical copies of the book they were
working on, to encourage additional practice at home. This can still be done
with online learning, perhaps providing digital access to books as an
alternative to sending home physical books. The teacher also added a more
structured approach to reading practice during class and regular comprehension
checks. She created opportunities for each student to read out loud daily (she
actually kept a checklist to make sure she had heard from each student that
day). In addition to reading out loud, the teacher also asked questions to test
comprehension. Questions like: What does that word mean? What is the author
trying to tell us? What is happening in the story so far?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/schools-already-struggled-to-teach-reading-right-now-they-have-to-do-it-online/2020/09"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Education Week</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> cautions against relying blindly on the
effectiveness of existing online reading programs. While it may be easy for the
teacher to have students complete online reading modules, the online programs
will not necessarily identify learning challenges. “Good teachers will also try
to identify misunderstandings in real-time. Is the problem that a child doesn’t
understand that the letters “s-l-e-d” form the word “sled?” Or is the problem
that the child doesn’t understand the concept of a sled?” A </span><a href="https://soe.umich.edu/directory/faculty-staff/nell-k-duke"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">University of Michigan professor</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> has developed a </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNHImv_iKEM"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">series
of videos</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to help teachers
provide this student-centric approach to remote instruction of foundational
reading skills.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shifting from
teaching reading in person to teaching it online (or in a hybrid format)
obviously takes a lot of time and mental energy. Resources are available </span><a href="https://www.readingrockets.org/reading-rockets-nea-guide/online-learning-resources-for-educators"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
</span><a href="https://www.weareteachers.com/best-reading-websites/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
and </span><a href="https://www.ace.edu/blog/post/2018/11/06/an-exhaustive-list-of-free-reading-resources-for-teachers"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-73530764816586870082022-06-29T10:45:00.003-07:002022-06-29T10:45:51.866-07:00Studying Physical Therapy Online<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The university I used to work for recently announced its first
hybrid doctoral program, a <a href="https://online.utah.edu/hybrid-options/dpt/index.php">PhD in physical
therapy</a>. Very exciting, but really, physical therapy (PT)? It’s <i>physical
</i>therapy, so doesn’t it need to be taught physically, in person? That’s exactly
why the University of Utah created a hybrid program. The new program, starting
in May 2023, will offer asynchronous lessons to cover basic concepts, weekly
synchronous online student-faculty meetings, 1-2 weeklong in-person on-campus immersions
each semester, and clinical placements near each student’s residence. The
intent of the hybrid program is to empower students from any location to
participate, while also honoring the practicality of the subject matter.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the US, you need a PhD in physical therapy to be a
licensed practicing physical therapist. That got me to wondering, are there
other online PT programs? How do they handle the hands-on nature of physical
therapy?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://apply.usa.edu/dpt-flex/?cam=HEDPT21&utm_source=highereducation&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=pt&utm_term=a98f96b2-3955-480b-976c-6d097f9e000a_&utm_content=bestcollegescom&heclid=a98f96b2-3955-480b-976c-6d097f9e000a">University
of St. Augustine</a> offers a “flex” physical therapy doctorate program. It combines
online classes with in-person practice at clinical simulation centers (every
weekend, with a choice of five campuses in Florida and Texas) and immersive
virtual simulations. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.andrews.edu/chhs/pt/pt/postpro-chhs/degrees/tdpt-dist.html">Andrews
University</a> in Michigan offers a “transitional” Doctor of Physical Therapy
program. Students in this program participate in in-person <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">short courses, as well as independent study
and distance learning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The <a href="https://dpt.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> in Los
Angeles offers a hybrid doctorate program. Students will attend classes on-line
and in person, and can complete their clinical rotations in their local
community.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://onlinehealth.arcadia.edu/online-dpt/">Arcadia University</a> in Pennsylvania
offers a hybrid physical therapy PhD program. Students participate in live
synchronous online classes and eight immersive in-person experiences.
Additional clinical experiences will occur in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one of 250 facilities in the institution’s
international network.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms/physical-therapy-transitional-dpt/">University
of Michigan/Flint</a> offers a transitional physical therapy doctorate program
that is completely online, but does not lead to licensure. Courses run
asynchoronously. Clinical experiences can be completed in the student’s local
community.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.su.edu/physical-therapy/degree-programs/transitional-doctor-of-physical-therapy-2/">Shenandoah
University</a> in Virginia offers a transitional physical therapy PhD program
that is primarily online. In addition to an extensive online curriculum,
students attend a short in-person class before graduation and must complete a
capstone project (to build on their existing professional life).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-60048607619335597452022-06-15T14:46:00.003-07:002022-06-15T14:46:40.415-07:00At Least One US City May Be Building Its Own Internet Network<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">We’ve written before about universal broadband access, cost-effective
access to the internet for all. The US federal government has <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2021/04/guide-to-federal-broadband-funding.html">pledged
$95 billion</a> to help close the <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2021/06/interactive-map-released-that-documents.html">digital
divide</a>. <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2021/10/broadband-company-takes-steps-toward.html">Private
internet providers</a> have offered a variety of reduced cost options to
provide internet access to low income families. <a href="https://straube.blogspot.com/2021/02/">Rural areas will be building</a>
the infrastructure to physically expand the reach of the internet. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All this activity may not be happening fast enough or
encompass a wide enough population for some elected officials. The <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-07/baltimore-eyes-federal-funds-for-municipal-broadband?srnd=citylab">City
of Baltimore intends to build</a> a city-wide broadband network to ensure that
its large low-income population will have affordable access to the high-speed broadband
services they need for jobs, education, health, and quality of life. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Other communities are already providing low-cost broadband
services by treating it as a public utility. That means rates are regulated to
ensure that access is universal and profits are kept to a sustainable level. A
list of US communities with municipally-owned internet providers can be found <a href="https://www.allconnect.com/blog/cities-with-cheap-high-speed-internet">here</a>.
Other communities provide free wi-fi within their boundaries, allowing anyone
to use the internet for free. A list of international communities providing
free wi-fi can be found <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_wireless_network#United_States">here</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It will be interesting to see what additional creative ways
communities come up with to provide their residents with the cost-effective
internet access necessary to thrive in the 21<sup>st</sup> century.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-77022895526163700832022-05-31T08:32:00.005-07:002022-06-01T12:36:57.621-07:00<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u> The Importance of Promoting Pro-Social Behaviors in Online Teaching</u></span></b></p><p><br /></p><p>A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959475222000020?via%3Dihub">recent study</a> from the University of Missouri College of Education and Human Development</p><p>concludes that “students tend to be more motivated to learn and be engaged in the classroom</p><p>when their teacher likes and cares about them. Positive teacher-student relationships change</p><p>student behavior, and in this study, we found building those positive relationships actually</p><p>leads to better teaching, too. It changes teacher behavior.” The study results highlight the</p><p><a href="https://www.futurity.org/teachers-students-prosocial-behaviors-kindness-compassion-2707622/">reciprocal relationship of strong student-teacher bonds</a> at all grade levels: bonding with</p><p>students makes teachers better and bonding with teachers motivates students to work harder</p><p>at learning.</p><p>It's not difficult to imagine how teachers can build strong student-teacher bonds in a brick-and-</p><p>mortar classroom, but what are some strategies to do it in a virtual classroom? Perhaps not too</p><p>surprising, the same strategies can work in both types of classrooms. You might just have to be</p><p>a little more intentional about it in the virtual classroom.</p><p><a href="https://pbs.cedwvu.org/pbs-resources/30-ways-to-promote-prosocial-behavior/">Strategies for pro-social teaching </a>encourage interaction between the student and teacher that</p><p>extends beyond delivering content, and focuses on building an emotional connection and</p><p>allowing for student reflection:</p><p> Use stories (narrative) to build empathy, perspective and critical thinking.</p><p> Use service learning to practice important academic and life skills.</p><p> Catch people doing what you want them to do, and praise that behavior.</p><p> Welcome other people’s perspectives on a situation, and ask the student to explain or</p><p>justify the other perspective.</p><p> Cheer someone on when they’re about ready to give up.</p><p> Practice gratitude in the classroom (gratitude is a mood-enhancer.)</p><p> Encourage random acts of kindness (to increase compassion and a sense of inter-</p><p>connectedness).</p><p> Teacher can model vulnerability (to build empathy, kindness, and self-forgiveness).</p><p> Equip students with the <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/article/making-prosocial-behavior-contagious">language of compassion</a>.</p><p>There are courses educators can take to learn and practice some of these strategies. You can</p><p>even become a <a href="https://healthprofessions.missouri.edu/health-sciences/bhs-in-health-science/certified-health-education-specialist-ches/">Certified Humane Education Specialist (CHES)</a>, with the course of study provided</p><p>all online.</p><p>The University of Missouri study and my research into strategies for pro-social learning confirm</p><p>what I’ve always observed in the classroom: teaching is about so much more than lecturing.</p><p>When a student (at whatever level of school) is encouraged and challenged to think critically</p><p>and empathetically, and when the student’s unique perspective is valued, their learning and</p><p>ability to put learning into action are greatly enhanced. Teaching to facilitate this type of</p><p>learning is possible, just not (yet) the norm.</p><p>Written by Michele Straube </p>Jennifer Caswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092659972708885992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755637818606819433.post-61274997793151620512022-05-13T08:03:00.004-07:002022-05-13T08:03:44.814-07:00Verizon Wireless Offers Free Small Business Training and Coaching<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">I got an email from my wireless carrier (Verizon) the other
day that was really intriguing. It read: “Join our free learning program to
help you succeed in a digital world. Over 30 personalized learning courses,
small business peer networking and even grant opportunities. Best of all? It’s
free.” I clicked on the “Don’t Miss Out” button and here’s what I found.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Verizon’s <a href="https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-training?cmp=emc:wlsmkto:ac:vbg:cv:em1&utm_medium=emc&utm_source=wlsmkto&utm_campaign=cv&utm_content=ac:vbg:em1&mkt_tok=MzI0LUJaRC0zNTAAAAGEUsX65jUllIrlh3Y76iMPt2RHT365FdnLIlfh5FWMPdbtsuy3xHFQvfH97advhCx0NE-m1RRwyM5Fk09cbuXUTG0M3GNTKKVZe-G0ONg6aHmG3DxoxsM1tehojiIW">Small
Business Digital Ready program</a> has the goal of helping 1 million small
businesses “thrive in the digital economy.” The program includes free courses
on subjects like search engine optimization (<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SEO),
working remotely, and finance management (e.g., good credit management). It
offers one-on-one and group coaching and mentoring with experts from your
industry, as well as networking opportunities with other small business owners.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A success story is highlighted on the program’s website. A <a href="https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-training?cmp=emc:wlsmkto:ac:vbg:cv:em1&utm_medium=emc&utm_source=wlsmkto&utm_campaign=cv&utm_content=ac:vbg:em1&mkt_tok=MzI0LUJaRC0zNTAAAAGEUsX65slRGvLhvhaRZBD9Ei00UK0XteF6GmsnXWVREKECZsZI42U1rIHJ5XT_bm1oTNPuom79T7P5phXNKJ7tQSa_sRkIxkL0k8JihiKZSYbNfwLQEFOLFpBdzjE0">food
truck owner</a> in Philadelphia took a Social Media 101 course that was personalized
to her business, helping her market her food truck better and attract a larger
clientele.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Verizon is also offering $10,000 grants to small businesses.
Applicants must <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">complete two
courses or coaching events between January 1 and June 30, 2022, and must <a href="https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-training?CMP=OLA_CON_OTH_11111_NA_20210909_NA_M20210120_00001">apply
for the grant</a> by June 30, 2022.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can register for the Small Business Digital Ready
program <a href="https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-training?CMP=OLA_CON_OTH_11111_NA_20210909_NA_M20210120_00001">here</a>,
email <a href="mailto:digitalready@verizon.com">digitalready@verizon.com</a>,
or call +1(800)-916-4351.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I looked quickly to see if competing wireless carriers are
offering anything similar. <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/small-business-opportunity">T-Mobile</a>
offers small businesses $200 to spend on digital advertising, apparently
limited to Facebook. I didn’t find anything for AT&T or Sprint.</p>
<p><style>@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michele Straubehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00233881608851013302noreply@blogger.com0