I Tunes U

This interesting app created by Apple is a game changer for education. Please see more by following the  link below

https://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/

Thank you Bill Martin for sharing this!

Posted by Bill Martin

Exploring children’s power of self-organized learning to reduce the achievement gap in education

An urgent issue in the U.S. is the wide and growing gap between low and high achieving students⁽¹⁾. Young African Americans are only about half as likely as white students to earn a bachelor’s degree by age 29, and young Latinos are only one-third as likely as whites to earn a college degree⁽²⁾.

The achievement gap issue has been studied by various authors and has been the reason behind a number of special education projects⁽³⁾. One additional strategy that could be explored and adapted to the American situation is the Minimally Invasive Education (MIE) strategy.  MIE was developed by Sugata Mitra of India as part of his world renowned “Hole in the Wall Project.” Sugata’s strategy focuses on creating a SOLE (Self Organizing Learning Environment) where learning  happens naturally.

The three main components of a SOLE are 1) computer/ broadband, 2) collaboration, and 3) encouragement/ admiration. SOLEs need a computer with internet connection, a spirit of friendship and collaboration among those involved, and a role model( not necessarily a teacher) to be there offering encouragement and admiration to the students.

The “Hole in the Wall” Project found that  when provided a computer  to groups of children, they are able to organize and teach themselves. Mitra has found this to be true in various parts of India as well as Australia, England, Italy, South Africa, etc.

Mitra found that the children’s ability to teach themselves seems to be independent of their educational background, literacy level, social or economic status, ethnicity and place of origin. As well as their gender, geographic location (i.e., city, town, or village) or intelligence⁽⁴⁾. If low American achievers are placed in a Self Organizing Learning Environment from a young age, there is a possibility that the current size of the achievement gap in schools could be significantly reduced.

In an American experiment, students in a gang-ridden  middle school were provided laptops.  There was a concern that there would be “too much play and not enough work.” However this was found not  to be true⁽⁵⁾.  The laptops actually made the students more “engaged” and “more attentive.”

HOLE-IN-THE-WALL PROJECT

To watch “Sugata Mitra TED 2013 Winning Talk,” click here.

REFERENCES/ WEBSITES CITED

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States

(2) http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar01/vol58/num06/Closing-the-Achievement-Gap.aspx

(3) https://www.brookings.edu/articles/unequal-opportunity-race-and-education/

(4) https://www.edutopia.org/blog/self-organized-learning-sugata-mitra

(5) http://online.wsj.com/ad/article/laptop-evolve

Posted by: Dr. Nat Tuivavalagi 

Online Colleges

I read an article by US News that spoke of online education and the degrees students were achieving.  I found it amazing how far education has come. No longer does one need to sit in a classroom to receive a college degree. This article referred to all the different online degrees that can be achieved. This being ideal for the working student,  full time mother or father, the college student working full time to afford his/her education and others. These programs make it easier for older students to go back to school and earn a degree which they may not have otherwise earned in their earlier years.

Some of the programs offered are:

Bachelor’s Programs

·         Pursuing a bachelor’s degree online is a great option for students who are returning to college but are uninterested in more traditional campus life. An online undergraduate education can also help students accelerate their career as they balance work and school.

            

• The bachelor's program offers courses in Accounting, Business Administration   and Management, Computer Science and Health care administration plus others.

Graduate Programs

 Earning a master's degree online can help professionals get ahead in their career – whether it's to change fields or advance into a management role.

•  The Graduate program offers courses in Accounting, Business Administration and Management and many others. If you click on the full list of courses offered it sends you to another site that shows the user which universities offer these online programs. From Temple University to Carnegie Melon University not only does the student receive an online education but an education that one can be proud of.

 MBA & Graduate Business Programs

An online master’s degree in business can equip students with leadership skills that are vital to advancing careers. Many programs offer opportunities to network with classmates and business leaders.

How wonderful that a professional student can expand their field of expertise with this online program. Not only does this help enhance one's career but it shows the student that you are never too old to pursue a degree.

There are many other programs offered for the online student. As our society depends on technology more and more this becomes a simpler way to receive an education and not have to leave the comfort of your home. The student receives a full education on his/her schedule. 

Please refer to this article for more information: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education

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