Other Than Ivy League Education

In my humble opinion, the value of graduating from a name university is highly overrated.  And more so, going into debt for financing the attendance there definitely is.

Look around you, checking the educational background of high profile achievers in all kinds of fields, and look at their educational path, this is what you are going to find (histories picked from web):

Already 133 years ago, Frank Lloyd Wright (one of America’s greatest architects, interior designer, writer, and educator) was admitted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1886, but left after only one year.  Only then his real education started, and truly never ended.

In more modern times, Warren Buffett (CEO of Berkshire Hathaway) never had the intention of going to college. By 13, he was managing his own business as a paperboy. Yet, his father urged him to attend the University of Pennsylvania for business, which Warren did at age 16. After two years of complaining that he knew more than his professors, he moved on to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and finished his degree there, graduating from the University of Nebraska at age 19 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

Buffett wanted to keep his education going, so he applied to Harvard but was rejected. He then researched Columbia University, and earned a Master of Science in economics from Columbia in 1951. Then, shortly after graduation from Columbia, he briefly attended the New York Institute of Finance.

Bill Gates (Founder of Microsoft), you already know, attended Lakeside School 1967-1973, then Harvard College 1973-1975, when he dropped out.

FaceBook’s Mark Zuckerberg, you may recall, is another Harvard dropout.

Dell Computers’ Michael Dell dropped out of University of Texas at Austin his freshman year at the age of 19. …

Apple’s Steve Jobs dropped out of Reed College after just six months.

And so it goes …

Instead, these high performers got their high quality education from lesser known institutions and otherwise, all of which obviously did as good as, or even a better job, than the Ivy League colleges.  Not one of these superbly educated individuals went into debt in order to study.

And that’s of course how it should be:  Get your education at an affordable rate or entirely cost-free, if possible.  Which IS possible.  All it takes is to check out ALL avenues of learning.  You’ll be amazed how many there are.

One way to go, which was not available to Frank Lloyd Wright, not even to Warren Buffet and most of the others who needed education before the year 2000: is ONLINE.

Yes, great institutions of learning now exist which are entirely ONLINE.  No need to enter any classrooms or travel across town or the country.  The teachers and all the supporting evidence for your studies come to you, wherever you are, and can be replayed as often as you like.  In comparison to brick-and-mortar institutions of learning, the cost of online learning is rather negligible; for sure no need to go into debt for. Even, there are many courses which are entirely cost-free.

So, no excuse for NOT studying for whatever you are interested in learning, nor taking out loans to get your learning.  Here find a list of Accredited Online Programs, Colleges & Universities:

https://straube.org/accredited-online-programs-colleges-universities/

Ideally, learning should not mean a substantial outlay of money, but be affordable, inspiring and fun.  By these parameters, ONLINE is a good way to go.  Enjoy!

A Perspective of Low-Income, First Generation Students

I recently stumbled across two very meaningful blog posts that gave a perspective of being a low-income, first-generation student. First-generation being that the student is the first in his/her family to attend a four-year college. The blogs were written by Andrew Martinez, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and research associate at the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions.

Andrew Martinez talks about how when he was at a college orientation why he felt like he did not belong. For example, he had to take a summer bridge program to "catch up" academically, while other students either traveled over the summer or did an internship. Another example is that sometimes wealthy parents or peers may intentionally or accidentally remind him that an elite school was not meant for someone like him. A way that this may be portrayed is that Martinez may be labeled as a pity-admit stemming from Affirmative Action. To some extent, Martinez admitted that this may be true, however, he felt like he was completely deserving of this opportunity because he had to work harder for his academic accomplishments.

All in all, his writing is quite inspirational and my short-summary simply does not do it justice. I highly encourage you to read his pieces, as it will give you either a better perspective on people born in a less advantageous position or if you are also a first-gen student, it may hit home with you.

Cheers!

URL to blogposts:

What I Remember About Orientation as a Low-Income, First-Generation Student
https://diverseeducation.com/article/153425/

The Opportunity of Being First-Gen

https://diverseeducation.com/article/121293/

Reading Retention on Paper vs. Digitally

In a recent Education Dive article, the issue of retention between reading digitally and on paper was discussed. This article cited the Hechinger Report, conducted by Virginia Clinton, a professor at the University of North Dakota. In this report, "results indicate that retention after reading printed text improves more than a fifth of a standard deviation". The Education Dive article explained that a possible reason for this result was that textbooks receive more respect than digital prints and that students would put more effort into reading on paper publications. I do really agree with this point because simply reading words on a page does not mean that the reader would understand the material. To understand the material, a reader must "read critically" and be able to apply the concepts to other scenarios.

The article proceeded to say that even though many schools are now transitioning into less on paper prints to save money and paper, they should still provide students with the option to choose between both resources. Even though the results from the research may say that on paper prints may be better, I do prefer digital textbooks as a student. One of the benefits of a digital textbook is that my back won't be aching after a long day of carrying a heavy textbook around. In addition, a digital textbook allows a student to easily and quickly access the text on a phone or laptop anywhere. While reading retention may be higher with a paper textbook, I believe that students can re-read a digital textbook more times than an on-paper textbook, thanks to it being very convenient, which also leads to good retention.

URL to article: https://www.educationdive.com/news/studies-indicate-students-retain-more-reading-printed-text/560865/

URL to Hechinger Report: https://hechingerreport.org/evidence-increases-for-reading-on-paper-instead-of-screens/?utm_source=The+Hechinger+Report&utm_campaign=ba8eae1929-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_WEEKLY_2019_08_13_03_42&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d3ee4c3e04-ba8eae1929-322678169

Ways Technology is Helping Schools

No More Snow Days in Pennsylvania

This is one of the more interesting pieces of legislature that I have seen this year. In July, PA Governor Tom Wolf, signed a bill into law that allowed schools to have five days of flexible instruction. While the above article noted technology as an option on these days, other creative means of instruction may also be possible. Understandably, kids will be disappointed that their snow days are now cyber-learning days, however, teachers that struggle to keep pace with a difficult curriculum will be able to keep the students moving at a reasonable pace, even when schools are closed.

'Paperless First Day' attendance recording boosts efficiency

This is another great example of technology. For example, "schools [spend] an average of $50,000 a year on paper and ink", which adds up over the years honestly. This could be money that is well spent on technology and eliminates the cost of paper and ink. In addition, the article also states that in today's day and age, "students also often prefer to work on screens rather than paper", which is a statement that I can confidently attest to as a student myself.

Another added benefit of technology is efficiency. Texas' Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, Director of Digital Learning Chad Jones states that the paperless initiative has been a "game-changer" because the schools can easily track absences without delay. However, he also noted that while these gadgets may seem useful, a school district must have a clear willingness to make changes for a program like this to work.

URLs: https://patch.com/pennsylvania/newtown-pa/no-more-snow-days-pa-governor-signs-flexible-instruction-law

https://www.educationdive.com/news/paperless-first-day-attendance-recording-boosts-efficiency/560203/

Happiness U...Wait what?

Recently, Win Straube made an interesting suggestion regarding a school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that educates its students on non-traditional academic topics. Their mission is to, "teach that which was not taught in a traditional classroom about how to live a heart-centered life". In addition to this, they want to teach their students that finding happiness is completely within their control by accepting life. To find their full mission statement, click here.

Happiness U offers both online and in-person courses, so don't worry if you're not based in Hawaii! Below is a short overview of some of the online courses that they provide.

Click here to view online courses.

I did actually find a few especially interesting classes at Happiness U, such as: 

• Western Astrology and Chinese Astrology Combined!
• Life Purpose 101
• Healthy Money Mindset 101  

Click here for a full menu of classes offered at Happiness U.

I do believe that these classes are important to both full-time students and those who are already working full-time. You've heard it a million times, but life really is about finding a balance. Too much work and too little life management can lead to negative mindsets and fatigue. On the other hand, too much leisure and too little work can also lead to anxiety and stress. I hope that with this post, readers can utilize this excellent tool to find balance and happiness!

Ways To Reduce College Tuition

There is a great contest for individual economic opportunity as well as a desire for America’s economic prosperity. As a result, the job market has become grossly competitive, making the attainment of a postsecondary credential essentially a necessity. And while having a college degree has become more important than ever, the cost of attending college has become higher than ever. This creates the dilemma that haunts a majority of American citizens; go to college and receive a degree along with thousands of dollars of debt, or skip out and risk the inability to secure a steady stream of income and security. Since both of these options only offer extremes and neither seems to suggest a win-win situation, I have put together a list that can propose some sort of middle ground. It turns out there are many ways to reduce the cost of attending college so that you are able to earn that bachelor’s degree without drowning yourself in a heap of debt. Here are four ways to lower college tuition:

Legacy Scholarships: Having family members who graduated from a school makes you a “legacy”, and while many people think this only sometimes comes into play during the admissions process, it can actually play a role in reducing tuition as well. Some schools offer special scholarships and programs to legacies, such as the Legacy Program at Pittsburgh State University, or even children of faculty and staff that can cut some expenses. Make sure you are aware of and take advantage of the scholarships that are available to you.

Attend a “no-tuition” college: There are up to 12 schools in the United States that cover the full tuition for every student that enrolls (Forbes). Some examples are Barclay College and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

Take courses over the summer: This is becoming a very popular course of action for many college students. Courses generally do not cost as much over the summer as they do during the regular school year. In addition, it is a good way to expedite the college process in order to graduate a semester or two early; further reducing the amount of tuition to be paid.

Attend college overseas: Many countries offer a great quality of education at a much lower price than the U.S. Additionally countries such as Norway and Germany do not charge tuition to college students—international students included.

For even more ways to reduce college tuition, visit: https://www.forbes.com/sites/vanessamcgrady/2015/09/25/23ways/#599d678b791d

By Chizbel Oham

Recommended Read: As K-12 virtual reality use grows, researchers consider impact on children

In a day and age of technology, where education has inevitably crossed roads, schools are slowly implementing more and more types of gadgets. Virtual reality is a gadget that has risen in popularity over the last few years. It involves a user wearing a headset that covers both eyes completely. In this, an immersive experience is provided and the user may feel as though they are in a different world. In fact, there are even more advanced virtual reality systems that incorporate the entire body so that the experience can be even more involved, such as a game that simulates riding a roller coaster.

However, schools are now slowly incorporating the use of virtual reality devices in classrooms and many parents and researchers are concerned that this device can affect a child's development because it may be over-stimulating. One may ask why schools would take the risk on a child's development for such a device. The answer is that this device has brought many educational benefits to a child's learning. Instead of learning from a dry, boring textbook, kids are put in an environment where they can see what they are learning. In fact, students who are learning English benefit the most because they can see the words that they are learning and easily understand what it is. Another example is that a virtual reality set can bring students on a class trip to some extent. When the students strap on a headset, they can be taken to Antarctica and be given a visual understanding of a setting. Obviously, a real-life Antarctica trip with elementary school students is not plausible.

The benefits of virtual reality for students are rich, however, the number of possible consequences that it brings along for a child's development is also a serious matter. In this day and age, it is important for educators to not be shy from testing out new technologies, but also be observant and cautious of potential harmful signs.

To read the full article: https://www.educationdive.com/news/as-vr-use-grows-in-k-12-researchers-consider-its-impact-on-children/555085/