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/

Evaluating Taking Online Courses while Enrolled in College

A recent Education Dive article, "Community college students more likely to take, prefer online classes", dug into how online courses have become an alternative for in-person classes. For example, students in community colleges were four times more likely than four-year college students to have recently taken an online course. In addition, researchers found that "Community college students who prefer entirely or mostly online classes tend to be those who are women, work, are married or in a domestic partnership, or have dependents". In other words, those who carry significant life responsibilities in addition to academic work prefer to enroll in online courses.

While the article was subjective and did not carry any sort of viewpoints, I do want to provide some student opinions in this posting regarding the two facts stated in the above paragraph.

As a student at a four-year college, we enroll in courses for the next semester a few months before the end of the current semester. During enrollment last semester, I realized that for the five classes I was prescribed to enroll in, three of those had an online option. It was actually mind-boggling because my "potential class schedule" looked like I only had classes 2 days a week. While having this flexible option is excellent for students who work concurrently with their studies, I opted to take all 5 of my courses with in-person instruction.

Points that led to my decision

1. Online courses require a great deal of self-discipline. Since it has greater flexibility, students often find themselves falling behind in online courses. 
2. The level of difficulty and quantity of coursework are similar to an in-person class (at least it should be). While many students do try to take online courses as an "easier, or less work" option, this is usually a fallacy. For example, many online courses still require students to write the same essays as the in-person class. The difference is that an instructor grades your work remotely.
3. The quality of education is lower. Like I stated above, an instructor grades your work remotely, meaning that students lose many opportunities for academic advising. 
4. The cost is similar to an in-person class if you are already enrolled in a community or four-year college. Many schools simply charge you a full-time semester fee or on a per-credit basis. Since online courses are supposed to be a legitimate/accredited alternative to in-person courses, the workload and credits must be identical. My opinion is that if I am paying tens of thousands to attend college already, I might as well get my money's worth by sitting in a classroom.
5. Less networking opportunities. Simply put, online courses have less student-professor interactions. These interactions can prove to be extremely valuable networking opportunities. 

While I did list many points against online courses above, I do recognize that sometimes the benefits of having more flexibility may be more important than the reasons above. The purpose of this article is to hopefully educate students to make more sound decisions in choosing an online course and not to just take it cause it is an easier course. Before making any rash course decisions, I highly recommend speaking to an academic advisor first.

Cheers!

Article URL: https://www.educationdive.com/news/community-college-students-more-likely-to-take-prefer-online-classes/556491/