Group items tagged

The widespread use of search engines and online databases has affected the way people remember information, researchers are reporting.

This article describes what people are doing to close the gap between male and female involvement in after-school sports programs. This is important because it also reflects concern over health, nutrition, and social interaction.

I find this look at music and arts to be particularly intersting - especially in light of the fact that many schools are cutting back on these subjects so that they can concentrate on subjects that are tested with standardized scores.

This is an interesting article on tracking students. Stamford, CT is doing away finally with the system because it fails low-level students.

New reform in the school tracking system to help eliminate the achievement gap, along with the stigma of who is better than another in the school. The schools division of students based on academic performance in the past has determined their path through school based on a single standarized test. The school is now working to mix the ability in each class. Why it took so long for this school to catch up to others around it I have no clue but this new development seems to be a much better idea, and will also promote self-efficacy among all students.

After writing my wikipedia article on cramming, I thought this article illustrated the differences of American and Chinese schooling very accurately. This article describes the gao kao, or high test, that serves as the only enterence method into Chinese universities. Many students study upwards of 16 hours a day in preparation for this exam, which lasts 9 hours and is only given once a year. The article also demonstrates the key differences in educational theory and questions whether memorization is an effective learning tool.

Reed College, a private institution of higher education located in Portland, Oregon has been forced to change how they accept potential students for the 2010-2011 school year. Financial aid is running out, and the college has faced the difficult decision of admitting students who can only afford attending the school without help from additional funds. Faced with a decreasing endowment, the college is looking at other means of cutting costs without drastically changing the schools' academic mission. Admitting students who are financially secure dramatically changes the student body of Reed College. The article further describes the financial hardship this school is facing, such as submitting to hiring and salary freezes among other cost-cutting measures.

I thought this article was neat. It is great that NYU is offering space on its campus so the younger kids will have a place to go to school. :o)

This is an interesting article about the current market for teaching jobs in New York City.

An interesting look at an online "text" created by teachers in the home of creating more in-depth knowledge (rather than rushing through traditional textbook chapters).

Connecticut school is going back to the basics with their math instruction. They are going online to provide lessons for their students and THROWING OUT the textbook. Its just what we discussed in a prior reading about the girl getting up in the middle of the night to do algebra on the computer. I find it interesting that their approach to getting back to the foundations of math has already improved student retention of material and better standardized test scores. Could this be a trend for more courses to come??

This article describes in detail the difficulties many colleges are facing in regards to their athletic programs. In light of student activity, academic, and other university fee increases, many students are reluctant to approve increases to keep varsity sport programs afloat. Although the reasoning is justified, maintaining athletic programs is vital to the operation of many universities, especially when sport teams are generally considered the most visible entity a school has to promote their academic mission. The article also mentions the involvement of the NCAA and their lack of research and assistance when it comes to monetary issues for member institutions, especially with schools which lack a football program.

This articles describes a "dream team" of teachers coming together to form a small charter school in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. Making six-figure salaries and hailing from various walks of life all over the nation, the aim of this school is to prove that teachers hold the key in improving individual student performance and instilling a thirst for knowledge in pupils. The school will cater to low performing students mostly of low-income Hispanic families, and the teachers will have additional responsibilities on top of being in the classroom.

NYC public school students showed increases in their math scores this year. Some say they show great increases and are reasons that the school should stay in the control of the mayor. Others argue that the improved scores are misleading - educators are getting used to the testing and know what to expect and they are thinking of raising the scores.

The United States Supreme Court will soon decide whether or not public schools must reimburse parents of special-education students for private-school tuition. This is a decision that could have major repurcussions for school budgets and also the services available to special-education students.

This article presents an interesting picture on Arne Duncan and his wish to shut down and reopen failing schools in an effort to deal with the legacy of No Child Left Behind.

Here is a new look at the much-discussed subject of women bridging opportunities in science. While women who get jobs in science seem to be holding them and doing well, they are still a small percentage in the applicant pool.

I found this interesting since one of my newspaper analysis articles focused on a school that was shutting down due to poor performance. Also, one of those articles was from the Chicago Tribune which boasted about how great their public school system was in 1858, what has happened now?