University of the People - the first tution-free Online University

Shai Reshef is Founder and President of The University of the People (UoPeople) the world's first tuition-free online academic institution dedicated to the democratization of higher education. The methodology is particularly adapted to developing countries that don't always have broadband connection.

University of the People - Shai Reshef about the first tution-free Online University

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Related links
Finding Einstein: Shai Reshef at TEDxKC (YouTube).
University of the People (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
UoPeople: The First Three Years.

About University of the People (UoPeople)

University of the People (UoPeople) is the world’s first tuition-free, non-profit, online academic institution dedicated to opening access to higher education globally for all qualified individuals, despite financial, geographic or societal constraints.

Founded in 2009 by educational entrepreneur Shai Reshef, UoPeople is affiliated with the United Nations GAID, the Clinton Global Initiative, and Yale Law School ISP. UoPeople has signed collaborative partnership agreements with New York University (NYU) to accept students; and with Hewlett-Packard (HP), through the Catalyst Initiative, to provide student internship opportunities. UoPeople offers undergraduate programs in Business Administration and Computer Science. To date, more than 1500 students from 135 countries have been admitted. Of students polled consecutively each term, 95% would recommend UoPeople to a peer.

With its tuition-free online programs, University of the People is opening access to higher education for all those constrained, as well as building a scalable and replicable model capable of changing the very nature of higher education. The non-profit UoPeople has managed to succeed in cutting down almost the entire cost of higher education, and does not charge for tuition or books/materials. All that is asked is for students to pay a one-time application processing fee ($50) and subsequent modest examination processing fees ($100) levied per course. There are no other fees whatsoever.
Read more...

Source: elearningeuropa.info and Kanal von 99FacesTV Channel (YouTube)

University of the People - the first tution-free Online University

Shai Reshef is Founder and President of The University of the People (UoPeople) the world's first tuition-free online academic institution dedicated to the democratization of higher education. The methodology is particularly adapted to developing countries that don't always have broadband connection.

University of the People - Shai Reshef about the first tution-free Online University

Popud

Related links
Finding Einstein: Shai Reshef at TEDxKC (YouTube).
University of the People (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
UoPeople: The First Three Years.

About University of the People (UoPeople)

University of the People (UoPeople) is the world’s first tuition-free, non-profit, online academic institution dedicated to opening access to higher education globally for all qualified individuals, despite financial, geographic or societal constraints.

Founded in 2009 by educational entrepreneur Shai Reshef, UoPeople is affiliated with the United Nations GAID, the Clinton Global Initiative, and Yale Law School ISP. UoPeople has signed collaborative partnership agreements with New York University (NYU) to accept students; and with Hewlett-Packard (HP), through the Catalyst Initiative, to provide student internship opportunities. UoPeople offers undergraduate programs in Business Administration and Computer Science. To date, more than 1500 students from 135 countries have been admitted. Of students polled consecutively each term, 95% would recommend UoPeople to a peer.

With its tuition-free online programs, University of the People is opening access to higher education for all those constrained, as well as building a scalable and replicable model capable of changing the very nature of higher education. The non-profit UoPeople has managed to succeed in cutting down almost the entire cost of higher education, and does not charge for tuition or books/materials. All that is asked is for students to pay a one-time application processing fee ($50) and subsequent modest examination processing fees ($100) levied per course. There are no other fees whatsoever.
Read more...

Source: elearningeuropa.info and Kanal von 99FacesTV Channel (YouTube)

New Bedford students: learning in the virtual world by SARAH GONET

"The virtual world is everywhere. It's changed how we communicate, shop and pay our bills" summarizes SARAH GONET. 

Students take classes at New Bedford High School in the Virtual High School Collaborative room. All of the classes are taken over the internet. Photo: SouthCoastToday.com

And last week, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation that establishes a framework governing virtual schools — that is, schools where students are not required to be in a physical building, but instead take classes and interact with their teachers online or through other computer-based methods.

 

But is it a good forum for high school students to access their education? Many believe it is, including some SouthCoast educators and students who have been testing the virtual waters for some time now.

"Let's face it, there are very few students entering college today who will graduate without being required to take part in some sort of online learning experience," said Tiffany Carrazedo, coordinator of New Bedford High School's Virtual High School (VHS) Collaborative program.

 

The Maynard, Mass.-based VHS Collaborative, a non-profit pioneer of online learning, promotes "co-synchronous e-learning"; it currently offers 190 unique courses to students in its ever growing roster of 679 member schools nationally and internationally.

 

As for the cost to join the Collaborative, its website says that varies depending on the membership options a school chooses. But the website notes that the cost of an individual enrollment in a VHS course is $450 per semester, while summer school courses are $225 for a 4-week session and $400 for an 8-week session.

 

Schools can join the Collaborative with memberships from 5 to 100 or more seats per semester and seats bundles purchased through a school membership are at discounted member rates, the site says.

 

For more information on the VHS Collaborative, visit http://thevhscollaborative.org.

About VHS Collaborative

VHS - A pioneer continuing to forge new paths. The VHS Collaborative is a non-profit organization that has literally changed the face of online and blended learning in high schools and middle schools across the country and around the world. Since 1996, we have brought art to the cornfields, math to the deserts, and science to the delta. The education students thought they couldn’t receive, and administrators thought they couldn’t afford, has been delivered via the Web by The VHS Collaborative.

We have not only taught children far and wide, we have taught their teachers, educating them in the many ways to leverage technology in the classroom. We have not replaced traditional classroom teaching; we have supplemented it. We have made high quality education available to all, regardless of location, and within the most stringent budgets.

Our vision is to remain the standard for online learning and to help all schools achieve the highest level of education for their students, preparing them to be productive citizens in a global world.

Source: SouthCoastToday.com

New Bedford students: learning in the virtual world by SARAH GONET

"The virtual world is everywhere. It's changed how we communicate, shop and pay our bills" summarizes SARAH GONET. 

Students take classes at New Bedford High School in the Virtual High School Collaborative room. All of the classes are taken over the internet. Photo: SouthCoastToday.com

And last week, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation that establishes a framework governing virtual schools — that is, schools where students are not required to be in a physical building, but instead take classes and interact with their teachers online or through other computer-based methods.

 

But is it a good forum for high school students to access their education? Many believe it is, including some SouthCoast educators and students who have been testing the virtual waters for some time now.

"Let's face it, there are very few students entering college today who will graduate without being required to take part in some sort of online learning experience," said Tiffany Carrazedo, coordinator of New Bedford High School's Virtual High School (VHS) Collaborative program.

 

The Maynard, Mass.-based VHS Collaborative, a non-profit pioneer of online learning, promotes "co-synchronous e-learning"; it currently offers 190 unique courses to students in its ever growing roster of 679 member schools nationally and internationally.

 

As for the cost to join the Collaborative, its website says that varies depending on the membership options a school chooses. But the website notes that the cost of an individual enrollment in a VHS course is $450 per semester, while summer school courses are $225 for a 4-week session and $400 for an 8-week session.

 

Schools can join the Collaborative with memberships from 5 to 100 or more seats per semester and seats bundles purchased through a school membership are at discounted member rates, the site says.

 

For more information on the VHS Collaborative, visit http://thevhscollaborative.org.

About VHS Collaborative

VHS - A pioneer continuing to forge new paths. The VHS Collaborative is a non-profit organization that has literally changed the face of online and blended learning in high schools and middle schools across the country and around the world. Since 1996, we have brought art to the cornfields, math to the deserts, and science to the delta. The education students thought they couldn’t receive, and administrators thought they couldn’t afford, has been delivered via the Web by The VHS Collaborative.

We have not only taught children far and wide, we have taught their teachers, educating them in the many ways to leverage technology in the classroom. We have not replaced traditional classroom teaching; we have supplemented it. We have made high quality education available to all, regardless of location, and within the most stringent budgets.

Our vision is to remain the standard for online learning and to help all schools achieve the highest level of education for their students, preparing them to be productive citizens in a global world.

Source: SouthCoastToday.com

Chat: Getting the Most Out of iPads in the Classroom

Photo: Jennie Magiera

In this chat, Jennie Magiera will take your questions on the instructional use of digital tablets and provide tips on maximizing their impact on student learning. She will also discuss how iPads have changed her views on teaching and education in the 21st century.

Getting the Most Out of iPads in the Classroom
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, 5 to 6 p.m. ET

A growing number of schools are purchasing iPads and other tablets for their classrooms, in hopes that they will bring greater connectivity and transform teaching and learning. But using iPads with students can pose challenges for even the most tech-savvy teacher, including issues related to workflow, syncing, support, and lesson planning.
Sign up here to receive an email reminder for this chat.

Guest:
Jennie Magiera, an Apple Distinguished Educator, is the digital learning coordinator for the Academy of Urban School Leadership, a network of 25 Chicago public schools.
She blogs at Teaching Like It's 2999.
Find her on Twitter @MsMagiera.
 

Note: No special equipment other than Internet access is needed to participate in any of our text-based chats. Participants may begin submitting questions the morning of the chat.

Chat: Getting the Most Out of iPads in the Classroom

Photo: Jennie Magiera

In this chat, Jennie Magiera will take your questions on the instructional use of digital tablets and provide tips on maximizing their impact on student learning. She will also discuss how iPads have changed her views on teaching and education in the 21st century.

Getting the Most Out of iPads in the Classroom
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, 5 to 6 p.m. ET

A growing number of schools are purchasing iPads and other tablets for their classrooms, in hopes that they will bring greater connectivity and transform teaching and learning. But using iPads with students can pose challenges for even the most tech-savvy teacher, including issues related to workflow, syncing, support, and lesson planning.
Sign up here to receive an email reminder for this chat.

Guest:
Jennie Magiera, an Apple Distinguished Educator, is the digital learning coordinator for the Academy of Urban School Leadership, a network of 25 Chicago public schools.
She blogs at Teaching Like It's 2999.
Find her on Twitter @MsMagiera.
 

Note: No special equipment other than Internet access is needed to participate in any of our text-based chats. Participants may begin submitting questions the morning of the chat.

Education and video games are no longer enemies by Ann Doss Helms

"People who worried that the technology boom would lead to kids playing video games in class were right" reports Ann Doss Helms.



Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In North Carolina and around the country, students are playing such games as Minecraft, World of Warcraft and Angry Birds – and their teachers are encouraging it.

“Video games are not the great evil that people make them out to be,” says Trish Cloud, technology instructor at Huntersville’s Torrence Creek Elementary, where she created a popular Minecraft club.

Cloud is part of a community of educators who love gaming and want to share that passion to help students learn. Those educators say that good video games can help students develop an array of skills – from writing and physics to teamwork and problem-solving.

Learning in Azeroth

Gillispie, 37, grew up playing computer games. He enjoys talking with his high school students about gaming, and it was a student who introduced him to online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft, often known as WoW...

Virtual Legos

Enter Minecraft, a game that pops players into various environments and requires them to construct shelter from roving “creepers,” spiders and zombies. There’s also a creative mode that lets players build without attacks...

Angry algebra

The best games, whether digital or physical, motivate players to master skills, says Tim Chartier, an associate professor of math at Davidson College. Classroom math, on the other hand, can seem painfully abstract...

Valerie Truesdale, who recently took CMS’ top technology job, says she’s fine with the array of alternatives to the traditional chain of communication.

“I think that digital learning and mobile devices are shaking up how everybody learns,” she said. “It’s all-the-time, everywhere learning. Everybody’s a teacher, and everybody’s a learner.”

Read more...  

Related links
World of Warcraft (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
Blog: Algebra in Angry Birds
Video: Using WoW in school
Video: Using Minecraft in school

Source: Charlotte Observer

Education and video games are no longer enemies by Ann Doss Helms

"People who worried that the technology boom would lead to kids playing video games in class were right" reports Ann Doss Helms.



Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In North Carolina and around the country, students are playing such games as Minecraft, World of Warcraft and Angry Birds – and their teachers are encouraging it.

“Video games are not the great evil that people make them out to be,” says Trish Cloud, technology instructor at Huntersville’s Torrence Creek Elementary, where she created a popular Minecraft club.

Cloud is part of a community of educators who love gaming and want to share that passion to help students learn. Those educators say that good video games can help students develop an array of skills – from writing and physics to teamwork and problem-solving.

Learning in Azeroth

Gillispie, 37, grew up playing computer games. He enjoys talking with his high school students about gaming, and it was a student who introduced him to online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft, often known as WoW...

Virtual Legos

Enter Minecraft, a game that pops players into various environments and requires them to construct shelter from roving “creepers,” spiders and zombies. There’s also a creative mode that lets players build without attacks...

Angry algebra

The best games, whether digital or physical, motivate players to master skills, says Tim Chartier, an associate professor of math at Davidson College. Classroom math, on the other hand, can seem painfully abstract...

Valerie Truesdale, who recently took CMS’ top technology job, says she’s fine with the array of alternatives to the traditional chain of communication.

“I think that digital learning and mobile devices are shaking up how everybody learns,” she said. “It’s all-the-time, everywhere learning. Everybody’s a teacher, and everybody’s a learner.”

Read more...  

Related links
World of Warcraft (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
Blog: Algebra in Angry Birds
Video: Using WoW in school
Video: Using Minecraft in school

Source: Charlotte Observer

Here Comes 2013: The Big Themes in Learning

Annie Murphy Paul writes, "Here are three big stories concerning education and learning that you’ll be hearing about in the year ahead—and some pointers on how to think about them".

Photo: http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/

1. SMART USE OF TECH.

Computers have been present in classrooms for a number of years now, of course, and in 2013 excitement about their potential to transform education will keep running high. Bulky desktop models will continue to give way to mobile devices like laptops, tablets, and even cell phones, and more schools will be experimenting with “BYOD”—telling students to “bring your own devices” to school.
Innovative teachers and administrators will find ever more ways to integrate technology into instruction—from simulating science experiments on the screen, to turning boring math and vocabulary drills into enjoyable games, to promoting online collaboration among students on history and language-arts projects.

At the same time, the runaway enthusiasm about edtech will begin to be tempered, I predict, by a more realistic sense of what computers can do for students, and what they can’t. Young people will still need to interact with classmates and teachers face to face. They will still need physical activityand hands-on experience with physical objects, whether in the art room or the science lab. And given all the time that kids spend staring at screens in school and out, they will still need plenty of time to be un-networked and unplugged.
Read more...

---

Take a closer look at this mobile Learning Series by MindShift and Spotlight on Digital Media & Learning.

This four-part series examines in-depth the evolution of using mobile devices for learning, from practical teaching tactics to shifting school policies and cultural changes.

•  How Teachers Make Cell Phones Work in the Classroom 
•  Amidst a Mobile Revolution in Schools Will Old Teaching Tactics Work? 
•  More Schools Welcome Cell Phones in the Class 
•  Augmented Reality, Coming Soon to a School Near You

---

Source: KQED (blog)

Here Comes 2013: The Big Themes in Learning

Annie Murphy Paul writes, "Here are three big stories concerning education and learning that you’ll be hearing about in the year ahead—and some pointers on how to think about them".

Photo: http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/

1. SMART USE OF TECH.

Computers have been present in classrooms for a number of years now, of course, and in 2013 excitement about their potential to transform education will keep running high. Bulky desktop models will continue to give way to mobile devices like laptops, tablets, and even cell phones, and more schools will be experimenting with “BYOD”—telling students to “bring your own devices” to school.
Innovative teachers and administrators will find ever more ways to integrate technology into instruction—from simulating science experiments on the screen, to turning boring math and vocabulary drills into enjoyable games, to promoting online collaboration among students on history and language-arts projects.

At the same time, the runaway enthusiasm about edtech will begin to be tempered, I predict, by a more realistic sense of what computers can do for students, and what they can’t. Young people will still need to interact with classmates and teachers face to face. They will still need physical activityand hands-on experience with physical objects, whether in the art room or the science lab. And given all the time that kids spend staring at screens in school and out, they will still need plenty of time to be un-networked and unplugged.
Read more...

---

Take a closer look at this mobile Learning Series by MindShift and Spotlight on Digital Media & Learning.

This four-part series examines in-depth the evolution of using mobile devices for learning, from practical teaching tactics to shifting school policies and cultural changes.

•  How Teachers Make Cell Phones Work in the Classroom 
•  Amidst a Mobile Revolution in Schools Will Old Teaching Tactics Work? 
•  More Schools Welcome Cell Phones in the Class 
•  Augmented Reality, Coming Soon to a School Near You

---

Source: KQED (blog)