Lessons From Catholic Schools for Public Educators

Lessons From Catholic Schools for Public Educators By SAMUEL G. FREEDMAN

What one might call the Catholic-school model is perhaps the most unappreciated influence on the nation’s continuing public-education debate.

Hispanic College Fund Promotes Higher Education for Hispanics in US

VOAvideo — Hispanic College Fund Promotes Higher Education for Hispanics in US, April 28, 2010 — Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, but make up only a small percentage of young people attending university.The Hispanic College Fund is working to change that. Faiza Elmasry has more in this report narrated by Deborah Block.

Stanford Computer Science: Have a Class for That

Stanford Computer Science: Have a Class for That By BRAD STONE, NYTimes

Stanford’s online course is pretty much the way to learn about iPhone application development these days.

Plagiarism Patrol: Exactly How Personal Is That Personal Statement?

Exactly How Personal Is That Personal Statement? NYTimes

Plagiarism Patrol: Catching cut-and-paste malfeasance on college applications.

So You Want to Be a Player?

So You Want to Be a Player? By CECILIA CAPUZZI SIMON, NYTimes

How a schoolteacher landed a fantasy job in sports management.

• Knowing the Score

Living With the Boss

Living With the Boss By AMANDA M. FAIRBANKS, NYTimes

Externships give students some perspective on potential career paths, as well as a chance to try out what they’ve learned.

• Slide Show: Modern-Day Apprentices

Paying for College on Your Own

Paying for College on Your Own By SAMANTHA STAINBURN, NYimes

Getting financial aid when parents won’t chip in.

Audit This: 12 Courses Worth a Click

Audit This: 12 Courses Worth a Click NYTimes

Why homeschool? Maybe to brush up for an exam, get a sense of what a college is like, or just to learn. In the articles listed below, writers who know the fields weigh in on some of the highlights of free education.

• Syllabus Sampler
• Economics Yale: My Teacher Is an Index
• French Carnegie Mellon: Voilà! A Better e-Course
• Music Connexions: The Music Lesson
• History M.I.T.: Asian Culture Through a Lens
• Psychology Yale: Why We Go Cuckoo for …
• Psychology Yale: Smiles, Sex and Object Permanence
• Genetics U.C.L.A.: Decoding DNA
• Physics U.C. Berkeley: Atoms and Antimatter
• Physics U.C. Irvine: The Marvel of Science
• Linear Algebra M.I.T.: The Matrix
• Computer Science Stanford: They Have a Class for That
• Anatomy U.C. Berkeley: The Inner Body

California's university system: What went wrong?

California's university system: What went wrong? By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury
Posted: 04/18/2010 12:00:00 AM PDT

"Fifty years ago this month, California promised a low-cost, high-quality university education for every qualified high school graduate in the state. But that promise — inflated by growing populations and academic aspirations — expanded beyond the state's willingness to pay for it.

What went wrong? How did the university system that was long the envy of the world suddenly become the focus of angry street protests, overcrowded classrooms, soaring tuition and a monumental debate over whether the state can ever make good again on its groundbreaking mission?" (read more...)

U.S. Falls Short in Measure of Future Math Teachers

U.S. Falls Short in Measure of Future Math Teachers By SAM DILLON

American college students earned a C on a new test comparing their skills with their counterparts in 15 other countries.

An Open Mind

An Open Mind By KATIE HAFNER, NYTimes

Putting free courseware online was a first step in reimagining education. What now? Wiki U’s, smart courses and, maybe, learning.

• How to Learn Something for Nothing
• What They're Watching
• Interactive Feature: Syllabus Sampler »
• Post a Comment »

SAT Verbal Prep Break

My mom has been very, very, very sick and has just returned from a week-long hospital stay. Forgive the intermittent posts--I hope to return to regularly posting soon.

Jennifer Gagliardi
SAT Verbal Prep
gagliajn@gmail.com

'Math wars' over national standards may erupt again in California

'Math wars' over national standards may erupt again in California by Sharon Nogushi, SJ Mercury News, 03/31/10

While math formulas and properties may be delightfully precise, how best to teach them to children is not. As the United States prepares for the first time to adopt nationwide K-12 "common core" standards, mathematicians and educators are split.

Stanford admission rate sets new record for competitiveness

Stanford admission rate sets new record for competitiveness by Lisa Krieger, 03/29/10

Entry into Stanford University once again broke records for competitiveness, with seats offered to 7.2 percent of applicants to the Class of 2014, down from 7.6 percent last year.

Santa Clara County schools superintendent gets mixed marks

Santa Clara County schools superintendent gets mixed marks by Sharon Noguchi, San Jose Mercury News, 04/05/20

Now, 21 months into Charles Weis' tenure as the county's top schools' official, dissatisfaction is mounting with a superintendent that critics say is too often absent and ill-prepared. For his part, Weis says he's making progress but found 'school systems change slowly.'

Race to the Top should be left behind

Race to the Top should be left behind by Heather Kim, SFGate, 04/04/10

After reading aloud from an essay about the fast-food industry, I threw a typical softball question to the students of a UC Berkeley composition class:

"What's the argument of the paragraph?"

Silence . . .

Growth of Unpaid Internships May Be Illegal, Officials Say

Growth of Unpaid Internships May Be Illegal, Officials Say By STEVEN GREENHOUSE, NYTimes 04/02/10

The number of unpaid internships has climbed in recent years, leading officials to worry that employers are illegally using interns for free labor.

College Grads' Outlook Grim

College Grads' Outlook Grim by Sara Murrat, Wall Street Journal, 04/03/10

Despite signs of life in the job market, the outlook for newly minted college graduates remains grim and many are trying new strategies for landing positions—including starting their job hunts earlier than usual.

• Real Time Econ: Tips for New College Grads

More Industries Require Test-Taking

More Industries Require Test-Taking by Diane Middleton, Wall Street Journal, 04/01/10

Many companies outside of finance and insurance are encouraging employees to sit for certification exams—and some are flat-out requiring the effort.

"DIY U": The end of university prestige

"DIY U": The end of university prestige By Jed Lipinski, Salon.com

How the growth of online learning is changing the way we think about higher education...As Anya Kamenetz suggests in "DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education," these problems, and the fact that students and teachers are increasingly venturing beyond campus walls to gather and share information, spell trouble for the future of the conventional university.