Saturday, July 28, 2012

Education in the US is Self-Destructing

It doesn't take an engineer of the private space industry to figure out that we have a problem with education in the US and whereas, it isn't as bad as folks claim, it's also not as good as it could be either. So, rather than condemning our schools, laying off teachers, and closing some perhaps we need to re-think our schools going forward in the age of instant information. Is the Obama Administration doing that? Well, they are trying, I can agree with that.
For instance they have established a research arm for education modeled after DARPA Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, and why not, it's worked for the Intelligence Agencies with IARPA and for the DOE with ARPA-E ("E" for energy), so there is no doubt it will work too to assist in education. Still, we need to expedite these new technologies if we are to save our schools, otherwise they will fall behind the needs of this future generation of leaders. After all, a nation is only as strong as it's schools were 20-years the prior right? I think we can all agree with that as well.
Not long ago, an acquaintance mentioned to me after reading an article in "Yahoo! News" titled "Barack H. Obama Elementary to close" and she stated who knows; "Maybe this is a good sign of the future of the anointed one. Close the school named after him and closes his chances of impressing anyone in the future with his political nothingness." As we discussed the irony of this situation, she lamented that although this is surely a coincidence it is also a foreshadowing of things to come with President Obama's legacy, chances for re-election, and promises for hope and change.
Indeed, I thought about the closing of this school, and the many others around our nations, perhaps for budget cuts, or due to lack of performance, and I thought, yes, we have problems and challenges in education. And yes, this particular school closing, well, it's part of a major round of budget cuts, but you have to admit it is a nice piece for the news, due to the fact it is rather ironic, as Barak H. Obama has been so adamant about the need for education and his fever in devising a plan to fix it, using the (purported) greatest minds in academia to devise a plan.
In fact, I thanked my acquaintance for sending me this news, and our follow-up dialogues and said; "I think I'll do an article on this. Thanks," which led me to write this piece. Still, it's all part of a much bigger picture isn't it? Sure it is, we have a terrible problem with education in this country and nothing really seems to be working - and I think everyone knows it too. Yes, this is a controversial topic, but it is one we discuss rather often at our think tank. So, sound off with any comments, questions, and or concerns you might have in this venue. Think on it.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Deployed Troops Have Online Educational Opportunities

According to Georgia-based newspaper The Times-Herald, Army specialist William Ward is pursuing a criminal justice degree online while stationed in Iraq. Ward, a wheeled vehicle mechanic, has completed 28 of a 67-credit associate's degree program. He told the news provider that he expects to be halfway finished with the requirements by the end of his Army tenure, of which he has three more years.
Ward, who is enrolled in a web-based college out of Texas, was an electrician before joining the Army. He decided he wanted a new challenge, and now his ultimate goal is to become a police officer.
Many distance learning institutions offer online bachelor's degree education that is catered to members of the armed forces. According to The News-Leader, a community college in Missouri recently reached an agreement with a four-year university in Maryland that allows associate's degree recipients to transfer their credits and pursue the bachelor's degree through the larger school's online program.
The junior college's president said that the main focus of the agreement was to better accommodate military personnel, who can be deployed at any time. Students who are stationed overseas have many different career paths, such as pursuing a general business degree online or enrolling in human resource management courses. Soldiers who are interested in continuing their quest to protect Americans from outside threats may consider a cyber crime justice degree online.
And it's not just male soldiers who are taking advantage of distance learning opportunities. According to ABC news affiliate KCRG 9, Army specialist Emily Keating is studying to become a personal trainer while she is stationed in Afghanistan. She told the news source that her military schedule is conducive to academic success because she works better on a strict deadline.
Keating added that apart from the weapons, the military is not that different from a college setting in terms of camaraderie. Just like a graduate returning from college, Keating hopes to return to America with plenty of job prospects.
While they may be thousands of miles from a college campus, deployed military personnel can still follow their dreams while helping preserve freedom. At the very least, some individuals can at least take the first steps toward a promising career. Many general education classes are available for those who wish to earn a degree in teaching.
Soldiers who are computer-savvy may consider enrolling in e-commerce training.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Middle School Students Take an Educational Tour of Georgia

Recently, I worked with Cathy Carlton, a Social Studies teacher for Bennett's Mill Middle School in Fayetteville, Georgia, to create an itinerary for a class trip that encompassed historical highlights of the state of Georgia. Her class on Georgia history spans an entire school year. The class begins with the prehistoric Indians and continues with Colonial studies, a close look at the American Revolution, the antebellum period and Civil War. Studies also include a consideration of the impact of modern wars, a look at regions of Georgia and economics that thrive in them, and the way entrepreneurs have impacted life in the state.
An Educational Tour of Georgia in Sync with Curriculum Objectives
In previous years, Carlton took the student travel group to Savannah for three days and two nights. This year, she found it more economical to limit the trip to two days and one night, so more students could afford to attend. But saving money was not the only motivation to create this unique tour. "I felt like this trip was much more meaningful because we were able to visit many more sites around the state," noted Carlton.
Students Travel to Different Sites Across the State of Georgia
Some highlights of the tour included a visit to Milledgeville, Georgia, the first capital of the state, a tour of Andersonville Prison, where prisoners of war were housed during the Civil War, and a tour of CNN Studios in Atlanta, where students were able to see how television news is produced. In Atlanta, students also visited the Governor's Mansion as well as The Bremen Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum and Oakland Cemetery, where famous Georgians were interred.
The first stop on the tour was Andersonville Prison, a two-hour bus ride from the group's hometown. Carlton wanted students to see this National Historic Site, because it tied in with their classroom studies of the Civil War and modern wars. Students toured the site and gained a better understanding of the place where Northern soldiers were detained and housed during the Civil War. They were also engaged in learning about the dynamics of prisoners of war, and how it affects our society as a whole.
A Student Tour of Milledgeville: Georgia's First Capital City
The visit to Millledgeville seemed especially important to Carlton, as it tied in nicely with her curriculum and gave students a chance to actually see the grandeur of the historic capital. Carlton said, "Students were really impressed by the fact that the capital began there. It was eventually moved to Atlanta so it could be more centrally located. We were able to visit the Old Capitol Building, but we missed our tour of the Governor's Mansion there, because we were running a little late, having spent more time at Andersonville then we anticipated."
Educational Trip to Atlanta Includes Multiple Destinations
When the student tour group reached Atlanta, they took a break to eat supper at the Hard Rock Café, then toured Oakland Cemetery, where Bobby Jones, Maynard Jackson and Margaret Mitchell are buried. "The guided tours of Oakland Cemetery included the graves of these famous Georgians -- which were part of our studies -- and many other historical people as well," observed Carlton.
The educational tour group spent the evening at the Hampton Inn near the Perimeter Mall where breakfast was included the following morning. Their tour of Atlanta began with a look at the Governor's Mansion, where they actually saw Governor Perdue leaving the building that day. This was followed by lunch at the Varsity, a famous Atlanta landmark.
The afternoon was filled with a visit to the Bremen Holocaust Museum. Carlton was impressed with the tours given here, which were led by "survivors or family members of survivors. It was fascinating for students to hear what the holocaust was actually like. The group also viewed artifacts and videos of the holocaust."
The trip on Georgia history concluded with a tour of CNN Studios in Atlanta, founded by the famous entrepreneur Ted Turner, who also started the first television station in Georgia, TBS. The group of over 81 students was broken up into smaller groups for the studio tour, where they saw live news and also had a chance to glimpse the behind the scenes work involved in airing national news 24-hours per day. Carlton recalled, "Students were thrilled by seeing the live newscasters, because they recognized some of the people they've seen on television."
Educational Trip of Georgia was a Success!
Overall, creating a historical tour of Georgia was a positive experience for me and my staff. Usually, student tours are limited to the Atlanta metro area, because there are many educational sites to see in this city. After collaborating with Carlton on the creation of this custom tour, I can now see the benefits of widening the scope of destinations in Georgia. It provides students a larger view of Georgia's history because it includes landmarks that may be lesser known, but are equally important in understanding state history.
Student travel groups interested in touring Atlanta may want to consider including some of these prominent sites in their tour with visits to Milledgeville and Andersonville Prison included on their itinerary. Overall, students did not spend more than 3 ½ hours on the bus the first day, and they had plenty of stops to keep the travel time interesting.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

re You Trusting Your Realtor Or the News Media?

Some segments of the news media sell newspapers, magazines, and news broadcasts with a large dose of gloom and doom, negative news, and sensationalism. Such tactics do not successfully sell homes. Real estate professionals sell property by providing up-to-date statistics and information on relevant trends. Whom are you going to trust?
If you are preparing to sell your home, it's easy to become discouraged with national news about foreclosures, falling home prices, stagnant markets, and rising interests rates. Here's how to know whom you can trust so you can sell with confidence.
Think for yourself.
Make the decision that is right for you. National trends and local markets are simply pieces of a pattern. They are not a traffic light, regulating when you can go sell your house.
Don't believe everything you see or hear.
Thanks to the Internet and social media, we have instant access to all kinds of information and news. Just because you find a statistic on the Internet, hear it from your favorite news anchor, or read it in the local paper does not mean it is universally true. However, if you repeatedly get reliable help from the same source, you know you can probably trust them.
Double check facts and figures.
Dig deeper. Make sure the information you have at your disposal is not outdated. Talk to your realtor and get the facts for your geographical area instead of relying on generalizations. Look for matching statistics from more than one source to recognize trustworthy sources.
Be an educated consumer.
Don't rely solely on the word of your best friend, co-worker, or neighbor. Do your homework. Visit your public library to gather local data. Search online to discover patterns. Talk with your realtor to discover what is true at this time for your geographical area and other homes in your target price range.
Form a team of trusted professionals.
Your realtor, banker, insurance agent, accountant, lawyer, and Chamber of Commerce all have access to reliable data for sellers. Increase your confidence in your ability to sell your home now by trusting the right professionals.
Counter what you see and hear in the media. Think for yourself. Don't believe everything that is presented as fact. Double check the figures. Be an educated consumer. Form your own team of trusted professionals including your realtor and sell with confidence.