Happy Halloween

I went to a Halloween costume party Saturday night.  The theme was "Come as your favorite religious figure."  Maybe we don't have enough diversity in our university community because (without any coordination) two of us showed up as Steve Jobs.

I'm on the left and my friend Dave is on the right.

Check out colleges in person, not just online - Omaha.com

Check out colleges in person, not just online - Omaha.com

Applying early to college?Do your homework first - NorthJersey.com

Applying early to college?Do your homework first - NorthJersey.com

15 college admissions trends worth watching

15 college admissions trends worth watching

Occupy Park City: Reflections on #opened11

ItҀs the day after the Open Education conference in Park City. What can I say in a brief blog post to mark that event?  I want to thank Brian Jacobs of Akademos for attending the conference and being one of its sponsors.  We met while suffering through the trials of studying political theory in grad school.  While neither of us has become a practicing political theorist, weҀve been disciplined (for better or for worse) by our common education.  Over the years IҀve attended a lot of open-oriented conferences and been exposed to a lot of insightful perspectives.  But while that diversity has been good it was gratifying to be there with someone who was familiar with the same disciplinary frameworks I use for making sense of what a social movement like open education is all about.

That isnҀt to say that IҀve got it all figured out beyond noting that the open ed movement gathers together a set of people and beliefs and practices that belie easy generalization.  This was epitomized on Wednesday when  Jim Groome began his presentation by popping out of a tent heҀd pitched on stage as a way of drawing connections between the Occupy Wall Street movement and the open education initiative.  Jim gave an inspiring account of his teaching which is bold and experimental and seems to engage his students and prompt them to develop new media literacy.  But however important that message was, it was overshadowed by the stylistic contrasts between himself and the other featured speaker who was Josh Jarrett, Deputy Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Where Jim presented in an untucked t-shirt, Josh showed up in a blazer.  Where Jim flashed slides of Wonder Woman, Josh spoke in sobering terms of budget challenges, demographic changes and educational completion rates.   When the presentations ended David Wiley, thanked both speakers and asked the audience to reflect on the contrasts and on how these different archetypes complement and (perhaps sometimes) antagonize one another.

A presenter immediately after those keynotes asked the audience who they most identified with, and the answers varied.  Some said Jim, some said Josh, and milquetoasts like me said both (even though I was wearing a blazer). All of this is to say that, like the Occupy Wall Street movement, open education isnҀt a phenomenon that is simple to define, and is replete with marked contrasts.  Its constituents identify with the underprivileged but the conference was hosted in a rarified and expensive locale.   Its constituents are attracted to archetypes of rebellion but the movementҀs locus is in one of the more conservative states in the union.  It challenges traditional ways of disciplining the faculties but is led in part by a resurging discipline of instructional design.  Its advocates celebrate openness and democratization and sharing and the disruption of traditional academic practices.  But they promote different degrees of openness, and democratization and disruption.   ItҀs been interesting to see how this coalition has come together and whether it stays together going forward.

Are Machine's Making Us Stupid?

Here's the poster that my colleague made for our NEH funded spring course  (since it's a new class we need to do a little advertising around campus to make sure students know about it ):

Following the pop culture reference, and the fact that we anticipate some interesting cross-generational conversations in the class, what would the appropriate iconography be if the poster had depicted an x-ray of Bart's brain, rather than Homer's?

The Uncivil Professor

The core of civility issues in higher education lies at the heart of education itself׀the classroom.  The knee-jerk reaction to an effort to address classroom incivility might be to view students as the exclusive source of incivility.  As one commentator noted, Ӏill-mannered antics of college students are a tradition as old as academe itself.Ԁ While itҀs probably true that most civility issues involve students and their attitudes and behaviors towards others, sometimes professors are to blame.  

The relationship between a student and a professor is a critical component of student learning. A professorҀs ability to transmit knowledge and promote inquiry based on research, study, and practical experience is one of the fundamental purposes of education. While most instructors are committed to free discussion and open inquiry, there have been growing concerns that some college classrooms are becoming platforms for political and social indoctrination, where students are essentially attacked for reasoned views that are contrary to those of the instructor. When faculty publicly debase, humiliate, or invalidate students during classroom discussions, they essentially provoke student incivility.

Professors often rely on their right to academic freedom to justify uncivil actions taken in the classroom. Faculty academic freedom typically includes the right to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. However, academic freedom does not give faculty the right to say or do whatever they want in the classroom.  Specifically, academic freedom does not protect a professor who compromises a studentҀs right to learn in an environment free of hostility or engages in controversial speech unrelated to the course.  For example, according to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), professors should Ӏencourage free discussion, inquiry, and expressionԀ and that Ӏstudents should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of studyԀ regardless of the professor's views. AAUP further recommends that Ӏstudents should have protection through orderly procedures against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation.Ԁ The AAUP policies, while not mandatory, provide guidance as to how professors should engage students.

Poor classroom management may also cultivate an environment that breeds incivility. Some professors ignore incidents of student rudeness or incivility in the classroom. However, there is research to suggest that failure to address uncivil student conduct in the classroom sends the messages that the behavior is condoned and that incivility can be repeated. When a professor is unable to manage the classroom, and student incivility persists unchecked, student grades, learning, and achievement will be adversely affected. (see Classroom Decorum: What Happened and Does it Matter?)

Faculty behavior is an important component of promoting civility on campus. The attitudes of professors toward students may have profound implications on learning and civility. When promoting civility, colleges and universities must be willing to look within. Are administrators, teachers, and staff modeling civil behavior? If not, efforts to push civility may appear to be insincere and somewhat hypocritical to students. 

Kent M. Weeks

CLS Program Application Now Open!

The 2012 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program application deadline is about a month away ր November 15, 2011!

CLS institutes provide fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for seven to ten weeks for U.S. citizen undergraduate and graduate students. Students may apply for one language, and will be placed at institute sites based on language evaluations after selection. Languages offered: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish, and Urdu.

A PowerPoint presentation and handout can be found on the CLS website: http://www.clscholarship.org/advisors.htm.

For more information about the CLS Program and to access the on-line application, please visit the CLS website: http://www.clscholarship.org.

Directory of International Schools and Study Abroad Programs

The world is a very different place than it was only a decade ago, and as we continue to march towards full globalization, international schools׀schools that offer courses different from the normal school curriculum of the host country׀are becoming more and more common as an educational option. Also becoming increasingly popular are the many study abroad programs being offered throughout the world׀opportunities for students to study for a semester or an academic year in a foreign country. While international schools and study abroad programs are not the same thing, recently many international schools have begun offering study abroad opportunities for students desiring to live and study abroad for a few months in another country. In fact, there are so many of these opportunities available that there now several websites that offer a directory of international schools and study abroad programs׀catalogs listing each international school that is participating, with a full description of the study abroad program as well.

How to Use a Directory of International Schools and Study Abroad Programs

When using an online directory of international schools and study abroad programs, the main page, or home page, will usually include some general instructions on how to use the directory. Most directories will allow you to narrow your search using certain criteria, including searching by country, language spoken, type of study abroad program and duration of the program. For example, if youҀre looking for a 4-week summer study abroad program in France, you would first search for French international schools, and then narrow those results down to the 4-week summer programs.

Once youҀve decided how you will begin your search, the second page will usually include a list of schools, with a brief description about the program. For example, if you searched for programs in China, one of these listings might say:

ӀAcademy of Chinese Language and Culture - offers year round study abroad programs and learning immersion courses to foreigners interested in the Chinese language and culture.Ԁ

There will normally be many listings just like the one above, and although this description is admittedly very basic, once you click on the hyperlink (usually the name of the school), you will be taken to a page that offers a more complete program description, as well as information about the institution that is offering it. Some of the information this page will contain includes:

Location of the school and nearby places to visit

Program description, including dates and important program features

Candidacy requirements for the program (GPA requirement, etc.)

Program duration׀semester, academic year, summer program

Daily schedule, including classroom and recreational hours

Program cost

Financial assistance and scholarship opportunities (most study abroad programs offer scholarship opportunities)

Living arrangements׀on-campus housing, off campus housing, host families, etc.

How to apply, including application deadlines

The primary advantage to using a directory of international schools and study abroad programs is that once you reach the website you can usually locate all the program information and details about the school all in one place. This is also a great type of site to bookmark, as you may want to come back to it several times for reference purposes.

Famous Educators that Have Made a Difference

One of the unfortunate truths of our current world era is that educators rarely get their due respect and admiration. Truth be told, this is a bit baffling, given that aside from those who have trained in medicine and law, teachers are, on average, the most educated professionals worldwide. Despite their long hours and meager salaries they persist in educating the youth of the world, molding and shaping the individuals who will soon take the torch as tomorrowҀs leaders.

Despite that they fail to get their due attention and esteem in present day society, educators׀and the teaching profession in general׀have not always been overlooked. As it happens, in past eras teachers were held in very high regard and were considered some of the most prominent leaders of their day׀in a number of different fields. Many of these famous educators went on to become some of the most celebrated authors, poets, philosophers and scientists the world has ever witnessed, with names that even today are synonymous with brilliance, genius and societal progression׀responsible for words, techniques and ideas that have helped to shape the world we live in.

Some of these famous educators include:

Confucius (551-479 BC). Confucius was a famous educator and philosopher in China whose ideas about self-improvement through education are still widely read and valued today.

Plato (428-348 BC). Plato, who is said to have founded the first university, was a Greek teacher/philosopher who was adamant that both teachers and students should be lifelong learners and continue to improve themselves through education.

Jesus (5 BC-30 AD). No famous educator is more widely read today than Jesus, whose daily lessons via parables and proverbs continue to steer the lives of Christians around the world.

John Locke (1632-1704). John Locke was a famous educator who believed education should revolve around improving oneҀs character. He stressed guided training over rote instruction and preparation for life over preparation for university.

Horace Mann (1796-1859). Considered the ӀFather of the American Public School,Ԁ Horace Mann was a famous educator who believed that every child׀wealthy or poor׀should have regular, daily access to a well-rounded education. ӀEducation for all,Ԁ says Mann Ӏwould become the great equalizer of men.Ԁ

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862). Henry David Thoreau, although perhaps best known for his poetry later in life and his love of nature, was a schoolteacher who believed that education should involve more than textbooks and memorization. He introduced new teaching techniques such as journal writing and field trips that, he said, would enhance the overall learning experience.

Anne Sullivan (1866-1936). There is perhaps no teacher who demonstrated more persistence and commitment than Anne Sullivan׀the famous educator who worked closely and tirelessly with Helen Keller, a blind student with severe learning disabilities. Despite a handicap of her own, Sullivan developed and implemented a form of touch reading for Keller, stressing that children learn from direct experience and repetition rather than vague concepts.

This is just a partial list of the many famous educators whose commitment to teaching and learning has revolutionized the world and made progress possible. Collectively, they are a shining example of how central teachers are to the fabric of our society, and why teachers today should receive the notoriety and praise they deserve for the consistent dedication they demonstrate in carrying out the most essential of responsibilities: Educating our children.

Find the Answers You Need with an International Schools List

While 20 years ago an International schools list would be rather short and limited, that is certainly not the case today. International schools are becoming increasingly prevalent and can now be found in almost every world country. These multinational schools, which teach a different curriculum than the one normally offered in the host country, are perfect for foreign residents looking to receive instruction in their mother tongue, as well as for local students seeking to acquire new language skills and become better prepared for educational and professional opportunities in other countries.

Statistics indicate that there are currently over 5,000 international schools in the world, some of which teach a universally accepted International curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate, and others that offer curriculums based on English-speaking models such as the SAT preparation program from the United States and the ӀAԀ and ӀOԀ schools model used in the United Kingdom.

International Schools List: Three Examples

If you need to perform research on International schools, either for personal or professional reasons, the Internet has made it easier than ever to find the information and/or statistics you require. Today there are several websites that offer a comprehensive International schools list׀a list usually broken down by country or region that not only lists all of the International schools, but provides detailed information on those schools and the types of programs they offer. To illustrate the type of information you can usually locate from an International schools list, below we have highlighted a few International schools, including some details we discovered by consulting one of these increasingly popular lists:

The Kilmore International School. The Kilmore International School is located in Victoria, Australia, and a mere 1 hour from VictoriaҀs Tullamarine Airport. Kilmore is a secondary school that uses the International Baccalaureate curriculum׀a curriculum designed to facilitate worldwide entry into universities. In addition to offering courses in language arts, mathematics, science and the humanities, Kilmore is renowned throughout Australia for its wonderful music program, led by the world-famous flautist Ms. P. Robinson.

Ryan International School. Ryan International School is located in Mumbai, India and was founded in 1976 by Dr. Augustine Pinto, chairman of the St. Xavier group of schools. The curriculum taught at Ryan International School is the very same curriculum used in the United Kingdom, which is designed to prepare students for the Cambridge Examinations. All courses at this college preparatory academy are taught in English.

Black Forest Academy. Black Forest Academy is a private primary and secondary school with on-campus housing for all students. Located in Kandern, Germany, the Black Forest Academy uses a North American curriculum, and all instruction is in English. Black Forest Academy stresses a Christian worldview, which is why admission to this school is conditional on acceptance of the schoolҀs philosophy. While anyone can apply for the Black Forest Academy, preference is usually given to the children of Christian missionaries and international business families in Europe.

As you can see from the three examples listed above, an international schools list can be a very effective tool׀a quick and easy way to compare schools from different regions. It not only helps parents determine the curriculum model used at the various schools throughout the world, but also provides important details regarding the schoolҀs extracurricular programs and philosophy.

Host Families: Providing Structure and Support for International Exchange Students

Do you have the type of family that celebrates education, embraces different cultures and looks forward to meeting new challenges? Have you ever thought of becoming a host family for an International Exchange Program? Host families are the glue that hold together the worldҀs impressive number of international exchange programs, for without host families, not only would these programs not have achieved the amazing success they have, they wouldnҀt even be possible. To give you some more information on what to expect as a host family, here we will explain some of the duties and responsibilities required, along with all the benefits this experience will provide to you and your family.

Host Families: What Are the Responsibilities׀and Benefits?

There are more than 140 countries that participate in international student exchange programs, and due to this incredible success, host families are always needed and are perhaps the most essential component of the program. In these student exchange programs, young people are given the opportunity to study and live in a foreign country, for durations that range from 4-weeks to an entire school year. This can be an exciting time in a youthҀs life, but it can also be a time of great trepidation and anxiety, as the students try to adjust and fit in to a world in which they are entirely unfamiliar. This is where you come in and can be so beneficial to the program and the student, acting as both parent and ambassador. Once your student arrives your family will be the first faces that he or she sees, giving you as parents the opportunity to welcome this new student not only into your country, but into your home as well.

Host families are responsible for providing room and board for exchange students, including meals, which means in the month to 9 months they are in your home, you will become there second family׀a type of Ӏhome away from home.Ԁ This can be a wonderful experience for both the host families and students, as it gives everyone the chance to learn from each other the history, culture, traditions and language of a foreign land. Perhaps even more importantly, the experience will almost certainly help your family gain a new perspective on the world, and will teach your children kindness, tolerance and acceptance.

Host families help provide a sense of normalcy and structure, including the exchange student in normal family activities, including homework help and games. There will also be a countless number of occasions for you to showcase your country to the student, becoming a type of teacher of sorts on your family outings. Additionally, there will be several activities that are sponsored in part by the exchange program׀culturally diverse activities that will allow you to meet children from regions throughout the world, including Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, Latin America, the Middle East and more.

Finally, host families act as a type of security blanket for exchange students׀a place they feel comfortable, despite their geographic distance from home and their inevitable homesickness. Each and every day as a host family will be a rich and rewarding experience, as students will learn something new from you every day, just as you and your family will also become learners about their country and customs.

International Students: Who Are They and What Are the Benefits?

What is an international student? Actually, the term Ӏinternational studentsԀ has a dual definition. Of course, anyone studying in a foreign country, such as students in a study abroad program, would be considered an international student. But you also must consider those students who, because they currently live in another country, usually because one or both of their parents are employed by an international or multinational company, attend a type of international school in which the curriculum is based on their country of originҀs curriculum, and delivered in their own native language. In this article we will discuss both types of international students in a bit more detail, including the benefits of studying at an international school.

International Students: Study Abroad Students

The Ӏstudy abroadԀ type of international student is one who applies in his or her home country to study abroad in one of the many participating foreign countries. These international students typically study in a host country for a predetermined amount of time; one semester, a full academic year, or a more short-term summer session spanning 4-5 weeks.

Studying abroad as an international student can be the experience of a lifetime, with memories that will be cherished forever. A couple of the benefits to being an international student include:

Academic Enrichment. Studying abroad not only allows students to experience an alternate academic setting and atmosphere, it gives them an alternate perspective on the world and teaches them new approaches to studying and solving problems. These benefits are invaluable and will almost certainly improve their academic success upon returning to their home school.

Learning to Appreciate other Cultures. The variance between tolerating other cultures and appreciating them is vast. International students studying abroad have the unique opportunity to be entirely immersed in another culture; the customs, language and traditions. And because of that, most students will usually come to embrace that culture as if it were their own.

International Students: Foreign Residents

International students who are residents of a country other than their homeland can benefit greatly from attending an international school. Two of these benefits are:

Preparing for College. When students attend an international school׀a school that offers a curriculum they are familiar with in a language they comprehend׀they are able to improve their academic success and prepare for college either in their home country or at any number of international universities.

Increase Professional Opportunities. International students regularly interact with students and faculty from a number of diverse backgrounds. This experience, which often includes new language acquisition, will become a major benefit to them professionally in our new global economy.

International students, whether foreign residents or those studying abroad, not only benefit greatly from an academic standpoint, but their exposure to different cultures and new ideas will continue to pay dividends long after they finish school.

Student Exchange Scholarships: Applying for CIEE Scholarships

Have you ever thought about taking advantage of an opportunity to study abroad? If so, the following information about student exchange scholarships may be quite helpful. Student exchange programs, through which students have the opportunity to study and live for a time in a foreign country, can be the experience of a lifetime, but the truth is that for some students participation in these types of programs is only made possible through financial assistance. Fortunately, there are many organizations, including the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)׀the organization we will feature here׀that make applying for these student exchange scholarships a fairly simple process.

Student Exchange Scholarships though CIEE

Among the large fraternity of students who have previously participated in a student exchange program, it would be very difficult to find a person who didnҀt enjoy the experience immensely. In fact, many former students will fondly recall their opportunity to study abroad as the experience of a lifetime. However, for some students these opportunities would not even be possible without some type of financial assistance. This is a fact that the CIEE is well aware of, and because of that, the organization has become a vehicle through which students can apply for a number of student exchange scholarships. Just one application packet through the CIEE allows students who are interested in studying abroad to apply to many student exchange scholarships and grants simultaneously, thus increasing their odds of receiving a financial award.

How to Apply for Student Exchange Scholarships through CIEE

Applying for one of the many student exchange scholarships through CIEE is a fairly straightforward process, but candidates should be very careful and meticulous when preparing their application materials. Competition can be rather stiff for these scholarships and the quality of your materials can often be the difference between receiving funding and being passed up.

When applying for one of the many CIEE student exchange scholarships students should first read over the eligibility requirements and procedures for each individual scholarship. Also, keep in mind that incomplete applications will not be considered, and it is the applicantҀs responsibility alone that their application packet is complete.

Below are the items that must be submitted together when applying for CIEE student exchange scholarships:

A completed scholarship application form

A financial administrator form

A 500-Word Essay. The 500-word essay you submit should of course be typed, and will require that you address certain areas and topics. These include the location where you plan to study, the term you are applying for and the names of each CIEE scholarship for which you are applying. You should also include information regarding your primary objectives for studying abroad, details regarding your financial need and how the CIEE student exchange scholarships for which you are applying will help you meet those needs. In the final component of your essay, be sure to include any extenuating circumstances or situations that may be relevant in the consideration of your scholarship application. This essay is your first, and perhaps only opportunity to showcase who you are, and therefore, you should write an interesting and polished essay with no spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Additional items may also have to be submitted, based on the eligibility criteria for each individual scholarship. Failure to include these items could significantly jeopardize your student exchange scholarships application.

There are two firm deadlines for submitting CIEE scholarship applications, April 1 for summer, fall, and academic year programs, and November 1, for winter, spring, and calendar year programs. Awardees will be notified by email approximately 4 weeks following either of these two deadline dates.

Study Abroad International Exchange: Growing as a Student and a Person

Are you the type of person who enjoys meeting new people, seeing new sights, taking risks and facing new challenges? Are you interested in gaining a new perspective both as a student and global citizen? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you may want to consider one of the many study abroad international exchange programs that are currently available. Study abroad international exchange programs allow students just like you the opportunity to pursue academic excellence and diversity by studying in a foreign country. The programs also provide the perfect opportunity to learn about new cultures and to gain a new perspective on your own country by looking at it through the eyes of another country. The advantages of these study abroad programs are endless, and to illustrate that, in this article we will discuss some of the key benefits of participating in a study abroad international exchange program, including the academic profits and the opportunities for personal growth.

Study Abroad International Exchange: The Benefits

The study abroad international exchange experience is certainly not for every student, but it is for those who are seeking a different way of looking at the world׀students who desire to experience the kindness, majesty and power in the cultures, customs and traditions of other people.

There are several academic benefits to studying in a foreign country. New language acquisition, for example, not only makes you a well-rounded person; it can also prove to be a significant advantage professionally in the future. Another academic advantage is the opportunity to look at problems from a new perspective, and to experience the history of another country first-hand by directly interacting with professors, fellow students and your host family. Most colleges and universities allow you to transfer your credits from your study abroad international exchange program back to your home school, so while some of your classmates will be going through the same old grind, youҀll be earning the same amount of credits while experiencing the wonderment and excitement of a foreign land.

Perhaps even more important than the academic benefits to studying abroad, are the opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. While most people live the majority of their lives seeing the world through a one-country perspective, youҀll become liberated from that way of thinking and learn to appreciate your duty and responsibility as a world citizen. YouҀll encounter several challenges as a study abroad international exchange participant, affording you the opportunity to improve your character and problem-solving skills. Each and every day of your study abroad experience will be filled with new sights, sounds and tastes, and these are experiences that you will remember for a lifetime.

The program options for studying abroad are virtually limitless. As a study abroad international exchange student you can study subjects such as science and engineering in Germany, biology in Africa or South America, world religions in the Middle East or Literature in the United Kingdom. With literally thousands of programs and opportunities available, you are almost certain to find one that suits your unique interests.