Second Life to host first college graduation

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10256640-93.html

Second Life on Wednesday is hosting the commencement ceremony for online students graduating from Bryant & Stratton College, and appropriately, Second Life founder Philip Rosedale will be the guest speaker.

What do you think about virtual graduation ceremonies? Would you attend one?

'Youth Magnet' Cities Hit Midlife Crisis

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124242099361525009.htmlt

Hip cities are attracting the young and educated and will continue to thrive.

What other cities would your consider thriving, even under the current economic situation?

Divide Among College Faculty: To Tweet or Not to Tweet

http://www.universitybusiness.com/newssummary.aspx?news=yes&postid=20179

To tweet or not to tweet - it's the question some university faculty members are asking, according to a unique survey released today by Faculty Focus.

Do you believe teachers need to get on board with social networking to relate more to the students they teach?

News: SAT Scores Drop, Gaps Grow

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/08/26/sat

While College Board materials stressed those increases in participation, the data released also included news that may concern many educators: gaps in scores -- both by race and ethnicity, and by family wealth -- grew this year.

What are your own opinions of why SAT scores have dropped this year?

Enrollment & Pell Costs Soar

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/08/26/pell

Buried within the Office of Management and Budget's "mid-session review" (see Page 21) is a startling figure that arguably has both good news and bad news for President Obama's higher education strategy.

Should democrats reconsider some of the plans they are rushing through Congress like the author states?

What Should Colleges Teach? (Opinion)

http://www.universitybusiness.com/newssummary.aspx?news=yes&postid=20178

A few years ago, when I was grading papers for a graduate literature course, I became alarmed at the inability of my students to write a clean English sentence. They could manage for about six words and then, almost invariably, the syntax (and everything else) fell apart. I became even more alarmed when I remembered that these same students were instructors in the college’s composition program. What, I wondered, could possibly be going on in their courses?

What do you think colleges should teach?

Undergraduate Studies

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Argosy-University-College-of-Undergraduate-Studies/96686042741?ref=s

Are you looking to enroll in undergraduate studies? Visit our page to learn more about the fields of study we offer.

Online learning, Research vs Teaching and ‘Reputation’

http://hypertiling.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/online-learning-research-vs-teaching-and-reputation/

Do you think the author makes a valid point? Should we be more concerned with the quality of teaching going on in higher institutions?

Cyber Safety for College Students

http://www.acmefiles.com/blog/2009/08/cyber-safety-guide-the-teen-and-college-years/

What cyber safety tips have you accumulated?

10 Must Dos for the First Week of College

http://lifehacker.com/5335215/10-must+dos-for-the-first-week-of-college

What is on your 'must do' list for your first week in a higher education institute?

Online Education Beats the Classroom

http://www.interactyx.com/blog/online-education-beats-the-classroom

The New York Times published an article based on a 12 year study comprehensive study on online education at all levels (K-12, college and adult continuing education programs of all kinds) was recently published. The study encompassed 99 quantitative studies comparing online and instructor lead courses. What are your personal opinions on online education and traditional brick and mortar classrooms?

ADD and ADHD: Focus on Foods

http://www.edarticle.com/special-education/add-and-adhd/add-and-adhd-focus-on-foods.html

When it comes to food, some people want it both ways. They want to have the freedom to eat what they want but they don't want to accept the ramifications for what they are eating. Do you have food allergies that affect your behavior? What have you done to remedy the situation?

Flex Your Mental Muscle

http://www.mensfitness.com/advice/229

Most of us don't worry about our memory fading. But memory problems can arise early as your 20s, according to a new University of Virginia study. What do you do to keep mentally alert?

Colleges Pushing Green Agenda at a Rapid Pace

http://www.greenerbuildings.com/engage/blog/2009/08/19/us-colleges-set-green-course

As the 2009-2010 year dawns upon them, many students will find their schools taking action to reduce their environmental impact. What are some of the ways your college is practicing a greener approach to daily activities? What are your suggestions for them?

Education may not affect how fast you will lose your memory

http://www.physorg.com/news152817149.html

While a higher level of education may help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, new research shows that once educated people start to become forgetful, a higher level of education does not appear to protect against how fast they will lose their memory. How do you keep sharp? Do you have any tips to share?

The Challenge for Black Colleges

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2009/08/19/the-challenge-for-black-colleges.html

Historically black colleges and universities are facing new and old struggles in this day and age. What additional problems do these institutes face?

Want to Improve Education? Let Kids Sleep

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB115708042595051537-lMyQjAxMDE2NTA3MjAwODIwWj.html

Do your kids get enough sleep? Do you have any techniques to get them to go to bed?

Web 2.0 Bane or Boon to Campus Operations and Management?

http://www.universitybusiness.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1328

Higher education has become an online service industry. Students submit – and colleges accept or deny – applications online. Parents pay tuition on the web. Schools post curricula and students select courses and manage their college experiences via portals. Professors publish websites listing syllabuses, assignments and office hours. Classes, tests, and research can all be conducted online. Online services are now a necessary and expected part of campus life. Do you see online services disrupting classrooms? Or do you think it's up to the teachers to keep control of their students?

Ditch the Homework!

http://www.edarticle.com/homework/ditch-the-homework.html

According to educator Alfie Kohn, author of The Homework Myth, multiple educational studies have found that contrary to our currently accepted thinking about schooling, “all empirical evidence dispels the notion that there is any causal relationship between compulsory homework and increased student achievement. Do you agree with this statement, or do you believe doing homework helps you learn?

News: Hiring Women as Full Professors

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/08/14/texas

When colleges and universities release reports about the state of gender equity on their faculties, administrators quickly follow up with a caveat: The numbers may look out of balance over all, they say, but that's because most of the senior professors are all men, and the greater share of women among junior professors provides reassurance that things will get better over time. Do you believe it's fair to hire professors based on gender? Why or why not?

For Today's Graduate, Just One Word - Statistics

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/technology/06stats.html?ref=education


With the explosion of digital data, statisticians can earn $125,000 in their first year after getting a doctorate. Where do you see statistics going in the future? Will statisticians need to be well versed in digital methods of data keeping?

As classrooms go digital textbooks are history

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/education/09textbook.html?ref=education

In Arizona, teachers are being encouraged to create — and share — lessons that incorporate materials they find by sifting through reliable Internet sites. What advantages do you think digital copies give students? What are the disadvantages?

New option to rent textbooks instead of buying

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/education/14textbook.html?_r=1&ref=education

In the rapidly evolving college textbook market, one of the nation’s largest textbook publishers, Cengage Learning, announced on Thursday that it would start renting books to students this year, at 40 to 70 percent of the sale price. Would you choose to rent over buying the textbook? Why or why not?

Print is Dead

http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/instant_mentor/weir11

Welcome to the 21st century. Journals and publishing houses are folding faster than a roomful of origami artists, while new online journals are appearing all the time. What do you think is lost when print material becomes scarcer?

The Future of Higher Education

http://www.highereducation.org/reports/pa_aclearning/

A recent five-state project, the National Forum on College-Level Learning, has demonstrated that learning, higher education's most important product, can be assessed in ways that make interstate comparison possible, that these assessments are consistent with other information we have about the states, and that the results can be useful to policymakers.Do you agree with the report outcome?

The Influence of Higher Ed

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/08/12/evangelicals

Higher education has always been celebrated by some (and criticized by others) for exposing students to ideas that may conflict with those with which they were raised. Do you believe attending college makes people more tolerant? Why or why not?

You Still Have Time to Register for Fall Classes!

Argosy University's Fall I Session begins Tuesday, September 8th. There is still time to register for courses.

Contact a campus today for more information, or use our toll free line: 800.377.0617.

Visit argosy.edu for more information!

Women and Literacy

http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=59368&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Dr Lalage Bown, who spent more than 30 years working in Adult Education at Universities in Zambia and Nigeria, will give the International Literacy Day Lecture on ‘Literacy and Empowerment’ at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on September 8.

How can higher education institutions keep a message of female empowerment in fields of study that are majority male?

International Youth Day - 130 million still illiterate

http://www.unesco.org/en/education/dynamic-content-single-view/news/international_youth_day_130_million_young_people_still_illiterate/back/9195/

On August 13 International Youth Day will take as its theme Sustainability: our challenge, our future. What challenges do our youth face concerning sustainability in the future?

Gender, Majors and Money

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/08/10/majors

This research links women's and men's college majors with earning gaps by gender, after graduation. And even as the earning gaps nationally have declined, the study says, the share of the gap attributable to college major has grown. Do you see any correlation in your own major to what the study shows? Why do you think this is?

Toddlers from talkative homes have advantage in learning

http://digg.com/educational/Toddlers_from_talkative_homes_have_advantage_in_learning

Inviting children to express their thoughts can be a stepping stone to literacy. How are you helping your children learn in your home?

Technological advancements increase human interaction in online classes

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/08/06/technological-advancements-online-classes-higher-education-create-more-interactions/

Online classes are becoming more advanced and easier to participate in. Would you consider taking a course online? What are the pros and cons?

Racial Gap in Testing Sees Shift by Region

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/education/15educ.html?scp=6&sq=education&st=cse

Black students have made important academic gains in several Southern states over two decades, while in some Northern states, black achievement has improved more slowly than white achievement, or has even declined. Do you believe the student location has anything to do with their achievement? Why or why not?

Improving College Readiness & Success

http://www.highereducation.org/news/claiming-advisory.shtml

A new report released today says states can significantly improve students' college readiness and success by taking action in four key areas of statewide policy. Do you agree with the report? What are some other ways we can prepare prospective college students?

A Growing Interest in Waiting List Admittance

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/04/waitlist

Private colleges are turning to their waiting lists to fill in admissions spots. Some are adding additional admission slots to their lists. Have you been wait listed for college, or accepted from the wait list? What's your feelings about wait lists?

What Do School Tests Measure?

http://ednews.org/articles/what-do-school-tests-measure.html

Standardized testing in school systems can provide useful information about the kind of education our students are receiving. But what do the results mean? Are tests a good way to prepare students for future success?

Online Education and where it's going

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/02/CMLM18L4MG.DTL&type=education

Learn more about the benefits of an online education, and talk about your own experiences. Do you agree online education is seeing an increase in undergraduate admissions? Does anyone you know personally attend an online school? What are they saying about it?

Cells Phones and Learning

http://www.educationarticles.net/Article/How-Cell-Phones-Affect-the-School-Environment/536

A look into how cell phones are affecting the current learning environments of students. Do you agree with the author that cell phones should be banned in classrooms? What could be some reasons students need cell phones in class?

Alumni Networking for New Jobs

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/fashion/02alumni.html?_r=1&ref=education

Recent and seasoned graduates find support in their university and college affiliations while searching for career opportunities. Undergraduate institutions are offering their career services centers to alumni, and some are taking advantage.

Would you consider looking up your Alma mater for career guidance and networking opportunities, or do you think these services are more geared towards current students?

How a Religious Background Plays into the College Experience

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/28/majors

Though many parents of faith worry about the effect a secular college will have on their children, a new study shows that students with a religious background are more likely to attend college. Among many other points, the study also shows that students majoring in education and business actually increase their "religiosity" over time.

Has college had any effect on your religious/spiritual side?

To Rent or To Own?

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/31/textbooks

See the story above from insidehighered.com about the new wave in the textbook publishing world. Would you rather be renting?