Education

University of the People: The World’s First Free University for Disadvantaged Students

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Imagine a University that is not only free, but completely accessible to people in every nation across the globe.

…Sounds pretty unlikely, right?

Well, starting in September of this year the University of the People, the world’s first free online University for the disadvantaged, will open for enrollment!

What is University of the People?

Founded by Shai Reshef (pictured above), philanthropist and founder of several web-based education businesses, the University of the People aims to offer free online courses to disadvantaged individuals all over the world. Reshef’s motivation in creating this venture is entirely philanthropic and altruistic:

“The University of the People is based on the premise that education is crucial to the advancement of individuals and of society at large. There are millions of people around the world, especially in developing countries, who are excluded from higher education for various reasons: some live far away from academic institutions, others cannot afford the admission fee and tuition for the local university.”

By applying the concept of social networking to education, Reshef is able to offer open source courseware to people all over the world. This internet based university will offer study communities, discussion groups, homework, and exams. Rather than require tuition, students will pay a low one time fee ranging from only $15 to $50.

This non-profit online University will offer two four-year degree options to start: a Bachelor in Business Administration and a Bachelor in Computer Science.

UoP is currently applying for accreditation and hopes to gain it as soon as possible. Because the credits do not yet transfer to other Universities, the main goals for students include personal growth, knowledge expansion and career preparation.

Who teaches the classes?

The staff is comprised entirely of volunteers - retired professors, librarians, business professionals, etc. What they hold in common is the belief that everyone deserves to receive an education and live up to his or her full potential.

Who can enroll?

To be admitted, students must prove they have graduated from high school, can speak English, and have consistent access to the Internet. Individuals across the globe are encouraged to apply.

What do the critics have to say?

Many experts in online education are dubious. The lack of funding offered by tuition leaves many questioning how the university will ensure quality instructors and resources. Furthermore, educators wonder how credits will transfer once the university becomes accredited. Reshef seems confident that by limiting the intial enrollment to 300 students and growing to 10,000 over the next five years the venture will be self-sustaining and manageable.

What do you think? Does University of the People have the potential to become a respected accredited institution? Or will the lack of tuition prevent it from offering a quality education?

Posted in Uncategorized

New Blackberry Apps Make Online Learning Easy

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What if someone told you that you can earn a degree from your PDA? What if they said that you can study anywhere and anytime to fit it in with your schedule?

The latest Blackberry app makes it possible. Take that iPhone!

How does it work?

Google plans to release software to make its email and calendar services work for the Blackberry. Google Apps Connector will allow users to access Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar and Contacts using built-in applications. It also connects to the Google Apps servers and synchronizes email, calendar and contacts.

Why is this helpful for online learners?

• Email. Organization is everything for busy online students. Students receive several emails per day from classmates and teachers regarding assignments and other questions. The BlackBerry will synchronize mail so a message marked as read on the BlackBerry will show up that way on Gmail, and vice-versa. You will be able to star, archive, and file messages in folders in either location.

• Google Docs. It makes completing group projects a breeze with Google Docs suite for word processing, spreadsheets, forms, and presentations. You can also complete assignments straight from your phone in Microsoft Office.

• Calendar. Traditional and online students lead very hectic lives, and need all the help they can get to organize their responsibilities. The calendar will sync up with all different accounts and notify you when there is an upcoming due date or a test.

• Corporate Benefits. The new updates are also helpful for working professionals to keep school and work organized.

How Much Will This Cost?

Google Apps Standard Edition is free for customers who have 50 or fewer accounts. The Premier Edition has the same benefits, except it’s okay for users to have more than 50 accounts, which runs at $50 per user per year. Google also offers a free version for customers in education that doesn’t have any user limits.

The BlackBerry connector software comes free with the Premier or Education editions.

Would you use a BlackBerry to take online classes? There are definitely some distractions with studying on the go, but there are plenty of benefits too…

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No Teachers for Kids?

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We’ve all had a favorite teacher. Perhaps she was sweet and passed out suckers during story time (forcing you to listen), or he was cute and funny enough to make you care to memorize the constitution, or maybe she took a genuine interest in your philosophies that others had previously discounted. In any case, age, sex, color, personal habits (drug addiction in the case of Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson) didn’t matter. What mattered was, they engaged us. They had the talent and the power to break through our adolescent attitudes and actually teach us something.

Young teachers in particular seem to be blessed with the ability to relate to students while still maintaining their respect. Unfortunately these young teachers may be experiencing devastating lay offs regardless of their performance or ability.

At first glance, the education sector appears to be one with ample opportunity. After all, the population continues to grow and standards for education continue to rise. However, like most industries, the public school system is feeling the weight of the recession. Teacher salaries comprise the majority of a school’s budget, and with government cutting back on spending educators are experiencing a huge hit.

According to the New York Daily News, “teachers who have been around for a while, even those performing poorly, have nothing to fear from the upcoming cuts. Younger teachers, on the other hand, who have been hired by the thousands in recent years by an increasingly aggressive Department of Education, are squarely in the budget crosshairs - even if they are doing an exemplary job and would have a bright future in the school system.”

• In California an estimated 20,000 teachers in the state will receive layoff notices
• In Montana an estimated 20,000 teachers will be laid off
• In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg announced plans to cut 15,000 teachers statewide
• The hardest hit cities are: Los Angeles California, Merill Wisconsin, Plano Texas, Ocala Florida, Butte Montana, and Akron Ohio.

The implications of these layoffs are monumental for new teacher hires and students pursuing a degree in teaching. This push could potentially force many individuals into postponing their career search and instead heading straight for a Masters Degree in Education. While doing so offers a competitive advantage, for many educators returning to school is not financially feasible.

And what about the children? Are they going to grow up without a proper education, no sports programs, no music programs, no field trips, no books to read, no supplies and full-to-the-brim classrooms? One can only hope that in their attempt to save money, the education system does not toss out those gems that offer what our youth really needs: inspiration.

What do you think? Is it fair that less apt teachers who have been around longer are not at risk while rookies with high achievement are? Does seniority count more than performance?

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Unemployment Survival 101

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With the national unemployment rate at 8.1% last month (a record high since 1984) this to-do list must resonate with at least a few of you.

First, the bad news: it takes the average unemployed individual 6 months to find a job. While posting yourself on job boards, building your network, and applying to positions religiously is important, it doesn’t improve your marketability in the mean time.

Now, for the great news: being unemployed is be the perfect excuse to accomplish those things we “never have time” to do. No, I’m not referring to laundry, dishes, and errands. I’m talking about enriching activities that help us reach our goals. For some that may mean learning to dance, starting a blog, or volunteering, and for many it includes furthering their education.

According to CNN.com, many community colleges are experiencing their highest-ever enrollment rates. This indicates that many out of work professionals are turning to education while they wait out the recession. In doing so, these individuals are taking advantage of their free time and using it to build skills to help them land a job once the economy improves. This trend towards “lifelong learning” is leading many to expand their vision for future career direction.

My advice? Stop checking useless boxes and channel your energy into activities that help take you where you want to be.

What’s your advice? Is earning a degree a good way to wait out the recession?

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Online Education Gets a Bad Rap

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When it comes to education, everyone has an opinion. Just flip on the tube and you’ll see dozens of desperate swapped housewives arguing about homeschooling, boarding school, and religious education. In fact, controversy surrounding alternative education is nothing new. Dating back to the 1800’s when our system of public school was first instated, groups of educators, parents, and students rebelled against the traditional school system. During this time a narrow model of schooling was regarded the “proper” form of education while all other forms were discounted. Why is it that we feel the need to judge the quality of education against a standard convention? While the parameters may be less rigid today, a stigma certainly remains.

This judgment towards unconventional learning leads many students to question the validity of an online degree. The risk of an employer preferring a campus degree over an online degree must deter many individuals from pursuing a degree online regardless of its many benefits. This risk, however, may be much lower than one would assume. According to Eduventures, a Boston education research firm, 62% of employers interviewed feel that an online education is equal to or better than an on campus education. However, the fact that 38% view an online degree as unfavorable is concerning.

Where does this judgment come from? One possibility is the wide generational gap between college bound individuals and professionals in managerial roles. Technology has evolved rapidly over the past two decades and many adults have not adapted accordingly. Many employers simply are not aware that the curriculum of online education can be equivalent to campus education. Others may value the reputation of the campus school but do not transcend that reputation to the school’s online programs.

Another reason for the negative stigma of online education is the existence of diploma mills. There are many programs or websites, such as degreedoctor.com, that pose as credible online schools and actually just distribute fake degrees for a price. These diploma mills hand out PhD’s for “four easy payments of $29.99″! This association is unfortunate and difficult to overcome. However, the more students research their education the less successful these diploma mills will be, and consequently the less effect they’ll have on the industry.

Jerry Ervin, president of a management-and-sales-training company called Paragon Strategies, in California, is among those who would pick the candidate with the traditional degree. Communication skills are important in his business, he says, and many of those skills are picked up through day-to-day interactions on a campus.

“If people are only learning through the box, what I call the gray box, you’re only getting a piece of the pie,” Mr. Ervin says. “We’re talking about the human asset here. The human being likes communication.”

The implication here is that the perceived level of value of an online degree may depend on the field you intend to enter. Whether this concern surrounding lack of social interaction is legitimate is questionable. Regardless, having work experience or internships on your resume could compensate for this apparent shortcoming.

What do these apprehensions suggest for the future of online learning? If we look at the evolution of other forms of online activity (particularly online dating and online shopping) it remains likely that online learning will become increasingly accepted. As it’s popularity grows so will its perceived legitimacy. Takeaway: an accredited degree is an accredited degree, and it’s important to find a degree that best fits your lifestyle, whatever that may be.

Are you less likely to pursue an online degree because of negative perceptions?

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Top 5 Careers for 2009

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Go ahead, google “Top Careers for 2009″. Pretty depressing huh? News articles on the best careers for the year are overpowered with search results of “Why you won’t get a job in 2009″ and “Not a good year to find a new job!” We already knew the economy was down without this constant reminder from the media. Well, I’m here to offer some positive feedback and focus on the careers that actually have growth in this economic downturn.

#5 Cosmetologist/Esthetician

Nothing makes a woman feel better than a visit to her cosmetologist! Personally, a visit to my manicurist can make all my worries disappear. Even though I can’t afford it I am willing to shell out the 10 bucks to feel beautiful. Also, with botox and laser treatments on the rise there is a growing need for cosmetology professionals.

#4 Counselor

These days, more than ever, people need help. Serious help. People tend to associate their self worth with their bank accounts, so with lack of job stability and financial security people need to talk to a professional. Counseling and mental health services are in high demand, so pursing a career in this field is worth it. Plus the pay isn’t bad either.

#3 Teacher

Just because we’re in a recession doesn’t mean our children’s education needs are just going to disappear! Teachers get extensive summer vacations, holidays off and the joy of shaping the future’s of future generations - so why aren’t people taking teaching jobs? The pay isn’t bad per year - average of 40k a year, but it can be stressful and you should plan on putting in 10 - 12 hour days, plus grading papers and writing curriculum over the weekend. To be a teacher you must be dedicated and passionate about what you do or you won’t survive. But for those who will, it’s a wonderful career with great job stability. More importantly - it’s a growing field and is recession-proof!

#2 Health-Care Technician

The employees who assist nurses and doctors are in higher demand than nurses and doctors themselves. Health-care technicians include radiology technicians, lab assistants, home health aides and medical assistants. “Health-care is the largest industry in the country, and in the more technical aspects of those careers we have a huge shortage of personnel,” says Ron Mitchell, CEO and co-founder of GottaMentor, a career coaching service located in New York City. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the health care sector to grow by 22% in the next 10 years (double the market average).

#1 Registered Nurse

This year alone there will be 50,000 new nursing jobs created and nurses will have their pick of jobs and salaries, averaging $57,000 per year. As a bonus, you only need a Bachelors Degree to enter the field and will start around $50k a year! Not to mention saving lives is a pretty rewarding job.

So, why all the demand in the Healthcare industry while others are tanking? For one, there is the aging baby boomer population. This means in just a short time, there will be millions more old people than there are now, putting a strain on our health care system’s capacity. Also, life expectancy is still rising, which means those aging baby boomers will need health care for even longer periods of time.
What jobs are available to you in the health care field does depend largely on your education and certifications. Doctors, nurses, and technicians need to go through extensive training before being licensed. But there are also many administrative, marketing, accounting, etc. positions that accompany every organization from hospitals to clinics.

What did I miss? Have you noticed trends in the career industry that I haven’t mentioned?

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Top 3 Industries for Job Loss

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its latest press release on the current employment situation. The truth? The situation looks pretty grim. If you’ve been wondering how your area of the economy is doing, it’s not as bad as manufacturing, durable goods, and construction. Here are their job loss figures for the month of January:

• Manufacturing: -207,000
• Durable Goods: -157,000
• Construction: -111,000

For manufacturing, this is the largest one month drop since 1982.

So what is a laid off worker to do when their industry isn’t hiring? As I have mentioned before, there are a few areas of the economy that are still growing and even benefiting from the economic downturn.

The first is select, low-price chains like Wal-mart and McDonalds. While it is unlikely that you have dreamed of being employed with either of these companies, they have been doing very well. McDonald’s same-store sales rose 7.1% in according to an AP press release by the company. Wal-mart seems to always do well because of their super-low prices, yet surprisingly, they just announced layoffs of 800 employees in their corporate offices. However, they are higher managers in other locations.

The second two areas that are doing well are health care and private education. Health care has been constantly growing because of the aging baby boomer population needing more health services. Don’t have any training in health care? Then you can do what a lot of other people have been doing this recession and go back to school. This trend has lead to an increase of 33,000 jobs in the private education industry in January.

How difficult is it to change industries? Would you be likely to change directions if jobs were cut in your field? Are you someone who did make this choice? Tell us about it.

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College Education Improves Chances of Marital Success

“Both women and men who are college educated are more likely to marry, and less likely to divorce, than people with lower levels of education,” according to research finding number 5 by Popenoe and Whitehead from Rutgers University.

In a society where 1 in 2 marriages result in divorce, this is a pretty promising research finding. The majority of people don’t go into marriage hoping to get divorced, so any findings in favor of a successful marriage are promising.

In the 1920s, college educated women were the minority – and they were more likely to stay single than their less educated peers. Firstly, why were college education women the minority? While it’s difficult to imagine today, society did not encourage women pursuing higher education. In fact, higher education was less coming among men as well, which could explain why women with college degrees were more likely to be single. However, times have changed and studies show that the old case has been flipped on its head. Yes, it’s true, college educated women today are more likely to both become and stay married than less education women.

According to Attewell and Lavin’s,“Does Higher Education for the Disadvantaged Pay Off Across the Generations?” attending college is also associated with a lower likelihood of having a child out of wedlock. Here were some of their other interesting findings:

• 87% of women who attended college were married when their first child was born, while 60% of women who did not attend college were married when their first child was birth.
• 92% of women who earned a bachelors degree had their first child when married, compared to 71% of women who never earned a B.A.
• 62% of women who entered college stayed married throughout their child’s rearing, compared to 28% of uneducated women.

Not to say that if you choose not to pursue higher education your family will fall apart, but statistically your chances for success are better if you pursue higher education. Part of the reason for this is because typically those who obtain a B.A. wait until they graduate to get married (usually around the age of 22-25) so they get married at an older age than many of their peers do right after high school. Statistics have also shown that the older you wait to get married the greater your chances for marital success.

Based on your own experience, do you think that education level and marital success are related?

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Top 10 Professions for Business and Finance

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A question I often see is: “What kind of a career can I get if my major is…?” It may seem like an overly utilitarian approach to higher education. Haven’t we all heard that in college, you should pick a degree that caters to your interests? After all, who would want to be stuck studying a subject that was boring or downright distasteful for four years? In reality however, it is a very wise to investigate the career prospects of the majors you are considering. If you do not want to be stuck with a distasteful subject for four years, how about being stuck in a distasteful career for the rest of your life? For this reason it is wise to consider the careers that will be available to you on graduation.

This week, we will take a look at the top business and finance professions. Business and finance professionals are necessary to every type of industry. Their expertise is absolutely necessary to make any company run smoothly and maintain profitability. So if you are graduating with a business or finance degree, the types of positions you can fill are virtually limitless. It all comes down to how you market your skills.

For instance, say you graduate with a business degree, but you have an intense interest in auto racing. Hopefully you have made a few connections within the auto racing industry so you know who to talk to. Your skills as in business would be highly valuable to any auto racing team who need marketing, sponsorship deals, cost management, personnel recruitment, etc. to keep the team running smoothly.

Granted, there at any given time there are not a lot of auto racing team management positions available. So here is a list of the top ten industries for Business and Finance professionals. The list is ranked by the number of people employed.

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