Bridging the Higher Education Divide


Book Description

Education has always been a key driver in our nation's struggle to promote social mobility and widen the circle of people who can enjoy the American Dream. No set of educational institutions better embodies the promise of equal opportunity than community colleges. Two-year colleges have opened the doors of higher education for low-income and working-class students as never before, and yet, community colleges often lack the resources to provide the conditions for student success. Furthermore, there is a growing racial and economic stratification between two- and four-year colleges, producing harmful consequences. Bridging the Higher Education Divide faces those grave realities in unblinking fashion. Led by co-chairs Anthony Marx, the president of the New York Public Library and former president of Amherst College, and Eduardo Padron, the president of Miami Dade College, the task force recommends ways to reduce the racial and economic stratification and create new outcomes-based funding in higher education, with a much greater emphasis on providing additional public supports based on student needs.The report also contains three background papers: "Community Colleges in Context: Exploring Financing of Two- and Four-Year Institutions" by Sandy Baum of George Washington University and Charles Kurose, an independent consultant for the College Board; "School Integration and the Open Door Philosophy: Rethinking the Economic and Racial Composition of Community Colleges" by Sara Goldrick-Rab and Peter Kinsley of the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and "The Role of the Race, Income, and Funding on Student Success: An Institutional-Level Analysis of California Community Colleges" by Tatiana Melguizo and Holly Kosiewicz of the University of Southern California.




Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School


Book Description

This popular book helps students make the transition from their undergraduate experience to law school learning. Unlike other "introduction to law school" texts, Bridging the Gap offers a different approach because it: Explains the "why" of law, providing students with the context necessary to understand why law school is taught in a certain manner. Explains the "how" of the law, setting out a step-by-step process that will help students adapt to the law school setting. Explains the "what" of the law, giving students the opportunity to practice the problem-solving process by providing numerous exercises in a variety of subject matter areas. Rather than giving only general advice, or black letter law and some practice problems for a specific subject, Bridging the Gap provides the context, the process, and the problems. Written by two former law school professors who used these techniques with thousands of students, Bridging the Gap is a guide to what really works in law school.




When Grit Isn't Enough


Book Description

Examines major myths informing American education and explores how educators can better serve students, increase college retention rates, and develop alternatives to college that don’t disadvantage students on the basis of race or income Each year, as the founding headmaster of the Boston Arts Academy (BAA), an urban high school that boasts a 94 percent college acceptance rate, Linda Nathan made a promise to the incoming freshmen: “All of you will graduate from high school and go on to college or a career.” After fourteen years at the helm, Nathan stepped down and took stock of her alumni: of those who went to college, a third dropped out. Feeling like she failed to fulfill her promise, Nathan reflected on ideas she and others have perpetuated about education: that college is for all, that hard work and determination are enough to get you through, that America is a land of equality. In When Grit Isn’t Enough, Nathan investigates five assumptions that inform our ideas about education today, revealing how these beliefs mask systemic inequity. Seeing a rift between these false promises and the lived experiences of her students, she argues that it is time for educators to face these uncomfortable issues head-on and explores how educators can better serve all students, increase college retention rates, and develop alternatives to college that don’t disadvantage students on the basis of race or income. Drawing on the voices of BAA alumni whose stories provide a window through which to view urban education today, When Grit Isn’t Enough helps imagine greater purposes for schooling.




Assessment Education


Book Description

Using assessment systems to improve student outcomes requires shared understanding and collaboration among education stakeholders at multiple levels. Assessment Education: Bridging Research, Theory, and Practice to Promote Equity and Student Learning presents a powerful call to action for an assessment system that advances equity and offers educators practical applications that promote sound instructional decision making. Each section outlines a research-based approach that supports classroom teaching and student learning. We then draw on the expertise of various education leaders (most notably members of the National Taskforce on Assessment Education) to provide case studies of on-the-ground examples of what these strategies look like in different settings. Every chapter includes stories from the field from various perspectives—teachers, principals, district administrators, and other educational leaders. We conclude with reflection questions that provide an opportunity for readers to examine how the chapter connects to their own context.




Bridging Liberalism and Multiculturalism in American Education


Book Description

AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. A Short History of Cultural Conflict in American Education2. A Multicultural Critique of Liberalism3. A Liberal Critique of Multiculturalism4. Minimalist Autonomy5. A Liberal Theory of Multicultural Education6. Testing the Boundaries of Parental Authority over Education: The Case of Homeschooling7. Pedagogical and Policy ImplicationsConclusionNotesIndex Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.




Bridging the Gap to University Mathematics


Book Description

Helps to ease the transition between school/college and university mathematics by (re)introducing readers to a range of topics that they will meet in the first year of a degree course in the mathematical sciences, refreshing their knowledge of basic techniques and focussing on areas that are often perceived as the most challenging. Each chapter starts with a "Test Yourself" section so that readers can monitor their progress and readily identify areas where their understanding is incomplete. A range of exercises, complete with full solutions, makes the book ideal for self-study.




Education Abroad


Book Description

Recent decades have seen unprecedented growth in the number of students travelling abroad for the purpose of short-term academic study. As such, attention is turning to the role that education abroad can have in enhancing student learning and producing global-ready graduates. This volume provides a succinct and accessible analysis of the existing research and scholarship around the world on a range of important areas related to contemporary education abroad, providing practitioners with important implications for programming and practice. Focusing on fourteen key topics relating to education abroad, this accessible desktop compendium not only synthesizes what is already known, but also indicates which topics need further research and how the existing literature can be applied to daily programming and practice. Extending beyond student learning outcomes to look at essential topics such as institutional outcomes, program models, and host community outcomes, this volume covers major trends in contemporary research as well as an assessment of the methodological and design challenges that are common to education abroad research. The fourteen distinct topics address the broad themes of participation, programming, student outcomes, institutional outcomes and societal outcomes, and include chapters from a broad range of widely acknowledged and respected international experts. Bridging the gap between scholarship and practice, this accessible guide is essential reading for anyone working in higher education today and involved in shaping and managing education abroad programs. It is useful for all who want to understand and leverage existing research to inform education abroad programming and practice.




University Vs Reality


Book Description

The University degree in times past was seen as a sure fire path to success. Today, students are greeted with rising overall cost of attendance and a higher probability of ending up unemployed or underemployed. The book acknowledges that most universities, their faculty and the courses they offer are not structured or equipped to prepare students to thrive in a highly competitive, value driven capitalist world. It introduces to the reader the concept of "Valueworth" as "...anything you know, anything you have, anything you believe in, anything you can do or create, that is desirable to someone else other than you, for which that someone is willing to exchange something of commensurate value in return"; stressing that thriving in the real world is all about finding and nurturing Valueworth. While pointing out that most University graduates are yet to establish their Valueworth at the point of graduating, it suggests that in order to bridge the gap between the university and the real world, the student must ensure that the university experience is made a part of their bigger Valueworth plan for life.The book is a must read for every undergraduate, aspiring undergraduate, ambitious graduate and their parents for the following reasons: * It explains what university institutions and their faculty are best motivated to do in order to help students and their parents better manage their expectations of them.* The book delves into the fundamental differences between "Preparation" and "Education" and why we need to focus more on "Preparation".* The author introduces the concept of "Valueworth" and explains why it is the key to success in the real world.* The reader will be introduced to the FIRST steps to creating and nurturing Valueworth that guarantees a means to always earn a living.* The book explains the 10 reinforcing attributes that underpin our quest for Valueworth that ensures we become happy, fulfilled and successful in life.* The book unveils to the reader, 24 functional disciplines that exist within the work place that prospective job seekers must appreciate to improve their outlook in the labour market.* The reader will learn the truth about prospects in the labour market amidst increased competition, globalization and the proliferation of new technologies.* The book explains to the reader the absurdity of the one market bias that forces everyone to aspire only to the labour market. It points out how limiting this outlook to life can be in view of the myriad of opportunities our economies present in multiplicity of other markets, most of which have better prospects than the labour market.* The reader will learn about 5 foundational real world concepts (Capitalism, Trade and Exchange, Markets, Money and Desirables) everyone must understand in order to excel in today's value driven world.* The book helps the reader to unravel the mystery around money by simplifying the art of money making in the real world based on the understanding of the "money line".* The book helps the reader to understand the 5 human super needs and their corollary 13 basic human needs that provide opportunities for enterprise in the real world; that students must become aware of and against which they should assess their passions and possible future ambition.* The author shares 10 reasons why the university system may need to be overhauled given the extent to which its feet of clay has been unraveled. 10 points that need to be addressed if universities must remain the gateway to a happy and successful life for young adults.




College and Career Ready


Book Description

Giving students the tools they need to succeed in college and work College and Career Ready offers educators a blueprint for improving high school so that more students are able to excel in freshman-level college courses or entry-level jobs-laying a solid foundation for lifelong growth and success. The book is filled with detailed, practical guidelines and case descriptions of what the best high schools are doing. Includes clear guidelines for high school faculty to adapt their programs of instruction in the direction of enhanced college/career readiness Provides practical strategies for improving students' content knowledge and academic behaviors Offers examples of best practices and research-based recommendations for change The book considers the impact of behavioral issues-such as time management and study habits-as well as academic skills on college readiness.




Bridging Multiple Worlds


Book Description

Bridging Multiple Worlds connects theory and practice, offering authentic, "real world" case studies involving teachers and students of diverse backgrounds in a variety of dynamic classroom settings. This case study text uses a "Decision Making Scaffold" and specific discussion questions for each case to help students reflect on the cases in greater depth and meaning. Unlike most texts that include vignettes or cases, this text provides direction for class discussions. Instructors will find the authentic situations stimulating and engaging. Furthermore, pertinent research and background information precede each case. In addition, the scaffold and discussion questions facilitate planning and implementing each class session. The emphasis on long-term, comprehesive solutions to problems that link the school, home, and community will help students appreciate and understand the complexity of issues involved in the cases.