Curriculum Models

By Conrad Wolfram
There are few subjects in today’s school curriculum as emotive as math. Like it or loathe it, the sacrosanct, central, compulsory position it commands for years of every student’s education is rarely questioned.
Well, I am going to question it. As a mathematician and as director of what’s arguably the world’s ‘math company,’ I’m exposed to math from more angles than almost anyone. I’m also extremely pro-math and what it can achieve.
And yet I believe today’s educational math is the wrong subject.

Tyler DeWitt, Paul Andersen and Patrick Jones (PatrickJMT) are headed to Austin, Texas for SXSW Edu to discuss the role flipped learning plays in education through video instructional content. DeWitt, Anderson and Jones are three of YouTube’s most popular education personalities whose content covers Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math. For more information about the session check out the details below!

This summer I had the honor of attending an event that brought together educators and industry leaders involved in improving the state of STEM education in the U.S. During a panel discussion, I was asked whether I was encouraged or discouraged by where we are today in terms of diversity in STEM education. I am definitely encouraged, but we still have far to go to achieve equity in STEM education for minorities who have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields.

As millions of American children head back to school over the next few weeks, they’re preparing for lessons in reading, writing, and math.  But there’s one crucial subject that too many of today’s high schools students are missing out on: Financial literacy.

B urck Smith, CEO at Straighterline, discusses his approach to solving the skyrocketing cost of college with low-cost online courses built to transfer to over 90 accredited colleges.  Smith, along with nearly 900 participants, including some 250 global education companies, was in New York for the BMO Capital Markets 15th Annual Back to School Education Conference. Dr. Berger, in collaboration with MindRocket Media Group and edCircuit captured views from business leaders to investors taking a look behind the scenes of investment in education and technology.

In the not-so-distant future, you’re driving to work. You approach a busy intersection, and your car exchanges some information with the traffic signal. It slows as two other cars pass safely in front of you. Your car automatically adjusts its speed once again after passing through, and the light never even changes.

Photo Credit: Caleb Roenigkby Suzanne WrightMy mother, now in her 70s, has beautiful handwriting. As a young girl, I admired and emulated her expressive script, ultimately winning a couple of penmanship awards for my efforts. My mom was proud and so was I.But with cursive writing instruction in decline since the 1970s in many elementary schools, widespread pride in the almost artistic form of penmanship seems to be waning.Read the rest of the story at USA Today.

Photo credit: P. MorganThe Chinese education system – with its long school days and tough discipline – tops global league tables. But how did British pupils cope when five Chinese teachers took over part of their Hampshire school?Read the rest of the story at BBC News.

by John K. WatersNew “micro” online certification programs are changing the educational pathways to success in certain industries.Read the rest of the story on Campus Technology.