Fall 2010

Video Games: A way to continue your education outside the classroom

July, 31, 2010

In Elluminate, Future of Education and Conserations.Net recently held a forum with Lucas Guillespie and Peggy Sheehy to discuss the impact video games can have on education. There they spoke about their experience as to how World of Warcraft has influence their pedagogy and how MMORPGS can be used for learnings. At World of Warcraft, over 200 educators take part in a guild “Cognitive Dissonance” to explore the use of the game for education. Similar organizations have been built in other MMORPGs such as Everquest. These educators believe that these games can “captivate students’ attention and use constructivism in its finest but its social”.

Allowing students to save world online and can learn to how to work in groups on outside the game settings. In their opinions, games are another tool, which if used adequately it could improve students educational experience. To its supporters, instances are places in which students can be empowered, become leaders and solve problems together. The goal then is to “harness that and make the world as compelling.” Schools have started to use game learning during afterschool in which they could target an at risk population and ask the parents if they would like their children t o participate in this alternative after school program (targeting asperger, autistic, adhd – kids selected by interviews). Kids were asked at the end of the year questions such as what do you like in world of warcraft, how do you want to better yourself. The kids expressed how they had learned to work together with others, how to use maps, time management, vocabulary, reading and writing, (In another study, they selected a group of students which did not take parts in sports or other extra-curricular activities and could be seen as students that would be endanger to drop out in high school). (Students would go running at the end of the day to turn on the computer). Being a group of computer user, the section of Elluminate had a large number of WoW players. The teacher included the students in the communication.

Steve Harandon believes that as social networks have gained increased absentance in education, games may be the next field to be accepted within traditional education. Many educational games have fallen short of the mark primarily because of the lack of financial support. Would the financial support improve the quality of games as to help games increase their influence within education as another means to reach children? Perhaps like previous PRGmaker programs, a new engine may be develop where educators may have the capability to create games that are more inline with an educational curriculum and can reinforce other educational concepts not traditionally covered in games, so that they could better serve to supplement education and serve as a means for students to continue their education afterschool or outside of the school facilities with parental supervision. Perhaps students will even fill educational needs independently.

(Leadership skills – students voted about guild topics, missions, leaders, wrote character biographies), next year in the school it will be an elective. – Course will be developed in Moodle under a national standard. Cognitance Dissonence guild is where to make the connection but

Wisconsin University – Students that used World of Warcraft were reading beyond college level (in wow language) while in social sciences  class they were at a regular level (same students)?

15$ a month and 30$ for the game – Expensive- but they will spend money on what they like

WoW is collaborative (unlike a large amount of school work).- No anonymity – 95% of them tell each other right away who they are.

Princeton University recently decided to close its University Channel which provided free accessible academic lectures and materials from all over the world. UChannel, an initiative from the Princeton Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs no longer makes financial sense as a result having become outdated by newly emerging technologies such as the growing popularity of ITunes U and YouTube EDU. UChannel as an independent collection of free accessible materials, no longer made financial sense and the university is encouraging partners to broadcast their materials through more financially viable and accessible technologies (http://uc.princeton.edu/main/).

In their official statement they expressed their continued support for online education programs and expressed their belief “that non-commercial, quality educational programming is an important part of the world wide web.” They also stated that most of their material will be moved to Princeton’s ITunes U Channel, away from UChannel’s ITunes U. Hopefully despite the change in web domain, most of the materials will soon be accessible through its webpage and ITunes U by UChannel’s closing date.

As a consequence, their website and links to material from the Princeton YouTube channel and ITunes U page will be removed from the internet on November 3, 2010.

Allowing individuals to host videos if they are under 10 minutes for free, and podcasts being developed for ITunes U by schools or individual with a smaller endowment or budget, including some independent community schools and individuals, it seems unlikely that, had the university wanted to, that the funds for the website could have been allocated.

Yet, unfortunately, while more and more institutions have began to share their academic materials online, Princeton, one of the world most renowned universities, which currently rank eight in the world according to the 2010 US News and World Report on the 400 World’s Best University. Princeton has regrettably decided to at least temperately remove UChannel’s freely accessible material without offering any insight as to whether or not this information will be posted again in the future.* While it can be hoped that this information one day will be freely accessible once again and that Princeton soon will announce an alternative, access to Princeton UChannel material will be, as of November 9, temporally closed.

Sources:

*- Wall Street Journal article regarding Princeton Endowment – (January 09, 2009) http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB123144321867865239.html

>> A more recent article from Business Week regarding Princeton Endowment (February 10, 2010) http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-10/princeton-raises-endowment-growth-forecast-to-10-from-zero.html

*- Link to US News and World Report 400 World Best Universities (2010)  http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/worlds-best-universities/2010/02/25/worlds-best-universities-top-400.html

CENTRO – Educación y Servicios para Familias Latinas en las Ciudades Gemelas

July 30, 2010

Apenas uno entra a las oficinas de CENTRO, el visitante se tropieza inmediatamente con un ambiente visible hispánico. La decoración del lugar es excepcionalmente cálida, ya que las oficinas están diseñadas para parecer pequeñas casas independientes con techos de arcilla. También hay pinturas y murales por todas partes evocando en el visitante la sensación de estar en una arquitectura pintada por Diego Rivera. Todo el edificio fue modificado para hacer que el visitante se sienta la mas cómodo posible. En el lado derecho del establecimiento  hay muchos muebles y ventanas, y hasta un pequeño sauna para que los adolecentes se sientan en casa cuando visitan.

El lugar es completamente bilingüe, y apenas uno entra al centro, se siente como si hubiera cruzado la frontera. CENTRO sin embargo nos recuerda cómo está entrelazada la comunidad hispana con el resto de las Ciudades Gemelas. Los programas ayudan a individuos de diversas etnicidades, ya que muchas familias interraciales contienen miembros hispanos.

CENTRO es bien conocido dentro de la comunidad hispana y muchos hispanos se benefician extensivamente de sus diversos y amplios servicios. Dentro de los programas que ofrece CENTRO se encuentra un programa para el cuidado de niños, servicios para las personas de la tercera edad, servicios de comida gratuita para familias pobres (alimentando entre 50 y 80 familias cada semana), ropa gratuita para todas las edades (con un énfasis en ropa de invierno para niños), y preescolar bilingüe, tres psicólogos bilingües, “raíces” un programa preventivo en contra del SIDA, prevención de bandas delincuentes, bailes folklóricos, y tienen otras celebraciones en temporadas particulares del año como la fiesta del día del niño en la cual le entrega un regalo a 500 familias.

En relación a la educación continua, CENTRO ofrece a los hispanos la oportunidad de regresar al colegio y terminar sus estudios de primaria y secundaria. Sandra Reyes, la Coordinadora de los Programas de Educación y Alfabetización, relata que un gran número de inmigrantes hispanos, particularmente los de primera generación, no han terminado la escuela primaria, y que hasta un 70% no se graduó de la secundaria.

Uno de los programas más innovadores de CENTRO para aliviar este problema es ofrecer a través del gobierno mejicano la oportunidad de que estudiantes puedan terminar su secundaria vía internet a través de http://educamexus.org. Con motivo de este novedoso programa, una estación de televisión Mexicana visito al CENTRO el 29 de Julio para entrevistar a miembros del programa y a algunos estudiantes participantes. Oscar, quien se graduó recientemente del programa comenzará sus estudios universitarios el próximo semestre. También recientemente, Méjico se convirtió en el primer país de Latinoamérica en ofrecer una educación universitaria gratuita vía el internet.

Por muchos anos, CENTRO ha proveído un servicio indispensable a la comunidad latina de las Ciudades Gemelas. Desafortunadamente, la demanda por algunos servicios es más grande que los productos y dinero que es donado a la organización. El preescolar bilingüe tiene una larga lista de espera y en solo una cuestión de pocas horas las 500 familias que van a formar parte de la celebración del día del niño ya han llamado y se han alistado. También hay más individuos que necesitan comida gratuita de la que se puede entregar. CENTRO hace lo mejor que puede para proveer a la comunidad hispana todo lo que está a su alcance de sus recursos.

Gracias al apoyo de la comunidad, la organización efectiva y trabajo constante, CENTRO se ha expandido constantemente. Con suerte, CENTRO tendrá la posibilidad de ayudar y servir a más personas año tras año. Para información adicional visite: http://www.centromn.org/ o llame al: 612-874-1412

CENTRO El Zócalo 1915 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404

CENTRO – Education and Family Services for Latino Families in the Twin Cities

July, 30, 2010

Right after entering the building of CENTRO, meaning “CENTER” in Spanish, a visitor immediately encounters a visible Hispanic flair. The decoration of the place is exceptionally homely as the offices within the building are designed to appear as independent, small houses with terracotta roofs. There are also paintings and murals everywhere evoking a feeling of visiting a building painted by Diego Rivera. The whole building was designed to make the visitor feel comfortable. On the right side of the building, there are couches, windows, and even a small sauna so the young teenagers to feel at home when they visit.

The place is fully bilingual, and as one enters the building, it seems as if one had just crossed the border. CENTRO, however, remind us of how intertwined the Hispanic community is with the Twin Cities. The programs help individuals of different backgrounds as there are many interracial families with Hispanic heritage.

CENTRO is well known among the Hispanic community and many Hispanics benefit extensively from its diverse and comprehensive services. Among CENTRO’s programs are child care services, services for senior citizens, food services for 50 to 80 families in need every week, free clothing services focusing on winter clothing for children, a bilingual pre-K, three bilingual psychologists, “raices” an AIDS prevention program, gangs and truancy prevention, folk dance services including salsa and merengue lessons, and various monthly and yearly celebrations such as a children’s day event where 500 children and families can sign up to participate, celebrate and receive a free toy.

In relation to continuing education, CENTRO offers Hispanics the opportunity to go back to school and finish their elementary and high school studies. Sandra Reyes, CENTRO’s Education / Literacy Project Coordinator, believes that a large number of Hispanic immigrants, particularly first generation immigrants, have not finished elementary school, and over 70% did not graduate from high school.

One of CENTRO’s most innovative programs has worked to alleviate this problem by offering an internationally recognized high school education program promoted by the Mexican Government thru EDUCAMEXUS which offers education to Mexican immigrants in the United States and Canada (http://educamexus.org). A Mexican TV station came to Minneapolis on July 29, to interview the program staff members and some participating students. Oscar, a graduating student, will be starting his studies at a higher education institution in the upcoming semester. In addition, Mexico recently broke a new educational barrier by being the first Latin American country to offer free online university courses.

For many years CENTRO has provided indispensible services to the Twin Cities Hispanic community. Unfortunately, the demand for some services is much greater the goods and funds donated to provide them. The bilingual pre-K has a long waiting list and only in a matter of hours 500 families sign up to participate in the yearly children’s day event. There are also more individuals asking for food than they are able to provide. CENTRO does its best to provide the Hispanic community all the support it can with its limited resources. Fortunately as a result of their hard work and effective organization, CENTRO has continuously expanded, and hopefully they will be able to serve an even larger population in future years.

For additional information visit: http://www.centromn.org/, or call: 612-874-1412

CENTRO El Zócalo 1915 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Burnsville ISD 191- Immigrants Continuing their Education through ESL Classes

• July 29th, 2010 2:03 am

ISD 191 – ABE Schedule and Services

Alfonso Sintjago

It’s nine in the morning in Burnsville at the Independent School District 191, in the outskirts of the Twin Cities. Here, a group of adults from a number of nationalities prepare for their English as a Second Language (ESL) class. ESL is only one of the various community education programs provided at ISD 191, which includes a lifelong learning library, an early childhood program, a youth and family education program, a basic adult education (ABE) program and a computer training center. Apart from the ESL classes, the ABE program allows students to take their GED and be part of Basic Skill workshops.

For recent immigrants or immigrants that have yet to have a functional understanding of English or those who would simply like to improve their English, ESL classes provide them with a way to continue their education and further integrate themselves into American society. Having moved to the United States permanently or for a long period of time, learning English will also allow them to have a greater likelihood of finding employment.

As a result of the limited job market, some previously employed immigrants have found themselves unable to find a job and have turned to ESL classes as a way to feel productive and increase their employment opportunities. Without having a functional level of English and a basic level of computer literacy individuals will have limited job opportunities available.

To meet the needs of the community, ISD 191 offers 5 different levels of ESL classes which are taught by highly qualified staff and a group of vastly appreciated volunteers. Having open enrollment, students come and go, and students are regularly tested to ensure they are placed in the class which adequately matches their English proficiency level.

A great difficulty however results from the uneven levels of skills within each student; some students have no trouble speaking, while others find reading or writing easier. Accommodating for student’s different backgrounds, ages and goals is difficult, but the teachers, with the aid of volunteers and computer software, are able to provide a customized experience to their students.

The classes include students from a diverse number of countries such as Ethiopia, Mexico, India, Libya, Korea, Vietnam, among others. On Monday, July 26, during the advanced level class, the students read about the Vietnam war memorial and watched a clip of Forest Gump while the instructor explained the meaning of some of the events in the movie related to the Vietnam War. During the class, the students were very engaged and exhibited a high level of camaraderie and collaboration.

According to Tammi Bernard, the ESL Volunteer Coordinator, the program has succeeded in empowering students by providing them the means to obtain a functional level of English, nevertheless, a transition stage between ESL and being able to enroll at a college is needed. Providing funds and classes to teach at this transitional stage will help increase the number of graduates who go on to pass their GED and enroll in higher education. The program will finish its summer session in two weeks but will begin its fall ESL classes on September 7. During session, there are classes in the evening and the morning (link to schedule). For more information about the center visit www.communityed191.org, or email/call Tammi Bernard at (952) -707-4127 / tbernard@burnsville.k12.mn.us. –

CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio!

July, 28, 2010

Si usted es una persona de origen latino y vive en la comunidad las Ciudades Gemelas y tiene tiempo para trabajar de voluntario, CLUES es una organización en donde usted se sentirá satisfecho de haber invertido su tiempo. CLUES provee muchos servicios a la comunidad incluyendo clases básicas de ingles y de computación. También usted se puede beneficiar de un programa para ayudar a individuos a encontrar empleo.

Nixty.com a new provider of online continuing and community education

July, 27, 2010

Nixty.com, founded in 2009, recently went public and opened its doors to the online community. The site promises to offers a more comprehensive alternative to other open education websites. Nixty.com founders, Glen Moriarty, Paul Sanders and Erik Beebe, hope to encourage the growth of global open education through e-learning by promoting an open free education site where members of the community can teach each other and benefit from our society’s diversity.

Nixty.com also hopes to function as a site where universities will post courses in continuing education possibly helping some students earn credits through the College-Level Examination Program and also allow instructors to charge a fee for some courses. Instructors will be charged $4.99 and 20 percent of what they take in for hosting three paid courses. Among the promising tools on the site are ePortfolio technologies and LMS software as well as more traditional web 2.0 tools such as blogs, contacts, and mail, among others. The addition of an e-portfolio will allow individuals to use Nixty as a resume/CV builder or uploader, as well as provide tips and information to their students.

Unlike Youtube EDU or Itunes U, Nixty.com aims to provide students not only with class material but also the ability to answer quizzes and communicate with the instructor. Students will be able to browse for courses of their interest and, if a course is not available, they could be the first to host one as a student/instructor.

Within the Course Area section for each instructor and student, members will be able to browse between tabs including general information (Course Home), lessons, discussion, and tests.  The lessons will permit users to embed material from other popular sites. When students are finished with the course they can print a certificate of completion. In the discussion tab, students will be able to post questions and discuss class topics. The forum will utilize karma points to allow the users to vote and increase the visibility of the most popular posts within the discussion. Tests and quizzes can be automatically entered into the gradebook. The course materials can be deleted once it is completed.

Nixty.com is currently only in its initial stages but it could develop into a major provider of online continuous education and community education. It already holds a large library of over a hundred free courses including course materials from the MIT, UCLA, Yale, USC and other higher learning institutions.

To learn more about Nixty.com, visit the site or its Youtube.com channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/NIXTYLearning).

Build your CV through a foreign education experience:

July, 24, 2010

With close to 10% unemployment in the United States and a 6.8% unemployment rate in Minneapolis (http://www.startribune.com/business/98507039.html), a substantial number of professionally trained and skilled individuals have found it very difficult to find a job in the current job market. In addition many have founds jobs in fields unrelated to their professional training, while others are considering continuing their education, taking out loans to return to school for an advanced degree or a particular certification.

Things could be worse, the outlook in America is not as bleak as in Europe, where various countries have accumulated debts close to or larger than their annual GDPs, their recession does not seem to be nearing its end, including some countries, such as Spain where unemployment has exceeded 20%. In America the situations is not as uninviting, but with an uncertain economic outlook; why not consider another way in which to upgrade your resume. Why not go abroad and live a once in a lifetime experience?

Yes, while adventurous and non-traditional, this is also a possibility. What better way to continue your education than learning a foreign language while providing a developing country with your unique expertise as you obtain an international business experience? A recent article by Andrew Dana Hudson in the Chronicle denotes his experience after moving to India (http://chronicle.com/article/What-I-Did-When-I-Couldnt/66281/). As explained in his article, there are a lot of risks involved with moving abroad, but with few job opportunities, perhaps this option will become increasingly more appealing.

Traditionally developing countries had been the main losers of the emigration of skilled labor. The “brain drain” required the constant retraining of skilled labor in developing countries. Increasingly, however, as the economies of some of these countries improve, more skilled laborers are choosing to return to their native lands. Can this also not be a great opportunity for young skilled graduate or other unemployed skilled laborers to have a foreign education experience, much more intense than simply studying abroad?

As the world becomes increasingly globalized and everyone is looking for a way in which to stand out and distinguish themselves, why not consider this possibility? Learning Mandarin in China or having work experience in India could have lifetime benefits to young businessmen. Within the western hemisphere, the most recent report from ECLAC indicated that all but two economies in Latin America, Venezuela and Haiti, were experiencing significant economic growth (http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100721-712908.html).

While moving abroad and venturing in this manner is not for everyone, if you are a young college graduate considering whether to continue into an MA or PhD program, simply feeling restricted as you are unable to find a job, or feel underemployed or unrecognized, why not consider continuing your education through a practical experience while helping in a country where you talents may be more appreciated.

EXCO – A Free Community of Continuing Education

July, 22, 2010

EXCO, the Experimental College of the Twin Cities, now in its 3^rd year, continues to offer classes for the members of the Twin Cities in a variety of subjects during this summer. Offering classes since 2008, EXCO, as its motto indicates, is an organization that sees itself as a community “where everyone can teach or take a class and all classes are FREE!” If you feel inspired to share your knowledge with the community and would like to teach a class, or attend a class to learn something new and different, EXCO (http://www.excotc.org) is worth visiting.

While some of the subjects may be somewhat different from the traditional college curriculum and there is no certification or accreditation involved, courses on subjects such as bicycle maintenance and health and wellness are actually one of EXCO’s strongest appeals. EXCO allows individuals to study more traditional subject such as French, through its French Friday Revival course, but also offers members the opportunity to study, free of change, a non-traditional subject and stimulate their mind in different ways.

EXCO can be a fantastic place for an advanced student to obtain some teaching experience. With some organization, a group of individuals could get together and co-facilitate a seminar. While classes must be approved, individuals can teach through a variety of teaching methods and are only limited by their imagination. The classes take place in various locations around St. Paul and Minneapolis. Instructions teach on a volunteer basis. EXCO awards instruction supply funds and some instructors are awarded need-based honorariums.

EXCO classes start primarily during September, February and June, but some classes accept students on a rolling basis. The website appears to be growing and hopefully it will continue to expand in the upcoming years.

The Minneapolis community would benefit from the growth of communities such as EXCO. While the city offers other possibilities for continuing education, EXCO is one of the few options available to individuals who do not have the financial means to attend a course at a community college.

With the current difficulties in the job market, maybe more individuals will find the time to visit EXCO and contribute by either learning or teaching to fellow community members. If you have the time in your hands, visit the website and perhaps you be swayed into attending a free yoga or zumba class for the rest of the summer. To find out more about EXCO, call 651-988-9268 or email rosenblum34@gmail.com

Ning New Pricing Plan

July, 20, 2010

On July 19, I attended a forum held by the Elluminate! Education software,(http://www.elluminate.com), in collaboration with FutureofEducation.com and Conversation.net, where representatives from Ning and Pearson discussed the upcoming changes to Ning pricing plans (http://about.ning.com/announcement). Since 2005, Marc Andersen’s newest product, Ning, (http://www.ning.com), a form of social networking where users could create their own online communities, had been used by some educators and students to form free continuing education networks with hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of online members within each community.

As a result of financial pressure, Ning has decided to phase out its free networks and charge Ning creators depending on the size of the Ning from $2.95 a month to $49.95. Unfortunately, after July 20, the new financial costs will make it more difficult for new start up Nings to establish a community and develop under their new for profit structure. Pearson, a global leader in online and offline education, has decided to sponsor qualifying educational mini Nings in order to help some of the continuously growing Ning educational community to remain free within Ning network

Pearson will offer sponsorships to smaller mini Nings that they consider promising, and Ning offered its users possibilities for its members to cover the cost of the site through sponsorships and advertisements, unfortunately the changes will make it difficult for some of these communities to continue. Future free education communities may be forced to move to other websites such as grouply.com, rrriple.com, bigtent.com, edmodo.com, zonkk.com, and teamlab.com, among many others which continue to be free for their users. Fortunately for those that will be unable to meet the cost of hosting a Ning network, many of these alternative sites maintain some of the same elements originally found in Ning. Hopefully for Ning and many of its users, some of these communities will be able to thrive under the for-profit model.

Hoping you continue your education,

Alfonso Sintjago

Apart from my PhD studies at the University of Minnesota, I am currently taking a course with Lynda.com software on Dreamweaver as well as an OpenCourseWare class in programming by the MIT. If you have the time at home and would like to explore a subject in which you are interested at an academic level, visit the OCW consortium (http://www.ocwconsortium.org/) for a listing of available free courses or download a class in Itunes U. Podcasts are also an excellent alternative.