Cambridge team wins Hult Global Case Challenge

 Hult International Business School today announced that the University of Cambridge team from the United Kingdom has been selected as the Global Final Winner of its 2nd Annual Hult Global Case Challenge.  The competition, held yesterday at a W Hotel in New York, focused on developing solutions to accelerate clean water access and sanitation around the world. The Hult Global Case Challenge is a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action. President Clinton delivered the closing keynote address and presented awards to the winning team.  Hult provided the Global Winner with a $1 million prize, which will be made available to Water.org, an organization co-founded by Gary White and actor Matt Damon, along with the winning idea.  

Jobs for the Future launches new publications

 Jobs for the Future (JFF) today released three new publications examining innovative ways community colleges are serving their students, communities, and emerging workforce needs.

Informed by research from the MetLife Foundation Community College Excellence Award program and other JFF initiatives, the briefs highlight effective examples of preparation in mathematics and for careers in health care and the green economy. Each offers new perspectives on the issue of college and career readiness.

"Across the nation, community colleges are leaders in providing educational and career opportunities for students of all ages and supporting local economic development," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "The profiles of innovation in these publications provide good news for students and the future of America's workforce."

A mind is still a terrible thing to waste

UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) today announced that it will mark the fortieth anniversary of "A mind is a terrible thing to waste"® at the UNCF "A Mind Is" Gala, Thursday, March 3 at  7:30 p.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel at 1535 Broadway in New York. UNCF will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Y&R, and The Ad Council.   Jordan, an investment banker at Lazard, adviser to President Bill Clinton, and civil rights leader, headed UNCF when the motto was coined.  Y&R contributed the creative work on the campaign of public service announcements built on the famous phrase.  And The Ad Council distributed the campaign across the country.

"When 'A mind is a terrible thing to waste'® made its debut, the idea that African Americans should attend college was neither familiar nor widely accepted," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO.  "But forty years of seeing and hearing the famous phrase catalyzed a revolution in attitudes and reality, and today African Americans attend almost every college and university in the country.  We are marking this anniversary, not only to celebrate how far we've come, but how far we still have to go before every American can get the education they need and the nation needs them to have."

The UNCF "A Mind Is" Gala co-chairs are UNCF board members Tamara Harris Robinson, Vice President of the Robinson Harris Foundation, and Mark Mason, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Citi Holdings. A reception for the event will begin at 6 p.m.

Manpower exec to argue education industry is failing

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN), world leader in innovative workforce solutions, will on Wednesday, 26 January, participate in the CNBC live debate at the 2011 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos titled "The West Isn't Working," where high-profile thought leaders will suggest actions to stem the tide of jobs losses in advanced economies in the face of a growing talent mismatch, global power shifts and the threat of a lost generation of workers.

Jeffrey A. Joerres, Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO, will argue in favor of the motion "Education is Failing Industry," in part two of the debate and will be challenged by Amy Gutmann, President of the University of Pennsylvania. Joerres will warn that, despite continuing high unemployment, the disparity between the skills taught by education institutions and those needed by business means western countries will find it increasingly difficult to source the critical talent they need.

"The world is experiencing an era of volatile and rapid transformation. This is exacerbating the disconnect between learning and industry as education cannot keep up," said Joerres. "The entire system needs to be revaluated. Changes would be significant, but are necessary to ensure industry, governments and educators are to effectively align education and training with business needs."

Rave reviews - Tutorvista example

I always recommend people search out reviews for products and services, a good example of how this can be helpful would relate to looking for reviews for services, let's take reviews for tutorvista as an example. Looking on the actual Tutorvista website for a Tutorvista Review could be helpful, but it's better when possible to find reviews on other websites to get a really accurate picture.

If you search Reviews for tutorvista in your favorite search engine, you'll note that by looking at the domain name of where the search is featured you can select from a number of places, including specific consumer sites to find a Tutorvista Review and you can even find Reviews for tutorvista on wikipedia.

Do the same review search for any product and service and you'll get an idea of what is being stated out there to help you decide.

Towards a healthier pizza

Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, is striving to be a part of the solution when it comes to promoting healthy, active lifestyles for young people – highlighted by the launch of its Domino's Smart Slice school lunch pizza.

Domino's Smart Slice is a white whole-wheat, reduced fat and reduced sodium pizza, which is baked fresh and delivered to schools. Domino's Smart Slice is already being served in more than 120 school districts, and Domino's plans to double that number within the next year.

Leading Change in School Lunch

"This is a new approach to delivering pizza to schools, and we are extremely excited about the potential of Domino's Smart Slice," said J. Patrick Doyle, Domino's Pizza president and chief executive officer. "We are pleased with the launch, and the feedback from school districts has been very positive – which makes us believe the upside is tremendous. We want to lead change in this area."

Not proficient in "new math"?

Long ago my solution to find Math Homework Help was to have older siblings help the younger ones since Math help no matter if it's Calculus Help, Geometry Help or Algebra 2 Help -- it's above my level of expertise and I ended up frustrating whoever I was trying to help more than I helped them.

Tutoring systems like Tutor Vista are designed to help end that frustration if you don't have older siblings around to help or if your school system doesn't offer additional tutoring assistance. Internet assistance is also more convenient since you can get help when you need it.

I took Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 in High School, but it seems to me that it's changed quite a bit since the late '70s, especially when it comes to some of the terms used. The only area that appears to still be the same where I can actually offer some assistance is when it comes to Statistics Help which is not very much help at all since only one of mine has taken Statistics ...

Hence it's better to turn to the experts.

Mastering interviews

Even after years of education, internships and other experiences, it can all come down to an interview. How you handle yourself during an interview can get you moved on or off the list of further consideration. It's why some consider a consultant interview brush up session.

By taking a consultant interview course you can learn where your strong interview presentation areas are and where your presentation is a bit weak. Some services, like one in London, provide you with a DVD of your mock interview as well as access to their website for informational materials after the course has been completed.

Other courses such as medical management courses and courses that teach the teacher are also out there. The "teach the teacher" courses are a great way to stay up to date on the medical profession.

CyberPatroit has more than 450 teams

National High School Cyber Defense Competition Exceeds 450 Teams

Registration for Cyber Security Education Initiative Remains Open until Oct. 8

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association announced today that CyberPatriot now has more than 450 teams registered to participate in the premier high school cyber defense competition. Only Iowa, Montana and Wyoming have yet to join the contest.

CyberPatriot is the nation's largest and fastest-growing high school cyber defense competition. With 47 states, Puerto Rico and U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Japan and Korea already represented, word is getting out to high school educators across the country. Teams have registered from public, private, parochial and home schools in many states in the competition's Open Division. Additionally, Junior ROTC units of all Services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons are rapidly filling the All-Service Division in the two-track competition.

September is College Savings Month in NC

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Carolina's 529 college savings program today joins other states and the College Savings Plan Network in declaring September College Savings Month. This nationwide focus is an effort to emphasize the importance of saving for higher education by families with children in kindergarten through high school.
"As students settle into a new school year, September is a great time for families to think about how they will pay future college expenses," said Shera Hube, vice president for marketing and savings at College Foundation, Inc. "With the low-cost, tax advantages, and variety of investment options offered in North Carolina's 529 Plan, this is the time to open an account or to increase your contributions to an established account."
Starting an NC 529 account requires as little as a $25 investment and you may make regular or periodic contributions based on your financial situation and your preferences. Money can be used for qualified higher education expenses at almost any four-year or two-year college, in-state or out-of-state.
NC taxpayer contributions to a NC 529 account of up to $2,500 for individuals ($5,000 for joint filers) per year are currently eligible for a state tax deduction. For example, according to financial planner Holly K. Nicholson, CFP, a married couple filing jointly with income of $75,000 and contributing $5,000 (including roll-overs from another 529 plan) to the NC 529 Plan may save as much as $350 in N.C. state income tax.
Investment choices include age-based or individual options with funds available from The Vanguard Group, NCM Capital Management Group, State Employees Credit Union (SECU) and the State Treasurer of North Carolina. The Federally-Insured Deposit Account from SECU is the newest option, added in April 2010.
During the past year, the number of NC 529 accounts has increased by 16.7%, according to College Foundation, Inc., the Program Administrator. In July 2010, there were 80,534 account owners with more than $606 million invested, a fund value increase of 34.5% over last July.
Go to CFNC.org/NC529 to learn more about North Carolina's 529 college savings plan, to enroll or to make a contribution. If you have any questions about the NC 529 Plan, call toll-free 1-800-600-3453.
Source: College Foundation, Inc.

I do know one and one is two...

When I was back in school I did know how to divide and I did learn how to do Algebra equations though when I now look at some of the work my children are doing in math, it almost seems as if what I learned then would now be called, pre Algebra.

While I enjoy solving math word problems in crossword puzzle books, I'd probably not fare well at a math practice test. I can't even begin to tell you what a standard form or a slope formula is, at least not without googling it to be able to give a basic description. When I was involved in parent's club at my older children's school, I suggested we have a class on new math for parents. It was a very successful program that they still do today...

Get your tutoring on...

With school about ready to begin in many parts of the country, it's time to start thinking about more than just buying school supplies, finding a Homework helper is also something parents should start looking into. While many school systems do offer help for parents and students, not all of them offer Algerba 2 help and many of us as parents have no idea what is meant by Equivalent Fractions.

When my older children were at home and one of the younger ones needed a Math Tutor it was simple, I just directed the child needing help to a sibling. Now it's not quite so easy, so when my youngest comes to me needing help to solve math problems -- at times I'm stumped and I have gone online to find a free online math tutor or to find the answers to the math problem so I can attempt to figure out how the problem needs to be done. So, if you are like me and you have no idea what a Probability calculator is? You might want to start thinking about where you are going to turn for math help this upcoming school year, tutornext.com is one site I recommend checking out.

Back to School from the Census Bureau...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- By August, summertime will be winding down and vacations will be coming to an end, signaling that back-to-school time is near. It's a time that many children eagerly anticipate -- catching up with old friends, making new ones and settling into a new daily routine. Parents and children alike scan the newspapers and websites looking for sales to shop for a multitude of school supplies and the latest clothing fads and essentials. This edition of Facts for Features highlights the many statistics associated with the return to classrooms by our nation's students and teachers.

Back-to-School Shopping    $7.2 billion 

The amount of money spent at family clothing stores in August 2009. Only in December were sales significantly higher. Similarly, sales at bookstores in August 2009 totaled $2.5 billion, an amount approached in 2009 only by sales in January.

Source: Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html

For back-to-school shopping, choices of retail establishments abound: In 2007, there were 27,326 family clothing stores, 7,036 children and infants clothing stores, 27,213 shoe stores, 9,754 office supply and stationery stores, 23,756 sporting goods stores, 10,635 bookstores and 10,116 department stores.

Source: County Business Patterns: 2007 http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/    Students    76 million 

The number of children and adults enrolled in school throughout the country in October 2008 -- from nursery school to college. They comprised 27 percent of the entire population 3 and older.

Go to college from home...

While it is possible at many colleges to take online classes, some don't offer all of the classes necessary online. Which means those of you who are interested in getting an online degree have to carefully research the various online university/colleges. They are not all alike, but in some cases, you can get a degree without having to actually physically go to college...

Help for the math challenged parent...

For most of us, even if we were good in math way back when we were in school, math has changed. Some of what we did is merely just being called different names, some of it seems completely new. Yes, probably why they call it "new math" -- but if you are a parent trying to help your child may create scenarios where you need Math help before you can help with homework. Some schools offer this help, but not many and if you work it can be a challenge, so having access to an online math tutor could be your solution.

If your child is struggling or you just want to make sure they are proficient in math, you can also consider online math tutoring for them. In some cases it's possible to get Free online math tutoring.

TutorVista offers a variety of online math help for not only students K-12, but for those of you in college or those of you who are thinking about going back to school. If you have been out of school for a few years, seeking out some Free online math help may be all that you need to brush up or you may discover you need a bit more assistance to feel confident.

Save money on textbooks...

One of my daughters is currently taking classes in college, and the university she goes to does not make it easy when it comes to saving money on her books. While they offer some used books at the Student Book store, the prices are much higher than textbooks found online. Making the situation more difficult, they refuse to provide the ISBN number online or over the phone so that students have a tougher time finding the right book that they need. In some cases, the professor will pick the latest version, which the school library doesn't even have enough copies that is several hundreds of dollars more and not very different than a previous edition. We've found creative ways around it, including going to the student book store and writing down the ISBN number...

Looking for loans in all the right places...

Let's face it, college can be expensive, especially if the degree you are seeking is one that you can not receive at a community college. Even then, for those who are working and dream of going to school being able to find student loans above and beyond the main loans and grants through FAFSA can be a challenge. Thanks to the internet you can research this, but make sure to read the fine print because not all student loans are the same. Some require repayment to begin before you graduate, others are deferred until graduation and the interest rate can vary.

This was neat, duck tape prom...

Something a bit more bright and cheery than focusing on economic news, duct tape prom clothing it's a scholarship contest and one school got some media attention for their participation.

I enjoyed looking at the pictures, I think you will too...

:-)

Downgrading their college dreams

Recommended piece from NPR on some of the decisions and challenges facing high school seniors who are seeing the price of an education going up with their parents not fairing well in the current economy. It's made some of them have an uncertain outlook as to where they will go to school and how it will be paid for.

It's an interesting story well worth the bit more than five minutes to listen too...

600,000 children helped so far in One Laptop Per Child

Nicholas Negroponte is reporting that the XO computer from the One Laptop Per Child project is now being used by 600,000 children. "That's not promised machines, or machines that might be on their way, that is actual laptops in use by children in their schools and homes today," he is quoted as saying.

Users so far are spread across 31 countries, including Peru, Rwanda, and Cambodia. Palestine will be the next nation to receive a shipment.

"We have most traction in South America. The 'poster children' for the OLPC project are Uruguay and Peru - every single child in Uruguay will have a laptop by mid 2009," Negroponte says.

Those countries have taken strongly to the laptops, he said, with parents telling him they can't wait to get their hands on an XO once their children have gone to sleep.

Negroponte tells how one computer-illiterate Uruguayan teacher, worried about the prospect of laptops arriving, asked for early retirement. Once the laptops arrived, she changed her mind and asked for late retirement, instead.

"She had never had so much fun teaching. The newfound energy in the classroom, the sharp decline in discipline problems, and the engagement of the parents made her work so much more fulfilling," Negroponte says.

I've been following this story since it was in the dream stages, it's really great to see that it's actually taking off and that children are seeing a huge change in their lives thanks to this program.