Higher Education

Matthew Lynch published in Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech, Higher Education, Higher Education EdTech, K-12 November 25, 2017

What Does a Future Ready School Look Like?

As schools begin discussing the idea of becoming future ready, they must begin by identifying what a future ready school looks like. After finding what it means to be future ready, then the school can begin to implement change.

According to the Alliance for Excellence Education, “Future Ready Schools helps K-12 public, private, and charter school leaders plan and implement personalized, research-based digital learning strategies so all students can achieve their full potential.”

Ultimately, future ready schools find ways to embrace ever-changing technology in the classroom to help students succeed beyond the classroom walls. While most people assume future ready is strictly focused on technology, this is incorrect. Let’s look at some of the other defining characteristics of future ready schools.

Provide Access to Technology

President Obama encouraged schools to implement future ready strategies by pointing out that students need access to Wi-Fi in their schools. If educators wish to prepare students for the future, they must provide access to the technology students will use. This is why future ready schools aim to give high access internet to 99 percent of schools.

Additionally, future ready schools develop a curriculum that encourages digital learning. By allowing librarians to play a crucial role in curating digital content and technology that will take students into the future, schools are better able to prepare students.

Leadership Encourages Personalized Learning

Future ready schools have future ready leaders. The difference in this type of leadership is an insistence on personalized learning. Future ready leaders understand personalized learning experiences for students equates to lifelong success. Leaders (such as superintendents, principals, and librarians) encourage teachers and students to use technology to make learning more personal. For example, students create content using technology rather than simply completing worksheets.

Creates an Innovative and Adaptable Culture

Future ready schools have an innovative and adaptable culture. These schools look for new ways to implement digital learning strategies and understand that these changes are ongoing. By understanding that education and technology are constantly changing, these schools make preparations for technology that can be modified and used into the future. For instance, future ready schools write policies that are adaptable to changing times.

Wisely Use Time and Resources

Finally, future ready schools use time and resources wisely. Schools have budgets, but future ready schools plan strategically for the future. When making purchases for the classroom, future ready schools consider the long-term goals. In other words, rather than spending time and money on a specific device, these schools consider what educational goals a tool will support. Future ready schools use a digital learning implementation plan to help guide their planning ensuring their time and resources are used to give students opportunities to reach their full potential.

Can you think of any additional characteristics of future ready schools?

Matthew Lynch published in Child Development, Higher Education, K-12 November 21, 2017

How to Help College Students Develop More Grit

The concept of grit, although not new, has recently become a higher education buzzword due, in part, to Angela Duckworth’s research on the subject in her book, Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance. Traditionally defined as “courage” or “resolve” by Miriam-Webster, Duckworth reimagined the term as regarding higher education, colleges and universities want to know how “gritty” or “resilient” their students are and how this trait can affect their progress toward degree completion. This is certainly beneficial knowledge to have, as a student’s level of grit can also affect his or her self-control and ability to engage with professors and class material.

There is a wide variety of methods by which to measure and test a student’s grit level, but what if that level falls short of ideal? A student body lacking in grit could manifest as an increase in years to degree completion due to changing majors, failure to persist to degree completion at all, or high levels of unemployment 6 months after graduation. Outcomes such as these based on students’ inability to commit to a degree path and persist to graduation are detrimental to students themselves and to the colleges attempting to support them.

But, there is good news! Incorporating purpose and vocation exploration into first-year college programming has been shown to increase students’ perseverance toward degree completion as well as increased job satisfaction and quality of life after graduation. In other words, students who go through programs intended to teach them how to shape their personal values into rewarding careers are more likely to persist toward degree completion in four years. Students who understand how to put their values into action through future careers are more likely to push through adversity in pursuit of an end goal that they can relate to.

Their grit, or, ability to passionately pursue a long-term goal, is increased by understanding how to mold their values into actions. Internships and service learning activities are additional ways in which to strengthen this commitment through the entirety of the college experience. When students see a clear path toward a goal that they identify with, they will become better at overcoming setbacks and maneuvering through unexpected obstacles, issues that might have otherwise affected their persistence to degree completion.

Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education November 20, 2017

Top Universities in South America for 2018

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2018 listed 46 universities in South America on its top 1000 list. Most of the picks are found in Brazil, but there are quality universities located across the continent.

Hoping to study at home or move abroad to work on your Spanish or Portuguese?

Here are three of our favorite top universities in South America for 2018.

1. University of Sao Paulo

The University of Sao Paulo, located in Brazil’s capital city, has been identified as the top university in South America, cracking the top 300 list on the Times rankings.

USP has nearly a century of history in academic excellence. Founded in 1934, it pioneered higher education and new teaching standards in Brazil. As a point of interest for academics around the world, it has long attracted the world’s best teachers across a range of disciplines. The school has also produced presidents, CEOs, and incredible researchers.

USP is a huge school – it’s home to 90,000 students across 11 campuses located in Sao Paulo and beyond. Students have 200 undergraduate and 200 postgraduate programs to choose from.

2. Diego Portales University

Diego Portales University is one of the top universities in South America located outside Brazil. Founded in 1982, it DPS is Chile’s first private university and has two campuses in Santiago and Huechuraba.

The school has just over 14,000 students and around 1,300 staff. Students are able to take on one of 31 undergraduate programs either as full-time day students or in evening classes. Faculties at DSP range from architecture art and design to law to engineering and sciences, providing a well-rounded education.

3. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia’s best university is one of the top universities in South America. Pontifical Javeriana University, named after Francis Xavier, the Jesuit founder of the Friends of Jesus, is also one of the oldest universities on the continent – it has been educating students continuously since it was founded in 1623.

Its status as a Jesuit university is not uncommon – 28 South American universities are run by the Friends of Jesus organization.

One of the things we like about this university is that it combines a large number of degree options with small class sizes, something not found at USP or at Diego Portales.

South America is home to some world-class universities offering a variety of degree programs in intimate settings. Are you looking for schools in South America? What schools top your list?

Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education November 17, 2017

Low-Income Students at Elite Institutions: Are They Unicorns?

Low-income students have incredible obstacles to overcome to reach college.

They need to deal with poor public schools that hold back students living in low-income areas due to the property tax funding system. Low-income students also have poorer access to college-readiness and preparation resources. They’re even less likely to have help figuring out financial aid, even though they qualify for it.

A report from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation shows that nearly 1 in 4 high-achieving, low-income students navigate the college process entirely on their own.

While it doesn’t hold all students back, low-income, high-achieving students make up only 3 percent of the student bodies at elite colleges.

Yes, low-income students at elite institutions are unicorns. But they shouldn’t be.

How Can We Boost Enrollment Rates of High-Achievers?

There’s no easy answer to helping more high-achievers reach elite colleges because of the host of factors at play.

However, elite colleges can take steps to not only attract those students but to help them overcome the barriers they face in getting in. This must go beyond providing more grants and scholarships and take a more hands-on approach.

According to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, who conducted the survey about high-achieving, low-income students, colleges can take steps to improve transparency in the admissions process and reduce the number of fees thrown at colleges.

Here are a few ways they can do so:

Making Fee Waivers Easier

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation survey found that concerns about college costs discouraged one out of three high-achievers from even applying. These costs include room and board, but even the application fee can put students off.

What is more, those students aren’t sure whether that fee would be waived or if they qualified for a fee waiver.

More transparency will allow students to apply in the first place.

Providing Access to Visits

Most high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds never visit their school of choice. They’re exposed only to the promotional materials disbursed by the school.

The inability to visit is problematic in many ways. First, they’re not able to see first-hand what it will be like to go to school there, leaving them with an intimidating impression of the elite college world.

Moreover, college brochures don’t typically feature low-income students, which is important for encouraging and inspiring them.

Pick Up the Slack from Public Schools

Many students are first-generation college students whose parents don’t have first-hand knowledge of the college application system. They then have to rely on community resources, like public schools, which are too often overwhelmed with hundreds of students.

Elite colleges can reach out to these students by enabling students at the university to help high school students via their alumni networks.

At the end of the day, elite colleges benefit from the contributions high-achieving, low-income students make to their campuses, and it’s not enough to wait for those students to come to them.

Has your university set a plan to help the best and brightest reach their goals? Share your thoughts here.

Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education November 17, 2017

Top Universities in Central America for 2018

The top schools in Central America are dominated by the Mexican institutions in North America, several of which have cracked the top spots on the Times Higher Education top 1,000 list.

However, there are plenty of great schools to choose from throughout the region.

We’ve put together a list of our favorite universities in Central America for the next school year.

1. National Autonomous University of Mexico

The National Autonomous University of Mexico is a public research university based in Mexico City. Its urban campus is a sight to behold and is so unique that it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

UNAM is a highly selective school, admitting only 8% of all applicants. It’s also an important research school in many areas. In fact, every Mexican Nobel laureate has either been alumni of or a faculty member at the school.

UNAM’s student body is incredible. It’s home to 187,195 undergraduates and 26,169 postgraduates. Not all students attend the main Mexico City campus; there are also other campuses across the metropolitan area as well as in other cities catering to graduate studies and research across Mexico.

2. Central American University Jose Simeon Canas

Central American University, commonly known as UCA El Salvador is a private university based in the El Salvadorian capital of San Salvador. The university is run by the Society of Jesus and is one of many Central and South American universities run by the Jesuits.

The school is small – it’s home to just under 9,000 students and only around 400 staff. Yet, despite its size, the school has played a role in Central American politics. Today, it provides undergraduate and postgraduate programs across many subjects ranging from science to humanities to professional degrees.

3. University of Panama

Located in Panama City, the University of Panama is a public university with satellite campuses across the country.

It was founded in 1935 with four disciplines and 175 students. Today, the school is home to nearly 75,000 students who have the opportunity to attend an institution that takes its role in global research seriously. The university participates in international research agreements and information exchanges as professors and staff visit institutions around the world.

Are you looking for a school in Central America? Have these three institutions made your list? Let us know in the comments below.

Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education November 15, 2017

2018 America’s Top Public Universities

Looking for a best-in-class education but don’t want to pay the private education fees? No problem.

America is home to a diverse array of high-quality public universities, each providing unique opportunities for enrolling students.

Here are four of the best public schools to apply to next year.

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

CUNY (City University of New York) is the largest urban public university in the US. It’s ranked at the top school by MONEY for 2017-2018.

The most popular majors on this campus tend to lie within the realm of business. Finance, Accounting, Business/Corporate Communications, and Administration and Management are all popular and taught with a student-faculty ratio of 17:1.

The college is located in New York City, and it’s one of the senior colleges in the system. That said, it’s still affordable for New York residents and out-of-state tuition still falls below $20,000 per year. However, because it is in New York City, living costs tend to be high.

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in America for undergraduate and post-graduate research and its reign will continue in 2018.

It’s on the expensive side of public colleges – in-state tuition is just south of $15,000 per year and non-resident tuition skyrockets to $47,000.

However, the student-faculty ratio of 15:1 is second to none and is very helpful in some of the school’s most popular majors including Experimental Psychology, Economics, and Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology.

University of Virginia – Charlottesville

The University of Virginia’s main campus in Charlottesville is known for its liberal arts college atmosphere with a wide range of majors including Economics, International Relations and Affairs, Psychology, and Biology.

Situated in a college town, the main campus is close to major metropolitan centers like Washington D.C. but still enjoys a small town feel. It’s so small, in fact, that the student-faculty ratio is 15:1.

In-state tuition is projected to be just above $16,000 in 2018 while out-of-state tuition is nearly $47,000 per year.

Georgia Institute of Technology – Main Campus

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a campus filled with dedicated faculty researchers who are happy to let undergraduate students in on the action.

Students enjoy a 20:1 student-faculty ration across popular majors like Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

In-state tuition is projected to be around $12,500 per year. Out-of-state is cheaper compared to other public schools at only $33,000 per year.

Are you headed to any of these schools next year? Share your experiences in the comments.

Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education November 15, 2017

Top Universities in Canada for 2018

Canada higher education prowess is long-established. But some of its top colleges have been threatening the top spots traditionally held by UK and US universities.

Indeed, Canadian universities are a dynamic group and each university has its own unique experience to offer both undergraduates and postgraduates.

Considering attending a Canadian school? Check out these top Canadian universities:

1. University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is widely considered to be the best university in Canada and one of the best universities in the world. Founded in 1827, it’s a public research university with a student body of 60,000 and a staff of 6,000, when you count both teachers and administrators.

Today, the school is famous for the sheer amount of scientific research funding it receives, which far outpaces other Canadian and even many American schools. It’s also a member of the Association of America Universities – the only other member outside of the United States is McGill.

Although famous for science, the University of Toronto has also been a pioneer in the humanities. Additionally, it produces a well-rounded student life with plenty of opportunities to become involved in the university and the greater Toronto area.

2. McGill University

McGill University, based in Montreal, is another premier research university in Canada. McGill may be based in Canada, but it has an international attitude. In addition to joining the University of Toronto on the association of America Universities, it is also the only Canadian university found in the Global University Leaders Forum, which is a team of the world’s top universities within the World Economic Forum.

With only 40,000 students, the university is smaller than other Canadian universities. Yet, it has produced more Rhodes Scholars and Nobel laureates than the other schools.

McGill, unlike Toronto, has a major arts focus: Twenty-two percent of the student body can be found in the Faculty of Arts. The Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine are home to another significant proportion of the students.

3. University of British Columbia

The University of British Columba offers everything you know and love about Vancouver and British Columbia wrapped up in two highly competitive campuses.

UBC is spread across two campuses – one in Vancouver and one in Kelowna. Although it is competitive, it also tries to attract the best and brightest regardless of their background with scholarships like the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award, which is given to students who hail from war-torn countries. Indeed, more than 25% of the 50,000 full-time students at UBC are international students.

The top three universities in Canada are all competitive and all offer something different to prospective students. Are you applying to one of these universities? Did we miss your top university? Let us know in the comments below.

Matthew Lynch published in Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech, Higher Education, Higher Education EdTech November 14, 2017

8 Apps, Tools, and Resources That Will Improve Your Memory

Some aspects of human memory are still largely misunderstood. However, we do know that aging affects our ability to remember. We also know that concentration and memory are linked.

We know that memory is not just a “thing” that we all have. There are three steps in the process of storing and recalling a memory: the first is registering and encoding the experience or action, the second is storing and retaining what was registered, and the third is retrieving the information.

When we cannot remember something, it could be one of three things has occurred: you might not have encoded the experience effectively, you were distracted when encoding, or you’re just having difficulty retrieving it.

Fortunately, there are exercises, activities, and strategies we can practice to work out our brains to improve the memory process. Particularly, to better remember something, spend more time learning about and doing the actual activity. This will allow neurotransmitters to make connections repeatedly, thus making the specific brain network more engrained in the mind.

There are apps, tools, and other resources for the specific purpose of training the brain and improving the memory. We have put together a list of some of the best of these here.

Lumosity – $11.99+

Based on the science of neuroplasticity, though facing some bad press, Lumosity is one of the most highly recommended apps for working out the brain and is currently used by 85 million people. Since challenges and rewards improve memory, this app is excellent for training the brain and working out one’s memory.

Virginia Tech Online Study Skills Workshops

Virginia Tech outlines the connection between memory and concentration on this page of their website. They also present a few activities to challenge the reader, as well as tips on how to concentrate, study, and recall information better. It’s not an app that you can play daily, but it provides critical advice on improving all the phases of memory and concentration.

Personal Zen – Free

This app is clinically proven to reduce stress and anxiety by playing a game. Through retraining your brain to think more positively, the reduction of anxiety and stress allows you to focus more on the events and experiences around you. Thus, it stands to reason that you can register experiences and encode the information more firmly for retrieval at a later date.

Edgewood College Website

On their website, Edgewood College has a few pages of tips for students on how to better memorize information and improve memory. Some of the tips and activities include organizing and ordering information, the “Funnel Approach,” and organizing through meaning and association. The website is accessible to the public and offers great tips and exercises that can help anyone improve their ability to memorize and remember.

Eidetic – $4.99

Since our ability to recall information, experiences, and actions is connected to how we originally registered the information and to the repetition of the information or action, this app is excellent for helping us remember certain personal items. It provides context and meaning as you can enter your own information you’d like to remember, such as names, numbers, quotes, notes, etc. It reminds you to test yourself and spaces these tests out over time to help you retain the info in your long-term memory.

Memory Improvement Tips Website

It may seem unsuspecting, but this website provides a variety of tips, activities, games, and exercises to help improve your memory. You can choose the subject and type of activity you want to practice from a variety of free options. It’s a comprehensive website that is accessible to all.

Fit Brains Trainer – $4.99+

This award-winning app trains your brain in a variety of ways through a variety of games and challenges. Designed by neuroscientists, Fit Brains Trainer stimulates the mind while providing a fun experience. It claims to be the only training program that trains your cognitive skills including memory, attention, speed, and emotional intelligence.

The Memory Page

This basic blog-style website is more than it might first appear. There are tons of apps that purport to improve brain and memory power. However, there are so many other aspects involved in preventing the decline in memory and cognition. This website provides lots of information and several other resources regarding methods to improve and maintain cognitive abilities, especially memory. From ways to boost brain power to foods and herbs that improve memory, this website is an all-around helpful resource.

Did we miss any?

Matthew Lynch published in Education Leadership, First Year Teachers, Higher Education, Policy & Reform, Teachers November 13, 2017

What is the Future of School Fundraising?

As the news headlines regarding the current U.S. economy continue to improve, there is one area that is still feeling the squeeze from the recession years: public and private K-12 school funding. Less state spending on education negatively impacts the learning experience that students receive in our nation’s classrooms. As a result, teachers around the country are turning to fundraising to address their funding gaps.

Teachers looking to lead their districts into 2018 and beyond need to recognize that change is a surety and that to survive this inevitability, they must adapt the way they engage potential donors and their community as a whole. They have to understand the need to find new donors, the factors that motivate donors to give, and the opportunities that are possible with the use of new technologies.

So what does the future of school fundraising look like? Not an easy question to answer, is it? Here’s what I think.

How is edtech shaping the future of school fundraising?

Over the last decade, edtech companies have been experimenting with innovative ways to use technology to help educators fundraise more efficiently and with greater success. Thankfully, several of these companies are getting it right and are doing a great job. One company, in particular, Edco, has done an excellent job of creating a comprehensive application designed to help teachers exceed their fundraising goals. “Edco was founded because we wanted to help schools raise money effectively and efficiently in an ongoing manner and use the best practices of the best fundraisers. We know that a lot of people want to donate directly to the school, but don’t want the products, goods, and services,” says Rafi Musher of Edco.

The first time I heard about this company was during a conversation with a gifted education teacher that I used to work with. I called her to see how things were going, and during the talk, she told me about a recent trip to the U.K. that she made with five of her students. She teaches in a school district that serves a large number of low-income students, whose parents are hardworking but often find themselves just trying to make ends meet. Since I knew that the school district hadn’t been fully funded education in decades, I wondered how she managed to finance this trip.

That’s when she told me about Edco, a new school fundraising web platform, and how it helped her raise the monies necessary for their field trip across the pond. Recently, I had a chance to visit their site to see what all the fuss was about. Here is what I found out. In two minutes or less, you can create your webpage that’s ready to take donations immediately – on any device. Your dedicated webpage allows you to create a goal, upload a team photo, and also tell your team’s story. It includes sponsorship templates, the ability to have Edco assist with your outreach and access to Nathan, who heads up partnerships, as your fundraising coach. Pretty cool, huh?

If you are like me and have zero fundraising experience, not to fret, Edco’s tips and templates show you what you need to do to raise more money. If you plan to involve your students in the fundraising process, Edco’s system can track which students are raising funds, and where your donations are coming from. The application allows your fundraising team to accept donations through credit and debit cards. All contributions are tax-deductible. Edco processes the payments, provides the donation receipts, and places your monies into your school bank account or prepaid debit card if you need access to your funds immediately. “We provide a turnkey service to free students, teachers, and associations up so they can focus on other things,” informs Amy Zucchi-Justice, Director of Marketing for Edco. “Using online platforms for fundraising can help you raise more than four times what you would with traditional fundraisers,” adds Zucchi-Justice.

Edco makes it extremely easy to manage and communicate with all your donors – which will pay dividends for your next fundraiser. Since the system keeps a list of your ongoing supporters and opportunities, you don’t have to start from scratch every year. Wait, but that’s not it. You can promote your cause with social media posts and customizable emails. Also, you can invite parents, students, and other supporters to help spread the word.

Did I mention that Edco is free to use? They don’t charge you a fee for registering or organizing a fundraising team. Edco collects a reasonable 4.9% fee once you have collected money using their platform. When compared to the other fundraising sites, this is a drop in the bucket. They invest the fees that they collect back into their company to improve their school fundraising solution continuously.

Edco is a service driven organization, devoted to helping students, parents, teachers and other education leaders fundraise. That’s it. They believe that a lack of funding should not hinder the learning process. We agree. Without companies like Edco, teachers would have to continue to get by on the meager resources that they are given. In a space full of edtech startups looking to get rich, Edco is certainly a breath of fresh air. I am pleased to see entrepreneurs stepping up to plate, and developing edtech solutions aimed at solving the often overlooked problem of school funding. After an hour of being on the site, I left thinking “I wish Edco was around back when I was a teacher.”

Final Thoughts

Public and private K-12 school systems must understand that the education funding landscape is changing for the worse. The most effective teachers will recognize this and adapt their strategic planning and fundraising techniques to stay afloat and provide their students with a world-class education. Also, they will use technologies such as Edco to stay ahead of the competition, and efficiently raise funds.

What do you think the future of school fundraising will look like? Have you used Edco for a fundraising campaign? We would love to hear your success stories!

Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education November 13, 2017

Ready to Study Abroad?: The Top European Universities in 2018

Studying abroad next year and keen to make the most of your experience? Are you choosing to study in Europe? If so, read on. We combed the QS University Rankings for 2018 to find the best universities in Europe to study at next year.

1. University of Cambridge

Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world and has produced some of the most essential scientists in history from Sir Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking.

If you’re looking for a university dedicated to innovation, research, and specialist subjects, Cambridge is your best bet.

2. Imperial College London

Are you a future scientist hoping to gain international experience? Imperial College London is the #4 university in Europe and #8 in the world.

Imperial is different from any other university in the UK because of its commitment to the scientific community and its multidisciplinary approach to teaching and research.

Moreover, Imperial is based in South Kensington, a center of culture in the heart of London. The campus provides international students with an incredible experience with access to the world’s top researchers on campus and some of the most incredible museums, theaters, and galleries on their doorstep.

3. ETH Zurich- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

ETH Zurich embodies the values of Switzerland itself: intellectual freedom, entrepreneurial spirit, global responsibility, and an open mind.

In other words, ETH Zurich is home to the future pioneers of the future scientific community. Not convinced? Nobel laureate Albert Einstein called this university home.

4. Delft University of Technology

Based a stone’s throw from the international center The Hague and an hour from Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology is establishing itself as an important STEM university not only in Europe but across the world.

The university features one of the largest university campuses in the world and includes a new media center, aerodynamics and propulsion lab, and typically Dutch parks and cycle paths for students to enjoy.

5. University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen is known for its research capacity – and it’s one of the best places to study.

The university partners with global research groups and private sector companies for a multi-dimensional experience. It’s also welcoming of international students, who are 10% of the total full-time student population.

Do you have your sights set on any of these top European universities in 2018? Where will you go? Let us know in the comments below.