More schools across the US intend to install, deploy, and adopt Windows 8 to help improve overall learning experiences of students. Microsoft Corp has recently announced a deal with 10 schools and universities in the country that aims to bolster students’ preparedness and technology skills through the use of the new operating system.

Microsoft Corp has revealed that 10 higher education institutions and K-12 school districts have formally signed an agreement to use Windows 8. This deal will cater to more than 540,000 faculty members and students who are employed and enrolled in those schools. Those are in addition to the growing community of education centers that are adopting Windows 8.

The software giant is confident that its new operating system will facilitate modernization of the education system in selected areas in the US. The program is expected to be helpful in supporting new standards of education, online assessments, and possible migration to digital learning. Through the adoption, the company also assures that students will be prepared to take success in the currently competitive global economy where employers demand modern skills, critical thinking, and problem solving capabilities.

Those schools that decided to adopt the new operating system include Fargo Public Schools, Jackson-Madison County School System, Fresno Unified School District, Thomas College, San Antonio Independent School District, and Tuckahoe Common School District. These universities and schools have also announced their definite plans for the adoption.

Atlanta Public Schools

The network of schools across Georgia is one of the biggest school districts in the country where there are 48,000 students enrolled. Those will be given access to 25,000 virtual desktops where Windows 8 are installed. Educators intend to use SharePoint where their students will upload and share their student digital portfolio.

Barry University

The Florida-based university aims to install Windows 8 in its entire inventory of 2,815 laptops and desktops. This move will complement its ‘bring-your-own-device’ (BYOD) program. It will benefit its more than 8,700 students and around 1,200 employees. Barry University plans to use Office 365 Education and integrate access to campus resources to bolster productivity and collaboration.

Apollo Group

The online learning and adult education company is currently testing Windows 8 to be used for its own Product Support and Validation Lab. This education network wants to take advantage of proliferation of mobile and touch-based devices, coupled with rising demand for work and life combination tools. It presently supports up to 324,000 students and about 25,500 employees not just across the US but also worldwide.

Pace University

The New York-based university has already installed Windows 8 in all its campus labs. It is testing the program for more pilot products to build a classroom technology in a fast pace. The goal is to provide state-of-the-art experiences for learning that its students deserve. So far, the operating system is planned to be deployed in all its 10,000 devices and desktops.

The number of enrollees in private schools across the US has been declining for many years now. Several reasons are cited for this trend.

According to data recently released by the US Department of Education, the number of students enrolled in private schools has been declining in the past years. It is estimated that only one in every 10 students in pre-K-12 grades is enrolled in a private institution. This is taken by surprise because there were measures previously implemented that should have increased private school enrollments significantly.

In the last 15 years, the number of private school enrollments has decreased to 10% from 12%. The trend is not expected to be reversed soon. Moreover, the Education Department expects that by 2021, enrollment in pre-K-12 private schools will further drop to 9%, while the number of students in public schools would jump to 91%.

Measures to increase private school enrollment

In the last several decades, many states have implemented programs that include providing tax credits and publicly funded tuition fee vouchers to parents who enlist their children in private institutions. To date, many states are also planning to expand their voucher schemes. In 2011, the broadest voucher programs in the country were enacted in Indiana.

The highly publicized policies are aimed at backing private schools. Those are aimed at helping increase enrollments in those institutions. However, it is noted that the measures did not lead to major increases in the proportions of enrollments in private schools, as intended.

Possible causes

Several reasons are cited for this trend. Since 1995, enrollments in Catholic private schools have declined. Such schools comprise more than 50% of private elementary schools in the US and about 75% of private secondary schools. Interestingly, the decline was not unique to Catholic schools as most educational institutions affiliated with particular religions are also suffering from dropping volume of enrollments.

The popularity of charter schools is also contributory to the trend. Public charter schools exhibit greater independence from the basic rules that are implemented in other public schools. Despite the fact that only 5% of public schools across the country are chartered, the number of enrollees has been growing aggressively. Those schools are usually located in cities where there are more low-income households.

Lastly, the recent economic recession could also take the blame. Stagnant wages and high unemployment rates have logically made it harder for many parents to shoulder private school tuition fees. Thus, many households in the last few years have enrolled their children in public schools, where education costs are much lower in comparison.

If you are not wise, you might make the following common mistakes while buying. When contemplating how to save on textbooks, keep these tips in your mind.

Many of you might worry how to save on textbooks in the coming semester? In recent times, it has been noted that there are many mistakes people make while trying to save on textbooks. Don’t make them, and you will reduce total cost.

• Make sure you have the exact book you are looking for, right down to the edition. There are many books, to which new information is added every year with newer editions posted. Don’t buy an older edition, because then, when you know that you will need the latest edition, you will have to repurchase.
• Check your prices while purchasing from book stores, flea markets or online. Many of us actually do not check the prices of the original, and ends up buying an older edition for a price which is way higher. Sometimes, stores put stickers to cover the original price of the book, and make a tidy profit. This is especially prevalent in used books stores where to make a profit, the shopkeepers put a fake price sticker on the book.
• Watch out for fakes. Believe it or not, there are many versions of books which are “fakes”. The quality of these textbooks is extremely low, with bad paper quality and prints, and they can be easily found out. Do not buy any book that might look like its fake. To determine that, you can check by looking at a new book, touching its pages for ensuring quality, and then compare the difference.
• Check for pages. While buying books, always make it a point to check for pages and see if there are no pages or sections missing. You might buy a book, and then find out that there are pages missing from it, which would result in buying another book.
• Xerox smaller sections. For those of you who are wondering how to save on textbooks you only need a small section from, then, you can get a photocopy done of the relevant section, which would cost quite low.
• Look for e-books. If you have no problem reading out of your kindle reader, or computer, then check out e-books which you can purchase. Generally, e-books cost less than the original books, and they can be downloaded very fast too. Plus, there are lower chances that these textbooks are corrupted.

If you are wondering how to save on textbooks, these are some of the methods that can help you.

Image by Dawn Ashley

What’s new in the education industry? Here are developments that are worth celebrating this 2013.

One of the industries that benefit a lot from the rise of hi-tech products is education. As we all know, literacy is a huge determiner of progress in a country. It’s good to know that many educational technologies have adopted to the changing times. That said, here are 5 most promising technologies that hit the educational world by the storm.

Mobile Devices in Place of Books

Gone are the days when students have no choice but to carry huge, heavy bags to school because they have around 10 books in it. Add to that their notebooks, school supplies and their bulky lunch box. Today, students can use mobile devices such as tablets or laptops to download content from the Internet. There are many textbooks with electronic versions in the market today, so why bother with the bulk right? What’s more, along with these e-books and digital learning materials, other reading- and studying-related processes like note-taking, highlighting and bookmarking may also be easily done with most ebook formats.

Learning Through Games

We might have our first brush with game-based learning while we were still kids, when we used fruits to help us count and other kiddie examples. Today, with many game and application developers joining the educational bandwagon, there’s quite a number of very useful educational games. Most of these games are truly useful until tertiary level though, but it’s still very helpful in terms of knowledge transfer and memory retention.

Wide Usage of Cloud Computing

Although cloud computing has been widely used since a decade ago, people just started coming around to the idea that it can be used for educational purposes. Cloud computing cuts through the red tape and lets you avoid the costs that come with maintenance and restrictive licensing from the usage of traditional software. This way, most schools can access a huge repository of learning materials from the internet.

Learning Analytics Made with More Beef

Sure, we had “diagnostic tests” and evaluation papers but knowing that the needs of our students today are more complex and technologies for faster response are available, it’s high time that learning analytics take the center stage now. Today, students who are at risk of failing a subject or may be in the wrong course can be dealt with a mentor so s/he can avoid dropping out. What’s more, it’s also instrumental in helping teachers adjust to the different learning styles of students.

Content Openness

We talked about cheaper books through digital copies but here’s another good news: open textbooks. These are free (or sometimes with a very, very small cost) textbooks usually written and distributed by volunteers that are updated and accurate. These books are offered widely for use in many developing countries. This way, teachers can have their own library of alternative learning materials and new information comes in very handy.

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There are just too many textbooks about chemistry. Here are five of the most popular among college students in the US.

Chemistry is an interesting subject but numerous students don’t appreciate it. It is inevitable to take chemistry classes in college as those can be required as general or introductory subjects and as electives. There is a challenge for authors and publishers to make chemistry more interesting and engaging as a college course.

There are numerous chemistry college textbooks out in the market. Here are five of the most popular and widely used reference materials for college students who need to complete and pass the subject.

Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reaction and Mechanisms

Author: Reinherd Bruckner

The book was originally written in German language but it was translated into English to reach more students. The best-selling textbook is about mechanic organic chemistry. It focuses on reaction mechanisms, which would be more helpful for organic chemistry students in college. Knowing more about reaction mechanisms is important in every applied area of the subject. The content was written to fulfill that need through presenting appropriate materials targeted at the right level.

Advanced Organic Chemistry: Structure and Mechanisms

Authors: Richard J. Sundberg and Francis A. Carey

Since it was first published in 1977, the book has undergone several revisions and updates to keep up with the times. Its content still provides a comprehensive coverage of structure, synthesis, and reactivity of organic compounds. The latest edition (4th edition) contains updated material but still features the basic elements of the past editions. There are updates on selected topics that have undergone rapid advancements since the last edition. There are two parts: the first focuses on quantitative and qualitative study of reactivity and mechanism; the second emphasizes useful and general synthetic reactions.

Adventures in Chemistry

Author: Julie T. Millard

This textbook engages non-science major college students in learning about application of chemistry in forensics, arts, and infectious diseases. The content also aims to introduce readers to the fundamentals of chemistry using concise and clear language. The text uses metaphor to present core concepts and show how those apply to modern examples. The knowledge to be obtained could be used when making important decisions about medicines, food, and lifestyles.

Air Composition and Chemistry

Author: Peter Brimblecombe

The textbook is about the earth’s atmosphere and how it is affected by human existence. The first several chapters focus on biological, geochemical, and maritime sources specifically of trace gases. On the succeeding chapters, the author analyzes chemistry in atmospheric gases, rainfall, and suspended particles. It also discusses the logical sources of air pollution.

Analytical Chemistry: An Introduction

Authors: Donald M. West, Douglas A. Skoog, Stanley R. Crouch, and James Holler

The textbook can be an ideal resource when reviewing general chemistry. Molecular artwork was used to further enhance effectiveness of the text. There are notable updates about analytical methods and instrumentation. Furthermore, there are broader spectrum of applications, which include new developments in environmental science, medicine, and biology.

The US News & World Report has recently released a list of its most recommended graduate schools for the next school year. Here are four of the best institutions it has identified so far.

College students and graduates who are considering taking post-graduate degrees should check out recommendations from the experts. In reality, there are too many universities and colleges that currently offer such programs. But which of those are the best? What can be expected not just from the post-graduate programs but also from the schools?

The US News & World Report conducts and releases an annual survey of what answers the question, ‘Which are the best graduate schools in the US?’ The study covers more than 1,200 universities and schools across the country that offers post-graduate programs.

The poll not just determines the best postgraduate institutions. It also provides realistic rankings based on the responses of actual students, graduates, educators, and other experts. Here is a sneak peek of the top and best graduate schools that are recommended in 2014.

Vanderbilt University

The Nashville, Tennessee-based university is a private research institution. It presently has up to six professional and graduate schools across the US. It has affiliations with several other research institutes and centers. This university has been recognized as among the best schools for specific postgraduate and masteral programs.

Johns Hopkins University

The Maryland-based private research university is actually not-for-profit. It has organized itself into five graduate divisions that are offered on its two major campuses: the Medical Institutions campus and the Homewood campus, both situated in Baltimore. This university is best known for pioneering the concept of a modern research university in the US. For many years now, it has always been among the top universities in the world.

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts is the home for this research university, which is a part of the private Ivy League. It is among the oldest educational institutions in the history of the US. Thus, it is proud about its long history, wealth, and influence. Aside from its popularity, the university can also boast about its own university library, which is currently the largest not just in the US academic history but also in the world.

University of Texas at Austin

The flagship institution of the prestigious University of Texas is also among the best graduate schools in the country. It is currently a major center as far as academic research is concerned. Of all the four best postgraduate universities, this one is the most outstanding in terms of its involvement and support for sports. Thus, it is logical that balance is utmost offered to its students and other clients.

Virginia-based Tidewater Community College will start offering a textbook-free degree program this coming academic year. It will be the first accredited college in the US to offer a degree that does not use traditional and commercial reference materials.

A community college is set to offer a degree program that could set as a model for other colleges and universities that plan to facilitate textbook-free degrees in the future. Tidewater Community College (TCC) will begin a pilot textbook-free education project this coming academic year (2013–2014). The goal is clear: to help lower students’ expenses amid increasing costs of modern textbooks.

The Norfolk, Virginia-based community college is collaborating with Portland, Oregon-based Lumen Learning for this initiative. The initial goal is to offer and facilitate an associate of science degree program in business administration without the need to use the usually expensive traditional textbooks.

Open educational resources

The program will require the use of open educational resources (OER) or ‘open textbooks.’ These materials are openly licensed and freely accessible. The references can be found in public domain. Those can even be released and accessed under intellectual property licenses, which allow free access and repurposing by just about anyone.

Ideally, OER can assume several forms—it can be in text format that include different types of presentations, graphics, and videos. Logically, the information can be in a format that is not only highly useful and accessible but also very interesting and even interactive.

However, students will be required to use a PC to access education materials. Their devices should also be online so they could use browsers to access and utilize the learning materials. The courses will be built in the popular Blackboard, which can be accessible even via a tablet or a smartphone.

Cost savings

TCC is confident that the program will significantly minimize, if not totally eliminate students’ expenses on textbooks. The community college is confident that the project could spare up to a third of students’ total college costs. If proven successful, the initiative can serve as a prototype to combat the inevitably rising textbook prices, which have jumped by up to 812% since 1978.

To make the initiative work, TCC would offer a section at a time of each of the 21 courses in the curriculum. Traditional textbooks will not be required. About 13 faculty members will serve as instructors for every section. Courses will be delivered online and on campus. This way, every student can save up to $2,000 after completing the entire program.

TCC is an accredited US college. Currently, it offers a number of programs in different types of degrees. More than 30,000 students are presently enrolled in the community college. It is still not clear, though, how many college students will enroll in this pilot program.

Finland’s accomplished education system is logically more effective compared to the US education process. American schools should consider adapting those practices to improve students’ learning.

It does not surprise that the US is not on top of world rankings in terms of education. For the last 40 years, the top spot has been occupied by Finland. According to Pearson PLC’s the Economist Intelligence Unit, the European country currently has the best education system. The ranking system has combined test results internationally, which served as the basis of the list.

Surprisingly, there is a stark contrast between the educational practices in Finland and in the US. Clearly, the Finnish educational system has a more effective strategy to reach its current prestigious status. What are those differences? Should the US and other countries start adapting and implementing those effective practices?

Time spent for learning

Most K-12 students across the US would certainly rant about how they spend much longer time reading lessons, taking tests, or doing homework. They surely wish for longer recess time, greater breaks, and more time for recreation. In Finland, students’ preferences in learning are prioritized and addressed.

To the surprise of many, Finnish students spend less time in studying. In general, children are rarely assigned any homework. Teenagers are given less but strategic assignments to be completed at home. In comparison, a typical 5th grader in the US spends more than an hour each day just to do and complete assigned homework.

Moreover, Finnish students take just one major exam by the time they reach 16 years old. This is obviously different compared not just to the US education system but also to the practices in most other countries around the world, where numerous exams are administered per month, semester, or school year to assess students’ learning and academic performance. And yes, in Finland, school children enjoy up to 75 minutes of recess divided among three breaks per learning day.

Quality of teachers

Logically, the quality of teachers is another significant factor that influences the education system. In Finland, teacher-to-pupil ratio is just at 1:12. The educators are carefully picked from among the top 10% of all college graduates. Most of those also possess a master’s degree.

In the US, teacher-to-student ratio is 1:25. Most school teachers come from the bottom 25% of college graduates as the top ones are enticed to join other industries, especially those that offer higher salaries and better career opportunities. The volume of learners in the US can be literally higher in the US than in Finland but it is still possible to make adjustments if the Finnish education system would be adapted in American schools.

The state of Virginia is aiming to replicate education reforms that were first implemented in Louisiana. Governor Bob McDonnell intends to take control of schools that perform poorly.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnel is aiming to adopt the education reforms implemented in Louisiana in 2005. He is confident those changes would bring about favorable and effective improvements in the state’s education system. The same reforms proved to be successful and effective in Louisiana.

Those proposed reforms are considered as among the most important components of Gov. McDonnell’s current education agenda. It recently passed the senate. Those proposed legislation intend to make schools accountable for their actual performance through using the A-to-F scale, which is implemented on students.

A different system

It would be different from the system that is presently used in the state. It would discontinue categorizing schools as accredited, not accredited, or accredited with warning. For quite some time now, Gov. McDonnell has been openly criticizing the current system.

In the proposed education reforms, an Opportunity Education Institution would be created to take over management of schools, especially those that receive ‘F’ in terms of performance for two years in a row. That, once implemented, would install an 11-member board to assume control of schools in Virginia that meet failing requirements.

The agenda has already passed through the chambers of General Assembly. However, many analysts and observers are still not sure of the direct effects of those to the state’s education system in the future. Some critics assert that more changes are needed aside from altering the grading scale to match students’ performance.

The Louisiana model

As mentioned, similar education reforms were implemented in 2005 in Louisiana by Governor Bobby Jindal. The changes were installed following the devastation by the historic Hurricane Katrina. It instantly gained support from the state’s constituents.

It took Gov. Jindal a while to implement the education reforms in the state. In a fundraising event in Richmond, he clarified the need and the measures to impose the proposed changes. The reforms allowed the state government to take over management and control of so-called ‘grade F’ schools until a time when those exhibited significant improvements.

McDonnell’s worry

Meanwhile, Gov. McDonnell has also expressed his worry over the supposed decline of the US education system compared to other nations. In a public speech to promote his proposed reforms, he reiterated how the country’s education system is slipping in education rankings internationally.

Though Gov. McDonnell is quite sure the changes would improve the education system in the state, many people are still not sure whether those would really be for the better. For now, most experts are satisfied about the initiative and effort to introduce improvements in the current education system.

Students can possibly convert their old books into cash. Here are simple procedures on how to sell old textbooks online.

Students who want to generate extra money can opt to sell their old textbooks online. Selling through the Internet is more advisable because most college bookstores and traditional second-hand stores offer cheaper buying prices for used books. In many cases, those businesses also refuse or reject specific copies after meticulous inspection.

The procedure for selling used textbooks online may not be tedious. A student who intends to do so may begin by finding reputable buyback firms that buy old books across the Internet. Popular search engines can be used to look for those businesses. Here are the succeeding steps to successfully sell those items online.

Finding good prices

After finding buyback businesses, students should compare price quotes that are offered by those companies. To do so, they should go to those firms’ Websites, where they will be asked to enter their textbooks’ International Standard Book Number or ISBN (numbers coming with barcodes on the back covers) into designated blank fields for ISBN search bar. In several seconds, price quotes on books will be revealed.

To find the best prices offered, students should check out several buyback firms at a time. It will be easier to compare price quotes. The business with the highest offer prices to buyback old textbooks online should be chosen. There will also be a need to create an account on each of the Websites.

Deciding on the payment method

After initiating and confirming sale of textbooks, students should declare how they prefer to be paid. Common choices include being paid through PayPal or through checks sent to their mailing addresses. Some buyback companies only pay through handing checks. There is a need to further communicate with the business for more important details.

After that, the used books should be prepared and packed. It is ideal to use corrugated cardboards or designated shipping boxes to make sure the books will not be damaged while in transit. The box should be securely taped and labeled.

Payment for sold used textbooks online can be expected in about one day to three days. The buyback forms must first inspect the books after receipt. The agreed amount should be immediately deposited or the check should be sent to sellers’ addresses immediately. Checks can be encashed on the same day or within a few more days, depending on the bank. Proceeds from the sale of used books can now be used by students for any important purpose.