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July 29th, 2010Top 75 Universities in the World
July 28th, 2010Below is a list of top 75 universities in the world as per Times Higher Education Group (UK).
| School Name | Country |
| HARVARD University | United States |
| University of CAMBRIDGE | United Kingdom |
| YALE University | United States |
| UCL (University College London) | United Kingdom |
| IMPERIAL College London | United Kingdom |
| University of OXFORD | United Kingdom |
| University of CHICAGO | United States |
| PRINCETON University | United States |
| MASSACHUSETTS Institute of Technology (MIT) | United States |
| CALIFORNIA Institute of Technology (Caltech) | United States |
| COLUMBIA University | United States |
| University of PENNSYLVANIA | United States |
| JOHNS HOPKINS University | United States |
| DUKE University | United States |
| CORNELL University | United States |
| STANFORD University | United States |
| AUSTRALIAN National University | Australia |
| MCGILL University | Canada |
| University of MICHIGAN | United States |
| ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) | Switzerland |
| University of EDINBURGH | United Kingdom |
| University of TOKYO | Japan |
| KING’S College London | United Kingdom |
| University of HONGKONG | Hong Kong |
| KYOTO University | Japan |
| University of MANCHESTER | United Kingdom |
| CARNEGIE MELLON University | United States |
| École normale supérieure, PARIS | France |
| University of TORONTO | Canada |
| National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore |
| BROWN University | United States |
| NORTHWESTERN University | United States |
| University of CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles (UCLA) | United States |
| University of BRISTOL | United Kingdom |
| HONG KONG University of Science and Technology | Hong Kong |
| ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE | France |
| University of MELBOURNE | Australia |
| University of SYDNEY | Australia |
| University of California, BERKELEY | United States |
| University of BRITISH COLUMBIA | Canada |
| University of QUEENSLAND | Australia |
| École Polytechnique Fédérale de LAUSANNE | Switzerland |
| OSAKA University | Japan |
| TRINITY College Dublin | Ireland |
| MONASH University | Australia |
| The CHINESE University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| SEOUL National University | Korea, South |
| University of NEWSOUTH WALES | Australia |
| TSINGHUA University | China |
| University of AMSTERDAM | Netherlands |
| University of COPENHAGEN | Denmark |
| NEW YORK University(NYU) | United States |
| PEKING University | China |
| BOSTON University | United States |
| Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) | Germany |
| TOKYO Institute of Technology | Japan |
| HEIDELBERG University | Germany |
| University of WARWICK | United Kingdom |
| University of ALBERTA | Canada |
| LEIDEN University | Netherlands |
| The University of AUCKLAND | New Zealand |
| University of WISCONSIN-Madison | United States |
| AARHUS University | Denmark |
| University of ILLINOIS, Chicago (UIC) | United States |
| Katholieke Universiteit LEUVEN | Belgium |
| University of BIRMINGHAM | United Kingdom |
| LONDON School of Economics and Political Science | United Kingdom |
| LUND University | Sweden |
| KAIST – Korea Advanced Institute of Science | Korea, South |
| University of YORK | United Kingdom |
| UTRECHT University | Netherlands |
| University of GENEVA | Switzerland |
| Nanyang Technological University (NTU) | Singapore |
| WASHINGTON University in St. Louis | United States |
| UPPSALA University | Sweden |
- Examville.com Blog Team
School Ties: National Common Core Standards Adopted by Majority of States
July 26th, 2010The national Common Core Standards set forth “rigorous” grade-level expectations for kindergarten through high school in the areas of Mathematics and English language arts. The goal of this state-led initiative, in collaboration with the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, is to prepare students for college and the work-force.
The Common Core in Mathematics for K-5 focuses on building solid foundations to apply to math concepts, procedures and applications. The standards stress procedural skills, as well as conceptual learning. Middle school standards provide preparation for high school level mathematics, and high school standards emphasize the use of mathematics and statistics to interpret data in order to get students college and career-ready.
The Common Core in English language arts focuses on grade-level expectations in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening, Language, Media and Technology.
According to The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit think tank, which released a recent study comparing the states’ existing standards with the Common Core Standards:
• No states’ math standards are superior to the Common Core; 12 states’ standards are close to the Common Core, whereas 39 states’ standards are clearly inferior.
• 3 states’ (California, Indiana, and Washington D.C.) standards in English Language Arts are clearly superior to the Common Core; 11 states’ standards are close to the Common Core whereas 37 states’ standards are clearly inferior.
To date, 27 states have adopted the uniform guidelines, including New York, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Ohio, and Michigan.
Notably, Texas, Alaska, and Virginia have opted not follow. However, more states are expected to adopt the national guidelines prior to the Obama Administration’s August 2nd Race to the Top deadline, which allows states to win points for a share of the $3.4 billion award by signing on.
The debate surrounding the national Common Core Standards has been fiery.
Proponents emphasize that creating stringent uniform benchmarks will provide access to similar education to all students, prepare students to compete in a global economy, and states can save money by working together on curriculum, assessments, and textbooks.
Opponents, on the other hand, argue that standardizing education minimizes creativity and critical thinking. Some say that the national standards force states with more stringent existing standards, such as Massachusetts, to lower their benchmarks.
The adoption of the national Common Core guidelines by a majority of states, however, is a signal that the new state-led effort to standardize grade-level expectations of skills students should have warrant a try. Only time will tell how it fares in the long run.
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July 20th, 2010The U.S. Department of Education Makes Changes to Financial Aid Programs
July 19th, 2010In its efforts to make higher education more accessible and affordable, the U.S. Department of Education has made important changes to federal financial aid programs.
Notable changes include:
• As of July 1, 2010, under the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, all new loans will be granted through the Direct Loan Program. This program, which effectively eliminates the bank-based Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, allows students to borrow directly from the Education Department.
• The Federal Pell Grant Program, which provides aid to America’s neediest students, has increased the Pell award to $5,550 for the 2010-2011 academic year.
• Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan has been expanded. The IBR affords federal student loan borrowers to repay loans monthly based on their income and family size. New provisions to the IBR expand eligibility to include those who initially would not qualify, but whose debt has increased due to accrued interest. The new rules also allow married couples’ debt to be considered together when calculating eligibility for the IBR Plan.
• The interest rate for new subsidized student loans will be reduced from 5.6% to 4.5%.
For more information, visit www.ed.gov.
Downloadable Study Guides, Ebooks, Puzzles, and Worksheets
July 16th, 2010The dog days of summer have foiled your kids’ outdoors activities? Keep your kids engaged; look into fun ebooks, puzzles, math and science worksheets, study guides, and more, which will not only keep them occupied, but also help build their study skills for the coming school year.
Why go digital?
• You can shop from anywhere, at anytime, with the click of a mouse.
• No need to pay additional shipping costs or wait for delivery in the mailbox. With a simple click, you can get instant delivery.
• You can store a great deal of material directly on your computer.
• You can access digital content from home, office, school or any other location with Internet connection.
• You can easily conduct searches on your digital content using electronic search options.
• You can be “green;” be environmentally conscious by printing only the materials you need once you have purchased content in electronic format.
• You can always get the documents you want because digital content is never out-of-stock.
Are Universities the Newest Export?
July 15th, 2010The concept of “global universities” is taking shape rapidly as many U.S. universities are setting up campuses in foreign countries and offering American degrees.
Notable among such universities is the New York University campus in Abu Dhabi, which is scheduled to open this Fall. N.Y.U.’s $50 million campus is a full-fledged liberal arts university. Similarly, in Doha, Qatar, students can study medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell, Engineering at Texas A&M, International Politics at Georgetown, and business and computer science at Carnegie Mellon. George Mason University has a campus in Ras al Khaymah.
Georgia Tech offers degree programs in France, Italy, South Africa, Singapore, and China, with plans to expand into India.
In addition to U.S. universities, Australian and British institutions are also offering instruction in English in India and China.
Proponents believe that foreign campuses of U.S. universities not only benefit the institutions, but also students worldwide. International students can now have access to American education and at the same time, cut down on expenses and minimize culture shock. Universities can increase their international presence, help the U.S. build diplomatic relations, and earn revenue by tapping into the global market.
Opponents stress that establishing campuses abroad dilutes the American higher education system and creates a competitive disadvantage. Many criticize the bona fides of the “American” degrees as most educators at these foreign campuses are local recruits.
While historically study abroad/exchange programs and collaborative research with foreign educational institutions have been part of U.S. colleges and universities, setting up overseas campuses is a novel experiment.
Are “global universities’ the wave of the future? Can universities really export American higher education system to countries that have different socio-cultural backgrounds? What are the pros? What are the cons? What do you think?
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How to be a Successful Online Instructor
July 13th, 2010Online instruction is gaining momentum in college settings, as well as in the supplemental education market, e.g., tutoring, test-prep, training sessions, continuing education, and more. College professors, high school teachers, and teaching enthusiasts are taking advantage of the online learning tools to reach a greater student pool, and earn money.
Unlike conventional classrooms, however, teaching online presents unique challenges. Online instructors should have certain characteristics to make online learning a rich and meaningful educational experience.
• Be Knowledgeable
As a teacher, be knowledgeable about the subject matter. Online instructors, like all teachers, should be competent. Online instructors need to be enthusiastic about the topic and respectful of the new medium of teaching.
• Possess Writing Skills
While online classes maybe video-enabled, most of online teaching is through written communication. Online teacher should be comfortable communicating in writing.
• Ask for Feedback
Ask for feedback from students on the instruction, as well as the material. Student feedback is crucial for instructors to refine their online teaching methodology and the content being offered. Since there is no face-to-face interaction, online teachers can learn about what works (and what doesn’t) by soliciting feedback.
• Give Feedback
Keep students engaged in the online class by giving constant feedback. Students can often feel “lost” in a virtual classroom. Instructors should give students timely and constructive feedback. Having regular communication with students with respect to their questions, concerns, and progress is vital to maintaining students’ motivation and ensuring success.
• Set Deadlines
Deadlines are important to keep the work flow moving. For example, set deadlines for your own lesson plans, student assignments, conference participation, and all other work to take the class to completion.
• Be an “Architect”
Carefully design class syllabus/lesson plan, objectives, expectations, and policies. Whether you are teaching a course with multiple-sessions or a one-time class, it is very important be prepared and to set these types guidelines at the outset.
• Be a Participative Facilitator
Online classes do not teach themselves. In order to create an effective online learning environment, show up and teach. Keep in mind, lecturing may not be the best method to impart knowledge online. Instead, facilitate discussion by eliciting comments and views from students.
• Sense of Humor? Not Required
Since most of online teaching is written, remember that spoken humor does not necessarily translate well when written out. Know your audience. Stay away from controversial hot topics.
• Basic Technical Know-How? Required
For effective learning to take place, the delivery of materials should be seamless. Online instructors should have basic fluency with respect to the technology and collaborative tools. If needed, there are many free resources available on the Internet that provide online instructors with technical knowledge to keep themselves updated.
Coming Soon - The Most Recent June 2010 Official LSAT
July 12th, 2010Are you planning to take the LSAT this year? Practice online with REAL LSATs previously administered by the Law School Admission Council.
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Keep Young Minds Engaged Over the Summer with Online Interactive Literature Exercises
July 8th, 2010The interactive tests provide instant scores. Online tests are a quick, easy way to assess knowledge and skills.
• Teachers can cover literature, grammar, style, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation at the same time.
• Used as practice for state tests, AP Tests, the Act and the SAT.
• Ready-made exercises can be used as quizzes, tests, exams, and diagnostic tool.
• Exercises can be used as a grammar, style, or proofreading review.
• Students can take tests or practice online at school, home, on vacation, or any alternative setting.
Online exercises include most popular American and British literature titles.