Are assessments the best predictors of students' abilities?

Education Dive | January 16, 2019

New York City’s assessment for students to gain entrance to its elite high schools shows bias against girls, wrote The Hechinger Report, citing upcoming research from the Gender Equity Project at Hunter College of the City University of New York. The problem may lie in the use of multiple choice questions in tests.The study found that among girls and boys who earned the same score on New York City’s Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), girls had a grade point average that was 4.2 points higher on a 100-point scale than that of boys.This is mirrored at the college level, where women did better than men in lab sections, while men scored higher on exams, according to research from University of Michigan physicist Timothy McKay. The thinking is that women have trouble when they’re in situations, like taking high-stakes tests, where they have stereotypically not succeeded.

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Overall, branding your e-learning courses is a crucial step in creating a professional and successful online learning experience for your learners.

Spotlight

Overall, branding your e-learning courses is a crucial step in creating a professional and successful online learning experience for your learners.

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TALENT DEVELOPMENT

SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy's Top Business School, Partners with edX to Launch Professional Certificate Programs

PRnewswire | April 12, 2023

The SDA Bocconi School of Management (SDA Bocconi), Italy's premier management school and a top-ranked international academic institution, and edX, the global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU), today announced that SDA Bocconi plans to launch new Professional Certificate programs on edX.org. An existing 2U partner, SDA Bocconi's new offerings will build on the proven success of the institution's executive education courses, launched in October 2020. Meeting the ongoing global demand for alternative credentials, SDA Bocconi's new offerings on edX provide learners with a flexible, affordable opportunity to gain knowledge in relevant topics across leadership, finance, and strategy. SDA Bocconi has designed these programs to support employers and employees across a wide range of industry sectors with the skills needed to navigate the increasingly dynamic and competitive global marketplace, as well as create innovative, productive, and inclusive working environments. "Learners today are demanding flexibility and individualized paths in their academic journey. They want to enroll in affordable programs, centered around real-world impact, that fit their schedules, provide a clear pathway to completion, and can offer a quick return on investment. We really want our learners to "live the educational journey" through a dynamic, innovative and interactive path to ultimately create a high impact experience for each of them," said Leonardo Caporarello, Associate Dean for Online Learning at SDA Bocconi. "With high student retention and satisfaction rates for our initial executive education offerings with 2U, we are excited to expand our work to include these new programs with edX, creating even more opportunities for learners all over the world to achieve career success." Professional Certificate programs on edX are designed to build and enhance critical professional skills needed to succeed in today's most in-demand fields. They are offered in highly relevant fields providing learners with a valuable, standalone credential that showcases knowledge and skills. "Expanding our partnership with SDA Bocconi to include offerings core to edX's vision for high-quality, innovative, modular, and affordable education underscores our shared commitment to innovation in online learning," said Andrew Hermalyn, president of partnerships at 2U, the parent company of edX. "SDA Bocconi is renowned for its expertise in the wide spectrum of skills needed to thrive in the modern business world. This next phase of our partnership will be instrumental in expanding the institution's reach to learners across the globe." The new programs will be live on edX.org in the second half of 2023. SDA Bocconi also plans to launch additional courses on edX, exploring topics including health care, sustainability, and blockchain. About edX edX is the global online learning platform that exists to help learners everywhere unlock their potential. edX was founded by Harvard and MIT in 2012 to make the world's best education available to everyone. Today, as a 2U, Inc. company (Nasdaq: TWOU), edX connects 48 million ambitious learners with the skills, knowledge, and support to achieve their goals. Together with the world's leading universities and companies, edX offers thousands of free and open courses, professional certificates, boot camps, credit-bearing micro credentials, and undergraduate and graduate degrees. Discover purpose-built online programs in technology, business, healthcare, science, education, social work, sustainability, and more at edX.org. About The SDA Bocconi School of Management SDA Bocconi School of Management has been a leading institution in management training for over 50 years. The School's mission is to help individuals, companies and institutions grow by promoting managerial culture, knowledge and innovation. MBA programs, executive and specialized masters, executive programs, custom programs, applied research, research labs and knowledge centers all contribute to a wide offering aimed at professionals from all over the world and all sectors of the economy. SDA Bocconi is among the leading business schools in Europe and those to have gained triple accreditation – EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB – which puts it in the elite of business schools worldwide.

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TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Specialized Education Services, Inc. Grows Educational Offerings in Illinois With Acquisition of NewHope Academy

Globenewswire | May 15, 2023

Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI) today announced the acquisition of NewHope Academy (NHA), a special education school in Arlington Heights, Illinois, that serves those living with autism, emotional disabilities, specific learning disabilities, or other health impairments. The addition of NHA is part of SESI’s strategic growth plan, focusing on expanding its premier education services nationally to K-12 students who require extra academic and behavioral support. A critical element of that growth strategy, beyond working with local schools and districts to ensure all students that need special education services get the right level of quality supports, is to also identify independent providers that align with SESI’s mission and bring them into the SESI system of schools. NewHope Academy has a long-standing reputation for providing quality education and support to students with diverse learning needs, complementing SESI’s scope of work serving learners with special needs. The acquisition will allow SESI to leverage its extensive resources and expertise to enhance both the education and support services offered at NHA, while ensuring the continued success of its student body. “NewHope’s reputation as a provider for children with exceptionalities is exemplary and we are thrilled to have the school as part of the SESI family,” said Dawn Thomas, president of SESI. “This acquisition aligns with our goal of reaching more students who require specialized academic, emotional, and behavioral support. We look forward to working with the dedicated NewHope Academy staff to continue its outstanding legacy in special education.” For more than 20 years, NewHope Academy has provided students ages 11-21 with both a challenging academic and therapeutic environment. Under SESI leadership, school staff will continue educating young people living with autism and those living with emotional challenges to excel in life through communication, exploration, opportunity, acceptance, accountability, and ambition. "This is an exciting opportunity for NewHope Academy, as well as for parents and students. With SESI’s backing, we will continue our tradition of excellence in supporting students," stated Brandy Larrance, NHA executive director. "The passion SESI has for empowering learners and supporting students is evident. NHA is proud to be part of the SESI team." The NHA addition marks SESI’s 15th program in Illinois. It is one of nearly 100 SESI day schools nationwide. About Specialized Education Services, Inc. Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, is a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting. SESI partners with school districts to run classrooms, on-site, within district boundaries and standalone schools that meet the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of special education students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Emotional Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and other challenges. Partnering with over 600 school districts nationwide, SESI serves more than 7,000 students in day schools and in-district classrooms. SESI is accredited by Cognia.

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CORPORATE LEARNING SYSTEMS

Walmart Partners Springboard for Educational Programs Through LBU

Springboard | March 09, 2023

On March 08, 2023, Springboard, an online learning platform, announced that Walmart selected it in partnership for upskilling and reskilling programs through Live Better U™ (LBU). Through this partnership, it would extend the reach of educational programs in technology and data careers. Springboard prepares students for in-demand careers through comprehensive educational programs. It would design the programs for upskilling and reskilling programs through Walmart's LBU in partnership . These education benefit programs are free of cost to Walmart and Sam's Club Associates in the U.S. It will offer courses in data analytics, data-driven strategic thinking and software development. Walmart's LBU program has empowered upward career mobility and removed all the obstacles to their access to education. The programs offered through Springboard for business focus on developing employees at Fortune 500 companies. CEO and Co-Founder of Springboard, Gautam Tambay said, "Walmart is a leader in career-driven development and we are thrilled to partner with them to deliver high quality education to their associates." He added, "Walmart and Springboard are both committed to ensuring that non-traditional students, regardless of their background, can build in-demand skill sets — helping them find new career paths, grow their earnings, and increase their economic security. Springboard graduates have earned over $1 billion in post-graduation salary since 2016, and this partnership will help us accelerate and extend that impact, which is particularly important in the current economic climate." (Source – Business Wire) Senior Vice President of Associate Learning and Leadership at Walmart, Lorraine Stomski said, "We're creating a path of opportunity for our associates to grow their careers at Walmart, so they can continue to build better lives for themselves and their families." She added, "We're excited to add Springboard to our list of education partners." (Source – Business Wire) About Springboard Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Springboard, an e-learning solutions provider, has been transforming the educational journey of learners since 2013. Every learner has unique learning needs, and it strives to address them. It teams with advisors and experienced mentors for the ideal learning experience. It works with the projects under the guidance of industry experts to provide the education needed for the current scenario. It supports learners at every step of their learning journey. It connects students to mentors and seniors for enhanced learning outcomes. It prepares students for career enhancement and success in their lives.

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