CONTINUING EDUCATION
University of Phoenix | December 21, 2021
The University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies offers practitioner doctorate degree programs in healthcare, education, and business, and supports a philosophy of lifelong career learning guided by its internally developed Scholar-Practitioner-LeaderSM learning model. The College has seen an approximately 10% increase in retention rates since January 2020. In the same time period, student sentiment scores with dissertation experience were 81% positive, mixed or neutral.
“The College of Doctoral Studies uses the SPL model to guide our curriculum and student experience. We serve working adults who are already practitioners in their fields, and the SPL model empowers our students by helping them think critically about how they can contribute in their workplace and to their career path.”
Hinrich Eylers, Ph.D., P.E., vice provost and dean of College of Doctoral Studies
While a more traditional Ph.D. degree program focuses on development of new primary knowledge, the College’s practitioner doctorate focuses on the practical application of that knowledge in one’s career and community of practice. The Scholar-Practitioner-LeaderSM framework combines classical cognitive conceptions of doctoral scholarship – including high rigor of inquiry, academic study, and practical application – with the affective domains of learning.
This learning model supports working adult students in the opportunity to develop a deeper awareness of who they are, how their learning is changing them, and to apply existing knowledge toward solving real-world problems in their field and community.
“The doctoral program at the University of Phoenix caught my attention due to the rigor of the curriculum and the Scholar, Leader, Practitioner Model which guides the learning journey, as well as the highly engaging online learning solution allowing me to work and learn anywhere at any time,” shares Susanne Thompson, Ed.D., who completed her doctor of education with the University. “Doctoral level research is a challenging endeavor. The College [of Doctoral Studies] scaffolds this process to ensure alignment with the best practices in scientific research while also making the process clear to ensure students can master scientific research and apply these practices to their work environment.”
Formerly known as School of Advanced Studies, the College of Doctoral Studies first developed the Scholar-Practitioner-LeaderSM model as part of its mission to develop a graduate mindset focused on career and community of practice. A successful graduate of College of Doctoral Studies programs and the Scholar-Practitioner-LeaderSM learning model is a scholar, a curious, reflective thinker; a practitioner in their field, capable of responding quickly to emerging opportunities and diagnosing and addressing immediate and local problems; and a leader, driving innovation and creating new products and processes, ultimately advancing their community of practice.
“Success is all about consistent practice and grit, and that practice is something our SPL [learning model] embraces with dedication,” shares Gina Rhodes, DHA, MBA. Rhodes completed her Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) at University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies. “It has taken grit and tenacity to survive the challenges of doctoral studies while working in the healthcare industry and developing the personal and academic potential of five children. Now as an empty nester, I have been able to make a positive impact in my community by helping to restructure a free-health care clinic. I am also a lifelong learner currently completing a doctoral level course on Strategic Formula and Strategic Thinking in Business.”
Additionally, the three College research centers extend the development available in the classroom by establishing an active, research-oriented forum for students and faculty, and provide an avenue for faculty and students to work collaboratively on practical, real world research. The three research centers are Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research, Center for Leadership Studies and Educational Research, and Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research.
About the College of Doctoral Studies
University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program puts students in the center of an effective ecosystem of experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives.
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ONLINE EDUCATION
Class Technologies | September 20, 2021
Class Technologies Inc., the company enhancing virtual classrooms by adding teaching and learning tools to Zoom, today unveiled new breakout room features and functionality for Class software.
View all breakout rooms at once in one place.
Monitor activity in breakout rooms at the same time.
Send chat messages to and from individual breakout room groups.
Share web pages, videos, and files with specific breakout rooms.
Launch individual teaching or training activities to specific breakout rooms.
These features will make it easier for instructors to facilitate group collaboration online and enhance learner engagement and success with online learning.
"Schools and corporations across the globe are navigating the return to in-person learning and work environments unlike any other period in history," said Michael Chasen, education software pioneer and Class co-founder and CEO. "Class is releasing new breakout room features that make virtual instruction more like face-to-face learning environments."
"As we head back to school, educators must be prepared for in-person, hybrid, and virtual learning scenarios to ensure continuity of learning," said Dr. Kurt Hoffman, Class Strategic Advisory Board Member and Senior Vice President of Instructional and Student Affairs at Allegany College of Maryland. "Class brings the real classroom to life online. For educators, assigning students to work in small groups is an important strategy to foster collaboration and engagement. Class bringing this ability online is a natural extension of their work to make the online classroom work seamlessly across all hybrid and virtual learning environments."
This new functionality also helps to improve the online corporate training and learning experience.
"With so many companies mapping out return to work scenarios, many have found virtual training to be so efficient and effective that they're never going back," said Marcia Nuffer, Class Strategic Advisory Board Member, Founder and Principal of BlueShor, and former Chief Learning Officer at McKinsey. "In so many learning and development programs, employees are broken up into small groups to enhance workflow and collaboration. The new and enhanced breakout rooms from Class merge the best from virtual and in person training, and can foster connection and community amongst employees. This will help organizations better upskill and retain their best talent."
Class is a Gold Sponsor of Zoomtopia 2021, where it will showcase its solutions in the virtual expo hall.
About Class Technologies Inc.
Class is software developed by Class Technologies Inc., a company founded by education software pioneer Michael Chasen. Class adds teaching and learning tools to Zoom and makes the virtual classroom feel like a real classroom. It helps teachers take attendance, hand out assignments, give a quiz or test, grade work, proctor exams, talk one-on-one with a student, and more.
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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
EdCuration | August 09, 2021
EdCuration, the online marketplace for curriculum materials, today announced the launch of a free program for educators to pilot digital instructional resources. The EdCuration Certified EdTrustees Program pairs K-12 teachers and administrators with innovative, online courses of their choosing to pilot with students.
"The pandemic drove a rapid switch to digital and remote learning, so educators are now wondering if they have the highest quality curriculum going forward," said EdCuration CEO Timeri Tolnay. "With EdCuration's Certified EdTrustees Program, we make it simple for educators to find, test, and evaluate the best instructional materials for their students and themselves before they commit to an important purchase."
The curriculum resources available to educators in the Program include a wide range of K-12 core, supplemental and trending subjects, from computer science, history, math and STEM to creative arts, financial literacy, coding and social emotional learning, among others. Through the Program, educators will have direct impact on improving instructional materials and resources by providing feedback on what is working in today's online and hybrid-learning classrooms.
At the end of each pilot, feedback about the curriculum resource will be shared with the curriculum developer and posted on EdCuration's website so that other educators can read the product reviews and use the information for future pilot and purchasing decisions.
The Certified EdTrustees Program also will provide school and district administrators with a way to recognize their up-and-coming leaders and support their professional learning at no cost. Once their Program application is approved, educators will choose and complete at least two of four ExPLorations, EdCuration's short, professional-learning courses. Each video-based course can take from 45 minutes to one hour to complete and several have accompanying workbooks for additional subject practice. The micro professional-learning courses also provide educators with the opportunity for continuing education credit.
Educators who are interested in piloting EdCuration's courses can apply to participate in the EdCuration EdTrustees Community. Each month the company hosts a community meetup to discuss high-quality instructional resources, career advancement, workplace experiences and other education issues. The first Community meetup will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2021.
About EdCuration
Founded in 2018, EdCuration simplifies the curriculum buying process by bringing educators and the best educational programs together in one collaborative, online marketplace.
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