Back to school – implementing common core

A lot has been said about Common Core Curriculum in the past 2-3 years.
How it helps the greater good -This article from NY times and NEA today-
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/opinion/blow-the-common-core-and-the-common-good.html?_r=0
http://neatoday.org/2013/05/10/six-ways-the-common-core-is-good-for-students/
how it is not worth it at all –this article from Washington post and Fox news- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/eight-problems-with-common-core-standards/2012/08/21/821b300a-e4e7-11e1-8f62-58260e3940a0_blog.html
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/07/30/do-math-common-core-massive-risky-experiment-on-your-kids/
To Myths vs Facts - http://www.corestandards.org/resources/myths-vs-facts
What we know for fact is that

1. Common core is here to stay.
2. 45 states have adopted it and there was no federal say in it. 
3. It was all community driven – parents, teachers, community leaders, school administrators all worked on standards, pitched in and created them
4. It defines what is expected of each child of each state at each grade level

Now, when we keep debating if they are good or not, in my opinion we are arguing if our educators are any good or not. Not the government, the educators -Since these standards were created by them. And we can never be in a good shape if we question our educators and now show faith in them, so let’s support them and work on a path to ensure that the core standards are well implemented and help our kids and nation grow.
Now, coming to the second part – what needs to be done to implement core standards. So every educator including a company like ours has varied opinions on that. Let me present PracTutor’s opinion. We need to ensure 3 things while thinking of implementing any standard, any policy.

1. Is it going to be fun, easy and motivating for the kids (who actually will be doing all the work)
2. Is it going to be easy for the teachers to know what they need to do - across 45 states?
3. Is it going to be satisfactory for the parents who are apprehensive about all the changes?

So at PracTutor we did a lot of brainstorming bringing in educators, technologists, consultants, leaders, parents and of course kids. To ensure all the above 3 things are well implemented we did the following 3 things.

1. Made learning and practicing/testing fun with rewards, exciting environment
2. Made everything aligned to core standards with flexibility to make changes so the teachers are comfortable knowing what is expected of each standard and how can they bring in their creativity
3. Keep parents connected with students and teachers to know how the students are performing and what the teacher is implementing

This makes all 3 involved parties very content.
To ensure this works, we give it for FREE to most school districts/teachers so they are prepared when common core hits them.
This is our opinion, we may be wrong, but we are willing to do the hard work with the right people and ensure we make it right and I guess that is what the US education system needs right now.

How to enhance the student potential through online resources?

If we want each child to have the chance for sharing his full and equal part in citizenship and shaping his destiny himself, we can make it happen only through correct education. Of course, education is not limited to the knowledge gained at schools or colleges; still academic education has got high level of just significance in our society. It helps an individual in choosing a fulfilling job; shaping the society and enriching the inner life.

Almost everyone accepts the value of education and Governments of all the major countries treat education department in a respected approach. It gets all kind of support from funding to encouraging system reformations with changing needs. Still many challenges are being faced and lot many parents admit that educational cultivation of their child has become a challenging task for them.

According to a report [Problems Facing American Education, Focus on colleges, universities and schools Volume 2, number 2, 2008] prepared by Ashley Boyer and Burnette Wolf Hamil, PhD [Associate Professor at Mississippi State University] states that the following are the major challenges faced by the American education.

• Attrition Rate of Teachers
• Lack of Parental Involvement
• Reading Epidemic [Students don’t like or they don’t prefer to read at grade level]

Many intellectuals will consider that these challenges are not only limited to America. Many other countries face same or similar kind of issues that really need to be worked on. Highly qualified individuals and teams including educationists carry on continuous research work to sort such issues. Alternative education supplement options kind of products or services are also popular i.e. personal tuitions, online educational portals. Parents prefer to keep possible efforts so that their child can achieve desirable educational goals.

 Our society is always in need of an additional system that develops interest for education among students. Sometimes; due to tender age, they don’t like to study more. What they need is personal care, special attention and structured practice. Structured Practice matters a lot because too much repetition leads to over confidence and loses of interest. Structured practice covers varieties of topics with easy explanations; questions – answers.

PracTutor was mainly launched as an initiative to help students, parents and teachers in handling such challenges and providing the best support during school days and holidays.  Attrition Rate of Teachers is something that is not in control of any individual or an organization. There are many factors affecting this issue. Apart from that, PracTutor is considered as an ideal solution by its users.

Following are the special features of Practutor:

• Structured Curriculum
• Personalize Learning
• Unlimited Math online practice
• Unlimited English online practice
• Unlimited Math and English offline practice
• Training Videos
• Detailed student analysis, Periodic progress report
• Game based environment
• 1-to-1 mentoring (Parents and Students)
• Platform to connect with teachers and school

As a result of quality focused approach, Practutor is one the fastest growing services in the USA that really makes difference in a career of a student. Parents, teachers and schools also can actively participate and monitor the performance of students. Please visit following links to explore more about the revolutionary concept and know how to utilize it for betterment.

http://www.practutor.com

The Real Facts of Math and Its Advantages for Students

Math is the most interesting subject, as far as students are concerned, though it is a difficult subject. At the same time, mathematic is the easiest subject to score hundred marks. Since mathematics is involved in all major subjects like physics, chemistry and statistics, students should take utmost care to learn math.

Adaptive reasoning is the most essential aspect in math and that is why children should be taught mathematics, with very strong base, in the introduction stage. Different nations follow different ways of math teaching and in poor countries, kids are not provided with math learning equipment, which is a disadvantage for the school students. In present days, schools have become commercial and program the syllabus, which is heavy for the kids.

Mathematics scholars provide various creative ideas, for the benefit of the students and very unfortunately, only a few global education institutions are implementing those innovative ideas. Modern math is not easy for kids to learn, without visual lessons. In fact, many international electronic whiteboard manufacturers have upgraded the way of teaching mathematics.

Even mentally challenged kids and autism-affected children show special interest in learning math. In fact, they understand math better than other subjects. Speech therapy specialists use math as the base tool to teach kids, who are with disabilities. In practical life, math is not just a subject to learn, but it also supports kids to deal with various situations. In recent times, mathematicians have made mathematics very interesting and kids are fond of learning math, with deep involvement.

According to Albert Einstein, pure math in its original form is the logical ideas in poetical style. This is one of his lampoons, but profound thoughts, which is identically relevant, even at this present era. As he laid stress about the math subject through all his works, math forms an essential and integral part of modern technologies ranging from complicated computer networks to robotic surgical operations. That is the reason all the international mathematical scholars feel that the kids should be taught the subject, in the most appropriate way.

Further, learning of math inculcates creative as well as lateral thinking, which is highly essential, not only in schools, but also in difficult life situations. In fact, all employers believe that the lateral thinking ability of candidates is far better than their technical skills and academic knowledge.

Mastering of mathematics at young age paves way for critical reasoning and thinking to cope up with the present global economic condition. For economists, who are in public policy making positions, math helps to have holistic approach, while making important decisions, which determines the entire global smooth functioning.

The developed modern math is based on the philosophies, which were formalized by ancient mathematicians like Aryabatta and others. This rich history of mathematics makes the subject unique, which has stood of the test of time, over past years. Unless kids are provided with the opportunity to have complete exposure to math, they may not be able reach their goals, or perhaps even decide their goals.

Teachers, who are teaching math, should realize the importance of the subject and they should teach math with dedication, with ultramodern teaching equipment. Unfortunately, only some of the international educational institutes use advanced method of teaching, while most of the schools still follow old school techniques to teach math. Now, it is imperative that schools all across the globe should start taking advantage of the modern technologies that are available to make math an interesting and easier subject to learn.

Practutor helps students practice to achieve excellence

On June 2, 2013, inspired computer science graduate Hardik Parikh and team launched the first version of PracTutor.com. This was the fruition of sixteen months of discussion, planning and execution. After noticing the lack of online resources and poor offline options and the problems students face in Math and English especially during the initial years, the PracTutor team chose to offer this amazing program. PracTutor mentors students to excellence.

As this is the first edition of PracTutor.com, Mr. Parikh encourages new users to email and call him personally with any and all feedback, comments and suggestions that will help Practutor develop and grow. PracTutor seems to be off to a wonderful start thus far. The website gained 5,219 registered users just 19 hours after it launched.

PracTutor was developed from much research and a genuine need to help students grow into their fullest potential. Teachers and child psychologists were consulted. It was concluded that this modern world poses many obstacles for the young, growing student. There are many distractions and much pressure on children.  To create PracTutor, a math program was developed with the help of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB). Many children struggle with math. The math program of PracTutor, backed by IITB strives to remedy that problem. It is fun-based to keep the students engaged and customized to meet each student’s need.

Many students struggle with English as well. Teachers in the Common Core Curriculum in the United States were consulted to develop a program for that. PracTutor's English program focuses on helping children with reading comprehension.

PracTutor was developed by parents with concerns about their children's education, just like any other. The company is devoted to helping children succeed and giving back to the community. PracTutor donates a part of each subscription fee to a variety of charitable organizations. It allows the user to choose which organization receives their donation.

PracTutor firmly believes that each and every student has the innate ability for success. No matter their learning level, every student can exceed expectations in Math and English. PracTutor can help them on their way to greatness.  PracTutor mentors students to excellence. The team and staff is devoted to helping each and every student succeed. No matter where your child is at in his or her education, PracTutor can help.

About PracTutor

PracTutor is a customized learning and practice environment to help students in Grades 1 to 8 master Math and English. PracTutor is trying to solve the challenge of how can we make any student love, learn and enjoy Math and English.

PracTutor
12806 Townepark Way
Louisville, KY 40243-2311
http://www.practutor.com
News Media Contact : press@practutor.com

Does It Make Sense To Give Education For Free?

Free Education

Francis Bacon, the great philosopher and thinker viewed that “knowledge means power”. Once one gains power one can lead his / her life in a decent way. It is the power of education that can bring dignity and respect in one’s life.

If power is the sublime element for one’s existence and sustenance rather to say the stamina to survive in this world, why not all are entitled to have it? Why only the rich can enjoy the power of education? That means if a person by attaining proper education can exhibit his / her intelligence and capability, why the person will be deprived of that due to poverty?

If this disparity gets going, our society will not see its fullest possible all-round growth. The eventuality of this will be----somewhere or other the society will be languishing because actually the untapped potentials will be wasted. This will be a national hypocrisy.

Social Balance

The simplest and the best way of disseminating knowledge is to educate every one so that a strong and permanent social balance is transformed as the balanced social platform, where all can contribute to the uplift of the single, unbiased and harmonious society.

If education is free from primary level up to the graduation level, all can get the benefit. Once all are privileged to get education, the first benefit will be seen as the reductions of social ills. Mostly our societies are divided over poor & rich. This menace is more pervading than any of the biting problems.

Actually, our societies consist of unbelievably rich, very rich, measurably rich, middle class, lower middle class, poor and the big chunk of utterly poor.

However, the above pulsating discussion can hypnotise one to blindly vouch for free education for the have-nots. Many countries are plugging in the loopholes of many of the social problems which are culminating out of this uneducated lots’ liability. The tax payers are contributing their hard earned money to the state’s exchequer but the benefit is not derived as it should have been.

Examples are many like Ecuador, USA (under Obama Administration), Malaysia and a few more countries including India have realised the importance of free education for have-nots. Ecuador has taken up many steps; Obama administration has recently made a significant change in its education policy and has adopted many ambitious programs under the banner of free education.

India too is gradually freeing up its compulsory education up to secondary level. The gigantic step India has taken under the present UPA government is “compulsory education” for one and all up to secondary level. Although many countries are gradually adopting and also experiment this important issue, the fallacy of the fact is, the sediments (negative sides or the boomerangs) are always disturbing the planners.

Free Education Means Mockery of Education

Free education allows everyone to get education without spending a penny. But this frees the parents from many of the important responsibilities attached with the “education of a child”. The child on the other hand also does not learn the gravity and importance of the education, in Toto (which otherwise is learnt in paid education system).

The free education is not “a miracle out of nowhere”; it is the taxpayers’ dollars are being made use of. Tax payers mean not only the direct tax payers; it is also the indirect tax payers also. Indirect tax payers mean one and all, including the parents enjoying the “free education of the child”. This means many other projects for social developments are being either stopped or curtailed or even diverted which could have been otherwise helpful to the poor strata of people also.

Besides this, since it is the government run project, the entire administration put their heart and soul in this benevolent program and leave aside many of the constructive programs that could have benefitted the society in general and the nation in particular.

Conclusion:

This discussion with the just above arguments will be rather “abrupt end” of the discussion. With both the positive and negative aspects as references, it is rather recommended that to justify the second part of the title--“does it add value”—the answer is “yes”. If the countries mentioned above should not go with the ‘blanket plan” for free education for all. It should be only need based, so that people should not suffer from unnecessary burden of tax, state should not divert the other social development programs and the nation, as a whole should see the best of the best.

Practutor: Unique learning tool launched

Math and English has always been problem subjects for the students. Some children dread the subject so much that they fall ill at the time of exams. At times even dedicated efforts of the teachers fail to make children come out of this fear. Understanding this plight, on June 2, 19.32 hours Practutor was opened for registration. Since then, more than 5000 people have registered on the site.

The main idea behind Practutor

The main idea took roots during a coffee table discussion almost one and half a year back. The intention was to make available for the kids in the elementary and middle school an effective solution so that the problems they faced in English and Math was addressed properly. The product took shape after long discussion, ideations, fine-tuning and research. The focus is only one-excellence of students in English and Math irrespective of the place they belong to and the level of schooling they receive.

Help where it is needed the most

Each student has his own strong points and shortcomings. Some are good at grammar while some in numbering. Practutor’s algorithm tracks down the weak areas of the students and provides intensified help in these areas. It also challenges the strong areas of the students so that they can develop the skill to its full potential. Briefly, the idea is to make learning adaptive to the need of each student.

How do we go about it?

We have formed a core curriculum, which comprise of more than 4200 individual questions in Math and 40,000 English questions that cover all the aspects of the studies. These questions are mostly targeted at testing the basic and critical thinking of the children. The students can print it offline, work on them and email back its answers. The core curriculum inhabits myriad learning videos, materials and learning options. Teaching through gaming is an integral part of this curriculum, which makes the learning process exciting, and reward based.

First version of PracTutor

The first version of PracTutor –www.practutor.com is designed to reduce the rift between the teachers and students making it easier on the part of both of them to teach and understand respectively the subject in the most simplified manner. It also gives the parents the power to involve themselves in this teaching and learning effort and contribute in any way possible to help their child come out of fear for a particular subject or topic.

How can parents participate?

The program allows the parents to monitor the progress of the child and the teacher can identify the various strengths and skills of the students distinctly. This helps both parents and the teachers to focus on the shortcomings and encourage the students to do better in that particular arena of studies. Practutor being a bespoke tool mentors the students on one to one basis and immediately darts an alert if his performance comes down.

Our staff includes qualified mentors who are mathematics and English geniuses, professionals who are parents themselves and dedicated teachers.  These mentors regularly keep in touch with the parents and support the teacher and the parent to help student overcome the hurdles in studies. All the efforts are diverted to make each student achieve the highest level as per his potential.

Pre-registration to end soon
The pre-registrations for the students, parents and the teachers will close soon. It is free for the teachers and if you invite your friends and relatives, you can get $10 credit on your monthly subscription. You can start right now by signing up @ www.practutor.com/preregister/UWwHrngx. Periodic forms of comments will be duly sent to you every month after you start using

Help it grow better and more

Although PracTutor is still in its juvenile, stage learning to grab the ropes consistent efforts are being made to make it overcome the initial hurdles and grow more wider by diversifying its spectrum. To make the magic of PracTutor touch the lives of every student, contribution from parents and teachers is very much expected.

Continuous feedback and comments will ensure that the product comes out according to what it should be like for the learners and the teachers. Sharing it with your friends and colleagues will help the product shape up in the way every parent wants.

About PracTutor

PracTutor is a customized learning and practice environment to help students in Grades 1 to 8 master Math and English. PracTutor is trying to solve the challenge of how can we make any student love, learn and enjoy Math and English.

Building Adaptive Learning Systems in USA, that usually supports Personalized Learning

It is a well researched finding that if technology based learning systems is encouraged to reach to an advanced stage; it will enable content and customized strategies. It is also a matter for concern in which way the learning data, collected by this system, be used to enhance the ability of the system and become adoptable to varied numbers of learners and their learning adaptability. 

As far as adaptive instructions are concerned, it is not a new thing, because it has been constantly observed since the days we talk about Socrates. More than three decades ago, i.e. in the start of 1980s, it was the experiences of the education researchers (Corno and Snow 1986), that adapting instructions to students works as the major factor in the domain of successful learning. If researches of those days are referred, (Bloom 1984), it is found that one-to-one tutoring was a great success, in which learning experiences and time provisions are adapted by the tutor, so that individual needs of the students can be addressed to.

Digital learning systems are known as adaptive, because they are capable enough to dynamically get converted to the learner as their responses to the collected information, as and when they are in their learning sessions, rather than basing on the ongoing information; they are learner’s age, gender and test scores. As the learner goes on working, adaptive learning system make use of gathered information, their way of representing the concept, the difficulties there-in, the task or problem related sequencing, along with the nature of feedbacks and hints provided.   

With which adaptive instructions are related?

Adaptive instructions are related to personalized, differentiated and individualized learning. The minimum contribution from adaptive learning systems is individualized pacing, but if it is a bit more sophisticated, it can differentiate the nature of activities that has relations with learning that is based on the responses of the students. For supporting personalized learning, different systems are being developed in these days, in which pacing & method of instructions, varied learning objectives based options and contents are incorporated.

No doubt, sessions like ‘one-on-one’ with a skilled tutor, who has the dynamisms of understanding the needs of the students and responding to their needs, can offer the most personalized experience to the taught. Digital learning system has advanced to such an extent that students can acquire, diagnose and dynamically respond. Any good teacher will continually assess the understanding of the students as well their level of engagement. The extreme purpose of this system is to customize the contents and strategies for different students, of course there is no doubt that doing this individually for all students is very difficult. 

According to (Oakes 2005), there is every possibility that in the class room environment, teachers may vary in their learning approaches, where different types of prior achievements rule the roost. If any teacher wants to differentiate in teaching in the classroom environment, he / she have to rigor to considerable skills and efforts and adapt different types of resources with different types of difficulties.