Category Archives: Education

Education

GoingOn Kicks Off “Connected Educator” Webinar Series on Aug. 28 with Session on Faculty Commons

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Free Webinar Will Discuss Varying Models of Institution-wide Faculty Commons Being Used to Improve Faculty Communication, Connection and Collaboration

San Francisco, CA, August 21, 2012 – In recognition of August as Connected Educator Month, GoingOn Networks today announced that it will kick off its free “Connected Educator” webinar series on August 28th with the session, “Benefits of Deploying an Institution-wide Faculty Commons: How CUNY, National University and Academia.edu are Utilizing Social Technologies to Improve Professional Development, Curriculum Sharing, Grant Collaboration and Broader Faculty Communications.” The 45-minute webinar begins at 2pm ET/11am PT on Aug. 28 and it will also be offered again at 2pm ET on September 18. Registrations are currently being accepted on the GoingOn website.

In these two sessions, Jon Corshen, CEO of GoingOn Networks, and Dr. Colin Marlaire, Director of the Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Training at National University, will explore varying models of deploying an institution-wide Faculty Commons by examining the approaches of CUNY Faculty Commons, National University’s Faculty Network and consumer offerings such as Academia.Edu.

“With so much attention focused on online learning, the potential of social technologies to transform faculty communications and collaboration has often been overlooked. But today, many institutions are beginning to recognize the power of creating a common online space where faculty can connect, share ideas, develop multi-disciplinary curriculum and discover opportunities for collaborative work,” said Corshen. “For school administration, Faculty Commons offer a dramatically better way to manage communications, replacing antiquated portals, list-serves and ‘institutional SPAM’.”

In fact, earlier this month in a video about Connected Educator Month, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan remarked on the importance of educators connecting with one another in online social environments. In his remarks, Secretary Duncan said, “We know that online professional learning through communities and networks is powerful, particularly when done in collaboration with a school’s professional learning community.” He continued, saying: “The model of continuous learning and problem solving within these online spaces is integral to teaching and leading in the 21st century.”

GoingOn Networks serves a spectrum of education institutions including colleges and universities as well as K-12 organizations such as New Teacher Center, National Writing Project and Reach Associates. While Connected Educator month is largely a celebration of connecting educators in the K-12 grades, GoingOn recognizes the value and benefit of educators working with one another to share best practices and collaborate at all levels of education, including at the university and college level.

To help higher education faculty members understand the benefits of participating with their colleagues in an online social environment, GoingOn developed the Connected Educator webinar series. During the Aug. 28 and Sept. 18 sessions, participants will:

* Understand the basic design & features of today’s Faculty Commons

* Examine the various uses, benefits and resource savings of a commons-based approach

* Learn how to avoid common challenges and pitfalls of implementation and adoption

* Gain a better understanding of how a Faculty Commons fits within your broader technology landscape, as well as different deployment and integration models

As recently stated in CUNY’s Faculty Commons Quarterly, “[the Commons model] assumes a definition of faculty professional development as something done by faculty, not something done to them.”

Space is limited for these free sessions. Professionals from the office of CIO, academic affairs and continuing education, provosts, chancellors, deans of faculty and others interested in attending either session should go to the following link to register:
http://www.goingon.com/benefits-deploying-institution-wide-faculty-commons.

For more information about GoingOn, visit www.GoingOn.com.

About GoingOn Networks, Inc.;
GoingOn provides colleges and universities and educational organizations with an innovative, On-Demand communications and collaboration environment where students, faculty and administrators can more effectively connect, converse and engage across all aspect of their academic life experience.  As the reliance on social and mobile technologies continues to accelerate, institutions are being challenged to create a more modern connected campus where students and faculty can more easily communicate, share resources and connect with each other, from anywhere and at any time.

The GO Platform allows institutions to build a privately branded academic social network where users can more easily access school-wide information and resources and come together to interact, share ideas and expand their knowledge base.  The GoingOn solution can be easily and quickly deployed without requiring development or technical resources and will grow organically across the campus.  The platform combines an intuitive Personal Virtual Commons with Facebook-like activity streams, self-service tools for building collaborative spaces and integrated academic networking features.  For more information or to learn more about GoingOn, visit www.GoingOn.com.

Contact:
Lindsey (Mikal) Read
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
937-408-9321
lread@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Education

Veritas Prep Outlines the 5 Steps Every Parent Can Take to Help Their Student Ace the SAT

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By following these five steps, parents will be able to better support their students as they prepare to take what is perhaps the most critical test of their high school career

Malibu, California, August 20, 2012 – For many parents of high school students, the SAT – a standardized exam most colleges and universities use to evaluate applicants – is somewhat of an unknown. While they understand that it is an important part of the college admissions process and that a high score can result in acceptance to the best schools and lead to scholarship awards, they may not know how they can help their students with SAT test prep so they can do their best on the exam. To assist parents, Veritas Prep, the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, has outlined five things every parent can do to help their student ace the SAT and become a more competitive college applicant.

1. Encourage Your Student to be Self-Motivated – While it’s great that you bought your son or daughter some SAT prep books or an SAT class, it may all be in vain if your child is not motivated to do well on the SAT on his/her own. Parents are only an external motivator for children; scores will start to skyrocket when students have an internal drive to do well. To help foster that drive, have your child identify three reasons why he or she wants to score well on the SAT. For example, do they want to gain admission to a competitive program? Or earn a significant scholarship? By creating a list of reasons and goals, students will be better able to self motivate and if they begin to lose focus you can remind them of what they’re working toward.

2. Simulate Real Testing Conditions – You know the cliché: practice makes perfect. But in reality, perfect practice makes perfect. And in order to practice perfectly, you should make sure your student mimics test day conditions when taking an SAT practice test at home. This means timing every section, no TV/internet/cell phone, 5-10 minute snack breaks every hour and nothing on his/her desk except a pencil, calculator and water bottle. Help your student know what to expect on test day so there are no surprises.

3. Teach Your Student New Vocabulary – The SAT is an exam that requires little memorization because it primarily tests higher order thinking skills. However, a scholarly vocabulary is one asset students must have to ace the SAT. As part of your student’s SAT practice routine, write an SAT “word of the day” on the refrigerator or in another area of the house that everyone can see each morning. To make it more fun, challenge your family members to use the SAT vocabulary word in at least one sentence throughout their day. Quiz your student regularly to make sure they retain previous days’ and weeks’ words as well. Note: make sure you use words from SAT-specific vocabulary lists rather than generic vocabulary lists.

4. Subscribe Your Child to the Official SAT Question of the Day – There is no company that produces more realistic questions than the organization that makes the SAT itself: the College Board. Everyday the College Board releases a real SAT question through its website. The Official SAT Question of the Day is not a throwaway problem, but an authentic SAT question. Your student can sign up to have the question e-mailed to his/her inbox, making sure SAT prep is a part of their daily routine. Students will have a bank of real SAT questions that they can use to improve their skills by preparing with questions exactly like the ones they’ll see on test day.

5. Ditch the High School English or Math Textbook as a Prep Tool – Traditional high school English and Math classes do not prepare your student for the SAT. The SAT is an exam that can be systematically prepared for using SAT-specific strategies. Have your child get ready for the exam using SAT preparation material, not classroom material that barely relates.

“Parents shouldn’t underestimate the importance of the SAT,” said Shaan Patel, Director of SAT Programs at Veritas Prep and one of the few test takers in the world to achieve a perfect 2400 on the SAT. “The 4-hour SAT exam is worth just as much in the college admissions process as the 4,000+ hours students spend in high school earning their GPA. By following these five steps, parents will be able to better support their students as they prepare to take what is perhaps the most critical test of their high school career.”

Patel improved his SAT score from 1760 to a perfect 2400, earned more than $237,000 in scholarships and co-authored the Veritas Prep SAT 2400 program. Recently, McGraw-Hill published his book, “SAT 2400 in Just 7 Steps.”

Veritas Prep is the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its live classroom GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is available as a classroom course, live online, on demand in high definition or in private SAT tutoring sessions and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. Veritas Prep is currently enrolling students in its August, September and October Live Online SAT prep classes and accepting pre-orders for the Veritas Prep SAT 2400 On Demand HD online course.

For more information, visit www.veritasprep.com/sat.

About Veritas Prep:
Veritas Prep is the world’s largest provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. It offers industry-leading programs to help applicants improve standardized test scores and gain admission to the world’s most selective universities. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its live classroom GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is available as a classroom course, live online, on demand or in private tutoring sessions and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. In addition, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking entry into competitive business schools, law schools, medical schools and other graduate programs. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.  

Contact:
Lindsey (Mikal) Read
CSG PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
937 408 9321
lread@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Education

Bryant & Stratton College Online Announces Webinar: How to Make the Most of an Entry-Level Job

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Webinar to be held on August 22, highlighting advice on what to do and what not to do in an entry level position; free for prospective and current students and new college graduates

Buffalo, NY, August 08, 2012 – Bryant & Stratton College Online announced today a new session in its ongoing free career training webinar series. New college graduates, prospective students and current Bryant & Stratton College Online students are encouraged to attend the free webinar titled, “Make the Most of an Entry-Level Job.” This session will take place on Wednesday, August 22, from noon to 1:00 p.m. EDT.

Acclaimed career coach Kim Dority will lead the webinar. Ms. Dority is a frequent presenter for Bryant & Stratton College Online and has been writing about and teaching courses on career training for more than a decade.

“An entry level job is a great place to start building your professional reputation and developing your career smarts,” said Dority. “This webinar will coach attendees through the actions to take – and avoid – to make the most of this important opportunity.”

The “Make the Most of an Entry-Level Job” webinar will highlight tricks and tips for new graduates as well as prospective and current students. Attendees of the webinar will learn how to:

* Impress not only their boss, but their colleagues

* Benefit from other’s knowledge while effectively contributing their own ideas

* Navigate the “new hire” landscape to establish trust and respect for their professional skills, maturity and judgment

“Emphasis is often put into how to find and get a job, which are both important steps in creating a successful career; but this webinar demonstrates that the work does not stop once you’ve heard ‘you’re hired,’” said Scott Traylor, Associate Campus Director for Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College. “Whether you’re a new graduate or just starting to consider enrolling in a degree program, understanding all the steps that go into building a strong career path is important. At Bryant & Stratton College Online, we are committed to helping our students find and succeed in the careers of their choice. We are grateful Ms. Dority lends her extensive knowledge in support of this mission.”

The webinar is offered for free by Bryant & Stratton College Online and is open to current students, prospective students and others seeking information on building a successful career. Those interested in attending are invited to register at http://online.bryantstratton.edu/webinar/. Additionally, following the free webinar, attendees will be able to download a hand-out recapping the top strategies addressed in the session.

To learn more about Bryant & Stratton College and for information about its online degree programs, go to online.bryantstratton.edu. Bryant & Stratton College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online:
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.  The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For over 155 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and professional certificates. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs, thirteen online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.  General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at http://online.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020
kthimmaiah@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Education

HealthEdSolutions.com Encourages Awareness of Common Injuries and Heart Conditions in Athletes

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Leading Healthcare Certification Provider Encourages Healthcare Providers and First Responders to Educate Themselves About Common Athlete Injuries and Heart Conditions

Lincoln, NE, August 07, 2012 – As the nation’s eyes turn to London to watch the world’s greatest athletes compete for gold, Health Education Solutions (HES), a leading provider of online healthcare certification courses, encourages healthcare providers and first responders to brush up on the skills—from basic life support training (BLS) to advanced cardiac life support training (ACLS) —that will help them more quickly and skillfully respond to common injuries and heart conditions in athletes.

“Although athletes may not be subject to the conditions that plague many Americans, because of the scope of their physical activity, they can fall victim to a number of injuries and conditions that are more common in people who are active,” said Melissa Marks, president of HES. “Whether they are treating internationally renowned athletes or weekend warriors, it is important for healthcare providers and first responders to be aware of and able to respond to injuries and conditions that are more common in athletes.”

Examples of conditions that are more common in athletes include:

Athletic heart syndrome, sometimes known as athlete’s heart syndrome, is a condition that can occur after prolonged periods of exercise, in which the athlete’s heart modifies its structure. Significant amounts of exercise cause the heart to enlarge and the resting pulse rate to lower. When performing medical tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) on an individual with athlete’s heart syndrome, practitioners can sometimes misinterpret results as evidence of serious heart disease.

Sudden cardiac death, although not a regular occurrence among athletes, can be caused by several heart conditions that often go undetected; the most common cause among young athletes is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. According to the American Heart Association, among the more than 7 million U.S. high school athletes, one out of every 30,000 to 50,000 dies annually from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. According to WebMD, among NCAA athletes, about one in 44,000 players dies from sudden cardiac complications. While quick response from first responders can minimize an individual’s chance of death, the American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of preventative screenings that review family history and the athlete’s personal medical history.

Arrhythmia, a condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally, is fairly common and, in most cases, is harmless, depending on the type. However, certain arrhythmias can lead to more serious problems, such as stroke. According to a study from the American Heart Association, intense physical training may cause an individual to be more prone to developing an arrhythmia. It is important for athletes to be diligent in seeking medical attention when they notice an irregular heartbeat to ensure that there is not a more serious cause.

High blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular condition seen in athletes. High blood pressure is not harmful to competing athletes, as long as it is being controlled through medication or lifestyle changes. However, if the problem goes uncontrolled and an athlete continues to train at an intense level, high blood pressure can lead to damage of the eyes, kidneys and heart.

“Heart problems in athletes are often unpredictable, but training, including ACLS certification, prepares first responders and healthcare professionals to handle these conditions,” Marks said. “Following ACLS protocols allows these professionals to provide the best possible care and ensure better outcomes for their patients.”

Medical professionals can access informational resources related to heart disease and other healthcare issues in HES’ online research library. Resources include educational articles, as well as information, trends and news related to healthcare certifications. To learn more, visit http://www.HealthEdSolutions.com.

About Health Education Solutions:
Health Education Solutions (HES) is a leading provider of continuing education solutions for healthcare professionals. HES, a subsidiary of Nelnet Inc. (NYSE: NNI), offers ACLS and PALS courses, as well advanced first aid training and other healthcare courses, developed in partnership with medical faculty at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
CSG PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303.433.7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.healthedsolutions.com

Education

Veritas Prep Expands, Launches SAT Prep Course Developed with a Perfect Score Recipient

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Veritas Prep is the Largest Global Provider of Test Prep and Admissions Consulting Services

Malibu, California, August 01, 2012 – Veritas Prep announced its expansion into the undergraduate market today with the launch of its SAT prep course, Veritas Prep SAT 2400. With the addition of the SAT course, the company is now the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. The course was developed with Shaan Patel, Director of SAT Programs at Veritas Prep and one of the few test takers in the world to achieve a perfect 2400 on the SAT, making it the only global SAT prep course created by a perfect SAT score recipient. To date, more than 9.2 million students have taken the new SAT worldwide and fewer than 2,000 have received a perfect score. The course combines Veritas Prep’s proven test preparation philosophy and course model with the strategies and techniques that helped Shaan master the exam.

“Ten years ago Veritas Prep’s ‘think like the test maker’ approach to test prep, along with its longer course format and higher instructor standards, revolutionized the way students prepared for the GMAT. A decade later, with the launch of Veritas Prep SAT 2400, we have now reinvented SAT prep,” said Chad Troutwine, co-founder and CEO of Veritas Prep. “We built Veritas Prep SAT 2400 on the philosophy that SAT mastery begins with smart strategies. It is not about how much you are able to memorize or your grades in high school. This course helps students achieve their highest possible score.”

Following the model the company put in place when it was first founded, in-person and live online Veritas Prep SAT 2400 courses are both longer than competitors’ courses – 36 hours, offering twice as much instruction time – and require instructors to have scored in the 99th percentile on the exam; the strictest instructor standards of any provider. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers the only zero risk, money-back guarantee in the industry – if a student’s score doesn’t go up from a previous official SAT or converted PSAT, they can take the course again at no charge or receive a full refund, no questions asked. No other SAT prep provider refunds tuition without checking attendance and homework/practice test completion.

“Like many students, I struggled with standardized tests in high school. After a disappointing score on my first practice test, I dedicated myself to learning every aspect of the SAT until I finally mastered the exam,” said Patel. “Veritas Prep SAT 2400 captures and shares every strategy, method and approach I used to achieve a perfect 2400 and it is designed with the student’s perspective at its foundation. Unlike most other courses that use technical language and complex terminology, Veritas Prep SAT 2400 is engaging and makes the information easy to digest and understand.”

Every Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course includes:

* 36 hours of instruction, more than twice the length of other courses

* The strictest instructor standards in the industry, requiring instructors to have scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT

* The only no hassle, zero risk money back guarantee available

* 10 official practice tests – no provider offers more

* Unlimited access to Veritas Prep instructors

* Veritas Prep SAT 2400 Workbook

* Veritas Prep SAT 2400 Vocabulary Builder

* Immediate online scoring of SAT practice exams and quizzes

* Shaan Patel’s best-selling book, SAT 2400 in Just 7 Steps: Perfect-Score Student Reveals How to Ace the Test, published by McGraw Hill

* Full SAT 2400 On Demand HD Online Course Featuring Perfect-Score SAT Instructor Shaan Patel

Last month Veritas Prep celebrated a significant milestone: its ten-year anniversary. Co-founders Chad Troutwine and Markus Moberg met at the Yale School of Management while earning their MBAs and started Veritas Prep after winning several business plan competitions, including Yale’s. At its launch, Veritas Prep’s flagship classroom GMAT prep course was more comprehensive than others on the market. It was the first of its kind to focus on higher order thinking and to be taught exclusively by instructors who scored in the 99th percentile on the GMAT. The company was also first to create online “on demand” (self-paced) GMAT courses and GMAT mobile apps. To date, Veritas Prep is the only company to assemble a team of admissions consultants representing all of the top 20 MBA programs.

“For the last decade Veritas Prep has been the leader in GMAT Prep and graduate admissions. We are excited to begin this new chapter with our expansion into the undergraduate market,” said Troutwine. “We look forward to helping students maximize their score on the SAT — a crucial step to getting into their college of choice and securing a lucrative scholarship.”

Veritas Prep is currently enrolling students in its August, September and October Live Online SAT classes and accepting pre-orders for the Veritas Prep SAT 2400 On Demand HD online course. For more information, visit www.veritasprep.com.

About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, offering industry-leading programs to help applicants improve their test scores and gain admission to the world’s best colleges and universities and graduate schools. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its flagship, live GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is delivered live online and on demand and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking admission to the most competitive undergraduate institutions and business schools, law schools and medical schools in the world. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.

Contact:
Lindsey (Mikal) Read
CSG|PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
937 408 9321
lread@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Education

Kickboard Launches Webinar Series Featuring Presenters From Achievement First, Democracy Prep & KIPP

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Under the Theme “Igniting a Gradebook Revolution,” the Sessions Discuss Ways Schools Can Use Data to Establish or Enhance a Performance-Driven Culture

New Orleans, LA, July 30, 2012 – Kickboard, a holistic student data tracking platform that goes beyond the gradebook and enables teachers to collect, analyze and share mission-critical data, announced today that it is launching an exclusive, free webinar series, “Igniting a Gradebook Revolution,” beginning August 8th. Registrations are currently being accepted for the first two sessions in the series: Setting the Right Expectations and Analyzing the Right Data to Create Consistent Classroom Culture on August 8, featuring presenters from Achievement First and Democracy Prep, and Building a Performance-Driven Culture From Day One of the New School Year with KIPP New Orleans on August 15th. Both webinars are from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT.

“Traditional gradebooks aren’t cutting it. They don’t capture, track and report student behavior, as well as academic achievement, as part of student performance,” said Jennifer Medbery, founder and CEO of Kickboard. “However, many schools are now transforming the gradebook into a centralized hub of student performance to infuse a data-driven approach into both teaching and learning, as well as to build a strong classroom culture. This webinar series discusses the challenges, successes and best practices of schools where the gradebook has become a powerful schoolwide collaboration platform for ensuring student success.”

Attendees will gain actionable insights into ways their peers are using data to support student success and achievement and advance a performance-driven culture, while facilitating collaboration between teachers, administrators and parents. There are first steps any school can take today to expand the view of student achievement beyond grades and instead measure whole student performance, as well as strategies and tools that can help them turn that data into a plan of action.

School leaders, administrators and teachers interested in learning more about how they can use data to establish or enhance a performance-driven culture should register to attend the following webinars:

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at 1pm EDT

Setting the Right Expectations and Analyzing the Right Data to Create Consistent Classroom Culture

Chris Bostock, Dean, Achievement First Amistad High School
Seth Andrew, Founder and Superintendant, Democracy Prep Public Schools
Chiv Heng, Senior Director of Knowledge Management, Democracy Prep Public Schools

During the webinar, participants will:
* Gain actionable strategies to set schoolwide norms and secure teacher buy-in

* Learn how to enhance or establish a behavior/character/PBIS program that uses data to ensure consistency across classrooms

* Discover the ways peer schools are leveraging the gradebook to implement their programs and track and analyze data, share information about student behavior and create reports

Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 1pm EDT
Building a Performance-Driven Culture From Day One of the New School Year

Brenna Benson, Director of Data and Analytics, KIPP New Orleans
Todd Purvis, Chief Academic Officer, KIPP New Orleans

During the webinar, participants will:
* Explore what can be done starting today to build a robust data and performance-driven culture and how data can improve instruction and outcomes

* Review key questions to discuss with staff when incorporating Common Core and standards-based assessment into a traditional grading system

* Learn how to use the gradebook as a hub of student performance to align day-to-day activities to schoolwide, end-of-year goals

For more information or to register, visit www.kickboardforteachers.com.

About Kickboard
Kickboard is a holistic student data tracking platform that goes beyond the gradebook and enables teachers to collect, analyze and share critical data, including multiple assessments, standards mastery, reading growth and, most uniquely, student behavior and character strengths. The platform is built by educators for educators and offers a simple yet powerful web-based dashboard to increase the real-time visibility of student performance across classrooms. Unlike traditional gradebooks, Kickboard tracks whole student performance and features traditional and standards-based grading, one-click behavior data capture, easy to read charts and graphs and immediate student performance reporting, including customizable, painless report cards. The platform advances a school’s performance-driven culture by setting and measuring school expectations and norms and facilitating collaboration between teachers, administrators and parents. Delivered as an on-demand solution, Kickboard can easily be integrated with a school’s SIS, and deployed in a single classroom or across an entire district. For more information, visit kickboardforteachers.com.

Contact:
Lindsey Read
CSG|PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
937-408-9321
lread@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Education

Veritas Prep Celebrates Ten-Year Anniversary

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July Marks Significant Milestone For the Largest Global Provider of Test Prep and Admissions Consulting Services

Malibu, California, July 23, 2012 – Veritas Prep, the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, celebrates a significant milestone this month: its ten year anniversary, the company announced today. Co-founders Chad Troutwine and Markus Moberg officially launched Veritas Prep on July 1, 2002. Troutwine and Moberg met at the Yale School of Management while earning their MBAs and started Veritas Prep after winning several business plan competitions, including Yale’s. Over the last decade, the company has grown from a two-person shop to the largest test prep and admissions consulting services provider in the world.

“We created Veritas Prep because prospective MBA applicants were not satisfied with the substandard GMAT courses offered by other providers. Upon its launch, our program offered twice as many classroom hours, three times the number of practice tests and far more rigorous instructor standards, and business surged,” said Troutwine, co-founder and CEO of Veritas Prep. “It was clear from the beginning that our GMAT students also wanted our advice on the business school admissions process. Since then, Veritas Prep has become a leader in that space, too.”

At its launch, Veritas Prep’s flagship classroom GMAT prep course was more comprehensive than others on the market. It was also first of its kind to focus on higher order thinking and be taught exclusively by instructors who scored in the 99th percentile on the GMAT – many of whom are still Veritas Prep instructors to this day. In response to the unmatched success of Veritas Prep students, other companies have adopted similar features.

“It has been ten years since we first challenged the long-standing duopoly of Kaplan and Princeton Review by creating a higher standard of test preparation for the GMAT,” said Moberg, co-founder of Veritas Prep. “The last decade has seen us go from a start-up to a standout with our philosophy to ‘think like the test maker’ and focus on reasoning and higher order thinking. We stay a step ahead of others in the industry by continuously updating and perfecting our curriculum, products and service offerings.”
 
Veritas Prep was the first company to create online “on demand” (self-paced) GMAT courses and GMAT mobile apps and it is the only company to assemble a team of admissions consultants representing all of the top 20 MBA programs. Veritas Prep offers classroom courses in more than 90 cities worldwide, live online courses, GMAT On Demand programs, mobile modules for the iPad and iPhone and a full suite of admissions consulting services.

Reflecting on the success of the last ten years, Veritas Prep recently noted several lessons learned. For example, the qualities that made Veritas Prep unique at its launch have proven to be a formula that leads to the biggest score increases: (1) the highest instructor standards, (2) more classroom hours and (3) a focus on higher order thinking skills rather than the “content-based” learning promoted by its competitors. And as an organization, an unwavering focus on course improvement and innovation – even if it means sacrificing short-term profit – is a winning recipe for long-term health and vitality.

“At Veritas Prep, we’re proud to have created a company that is ‘built to last,’ and we owe much of our success to our ability to attract and motivate people who desire to master their craft,” said Troutwine. “Everyone at Veritas Prep is focused on contributing to the most effective and successful test prep company ever created. We look forward to celebrating many more milestones to come.”

For more information about Veritas Prep and its services, visit veritasprep.com.

About Veritas Prep:
Veritas Prep is the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, offering industry-leading programs to help applicants improve their test scores and gain admission to the world’s best colleges and universities and graduate schools. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its flagship, live GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. The company’s SAT 2400 course is delivered live online and on demand and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking admission to the most competitive undergraduate institutions and business schools, law schools and medical schools in the world. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.

Contact:
Lindsey (Mikal) Read
CSG PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
937 408 9321
lread@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Education

Free Webinar Highlights How the Electronic Health Record Impacts Healthcare Careers

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Bryant & Stratton College Online will host a webinar on July 18 for current and prospective students interested in careers in healthcare administration

Buffalo, NY, July 11, 2012 – Bryant & Stratton College Online, a leader in online associate’s degree programs, will host a free webinar for current and prospective students interested in a healthcare administration degree. The webinar, titled “How the Electronic Health Record Impacts Today’s Healthcare Administrators” will be held on Wednesday, July 18, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EDT. The webinar will discuss the critical role the Electronic Health Record plays in a variety of healthcare settings including private practice, facilities and hospitals.

Bryant & Stratton College Online Instructor Laura Soldani will lead the webinar. Ms. Soldani has worked in education for nearly 20 years. She is passionate about the role the Electronic Health Record will play in the healthcare careers of tomorrow and has earned certification in both Virtual Office Information Management and Medical Informatics.

“The Electronic Health Record is a hot topic in healthcare today. It is the main structure that will be used to collect and maintain all of the data for any healthcare practice, facility or hospital,” said Ms. Soldani. “Understanding the Electronic Health Record, having the ability to effectively navigate it and use it to maintain accurate records is a critical skill for any one seeking employment in healthcare administration. The need for trained professionals in the Medical Informatics fields is, and will continue to dominate the job market.”

The webinar will provide current and prospective students an overview of how the Electronic Health Record is maintained and used in facilitating patient care. Additionally, Ms. Soldani will answer questions about careers in the medical informatics field and the online degree programs at Bryant & Stratton College Online.

Current and prospective students interested in learning more about a career in healthcare administration are invited to register for the free webinar, “How the Electronic Health Record Impacts Today’s Healthcare Administrators,” at online.bryantstratton.edu/webinar/. For those unable to attend, a recorded version of the webinar as well as highlights from the webinar will be available to download at http://onlineblog.bryantstratton.edu/ after July 21.

Bryant & Stratton College was founded in 1854 and is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. For more information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degree programs, visit online.bryantstratton.edu.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.  The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For over 155 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and professional certificates. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs, eleven online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures. General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at online.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020
kthimmaiah@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Education

Bryant & Stratton College Online Reveals Mobile App Development Degree and Other Changes for Fall

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A Hospitality Management degree, an Office Information Technology degree and a new scholarship for technology students are all coming this fall

Buffalo, NY, July 09, 2012 – Bryant & Stratton College Online, a leader in online associate’s degree programs, today announced changes to their degree program offerings for the fall as well as a new scholarship for students in its technology courses. The College is currently enrolling students for its Information Technology with a focus on Mobile Applications Development degree, an Associate in Office Information Technology and an Associate in Hospitality Management – Restaurant & Hotel Services degrees. All classes will begin in September 2012.

The changes in the degree programs are in response to meeting demands in nascent industries, like mobile application development, as well as to better prepare students entering career fields with changing responsibilities. The updates include:

* A new Information Technology with a focus on Mobile Applications Development Associate of Occupational Studies degree that will prepare students interested in an online IT degree to write programs for mobile applications for use on contemporary mobile devices. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of application developers is expected to grow 28 percent by 2020. Enrolling in this program will prepare students for entry-level positions with software development companies, business environments and corporate training development organizations in this growing field;

* The launch of an Office Information Technology Associate of Applied Science degree program. The degree program will replace the Administrative Assistant degree offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online. With an emphasis on information technology in an office environment, the new degree program will better reflect the growing number of technology-based responsibilities administrative assistants are undertaking in the workplace;

* The launch of a Technology Careers Scholarship for students currently enrolled in one of Bryant & Stratton College Online’s technology focused online degree programs. Eligible degree programs include Interactive Media Design, Networking Technology, Security Technology and Office Information Technology degree. Eligible and qualified candidates must be enrolled in one of those programs and must be in their first semester at the College. Scholarship recipients will be awarded up to $500 for part-time students and up to $1000 for full-time students for one semester of courses.

In addition to the changes above, Bryant & Stratton College Online will now offer a Hospitality Management – Restaurant & Hotel Services Associate of Applied Science degree. The program will prepare students for leadership roles in settings such as hotels, the food and beverage industry, travel and tourism, entertainment and sport venues, resort and spa services and casinos.

“We are excited about this set of changes to our degree programs. At Bryant & Stratton College Online we are dedicated to making sure our degree programs reflect the needs of the marketplace. By addressing these changes we help ensure our students are learning the critical skills they need to be competitive in the job market after graduation,” said Scott Traylor, Associate Campus Director for Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College.

The Information Technology with a focus on Mobile Applications Development Associate of Occupational Studies degree is not currently available to students in Ohio. The Hospitality Management degree – Restaurant & Hotel Services Associate of Applied Science degree is not currently available to students in Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

These degrees join the five online bachelor’s degree programs, thirteen online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs Bryant & Stratton College Online offers.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.  The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For over 155 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and professional certificates. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs, eleven online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.  General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at http://online.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020
kthimmaiah@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Art, Consumer Services, Education, Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Media, Society, Travel

Chris Smith, The Diabetic Chef Joins “Living Well” Diabetes Eduaction Cruise Hosted by Diabetes Daily Post (DDP)

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Novi-based Diabetes Daily Post announces on June 29, 2012 that it has join hands with Chris Smith to educate diabetes patients on nutrition, diet, and diabetes cooking on Royal Caribbean Cruise which sails on January 7, 2013 for a 6 day Caribbean cruise. Other participants are Jorge Prada, MD, an Educator and Diabetes Researcher, Susan Sloane Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator, a member of American Diabetes Association board of director and Charles Liu, Clinical Pharmacist with special interest in Type 2 Diabetes. With Chris Smith’s participatiion, DDP’s education program lands itself as one the most comprehensive and dynamic diabetes education program offered in the North America. The participants will receive a broad and comprehensive education including a diabetes-exercise session and onboard two-mile fun walk for diabetes to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association and go home with usable recipes and cooking methods to control their diabetes better.

 

“Diabetes is a cause for many other metabolic diseases such as heart and vascular diseases and stroke. Complications include loss of eye sight, kidney failure and amputation. Recent study showed a 62% reduction in diabetes-related health care costs if a comprehensive interdisciplinary diabetes education is implemented. Diet control is one of the most important facets in controlling diabetes and this is often neglected or ignored. We are very fortunate to have Chirs onboard to drive home on this point. Chris is known as one of the most caring and talented chef. He educates and motivates: he is completely at home with the subject of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. His passion comes from being a diabetic patient himself.” says Charles Liu R.Ph, MBA, DDP’s Cruise Education Coordinator and spokesman.

The Diabetes Daily Post a/k/a/ www.diabetesdailypost.com based in Novi, Michigan was created in 2011 to educate, enrich, and expand the knowledge of Diabetes. Its goal is to keep you informed about the latest news and drug innovations, provide health tools for diabetes management, motivate with triumph personal stories and talk about key opinion leaders who have worked on the elusive cure for Diabetes. The Diabetes Daily Post offers its “Living Well” Diabetes Education program both on cruises and in major cities.

Chef Chris is a Certified Executive Chef with over 20 years experience in the culinary field. With his focus on healthy cuisine, Chef Chris is an authority on diabetic nutrition and food preparation. He has been featured in TIME Magazine, USA Today, CNN, Web MD, Southern Living magazine. National television appearances include “DLIFE” and “Taking Control of Your Diabetes”. Chris is Novo Nordisk“Diabetes Academy” National tour speaking to both public and corporate audiences on the importance of cooking healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Chef Chris’s cookbook: The Diabetic Chef’s Year Round Cookbook along with Cooking with The Diabetic Chef, are published by The American Diabetes Association. Both cookbooks provide simple tips, cooking techniques and a wide range of easy to prepare recipes the whole family will enjoy!

If you’d like more information about this topic, please consult
www.diabetesdailypost.com Search cruise or click
http://diabetesdailypost.com/type-2-diabetes-travel-tips-how-to-book-a-cabin/

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