Reading Sarah Rose Cavanagh’s The Spark of Learning (West Virginia University Press, 2016) made me want to tell people to buy it, especially teachers. Cavanagh is a college professor (Assumption College in Worcester, MA) who studies how learning happens and how people impact that experience. Here’s the Amazon link for the book: https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Learning-Energizing-Classroom-Education-ebook/dp/B01LF0UBFW/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=241944426409&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9002831&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7724415404206546593&hvtargid=aud-676677759524%3Akwd-182132911971&keywords=the+spark+of+learning&qid=1555356784&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Sarah Rose … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—Conversations and Relationships That Matter
TURNING POINTS—Money Well Spent: The Colleges That Best Promote Economic Mobility
Higher education helps individuals raise themselves from the lowest economic rungs in society. While highly selective universities offer great benefits to the relatively small percentage of lower income students that they accept, it turns out that the less selective institutions that do the bulk of that important work actually do a better job of it, … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—Money Well Spent: The Colleges That Best Promote Economic Mobility
TURNING POINTS—It’s About the Resources
Recent posts here have pointed to well-intended donor generosity with unintended consequences for the most vulnerable among us. Again, I encourage readers who care about higher education for America’s least financially stable students to listen to Malcolm Gladwell’s powerful podcast on the subject. http://dcs.megaphone.fm/PP7918990166.mp3?key=a6bc9841bdac89fbe9e7f7b9fe3b8606&listener=11ecdf14-071a-4f18-ae9b-913f49f0f993 Fortunately, some individuals and institutions ARE donating money that benefits many … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—It’s About the Resources
TURNING POINTS–Debt Avoidance
Tell me what you make of this article about college debt by Erin Arvedlund. https://www.philly.com/news/student-loans-debt-how-to-pay-college-budget-emoney-advisor-20190319.html Regular readers are likely to respond by focusing on how to AVOID massive college debt in the first place, and that's where strategic use of educational resources comes in. Community colleges can provide that resource. They did in my life, … Continue reading TURNING POINTS–Debt Avoidance
TURNING POINTS–Even When We Don’t Think We’re Pursuing Them
Yes, significant change can happen when we aren't consciously seeking new learning, such during spring break. A diversion from routine can help us gain focus. And sometimes we just get refreshed, which is never a bad thing. That's what I wish you all during this traditional spring break time. Enjoy.
TURNING POINTS—Good Money and Good Intentions
Donating to higher education is a great thing, right? Especially when it enables nontraditional college students to attend prestigious schools like Oxford, Harvard and Stanford. I’ve written here about Hazim Hardeman, the young man from North Philadelphia whose college studies began at Community College of Philadelphia and who currently is pursuing an advanced degree at … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—Good Money and Good Intentions
TURNING POINTS—How About A Roof Over Your Head?
Some college students, forced to choose between eating and housing, sleep in their cars on campus, as the linked article illustrates: https://www.mnn.com/money/personal-finance/blogs/these-college-students-are-homeless-how-they-make-it-work These homeless but resilient college students featured in the article hack their way to a degree by showering in the gym, storing clothing in their lockers, and sharing food with other “campers.” Clearly … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—How About A Roof Over Your Head?
