Have you ever taken an online course? Harvard and M.I.T., among other university giants released Massive Open Online Courses, known as MOOCs, for free to great fanfare a few years ago. Theoretical educators were deliriously excited by the possibilities. They trumpeted the now level playing field. Anyone could self-educate themselves in a similar fashion to […]
Read MoreOutliers, the great book by Malcolm Gladwell highlighted a study that demonstrated (1) the value of supplemental education (education outside the school setting) and (2) the inequality of education. In simple sum, parents from affluent backgrounds – like many in Connecticut and New York suburbs – were able to supplement the education of their children […]
Read MoreThis Washington Post article explains what our children are facing. Among the quotes: “Years of research shows that online schooling is ineffective — and that students suffer significant learning losses when they have a long break from school. Now they’re getting both, in a hastily arranged mess.” …, “the “summer slide” has been studied for […]
Read More“I’m losing my mind.” That may be the most common refrain that parents – mostly mothers – have led with when calling The Learning Consultants during the Coronavirus lockdown. We can help. In addition to our normal tutoring, which has seamlessly moved online, we are offering an additional service: Student Mastery Organizational-Planning-Accountability Check-ins Our Student […]
Read MoreI wrote Motivate Your Son eight years ago. I was initially surprised that readers from across the country would find the book and contact me. I no longer am since I realize that unmotivated students – particularly boys – is not simply a Connecticut (or New York) problem but a nationwide, and according to readers from […]
Read MoreWhat are the early reviews regarding distance learning? Online learning is effective for what we call “check the box” learning. Most students move through assignments as quickly as possible to ensure completed work – the checked box – and then move on to video games, SnapChat, NetFlix, and every other online distraction. Their education is […]
Read MoreThe early returns on distance learning in Connecticut schools range from “it’s a joke”, to “it took me a half-hour”, to “this was super easy but I didn’t learn much.” Let me be clear that Connecticut educators are heroically battling a Black Swan event. This is not their fault. They are doing the best they […]
Read MoreShoreline CT schools are going to a distance-learning format next week. I have been teaching online college classes for 20 years. So while I am a “fan” compared to most, I also know the following: Distance learning is an entirely suitable replacement for what I call “check the box” education. Busy work – those homework […]
Read MoreBegin Early When it comes to writing college essays, starting early is key. The best college essays–the ones that really stand out–take time to write. Unfortunately, many high school seniors realize this too late. They procrastinate and end up with a rushed essay that doesn’t reflect their best efforts or selves. The typical CT student […]
Read MoreWe all need time to process the surreal impact of the Coronavirus. After we grapple with reconfiguring our daily lives, we will then be faced with the notion that “life goes on.” Parents will need to earn money and children will need to learn. We suffer over even the appearance of profiting from a crisis, […]
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