AltSchool, a collaborative community of micro-schools that aims to transform K-8 education in the United States, raised $100 million led by Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz and Silicon Valley Community Foundation with participation from Emerson Collective, First Round Capital, Learn Capital, John Doerr, Harrison Metal, Jonathan Sackler, Omidyar Network and Adrian Aoun. Founded in 2013 by ex-Google executive and Aadvark founder Max Ventilla, AltSchool has raised over $133 million to date. Tuition costs around $19.000 per year. AltSchool aims to build a new education system for the 21st century from the ground up and has a strong focus on technology and personalized learning in the classroom. Each school is built upon a technology platform that takes care of administrative and organisational tasks with the aim of freeing up time for teachers and students. Through the platform teachers can create and track individual lesson plans for each individual student. AltSchool’s platform also handles non-educational tasks like admissions, student assessment, parent communication and classroom supply procurement. The AltSchool network has grown from 20 students in one school in 2013 to 500 students in eight schools today with additional locations in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Brooklyn opening this fall. AltSchool’s staff grew from 30 to 115. AltSchool will also offer its operating system to other schools across the United States during a trial run next year. Further Reading AltSchool Raises $100 Million in Funding to Reimagine Education for U.S. Students and Teachers | Business Wire Inside the School Silicon Valley thinks will save Education | Wired AltSchool Raises $75 Million to Expand Its High-Tech Primary Schools | WSJ.D Links altschool.com

I was honored to be invited to give a keynote presentation for the Symposium for Online Program Coordinators at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) on February 21, 2014 on the topic of mobile support tools and tips for supporting online students. My 90-minute talk titled Mobile Online Support Strategies for Serving Today’s Connected Online Students was an interactive, hands-on session where online program coordinators at UIS used their iPads to access resources, try different mobile communication tools, and brainstorm ideas. Together participants experienced a wide variety of mobile apps and services that they can choose from in crafting their own mobile communication strategy to better reach the online learners they serve. I prepared a mobile friendly online handout at jrho.de/uismobile14 to accompany the talk where session slides and resources can be found.

Since joining Globe University-Green Bay as the paralegal program chair, attorney Laura Nelson has not only made a positive impact with her students but in the local community as well. Nelson received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her law degree from what is now Western Michigan University in 1995. After practicing with a law firm for a decade, she took some time off to raise her family. When the Globe University-Green Bay campus opened in 2010, Nelson stepped into her role of paralegal program chair and opened her own practice on the side. Last month, along with help from a fellow lawyer and the local child support agency, Nelson founded Legal Resources of Brown County, a free clinic for low-income residents who are unable to afford an attorney. Nelson was also elected to the Village of Suamico Board of Trustees last year and is currently serving a three-year term to address property, finance and other village issues. Nelson says Legal Resources of Brown County, which is available every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Wisconsin Job Center building in downtown Green Bay, is thriving. Volunteers are available to offer information and resources to citizens in relation to family law and landlord tenant issues. She explains that it has been a big help to the local child support agency as well. "The agency had people who were coming in all the time with legal questions, and they were unable to provide advice or even direct them on where to go," Nelson says. "They’re thrilled with the response we’ve had." Legal Resources of Brown County is gaining popularity through word-of-mouth and community referrals. Nelson says she hopes to take it to the next level. "Right now we can assist with legal forms, offer legal advice, and answer court procedure questions on filing motions or completing stipulations," she explains. "We’re not able to provide legal representation, meaning actually accompanying them to court, just yet." The clinic is also currently exclusively staffed by Globe University paralegal students, who are able to get hands-on experience in the legal field each week. "I’m excited to be able to provide my students with this unique and community-directed field experience," says Nelson. "Our mission at Globe University is to demonstrate ‘We Care’ by preparing career-focused, community-minded graduates for the global workforce. This clinic is ‘We Care’ come to life for my students." Visit the Globe University paralegal program page to learn more. The post Globe University Paralegal Program Chair’s Influence Goes Beyond the Classroom appeared first on Globe University Blog.

Boston-based edtech accelerator LearnLaunch is now accepting applications for its 4th cohort. Edtech startups with transformative ideas for K-12, higher ed and educational infrastructure can apply until June 30. The new cohort will start in September 2015. LearnLaunch is a four-month residential accelerator providing its startups with $18K in Seed Funding, free office space and access to its 90 mentors with backgrounds in business, education and government. So far LearnLaunch has invested in 19 edtech companies. In January 2015 LearnLaunch announced its partnership with Cengage Learning who will invest and participate in the accelerator program. To learn more about the education technology community in Boston in general and the accelerator program in particular, listen to our podcast with LearnLaunch’s Marissa Lowman. Links learnlaunch.com/accelerator/application

Courtesy Huffington Post. Click here to view enlarged version

By Angie Norbeck, Business Management Program Chair Globe University-Minneapolis students in the Fraud Examination course got a glimpse into the world of retail fraud while visiting the downtown Minneapolis Target Store. Guided by the store’s asset protection team leader, Scott Harris, the students were taken behind the scenes of the inner city store to see how a retailer addresses fraud. Harris began the store tour by explaining the roles he and his team play when they receive a tip or are notified of potentially fraudulent behavior. From left to right:  Zach Hesemann, Ieshia Dabbs, Kendell Whisenton, Paul Ruscheinsky, Scott Harris (Target asset protection team leader) The students were taken through the multi-step process the Target’s asset protection team takes to investigate both internal and external subjects. Harris shared with the class that Target experiences millions of dollars in shortage each year due to a variety of reasons including cash skimming, improper cash register procedures, fraudulent voids, product theft and much more. Students were introduced to the extensive security camera system including over 200 cameras throughout the store, as well as other fraud prevention methods such as locking display cases, locking peg hooks, spider wrap and EAS tags. Harris shared with students what his team considers to be red flags including suspicious behaviors of the subject such as continuously looking around, pacing back and forth around an area where high theft merchandise is located, spending hours inside the store without making a purchase, approaching a register that is not staffed, and spending time in an area of the store that is consider to have low traffic. "I found it to be highly informational on how they use technology to catch and prove a subject’s theft," student Ieshia Dabbs said. Harris explained to the students that from the employee’s first day, they are communicated to about the asset protection team, how they can help deter theft through guest service, and ways they can report fraud tips. "This was a great example for the students to see how what they are learning in the classroom ties directly to career-minded practical applications," said Angie Norbeck, business management program chair. The post Globe Students Get Behind-the-Scenes Look at Target’s Asset Protection appeared first on Globe University Blog.

Female entrepreneurs are taking the leap and starting their own businesses at an unprecedented rate. Women are taking control of their own careers and futures. Starting and running your own business is a big undertaking and there is lots of help out there. If you are considering your own leap or have already started your own business, you may find these resources helpful. Small Business Administration The SBA offers great information and assistance for starting a new business. The major areas of assistance are: Help with financing Education, information and training (online and in person) Government contracting Advocacy These resources are available to any small business entrepreneur, but the Office of Women’s Business Ownership offers additional resources and support for women starting businesses. National Women’s Business Council The NWBC is a non-partisan federal advisory council that provides advice and counsel to the President, Congress and the SBA on women’s business issues. It has 15 members who are business owners or executives and representatives from six national women’s business organizations. The council Conducts research Distributes its findings Provides a platform for change The NWBC has started a project titled #HerOwnBoss which shares stories and advice from women in business. Concept Handwritten With Chalk - Color Image. ** Note: Soft Focus at 100%, best at smaller sizes Score Score connects entrepreneurs with mentors, workshops and educational resources to help start and build their businesses. A volunteer organization, Score has physical locations in many parts of the country. Ladies Who Launch Ladies Who Launch provides a networking community as well as educational resources and advice for women starting their own businesses. Ladies Who Launch also helps women promote themselves and their business through the organization. Women Entrepreneur Entrepreneur Magazine offers a women’s section. The targeted articles are great, but don’t overlook all the other advice the magazine offers. Mompreneurs Targeted toward moms starting businesses, Mompreneurs supports, provides educational resources as well as a networking platform for moms. They also host events where aspiring mompreneurs can share their business products or services. CreateWorth Part of DailyWorth, this offshoot has lots of advice on starting and growing your business, from finance to marketing. American Business Women’s Association Bringing together business women from a broad range of industries, this national organization offers networking opportunities, educational resources and recognition for women in business. National Association of Women Business Owners NAWBO is a global organization that includes all industries. This dues-based organization provides support for women seeking greater economic, social and political power globally. U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce The USWCC works to help women-owned businesses by trying to advance government policies that support the roles of women. Take advantage of the resources that are available and share your success stories with us.       The post Resources for Women in Business appeared first on Globe University Blog.

The Interactive Rubric tool in Blackboard makes it possible for rubrics with click-and-score simplicity to be built into the grading workflow, increasing efficiency while also supporting consistent and high quality feedback. During this online workshop offered 2/27/2014 we explored the Interactive Rubrics tool in Blackboard and sample interactive rubrics applied to various types of Blackboard assessments. We highlighted the steps for creating an Interactive Rubric and applying it to an assignment for grading. We also covered how to reuse a rubric within a Blackboard course or share with other faculty. For archives of other online workshops offered by NIU Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, visit our YouTube channel

There are no official statistics kept regarding how many pets die in house fires every year, but according to the Invisible Fence® Brand website, the estimated number is between 40,000 and 150,000. Globe University-Wausau Medical Professionals Club partnered with Invisible Fence to do something about that staggering estimate. Invisible Fence Brand started Project Breathe, a pet oxygen mask donation program, to provide animal oxygen mask kits to first responders because the company is "in the business of saving pets’ lives, and … programs that not only help keep pets happy and safe in their yards, but safe from other hazards like house fires" is part of that mission. Invisible Fence provides fire departments with animal oxygen masks kits, which contain masks in three sizes, and training on how to use them. Dr. Erica Esser talking with a local first responder at the Project Breathe/pet CPR workshop The Medical Professionals Club partnered with Invisible Fence to provide mask kits to seven local fire departments and helped to provide training on animal CPR to local first responders, students and interested community members. The training took place recently at the Globe University-Wausau campus. Taylor Lahr, Raisha Zimmerman, Jayne Bloomer and Amy Crane are veterinary technology students in Advanced Lab Skills, and all attended the Project Breathe workshop.  They said that Project Breathe was a good way to integrate the real world into their school world. It allowed students to get valuable experience, and having this information provided to them gives them the tools necessary in case they are the only people available in an emergency situation. They also discussed the benefits of providing this training to local emergency services. Since more and more people consider their pets to be family members, the loss of a pet in a fire is a devastating one. Opening this training opportunity to our local emergency services helps them to help our four-legged family members. This event was especially close to Jayne’s heart. Jayne is a volunteer EMT with the Mosinee Fire and Ambulance Service, and she was one of the Medical Professionals Club members to help organize the event. "I was excited about the Project Breathe workshop," Jayne said. "Overall, I think it was successful, especially considering it was the first time we offered this and that it was by invitation to local departments. I was very happy to see three local fire departments represented, and two local reporters, too!" Jayne felt that the EMTs that participated walked away with a new perspective on how to perform CPR on animals, and the students who attended felt that they gained some important information as well. "I look forward to offering this training again in the future," she said. Click here for the Wausau Daily Herald story. The post Globe University Offers Pet CPR Training and Partners with Project Breathe appeared first on Globe University Blog.

We had a very special guest drop by MEP for Episode 027…Tom Vander Ark!  Tom is a dynamo in the education industry, and provides a unique perspective as a former business executive, school superintendent, author, and current venture capitalist in education. Tom and I chat about "personalization vs. standardization" in public education, innovative school models, and trends for 2014.  You DO NOT want to miss this! Guest Bio: Tom Vander Ark is author of Getting Smart: How Digital Learning is Changing the World and CEO of Getting Smart, a education advocacy firm.  Tom advocates for innovations that customize and motivate learning and extend access. Tom is also a partner in Learn Capital, an education venture capital firm investing in EdTech startups.  Previously he served as President of the X PRIZE Foundation and was the first Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Tom served as a public school superintendent in Washington State and has extensive private sector experience including serving as a senior executive for a national public retail chain. A prolific writer and speaker, Tom has published thousands of articles, has written and contributed to six published books and co-authored more than 12 white papers. He writes a daily Education Week blog, Vander Ark on Innovation, and makes regular contributions to GettingSmart.com. Tom is Treasurer for the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), board chair of Charter Board Partners, and is a director of Bloomboard, Imagination Foundation, and Strive for College. Tom is a national advisory board member for Communities In Schools, National Association for Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), and New Classrooms. Tom received the Distinguished Achievement Medal and graduated from the Colorado School of Mines. He received his M.B.A. in finance from the University of Denver. He continues his education online. School Models that Tom Loves: Summit Public Schools - Charter network currently in CA & WA focused on innovative, student centered learning. Education Achievement Authority - A Michigan statewide school system for failing schools *Here is a great article talking about the EAA model Ed Tech/Book Shout Outs: Book - Geoffrey Moore Crossing the Chasm Knewton - Adaptive Learning Platform & Infrastructure ALEKS - Similar to Knewton, but calls itself a "web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system" Shauntel Poulson - Former MEP guest and just got promoted to Principal at New Schools Venture Fund!  Gotta give a shout out How to Reach Tom: Website/Blog on innovation in education:  Gettingsmart.com Tom’s work on edweek.com @tvanderark For more episodes featuring thought leaders in education visit MeetEducationProject.com, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow Nick DiNardo on Twitter.