http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-951793.mp3
Albany, NY – OPENING BILLBOARD & EDUCATION HEADLINES - Glenn Busby (1.00)
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
ASIAN UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN -
For many women in rural Asia, access to education and advancement is out of reach. But Kamal Ahmad is trying to change that. Ahmad is an international attorney who recently founded the Asian University for Women. Based in Bangladesh, women from all across Southern Asia attend undergraduate and graduate programs. And some even arrange to come early for college prep classes.
In just a few short years, the Asian University for Women has made great strides towards becoming a premier educational institution for young women in Asia and fulfilling its mission to educate a new generation of women to become role models and leaders in their own communities.
World Vision Report. (6:47)
NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
COMMENTARY: WOMEN'S COLLEGES -
Back in the U.S., recent surveys show that women are earning doctorate degrees in higher numbers than men. Advanced degrees can be extremely important in higher education, and upper level management.
The institutions of higher learning where these degrees are derived, is also very important. As prices continue to climb, students and parents are demanding they get more than a degree from today's colleges and universities.
Author and public speaker, Selena Rezvani, looks at the role of all-women colleges in this 21st century.
Selena Rezvani comments. (4:46)
NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
PROFILE: DR. SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON -
As we continue our recognition of Women's History Month, and honor the achievements of women, we learn about Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson. Dr. Jackson became the first African American, and first woman, to head the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. And now she leads a top research university. This is her story.
Kate Mulgrew narrates. (1:57)
THE ACADEMIC MINUTE
"IPADS IN HIGHER EDUCATION" -
A growing number of colleges and universities have launched pilot projects to test how the iPad might be used to produce a positive impact on student learning and engagement.
Pepperdine University just released preliminary findings from its first term (of a three-term study) that suggests students have found value in using the iPad because of the following:
Ease of use (touch screen and no "boot up" time)
Mobility (can be passed around in study groups), and
The vast variety of apps and programs available that appear to be having a positive impact on student learning.
Then, Reed College, a private liberal arts college in Oregon, which has a long history of evaluating new technology for potential higher education use, did a study as well. Their team is currently drafting a white paper detailing results of their iPad evaluation. In general, the team says students found the iPad to be flexible and versatile enough to allow them to read course materials, annotate and highlight passages of text, pull up reference materials, store notes, and prepare reports.
As we were wrapping production on this show, "The New York Times" is reporting that Apple may be developing a stylus pen to go with the iPad in an effort to appeal to students. The "Times" quoted an anonymous source at Apple who said a stylus could increase the utility of the iPad in education. A second version of the iPad is expected to be unveiled this spring.
And now this week's Academic Minute professor explains how uses of the iPad are evolving and becoming increasingly popular in his own class, and in higher education. This episode features Dr. Corey Angst, Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Notre Dame.
The Academic Minute is hosted by Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, a celebrated philosopher and medical ethicist, and President of Mount Holyoke College. (2:30)
FROM THE EDUCATION CURRENT EVENTS AND UPDATE FOLDER -
We had them on our show a year ago. Now it's time for their second annual World Read Aloud Day. This month Litworld invites listeners to join the global literacy movement. A reported 1-Billion people are unable to read a book or sign their own name. Litworld asks you to imagine a world without words? And visit them online at: litworld.org.
Last week, we reported on President Obama's education remarks during his State of the Union address. The president and Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, would like to get the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), now known as NCLB, reauthorized this year. House Education Committee Chairman, John Kline, supports this effort - but expressed concern about the president's request for more Race to the Top money. Congressman Kline said "Congress should not be cutting blank checks to the administration, especially when our national debt exceeds 14-trillion dollars especially in light of the federal government's failure to keep its promise to fund special education."
And lastly, the White House has opened applications for the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. Students from public high schools across the country are invited to demonstrate how their school prepares them for college and a career by submitting an application online at whitehouse.gov. The winning school gets the president as their 2011 commencement speaker. Cool!
Glenn Busby reports. (1:35)
SHOW CLOSE - Glenn Busby. (1:30)