The potential for MOOCs, Massive Open Online Courses, to fundamentally change the realm of higher education is clear: students worldwide can take courses and earn certificates from top-tier universities for free.

The spring of 2012 saw the launch of EdX, a joint program between MIT,  Harvard and UC Berkeley. Coursera, a collaboration between Stanford, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan, began offering MOOCs at this time as well, and many universities have joined the network. The two platforms joined with Udacity,  also from Stanford, in offering top-tier MOOCs to students across the globe.

As more institutions join the MOOC movement, employers are increasingly accepting the certificates earned through an MOOC course. A student can now select a series of courses that directly align with his or her career goals, saving money and acquiring a high-caliber education at the same time.  For example, a student interested in artificial intelligence could start with an introduction to computer programming course from MIT, followed by an introduction to artificial intelligence course from UC Berkeley and even add on a course in Neural Networks for Machine Learning from the University of Toronto.

In spite of the rise in popularity , MOOCs still face challenges in student engagement and assessment.

The average enrollment in MOOCs is 100,000 students and completion rates range between 5%-10%. In a recent EdX course, in which 120,000 students enrolled initially, 10,000 students completed the midterm exam (New York Times, May 2012).

Computer science and mathematics courses tend to dominate MOOC catalogues: homework and test answers are easy to correct using computer algorithms. Courses in the humanities pose an assessment challenge: essays must be graded either by peer-review, crowdsourcing or natural-language programs.

If these challenges are overcome, MOOCs will likely became a mainstay of global higher education.

However, the power of MOOCs to offer basic education to global populations remains untapped. As top-tier universities alter the way higher education is achieved, the next steps should be to figure out how to scale MOOCs to underserved communities.

Today, tens of thousands of students across the globe can enroll in courses to enrich their career prospects. Will there be a day when hundreds of thousands can learn skills such as basic literacy, early numeracy and rural health through an MOOC?

Thinking cap is on.

- Mary

Mary is the educational programs manager for Bon Education (Facebook, Twitter) and an author for Global Books for Kids (Facebook, Twitter)

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As an organization working towards promoting global education for all, it is important to us to show support for our fellow global education advocates. So when we learned about the LitWorld Stand Up for Girls campaign, we decided to help spread the word.

LitWorld, an organization working towards achieving global literacy, asks you to Stand Up for Girls this 11th of October.

The campaign is an effort to gather global support for increasing female literacy rates. According to LitWorld, “523 million girls and women worldwide cannot read or write. Let us stand together to champion the right of all girls to be fierce, fearless and free.”

The campaign aims to educate women in the basic skills that will help them live full, prosperous and fun lives, from writing their names and farming their land to riding a subway and going to college.

To show your support, and to learn more about how you can be involved in the campaign, such as participating in the LitWorld Photo Contest or planning your own Stand Up for Girls event, visit litworld.org. You can also register to participate in Stand Up for Girls here.

Stand with us for female literacy!

- Mary

Global Books for Kids

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As the Bon Education team continues our work on community education initiatives around the world, but in particular in Dubai, Ras al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi, I’ve been thinking a lot about:

What are the conditions needed for community education initiatives to thrive?

A few animated dinner conversations and back-of-the-envelope brainstorms later, I feel like I am finally starting to formulate a satisfying answer. But, before I share my thoughts, let’s quickly define community education so that we are on the same page:

Community Education: learning and social development work with individuals and groups in their communities using a range of formal and informal methods. A common defining feature is that programs and activities are developed in dialogue with communities and participants. The purpose of community learning and development is to develop the capacity of individuals and groups of all ages… [and] to improve their quality of life (Wikipedia).

Back to the question at hand… Here are some thoughts on the necessary ingredients required for community education initiatives to deliver true value (i.e. increased community skills, cohesion, happiness, health, etc.). Community education should be:

Demand driven and/or horizon expanding: People in the community should be calling for it (e.g. a particular course, talk, arts event, etc.) or be delighted by the opportunity when it comes. For example, at a recent education event at the Shelter (a community co-working and event space in Dubai) in which the topic of “permaculture” came up in passing discussion, it became clear that community members were intrigued by the topic. So, we organized a separate event on permaculture (a new topic to most people in the community) and now people are asking for more workshops, theory and practical advice on how to bring permaculture principles to their homes and workplaces.

Practical: From the topic, to the price, to the time of day, if an initiative isn’t relevant to people’s lives or easy to attend, it simply won’t gain the momentum needed to stand the test of time. In Ras al Khaimah we used to only deliver professional development to teachers on Saturdays. While this works for some teachers, we found that many female teachers (particularly within certain cultures) simply can’t take a Saturday “off” from family obligations and expectations. So we now offer courses on weekends and during weekday evenings. Also, because many teachers don’t have the extra cash to support their own professional development, we’ve had to find the right partners to fund workshops—partners that see value and that benefit from a local teaching force with enhanced skills in the areas of leadership, action research and technology.

The result of a strong listening process: Ask yourself, “What is my community calling for in this moment?” Listen without judgment or cynicism. Often the answers with regard to “what education to provide and how” are right in front of our eyes and ears.

Open and connecting: In honor of building respect and bonds between members of the community, initiatives should be open to all types of people within the community and all kinds of ideas. Be careful when using words like “exclusive” and “VIP” to describe a community education event, as such language can lead to community stratification rather than community cohesion.

Fun and friendly: As I learned when teaching English to businessmen in Japan nearly 10 years ago, “If the students aren’t having fun and they aren’t making friends with one another, they won’t come back!” If your community education workshop has a soporific effect, take the time to spice it up before word spreads that “It’s a bore!”

Dynamic and changing: What worked for learners of yesteryear, may not work for learners of today. Aim for community education initiatives to be current and to entertain—consumers of today expect “product updates” much more frequently than consumers in the past.

Respect tradition and place: Don’t discount the power of culture, history and location! If you’re expanding your initiative from one community to another, make sure you take the time to localize your offering first. A few years ago, we facilitated a series of workshops for a group of young business people in Lebanon and were later asked to bring the workshops to a group of young business people in Dubai. Due to time constraints, we delivered the second set of workshops without much modification (a mistake). Now, one of my mantras is “Localize. Localize. Localize!”

Organized just enough: As the Art of Hosting puts it, “Where is that sweet spot between chaos and order where good work can happen? What is the minimum amount of order we need to have in place to work together?”

With several community education initiatives on the horizon, I’d love to hear your feedback on the aforementioned list. Please leave your thoughts, questions and comments below!

Sincerely,

Anna

Anna Batchelder is co-founder of Bon Education (Facebook, Twitter) and co-creator of Global Books for Kids (Facebook, Twitter).

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In the world of eBooks, the newest trend is the eBook trailer. These digital creations are a promotional tool meant to get people excited about the release of a new story much the same way movie trailers build up hype.

Varying in length and complexity, I have found that the best trailers are simple – incorporating exciting music with snippets of the app to encourage a further look into the eBook’s website. These eBook trailers allow the author’s creative process to come alive and gives viewers an inside glimpse into the personalities of each of the book’s characters.

Unfortunately for our little (and teen) readers, the trend has yet to catch on fully in the realm of children’s books. But  you can find few examples of eBook trailers below – and be sure to check out our own trailer for The Adventures of BB and Sam!

Alice for the iPad

Toy Story iPad App

Cinderella for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch

Cathy’s Book App

BB and Sam: The Return of the Champion

Have you seen an eBook trailer lately that has caught your eye? Are you into this trend? Be sure to share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below!

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

Global Books for Kids

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Future authors of the world: we are here to share with you what eBook publishers are saying about the art of eBook creation!

How to Publish Your Own Book in 2012: Geek is chic and apparently so is publishing an eBook. This shortlist offers up the most useful such as BookBrewer and Lulu,  available to those eager to make waves in the eBook market.

How to Publish a Children’s eBook: Looking to unearth the world of children’s books? This blog post walks you through various ways to break in with tips on how to design an eBook, interactive/animated app or audiobook.

The Ultimate Guide to Publishing Your eBook on Amazon’s Kindle: Paul Jun is recently back “from the fiery abyss of writing [his] first eBook,” and he has lived to tell about it. For the 411 on the Amazon’s Kindle platform, Jun lays out the how to in a thorough 7-step process.

How to Publish an eBook, Step by Step: PCWorld’s Christopher Null guides aspiring eBook publishers through the ins and outs of understanding ePublishing, from creating covers, to setting prices to deciphering ISBNs and knowing your rights and any other question Google can’t answer.

5 eBook Publishing Hurdles, and How to Beat Them: This useful piece highlights common eBook mishaps and prepares future authors for the challenging journey ahead.

Self-Publishing a Book: 25 Things You Need to Know: Another useful guide by CNET’s Executive Editor David Carnoy. These 25 tidbits will prepare writers with the behind scene scoop on the eBook lowdown, such as the art of creating a “professional eBook” and the ISBN breakdown.

Upload Once, Reach Millions: For those looking to publish across multiple devices, for free, this organized guide walks you through the basics, such as design, marketing and book promotion.

Become an independent author and embrace the freedoms of the 21st century – eBook publishing has never been easier. Have your own tips regarding eBook publication or have a specific question for a Bon team member? Shoot us a comment below!

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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Apparently, it’s closer than we all think.  The future of education, I mean.

Wireless Generation has been working to put the power of technology into students’ bookbags and educators’ toolkits. The minds at Wireless Generation are now offering a brilliant new curriculum that has challenged conventional methods for  teaching all subjects from language arts to the sciences and mathematics.

This tablet device put forth by the edtech gurus instantly recognizes the student, what they’re studying and what assignments they have for school. Organized by course, students have access to a plethora of apps and multimedia,  trusted resources and real-time communication tools with classmates and educators.

Teachers are instantly tapped into the lives of students, allowing them to engage students and offer recommendations based on a student’s real time performance levels and interests. This added component ensures that students are not trapped behind the confines of a teched out world.

It is a one-stop shop for interactive material meant to enhance education, making it far from a daunting task. Heads up, tablets down – Amplify Access has mastered the balance between engaging students’ attention in the 21st century and allowing for mindful thought processes to emerge.

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

Global Books for Kids

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Interactive infographics, GPS locators, dynamic texts and pop-up images. This is the future of literature. And this captivating TED talk gives you a first hand look at the power of the digital book.

As the next generation becomes our generation, the way we learn must evolve with the times. Books serve a purpose – to teach and immerse readers in a different world. With everything else in our world getting tech-ed out, from the way we travel to the way we do business, it’s about time our books converse back with us.

Software developer, Mike Matas demos an original full-length interactive book for the iPad, Our Choice. Beyond the story, indulge in this 4-minute video and weigh in with your thoughts on the rise of eBooks.

Eager to scope out more eBooks that beg to interact? Check out The Adventures of BB and Sam, a new global book for kids that helps promote global awareness and reading comprehension for your little learner.

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

Global Books for Kids

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In celebration of summer vacation and the extra time families have for reading, we’ve decided to release “BB and Sam: The Return of the Champion” for FREE to teachers, students and families around the world this summer.

To download the book for free on iTunes, visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bb-sam-return-champion/id523805816.

BB and Sam have never left the sleepy little town where they were born, but that is about to change! Unexpected adventure awaits them when their journalist parents take them on assignment to Thailand. 

Arriving in Bangkok, they meet a prize-winning muay Thai boxer, Kak, who has suddenly lost his fighting spirit. Eager to find out the “real story” behind Kak, BB and Sam go on a quest to unravel the mystery. Their journey leads them to a mysterious bookshop, flooded jungles, an elusive white elephant, remote villages and more. Along the way, BB and Sam discover what it means to have courage and the importance of respecting culture and tradition.

BB and Sam: The Return of the Champion is Book 1 of The Adventures of BB and Sam–a classic travel adventure series for families with global curiosity. Ages 8+

This enhanced book includes video, interactive images, illustrations, audio, photo galleries, discussion questions and trivia. 

Download for free on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bb-sam-return-champion/id523805816

Website: http://globalbooksforkids.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbandsam

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bbandsam

Eager to be a part of the international adventure? Enjoy the new free version of The Adventures of BB and Sam, share the story with your friends and family!

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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Before making your next app purchase, Silvia Rosenthal Toilsano is here to help. Her  great guide helps ensure parents and teachers that their app purchases have educational value beyond pure entertainment.

Before dishing out your credit card information in the App Store, take a step back and assess the elements that Toilsano poses:

1)    Value – Does this app bring something new to the table? Does it motivate the learner on a new level?
2)    Connection – Does the app relate to the curriculum taught in school? Is the content relevant?
3)    Possibility – Does the app have the potential of getting the learner to apply certain skills beyond the initial context? What is the app’s impact?
4)    Difference – What is the difference in using the app as opposed to teaching the material yourself? What is your opportunity cost?
5)    Potential – Will this app transform the learner’s thinking?
Many apps these days are assuring parents and teachers of their ability to entertain and educate students. As parents and teachers it is critical that we encourage parents to become critical consumers, thoughtfully questioning the quality of the apps we are purchasing.

Learn to be an active learner, and assess the educational impact of the tech tools you purchase. What are the qualities you look for when purchasing an app or eBook for your child? Share your pointers with the Bon community below!

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

Global Books for Kids

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If you intend to excite your child about the world of books, our recent reading research is meant to help spread the word on ways to turn your tike into a confident enthusiast of reading. Utilize your eReader or tablet and check out our lucky 7 list of top reading apps for this summer!

The Going to Bed Book:
For the hands of your 2 – 5 year olds
Ridiculously cute, this book turned app follows the story of little critters as they get ready for bed. Striking the perfect balance between interaction and comprehension, you’ll love its focus on reading skills and creativity!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore:
For the hands of your 4 – 12 year olds
With an enthusiasm and zeal for words and animation that bursts off your eReader’s screen, this  app drives your little learner’s desire to read. Taps will change the season, swipes will work the pages – in its entirety, Mr. Morris Lessmore does justice to the reading process.

Aesop’s Quest:
For the hands of your 2 – 6 year olds
This learning game quizzes students on different elements of the story in order to progress to the next chapter or level. With a reward at the end of each segment, the quest is completed once you have acquired all the puzzle pieces – read, play and solve!

Reading for Details:
For the hands of your 4 – 11 year olds (different levels)
This MiniMod Bingo game helps students extract from their stories the 5W’s (Who, What, Where, When and Why). The interactive feature allows users to sync up their iPad with a buddy for a friendly round of reading competition!

Question Builder:
For the hands of your 7 – 11 year olds
This customizable app works your child’s inference-building skills and ability to assess abstract concepts. Text and audio work together to reinforce strong reading skills, while the animations help keep the entire program light and manageable.

Tapikeo HD:
For the hands of your 6 – 10 year olds
This creative resource will gear up your child to design their own stories and games with a series of photos and sounds. Learners can also take their photos, add personalized text and record their own voices to make a distinctive story their own!

Little Red:
For the hands of your 3 – 9 year olds
This charming tale narrates the story of Little Red Riding Hood’s adventure. Each new page presents your child with a clean slate – begging them to swipe their colors around and personalize the story. A two-in-one, coloring book meets reading comprehension!

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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