Both courses give you free trial periods and while Rocket Languages doesn’t have a specified app, you can log in from a mobile device and receive a similar user experience. The main difference from Living Language is that you need to be in a Wi-Fi vicinity or else your data charges could quickly add up. If you want to, you have the option to download the audio files in advance and this might allow you to save on additional data charges.

Rocket Languages has free trials in the most popular languages in addition to Arabic, Hindi, American Sign Language and Korean. It gives you at least 10 lessons and it’s geared for those people who learn well through audio teaching. It seems to work okay on Android and iPhones and it emphasizes language acquisition through audio tutorials and quizzes.

Living Language, the seemingly better language learning platform of the two, gives 11 free lessons in French, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese or German with more tutorials available at a low price. You learn through the use of virtual flash cards and games like Fill in the Blank and Sentence Builder.

While there are a few glitches at times such as a phrase missing from the answer selections, overall the experience is amazing and you could learn a lot. The benefits of knowing another language are abundant, particularly for those who plan on pursuing business management.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of the bigger powerhouses like Harvard and M.I.T. are catching on to the e-learning wave. These two universities have created a nonprofit partnership called edX that will provide free online classes for interested students.

M.I.T. offered its first free online class in March called Circuits and Electronics and it was wildly popular among e-students. Around 120,000 students signed up and 10,000 have passed the midterm. Even though the students who finish the course won’t receive college credit, they will get a grade and mastery certificate. The new edX classes will be structured in a similar manner.

Why are Harvard and M.I.T. doing this? There seems to be an understanding that students want more opportunities to engage in online learning. They want the ability to work through a class at their own paces. They appear to enjoy the immediate feedback that online learning often provides and Alan M. Garber, Harvard Provost, told the New York Times that ‘what we end up doing five years from now will look very different from what we do now.’ Therefore, some higher ed institutions are trying out newer learning platforms and “are more hopeful about the new enterprises.”

EdX will begin by offering 5 classes in the coming fall semester and will be managed by a nonprofit company. Both Harvard and M.I.T. have pledged $30 million to edX and while there will be engineering courses to enroll in, humanities classes should also become available with essay grading done with the help of crowd-sourcing or peers.

The recognition that ‘online education is here to stay, and it’s only going to get better’ is the new ideology of many current universities. Innovative ways to personalize teaching via e-learning will continue to arise as more and more schools continue to jump on the online learning circuit.

Facebook. With the new Timeline and avatar, Facebook has made it easier to provide space for logos and headers. Colleges may use the large header area to impress FB site visitors. For example, Brown University is on Facebook and has a great cover photo that reveals a beautiful brick building, a modern sculpture and lovely grounds.

Twitter. Boston University knows how to use its Twitter handle and tweet like a boss! With over 14,000 followers, social media moguls at the school inform tweeps about graduation, the weather and campus events. Not to mention the happy students who use #hashtags to promote the school and school events!

Blogs. Many schools have blogs and it’s a great way for students to get a feel for different departments, majors or even career opportunities. Education Connection has jumped on they blogging bandwagon as a way to provide information about college student life, college degree options and possible future careers as well as info about their participating online schools.

YouTube. YouTube provides a multimedia approach through print and video visuals. Many universities make use of YouTube to promote their schools and specific degree programs. Stetson University had a mascot competition and posted a humorous YouTube video which featured the SU Hatter and President Wendy B. Libby. Other schools create short promo videos about their campuses or even songs such as the University of Rochester’s Remember oUR Name.

Flickr. This application allows users to create photo “stories” and to add titles, text, locations and tags. Schools like MIT have come up with photo collections that may wow their viewers with amazing snapshots of their campuses or specific buildings.

Many different social media platforms might be utilized by higher education thereby expanding the scope of the schools and potentially reaching an even greater audience. It’s simply a matter of colleges and universities recognizing the benefit of social media outlets and implementing these platforms to create a buzz and start trending!

Daniel de Vise, lead enrollment official at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), has concerns—since he hopes that his daughters will contemplate engineering as workable majors by the time they make it to college. Since his school has seen female enrollment growth in the last ten years or so, he has some suggestions regarding women and engineering that might help.

Start early. Show young girls that engineering can be fun and exciting. Form initiates geared for girls that engage them in hands-on engineering projects. For example, follow the lead of WPI’s Camp Reach—a camp created for 7^th grade girls that is supposed to boost their confidence regarding selecting engineering as a course of study. By the time these same girls reach high school, research suggests that they are better equipped emotionally and intellectually for STEM related activities than average American young women.

Engineering and social change. Girls should know that engineering may be used to benefit society through social change. Topics such as how engineering solutions could help others by bringing clean water to communities lacking in access or how harnessing green technology might assist in reducing our national dependence on oil need to be addressed. Female college age students should know that they may be able to intern and receive opportunities to perform these types of activities. They should research to see which online or traditional colleges offer these types of internships.

Female role models and gender bias. Girls should have female engineers to look up to. There doesn’t seem to be a well-established pool of female engineering role models. In addition, it’s unfortunate that many high school career counselors haven’t recognized engineering as viable options for women. Engineering often carries with it a male dominated stereotype which might overshadow the reality: women can feel at home within the engineering industry. They just need to get the facts ahead of time and make educated decisions about choosing this program.

Maybe you have thought about earning a chemistry degree. Could be you are fascinated with fire and passionate about finding new ways to develop fire retardant materials. Then you might have something in common with Alex Morgan, a materials scientist and chemist at UDRI (University of Dayton Research Institute) who was profiled in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Morgan is an innovative expert in the field of fire safety and he is researching ways to come up with chemicals that will resist fire and are more environmentally safe. Polyurethane foam—what comprises most mattresses and sofas—is ‘the most flammable thing in your house’ and ‘it’s everywhere.’ Morgan says that if a fire involving this material isn’t extinguished within 5 minutes, your whole house can go up in flames.

Because of a $300,000 grant, Morgan has 3 years to set things on fire in his basement laboratory. Set fire he does! He measures “fire behavior” and how new fire retardant chemicals might work on laptops, beds—you name it.

Not only is he involved heavily with his laboratory research, he has also written numerous papers about polymer flammability and fire safety along with editing three books. Add in some research for the Air Force as well as industrial clients and you’ve got one very busy man!

So how do you become a fire expert? Apparently, depending on the degree program you choose, you can begin burning in graduate school like Morgan did—if you decide to specialize in this area of chemistry and earn the respect of your peers and fellow faculty. For Morgan, it’s not just about the excitement of torching things. It’s about “the applied aspect to fire safety research.” This intrigue entails trying to protect others by making the world a safer place.

Since college can be a stressful time and there are sometimes tragic incidents that take place on campuses like Oikos University and Virginia Tech, now might be a good time to take a hard look at what we might do to help prevent—or at least try to intervene—before such tragedies take place. The following are three ‘signs’ from the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide that could indicate a person might engage in violence against others or herself/himself.

We all have a need to belong. Most of us have heard of numerous incidents regarding bullying—especially children. Well, adults, like children, have a similar need to feel connected and if this need isn’t met it can result in a risk factor known as ‘thwarted belonging.’ While it does not lessen the accountability for people’s actions, it is important to view potential triggers for violence.

“Prior Planning” or ‘Acquired Capability.’ This risk factor deals with the aspect of violence that involved planning. In some cases of school shootings a person may know how to use a gun and purchase one well in advance. They may be intent on finding a particular administrator and open fire on others without finding their main target. In order for a person to be able to “point, shoot, reload, and repeat without the emotional disturbance most of us would feel,” reflects an emotional distance or separation. This sign could be referred to as a ‘thousand yard stare.” A look that appears detached and calm.

Do we feel like a burden. People who feel like they are burdensome to others whether because of financial reasons like business failures and borrowing money from family members or major setbacks are at heightened risk for violent behavior—suicide or violence towards others. All people are not the same. While one person might internalize pain and blame himself or herself, another person might act out in an attempt to hurt others.

As college students and faculty members, there should be increased awareness regarding mental health on campuses and an ability to either seek personal help or report behavior that could be identified with the risk factors above. You don’t need to be a psychology major to become familiar with the signs listed above. Families across our country have lost loved ones due to violence. This reality needs to spur preventive steps and bolstered communication regarding mental health and perceived threats.

Talk to a financial advisor. Sounds overly simplistic, but it’s an important first step. Ask around to find out the name of a reputable advisor—might as well start with your parents! Yes, they often do have pertinent information. Get the names of a couple of referred advisors and start shopping. Ask questions, explain what’s important to you, pick one and then make educated decisions based on the advice you receive.

Borrowing can be scary but think investment. Again, we’re talking calculated risks. While it’s true that borrowing can be frightening if you don’t have the right information, if you have great advice, breathe. Most deferred benefits require an initial leap of faith—such as taking out a loan to pay for your first house. So you should keep in mind that borrowing a reasonable amount—this amount will vary depending on your individual financial situation—shouldn’t make you feel like you’re going into cardiac arrest!

Don’t go overboard. We’re talking about calculated risks and benefits as they relate to your education—not using student loans to go on a Caribbean cruise with your girlfriend or to purchase a spanking new Mustang. An educational loan infers room and board, tuition and maybe even participation in an incredible internship.

Credit cards and debt. Don’t use your student loan to pay off credit card debt. If you find yourself thinking about doing this then set up an appointment with your financial advisor— quickly! Most of the time this glaring red warning sign, AKA credit card debt, means it’s time to put your shredder to work. Confer with your advisor, come up with a monthly budget and stick to it! Only after taking the above steps should you contemplate using a student loan to get rid of credit card debt.

Do your homework about private student loans. You may qualify for many different types of student loans: some from government sponsored companies and others from private businesses. Compare the terms and consult with your advisor when you have all of the information. You might find that the catchy commercial you saw late last night for a great new student loan is funding its paid advertising by amping up interest rates and imposing exorbitant fees. This is the time to contact your financial aid office or your financial advisor and let them walk you through the process so you make the smartest decision possible. Then relax and get excited about your future!

Find out the location of your campus writing center. Ten page paper on how Twain’s use of dialect in Huckleberry Finn might serve to confound his readers, on purpose? Now run—don’t walk—to that center! If you can’t be helped at that moment, you should be able to schedule an appointment with a tutor and you can breathe easier knowing that, at the very least, you discovered a part of the campus that was foreign to you before. Heck—usually your professor has increased office hours as well so if you’re stumped or just need some feedback, don’t be afraid to ask. Unlike what you may have thought before, your professors are not zombies and you do not need to safeguard yourself before speaking to them.

Relax—with a beer…if you’re of age. WHAT? Sounds crazy—even I had to reread the study’s results—but according to researchers at the University of Illinois, it’s true. They studied the effects of consuming 2 pints of beer before an exam (only legal age students participated) and found that not only did these students solve problems 3 seconds faster, they also answered “40% more problems correctly than their sober classmates.” Hmm—it wasn’t stated how far in advance the beer was consumed before taking the exam and no one is suggesting here that you should show up intoxicated. However, if you’ve studied and need to unwind, maybe you should think about getting out the night before for a little while to take a breather. It could do you good!

Picture yourself acing your final. Yes, there is something about the power of our subconscious. Feed it some healthy thoughts, imagine getting that test back with a large A written on it and you never know—you might just direct your mind in the way it needs to go in order for you to get the grade you’re after. At the very least, you paused and took a minute to reflect on something happy and you should feel a bit calmer.

Be confident. When you’ve studied as much as you can, broken down your notes into manageable bits to digest and tackled your project a little at a time and completed it, the only thing left to do is believe in the best. Of course, reminding yourself that “the average cutoff for employers in terms of GPA is a 3.0” might help, too!

While it’s being circulated that Tupac’s realistic image is a “hologram,” it’s not. It’s 2-D and goes back—way back—to an old stage trick from the 1800s. At that time, performers used to duck under the stage and hide out in a secret compartment while stagehands held mirrors to reflect ghost-like “scepters.” The audiences were wowed—similar to this recent Tupac appearance.

According to the International Business Times, a company called AV Concepts patented the trick used to bring Tupac back to “life” by putting a piece of angled glass on the stage and reflecting a projected image onto an invisible screen that the audience couldn’t see. Of course, the animation team had to view lots of old Tupac performance footage to replicate his moves and come up with the program and 2-D image. Apparently, they did one heck of a job!

MTV’s Gil Kaufmann, a writer, wondered whether or not the Tupac image would begin trending in the music world. He surmised that the trick could attract certain audiences if it is not overdone but if it is used in a classless manner then fans might not buy tickets. However, if this virtual image is to maintain its awe, it should be reserved for limited performances. So even if it’s so many years before we hear of—or witness—another deceased singer or celebrity “sighting,” the technology remains intact and it’s probably safe to assume that it will continue to be enhanced. There are some of us, Star Wars geeks, who will be holding out for a Darth Vader or Obi Wan appearance!

So President Obama took the time—in addition to traveling around college campuses and, well, being President—to meet with Jimmy and take part in the skit. The two also discussed, in detail, President Obama’s stance on the scheduled interest hike and how Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, finally paid off their own student loans for their college and law school educations—only eight years ago! Obama jokingly said that the day they made their last payment was like “finding money in the couch.”

President Obama said that “the single most important investment young people can make remains a college education . . . .” and most Americans would agree. Obama and Jimmy discussed STEM degrees and how education has helped make the United States the superpower it is. Obama clarified that he wasn’t just referring to science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees, although they are important. He was a liberal arts major before studying law and he believes that college education and varying degree programs benefit society as a whole.

Student loan debt continues to grow and this growth, combined with the increased expense of a college education, is making higher education more difficult to achieve for many students.

So why the huge hike in the first place? Back in 2007, Democrats came up with a law to drop the student loan rate from 6.8 to 3.4%. In 2012, the rate would go back to the original 6.8%. President George W. Bush signed off on the law and it was basically a bipartisan decision. The reason why Congress wrote the law the way it did—reverting the interest rate back to 6.8% in 2012—was because, in order for keep the interest rates at 3.4%, it would cost another $6 billion a year. Most of us are familiar with something called “federal debt.”

What can you do? If you want to take action now, you can contact your local and state representatives. Write Congress. Tell them how you feel. Sign one of the many petitions floating around. This issue may impact not just college students, but married couples and/or singles since many students carry this debt with them for years after graduating. The bottom line: get involved. Even if you have a differing opinion about this law, engage in the dialogue. One of the best things about living in the U.S. is your freedom to exercise your rights and speak. Let your voice be heard!