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Accessible Education for K-12: 5 Points Publishers Should Understand
Therefore, accessible content can be easily accessed and manipulated by students. K-12 readers with or without disabilities can experience the same content. Likewise, publishers can meet readers’ needs. Familiar examples include large print texts and braille. Also, text-to-speech features give many students access to education. Yet, more features are sprouting up. Structurally tagged content and a navigable table of contents are two examples. Alternative text descriptions explain visuals and photos for visually impaired students. Also, font size, style, and color impact readers for accessible education. Content that lets readers select alternate background colors and control line spacing helps support and instill comprehension.
6 Ways Deans Can Promote Access in Education
First, liberal arts programs help to build equity in education. Vibrant theater performances attract the community. Likewise, partnerships between colleges and community groups offer theater, music, and art camps to diverse populations. These short-term programs portray shared humanity. Besides that, liberal arts camps create access as students are shown as more than test scores. These programs demand students apply in demand workforce skills such as teamwork and critical thinking. Also, these programs are portable recruitment centers.
Bridge the Digital Divide: 7 Methods Publishers Could Implement
Still, digital delivery is easier and cheaper for publishers. Yet, many readers cannot access digital books. Sadly, these readers need books the most. So, a blended approach lets publishers offer options to these readers offline. Physical books of popular titles and backlist classics let publishers supplement them with curriculum tie-ins. Publishers can dive into their backlists to offer families those familiar stories and characters. Beloved characters can serve as online cheerleaders and guides. Also, publishers can prioritize access to highly-anticipated books. Most importantly, online bookstores that work on mobile devices are an effective sales funnel to a physical bookstore filled with quality products.
ASU-GSV Summit 2021: Visionary Notes from Andrew Pass
Several weeks ago, I attended the ASU-GSV Summit 2021. After not traveling to any conferences for 16 months, it was a very exciting experience! The conference’s beautiful location, on the San Diego Bay, was invigorating. I connected and networked with folks from organizations like Kiddie Kredit, Michigan Virtual, and Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Here are a few great moments from the summit:
Digital Credentials: 7 Reasons Why Colleges Need to Offer Them
First, digital credentials let colleges show their courses are up to date. Leaders can break traditional degree programs into micro-credentials. Learners complete micro-credentials to earn a badge. Participants earn a badge to show a single skill, like lab safety. Badges can be combined to create a digital credential, like for a lab technician supervisor program. Thus, they can be used by schools to add the latest research discoveries or new laws to keep the topic up to date. Also, these learning bytes let schools swap outdated content on the fly. Micro courses reassure learners that they are getting the best degree for the workforce.
Learner Variability: Publishers Should Highlight These 6 features
Providers can give educators the power to choose content that matches students’ learning gaps and needs. Yes, high-functioning students get appropriate content. Struggling students receive assignments to bridge learning gaps. Teachers see early warning signals. This scaffolding helps teachers create different learning levels for their classrooms. Besides that, everyone learns the same general topic. This characteristic lets teachers build an inclusive environment to promote learner variability. Also, teachers can focus on social and emotional topics.
Upskill: The Need for Colleges to Skillify Curricula for America’s Workforce
Often it is cheaper for employers to upskill their current workforce than to recruit and train new employees. Workforce development partnerships translate education to applied skills. Technical programs make sense to those students who need their investment to end in a job. Likewise, when a college invests in teaching the skills in need by local businesses, both partners win. Schools attract a new pool of students. Companies get a skilled workforce. Still, the best news is businesses needing skilled workers. Savvy colleges invest in long-term relationships with business partners. Likewise, the school keeps itself relevant and its classrooms full.
3 Content Localization Characteristics Publishers Should Know
First, a document’s purpose shapes content localization. Textbooks have one form. Work instructions present another. Legal documents take yet another form. Also, the translated document needs to meet the expectations of the local readers. Teachers in Spain expect their guides to read a certain way. Teachers in Mexico and Portugal expect their guides to read in a different way. Yet, it is the same language, Spanish. Second, a clear purpose makes sure key points of the text do not get lost in translation. Also, professional translation services know the quirks of a region. Most importantly, professional content creators understand how to format the resources in ways that benefit the publisher.
Personalized Learning: 4 Powerful Principles Publishers Should Understand
By now, providers know personalized learning is powerful. Yet, without a vision, personalized learning is difficult to do well. Still, does it make sense to pursue it as part of the strategy? Read these powerful principles leaders should know about personalized learning. Yes, personalized learning lets students take the lead in their learning journey. Still, students in personalized learning programs can make the most of their strengths. Personal learning lets students learn what they need to know when they are ready to learn it. Besides that, learners can accelerate through the content they know. Also, learners may linger with content until they master it. Likewise, personal learning gives all learners more flexibility. This attribute means providers can create a lot more content for many more types of learners. Also, publishers have the opening to sell a range of products – not just textbooks. Likewise, teachers sign on to providers’ sites to do a lot more than ever before. Teachers give each student the work they need to master the required competency.
7 Mindsets Colleges Can Promote for Student Success
Succeeding in college can be challenging at the best of times. Today, the barriers to college success are more than ever before. Different barriers like mental and physical health are ongoing topics on college campuses across the country. Still, colleges can leverage the tool of a mindset to help students succeed. Carol Dweck theorized two mindsets: growth and fixed. Growth mindset students believe they can learn from failures and change to achieve their goals. Fixed mindset students feel and see their qualities as fixed; they believe change as not possible. Therefore, attitudes, beliefs,..
LMS Systems: 7 Advancements Publishers Should Include
In the past, LMS systems were used to track attendance, post grades, and generate reports. Today, learning management systems do more than imagined. Now, leaders have access to data that lets them make decisions that support the vision for their schools. Thus, K-12 publishers can make sure to include these advancements in their LMS systems. Yes, publishers still need to tell users how the LMS boosts their learning. Those online tutorials are expected. Help desks are a must. Most importantly, content creation teams win big when they meet with schools and outline how the school is going to use and push the system. Faculty, staff, and admins have different backend needs. Students and parents have distinct front-end needs. Today, leaders must…
8 Funny Translation Fails That Publishers Should Avoid
Looking for a laugh during a hectic day? Search #translationfails. Better yet, enter the name of a popular AI translation service to spur a few smiles. Yes, machine translation services have their perks. They are quick. Yes, AI services can translate words, phrases, and texts from one language to the next in a minute. They are accessible. AI translation apps abound in app stores and browsers. They are free. Still, one gets what one pays for….