Volume 2 Issue 13
by Michael Wagner
Knowledge Pilot, Launch Global Education
As we reach the beginning of July, the young adults that made up the class of 2023 are readying themselves for their next journey, a new chapter in their lives. It is an exciting time, yet for the many that will move away from home, some for the first time, it can also bring on anxious feelings. Remember that this range of emotions is normal and one you will face again and again in different ways throughout your life.
This week’s Odyssey Newsletter once again addresses some of the key stories making headlines in higher education. From the constant reminder that online learning is here to stay, to why there is still value in obtaining a liberal arts education, to one of my most favorite topics – lifelong learning. I hope you enjoy the articles that make up this newsletter as much as I do. We encourage you to share it with others so that we can expand our reach to the college-going community.
Happy reading.
Discoveries
Online learning: Here to stay?
When the pandemic turned the world of education (as we knew it) upside down, the traditional in-person classroom suddenly became students and instructors looking at each other through computer screens. Many thought that once the pandemic subsided, education would return to its normal state and online learning would only be used in emergency situations, such as snow days. However, as Olina Banerji of EdSurge reports, online learning continues to grow. The future it plays in education, especially for lifelong learning, could be bright.
The Future Belongs to Online Learners — But Only If Programs Can Help Them Succeed
Bonus article from Olina Banerji, for Fast Company:
The Return on Investment (ROI) of a college education is always a hot topic, especially when it comes to a liberal arts education. While people often question the value of a liberal arts education, there are liberal arts colleges creating workforce programs to complement a liberal arts education. George Lorenzo of Workforce Monitor reports.
I have repeated it often in the Odyssey Newsletter—there is a growing movement of what I like to call doubters. The doubters are people who have decided a college education is no longer important or necessary. In contradiction, at the recent American Academy of Arts & Sciences Higher Education Forum in Aspen, Colorado, Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO of the Lumina Foundation, spoke on why higher education continues to matter and what that means to the future of education.
Lifelong learning is a global issue
If you read this newsletter regularly, you likely know that I am a HUGE proponent of people, and specifically young adults, embracing lifelong learning. I will personally say that if it wasn’t for my willingness to adopt this concept early on, I would probably not be where I am today in my career. Wagdy Sawahel of University World News reports on data from two major studies released by UNESCO.
Creating an inclusive lifelong learning landscape for all
Tip of the Week
There is a plethora of college counseling and advising resources available on all media platforms. A common theme that is shared is the importance of students not wasting time over the summer. These weeks are some of the most important weeks of a school year for rising seniors preparing to submit college applications in the fall.
Another common suggestion is for high school students to visit college campuses and to take admissions information tours. It is such an important function of the college going process. No matter what grade the high school student is in, it is never too early to take a college tour and learn about the school firsthand. As I always say, it is just as important to understand what one does not like about a college as what one likes about a school. One of the best ways to experience this is walking the paths of college students and getting inside buildings to see if you can picture yourself attending that university.
To get started, check out a school’s website admissions page and click the button that says visit campus. Go ahead, schedule a tour. Have fun.
Before you go...
The beauty of mother nature
Across a large part of the United States, there is always a transition from the doldrums of winter, and the bareness of nature, when everything seemingly in hibernation, to springtime when things reawaken—flowers emerge from the ground and tree buds begin to form. Then suddenly things fully explode into the brightest colors, displaying the individual beauty of nature’s delights, as videographer Gary Cohen of CBS Sunday Morning shows us at the New York Botanical Garden. Enjoy. (Hint: Listen for background sounds that hold as much beauty as the foliage.)
As summer is now in full bloom, the urge to enjoy it and have fun is a priority. I must reiterate the importance of the rest of the summer for young adults to make this time as productive as possible, especially rising seniors in preparation for submitting college applications in the fall. I hope that many of them are in contact with their school counselors, are reviewing their final transcripts from their junior year, are beginning to create a college list for the fall, and are selecting a Common Application prompt to begin writing their ever so important college essays. There is a lot to do, and these remaining weeks will fly by. Please, do not procrastinate – do one thing each day that moves you closer to your goal.
Enjoy the summer but also remember, this time is important.
Mr. Mike
Michael Wagner, MAED is a founder and the Knowledge Pilot for Launch Education. Mr. Mike has assisted hundreds of students around the world on their college pathways.