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Improving Adult Education Teacher Effectiveness: A Call to Action for a New Credential – White Paper and Podcast
Posted on March 19, 2012 by MHRFAdminA new McGraw-Hill Research Foundation white paper, “Improving Adult Education Teacher Effectiveness: A Call to Action for a New Credential,” sheds light on the critical need for improving the quality of adult education programs to ensure the future competitiveness of the American workforce. Helping undereducated and underprepared adults to learn requires a targeted set of skills and the cornerstone to strengthen these programs is to improve the preparation and effectiveness of adult education teachers, tutors, and administrators. The paper is written by a team of adult education specialists: Marcia Hess, BS, BA, State Director/ABE Program Manager, Wyoming Community College Commission; Lennox McLendon, EdD, Executive Director, National Adult Education Professional Development Consortium; Bonnie Moore, PhD., Assistant Executive Director, National Adult Education Professional Development Consortium; and Mitch Rosin, MA, MS, MS, Director of Adult Learning and Workforce Initiatives, McGraw-Hill Education.
The paper offers recommendations by advocating the creation of new national standards for adult education teachers, providing additional professional development opportunities, and introducing credentialing options.
To download a copy of “Improving Adult Education Teacher Effectiveness: A Call to Action for a New Credential,” visit Improving_Adult_Education
Listen to white paper co-author Lennox McLendon Podcast on Improving Adult Education Teacher Effectiveness. (Podcast is an mp3 file, 3 min. 28 sec.)
In category: White Paper Tags: adult education, Bonnie Moore, Lennox McLendon, Marcia Hess, Mitch_Rosin, National Adult Education Professional Development Consortium, teacher effectiveness, Wyoming Community College CommissionThe Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research – White Paper, Video & Podcast
Posted on February 27, 2012 by MHRFAdminThe McGraw-Hill Research Foundation and the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), today released a new white paper entitled, “The Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research,” at the 2nd Annual Green Schools National Conference in Denver, CO. The Green Schools Conference is dedicated to growing green schools across the nation. The new white paper, co-authored by Lindsay Baker, Researcher, PhD Candidate, University of California, Berkeley (on behalf of the Center for Green Schools at USGBC) and Harvey Bernstein, Vice President, Industry Insights & Alliances for McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies, sheds light on the critical need for research around how the school building—through its design, maintenance and operations—impacts the health and performance of the students in those buildings.
The paper explored research from two perspectives: from the lens of the child’s experience with their built environment, and from how different stakeholders could play an important role in bringing that research to light.
- To download a copy of “The Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research,” visit Green Schools White Paper
- Check out white paper co-author Lindsay Baker’s Podcast on The Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research. (Podcast is an mp3 file, 3 min. 31 sec.)
- Watch this video interview with white paper co-author, Harvey Bernstein.
Social Entrepreneurship
Posted on February 2, 2012 by MHRFAdminA policy paper published by The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation discusses how social entrepreneurship has been touted as one of the most promising ways to solve some of the world’s problematic issues and outlines specific ways in which social enterprise is improving education in the U.S. and developing countries. How Social Entrepreneurship is Helping to Improve Education Worldwide, written by Rupert Scofield, President and CEO of The Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA), a global microfinance network, underscores the power of using the philosophies of for-profit business to create organizations that are mission-driven, innovative, and effective.
To download a copy of “How Social Entrepreneurship is Helping to Improve Education Worldwide” visit http://bit.ly/Social_Entrepreneurship
In category: White Paper Tags: education, FINCA, microfinances, Rupert_Scofield, social_entrepreneurship, SolutionsFrom Financial Literacy to Financial Action
Posted on January 6, 2012 by McGraw-Hill Research FoundationA policy paper released by The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, “From Financial Literacy to Financial Action” by Barbara Kiviat and Jonathan Morduch contend more than ever, Americans need to be financially savvy. The past few years have shown that mortgages can be complicated, business-cycle downswings severe, and investing far from obvious. And, for many of us, saving is not easy. Creating a successful financial life takes a high level of know-how and stamina. Not surprisingly, efforts to increase financial literacy among Americans have won wide support.
Getting better financial knowledge may seem like a no-brainer. How can people make good decisions if they don’t know the facts?
But new studies show that the relationship between financial literacy and the ability to make and stick with good financial choices is a complicated one. Financial literacy is necessary, but often insufficient.
To read more, download the full white paper at http://bit.ly/Financial_Literacy
In category: White Paper Tags: barbara_kiviat, financial_education, financial_literacy, jonathan_morduch, New_York_University
Developing Human Capital
Posted on December 1, 2011 by MHRFAdminA policy paper released by The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, “Developing Human Capital: Meeting the Growing Global Need for a Skilled and Educated Workforce” by Janet Bray, Ron Painter and Mitch Rosin contend there has traditionally been a disconnect between the business people who create jobs and the education professionals who provide high school students and others with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful as employees.
For the most part, business professionals and educators live and operate in two very different worlds. They speak different languages (e.g., the Department of Labor speaks of “Industries” while the Department of Education talks about “Career Clusters”). They have different criteria for success and are held to different standards of accountability. Educators are graded on how well their students perform on tests, not on how well they perform later in life. Business people are evaluated on how innovative and successful they are in running their enterprises, including creating and marketing their products and services; expanding their markets; how well their workforce performs; and showing a profit.
To read more, download the full white paper at http://bit.ly/Developing_Human_Capital
In category: White Paper Tags: ACTE, career_development, education, Janet_Bray, job_growth, Mitch_Rosin, NAWB, Ron_Painter, white_paperExpanding Sustainability Education
Posted on November 30, 2011 by MHRFAdminIn this paper, A Transdisciplinary Approach to Sustainability Education, co-authors Liv Haselbach, Ph.D and Norbert Delatte, Ph.D hold that sustainability concepts and skills must be incorporated into higher education in more flexible, novel, and multi-faceted ways. They believe that a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to sustainability will advance the knowledge and skills needed to respond rapidly to the dynamics of the systems in both academia and in practice. The authors then review sustainability programming and curricula in civil and environmental engineering to determine how other professional programs can effectively incorporate principles of sustainability.
Download the full white paper at http://bit.ly/Expanding_Sustainability_Education
In category: White Paper Tags: Gui de to LEED, LEED, liv haselbach, Low Impact Development Expert, mcgraw-hill research, Norbert_Delatte, Sustainable Construction, Washington State UnviersityHow Mobile Technology Can Enhance Student Learning and Workforce Training
Posted on November 1, 2011 by MHRFAdminA policy paper released by The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, How Mobile Technology Can Enhance Student Learning and Workforce Training outlines the unique benefits of mobile learning. Written by Alex Heiphetz, Ph.D., founder and president of AHG, Inc., a software solution company specializing in business services to training companies and educational institutions, the paper offers a series of recommendations about how mLearning can effectively be used in student learning and workforce training. To download the paper, visit: Mobile Technology
In category: White Paper Tags: alex_heiphetz, mobile_technology, white_paperReimagining the Classroom
Posted on October 27, 2011 by McGraw-Hill Research FoundationIn a position paper released by The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, “Reimagining the Classroom: Opportunities to Link Recent Advances in Pedagogy to Physical Settings,” Alessandro De Gregori, a research architect and consultant for the Center for Building Knowledge at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, contends that in order to effectively optimize teaching and learning, the physical design of the classroom should and can be manipulated to meet the growing needs of teachers and students. For details, read the press release.
To download a copy of “Reimagining the Classroom: Opportunities to Link Recent Advances in Pedagogy to Physical Settings” by Alessandro De Gregori, visit http://bit.ly/ReimaginingtheClassroomWhitePaper
You can also download an appendix to this paper which consists of several interviews.
In category: White Paper Tags: alessandro_de_gregori, classroom_design, education innovation
Proven Strategies for Developing Excellent Leadership at Under-Performing Schools
Posted on September 28, 2011 by MHRFAdminIn a policy paper released by The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, “Strategies for Rescuing Failing Public Schools: How Leaders Create a Culture of Success,” co-authors Alberto M. Carvalho and Dr. Steven L. Paine, argue that strong leadership can help even the worst performing schools achieve dramatic changes in achievement and morale.
Mr. Carvalho is superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the nation’s fourth largest school district; Dr. Paine is senior advisor to The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation and the former state superintendent of schools for West Virginia.
Based on their experience transforming some of the lowest-performing schools and districts in the U.S., the authors suggest it is critical to select, develop and appoint superintendents and principals who will insist on cultural and environmental change while instituting high standards of academic achievement and devoting greater resources toward developing exceptional teachers. Read more
In category: White Paper Tags: education, education innovation, educational technology, Higher Education, innovation in education, innovation in k-12Innovative Strategies to Increase STEM achievement in Higher Education
Posted on September 27, 2011 by MHRFAdminDr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), offers practical and scalable solutions to that problem in a new policy paper released by The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation. In the paper, Institutional Change in Higher Education: Innovation and Collaboration, Hrabowski discusses how his institution has addressed the shortage of STEM graduates, particularly among groups that have been underrepresented in these fields, including minorities, women, and students from low-income backgrounds. UMBC has been recognized widely as a leader in higher education innovation. For three years in a row, the U.S. News and World Report America’s Best Colleges Guide has ranked the university number one among “Up-and-Coming” national universities. 
Hrabowski explains how UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholars Program has developed over the past two decades, earning recognition as a national model for preparing research scientists and engineers. UMBC has become the nation’s leading predominantly white institution for producing African-American bachelor’s degree graduates who go on to complete STEM Ph.D.s. The Meyerhoff Program targets high-achieving minority students who are committed to pursuing advanced degrees and research careers in STEM fields, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. Read more
