ISLAMABAD -President Dr. Arif Alvi on Tuesday emphasises the need that the universities have to increase the quantum of online education with major focus on research and innovation to promote quality education in the country.

Speaking at a briefing on National University of Modern Languages (NUML) here, the President said the universities need to shape their vision in a way to prepare students to cope with challenges of fast changing world.

Appreciating the role of university in educational development of the country, the President emphasized that higher education institutions require to produce intellectually supreme graduates to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He asked the management of university to establish IT Department to provide the youth with employable skills so that they could contribute to the nations economic development. Rector NUML Major General (R) Muhammad Jaffer gave a presentation about the role of university in promotion of education in the country.

Meanwhile, speaking at an international conference on innovation and entrepreneurship here Tuesday, President Alvi said the government was taking steps to build information highways and extend reach of the people to new fourth generation technologies.

He said the goal of present government was to improve digital financial system, achieve women empowerment and ensure economic transparency. He said Pakistan was making great progress with the use of emerging technologies. He noted that Pakistan was left behind during the industrial revolution. In the fourth information technology revolution, the communication and spread of information had become very fast, he said adding the world was now witnessing the advent of fifth generation revolution.

He mentioned that immense information was accumulated by the world through cloud computing. Youth could gain advantage by gathering information and through innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, he added.

He said the government was making efforts to attain one hundred percent literacy in the country and impart skills to the people who could not get education.

The stress was on making the youth familiar with artificial intelligence and technologies like block chain and computer networking, he added. The president said the companies banking on gathering of information and intelligence had replaced the traditional top companies of the world.

He was of the view that economy of Pakistan could leapfrog to be among the top global economies. Pakistan had the necessary educational infrastructure to train its youth for the emerging challenges and the experienced businessmen should also provide mentorship to the young population, he added.

The president told that the government was working on setting up special technology zones and endeavouring to encourage investment and utilize its youth bulge.

He said the world needed the skilled youth of Pakistan but he wanted that the skilled youth should be retained in the country through joint ventures and other initiatives. Pakistan could learn from the experiences of Japan and Germany to achieve digital transformation and better models of governance and economy.

The president said the importance of brick and mortar schools would decrease while the intellectual communication would gain speed. The industrial infrastructure had already changed in the next 15 to 20 years, he added.

The new technologies have created vibrancy and youth should focus on these technologies.

Dr Arif urged the world to focus on reduction of poverty and merit based distribution of wealth and democratization of societies.

We have to be on guard against the accumulation of wealth as mentioned in so many books on capitalism.

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Universities need to boost quantum of online education, focus on innovations: President - The Nation

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The Calgary Board of Education is giving families one last opportunity to enrol students in online learning this fall as the COVID-19 pandemic carries on.

In a notice to parents and guardians on Thursday, the board said given the state of the public health situation, enrollment for online learning will be open for the entire 2021-22 school year.

If families enrol, it will be a commitment for the entire year, the CBE said.

It is not designed to allow for transitions to in-person learning at any point during the school year, the board said.

Students who transfer to CBe-learn from alternative programs or schools with capped enrolment/lotteries will not have their space held and would need to go through the transfer or lottery process again if they wish to return in future years.

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Online learning is open to students in grades 1 through 12.

Enrolment for online learning starts on Aug. 23, with virtual classes starting on either Sept. 7 or Sept. 13, depending on transfer times and when particular schools officially open.

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More information on the online learning options, as well as instructions on how to sign up, can be found on the CBEs website.

The CBE also said Wednesday that it was reinstating its mask mandate for all indoor spaces, for all students and staff in all schools.

The changes come a week after the province released its back-to-school plan, which saw virtually all previous public health measures removed from schools, including mandatory masking and tracing of positive cases.

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Alberta has once again seen an uptick in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in recent weeks, with 678 new cases reported on Wednesday. One-hundred-eighty-four people were being treated in hospital with COVID-19, with 48 in intensive care units.

2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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COVID-19: Calgary Board of Education reopens online learning sign-up - Global News

As we approach the possibility of schools requiring remote learning again this fall, the clarion call against it is sure to rear its angry head. While I dont disagree that schools that were never well-equipped to handle virtual learning have tainted the entire concept of online classrooms, I still find it an unfair correlation. Virtual learning isnt bad because its virtual. Its often bad because the school wasnt prepared to offer innovative, interactive online classes. This isnt a dig at teachers who had to upend their classrooms and fully convert everything online. Instead, its an understanding that schools that werent already equipped for online learning cant compete with schools that have it in their mission. This conversation has been focusing on the wrong things. Instead of touting either/or, why not both blended learning?

Blended learning is not a new concept for many forward-thinking schools such as France-based Le Sallay International Academy and Laurel Springs High School in Ojai, Calif., according to a Forbes report in January. Blended learning uses online and in-person learning, giving students the best of both worlds. For schools that have built blended learning into their mission, the often touted horrors of remote learning are irrelevant. As technology evolves, so too should education. The pandemic has shown us that our traditional approach to education is in serious need of an overhaul. With so many educational options like blended learning available, why choose schools based purely on proximity when we have the entire world in our laps?

Mira Mason-Reader, Eugene

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Readers respond: The benefits of blended learning - OregonLive

Students said they were confused and caught off guard by the email that came from the faculty group without warning.

ATLANTA Confusion stirred at Spelman Collegeover whether the fall semester will be in-person or online.

Everyone at the collegereceived an email Thursday morning from the Faculty Council, a group of tenured professors who said they didn't feel safe teaching in-person and want to go virtual. The email quickly went viral online.

Students said they were confused and caught off guard by the email that came from the faculty group without warning, saying they've decided not to teach in-person and will use alternative instructional methods.

"A lot of my peers and I were not upset at all because safety is first, we are in a growing pandemic once again, and we support the faculty decision," Spelman Junior Kaylin Daigle said.

Daigle tweeted a screen shot of the email and it was quickly retweeted by many.

The reaction to the faculty group's email was mixed, but Daigle said the students she knows were supportive.

"Many of them wanted to take a pause. Many of them, not all, they just wanted to take a break on in person classes," she said.

In a statement to 11Alive, a spokesperson for the college said classes will not be virtual. They expect professors to teach in-person.

Vaccines are required on campus, and students and staff have to wear masks both indoors and outdoors at all times.

Read the school's statement below:

"The health and safety of the Spelman community is a top priority as we restore the residential college experience this year. With the guidance of the medical community and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention we have implemented mandatory vaccinations, along with masking and periodic testing, in order to obtain the lowest possible risk to the campus community.

The college remains open for in-person instruction. In response to faculty concerns, expanded guidance has been posted on the Spelman website for students, faculty and staff.

We welcome the input of faculty. We will continue to monitor the state of community spread in the city of Atlanta and Fulton County while continuing to closely following guidance from the CDC, and adjust plans for on campus instruction accordingly."

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Confusion sparked at Spelman College over in-person or virtual learning - 11Alive.com WXIA

Pittsburghs first unicorn has big plans for the future.

Last Friday, East Liberty-headquartered language learning company Duolingo hosted the third annual Duocon, a free, virtual, prerecorded conference providing updates on the companys business strategy and product features, as well as more social events like this years baking class with Sohla El-Waylly.

Like past conferences, Duocon 2021 featured talks that shared a wide range of perspectives on the human connections language can provide, and the important of learning different ones because of that. But this year also shed light on how Duolingo is moving to expand its educational tech capabilities beyond languages, looking at the success of its artificial intelligence platform Birdbrain, and ahead to the impending launch of a new math app. Since the companys IPO earlier this summer, CEO and cofounder Luis von Ahn has also stated that Duolingo, with a current 350-plus employee count, could look to branch out to even more learning subjects through acquisitions.

The idea is that were trying to find subjects that improve peoples opportunities in life, von Ahn said in his State of Duolingo talk.

Updates to the companys product features and future plans are significant largely because of Duolingos momentum throughout the pandemic, when people turned newfound time at home into a chance to learn a new language. Particularly with the shift to online learning for schools to maintain social distancing, Duolingos user experience and use of artificial intelligence have helped to push the barrier of what remote education can look like.

Birdbrain, a machine learning model introduced by the company in October 2020, has so far brought a new, individualized approach to the platform. Burr Settles, the research director at Duolingo, detailed how Birdbrain can help predict a users unique difficulty level at a moment in time, and create lessons that provide the optimal challenge and motivation for that person. A/B testing of this technology over the past several months showed that content length increased by 8.9% and time spent learning increased by 3.1% in skills practice, Settles said.

These advances come in addition to others powered by artificial intelligence on the app, like customized character voices, individualized lesson alert notes and the use of natural language processing for the company to audit content over time.

Until everybody in the world has access to a really great teacher, we think AI is the best way to scale that kind of experience to as many people as possible, Settles said.

Confirming previous reports about the companys plans to move beyond language learning in education, von Ahn shared goals for the year ahead in his end-of-day State of Duolingo talk, laying out objectives to reach more users, increase the number of subscribers and improve the companys language proficiency standard. von Ahn also mentioned recent product features that have helped to make language learning on the app even more immersive.

The new conversation feature, which allows users to have a live conversation with the Duolingo app, and the Hoots feature, which allows users to answer a writing prompt immediately graded with artificial intelligence, offers new capabilities that could easily transition to other educational subjects.

The idea is that you can write really these relatively long paragraphs, especially for beginners, and then we can grade the whole thing without ever using a human, von Ahn said of the Hoots feature.

Both new tools are a sign that Duolingo is looking for ways to make online education even more engaging as it continues to be the norm for many students during the pandemic. Along with these updates will be a revamp of the Duolingo for Schools tool, making it more accessible and easier to use.

The hope is that teachers are going to have a much better time using Duolingo in schools than they did before, said von Ahn. And thats something that were very excited about because we know how much Duolingo can help in schools, especially when schools are not fully in person.

Finally, von Ahn shared previews of the elementary school-level math app in development, sharing that it will be similar to the current version of Duolingo in that the app will be a gamified, fun way to learn math. These expansion plans, he emphasized, directly align with the companys mission, and will define the future of the company.

As long as there are people in the world who cant read or there are people in the world who dont know basic math or there are people in the world who want to continue learning things, he said, we still have a lot of work to do.

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At Duocon 2021, Duolingo shares new AI-powered tools and plans to go beyond language learning - Technical.ly Pittsburgh - Technical.ly

OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kansas Virtual Academy (KSVA), a full-time, tuition-free public school is ready to start the new school year and give students throughout the state an education option designed to help them reach their full potential. KSVA students and teachers will prepare to start the 2021-2022 school year August 25, 2021.

For most families, the new school year comes with cautious optimism. Many families realized during the pandemic that attending school online is a safe alternative that allows them to focus on their childs future. According to a recent survey by Stride, Inc., 91 percent of parents agree that its important for their children to have multiple school options, including full-time online or a hybrid model that blends online and in-person learning. And almost two-thirds of parents would consider full-time online public school after their 2020 pandemic-driven virtual education experience.

Staffed by state-licensed teachers, KSVA offers students an individualized approach to learning with engaging curriculum designed for students who seek alternative pathways to getting an education. Despite wide-spread evidence of a COVID slide of learning loss for students in the U.S. during the pandemic, Stride K12-powered schools like KSVA reported lower learning loss rates than those reported in national studies. And in some cases, students enrolled in Stride K12-powered schools experienced learning gains.

Students choose online learning for a variety of reasons, including advanced learning, a bullying-free environment, and the flexibility to support extracurricular pursuits or medical needs while maintaining a focus on academics, said KSVA Head of School Cassie Barton. ISKSs online platform gives students the opportunity to pursue their academic goals in a supportive environment.

Visit ksva.k12.com to learn more about KSVA and how to enroll, or download the Stride K12 mobile app for iOS and Android devices - where families can enroll, get ready for the first day of school, and monitor their students academic progress throughout the school year.

About Kansas Virtual Academy

Kansas Virtual Academy (KSVA) is a full-time online public-school program of the Spring Hill School District that serves Kansas students in kindergarten through sixth grade. As part of the Kansas public school system, KSVA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the rigorous curriculum provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nations leading provider of K-12 proprietary curriculum and online education programs. For more information about KSVA, visit ksva.k12.com.

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After a Year Like no Other, Kansas Virtual Academy is Ready to Help Students Succeed in the New School Year - Business Wire

Humble ISD has extended its online and remote learning closure through Feb. 17, district officials announced Feb. 16. (Courtesy Adobe Stock)

Humble ISD has canceled remote and in-person learning Feb. 17 due to inclement weather and power outages affecting the Greater Houston area, the district announced Feb. 16. All buildings and facilities will be closed, and there will be no athletic events or practices.

In an email Feb. 15, the district stated that the closures of online learning were done in partnership with CenterPoint Energy to conserve power. As of 8:55 a.m. Feb. 16, CenterPoint Energy recorded that 42.53% of customers had power, which means more than half of its service areaaffecting a total of 1.38 million customersis still without power, as Community Impact Newspaper reported.

Additionally, HISD has also rescheduled its Feb. 16 school board meeting to Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., according to the district.

Updated Feb. 15 at 3:05 p.m.

Humble ISD has canceled remote learning for Feb. 16 as a result of inclement weather and power outages across the Greater Houston area.

This closure applies to remote learning as well and will be counted as a snow day. Feb. 15 remains an online school day for middle and high school students, as teachers were able to post lessons before power outages began, according to a press release from the district. However, teachers will allow for full credit for late work.

Original, posted Feb. 12 at 2:29 p.m.

Due to potentially icy road conditions, all Humble ISD employees and middle and high school students will work and learn remotely Feb. 15, district officials announced Feb. 12.

According to the announcement, Feb. 15 will remain a student holiday for elementary students, but previously scheduled professional development for staff will not take place online.

Additionally, while athletic events scheduled for Feb. 12-13 will continue to take place as scheduled, all events and practices previously planned for Feb. 15 have been canceled, as no district buildings will be open. Announcements regarding the rescheduling of these events will be made at http://www.humbleisd.net/athletics.

"Humble ISD continually monitors the weather. It is possible that learning will need to occur online on Tuesday, Feb. 16, depending upon how our area is affected on Monday by the weather," the announcement reads. "Parents and staff will be notified by email, text and through http://www.humbleisd.net. Humble ISD will be able to apply for a waiver to keep the current calendar, without having to make up the school day, if school is held online."

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UPDATE: Humble ISD extends closure of in-person, online learning through Feb. 17 - Community Impact Newspaper

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is looking to set up an e-learning platform with participation from both government institutions and ed-tech startups to offer a wide range of online professional courses to students and mid-career professionals.

AICTE will also streamline e-learning options, delivery and regulations, in sync with the National Education Policy which seeks to adopt technology and offer flexibility in tertiary education. A formal announcement of the plans is expected to be made on Tuesday.

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The regulator believes that the move will personalize learning models and prioritize them to meet the needs of every student. AICTE member secretary Rajeev Kumar said the use of technology in education is inevitable, reshaping the way people learn. AICTE members believe the move will be able to provide accurate education technology solutions directly to students and offer a huge choice of courses to suit their requirements, which will improve the overall learning outcome".

A government official, seeking anonymity, said an attempt was made in late 2019, but this time, the plans will be firmed up to provide a contemporary touch. The move follows the covid-led disruptions in education, which in turn made online-blended learning options more acceptable to the masses. The official mentioned above said some 25 ed-tech firms will be on board for the initiative.

The intention of the move is great and it brings private and government players in higher education space together. It also shows that the government is willing to capitalize the momentum gained post-covid outbreak. But we must promote this initiative and ask universities to join in," said Mayank Kumar, co-founder of upGrad, an ed-tech firm that is providing industry-linked and job-oriented courses in collaboration with several leading universities and institutions.

We have to bring students and institutions on board in large numbers and make the new platform more useful for credit transfer and driving flexibility," said Kumar, adding that upGrad is part of the initiative.

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AICTE to join hands with ed-tech firms for online education - Mint

SEATTLE, Feb. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --Adaptively Education has launched a new online tutoring program offering face-to-face, expert instruction from the comfort of students' homes. Adaptively's customized enrichment learning plan and highly-trained instructors keep students focused while helping them catch up, keep up, or even get ahead during these difficult times.

Built on more than 26 years of experience in the supplemental education space with Best in Class Education Center, Adaptively was conceived as a necessary evolution in online learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Proprietary curriculum and some of the most sophisticated educational technology place Adaptively above other online learning centers. Adaptively was built to provide an inclusive, fun, collaborative, and accessible learning environment.

Adaptively's highly-trained instructors are passionate about education and supporting students' needs, wherever they may be on the learning curve. They identify where a student is in their journey and define a path that is set to their individual needs. Most of all, the Adaptively team is empathetic to the situation kids are facing today and driven to providing a safe space where all students have the opportunity to thrive.

Adaptively's owner and founder, Hao Lam, knows exactly what it means to deal with difficult situations during times of uncertainty. His life has been an exercise in facing and overcoming challenges and adapting.

"For more than twenty-six years, education has been my true passion and the center of my professional life, starting from one small tutoring center to locations nationwide and now with online - anytime, anywhere," said Lam. "Adaptively is a way to address these extraordinary times and challenges with innovation, without losing the personal care and attention that each and every child deserves in order to thrive."

While teachers are doing their best to adapt to hybrid in-person and distanced learning environments, students are struggling. With an effective and engaging curriculum, Adaptively is a perfect solution for parents who are under pressure to balance participation in their child's learning while working full time.

About Adaptively: Adaptively is an online math, reading, and writing enrichment learning program, focusing on students in 1st through 8th grade. Its unique combination of innovative technology, human touch, and gamification means more effective learning. Adaptively can help identify where a student is in their journey and define a path that is set to their individualized needs, make it challenging and exciting, while exploring their true potential. Most of all, it allows students to learn while having fun. For more information about Adaptively, visit our website at http://www.adaptivelyeducation.com.

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Adaptively Education Offers a New Online Tutoring Solution; Delivers Customized Learning Experience Accessible to and Inclusive of All Students - WFMZ...

LONDON, Feb. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today The Economist, one of the most widely recognised and thought-provoking global brands, announced the launch of "The Economist Executive Education", a new online executive education programme designed to give business executives an edge in their careers.

Participants can register interest for the first course now: https://www.economist.com/execeducation

Created by Economist journalists and featuring experts around the world, the new offering is designed for senior leaders and executives across a range of industries. The online courses will deliver actionable insights, practical skills and networking opportunities to help participants advance in their careers and shape the future of their organisations. Course content will be relevant to all sectors of business, finance, technology, professional services, public policy, nonprofit and government, and will be delivered through a variety of formats including videos, podcasts and guest talks from global leaders. Participants will receive a vibrant, engaging and innovative learning experience.

"The Economist's executive education programme will bring the rigour and intelligence we apply to our journalism to the growing world of online education. The courses, conceived and written by our reporters and editors, will deliver practical insights and stimulating analysis on the most pressing topics and themes" said Bob Cohn, President, The Economist.

The first six-week course, "The New Global Order: How Politics, Business and Technology are Changing," launches in May and will equip participants with an advanced and extensive view of today's world order. Participants can register their interest here. A second course, on writing for business, is slated for the autumn.

The course has been created in collaboration with GetSmarter, a brand of global education technology leader 2U, Inc. GetSmarter brings learners access to premium online short courses on cutting-edge topics from great universities and thought leaders across the globe.

The Economist's philosophy has been rooted in progress and education since it was first published in 1843 to "take part in the severe contest" against ignorance. This mission continues to guide The Economist's editorial coverage and beyond - since 2012 it has been committed to children's education via its charity, The Economist Educational Foundation. This independent charity works with young people from low income backgrounds to build essential knowledge of current affairs, critical thinking, communication skills and confidence to help them succeed in education and beyond.

About The Economist With a growing global audience and a reputation for insightful analysis and perspective on every aspect of world events, The Economist is one of the most widely recognised and well-read current affairs brands in the world. In addition to its flagship Economist.com and weekly print and digital editions, The Economist publishes Espresso, a daily news app and Global Business Review, a bilingual English-Chinese product. Economist Radio produces The Intelligence the award-winning daily podcast and several weekly podcasts. Economist Films produces short- and long-form video. The Economist maintains robust social communities on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Medium and other social networks. A recipient of many editorial and marketing awards, The Economist was named the most trusted news source by the 2017 Trusting News Project Report.

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The Economist expands education offering with the launch of "Executive Education" - PRNewswire