Higher Ed & Alternative Finance News: Teach for America & SEL in Distance Learning

Welcome to the Meratas Memo’s Weekly Roundup! This is your weekly fix of higher education and alternative financing news. Here are this week’s stories:

 

Teach for America Prepares for a Different Kind of Year. 

Teach for America is an organization that matches young people who are often college graduates to under-resourced schools and communities for at least two years. This year, the organization is preparing for a year unlike any other they have seen. While it’s uncertain how the pandemic will affect the number of young people recruited into the program, many of the program recruits feel a stronger sense of duty to serve these under-resourced areas. 

In this post by Emily Tate of Edsurge, she examines the new challenges this organization faces in response to the pandemic as well as the determination of its members to continue to carry out the organization’s mission. 

Read the full story on Edsurge here. 

 

The Determination of Distance Learning Teachers 

There have been a lot of questions around the fate of schools this fall. Many have decided on in-person classes, others on distance learning, and many have ended up somewhere in between. Many have called into question the effectiveness of online learning. However, many teachers and faculty are working harder than ever to be effective instructors in a time of remote learning. 

This post on Inside Higher Ed takes a look at the teachers who are preparing more than ever for their classes this fall and are determined to be the best instructors they can be. From learning new technology, to converting all of their lesson plans to an online format, to the various challenges they face, these faculty members are determined to make the most of this upcoming semester. 

Read the full story on Inside Higher Ed here. 

 

Social and Emotional Learning Remotely

Social and emotional learning, or SEL, is the process of learning core life skills such as self awareness and relationship skills, sometimes through non-traditional means such as gamification. Often times when students lack this kind of learning, they become disinterested and disconnected from the learning process all together. 

So how does a teacher use the power of SEL especially in the time of remote learning? This guest post by Edmodo on Edsurge explains how to do just that. From learning more about what SEL entails, to getting started, this post is an excellent starting place for anyone looking to learn and begin an SEL program. 

Read the full story on Edsurge here.