Torah Bontrager wants to overturn the Wisconsin v. Yoder Supreme Court decision so that Amish children can have access to a quality education and she wants to address sexual abuse within the Plain sect community. She believes both issues are intertwined.

While Amish leaders and other experts do not deny there is abuse within the community, they dont see the correlation.

Bontrager and other former Amish believe that the lack of education specifically sex education can lead to the perpetuation of abuse within the community.

Bontrager, the founder of the Amish Heritage Foundation, says the Amish community is already patriarchal in nature, and the lack of information about sex that children receive while growing up can also lead to abuse.

We women dont have any rights, Bontrager says of the Amish community. We dont have any women in leadership positions. Weve been around for over 300 years and theres not a single woman in a leadership position.

Bontrager argues that if children are not given a sexual education in school, they wont know how to vocalize their experience if they are abused. They wont have the vocabulary to explain what happened to them.

A woman who was raised Amish in Lancaster County but has since left the church agrees. She did not want her name used because she was sexually abused as a child.

Theres so much [abuse] in the Amish system, and a lot of people dont understand, she says. They dont even have the vocabulary to express whats going on. And they dont have the vocabulary to express or even how to report it. Theres so many things. Its sad. I could sit here and tell story after story after story.

One Lancaster County Amish leader, who did not want to be identified because the Amish shun publicity, sees it differently.

As far as the sexual abuse, were not immune from that, he says. But that really had nothing to do with the Wisconsin v. Yoder case, and I do not feel that that is making sexual abuse worse.

Bontrager disagrees and says the lack of knowledge can leave women feeling isolated.

Bontrager, who says she was sexually assaulted by relatives when she was a child and teenager, says she received pamphlets from her mother explaining puberty to her although in broad terms. One pamphlet, she says, said that boys were going to start being interested in her and that she must stay away from them.

When she got her first period, she says she had no idea what it was. She assumed it was an accident and put her underwear at the bottom of the hamper. Bontrager says her mother beat her when she discovered it.

Who knows how many children have a dysfunctional relationship with their bodies and sexuality because of a lack of sex ed and that kind of experience, she says.

The former Amish woman says she had a similar experience after she and her husband married. She says neither of them actually knew what sex was, beyond believing it was something reserved for married people so they could procreate.

Nobody spoke to me, nobody told me how it worked, nothing, she says. Nobody told my husband how it worked; there was nothing, she says. I know thats not the case for everybody because everybodys different. But that was our story.

The Amish leader who spoke to LNP says he believes sex education should be taught inside the home not in school.

We do feel that thats very critical and very important in todays world, he says. The abuse cases, [Bontrager] makes it look like its a lot worse ... and Im sad to say theres too much of it. But percentage-wise, I dont think its any worse, or not as bad, in the Amish than it is in the outside world.

The Amish leader says, if anything, the Supreme Court decision might be helping to curb abuse.

I guess I would rather feel if our kids went to school until theyre 17 and were rubbing shoulders with each other, very possibly it would even be worse than what it is this way, he says.

Donald Kraybill, who is widely considered an expert on the Amish and is the distinguished professor and senior fellow emeritus at the Young Center of Elizabethtown College, points out that abuse happens in any religion.

Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Abuse is a human problem and its everywhere, and the biggest factor is patriarchy and male dominance, which unfortunately historically has infected almost most of our cultures worldwide, he says.

Bontrager, however, believes a lack of education also can play a role.

Education includes knowing how to love your children, includes other members of the community recognizing signs of abuse and looking out for each other and reporting to the police if they see things, she says. And had people done that for me, when I was a kid, maybe, you know, I would never have been raped at 15, at 16, says Bontrager, who wrote about her experiences in a memoir titled An Amish Girl in Manhattan.

Individual cases of sexual abuse are well-documented, but opinions regarding its prevalence in Amish communities vary considerably. Even in mainstream society, gathering accurate data on abuse is difficult; for the Amish, no reliable statistics are available.

Bontrager says an Amish bishop in Arthur, Illinois, told her that the leadership committee within an Amish community there actually has a policy to report abuse to the police.

So that was a huge, major breakthrough, she says. I mean, this is really a historic breakthrough to now know that this is official Amish policy.

The Lancaster County Amish community has implemented an initiative called the Conservative Crisis Intervention committee. The Amish leader who spoke to LNP says that the committee works with law enforcement to report abuse cases to them.

So, its not that were sweeping things under the rug, he says. Its not that were not reporting cases.

Bontrager believes education could go a long way toward reducing sexual abuse in the Amish community.

[My story of abuse] is on the extreme end of the worst, but its not unusual and its not abnormal, and thats really the heartbreaking thing, she says. And I attribute this all to a lack of education.

Erika Riley was an intern at LNP this past summer.

Go here to read the rest:
Former Amishwoman says lack of sex education in Amish schools can lead to abuse within the community - LancasterOnline

THEISSUE: Citrus County is home to a large senior population.

OUROPINION: It behooves the community to be informed.

With Citrus County having one of the states oldest populations, Alzheimers disease should be a concern to seniors and to the community at large.

The Alzheimers Foundation of America notes it is important to understand Alzheimers disease (AD) is not a normal part of aging, and it is important to look for signs that might indicate Alzheimers disease versus basic forgetfulness or other conditions.

With Alzheimers disease, the symptoms gradually increase and become more persistent.

But exactly what is Alzheimers disease?

According to the foundation: Alzheimers disease is a progressive brain disorder that impacts memory, thinking and language skills, and the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimers disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Take note: Dementia itself is not a disease, but a term used to describe symptoms such as loss of memory, loss of judgment and other intellectual functions.

The main markers of Alzheimers disease in the brain are reported to be high amounts of two proteins: beta-amyloid and tau. Beta-amyloid was discovered in 1984. Two years later, tangles of tau were discovered in people with AD. Both proteins may cause brain cell damage. Researchers dont know yet if high levels of beta-amyloid and tau cause AD or if theyre symptoms.

Alzheimers disease can cause dementia. Now, sadly, more than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimers disease.

AD is not new. Dr. Alois Alzheimer first noted the unique symptoms of the disease way back in 1906, with a patient who experienced memory loss, paranoia, psychological changes and shrinking of the brain. Psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin, Dr. Alzheimers colleague, coined the name Alzheimers disease in a 1910 medical book.

Scientists have carefully studied the disease since that time, but so much is still unknown about AD. The first clinical drug trial to combat Alzheimers was in 1978 and genetic studies among families began in 2003.

And through the years, we have become quite fearful of AD. Memory lapses, confusion, mood swings, forgetfulness all attributable to many causes have made us conscious of what could be a more serious problem.

There is hope. New drug trials are ongoing and we have learned more about how a healthier lifestyle can help. Not cure, but at least help. Even our fear of the disease may spur us to follow up with medical checkups, just in case. Earlier diagnosis is a plus in coping and treating the symptoms of Alzheimers.

We are lucky to live in a community with impressive resources for Alzheimers patients and their caregivers. Support comes in the form of trained educators teaching coping skills, support groups, education about the disease, businesses and churches striving to become dementia friendly and trained, empathetic health care providers, to name a few examples. Caregivers can rest easier with special scent kits to help keep their loved one safer. We can learn from a Virtual Dementia Tour provided by a home health care agency. The YMCA has a special Art from the Heart program. Publications are even available for education about firearms and AD patients.

In a nutshell, a strong, dedicated group of people here consistently put in a profound amount of work in the fight against Alzheimers. And we can all do something to help.

Want to take a step in that direction? This Saturday, the annual Walk Aware to support Alzheimers will take place in Floral City. Show your support by participating in your choice of a 1/4-mile walk, a 1 1/2-mile walk or a historic walk. Pre-registration is at 8 a.m. with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. The walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $25 per person, $10 for children ages 6-12 and free if younger than 5. To register, call 352-616-0170.

Read more:
Education is imperative in understanding Alzheimer's | Editorials - Citrus County Chronicle

By Spinal Column Staff | on October 16, 2019

Brooks Gibbs

Brooks Gibbs, an award-winning social skills educator and popular youth speaker, will give the keynote speech at the Western Oakland County Parenting Fair Saturday, November 2 at Walled Lake Northern High School.

The event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Its geared to parents, guardians, educators, teachers, administrators and childcare workers.

Gibbs has presented 2,500 speeches, teaches youth how to be emotionally resilient and encourages them to live by the Golden Rule. He has a number of viral videos.

He said, Im going to teach you how to really raise an emotionally healthy child who is emotionally resilient and kind. We can empower our kids not to get upset by the mean actions of others. Ive got massive content Im excited to deliver back in my hometown.

Gibbs also wants to be sure the educational process continues after this event. He added, I will give my full Raise them Strong online program absolutely free ($50 value) to everyone who registers so you can learn more at home and also share content made just for your children.

Offerings also include two separate tracks and three rounds of breakout sessions by a dozen-plus presenters.

This event is hosted in partnership with the PTAs and staff from Bloomfield Hills Schools, Farmington Public Schools, Oakland County Community College, the Oakland County Youth Assistance, Oakland Schools, Novi Schools, Walled Lake Schools and West Bloomfield Schools.

Pre-registration is encouraged, tickets are $15 online or $25 at the door.

For more information on sponsorship donations, program details, or to register, visit http://www.wlcsd.org/parentingfair.

Visit link:
Social skills educator to speak at Western Oakland County Parenting Education Fair - Spinal Column Online

The Global K-12 Online Education Market report provides information by Top Players, Geography, End users, Applications, Competitor analysis, Sales, Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Market Share, Import-Export, Trends and Forecast.

Initially, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The K-12 Online Education market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.

Complete Report on K-12 Online Education market and Top companies. Get SAMPLE at https://inforgrowth.com/sample-request/2367417/k-12-online-education-market

2018 Global K-12 Online Education Market Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the worlds major regional market conditions of the K-12 Online Education industry, focusing on the main regions and the main countries (United States, Europe, Japan and China).

Global K-12 Online Education market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer.

Major players profiled in the report are Ambow Education, CDEL, New Oriental Education and Technology, TAL, Vedantu, iTutorGroup, EF Education First, Chegg, Knewton, Tokyo Academics.

On the basis of products, report split into, K-12 Online Education.

On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including Pre-primary School, Primary School, Middle School, High School.

The report introduces K-12 Online Education basic information including definition, classification, application, industry chain structure, industry overview, policy analysis, and news analysis. Insightful predictions for the K-12 Online Education market for the coming few years have also been included in the report.

Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.

The report focuses on global major leading K-12 Online Education Market players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out.

The K-12 Online Education industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.

Table of Contents

1 K-12 Online Education Market Overview

2 Global K-12 Online Education Market Competition by Manufacturers

3 Global K-12 Online Education Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)

4 Global K-12 Online Education Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)

5 Global K-12 Online Education Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

6 Global K-12 Online Education Market Analysis by Application

7 Global K-12 Online Education Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis

8 K-12 Online Education Manufacturing Cost Analysis

9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

11 Market Effect Factors Analysis

12 Global K-12 Online Education Market Forecast (2018-2025)

13 Research Findings and Conclusion

14 Appendix

For any custom research on this topic or any related topics, share your specific interest for custom-reports by clicking here https://inforgrowth.com/enquiry/2367417/k-12-online-education-market

About InForGrowth:

We are a market-intelligence company formed with the objective of providing clients access to the most relevant and accurate research content for their growth needs. At InForGrowth, we understand Research requirements and help a client in taking informed business critical decisions. Given the complexities and interdependencies of market-intelligence, there is always more than one source to explore and arrive at the right answer. Through our smart search feature and our reliable & trusted publishing partners, we are paving way for a more simplified and relevant research.

Contact:Mr. RohanEmail:[emailprotected] US: +1-909-329-2808 UK: +44-203-743-1890

Read more:
K-12 Online Education Market Analysis by Key Players, Types, Applications and Growth Opportunities to 2025 - Statsflash

Aldi has launched its own Majestic-style wine education scheme.

The discounter has unveiled an online Aldiploma it claims will help shoppers better choose wines suited to their palate.

The course consists of six online modules and video tutorials starring its Mistress of Wine, Sam Caporn.

Aldi was known for its affordable, great-quality wines so this creates the perfect platform to help consumers try new things and gain the perfect introduction to the world of wine, said Caporn.

Aldi cited a survey of 2,000 drinkers by agency Sapio, which reported 63% of respondents were baffled by supermarket wine aisles, while 92% said they had bluffed about having greater wine knowledge to impress others.

It comes just weeks after the more upmarket Majestic Wine made headlines with the launch of wine fitting stations across its store estate. Customers can sample eight wines to develop a wine profile Majestic will use to recommend wines more accurately suited to them.

Majestic is giving away a free bottle to all existing customers who take part.

Read the original here:
Aldi to offer shoppers 'Aldiploma' online wine education - The Grocer

On June 26, an article at a website that writes about politics wrongly claimed three migrants were being held at the United States southern border with an unknown disease. The only quotes about the claim came from an unnamed medical professional. Daniel Funke decided to dig deeper. Government border officials had no record of the supposed disease outbreak, this PolitiFact fact-checker found. Nor did the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga.

With no evidence to back up the claim, PolitiFact rated this story false. By then, however, other websites had repeated the bogus charge. Many people also shared it on social media.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has used this photo in tweets and publications. Another website used the photo in a misleading way to make unfounded claims about immigrants. PolitiFact rated that story False.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

It was a lie. And spreading it would likely fuel fear of refugees who hope to escape violence in their home countries.

New research sheds light on who shares made-up or fake news. Another study shows how hard it can be to spot made-up news. Additional projects explore how we can all be better fact-checkers.

In short, do your own online search before sharing something, especially if it makes an astounding claim, Funke says. Look for facts reported by credible news outlets that either back up or refute the central claims in the story at hand.

Credible news outlets generally have a reputation for truthful and accurate reporting. They identify specific sources of their information. And they follow a code of ethics that calls for honesty, corrections of errors and more. Websites that merely repeat the same claim as another websites article sometimes word-for-word dont count. And, Funke cautions, when in doubt, always think before you share.

The stakes of misinformation and fake news are so high, says Laeeq Khan. He heads the Social Media Analytics Lab at Ohio University in Athens. For instance, he notes, sharing something thats not true can cost people their lives. Last year, people in India used a messaging app, WhatsApp, to spread fake stories about a kidnapping ring. The lies fueled anti-Muslim mobs. Violent attacks followed in which people died.

Fake-news stories hurt people in other ways, too. False reports lead some parents to refuse vaccines for their children. Yet without vaccines, children can get deadly diseases. False stories about birth control can result in unplanned pregnancies or illness. Made-up stories about ethnic groups can lead to more discrimination.

Fake news can even hurt people who arent its target. About seven in 10 Americans were telling us that [fake news] has a big impact on the confidence in our government institutions, says Jeffrey Gottfried. Hes a journalism and media-research expert at Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C. Researchers there asked a sample of people in the United States about the effects of made-up news. The groups report came out on June 5, 2019.

Just a click is all it takes to share information on social media sites. About half the people in a recent survey said they had shared false information online, a Pew Research Center report says.

Ksenia Omelchenko/iStock/Getty Images Plus

One survey question asked what types of changes people made in response to the problem of made-up news. Roughly four in 10 of those people said they had cut back on how much news they got. And, the survey found, the less closely that people follow political matters such as elections, lawmaking or policy debates the more likely they were to cut back on news. That can be dangerous. The less people know about current events, the less likely theyll be able to make informed choices about public matters.

Nearly eight in 10 people in the Pew survey said they have checked the facts of news stories. Yet it seems they didnt do that all of the time. About half of them still wound up sharing some made-up news. What it suggests is that the American public is playing a large role in this dissemination of made-up news and information, Gottfried says. Theyre part of the process.

Most of the surveyed people who shared false claims said they didnt realize it at the time. Basically, they fell for a hoax. But one in every 10 people in the Pew survey said they had they shared a story they had known was false. About half wanted to point out the falsehood. The rest thought something about the story was entertaining. Or they liked what it said. Some just wanted to start a discussion.

But people who do that dont help, says journalist Damaso Reyes. Theyre muddying the water, he argues. Reyes works for the News Literacy Project in New York City. Sharing a bogus story makes it harder for people to tell whats real. And when people find out a story is false, they may not trust other information from a person who spread it. We want to live in a fact-based world, he says.

Different factors affect whos more likely to share fake news. Khan at Ohio University and a colleague surveyed almost 400 people in Indonesia. That southeast Asian country ranks among the top five for users of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp. Fake news also has been a problem during its political campaigns.

Less-educated people were more likely to think they were good at spotting false claims on their own, the team learned. People with more education and better internet skills were less likely to share things without checking them out first. And knowing how to find out if a story is true was the most important skill. The earlier you start, the better, Khan says.

Nobody should feel bad that they arent experts in evaluating information. We found really smart adults who struggled, says Sarah McGrew. She and Sam Wineburg are education researchers at Stanford University in California. In one study, the two observed 25 college students, 10 historians with doctorate degrees and 10 professional fact-checkers. All 45 had been asked to evaluate information from certain websites. Some sites had been created by reputable organizations. Others were sites for extremist groups or firms that were paid to promote a particular view.

Overall, the college students did worst. For example, 60 percent of them thought information about bullying from an anti-gay group was more reliable than that from the American Academy of Pediatrics. In fact, AAP is the more reliable source.

The historians did little better. One went with the anti-gay website. Four said it and the AAP website were equally reliable, when that wasnt the case.

In contrast, all the fact-checkers figured out that the AAP site was reliable, and not the anti-gay website. They also took less time to decide on their answers. Wineburg and McGrew published their working paper online in 2017.

A warning (lower right) shows that fact-checkers dispute this hoax claim in a sample story used in a study about fake news.

G. Pennycook and D. Rand/SSRN

Some websites try to help readers by rating the overall quality of different news publications. Some social-media sites also try to flag posts that might be false. But those systems arent perfect. So we all need to make our own judgments, Khan and Reyes say.

First, ask where the information youre reading comes from, McGrew says. The fact-checkers in her teams study looked at the website where a story appeared and who wrote it. They opened a new tab and checked out the organization and its sponsors. So, for example, the anti-gay groups own website claims it is an organization of healthcare professionals dedicated to the health and well-being of children. Yet a quick Google search showed the Southern Poverty Law Center has found its a hate group.

Then the fact-checkers went back to read the websites content. All publications and authors have a point of view, McGrew notes. You need to recognize that perspective and keep it in mind as youre reading.

Make sure, too, that you know if something is a news story, an opinion piece, an ad or something else, Reyes says. Read through the whole article to decide. An opinion piece basically argues for or against some policy position. It might cite some facts to support its position. But some pieces then try to present their opinions as if they were facts, when theyre not.

And beware of sneaky tactics. Some shady websites try to masquerade as legitimate news sources. Some stories use emotional tricks to make bogus claims appear believable. For example, the false story about immigrants at the border aimed to spark fear with its lie. And some people are less likely to stop and question claims if they feel afraid.

Sander van der Linden is a social psychologist at the University of Cambridge in England. Jon Roozenbeek is a graduate student there. Their team recently created an online game called Bad News. It challenges players to use different tricks that are common in fake news. Players earn badges for pretending they are other people or disguising themselves as legitimate websites. In addition to such impersonation, they also can get those badges for appealing to emotions, spouting conspiracy claims and other tactics.

This screenshot comes from the online game Bad News. Players make believe theyre running a real news site. Each players real goal is to promote fake news. The games creators hope players will be better able to spot fake news sites tricks.

Data collected from adult players suggest that playing the game helps people get better at spotting such tricks when others use them, such as in fake tweets. After the game, players had to judge the reliability of different tweets. The scale went from 1 to 7. Lower scores marked less reliable information. The average rating for tweets that used impersonation went down seven-tenths of a point. Average reliability ratings for conspiracy claims fell by half a point. Ratings also fell for tweets that tried to discredit experts or blame others.

Those shifts can be quite meaningful when added up across the population, says van der Linden. Think about it this way: The United Kingdoms 2016 decision to leave the European Union came down to just a 4 percent difference in votes (with 52 percent voting to leave and 48 percent voting to remain). If any of the voters were misled by fake news and if that could have been prevented, that matters!

What we hoped to achieve [with our game] is making people think before they believe something or share it with others, Roozenbeek says. His team published its results in Palgrave Communications on June 25, 2019.

Some websites might look like their information comes from a trusted group of experts. They might quote people with advanced degrees (such as a PhD or M.D.). And groups might say they have a broad educational or other helpful purpose. Those features tripped up some college students and professors in Wineburg and McGrews study at Stanford. On its own, the anti-gay groups website looked fine. But the professional fact-checkers in the Stanford study looked beyond the website itself. So should you.

What do other sources say? McGrew asks. One strength of the internet is that there are always other sources to turn to. A claim is likely more believable if you can verify it across multiple reliable sources. For instance, you might double-check claims about health by going to websites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Academy of Medicine, federal health agencies, universities and well-known hospitals.

Professional fact-checkers also dont just click on the first hits that come up in their online searches. They have click restraint. They scroll through pages of results and scan the short sentences shown for each hit. That helps them judge which to read first, McGrew says.

She, Wineburg and others tested those techniques in a semester-long college class on critical thinking. Critical thinking combines fact finding, reasoning and a questioning attitude to form independent judgments, instead of just accepting arguments from others at face value. Teachers taught those topics to all the students in the study. Half the students also got two 75-minute lessons on fact-checking. They learned how to check online claims of facts and how to judge the reliability of the sources of those claims.

Before and after taking the Stanford course, all groups took a test in which they rated the factual reliability of online material. After the course, average scores for students who had the fact-checking classes went up about two out of ten points. Scores for students who didnt have the fact-checking lessons barely changed. Still, all of the classes showed lots of room to improve. The study appeared April 16, 2019, in the British Journal of Educational Psychology.

Faktabaari, based in Finland, was nominated for an award for its fact-checking of claims made by teen climate activist Greta Thunberg. Faktabaari rated three of her claims true. A fourth needed clarification, because it involved judgments about policy actions.

Also resist the urge to make things too simple. Mikko Salo founded a fact-checking group Faktabaari (Fact Bar), based in Helsinki, Finland. Its ratings use green, red and yellow symbols, like a traffic light. Green represents a true claim supported by facts. Red denotes a claim that is clearly false. Yellow is for 50/50.

Yellow claims are the trickiest, Salo says. They contain some facts, but the claim is not completely accurate. Very few things are as simple as yes or no, he says. Yellow provokes the debate. As people talk about additional facts, they can understand issues better. In fact-checking, What I appreciate especially, Salo says, is its an honest try to reach the truth methodically.

In March 2019, for example, the group fact-checked claims from a speech by teen climate activist Greta Thunberg. Three of four science-related claims got the green light. The fourth was in that yellow zone. Thunberg had said the European Union needed to cut carbon-dioxide emissions by at least 80 percent by 2030. Comments from two scientists showed that claim was a matter of interpretation. One expert thought emission cuts should be even more than 80 percent in order to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degreesFahrenheit). Another questioned whether data showed the 80-percent target was fair. Overall, the Faktabaari team concluded, Greta Thunberg has done her science homework.

As that example points out, fact-checking is important even when it finds that claims are true or mostly true. It also shows the difference between factual statements and policy positions. Policy positions state what someone concludes about a situation. Policy positions also express what someone thinks government or society should do about an issue. Those positions reflect opinions, social values and personal judgments. As such, they cant be fact-checked, Salo says. But the underlying facts do matter, he adds and those can be fact-checked.

Fact-checking can go quickly once you make a habit of it.

damircudic/E+/Getty Images

You can apply fact-checking in whatever you are reading, Salo says. He thinks of it as a simplified approach to scientific thinking. In both cases, you want to use logic and rely on sound data or research. You want to arrive at the truth.

I think of it almost as a detective search, says Reyes at the News Literacy Project. Im trying to see whats real and whats not. I know there are people out there who are out to fool me. Im trying not to get fooled.

The more you do fact-checking, the better youll get. Remember: The professional fact-checkers in McGrew and Wineburgs 2017 study did their work more quickly than the college students or professors.

And if you dont have time to fact-check something right away, they say, then certainly dont share it online.

This is our responsibility, Khan says. We need to make that effort and have that attitude: Before sharing something, we verify it.

The truth should be central to the way we want to see the world, Reyes adds. It should be central to the world in which we want to make decisions and take action.

More:
Studies test ways to slow the spread of fake news - Science News for Students

Buy Photo

A scene from Ozark's Class of 2019 graduation ceremony on May 17.(Photo: Jason Connel/Special to the News-Leader)

For the Class of 2019, two area districts Sparta and Walnut Grove reported a 100 percent graduation rate, meaning all their seniors graduated on time.

They are not the norm.

The overwhelming majority of Missouri districts fall short of that perfect score each year, as students drop out or fall behind and require additional time to finish high school. The state's four-year rate hovers at or just below 88 percent.

Springfield's graduation rate rebounded this year to 88.5 percent, higher than many of the large urban districts in the state. For example, Kansas City reported a rate of 71.6 percent, followed closely by St. Louis at 72.7 percent.

Each year, graduation rates are closely tracked and reported publicly but the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education calculates and reports the rate for students who graduate in four years, five years, six years and seven years.

Education: Missouri removes scores from state's 2019 school, district report cards

Chris Neale, assistant commissioner of DESE, said "on time" is the preference, but the overarching priority is to get across the finish line.

"The priority of the state is to ensure that students are given time to be well prepared and graduate with what they need rather than just rush them through in four years," Neale said. "We provide those extended year cohort graduation rates to ensure we haven't had a disincentive created."

Top school officials from Springfield, Nixa, Ozark, Republic and Willard recently told the News-Leader they don't give up on students.

Craig Carson, assistant superintendent of learning, Ozark school district(Photo: File photo)

"If you go to each our offices at the high schools, we have names for each kid who didn't make it," said Craig Carson, assistant superintendent of learning in Ozark. "And if they are not in that four-year, by God, we are going to get them by year five cohort or year six cohort."

The first step is to identify and track students at risk for dropping out, which include poor reading and math skills, not turning in assignments, failing courses, exhibiting discipline problems, and showing up irregularly.

More: How changes to the ACT may help students with college admission, scholarships

A range of interventions is offered, based on the student and situation, to address the risk factors.

They provide mentors and tutors,credit recovery courses, alternative programs, mental health counseling, and summer and online learning options.

Shane Dublin(Photo: Submitted)

Shane Dublin, executive director of secondary learning in Springfield, said efforts start with knowing "where students are at" and quickly identifying when they start to veer off the path.

"Weknow every week if kids are on track or if they need support," he said.

He said each high school has a team working to keep students on track and providing a menu of options when they fall behind.

"Every kid has a story,' he said. "We are almost tailoring their approach to graduation."

The Springfield district pays extra attention to the transitional years of sixth grade and ninth grade, as students move into middle and high school.

"That is where we need to catch them and make sure they engage," he said.

"All the statistics show if you get behind as a freshman, you're less likely to graduate."

Students are encouraged to join clubs, play sports, explore careers, and connect with mentors in each building.

Related: SPS gains in reading, attendance and graduation rates math scores remain low

Dublin said while the traditional path of accumulating 25 high school credits works for most, others need alternative programs or settings.

Springfield partnered with Ozarks Technical Community College to create the Middle College program for juniors and seniors who want to complete high school while taking college classes and gaining career training on theOTC campus. The program now also serves area high school students.

Several districts, including Springfield, offer alternative high school programs.

Josh Chastain, executive director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for Nixa Public Schools(Photo: File photo)

Josh Chastain, executive director of curriculum, instruction and assessment in Nixa, saidmore than 440 students have finished school in the past 20 years through the SCORE program an acronym forSecond Chance of Receiving an Education.

"Having that available allows us to be able to put students in a different setting to support what they need, whether it's a small class size or more individual attention with teachers," he said. "That has really helped us."

Chastain said the students in danger of dropping out may not be academically deficient or a discipline problem;they may have personal issues.

"We know that we can support them in those areas," he said. "That is why we have counselors to be there to keep their hand on the pulse of what is going on with students, whether it's attendance, grades, behavior."

Matt Pearce, assistant superintendent, Republic school district(Photo: File photo)

Matt Pearce, assistant superintendent of Republic, said the district has a system that flags students with multiple indicators, including failing grades, absences and suspensions.

"That is what our counselors and our student intervention teams will use to identify students who are really in danger of not completing," he said. "With the kid that is ready to walk out the door, that is a conversation with the counselor, maybe their favorite teacher and a parent to encourage them to stay and make sure they know we want them."

Springfield, the largest district in the state, compares its graduation rate annually against its own goals as well as "benchmark" districts, in the region and the large urban districts across the state.

The four-year graduation rates for Springfield's urban benchmarks include:

The four-year graduation rates for Springfield's area benchmarks include:

Read or Share this story: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2019/10/20/springfield-high-school-graduation-rates-missouri-education/3988111002/

View original post here:
Graduation rates: How area districts are getting students to cross the finish line - News-Leader

Report Ocean currently published the market research report titled Global Education Technology Market. The research report states the estimation value of market size to grow at a CAGR of 15.4%, during the forecast period 2018-2024. The market growth is supported by various driving factors along with analysis related to impact of market restraints and upcoming opportunities.

The education industry has witnessed dramatic changes in the past decade and is still undergoing radical process changes in the delivery of its products and services. The advancements in technology and innovations are changing the market scenario and increasing the need for cost-effective and superior customer services. There is an increasing need for the implementation of technological innovations in the educational processes and data to enable better decision plans greater responsiveness to customer demands improved product design & quality and faster turnaround times.

The market estimation report consists of various market tools, such as:

Regional Analysis:

The geographical analysis of the Global Education Technology Market includes regions, such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). The regional analysis explains the market position at segmented level based on various geographies.

Competitive Landscape in Detail:

Major market players adopt various strategies to withhold the market position for long-term. Such competitive strategies are Collaboration, Joint Venture, Mergers, Partnerships, Acquisitions, Product Launch and others. Some of the major key players present in the market are enlisted as:

Market Segmentation of the Global Education Technology Market is as follows:

GET FREE SAMPLE COPY @ https://www.reportocean.com/industry-verticals/sample-request?report_id=IR138

Research Methodology adopted for in-depth market study:

Report Ocean adopted various market research methodologies that include primary and secondary research as major key tools. Both are explained in detail as follows:

Primary Research

In primary research process, information is collected on primary basis through:

Basic details were collected in a form of factual and numerical data, based on various market parameters, the data was analyzed from both demand and supply side of the market.

Secondary Research

In secondary research, various web-sources and research papers/white papers were referred to identify and collect information and various market trends. With the open-available sources, Report Ocean also collect information from various paid databases that are extensive in terms of information provided. The data collected from secondary sources are used to calculate the pricing models, business models of various companies along with current trends, company initiatives and market sizing.

Research by other methods:

The detailed description of research process includes data mining as an extensive step of research methodology. It helps to obtain the information through reliable sources. The data mining stage includes both primary and secondary information sources. Report Ocean follows other research methodologies along with traditional methods to compile the 360-degree research report that is majorly customer-focused and include a contribution from company with the help of their experienced research team. Companys estimation methodology leverages the data analysis model that include the major market dynamics. The client specific research analyzed the market strategies and provides the market sizing forecast that is specific to client requirements to study the market trends, and market developments.

For more information about this report visit https://www.reportocean.com/industry-verticals/details?report_id=IR138&pub_code=RO-022

Get in Touch with Us:

Varda

Email: [emailprotected]

Address: Classic Tower, Rajnagar Extension, Ghaziabad, 201017 India

Tel: +1 888 212 3539 (US TOLL FREE)

Website: https://www.reportocean.com/

Follow this link:
Education Technology Market in North America projected to grow at the highest rate from 2018 to 2024 - Online News Guru

October 16, 19by IDEX Online Staff Reporter

(IDEX Online) - The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is expanding an education program that helps artisanal gemstone miners evaluate the quality of the rough they mine. The organization is committing $1.3 million to bring the program, which started in Tanzania, to Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zambia.

Working with Pact, a Washington D.C.-based international development nonprofit organization with expertise in the region, GIA plans to reach 10,000 miners over the next four years with its booklet Selecting Gem Rough: A Guide for Artisanal Miners.

The Swahili-language booklet has images of the gemstones found in East Africa and illustrations of how to examine and evaluate rough gems. It is waterproof and comes with a durable plastic tray that can be used to sort gems and do basic gemological evaluations.

"This is a tremendous step forward in our efforts to bring information directly to artisanal miners right at the beginning of the gem and jewelry supply chain," said Susan Jacques, GIA president and CEO. "We know that this investment will bring an invaluable benefit to miners, their families and the communities in which they live."

"We found that for every dollar invested, there was a 12-fold social return that will last years into the future," said Cristina M. Villegas, technical program manager for Pact's Mines to Markets program. "With their new knowledge, miners improve their income, send their children to school, invest in their mines and their communities."

Read the original here:
GIA Expands Artisanal Mining Education Project - IDEX Online

Global Artificial Intelligence in Education Market: Snapshot

The global artificial intelligence and education Market is significantly driven by the integration of intelligent algorithms as well as Advanced Technologies in to e-learning platforms. Education software, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are some of the Innovative learning models and Technologies change the rules and creating tremendous shift from the teaching methods. These technologies have completely transformed with a classroom. The sophistication level has increased tremendously with the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. These Technologies are becoming extremely useful for developing user-friendly decision support systems and used in knowledge acquisition applications, language translation, and information retrieval.

The high adoption of cloud services among education institutes today is also creating a favorable environment for the artificial intelligence in education market. Higher education institutes, faculties, facilitators, Educators, and students in schools are increasingly making use of artificial intelligence and education so as to improve the overall learning experience as well as productivity. The use of cloud services helps in the reduction of cost of ownership for educational Institutes and this helps them to offer high-quality Education Without much cost. Universities and schools are able to adopt cloud computing without having the need to upgrade the existing infrastructure with Advanced Technologies.

Download Brochure of this Market Report at: https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=3461&source=atm

On the other hand, there are a few factors that will restrain the market from reaching its truest potential. One of the key challenges faced by the AI in education market is the resistance towards adopting latest technology by various schools. Many colleges and schools simply stick to orthodox ways of teaching. This will act as a challenge for the market.

Global Artificial Intelligence in Education Market: Overview

The report details an exhaustive account of the global artificial intelligence in education market along with numerous associated factors. The factors included in the report are drivers, restraints, competitive analysis, latest trends and opportunities, geographical outlook, and many other aspects. The study covered in the report spans a forecast period from 2017 to 2025. From an overall perspective, the report is expected to exist as a valuable insight to businesses which are already operating in the market, as well for those who intend to newly establish themselves in this environment.

The global artificial intelligence in education market is mainly segmented on the basis of technology, application, component, deployment mode, end user, and region. Under technology, machine learning and deep learning, and natural language processing are core segments comprising this market. Under application, virtual facilitators and learning environments, intelligent tutoring systems, content delivery systems, fraud and risk management, and others, are key segments present in the global artificial intelligence in education market. By component, solutions and services are two main segments, which are further subdivided into other sub-segments that are explained in detail the report. On the basis of deployment mode, the global artificial intelligence market consists of two segments: cloud and on-premises. Lastly, under end-user criteria, the global artificial intelligence in education market is mainly segmented into educational publishers, and educational institutes.

Request For Discount On This Market Report At: https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=D&rep_id=3461&source=atm

Global Artificial Intelligence in Education Market: Drivers

A dire need for highly efficient and automated services in terms of providing educational material is primarily responsible for driving this market. Such a need is relevant especially with respect to online education or distant learning, wherein a user needs to rely on modern devices for efficient communication. Favorable initiatives from various governments to spread educational awareness are also indirectly responsible for the global artificial intelligence in education market to experience widespread growth. A phenomenal progress in the development of computers as well as internet facilities has been primarily responsible for connecting people from all corners of the Earth, thus driving the global artificial intelligence education market. Another factor propelling growth in this market involves the inability of students and scholars to not go overseas and learn their desired subject. This makes them consider the option of distant learning, which of course can be facilitated from an online perspective. As online learning brings in the factor of automated machines up to a certain extent, the market is expected to grow with leaps and bounds in future.

Global Artificial Intelligence in Education Market: Geographical Outlook

This market is mainly spread across North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Presence of a strong educational infrastructure as well as technological stronghold in North America and Europe makes these regions grab lions shares in the global artificial intelligence in education market. Extensive advancements are occurring in these regions in the field of artificial intelligence, which has been notably contributing towards rapid progress in educational sector.

Global Artificial Intelligence in Education Market: Competitive Landscape

A highly competitive environment characterizes this market, mainly due to the presence of innumerable players. The competition is expected to intensify even further as new companies are projected to enter the vendor landscape of the global artificial intelligence in education market on a regular basis in future. Most players are focusing on including more services, bringing forth geographical expansions, and focusing on delivering quality educational content. Nuance Communications, IBM, Querium Corporation, Century-Tech, DreamBox Learning, Fishtree, ALEKS, Knewton, Metacog, Google, AWS, Cognizant, Bridge-U, Cognii, Blackboard, Elemental Path, Jellynote, Liulishuo, Carnegie Learning, Osmo, Pearson, Microsoft, Third Space Learning, Jenzabar, and Quantum Adaptive Learning, are key players operating in the global artificial intelligence in education market.

Customize This Market Report At: https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=CR&rep_id=3461&source=atm

Go here to see the original:
Artificial Intelligence in Education Market Key Growth Factors and Forecast up to 2017 2025 - Online News Guru