You owe it to the Chinese. Stephen Colbert gives the 2013 Valedictory Address at the University of Virginia and tells students they don’t owe the previous generation anything and to choose the hard path in life. “While traditional paths may seem harder to find, that also means that you may learn sooner than most generations the hard lesson that you must always make the path for yourself.” (YouTube)
The waiver wire. Alaska, Hawaii, and West Virginia have been awarded NCLB waivers. To date, 37 states and the District of Columbia have been awarded waivers by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. (Education Week)
Measuring motivation. A new assessment from the Education Testing Service seeks to measure areas outside of academics including commitment, self-motivation, and social support. The test is designed to be taken upon enrolling in college and allows advisors to make customized action plans for students. (Inside Higher Ed)
Technology may not be all it’s cracked up to be. A new study by The National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that computers may not improve student outcomes. The study conducted a field experiment that provided home computers to students, but found that there were no effects on grades, attendance, or test scores. (The National Bureau of Economic Research)
