aims to help indian schools - educationworld.in · james tanton princeton university alumnus &...

LEARN (learning, educator and resource network) is supported by , a U.S. based educational organization funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and a winner of NSF’s innovation research award for innovation in education.LEARN is an international network aimed at connecting India’s leading schools to their international peers, engendering innovation in the areas of teaching, learning & professional development. LEARN’s ultimate objective is to propel the overall Indian ecosystem forward.

LEARN aims to help Indian schools

Connect with peer institutions worldwideBenchmark against national and international peer institutionsPresent a strong, collective voice on important forums

Engage with elite educators in institutions worldwideAccess exceptional, academic & professional development programsDevelop rich data & analytics to drive innovation

Benefits to LEARN member schools The LEARN Experience

Academic Programs. Expose students to exceptional, international courses and faculty. Professional Development. Enroll teachers in accredited, international programs.Data. Benchmark yourself nationally and globally. Make data-based decisions. Career resources. Use LEARN Career Center to find exceptional candidates. International Seminars. Connect and engage with internationally renowned experts.International Research. Stay ahead on cutting-edge trends. Adopt, adapt, innovate.Priority Access to Technology. Get early access to NSF-funded technology.

LEARN Seminars and Research provide hands-on assistance with curricula, leadership guidance and professional development opportunities.LEARN Summits bring together international experts to help you understand the current and future landscape.LEARN Trend Analysis puts up-to-date trend information at your fingertips.LEARN Career Center allows your school to discover the best talent.LEARN Communities provide a place to share ideas, discuss challenges, and engage with other schools and educators.LEARN Lab showcases innovative best practices in member schools.

Trusted by The National Science Foundation

In collaboration withInfo: Bhavin Shah + 91 9867382867 [email protected]

Researchers, educators, and thought leaders with international experience and track records. Here are some of them:

The LEARNteam

Shivram Venkat IIM, Mass. Inst. of Tech. alumnus, National Science Foundation Innovation Awardee, CEO Edfinity

Shuchi Grover Harvard & Stanford alumnus, renowned education researcher, adjunct faculty at Stanford

Raymond RavagliaFormer Associate Dean Stanford University, Founder of Stanford University EPGY & Online School

James TantonPrinceton University alumnus & teaching award winner, best-selling mathematics author, advisor to various US schools

Mike ClapperOxford University alumnus, Former Exec Director, Australian Mathematical Trust, Former Head of School at various schools



Partial list of schools worldwide using the technology platform

Herat Afghan Turk High Brighton Grammar SchoolBasis PhoenixUCSSt Helen's SchoolWonthaggi Secondary CollegeKA Edu Associates Pvt Chandler Park Primary SchoolDon Bosco Primary SchoolSefton HIgh SchoolHead-Royce Schoolmedow streetBlue Gum Community SchoolCampbell High SchoolCanberra Girls' Grammar SchoolRaffles Christian SchoolIPH Schools SurabayaDulwich College ShanghaiChengdu international schoolTransitions Lab Preparatory SchoolDawson CollegeShanghai American School - Pudong CampusInternational School of BeijingSt Georges SchoolDoukas SchoolPsychico CollegeGerman Swiss International SchoolCUHKSzent Margit GimnáziumSt Andrews Senior SchoolVillage Christian Academy KOREAAmerican Community School at BeirutBrainBuilder Putra HeightsMalaysia University of Science and TechnologyMgss SolferinoDroopnath Ramphul State CollegeBon Accueil State CollegeSmita KalikarGlendowie CollegeBucklands Beach Intermediate SchoolSt Marks Catholic Primary SchoolRangi Ruru Girls' SchoolLoyola Jesuit CollegeSaipan International SchoolDon Benjamin Jalandoni Sr. Mem Nat'l HSDe La Salle Santiago Zobel SchoolOlongapo city christian schoolColegio Católico Notre Dame SuperiorAcademia Ponce Interamericana

Dewey UniversityTanjong Katong Secondary SchoolChongfuAnglo-Chinese Junior CollegeGEMS World Academy Shrewsbury International School, BangkokBangkok Patana SchoolCranleigh Abu DhabiJumeirah primary schoolCambridge International schoolLord Lawson of Beamish AcademyRicards Lodge High SchoolBae baglan Dr Challoner's Grammar SchoolRainham school for girlsSt Wilfrid's RC CollegeRichard Hale SchoolNinestiles SchoolThe Nelson Thomlinson SchoolThe Appleton SchoolWhitchurch High SchoolSacred Heart High SchoolCoopers SchoolJoanne kingChallenger Middle SchLouis Pizitz Middle SchSheldon Point SchoolBarnette Magnet SchoolGreat Hearts Academies - Chandler PrepLas Flores MiddleLadera Ranch MiddleAviara Oaks MiddleColina MiddleSycamore CanyonCoronado MiddleCulver City MiddleCupertino MiddleWilliam Faria ElementaryWarren E. Hyde MiddleJohn F. Kennedy MiddleJoaquin Miller MiddleJane Lathrop Stanford MiddleDavid Starr Jordan MiddleTerman MiddleMarshall FundamentalPiedmont MiddleKraemer MiddleMesa Verde MiddleStone Ranch ElementaryOak Valley MiddleMonterey Ridge ElementaryCope MiddleNorth Star Academy

James Gillespie's HighJoseph Swan AcademySacred Heart High School St Patrick's CollegeStamford Welland AcademyCHrists Hospital SchoolThe County High School, LeftwichMore House SchoolReigate Grammar School The Nobel SchoolNewman UniversityUniversity College SchoolSt Albans Gir's SchoolSt Joseph's RC Primary SchoolMidhurst Rother CollegeUniversity College SchoolUrsuline Academy IlfordMount St Mary's Catholic High SchoolBishop Stopford SchoolSybil Andrews AcademyThe Latymer SchoolQueensmead SchoolSolana Pacific ElementaryMadrona MiddleOrchard HillsUnion MiddleCharter Home School AcademyGuajome Park Academy CharterChaparral MiddlePlacerita Junior HighBonita Canyon ElementaryDeerfield ElementaryLakeside MiddleTurtle Rock ElementaryAlderwood Basics Plus ElementaryIrvine Unified - Other Special ProgramsEvergreen Middle SchoolMiddlesex Middle SchoolEastern Middle SchoolTimothy Edwards SchoolClark Lane Middle SchoolDrew EsDulwich College SingaporeKajonkiet International SchoolSilpakorn UniversityRoyal Masonic School for GirlsDykehouse sports and technology collegeChurchill High SchoolHosford Middle SchoolRedmond High SchoolRiverdale Grade SchoolThurston Middle School

Autrey Mill Middle SchoolNorcross High SchoolCreekland Middle SchoolMathews Elementary SchoolOconee County Middle SchoolIao Intermediate SchoolKohala Middle SchoolWhite Pine Elementary SchoolA W Johnson Elementary SchoolCarbondale Middle SchoolCoral Academy Of Science Las VegasHyde Park Middle SchoolCoral Academy Charter School SecondaryChatham MiddleHatikvah International CsHammarskjold MiddleJohn Adams MiddleHerbert Hoover MiddlePrinceton R-V High SchoolFirst Presbyterian Day SchoolSaint Clement Parish SchoolsE.A. Young AcademyNoronha Math ClubMcAuliffe International SchoolChallenger School UtahWoodrow Wilson Middle SchoolThe Nueva SchoolChallenger SchoolSega Math AcademyTrinity School of MidlandFrederick High SchoolNorthfield Mount Hermon SchoolSt. John's SchoolHoang Thao LyTiểu học Bế Văn ĐànInstitute of MathematicsDang Tran Con PrimaryBritish International School VietnamTriangle Math and Science AcademyRichmond Middle SchoolMindx Education CenterStanford Online High SchoolElm Street ElementaryThe Albany AcademyBeaconhouse School System North Nazimabad Primary IVCoronation CollegeRabat American SchoolOrvelte AcademyRicards Lodge High SchoolShield road primary schoolBridgnorth Endowed SchoolGeorge Abbot School

63

countries

2,343

schools and counting

Professional Development for EducatorsEdfinity enables LEARN member schools to enroll their teachers in post-graduate/master’s level courses and programs from reputed US Institutions taught by US faculty. All courses are customized and contextualized to suit the needs of Indian educators.

• Leadership• Literacy and Digital Learning• STEAM Curriculum & Instructions• Inclusive Learning• Emerging Trends and Select Topics:

Integrating Computational Thinking into CurriculaProgramming to Advance 21st Century SkillsUsing Technology-enabled Assessments to Measure LearningPedagogical Strategies for Teaching & Assessing Computational ThinkingIntegrating Content and Pedagogy in Teaching

AREAS OF STUDY



Certificate and Degree Programs from Accredited US Colleges

• Mathematics, Science and English SME Assessments for Middle and High School teachers

• Quarterly Assessment of SME (Subject Matter Expertise)• Remedial instruction with Re-assessment• Analytics and Benchmarking• Certificates for completion

READY.2.TEACH CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT OF SME IN CORE SUBJECTS

Subject Matter Expertise (SME) Assessment for teachers



Format & InstructionHOW IT WORKS

• 10-12 week long courses• Blended Learning. In-person and synchronous

online instruction• International faculty. Small class sizes.• Flexible class schedules • ‘Mix and match’ courses• Quarterly Enrollment• Priority enrollment for LEARN member schools• 50% subsidy for member schools

Certificates & Degrees

Enroll and progress at your pace

Earn Certificates & credits for courses

Pursue Optional pathway to Degree

The EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM offered in collaboration with a major US college consists of 3 foundation courses designed for ‘in service’ teachers in Indian schools.

TEACHING FOR UNDERSTANDING WITH TECHNOLOGYAs the first course in both the Educational Technology Certificate Program track , this course introduces five foundational topics that are essential for advanced study:1. Theories of Learning and Understanding2. Essential Mindsets for Teaching with Technology3. Professional Learning Networks4. Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), and5. Creative Uses of Technologies for LearningReadings and assignments are designed to support the development of knowledge and technology integration skills so that by the end of this course, students are better equipped to use a wider range of technologies in their work in thoughtful ways. By the end of this course, participants would have created (a) An essay that summarizes what they understand about learning and understanding (b) A professional blog/portfolio space where their work is saved, documented and showcased for others to appreciate their skills, commitment to excellence and growth as a reflective practitioner (c) An extensive PLM using digital tools (d) A lesson plan that engages students in advanced inquiry processes and problem-based learning on the web (e) A TPACK video. Participants will share their work with colleagues on the web, and provide responses to colleagues’ work in ways that support the development of an open, thoughtful and reflective community of educational professionals.

ADAPTING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATIONThis course will build upon Teaching for Understanding with Technology, and immerse participants in repurposing the learning and teaching environment around them to create experiences that are Novel, Effective and Whole (NEW). Participants will dig deeper into the TPACK theory (Technology, Pedagogy and Content Knowledge), applying and playing with theories of learning, and continuing to grow their professional networks and presence. Participants will experiment with “maker culture” and explore new ways of designing learning experiences that are rooted in creativity and purposeful design practices. Participants will use a range of innovative technologies that can be adapted to contexts of teaching learning (including but not restricted to Maker Kits, SketchUp, Tinker Cad, Evernote, Zoom, Piktochart, Edfinity), and share their creations with global networks of makers and educators in formal and informal professional development contexts.

EXAMPLE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES



APPLYING EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES TO ISSUES OF PRACTICEThis third and final course in the EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, focuses on using diverse technologies to address a range of education and teaching related challenges. Students explore problem properties and patterns, social and cognitive hurdles to efficient problem-solving. Participants will work with a think tank of peers to examine high priority educational problems, collect data that informs a deeper understanding of the culture of technology integration surrounding these problems, explore ways to use technology to support learning needs, and reflect on the ways they leverage technologies with passion and curiosity to support student learning. Participants will learn (a) About well-structured, ill-structured and ‘wicked’ problems (b) Why people struggle to solve big problems efficiently and how we can use digital technologies to address some of these limitations (c) About the potential of participatory culture to bring about great and powerful change, and the also the challenges we must consider as consumers of information (c) About specific learning needs of their choice. Participants will create screencasts, voice threads, several blog posts addressing a range of critical and reflective issues, and surveys.



Student OfferingsEdfinity offers over 75 ‘in school’ courses for middle and high school students, taught by distinguished international faculty. Courses are personalized and customized for LEARN member schools.

• Mathematics• Sciences• English and Language Arts• Computational Thinking | Programming• Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish)• Select Topics

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MYP

US COMMON CORE STANDARDS UK KEY STAGES 2 AND 3

CBSE



Middle School Areas of Study

• Mathematics• Physics | Chemistry | Biology• English and Language Arts• Programming• Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish)• Select Topics (Philosophy, Computational Linguistics, Business

Studies)• Honors and AP courses for US collegiate aspirants

High School Areas of Study

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

US COMMON CORE STANDARDS

UK KEY STAGES 3 & 4, IGCSE, AS, A

CBSE



HOW IT WORKS

• Personalized and customized for each LEARN member school• Interwoven with school curriculum and school calendar• Blended | In-person and synchronous online instruction• Formative and summative assessments | Personalized eBooks• International faculty from LEARN member schools• Priority enrollment and subsidies for LEARN member schools• Credits | Optional transcripts• Dedicated portal with secure registration for school

Enrichment Courses for middle and high school

International academic competitions. Summer Programs in India and Palo Alto, CA.

COMPUTATIONAL THINKING AND COMPUTER SCIENCEAn introduction for middle school students to computational thinking and problem solving through computer programming, including identifying abstractions and developing simple algorithms to solve abstract problems. The course teaches students the basic principles on how to analyze problems, decompose large problems into smaller problems, and systematically develop logical instructions to solve them. Students are introduced to basic computer hardware and programming concepts including an overview of key computer hardware components such CPU, memory, storage, and peripheral devices; how to write simple programs using the Python or similar programming language; and, implications of computers in the current society and the social, political, economic, and ethical issues confronting individuals and society.

FUNDAMENTALS OF LITERARY ANALYSISFundamentals of Literary Analysis is a year-long course designed to develop and strengthen students’ skills in writing, literary interpretation, and critical thinking. A second key goal of this course is to expose students to a variety of major works of literature in different genres. Students will become familiar with the elements of narrative fiction and poetry and gain the tools to analyze literary works productively with attention to form, content, and style. Other concepts covered include figurative language, tone, close reading, prewriting tactics, thesis development, diction and clarity, paragraph unity, argumentative structure, and revision.

INQUIRY-BASED PHYSICSIn this year-long course, students explore the fundamentals of physics through experimentation and discussion guided by the instructor. Through this engaging process, the instructor poses questions and counterexamples until the students reach consensus in their experimentation, after which concepts are formally summarized. This course provides a strong foundation for work in more advanced science courses by introducing a number of basic skills, including significant figures, interpretation of graphs, problem solving, and the basics of laboratory work. Concepts covered include: fundamentals and nature of science, measurement, kinematics, Newtonian dynamics, conservation of energy and momentum.

FOUNDATIONS IN SCIENCE: ENERGY AND MATTERThis year-long seminar-style course introduces students to the concepts that provide the foundation for physics, chemistry, and biology. Students will explore energy and matter, two ideas that unify the sciences, and examine these core concepts from the perspective of each discipline. Students will use an inquiry-based approach with an emphasis on acquiring the background knowledge and perspective to



EXAMPLE MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSES

develop research problems and will practice these skills through experimentation at home. Through exploration of the central themes of the course, students will additionally become familiar with the basic principles of scientific reasoning. The primary goal of the course is to provide students with a well informed introduction to science that prevents common misconceptions and that prepares students for high-school and AP-level laboratory sciences.

SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY - BIOLOGYThis year-long course uses biology as an anchor point for introducing scientific reasoning, statistical analysis, and philosophical thinking. Students explore how organisms interact with each other and their environments; genetics and natural selection. Students are exposed to illustrative examples of experimental design, statistical concepts/techniques used to interpret and make inferences from data, and foundational questions about the underlying nature of concepts at play. The overarching goal is to help students achieve fluency in the analytical processes of science, make conjectures and discoveries, obtain evidence for scientific claims, and assess evidence presented by others.

EMPIRES AND WORLD CIVILIZATIONSThis course examines world history from the beginnings of the earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia to the formation of global networks in the eighteenth century. In addition to examining the unique features of individual civilizations, students will uncover the similarities and connections between seemingly distant and different societies. The course will often turn to discussions of empires to highlight these major patterns and linkages in world history. Analysis of historical documents in class discussions and written assignments will push students to think critically and craft original arguments about important issues from the ancient world to the dawn of the modern era.



EXPOSITORY READING AND WRITINGThe goal of Expository Reading and Writing Course is to prepare college-bound seniors for the literacy demands of higher education. Through a sequence of fourteen rigorous instructional modules, students in a yearlong, rhetoric-based course develop advanced proficiencies in expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing. The cornerstone of the course-the assignment template-offers a process for helping students read, comprehend, and respond to non-fiction and literacy texts. Modules also provide students research methods and documentation conventions. Students are expected to increase their awareness of the rhetorical strategies employed by authors and to apply those strategies in their own writing. They read closely to examine the relationship between an author’s argument or theme and his or her audience and purpose, to analyze the impact of structural and rhetorical strategies, and to examine the social, political, and philosophical assumptions that underlie the text. By the end of the course, students will be expected to use this process independently when reading unfamiliar texts and writing in response to them. Course texts include contemporary essays, newspaper and magazine articles, editorials, reports, biographies, memos, assorted public documents, other non-fiction texts. The course materials also include modules on two full-length works (one novel and one work of non-fiction). Written assessments and holistic scoring guides conclude each unit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION An AP course in English Language and Composition should train students to become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts. Examples of these writers include Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, Henry David Thoreau, George Orwell, and Jane Austen. The course should also give them the practice and helpful criticism necessary to make them flexible writers who can compose in a variety of modes and for a variety of purposes. AP Composition will emphasize the expository, analytical, and argumentative writing that forms the basis of academic and professional communication. Interested students must be recommended by their English II teacher and must submit a sample of their expository writing. This course is also known as “AP Writing”.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT STATISTICSThis is a college-level course in descriptive and inferential statistics. In the first semester, the course focuses on producing and analyzing data, relationships among variables, probability laws, simulation, and probability distributions. In the second semester, the course focuses on formal methods for drawing conclusions about one or more populations using confidence intervals and significance tests. Emphasis is placed on understanding the process of statistical inference, which includes the foundational reasoning for statistical inference and determining the value and credibility of the conclusions made from the data.

EXAMPLE HIGH SCHOOL COURSES



APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND MATHEMATICAL MODELINGThis post-AP Calculus course allows students to discover, explore and apply modern mathematical ideas. Emphasis is placed on using problem solving methods, analytical and critical thinking skills, and on communicating mathematical ideas effectively. This class promotes group work and collaborative discussions on real life mathematical problems. For each problem, students focus on Defining the Problem, Making Assumptions, Defining Variables, Getting a Solution, Analysis & Model Assessment, and Reporting the Results

HONORS BIOLOGYHonors Biology prepares students for college level biology by examining a broad range of topics in depth. The course builds the basic foundation of biology knowledge while emphasizing higher order skills such as comparative analysis, evaluation of evidence and applying information to novel situations. Students are expected to be able to learn independently from reading the textbook and other sources. The course is designed to help them improve their technical writing and study skills. Laboratory exercises include both traditional and open-ended inquiry labs. (Laboratory course)

ADVANCED PLACEMENT BIOLOGYAP Biology is a fast-paced demanding college level course using a college text. The curriculum is organized around four Big Ideas and emphasizes understanding, analysis and application over traditional memorization. Students must have strong graphing and mathematical skills, be highly motivated and capable of learning independently from reading the textbook and other sources. Students will have to learn some required topics outside of class. Sophomores may take the course only if they have excellent records from their previous science course (see prerequisites below). Besides success in a previous science course, students must perform satisfactorily on a placement test in order to be considered for AP Biology. Juniors and seniors may take this course if they had strong grades (B or better) in their prior Biology course. (Laboratory course)

HONORS PHYSICS This is an enhanced, algebra-based course, designed mostly for science students to appreciate and recognize the fundamental laws of physics that govern our world. We use one of the most popular college-level physics textbooks in this course. We will cover topics in: one and two dimensional motion, acceleration, forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion, work and energy, momentum and collisions, rotational motion and moment of inertia, gravity and circular motion, and electricity and magnetism. The best way to ensure learning that lasts is through a sound understanding of concepts and practical application of concrete examples that students can relate to and appreciate. Lectures are supplemented with classroom demonstrations. Ample homework problems will be assigned on line. The student is expected to complete homework nightly in order to understand the material. There is typically one lab per chapter, designed to reinforce the subject matter. With a sound foundation in these topics, students should feel comfortable taking more advanced physics courses in college. This course is different from Physics in that we move



more quickly and cover the subject matter in much more detail. Exams are much more challenging in this course. (Laboratory course)

CRYPTOGRAPHY This course will cover the basics of modern day cryptography - its origins in World War II, the paradigm shift with Diffee-Hillman’s paper and the birth of RSA, and the modern uses of RSA and discrete logs. It will explore primality testing and applications of the public key concept to real world problems such as flipping coins over the phone, bit commitment, PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) and related topics. The course will cover a good amount of Number Theory in a short period of time including but not limited to modular arithmetic, Fermat’s little theorem, primitive roots, quadratic residues, basic Diophantine equations. By the end, students will grasp the basics of modern day cryptography including the RSA cryptosystem. Students will also gain an appreciation for the ubiquitous nature of these algorithms in nearly every aspect of modern life.

FRENCH AND SPANISH LANGUAGES LEVEL I FRENCH AND SPANISHIn French and Spanish, students will begin to develop communicative competence in the target language. They will participate in listening, reading, speaking and writing activities that engage them in the three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. Additionally, students will gain exposure to different facets of cultural life throughout the world of the target language through culturally authentic materials such as advertisements, music, newspapers, television broadcasts, and websites from various countries. Students will demonstrate what they can do with the target language through active participation in performance-based tasks like dialogues, e-mails, role-plays, and discussion that simulate real-life situations. LEVEL II

FRENCH AND SPANISH (full year) In French and Spanish students expand upon and strengthen the basic language skills learned in level I. Through themed chapters, they continue to acquire new vocabulary and grammatical structures in the context of real-life situations, and they continue to develop their skills in the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes of communications. With more emphasis given to self-expression, students continue to negotiate meaning while developing confidence and linguistic competence through performance-based tasks. Multimedia resources provide access to culturally authentic materials that promote understanding of the world of the target language.



aims to help indian schools - educationworld.in · james tanton princeton university alumnus &...

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