Beyond High School - October Edition

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For High

Schoolers

ISSUE 4 | OCTOBER 2023

A monthly magazine for educators, parents, and high schoolers.

Designed to inspire & prepare high schoolers for life beyond.

Dear friends and readers,

Welcome to the latest edition of Beyond High School magazine! Today, high schoolers live

in a world where education is constantly evolving, and we are here to help you keep pace.

This issue dives into the relevant theme of ‘Online Learning’.

In this issue, we've compiled a treasure trove of knowledge that'll help you thrive in a

world where online learning opportunities are transforming teaching in school classrooms

and opportunities for learning outside.

With articles on student engagement in online learning environments, adaptive

technologies, and the E-University Act, we have got you covered with the latest in online

education. And do not miss our suggestions to help you live a balanced life as the world

goes digital.

If you are currently taking online courses for school, or considering enrolling in new ones

to strengthen your portfolio or get college-ready, or if you are simply interested in learning

more about online education, this issue is just for you.

So let's turn the page together and dive into the exciting world of online education!

Warmly,

Ashoka University

High School Programmes

EDITOR’S NOTE

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HDFC LIBRARY, ASHOKA UNIVERSITY

In recent years, online education has undergone a remarkable transformation.

The surge of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has opened the door to an extensive

range of learning opportunities for learners of all ages. Now, online courses spanning

computer science to art history, and business to biology, are available at our fingertips.

While MOOCs have certainly opened up new possibilities for learning, recent research

suggests that students crave a deeper level of involvement in online classes. Have you ever

felt like in an online classroom, all you were asked to do was show up and complete

assignments? Have you felt like you want to invest more – emotionally, behaviourally, and

cognitively – to make your education more meaningful and interactive? If so, you are not

alone.

For years, researchers have shown that engaging students effectively plays a large role in

predicting learning outcomes and positive learning experiences. And in online courses, this

has proved challenging. While many of us enjoy quizzes, simulations, and gamified

elements in online courses, studies have shown that the absence of face-to-face

interaction can lead to feelings of isolation, disconnection, and a lack of accountability

among students.

But here is some good news. Researchers have begun to explore ways to engage students

better, and they have found that creating supportive and intimate learning environments

is particularly important.

RESEARCH IN FOCUS

STAYING ENGAGED IN ONLINE CLASSROOMS

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Have you had a teacher, who in even an online setting, was able to foster an atmosphere of

valuing the subject, guiding you to understand the real-world applications of your learning,

and making you feel as though they care for your progress? K. F. Hew, Professor of

Education at the University of Hong Kong, argues that these teachers are much more likely

to help students learn. Others have agreed and proposed different strategies to create

supportive online learning environments too. You can read more here and here.

Researchers of student engagement often conduct interviews with students to

understand how best to engage them. Based on your experiences, how do you

think teachers can best engage students online? If you have thoughts, we

encourage you to discuss them with your teachers. Your insights may be just

what they need to help many students like you stay motivated online!

SKILLS IN FOCUS

EFFECTIVE NOTE-TAKING

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by information around you, and wished you had a

good way to sort it all out? If so, you may benefit from rethinking how you take notes.

Note-taking may seem straightforward, but really, it is a skill that we should practice

thoughtfully in order to hone, especially because it is usually not taught in school. Check

out this video by Bill Gates, who says that note-taking is not about recording information,

but selecting important ideas to develop a mental framework that helps you process

information better.

So how can you take notes with a clear sense of purpose?

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Here are some valuable note-taking tips that may help you overcome the information

overload that many of us face.

FOCUS ON MAIN POINTS:

Rather than transcribing lectures, prioritize understanding and

summarizing key concepts. Listening actively for cues, opening

and closing remarks, repetition, and key phrases to identify

important information.

PRIORITIZE CONTENT:

Create a hierarchy that categorizes different sections of your

notes according to their relevance. Organizing your notes in

distinct columns or colors can help you recall information more

easily.

USE DIGITAL TOOLS AND TAGS:

Tools such as Evernote, OneNote, and Google Keep allow you to

tag your notes, making it easy to search for information you are

looking for. They also allow automatic synchronization across

devices so you can update your notes on the go.

LEAVE SPACE FOR SUMMARIES:

Allocate room for summarizing main points, relationships

between topics, key terms, and potential exam questions.

MAKE MIND MAPS:

After taking notes, try mind mapping to see connections between

concepts. Choose an important idea and branch out with key

concepts and related details. This visual technique can help you

organize information better.

Whether to understand concepts in school, topics discussed in the news,

detailed information about careers, or even day-to-day events in your personal

life, effective note-taking is your best friend. So pick up your pen – or tablet, if

you wish – and start note-taking in a way that suits your learning best!

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Today, high schoolers like you need more than just good grades to secure seats in

your dream colleges and internships. How can you go beyond what you learn in school,

create impactful projects, and communicate authentically? For even the most proactive of

you, this has been a considerable challenge—until now.

Ashoka University proudly presents Ashoka Horizons, a year-round catalogue of

certified, short-term, live and interactive courses that are curated specifically for

curious and proactive high schoolers (grades 9-12) in India and abroad. These courses

offer students like you a unique chance to gain an advantage in today’s competitive

environment.

In Horizons courses, you will interact in live discussions over weekends with a global

faculty and industry leaders, and create a standout project under their guidance to

strengthen your portfolio. During weekdays, you will also interact one-on-one with

Teaching Fellows (advanced students handpicked by instructors) to clear doubts and seek

mentorship!

Biology, Psychology, International Relations, Writing, and Literature. These are the five

areas in which Ashoka University is set to offer Horizons courses this December-January.

Which one will you take to stay ahead of the curve?

Cohorts are small and seats are filling quickly. Apply early to secure your seat!

Click here to explore all the Horizons courses because

#TheFutureBelongsToTheCurious!

Horizons

For High Schoolers

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The Future Belongs To The

The Future Belongs To The Curious

Curious

GET FUTURE-READY WITH ASHOKA

HORIZONS FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS

Every day, new technologies promise to revolutionize how we live and learn. Among

recent advancements, one stands out as a solution to personalize learning at scale. But

how is this possible? Isn’t the challenge of personalizing learning antithetical to large-scale

applications? Adaptive learning might be the solution.

ADAPTIVE LEARNING

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WHAT IS ADAPTIVE LEARNING?

Adaptive learning is an innovative approach that leverages technology to

tailor educational content to individual students. Have you ever sat in a

classroom, either bored because you already understand the concepts

being taught, or anxious because you feel underprepared and lost?

Adaptive learning technologies are here to adjust the pace and complexity

of lessons to match your unique strengths and weaknesses.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Adaptive learning relies on sophisticated algorithms and data analysis. It

begins by assessing your current knowledge and learning style through

diagnostic tests, and then adapts content through the learning module to

suit your needs. Where you excel, it will offer more challenging material,

where you struggle, it will provide support. Technology, here, is

customization’s best friend!

WHAT’S BEYOND CUSTOMIZATION?

Certainly, adaptive learning can help you learn better by challenging you at

the right levels, and the right moments, and adopting a teaching style that

suits you best. But it promises to do even more. Adaptive learning has the

potential to not only promote deeper learning but also foster your love for

learning by providing an experience that is just right for you.

Companies like Area9 Lyceum are already developing adaptive learning systems for large

corporations to be used in professional training modules. How soon will these

technologies make their way into a large number of schools?

Click here to read more about the application of adaptive learning technologies in India,

and welcome to the future of education!

TECHNOLOGY OF INTEREST

India's higher education system may be on the brink of a big change with the E-

University Act recently announced by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

While distance learning has converted formal college education from a faraway dream to

an achievable reality for many, it has taken a while for distance learning degrees to be

formally recognized. That is, perhaps, until now.

The E-University Act aims to integrate distance learning into the formal higher education

system in India – perhaps the system into which you will enter soon. According to this act,

students can accumulate 130 to 140 credit points within two and a half years by enrolling

in E-University courses alongside regular degrees. This grants greater flexibility, allowing

students to enter and exit higher education as per their schedules and abilities.

UGC Chairperson Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar estimates that this transformation could

provide access to higher education for 50 million students! Will you be one of them?

Beyond academic advancement, the UGC has also taken steps to expand opportunities for

students entering higher education to gain industry-relevant experience and skills. In this

light, the UGC is taking steps to define industry partnerships in university-led E-Learning

and establish collaborative R&D clusters to make students job-ready.

You can read more about the E-University Act here and here.

POLICY OF THE MONTH

THE E-UNIVERSITY ACT

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