Kaplan University has established themselves as a leader in higher education innovation, serving more than 90,000 students online. Geared toward adult students, Kaplan strives to help them unlock their potential by helping them to prepare for careers by getting a student-centered practical online education.
KU Campus
Last week, Kaplan University announced the launch of KU Campus, an application developed exclusively for the iPad. This application allows students to use the device to access their online classroom. This app is the first of its kind in private-sector education and is available as a free download from the iTunes store.
According to Kaplan’s press release, the key features of the iPad app are as follows:
- Classes: Students can attend classes, access archived seminars, review course content and course structure.
- Course Information: The syllabus, course materials, unit information and links, and activities are available.
- Discussion Boards: Students can join the conversation on the discussion boards and participate in an interactive dialogue with professors and classmates as part of the learning experience.
- Grades and Credits: Students can view assignment and final grades, and credits earned for each course, as well as cumulative credits and GPA.
- Financial Aid Information: Students can view charges, payments and balances by term as well as a summary of financial aid or scholarship information.
- Alerts: Students can access notifications, alerts, and appointments in the message center.
- Connect with Classmates: Students can find links to Kaplan University’s social networks on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to connect with other students and alumni.
Kaplan sees flexibility as the key to their student population, most of whom have jobs and are responsible for care for their families. Fifty five percent of their students are over 30 and 88% take courses online.
Gregory Marino, president of Kaplan University Group, when speaking of their new iPad app:
“This application is a milestone in Kaplan University’s commitment to delivering high-quality educational options to students who value the flexibility of an online format. Our mission is to help our students succeed in every way possible. By offering technological innovation and continuous accessibility, we can accomplish this in ways yet to be achieved by others in the sector.”
Free Ebooks
This isn’t the first time that Kaplan has recognized the need to be a leader in information technology. In January of this year, Kaplan announced that they were allowing FREE download of over 130 Ebooks to either the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Nook, Sony eReader and Kindle for a limited time. The titles included college prep books, test prep books, books related to graduate studies, legal studies, medicine and nursing.
About Kaplan University
Kaplan University has more than 200 academic programs and offerings, and serves more than 61,000 online and campus-based students. The University has 11 campuses in Iowa, Nebraska, Maryland and Maine, and Kaplan University Learning Centers in Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri and Florida.
Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher Education, which serves more than 92,000 students online and through more than 70 campus-based schools across the United States and abroad. Kaplan Higher Education schools offer a spectrum of academic opportunities, from certificates and diplomas to graduate and professional degrees, including a juris doctor degree. Kaplan Higher Education is part of Kaplan, Inc., a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan, Inc. is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO), and its largest division.
For more information about Kaplan University, you can check them out on our site.
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Though just 113 high school students attend Notus Junior/Senior High School in the rural town of Notus, Idaho, the education they receive is nothing less than cutting-edge.
The staff at Notus has learned to embrace technology, giving their students access to more than 130 online elective courses through Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA), allowing students to take online classes on campus as some of their daily class periods and offering Wii Fit work-outs for PE credit.
Just as the Internet has broken down the hierarchy of access to news and music and fashion trends, the Internet can be used to bring equal education opportunities to all high school students, no matter how small or remote the school may be.
Notus School District Superintendent Benjamin Merril said his students now have access to the same resources students enjoy at more populated Idaho schools, like Boise or Eagle High School.
He said online courses that allow students to fill gaps in their schedule or supplement basic course schedules provides students the chance to show their strengths, despite relative geological isolation.
School districts across Idaho have found online education to be a good fit for their high schools because the courses, which are paid for per student, are drastically less expensive than the cost of hiring another teacher.
For example, Notus school district’s foreign language program is was non-existent before implementing IDLA in their schools. They can’t afford a Spanish teacher — but they can afford to cover the $75 cost per student who takes an online Spanish course, said the academic director for IDLA, Mike Caldwell.
The idea of online education has become so appealing that Idaho’s Sugar-Salem School District is considering a proposal that requires all high school students to take six online credits before graduation, starting in the fall of 2012.
The requirement would allow many students to get ahead in postsecondary education. (One of IDLA’s biggest successes was when a high school student from Riggins completed 54 postsecondary credits before graduation, Caldwell said.)
But some people are skeptical about making online education a requirement for all students, holding a fear that the progressive education style may not be unconditionally beneficial.
Sugar-Salem District superintendent Alan Dunn said he believes that not all freshman high school students possess the maturity level and advanced study habits that online classes necessitate. He said he thinks online courses cannot replace a good teacher in the classroom. Still, he said he wants teachers to assist students in developing the habits required for taking online classes.
Districts like Notus have already implemented a plan that is a compromise between having on-site teachers to assist students and letting students take online courses without supervision; they have hired “uncertified coordinators” to watch over a classroom of students while they take their courses in a campus computer lab.
The uncertified coordinator answers students’ questions regarding subject matter, checks grades and also acts as a liason between the students and the online course teachers at IDLA.
Notus School District Superintendent Merrill said he thinks the online course coordinator’s are very effective, calling them more than just a coordinator, but a mentor to the students who ensures they pass their courses.
State schools Superintendent Tom Luna sees the Notus School District’s program as a model for what he envisions to be implemented across the entire state in upcoming years.
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Many community colleges and universities are entering articulation agreements in order to allow students in high-demand fields to transfer from a two-year school to a bachelors degree-granting institution.
Under these agreements, community colleges are often able to offer the university's courses on their own campus, which allows students to stay closer to home while they take the next step in their education.
For example, Ashford University, which is an online school, recently entered an articulation agreement with Luna Community College (LCC). The New Mexico-based two-year school seeks to help students graduate from LCC with an associates degree and then seamlessly transfer to a bachelors degree program at the university.
School officials said that LCC offers programs such as nursing, business, technology, construction and law enforcement. Moreover, educators are now urging students to continue their education at Ashford after they graduate.
Officials added that the agreement allows LCC students to transfer up to 90 credits toward a bachelors degree at Ashford University.
"LCC is an educational fixture in New Mexico. With the opportunity for a four-year Ashford degree, their students can begin their advanced education locally and finish at a fine four-year school." said Mark K. Young, Ashford's director of Academic Partnerships.
HCCC and an online school agree to allow students to seamlessly transfer to bachelors degree program
In an effort to help New York students graduate with bachelors degrees, Herkimer County Community College and Empire State College, recently announced that they have reached a partnership to enable students to earn a four-year degree after graduating from HCCC's associates program, the Herkimer Telegram reports.
Officials told the news source that they have named the agreement the Pathways Transfer Program. This is designed to help HCCC students transition from classroom-based learning to the College's online format, which has a mix of independent studies and residencies.
“This agreement broadens access and opportunity for our students who want to continue their education and earn a bachelor’s degree,” Ann Murray, HCCC president, told the news source. “The Pathways Transfer Program is a wonderful program for students who need the flexibility to be able to manage their courses anytime, anywhere.”
The agreement allows HCCC students to transfer all the credits they have earned to a bachelor's degree program at Empire State College. Furthermore, graduates may take an additional 16 credits on the HCCC campus to help them transition to upper-division courses at the four-year school.
Demand for human services delivery professionals prompts transfer agreement between Georgia schools
However, other schools are targeting specific programs that are part of a articulation agreement between two institution, such as one deal between a Gainesville State College (GSC) and Georgia Perimeter College.
School officials recently inked a deal that will allow students from Georgia Perimeter College's sign language interpreting program to transfer to GSC, news station WDUN reports.
They added that the agreement will begin in the fall 2011 semester, through which participating students will earn both an associates degree from Georgia Perimeter College and a bachelors degree in human services delivery administration from GSC. The four-year program will aim to prepare students for careers with government agencies, social service providers, business and nonprofit organizations.
"This program addresses demand in the region to produce trained professionals to serve growing community needs," Jessica Ziembroski, assistant professor of sociology at GSC, told the news source. "In addition, it provides students with an excellent and affordable degree that has broad applicability in terms of career options."
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