Friday
Sep292006
406 - Offshore Homework Tutoring; Basketball Shooting - Muscle Memory?
September 29, 2006
Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 29, 2006.
#406 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
52,914 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2006 - Nov 5-8 - Orlando - www.learning2006.com.
Over 1,304 Global Learning Leaders Registered Already!
1. Tutoring Offshored - Homework Help from India.
2. Tips for Trainers - Wireless Keyboard Changes Control.
3. Dave Hopla: Basketball Shooting Maven at Learning 2006.
1. Tutoring Offshored - Homework Help from India: We have been tracking a sharp rise in the use of private tutors for school-age students via distance learning methods from offshore locations like India.
For example, Reuters recently reported that a California mother, Denise Robison, found a tutor online for $2.50 an hour -- in India. "It's made the biggest difference. My daughter is literally at the top of every single one of her classes and she has never done that before," said Robison, a single mother from Modesto."
Her 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, is one of 1,100 Americans enrolled in Bangalore-based TutorVista, which launched U.S. services last November with a staff of 150 "e-tutors", mostly in India with a fee of $100 a month for unlimited hours. Taylor took two-hour sessions each day for five days a week in Math and English with a cost that tallies to $2.50 an hour: a fraction of the $40 an hour charged by U.S.-based online tutors, such as market leader Tutor.com, that draw on North American teachers, or the usual $100 an hour for face-to-face sessions.
"I like to tell people I did private tutoring every day for the cost of a fast-food meal or a Starbucks' coffee," Robison said. "We did our own form of summer school all summer."
Many of the tutors have masters degrees in their subjects, said Ganesh. On average, they have taught for 10 years. Each undergoes 60 hours of training, including lessons on how to speak in a U.S. accent and how to decipher American slang. They are schooled on U.S. history and state curricula, and work in mini-call centers or from their homes across India. One operates out of Hong Kong, teaching the Chinese language.
A couple of implications and futures for Learning TRENDS readers to
ponder:
* As knowledge is unevenly distributed around the world, will our trainers, teachers and subject matter experts be located globally?
* What might be the growth of similar tutoring services for corporate education and leadership development?
* What is the implication for increased blended learning models incorporating tutoring?
* Can outsourced tutoring be purchased by school districts in order to make the service available to all social classes?
2. Tips for Trainers - Wireless Keyboard Changes Control: This is a simple tip. I use a Logitech Wireless Keyboard in my classroom at The MASIE Center. During a seminar, I can hand the keyboard (with a mouse) to any of the learners, letting them "drive" the session. It also allows the "lectern" be a table on wheels, ready to roll to any part of the room.
3. Basketball Shooting Coach at Learning 2006? Muscle Memory!
Learning 2006 is proud to present a most unusual Thought Leader: World's Best Basketball Foul Shooter - Dave Hopla! He is an amazing speaker and coach. Dave will demonstrate what PRACTICE and "Muscle Memory" can do for learning and performance. He is a personal coach to NBA stars and an incredible teacher.
Dave Hopla is the top US shooting coach and hugely entertaining.
Watching someone put 110 out of 111 shots through the hoop will be astonishing. Even more astonishing is the fact that Dave does his talk as he shoots. What's this got to do with business? Dave's message is pure - learning is about memory, and skills need to be practiced to be learned.
Most of what we learn fades quickly from short-term memory. To push learning from short to long-term memory, you need to practice, regularly and often. The lesson we have to learn is that the 'sheep-dip' experience is wildly unproductive, unless there is follow-through and practice.
Dave will be one of our keynote speakers and will be available throughout Monday to teach YOU how to get basketballs through that tiny hoop --- even if you have NEVER played the game. If you want to watch a video clip of one of his presentations, go to http//www.learning2006.com/hoops/
Upcoming MASIE Center Events & Services:
* Learning 2006 - Nov 5 to 8 - Orlando.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
#406 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
52,914 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2006 - Nov 5-8 - Orlando - www.learning2006.com.
Over 1,304 Global Learning Leaders Registered Already!
1. Tutoring Offshored - Homework Help from India.
2. Tips for Trainers - Wireless Keyboard Changes Control.
3. Dave Hopla: Basketball Shooting Maven at Learning 2006.
1. Tutoring Offshored - Homework Help from India: We have been tracking a sharp rise in the use of private tutors for school-age students via distance learning methods from offshore locations like India.
For example, Reuters recently reported that a California mother, Denise Robison, found a tutor online for $2.50 an hour -- in India. "It's made the biggest difference. My daughter is literally at the top of every single one of her classes and she has never done that before," said Robison, a single mother from Modesto."
Her 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, is one of 1,100 Americans enrolled in Bangalore-based TutorVista, which launched U.S. services last November with a staff of 150 "e-tutors", mostly in India with a fee of $100 a month for unlimited hours. Taylor took two-hour sessions each day for five days a week in Math and English with a cost that tallies to $2.50 an hour: a fraction of the $40 an hour charged by U.S.-based online tutors, such as market leader Tutor.com, that draw on North American teachers, or the usual $100 an hour for face-to-face sessions.
"I like to tell people I did private tutoring every day for the cost of a fast-food meal or a Starbucks' coffee," Robison said. "We did our own form of summer school all summer."
Many of the tutors have masters degrees in their subjects, said Ganesh. On average, they have taught for 10 years. Each undergoes 60 hours of training, including lessons on how to speak in a U.S. accent and how to decipher American slang. They are schooled on U.S. history and state curricula, and work in mini-call centers or from their homes across India. One operates out of Hong Kong, teaching the Chinese language.
A couple of implications and futures for Learning TRENDS readers to
ponder:
* As knowledge is unevenly distributed around the world, will our trainers, teachers and subject matter experts be located globally?
* What might be the growth of similar tutoring services for corporate education and leadership development?
* What is the implication for increased blended learning models incorporating tutoring?
* Can outsourced tutoring be purchased by school districts in order to make the service available to all social classes?
2. Tips for Trainers - Wireless Keyboard Changes Control: This is a simple tip. I use a Logitech Wireless Keyboard in my classroom at The MASIE Center. During a seminar, I can hand the keyboard (with a mouse) to any of the learners, letting them "drive" the session. It also allows the "lectern" be a table on wheels, ready to roll to any part of the room.
3. Basketball Shooting Coach at Learning 2006? Muscle Memory!
Learning 2006 is proud to present a most unusual Thought Leader: World's Best Basketball Foul Shooter - Dave Hopla! He is an amazing speaker and coach. Dave will demonstrate what PRACTICE and "Muscle Memory" can do for learning and performance. He is a personal coach to NBA stars and an incredible teacher.
Dave Hopla is the top US shooting coach and hugely entertaining.
Watching someone put 110 out of 111 shots through the hoop will be astonishing. Even more astonishing is the fact that Dave does his talk as he shoots. What's this got to do with business? Dave's message is pure - learning is about memory, and skills need to be practiced to be learned.
Most of what we learn fades quickly from short-term memory. To push learning from short to long-term memory, you need to practice, regularly and often. The lesson we have to learn is that the 'sheep-dip' experience is wildly unproductive, unless there is follow-through and practice.
Dave will be one of our keynote speakers and will be available throughout Monday to teach YOU how to get basketballs through that tiny hoop --- even if you have NEVER played the game. If you want to watch a video clip of one of his presentations, go to http//www.learning2006.com/hoops/
Upcoming MASIE Center Events & Services:
* Learning 2006 - Nov 5 to 8 - Orlando.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
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