Investigate the idea that “non-school factors” such as student poverty are among the strongest predictors of learning. Examine how two of the largest of these factors—culture and economics—play out in South Africa, which is experiencing an HIV/AIDS crisis, and in China, where test scores and national economics are thought to go hand-in-hand..

Borrowing or benchmarking one national education system against another is not necessarily a remedy or the most useful analytical tool for educational reform, yet these are among the most common approaches. Begin to understand why this approach falls short as Professor Wiseman lays out his general thesis for the course..

In the 21st century, the Earth’s surface is being reshaped and reorganized on a scale unprecedented at any other time in the planet’s history. It is a change directly caused by humans. In program eight Alec Murphy investigates why geographical concepts and insights are critical to the effort to confront the challenges of our ever-changing planet as its population grows to a staggering 10 billion people in the 21st century.

Most educational systems around the world have four general goals. Explore each of them here as you get a framework for finding what works to improve student achievement on standardized tests in countries worldwide. Also, look closely at some of the chief concerns regarding these tests..

Assuming something is “wrong” with schools, how might they be fixed? Analyze how the larger forces of imposition, invitation, and innovation can lead to change through examples from Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Myanmar, where Buddhist monks have established non-religious schools at their monasteries to remedy the poor quality of government-provided education..

The True Meaning of Pictures is a feature length documentary which addresses the issue of representation in documentary photography by examining the work of American photographer Shelby Lee Adams.. More specifically, the film seeks to (i) spend time with the subjects of Adam's work, in order to get to know them better and (ii) address the controversy and response Adams' photographs generate, which involves the politics of representation. Both strands...

Why are educational comparisons so popular? Should educational reform be driven by economic competition? Think critically about these questions as you examine which countries and cultures are and aren’t comparable, and consider the United Arab Emirates’ unique strategy of importing 50 Finnish teachers to reform two schools based on the Finnish model..

Waco: The Rules of Engagement is the first full-length documentary film to present the complete picture of the series of events outside Waco, Texas during 1993 that resulted in the shooting of 4 federal agents and the deaths of 86 men, women, and children of the Branch Davidian religious sect. Waco: The Rules of Engagement is a highly detailed examination of the interaction between David Koresh, his members, and Federal Law Enforcement. It shows how...

This is the story of Tyke, a circus elephant that went on a rampage in Honolulu in 1994, killed her trainer in front of thousands of people and died in a hail of gunfire. The incident traumatized a city and raised profound questions about our relationship to other species.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson, Gates vs. Jobs, Bird vs. Johnson, and Coke vs. Pepsi are all examples of rivalries. What defines a rivalry and why do they develop? Do rivalries push people to perform better, or do they hurt progress? Examine these questions and learn about some of the biggest rivalries in politics, business, sports, and culture from throughout history--starting with the Founding Fathers themselves! Packed with fun facts and fascinating sidebars,...