Global Education Insights: December Edition
Exploring the Evolving Digital Education Landscape Across Borders and Disciplines
đ Hey, itâs Jonathan, and welcome to my free monthly newsletter. Itâs always a pleasure curating the latest news and announcements in online education and edtech for you. Class Futures isnât just a newsletter; itâs a podcast and a community all rolled into one, designed to fuel your knowledge of digital education and help accelerate skills.
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In the spirit of global learning, we kick things off with Nord Anglia Education expanding its reach by acquiring Avenues The World School. Earlier this month I had a demo of its AI tool as well, and hope to write about it early next year.
From This Is School's foray into geography content and the launch of a comprehensive guide for home education by Emma White, Sarah Brouner, and John Nichols, to the inception of new programmes like the Downe House Global Academy Diploma and the partnership between The Online School and 8billionideas, this newsletter is really evidence of the innovation taking place in the digital education ecosystem.
But that's not all. HTS Global Online Campus, Highgrove Education, Launchpad23, CTL Academy and Minervaâs Virtual Academy are all hosting events for parents, teachers and pupils to learn more about their organisation in some way. There are then many career opportunities with organisations including Avenues The World School, King's InterHigh, Prisma, Minerva's Virtual Academy and start-up online school all recruiting for various positions. It illustrates the growing need for innovative educators worldwide. In my view, digital skills and training will become a key focus for 2024.
As I immerse myself in all these updates, remember, your contribution to this evolving community matters. Please share any opportunity that is relevant to the digital education space and connect with me on LinkedIn. Finally, if you have a friend who you think would enjoy this newsletter too, please click the button below.
Thanks so much,
Jonathan
News Highlights
Nord Anglia Education Welcomes Avenues New York and Avenues SĂŁo Paulo: With the addition of these renowned schools, Nord Anglia Education now operates 87 international and bilingual schools across 33 countries. Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Nord Anglia Education commented: âWe are delighted that Avenues New York and Avenues SĂŁo Paulo are now officially part of the Nord Anglia family. They are two exceptional schools with well-deserved reputations for innovative teaching and learning, and we look forward to working together to help our students achieve more than they ever imagined possible.â
While Avenues New York and Avenues SĂŁo Paulo have joined Nord Anglia Education, Avenues Shenzhen, Avenues Silicon Valley, and Avenues Online remain under existing management. This is a significant move by Nord Anglia Education and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
This Is School Launches Geography Content: Expanding their repertoire, This Is School introduces a new Geography unit, leveraging their expertise in language teaching, initially tailored for AQA GCSE. Dive into exploration! Definitely a company to watch.
Resource for Home Education Success: Emma White, Sarah Brouner, and John Nichols present a comprehensive guide supporting academic success at home for GCSE and A Level examinations. Definitely worth taking a look if you are home educating or researching it.
Downe House Global Academy Diploma Now Live: The Diploma offers two 10-week semesters in Social Sciences, STEM and Literature along with the World Ready Programme.
The Online School Collaborates with 8billionideas: Introducing future-focused learning via its critical curriculum, including entrepreneurship, careers, life skills, wellbeing, and health, enhancing student learning. This is a nice tie-up.
AI UK Fringe Calls for Event Hosts: Universities and organisations in the UK are invited to host events or activities 4 - 29 March, 2024, amplifying their work in data science and AI. Submission deadline is 22 December, 2023. Could be a neat way for organisations to plan and hook in AI activities.
Announcements, Courses, and Events
HTS Global Online Campus Virtual Open House: Join the fun-filled event on 7 December at 12PM EST. A great way of learning more.
Highgrove Education's Online EPQ Course: Offering an Extended Project Qualification course from January to November, catering to students aiming for the EPQ outside their current schools. Also open for collaborations with schools.
Minervaâs Virtual Academy (MVA) Virtual Event: Learn how MVA supports students struggling with attendance at traditional schools on 5 December at 6:30pm. If you miss it, do get in touch or reply to this email.
CTL Academy's 'Conversation with Parents': Join the insightful session on the importance of gratitude in challenging times on 6 December.
Launchpad23's Next Launch: Reserve a seat for pupils aged 7 to 17 years old, focusing on English language skills.
Looking to embed social and emotional learning into your teaching and for pupils 13-19? Persona Education is hosting a webinar with Pete Read and Dr Leila Khouja Walker on 14 December at 2.30pm GMT. All attendees will receive a certificate of participation from Persona Education which is a nice touch.
CATALYST by Winchester College Open Evening: I just missed the date on this but yesterday Catalyst hosted an online event for parents and pupils to explore its programmes aimed at 10-17 year olds. It has some neat features such as âThe Yardâ which is the name for where teachers and learners gather online. Iâm sure if you got in touch with the team they would provide you with more details. Reply to this email if you need any help.
Global Showcase 2023 by School of Humanity: Watch learners from 16 countries presenting solutions on global challenges. What a stage.
Apollo School's 2024 Cohorts: Limited spots available for kids ages 10-13 meeting weekly to explore world-shaping topics. The cohorts are put together by programme director Zain Punjwani and you can apply through its website. Very exciting.
Prismaâs East Asia and Oceania Cohort: Spots available for learners. Be quick! The deadline is 1 January 2024.
Futurescool's 50% Off Courses: Sign up before 15 December, 2023, for after-school courses catering to children aged 8-18.
Spark School's Future Readiness Series: Explore the "Impact Entrepreneurship" course for teenagers created by Daniel Kilian Cohen Stuart. Nice work.
Richard Human Joins Startup4ten: Richard will take on an education, ambassador and CPD role to bring entrepreneurial and business skills training into schools and classrooms.
Career Opportunities
Here, I highlight job openings at online schools and global learning institutions, reflecting the growing demand for specialised educators capable of delivering lessons worldwide. Organisations are actively seeking teachers who can transcend geographical boundaries to impart knowledge and expertise. For instance, I recently engaged with a school actively seeking a Computing specialist to provide direct support to schools unable to offer this as a qualification.
Explore the following opportunities:
Avenues in New York is Hiring: New Associate Teacher (English), Grade 1, Lower Division position available.
Are you a geography teacher seeking a pioneering role in 2024?
An online school is actively seeking a passionate geography teacher proficient in GCSE and A-Level syllabi to lead curriculum development and innovative online teaching. This role offers a unique opportunity to join the early setup team and spearhead the creation of interactive online content for flipped learning. With the flexibility of remote work and a myriad of additional benefits, this role promises a dynamic shift in your teaching career.Interested in exploring this exciting opportunity further? Reply to this email, and I'll gladly provide more information.
Other Opportunities: Positions available at King's InterHigh, Prisma, and Minerva's Virtual Academy. Reach out for more details or follow us on LinkedIn for updates.
Have a job opportunity to share or know a friend who may be interested? Refer a friend or reply to this email with details.
Conclusion and Analysis
In this comprehensive overview of the education landscape, we've witnessed significant developments that underscore the industry's relentless pursuit of innovation and adaptability. Nord Anglia Education's strategic expansion, incorporating Avenues New York and Avenues SĂŁo Paulo, amplifies the institution's global presence to 87 schools across 33 countries. This move reflects a trend toward international collaboration and the consolidation of educational excellence on a global scale.
Moreover, the foray of This Is School into Geography content, aimed initially at AQA GCSE, signifies an intriguing intersection of disciplines, leveraging their expertise to expand academic horizons. There is also a lot of collaboration in the sector and a general willingness to support areas such as home education and examination success.
The launch of initiatives such as the Downe House Global Academy Diploma, coupling semesters in Social Sciences, STEM, and Literature with a World Ready Programme, demonstrates a commitment to pupil development beyond conventional academic domains. Partnerships like The Online School's alliance with 8billionideas signify a deliberate shift towards future-focused learning, encompassing entrepreneurship, life skills, and wellbeing.
Examining the career landscape, the demand for specialised educators capable of remote teaching continues to rise. Institutions seeking subject-specific experts and offering flexible work arrangements signal a paradigm shift in the way education is delivered and accessed globally.
This analysis highlights an industry-wide commitment to adaptability and inclusivity, catering to a wide range of learning needs by leveraging advancements in technology and teaching. Education is no longer confined by physical boundaries, or even walls. It now thrives in a dynamic, interconnected global world. This promises new opportunities for both educators and learners alike.
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