Daily Digest

Today, we highlight the controversies that accompany big-name commencement speakers, a recent study that underscores the ongoing important role libraries play in America, a new approach to competency-based degree programs at the University of Wisconsin and news about how MOOCs may be losing steam, even as online enrollment continues to rise at community colleges. Enjoy!

Today we have double the information due to missing out on yesterday's Digest. We highlight Kasich's new high school dropout recovery plan winning support to provide job training, while a new factory in Ohio struggles to match to job-seekers. Also included is information on the misconceptions of the Common Core and a study documenting the impact of federal research spending at universities. We also share information on low-income students being brought into STEM education fields, and reasons technology needs more "geek" girls. 

New results on PISA problem-solving exam showing US students to score above average, while the Ohio Capital Budget is sent over to Governor Kasich for his approval of $2.4 billion. Also, new STEM hubs emerge in rural areas to solve the crisis of people earning advanced STEM degrees exiting academia. 

Ford's new investment in a $500 million upgrade to bring 300 new jobs to Ohio, while startups in Education also top at raising $500 million this quarter alone. Also featured is an update on school e-libraries--with help from LeBron James--and business education and Big Data in Washington DC

Info. on early STEM education leading to women in IT along with the expansion of STEM careers over the past few decades. Also included is an update on digital-learning experiences with textbook publishers and the amount of graduate schol debt rising and calling the need for attention. 

As investments in Maryland ed-tech startups increase, Ohio Race to the Top applicants seek extensions as new programs prove harder to implement as anticipated. Learn more about trending degrees in higher education, along with an increase in STEM funding for students in undergraduate and graduate research. 

Details on Sinclair Community College developing a joint training and coursework program with Southern State Community College, along with a robotics vocational center receiving a $25k grant from Honda North America. Also featured is information on the University of Michigan building an autonomous car test track and the $1 trillion student loan debt widening the US wealth gap

Interesting news regarding the new Straight-A-Fund applications released, an update on US libraries working to become world leaders in adapting to changing technologies, and the importance of STEM education and incorporating the arts. Also included is another update on big data and the auto industry, along with Columbus hospital systems adding thousands of new jobs. 

Potholes and Big Data: Crowdsourcing Our Way to Better Government (WIRED) – The city of Boston has developed a smartphone app that has greatly improved their efficiency in maintaining roads. Drivers are able to turn on the app and the phone will track ‘bumps’ and submit their location to a cloud server for the city to analyze and locate potential road hazards.

Learn more about Governor Kasich's proposed capital budget focusing on oil and gas training facilities, a recent study showing veterans succeeding in college, and the NSF funding a new private-public research center at Ohio University, in conjunction with Washington University St. Louis. In addition to all of this, we have information on a new approach for high school advanced placement classes.