Student Engagement In Community College Online Education Programs

Download Student Engagement In Community College Online Education Programs full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Student Engagement In Community College Online Education Programs ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

Activity Systems Analysis Methods

Author : Lisa C. Yamagata-Lynch
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1441963219
Total Pages : 162 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (419 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Activity Systems Analysis Methods by : Lisa C. Yamagata-Lynch

Download or read book Activity Systems Analysis Methods written by Lisa C. Yamagata-Lynch and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-07-15 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the last two decades, there has been growing interest in pursuing theoretical paradigms that capture complex learning situations. Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) is one of several theoretical frameworks that became very popular among educational researchers because it conceptualizes individuals and their environment as a holistic unit of analysis. It assumes a non-dualistic ontology and acknowledges the complexities involved in human activity in natural settings. Recently, reputable journals such as the American Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, and Educational Researcher that are targeted for a wide-range of audience have included articles on CHAT. In many of such articles, CHAT has been referred to as social constructivism, sociocultural theory, or activity theory. Activity systems analysis is one of the popular methods among CHAT researchers for mapping complex human interactions from qualitative data. However, understanding the methods involved in activity systems analysis is a challenging task for many researchers. This difficulty derives from several reasons. First the original texts of CHAT are in Russian and there have been numerous authors who report on the difficulties of reconciling translation problems of the works of original authors’ such as Vygotsky and Leontiev. Second, in North America activity systems analysis has deviated from the Russian scholars’ intentions and Engeström’s original work using the triangle model to identify tensions to overcome and bring about sociopolitical change in participant practices. Third, to this date there are numerous publications on the theoretical background of activity theory and studies reporting the results of using activity systems analysis for unpacking qualitative data sets, but there have been no methodological publications on how researchers engage in activity systems analysis. Thus, there is a dearth of literature in both book and journal publications that guide researchers on the methodological issues involving activity systems analysis.

Engaging the Online Learner

Author : Rita-Marie Conrad
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1118059824
Total Pages : 166 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (18 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Engaging the Online Learner by : Rita-Marie Conrad

Download or read book Engaging the Online Learner written by Rita-Marie Conrad and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-03-23 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Engaging the Online Learner This updated edition includes an innovative framework the Phases of Engagement that helps learners become more involved as knowledge generators and cofacilitators of a course. The book also provides specific ideas for tested activities (collected from experienced online instructors across the nation) that can go a long way to improving online learning. Engaging the Online Learner offers the tools and information needed to: Convert classroom activities to an online environment Assess the learning that occurs as a result of collaborative activities Phase in activities that promote engagement among online learners Build peer interaction through peer partnerships and team activities Create authentic activities and implement games and simulations Praise for Engaging the Online Learner "The Phases of Engagement framework provides a road map for creating community at each phase of an online course. This book is an invaluable guide to innovative practices for online learning." Judith V. Boettcher, coauthor of The Online Teaching Survival Guide "Engagement is the heart of online learning. The authors have developed an encyclopedia of tried-and-true learner engagement activities that are authentic and ready to use." Donald P. Ely, professor emeritus, instructional design, development and evaluation in the School of Education, Syracuse University

Student Engagement in Campus-Based and Online Education

Author : Hamish Coates
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1134161522
Total Pages : 248 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (341 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Student Engagement in Campus-Based and Online Education by : Hamish Coates

Download or read book Student Engagement in Campus-Based and Online Education written by Hamish Coates and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2006-09-27 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Blended learning is firmly established in universities around the world, yet to date little attention has been paid to how students are enaging with this style of learning. Presenting a theoretically-based and empirically-validated model of engagement, this book examines the application of the model to improve the quality and productivity of university education. Covering the key qualities of blended learning, it analyses how online learning influences campus-based education, develops the student perspective of online learning, examines online learning systems as agents of change, provides insights and guidance for educational developers and administrators attempting to improve quality of learning, and considers how institutions can maximise educational returns from large investments in online learning technologies. Illustrated with case studies and developing ideas for practice, this book will be valuable reading for researchers and developers keen to improve their understanding of the emerging dynamics of contemporary student engagement with online learning.

Student Engagement Techniques

Author : Elizabeth F. Barkley
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 0470549785
Total Pages : 416 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (75 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Student Engagement Techniques by : Elizabeth F. Barkley

Download or read book Student Engagement Techniques written by Elizabeth F. Barkley and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2009-10-06 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Keeping students involved, motivated, and actively learning is challenging educators across the country,yet good advice on how to accomplish this has not been readily available. Student Engagement Techniques is a comprehensive resource that offers college teachers a dynamic model for engaging students and includes over one hundred tips, strategies, and techniques that have been proven to help teachers from a wide variety of disciplines and institutions motivate and connect with their students. The ready-to-use format shows how to apply each of the book's techniques in the classroom and includes purpose, preparation, procedures, examples, online implementation, variations and extensions, observations and advice, and key resources. "Given the current and welcome surge of interest in improving student learning and success, this guide is a timely and important tool, sharply focused on practical strategies that can really matter." ?Kay McClenney, director, Center for Community College Student Engagement, Community College Leadership Program, the University of Texas at Austin "This book is a 'must' for every new faculty orientation program; it not only emphasizes the importance of concentrating on what students learn but provides clear steps to prepare and execute an engagement technique. Faculty looking for ideas to heighten student engagement in their courses will find usefultechniques that can be adopted, adapted, extended, or modified." ?Bob Smallwood, cocreator of CLASSE (Classroom Survey of Student Engagement) and assistant to the provost for assessment, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, University of Alabama "Elizabeth Barkley's encyclopedia of active learning techniques (here called SETs) combines both a solid discussion of the research on learning that supports the concept of engagement and real-life examples of these approaches to teaching in action." ?James Rhem, executive editor, The National Teaching & Learning Forum

High-impact Educational Practices

Author : George D. Kuh
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 50 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis High-impact Educational Practices by : George D. Kuh

Download or read book High-impact Educational Practices written by George D. Kuh and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication¿the latest report from AAC&U¿s Liberal Education and America¿s Promise (LEAP) initiative¿defines a set of educational practices that research has demonstrated have a significant impact on student success. Author George Kuh presents data from the National Survey of Student Engagement about these practices and explains why they benefit all students, but also seem to benefit underserved students even more than their more advantaged peers. The report also presents data that show definitively that underserved students are the least likely students, on average, to have access to these practices.

Student Retention in Online, Open and Distance Learning

Author : Ormond Simpson
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1135724458
Total Pages : 172 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (357 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Student Retention in Online, Open and Distance Learning by : Ormond Simpson

Download or read book Student Retention in Online, Open and Distance Learning written by Ormond Simpson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2003-12-16 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ormond Simpson provides a clear, accessible analysis of strategies for increasing retention and, crucially, provides case studies and examples to illustrate how these strategies can change institutional policy and practice.

Supporting Students for Success in Online and Distance Education

Author : Ormond Simpson
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 0415509092
Total Pages : 298 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (155 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Supporting Students for Success in Online and Distance Education by : Ormond Simpson

Download or read book Supporting Students for Success in Online and Distance Education written by Ormond Simpson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Supporting Students for Success in Online and Distance Learning, Third Edition, provides a comprehensive overview of student support both on and off campus. While online and distance learning are the world’s fastest growing areas of educational development, they have a fundamental weakness—their graduation rates, which can be lower than 20 percent. In this powerful new edition, Ormond Simpson builds on a rich history of research in distance and e-learning to show how retention rates can be improved through tested support methods, often at a net financial profit to the institutions involved. By comparing the evidence as well as the cost-effectiveness of various support tactics, this book describes how to promote student success and encourage skill-development from a number of different perspectives: definitions and purpose, theory and psychology, ethics, costs and benefits, activities, sources, media, proactive and reactive, assessment and feedback, staff development, writing support into course materials, research, quality assurance and institutional structures. This concise, practical guide is informal and jargon-free, yet its approach to evidence is rigorous, making it invaluable reading for all those interested in recruiting and teaching diverse students for successful online and distance learning.

High-Impact Practices in Online Education

Author : Kathryn E. Linder
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 100097698X
Total Pages : 236 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (9 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis High-Impact Practices in Online Education by : Kathryn E. Linder

Download or read book High-Impact Practices in Online Education written by Kathryn E. Linder and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2023-07-03 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume offers the first comprehensive guide to how high-impact practices (HIPs) are being implemented in online environments and how they can be adjusted to meet the needs of online learners. This multi-disciplinary approach will assist faculty and administrators to effectively implement HIPs in distance education courses and online programs.With a chapter devoted to each of the eleven HIPs, this collection offers guidance that takes into account the differences between e-learners and traditional on-campus students.A primary goal of High-Impact Practices Online is to share the ways in which HIPs may need to be amended to meet the needs of online learners. Through specific examples and practical suggestions in each chapter, readers are introduced to concrete strategies for transitioning HIPs to the online environment that can be utilized across a range of disciplines and institution types. Each chapter of High-Impact Practices Online also references the most recent and relevant literature on each HIP so that readers are brought up to date on what makes online HIPs successful.The book provides guidance on how best to implement HIPs to increase retention and completion for online learners.

Paths to Learning

Author : Barbara F. Tobolowsky
Publisher : First-Year Experience and Students in Transition University of South Carolina
ISBN 13 : 9781889271927
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (719 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Paths to Learning by : Barbara F. Tobolowsky

Download or read book Paths to Learning written by Barbara F. Tobolowsky and published by First-Year Experience and Students in Transition University of South Carolina. This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Higher education institutions are more diverse than ever before, as are the students they serve. Because of this great diversity, there is no silver bullet--one approach--that will work for teaching all students in all circumstances. This book offers a succinct description of several pedagogical paths available to faculty that can actively engage all students. In addition to providing the most recent information on learning and assessment, individual chapters tackle different approaches, including critical pedagogy, contemplative pedagogy, strengths-based teaching, and cooperative/collaborative learning. While the discussion is grounded in theory, authors present examples of applying these approaches in physical and virtual learning environments. Paths to Learning is a valuable overview of engaging pedagogies for educators seeking to sharpen their teaching skills, which in turn, will help students become more confident and successful learners.

Minds Online

Author : Michelle D. Miller
Publisher : Harvard University Press
ISBN 13 : 067436824X
Total Pages : 296 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (743 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Minds Online by : Michelle D. Miller

Download or read book Minds Online written by Michelle D. Miller and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2014-10-20 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From wired campuses to smart classrooms to massive open online courses (MOOCs), digital technology is now firmly embedded in higher education. But the dizzying pace of innovation, combined with a dearth of evidence on the effectiveness of new tools and programs, challenges educators to articulate how technology can best fit into the learning experience. Minds Online is a concise, nontechnical guide for academic leaders and instructors who seek to advance learning in this changing environment, through a sound scientific understanding of how the human brain assimilates knowledge. Drawing on the latest findings from neuroscience and cognitive psychology, Michelle Miller explores how attention, memory, and higher thought processes such as critical thinking and analytical reasoning can be enhanced through technology-aided approaches. The techniques she describes promote retention of course material through frequent low‐stakes testing and practice, and help prevent counterproductive cramming by encouraging better spacing of study. Online activities also help students become more adept with cognitive aids, such as analogies, that allow them to apply learning across situations and disciplines. Miller guides instructors through the process of creating a syllabus for a cognitively optimized, fully online course. She presents innovative ideas for how to use multimedia effectively, how to take advantage of learners’ existing knowledge, and how to motivate students to do their best work and complete the course. For a generation born into the Internet age, educational technology designed with the brain in mind offers a natural pathway to the pleasures and rewards of deep learning.

Community Engagement in Higher Education

Author : W. James Jacob
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9463000070
Total Pages : 344 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (63 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Community Engagement in Higher Education by : W. James Jacob

Download or read book Community Engagement in Higher Education written by W. James Jacob and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-06-17 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There seems to be renewed interest in having universities and other higher education institutions engage with their communities at the local, national, and international levels. But what is community engagement? Even if this interest is genuine and widespread, there are many different concepts of community service, outreach, and engagement. The wide range of activity encompassed by community engagement suggests that a precise definition of the “community mission” is difficult and organizing and coordinating such activities is a complex task. This edited volume includes 18 chapters that explore conceptual understandings of community engagement and higher education reforms and initiatives intended to foster it. Contributors provide empirical research findings, including several case study examples that respond to the following higher educaiton community engagement issues. What is “the community” and what does it need and expect from higher education institutions? Is community engagement a mission of all types of higher education institutions or should it be the mission of specific institutions such as regional or metropolitan universities, technical universities, community colleges, or indigenous institutions while other institutions such as major research universities should concentrate on national and global research agendas and on educating internationally-competent researchers and professionals? How can a university be global and at the same time locally relevant? Is it, or should it be, left to the institutions to determine the scope and mode of their community engagement, or is a state mandate preferable and feasible? If community engagement or “community service” are mandatory, what are the consequences of not complying with the mandate? How effective are policy mandates and university engagement for regional and local economic development? What are the principal features and relationships of regionally-engaged universities? Is community engagement to be left to faculty members and students who are particularly socially engaged and locally embedded or is it, or should it be, made mandatory for both faculty and students? How can community engagement be (better) integrated with the (other) two traditional missions of the university—research and teaching? Cover image: The Towering Four-fold Mission of Higher Education, by Natalie Jacob

Collaborative Learning Techniques

Author : Elizabeth F. Barkley
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1118761677
Total Pages : 455 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (187 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Collaborative Learning Techniques by : Elizabeth F. Barkley

Download or read book Collaborative Learning Techniques written by Elizabeth F. Barkley and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-07-22 with total page 455 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to thirty-five creative assignments for pairs and groups Collaborative Learning Techniques is the bestseller that college and university faculty around the world have used to help them make the most of small group learning. A mountain of evidence shows that students who learn in small groups together exhibit higher academic achievement, motivation, and satisfaction than those who don't. Collaborative learning puts into practice the major conclusion from learning theory: that students must be actively engaged in building their own minds. In this book, the authors synthesize the relevant research and theory to support thirty-five collaborative learning activities for use in both traditional and online classrooms. This second edition reflects the changed world of higher education. New technologies have opened up endless possibilities for college teaching, but it's not always easy to use these technologies effectively. Updated to address the challenges of today's new teaching environments, including online, "flipped," and large lectures, Collaborative Learning Techniques is a wonderful reference for educators who want to make the most of any course environment. This revised and expanded edition includes: Additional techniques, with an all-new chapter on using games to provide exciting, current, technologically-sophisticated curricula A section on effective online implementation for each of the thirty-five techniques Significantly expanded pedagogical rationale and updates on the latest research showing how and why collaborative learning works Examples for implementing collaborative learning techniques in a variety of learning environments, including large lecture classes and "flipped" classes Expanded guidance on how to solve common problems associated with group work The authors guide instructors through all aspects of group work, providing a solid grounding in what to do, how to do it, and why it is important for student learning. The detailed procedures in Collaborative Learning Techniques will help teachers make sure group activities go smoothly, no matter the size or delivery method of their classes. With practical advice on how to form student groups, assign roles, build team spirit, address unexpected problems, and evaluate and grade student participation, this new edition of the international classic makes incorporating effective group work easy.

Research Anthology on Service Learning and Community Engagement Teaching Practices

Author : Information Resources Management Association
Publisher : Information Science Reference
ISBN 13 : 9781668438770
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (387 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Research Anthology on Service Learning and Community Engagement Teaching Practices by : Information Resources Management Association

Download or read book Research Anthology on Service Learning and Community Engagement Teaching Practices written by Information Resources Management Association and published by Information Science Reference. This book was released on 2021-12-30 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The need for more empathetic and community-focused students must begin with educators, as service-learning has begun to grow in popularity throughout the years. By implementing service and community aspects into the classroom at an early age, educators have a greater chance of influencing students and creating a new generation of service-minded individuals who care about their communities. Teachers must have the necessary skills and current information available to them to provide students with quality service learning and community engagement curricula. The Research Anthology on Service Learning and Community Engagement Teaching Practices provides a thorough investigation of the current trends, best practices, and challenges of teaching practices for service learning and community engagement. Using innovative research, it outlines the struggles, frameworks, and recommendations necessary for educators to engage students and provide them with a comprehensive education in service learning. Covering topics such as lesson planning, teacher education, and cultural humility, it is a crucial reference for educators, administrators, universities, lesson planners, researchers, academicians, and students.

Early Warning Systems and Targeted Interventions for Student Success in Online Courses

Author : Glick, Danny
Publisher : IGI Global
ISBN 13 : 1799850757
Total Pages : 374 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (998 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Early Warning Systems and Targeted Interventions for Student Success in Online Courses by : Glick, Danny

Download or read book Early Warning Systems and Targeted Interventions for Student Success in Online Courses written by Glick, Danny and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2020-06-26 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Online learning has increasingly been viewed as a possible way to remove barriers associated with traditional face-to-face teaching, such as overcrowded classrooms and shortage of certified teachers. While online learning has been recognized as a possible approach to deliver more desirable learning outcomes, close to half of online students drop out as a result of student-related, course-related, and out-of-school-related factors (e.g., poor self-regulation; ineffective teacher-student, student-student, and platform-student interactions; low household income). Many educators have expressed concern over students who unexpectedly begin to struggle and appear to fall off track without apparent reason. A well-implemented early warning system, therefore, can help educators identify students at risk of dropping out and assign and monitor interventions to keep them on track for graduation. Despite the popularity of early warning systems, research on their design and implementation is sparse. Early Warning Systems and Targeted Interventions for Student Success in Online Courses is a cutting-edge research publication that examines current theoretical frameworks, research projects, and empirical studies related to the design, implementation, and evaluation of early warning systems and targeted interventions and discusses their implications for policy and practice. Moreover, this book will review common challenges of early warning systems and dashboard design and will explore design principles and data visualization tools to make data more understandable and, therefore, more actionable. Highlighting a range of topics such as curriculum design, game-based learning, and learning support, it is ideal for academicians, policymakers, administrators, researchers, education professionals, instructional designers, data analysts, and students.

How College Affects Students

Author : Matthew J. Mayhew
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1119101972
Total Pages : 784 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (191 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis How College Affects Students by : Matthew J. Mayhew

Download or read book How College Affects Students written by Matthew J. Mayhew and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2016-08-23 with total page 784 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The bestselling analysis of higher education's impact, updated with the latest data How College Affects Students synthesizes over 1,800 individual research investigations to provide a deeper understanding of how the undergraduate experience affects student populations. Volume 3 contains the findings accumulated between 2002 and 2013, covering diverse aspects of college impact, including cognitive and moral development, attitudes and values, psychosocial change, educational attainment, and the economic, career, and quality of life outcomes after college. Each chapter compares current findings with those of Volumes 1 and 2 (covering 1967 to 2001) and highlights the extent of agreement and disagreement in research findings over the past 45 years. The structure of each chapter allows readers to understand if and how college works and, of equal importance, for whom does it work. This book is an invaluable resource for administrators, faculty, policymakers, and student affairs practitioners, and provides key insight into the impact of their work. Higher education is under more intense scrutiny than ever before, and understanding its impact on students is critical for shaping the way forward. This book distills important research on a broad array of topics to provide a cohesive picture of student experiences and outcomes by: Reviewing a decade's worth of research; Comparing current findings with those of past decades; Examining a multifaceted analysis of higher education's impact; and Informing policy and practice with empirical evidence Amidst the current introspection and skepticism surrounding higher education, there is a massive body of research that must be synthesized to enhance understanding of college's effects. How College Affects Students compiles, organizes, and distills this information in one place, and makes it available to research and practitioner audiences; Volume 3 provides insight on the past decade, with the expert analysis characteristic of this seminal work.

Handbook of Research on Strategic Management of Interaction, Presence, and Participation in Online Courses

Author : Kyei-Blankson, Lydia
Publisher : IGI Global
ISBN 13 : 1466695838
Total Pages : 638 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (666 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Handbook of Research on Strategic Management of Interaction, Presence, and Participation in Online Courses by : Kyei-Blankson, Lydia

Download or read book Handbook of Research on Strategic Management of Interaction, Presence, and Participation in Online Courses written by Kyei-Blankson, Lydia and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2015-11-05 with total page 638 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Online learning has become a prominent and inseparable component of higher education in recent years. Questions related to course structure, levels of interaction, presence, and participation within online courses persist and invite further inquiry for determining factors that encourage effective teaching and learning in online environments. The Handbook of Research on Strategic Management of Interaction, Presence, and Participation in Online Courses explores models of course development and delivery techniques to improve instruction, learning, and student satisfaction in online courses. Covering topics such as rates of participation, student engagement and retention, and social development, this handbook serves as a resource for educators in online learning environments, as well as for course designers and developers of online courses and researchers whose agenda includes examining interaction, presence, and participation in online courses.

Class Matters

Author : The New York Times
Publisher : Macmillan
ISBN 13 : 1429956690
Total Pages : 290 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (299 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Class Matters by : The New York Times

Download or read book Class Matters written by The New York Times and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2011-07-12 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The acclaimed New York Times series on social class in America—and its implications for the way we live our lives We Americans have long thought of ourselves as unburdened by class distinctions. We have no hereditary aristocracy or landed gentry, and even the poorest among us feel that they can become rich through education, hard work, or sheer gumption. And yet social class remains a powerful force in American life. In Class Matters, a team of New York Times reporters explores the ways in which class—defined as a combination of income, education, wealth, and occupation—influences destiny in a society that likes to think of itself as a land of opportunity. We meet individuals in Kentucky and Chicago who have used education to lift themselves out of poverty and others in Virginia and Washington whose lack of education holds them back. We meet an upper-middle-class family in Georgia who moves to a different town every few years, and the newly rich in Nantucket whose mega-mansions have driven out the longstanding residents. And we see how class disparities manifest themselves at the doctor's office and at the marriage altar. For anyone concerned about the future of the American dream, Class Matters is truly essential reading. "Class Matters is a beautifully reported, deeply disturbing, portrait of a society bent out of shape by harsh inequalities. Read it and see how you fit into the problem or—better yet—the solution!"—Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed and Bait and Switch