2. DesignWorlds for College Frona L. Kahn President Ted M. Kahn, Ph.D. Chief Technology & Learning Officer John J. Gottsman Board Member DesignWorlds for College www.designworlds.com/college/
3. What and Who is DesignWorlds for College? (DWC) • Division of DesignWorlds for Learning, Inc . 11 year-old, privately-held Silicon Valley company • Founding principals , Frona Kahn and Dr. Ted M. Kahn : - Educators (60 years of combined experience) - Award-winning innovators in design and use of educational software, digital media and the Web - Internationally recognized leaders in applied educational & learning sciences & technology R&D
4. DWC Principals • Frona L. Kahn, Co-Founder & President • Co-founder, The Learning Company • Co-founding Board Member, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose • B.A. and graduate study, University of California, Berkeley Division of DesignWorlds for Learning, Inc . 11 year-old, privately-held Silicon Valley company • Founding principals , Frona Kahn and Dr. Ted M. Kahn : - Educators (60 years of combined experience) - Award-winning innovators in design and use of educational software, digital media and the Web - Internationally recognized leaders in applied educational & learning sciences & technology R&D
5. DWC Principals • Ted M. Kahn, Ph.D., Chief Learning & Technology Officer • Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley), Xerox PARC, Atari, Picodyne, Digital F/X, Institute for Research on Learning (IRL) • George Lucas Educational Foundation, NMC Fellow: New Media Consortium • Fellow, UCLA; Center for Science, Technology & Society, Santa Clara University • Visiting Scholar, Media X @ Stanford • B.A., Computer Science, Ph.D. Psychology: University of California, Berkeley University of California, Berkeley Division of DesignWorlds for Learning, Inc . 11 year-old, privately-held Silicon Valley company • Founding principals , Frona Kahn and Dr. Ted M. Kahn : - Educators (60 years of combined experience) - Award-winning innovators in design and use of educational software, digital media and the Web - Internationally recognized leaders in applied educational & learning sciences & technology R&D
6. DWC Principals • John (Jack) Gottsman, Co-Founder & Board Member • Co-Founder & CEO of WICAT Educational Systems and Academic Systems • Silicon Valley Band of Angels Investor • Chairman, World Future Society • Chair, Silicon Valley: The Millenium Project • B.S. and graduate study, Villanova University Division of DesignWorlds for Learning, Inc . 11 year-old, privately-held Silicon Valley company • Founding principals , Frona Kahn and Dr. Ted M. Kahn : - Educators (60 years of combined experience) - Award-winning innovators in design and use of educational software, digital media and the Web - Internationally recognized leaders in applied educational & learning sciences & technology R&D
8. Trends in College Admissions • Ivies are still exclusive • International student competition growing • Gap Year —many private colleges now encourage this • Small Private Liberal arts colleges want more male applicants • Midwest colleges want California students
9. Challenges faced by Today’s High School Students Applications to Colleges Are Breaking Records New York Times By Karen W. Arenson (January 17, 2008) “ Applications to selective colleges and universities are reaching new heights this year, promising another season of high rejection rates and dashed hopes for many more students.”
10. College Entry Challenges Faced by High School Students • Increased competition for fewer spaces in UC’s & State Universities + higher demand for private colleges/universities • Students lack clarity of their own interests and/or knowledge of what colleges meet their interests • Applying for college in 2009 is different than it was in 70’s and 80’s (parents) • Leadership, internships and community service are key differentiators • CA Public High Schools—Students:Counselor > 600:1
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12. UC Counselor Conference 9/13/08 Breaking News • State Budget crisis for higher education • Apply broadly • Impacted majors--UCSD Engineering and all 6 majors in Division of Biology • ELC—top 4% of CA high school seniors guaranteed admission for 2008 at SOME UC’s
13. Parts of a UC college application: A “snapshot” of your student GPA SAT/ACT 2 Essays Activities & Summer Work/ Experience Awards Honors Emphasis on Leadership & Authentic Community Service
16. “ Is there hope if your GPA and SAT’s are not perfect? YES ! • We know how to help students expand their talents and interests. • We know how to position students on their applications so they will get accepted. • And, our students have gotten into UC Berkeley, UCLA, and many excellent private colleges without perfect scores and SAT tests.
18. How DWC focuses & guides your student through the whole process: Monthly meetings and ongoing email/web communication • Identify & Develop Special Talents , e.g. Music, Arts, Sports, Theater, Math, Engineering/Robotics, Science Research • Research and Identify Best Summer Programs and Internships • Evaluate & Plan for Improvement : GPA, Courses, Standardized Tests (SAT I & II, ACT, AP) • Provide Ongoing Professional Assessment & Guidance : Personal Exploration of Potential Careers, Interests, and Skills + Unique Thinking Talents & Strengths— to build the strongest possible college list
20. Brandeis University Student Testimonial “ Working with DWC inspired me to pay attention to what I was interested in - my passions, goals, and dreams - not those of my parents or anyone else. They encouraged me to look at colleges I had not thought of before, and because of this, today I am at a college that meets my academic ability and encompasses my passions and interests.”
21. Insert: Elements of proposed DWC scholarship program for academically competitive, economically disadvantaged high school sophomores/juniors
Welcome. We are grateful to present a program to help parents people be even more successful helping their children make an informed college choice for his or her academic and personal advancement.
