Almost six years after being shot in the head just for going to school in Pakistan, Malala Yousufzai has returned to her homeland to launch a series of education projects for girls. Yousafzai said her trip to Pakistan - her first since she was airlifted to the UK for treatment after being shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012 - was a "dream". The campaigner was visibly emotional as she gave a short speech about returning home for the trip, and about her passion for empowering women and girls, after a meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Islamabad. "For the last five years I dreamed that I can set foot in my country," she said, wiping away tears. "It's the happiest day of my life. I still can't believe it's happening," added Yousafzai, clad in a traditional shalwar khameez outfit with her head covered with a red and blue duppata scarf. While details about her trip are being closely guarded for security reasons, and it is unclear whether she will visit … [Read more...] about Malala Yousafzai returns to Pakistan in ‘dream’ trip to push education for girls
Education
Scottish Education Awards 2018: Teacher Chris made class figure out puzzle to avoid doom at the hands of zombies
A zombie apocalypse complete with bloodied footprints greeted pupils at a secondary school. But rather than taking part in a drama project, the pupils were entering a maths class. It is just one method Chris Smith, a maths teacher at Grange Academy, Kilmarnock has used to try to inspire his pupils. The pupils were set a series of challenges, the answers to which led to a series of co-ordinates. When typed into Google, the numbers revealed safe locations where pupils could “hide” from the zombies. Every time Chris comes up with a new idea, he creates a package to share with other UK teachers on the TESS website and he has been writing a weekly maths newsletter for the last 11 years with ideas and puzzles. His innovative ideas and dedication to his craft have put him in the final of this year’s teacher of the year category at the Scottish Education Awards. Chris received 27 separate nominations from teachers, parents, pupils and even university professors – all of … [Read more...] about Scottish Education Awards 2018: Teacher Chris made class figure out puzzle to avoid doom at the hands of zombies
Apple Pursues Google in Education With $299 IPad, New Software
Apple Inc. is going head-to-head with Google in education, a market the iPhone maker helped pioneer but has let languish.For the first time in several years, Apple released hardware specific to education: a new iPad that squares up against Google’s cheap Chromebook laptops, which have become popular in schools. Apple also introduced a new education service called Schoolwork, which will compete with Google’s Classroom software.The new iPad has a 9.7 inch screen and costs $299 for students and schools, and $329 for other users. It supports the Apple Pencil accessory, a first for a non-Pro iPad model. Apple also said it is releasing new versions of its iWork productivity apps that work with the Pencil stylus. The Pencil will cost $89 for students, $10 below the regular price.Apple executive Greg Joswiak called the new iPad "faster than virtually any Chromebook," during an event at a Chicago school on Tuesday. This was the first time Apple held a product launch geared toward … [Read more...] about Apple Pursues Google in Education With $299 IPad, New Software
Apple Rolls Out Schoolwork Service, Education App Upgrades
Apple Inc. announced software geared toward students and teachers, part of a renewed push into the education market that includes a new iPad.Marketing executive Susan Prescott announced a new app called Schoolwork for iPads that helps teachers assign work and monitor student progress. The iPhone maker also announced a new service called ClassKit, which allows developers to write apps that integrate with the Schoolwork service. This will let teachers send students to specific parts of apps to conduct classwork or access material. The new apps will be available in June, Apple said.The company said its Classroom student-management app for iPads will be coming to Mac computers, and it is updating its Swift Playgrounds coding application with support for building augmented-reality apps. Apple also announced a new curriculum called "Everyone Can Create" that helps teachers conduct lessons on music, photography and video creation. … [Read more...] about Apple Rolls Out Schoolwork Service, Education App Upgrades
Apple Launches $299 iPad for Education
Apple Inc. unveiled a low-cost iPad geared toward students to better compete with Google Chromebooks in the education market.The new model has a 9.7 inch screen and costs $299 for students and schools, and $329 for other users. The new tablet supports the Apple Pencil accessory, a first for a non-Pro iPad model. Apple also said it is releasing new versions of its iWork productivity apps that work with the Pencil stylus.Apple VP Greg Joswiak called it "faster than virtually any Chromebook."Apple also previewed a new feature called Smart Annotation that lets users annotate specific words on a page. An update to the Pages iWork app will also let users create their own digital books via the iPad.The new iPad still includes the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, versus Face ID 3-D sensor system on the iPhone X, but adds a new A10 Fusion chip which was first released in the iPhone 7 in 2016, up from the A9 in the previous low-cost iPad. … [Read more...] about Apple Launches $299 iPad for Education