Syracuse’s iSchool Expands Degree Programs With 2U

Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies (iSchool) and the learning platform 2U officially have announced a new collaboration in the field of online learning. The partnership will further improve the iSchool experience in online education by combining its e-programs with 2U’s technology-enabled services.it includes online degree programs for an MS in Information Management, an MS in Library Science, and an MS in Library Science with School Media Specialization, notes the official website of The School of Information Studies at Syracuse University.the program will encompass face-to-face e-classes given by the iSchool faculty and practical learning examples from the real world. Online students will be expected to fulfill the same academic requirements as students in traditional iSchool programs. The application procedure for Fall 2016 starts in April.

In comparison to other e-learning programs, the online degree offerings at the iSchool do not differ from the on-campus programs. They share the same syllabus, tuition fees, and faculty and the teaching staff is fully qualified in online pedagogy.furthermore, iSchool focuses on direct contact with students in online courses, with iSchool touting flexible study schedules so that students can learn anytime, anywhere. However, there is a limited residency requirement.earlier this year the iSchool was ranked No. 11 in the best online degree programs for graduate computer information technology in the United States by U.S. News and World Report, notes J.D. Ross of The Syracuse University News. Selectivity, graduation rates, and student services were among the key factors to determine the best schools. The director of online education at iSchool, Victoria Williams, said that she was proud of this achievement in a highly competitive area such as online learning:

“The iSchool’s online programs attract working professionals who require the flexibility and access to faculty expertise that our online programs provide. Our online programs also allow us to draw 

from a pool of high-quality distance faculty members and instructors.”

In 2014, iSchool was ranked No 1 in U.S. News and World Report’s best graduate schools rankings and No. 9 for online computer information technology programs for veterans.the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University was founded in 1896. Since 1993, it has offered a wide range of graduate level online learning opportunities to students from all over the world. Now it has more than 50 faculty members teaching over 1,400 students in graduate and undergraduate programs in information policy, information behavior, information management, information systems, information technology, information services, library science, data science and information security, writes Joshua Bolkan of Campus Technology.2U partners are among the leading providers of cloud-based operating infrastructure to academic institutions around the world.syracuse University and 2U have already successfully worked together to establish the online learning programs of SU’s School of Public Communications and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

Online Computer Science Master’s at Georgia Tech Graduates First Cohort

India- and US-based education technology company Springboard has received a $1.7 million in investment to support its mentor-led program for online learning. The seed round funding led by LinkedIn co-founder Allen Blue, Princeton Review founder John Katzman, and InMobi founder Naveen Tewari. Springboard will use the funds to offer additional student services and support to its users.“The company will use the funds to increase its capacity in courses, provide additional student services and support and enhance growth,” Springboard’s co-founder said according to VCCircle.springboard will also offer up to seven new courses in fields not previously covered including web development, app development, marketing and potentially soft-skills courses.enrolled students have access not only to courses and other learning materials, but also to industry mentors and an active community of classmates and alumni to further support their learning. The mentor-centered model translates into a ten-times higher completion rate compared to non-mentor-led online courses, 

The Hindu says.“Our approach of combining a project-heavy curriculum with 1-on-1 mentorship from industry experts creates accountability and ensures that our graduates are ready to thrive in the new economy,” Springboard co-founder Gautam Tambay said, according to Tech New Today.students meet with their mentors on a weekly basis. Mentors work in high-profile companies such as Facebook, Pandora, LinkedIn, Etsy, and Airbnb.springboard, previously known as SlideRule, was initially a MOOC search engine. Realizing that users wanted curated lists of courses based on their needs and goals, the company adjusted its focus to curation and course recommendation. The startup pivoted its focus one more time after seeing poor user engagement with many learners not completing the courses they signed up for. Tambay said:“we noticed that many wouldn’t complete their courses. We got on the phone with a  users, and found out that people were missing some kind of human contact,” Tambay explained.

adding the element of human interaction in online learning through mentors and an accessible and useful community meant that Springboard stood out for its unique, more holistic learning experience:

“Offering content alone is not education,” Tambay told Jon Russel of Tech Crunch. “That’s like sending someone to a library and telling them to learn.”other Springboard investors include Kartik Hosanagar, a Wharton School professor; Kashyap Deorah, a co-founder of Chalo; and Blue Fog Capital. Investor John Katzman said:“Springboard brings a smart team and a promising approach to curriculum and mentoring. With the new economy’s need for perpetual learning, Springboard is poised to have real impact.”Company projections by its founders see massive growth potential in paid student numbers from 1,000 today to up to 60,000 in two years. By 2016, the company projects a 10-fold revenue rate growth at $10 million.so far, the company says more than 1,000 learners have completed their courses, some of which were hired by companies such as IBM and Reddit. Springboard offers paid and free courses with thousands of students currently enrolled in the free options.typically, courses cost $300-$500 per month, which include online material and activities and mentor and community access. The Bangalore and US-based startup numbers more than 110 mentors in the fields of Data Analysis and UX Design over the last year alone.