The Online Biblical Webquest

By: Leah Stein, Tomorrow’s Genius

Hello, my name is Leah Stein from Tomorrow’s Genius. I teach an online class in Chumash for 7^th grade students from the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School in Jacksonville Florida.

My students come from diverse backgrounds and teaching complex texts in Chumash can be a challenging task! After much thought on how to best engage my students in the learning, I decided to launch a class webquest about ancient Egypt.  Since we had just learned the chapter in Shmot which deals with Moses coming back from Egypt and we were about to learn about life in Egypt, I had the students research ancient Egyptian culture and geography.

Students were given a list of topics and websites to aide them in their quest for a better understanding of general life in Egypt during the Israelites’ enslavement. The diverse topics included Egyptian geography, daily life, art, religion and of course ancient Pharaohs. Some students worked alone and some in groups or pairs. They presented their work through powerpoint presentations, pictures and even songs. To help my students learn from one another they were asked to write down two facts that they learned from each presentation as they listened to them.

I was very impressed by how much information my students discovered on their own and the creativity of their presentations. Everybody learned a lot and the new information gave them a deeper understanding of what happened in Shemot. I definitely plan to do more projects like this in the future!

How Can We Help?

Tomorrow’s Genius staff members have been thinking of all of our US students affected by Hurricane Sandy. Several of our schools have missed classes during this past week, as they have been without power. Even though, most of our staff is based in Israel, we want to let our students and schools know that we are thinking of you.

Until the crisis is over and students are able to return to regular learning, the staff of Tomorrow’s Genius wants Jewish day school students everywhere to know that we are here to help. TG teachers are volunteering their time and expertise to help any students that have been affected by the hurricane. If your school is looking for options of continuing learning, our staff is ready to help free of charge for as long as it takes to get back to normal operations.

If your school has students that must continue learning in order to stay on schedule for AP classes, SAT dates, or other deadlines, please be in touch. Our teachers are trained in both Judaic and secular studies. Most of us, are former Jewish day school teachers and we would like to help in any way we can. Learning does not have to stop.

Please contact us at support@tomorrowsgenius.com or by phone at 732-572-6575 if we can be of service to you and/or your school.

Getting Ready for the New Year

 

It happens every year. Summer goes by too quickly, and before we know it school time is here. In Israel, students go back to school tomorrow, and in the US, most students will be trading the pool for the classroom sometime next week.

So, here we are again. Ten more months of hard work and personal growth. Here at Tomorrow’s Genius, we are able to provide extra help to hundreds of students throughout the school year. Normally, we receive the requests for help immediately before the big exam or after a test comes back with a poor grade. While we are certainly able to help students in these last minute situations, there are more available options for success now, at the start of the school year.

Tomorrow’s Genius has used the tag line “Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late!” on several ads and posters. The message of course is that if a student waits until he is in danger of failing before asking for help, the options can often be limited. A few months ago, we received an emergency call from a parent whose son was not prepared for his math Bagrut (final exam). She asked if we could help her son so he would pass the exam. The staff of Tomorrow’s Genius was of course happy to help, but there was one problem. The math Bagrut was in two days! We did what we could to help, but this student really waited until the last minute. After two days of intensive math sessions, I asked the mother why she didn’t call us earlier. She remarked that she wanted to but just never got around to it. Well, we found out later that this student actually did pass his Bagrut (barely). But, imagine what we could have accomplished with even a month of help from Tomorrow’s Genius.

The school year is full of new challenges and demands. Students are usually able to tell within the first week, which subjects are going to be the most difficult and which subjects won’t require as much attention. Some students find math and science to be easy but struggle with history and Lashon. Other students struggle every year in math. Why wait until there is a serious problem? With the school year about to begin, this is a perfect time to start the year off right!

Tomorrow’s Genius offers individual tutoring and learning sessions for every student. Whether your child needs remedial help or enrichment, we can help you. The teachers on our staff are fully trained and are all familiar with the Misrad Hachinuch (Ministry of Education) requirements and standards. Our teachers are also fully fluent in both Hebrew and English, so no matter which language your child finds easier, we can help. Most importantly, our educators love what they do. They are here to make sure that their students are able to succeed. The feedback on our teachers has been nothing short of fantastic! The amount of work they put in to each and every learning session is amazing.

So, get ready for the new year and start off on the right track. Don’t wait until the month before the exam. Get the help you need to succeed now. For more information or to discuss your personal needs, email us at support@tomorrowsgenius.com.

 

Developing Lasting Relationships

This past Friday, the Baltimore Jewish Times released its annual education supplement which included a wonderful article about Tomorrow’s Genius. The piece focused on the classes which Tomorrow’s Genius created for students at the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community High School, in Baltimore, Maryland.

In its first full year, Tomorrow’s Genius ran pilot programs for eight US Jewish day schools, and all of the programs were successful. The courses with Beth Tfiloh however, were in a class by themselves. Yes, the students were amazing, and the TG teachers were top notch. What made this program special though was the relationship that Tomorrow’s Genius and Beth Tfiloh were able to build together. As the program continued, a truly collaborative relationship developed.

Beth Tfiloh and Tomorrow’s Genius sometimes spoke multiple times per day via Skype, email, and/or IM. The discussions were not to resolve operational issues, but were rather to ensure a seamless transition between the students classroom based lessons, and their online lessons with Tomorrow’s Genius. At the end of the year, all of the involved students (and their parents) were thrilled with the opportunities that Tomorrow’s Genius had provided. All of the classes with Beth Tfiloh will be continuing in September, enabling the students to continue to build their educational knowledge and personal relationships with their online teachers.

So, what separates this program from others? Since its inception, Tomorrow’s Genius has striven to be more than a third party provider. The goal has always been to serve as an central school resource. By working together with schools, we are all able to make sure that each student receives the best education possible. Tomorrow’s Genius’s involvement does not stop with the actual online classes. Our teachers are available to the school and to the parents whenever questions arise. TG staff members are also regularly present at PTA meetings and back to school  nights. Sure, it would be easier to just teach the online classes, but our goal is to truly help our students succeed. By becoming part of their global academic program, Tomorrow’s Genius is able to provide each student with the personalized program they need to succeed.

Beth Tfiloh is just one of the amazing schools with whom Tomorrow’s Genius has had the privilege of working. Each school brings its own needs and challenges. TG is able to work with each school to develop a program that meets the needs of the involved students. By viewing TG as a partner rather than as a provider, schools can ensure that online learning becomes not just an extra service, but an essential part of the educational program.

As we prepare for the new school year, Tomorrow’s Genius thanks all of its partners for helping us to ensure that every student has the tools for success.

Learning on the Go…

During these summer months, most kids are on the move. Between camps, trips, vacations, and other activities, the children are often busier than the parents. One of the challenges that parents face over the summer is making sure that their kids are still exercising their creative muscles. Too many children spend their summer months glued to the TV or running from one activity to the other. While everyone needs a break from school, summer does not mean that learning has to stop.

So, how can we ensure that our kids brains don’t turn to mush over the summer months? Well, thanks to technology and some innovative thinking, there are several ways that we can combine learning with fun summer activities.

1. “Know Where You Go” - Many families take vacations during the summer, and some kids even get to go away without their parents. Before your children leave on their adventures, ask them to learn about where they are going. Sites such as History.com and Traveling Through History offer virtual tours and information about some of the most popular travel destinations. Make this fun and encourage your kids through games or small rewards to do some research. Most likely, they will remember some important worldly facts even after the trip is over.

2. “Recording History” - Just about every teenager today has access to a digitial camera. Most cell phones have cameras as a regular feature and most teens will not leave to camp or vacation without this important piece of equipment. So, since your kids are snapping pictures anyway, ask them to be creative at the same time. Encourage your kids to create a scrapbook or diary of their summer experiences. They can take their photos and write descriptions or thoughts for each image. The best part is that with today’s technology, this can all be done online, where your kids are most comfortable. Sites such as Mixbook enable users to create and share online scrapbooks. You can even use a blog platform such as WordPress to publish and share images, videos, and written thoughts. Your child will have a great way to remember the summer and will have an opportunity to enhance skills such as writing, composition, history, and technology.

3. “Fantasy Summer” - Many students use the summer to both play and watch their favorite sports. As the season progresses, stats pile up and the competition increases. Well, as the players hit more home runs and kick more goals, opportunities for math enrichment also increase. Fantasy teams have been around longer than the Internet. Many of today’s popular fantasy sites such as ESPN and Yahoo take care of the stats for you, but with a teen, you can ask them to do the stats themselves. Microsoft offers several Excel templates for sports stats. Kids can get practice in factoring statistics and in working with advanced tools in programs such as Excel and Word.

4. “Daily Dose of Talmud” - For those students looking for a way to expand their Judaic learning options, Daf-Yomi is a great way to learn over the summer. With the Daf-Yomi schedule, a different page of Gemara is learned every day. There are websites such as Edaf that make Daf-Yomi easy with tools such as translations, practice questions, and other interactive activities. Daf-Yomi can be learned from almost anywhere including laptops, IPads, and even Smartphones.

5. “Enrichment Time” - Of course, Tomorrow’s Genius is here as well to help you maximize the summer months. Our Virtual Summer School program is already providing hundreds of students with online classes and enrichment opportunities. We schedule learning sessions according to the schedules of each individual student. So, even with camp, trips, and other activities time can still be made for some fun summer learning.

Summer is a great time for both kids and parents to kick back and enjoy some well deserved time off from homework and tests. But, there is also time for some fun learning options. During the school year, most students are working to meet an academic goal or to pass a test. Over the summer, students can study topics that interest them and can enjoy learning new information.

 

A Perfect Time to Learn a New Language

Since opening over two years ago, Tomorrow’s Genius has helped many students in both Israel and in the US improve their language skills. Hebrew is not an easy language to learn. Many new Olim students often have a difficult time integrating into a Hebrew speaking environment. The Hebrew language skills which these students learned in their Jewish day schools, may have been sufficient when Hebrew was just another foreign language, but now, these students are being asked to transition Hebrew from a foreign language into the everyday language.

It is not just the grade school students who need to make this adjustment. Often for parents moving to Israel, and learning a new language can be one of the most difficult parts of the Aliyah process. Sure, new Olim are given Ulpan instruction, but in most cases, these classes are just the beginning. Learning a new language takes time that many adults just are not able to commit.

So, whether the student is in school or a professional, there are online options that can make learning Hebrew easier.

1. Tomorrow’s Genius Ulpan - As a leader in online education, Tomorrow’s Genius has made helping the Olim community a priority. Since learning Hebrew is such an important part of the Aliyah process, TG has developed two learning options. The first is our self-paced online Ulpan course. The course which runs for ten weeks features pre-recorded video lessons as well as live on-line practice sessions with a qualified Ulpan teacher. This program is ideal for students who have busy schedules and cannot commit to regular classes. The second option is our intensive summer school program. In this program, which runs for six weeks, students will be assigned a private Ulpan teacher who will work according to the student’s specific needs and skill level. The student and teacher meet three times per week and will focus on the everyday Hebrew vocabulary required to function here in Israel.

2. Rosetta Stone - This popular language software is perhaps the most well known language skills solution. Using a variety of self-paced tools, users learn the language skills through hands on activities and practice. Rosetta Stone also includes a speech recognition technology that enables students to practice pronunciation skills as well as vocabulary. The program is one of the more expensive options, but Rosetta Stone has become a language solution for students of all ages.

3. Milingua - This service provides online Hebrew lessons to students of all ages. Much of their material is free, which makes this service one of the most affordable options. The lessons feature some type of interactive activity that reinforces vocabulary and comprehension skills. There is no real time component or pronunciation checker, but if you are looking for a low cost/free option for expanding your vocabulary, Milingua could be a great resource.

4. Israeli Ulpan Providers - Many Ulpan providers based in Israel, such as Ulpan Aviv and Ulpan Or have added online options to their list of available services. Ulpan Or, for example conducts online lessons using platforms such as Skype and Webex. They have also partnered with WebYeshiva, another online educational provider to provide online courses to small groups of students. Ulpan Aviv also offers online options for private classes, using Skype and IM. There are other Ulpan companies that offer online options as well. Each uses different educational techniques and curriculum guides. When choosing a program, it is important to find the solution that best meets your personal educational goals and budget.

Learning Hebrew does not need to be a stressful process. There are several options available, and each student can choose the options that best meets your needs. We at Tomorrow’s Genius are happy to help any new Olim family with any educational issues or questions.

5 Simple Reasons Women are Starting an Online Learning Revolution!

Here at Tomorrow’s Genius we never stop making learning accessible. For women who don’t have the time to schlep to a shiur, the shiur is now shleping to you. This summer, women of all ages and from all over the world will be joining our “Women’s Online Learning Program” from the comfort of their own homes. A way to get involved in an interactive class, ask questions and hear from other women. TG presents the 5 simple reasons why online learning works for so many women.
Reason 1: “I can fit it into my busy and demanding schedule”
As we all know, women have a million things to do, be it work, family, kids etc. Online learning programs are grabbing the attention of female participants allowing them to connect to their educational resources at times which are good for them.
Reason 2: “I can connect to other women who are similar to me”
Online interactive classes allow relationships to form with other women from all over the world, to learn and to share ideas with each other.
Reason 3: “I can keep up my Jewish involvement”
A great opportunity for women, to keep learning relevant. Women can study Jewish topics of their choice which they can integrate and use in their own lives.
Reason 4: “I never have a FOMO moment”
FOMO, otherwise known as “fear of missing out”, does not occur when learning with Tomorrow’s Genius. If a class has to be missed, don’t worry, as all of our sessions are recorded and can be accessed later at any time.
Reason 5: “I’m in my slippers”
When you spend an hour travelling to the class and an hour travelling back, before you know it, it’s been a 3 hour endeavor. Online live classes are a click away and when you shut that laptop, you’re home and we all know, there’s no place like home!

Around two million students have enrolled in distance online learning of which a majority are women. Why are women joining the revolution? With all the reasons explained above, the reasons are clear!

Beyond the Classroom…

Providing students with a quality education is hopefully the main goal of any school or educational institution. In today’s academic world this has continued to become a grater challenge, as the expectations continue to rise while the available financial resources continue to dwindle. Some schools have found that by adopting innovative programs such as technology, fine arts, and other specialties that a strong educational foundation can still be provided.

New programs and resources are essential tools required in today’s academic environment. Principals are depending more on web based instruction in forms such as Khan Academy, K12, and other self paced learning options. While these new options certainly do enable schools to offer more instruction, they still do not provide one of the most important aspects of a strong educational program. The relationships between the students and the teachers have, for years, provided the students with more than just factual knowledge. The mentoring and the guidance that students can receive from their teachers is an invaluable part of the learning process. There are ideas and topics which just cannot be taught via an instructional video.

Looking back to my own high school career, it was the outside of the class relationships, that I built with some of my teacher,s that gave me the character and the tools to be successful today. These are educators from whom I certainly learned from in the classroom. But the education continued beyond the classroom walls. Through casual lunch time conversations, advising opportunities, and other informal programs, these teachers were able to combine their academic knowledge with their own life experiences. I am still in contact with many of these educators to this day, almost twenty years since graduation.

As a teacher, I have always tried to build these types of relationships with my own students. Those after class conversations about history, college, or just life’s challenges can be amazing learning experiences for both the teacher and the student.

So, back to today’s educational system. How can we give our students the unlimited academic offerings that technology brings, without losing the personalized educational approach? Tomorrow’s Genius has successfully made this possible. Online learning certainly opens unlimited doors for students and schools. In fact, principals in many schools around the world are starting to realize just how the possibilities can really be used. Thanks to Tomorrow’s Genius it is possible to create online learning options without sacrificing the personalized relationships between the students and the teachers.

Tomorrow’s Genius online classes all take place live with a fully trained and certified teacher. Students in TG online classes never watch self contained videos. They actually participate in the class sessions in real time, just like they would in a regular classroom. Because of the live interaction between the teacher and the students, the personalized relationships and mentoring can still take place, despite the fact that the teacher and the students are thousands of miles apart.

In the time since Tomorrow’s Genius began its online class programs, we have received numerous messages from our students, thanking us for making the online learning process so much more interactive. In one of our schools, students have asked their online TG teachers to serve as their senior thesis advisers. At another school, the student has already asked Tomorrow’s Genius to arrange for continuing lessons during the student’s semester abroad.

For the past three months, I have been teaching an online Jewish History course to a group of 8th grade students at the Kellman Brown Academy in Southern New Jersey. Throughout our sessions, I have been teaching the students about Israel, Jewish heritage, and other topics relevant to their lives. Next week, I will have the opportunity to meet with the students in person while they are in Israel for their class trip. If these students were just watching video recordings or were only completing online activities, the relationships that I have formed with these students would never have occurred.

So, even in an online environment the personal aspects of education can still take place. Sure, the pre-recorded lessons can be useful too, but schools do not need to sacrifice the personal approach in order to use technology as a resource.

השיעור המקוון

מאת: ישראל פורת, “גאונים של מחר”

מה משותף בין גאונים של מחר לתנ”ך, ביולוגיה, לשון, פיזיקה, מתמטיקה, אזרחות, היסטוריה, סינית, גאוגרפיה, תלמוד ואנגלית? התשובה היא שאת כולם אנחנו מלמדים “אונליין”! כשאנשים שואלים אותנו האמנם אתם יכולים ללמד מקצועות כמו ביולוגיה או מתמטיקה עם מסך שמפריד בין המורה לתלמידים?

התשובה היא כמובן – כן!

במאמר הזה אנסה להסביר על קצה המזלג את היסודות של הוראה סינכרונית בכיתה וירטואלית ולמה כדאי למוסדות חינוך להתחיל לחשוב על דרך הלימוד הזאת  כהזדמנות לריענון חינוכי עבור הבית ספר והתלמידים.

להלן 3 יתרונות בהוראה מקוונת:

העשרת התוכן הנלמד

תוכן ויזואלי

שילוב אמצעים טכנולוגים בתהליך הלמידה

העשרת התוכן הנלמד

כמו שכל מורה בכיתה רגילה מפתח שיטות לימוד כך גם בהוראה מקוונת המורים יכולים לפתח שיטות שונות ומגוונות בהוראת חומר הלימוד. לדוגמא: לאחרונה התחלנו להעביר שיעור מקוון בידיעת הארץ  באנגלית לקבוצה של תלמידים בכיתה ח’. המורה העביר את השיעור מהבית דרך לוח החכם בכיתה. בתחילה הוא חשב ללמד כמו כל מורה רגיל היה מלמד – לעמוד מול הכיתה ולדבר אבל מהר מאוד ירד מהרעיון ומצא דרך מקורית יותר להוראת החומר. הוא יצר “פרזי” (Prezi), להלן תמונה מלמעלה על השיעור:

 המורה שילב בין תוכן כתוב לתוכן ויזואלי וזה כמובן העשיר את החוויה החינוכית בכיתה. “פרזי” פועלת על בסיס מצגת אבל בשונה ממצגת רגילה של Power Point  ניתן להציג את החומר בדרכים שונות ומשונות. בפרזי הנ”ל  המצגת עושה זום-אין לאחת המעגלים והמורה יכול להתמקד על אותה “נקודה” מבלי לראות את שאר המעגלים. מלמעלה זה נראה קצת סבוך אבל בפועל התלמיד איננו רואה את כל המסך אלא רק את העיגול המסוים שהמורה נמצא בו. שיטת הוראה כזאת עוזרת לתלמיד להתמקד על נושא מסוים מבלי להתבלבל עם נושאים האחרים שמיוצגים במצגת.

בהוראת תנ”ך לדוגמא הייתי צריך ללמד פסוק מסובך מבחינה פרשנית. תלמידים רבים אינם נלהבים בדרך כלל ללמוד פרשנות טכנית (כמו  למשל איפה לשים את הפסיק בפסוק וכדומה) וחשבתי על כמה אפשרויות של הוראת החומר מבלי שהתלמידים יאבדו עניין בלימוד.  בכיתה הוירטואלית העליתי על הלוח אינטראקטיבי את הפסוק וגם את הפרשנים השונים על אותו פסוק וביקשתי מהתלמידים שכל אחד יבחר צבע וירשום בפסוק כיצד הפרשן הבין את הפסוק המדובר.  לפתע ראיתי תהליך מאוד מרתק שקורה בשיעור – לאחר שהתלמידים קבלו רשות לרשום על הלוח האינטראקטיבי הם ניהלו שיחה בינם לבין עצמם כיצד לקרוא נכון את הפסוק ואני עמדתי בצד והקשבתי לדיון שהם ניהלו. זאת אחת היתרונות בהוראה מקוונת שתלמידים לומדים כיצד לשתף פעולה וגם לומדים איך לא רק לדבר אחד עם השני אלא גם להקשיב אחד לשני במהלך השיעור, ולא רק למדו בצורה חוויתית פסוק עם פרשנות אלא גם למדו איך לדבר ולהקשיב אחד לשני.

 

תוכן ויזואלי

אין ספק שהתלמידים שלנו היום הרבה יותר ויזואלים מאי פעם. ולכן כמורים אנחנו כל הזמן מנסים להתאים את שיטות הלימוד למקום שבו נמצאים התלמידים. לאחרונה יצא לי להעביר שיעור הדגמא מקוון בהיסטוריה לקבוצה של מנהלים מבתי ספר בארה”ב. המטרה של השיעור היה להראות כיצד אפשר ללמוד במקוון וגם איך אפשר ללמד היסטוריה בשיעור מקוון. הנושא הנלמד היה תוכנית אוגנדה של הרצל והייתי צריך להחליט אם ללמד דרך הצגת טכסט על הלוח או משהו קצת שונה. והחלטתי בסוף לעשות מצגת שלם על תוכנית אוגנדה עם כמה שפחות מילים, לדוגמא הצגתי להם את המצגת הנ”ל:

והתפתח דיון בין המנהלים על זיהוי הדמויות בתמונה ומה היה פועלו של כל אחד מהם. אחד המנהלים אמר לי שזה בדיוק התהליך החינוכי שקורה אצלו בבית ספר – הם הגיעו למסקנה שהתלמידים לומדים יותר טוב עם תוכן ויזואלי מאשר תוכן כתוב והחליטו הרבה מהחומרים בתוכנית הלימודים לתכנים ויזואלים. השילוב של תוכן ויזואלי עם תוכן כתוב במהלך השיעור איננה משימה פשוטה כלל וכלל ונדרש מהמורה המון חשיבה יצירתית ויכולת ללמד במספר סגנונות כדי לגרום לתלמידים להתעניין במה שנעשה בכיתה.

שילוב אמצעים טכנולוגים בתהליך הלמידה

לכאורה זאת הייתה צריכה להיות הדבר הראשון במאמר אבל מבחינתנו הדבר החשוב ביותר הוא התוכן שמועבר בשיעורים והטכנולוגיה היא רק האמצעי שדרכו מעבירים את התוכן. לאחר שנה של יישום שיעורים מקוונים במוסדות חינוך בארץ אנחנו רואים שיש ביקוש גובר והולך מצד בתי הספר להכניס שיטות חדשות בתהליך הלמידה משום שככל שמתגברות הדרישות החינוכיות כך יש פתיחות גדולה יותר להכניס שיטות לימוד אלטרנטיביות בתוכנית הלימודים.

בגאונים של מחר אנחנו עובדים המון גם על הנושא של שילוב המורה המקוון בבית הספר. פעמים רבות מסתכלים על המורה המקוון כגורם זר שבא מו החוץ ואנחנו שמים דגש רב על שילוב המורה המקוון כמורה לכל דבר בבית ספר כמו למשל בהגשה למבחנים והגשת ציונים וכמו כן באסיפות הורים, ההורים יכולים לפגוש את המורה בכיתה הוירטואלית. המורה שולח דוחו”ת וגם עומד בקשר רציף עם הרכזים של המקצועות שבהם הוא/היא מלמדים במקוון. כמו כן השיעורים המקוונים מתקיימים כחלק מהלו”ז הרגיל של השיעורים ולא כתוספת אחרי שעות הלימודים או כחוג אלא ככיתה לכל דבר כמו כל כיתה אחרת בבית ספר.

אנחנו  גם מזהים תהליכים חינוכיים חשובים שהתלמידים עוברים במהלך הלימוד המקוון. יש תלמידים שמצליחים לתקשר יותר טוב באמצעות הטכנולוגיה ממה שהצליחו לעשות בכיתה רגילה. אנחנו רואים שתלמידים שהתקשו במקצוע מסוים  בכיתה רגילה והחלו ללמוד דרכנו את אותה מקצוע הצליחו לבנות יחס חדש וחיובית יותר מאשר שהיה להם בכיתה משום שבמעבר מכיתה רגילה למקוון החומר הלימודי מוצג באופן שונה ולכן זה מאפשר לתלמידים לראות את החומר הלימודי בעין חדש וכך להתחבר יותר לתהליך הלימודי והחינוכי.

Reflections on Sustainability in Jewish Education…

Submitted By: Aryeh Eisenberg, Director of Education

Tomorrow’s Genius is now a truly global service. I just returned from a successful two week trip to the United States. Covering seven states in two weeks, I had the opportunity to meet with several Jewish day school principals and administrators to discuss the current needs of the day school communities.

While the schools I met were separated geographically, the challenges and needs of all of the schools were very similar. Day school sustainability has been a frequent challenge and a topic of discussion on many blogs and forums. Principals all over North America are being asked to provide top quality education but with increasingly limited funds available. One principal discussed how he has had to make difficult cuts in his school, as the funds that once existed were simply no longer available. Instead of four sections of math and science, this school is now offering only two sections, as there were not enough funds to pay for the additional teaching hours. This means that there are students in both of the existing classes who do not belong at that level.

As I traveled from school to school, the budgetary challenges were obvious, but it was also remarkable to see how much was being accomplished despite the financial limitations. Several of the schools I visited are embracing technology as a learning tool for the first time. These schools have realized that the available technology based tools can facilitate differentiated instruction and can enable the schools to offer more educational options to the students.

During the second week of the trip, I traveled to Atlanta to attend the North American Jewish Day School Conference. This 3 day event was co-sponsored by some of the major Jewish educational organizations including Ravsak, PEJE, and Solomon Schechter. The theme of the conference was 21^st century education. The workshops and speakers focused on how new digital tools could be used to broaden the educational possibilities. Principals and lay leaders from around the US and Canada attended to hear about new possibilities which could enable them to continue to meet the required high educational standards. While at the conference, I spoke to close to 30 principals and school administrators who all had the same challenges of providing a high caliber program with limited funding.

The educational challenges are the same throughout the entire world, but so far there have not been clear solutions. Tomorrow’s Genius however, has met these challenges and now provides schools with viable educational alternatives. By combining our talented educators with cutting edge technology, day schools can now create personalized online learning options that meet the specific needs of the students. The Tomorrow’s Genius platform enables schools to create personalized synchronous online classes. The TG team works with each individual school to create classes that meet the school’s individual curriculum, scheduling, educational, and philosophical standards. Tomorrow’s Genius realizes that no two schools are exactly the same, and therefore there is no such thing as a “standard” offering. Currently, Tomorrow’s Genius is facilitating classes in subjects such as Tanakah, Math, Jewish History, and even Chinese language. The possibilities are limitless.

Most importantly, even though Tomorrow’s Genius courses are online, the quality remains at each school’s high standards. The TG teacher works seamlessly with the school’s administration and faculty to ensure that all of the standards and goals are met. Tomorrow’s Genius provides unlimited possibilities at a price that makes even specialized options affordable to virtually any Jewish day school.

The sustainability of Jewish education has been called into question several times in the past. Tomorrow’s Genius has answered this challenge by providing exceptional services to schools at an affordable price. If you would like to find out more about how Tomorrow’s Genius can help your school, please contact us at support@tomorrowsgenius.com for more information.