Education platforms and their impact on learning outcomes

Education Platforms

The purpose of this work is to research precisely what factors should be taken under consideration when making a determination of what learning platform should be utilized and why. This work will further answer the question of "What are the legal and ethical issues, learning tools, instructional methods, content or context that needs to be considered and why they are important?"

The platform when speaking of education is the structural base upon which the framework of education rests. This platform or base is utilized and often exploited in the pursuits of politicians and other key school board personnel in their gaining of elections to educational positions. However, there exists a real need for a viable, workable and sustainable educational platform particularly in the face of rapid globalization. Platform Learning's program called the "Learn-to-Succeed" program is a federally-funded tutoring program with a design specifically for improving achievement of students utilizing "curricular and methodologies that have a proven track record of effectiveness in core subject areas, including literacy and math." (Platform Learning Inc., 2005) Platform learner is a provider of SES (supplemental educational services) delivering 'after-school, weekend and summer tutoring programs to students attending public schools identified and 'in need of improvement' under the federal No Child Left behind Law.

Platform learning is a program of collaboration with parents, communities, schools and educators in the implementation of research-based learn-to succeed (SM) program. It is stated in the work entitled "Platform Learning Calls on Civic Organizations to Help Stop Illiteracy" that "Eugene Wade, Chairman and CEO of Platform Learning Inc., a national provider of supplemental educational services (SES) to students attending struggling public schools, recently announced the launch of the "Campaign for Achievement" before a crowd or more than 100 members of the National Basketball Wives Association.

The national initiative will form a unique partnership between Platform Learning and several national civic organizations that have a longstanding and historic commitment to improving the lives of African-American and Hispanic students throughout the United States." (Wade, 2005) Further stated is the fact, "Platform Learning-to-Succeed program is a federally-funded tutoring program designed to improve student achievement through the use of curricula and methodologies that have a proven track record of effectiveness in core subject areas, including literacy and math. Through the program, students receive tutoring in small learning groups of four to six students per instructor. Platform learning instructors are experienced in the creation of a "personal learning plan for each student" that identifies the student's specific learning needs and key learning objectives.

Finally stated are the facts which were "founded in Platform Learning in March, 2003. is an approved SES provider in more than eighteen states with operations in more than nine major metropolitan regions across the country. This past fall Platform Learning launched its services in several states throughout the Northeast, including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Company served more than 14,000 students in over 90 sites during the 2003-2004 school-year and plans to serve significantly more this fall.

Legal and Ethical Issues

Social, ethical, and human issues: students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits and productivity. Social, Ethical, Legal and Human Issues: teachers understand the social, ethical, legal and human issues surrounding the use of technology.

Learning Tools/Instructional Methods

Some of the uses of technology in the enhancement of learning are stated to be in the nature of technical and managerial. Furthermore protocols and standards exist for ensuring easy transfer between systems. The question of "how" accessibility and copyright issues might be ensured and of "what" possibilities exists for pedagogical models and as well their impact.

Content/Context

Platform Learning's program called the "Learn-to-Succeed" program is a federally-funded tutoring program with a design specifically for improving achievement of students utilizing "curricular and methodologies that have a proven track record of effectiveness in core subject areas, including literacy and math." (Moritz, 2005) In the report entitled "Platform Learning Calls on Civic Organizations to Help Stop Illiteracy" stated is that "Every generation has its issue" and this is based in much truth. The issues of forty years ago were illustrated by the fact that "African-American men confronted difficulty playing basketball at top schools" however the issues of today are as variegated as they are complicated by the globalization presently taking place in all realms of society. (Moritz, 2005)