Education Forum

How is GA State Univ. Communications dept. planning to help Atlanta and GA become a media powerhouse and creative center? Dr. David Cheshier, Director of the Creative Media Industries Institute, describes the role the new programs at GSU will play in creating the trained workforce for 21st century Media Production.

Has your Family trained the kids in safe cyber device use? Computer security Expert, Ben Halpert, Founder of SavvyCyberKids.org makes it easy with colorful rhyming story books, Computer Home Rules, Free Online Resources for Parents and Teachers and a free membership with newsletters.

The expanding opportunities in the culinary professions are detailed by Karen's guest, Chef Jae Gruber, a lead instructor at Le Cordon Bleau Atlanta. The Culinary Art and the Bakery programs are available in a 12 mo. certificate program or a 21 mo Associate Degree, with lots of practical experience in the field available.

Join Karen and her guests Debbi Scarboro, founder of the Cumberland Academy and Staci Gelbaum, Special Ed. Specialist, discuss the focused educational program offered for students with ADHD, Autism and other Learning differences that provides them accelerated progress academically and a wide range of cultural and living skills to make them successful in life. All students have advanced to post sec. education.

Cyberthreats such as Cyberbullying, Sexting, Predators masking as teens, etc. Parents need to no longer be oblivious to what is going on in their teen’s social media life. Karen’s guest is Ameeta Jain, co-founder of TeenSafe.com and an info site,

Karen's guest, David Young, CEO of VIF International Education explains this and more. The programs, curriculum and guest teacher exchanges that VIF has formulated is preparing teachers and students to orient learning more for 21st century skills in cultural understanding.

Join Karen and guests Vanessa and Alexis Kearney, parent and student of the Acad. of Research and Medical Sciences, a Cobb Co. Magnet school, explain the opportunities for learning Scientific method and hands-on experience through internships within this program. Advanced study prepares students for in-demand science and medical health college degrees and careers. Gregg Jackson, authors of 40 Things to teach your Children before you die, explains what moral lessons derived from biblical scripture are important to pass on.

Join Karen and guest, Dr. Jesse Payne, teacher and author of Change Your Brain, Change your Life –Before 25. Dr. Payne provides enlightening info on how your brain works and practical steps to do daily to optimize brain improvement in youthful brains through exercise, positive thoughts, diet, brain games, etc..

Karen's guest is Dr. Rich Long, Pres. of LiterateNation an organization that is active in forming support across the US to inform the public, educators and legislators about the increasing decline of literacy among our youth and the devastating impact this has on their lives and our economy.

Karen is joined by Jeff Mastromonico, Dir. of a team of instructional design experts at GA Regents Univ. They have created games, apps and interactive learning tools for medical students who want to virtually learn how to do a Rhinoplasty and for k-12 students who want to learn Chinese. Also they developed games and iBooks for patients at the Children's Hospital to allay their fea rs of medical procedures. Many more fun and interesting tools are in the works, as their products get used and recognized worldwide.

What can make learning fun and help you better retain the subject? iPad apps for learning. Karen’s guest Dr. Carrie Thornthwaite, of Lipscomb Univ., tells how iPad applications can increase the classroom learning or individual instruction because it is interactive so the material is retained more. She has trained teachers on how to use iPad apps for k-12 in many subjects from basic to very advanced. She has written two books on the many apps that students and teachers will find very beneficial.

Technical training and filling the skills gap are topics addressed by Jennifer Nelson, VP, Chattahoochee Technical College. She explains how the needs of industry are being addressed by collaboration on tech training program development and recruitment for qualified skilled trainees.

What is great and what is lacking in American Education system and how will it affect our future competiveness? David Scott Clegg, the Manag. Dir. of HEAD Foundation, an education think tank in Singapore, joins Karen to discuss the research done on US vs Asian (and others) education methods and details what works and what is failing in each system

"How do you write your Best College Essay?" That question is answered by Karen's guest, Gabrielle Glancy, author of The Art of the College Essay". The former college admissions officer details her highly acclaimed methods for writing a "standout" essay that reveals the student's true self and gains admission into their top choice selective colleges.

Karen speaks with Maureen Sullivan, Center Director of Mathnasium of Dunwoody Village. The program she offers there focuses solely on improving math skills and it meets a crying need in the USA today.

Join Karen and her guest as they discuss Bobbi's business Veracity Matters, a program with fun and educative interactive content that gives children K-8 a way to learn and apply lessons that build character in order to defeat the bullying trend in schools.

Barbara Dianis, author of Grade Transformation of the Modern Student, explains to Karen how her methods can turn around a student with dyslexia or ADHD and also mediocre students, by providing a step by step path to top performance. As living proof herself and as with the 2 decades of students she taught, she shows how parents and students working together can re-direct the academic outcome, using her book as a guide.

Dr. Timothy Renick, Vice Provost of Ga. State Univ., joins Karen to explain the various programs the school has implemented to improve the academic student success and graduation rates. With the aid of data and technology, GSU tracks the students and provides support in multiple ways, achieving greater success with those at risk for failure. GSU leads the USA in innovative ways and proven success with a diverse student population,especially those from low income backgrounds.

Karen discusses with Mandee Adler, College Consultant and author of "From Public School to the Ivy League: How to get into a top school without top dollar resources". Her tips and strategies cover how to prepare an application, essay, academic record and college search that puts you ahead of the other candidates so you can get into the choice university of your dreams.

Join Karen and her guest Dr. David Clinefelter from Learning House, joins Karen to discuss the research from Learning House regarding online college courses at public and private schools. He details how this growing development is changing the higher education landscape and can also impact college cost some day. The quality and scope of courses and programs has risen rapidly.