The Avid Learner

N210 - Introductory Physics Olympiad has been moved to Sundays from 2:40 - 4:40 PM.
N220 - Advanced Physics Olympiad will meet on Sundays from 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
E210C - Introductory Math Competitions has been added. It will meet on Mondays from 5:45 - 7:45 PM.
G210B - Introductory Math Olympiad has been added. It will meet on Thursdays from 5:45 - 7:45 PM.

For more information, please visit the Revised Fall Schedule.

OC Math Circle Seeking Student Leaders

Orange County Math Circle is initiating membership drive offering leadership opportunities to gifted math students.

Two levels of leadership positions are available:

Student Council: members meet monthly to design, plan, organize, and conduct math circle events and programs. High school students are eligible.
Ambassadors: Ambassadors are responsible to coordinate math circle programs and event within their schools. Students in grade 3 - 12 are eligible.

To be a member of the math circle, click Join OC Math Circle.

To apply for a leadership position, send an email to joli@smes.org.

To learn more, visit the new OC Math Circle website.

USC Passes UCLA on the U.S. News Ranking of American Colleges 2011

According to the U.S. News list of Best Colleges 2011, the Top 10 schools in the nation are:

Harvard University
Princeton University
Yale University
Columbia University
Stanford University
University of Pennsylvania
California Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dartmouth College
Duke University

Other high-ranking California Universities include:

University of California, Berkeley: Rank 22
University of Southern California: Rank 23
University of California, Los Angeles: Rank 25
University of California, San Diego: Rank 35
University of California, Irvine: Rank 41

For the complete list, please visit: Best Colleges 2011.

Science News for Kids

Science News, Magazine of the Society for Science and the Public, has a section of its online magazine devoted to children, Science News for Kids. This portion of the website offers a variety of articles of particular interest to a younger audience. It encourages students to pursue a growing connection with the scientific community and do recreational research. From articles that reveal genetic ties between humans and Neanderthals to the BP oil spill, this is a great resource for students who want to develop their love of science.

To visit, please click: Science News For Kids.

2010 National Chemistry Week at Santa Ana Zoo

On October 10, 2010 National Chemistry Week comes to the Santa Ana Zoo. This year's theme, Behind the Scenes with Chemistry, features special exhibits from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm including Rudy Gonzales's Radical Science Show. This event allows kids to get hands-on experience with science in a fun environment. Admission includes the science spectacular as well as the regular zoo exhibits.

For more information please visit: National Chemistry Week.

California To Replace Standardized Tests

A recent article in the LA Times announced that California, along with forty-three other states, will begin efforts to replace the current standardized tests. Thew new tests would be more complex, evaluating critical thinking, writing. researching and listening skills instead of just multiple-choice Math and English testing.

The new tests would be computer-based, helping students acclimate to our highly technological future. They also adapt a testing approach that delivers harder or easier questions during the exam based on students responses, more accurately determining a student's true abilities. Test questions would not even be limited to multiple-choice responses, but may require students to use a list of online resources to accumulate enough information to write a brief research paper.

The forty-four participating states plan to implement the new exams during the 2014-2015 school year. Their hope is to reduce the number of standardized tests and testing materials by creating a new exam that encompasses and exceeds the current ones in measuring student performance.

To read the full article, please visit: New Nationwide Tests.

AP and IB Mess up College Enrollment

Many college freshmen are coming to the shocking realization that their AP and IB courses may actually impede their first year at college. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, the extra credits received from Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes push incoming freshmen into a sophomore status that they just are not prepared for. When it comes time for enrollment students do not know what to expect.

Some colleges allow AP and IB credits to replace certain General Ed. requirements. Unfortunately, these courses are usually one in a series, forcing students to take unnecessary classes while they wait for the next semester. Other colleges only award credits for AP and IB tests, making students waste time by retaking courses they completed while in high school. Students may not even be guaranteed to test out of placement tests since AP and IB tests do not cover the same content as actual college courses.

Although many students claim that being over-prepared for college is a waste of time and money, others say it is an unexpected opportunity to take classes that they may not have had time for otherwise, expanding their interests. Either way, it is a growing problem that desperately needs to be addressed.

To read the full article, please visit: Class Struggle.

I hope you enjoyed the information provided in this newsletter. Thank you for supporting gifted education in Southern California. If you have comments to improve our newsletters or would like to share articles, resources and ideas with our community, please email me at Dr.Li@AvidAcademy.com.

Sincerely,

James Li, Ph.D.

Executive Director
Avid Academy for Gifted Youth