Ask MetaFilter

I'm looking for student data management software with very specific capabilities, and I'm having trouble making this work in a spreadsheet or with the existing databases I have tried. Can anyone help point me in a direction? [more inside]
posted by al_fresco on May 31, 2023 - 3 answers

Where to donate laptops for NYC public school remote students in need? [more inside]
posted by greta simone on Nov 22, 2020 - 3 answers

I am looking for online and self study materials for taking the GED in Texas, preferably free, or at least very cheap. Workbooks and videos, and lots of practice tests, suitable for quick review and self study, for an adult who is already halfway done with college. [more inside]
posted by ethical_caligula on Jul 8, 2018 - 6 answers

I was given a student teaching placement 10 days ago, but the teacher changed her mind today. School is out until January 8th at which point I have to start teaching. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by bluekazoo on Dec 21, 2017 - 5 answers

I’m someone in my 50s living in the Berkeley area and although I have written software since the 80s and probably wrote part of your web browser, I have no actual qualifications in computer science. No degree at all in fact. I was wondering if there was some way I could attend CS classes at Berkeley here and there and and work my way to a degree. Is there an organization that helps people like me work this out?
posted by w0mbat on Nov 20, 2017 - 9 answers

Is there any way to drop an “F” if my kid with mental illness missed the deadline for Withdraw? The college she is attending is University of Chicago. She took 4 courses last quarter, got 3 As. The 4th course needed to be withdraw. She was diagnosed as depression and had been on medication. She was really sick in April (the beginning of the spring quarter). She missed classes as well as exams. She was managed to catch up for the other 3 classes. For the 4th course (the hardest for her), she never showed up in the class again after her sickness. She didn’t drop the course until we found she got an “F”. This could be really related to her social anxiety and panic disorder. She automatically put a “Wall” if she feels not comfortable of answering these emails. She never replied to emails, text messages and calls from her family for several weeks when she was “sick”. The class instructor agrees to change “F” (fail) to “W”(withdraw) if the associate dean agrees. However, the associate dean believes that my kid couldn’t possibly forget the deadline because my kid withdrew courses in previous years. Also the dean think she is too “rude” to not answering emails to the professors and the staff. [more inside]
posted by mysunshine on Jun 25, 2017 - 18 answers

We are investigating homeschool programs for our 13 year old. We want some help as far as workbooks or textbooks and I definitely need help in quizzes and tests (with the answers). But at the same time, we don't want an online program where the online teacher is giving us deadlines and we also do not want them grading our child, even if it is for 30 percent of the grade. [more inside]
posted by lynnie-the-pooh on Apr 17, 2017 - 15 answers

I am an art professor and one of my freshmen is interested in professionally working in automotive design and/or car modification & customization. Yes, I know those areas encompass a range of positions and skills. Do you have any resources for her as she tailors her interests and studies in this realm, particularly if they're local to our KCMO area? [more inside]
posted by vegartanipla on Jan 19, 2016 - 4 answers

As a teacher, I regularly have contact with kids who are feeling some very strong emotions. Many of these children are coming to terms with a separation or divorce in their families. So I’m hoping that the hivemind can help me find resources about how to talk to kids about their emotions, and especially what to do when they seem flooded. [more inside]
posted by guster4lovers on Oct 5, 2014 - 6 answers

So I have a question. I am a MPH student and I have found my ideal school. It has awesome faculty who seem really passionate about their work and are focused on helping students succeed. The career services department is also very strong. I want to attend this school because I feel like the professors care, and that they will help me get a really great job after graduation and that career services will also help me leverage my new skill set into a good paying job. I cannot express how great everyone at the school has been to me thus far. I have felt not only welcomed, but that they really want me to attend the school and program. The problem is that this is a private school and VERY expensive. [more inside]
posted by TRUELOTUS on Jul 22, 2013 - 14 answers

Teachers - is your school technology as locked down as ours? [more inside]
posted by CaptainCaseous on Sep 15, 2012 - 11 answers

I'm involved in organizing a trip to Washington, DC and Virginia for a group of about 25 Californian junior high students for next year. We've been looking at Worldstrides as a tour company. Anyone have experience with these guys - or any *really* positive experiences with other similar companies? [more inside]
posted by SpiralT on Jun 3, 2012 - 3 answers

Normally, an unexpected $10,000 check in the mail would be super. Not f it comes from a secret surprise student loan. Help me fix this please! [more inside]
posted by Salvor Hardin on Feb 18, 2012 - 15 answers

Hi, I will be going to a teacher associate job interview next week. This is where I will be sort of like a teacher's aide. Do any of you have great comments or responses that will impress the interviewer? [more inside]
posted by lynnie-the-pooh on Jul 27, 2011 - 12 answers

Sallie Mae decided out of the blue to take my husband's student loans out of deferment. We are both three years into a PhD program (kind of the definition deferment is based on, no?) and truly cannot afford the $700 a month payments on these. What can we do? [more inside]
posted by sickinthehead on Feb 10, 2011 - 12 answers

What kind of discounts can I get with a .edu email? [more inside]
posted by ttyn on Dec 14, 2010 - 11 answers

Are there good online programs for a Masters of Higher Education degree? Specifically I'm interested in a career in academic advising or student development and would prefer online courses that meet in the evening. [more inside]
posted by zizzle on Sep 1, 2010 - 6 answers

Help me find this blog post or online article in which a professor humorously reverses classic student excuses for lateness/underperformance! [more inside]
posted by Bardolph on Aug 4, 2010 - 6 answers

High School Teachers! Would you ever let your students text you about school or personal situations? If you knew of a fellow teacher who was receiving texts from a student, would you say anything to them and how would you approach it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 22, 2010 - 29 answers

Help a young boy make the right decision! Any and all advice for a soon-to-be-undergrad trying to secure his future! [more inside]
posted by Griffinlb on Dec 16, 2009 - 40 answers

What kinds of questions should I ask my daughter's Kindergarten teacher during a parent/teacher conference? I'm trying to formulate some good questions to ask. One thing I will ask is.............is there anything specific I can do at home to help her. [more inside]
posted by lynnie-the-pooh on Nov 9, 2009 - 2 answers

Should I take out a full load of student loans to attend a top-6 law school right now? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 13, 2009 - 26 answers

Paying for graduate school out of your 401k. Stupid idea? [more inside]
posted by falameufilho on Jul 3, 2009 - 7 answers

Please help me understand people's objections to year-round public school. [more inside]
posted by cheapskatebay on Apr 23, 2009 - 58 answers

Do you know of any design journals that it would be feasible to submit student work to? I'm looking for either journals specifically targeted to students or journals that are not super high-end. [more inside]
posted by Maia on Oct 19, 2008 - 2 answers

My girlfriend and I (both college students) want to go on an extravagant vacation this January for $600 each. How should we do it? [more inside]
posted by peetle on Dec 4, 2007 - 29 answers

How do I become a business tycoon? [more inside]
posted by doppleradar on Sep 16, 2007 - 22 answers

Are there student loans for continuing education programs? [more inside]
posted by scazza on Apr 13, 2006 - 7 answers

I teach computer literacy to 9th graders at a small independent school, and we're currently trying to figure out the best way to give our kids their own blogs. They'd blog assignments and observations for several subjects, and we'd leave comments and feedback on their entries. It would need to be private (only for students and their teachers), customizable (to allow for individual creativity), and public-web accessible. Any suggestions? We can probably host our own server, if need be, but we have limited funds.
posted by tomadelic on Mar 4, 2005 - 10 answers

continuing on the 1984- teaching front, my students are working on a final project and need some help... [mi] [more inside]
posted by ronv on May 28, 2004 - 11 answers