Level Playing Field Institute Plans Discussion on MOOCs and Online Learning; Van Jones of CNN to Moderate

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI) presents its annual Fairness Matters Forum November 7, 2013; 6:30-9:30 pm at Google San Francisco; with a diverse and multi-generational panel titled, "Downloading Opportunities: The Real Impact of MOOCs and Other Online Learning Platforms on STEM Equity," which will examine the recent popularity of online learning tools, namely massive open online courses (MOOCs) and the impact that these approaches have on educational equity.

"We are so proud to be a part of LPFI and this annual event. We're looking forward to hearing what Van Jones and our other amazing speakers have to say about the impact that MOOCs can make on educational equity in STEM."
—Freada Kapor Klein & Mitch Kapor, Kapor Center for Social Impact

In addition, LPFI will honor two education equity pioneers this evening with the Lux Award.

Moderator:

Van Jones, Co-host of CNN's Crossfire and President and Co-founder of Rebuild the Dream

"It will be vital for the US to tap into all the talent we have if we wish to remain competitive in STEM and that includes providing more access and opportunity to underrepresented students. MOOCs and online learning platforms are one attempt to do this and I'm eager to explore these options in more depth with our other experts on the panel."
—Van Jones

Panelists:

Dan Garcia, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer SOE in the Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Department at UC Berkeley; Sergio Sandoval, Summer Math & Science Honors Academy (SMASH) Senior Scholar; Julia Stiglitz, Director of Business Development for Coursera; Tressie McMillan Cottom, Ph.D. Candidate, covers education debates for Slate Magazine; Raymond Ravaglia, Associate Dean and Director of Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies and founder of Stanford University's Online High School.

Honorees:

Ana Roca Castro, CEO of Plaza Familia, the first bilingual education platform and founder of LATISM for her work empowering the Latino community.

Walter A. Robinson, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions at UC Davis, for providing students in underserved communities with access to higher education.

TICKET INFO:  https://lpfifmf2013.eventbrite.com

About Level Playing Field Institute
Level Playing Field Institute (www.lpfi.org) is a Bay Area-based non-profit organization that works to eliminate the barriers faced by underrepresented people of color in STEM and fostering their untapped talent for the advancement of our nation.

Media Contact                                                
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SOURCE Level Playing Field Institute