Humans to Mars Official NASA Goal, But What About Radiation?

Human exploration of Mars is now an official goal of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill to increase NASA’s budget. The law sets spending at $19.5 billion for the 12-month period starting on October 1, 2017. Congress will need to approve the money. And for the first time, the NASA budget adds human exploration of Mars as an official goal for the agency. The president spoke at the signing ceremony. Trump said he was happy to sign the spending plan into law. He added that for almost 60 years NASA has inspired millions of Americans to imagine distant worlds and a better future on earth. “It's been a long time since a bill like this has been signed, reaffirming our national commitment to the core mission of NASA: human space exploration, space science and technology." Working with private companies Sending astronauts to Mars is the next great test for NASA. Space agency officials hope to have people on Mars by the 2030s. The agency is expected to develop new technology to carry out the mission by working with private companies. SpaceX, owned by businessman Elon Musk, is working on its own plan to get to Mars. His company plans to launch an unmanned spaceship to the red planet as soon as 2018. When sending anyone into deep space, one of the biggest problems is how to deal with damaging radiation. The spacecraft has to be built with materials that protect against the effects of radiation. But more work is needed. Working to protect against radiation Scientists are working on ways to protect astronauts from the radiation they will face while traveling outside Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere and Earth’s magnetic fields protect us from the damaging and possibly deadly effects of cosmic and gamma rays from our sun and outer space. High levels of radiation can lead to cancer and sometimes death. If there were a nuclear disaster here on Earth, it would take several meters of lead or thick concrete to keep us safe from the radiation. The same is true for astronauts in space.     The thin atmospheres of the moon and Mars will not provide protection for the people who might travel or live there. So shielding human beings from radiation is a critical part of colonizing space. Scientists are working on several methods of protection. Radiation vest One involves a vest to be worn by astronauts. Called the AstroRad Radiation Shield, it is a product of an Israeli company called StemRad. Gideon Waterman is StemRad’s chief technology officer. "From the worst case of a nuclear disaster, to the best case of humans walking on Mars, we're providing the best possible radiation protection." The vest is designed to protect vital human tissue, like reproductive organs and lungs, from radiation. It will also protect stem cells. These are simple cells in the body that are able to develop into different kinds of cells, such as blood cells, cells for making skin or other body parts. The vest may get its first test in space in 2018. It may travel into space when NASA’s Orion spacecraft makes its first test trip around the moon. StemRad says it will provide the same protection as a shielded “safe room” traveling on the Orion. Oren Milstein is the company’s CEO and Chief Scientific Officer. "Based on our simulations we're sure it works, but, you know, to be one hundred percent sure, we're sending this up EM-1 (Exploration Mission 1) which is NASA's next launch of the Orion space capsule." The vest is lightweight. It is made of many small cells. These cells are grouped together, so the device looks almost like a honeycomb made by a bee. Every vest will be made individually for each astronaut. NASA options under development NASA is also exploring other ways for dealing with the radiation. One idea is building a storm shelter deep inside the floor of the Orion spacecraft. Astronauts would hide there in the event of a solar flare storm. Solar flares are sudden bursts of energy from a small area of the sun's surface. The space agency is also working on developing drugs, like anti-oxidants, to fight the effects of radiation. This medicine could be taken to reverse some of the effects of severe radiation exposure from solar flares. I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English based on VOA news reports and additional material. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page.   See how well you understand the story by taking this reading quiz. ​____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   inspire – v. to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create reaffirm – v. to formally state (something) again in order to emphasize that it is true core – n. the most important or basic part of something mission – n. a task or job that someone is given to do vital – adj. extremely important honeycomb – n. a group of wax cells with six sides that are built by honeybees in their hive and that contain young bees or honey reverse – v. to change (something) to an opposite state or condition

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Teaching American Students About US Founding Documents

Should American high school students know at least as much about their country’s historic documents as immigrants seeking citizenship? Many states and schools are asking that question. People who want to become American citizens must know about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Federalist papers. These documents were written in the late 1700s by some of the founders of the country. But, some experts say American students generally know little about these founding documents. They say if students do not understand the documents, they cannot know how the American system of government operates. So, an increasing number of American schools are requiring students learn about these documents before they can graduate. Individual states are using different methods for teaching the subject. Since 2012, Kentucky, Arkansas and at least 12 other states put into effect such requirements. Students in those states learn about the founding documents as part of their social studies classes. But lawmakers in other states -- including Minnesota -- want to give students a greater understanding of the documents. They want schools to teach a separate course about them. Maida Buckley is a retired history and government teacher in Fairbanks, Alaska. Last year, she spoke at a meeting of state legislators studying the issue of civics education. She supports expanded study of the founding documents. Buckley says, “when you have a system of government that is based on ideas -- espoused in the Declaration of Independence and carried out with a working document in the Constitution -- those ideas need to be taught.” In many states, Republicans and Democrats support the teaching of the documents, although their reasons may differ. Some are concerned about the lack of public involvement in school boards and town halls. Others are worried about the way Republican President Donald Trump and his supporters use their power. Gregg Amore is a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He also has taught history classes in high schools for many years. He supports a bill that says the “survival of the republic” depends on Americans understanding their country’s principles and history. He says “we clearly have seen there is a serious civics deficiency in this country, all the way up to the top -- the very top.” The Joe Foss Institute is a non-profit civics education group based in Arizona. It is campaigning to persuade states to pass laws requiring their students to know the answers to the questions on the citizenship test. But some supporters of civics education do not support such laws. Charles Quigley is the executive director of the Center for Civic Education. He says students take too many tests already.  Quigley’s group developed “We the People,” a nationwide civics education program. Some teachers at North Smithfield High School in Rhode Island are using the “We the People” curriculum to teach about the founding documents. The curriculum calls for students to take part in a national competition in which they must defend their ideas. Recently, students debated whether police may search a suspect’s smart phone without receiving permission from a judge. They talked about the Constitution’s limits on searches. And they discussed the past opinions of Supreme Court justices about searches. Natalie O’Brien is the teacher. She tells her students to think about the more than 200 years of American history and legal thought. Megan Skinner is a 15-year-old student at the school. She says she did not think about politics before she took O’Brien’s class. But she says now she uses the founding documents when her family and friends talk about President Trump’s administration. “It gives us an entirely new perspective on all the events that are going on,” Skinner says. “You see all these things in the news, and especially about the election, and all the things that are going on with the executive orders he (signed), the travel bans. Before this class, we wouldn’t have understood these things.” I’m Caty Weaver.   The Associated Press reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   civics – n. a social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens espouse – v. to take up and support as a cause republic – n. a form of government with a chief of state who has term limits principle – n. a rule, policy or value deficiency – n. the state of lacking some necessary quality perspective – n. the ability to understand what is important; the direction in which someone looks at an object

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Travelers Visit Disputed Areas of the South China Sea

Countries around the disputed South China Sea are letting travelers visit small islands in the Sea to strengthen territorial claims. But experts say the practice will not be able to continue for a long time because it does not make economic sense. In early March, a cruise ship from China took 300 people to the Paracel Islands. Vietnam, which has also claimed the islets, criticized the decision. The first cruise ship to visit the islands from China did so in 2013. In December, a Chinese airline began charter flights from the southern city of Haikou to Woody Island, the biggest in the Paracels. Malaysia lets tourists visit one of the islands it claims in the Spratly Island chain. Taiwan has also considered doing so in another part of the sea. Frederick Burke is a partner at the international law firm Baker & McKenzie in Ho Chi Minh City. He says people from Vietnam are visiting the disputed Spratly Islands to strengthen their country’s claim to the chain. Burke said they go out on boats “to see what all the excitement is about.” He added, “I suppose from a marine biology perspective some of those reefs are the fishing hatcheries for the entire sea, and I’m sure there are some interesting destinations for divers." Traditional tourism is still rare But experts say most of those who travel to the sea will be patriots and adventure-seekers. They say the travelers must be prepared to travel a long distance, visit a place with little infrastructure and risk being caught in a conflict with another country. Christian de Guzman is the vice president and senior credit officer of Moody’s in Singapore. He also believes countries are using tourism to strengthen their territorial claims. However, he says tourism to the sea probably has little economic benefit. Malaysia has let foreign and domestic tourists visit Pulau Layang Layang in the Spratly chain since 1989. The islet is also known as Swallow Reef. It is used by the Malaysian navy. It has a 53-room diving resort, which organizes chartered flights from Malaysian Borneo 300 kilometers away. In 2015, a Philippine military general told reporters that his country would begin developing Pagasa, one of the nine Spratly islands it claims. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines claim parts of the sea, which is highly valued because of its fisheries, marine shipping lanes and undersea reserves of oil and gas. China and Taiwan claim almost the entire 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea. Most new construction is by the Chinese China has quickly expanded territory in the sea since 2010. It has created at least 3,000 acres of land so that once-tiny reefs can be used for military operations. Its ships also sail regularly in waters claimed by other countries. There is little infrastructure on many of the islets, except to support military operations. Pulau Layang Layang is the only disputed South China Sea islet with a large resort. There are about 200 people on Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island. Most work for the coast guard. The 1,000 people living in Sansha, a Chinese city on Woody Island, have a bank, hospital and a large food store. But drinking water was still being brought in as of last year. China hopes to attract tourists to the island for diving, surfing and weddings. I’m Dorothy Gundy.   Correspondent Ralph Jennings reported this story from Taipei. Christoper Jones Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   islet - n. small island charter - adj. temporary use chain - n. a series or group of something that are connected perspective - n. a way of thinking or understanding hatchery - n. a place where people raise chicken, fish ... from eggs destinations - n. a place to which a person is going resort - n. a place where people go for vacations reserve - n. a supply of something that is stored entire - adj. complete or full

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Martin Van Buren: Just OK

VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Martin Van Buren. He was sworn in as the eighth president of the United States in 1837. Van Buren had already been working for the White House for several years. He had been the secretary of state for President Andrew Jackson, and later his vice president. Jackson asked his party, the Democrats, to nominate Van Buren as their presidential candidate in the 1836 election. They agreed, and Van Buren won that election easily. But he did not win the next election. Or the next. Or the next. Presidency In his inaugural speech in 1837, Van Buren noted that he was the first U.S. president to be born after the American Revolution. He was also the first president who was not from a British family. His ancestors were Dutch. He remains the only president – so far – who did not speak English as his first language. In his inaugural speech, Van Buren predicted better times for Americans. But several days later, an economic crisis struck. The situation put the country in a depression that lasted for the rest of Van Buren’s term. It was one reason the president’s opponents called him “Martin Van Ruin.” The depression was not Van Buren’s only problem. He also faced a dispute with Britain related to the border between the U.S. and Canada. The conflict nearly turned into war. Historian Joel Silbey says most experts do not think Van Buren was a strong president. However, Silbey notes, Van Buren left an important legacy that still operates today: He created the modern U.S. political system. Early life Van Buren’s political education began early. His father was a farmer and operated a hotel at a small town in New York State. Lawmakers sometimes visited the hotel. By listening to them, the future president learned about politics. Eventually, Van Buren studied in a law office and became a lawyer. In the first years of his career, he defended farmers who were fighting large plantation owners for their land. As a result, he developed a reputation for helping the common man. Van Buren became a local official, and then a senator and governor of New York. When he was 24, he married a young woman he had grown up with. But she died of tuberculosis after 12 years, leaving him with four sons. Historian Joel Silbey says although Van Buren did not remarry, “he was known as quite charming among the ladies.” Political animal Van Buren had a gift for politics – that is, developing relationships and forming alliances. Historian Joel Silbey says most people who knew Van Buren liked him. He seemed warm and friendly. He tried to keep his work-related life and social activities separate. It was not unusual to see him exchange handshakes, smiles and jokes with men who were his political enemies. His ability to make friends became a powerful tool. Before Van Buren, even lawmakers from the same political party operated independently. They had their own beliefs, their own supporters, and their own allies. Van Buren brought them together. First he identified people who followed the ideas of Thomas Jefferson: support for independent farmers and states’ rights. The group had become known as the Democratic Party (although it was in many ways different from the Democratic Party of today). Van Buren organized meetings for Democrats to talk about their political beliefs. He persuaded them to support the same policies – at that time, the policies of Andrew Jackson. Sometimes, Van Buren helped people who supported Jackson’s policies. He gave them government jobs. Van Buren also used a series of meetings to choose one presidential candidate for the party. If this process seems clear-cut, it was not at the time. During the election of 1824, for example, a single party had four separate candidates for president, one for each part of the country. Van Buren’s system eventually gave rise to the national conventions that major U.S. parties use today to nominate their candidates. Model campaigner Van Buren also helped create the modern political campaign. In the 1820s, he saw that many state constitutions were lifting some of their voting restrictions. As a result, states were giving more white males the right to vote. (Women and most African-American men were still largely prohibited from voting.) Historian Joel Silbey says Van Buren wanted to bring these new voters into the Democratic Party. He decided to improve on the methods that other, smaller groups had used: campaign events, speeches, and organized efforts to bring people to vote on Election Day.  Silbey explains that these efforts to persuade and energize voters were new to national politics. Now they are some of the major features of political campaigns. Live by the sword, die by the sword In the election of 1840, Van Buren sought a second term as president. This time his opponents used Van Buren’s political techniques against him. Silbey says the new opposition party, called the Whigs, used popular speeches and events to portray Van Buren as a failed president. Crowds shouted, “Mattie Van is a used-up man!” In other words, he no longer had any power or effect in government. Critics also made fun of Van Buren’s fine-looking, even fussy clothes. They portrayed him as a rich, elite candidate. They compared him unfavorably to their candidate, a military hero named William Henry Harrison. Yet it was Van Buren who had come from a poor family, and Harrison from a wealthy one. Even so, Van Buren lost the election of 1840. Four years later, Van Buren again sought the presidency. This time, even Andrew Jackson did not support him. Instead, Jackson backed a man who supported the seizure of Texas and expanding slavery: James Polk.   But Van Buren did not permit those defeats to stop his political career. He ran again in the presidential election of 1848. This time, Van Buren withdrew from the Democratic Party he had helped build. He ran instead as the candidate of a new, anti-slavery party, called the Free Soilers. But even Van Buren’s political skills could not persuade voters. He did not win a single state. ​After losing this final presidential election, Van Buren finally retired. He spent time with his children and grandchildren, traveled, and wrote about his life. At 79 he died of heart failure. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   inaugural - adj. happening as part of an official ceremony or celebration when a newly elected official begins an important job reputation - n.  the common opinion that people have about someone or something charming - adj. very pleasing or appealing ladies - n. women, usually of high social position clear-cut - adj. obvious features - n. important parts portray - v. to describe someone in a particular way fussy - adj. to fancy or complicated

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Youth Groups in Minnesota Reach Out to Somali-Americans

Too often young Somali-Americans have made news for all the wrong reasons. Some young people have fallen victim to drug abuse or the appeal of gang violence. Others have turned to extremist ideology. But youth organizations in the American state of Minnesota are trying to change that. Somali groups there have taken steps to keep young people away from bad influences. One such effort was a basketball tournament for Somali-Americans living in and around the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The competition was the idea of 12 youth organizations representing Islamic centers. It gives the players a chance to build up their basketball skills and gain self-esteem. Zakariye Ibrahim played for the al-Rawda team, which won the competition. “Today we have succeeded in winning the cup after beating the finalist Umatul-Islam club. We had worked very hard for this and we are so excited about it.” Minnesota is home to 20,000 Somalis, more than in any other state. More than 80,000 Somalis live in the United States. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation says about 12 people have joined militant groups in Syria in recent years. The FBI adds that more than 20 men have joined al-Shabab militants in Somalia since 2007. Recently, nine Somali-American men were accused of plotting to join ISIS, the militant group also called ISIL. A federal judge in Minnesota sentenced them to prison. Beza Tesfaye is the conflict and governance research manager for the aid agency Mercy Corps. She has done research in Somalia, Somaliland and Puntland on why young people join extremist groups. Tesfaye found that, unlike what many believe, it is not poverty or unemployment that are the main reasons Somalis join extremist groups. Instead, the strongest influences are young people who feel their interests are being ignored, especially in political decisions. They also feel discriminated against based on their tribe or ethnic group. Tesfaye said it is important to give young Somali-Americans chances to do something meaningful in their communities. “This included activities like volunteering, doing awareness campaigns around salient issues that young kids cared about,” she said. “Essentially just giving them a platform to express themselves in addition to giving them the skills they need to express themselves through education.” Tesfaye said that a combination of civil involvement and civil society reduced the number of Somali youth taking part in extremist and political violence. “The key takeaway is that civic engagement and civil society is a real need if we are trying to address the root causes of violence and we have evidence to support that,” she said. Programs like the basketball tournament are designed to provide activities to help young Somali-Americans stay away from negative influences. The organization “For Youth by the Youth” created the tournament. Yusuf Mohamed leads the group. “The reason we started this program was when we saw what the youth are going through and how they were involved with gang fights among themselves, when we saw how they are suspected or labeled as extremists, we started to bring them together in order to prevent them from getting involved with drugs. We found a place where they can stay fit and stay busy and avoid negative influences.” One of the basketball players, Abdullahi Bare, agrees that sports can help young people like him. “This kind of tournament brings us together as brothers. We come together and when we finish the games we eat together and communicate as well.” The basketball event in Minnesota has been taking place in each of the past three years. I’m John Russell.   Abdi Mahamud reported this story from Minneapolis, Minnesota for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gang – n. a group of people, often criminals self-esteem – n. a sense of one’s worth or importance cup – n. a prize or award given in recognition of one’s success salient – adj. relating to a striking point or quality platform – n. a vehicle used for a purpose; a surface, usually raised takeaway – n. a finding based on presented facts or information civic – adj. of or related to a citizen or citizenship negative – adj. marked by denial or refusal; having disagreeable qualities labeled – v. identified; named fit – adj. physically or mentally sound

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Everyday Grammar: Prepositional Phrases

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Lesson 51: A Good Habit

Summary Anna has a new goal - to run in a marathon. Her friend Ashley knows that training a little every day is a good idea. Will Anna be able to meet her goal? Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about gerunds and infinitives. ​Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how Americans pronounce the reduced form of "to" in sentences with infinitives. Conversation   Anna: D.C. is a popular city for marathons! A marathon is a long race. Many marathons raise money for charity, you know - good works. A marathon is a good fitness goal too. I want to challenge myself in a marathon and maybe win a medal! Hey, there’s Ashley. Ashley! Wait for me! It’s Anna! Anna: Ash … ley. Ash … ley. Ashley: Are you okay, Anna? Anna: I just ran … from over there. Ashley: Do you want to sit down, Anna?  Do you want some water? (Anna takes the bottle and tries to return it.) No thanks. You keep it. Anna: Thanks. I didn’t know you like to run. Ashley: I love running. In fact, this weekend, I will run in my first marathon. Anna: Me … too. Ashley: Really? You are running in a marathon? Anna: Yeah. In a couple of days. Why do you ask … like that? Ashley: What do you know about running in a marathon? Anna: I know that there’s a lot of running and sometimes you can win a medal.  Ashley: How long have you been training? Anna: I started today. I’ve been training for an hour … no, an hour and seven minutes! Ashley: Anna, training a little every day is a good habit to get into. Not all at once! Anna: Thanks for the advice, Ashley. But I’m running in a special race. Ashley: What marathon is it? Anna: I don’t remember the name. But the website said everyone gets a medal. Ashley: Okay, well, good luck, Anna! Anna: Thanks, Ashley. Good luck to you, too. Ashley: Thank you. Anna: Bye! Ashley: Bye, Anna! Anna: See you! (At the race: an announcer calls out race information) Anna: Hello. I am here to enter the race! Woman: But ma’am you can’t enter the race. Anna: What? How am I going to meet my goal? Woman: Ma’am, this race is for children. You can’t run with the children. Anna: Children? Children. That’s perfect. I just might win! Woman: No, ma’am. You really can’t run with the children. Anna: I’m sorry. Of course. I was only thinking of my goal. Woman: Well, you can help us with our goal, which is to raise money for sick children. Would you like to help us? Anna: I’ve just found my new goal. And I get to wear a medal. (to child who finished race) Good job! Writing In this lesson, Anna helps at a charity event. Have you ever helped with a charity? Tell us about what you did to help. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet to practice using gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports.  Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Set a Goal. This strategy is what we do when we plan to do something. In learning a language, setting a goal mean we have a reason to learn. That helps us focus on our study and practice more often.  In this lesson, Anna has a goal of running in a marathon. Her friend Ashley has the same goal. But Ashley has been training so she can run the long race. She set a goal and is working hard to meet it. Anna's goal is not easy to meet because she has not been training, or preparing to run well. She learns that she can have a new goal in this week's lesson. That goal is something she will be able to meet. What is your goal for learning English? Write to us about the goals you have and how you are working to meet them in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.  ______________________________________________________________ New Words challenge - v.  to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something) charity - n.  a organization that helps people in need fitness - n.  the condition of being physically fit and healthy goal - n.  something that you are trying to do or achieve habit - n.  something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way marathon - n. a running race that is about 26 miles (42 kilometers) long medal - n.  a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement race - n.  a competition between people, animals or vehicles to see which one is fastest special - adj. different from what is normal or usual train - v.  to try to make yourself stronger, faster, or better at doing something before competing in an event or competition ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports. For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar: Review of Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous; Gerunds; Infinitives (to + verb) Topics: Habits; Discussing things you dislike doing; Expressing appreciation Learning Strategy: Set a Goal Speaking and Pronunciation: Reduced "to" in infinitives _______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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New System to Measure 'Value' of College Education

Each year, millions of students complete their study programs at the colleges and universities across the United States. The new graduates receive an official piece of paper from their schools. This paper is known as their degree. It states what kind of program the student completed and what field they studied. But do all degrees have the same value? And do students from all schools studying the same program do the same amount of work? Do they graduate with the same knowledge and ability? These are all questions that students, parents, politicians and employers may be asking. These are hard questions to answer. But some are trying to make it easier. The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has developed a system of measuring student learning. The system might change how educational performance is measured. It is called the Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education, or VALUE. Terrel Rhodes is a vice president for the AAC&U. The organization studies all parts of the American higher education system. Rhodes says that, in the past, people generally believed a college degree meant that a person had a certain amount of knowledge and understanding.         “Historically, there was little question about the quality of the [knowledge] that the students were receiving through their areas of study,” Rhodes said. But as the economy became more complex, he continued, “More attention was being paid to more scientific approaches in the measurement of learning.” In 2006, the U.S. Department of Education created a report on the American higher education system. The report included changes the system needed to make. It was called “the Spellings Commission,” named for the Secretary of Education at the time, Margaret Spellings. The report said that colleges and universities needed to make it more clear what graduates actually knew and could do beyond what their degrees said. The researchers suggested creating several measuring systems, including different standardized tests. This would make it easier to show how well individual schools educated their students. But Rhodes says there are several problems with this method. For example, a test of multiple-choice questions about a subject can measure how much a student knows about that field. But it does not show how well a student can connect that information to the real world. And, Rhodes says, it fails to show how well a student can think about problems in different ways. Also, most of the test results are not used to improve student learning. Their main purpose is to inform government officials who provide funding to schools, as well as accrediting agencies. In addition, the test results might not be correct, Rhodes says. Schools often give students the test near the end of the study programs. Students do not need to do well on these tests to graduate. And schools rarely share the results with students or professors. So students have little reason to try to do their best. “It [isn’t] connected to getting a job. It isn’t connected to completing a course or getting a grade. And so we said there needs to be an alternative to that,” Rhodes said. So, in 2008, the Association of American Colleges and Universities began working with professors across the country to create the VALUE system. The system was meant to measure the skills students would need in the professional world. These skills include critical thinking, written communication and problem solving.   The creators of the VALUE system wanted to explore different parts of these skills. They did not want to not simply ask if a student knew the right answer to a given question. To measure critical thinking, for example, the VALUE system examines how well students can explain issues. It also looks at how well students use evidence to explain their thinking. The professors created a rubric -- or set of instructions -- for each part of each skill. The rubric measures from one to four. One represents the most basic ability level a college student should have in that skill; four represents the highest ability level. Schools use the rubric to examine projects and other assignments that students are working on. They do this to see how much certain skills are progressing. Since 2015, more than 42,000 representatives from more than 4,200 educational organizations have downloaded the VALUE rubrics from the internet. Rhodes says the AAC&U hopes schools share information from these assessments with professors and students. Students would then see how well their own skills are improving. And professors could make changes to their classes. Natasha Jankowski is director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. The organization examines tests and assessment in all levels of education. She says the VALUE system is a good way for schools to measure the success of their students.           In the past, many schools only gave standardized tests because it was expected of them. But the VALUE system clearly explains what a graduate of a given school has the ability to do, she says. “Now our students are in a position to talk about their education differently … with employers,” she said. “Instead of referring to classes that they took, they can talk about the knowledge and skills that they have in ways that they can demonstrate.” I’m Phil Dierking.   Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. How do colleges and universities in your country measure student learning? How can schools do better to explain to employers what their students can do? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   accrediting - v. saying that something is good enough to be gien credit alternative - adj. offering or expressing a choice approach - v.  to begin to deal with or think about ​ assessment - n. the act of assessing something​ certain - adj.  used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe​ degree - n. an official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university​ grade - n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test​ graduate - n. a person who has earned a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university​ rubric - n. an explanation or a set of instructions at the beginning of a book, a test, etc.​ standardized - v.  to change things so that they are similar and consistent and agree with rules about what is proper and acceptable​

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Swedish Company is Putting Microchips in Workers

An unusual, new program is becoming the norm at a technology company in Sweden. The company, called Epicenter, offers to place a microchip in its workers. It asks them for permission to inject the electronic device in the employee’s body. Each microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It works like a ‘swipe card’ an employee might use to enter an office building. It can open doors, operate printers, and even buy food, all with just a wave of the hand. The injections have become very popular. Epicenter even has parties for its workers who want to get microchips implanted. "The biggest benefit, I think, is convenience," said Patrick Mesterton, Chief Executive Officer of Epicenter. "It basically replaces a lot of things you have, other communication devices, whether it be credit cards or keys," he adds. The technology itself is not new. Some pet owners use virtual collars with microchips on dogs or other animals. Companies use microchips to follow the movement of products to buyers. Yet this technology has never before been used to follow so many people. Epicenter and a handful of other businesses are the first to use chip implants in such a large way. Convenient, but is it safe? The chip implants do raise concerns about security and privacy. They cause no harm to the employees, but the information the chips provide says a lot about their activities. They can show when and how often an employee comes to work, or what they buy. Company swipe cards or smartphones provide the same information, but the employee can easily separate themselves from that technology. This is not the case for someone with an implanted chip. "Of course, putting things into your body is quite a big step to do and it was even for me at first," said Mesterton. In the beginning, he also had concerns. "But then on the other hand, I mean, people have been implanting things into their body, like pacemakers and stuff to control your heart," he said. "That's a way, way more serious thing than having a small chip that can actually communicate with devices." Epicenter began implanting microchips in its workers in January 2015. Now, about 150 workers have the chip. Another company, based in Belgium, also offers such implants to its employees. There are even several cases around the world where individuals have tried the technology on their own. The small implants use technology called Near Field Communication. It is the same technology that’s used in contact-less credit cards or payments from a mobile device. When activated by a reader, a small amount of data moves between the two devices through electromagnetic waves. The implants are considered "passive," which means they contain information that other devices can read, but cannot read information themselves. Microbiologist Ben Libberton warns that someone knowledgeable about computers could gain large amounts of information from implanted microchips. These concerns will grow as the microchips become more developed. "The data that you could possibly get from a chip that is embedded in your body is a lot different from the data that you can get from a smartphone," he says. “You could get data about your health, you could get data about your whereabouts, how often you're working, how long you're working, if you're taking toilet breaks and things like that." Libberton said that if such information is collected, the big question is what happens to it, who uses it, and for what purpose? For now, Epicenter's employees do not seem too concerned. "People ask me; 'Are you chipped?' and I say; 'Yes, why not,'" said Fredric Kaijser, the 47-year-old chief experience officer at Epicenter. "And they all get excited about privacy issues and what that means and so forth. And for me it's just a matter of I like to try new things and just see it as more of an enabler and what that would bring into the future." The implants have become so popular that Epicenter workers hold monthly events where workers can be implanted with the chips for free. The chips are injected by Jowan Osterlund, who works for Biohax Sweden. The process lasts only a few seconds, and more often than not there is no shouting. "The next step for electronics is to move into the body," he says. I’m Phil Dierking.   Matti Huuhtanen reported this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Would you let your company implant a chip into your body?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   convenience – n. a quality or situation that makes something easy or useful for someone by reducing the amount of work or time required to do something​ electromagnetic – adj. a magnetic field that is produced by a current of electricity​ implant – n. to place something in a person's body by means of surgery​ norm – n. standards of proper or acceptable behavior​ swipe – v. to pass something like a credit card, ATM card, etc. through a machine that reads information from it​ benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect​ key – n. a device that is used to open a lock or start an automobile​ mobile – n. able to move from one place to another​

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World’s 5th Tallest Building Opens in South Korea

  The fifth-tallest building in the world, the Lotte World Tower, has opened in Seoul, South Korea. The event was celebrated in a ceremony with a fireworks display that lit up the building and the sky. The 123-story glass and steel structure is South Korea’s tallest building. It rises 555 meters above the Seoul skyline. The tower features the world’s highest floor made of glass. From this observation area, visitors can look straight down to the busy traffic about one-half kilometer below.   The building also has the highest swimming pool in the world, as well as the world’s fastest elevator. The elevator can reportedly take passengers to the top of the building in just one minute. The Lotte World Tower houses offices, personal residences and a seven-star hotel. The top 10 floors are used for public events and entertainment, including the observation deck and a rooftop restaurant. Attached is a large complex with a shopping mall, aquarium, movie theater, music hall and amusement park. The launch came during a troubled time for the Lotte Group, which is known for its international chain of supermarkets. The group’s chairman and some of his family members recently went on trial for fraud and other charges. Lotte has also faced problems in China, where the government reportedly retaliated against it for providing land in South Korea for the U.S.-built THAAD anti-missile system. The building was designed by American architecture company Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). It cost about $3.6 billion to build. The company said the design combines “a modern aesthetic with forms inspired by the historic Korean arts of ceramics, porcelain and calligraphy.” KPF also designed the building that used to be South Korea’s tallest building - Northeast Asia Trade Tower – which opened in the city of Incheon in 2014. Below is a list of the top 10 tallest buildings in the world. I’m Bryan Lynn.​ 1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 828 meters. 2. Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China, 632 meters. 3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 601 meters. 4. Ping An Finance Center, Shenzhen, China, 599 meters. 5. Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea, 555 meters. 6. One World Trade Center, New York City, 541 meters. 7. CTF Finance Center, Guangzhou, China, 530 meters. 8. Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan, 508 meters. 9. Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China, 492 meters. 10. International Commerce Center, Hong Kong, China, 484 meters.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   elevator – n. machine that carries people up and down in buildings aquarium – n. building where people can see fish and other animals amusement park – n. place for entertainment that can include games and rides retaliate – v. do something bad to a person or thing that has hurt you aesthetic – adj. relating to beauty and the way something looks calligraphy – n. the art of making beautiful handwriting  

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Haitians Seek Shelter in Mountain Caves Six Months after Hurricane Matthew

  Roland Despeines looks for shelter inside a mountain cave when heavy rains fall in southwestern Haiti. Despeines and many other Haitians have been taking shelter from storms in the cave since October 4. On that day, Hurricane Matthew destroyed their homes and changed their lives. Food for the Poor is an aid group in the American state of Florida. Last month, its workers found that 240 people were spending nights in two caves. The workers were searching for land to plant food crops, the aid group said. It called the situation a humanitarian crisis. The group said the cave dwellers included 84 women and 62 children. "Whenever the rain is about to fall, all of us come to stay here," Roland Despeines said. A VOA reporter visited the cave in late March and saw kerosene lamps and sheets made from tree leaves.     Jovenel Moïse is Haiti’s new president. He and Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant also visited the caves at the end of March. They have promised to provide food and shelter. The United Nations has reported that at least 70 percent of crops were destroyed in one area – the department of Grand’Anse. "The children are crying all the time because they are hungry," Despeines said. " … When a vehicle comes to the area, the people run after it," hoping for food, he added. "If a car brings a bag of rice, we cook it right away, and it isn't enough to feed all of us." A young woman named Bernie Josee also spoke about the problem of hunger. "Sometimes, visitors come to this area and they bring us food,” she said. “But this week, we have nothing to eat."   Some people were so hungry that they were eating poisonous plants, The Miami Herald recently reported. Government workers and aid groups have provided food such as rice and beans to the Haitians. A low-cost government-operated restaurant is planned. And, Moïse has ordered plans to build new homes. The United States Agency for International Development provided emergency supplies such as plastic coverings after Hurricane Matthew hit. Also, it partnered with a local organization to pay workers for home repairs. After the hurricane, the U.N. Development Program asked for $138 million in aid for Haiti. The agency has made two-thirds of its financial goal.  I’m Alice Bryant.   VOA's Creole Service reported on this story. Alice Bryant adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cave - n. a large hole that was formed by natural processes in the side of a cliff or hill or under the ground kerosene - n. a type of oil that is burned as a fuel — often used before another noun sheet - n. a large piece of cloth that is used to cover something dweller - n. someone who lives or stays in a special or particular place hurricane - n. an extremely powerful and destructive rainstorm with very strong winds

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