Lesser known, but equally crucial, are  the consequences of the financial crisis on education. Indeed, the United States has suffered tremendously from the mortgage crisis that started at its own front door. Albeit initial national policy to maintain the education sector during the beginning of the financial crisis, the balanced budget requirement has forced states to extensively cut back for the American educational system. As a Californian myself (and entering freshman at UC Berkeley this fall), I have been directly impacted by the rising costs of tuition and fees.

At the turn of the century, an ambitious entrepreneur and an inspired philosopher embarked on arguably the most extensive journey for knowledge in the history of mankind. Unlike Google, however, which sent crawlers around the internet to document and catalog every article of every website, the duo called upon the collective brainpower of the world to help in their project. Jimmy Wales and and Larry Sanger would go on to found Wikipedia, the largest online encyclopedia ever compiled and perhaps the most valuable asset in every high school student's palette of resources. The crowdsourced effort was remarkable in magnitude, but it also ushered in an era of new possibility for education as a whole. Individuals started to notice the power of Wikipedia as a powerful tool for learning.

I believe that Wikipedia served as the inspiration for the e-learning revolution that we will soon experience full on. Before Wikipedia, few believed that education could truly be a self-guided process. The classroom ecosystem, which had been refined since the days of the Greeks, was ingrained into our comprehension of the learning process itself. However, Wikipedia taught us that we could not only learn but contribute by ourselves, free from the limitations of a physical classroom. Although backlash did occur, the model was tweaked and improved. And as a result of the emergence of this trend, there is a new paradigm: the very real possibility that traditional education may be supplanted by e-learning.

The value proposition for e-learning is its low cost of operation and relatively high level of accessibility. The concept becomes especially interesting when discussing students that lack the financial means to attend school or college but exhibit interest in pursuing an education or a degree. It's essentially a two-for-one: e-learning not only lowers barriers to entry (thus promoting education) but also empowers the learner to pick topics of interest and learn them at his or her own rate. In recent years, this concept has manifested itself in the form of large scale operations such as Salman Khan's www.khanacademy.com, a resource for videos on all subjects that has become a staple in classrooms around the nation. What's even more interesting is that private institutions are not only supporting free digital education resources but are at the forefront of developing and pushing out content to the public. Stanford University has offered many of its courses online through iTunesU to much success. In fact, both Salman Khan and Stanford President John Hennessy sat down to chat at last week's All Things D conference on the subject and gave their thoughts on education and the importance of e-learning.

So while it's apparent that education is moving in the direction of accepting and even promoting e-learning, the question arises on whether these models will be effective in addressing global education issues, especially in developing nations where technological infrastructure is not well established. In the States, we're fortunate that this type of infrastructure is quite commonplace; even children who are underprivileged or do not attend school have access to these tools through public resources such as libraries. This type of privilege, however, is not common to underprivileged children around the world. In several villages in India, there is one computer to every 100 square miles, a statistic that is probably inconceivable in the US. So although e-learning does empower the underprivileged in developed areas, how can we utilize these tools to reach and educate those who do not have access to technology? Several ambitious organizations have begun to tackle this problem by setting up infrastructure in specific geographies and providing e-curricula for children to learn.

An interesting counterargument to the notion that the deployment of technological resources in developing nations is impractical and ineffective is the nature of the growth of human knowledge and the costs realized in training teachers and putting up brick-and-mortar institutions. According to the Center for Education Technology, "it is estimated that human knowledge (as measured by scientific publications) doubles every eight to ten years." The cost to keep teachers themselves educated in a rapidly changing world itself is exorbitant, not to mention the cost to train and deploy them in schools in developing nations. To the second point, in developing countries, classes are frequently overpopulated, sometimes reaching numbers of 80-90 students per class. Students rarely have appropriate textbooks and supplies (our primary focus here at Jatalo) and student turnover rates (students dropping out and joining) often skyrocket immediately after the founding of schools in impoverished areas.

E-learning can directly solve these two issues by empowering individuals and providing convenience to the users of the technology. Operational and logistics costs are largely nonexistent in this model, and in case studies reported by various World Bank initiatives, student engagement and retention rates are double those of traditional schools. So obviously, the biggest problem to be solved is the deployment model: how do we create robust and easy-to-use technology infrastructures in developing nations at low cost? Because while Khan Academy and other services will continue to make leaps on the e-learning end, until we can address how to physically transport these platforms to the kids that need to use them, we're unable to deliver social impact to these areas of interest.

Is universal education possible through the rapid advancement of technology and digital learning? Maybe. But today, the reality is still that a traditional degree and proper education are necessities to attain a level of stability, and until something drastic happens, we at Jatalo are going to continue to do our best to help kids receive the books they need to attend school.

Do you think the digital age will render the brick-and-mortar classroom unnecessary? While you ponder that, here's a pretty infographic to look at

The ng Connect program drives innovation by bringing technology resources to budding startups and connecting them with industry professionals. Take a look at some of the things going on at the Gravity Centre here:http://gravitycentredallas.com/. Be sure to also take a look at the profiles of the firms currently housed out of the Gravity Centre: http://gravitycentredallas.com/about/startup-residents/.

To get attention for a cause, is it more effective to sit on the couch with your laptop or get out and start a movement on the street? Recent studies and statistics suggest that the former may be the more powerful method to get support for social causes. The exasperated efforts of street protesters may now be in vain as social media speaks to exponentially broader demographics, populations, and geographies than do ultra-localized ground campaigns, which at most generate limited media coverage. The secret is in the widespread user base of these social networks such as not only Facebook and Twitter but Tumblr and Pinterest as well.

Social cause marketers have carved out a promotional hub on these networks by being able to cost-effectively broadcast news and spread awareness for causes. Not only are posts disseminated to readerships across the globe, virality factors in heavily as users retweet, share, or like content of these social cause marketers. If worded correctly and broadcast at the right time to the right demographic, a single tweet can have ten times the effect as a street campaign, which not only requires labor but additional planning in terms of optimizing media coverage. This relatively barrier-free deployment of information has induced a significant trend in the general populace, as indicated by the infographic in this post.

Socially responsible products are no longer highly localized or demographic-specific; consumers around the world have begun to embrace causes as a result of the dissemination of news on behalf of these social organizations. The adhesive bonds of traditional marketing are gradually peeling away as creativity, innovation, and consumer-interaction are beginning to play significant roles in social cause marketing. Nowadays, these organizations go beyond seeking a certain number of retweets or shares; they seek to engage consumers in activities that push their content to the top. On a local scale, this can equate to a city cutting off usage of all electronics for an hour. On a global scale, however, this can result in large regions of the world abandoning electronics and ultimately shaping global media coverage and highlights on a specific cause.

Social causes are no longer the outlier; they are the norm. With the introduction of marketing to social media, marketers have been able to inconspicuously encourage consumers to push relevant content to the top. On a grander scale, the phenomenon has effects as displayed on the infographic and has led to the development of a fundamental character archetype, the slacktivist. The slacktivist is an individual who cares, but doesn't care to get up. He sits at the computer and engages in the efforts of social marketers to spread word of causes, and as a result of the social networks he leverages, he ultimately produces a much more dramatic and significant effect than if he had gone out to the street to start a word-of-mouth campaign.

Whether you are an activist or a slacktivist, the importance of supporting these social causes cannot be undermined. By collectively supporting these organizations and spreading awareness of situations occurring around the world, we're together in making the world a better place.

We just wanted to let everyone know that we've opened an Jatalo Instagram account; you can follow us @jatalo. Instagram's a great way to share pictures and add cool effects to them, so we're planning on doing just that!

Here are some of our first pictures on the @jatalo Instagram account:

Hanging with Jatalo!: http://instagr.am/p/JHpvVLohx5/

Our product portfolio...on a wall!: http://instagr.am/p/JFFn_sIh5n/

Our newest (cat) model, Elliot: http://instagr.am/p/JHsgEkIhyP/

We're also planning on getting our supporters involved by contributing content as well as re-posting some of our content. Follow the trend #jatalo for a stream of pictures related to Jatalo!

This culture of hyper-accomplishment and quantifiable superiority is saddening. It encourages a constantly goal-oriented, results-driven, future-obsessed character. This isn't wrong, but it seems that the 1 percent is almost forced to be that person while the 99 percent, in many cases can't be. They may have neither the resources nor the encouragement (which the 1 percenters have too much of) to do so.

Perhaps even more interesting is quantifying the magnitude of untapped potential in this 99 percent of the population. If we are living witnesses to the accomplishments of that 1 percent, what if we tapped the ingenuity of the 99 percent?

That we are living in a world largely influenced by the 1 percent is evident in our national politics. Many of the candidates came from very wealthy, 1 percent backgrounds. They certainly worked hard, but they had the resources and encouragement to excel. The 99 percent often don't have those factors.

Among others, the issue brings up this interesting question: who is more meritorious, one who has achieved something great or one who has achieved something less but with more modest means?

If we are not adherents to the pseudo-Darwinian conjectures advocating the ingrained intellectual limits of our species, then all individuals truly do possess similar intellectual capacities and truly can bring about innovations given adequate environments. This argument is in itself not radical, but its implications are. If we were to simply double the sector of our population able to access advanced resources to 2 percent, societal growth is imminent. Obviously, it’s not an easy problem to solve, but it’s one worth tackling. Who’s to say where that next big idea may come from?

See this link for the article that inspired this post: http://nyti.ms/wlDdf4

As a society, we're quick to notice the poor education standards of impoverished areas around the world. It's not difficult to recognize the struggles that children in these regions have to go through to attain a proper education to prepare them for promising careers. However, from these same humble roots is the potential for a surge of innovation.

Whereas students in the West are learning to think in context of the classes they take, kids abroad are learning to think in terms of their apparent practicality: to make a stable living and support their families. In his TED talk, Charles Leadbeater goes into detail on some of his interactions with individuals from struggling areas around the world including Thailand, Mexico, and India. In these regions, not only education but lifestyles are tremendously different for kids growing up because of the importance placed on survival, an emphasis that is absent almost entirely from Western societies. Conversely, the focus of kids in the US, UK, and Canada is exams, homework, and career.

Stemming from these social differences exists another discrepancy between these two types of education systems. Western cultures subscribe to the 'push' method of education: children are pushed to attend school by parents, friends, and family. As a result, an implicit dichotomy emerges between professional life and school life. Kids in these Western academies are having trouble applying the concepts learned in the classroom to real life pursuits because of the nature of the 'push'. And although in recent years, measures have been taken to expose the overlaps between profession and institutional education, the existent 'push' factor still contributes to a slight yet present barrier.

Leadbeater argues that the most effective way to motivate kids in underprivileged areas is to advocate 'pull' factors instead. This type of method is one by which children are enticed by education, see value in it, and most importantly, are able to connect education to real professional value. Traditional curriculums are often ineffective because of the adherence to a static methodology, one that does not mesh with the lifestyles of these underprivileged children.

He argues instead, that the way to pull children to schools is by presenting shorter, tangible incentives. In Western education, these incentives are evident only in the long-run: job placement and career success. For kids who are on a constant battle to survive, incentives must be more rapid, relevant, and measurable.

One mechanism for presentation, one that Leadbeater touches but does not dwell on, is using arts as a vehicle of communication in the classroom. Reading passages out of books and answering questions is dry for the typical Western student and even more so for the restless, inexperienced underprivileged child. This method of presentation has no real value in struggling areas because it does not resonate with the lifestyles of these children. Conversely, art is a medium of communication that is fundamentally more interactive and expressive. It is a two-way process: students are not only taking information in; they are also able to come up with something new. This creative process is essential; by providing children a medium through which to express themselves and simultaneously absorb information, these children can realize the application of education in real life.

Taking this point further, by stimulating the creative nerve of these children, innovation can extend beyond anything we've imagined. Western students are pushed into a system in which information is presented at a young age. These kids go through this system for the next several years and eventually emerge into the workforce. Instead, the children in struggling areas already have a taste of desperation; they appreciate the importance of nimbleness and adaptation. They utilize creativity from an early age by innovating on the streets to provide for themselves and often their siblings and parents. Whereas Western students learn to fit into a system, their counterparts halfway across the world learn to exist despite the system. This is innovation at its finest. If properly cultivated, these children truly have the potential to accomplish wonders. This is all the more reason for why we need to construct educational systems that are effective in these regions of the world.

As we prep ourselves for next big phase - the release of several new backpack designs - we wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that has helped us along the way. From advisors to partners, we've been fortunate to have received support and counsel from countless individuals and groups over the past few months.

Of course, we owe it all to you guys, our biggest supporters and the reason we're even able to help these kids attend school. Without your support, none of this would even be possible, so thank you all so much!

Lastly, let's not forget to be thankful for all that we are blessed with, be it an education, food, or shelter. Philosopher Jacques Maritain once said, "gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy." This Thanksgiving, let's keep the children around the world in need of an education in our thoughts and prayers. A little hope can go a long way.

We've been busy working on the new line of Jatalo backpacks. Our launch was fantastic, and we'll keep selling the Ikat Classic as well as the Textured Classic, but we'll be adding an additional three designs to the Shop very soon!

Some insider info follows:

One of our backpacks is based on the African Bògòlanfini cloth style, commonly known as 'mudcloth'. This type of cloth involves treating the fabric with fermented earth and mud, which gives it its distinctive color and texture. The form is said to have originated with the Malian people of Africa but gradually spread throughout the continent.

The mudcloth has significance in several African cultures as a symbol of protection and personal strength. In various African cultures, the mudcloth designs are combined with images of significant animals such as crocodiles and gazelles. Some tribes are said to have even used the form to represent historical events!

Another one of our new designs is based on the style of the Serape, which is a culturally unique blanket indigenous to Mexico. Serapes are often vibrant in color and have fringes at the perimeter. It is said that the Serape originated with the Mayan civilization. In smaller villages and towns, women weave their own Serape patterns using a systematic threading process. This results in individuals possessing unique blends of style and color in their Serapes!

In addition to these two designs, there will be one more released with our new line of backpacks! We're currently putting the finishing touches on these models, and we'll hopefully have them available for purchase in the Shop in the next few weeks!

We launched our pre-order sales just last week, and the reception has been tremendous! Thanks to everyone who ordered and spread the word of the Jatalo vision! We just received stock of our bracelets, so no more pre-orders for those; we'll be able to ship them out as soon as you order, so get yours today!

In addition, we'll be uploading profiles of children who are directly benefiting from your purchases. These kids are from our affiliate regions, and you can see them on The Impact page on the Mission dropdown menu. We have plans to expand to several more affiliate regions soon, so be on the lookout!

Again, thanks for all your support, and spread the word!

We've just placed an order for our first two backpack product lines, the Ikat Classic and the Textured Classic. Pictures of both are displayed in the shop section of the site, check it out! http://www.jatalo.com/shop

Both backpacks are inspired by the artistic styles of South Asia. Ikat is a weaving method that has been around for hundreds of years! It involves a very systematic process of thread dyeing to attain its characteristic look. First threads are individually isolated and bound together, and then they are selectively colored. Once the thread is woven through the loom, the patterned design is produced. The textured classic is a twist on another weaving style of South Asia in which singular strands of selectively colored thread are woven into a solid fabric. These threads are infused based on the grain of the solid fabric, which is how the eventual product attains a very unique appearance.

Please check out both models in the shop section of the site, and let us know what you think!

While the project as a whole is remarkable, two things stood out to me in particular.

Firstly, the model is both unique and effective. By teaching their younger peers, older children give back to the communities they hail from. There is an inherent bond between the student teachers and the younger students due to the commonality of heritage. This connection undoubtedly enhances the relationship between the student teacher and the younger student and allows for a new approach to learning. Instead of entering a new classroom environment with teachers, younger children are able to learn in an environment in which they are comfortable and with instructors who are near the same age.

Furthermore, this method eases the transition from rural life to traditional classroom. Many underprivileged children are forced to work to support their families from a young age, and therefore miss out on the entire classroom experience. The leap from the fields to the desks can be a large one, and quite daunting at that. By interacting with students who have already been through the program, younger children are able to familiarize themselves with the protocol of traditional schools and ready themselves for standard education in future years.

The second aspect of the program that struck me was the mindset of the students. The children were truly excited at the chance to learn from their peers. Even more inspiring were the ambitions of the students. The sheer optimism that resonated in the room of students was incredible. Despite their difficult backgrounds, the children were still hungry for knowledge and eager to pursue professional careers. Programs like these go a long way to show that children of all backgrounds still dream for success and can achieve it if given the opportunity.

On a slightly different note, I came across a pretty interesting article in the Wall Street Journal regarding the efforts of the Indian government to level the playing field for children in terms of education. Here's the link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704083904576337373758647478.html.

The situation is truly delicate - it is important that children are afforded equal opportunities as much as possible, but whether that could or should come at the cost of the organization of education systems is debatable. One thing's for sure - the gap between the rich and poor persists in India despite the nation's recent technological advances.

Furthermore, unlike yesterday, when much knowledge could be acquired through books and reading material, children are expected to be technologically literate in today's society. The days of the hardbound journal are numbered, and the era of the blog (ironic that I'm writing this, I know) has begun. Instead of using pen and paper to calculate interest rates, we have excel spreadsheets that take care of algorithms for us. Rather than communicate face-to-face, many individuals resort to text messaging or emailing. While it can be argued that these trends have negative effects, it cannot be denied that these trends exist and persist today. Therefore, it is all the more important that children be given the opportunity to attend school, where they will be exposed to these new types of mediums and tools and will be prepared for anything the future might throw at them.

It's the beginning of the month and the beginning of a new journey. Here's to a brighter future for children all around the world.