From: Fast Company Compass - Monday Sep 14, 2020 01:21 pm
Fast Company Compass
 
Over the last month, a remote learning platform called Acellus has come under fire from parents who discovered that it included racist and sexist content. Several school districts have now stopped using Acellus, but some parents have dug deeper, raising concerns about the bizarre background of its founder (who at one point founded a church and has been accused of polygamy).

Of course, the strange story of Acellus goes beyond racist content. It also reveals how schools have failed to fully vet or understand the remote learning platforms they’re providing to huge numbers of young students. Read more here.

Katharine Schwab
 
remote-learning
The extremely weird story of a remote-learning company that’s making parents livid

Schools embraced an online learning program called Acellus because it promised convenience. Now, parents are cleaning up the mess.

 
co.design
The revivals of the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wagoneer are actually about American anxiety

How two major launches are looking to the past to sell their car companies’ future.

 
impact
This tool is mapping every tree in California to help stop megafires

If firefighters have a totally accurate picture of what will burn, they can predict how fires will move—and work to prevent them from exploding ahead of time.

 
 
 
 
This Norwegian startup thinks it can stop hurricanes . . . with bubbling underwater pipes?

Warmer water on the surface of the ocean makes hurricanes faster. So what if—hear us out—you just used a series of pipes to move colder, deeper water to the surface? Read the full story.

 
 
 
We've catapulted beyond the discussion of 'is remote work good or bad or feasible?' the question now is 'is your company going to embrace it, or are you just going to ignore it?"
darren murph, gitlab inc. head of remote
READ MORE
 
 
tech tips
4 essential Chrome security features you may have overlooked

Scan for malware, check breached passwords, browse as a guest, and wipe your account from an old computer.

 
coronavirus
‘I worry every moment’: 3 moms on parenting kids with special needs during COVID-19

Many caregivers of children with depression, ADHD, other mental health disorders, or learning disabilities say the pandemic has left them without the resources or educational support they need.

 
work life
How a cheat sheet can help you ace your next video interview

This is what you need to include if you want to shine during your next virtual interview.

 
fashion
The case for never buying new clothes again

Changing the way we think about clothes is a revolutionary act.

Mending has baggage. Patched clothing speaks of shame and poverty and drudgery, even of slavery. But mending is a big word.

 
remote work
4 ways to improve virtual onboarding for new hires

Deprioritizing the onboarding process can have serious long-term effects on employee retention and engagement, so you have to get it right.

 
impact
Even during COVID-19, states, cities, and businesses are making progress on a climate-friendly future

Continued ambitious climate action by U.S. entities could reduce emissions up to 37% by 2030.

 
EVENTS
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NEWS
Oracle beats out Microsoft in bid for TikTok: What you need to know
Many assumed Microsoft would be the one to cut a deal with TikTok’s parent company, China-based ByteDance, after the Trump administration mandated it sell the app to a U.S. buyer. 
Instead ByteDance has reportedly come to an agreement with Oracle. Although the details are still unclear, it’s described as a “partnership,” not an outright sale. 
The deal still has to pass muster with the Trump administration due to national security concerns.
Fast-growing TikTok, which has more than 100 million users in the United States, is one of the most popular online platforms for teenagers.
 
 
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