August 29, 2010, 7:47 am
Online education has been touted as the new wave of education for the future. As more and more colleges and universities hop onto this virtual bandwagon, the opportunities for students increase both in terms of quality and quantity. Nowadays, it doesnâ??t matter whether you live in a small rural community, if you are trying to complete your education while juggling a host of other responsibilities, or even if you are looking for extremely specialized niche degree programs, online education is your best bet. As the number of students who enroll for online schools and colleges grows annually, colleges step up their efforts simultaneously to deliver the best designed degree programs that come along with a host of other benefits.
Propagating the ease of â??school at home,â?? online education can be your best option if:
You have other responsibilities besides your education â?? For stay at home parents, students who are already working, business men who travel a lot, students can study anytime, anywhere, and on their own schedule. As long as you have Internet access and a computer, you can plan your studies around your other schedule. And while it does offer great amounts of flexibility, an online education program does not mean less work. You have to be committed to take out time for your research and online lectures and fit in your assignments whenever you get the free time to do so.
You cannot physically be on campus or at a particular location â?? Whether this is due to prohibitive travel times or budget constraint, there is no need to commute daily to school or relocate to the city of your college of choice. You can be at home, at work, or even on the road and complete your work on time.
You do not have the money to fund an expensive college education â?? Online degree programs are significantly cheaper than the more traditional programs offered by colleges. You can now enjoy in your own home the benefits of an education without many of the financial hardships that are often associated with attending school. In addition, you will also save on traveling and accommodation and even childcare.
You need individual attention â?? Most college courses have too many students attending classes to assure any real one on one interaction with the professors. Internet education offers course material that is accessible 24 hours a day and students have the ability to re-read lectures and discussion as often as they require. Online students also have more interaction with their professors as email correspondence is vital in this method of teaching. In this way, a rapport between student and teacher builds up and proves useful in determining ones strengths and weaknesses.
You need to be up to date on a diverse range of study material â?? Many careers today demand recruits to be exposed to a larger field of knowledge than just their specific major. Online education offers up-to-date theory along with practical knowledge. Online healthcare programs, for example, offer on site practical training at a nearby hospital or clinic along with its theory based course material. Students also get exposed to knowledge and a broader range of content due to online access and e-content. Teachers are located all around the world and offer a world view on events and discussions that are invaluable in creating a diversified approach to education.
You want to be skilled with the latest technologies â?? By just using the Internet to attend class, students improve their online skills. Research and communication techniques are developed along with several other skills that prove important when applying for a job in todayâ??s competitive market.
You benefit from team learning â?? Online graduate programs offer chat rooms and forums for students to interact with each other. Discussions, newsgroups and emails all encourage constant communication for problem solving and instruction. Instructors are also more approachable and open to online meeting and brainstorming sessions. Many online students feel that their education experience is much richer as a result.
All in all, online degree programs offer a host of benefits to interested students. And while the traditional forms of institutions will never be totally eliminated, itâ??s easy to understand why people are terming this type of education as the next big thing.
August 29, 2010, 2:50 am
Learning Disabilities tend to stay for life. Remedial teaching teaches children “coping skills” so that the child is able to function despite the learning disabilities. As a learning-disabled child grows, he becomes more aware of his shortcomings and this causes frustration. Added to this is the fact that as children grow, they become less accepting. They look to form groups with children who have the same abilities and themselves. They become more aware of “differences”.
With age come challenges that are more and more difficult to handle using coping mechanisms. Things that normal adults take for granted have to be carefully thought through. Getting emotionally involved with another person and starting a relationship could be deadly for a learning-disabled person who is not able to cope with the uncertainties of emotions. Many a tragic story has been written and many a tragic movie has been made of learning-disabled people trying to make their way in the world.
Learning disabilities are varied in form and severity. They usually affect how a person thinks, talks, hears, reads and writes. These problems impact how you process thoughts and perform tasks such as reading (dyslexia), mathematics (dyscalculia), writing (dysgraphia), and so on. Since we use these skills everyday, you will have to find ways of coping with daily tasks.
Learning disabilities, just like physical disabilities, call for a lot of patience on your part. The difference lies in the fact that most physical disabilities are visible and therefore obvious to the person as well as their companions. Learning disabilities are subtle and can be quite difficult for bosses and coworkers to pick up. There are many moments of frustration that you will need to be overcome. It is important to identify and then assess the limits of your disability, especially as you enter the workforce.
It is important for you to understand and recognize the limitations that your learning disability imposes on you. At the same time, it is important not to use the learning disability as a crutch and to live life to its fullest and perform as best you can on the job despite the disability.
Life with a learning disability is a challenge – but it is not a lost cause. As with a physical disability, one has to learning coping skills to compensate for the lack of physical ability – so it is with a learning disability. Given below are some common coping skills that you can use, if you have a learning disability:
*Set up a routine in your life. It could be a daily routine from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep. Listing routine tasks and posting them in a prominent position can be of immense help. Working according to a set schedule brings in a routine that is a comfort zone for you.
*Avoid stressful situations. The additional stress of high emotions can make it more difficult for you as a learning-disabled person to cope with a situation.
*Avoid noise and confusion. Surrounding noise, confusion and tension make it difficult for a learning-disabled person to concentrate on the task on hand.
*Ensure you get adequate rest. People with learning disabilities find it more difficult to cope with routine tasks if they are tired.
*In a prominent place, list all the emergency contact numbers you may require. You should even carry these numbers with you at all times.
*Lead a healthy lifestyle. This includes proper rest schedules, eating healthy food and eating on time, abstaining for all mood altering substance and, getting sufficient exercise.
A learning disability is a disability that you can cope with, even in your professional life. It is a disability that will allow you to lead an independent and productive life. It is a surmountable problem. Be aware of your problem, be informed about your problem and then live life within the confines of your problem. Live life to the fullest!
August 28, 2010, 12:00 am
People choose homeschooling vs public school for any number of reasons. Some of those reasons include homeschooling for religious reasons, not subjecting their children to many new schools if they move a lot, or having a child with health issues that could be made worse by attending public school. For whatever the reason, homeschooling is a great option. Homeschooling does not have to begin when a child first starts school, you can start a child on their homeschool journey at any point in their school career.
Many people think that homeschooling must start at kindergarten. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you can begin to homeschool your child at any age or in any grade. When you begin homeschooling depends on when you’ve decided to take your child out of the public school system and bring them home to teach them.While it may be easier to begin homeschooling right from the start, it isn’t unheard of for parents to pull their children out of school in any grade. Depending on the student, parents may decide to teach when they’re starting high school. It’s not unheard of in homeschooling communities to choose to homeschool as their child’s educational career is nearing a close.
One reason parents may choose to bring home a student starting high school is that the parents don’t feel their local school is safe. With the possibility of being introduced to drugs and alcohol, parents may choose to keep their children from those influences. They may also bring their child home because of the threat of violence on campus. These and other issues may cause a parent to pull their high school student out of school to homeschool.
If unhealthy influences aren’t an issue, some parents decide that high school is the right time to homeschool because of opportunities that arise. Some high school students are already in advanced classes, however if they homeschool, they may be able to attend some beginning college courses while still in high school.Another possible reason for bringing a child home while they’re in high school is so they can participate in a work-study program. Whether they are interested in a work-study program, or an apprenticeship, public high school students may not be able to work these programs into their schedule. As a homeschool student, however, they have the ability to work ahead and therefore may be finished with high school courses which will free them to pursue an apprenticeship position.
Homeschooling vs public school is an awesome opportunity for students, no matter what grade they begin. Things may be easier on both the parent and the student if they begin homeschooling when the student is younger. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring your child home as they near graduation. Listen to your child, understand what they want to accomplish, and then let them spread their wings and fly.
For further information, advice and resources visit http://www.homeschooling vs publicschool.info