Where to go studies? Colleges and Universities

Facts About Community College - 5 Benefits of Attending Community College

2010-09-21T03:53:00.001-07:00

While many students decide to attend major universities in other states for their education, there are those who decide to stay local and attend their county community college for their education. Community colleges are a great way for you to begin your college education and these colleges can offer you a number of benefits that you may not have thought of previously.

1. It's affordable. Community colleges tend to have low tuition rates, especially if you live within the county that the school is in. In fact, many students have been able to afford these colleges on their own with little-to-no help from financial aid, loans, or grants. These Schools can also offer flexible payment plans to help make it easier to afford your education.

2. Transfer your credits. Most 4 year colleges and universities will allow you to transfer your community college credits to their school so you can work on completing a bachelor's degree program after graduating from a 2-year program.

3. It's not only your money, but your time. Since these schools are usually 2-year schools, you can explore a variety of majors without having to devote 4 years of your life to a topic of study you may not even enjoy at the end. Since these types of colleges are affordable, you can study several subjects to determine which one is the best for you.

4. Go vocational! Many community college also offer vocational programs for those who want to put their skills to use right away. These courses are offered during the day, evenings, and even on weekends.

5. Continuing Education - If you already have a degree or are in a field that you really enjoy and don't really need to earn a degree but just "brush up" on your skills, community colleges offer a variety of continuing education courses. These are usually held on evenings or weekends so that working adults can attend.

By Joy C. Harrison

The editor is a contributor for Solar Water Features &, Game Colleges and identifies a large number of supplies and products online.

Education in Sweden - Universities System

2009-01-19T09:46:00.000-08:00

The Sweden universities system is one of the best regarded academic systems in in Northern Europe. Sweden has approximately five-hundred masters degree programs in the English language, everything from law to humanities. Programs are put together to meet enrollees needs. One good thing is that overseas enrollees are welcome and grants is also present. At present the public back universities charge no tuition a practice which is good public relations for the country. Why? Because it makes students who would otherwise study someplace else attend university there. As a lesser known fairly isolated country, this is wise to address. Swedish Universities History The right tuition free college or school is often found in Europe, where this educational scheme has a long and successful history. One example of a tuition free college is the University of Gothenburg or Karolinska University -see best-in-class list if colleges in Finland opportunities here.

Other schools in Norway and Finland also exist. For instance, located in Finland, the University of Helsinki is one of the best known institutions of higher learning in Finland with dozens of popular subjects to study. Also, a head campus in the capital Oslo, the Norwegian counterpart - University of Oslo - has much to offer as well. Located in beautiful Northern Europe, the University of Helsinki thriving city environment and has certifications in economics, business administration and political science studies . B.A.s, masters, and doctoral degrees are conferred as part of their education program listings, and many of the courses are in English.

The school is medium-sized, with a total enrollment of over 1,000 of students, of which a number are international students. And just like the school mentioned above, many other tuition free colleges have strong English support due to the large amount of international students. Not all of these academic establishments focus on business though. There is a wide range of degrees and programs offered around the world, including computer science, IT, and engineering degrees. Additionally, such high quality programs as medicine and neuroscience are offered. In order to participate in free study abroad programs at universities in Norway, be aware that a list of prerequisites awaits you.

To apply and attend free study abroad at list of free colleges, universities in Europe - it's required need to contact the consulate of his or her native to acquire a student visa. Secondly, make sure to check with the university regarding any entry exams or grade requirements. All in all, the ambition of attending college shouldn't be hampered with tuition, and in the case of the many tuition free universities around the world, it doesn't have to be. Learning more about these colleges offers you outstanding opportunities the fortunate few know about. There's more info on Swedish colleges and universities in Scandinavia.

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By B Von Ahlin

B Von Ahlin is a former teacher with advanced degree training in business and education. Learn more about sweden universities options and find interesting resources to learn more about universities in Sweden today.

Find the Right Nursing College

2009-01-08T01:55:00.000-08:00

If you're thinking of nursing as your future career, then you should know the importance of finding the right college for your nursing assistant training. There are plenty of factors to consider, namely cost, syllabus content and accreditation. You'll have to take into account all of these before entering a course you might regret joining later.

Bear in mind that a nursing assistant college education is not cheap. The cost of a nursing assistant training course in most institutes can range anywhere from $2500 to $6000, excluding the study material and other fees, which may amount to over $2000. Some places, more often than not, offer attractive packages which seem cheap at a first glance, but when you peel back the layer of promotions, you'll find hidden fees and extra charges. So, it's imperative that you scrutinize the fine print to make sure the course is financially viable.

Aside from the cost, the content of the nursing assistant training program you're joining should be properly considered as well. Any typical course should encompass the basic fundamentals of a nursing assistant college education. Most courses are basically divided into two parts. The first being the theoretical portion, which will be easy provided that you've hit the books and studied hard enough.

The second portion however, gives you hands on training. This gives you the chance to demonstrate the abilities you've learned in the classroom, such as the handling of medical devices, the measurement of the patient's vitals and etcetera. This also builds up the spirit of teamwork, since you'll have to work in groups of two or more.

Another factor you'll have to look out for before paying up is whether that course has been accredited with the proper governmental bodies. In this age of technology, it is simple to go over to the website of the appropriate organization, type in the name of the institute and check if it's legit. Make it a point to check it yourself, instead of relying on the literature sent by the college. After all, the future of your nursing assistant college education rests on your ability to ensure everything goes the right way the first time around.

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By Sturat Mitchel

The Benefits of Getting an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice

2008-01-07T04:02:00.000-08:00

The field of criminal justice is exploding with career opportunities. This was brought about by the events of September 11, 2001. The explosion has led a lot of people to be interested in the various careers in the profession. What these people find out after they start exploring for career opportunities in the field is that some form of education is required to get some of the jobs in the profession.
One of the degrees anyone interested in a career in criminal justice can get is associate degree in criminal justice. This degree will help a career seeker in criminal justice fulfill the education requirements needed to get a job in the profession. Therefore, in this article, I will explain the benefits of getting an associate degree in criminal justice.
In no particular order, they are:
1. An associate degree in criminal justice will help you get an entry level job in the profession. While it is not an absolute necessity that you get this degree, there is no doubt that it will give you a leg up on your competition.
Let's say you are interested in joining the police department in your town. Who do you think will be given preference in the hiring process, a high school graduate or somebody with an associate degree in criminal justice? I think there can be no doubt that somebody who made the commitment to study criminal justice will most likely get hired over the high school graduate.
Why?
The reason is obvious. While both candidates will go through the police academy training, the one with the associate degree is better equipped to succeed in such training. This is because the courses taught in the associate degree program will cover some if not most of what will be taught in the training.
2. Somebody with associate degree in criminal justice will command more salary than somebody with high school diploma. People with associate degree make about $40,000 per year while high school diploma holders make $26, 000 per year. This is a difference of $14,000 per year. So getting your associate degree in criminal justice does pay.
3. An associate degree in criminal justice takes fewer years to complete than a bachelors degree in criminal justice. An associate degree will take you about 2 years to complete compared to a bachelor's degree that will take you 4 years to complete.
I can hear you say but the bachelor degree holder will make more money than the person with an associate degree. This is indeed true. But, an associate degree is perfect for those that do not have 4 years before they can start earning a pay. And as I said above, it can get you in the door of a criminal justice career faster than a high school diploma. It is a good degree to start a career.
I have covered just a few of the benefits of earning an associate degree in criminal justice. There are other benefits to getting this degree. Covering all of them is beyond what I can do in this short article. I encourage you to continue to expand your knowledge of the benefits of getting associate degree in criminal justice. You can do this by visiting websites that deal with the subject in more detail.
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By Kenneth Echie

Copywrite Kenneth Echie. Kenneth is a writer for Criminal Justice Degrees Get free scholarship and grant report and find Online Associate Degree Criminal Justice Schools by visiting.

College of Southern Idaho - Applied Science Degree in Horse Management

2007-09-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

The College of Southern Idaho is located in Twin Falls Idaho and is a two year public college that offers associate's degrees in many different degree programs. One of the programs that is offered by this college is an Associate's in Applied Science Degree in Horse Management. This program is designed to prepare students to work in many different aspects of the equine industry and it will also prepare students to be able to manage their own horses.

Students are required to complete several basic classes that include:

· Fundamentals of Oral Communication

· English Composition 1

· General Math Courses

· General Social Science Courses

Students will also take a number of more specific classes to develop their knowledge and skill in the equine industry. Some of the classes that students will have to complete are:

· Equine Nutrition – This course is designed to teach students the anatomy and physiology of the horse digestive system and to classify the functions of nutrients and relate them to digestion, absorption, and metabolism as they relate to growth, work, and reproduction.

· Equine Reproduction – Students will study the reproductive physiology of horses that include hormone control, reproductive diseases, reproductive failure, artificial insemination, and embryo transfer.

· Horse Judging – Students will be required to evaluate some of the more common breeds of horse’s bases on conformation and performance. Students will have to present reasons to the instructors for their evaluations.

· Horse Anatomy and Unsoundness – Students will be required to identify common unsoundnesses in horses along with their location, cause, and possible treatment options.

· Draft Horses – Students will survey today’s common draft breeds, their history, conformation, principles of harnessing and hitching, and management of draft horses. The course also includes showing procedures, breeding, foaling, and training. This course also has a mandatory lab that consist of students handling, harnessing, hitching, driving, packing, and caring for and managing draft horses.

· Horsemanship – This course is designed to teach natural horsemanship to students of any skill level and riding discipline. Students will learn to effectively communicate with the horses and to become their natural partner and leader. During this course, students will learn the proper way to safely handle, saddle, mount, and ride a horse.

· Business Aspects of Raising Horses – This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of business relating to the raising of horses. Some of the ideas and theories that are taught in this class include production, marketing, accounting, finance, and law and ethics

· Equitation – There are three levels of equitation classes that a student can choose from depending on their prior riding experiences and current skill level. The beginning Equitation class will teach students natural horsemanship along with how to saddle, mount, riding skills, and how to communicate with the horse. There is also an intermediate equitation class that is designed to teach advanced natural horsemanship skills to students who have already completed the beginning equitation class. There is also an advanced equitation class that is available to experienced students in western equitation. This class gives students very advanced training skills to help them train better horses. Students are required to have their own horse for this class.

· English Equitation – This class is designed to teach students with no prior riding experience the fundamentals of English riding. Student will have hands on experiences in grooming, saddling, bridling, and mounting. For the more advanced rider, Intermediate English Equitation is also offered. This class is for students who already have a basic knowledge of English equitation. This class will place a great amount of emphasis on riding positions, balance, control and figure eights at the trot. There is also an advanced course that emphasizes riding in a show ring.

This is only a brief list of the different classes that are offered to students who wish to pursue a degree in an equine related field.

But you need to pursue! If you heart is set on the equine way then you need to start and review all the college programs available. Visit our site by clicking the link in our bio box below and review the college articles we have published.

You can achieve your dream.

Ron Petracek - Raised in southern Idaho, Ron loves horses and the outdoors. If you would like to join in and learn from the vast resources at our equine forum please visit http://www.horsechitchat.com Looking to buy sell or trade something equine realted? Just visit our huge network and get 12 sites for Free! Click here => http://www.Click4equine.com
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By Ron Petracek

Online Bachelor Degree

2007-04-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

It used to be the case that if you wanted to obtain a bachelor's degree without physically being present at the institution providing the course, you needed to undertake a distant learning course. In most cases, those who graduated with a bachelor's degree obtained from a distant learning course were afforded less respect for their achievements than those who completed their studies on-site. The advent of the Internet, however, has completely changed the sphere of distance learning. Today distance learning is a huge industry, worth billions of dollar a year, and you can achieve an online bachelor degree at almost any institution of learning in the world.
So, how do you go about deciding which online bachelor degree program to study? To help you, here are 3 questions to ask yourself before embarking on your quest:
1. What do I really want to learn?
The traditional learning process was to select a number of courses you might want to study and then to apply to the universities respectively - places not guaranteed though. However, with the availability of online programs, this process is no longer as important.
In this regard, today's online bachelor degree programs can take an almost unlimited number of students - so choosing the right course to take becomes far more important, and much less of a gamble!
2. Where do I want to learn?
Historically, deciding where you wanted to learn was of importance because that meant you would have to go there and live: at least during the time you undertook the course. In most cases this would mean having to leave family and childhood friends, or choosing to study in the area you grew up in.
One of the benefit of an online degree program is that this no longer becomes an important factor. As it goes without staying that by studying an online bachelor degree, you can be physically located anywhere whilst studying somewhere else! Researching the institution you want to study at, and the courses they provide, therefore becomes very important.
3. Am I disciplined enough?
This last question is probably going to be one of the most important you'll need to honestly ask yourself. You see, with on-campus education you have teachers to chase you if you are falling behind schedule. However, with an online bachelor degree program, your study period and method is much more in your own-hands.
Thus, finding the time to study, and being disciplined enough to sit-down and study during this period, is vital if you want to succeed. Otherwise, learning in the more traditional methods may be more beneficial to you.
http://www.joeysite.com/online-degree

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By Pearl Loh

Online Nursing Schools - Popular Online Nursing Degree Programs

2007-03-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

Online nursing schools assist people to become professional and registered nurses while staying at home. The courses offered by the online nursing schools are affordable, part-time and profitable for all.
General introduction
If you had wished to wear the white uniform and serve people whole-heartedly but were unable to do so, due to budget constraints or time restrictions, then online nursing degree programs will make your dream come true. Nursing schools online that have edged their way to the forefront offer these online nursing degree programs. Nursing school online is the best way to learn about nursing details as they let you stay at home, study part-time and educates you with undergraduate/non-degree/graduate medical and health professions degrees.
Nursing schools online assist people with online nursing degree programs like public health and safety, medical and health professions, therapeutic rehabilitation, medical administrative services, mental health services, medical assisting business, nurse assistances and patient care assistances. Since nursing is the biggest health care occupation in the world, so these online nursing degree programs can do wonders for all those health-server aspirants.
Online nursing degree programs
The online nursing degree programs promise to make great nurses out of simple people. The online nursing schools mainly focus on the studies of the different sciences like social sciences, physical sciences and biological sciences. Online nursing schools also aim to develop and hone the intellectual and social aspects required for optimal client care as well as the cultural aspects of a professional nurse.
The online nursing degree programs include the following:
Associate Degree in Nursing or ADN-a program that assists you to develop registered nursing [RN] care in numerous given settings.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN-this degree will help you become a nurse in 4 years. Apart from allowing you with RN care, this degree will help you to move to administrative or leadership positions. This BSN program is modified to enhance the development of the student's professional knowledge by interaction with registered nurses who are already working. However, this program comprises 36 nursing core and a 3-credit integration.
Masters Entry Level Program in Nursing [MSN]-this online nursing degree programs are for those students who already possess a baccalaureate degree in another field and yet want to become registered nurses in profession. This program takes at least 1 to 2 years to complete and upon completing graduation, the students become registered nurses and earn a Master's degree.
With the increasing demand for professional nurses, the online nursing degree programs offered by online nursing schools are truly becoming popular to help people become professional nurses.
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By Oliver Turner

Find more about Nursing Degree on http://www.LeanderNet.com/Nursing_degree/Nursing_degrees.php .

More useful content on LeanderNet - http://www.LeanderNet.com

Education - University Degree

2007-02-03T00:07:00.000-08:00

With the escalating cost of higher education, many people have begun to question the value of pursuing a college degree. The struggle to earn a living and attain valuable knowledge to increase future earning potential is a dilemma for many folks. However, research has revealed that the rate of return on the investment to earn a university degree for both the individual and society over the long run is over 118% on average.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the holder of a university degree can earn over one million dollars in extra income over the course of their lifetime. One million dollars is a significant sum of money considering the cost involved in investing in a university degree ( On average US $35,196). Knowing that a person who holds a university degree may earn one million dollars more in their lifetime supports the concept that higher education is a worthwhile investment. There are many other verifiable reasons to support going to college to earn a university degree, such as:
Financial value of earning a higher education university degree: A breakdown of the U.S. Census Bureau results reveals that over the working life of an adult, high school graduates earn an average of $1.2 million; associate's degree holders earn approximately $1.6 million; and those who hold a bachelor's degree earn about $2.1 million. When you consider the large differences in earning between these categories, it makes the value of a college education and university degree quite apparent. Alternatively, the U.S. Department of Education has determined that a full-time student at a 4-year public university pays an average of $8,655 for tuition, room and board and a full-time student at a public 2-year university pays the average of $1,359 per year for tuition. Although higher education can be costly, it dramatically increases an individual's earning capacity.
Social value of earning a higher education university degree: In their 1992 report, Elchanan Cohn and Terry Geske found that “college graduates appear to have a more optimistic view of their past and future personal progress.” The improved self-esteem of people holding a university degree makes them more viable candidates for many positions in the job market along with the confidence to pursue those jobs.
Public value of earning a higher education university degree: The Institute for Higher Education Policy has found that public benefits of attending college are greater productivity in the workplace, more workforce flexibility, increased tax benefits and less need to rely on governmental financial support. People who hold a university degree revel in being self-sufficient because of their ability to earn an adequate living.
Personal value of earning a higher education university degree: Furthermore, the Institute for Higher Education Policy reports that college graduates have higher levels of savings, more hobbies, increased professional mobility, a better quality of life for their children and even make better decisions as consumers. The skills learned while acquiring a university degree are also applied in a beneficial manner to everyday living.
Health value of earning a higher education university degree: The Cohn and Geske study in 1992 revealed that “parental schooling levels are positively correlated with the health status of their children” and “increased schooling are correlated with lower mortality for given age brackets”. Most people who hold a university degree pursue jobs they derive pleasure from which decreases stress and such jobs often offer better health insurance plans to their employees, resulting in improved overall health.
So what is the potential for people who pursue a university degree but do not actually earn it? A study done by Boesel and Fredland in 1999 found that those who do not complete their degree earn less than, or the same amount as, 2-year college students. Since 600,000 students leave 4-year colleges every year without graduating, it may be wise in certain circumstances to earn a 2-year degree before pursuing a 4-year degree. Earning a 2-year degree first can maximize personal earning potential without accruing educational debt for a 4-year program that may not be completed.
The value of deciding to earn a university degree is indisputable. For busy people seeking flexibility, earning a university degree is easier to attain with the convenience of online education. Almost any curriculum can be studied through online courses and a valid degree awarded. According to Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006, nearly 3.2 million students took at least one course online during the 2005 fall semester, which represented a substantial increase over the 2.3 million reported the year before. The same report states that most Chief Academic Officers believe that the quality of online instruction is actually equal to or better than traditional learning face-to-face. The knowledge and skills gains by taking an online course are equivalent to going to the trouble and inconvenience of attending classes in a traditional setting.
The College Board study Education Pays 2006 found that women between the ages of 25 and 34 who held bachelor's degrees earned 70 percent more than those with high school diplomas and men in that category earned 63 percent more. This means that the average earnings premium for holding a university degree is $14,000. After carefully reviewing the facts, there are a myriad of great reasons to study for and earn a university degree. One of the most practical reasons to get a college degree is the increased earnings degree holders enjoy.

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By Daniel Boyd
SummitLearners.com is the leading website for people looking to learn online. We have resource for people looking to achieve a University Degree Online.

Business Schools Offer Many Specializations

2007-01-26T08:12:00.000-08:00

While the exchange of goods and services has existed for thousands of years, the comprehensive education offered by business schools has grown progressively more sophisticated over time. The field of business is vast, and curriculums are becoming more flexible to allow for specializations in individual interests. Business students will find evermore diverse opportunities to meet educational and experiential needs for globalization.
Students can choose programs that offer a traditional business education, including the subjects of finance, management, accounting, risk management, information technology, etc. Or, they may select from programs that develop broader knowledge of national and international business, or programs that focus on more complex issues of globalization of business today.
Top business schools seek applicants with the most potential for success. This provides the fortunate degree candidate with opportunities for the most enriching educational experience. Some business schools join with other schools nationally and internationally to provide distinctive curriculums with global and cross-cultural perspectives in finance, economics, management, and much more.
Programs in high-powered business schools aim to transform students into exceptional global business leaders and managers by offering enhanced practical skills and knowledge of global business operations, research methods, and a broad spectrum of international and cultural networks. Top business schools focus on developing an innovative outlook that is necessary for success in larger business operations of today. Diverse core curriculums and electives will assure that undergraduate and graduate degrees alike are relevant to today's business administration as well as in the future.
Students in business schools can choose programs of study that provide diplomas or certificates, or more in-depth programs for earning associate, bachelor, Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, as well as doctorate degrees, depending on the students' individual interests and aspirations.
If you would like to learn more about Business Schools and Online Business Schools, or other programs of study, you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

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By Michael Bustamante
Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.
Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.
Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Business Education, as well as Business Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Business Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

Top California Colleges

2007-01-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

California is one of the largest states in America and is located on the west coast. It is often referred to as the Golden State due to its sunny and bright weather and discovery of gold during the development stages of the state. California is a highly industrialized state and has a large number of important business concerns and firms operating within the state in various cities like Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and many others. California is an extremely popular state in terms of tourism, business, and trade.
Several colleges offer unique study programs to its residents. For this reason, many students from other parts enroll in top Californian colleges. Californian colleges provide a full learning experience where program of study is up to date, practical and challenging. It is constantly redesigned to cater to the needs of students and enable them to make a good career.
Top Californian colleges usually offer courses in diverse fields relating to computers, management, science, photography, art, economics, and commerce. Several top colleges such as Stanford University, Cal poly, Caltech, Claremont McKenna, Harvey, Mudd, Loyola Mary mount, Occidental College, Pepperdine University, Pitzer College, and Pomona College offer study programs. All these colleges rate their students according to grades. Nearly all top Californian colleges accept SAT scores. SAT refers to Scholastic Aptitude Test, which is taken in order to apply for programs in Californian college of Engineering, Business, Designing, Architecture, Art, and Planning.
Over the years, the use of the Internet has made education accessible and interactive. At the end of the last decade, online Californian colleges generated interest and enrollment from people of diverse backgrounds. These colleges may offer partial or full online learning. Some colleges may offer modules with specific portions to be learned online; these require students to attend class for part of that module. However, certain online colleges eliminate the need for students to physically attend lectures in classrooms. This makes it possible for students to achieve college education and at the same time manage other responsibilities.

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By Josh Riverside
California Colleges provides detailed information on California Colleges, California Community Colleges, Northern California Colleges, California Junior Colleges and more. California Colleges is affiliated with Continuing Legal Education.

3 Tips For Preparing For College

2006-11-07T00:19:00.000-08:00

Preparing for college is something every single parent should do. Whether it be in providing your child with a fully paid tuition or if it is simply giving them all the help that they need to get the grades that they have to have to get in, all parents are preparing their child for college from the beginning. What should you be doing and how should you do it? Here are a few tips to help you to learn just what you need to know.
Tip One: Preparing for college often means preparing financially. If the kids are young, consider investing in college tuition plans. Some states can provide these for you or financial firms can. If the kids are older, help them to get the scholarships that are out there and help them to find the financial aid that they or you need. While you may be willing to take out a home equity loan for their education, it may be smarter to look towards other options instead.
Tip Two: Preparing for college academically. Often, parents start with this preparation at a very young age. What is important, though, is not just allowing them to soak up the information in text books, but to show them and allow them to experience life. Take them to museums, musicals and other intellectual aspects. Provide for them the study plan and the work environment that they need to get good grades. Put rules and rewards in place for good behavior, good grades and success. And, make sure to get them the help that they need if they are struggling.
Tip Three: Preparing for college also means emotional preparation. While it is not hard to realize that your baby is growing up, you’ll need to prepare them for the real world by allowing them to make mistakes and helping them to learn from them. It is also important for them to develop social skills too. They need to be challenged and encouraged in a positive manner to succeed.
All of this is up to mom and dad to provide. Preparing for college didn’t seem to be all that hard when you went, did it?

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By Eric Weiss
Eric B. Weiss is a contributing writer at EducationAndDegrees.com where you can find more articles about nursing schools.

English And Its Usage In The Workplace

2006-10-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

English language is widely used in two kinds of communication in workplace. It can be used among members of the same or a closely related profession. In other cases, it can be used when a member of the profession is dealing with a member of the public. In this essay, I will discuss the choice of language, the use of jargon and different features in the use of English among co-workers. Then I will discuss the use of jargon, the handling of communicative problems, the issue of power and control and the strategies used by professionals when dealing with the public. In the last part of the essay, I will analyze the conversations on Video Band 2 to illustrate the features of English in the workplace.
English among co-worker In some countries, English has long been used as a trading language. When English speaking people interact with people with different mother tongues in the trading process, a lingua franca appears and it may evolve into a new language variety called a pidgin. If the children learn the pidgin as their mother tongue, the new language becomes a Creole. The Tok Pisin of Papua New Guinea is a good example. The language was used first as a means of communication between the indigenous population and their European colonizers but became the most important lingua franca for Papua New Guineans.
The choice of language among co-workers is affected by some factors. In some places, people choose to use English at work although it is not their mother tongue. In Macau, English is the predominant language in garment industry although it is not the native language of any participants in the trading process. According to Cremer and Willes, it is because using English in the process can ensure international orders and deliver them efficiently. Most of the people in Macau’s trade do not know the language well; they just want to find out “how little English can be made to serve their purposes”. Therefore, the language itself is of a reduced, specialized and highly context-specific kind. Besides, the use of English is confined to specific domains. It is only used in a very limited, related set of contexts, including ordering, manufacture, inspection, shipmen and payment.
Wipro Fluid Power is another example. It is a firm in central southern India where English is used. Although people in the firm speak Kannada as their mother tongue, they have to use English for some of the most important internal communications. The company recognizes the common use of English between Indians and believes using English at work helps to expand its international trading activities.
The choice of language is also affected by the topic being discussed. As English is commonly used at work, it is often associated with more official or formal aspects of life. As a result, code switching from other languages to English occurs when the topic being discussed is moved from local community matters to business matters. The research by Joshua Fishman finds that the two speakers can speak Spanish and English fluently. However, they switch from Spanish to English when they talk about their work since they were in the working relationship of a “boss” and “secretary” which is firmly embedded in the dominant Anglo-American culture.
The speakers’ choice of language at workplace is also affected by their status. In Fishman’s research, code switching to English is determined by the boss, who has a higher status in office. So people with higher status have control over the choice of language.
On the other hand, Nicola Woods suggests that gender plays a more significant role than job status does in shaping conversations in the workplace. In her research, while occupational status did influence the way both men and women organized conversation, male subordinates were still able to dominate the floor in dealing with high-status female boss. She came to the conclusion that gender tends to exert the greatest influence on floor apportionment.
Jargons are often used between people in the same profession. These people know the nature of each other’s jobs and have a common knowledge of their shared workplace. Therefore, they can understand each other without extended explanations when using jargons. However, it may be incomprehensible to outsiders. Jargons include acronyms and words with established meanings which depend on some specific and shared knowledge about the working practices in that profession. Walter Nash points out that jargon words and phrases often become incorporated into the mainstream of English language use. Some examples are “IQ” and “programmed”. Some technical jargon words are borrowed into other languages. According to David Hearst, words such as “lizing” (leasing) and “bankrotia” (bankruptcy) are incorporated into Russian business speech.
In the workplace, rationality, rather than emotion, is needed in implementing tasks. Therefore, the style of many written English’s is impersonal and unemotional. For example, passive voice without subject is often used. However, in some professional communities, emotions can be expressed through the use of a professional slang. Kathleen Odean points out that a large number of slang is used by Wall Streeters in New York. These slang terms and phrases serve different functions, social and emotive. Some nicknames are of sexual or violent references. The underlying theme is dominance. Since Wall Streeters have so little control over the market, they want to project an image of being in control, winning the war or conquering the female. In some cases, slang is used to vent hostility against customers behind their backs.
There are different special communicative needs in different field of work; it leads to different features in different professional discourses. In some unusual working circumstances, people are inventive in their use of English due to communicative needs. For example, because of the noisy working environment, women workers in the cotton mills of Lancashire speak with exaggerated mouth movements and lip-read what the other say. On the other hand, as the Channel Tunnel between France and England was opened in 1994, a set of vocabulary of specialized terms has to be developed in police reporting. Words are chosen from French and English so that they are comprehensible to both English and French police.
English between workers and the public When communicating with “lay” people, to avoid using jargon can facilitate communication. However, professionals may still use jargon because of habit or the technical nature of their profession. In some cases, professionals can maintain control and exert power over “lay” people by the use of jargon. As lay people do not understand those jargon terms, professionals become experts and the gatekeepers to powerful knowledge. Very often problems arise in communication between professionals and clients. According to Roberts and Sayers, problems may be due to the lack of shared understanding of the ground rules for carrying out the specialized kind of conversation, or the client’s lack of fluency in English. They also suggest that the reaction of the professionals on the client’s lack of fluency in English is a determining factor. In their research, interviewers (professionals) did not intend to clarify misunderstandings caused by interviewees’ (lay people) lack of fluency in English. Therefore, they fail to grasp the key points of the interviewees and caused misunderstanding.
Issues of power and control are very important in the communication between professionals and clients. The above research of Roberts and Sayers is an example. The interviewers have the control over the content of the conversations. They can choose to ignore or pursue topics in ways that interviewees would not dare. Another example is telephone selling. The sales staffs are well prepared to deliver the message and thus have control over the conversation in the beginning. However, the clients have the ultimate control to the conversation because they have the right to accept or deny the offer. However, in the interaction between doctors and patients, control always remains in the doctors’ hands. It may be due to the status and authority of the medical profession of doctors.
There are different strategies used by professionals when dealing with laypersons. In Maynard’s research, the doctor employed a generic conversational strategy in the interaction with the client. The doctor explored the patient’s own understanding of the condition, then confirmed the patient’s own perspective, and lastly reformulated the patient’s explanation of events.
In the research of Longman and Mercer, other strategies were used by the professional adviser when dealing with the interviewee (lay people). When information was being recorded on the form, the adviser filtered out nearly all of the information about the interviewee’s doubts about his own ability and experience. He also reformulated the interviewee’s statements in the way to make it sounds more positive and formal. Filtering and reformulation is often used by police officers to transform statements from suspects’ spoken words. It is also used by lawyers to prepare “last will and testament” documents and contracts on behalf of their clients.
English is a language widely used in the workplace. It takes on a range of distinctive forms and has different features when it is used in different discourse community. Features are especially different between English among co-workers and English between profession and client.
When English is used among co-workers, the choice of language is influenced by practical needs, topic, status and gender. Jargon is used frequently. When English is used between professionals and clients, the use of jargon serves special purposes. Power and control is always in the hands of professionals. They can decide on the topic. Different strategies are used to obtain information.

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By Mary Anne Winslow
Mary Anne Winslow is a member of Essay Writing Service counselling department team and a dissertation writing consultant. Contact her to get free counselling on custom essay writing.

Culinary Arts Online School

2006-10-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

So you want to learn culinary arts online. Wondering where online you can obtain a degree in culinary arts? Well, don’t wonder anymore. The truth is, you’ve got the right page.
I have actually mentioned below some of the most well-known culinary arts online schools where you can obtain a degree in cooking. Note, however, that this is not a complete list, so there are still a lot of culinary arts online schools that are not included here. So if you want to find out more about the schools, then there’s no other better way of finding your best choice than to go online by yourself. You’ll be surprised as to how much information you can gather about the available or currently operating culinary arts online schools.
But before you do your own search, consider first the following. After all, these featured culinary arts online schools are great enough for you to get started. Here are the best picks:
Branford Hall Institute
Founded in 1965, the Branford Hall Institute has been serving high quality culinary arts education at its five campuses. It has been consistently developing its reputation in the culinary world as one of the most prestigious higher learning facility for an outstanding culinary arts education. It is important to note that the degrees offered here are certificates.
Kendal College
The Kendall College has attained great reputations in the culinary field for several years. It was originally founded in 1934 and has been offering the high quality culinary arts education since then. Today, this one of the leading culinary arts online schools offers a number of programs available for the culinary enthusiasts. There includes associate degree in backing and pastry, culinary arts and accelerated culinary arts, bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and culinary arts, and certificates for culinary management, hotel management, profession catering, baking and pastry, and a lot more. All of these programs are conducted by professional instructors.
The Art Institute Online
According to several claims, joining The Art Institute Online can be one of the best decisions you can ever make in your whole life. This is perhaps due to the fact that unlike the other culinary arts online schools available, The Art Institute Online has proven itself with an 80-year record of excellence and commitment. This institution is actually a division of the Art Institute of Pittsburg which has been around since 1921. They have long been offering online classes for culinary art students both day and night, allowing their students to choose whether they will take up the daytime courses or the nighttime classes. Today, this one of the leading culinary arts online schools offers about 13 degrees programs that differ from each other.

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By Milos Pesic
Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Culinary Arts information site. For more articles and resources on Cooking and Culinary Arts related topics, visit his site at: http://culinary.need-to-know.net

Massage Therapy Education

2006-10-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

For those who are interested in a Massage Therapy Education, comprehensive schools of massage and vocational massage schools have taken innovative steps to extend this unique healing art to students everywhere. In the United States alone, there are hundreds of natural healing schools that provide Massage Therapy Education in a vast assortment of massage modalities.
For inquisitive minds or career-oriented individuals who are seriously contemplating a Massage Therapy Education in order to establish a foundation for professional practice, it is important to evaluate all options prior to applying to the massage school of choice. With several massage techniques that one can explore, the selections are nearly unlimited. In today's Massage Therapy Education, students can choose to earn a certificate, diploma, or even a degree in massage therapy. In addition, curious folks can opt to partake in community workshops and seminars that also offer informal Massage Therapy Education. Clearly, the field of practical learning is vast and full of opportunity.
In a standard Massage Therapy Education, most students will encounter general studies in anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, ethics, and hands-on training in deep tissue, sports massage, or Swedish massage therapies. In a more advanced Massage Therapy Education, prospective candidates may elect to learn more in-depth and varied styles of massage, such as acupressure, Alexander technique, Bowen technique, core energetics, hot stone massage, lymphatic massage, structural integration, tuina, reflexology, Rolfing, and zero balancing - to list just a small number of available applications.
With the field of massage continually expanding, a strong, quality Massage Therapy Education proves to be a valuable resource to meet and beat stiff competition in today's workforce. Whether students desire to open their own private day spa or practice, or choose to work in a health care setting, it is imperative that future therapists be prepared through an appropriate Massage Therapy Education. In particular, students who wish to work in an acupuncture clinic may consider a Massage Therapy Education that incorporates Chinese medical massage (tuina), acupressure, or shiatsu. A helpful hint for prospective sports medicine and rehabilitative clinic practitioners would be to gain an in-depth Massage Therapy Education in sports massage, neuromuscular therapy, and cross fiber technique.
Other ideal techniques that can be learned through a Massage Therapy Education include lymphatic drainage and geriatric massage. Students who aspire to work in natural health oncology clinics and geriatric centers would find these studies to be quite useful in their career objectives.
Depending on the specific massage school, the Massage Therapy Education you receive may lead you through weeks or months of practical and academic studies. Some Massage Therapy Education institutes provide day and evening classes, as well as weekend classes. Students enrolled in a Massage Therapy Education will find that they will most likely have to sit for the National Certification exam to receive professional certification in massage therapy. In many states, this is preferred, if not required. While LMTs (Licensed Massage Therapists) who have received an in-depth Massage Therapy Education will almost always earn slightly more than regular massage therapists, the field of massage therapy promises to be rewarding no matter which choice of modality or Massage Therapy Education you choose.

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By Michael Bustamante
To learn more about Massage Therapy Education and additional learning programs, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

Benefits of Scholarship Search

2006-10-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

Whether you want to continue your college or begin your pursuit in the university, looking for a good school is your top priority. But what it you don’t have money to finance your education? Surely, the first thing you should do is not to search for your school; but to look for something that could help you get your first step at the doors of any university or college of your choice. You would look for a scholarship.
Okay, you begin searching for scholarships but after sometime, you end up with nothing. What seems to be the problem? What tool should help you in order to get your dream scholarship fast and effective?
With all the searches failed, you should now consider seeking help from scholarship search.
What is a scholarship search?
Scholarship search is a helpful tool in order for you to arrive at the any scholarship available for you. It is an online site the gives you the access on the list of scholarships that might be good for you. We say, “might be good” because there are certain types of scholarships that are not suitable for you. Reasons for this vary. It might be because some scholarships available on scholarship search only grants those within a set age bracket, status, needs, merits, ethnicity, and more.
With all these complications on the criteria and requirements of each scholarship available, how can a scholarship search make it easier for you?
To begin with, scholarship search usually asks for the searcher’s profile. The profile would contain the student's first name, student's last name, student's email address, email password, date of birth, address, citizenship, race, and other details that are related to the student. After giving these information, the scholarship search site would give a shortlist of available institutions, individuals and groups that offer a type of scholarship that you qualified into.
This would ease up the your search for it eliminates the need for thorough researching since you need not to visit individual sites that probably might not fit you as a person and might not fit your need.
It would also help you to land on a particular scholarship you will not be able to find in any search engines since they could be hidden behind those sites that are much bigger but could not help you.
With scholarship search, not only you cut the time searching for a particular site or particular type of scholarship you are looking for, you will also land on the exact scholarship grant you have long been looking for.

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By Low Jeremy
This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Scholarships, please visit http://scholarship.articlekeep.com.

Scholarship for Women

2006-09-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

Throughout the history of humanity, women have been the underprivileged sector of the society. And with the male-dominated world, women are out in every aspect of life and field of expertise except of course in household job.
In the recent years, women have gradually gained more privileges than ever before. They have gradually gained rights throughout the year and have become a significant sector of society with tasks equal to that of the man.
However, many still believe that the involvement of women in the society is not enough. The field of Medicine, Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Law and Business has started to open its doors to women but has yet to create an opportunity that is equal to men. And these are also very evident in many other fields of expertise that was once dominated by men. This is why many groups, institutions and private sectors are making an effort to provide an equal chance to women to enter the fields that are known to be the man job. Scholarships that are given exclusively to women are great help to keep women in the picture. And the effort has been paying off.
Slowly but surely, women have gradually gained the “classroom share” in these mentioned fields. And year after year, the numbers have significantly increased that somehow keep the equality within reach.
As was mentioned, scholarships for women have been a great help to open up opportunities to make women gain the much needed rights they all been wanting to have.
Scholarships for women, like any other types of scholarship, provide free education to a specific sector of society.
Scholarships for women make it easier to underprivileged sector of our society to gain the skill, education, and expertise. And that would not only cover the women who are seeking for college degree. Even graduate or degree holder women who are seeking for further education are opening helped by scholarships available for women.
There is no doubt that women has gained education and established their roles throughout the years. There is also no doubt that there are more tasks to do in order to keep up the women’s role within the striking distance with the men. But, with the help of organizations, private sectors, and institutions that are willingly give the women better chances for education though scholarship, the statistics will continuously grow. The scholarships for women make it all possible.

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By Low Jeremy
This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Scholarships, please visit http://scholarship.articlekeep.com

The University of Miami - Overview

2006-09-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

The University of Miami, often called UM or the U, is a private university located in Coral Gables, Florida. Coral Gables is close to Miami, Florida. The University of Miami was founded in 1925 and currently has a total student body of just over 15,000. Students at the University of Miami had an average GPA of 4.0 and SAT score of 1260 upon entering the university in 2006. Over sixty-two percent of University of Miami students who entered the university in 2006 were in the top 10 percent of their high school class.
The University of Miami’s main campus is spread across 240 acres in Coral Gables. There are also several satellite campuses of the University of Miami, such as the Rosensetiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science located on Virginia Key. The University of Miami is divided into eight undergraduate academic schools. The three graduate level schools at the University of Miami are the School of Law, the School of Medicine, and the Rosensetial School.
The school colors of the University of Miami are orange, green, and white. These colors represent the fruit, leaves, and blossoms of the orange tree, which are prevalent on the University of Miami campus. The sports teams of University of Miami are called the Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are local rivals with the Florida State University Seminoles and the University of Florida Gators.
The official school mascot of the University of Miami is Sebastian the Ibis. The Ibis was selected as University of Miami’s mascot as a symbol of leadership and courage. According to legend, the Ibis is the last animal to flee a coming hurricane, and the first animal to reappear after a storm. The University of Miami is also symbolized by a green and orange letter U. This letter is used primarily for the University of Miami sports teams.

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By Jason Albright
© Cookgroup Marketing LLC - All Rights Reserved. This article brought to you by www.Everything-Miami.com/ . You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, author name, and URL remain intact. Jason Albright is a contributing editor at Cookgroup Marketing LLC. His background is with lifestyle topics including: Gardening, Outdoor Living, Home Decor & Travel Destinations.

Education System in UK

2006-09-07T01:47:00.000-07:00

All over the world in many societies the children with different kind of disabilities have been traditionally separated from the healthy children. This mostly has been related to the educational process, and educational segregation is still a common and traditional practice in many countries nowadays. It has been generally believed that only special professionals in education will be able to educate those kids.
But already for a decade or even more this approach in solving problem with children who have disabilities is being questioned. The recent researches show the evidence to prove that these children can get the general and tradition education in regular mainstream schools. This practice will also be very beneficial for disabled children, because this treatment will develop the sense of self-consciousness, self meaning and value and will make them more confident and form a positive attitude towards the society. For schools this practice will improve educational capabilities and will enrich the experience and knowledge of teachers in practical pedagogic, psychology and sociology as well as it’ll make other children to be more understandable, tolerant, patient and sympathetic to others who differ from them. Even for healthy regular kids this innovation will be beneficial because it’ll make them to learn how to interact with different people and how to build healthy relations with different people when they are young.
Nowadays most of official and human rights activists agree that the existence of special schools makes a violation of students’ rights, that mainly includes the violation of the right for meaningful and proper education at school, it violates the right for the harmonic and social development that is essential for the psychological and natural growth or development of every child. As the supporters of inclusive education argue, official enforcement of separate education on the grounds of disability, learning difficulty or emotional issues violates international human rights agreements that include the UNESCO Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action (1994), the UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).
From the perspective, which supports the rights of all students to inclusive education, segregated special schools form an evidence of institutional discrimination. The rights that students have to inclusive education are universal – those rights refer to all students, everywhere, even for those whose parents would rather agree them to go to special needs school. As it states in UN General Comment issued in 2001, that discrimination, that refers to disability: ‘offends the human dignity of the child and is capable of undermining or even destroying the capacity of the child to benefit from educational opportunities’. At this point in the past decade new educational programs began to develop in many industrialized countries especially in the USA and in the UK. Most of them suggested refusing from the segregation in many points and making common educational opportunities for children. Inclusion is term that refers to the educational process of students who have disabilities, but the educational process has to take place in general classrooms so that they’ll interact with their peers. The classrooms have to be provided with necessary supports and services for these students.
CSIE (Center for Studies on Inclusive education) has developed the Inclusion Charter, a document what stated the priorities for the development of education that would give equal opportunities to diverse children. First written in 1989, it was partly reformed and revised in 2002 taking into consideration the latest developments and experiences of inclusion and segregation issues in education:
1. “We fully support an end to all segregated education on the grounds of disability or learning difficulty, as a policy commitment and goal for this country.
2. We see the ending of segregation in education as a human rights issue, which belongs within equal opportunities policies.
3. We believe that all students share equal value and status. We therefore believe that the exclusion of students from the mainstream because of disability or learning difficulty is devaluation and is discriminating.
4. We envisage the gradual transfer of resources, expertise, staff and students from segregated special schools to an appropriately supported, diverse and inclusive mainstream.
5. We believe that segregated education is a major cause of society’s widespread prejudice against adults and those experiencing difficulties in learning and that efforts to increase their participation in community life will be seriously jeopardized unless segregated education is reduced and ultimately ended. Desegregating special education is therefore a crucial first step in helping to change discriminatory attitudes, in creating greater understanding and in developing a fairer society.
6. For these reasons we call on Central and Local Governments to do all in their power to work as quickly as possible towards the goal of a desegregated education system.” The members of the center for inclusive education state, that even parent and careers whose children are in the separate special schools, because of the local educational policies, still can contribute to the end of school segregation. If they’ll cooperate with educational authorities to solve the segregation issues, they’ll work for the good of their kinds, and will work for a better education for all students. As the Inclusion Charter says: “The benefits of inclusion apply to all students, disabled and non-disabled alike.”
It’s understandable that inclusive education requires additional financing for public schools to support them with all the required facilities for the needs of children. The plan that is proposed by the Center for Studies on Inclusive education includes transfer of resources from the segregated educational sector to the development of facilities in mainstream school.
The financial problem of the educational reform that was considered to be a barrier for painless reform of education was solved. As the 1999 study made by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) had concluded that it appeared to be no more expensive to provided needed supplies for needed children in regular school, than to give education in the special schools. Also the study proved that in most cases the inclusive system of education appeared to be much cheaper, than segregated dual system, which as it appeared required additional financing. Moreover these results were supported by the findings that were made by the UK Audit Commission in 1992-93.
As the authors of the Inclusion Charter mark, restructured regular public schools would have to change to adopt for diverse needs. It also includes the attraction of special needs teachers to the inclusive education and special facilities for deaf and blind kids, so that they stress will be eased while assimilating. Additional trainings would be organized for teachers who will work with special needs children in their classroom to develop individual skills and interests that would be essential in the work with special groups.
As the research suggests the most effective way to break stereotypes (negative evaluation of the person by specific attributes) can be only in the planned and personal interaction of those who are “marked” and those who are not. UNESCO’s Salamanca Statement supports the influence of inclusive education in the forming of an inclusive and equal society. As it says: “Discrimination in education leads to discrimination in society. Discrimination breeds prejudice. Children learn through observation and imitation. They are likely to start perpetuating discriminatory practices much before they can understand the word “discrimination” and to internalize underlying prejudices in the same way as they accept any other facet of the way of life in their family and community. Prejudice is sustained from one generation to another through social usage.” The main document that enforces the introduction of the inclusive education is the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991.It was accepted by UK Government, and it agreed to fulfill all the obligations set out in the Convention and to assist education in financial and legislature support to make the principles stated in this document come true. This also means that such organizations and authorities as Central Government, LEAs, and local schools have to be involved in this process as well.
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By Aaron Schwartz
Aaron is a professional freelance writer at custom essays writing service: custom-essay.net Now he is a technical writer, advertising copywriter, & website copywriter for Custom Essay Writing Service.

Online Math Programs

2006-09-07T01:44:00.000-07:00

Nowadays you can find a great variety of online math programs. Honestly, as a teacher, I don't believe that any subject, especially Math, can be tutored online. What's most important in tutoring is to be able to act in person. The only way I know to teach mathematics is face-to-face. From my point of view, the online math programs available are not good, all they do is to confuse the child with complicated charts and answers which without a teacher's explanation, would be quite discouraging and may have only a negative impact on the child.
However, there are some online math programs that have proved to be quite helpful. For instance, there are some sites offering free online multiplication games. This is a great way for your kid to practice multiplication drills and have fun at the same time. I hate to see children bored with calculating with paper and pen. I believe it's good if they also play such math games that help them learn more. Since the online game doesn't differs from the normal math, than I can only encourage youngsters to play it. But many other online math programs are simply trash. If you cannot learn your algebra in school then how can you learn it from online math setup? Of course, that would be impossible, so don't waste your time trying it.
There is a much better way to learn mathematics than online programs - you can try the local tutorial centers. There you will find qualified mathematics teachers who will be able to teach your child any math that he doesn't get. Furthermore, many schools nowadays offer tutoring and homework help. I would definitely agree that hiring a tutor is much more expensive than finding online math programs but you should consider what's best for your child. Online math doesn't give you the personal connections or the custom tailored explanations. Your child needs face to face contact. If your child has difficulty in English, history, math or any other subject, then you better consider tutoring instead of online math programs.

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By Morgan Hamilton
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning education. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Math Programs

Keys To Success In College

2006-09-05T03:24:00.000-07:00

College education is a big step for anybody to take. Many young people are overwhelmed when they are standing on that threshold. However, there are some tips you can follow that will help you along. If you follow them precisely they can become your keys to success in your higher education !
It is wise to start up with the planning early. In fact, it's never to soon to think about what you want to do with your college education. A question like 'What do you want to do with your life?' can be pretty Scary, huh? But as a matter of fact, it shouldn't be. Since planning has to do with questions like What I will be doing ten years from now, it should be a fun and exciting session to look forward to
But getting into the right school and getting where you need to go is tough. The competition is stiff. Everybody is trying to get into the most coveted schools, so you have to think about your strengths.
Unfortunately, those SAT and ACT scores are important. I know, that's no accurate test of what a brilliant and creative and deserving individual you are. But, that's the way the system works. Do you want to be admitted into a top-notch Ivy League school? Then you have to get those scores as high as you can. Actually, it's good to do that no matter where you are applying.
What else makes a difference? Your whole academic record will help you get into the school of your choosing. Watch you attendance and grades. Those will all be factors. Last year, the admissions boards had the toughest time choosing applicants. The stakes are being raised, and you don't want to get left behind. So, don't blow off those easy classes or settle for second best when it comes to grades; it matters in the end.
Test scores are important, and they are getting higher every year. What this means, is that you will have a tougher time than those before you. The competition is high. One reason for this is the wide availability of study guides to help you crack the tests. Everyone is buying these and studying, and it's paying off with high test scores. This is why it's more important than ever to blow those scores away.
Public high schools are increasingly cracking down on disciplinary problems. If you are planning on a lucrative college career, watch what you do in high school. Remember how everybody always says, 'This will go on your permanent record?' Well, this will go on your permanent record. It's always best to keep on the safe side and stay out of trouble. A little trouble today can cause you a lot of trouble tomorrow.
Many parents are getting non-traditional educations for their kids, or sending them to private schools. This is one way to ensure the quality of their education. These kids have a distinct advantage over those who attend regular public schools. Once again, the bar is rising. It has been shown that home schooled kids usually have test scores comparable with those who attend private schools. This means that they are not just doing what it takes, but going above and beyond what is expected.
We have seen that the more active parents are in helping their kids with their studies, the more it will pay off. All parents wish the best for their children and if your parents seem pushy about grades and overbearing, remember that they're just looking out for your best interests for the next few years. With a good college education, you can find a great job and make good money. The process starts in high school, and what you put into it is what you get out of it.
If you think all this sound intimidating, you probably should re-think it: it's not reallyintimidating at all. Just hit your books and take your studies seriously. Don't blow it off, be patient and try to get the highest scores you can. Rest assured that the future is in your hands.

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By David Richards
David Richards is a sociologist and web publisher who writes Self Improvement Articles. You can read more at Self Improvement.

Harvard University

2006-09-05T03:21:00.000-07:00

Harvard University is the oldest and, arguably, the most prestigious university in the United States. In 2005, the Times Higher Education Supplement and the Academic Ranking of World Universities both ranked Harvard University first among the universities of the world. In addition, the US News and World Report rankings placed Harvard at the top of the list in a tie with Princeton. Moreover, with a financial endowment of $25.5 billion in 2005, Harvard is considered the wealthiest university in the United States and in the world.
Located at Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard was founded in 1663, incorporated as "The President and Fellows of Harvard College." It was named Harvard College in 1639 after John Harvard, a young clergyman and the institution's first principal donor. John Harvard, a product of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, left in his will several hundred pounds and a few hundred books to the college, which formed the foundation of its college library collection. On record, the first known official reference to Harvard as a "university" rather than a college was in 1780 in the Massachusetts Constitution.
During his tenure as Harvard president from 1869 to 1909, Charles Park instituted a number of radical changes that made the university into what was then known as the modern research university. Among his reforms were elective courses, small classes and entrance examinations. Owing to its successful implementation of these reforms, Harvard served as the model that influenced the American educational system greatly, both at the college and secondary levels.
In 1999, Radcliffe College, which was originally founded as the "Harvard Annex" for women, was formally merged with Harvard University to form the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
Today, Harvard has the fourth largest library collection in the world and the largest financial endowment of any academic institution. It lists over 6,000 undergraduate and 13,000 postgraduate students as well as a staff of 2,300. Its well-known motto is "veritas" or truth. Since 1875, the official school color is crimson and that's also the name given to Harvard sports teams as well as the daily school newspaper, The Harvard Crimson Tide.

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By Kadence Buchanan
Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Education, Science, and Computers

Best Graduate Schools

2006-08-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

While looking for graduate schools to apply to, there are certain criteria that you should keep in mind. Certain schools specialize in certain fields. Do your research and find out which schools are best in your area of specialization.
Decide your ultimate goal and work backwards from it. Analyze whether the course that you are applying for will qualify you for your ultimate goal. Look at the course from all angles and see whether you will need to undertake any prerequisite and supplementary courses. Prerequisites will make up for any shortfalls in your knowledge of the main subject you are about to pursue. Supplementary courses will depend on your assessment regarding whether you need more intake to achieve your final goal.
One logical way of evaluating the school is to evaluate the instructors. A school’s excellence depends on two main things, its infrastructure and its teaching faculty.
It is also essential to check your school’s general education requirements. Every student is required to take a set core of courses. This is often essential to earn a degree. Overlaps and conflicts with the major must be checked on and credits for courses differ from institution to institution. A certain amount of research under the guidance of an experienced person will certainly help in locating a suitable graduate school.
There is no surefire method of getting your dream graduate school; however there are a few tactics you can employ with that goal in mind. As competition is incredibly tough, the preparation for the admission process should start early, preferably at the beginning of your last year in college. Guidance from teachers, participation in seminars and counseling sessions can be invaluable. Besides enrolment in many courses (science, math and English), the enhancement of good communication skills (both written and oral) will come in handy. Various GRE preparation courses can also help in giving you the right kind of orientation. The next step is to make a perfect transcript that fits the expectations of your desired graduate school. Friends and the internet can also prove to be sources of guidance and advice.

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By Kent Pinkerton
Graduate Schools provides detailed information on Graduate Schools, Best Graduate Schools, Graduate School Rankings, Graduate School Scholarships and more. Graduate Schools is affiliated with Summer Graduate Art Programs Abroad.

Scope of Online MBA Degree Programs

2006-07-31T05:27:00.000-07:00

At some point during your college education, students may wonder whether to pursue MBA Degrees. In this day and age, prospective college students can pursue MBA degrees through an online degree program, entirely via distance education. Because online learning isn’t any different than a traditional classroom setting, you can obtain and MBA degree completely online and still receive the same level of education you would in a brick and mortar institution. What’s more, there are a lot of benefits to pursuing an MBA degree through an online degree program and the breadth and scope of information you’ll learn is on par to that of a classroom setting.
There’s no denying that online learning is convenient, and that’s no different when pursuing an MBA degree. Because people in the business world have very hectic lives, it can be hard to schedule traditional means of schooling around a full-time job and a home life. Thankfully, going through a reputable online degree program for MBA degrees will allow you to schedule your coursework around a time that’s right for you, whether that’s 4 in the afternoon or 4 in the morning. Provided you have a reliable computer with internet access, you can obtain your degree completely online.
For those in the business world, networking is key to getting ahead. With an online degree program, students are given the opportunity to network across a broad range of people, because they are studying with students from all around the globe. MBA degrees obtained online means you are not limited to networking with people within your county. This provides you incredible opportunities to connect with people in positions all across the country and acquire invaluable contacts within the business world.
MBA degrees acquired through an online degree program also tend to mirror the business world. For example, people involved in business as their career work with contacts all over the world and never actually meet those people. Through an online degree program, students work with other students across the globe that they have never seen. Learning through the online environment is a key factor to understanding how to connect and work with people in other states, even in other countries. In the business workforce, this is a valuable skill to possess.
Additionally, MBA degrees obtained online allow students to learn from a variety of top level professionals across the country. Because online colleges recruit professors, teachers and top executives from all around the world, students are able to interact with a variety of people completely through an online degree program. Anyone who desires to share their real world experience and are learned and experienced in their field can be a candidate for a teaching position at one of the top distance learning institutions. As a result, a student can have a professor from Stanford University for one class and another from Harvard the next.
While MBA degrees are not cheap, pursuing a degree online is significantly more cost-effective than attending a traditional school. Tuition alone can cost upwards of 70,000 dollars, but online that price is drastically lowered. While you’ll still pay somewhere around the 20,000 dollar mark, the price decrease is definitely an advantage when thinking about attaining an MBA degree. Regardless of your current life situation, you’ll be able to attend school online while holding a full time job and managing a home. Because you’ll receive the same level of education online as you would in a traditional classroom setting, MBA degrees acquired through an online degree program are a cost-effective and convenient way to further your education.

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By Harris Jhosta
Harris Jhosta is holding the market experience of IT industry and immense business solutions for about 2 decades now. His vast experience in the related field gave him the acclamation and renownship in many sectors of business. Harris has also been involved in providing educatinal services in form of various seminars and lectures, in many well renowned universties. For more information about online degrees, please visit online degrees.

Graduate School Scholarships

2006-07-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

A good education has a high price and yearly increases in the cost of living makes attending a good graduate school quite expensive. One of the most important factors people consider while applying to a graduate school is the cost involved. Student loans and scholarships are the two options open to students to help them overcome this financial hurdle. The amount of scholarships offered in the U.S. is astounding. There are several scholarships easily available but the criteria may differ from university to university.
Every school has a financial aid center that helps students with information about available scholarships. All options should be explored. Parents, friends, teachers, and the Internet all are possible sources that should be tapped for information regarding funding.
The U.S. government helps in its own way. FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid is one such government aid. While granting funding to a student FAFSA takes into account students’ parents’ earnings. Amounts are fixed on this basis. A point to be noted here is that grants need not be paid back, but loans do.
There is a lot of money available in scholarships; all you need is a lot of extensive research and hard work to find out about them and apply. There is over $129 billion available in financial aids. A financial advisor can help you filling out forms for various grants. One just needs to start working on the research early.
The National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) has been set up with a view to enhancing the reach and availability of scholarship to deserving students. This association functions as a forum for the exchange of best practices and policy information among scholarship providers. Set up in 1999, the NSPA now has 150 organizational members. It also boasts of several individual members. Several small and large private foundations, public charities, some universities and colleges are among the members of the NSPA. The NSPA membership’s scholarship awards account for over $450,000,000 in scholarships to more than 200,000 students each year.

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How College Students Can Make Extra Money

2006-07-11T01:38:00.000-07:00

Many college students need extra money to pay for meals, supplies or just entertainment. Because of a heavy class load, some students cannot take on even a part time job. There are ways that students can make extra money without a job.
When searching for ways to make extra money from home, it is important to know that there are so called opportunities out there that are just scams. When I was a freshman in college my roommate and I got excited about the "envelope stuffing job" until one of our parents informed us that it was not for real. Something that sounds to good to be true probably is. Finally, jobs that require that you pay a "fee" for membership or shipping are ones to avoid.
Luckily, there are legitimate ways to make extra money working from home or from a college dorm.
Students who are proficient in using a computer can make extra money several ways. Many small businesses or independent professionals need assistance but not a full time employee. Therefore they will hire virtual assistants for a few administrative jobs or for ongoing support. Students who can create webpages can help people get their business online. Alternately, students can create their own websites and earn money through affiliate marketing programs. All in all there are quite a few ways that students can make money using their computer.
Finding opportunities is easier than ever now when using the internet. There are many job boards that can provide information such as careerbuilder.com or elance.com.
Students may be able to find odd jobs around their campus or city. Mystery shopping is one fun way that students can earn extra money by dining out or shopping. More information on mystery shopping can be found at volition.com. Students should always check the job boards on campus as they will often have temporary job opportunities posted.
Whether college students make extra money from their home, on campus or off, it can be a big help to a student who is in need of just a little extra cash. Students who are creative and resourceful will find the extra income that they need.

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By Michael Carter
Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans. Find out about more ways to earn money for college and college scholarship information.

Associate Degree in Nursing Online

2006-07-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

There are many benefits to be had from earning an associate degree in nursing online. There will be more job opportunities, more money, and a feeling of satisfaction. An associate degree generally takes 2 years to get, but for some that may seem like a life time when you have to work a job to pay your already existing bills. By getting your degree online you can work on your degree based off your schedule.
The demand for nurses in the medical field is growing each year. Because of the demand the salary for nurses is at an all time high for the profession. With your associate degree in nursing you will earn even more money! You will open many doors for yourself with an associate degree, because you can work almost anywhere that needs a nurse.
By earning your associate degree you have the choice of just working or continuing on in your higher education. By continuing you education you are opening yourself up for more opportunities.
Nurses will always be needed. Even with technology progressing the way it is there is always something more needed. With an associate degree you will not only be a desirable candidate for any job in the industry but, a preferred candidate.

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By Jakob Culver
Jakob Culver is founder of the website – http://myeducationarena.com and has a solid background in education.

Diving Technical Schools

2006-06-21T03:06:00.000-07:00

Diving technical schools are highly specialized institutions that offer technical diving instruction. There are a number of diving technical schools located nationwide. These schools provide training courses for beginners, advanced, and technical divers. Most of the top diving technical schools feature highly experienced and active instructors. Advanced training, wide experience, and specialized equipment are some of the requisites to become technical divers.
Open water diver and open water nitrox are two training programs for the beginners. Of which, open water courses are ideal for those wishing to become scuba divers. Advanced open water diver, EANx nitrox diver, deep air diver, dive master, and recreational trimix are some of the advanced courses offered by diving technical schools. You will also be taught some of the scuba skills including night diving, drift diving, underwater naturalist, overhead environment, underwater navigation, underwater photography, deep diving, wreck diving, multilevel diving, spear fishing, and many more.
For technical divers, courses such as EANx gas blender, trimix gas blender, advanced EANx nitrox diver, normoxic trimix diver are offered. Most of the training courses give instruction on marine life. Online diving technical programs are also provided in some of the schools. Practitioners pursuing an online course do not get direct supervision from the diving instructors. In this case, multimedia lessons and reference manuals are offered through internet.
Course fees and the duration may vary depending on the course features and schedules. Courses are scheduled during evening or on weekends to meet your needs. Almost every diving technical schools offer accommodation facilities, books, training materials, and other equipments.
After completing the training program, students are awarded a diving certificate that is recognized all over the world. SSI (Scuba Schools International), SDI (Scuba Divers International), PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), TDI (Technical Divers International) and YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) are some of the internationally known training agencies.

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By Seth Miller
Technical Schools provides detailed information on Technical Schools, Vocational Technical Schools, Automotive Technical Schools, Diving Technical Schools and more. Technical Schools is affiliated with Vocational Technical Schools.

Online University

2006-06-21T03:05:00.000-07:00

Going back to school is not an idea everybody enjoys. You may not like the idea of rubbing shoulders with people much younger than you, or competing with people who are pursuing the course full-time when you can devote only a limited amount of time to the course. Apart from the emotional issues, there are other factors like holding down a full-time job, or the pressing responsibilities of motherhood. Returning to the carefree mode of student life is not that simple, after all. Online universities offer you the chance to continue your education without bringing major changes to your present lifestyle.
On the Web you can find dozens of universities providing you the chance to further your education without stepping out of your home. You can choose from a range of undergraduate or postgraduate level courses, or any type of degree you want. Arts, humanities and life sciences are all there waiting for you to choose. Log on to the university of your choice, and it will willingly send you the relevant information free of cost.
Online universities are unique in the way that their courses progress according to your needs and abilities. A time-independent schedule can enable you to balance work and home pressures with the academic calendar. Introverts who are too shy to discuss their thoughts in classrooms can now share their views through online discussion boards and debates.
Expensive education is also one reason people drop out of college. When you register yourself in an online course you will be pleasantly surprised to see that these are less costly than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. All you have to do is get a good Internet connection and acquire some basic computer skills. A little bit of self-motivation and discipline to study in an online university will take your career to new heights.

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By Eddie Tobey
Online University provides detailed information on Online University, Online University Degree, Online University Courses, Accredited Online Universities and more. Online University is affiliated with Online Nursing Schools.

The University Of Kansas

2006-06-02T00:48:00.000-07:00

The University of Kansas is just one of the quality schools for higher education in the state of Kansas. The main campus of the University of Kansas is located In Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence is actually home to two universities, the University of Kansas, and the Haskell Indian Nations University. The town of Lawrence is 25 miles from the capitol city of Topeka, and just 40 minutes from the thriving city area of Kansas City. The Kansas International Airport is also in Kansas City and provides transportation for many students. One unique thing and the University of Kansas is that it is a multi-campus facility. In addition to the main campus is Lawrence; the campus of the University of Kansas includes the Medical Center in Kansas City, the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, and the clinical campus of the School of Medicine in Wichita.
Student Body Information
The University of Kansas was founded in 1866, and today has more than 29,000 students enrolled. There are students from all 50 states, as well as international students from 110 countries. Students can choose from over 170 majors, and the University of Kansas is one of the top 50 public universities, and is well known for their public research and teaching disciplines. There are plenty of fields of study to choose from for the prospective student. In addition, students in their senior year often study abroad.
The Perfect University Location
With the jay hawk as their mascot, the University of Kansas is ideally located. The town of Lawrence is small, with a population of around 85,000 people. Lawrence has been ranked as one of the top 15 best small art towns in America and is also known for their dedication to historic preservation. The town has a wonderful art scene, and boasts many specialty shops, coffeehouses, and other amenities to make students and residents alike feel at home. Lawrence is considered a safe community that cares about its residents.
Tuition Costs
Another unique thing about the University of Kansas is that they consistently have a below average tuition. This does not mean, however, that their teaching staff is below par. It is actually anything but! They have expert researchers and experience professors teaching their classes. Many of these professional are nationally ranked. Housing costs for students are also lower than the national average. So students at the University of Kansas are definitely getting a quality education for their tuition dollars.

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By John Francis

Top Business Schools

2006-06-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

Trying to get into business school can be gruesome, and you’re not even guaranteed a spot on the consultancy firm you’re eyeing even if you graduate. The statistics are alarming: Wall Street has lost 34,000 jobs, and only fourteen percent of MBA graduates at the average business school secured consulting jobs last year (down from twenty-four percent five years ago). But getting into a top-rated business school might just get you that extra lift you badly need to get to the top yourself.
Getting into a business school is difficult, depending on your brains and your financial means. First, you need to think about what specific field you want to study. When you have done that, the next thing is to acquire a decent budget. Remember–the top has its price, and it isn’t cheap.
After you’ve done that, try looking at their requirements; most of them have units in finance as prerequisites or require job experience (for graduate school). Preparing yourself for the interview is very helpful, as some of the top-rated business schools tend to accept students with better-developed personalities. State business schools are a way to go if you want a decent school without the “price over quality” tag some private business schools have. Some state-run schools are top rated, too, but admission is very competitive.
If you’re planning on entering a private business school, there are many to choose from. Try to research which field the school is known for and then weigh your options. A well-known name or a general reputation of a school may appear more than it actually is, so you have to be careful not to be deceived with this. A true top business school produces the best students; research the top executives running the big companies or those who own successful consultancy firms today and see which school they graduated from.
Once you’ve entered business school, you will find that the lessons are more realistic in a sense that the cases you study or are presented with are from actual situations in the corporate world. You might be embedded in a lot of research work for this and that can become overwhelming if you’re working part time. Don’t get fooled by Tom Cruise in “Risky Business”. These schools can be exhausting.
Another thing to check is the faculty and research facilities they have. How many books have the faculty published and how efficient are the laboratories and libraries? Scheduling for a campus tour must cover these things.

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By Jason Gluckman
Business Schools provides detailed information on Business Schools, Top Business Schools, Online Business Schools, Best Undergraduate Business Schools and more. Business Schools is affiliated with MBA Online.

The University Of Iowa

2006-05-26T01:33:00.000-07:00

The University of Iowa is considered to be one of the best schools in the state and also in the surrounding area. The University of Iowa is located in the southeast part of the state, in a town called Iowa City. It is also located on the shores of the Iowa River. Iowa City is often listed in "best places to live" studies because of the great public schools, safe neighborhoods and educated population. Iowa City and the surrounding areas have a total population of about 90,000 people, part of which are the students enrolled at the nearby University.
There are over 28,000 students enrolled at the University of Iowa. The makeup of students is diverse. 64% of students enrolled at the University of Iowa are residents of Iowa. Another 21% of students come from the adjoining states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. 8% of students come from other states in the U.S. There are also students from 106 countries around the world represented at the University Of Iowa. This provides for a population that is extremely diverse and interesting.
The University of Iowa consists of eleven colleges, or fields of study. Many of them are considered to be some of the very best programs west of the Mississippi. They are:
-Liberal Arts and Sciences

-Business

-Dentistry

-Engineering

-Education

-Law

-Medicine

-Nursing

-Pharmacy

-Public Health

-Graduate
The life for a student at the University of Iowa is filled with things to do. The University provides many types of financial aid to both in state and out of state students. There are also resources for on-campus and off-campus housing. The University boasts excellent student health and safety resources, and the variety of campus activities and clubs make sure that any student can find something to suit their individual needs and interests. Most students feel very comfortable with the amenities offered by the University and enjoy campus life and activities. Some students find participating in student government to be an excellent way to get involved in campus life at the University Of Iowa.
The University Of Iowa has an excellent sports program. The Iowa Hawkeyes are the students participating in various sports. The faculty and the students support the Iowa Hawkeyes, and events are well attended.
Many of the students who graduate from the University of Iowa have excellent job prospects, both in state and in other parts of the U.S.

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By John Francis
http://iowahq.com/ Facts about Iowa from tourism to buying and selling real estate.

Best Undergraduate Business Schools

2006-05-26T01:16:00.000-07:00

The best undergraduate business schools are mostly found in business schools that offer the top-rated graduate schools. They are mostly found here in the United States, although Ecole in France claims to be the first.
Enrolling yourself in an undergraduate business school does have some advantages compared to beginning at the graduate-level. You will have no trouble adjusting once you decide to take graduate courses. Most employers are looking for applicants who have already taken a business course and do not so much hire those who are simply poised to take it. You may also look at it as an investment, since most of the courses taught in graduate and the undergraduate levels are the same. Starting early in your career—even from your from high school if possible—can be an advantage, too.
To find the best undergraduate school, you have to consider the long-term course you will follow, since most business schools have their centers for excellence or focus on a specific field like Economics or Business Management. Check out their campus profiles; state colleges also offer good business courses.
The skills you learn at the undergraduate level are very tedious, and you might have to yourself prepare to get the hang of it. Your learning will be tested in what they call “Feasibility Studies” in which you will put to application the theories and concepts you have learned. Most of the rising entrepreneurs got their big breaks from these feasibility studies, and they have not yet graduated from college.
The best business schools in the country have tuition fees that can make you bankrupt, so you should be careful about deciding to begin early in your career. If financing is the least of your problems, try your luck at Wharton or Harvard. These two schools have a good reputation not only in the United States but all over the world. Multi-billion-dollar companies hunt for graduates of these schools to run their operations.
The important thing you learn in the undergraduate business school is focus. You don’t really need to enroll in the best school to learn that, but truth is, the school under your belt can spell your destiny.

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Education - How Important Is College?

2006-04-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

This is a debate that has and will go on until the world itself stops spinning. But the truth is, the way the world is constantly changing, a college education isn't the be all and end all that it used to be. That is not to say that college isn't important. But how important? Well, that all depends on what you want to do with your life. We'll take a look at some of the factors involved in determining just how important college will be to you.
The first thing that even a good teacher will admit, is that not everybody is suited for college. Some students just don't have the smarts or the grades. That is not to say that they can't be successful in life without getting an education after high school that involves going to a fancy university.
Let's face it. A lot of this world is run by people who work with their hands. Think you're going to get through life without having a sink clog that's so bad that no amount of Liquid Plumber is going to get it out? It happens. Plus, pipes get old, rusty and fall apart. For these jobs we need plumbers. Try to imagine a life without one. Well, in case you didn't know, plumbers don't have to go to college. A good technical school specializing in things like plumbing and heating is all the education these people need. The schools specialize in just what they need to learn to get the job done. They don't have to take English Lit and Chemistry and there's no need for them to have to.
Having said that, if you want to be a doctor, well, college is pretty much the least of your worries because that is only a preview of the real work ahead of you, four years of medical school. Same thing if you're planning on being a lawyer. There's about three years of law school after that.
But what if you want to do something that's sort of in between technical and the college "professions?" For example, let's just say you want to work in a bank as a teller? Do you really need to go to college for that? Certainly everything you've needed to learn to do a job that simple has been learned in high school. So what is college going to do for you? Will it help you get the job any easier? Will it make the job itself any easier? This is where many people disagree.
The die hard college advocates argue that, because the competition is so fierce for even the simplest of jobs, not having a college education is the same as cursing yourself to a life of unemployment. The argument is that everyone goes to college today and not to go is plain suicide. Doesn't matter if you really need it or not. You just have to go in order to have any chance.
Those who aren't so gung ho college argue that there are kids that just don't belong there and to keep them from earning a living for another four years and on top of that add another $100,000 plus to their debt is just plain ridiculous. These kids should find jobs right away. Even by working in a shipping department, if you get in with a good company, you can work your way up to the point where you're making a nice living.
So who's right and who's wrong? Most likely, there is no right or wrong. Everybody is different and each student has to decide what is best for him or her.

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By Michael Russell
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Education

Compelling Reasons For Homeschooling

2006-04-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

People choose the option of homeschooling their children for a variety of reasons.
For many years, homeschooling was the purview of those families who lived in rural areas and found the cost and/or time it would take to transport their children to school unbearable. For these people, homeschooling was and continues to be the only real option when it comes to their children’s education. Many rural families have traditionally relied on their children to help around the house, and thus homeschooling allowed them to pursue their studies around the family schedule, and work and education could be fit into the day according to a suitable timetable.
Another traditional reason for families choosing the option of homeschool was a fundamental disagreement with what was or is being taught in other schooling environments. Chief among this group are families whose religious beliefs clash with the prevailing educational methods. Families who choose the option of homeschooling are not subject to the rigid curriculum of established schools, and there are many options when it comes to homeschool resources that can offer as wide or as narrow a field of study as far as worldviews that the parent wishes.
A more recent development in the reason people choose to homeschool their children is that of safety. School ground violence seems to be increasing, and that has many parents worried. They feel that the best way to keep their children away from harm is to keep them close.
Hand-in-hand with the safety issue is a concern for the child’s self esteem. Bullying is a common issue within any school system, as any parent well remembers from their own school days. Many parents cannot bear the thought of throwing their children into the kind of system that breeds a pack mentality, and are choosing instead to have them educated at home.
A very recent development in the reasons for homeschooling is the fluidity in choices that homeschooling children allows. This is especially apparent in Generation X, who seem to be fairly insistent on independence and not being tied down to any one place or situation. Homeschooling eliminates the need to plan all vacations around established school holidays, as the pace is determined by the parent and child.
Finally, parents may choose to homeschool their children because they simply feel they can do a better job than any educational system. Parent of gifted children do not want to see the child wasted in the hard pressed for both resources and qualified teachers system that public schooling represents, and private schools are becoming increasingly unaffordable for the average family. Parents who believe their children need the advantages of a more intimate education are therefore turning to the option of homeschooling.
The rise in popularity of homeschooling has meant a corresponding rise in the materials available to the parent who chooses to homeschool. There are resources available to meet any educational needs, and with a little bit of homework a parent will find the curriculum they feel will best suit their children’s needs.

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By All Homeschooling
copyright©2006 allhomeschooling.com. Visit for more articles on http://www.allhomeschooling.com/articles, http://www.allhomeschooling.com and http://www.allhomeschooling.com/homeschool resources.

Type Of College Degree

2006-04-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

There is a certain sense of distinction that comes with having a college education. No matter what type of college degree you have, whether it is a 2-year associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or a higher level graduate degree, you know that your chances for securing stable work are very high. In fact, many career fields are not even accessible to someone if her or she does not have some type of college degree. Whether you earn a technical certificate, a liberal arts degree, or a professional degree, you will be prepared to enter some field in which you will have the knowledge and the ability to excel in what you are doing.
Though not unheard of, it is unusual to see someone rise through the ranks of an organization of any kind, especially on a managerial level, without at least some formal college training. Where a high school diploma used to be enough to secure at least an entry level position and allow a person to work his or her up through the organization by hard work alone, that is just simply not the case any longer. Earning some type of college degree prepares you not only for specific subject skills, but also equips you with communications and decision-making skills that are appropriate to the professional world, no matter what the field is. Even self-employed business owners might find it tough to succeed without some type of business training. Very few people have the innate ability to understand the components of business and make them work profitably.
In a field such as medicine, you rarely, if ever, see people with successful careers on any level of employment that do not have some type of college degree. Many positions require a bachelor's degree or higher to even be considered, along with several years of practical training as well as licensing. There are, however, careers in the medical field out there that do not require years and years of education and training. Positions such as laboratory technicians, respiratory therapists, and some nursing jobs are available to those who hold a 2-year, or associate's, degree in the appropriate subject area. These types of jobs also require practical training, but not nearly as much as more advanced positions. The advantage of positions like these is that they offer stability and good pay, often with regular working hours. Higher-level medical positions, such as those of surgeons, general physicians, and psychiatrists, require highly intensive long-term training that goes beyond undergraduate studies. These positions also carry a very high liability, as well as intense stress levels.
Law is another field that largely requires individuals with some type of college degree for employment consideration. For practicing attorneys, they are required to have a professional law degree that takes several years to complete past a bachelor's degree, as well as appropriate licensing. Certain positions in the legal profession, such as paralegal and legal secretary positions, usually require only an associate's degree for employment consideration. These positions are not to be taken for granted, though. They are highly valuable jobs that require a great deal of skill and knowledge of the discipline of the law.
For fields such as business, marketing, or advertising, there is usually a minimum requirement of a bachelor's degree in an appropriate subject area for a job applicant. These fields can be highly specialized, and earning the appropriate type of college degree shows that you possess the certain knowledge base required to handle the certain rigors that are a part of the world of business. Often, the jobs that are awarded to young applicants with a degree are entry-level positions that involve a certain amount of on the job corporate training. This training is an investment of an organization that benefits the employee in that it provides eventual opportunities for advancement into higher-level (including management) positions.
Whether or not you have a college degree can affect your professional livelihood. It can determine the type of job you are capable of getting, the pay that you receive, and the opportunities you have to advance in an organization. The type of college degree you have often reflects (to potential employers) how hard you have worked, the level of knowledge that you potentially possess, and the time an organization would have to spend training you. Many organizations go by the assumption that a college-educated individual will require little training, will learn faster, and be more diligent in a position. That is why it is important to consider getting some type of college degree in order to have a stable and satisfying career.

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by: Mark Woodcock

Mark Woodcock is a director of 3 Internet Companies, is a published author and has written many articles on a widespread number of topics. All his articles may be reproduced provided that an active link is included to http://www.higher-education-online.com/

A Guide to Online Bachelors Degrees

2006-04-15T03:06:00.000-07:00

In the past, a degree was a badge of distinction. While it still has some of the same allure today, a degree is now considered almost a necessity to make a satisfactory living. In today's competitive world, continual learning has become an integral part of success.
People serious about financial stability will find the time and exert the effort required to achieve a degree.
Individuals who were thrust into the demands of life and family responsbilities before being able to complete college in the past were at a decided disadvantage because it wasn't feasible for them to go back later and get that degree.
Thankfully, with the advent of online bachelors degrees afforded by educational institutions who have acknowledged complicated life situations such as job and family committments, people can now go back and finish that degree and move ahead in the world.
Pursuing an online accredited bachelors degree enables students to move beyond the limitations and inconveniences of attending a college campus, or university.
In short, online bachelors degrees afford people the flexibility of setting their own pace.
However, if you want your degree to be recognized by employers in the real world you should make sure you focus only on an online accredited bachelors degree. Accredited universities are the most prestigous. There are some unscrupulous degree mills out there who will take your money and offer you worthless degrees.
One should not assume that just because typical B.S and B.A degrees require 4 years that you will necessarily spend the same number of years getting an online bachelors degrees. Indeed, if you really push yourself, such degrees can be achieved in as little as 18 months.
It is determined that individuals attaining a bachelor’s degree make on an average $20,000 more dollars a year than those with only a high school diploma or equivalent.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average annual income for high school graduates is $27,038. However, those with a bachelor’s degree enjoy an average annual income of $51,206.
Online learning presents a prospective future, but there are certain universities one must know to look for. It is essential the university chosen offers a legitimate online accredited bachelors degree program.
Getting that bachelors degree can mean not only more money and a better life for you and your family, but more pride and an immense feeling of accomplishment.

___________________________________

by: Dan Ho

Discover the best http://www.accredited-online-university.com/online-bachelors-degrees.html or visit http://www.accredited-online-university.com to learn about more distance learning degrees and schools.

College Interview General Preparation

2006-04-15T03:03:00.000-07:00

Lets first think of a college interview, what is it really, why do they even bother to take the time and personally meet each applicant, and what kind of power a good interview has. You have probably conducted your own national college search, and already know your preferences. Colleges have interviews for one simple reason, it works, it works for them – some data shows them that the applicants they personally meet and talk with, on average, succeed in their programs and have been succeeding in their program for some time now. So they know it works. But what is “it”? the college interview is the “it”, and it is no different than a job interview.
The college interview was not thought of as a mean to intimidate potential students, to keep them away, to embarrass and humiliate the next graduates of this college, it is meant for one simple, and very important, reason – to meet and evaluate the motivation and potential of the young person applying to the college. And that’s all it is. There is nothing personal or evil in it, other from the fact these people want to know what you are made of and how serious you are. You need to think of it as a part of your campus tour.
So a college interview is basically like a thoughtful conversation with someone you never met before and that wants to know who you really are, what you went through in your life and where you are heading. But when talking to a stranger about this you can allow yourself to be casual and say some things that you can not say in a college interview, you have to think of how you want to present yourself, and how not to get dragged to the pleasing “tell me what I want to hear” mode.
Preparation will get you a long way, it is the absolute key in getting through the college interview successfully. There is no such thing as over preparing for this, and in fact, if you do this the proper way, you will need to tell yourself at a certain moment that its time to stop preparing.
Let’s go over some of the points in the preparation procedure, things you will want to look into while getting ready for your college interview.
Try and know who your contact is – a simple thing, try and get the name (or names of the persons) that will be conducting the interview, when you will start the interview you will have a nicer way to present yourself and greet the interviewers than most applicants do. It will also show that you prepared in advance and that you are serious about getting this position, this will set you off in the right tracks. When you do your initial national college search, you can also look for the contacts interviewing applicants. No potential harm here. Only good can come out of this one.
Research - can I stress this enough? College interview success – research, research and more research. Lets ask ourselves one basic questions, if someone wants to get into his favorite spot team (any position) will he (or she) not know the names of past hero’s? The teams greatest moments? Its accomplishments? Or course the candidate will know. And you need to show that you are the same, your motivation and enthusiasm to get in to this program will shine when you provide enough evidence to prove you know everything there is to know about the place itself. Ways to get information, research the college web site, search engines for other information, people name search will give you some knowledge about the teachers and their accomplishments, any publications of the college itself are also good. If you are reading this while doing your national college search, you can enjoy the opportunity to add something to your list. Even the ordinary campus tour can give you a chance of finding a little more about the place.
In researching the college you can study materials of the college. College’s course book online, find interesting questions regarding the courses. Some students seem to think that asking questions at the interview might seem presumptuous, but in fact it makes you seem interested and sophisticated. Here are some questions you might consider asking The programs you might be interested in majoring in, construction on the campus and new facilities, financial aid, How the school treats AP tests, how they compare this college with national colleges, the campus tour, school advising, ask interviewers about their opinion of the school, what they like best, and why the courses are better than in other places (no example or names, just say other places).
Your answers – take a look at our “college interview questions” section to familiarize yourself with the potential questions you may face, and practice with family member or friend, keep answers short and sweet, know what you are saying and do not get too personal. Talk slowly, and think about each question before you answer, even if you have been practicing for this particular question for the past two months. Never cut someone when they are talking, not even if you are extremely excited about your answer.
Promoting yourself – think about a few strong points you got, and that you want the interviewer to remember about you, no need to mention these in every answer, but three or four times (with reference – “as I already told you, I think I am very good at managing people… that’s why I took the school paper publishing project”). If you have a problem identifying traits you want to promote – read your resume or application form again carefully and mark the points you think are worth focusing on. You can also try and add some humor to the interview, say something about the campus tour, and your impression of the college.

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by: Jonathan Mayheart

Jonathan Mayheart, specializing in BioData, has been studying and researching interviews. He recently wrote a few articles for http://www.collegeinterview.zupatips.com/ providing tips and advice regarding college interviews for students and college applicants.

College - Good Grade Obsession

2006-04-03T04:10:00.000-07:00

Colleges have been reviewing far too many applications recently that show students are addicted to getting good grades which means they are continuously sacrificing the time to figure out what extra-curricular activities interest them. These students are becoming more and more robotic in a greatly increasing competitive atmosphere. Although a student's academic career is the main focus of the applicants, the problem lies when the college has to figure out what to do when they have too many applicants with a grade point average of 3.8-4.0. There have been several circumstances where the student with the 4.0 does not get into the college and student with the lower grade point average does.
Of course colleges are looking for those students who can do well academically, but they also want their students to come with a certain energy towards innovation. They want their students to be able to contribute creatively and receive some sort of recognition eventually. Basically, colleges need those students who can go beyond expectation. They need the students who have a love in life beyond academics. They need students who can excel outside of the classroom; at sports, volunteer work, dancing, traveling, and the list goes on and on. These students also need to be able to present this in a 4-8 page college application. Now, how do you do this? How does one go about preparing for this task?
It is very important that a student do two things while also maintaining a good grade point average. They must have personal time to themselves to breathe and relax and they also have to commit to something that they love to do outside of the classroom. The students who stay committed to one activity for three years show a much stronger level of commitment and motivation than the student that who participates in twenty activities for a short period of time. However, the students who participate in two or more activities for two or more years show even more potential than those with only one.
When colleges get applications that show various extra-curricular activities with no connection to each other, they question them. Some of these applications will have all different kinds of activities like "one month volunteering at a homeless shelter, three months at a vet hospital, 6 months in dance lessons" etc. Although these applications are full of extra curricular activities, these students show questionable motivation and a lack of commitment. This may simply mean that the student participated in the activities for the sole purpose of filling up that page in the college application. Sometimes these assumptions are clarified in the student's essay but there are times when they are not and this does not look good for the applicant no matter what his or her grades are like.
Students should always keep in mind that colleges want those students who can think critically. They want the student who can pursue an idea, not the one who simply follows the rules and meets criteria. Colleges want the student who can think outside the box.

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By Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to College

College - Good Grade Obsession

2006-04-03T04:08:00.000-07:00

_______________________________

By Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to College

Culinary Arts – Is It for You

2006-03-30T04:54:00.000-08:00

Culinary arts program applications are basically no different than applying to any other program or course at college or at university. As standard there is a process that you need to follow and you may need to meet with someone in the department to see if it is right for you, as there are plenty of options available.
Considerations with regards to the school's reputation, location, tuition, and financial aid, are essential in choosing what is best for you. You can start by researching online via their websites, contacting them directly through phone numbers, or posting information about your wants via their addresses. Once you have decided to contact them, they will probably arrange a for you to have a meeting with them and discuss your options and they will also show you what the different culinary programs have to offer.
Many attend culinary arts college to become chefs or work in the food industry in some department, but a majority also attend culinary arts colleges to improve their own home cooking. With the growing population of culinary arts colleges and cooking schools in the country, there are plenty to cater to both groups.
Numerous varieties of people and companies, from ex-chef celebrities, local restaurants and supermarkets, are setting up cooking classes so that anyone can improve their kitchen skills and knowledge. For the aspiring career chef, culinary arts colleges offer the greatest opportunity to hone his or her craft.
Due to popularity there are now over five hundred programs in the United States that offer top educational programs in the field of culinary arts, whether this be at college, university or through private programs. The difficulty lies in how you go about choosing the best culinary school for you.
There are several things to consider when choosing a culinary arts college. You should consider what avenue you want to go down after you have taken the course, such as restaurant managerial work or owning your own catering company. After deciding on this, you can easily narrow your search down for the right program quite dramatically, as there are many courses set of for those specific courses.
You need to determine what is important in a college for you. Do you require the college to be in close proximity to your home, which is important if you have already left home. On the other had if you still live with parents, then living on a campus could be the desired option.
Lengths of the program may be a consideration, and also what qualifications you need in order to be accepted. Course fees need to be considered, as if you are on a tight budget you need to find out about student or college financing as well.

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By Paul Callis
More information on Culinary Arts can be found at the author’s website at http://www.culinary--arts.info/

Culinary Arts – Is It for You

2006-03-30T04:52:00.000-08:00

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By Paul Callis
More information on Culinary Arts can be found at the author’s website at http://www.culinary--arts.info

The Greatest College Courses of Today

2006-03-24T06:51:00.000-08:00

I have 5 degrees. Yes, you read it right. It certainly makes me feel very educated but not wiser or richer than the next high school dropout. I know of many people who did very badly in school and still have the greatest common sense and/or great wealth. However, a higher education is one of the greatest assets a person has and so, everyone should strive to have a college degree.
I think college courses are very important, especially the ones belonging to general education. Those are the ones that will prevent us from being skewed in our education and hence, deal only with engineering or chemistry or history. A complete education must require that all students have a round and complete body of knowledge.
Most students hate to take the GE courses; they think it is a waste of time. I say that it this set of courses that will make everyone know a little of everything and give rise to a hidden talent or at least make one knowledgeable enough to carry a conversation in some cocktail party. One never knows when we will be required to talk about philosophy or Russian literature. God forbid we have nothing to say!
Among the great basic courses that every college offers for its GE program, there are 3 that should be mandatory: Ethnic Studies or Diversity; Finances, and Marketing.
The anthropological aspects of our different racial and ethnic make-up are of great importance, especially nowadays, in this global world of ours. One must learn that everyone single one of us, regardless of our religion, background, social economic status, race, ethnicity, marital status, etc., have three basic needs in life: we want to be healthy, wealthy, and happy. We all want our relationships to be loving and harmonious; we all have a sense a humor and laugh at the laughable; we all applaud the beautiful or the moving. We are also all one, interconnected in this web of life.
Learning about Finances is a must for those who want to survive in the global world. Our students are leaving high school and college without the basics of writing a budget, balancing a checkbook, knowing about the risks of credit cards, or knowing how to use and invest money to be able to retire at a decent age with a decent income. I know all of this only very well.
Finally, marketing, being the great art of selling to our emotions, is perhaps the most important of them all. We are constantly selling, even though we think we are not, even though we despise the activity or we think we are not good at it. We sell our ideas or our justifications to our superiors, we sell our values to our relations; we sell our wants and needs to those who can fulfill them; not to mention our selling of ourselves. Who has not gone through some interview and had to sell yourself to get the job? Who has not barter in life, giving something to get something back?
Of course, there are other bodies of knowledge that one must possess to have a balanced lifestyle, but let’s talk about them some other time.

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By Maria Moratto

Dr. Maria Moratto is the author of "The Inner Cure: Healing Your Body, Mind, and Soul." Visit Prescription For Bliss at http://www.rx4bliss.com, sign up for the newsletter and receive a free report.

An Environmental Science Degree: An Investment In The Future

2006-03-24T06:42:00.000-08:00

The world is changing faster now than at any time since the last ice-age 10,000 years ago and the major cause of that change is man. To allow the changes to continue unchecked is reckless at the least. Monitoring those changes and being able to convince others that we have to do or not do activities that affect the environment will take well qualified people with the relevant environmental science degree.
It has often been said that the education offered in colleges and universities are a direct response to the job market and the trends therein. If this is so then the future for professionals with an environmental science degree could not be much brighter.
After the industrial and the informational age, we are quickly entering the environmental age, where the environment and its characteristics are of paramount importance.
Never before, as a society, have we paid real attention to the environment and many would argue we still do not pay enough attention. Continuous exploitation of the earths natural resources and constant generation of heat and waste products have caused significant damage to the environment.
We live in an age where knowing, understanding and adapting to the environment is no longer a choice – it is the only way ahead. This age demands qualified professionals, especially those with professional environmental science degrees.
A number of allied degrees find their place alongside conventional environmental science degrees. Big business has, for a long time, been required to comply with safety and industrial security requirements. In industries like biotechnology, due to the nature of the products, there are numerous opportunities for disaster.
Disaster management and hazardous material management are fields of study that are very much in demand by today’s high technology industries. While often these studies are not comprehensive enough to be offered as science degrees by themselves, these courses are more often than not partnered with environmental science degrees as part of a package deal.
For the environmental science degree student, it can be an advantage. While pursuing their main course of study, they can get qualifications in a number of allied fields. This makes them thorough professionals and capable of entering a wide range of industries when they graduate with their environmental science degree.
As a result of the long-standing lobbying activities, the United States is home to some of the worlds largest and best funded environmental groups and many professionals, working for these groups, have environmental science degrees.
Jobs exist with government bodies, lobbying positions with political groups and corporate organizations, research positions with foundations and other research organizations. More opportunities exist in the environmental safety departments of leading oil majors and even faculty positions at colleges offering environmental science degrees. They all offer lucrative positions that professionals with an environmental science degree can hope to secure.
An environmental science degree does not deal with environmental topics alone. Due to the very nature of their work, professionals who acquire an environmental science degree need to be equipped with allied subjects like compliance, law, criminal justice, and public communication.
The courses of study that ultimately lead to a environmental science degree are varied and interesting. Someone with an environmental science degree is likely to be tasked with protecting our environment as a result we need the very best!
If you have a concern about the World we live in or a desire and determination to do something to improve a steadily deteriorating habitat, then an environmental science degree would be an excellent place to start.
Anyone aspiring to be an environmental professional would typically need to go in for a BS Environmental Science Degree before going for an MS or a PhD in Environmental Studies.
Environment science degrees are offered in all major colleges and universities across the United States and the Western World. An environmental science degree can be taken full-time, part-time or by distance learning so whatever your circumstances you can contribute.

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By John Edmond
John worked for many tears in insurance and finance and recently completed a degree in Creative Writing. He now writes on a number of topics including education. Go to Environmental Science Degrees for more information.

A Guide to Online Bachelors Degrees

2006-03-19T21:40:00.000-08:00

In the past, a degree was a badge of distinction. While it still has some of the same allure today, a degree is now considered almost a necessity to make a satisfactory living. In today's competitive world, continual learning has become an integral part of success.
People serious about financial stability will find the time and exert the effort required to achieve a degree.
Individuals who were thrust into the demands of life and family responsbilities before being able to complete college in the past were at a decided disadvantage because it wasn't feasible for them to go back later and get that degree.
Thankfully, with the advent of online bachelors degrees afforded by educational institutions who have acknowledged complicated life situations such as job and family committments, people can now go back and finish that degree and move ahead in the world.
Pursuing an online accredited bachelors degree enables students to move beyond the limitations and inconveniences of attending a college campus, or university.
In short, online bachelors degrees afford people the flexibility of setting their own pace.
However, if you want your degree to be recognized by employers in the real world you should make sure you focus only on an online accredited bachelors degree. Accredited universities are the most prestigous. There are some unscrupulous degree mills out there who will take your money and offer you worthless degrees.
One should not assume that just because typical B.S and B.A degrees require 4 years that you will necessarily spend the same number of years getting an online bachelors degrees. Indeed, if you really push yourself, such degrees can be achieved in as little as 18 months.
It is determined that individuals attaining a bachelor’s degree make on an average $20,000 more dollars a year than those with only a high school diploma or equivalent.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average annual income for high school graduates is $27,038. However, those with a bachelor’s degree enjoy a starting annual income of $51,206.
Online learning presents a prospective future, but there are certain universities one must know to look for. It is essential the university chosen offers a legitimate online accredited bachelors degree program.
Getting that bachelors degree can mean not only more money and a better life for you and your family, but more pride and an immense feeling of accomplishment.

__________________________

By Dan Ho
Discover the best online bachelors degrees programs at http://www.accredited-online-university.com

Archiving Abandoned Abstracts

2006-03-19T21:35:00.000-08:00

Often professors have to determine which projects to allow their students to work on in their research departments, some of these decisions are made due to costs, time constraints, corporate funding and who the liberal professor is. As each student is asked to submit requests to which research projects they want, they usually submit an abstract of what they wish to accomplish. A question, a theory or some finding that they believe they can prove doing such experiments.
I propose we build extensive databases of all the experiments these young, sometimes naïve students came up with, but were told that they could not do. Why? Well because I feel as if science is slowing the forward progression of the human species and our nation due to academic political correctness and well it kind of irks me that we are not asking all the questions and often not seeking all the answers when we very well could be. The current system is too slow and we are slowing down the innovation and research in this nation for no good reason. That is unacceptable to me and to many I have talked with who completely agree with this summation.
The current system is not good enough, it will not solve the problems that plague mankind fast enough and there are some really smart people out there who can answer the questions, but are not so good at asking the questions that up and coming college students who are looking at the problem from outside the academic cave. Consider all this in 2006.

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By Lance Winslow
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

College - Women's Colleges

2006-03-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

In this article we're going to discuss the benefits of going to a women's college if in fact you are a woman. Men need not apply.
Sadly, only 2.5% of all women attend women's colleges. What may surprise you however is that they account for 24% of the United States Congress membership and one-third of the board membership of fortune 500 companies. Not too shabby.
The reason we even have women's colleges is because in the mid 1800s all male colleges refused to allow women to attend and therefore they had no place to go and no chance for a higher education. So women opened up their own colleges. It wasn't easy. They met with a lot of resistance. Those against these colleges argued that they couldn't properly prepare women for the difficult jobs that needed to be done. Also, it was believed that because of a woman's biology, she wouldn't be able to withstand the strain of a college education. Boy, were we a backward people.
But supporters of the women's movement, and there were plenty of them, made it so that a women's college became a reality and since that time the graduates of these institutions have not only succeeded but have excelled beyond anyone's expectations.
According to independent studies the following benefits to be gained by attending a women's college have been reported.
1. Women are given the opportunity to participate more because the class sizes are smaller. This creates a more positive learning experience because of the individualized attention that the women get.
2. Women who attend these colleges have a higher level of self esteem. It is reported that 9 out of 10 women give their colleges high marks for developing their self confidence and preparing them for the outside world.
3. According to surveys, women who attend a women's college get more out of the college experience than women who go to mixed schools and develop academically at a faster pace.
4. It is a fact that women who attend a women's college are more likely to graduate than women who go to a mixed school. They are also more likely to earn advanced Master and Doctorate degrees.
5. Women also earn more after graduation because they usually choose traditionally male careers. They graduate at a higher rate than the women who go to mixed schools and are thus more likely to get these higher paying jobs.
Ironically, the original purpose of a women's college was simply to train women to be better wives and mothers. But as women became more educated the roles of these colleges changed to preparing them for exciting and rewarding careers alongside their male counterparts.
Currently, there are 78 women's colleges in the United States alone and colleges for women are popping up all over the world. It may have one time been a man's world but with the existence of women's colleges and the opportunities that women are now afforded because of them, women have now taken their rightful place right alongside their male counterparts.
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Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to College

Empathy is Not Unique to Humans

2006-03-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

A debate has been stirring for years over the belief that what set humans apart from all other animals was empathy. Of course Jane Goodall's work and her first insights decades ago in studying chimpanzee troops shocked the core of the human belief system and religious thoughts of the day. Still some folks still believe that humans are unique to all other animals due to the fact that they have empathy. That simply is not so. Recently I had written a piece on this fact and it ended up becoming a major topic in an online think tank when another researcher of animal behavior stated:
“When I first read this short document, I realized that the problem in question is not necessarily the result of improper classification but rather the result of discriminatory endeavors influenced by peoples own adopted standards.”
Indeed and I wrote it after a coffee shop conversation and was miffed at the ignorance of a religious follower purporting information as fact which was completely bogus, arrogant and silly. And indeed he was using this, as the main basis for his argument that man has a soul, is divine made in the image of God [his particular god of course] and the only intelligent life in the Universe; you know that is just pure and utter hokum. I think we need to enlighten some of these folks and have them face up to the realities if we are to continue the forward progression of mankind, because you cannot build upon lie after lie and get to a potential understanding of the entire system from quantum physics to gravity, time and space. And we should.
The fellow thinker and animal behavioral researcher also stated; “Under measurement, “empathy” would fall into a category group shared with other living creatures. The notable differences being the degree or level of this characteristic within our social framework.”
Yes, I agree for the “empathy” portion of the research, this emotional behavior trait indeed falls into that realm, with varying degrees of individual species and in each species “Ranges” for instance the “hippie Chimps” now in the news, which are endangered and feared 5000 or less would have a greater degree of empathy than other breeds of chimpanzees. Sea Lions, seals, Dolphins will also be high on this trait. This is definitely something humans might wish to consider if they believe empathy is unique to humankind. So, think on this in 2006.
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

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By Lance Winslow

Selecting an Online University

2006-03-03T06:50:00.000-08:00

People who want higher education but who don't live near a college or university offering courses they want used to be out of luck. No more. Now it is possible to study almost any subject online. It may require more self-discipline to pursue a degree this way. However, students at online universities can attend classes at their convenience, making it possible to earn a living at the same time as earning a degree.
What to look for
There are now many online universities. Some online degree programs are offered by traditional universities with campuses, while others only exist in cyberspace. Selecting the right school and being sure your degree will be recognized by potential employers is the first step. How can you tell whether a program is a real educational experience or a diploma mill? Here are some things to find out before signing up.
Look for a university with accreditation from a recognized accrediting organization. This is important because it means the school meets established standards of quality. Well-known universities like the University of Florida, Northwestern, Purdue and Notre Dame are examples of accredited institutions. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes universities accredited by one of the six accrediting bodies. Students who attend accredited universities are usually eligible for federal student loans and the course credits they earn generally transfer to other accredited institutions.
Picking a degree program
To determine if a degree program fits your professional and personal interests, review the curriculum and course descriptions in university web sites and course catalogs. Do they offer courses in subjects of interest to you?
To learn more about whether a program might be good for you, ask about the faculty's industry experience and the scope and focus of their research. Do they have the appropriate advanced degrees for what they teach? Find out where the professors got their degrees. If all or most of them graduated from the same online university you are considering, this is a red flag, suggesting their academic credentials are weak. A real university will have teachers who have graduated from many different schools.
How students apply what they learn to their fields of expertise and to their communities are also strong indicators of a program's value. Ask what employers, organizations and professional associations partner with or support the university. Talk to someone at the university and explain your educational goals and career plans. Whether you wish to advance your career, change careers, make a contribution to society or become more expert in your field, be sure the program you choose will get you there. One way to find out is to learn how the university's alumni are doing. Alumni success or lack of it reflects the quality of a university and its programs. Ask for examples of how alumni are using the knowledge they gained in their professional and personal lives.
If the university accepts everyone who applies and can afford the cost, be suspicious. A real university will require each student to meet appropriate admissions requirements.
Online teaching is different
Make sure any online universities you are considering know how to deliver and support online courses and that you have the technology you need to take them. Do the faculty members know how to guide the classroom experience to ensure learning objectives are achieved? Are your computer and Internet connection up to the task? Assignments are typically posted online and discussions take place as threaded postings. Most online courses require students to log in and contribute to discussions a certain number of times each week. Many courses let you log in any time, anywhere as long as you meet the weekly course requirements.
What type of student support services are available? How responsive are instructors to student inquiries? What opportunities are there to interact with fellow students? This interaction enables students to gain knowledge and understanding from others with a wide variety of geographic, cultural and professional perspectives. The most effective courses, especially for adult learners with years of work experience, are those in which students gain the insights and perspectives of everyone in the class.
Can you afford it?
Though attending an online university allows you to live where you do currently so you won't pay anything extra for living expenses while you study, there will be charges for books, tuition and fees. Find out what other expenses there will be, if any, to be sure you can afford your studies. Ask if financial aid is available, as some schools offer it to online learners.
Note that tuition and fees at online universities are often higher than what is charged at their campus-based counterparts. However, these schools offer personalized support and a convenient and flexible format geared for the adult learner. If a university's tuition and fees are significantly less expensive than other online schools, double check on its accreditation to be sure it is legitimate.
Are you looking for more information concerning Online universities and colleges ? Log on to http://www.online-colleges.co.nr !

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By Hassan Aanbar

College Readiness Is A Myth

2006-03-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

Today’s young people are taking over 5.3 years to earn a 4-year degree. This low expectation is costing parents thousands of dollars. Part of the reason for this may now be traced to the gap between parents’ beliefs about college readiness and actual reality.
In early 2006, the Public Agenda Organization released a reality survey that suggested the following:
69% of parents believed that their high school graduating children had the skills needed to succeed in college
7% of parents believed that their children DID NOT have the skills
This data when compared with research from ACT indicates that the majority of parents need a reality check. Only 51% of the ACT test takers met the college readiness benchmarks in reading. The ACT data confirms what the Nation’s Report Card revealed that national reading scores for 17 year olds have not changed in 33 years and are not even near what is demanded of today’s knowledge workers.
And even if the young person graduates from college, over 50% of them will not be able to compare credit card offers, interpret a table about exercise or blood pressure or understand the arguments of newspaper editorials. (Source:American Institutes for Research)
The reasonable explanation for this gap may be that many parents believe what they experienced in college 20 or 30 years ago is what their children will be experiencing. Given that many of these parents attended public schools, they believe that their high school education was satisfactory for college readiness and college success. With the addition of new curriculum including technology (computers), advance college placement courses and the influx of best practices research from local universities, why should parents believe that high school is not preparing their children for college success?
Only when the majority of parents change their beliefs about this college readiness myth and become more proactive in their children’s education, we will begin to see dramatically improved performance both in high school and college. Until that time, universities will continue to smile as they take millions of dollars to the bank at the expense of students, parents and taxpayers.
Leanne Hoagland-Smith, President of ADVANCED SYSTEMS, works with students, parents and large urban to private schools to improve performance through student leadership in wrap time. Using proven tools, we can quickly help your son or daughter to improve their college readiness skills and create an Action Plan for ongoing success in school and out of school.
What would the value be if your child graduated college in 4 years and had the necessary skills to be successful in the real world?
ADVANCED SYSTEMS
Connecting Passion to Purpose to DOUBLE Performance in Real Time

_________________

By Leanne Hoagland-Smith

A Review of the Kaplan University Online Paralegal Degree

2006-03-03T06:38:00.000-08:00

As more law firms and corporations seek to lower costs, paralegals will be in much higher demand. Kaplan University offers four accredited paralegal programs, which will give students the skills they need in order to thrive in this demanding market.
The first program that the Kaplan University offers is the Advanced B.S. in Paralegal Studies. If you already have your Associates Degree, and are looking to get even more education, this is the program for you. A Bachelor of Paralegal Studies will increase your income and will give you excellent employment prospects. Over the course of a lifetime, a Bachelor's degree will bring you increased earnings.
This program brings together the career focus of a two-year degree with the academic requirements of a four-year program. This program will enhance your communications and critical thinking skills; making you a valuable asset to any law firm you join.
The Kaplan University Advanced Bachelor's of Paralegal Studies is excellent for students who are either moving into the market place after finishing or continuing on to graduate level studies. The three primary areas of this program are Office Management, Personal Injury, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
The second type of paralegal degree offered by the University of Kaplan is the A.A.S in Paralegal Studies. If you are looking to change to a new career or advance your skills as a paralegal, this would be an excellent program for you to take.
You will be taught how to communicate with your peers in the legal department, as well as understanding important legal concepts. You will also learn how to do proper legal research, and study criminal law as well as civil litigation. You will also learn about ethics, and how to make proper decisions.
The third type of degree available at the Kaplan University is the B.S. in Paralegal Studies. This degree is aimed at students who have a strong liberal arts foundation. Students who graduate from this program may become employed with private law firms or federal agencies. The student will gain analytical skills in specialized areas of law.
The fourth type of degree, which is available to students at the Kaplan University, is the Pathway to Paralegal Certificate. This program is good for students with an Associates or Bachelor's degree who are looking for entry level work as a paralegal.
The program increases you understanding of the paralegal field and also gives you an understanding of the legal system in America. Students will learn how to gather facts as well as manage cases and strategies. Students will also study litigation, and how to properly do legal research. Learning how to use this research in legal arguments is a prime goal of this program.

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By Mansi Aggarwal
Mansi aggarwal recommends that you visit Kaplan University Online Paralegal Degree for more information.

Bachelor Of Arts Degrees

2006-02-03T01:50:00.000-08:00

The importance of a Bachelor’s degree, also called a Baccalaureate, lies in providing a foundation for a higher degree such as a Master’s or PhD, and to meet the minimum requirements of some jobs and occupations.
In accordance with commonly held standards in the USA, all Bachelor degrees, including Bachelor of Arts Degrees, should require the equivalent of at least four years of full-time study on a particular subject, course or major.
With the advent of programs such as the Online Bachelor Degree, Accelerated Bachelor Degree, Distance Learning Bachelor Degree, full-time enrollment in a college is becoming less common. Therefore the standards for a Bachelor’s degree are usually expressed in terms of credits.
Standard requirements of Bachelor of Arts or B.A. degree programs are a minimum of 60 quarter or 40 semester credits from four compulsory subjects: Communications, Natural Sciences/Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences.
A minimum of 8 quarter or 5 semester credits in Communications, and a minimum of 12 quarter or 8 semester credits in each of the categories of Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics and Natural Sciences should be completed within the 60 quarter or 40 semester credits. The remaining general education credits should be chosen from one or more of the four compulsory categories.
Introductory course work should provide diverse exposure to the concepts, principles, and substance of individual disciplines. Advanced course work should be able to provide an exhaustive investigation of the individual disciplines. Thirty per cent of the total number of credits required to complete the Bachelor’s degree should be made up of advanced level credits.
Bachelor of Arts Degrees may be taken as a student enrolled in a college campus, or they may be taken at a distance. In theory, these ought to all conform to the minimum number of credits for the degree to be granted.

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By Eric Morris

Bachelors Degrees provides detailed information about bachelors degrees, accelerated bachelors degrees, bachelor of arts degrees, bachelor of science degrees and more. Bachelors Degrees is the sister site of Nursing Continuing Education Courses.

Are You Setting Yourself Up to Procrastinate?

2006-02-03T01:49:00.000-08:00

You've Got the Wrong Attitude
Your belief system is what may be standing in the way. Most academics cling to the belief that they must set aside large chunks of time, do a lot of preparation, and be in the proper frame of mind to be able to write.
What this means is that when you finally sit down to write, it's going to be an unpleasant marathon. You have placed such importance on this writing session that you feel anxiety about it living up to your expectations. And you know it's going to be difficult. After all, there are thorny issues you haven't addressed, articles you haven't read or reread, and a lack of coherence to your thinking. You need to solve those problems. And if you don't do it now you'll be quite disappointed in yourself. How unpleasant! And how counterproductive!
What Should You Believe Instead? Or "Oh, The Irony!"
Research by Robert Boyce actually shows that first and second-year professors who participated in a study on writing productivity were able to turn out more publishable pages in a year by · Writing 30 minutes a day · Only writing on workdays · Shoehorning that writing into small gaps in their busy schedules
The difficult part, it turns out, was convincing these professors to try this low-key method in the first place. Ironically, they all insisted that the only way to get real work done was to do it in the marathon way that I described above. The second irony was that when Boyce actually measured the amount that they were writing per week (before the intervention,) it was less than 30 minutes per week! This was much less than their retrospective reports of how much time they had been spending writing.
The third irony was that those who most adhered to the idea that you must write in large doses were the least productive. The fourth irony was that although these professors considered writing a private activity, they did best when they were accountable to someone for maintaining their 30-minute writing habit.
Do It Already!
So what's stopping you from learning from these professors and writing a small amount each day?
Here are typical excuses: · It's just not rewarding writing in small amounts. I feel like I've gotten nothing accomplished. · I have a big issue to work out. It will take more time than 30 minutes. · I feel guilty if I don't work more each time. · I'll never complete my dissertation/paper/research project at that pace. · I've waited until it's too late and I can't afford the luxury of that small amount of time per day. · It just doesn't feel right. · I've got more time than that, I should be putting all my time to good use. · It's so overwhelming that I don't know where to start, and by the time I figure it out my 30 minutes will be up.
My answer to those responses? Bull! Except for the emergency deadline, there is no reason not to try this technique. Give it time to see if it works for you. If you're like every other academic I've worked with, you will resist the idea. I suggest that the more resistant you are, the more problem you've probably had with procrastination in the past.
An Action Plan
Try it for a week. Select a time each day, preferably not the evening unless you're a night owl, and write for 30 minutes, without email, reading or other distractions. Don't listen to the voices in your head saying you "should be getting more done," or "you should be writing more than this." I'll bet at the end of the week you'll be pleasantly surprised at your output, and pleased with the increasing ease with which you can sit down to write. You’ll start to see progress on your dissertation or article and maybe come to believe that you will finish one day.
Furthermore, don't forget about being accountable to someone. Let someone else know that you're going to be doing daily writing. Perhaps you can find a writing buddy, or someone in your dissertation group.
Don't forget, if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. Start setting yourself up for success starting right now!

__________________________

By Gina J Hiatt

© Gina Hiatt, PhD. Gina is a dissertation and tenure coach. She helps academics, from grad students wondering about their dissertation topic to faculty members who want to maintain a high level of research and writing, to reach their goals more quickly and less painfully. Get Gina's free assessments & ezine at http://www.academicladder.com/

Are You Setting Yourself Up to Procrastinate?

2006-02-03T01:47:00.000-08:00

__________________________

By Gina J Hiatt

Homeschool Your Child Using Themed Based Curriculum

2006-01-26T22:16:00.000-08:00

Themes are a fun way to homeschool your child. A theme can be created from any topic that your child is interested in. A theme is simply a base topic from which you can teach from in your lesson plans. A few examples of themes are apples, bats, zoo, space, fun in the sun, or even Dr. Seuss. You can choose just about any topic that you would like for your theme. Using themes will make your lesson plans more creative, fun and interesting.
Themes usually have a time frame from which they are based around. Themes can last from one week all the way to one month depending on how in depth you want to approach your theme. I would suggest using a theme no longer than two weeks with your homeschool child. Incorporating themes into your homeschool lesson plans is really quite simple and you and your child will both enjoy the fun that comes with creating a theme based lesson plan.
Themes do not have to be incorporated into every teaching objective for the week. You can be selective and use themed based curriculum once or twice a day, throughout your homeschool lesson plans. Get your child involved into your lesson planning process. Have your child help choose themes that are interesting to him. When children are actively involved in the lesson planning process and given choices they are more eager to learn. I suggest getting your child involved in all aspects of lesson plan preparation to keep their interests.
Let's take the theme apples as an example of using themes in your lesson plans. In science, you can dissect an apple and look at the apple seeds or you could discuss how apples grow. In math, you could dissect an apple into halves and fourths. In social studies, you could learn about Johnny Appleseed. In language arts, you can read many books related to apples and even write your own apple related paragraph. During art, you can make apple prints using cut up apples with paints. In P.E., you can have an apple toss, jump over apples, or even bobbing with apples. For music time, you can find many songs related to apples to sing with your child. Make homemade applesauce, apple muffins, or apple butter for your cooking class. You can make interactive bulletin boards using apple projects that your child creates.
The most important factor in using a themed based curriculum with your child is to integrate the themes into your child's objectives that need to met for the school year. A nice blend of themes into your curriculum base objectives can be both fun and rewarding for your child. Make learning fun and interesting by incorporating theme based curriculum into your lesson plans.

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By Leilani Mairet

L. D. Mairet is the mother of four children, a former teacher with a triple major in education, and a former educational preschool owner. You can share and swap homeschool lesson plans at her homeschool site http://www.topchoicesite.com/free-homeschool-primary-lesson-plans-and-resource-sharing-center-html

Why College Education is so Crucial for Success

2006-01-26T22:09:00.000-08:00

At this point in life I am a self-sufficient and independent person ready to take the next step in life. As I am finishing high school I clearly see my future goals that I can potentially derive from college education. The high school experience helped me understand that education is not all about reading textbooks and writing research papers. Even though those components are also extremely important and without them education would not live up to its definition, I understand education as a gradual process of learning that has a far greater scope than simply attending lectures and doing homework assignments. There are much more things I have yet to learn.
I view college education as a global learning process that would encompass learning new things that will have some positive influence on my personality in the future. Studying the various disciplines offered by a university is important but college experience should not be confined to that academic experience only. I consider college education a much more valuable experience than high school because living on campus far away from my family will have very significant impact on my personality. Living on my own will help me assess my personal skills, and ascertain the areas of strength and weakness. I consider on-campus residence opportunity a crucial part of college education because I will get a chance to discover things about myself that I never though I had. There will definitely be pleasant moments as well as hardships but it is the only way to test a person. It is much better to know your weaknesses and strengths rather than staying ignorant of their presence. Even if a person has many weaknesses it is a much better option to discover them and then fight each particular weakness rather than overlooking the drawbacks and shortcomings of one’s personality.
I consider college education to be of extreme importance because it contributes to the overall process of transformation of a teenager into an adult. Some teenagers never overgrow that stage because they have never been exposed to independent, self-sufficient lifestyle. Always living with parents who care about a person and solve all problems that arise along the way is not always good it terms of their contribution to personal development of a child. Life is difficult and the best way to learn effective strategies and techniques of dealing with future problems and difficulties is to face them with an open mind and open eyes. I am not advocating lack of parental care and support. By no means should you get that impression. On the contrary, a child must be assured that parents are always there to help in case he or she encounters a problem that is too difficult to solve on one’s own. College experience provides that environment where young people can face the realities of life and see if they can deal with their personal problems themselves. I am sure that college education will give me a chance to become an independent and self-sufficient person capable of dealing with everyday life situations. I consider that to be a very important component of college education. Also, I believe that college education will give me an ample opportunity to improve most of my skills and shape my inner world in the sense that I will be able to critically comprehend what goes on in the present-day society and have my personal opinion about various issues. I hope to meet new people from various cultural and social backgrounds who surely have valuable experience to share and different ideas to communicate. I believe that it is through communication with other human-beings that people are able to learn new things and generate original ideas. Those are the things that I expect to get out of college education besides the information that I will learn from the textbooks and informative lectures delivered by experienced professors.

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By Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson Junior is a freelance writer, CRWA certified resume writer and career coach. Has written over 2000 articles and essays on the subject of Social Issues. Has worked for Essaymart's custom writing department from 2003 to 2005. Currently, Tim is busy helping professionals and executives optimize their careers at a certified Resume Writing firm, ResumeAid.

Choosing a College Right For You

2006-01-23T21:50:00.000-08:00

College, College, College. The ongoing debate on whether you need a degree or not to succeed in today’s world. Let me digress a bit here and fill you in on my career decision. I was a so-so student in High school, graduated basically a "C" student and almost repeated my junior hear for failing Algebra. I hated school, couldn't stand it. When the Navy recruiter called me, I jumped at the chance to get right into the work force with no college. College was the last thing on my mind. Even with a free ride from the folks, I still didn't want anything to do with it. After being in the Navy for about 6 years or so, I decided I needed a degree to further my professional development. I enrolled at Columbia College of Missouri as a part time student at a distance Ed. branch in Washington State. The Navy through Tuition Assistance paid for 75% of the class tuition. I covered the other 25%, that's all changed now and the Navy now pays 100%. Through many night classes, CLEP tests and online classes I graduated Cum Laude from Columbia in 2002. I chose to major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Education.
Now the Navy has implemented that in order to promote to certain ranks, you will be required to have a degree of varying levels. Currently I'm working on my Master's Degree in Theology. I know your thinking; I go from criminal justice and education major to theology. Just goes to show you that a person’s interests change over the years. I'm attending Andersonville Seminary right now, still on active duty and 60% complete. Now I've had plenty of experience in various types of school efforts. Here's what I've learned.
First-Go to college when someone else will pay for it. Whether it's a scholarship, parents, grant, military etc. If someone else will foot the bill, take them up on it.
Second-Internet and online courses are convenient, but with that convenience comes increased difficulty. It's much harder to collaborate with schoolmates; you must set specific time aside each day to dedicate to your class. It's really easy to put things off till the end of the week, then you produce lackluster work.
Third-Correspondence classes are even more difficult, mainly because you spend so much time waiting for work to come in or go out via mail. Many now use and accept email submissions, but some still use the old tear-out workbooks.
Fourth-Pick a reputable school. Many degree farms churn out a worthless piece of paper with your name on it for about $1,000 dollars. You're only cheating yourself. Any employer will be able to determine quickly if your degree is accredited or not. There are College Recruiters out there that can make your school search easier.
Lastly-Don't wait till someone requires you to get a degree for some reason before you start working on it. By that time it's too late, someone already has your promotion. Bottom line is with only about 28% of America with College degrees, there is definitely room for more college grads.

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By Casey Eaves

Provided by Casey of http://www.TheCheevesFactor.com.

Are You Too Old To Go Back To School?

2006-01-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

You want to go back to school and continue your education. Perhaps you'd like to earn your first degree or ou'd like to earn a new degree in a different field. You've been dreaming of that degree but haven't dared believe your dream can come true because you think you are too old.
You aren't. It really is that simple. I don't care what your age is, as an experienced college-level educator I can assure you that you are not too old, because there are many nontraditional students on college campuses today (and likely some of those are older than you are), your life experience gives you many advantages over more traditional students, and with the growing nontraditional population many colleges have programs and services especially tailored for the nontraditional student.
I went back to school in my 30s and today I teach college. Yes, I have many traditional students in my classroom but every semester I have a large percentage of nontraditional students as well. I have studens in their late 20s as well as 30s, 40s, 50s, and up. I have students who have retired from one career and are looking to move into another. I have students whose children (or grandchildren) have left the nest so they are looking to enter a new stage in their life.
I also have many students balancing school with work and family. I have students who are the traditional age but are in nontraditional circumstances including children and family, work and military service, as well as sports and other activities. You are a unique person, but your situation is not as unique as you might think.
In many ways, your age, or rather your life experience, will be a tremendous asset for your return to school. Nontraditional students understand much better than traditional students how to manage their time and prioritize tasks. In addition, nontraditional students are often much more motivated and goal-oriented than their more traditional counterparts. Finally, your life experience also gives you a great deal of knowledge and experience to fall back on or pull from when it comes to understanding, applying, or adapting the new knowledge you gain through college. I regularly see my nontraditional students outperform traditional students in many ways, but it ultimately comes down to a maturity of thinking and reasoning that can only come with growing up. I know when I returned to college as a student after working for a number of years that I did much better in the classroom and also handled my work load much better than I did when I was a more traditional student.
Today colleges recognize they have a changing student population and offer classes in a variety of formats including on campus, off campus, televised, and internet as well as a range of schedules including days, nights, weekends, and accelerated. In addition, there are now support services available for students who fall outside the traditional student role. Many financial aid and scholarship programs also exist specifically for the nontraditional student.
In the end, it really comes down to your own gut feeling. Do you really want that degree? Are you ready to change your life? You can do it and there will be help and support available for you. Don't use your age as an excuse not to pursue your dream.

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By Deanna Mascle

Deanna Mascle has spent decades as an educator. You can read more about adult education at Answers About Education and Adults Learn More.

Paying For it on Your Own?

2006-01-14T03:51:00.000-08:00

So your sister was awarded a full ride to her first choice school with the intent to double major in bio-molecular chemistry and electro-physics and your brother (who was actually getting paid to go to school) just finished his last football season. Cursing your parents for giving away all the really good genes before you had a chance to nab your fair share isn’t going to help but with a little creativity, you too can find a way to put yourself through college. Aside from the traditional scholarships offered to those who are blessed with the diligence to live life with their faces in books, or the grace and athleticism of a gazelle, there is also a plethora of scholarships for those of us who are darn proud of what we do but don’t quite make it too the coveted over-achiever status.
Many of us have heard the stories of the friend of a friend who didn’t have to pay a dime for their education simply because they were left handed or happened to measure in over 6’ 2”. And though these tales seem too good to be true, rest assured there is nothing fabricated about it (honestly, who could make this stuff up?) and these types of financial backing may be more available than you realize. Whether you pride yourself on your duck call or you think your um, unique fashion sense combined with your passion for duck tape merits a little assistance from a third party, look around and it’s likely to be out there. Some of the more strange scholarships we found include everything from an apple pie baking contest (first prize gets $25,000 to the Culinary Institute of America’s) to one that encourages young minds to study the Klingon language; naturally this one is given by the Klingon Language Institute.
Certain celebrities can also at times be counted on to share their own wealth such as the interest David Letterman is known for displaying through his scholarship fund awarded for outstanding creativity. Search far and wide and you’re sure to find a group that wants to support you just for being you, or maybe even just because they had supported your grandmother through school! But a word to the wise, before counting all your eggs or putting all your chickens in one basket take the time to make sure your benefactor is legitimate. Be aware of groups who request to remain anonymous (even from you) or are making outlandish requests from you in return for their so-called generosity. And finally, when it comes to applying to scholarships don’t be afraid to be greedy. Apply for as many as you are interested in and you may be surprised as to how much money your future is worth to other people.
If the scholarship route isn’t for you there are other ways of paying for school on your own (and I don’t mean that in a creepy meet-me-behind-the-student-union-next-Thursday-at-3-a.m. kind of way). There are plenty of financial institutions out there that are more than happy to help the struggling fledglings out there with enticingly low interest rates, long repayment terms, and flexible application deadlines. Student loans can be taken out for as little as $1,000 or as much as $50.000 with the option to defer payments on the principal for up to six months after graduation. And better yet they can usually be obtained from any banking establishment where you are a current account holder as well as any number of organizations which exist specifically for the purpose of helping you get through this (expensive) phase of life. Some of the top name student loan companies include Sallie Mae, Nellie Mae, and Educaid each having several different payment plans for both graduate and undergrad students.
The morale of the story kids, being asked to pay for your own education is a huge obstacle but it doesn’t have to be an insurmountable one. Just remember: ask and ye shall receive; help can come in the most unlikely forms, just ask.
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By Kelly Kennedy

Kelly Kennedy is the Communications Specialist for MindComet Corporation, a full service marketing agency for Fortune 500 companies and international conglomerates. Kelly specializes in public relations strategies focused on personal finance. Kelly has been author to hundreds of articles focusing on finance. She also acts as a contributing author for a wide variety of websites and newsletters. Kelly holds a Bachelors degree in Marketing from the University of Central Florida.
For more information pertaining to student financial advice please visit http://www.studentfinancialguide.com.

7 Steps to Guide Your Graduate School Search

2006-01-14T03:50:00.000-08:00

The Graduate School Search Process
Once you are close to achieving your undergraduate degree, it’s time to begin a graduate school search to lead you to the next level of your education. Of course, with degree completion activities taking most of your time, you may find it difficult to launch a comprehensive graduate school search that will net you the best options for pursuing your career. Knowing how to establish your parameters and search efficiently can make the process easier and will lead to better results in a shorter period of time.
Graduate School Search Made Easy:Know your objectives – The first step to finding the right program through a graduate school search is to write down exactly what you want from a graduate program. Location, internship eligibilities, highly regarded instructors – decide which factors are most important and create a list of priorities.
Consult an online graduate school search guide – Before you can narrow down your selection, you’ll want to get as much information as possible on many diverse graduate programs. Using an online search program can help you to get a lot of information in a short amount of time. Request information packages from at least 10 different programs to provide a variety of options. Further research may provide some portunities that you wouldn’t have been aware of prior to your graduate school search.
Narrow your options – Once you have obtained the information from the various schools you contacted via the graduate school search guide, you can perform a comparison based on your initial objectives. Select the top three or four programs that best match your graduate school preferences.
Contact existing students – Now that you have a smaller pool of options, consider contacting current students participating in the program you wish to join. Most schools will be happy to put you in contact with a student who can answer your questions about the program’s courses, instructors and overall value.
Visit the campus – Along with making telephone or internet contact with the schools you are considering, your graduate school search should include a trip to the campus itself. Unless you are considering the prospect of online or distance learning, getting a feel for the physical environment can play an important role in your final decision.
Re-evaluate your choices – Once your have a more personal view of each graduate program, take a minute to compare your field of choices once more.
Now that you have additional information, it may be possible to eliminate some of the programs from your graduate school search. If you have a clear front-runner, it may be that you have already found the school of your choice.
Sleep on it awhile – Whether or not you believe you have found the right graduate school program, take a little time before making your final decision.
Choosing a school will affect your life significantly and you don’t want to be impulsive about it. If, after a week or so, you still feel confident in your choice, your graduate school search has ended! If you still need more time, or more information, go back to the programs you most prefer or start over with step one.

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By Paolo Basauri

P. Basauri is an expert author who writes for Graduate School Search

Choosing an International School

2006-01-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

Choosing a School Abroad
A major cause of concern for families moving abroad is the provision of education for their children. Many worry that schools in the destination country may not be able to offer the same standard of education that has previously been available in the country of citizenship. Research is vital prior to any move abroad in order to make the best decision for your family.
Many countries around the world, particularly those with a high proportion of expatriates, have a number of international schools which use familiar models of education such as American, British or other systems. These schools generally follow the curriculum of their chosen model and teach in their native language. A growing number of international schools follow the International Baccalaureate which is accepted as an entrance for university around the world. International Schools tend to be located in the major cities of the world, although a few are located in green spaces and these tend to offer boarding as an alternative to a long journey from home to school. Most good international schools offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities that broaden your child’s education as well as providing new interests and hobbies.
As well as the international school option, it may also be possible to enroll your child into a local bilingual school. The advantages of this would be that your child will quickly develop new language skills and would better assimilate into the local community. A downside however would be that the bilingual school would most probably follow a different system than your child is used to and there may be problems reintegrating back into schools at home or universities. An international school would be a safer choice, although these do tend to be more expensive than bilingual schools. Whilst a school may describe itself as an International School, it is important to check out the nationalities of the students on role as some international schools can have a student population comprising almost entirely of local students. In these situations overseas students can often feel isolated and unable to join in with the rest of the school community.
Careful Planning
Before enrolling your child in any school abroad, make a visit to the school and determine if the school offers the best for your child. Take your child with you on each visit so they also get a feel for the school. Some international schools will be selective and others may have long waiting lists. Make sure that the school you select is within traveling distance from home and there is adequate provision for transport to and from school. It is often quite beneficial to decide on a school first and then look for housing after.

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By James Miller

Schools.ac - View details of International Schools around the world at http://www.schools.ac

2006 Digital Library Trends

2006-01-05T03:52:00.000-08:00

In 2005 we saw a huge push for digital libraries and noticed Google and Microsoft both scanning books and putting them into digital format for the world to see. We saw many writers get aggressive and threaten lawsuits for copyright infringement. We watched the big companies explain to the world that they were first going to do all the books which were out of print and produce them for all the world to see. In 2005 we also saw a continuation of a trend to make white papers, research reports and University manuscripts, dissertations and documentation online for all. These systems used hybrid search features which could cross reference photos, videos, sketches, paper, reports a number of different ways using the latest and greatest artificial intelligence searching software. Many Universities are now teaming up together to make this a reality and partnering with major search engines to see that all of it is readily available to the world.
In 2006 we will see a uniting of all the worlds knowledge and works from as far back as the books which were in the Alexandria Library all online and at your finger tips. Imagine the amount of knowledge available to the world without the barriers of time, location or language. Able to read information, see videos and pictures and learn anything you want to learn literally at your finger tips; like an add on memory to the human race. Of course this project will take years, but the first half million books will be completely online and ready to go in 2006 and this trend will continue and accelerate in the coming years. Think on this.

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By Lance Winslow

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

College Degrees

2006-01-03T22:59:00.000-08:00

College degrees may allow you to earn more money upon graduation, but for some potential students the high cost of paying for college keeps them out of the classroom. Many students are unaware of how to save money on the tuition for college degrees. This lack of knowledge about tuition assistance means that a significant number of students end up paying more for their college degrees than they should have to pay.
Many students are aware of scholarship, grants, and student loans as methods for reducing the cost of college degrees. Student loans are effective, as long as you understand that you have to pay back the loan and you find a well-paying job to help you make your student loan payments each month. Scholarships and grants can be more useful, as you usually do not have to pay them back. However, there can be difficulties if you obtain partial scholarships for your tuition. Some schools offering college degrees will set aside how much in financial aid you can receive in total. If you receive scholarships, they will take that amount out of your total. So your financial aid amount will not go up unless you obtain more in scholarship money. If this is the case, there are other options still available to pay for college degrees.
If you are young and willing, the military is a great way to pay for college degrees. The Reserve Officers Training Corp, or ROTC, offers scholarships that pay for college education. The ROTC scholarships will pay for a significant portion of your college education a long as you serve on active duty in the military upon graduation. If you are willing to serve, college degrees qualify participants for officer status. Veterans are also eligible to pay for their college education via the G.I. Bill. Military Academies also allow you to obtain college degrees for free while earning a monthly stipend.
Besides the military, another way of paying for college degrees involves taking certain exams to earn credits. CLEP exams and the GRE test will enable you to test out of taking specific classes. If you do not have to take the classes, then the cost of college degrees goes down. Besides the cost of college degrees going down, it will also allow you to obtain your education faster. The small cost of taking each test will save you significant amounts of money on college degrees.
A third option in paying for college degrees involves taking less expensive classes at one school and transferring them to another university. Since the tuition for college degrees varies from school to school, you can easily take basic or pre-requisite courses at one school for less money. Many students find that taking the basic courses required for college degrees at a community college saves them significantly in the end. However, check with the universities offering you college degrees to be sure that the classes are fully transferable.
Read the rest of the article here: College Degrees.

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By Charles Fuchs

Download the Home Based Business Manual (Free $97 Value!) and receive valuable tips, strategies and techniques designed to grow a very successful Home Based Business.
Copyright © Charles Fuchs is an established online marketer who specializes in helping people start their very own Home Based Business. He specializes in showing people how MLM Business Leads can help your business.

College in the Fifties

2006-01-03T22:55:00.000-08:00

In the country side where I grew up, a high school student's greatest goal was to work the farm like his dad, get married and have lots of little farmers. Sixteen of us graduated from high school, not including two boys that had to leave in April for spring planting and one girl who got married. One girl and one boy (myself) succeeded in going to college.
My grandparents were (relatively) rich but my parents had little money, certainly not enough to send me to college. I loved science and after winning the Bauch and Lomb Science Award, I wanted to be a physicist. My mother read in the newspaper that the S.A.T.s were to be held in a movie theater in the next town, the three top scorers in the state qualifying for State Scholarships. Our high school was perhaps one of the smallest in the state, borrowing most of their teachers from nearby Pennsylvania. In spite of lacking courses in calculus, logic, and higher mathematics, I braved the test anyway. Three weeks later the announcement arrived that I had won the third place spot in the state and would be able to attend Rutgers University, tuition free! After all the jumping and celebrating, we planned how I could afford the room, board, and books.
A spot opened on the cafeteria staff of the sister college, Douglas University for Women, providing me with room and board money. I was to serve the college girls coffee and hot chocolate from six thirty until eight AM every week day. Used books were available from the local book store in town. The only fly in the ointment was the Physics class, my major. At the end of the year, I was called into the Dean's office and informed that my grade in Physics was too low (though passing) to retain my scholarship and I would have to pay tuition the second year. I pleaded that since the physics building was located a mile away, the classes were shortened to forty minutes. I just didn't have enough time to complete the two semester theory tests in time. My professor asked us to solve three theories. I solved one and completed the second but ran out of time for the third theory. I was just too slow. Calculators would have helped, but they weren't invented yet. These sixty six per cent grades brought down my fours in the rest of the tests. I was successful in ROTC training, entering a weapons handling contest and winning first place handily. I also joined the track team and went on field trips with the Rutgers Photographic Club.
Well, the Dean gave me another chance, if I would agree to go to summer school for advanced mathematics. I also changed my major to Geology, but Physics was still a requirement. The summer school was held in some old World War II Quansett huts, the temperature rising to one hundred degrees in the afternoon. I also found time for photographing children which insured the cost of my books for my Sophomore year. My worst fears were realized when I read my courses the next year. They duplicated my Freshman year courses: Scientific German II, American History II and Physics II. All featured the same professors. The physics classes were held in the same temporary building as last year (the new one was being built) and the same interview with the Dean resulted. But this time it was final. No scholarship.
Back at home, a talk with my dad revealed that my education was last on his list (his words) and grandma would not donate one penny much less four thousand dollars. And this for her oldest grandson who was named (middle names of Charles Virgil) after her husband and great grandfather. She said that they wouldn't dare touch the principle, since they still had two homes to support and the country club and all. Now don't get the idea that I am at all bitter about this fiasco, just disappointed that I didn't get to finish. Plan B, which was to be a professional photographer worked out fine.
A retired portrait photographer living with my wife and a cat in New Jersey.

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By Kenneth Hoffman

Homeschool Program and Homeschool Programs

2005-12-29T05:30:00.000-08:00

Homeschool programs are more prevalent then they once were. A lot of families are opting to have their children homeschooled for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons might consist of the desire to keep them away from public school education. Some parents might think that the public school isn't teaching the proper views they want their children to learn. Another reason homeschool programs exist is so that parents can have more say on what is important for their child to focus on in regard to subject matter. Whether you are a parent or someone who doesn't know a lot about homeschool programs, read along to find out some informative information about a homeschool program that may be offered.
When one hears the words homeschool program, what do you think of? Do you think sheltered child? Do you think about parents who are too afraid to let their kids get connected with public school education? Do you think of homeschool programs as a safe alternative to the world's standard of education? Whatever the case or your stance might be, homeschool programs are here to inform, to encourage, and to assist those wanting to provide a different type of education to their children.
If you are just getting started with the homeschool programs and learning how they work, it might be a good idea to talk with parents who are already involved with the concept. You would be surprised how many families are involved in the homeschool programs in today's day and age. A question that might arise for parents is the concern for their children to be involved socially and to become well-rounded people. If you are thinking of doing a homeschool program, might that be a problem? Not necessarily.
There are homeschool programs that exist where other children can get involved. Many times parents are the main educators in their family when they opt to homeschool. However, they have designed homeschool programs where they connect with other kids for a variety of reasons. Some of the kids might attend a homeschool program that teaches them their science classes. When this happens, a teacher is usually brought in so they can work on their experiments and do their lab requirements. This is a good time for these kids to interact, socialize, and learn with their peers.
These students might also be involved in a homeschool program that gets them together for elective-type courses. Say one of their English requirements is to take a class on drama and theater. The homeschool programs can connect the kids through putting on a play and honing their skills in the area of fine arts. Whatever the case may be, homeschool programs can be a great alternative to today's education system. Research wisely by talking with other parents, churches, homeschooling associations, and programs they offer.

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By Christian N

For more information about homeschool program and homeschool programs, visit:http://www.christianet.com/christianbusinesses/christianeducation/index.htm

http://www.christianet.com

Benefits of Homeschooling

2005-12-29T05:26:00.000-08:00

A wise man once said, "We can teach our children to have courage, faith, and endurance and show them how to learn, and they can teach us to laugh, to sing, and to love." In other words, each family member has valuable lessons to teach the family.
When a family homeschools, this reciprocal relationship is magnified. Homeschooling participants are affected by more than just the person who sit at the homeschool table. All generations create and reinforce the bond between family members. Home schooling families spend their time laughing, learning, playing and living with each other 24/7.
You can choose the best curriculum to promote an intrinsic love of lifelong learning. The homeschool curriculum is flexible. The parameters are determined by the best teachers available, the parents, who know and love their children.
Learning never stops in the homeschool environment. The parents are not just lecturers or observers. They are active participants who expand, explain and encourage their children to be inquisitive and explore the specific areas that interest them without the constraints of arbitrary rules set up by an outside source.
Another benefit to homeschooling is that the parents model and reinforce valuable behavior and deemphasize undesirable behavior in a natural manner.
Historically several generations lived in the same home. Everyone benefited from this multi-generational living arrangement, coming away with valuable lessons that cannot be taught in a book. Plus most of the time there was the added advantage of the multi-grade/level schoolhouse for the formal education.
Presently we often put the older generation in nursing homes when they get too bothersome (only to visit them on holidays), and we settle for a failing public school system that has been tasked with being everything to everyone but alienates most participants.
Homeschooling is the best of both worlds. It's good for both the family and for your children's education.
The benefits of home schooling are limitless. As a parent who homeschooled three children, I feel that homeschooling is the greatest gift a parent can give their child. Try it. You’ll like it!

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By Pamela Connolly

Pam Connolly is a professional educator with the San Diego School District. She has been teaching kids how to type for over 11 years. To teach your child typing, visit http://www.1stoplearntotype.com

The Art and Science of Finding a College

2005-12-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Finding the right college and gaining admission to that institution is arguably the most important challenge facing young adults and their parents. The high cost of tuition combined with intense competition makes choosing the right college, university, or technical school difficult. Whether your interest is in the arts or sciences, whether you are seeking sports opportunities or knowledge in a technical field, there are many tools available to help you make your decision and find the learning community that best suits your needs. Even if you haven't decided upon a major, finding a college is an important first step that will set the foundation for your future career path. Finding the perfect match is a matter of patience and planning. Here are some areas to think about when finding a college:

* Location - Do you want your college experience to be an opportunity to strike out on your own, or is it important to you to remain within a reasonable driving distance of home? Do you thrive in an urban environment that has access to a rich variety of cultural venues and the arts, or do you prefer a setting that's more bucolic and low-key?

* Size - Are you seeking the diversity of a large student body, or do you prefer an environment with fewer people? Is your field of interest so specific that course offerings can be found at only large colleges and universities, or do you place more importance on the accessibility of faculty to the student body? How important is the size of the college's library? All of these factors should be considered when finding a college.

* Housing - Will you be commuting from home, or living away from home? If you were living away from home, what housing opportunities would best suit you? If you interested in dorm life, does the college have adequate on-campus housing, or is there a waiting list? If you're more likely to live off-campus, is there a housing shortage in the community? What is the going rate for apartments, and how does that fit into your budget?

* Cost - Although there are a myriad of financial aid options available to students who qualify academically, cost is certain a consideration when finding a college. A community college or state university may be more feasible than a private college or university. Although student loans are available, being faced with an enormous debt upon graduation is less than desirable. Once you have gone about the task of finding a college and have narrowed your choices, you need to work on getting admitted to that institution of higher learning. You may wish to engage a service that will help you define your goals, gain admission to the school of your choice, and transform your dream into a reality.

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By Chris Robertson

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Education Website and Majon's Education directory.

Choosing a Major

2005-12-26T05:58:00.000-08:00

One of the many things that several college bound students seem to worry over, is declaring a major. Many people may tell that you should have one chosen by the time you start your first year. Unless you’re absolutely 100% sure of your career path, you don’t need to worry about making that decision just yet. Keep your options open. The actual deadline for choosing a major is the end of your sophomore year. That gives you two years, which is plenty of time. In those first two years of your scholastic journey, you should be exploring possibilities and considering your options. Take general education courses, like History, Literature, Psychology 101, Sociology 101, intro classes, etc., and figure out which one grabs you. It might not be right away. You might pick a major at the last minute.
Take me for example. I didn’t declare my major until the end of my sophomore year. I thought I would never figure out what I wanted to do or what I was good at. I had originally come to school wanting to be a political science major. Then halfway through, I decided that politics was something that I didn’t want to be a part of (for various reasons). Next, I wanted to be a psychology major. I loved the class so much that I decided to declare. Eventually I got bored with psychology and switched to history. I love history and I’m completely fascinated with it. I soon lost interest with being a history major and became an English major. I figured since I love to read and write that this would be perfect. That ended up being a little too much reading and writing for my taste. Plus, I had to take classes like ‘Eighteenth Century British Literature’, which I ended up sleeping in. So I remained undeclared until the Spring Semester of my sophomore year. That semester, I signed up for a video production class. I excelled in the class. I finally found something I loved and something I was good at. I declared Mass Communications as my major and am currently working towards my degree in that field.
It takes time. Don’t get overwhelmed. Don’t get discouraged. Test the waters, try everything, and eventually, you’ll find your niche.

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By Mia Pleasant

Mia Pleasant is finishing up her degree and is a proud member of Writing.Com(http//:http://www.writing.com/) Her portfolio can be viewed at Mia Pleasant.

Continue Your Education With an MBA Online

2005-12-22T01:52:00.000-08:00

What is a good way for me to advance my education despite having no real time to myself? I get busy with work and it is difficult for me to consider extending my education when I would have to commute to a campus, find time to go to classes, and then still work. One way I found that can help busy professionals continue their education without even having to leave the house is by pursuing an MBA online. By working on an MBA online, you don’t have to worry about commuting, going to classes at inconvenient times, or even scheduling around your job.

An MBA is a powerful and helpful degree. Also known as a Masters of Business Administration, an MBA is the next logical step in education to extend your business career. However, it is quandary since you are working hard to move up, but also have to find a way to continue your education. The perfect the way to do that is to work on your MBA online. By doing so, you can avoid all the time constraints that go along with a traditional graduate program, plus you can work on your classes when you have the time and when your busy schedule permits.

The best way to find an MBA online is to check through a search engine first. There are a number of universities and business colleges that offer MBA’s over the internet as part of their normal curriculum. There are also universities that specialize in online programs including MBA online schools. No matter which kind you prefer, you may want to begin your search on a search engine.

So how does an MBA online work? You will likely have to first apply, probably online. If it is a traditional school offering an online program, you may have to visit the campus to get everything arranged. Once you are in, you will log in through the internet to take each of the classes required to complete your degree. Depending on the MBA online program, some may be self-pacing. More often, though, they will be on a weekly schedule, but you will be able to actually do the work when you get time. There will still be texts to read and activities to do, but all of it will be available to you from your desktop.

Finding time, as a professional, to continue your education can be very difficult. You are busy with your work and with what time you have, it would probably be nearly impossible to find classes that would work for you. The answer can very possibly be an MBA online program. By pursuing your degree online you can avoid the time constraints that come with a traditional program. You can work around your schedule, do so from your home, and thus be able to get your MBA even with a busy work schedule that isn’t consistent. An MBA is an important degree if you want to move on in the business world, and it can be time consuming. So, consider working on your MBA online to help your career and education progress.

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By Christopher Luck

If you would like to find more of my personal articles on online degrees please check out my education website!

The MBA Conundrum

2005-12-04T23:47:00.000-08:00

A colleague on my MBA programme here at the BI in Oslo questioned me somewhat aggressively the other week: “You seem very relaxed about the process of studying. Is this something you really want to do?”
Over the last few years, there has been a lot of scepticism surrounding the true value of MBAs once inside an organisation. As the first term of my MBA programme comes to a close, and I begin to look forward to a week absent of work and full of long Mediterranean dinners and hot evenings, I can’t help reflect as I sit in class now on the validity of all the scepticism. First of all, I am sympathetic to the cynics. For a long time I was a cynic myself of the validity of MBAs – after all, they are usually twenty-somethings like myself who think they know all the answers based on what has to be a fairly limited amount of real, practical experience.
From my experience on this MBA programme here at the BI in Oslo, the scepticism is not unjustified but it is misplaced.
When I chose to study an MBA, it was predominantly for the intellectual process of reasoning and studying that I wanted to do it. Unlike some, for me graduating in the top ten of the class is not an all-consuming goal – it is rather the acquisition of knowledge and the opportunity to be back in one of my favourite places, the classroom, again that are the pivotal reasons I am studying for this degree. It seems I am part of a minority, however. I may be fortunate in not finding the task of getting high grades overly demanding and actually enjoying the process of studying, but putting it diplomatically, there are certainly a number of less than congenial individuals on the programme who are clearly studying an MBA for one sole purpose: because they can’t rise any higher in their careers without one. The problem with these individuals is that studying an MBA is not what they need: what they need is a lesson in how to get on with people. Most of the types I am speaking about ironically have quite outstanding qualifications already; it is certainly not for lack of academic kudos that they have encountered a limit to how far they can rise within their respective organisations.
The problem is in the classification of “MBA’s” as a general categorical statement. It is immediately evident on this programme at least that those who are going to climb the ladder in an organisational context would do so anyway, without an MBA. All the programme does is to sharpen the intellectual process so that those who have been “winging” subjects like accounting for the past four years, like myself, can now talk about it with a sense of meaning. On the other hand, an MBA won’t teach those who have a personality disorder how to acquire a personality. Ironically, it is these students who are the most “grade” focused, and who therefore immediately, at least, come across as the most ambitious: because they have found themselves in the unenviable position of having to be. However, once these individuals assume management positions, they quickly find themselves at square one.
Management is more of an intuitive process than an intellectual one. The problem with studying an MBA for the students who are doing it with the sole purpose of advancing their careers in mind is that, while being somewhat more intuitive perhaps than most degrees, it is still predominantly an intellectual pursuit. MBA’s are great degrees, they are just being used for the wrong purpose.

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By Daniel Harrison

Daniel M. Harrison is currently studying for a MBA at BI, Oslo. Prior to this he was Head of Private Client Services at St. Helen's Capital, and has been responsible for a number of small company fundraisings and IPOs in the U.K.
Daniel has written and lectured in the United Kingdom on Corporate Finance in the small company market as well as on cultural issues including the literary and music scene.
He has a blog at http://danielmarkharrison.blogs.com

Supreme Clowns

2005-12-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or are the dunces in the U.S. Senate totally unqualified to pass judgment on Supreme Court nominees? They have been entrusted with a duty that can have no meaning. They can’t do their job because they have no clue what questions to ask. They have to know your dreams and visions, your mistakes and your private conversations to get any idea what questions to ask. Reveal your every private thought to us and we will ask you most excellent questions.
I would have questions without end. If we have a Constitutional Convention next year, what constitutional defects should we address? Should any government have the use of unlimited credit? Doesn’t that create an unfair advantage over those with little or no credit? Should any government have authority to put multiple generations in debt bondage? If they have the authority do they have a moral obligation not to do so? If they ignore their moral obligation, should they not forfeit the credit itself?
Do you believe cruel punishment is desirable once it becomes common or usual? Do you believe a single punishment is appropriate to all crimes? Which is more important to you, justice or mercy? Which would you prefer for yourself on judgment day?
Do you believe it was the intention of the founding fathers to enumerate and restrict the powers of Congress and then add a little phrase such as the general welfare clause that says in effect, “and anything whatsoever pleases you”? Does this defect need correction?
What, in your opinion, makes this contract binding upon the descendents of those who approved it? Do you believe the administration of a loyalty oath, is deceptive when administered in a repeat- after- me fashion upon induction into the armed services? Do you approve? Do you believe those who swear this oath have any idea who the document’s enemies, foreign and domestic are? If they do know them, do they still have to obey orders protecting such? Can a combat soldier become a conscientious objector without fear of retribution in the land o the free?
What makes the court upon which you wish to serve, Supreme? Was it ordained by God or men? Has any group of men ever created something supreme, beyond supreme foolishness? Why do you want this job? Does having the last word in statute and maritime law excite you? Get your juices flowing?
Why is U.S. citizenship an accident of birth and not a personal achievement? Why are the ignorant allowed to vote or sit on juries? Do you believe this is good government and good law? When an ignorant defendant sits before a jury of his peers are they all likewise ignorant? If a defendant is wise, does he get a jury of wise peers? Who would decide such a thing? Lawyers? How would they qualify to judge wisdom and ignorance? Or does the word peer mean economic class, here in the land o the free?
Do you believe there can never be too much law? Can you name any person who ever wrote a good law? If so who? Do you think creating new criminals day after day is a proper function of good government? Do you believe society has a responsibility for the families of those they simply lock out of sight? Do you think the sick people in cages deserve any help whatsoever upon release to society? Prior to release? What kind of help? Would you use your political influence to make such happen? Do you wish you need not answer such questions? Breathe easy. No one else will ask them.

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by: Ed Howes

Ed Howes sought and found. Knocked and entered. Now he sees things differently. To see more of what he sees visit http://www.justanotherview.com

To Serve - or Not

2005-12-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

Shall I serve? If I serve, who shall I serve? The young person, regardless of educational achievement, is seldom taught to ask and answer these most basic questions before others are supplying the answers. The Bible says the choice boils down to serving God or money. For most people, the distinction is easily lost. In most cases, the distinction was lost on their parents and grandparents for their entire lifetimes, so it it not a matter of age. It is certainly a matter of wisdom, which is usually in very short supply.
If the choice is to serve money, the matter is greatly simplified and that is the choice most Westerners make. The common choice is to get money. That puts us in the service of money because we are paid to make money for someone else, who makes money for yet another. This is the result of a global value system which places gold and precious stones above all else and values souls and slaves as the cheapest, most disposable merchandise. Therefore, one serves God by serving that of the least value and serves money by serving anything else. To serve God is to reverse all we have observed and all we have been taught. True service is summarized by the great commandments. Love God and love your neighbor. The biblical answer to who is your neighbor is found in parable as a person in need of help. A soul and probably a slave as well. Like or unlike our selves.
And who is a slave? All who serve money, by choice or by force. Herein lies the rub. How do you help slaves in need without serving the money they serve? On the global scale, this is the vexing question in economic aid. Give a poor man money through his national or local leadership and you divide your giving between the slave and his master, who is also a slave. Teach the same man to supply his own needs and he may or may not successfully withhold the fruits of his labor from his masters, for he too must make a choice.
Benjamin Franklin understood that politics amount to fraud and theft. At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention Franklin said the republic would last until the people were corrupted. He must have said this with a wink because he was witness to the corruption of the conventioners for the entire length of the convention. The conventioners arrived in Philadelphia with authority from their respective state legislatures to revise the Articles of Confederation, which made the states and their citizens the national sovereigns or ultimate power and authority. The conventioners threw the Articles out the window, decided they knew better than anyone what was needed and created a document which made the federal government sovereign, the states and citizens mere agents, servants and slaves. Because these scoundrels we call our founding fathers knew the state legislatures would never accept this political coup and power grab, the conventioners wrote provisions for ratification into the document itself. These provisions would by- pass the state legislatures by requiring committees to ratify and approve the power grab. It was a close fight. The citizens and the states lost it to the money men who would forever enslave a nation. They would call this slavery freedom to help us feel good about the whole thing and we do.
The matter would not be tested until Franklin had been dead for seventy years. Thirteen states and their citizens declared they would not be the slaves of the federal government and fought a very bloody war to make the point. The masters convinced half the slaves to slaughter the other half and restore an involuntary union in the land of the free. They knew involuntary union and liberty could not co- exist. It never has, nor will it in any other part of the world. Americans are a conquered people, no less so than the natives they pushed onto reservations before and after this matter was settled. It is a fundamental of conquest that the conquered survivors and their children live at the mercy and pleasure of the conqueror, who showed mercy for their lives during the conquest. In this case, Washington D.C.. This is why no court will rule against a federal levy of money, property or persons from the citizenry. We are all federal property by right of conquest.
It is not necessary to fight yet another war or violent revolution to end an oligarchy publicly desribed as a democratic republic. This is and has been a government of the people, by the money masters, for the money masters from before the ink dried on the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution made it official. All that is needed to establish a government of the people, by the people, for the people is to revise the U.S. Constitution to make it more like the old Articles of Confederation. The pen is mightier than the sword indeed, yet people are easily persuaded to use the sword because they were corrupted just as Franklin must have expected. From the first moment we accept and support corrupted leadership, we are corrupt ourselves. Because we are corrupt, we deserve slavery and the contempt of others. Likewise, the Africans who came to America on slave ships were victims of the corruption of their leaders and as the practice flourished, corrupted their selves. It was always the duty of those who remained in Africa to end the corruption of their leadership. It is the same for all of us today, everywhere in this world. We excuse the ignorant and call them innocent because they are us.
We see the corruption and how money buys elections and the very laws we are commanded to obey. We smile and wink. Poltics is dirty work, but someone has to do it. Somebody will until the people change the value system and quit serving money. It is forever the people’s right to change the laws and governments they live by and the “supreme law of the land” is the great global fraud. Politics is corrupt. By definition all politicians are corrupt because the righteous do not willingly serve corruption, which brings us again to the subject of service.
All military service is political and corrupt by definition. When one joins, he or she is surprised by a loyalty oath, most never heard of until they obediently “repeat after me”. The oath puts each slave in bondage to the President of the United States, whoever it may be and then the U.S. Congress after him. We are tricked into an oath whereby we swear to defend a commercial contract made by a handful of scoundrels over two hundred years ago for the slaves of that era. We swear to defend a fraud against all enemies, foreign and domestic, with no idea who is an enemy and who is a friend. It is the act of swearing any oath that holds power over us. I have pledged my sacred honor to do as I am told by any and every superior stranger in a military chain of money servants. I keep my pledge by obedience to authority, never understanding that any contract created by fraud is null and void and has no power of obligation on either contracting party. The money servants are free to change the terms and conditions of your agreement as they choose because the “supreme law” is a fraud, the government it created is a fraud and the loyalty oath we swear is a fraud. To defend a fraud is itself a fraud. Slaves have no valid contract with any fraudulent authority. The money masters know this but only a law student will ever read it in a textbook and they intend to serve money.
We who have sworn a fraudulent oath, know not the truth. If and when we do understand, we can call it what it is and walk away. Doing so would likely result in undeserved punishments and make of us an enemy of the fraud, so we wait for our contract to expire and ponder the lesson learned. We keep our mouths shut and warn no one of the fraud. To do so is un patriotic, which means a patriot is any person who promotes and supports the money fraud. He or she declares the patriot kills and dies for freedom and justice when in fact, the patriot believes this as he or she kills and dies for money. The money masters define our words and the truth is too horrible to admit. A dishonor to the deceived. Untold millions are duped in every generation. Not one patriot will ever suggest we change the “supreme law” and dissolve this great commercial slave enterprise that one might be able to serve both God and nation. That one might value souls and slaves above gold and precious stones.
Workers seldom check the habits, ethics and morals of employers before they contract for employment. This is why they deserve whatever treatment they receive and probably worse. They are corrupt. They do not care who or what they serve. They care for the money they receive in exchange for their service. They have likely spent many years in schools, learning HOW to serve. Learning obedience to illegitimate, presumed authority. Training to serve the money masters in their military and in their factories. Scripture tells us “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” No one knows the truth of this better than the money masters. One generation trains the next to serve the money masters and it all works like a well oiled money machine. Because, just because.
I am not saying money cannot be used to serve God. I am saying that rarely happens. I am saying the truth of our labor is too painful to bear, so we prefer all the comforting fraud. We smile and we wink. We try hard not to rock the money boat. We choose to serve money and we love neither God nor neighbor in money’s service. Better any God of love be forgotten. There is much work to be done. Many people to deceive. Many people to devalue.

_______________________________

by: Ed Howes

Ed Howes sought and found. Knocked and entered. Now he sees things differently. You can see more of what he sees at http://www.justanotherview.com.

When We Help Immigrants, We Help Ourselves

2005-12-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

And some of the benefits are immediate!
Almost all of us who are not immigrants, are descended from immigrants. The United States was built by immigrants and it will always be a country of immigrants. When we think of Chinese, Italians, Germans, English, French, etc. we picture distinct people, cultures, food and languages.
When we think of Americans, we picture a combination of all the other countries. And it is always changing. When people used to picture Americans they saw white people from England, Germany and Scandinavia and the black people descended from slaves. Then Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants came; at that time none of these people were thought of as white. Asian immigrants came next and now the picture we have of Americans is becoming more Spanish speaking and from Latin America.
Throughout our country’s history, there have always been residents who thought the country was full or didn’t need people from certain countries. They seemed to believe, “I’m OK, you’re not”. But the bravest, strongest, most determined, entrepreneurial people from poor countries took a huge chance and moved here to build a better life for themselves. In the process they built a better country for all of us.
If you moved to a new country, what would you do if you knew only a few words of the language and even less of the laws and customs? You would probably first ask your friends, who often wouldn’t know the right answers. Then you might make several attempts to do something and then perhaps give up entirely. Then you would find out the hard way (tickets, fines, evictions, school suspensions) that you did something wrong. New immigrants are trying to adapt to life here and struggle every day to fit in.
When immigrants succeed, we all benefit. Some of the benefits are immediate: helping someone in the checkout line at the grocery store to understand the instructions or make change, helps the line move faster. If we speak slowly and help them learn some English, everything in our daily lives works better. Learning a new language is very difficult, but they won’t be able to assimilate if they don’t learn English. Some people say that these newcomers are stupid or not willing to learn the rules, while they probably are just not able to understand the language or the rules.
If we are friendly and welcoming to new neighbors, they will learn how to fit in and there will be less friction. If there is a neighborhood meeting, take them along. Many of them come from entirely different cultures and have to be shown how to fit into ours.
Tell them about open house and parent-teacher meetings at the local school. Their country’s schools might not have wanted the parents to be involved and they don’t understand how important it is here. Your children’s schools will be better schools if more of the parents are involved and help out. Your children will learn about other countries and cultures from these parents and students, too.
If there is a fire or weather emergency, check on them. Many of them don’t know where to go or who to ask about phone and electric service they have lost. They don’t know there are shelters and help available. Keeping your neighbors safe will make your neighborhood better and maybe they will be helping you next time. A close community of good neighbors has less crime and drugs and other dangerous activities.
In other words, do the same things for these newcomers that you would want them to do for you if you were new residents in their country. This is also called The Golden Rule.
This is our country, we have a right and a responsibility to help new residents learn how to live here. They won’t learn by seeing resentment and hatred on our faces. They will learn by example and friendliness. We will all be happier and we will all benefit when these immigrants become Americans, just like our immigrant ancestors did.

_________________________________

by: Donna Poisl

Donna Poisl is President of Live & Thrive Press and the author of "How to Live & Thrive in the U.S. / Como Vivir y Prosperar en Estados Unidos". She wrote this reference guide to help immigrants learn our system and succeed in this country. Contact Donna at http://www.howtoliveandthrive.com.

Developing Learning Activities And Simulations In E-Learning Content

2005-12-01T22:47:00.000-08:00

What turns your best dress into a showstopper? Accessories. And what turns your online course content into dazzlingly useful learning content? Learning Activities. What is a Learning Activity? In e-learning content development, we use all forms of questions for test and quizzes:
1. Multiple correct, which presents a number of choices as answers to a particular question. There may be more than one answer to this question. The students chooses all answers that are correct.
2. Single correct, which presents multiple choices as answers to a particular questions. One answer of the possible choices is correct.
3. Item matching, in which there is one column of possible answers that relate to another column of questions. Item matching is commonly used for matching the correct term to the definition.
4. Fill-in-the-blank, in which the students enters the correct word or words that complete a sentence.
5. True/false, in which the student answers whether a statement is true or false.
6. Short answer, in which the student enters a one to two sentence answer to a question.
7. Essay, in which the student responds to a question with a page (or more) long response.
All of these question types are useful for testing knowledge gained from taking a course, as well as testing the level of knowledge prior to a course. In addition, such questions are useful in the course itself as learning checks. The learning check enables the student to determine whether he understands the material. Most companies consider these questions to be adequate learning activities. However, learning activities can be much more. Learning activities that are simulations can involve the student and give him a safe environment in which to practice skills gained through the course. .
Learning Activities are interactive activities that help to explain concepts and involve the student with hands-on learning. This may include all forms of drag and drop questions (one to one correlation, many to one correlation) as well as interactive ordering of graphics or text, and finally, simulations.
An IDC article and survey, Technology-Based Simulations: Cloning the Work Environment for More Effective Learning, June 2004 by Michael Brennan, states, "By 2008 the use of simulations will quadruple.... Simulations provide a parallel universe in which employees hone their skills... Innovative companies have realized this, and others will follow."
Simulations are currently the most expensive learning activity. Simulations must be individually designed and programmed. For example, suppose you have a sales course in which you are testing the sales student’s retention of the message that the company wishes to deliver to its customers. You could do a question workshop: several questions that give situations requiring an action in multiple correct or single correct formats. Another, more entertaining, method would be to have the sales person run through a scenario in which he indicates what he would do to sell his product. The learning activity indicates whether the customer would buy this product based on those actions. This feedback could be indicated by a graph indicating customer readiness to buy. It could also be complimented by video, in which the customer appears aggravated when the sales person gives his message incorrectly and pleased when the sales person gives his message correctly.
Online courses are taken privately and at the student’s convenience. If the student requires several attempts with a particular scenario, praise the student for continued effort and eventual competency.
Adding humor to simulations and learning activities is essential yet can be controversial. As the simulation developer or content developer, you do not want to add any humor that could be perceived as offensive, sexist or worse, unfunny. To extend our sales example, when the sales person is unsuccessful at selling his product in the learning activity, you would not want your customer video or simple animation of the customer to offend the sales person. Yet you want him to laugh and try again. Perhaps the customer morosely shaking his head and leaving the room, with text indicating how the sales call went dreadfully south would be acceptable and could be done in a humorous fashion. You would not want this animation to be disturbing – the customer should not shake his fist and yell for a restraining order against the sales person, for example.
In the past, I participated in designing a simulation of patient anesthesia. The computer program consisted of a patient on the operating room table and two dials that the student could turn. One dial administered oxygen, the other dial administered anesthetic. The patient’s parameters could change (height, weight, age). As the student administered the anesthesia, a graph showed the patient’s stats. If you administered too much anesthesia the patient would die! It was a great simulation, but scary. The death knell of the patient was accompanied by funeral music. . Ouch!
On the other hand, sometimes we encounter simulations and learning activities that add nothing to the content or the course. They are superfluous, added to maintain interest. You must be very careful in these instances. If you want to add something to maintain interest, it should still be useful and explore some aspect of the topic. A Flash movie of interesting fractals may be colorful and fun - useless in a course that is not about fractals, art or Flash. For example, suppose you are teaching contractual document details. You can still relate the content of the course to a learning activity in which the student must put the correct elements from a list into three different types of contracts. As dry as you may think detailing the elements of a contract might be, if you add audio that indicates whether the addition was right or wrong, you can keep your student’s interest. “Wrong!” can be contrasted with “Oh, not that element, it does not belong” said in a beautiful feminine voice. The second response can add a smile and cause the student to remember how the contractual elements are added to a contract. A booming male voice that states, “You sir, are correct!” can bring that same acknowledgement.
In conclusion, questions and quizzes while useful are not the end of interactivity. We need to provide the means for simulations inside online courses to provide the hands on learning that students need. Through clever activities that allow seeing the consequences of your actions on the simulation model, we can provide activities that enable retention of material and practice. If these activities lead the student to greater understanding, we have provided not only an entertaining activity but also great value for our online courses.

_______________________________

by: Dana Fine

Dana Fine is a Senior Instructional Designer at SyberWorks, Inc. SyberWorks is a custom e-learning solutions company that specializes in learning management systems, e-learning solutions, and custom online course development. Dana is also a frequent contributor to the Online Training Content Journal.
syberworks.com

Resurrecting an Old Technology - VSR Motors

2005-12-01T22:45:00.000-08:00

A 170 year old electrical technology, called variable switched reluctance (VSR) motors was resurrected in the 1980s with the advent of electronic controllers. The Texas based Le Tiurneau.inc has developed a wheeled front end loader for mining work which use large horsepower VSR motors for its wheel drives. Basically, a VSR motor comprises a rotor and a stator with a coil winding in the stator. The rotor, which consists of a laminated permeable material with teeth, is a passive device with no coil winding or permanent magnets.
The stator typically consists of slots containing a series of coil winding, the energization of which is electronically switched to generate a moving field. When one stator coil is set on, a magnetic flux path is generated around the coil and the rotor. The rotor experiences a torque and is moved in the line with the energized coils, minimizing the flux path. with the approximate switching and energization of the stator coils, the rotor can be encouraged to rotate at any desired torque and speed.
VSR Motors offers the following advantages: Since there are no brushes ringing, there is no requirement of commutator maintenance. the motor is more robust since there are no coils or moving parts. A VSR motor can maintain higher torque and efficiency over broader speed ranges than is possible with other advanced variable speed systems. In addition, as the commutation can be accurately controlled with respect to the rotor angle, the motor will operate at its predicted high efficiency. With VSR technology it is possible to design a low cost motor with over 90% system efficiency and variable speed.
VSR motors can be programmed to precisely match the loads the serve, and their simple rugged construction has no expensive magnets or squirrel cages like the induction motor. VSR motors are smaller than DC motors. VSR motor is inherently resistant to overload and immune to single point failure. They have a high level of fault tolerance and are immune to switching faults. According t a spokesman of Le Tourneau, While the initial cost of SR motor and control is a little more expensive than standard DC system, in the failure, there may be little or no difference in the manufacturing costs due to decreasing prices of electronic components. VSR motors are not without their drawbacks, however. The most significant downside is the acoustic noise and the large vibration caused by the motor's high pulsating magnetic flux. Another limitation is torque ripple. But while these drawbacks have an effect in small horsepower VSR motors, they are of no significance in large horsepower traction motors.

______________________________________

By Praise Paul

Praise is the Professor and Head of the Dept of Information Technology of Calicut University. with more than 25 years of Professional Experience in University of Calicut.

The University of Phoenix Degree Program Vs. A Traditional Degree Program

2005-12-01T22:43:00.000-08:00

There are different schools of thoughts advocating either a traditional degree or an online degree. Whereas the goal of education and job marketability remains the same, the point of argument is over the ways in which the goal is attained. You will be better able to reach an effective decision if you weigh the pros and cons of both.
A traditional degree requires a student to be physically present for a class at a predetermined location at a specific time. An online education in an accredited institution like the University of Phoenix has been able to make this a non-requirement. You can be anywhere in the world and still access your learning material whenever you find time to do it, thus making it possible for you to pursue your career and maintain a full-time job.
A regular classroom allows a vibrant discussion and proactive learning process through face-to-face interactions with colleagues and guides. Although an online education is unable to ensure the vibrancy and spontaneity of a classroom, it allows interaction with guides and classmates in a virtual classroom situation.
A classroom situation is time bound and follows strict schedules, pressurizing students to meet deadlines and submission dates, unlike the online course that sets flexible time schedules according to students’ requirements. Whereas this enables working learners to fit in education in their busy schedules, it could also prove to be deterrent for those learners who perform better under stricter timelines.
Although an online education might not be the same college experience as a traditional degree, it meets the most important goal of education and should be considered by aspirants who do not find more traditional colleges appealing. The University of Phoenix Online offers a curriculum that fits almost every student’s timetable, with the backing of a strong faculty.

__________________________________

By Hal McIver

Hal McIver is a proponent of higher education, especially at online universities. See http://www.universityreviewsonline.com/2005/10/the_university__5.html for more information on The University of Phoenix degree program.

How Does An Online University Course Work?

2005-12-01T22:41:00.000-08:00

Any online university course has a few prerequisites like a computer, a phone connection, and an Internet Service Provider. With these basics in place, any student anywhere in the world can enroll for the programs being offered by an online university.
After enrolling you will typically be given easy-to-use Internet access software to facilitate quick and smooth retrieval of lectures, questions, and assignments. Since there are no time schedules and frames, the instruction material can be downloaded anytime and reviewed offline at your convenience.
Online research libraries and services are available from the university to cater to the students’ research requirements. The programs are designed to fit in interaction with other students and professionals from the field. This helps the students enrich their assignments before they discuss it in an academic environment with their instructors. Instructors also guide the students through the courses to avoid any learning hitches.
Although this multi-interaction offline scenario enriches the student’s learning experience, the spontaneous classroom scenario is missing in an online course. For some students, the class interaction could be more invigorating than learning online.
However, an online program offers you almost unlimited flexibility. Each course is completed over five to six weeks and students can take breaks between courses. Since the interaction is asynchronous, as in email messages, there are no schedules or fixed timings for classes either. A student doesn’t have to rush from work to meet a class time. Whereas this could also serve as a demotivator for certain students who perform better under strict schedules and timetables, it is advantageous for people with hectic work environments, and for people who can exert self-discipline in setting an effective timetable.

________________________________

By Hal McIver

Hal McIver is a proponent of higher education, especially at online universities. See http://www.universityreviewsonline.com/2005/10/what_is_an_onli.html for more information on how an online university course works.

Creating, Maintaining and Presenting a Homeschool Portfolio

2005-11-30T06:17:00.000-08:00

(2.) A list of resources (ie books, computer software, games, toys and outside classes).

(3.) Samples of the child's work (ie samples of creative writing and drawings, text book or workbook pages, and if possible you may include audio or video tapes of your child singing, playing a musical instrument, reading aloud, or taking part in a a dramatic performance - pictures will also sometimes work well in place of audio or video tapes).

(4.) Photos of field trips, artwork, projects and family life.

(5.) Brochures and booklets from field trips and other activities.

(6.) A list of books that the child has read including both the title and the author.

(7.) A list of your goals for the year.
While this may seem quite overwhelming, you'd honestly be surprised at how easily you can accomplish this when you start preparing your portfolio at the beginning of the year. Simply use a three ring binder and add paper for your journaling. Start off by listing a few of your goals for the year and what resources you'll be using to achieve those goals (these can be modified throughout the year as needed). Then begin collecting samples of work, organizing them by subject, and punching holes in them to place them in your binder. Always have at least a throw away camera at hand so that you can take pictures of anything that you'd like that your child does (ie reading, playing, dancing). You'll also want to take pictures at field trips as well as pictures of your child's projects and creations. These pictures can either be placed in a photo album or if you're feeling really craftsy you could organize them into a scrapbook. You'll also want to make sure to hold onto any brochures or other paper items that you collect while on an educational outing. These can be easily placed in clear see-through sheet protectors. This is also a good time to begin accumulating a list of books that are being read.
Once you have put together the beginnings of your portfolio, don't stop there. Regular maintenance (I suggest weekly as it will help you to write your lesson plans for the following week) should include regular journal entries and an ongoing collection of work samples, photos and whatever else you wish to include. Some school districts will require a quarterly assessment throughout your homeschool year. This is a time for parents and children to reflect upon their progress and accomplishments from the previous months. Yet, even if your school district doesn't require a quarterly review, you won't want to wait until the end of the year to scramble and race to put together a portfolio that your school district will approve of. Neither you nor your child deserve having to go through the unneeded stress of having to sort through all of the material that has been collected throughout the year.
When it is time for review you may choose to remove some of the materials from your portfolio. You will find that some of these things simply do not properly reflect what you've accomplished throughout the year. If/when you decide to weed through your portfolio, you need to remember that the purpose of the review is to provide a general overview of the homeschool year, demonstrate that the child is engaged in homeschooling and that progress is being made.
The portfolio review can be exciting since it provides both parents and children with a time to talk about what they've been doing at home. When discussing this with your child, you may find it helpful to write down a summary of the items that you wish to highlight during your year before the review. For instance, if your child learned to read or master a skill you may wish to point this out to the reviewer. Of course, you should never view your portfolio review as a time for you to be judged or ridiculed. It is a time to listen, learn and support from your reviewer. Your child does not need to be present during this time. However, if your child wants a chance to "brag" about their accomplishments and progress to other homeschoolers, then this review is a perfect opportunity for them to do so.

____________________________________

By Brenda Hoffman

Reverend Brenda Hoffman, is ordained by the Universal Life Church, and has been delivering holistic wellness advice for over 7 years since receiving a BA in psychology with a minor in education. As a home-based professional and mother of 1, she operates a homeschool network. She invites you over to http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com/

Accredited Online College and University Programs

2005-11-30T06:15:00.000-08:00

It is not unusual to grow indifferent toward your job. Lack of stimulating work, low pay, and limited growth potential within an organization are all excellent reasons to seek out a way to make a change. The best way to realize your full potential is to receive a college education. One of the best, and most convenient, ways to achieve this is by receiving a college education online. This innovative and exciting method of professional development is an ideal option if you are looking for a promotion, or if you are looking for a new career entirely. An education through an accredited online college or University program is your ticket to professional success.
There are many advantages of choosing to receive your education through an accredited online college or university. Studying for a college education online allows you to achieve your educational and professional goals at your own pace, whether you want to get a 2-year Associate’s degree, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree, or take an accelerated course program to receive a professional certificate. There is no need to live near or commute to a college when all classes can be attended and all work submitted online. Attending school online is a great option for those who might have uncertainties about going to college as an older student or returning after many years. Studying for a college education online can be an easy way to ease into the routine of class work and projects, and can reduce the stress of feeling the need to fit in with younger students. Further, course availability is often convenient for those who work full time or care for a family. Often, colleges offer evening and weekend classes.
There is an online college education available for just about every professional and academic discipline out there. Fields of study include Business, Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Nursing, Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, and various Healthcare programs. These are but a few of the subjects in which you can earn a college education by choosing an online program. Many online programs are delivered through colleges and Universities accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation is an important credential to look for when choosing an online program if you have prior college credits you wish to transfer. Accredited institutions are also more readily recognized and accepted by employers and professional organizations.
You might be concerned about affording an education through an accredited online college or University. You have options. Often, financial aid is available to students in the form of grants, loans, even scholarships. Also, many employers are willing to pay for part or all of an employee’s tuition and fees. Investing in an employee’s future reaps benefits for everyone involved.
The misconception of receiving your education from an accredited online college or University is that the experience might not be as enriching or legitimate as attending campus-based courses at a traditional college or University. This just isn’t the case. Programs offered online present the same opportunities for group work, independent study, and interpersonal communications as their traditional counterparts. While it is true that being an online student requires a certain amount of self-discipline and organization, receiving your college education online will probably help to facilitate the learning process as well as develop your time management and self-motivation skills. With the prevalence of the Internet and advancements such as teleconferencing in both education and the business world today, it is possible to come away from the experience not only with a college education and your dream career, but also with greater knowledge and comfort with technology.
Receiving your education through an accredited online college or University is a valuable, convenient, and flexible way to broaden your career opportunities, and have the career you have always dreamt about.

_____________________________________

By Mark Woodcock

Learn the essential information for picking the right online degree course at College and University Programs

Five Controversies in Physics Today

2005-11-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

In this article, the author ventures out to communicate to the readers the major five problems of physics, the solution of any one of which shall largely, to a great extent affect the lives of one and all. Also, the author's own viewpoint on them is provided. In this article the first three shall be discussed, and the last two shall be dealt with separately as they require a higher degree of knowledge of Physics. The five major controversies in the field of physics, as the author sees them, are:
Validity of Theory of Relativity
Formation and Evolution of Galaxies
Existence of Life elsewhere
Presence of higher dimensions, which leads to The Holy Grail of Physics, the Grand Unification of All Forces
Validity of the Theory of Relativity:
The General Theory of Relativity has withstood all the experiments and tests meted out to it so far. However, still, the possibility of it failing at some level, is not out. The General Theory of Relativity yields accurate results even at the galactic level, however, it is to be seen whether it holds true at the threshold of time itself, a black hole. Moreover, there is a hypothesis known as the Dirac's Large Number Hypothesis that states that the Gravitational Constant may itself vary with time. If that is true, then The Theory of General Relativity can be proved wrong. Though this hypothesis has not been proved as yet, it may be proved some day in the future. Though general relativity has withstood the tests of time so far and is unrivalled, it is to be remembered that it is the theories without effective rivals that need the most vigilant testing.
Formation of Galaxies:
The exact model of the formation of galaxies has not yet been completely understood, it is still under much speculation. With recent evidence of the presence of supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies, a very likely model is that the formation of galaxies is related to the formation of the black hole at the galactic centre. A few scientists believe that the formation of a black hole might have triggered the formation of a galaxy.
Existence of life elsewhere:
This question, whether life exists elsewhere or not, is gaining popularity. There are many who are quite optimistic of the idea whereas a few others don't quite encourage this thought. The author falls into the former category. It shall be too egoistic to imagine we are the sole life-form in this vast universe. However, only time will tell.

_______________________________

By Sanjith Gopalakrishnan

The author has an inclination towards Physics,mathematics, game theory and psychology.

Creating, Maintaining and Presenting a Homeschool Portfolio

2005-11-29T00:40:00.000-08:00

Many school districts now require homeschoolers to present portfolios showing their student's progress in an organized fashion. This is actually a very convenient method of recording whenever it is done properly. Here are some ideas on how to create, maintain, and present your homeschool portfolio for a successful assessment, evaluation and review.
First of all, it is important to have a firm grasp on precisely what a homeschool portfolio is. Basically, a homeschool portfolio is a collection of materials that are used in order to showcase what your child has learned over the course of the "school year." This is important because numerous states require an annual assessment of homeschooled students either via testing or the presentation of a portfolio. While it may seem that keeping a portfolio is only good in so far as you need to comply with the law. This is not the case however. Portfolios can also help parents and their children to record their progress and achievements. This becomes even more important once a child has reached high school and needs a diploma.
Now that we understand the importance of a portfolio, it is also important to understand that there is no right or wrong way in which to create a portfolio. It is up to the parent and/or child what materials the portfolio will contain. However, it is a good idea to choose a variety of material in order to reflect what the child has learned, experienced and accomplished throughout the year. Some items that should be included in your portfolio are: Suggested items to include are:
(1.) A journal which contains notes about activities and the progress that has been made.
(2.) A list of resources (ie books, computer software, games, toys and outside classes).
(3.) Samples of the child's work (ie samples of creative writing and drawings, text book or workbook pages, and if possible you may include audio or video tapes of your child singing, playing a musical instrument, reading aloud, or taking part in a a dramatic performance - pictures will also sometimes work well in place of audio or video tapes).
(4.) Photos of field trips, artwork, projects and family life.
(5.) Brochures and booklets from field trips and other activities.
(6.) A list of books that the child has read including both the title and the author.
(7.) A list of your goals for the year.
While this may seem quite overwhelming, you'd honestly be surprised at how easily you can accomplish this when you start preparing your portfolio at the beginning of the year. Simply use a three ring binder and add paper for your journaling. Start off by listing a few of your goals for the year and what resources you'll be using to achieve those goals (these can be modified throughout the year as needed). Then begin collecting samples of work, organizing them by subject, and punching holes in them to place them in your binder. Always have at least a throw away camera at hand so that you can take pictures of anything that you'd like that your child does (ie reading, playing, dancing). You'll also want to take pictures at field trips as well as pictures of your child's projects and creations. These pictures can either be placed in a photo album or if you're feeling really craftsy you could organize them into a scrapbook. You'll also want to make sure to hold onto any brochures or other paper items that you collect while on an educational outing. These can be easily placed in clear see-through sheet protectors. This is also a good time to begin accumulating a list of books that are being read.
Once you have put together the beginnings of your portfolio, don't stop there. Regular maintenance (I suggest weekly as it will help you to write your lesson plans for the following week) should include regular journal entries and an ongoing collection of work samples, photos and whatever else you wish to include. Some school districts will require a quarterly assessment throughout your homeschool year. This is a time for parents and children to reflect upon their progress and accomplishments from the previous months. Yet, even if your school district doesn't require a quarterly review, you won't want to wait until the end of the year to scramble and race to put together a portfolio that your school district will approve of. Neither you nor your child deserve having to go through the unneeded stress of having to sort through all of the material that has been collected throughout the year.
When it is time for review you may choose to remove some of the materials from your portfolio. You will find that some of these things simply do not properly reflect what you've accomplished throughout the year. If/when you decide to weed through your portfolio, you need to remember that the purpose of the review is to provide a general overview of the homeschool year, demonstrate that the child is engaged in homeschooling and that progress is being made.
The portfolio review can be exciting since it provides both parents and children with a time to talk about what they've been doing at home. When discussing this with your child, you may find it helpful to write down a summary of the items that you wish to highlight during your year before the review. For instance, if your child learned to read or master a skill you may wish to point this out to the reviewer. Of course, you should never view your portfolio review as a time for you to be judged or ridiculed. It is a time to listen, learn and support from your reviewer. Your child does not need to be present during this time. However, if your child wants a chance to "brag" about their accomplishments and progress to other homeschoolers, then this review is a perfect opportunity for them to do so.

_________________________________

by: Reverend Brenda Hoffman

Reverend Brenda Hoffman, is ordained by the Universal Life Church, and has been delivering holistic health and wellness advice for over 7 years since receiving a BA in psychology. As a home-based professional and mother of 1, she operates a holistic wellness network. She invites you over to http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com/ to learn how to improve you and your family's health.

Christmas Customs Around the World

2005-11-29T00:36:00.000-08:00

December is well-known for Christmas but do you know how people in countries around the world celebrate it? Here are some customs from various parts of the world.
Australia
Greeting - Merry Christmas
Santa's Name - Santa Claus. Children leave him a piece of cake or biscuits and a glass of milk or a bottle of beer.
Food - Many Christmas dinners include roasted meats and vegetables, special fruit cakes, and puddings with a coin baked inside. Since the temperature can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, people are starting to eat cold meats and salads, tropical fruits like mangoes, and stone fruits like plums. Often, the main meal is eaten for lunch.
Gifts - These are left under the Christmas tree and opened Christmas morning.
Decorations - Shops and homes are decorated with tinsel, Christmas trees, decorations for the holiday, and special lights.
Customs - Traditional and Australian carols are sung by candlelight on Christmas Eve and are broadcast on television. On Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, two sporting events take place:
The Boxing Day Test Match (cricket game) and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Brazil
Greeting - Feliz Natal
Santa's Name - Papai Noel (Father Noel), who is dressed in a red, silk suit with boots.
Food - Many people eat a traditional feast with roast turkey and vegetables, while others eat chicken and rice or beans. Beer and wine are also served. Some regions begin eating around 9 PM on Christmas Eve, while others eat around midnight.
Gifts - Local charities take in donations but do not seem to have enough presents for all the children.
Decorations - Brazil has a mixture of people so Christmas is celebrated in different ways. In the northeastern area, it is common to find Nativity Scenes; in the southern part, snow is simulated with little pieces of cotton on pine trees.
Customs - Brazilians sing a number of Christmas carols.
Greece
Greeting - Eftihismena Christougenna
Food - Special holiday cakes are baked.
Gifts - Most Greek people exchange gifts on Saint Basil's Day, January 1.
Customs - To honor Saint Basil, the holiday cakes have gold coins hidden inside them. The cakes are cut at midnight on New Year's Eve. Whoever has a gold coin in his piece of cake will have good luck the following year.
Hungary
Santa's Name - Actually, the Baby Jesus is said to bring presents on Christmas Eve. A bell sounds signaling that the Angels have brought the tree and gifts.
Customs - On December 5, children leave out their shoes. During the night, Mikulas and Black Peter come to fill them with goodies for well-behaved children and switches for naughty children.
India
Decorations - Sometimes, houses are decorated with mango leaves; mango or banana trees are also decorated. Small, clay, oil-burning lamps are placed on the edges of flat roofs as decorations.
Israel
Greeting - Chag Semeach (Happy Chanukah)
Santa's Name - Actually, parents, grandparents, and other family members give presents to the children.
Food - Because oil is an important part of the holiday, many foods are prepared with it. A favorite is potato latkes (pancakes).
Gifts - Since Chanukah lasts for eight days, children may receive one present each night.
Decorations - Jewish stars, blue or silver foil garlands,
dreidels (spinning tops), Chanukah gelt (chocolate coins), and pictures of the Macabees (Jewish army that recaptured the Holy Temple and Jerusalem from the Assyrian Greek King Antiochus) are found around the house.
Customs - The menorah (candelabra) is lit each night. On the first night, one candle is lit; on, the second night, two candles; and so on until all the candles are lit on the eighth night. After lighting the candles, families eat a festive meal, dance, play games, and open presents. They also attend Chanukah parties.
Japan
Greeting - Kurisumasu Omedeto
Santa's Name - Santa Kurohsu. He does not appear in person but is pictured in advertisements as a kind old man with a round sack on his back.
Food - Depending upon the family's custom, they eat turkey on Christmas Day or on Christmas Eve. Japanese families also eat Christmas cake.
Gifts - Stores sell merchandise for men, women, and children; and on Christmas Day, families exchange gifts.
Decorations - More and more artificial Christmas trees are beginning to appear. They are decorated with small toys, gold paper fans, dolls, lanterns, paper ornaments, and wind chimes. A popular ornament is the origami swan. Other decorations are mistletoe, evergreen, tinsel, and lights. An amulet is put on the front door for good luck and children exchange 'birds of peace,' pledging there must not be anymore war.
Customs - The daiku, or Great Nine, refers to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and is performed many places.
Mexico
Greeting - Feliz Navidad
Customs - Beginning on December 15, some families carry colorful lanterns and walk from house to house in their neighborhoods, each night, until Christmas Eve. This is called La Posada, which means 'the procession.' On each of the nights, the families are invited into different houses where they become guests at a party. There is plenty to eat and drink. Children play the pinata game, trying to break open the papier-mache figure with a stick while blindfolded; when it is cracked open, candies and small gifts fall out.
Netherlands
Greeting - Hartelijke Kerstroeten
Santa's Name - Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas), who wears a red bishop's hat and bishop's cloak and has white hair and a white beard. He arrives on a white horse with his servant, Black Pete, to put small gifts in children's wooden shoes.
Food - The Dutch people eat lots of marzipan, spiced ginger biscuits, tall chocolate letters, and 'bankletter' - initials made of pastry and filled with almond paste. When they are around the Christmas tree singing songs, they eat 'Kerstkrans' - a Christmas ring.
Gifts - On December 6, after hearing a knock at their door, children find a bag full of toys, nuts, and gifts.
Decorations - The Christmas tree is known as the Paradise Tree. Decorations of the season include dolls, musical instruments, fruit, candies, and lights.
Customs - The Dutch sing carols, the most popular one being "O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree."
Sweden
Greeting - God Jul
Food - Coffee, cakes, and special buns are served on Santa Lucia Day, December 13.
Customs - Santa Lucia Day honors Saint Lucy, who helped blind people. The oldest daughter in each Swedish household dresses in a white gown with a red sash, wears a crown of evergreen
with seven candles in it, awakens the family with a song, and serves the coffee, cakes, and buns. Each town and city also chooses a young woman to be Lucia for the day. She then serves coffee and food to the townspeople at schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. From these women, a national Lucia is chosen; followed by a parade, feast, and dance.
Now that you have this data, let your children put the information in a comparison chart. Label the left side with the names of the countries and the bottom with the various information (ie: Greeting, Food, and so on). Then fill in the boxes!
Let your children do research to find out the information I left out.
Conduct research to find out the same customs for other countries, especially the heritage countries of students in your class or your own family.
However you celebrate the holidays, have a safe, wonderful season and a Happy New Year!
I hope these ideas are useful and inspire your own creative thinking.
And remember...Reading is FUNdamental!

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by: Freda J. Glatt, MS

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright © 2003-2005 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved

Reading Activity For Kindergarten

2005-11-29T00:35:00.000-08:00

As a homeschooler one of the most important tasks for you to accomplish in your child at an early age is getting them interested in and developing good reading habits. At an early age learning to recognize letters, the sounds they make and words they eventually form should be an activity and not a structured assignment. A great reading activity for kindergarten aged children, for example is to read to them.
A natural progression in your reading activities with your children is that after you read them to a passage from the story; have them paraphrase the story back to you. This will help you to understand what level of listening ability and understanding they are at, as well has help them to begin building their vocabulary as they work to find new words they can use with their description of the story they are giving back to you.
Good reading activities don’t always have to occur at the house, or just before bedtime. While you’re running errands around town or on vacation, perhaps have the kids begin to collect words from signs, or spell objects they see. Encourage them to learn different ways to describe objects see. Instead something big, it may by huge, or enormous... or even of gargantuan proportion! Have you child arrange the words they have collected into silly sentences or phrases. Even something as simple as collecting letters from signs, license plates, and such to work their way through the alphabet is a good kindergarten age reading activity.
Not in the car, or travel around much? Use every day items around the house to do the same thing. Labels, there are plenty of labels around the house. Actually put labels on everyday items around the house so your child can associate the spelling, and reading with a tangible item. Then, after a while, take the labels off the items and help your child read and re-label the house.
Once you get your creative juices flowing, you’ll come up with many more reading activities. The key is to make reading activities an every day part of their life. Make an effort to spend an hour a day reading more with an hour less of television. T.V. is an extremely passive thought processing activity. While reading and using one’s imagination is a source of growth and a great foundation from which to build.

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by: Mary Joyce

Mary Joyce is a former educator, successful homeschool parent, and the primary contributor to the Homeschool-Curriculum-4u website. Please visit (www.homeschool-curriculum-4u.com) for a complete list of Mary's articles, resources on homeschool, ideas, and curriculum information.
Also tips guides and how-to's to help you successfully teach your child at home.

Securities License

2005-11-28T00:43:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to break into the securities industry or work for a broker-dealer, there are certain securities licenses that you should keep in mind.
People who are currently outside the business or graduating from college are well served in this job market to get some license training and completion.
The NASD
The NASD is the National Association of Securities Dealers. Broker Dealers who are members of the NASD must have their employees licensed based on the job functions of those employees. The NASD is the regulatory authority of the broker dealer industry. There are several licenses that the NASD recognizes to work in the securities industry. Some can be obtained before you enter the business. Other licenses need to be "sponsored" by your employing firm. That means, while you can begin studying for sponsored exams, you can not sit for the actual exams until you are hired. All of the NASD exams (once you are registered)can be taken any day of the week (Mon-Fri) at hundreds of testing centers throughout the country.
Licenses to consider that do not require sponsorship

Series 65 - The Series 65 licenses you as a Registered Investment Advisor. This is an excellent designation to get before you enter the job market. The license itself is for financial advising. Giving investment advice on assets you are overseeing for a fee. It looks very strong on a resume and it is only a 130 question multiple choice exam. Even if you are unsure of the area of finance to work in, this license is a plus. Employers will consider any licensing a bonus over other candidates who have not obtained this certification. As I said, it does NOT require company sponsorship. Get this first.
Series 63 - The Series 63 covers the Uniform State Law content of the business. The exam is a short test of state laws, registration procedures and terminology. The license is for registered brokers and advisors. Most states require the 63, before representatives can call out of state investors. This license can be obtained on your own and does not require company sponsorship. Brokerage firms will look for this on your resume.
Series 3 - The Series 3 exam is specific to the futures and commodities market. It is administered through the NASD testing network, but it is a NFA (National Futures Association) license. Most firms that do not work in this market will not consider this license very important or needed, but if you ever land with a futures firm, you will need it. As with any license, it doesn't hurt to get it at all.

There are a few other futures tests (Series 30 and 31), but neither needs to be taken unless you are looking to work specifically with futures - commodity related securities.
Securities license designations such as the Series 7 and Series 6 require company sponsorship before sitting for these exams. Get the licenses you can get on your own. Once you are hired, your company will sponsor you for other exams, if required by your company.
Get the edge in your finance career and begin some securities license training. Do what you can to get your resume placed on top of the pile!

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By Nick Hunter

Nick Hunter is the President of American Investment Training (AIT) http://www.aitraining.com - a securities license training company. He writes for http://www.brokerjobs.com - A career website for incoming brokers and advisors.

Preparing for a Semester Abroad is Hard to Do

2005-11-28T00:41:00.000-08:00

Students packing for a trip to another country are often confused - I know I was. It's not hard to wonder how on earth you'll manage to have everything you'll need. After all, you won't know anyone where you're going, or even speak the language most times.
While no advice or tidbit of information can truly prepare someone to spend time in another country, there is some advice to be had. Most importantly, prepare early! Items like passports and vaccinations are extremely important, and may take a long time to get.
Of course, the only way to know exactly which visas and vaccinations you'll need is to do some reading about the place you're going. This reading can also help you prepare for customs requirements for your return trip - everyone likes to bring home gifts and it's important not to buy something that could cause problems when you try to bring it back home.
Familiarizing yourself with the travel requirements, though, isn't the only learning you'll need to do. Each country has its own weather, culture, and expectations of travelers. It's important to have some idea of what to expect when you step off the plane. However, remember that reading other peoples' accounts can only go so far in preparing you for your own experiences!
Finally, the best advice I was given: Pack less clothing than you think you'll need. You will almost certainly buy more clothes while you're in the country. You'll also want to remember that clothes, souvenirs, and gifts for family and friends back home take up space, so packing with some extra room in your suitcases is a good idea. I managed to pack an extra bag inside my suitcase, so when it came time for the trip home I had plenty of extra space. Still, you can always ship any non-essential items back home in the mail if you do run out of space.
So, when planning to study or travel abroad, a student's best friend is planning - not procrastination. Spend a bit of time making a list of everything you'll want to do, and what dates you'll need to do it by. This should make study abroad a breeze.

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By Jen Smith

Jennifer Smith finished her degree at Florida State University by spending a semester studying abroad in the Republic of Panama. She writes for many travel websites.

Study Abroad Gives "Study" a New Meaning

2005-11-27T00:40:00.000-08:00

I was only just getting settled onto the plane when I began to have a sinking feeling that I was in over my head. The voice over the intercom told me in fluent Spanish just how unprepared I was for the journey I was about to embark on, convincing me of what I already felt I knew. My three years of college Spanish were not going to prepare me for a semester in the Republic of Panama.
My training in Spanish had earned me a minor, any my LonelyPlanet guide book assured me that English was spoken nearly as widely as Spanish, though I was fairly sure it was overstating just a tad. My school would be in English, but I hadn't yet been assigned a dorm, nor did I know anyone who would be attending. I was leaving everything and everyone I knew behind for four months.
Getting off the plane was worse. Passing through customs was something I'd never done in my own language, let alone one I didn't know. Still, I was excited. Here was my chance to truly learn this new language. Signs were like those I was used to from home, only the Spanish was listed first instead of in the fine print. This I could get used to! As long as I could make it through Customs.
To my very flustered relief, I found that the customs officials didn't need to speak to me at all, so long as I had filled out all the paperwork, so I went to grab my suitcase and pass on through. A metal detector later, and I was free to go out into the terminal and was hit by a wall of balmy air that quickly turned quite simply hot as I searched for the face of a program director I'd never seen before.
She was there, with a glittery sign stating that she was there to pick us up. Apparently there were four of us coming in on the flight from Miami, and one who had arrived on a flight from Costa Rica earlier in the day. "You know, you're the first person I've ever seen to come with only one suitcase!" she exclaimed. I tried to bite back panic, "Well, I packed another one inside." She agreed that it was, in fact, a good idea, and suggested I go wait with my Costa Rican compatriot, and I did. "He's got a surf board," she said, "You'll see him."
It wasn't much of a stretch to believe he'd be easy to find. This was by far the smallest airport I'd seen, except for the small municipal airport near my home. And find him I did, without much of a stretch. We chatted while the other girls met up with our leader, then we loaded into an old white van, which we would quickly learn to love as a main mode of transit for any kind of group trip, and the same style vans were used as buses for cross-country travel, though this van's life had certainly seen a lot less action than those.
This was the beginning of an experience like no other, where I learned a bit more Spanish than I ever thought I'd know. I made friends I never thought I'd have. And I created a history I can never forget. The hardest part was stepping off of that plane. The rest? The rest is history.
Of course, that's what everyone says. And when I was getting onto that plane, all I wanted was to hear more than those trite words of encouragement. If I heard one more person tell me it was the "time of their life" or an "unforgettable experience" I thought I might scream.
I wanted someone to tell me how things went, how they met new people, and the things they saw. It's just that those other parts are so hard to detail out. You meet new people in much the same way you meet all new people, but the only bond you may find you have with the people on the program is that you're all in it together. Often, that can prove to be enough.
Things work out, and you all work together. One of my most memorable experiences was trying with the help of 3 girls and a Spanish-English electronic translator to explain where we were going. We must have found the only cabbie in the whole city that didn't know where we were trying to go, but we got there eventually.
I can't say that there was any one thing that made this such a unique experience, but the top thing I remember is that we all had to work together to get where we were going. That's the kind of thing that can help to create bonds and friendships and truly bring people together.
So, if you want to know what all the buzz is about, you'll have to jump in and give it a try for yourself. Any experiences you have will be uniquely yours, and you'll never lose them. Why not give it a go?

____________________________________

By Jen Smith

Jennifer Smith writes for several travel websites, and spent a semester studying in the Republic of Panama and finishing a degree in writing at Florida State University.

Take Advantage of the Exploding Popularity in Distance Learning Colleges to Advance Your Career

2005-11-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

Distance learning colleges are popping up all over the world. One of the most well-known, University of Phoenix, started in 1976 with 8 students. Currently, its academic enrollment numbers more than 200,000 students located all over the world, making it the largest private, accredited university of the distance learning colleges. In fact, it's the largest private accredited university in the United States, period. Over 100,000 of those students are enrolled strictly in the online distance learning programs.
Distance learning colleges are flourishing for a number of reasons. There is our fast changing economy. People need to stay up to date on their skills, or constantly acquire new one's so that they can advance in their career and stay valuable to their employer, without becoming obsolete.
There are also many people who feel education is a lifelong pursuit and not something that stops once you graduate from college. Both of these lead into one of the biggest reasons for the popularity of distance learning education and that is convenience.
We all lead very hectic lives and the one thing we always seem to be short of is time. Distance learning colleges eliminate the time aspect of education as much as it can be eliminated.
Continuing your education through distance learning eliminates a lot of the hassles of night school. You don't have to work all day and then drive to class, spend three hours of your evening, drive home, and then study. You can just log on to your computer when you get home instead. This is a much less stressful way to pursue a degree. Another advantage is not going through the hassle and stress of finding the right classes, in the right order, that are available at a time that is at least somewhat convenient for you.
What happens when a class you need is only available Tuesday evenings from 6 - 9 and that's the one night of the week that you travel for your job. You're out of luck. But attending college or graduate school through distance learning gets rid of that obstacle. You can get an online degree instead.
Another big obstacle in the way of getting an education is money. There aren't many of us that can quit work to go back to school full time. With a distance learning program you can get an online degree without giving up your current job. This makes it a heck of a lot easier to pursue your degree when you can keep your current income while you go to school.
The virtual classroom that is available in most distance learning colleges offers other advantages compared with typical academic settings, and that's 24-hour access to programs, faculty, and the other students, as well.
With the large number of distance learning colleges you can choose from today, you can find a degree or certification, or continuing education courses, in almost any subject, from journalism, to an MBA, to a PhD, Law degree, accounting, bachelor's, engineering, culinary school, investing, real estate, paralegal, medical billing and more.

______________________________________

By Rob Thomas

Rob Thomas is a freelance writer and the webmaster for http://www.a1-online-distance-learning.info, where you'll find more free articles on distance learning and online degrees. Have a look around at all the information on distance learning colleges so you can decide what distance learning model is best for your life, goals, and situation.

Music And The Brain

2005-11-24T23:39:00.000-08:00

What is the connection between music and the brain? Is it possible that music can help you think better? The research says yes, and after telling you about some of it, I'll let you in on an even faster way to boost your brain power with music.
Music And The Brain - The Research
The research shows that music actually trains the brain for higher forms of thinking. Listening to, and participating in music also creates new neural pathways in your brain that stimulate creativity. An article in a Newsweek (2/19/96) reported on a study from the University of California.
In the study, researchers followed the progress of three-year-olds, split into two groups. The first group had no particular training in, or exposure to music. The second group studied piano and sang daily in chorus. After eight months the musical three-year-olds were much better at solving puzzles, and when tested, scored 80% higher in spatial intelligence than the non-musical group.
Brain Music
A study on music and the brain, done at UC Irvine's Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory involved 36 students. They were given three spatial reasoning tests on a standard IQ test.
Just before the first test, they listened to Mozart's sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 for ten minutes.
Before the second test, they listened to a relaxation tape.
Before the third, they sat in silence.
The average scores for all 36 students: 1st test: 119. 2nd test: 111. 3rd test: 110.
That's an average increase of 9 iq points from listening to Mozart. It's assumed that their intelligence didn't increase, but that the music put them in a state that gave them better access to the resources of their brains. However, other studies do show that repeated exposure to slow music can permanently increas you IQ, so play that Mozart!
Brain Wave Entrainment
Your brain wave frequencies vary according to the state you are in. For example, daydreaming and meditation usually take place in the "Alpha" range of frequencies. Alert concentration is in the "Beta" range. "Brain wave entrainment" products have beats, usually embedded in music, that your brain starts to follow.
If you listen to music containing beats at a frequency of 10 Hz (in the Alpha range) it will feel very relaxing. This is because your brain will begin to follow this frequency and reproduce the rhythm in the music. You'll generate more brain waves at a 10 Hz frequency and enter a relaxed Alpha mental state. This is the idea behind brain wave entrainment.
This may be why some types of music have certain effects, but not all brain wave entrainment Cds use music. Some use the raw "binaural beats" as they are sometimes called, embedded in white noise, or in sounds of nature. (I have used these products and find them to be pretty powerful , especially the ones for relaxation.)
Whether you use "binaural beats," or just pop a Mozart CD into the player, you can increase your brain power easily. Try it today. It is doubtful that Mozart will harm you, so why wait for more research to be done on music and the brain?

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By Steven Gillman

Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower and related topics for years. For more on How To Increase Brain Power, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com

Should We Fear Death?

2005-11-24T23:34:00.000-08:00

Death is not something that many people want to think about. However, death is a part of living a human life. At least, our current level of science and technology acknowledges that death is inevitable.
Is death something to be afraid of or is death something to look forward to? The answer may depend on who you talk to.
Aside from the obvious religious answers, what body of information exists that can help us to approach this question with some degree of logical thinking? When exacting scientific evidence is lacking, our only option is to consider the anecdotal or subjective experiences that others have had.
Fortunately, there is a body of information that leads to the formation of some interesting thoughts on the subject of death and what it is or what it might lead to. You can find this resource at near-death.com.
Each person is encouraged to draw their own conclusions. Yet, I would like to share some of my thoughts and opinions on the matter.
Many people who have a near-death experience have strikingly similar experiences. There are some who report a horrible experience but the majority report more positive experiences.
Some may have gone to a terrible place, while others seem to leave the pain of the mortal body behind and experience an interesting journey before they revive. Both kinds of experiences have been recorded.
One striking similarity is the 'life review' process. This has been reported as a review of one's entire life where each event is played out before your eyes. People that have experienced this process say that you suddenly become aware of how you affected the people you interacted with during your life.
If you did something that caused them pain, you may become cognizant of those feelings as if you were experiencing them yourself. People report that they feel regretful. The experience doesn't just extend to that one person, but the effects are like a ripple in a pond and you see how that ripple affects multiple people.
On the other hand, if you did something good you experience that as well. It does appear that the good things involve acting from compassion. For example, one lady said the most significant act of her entire life occurred when she was a little girl. She cupped a flower in her hand and gave it 'unconditional love'.
Others don't experience an in depth life review, theirs lasts a few seconds and doesn't seem to have much impact. Experiences vary someowhat. However, the fundamental similarities remain.
Can a person change as a result of a near-death experience? I was struck by the example of one person who was a self described atheist and hateful person. After his near-death experience he became a minister and a kinder, gentler soul. The change was not only noted by himself, but also by his family members.
Wouldn't it be fascinating to actually talk to a person who has had a near-death experience? I remember listening to a gentleman named Dannion Brinkley talk about his NDEs (near death experiences). He actually had more than one in his life due to an unfortunate propensity to attract lightning. I found his insights to be very interesting.
If you want to read more about NDEs, visit near-death.com Although it is hard to classify the information there as anything more than subjective, there is a large body of recorded experiences there. Perhaps it will provide you with more insight as to whether death should be feared or not.

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By David Snape

Dave Snape is a health, fitness and wellness enthusiast. He writes for http://ToBeInformed.com

Should We Fear Death?

2005-11-23T23:29:00.000-08:00

_________________________________

By David Snape

Dave Snape is a health, fitness and wellness enthusiast. He writes for http://ToBeInformed.com

Holographic Disaster Psychological Conditioning

2005-11-22T23:27:00.000-08:00

Often first responders to large natural disasters get themselves into a place where the death and the destruction literally makes them ineffective. Their brains are over whelmed and they cannot turn them back on to do their job. This causes them to become part of the problem instead of the solution and thus they are just in the way.
Often Dogs searching for victims of major disasters like earthquakes refuse to work, as they keep searching but only find dead people and no one living, they just quit trying. After natural disasters people often have psychological trauma, which prevents them from functioning properly in normal society, interpersonal relationships and it often affects their jobs too.
Lately there has been much talk about using virtual reality technologies to help soldiers get over shell shock or emotional problems, but I would like to pitch an idea to everyone involved with helping people who have lived through these traumatic events.
I propose that we use Holographic Technologies are getting closer to becoming reality and deploy them before these first responders and soldiers enter the battlefield or disaster scene. Waiting until after without preparing humans can be problematic and takes much more work that pre-conditioning does.
Holographic Technologies are ghostly like images rather than pictures of graphic scenes a person walking thru a virtual reality or augmented reality cave with holographic images in 3D around them might get a better sense and a slower pre-conditioning to help them psychologically. One they are in the real life situation it is too late for training and it takes a lot to undo such graphic visual imagery impressions in the brain. Think on this.

____________________________

By Lance Winslow

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Introducing the Mysterious NTU Elder

2005-11-21T05:11:00.000-08:00

Introducing the Mysterious NTU Elder as he holds his own “life-credit” classes around the Naked Truth University campus every day for curious students.
* The NTU Elder:Listen to me my young apprentice. Look at your reflection in the still water of this pond and tell me what you see.
* Student:Me? I see my reflection in the pond.
* The NTU Elder:Good. Now from my point of view I can see two of you, correct?
* Student:Yeah I guess. You can see my physical body and my reflection in the pond. So that’s two, right?
* The NTU Elder:Yes, now I ask you which one holds the key to your happiness: your body or your reflection?
* Student:I, I don’t know.
* The NTU Elder:The answer lies with the “you” in the reflection. Your body only asks for nutrients, exercise and fresh air to be happy, yet your reflection on the other hand seems to need every possible whim and desire satisfied before it allows itself to be truly happy.
* Student:If that’s correct I’ll never be truly happy! I have thousands of desires. I’ll never be able to satisfy them all.
* The NTU Elder:Precisely, so stop trying, my young friend. Look deeply now into your reflection and state out loud, “I’d rather be happy today with who I am right now without reason instead of waiting for some day when I hopefully become something better.”
* Student:Aaaa…okay, “I’d rather be happy today with who I am right now without reason instead of waiting for someday when I hopefully become something better.”
* The NTU Elder:Good, now say it louder.
* Student:“I’d rather be happy today with who I am right now without reason, instead of waiting for someday when I hopefully become something better!”
* The NTU Elder:Excellent, now take a slow deep breath, feel the words in your throat, and say it again….but this time truly believe it.
* Student:…“I’D RATHER BE HAPPY TODAY WITH WHO I AM RIGHT NOW WITHOUT REASON INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR SOMEDAY WHEN I HOPEFULLY BECOME SOMETHING BETTER!”
* The NTU Elder:Very good. Now when you continue to say this, you’re actually altering your state of mind from a hopeless slave of your desires, to a soldier of happiness and opportunity. Do you understand the simplicity of this transformation?
* Student:Yes, I feel better already.
* The NTU Elder:Good. Whenever you feel low, remember this quick exercise and repeat it out loud. What have you got to lose?
* Student:Nothing, I guess.
* The NTU Elder:Good guess.
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The Mysterious no-named “Elder” continues to drop some deep knowledge regarding the foundation of the NTU motto. (With Joe’s Translations in Parentheses)
The more we analyze the things that happen to us, the clearer it becomes that everything we encounter is filtered through our individual points of view. If we have a point of view that the world is out to get us, everyday will seem like just another onslaught that we have to fend off. If our point of view is that everything is a waste of time, then all of our results will be lame at best.
On the other hand, if our point of view is one of having “Nothing 2 Lose,” we won’t care about the possible embarrassing or negative results of our actions. Every situation we encounter using the “Nothing 2 Lose” outlook will turn into a win-win/no-lose lifestyle.
The “Nothing 2 Lose” lifestyle works like this: Imagine that you are attending a social gathering. Across the room is a student whom you find attractive and would like to get to know better. If you let your perceived fears prevent you from interacting with that person, the gravity of the situation will weigh heavily on your reflection in the water (You will begin to get down on yourself.
Example: “Oh well, she would probably hate me anyway if I talked to her.” Or “I’ll never meet anyone. I’m going to be alone for a long time.”). Then after repeated failures to interact with people whom you are interested in, your image in the pond will actually begin to drowned. This means you become more and more depressed and self-hating as you continually let opportunities slip away).
When your reflection begins to sink deep into the pond (This is when you beat yourself up for not taking action. Example: “Damn me! Why can’t I just go over and talk with her? My life sucks!” Or “I can’t believe I let him walk away without saying anything, again!”), you will indeed feel the lack of air in your lungs. This lack of oxygen will be consistent and unrelenting until the moment you begin resurrecting your distant image in the dark pond water (You will begin to feel better when you finally let go of your fears and take immediate action and engage that fellow student whom you find attractive in a conversation).
However, without direct action, your reflection can remain trapped in this watery grave for years (You could spend a very long time being depressed, alone and disliking yourself). Whereupon, you will begin to believe that you are inferior to students who manage to remain above water and full of breath (You’ll hate others for being able to do what you won’t let yourself do).
Next, through your feelings of inadequacy, you will build up a false sense of security by telling yourself that it is not your fault that you’re stuck below the surface of the pond and can’t breathe (You’ll convince yourself that your depression is everyone else’s fault). Rather than taking responsibility for your plight, you will blame the places that you go to, and you will convince yourself that the people you fail to interact with are in wrong in one way or another. Yet deep down you know that the only difference between the breathing and the breathless is simple and straightforward action.
When you learn to calm the winds of your hesitation and reclaim your rightful place above the water, the words you choose and the results that follow are meaningless. For once you take the action of interaction with someone you find appealing, you are guaranteed a win-win situation. No matter what he or she says back to you, you will know you have done all you could do at that given point in time to make your reflection in the pond rise high above the trappings of breathless solitude (You’ll have taken action and done all you could to fulfill your heart).
This rising above the water of which I speak is certainly an uncertain and daunting task to say the least. Very few students can bring themselves face to face with rejection and possible embarrassment. That is why true happiness is reserved for only those NTU students who know that the choices between interacting (breathing) and seclusion (drowning) are not so much choices as the are sentences. While one option offers a life without limits, the other one sentences its victims to an undetermined stint in personal solitary confinement. Therefore the appearance of a choice is only that...an appearance.
Fret not my young pupil, learning to breathe may seem difficult at first, but once you begin, the hardest part is behind you. Once implemented, the “Nothing 2 Lose” lifestyle grows proportionately stronger as you use it and begin to take control of your happiness. The best realization in life is when you experimentally understand that your happiness is completely under your control. Take a moment to imagine how extraordinary it will be to have complete freedom from your fears, anxiety and the constant threat of downing your reflection. Your social, academic and love life will flourish even though every physical aspect of your life is exactly the same as it has always been. The only change in your life will of course be the invisible transformation of your point of view.
You can start by practicing the “Nothing 2 Lose” in everyday situations like expressing an opinion in class or making the “Clear the Air” phone call to someone you have been arguing with and haven’t spoken to in a long time. The natural high you will get from controlling the path of your own happiness will be 100% addictive. All you have to do is get out of your own way.
Living the “Nothing 2 Lose” goes way beyond social situations. It goes to the place where we generate our self-worth and dances around until our reflection in the pond smiles back at us. This lifestyle allows us to live in action, free from the prison of lonely observation. Look into your reflection my young friend. I am always in there saying, “When trying to walk on water worry about the third step when you take your first.”
*** Joe’s Final Translation ***
“If you worry about the first step, you’ll never get started because it’s the start that stops most students.”
Please visit: http://www.collegelifesecrets.com for all the details. This is only one of 65 amazing chapters taken from the SMASH HIT BOOK * College Success Code EXPOSED! * 100% Life Enhancing Secrets Professors Don't Know and Parents Can't Tell! written by renowned author and speaker JOE DE PALMA. Email him at joe@collegelifesecrets.com
Please visit: CollegeLifeSecrets.com for all the details. This is only one of 65 amazing chapters taken from the SMASH HIT BOOK * College Success Code EXPOSED! * 100% Life Enhancing Secrets Professors Don't Know and Parents Can't Tell! written by renowned author and speaker JOE DE PALMA. Email him at joe@collegelifesecrets.com

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By Joe DePalma

College Scholarships

2005-11-21T05:09:00.000-08:00

Due to ever-increasing costs of going to college, it is a good idea to search out available scholarships and apply for them. Scholarships are one of the most enticing forms of financial aid available today. This is because they are available to anyone without any repayment requirements! Many scholarships are overlooked and therefore are a missed opportunity for many students.
If students know about scholarships, they can apply for them, but many students do not know that college scholarships exist. Most students do not understand that there are scholarships obtainable to them, which could pay a major part of their education. In fact, the college scholarship can be used for any educational opportunity. This is includes private or public college, junior college or four-year universities, graduate or certificate programs.
What are college scholarships?
College Scholarships programs come in a variety of forms, which are normally considered free college money. College scholarships, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Scholarships can be awarded directly to students in a form of a check or to the school itself. You can receive a scholarship from any of the following types of organizations: charitable foundations, businesses, schools, universities, government agencies, and sometimes-even clubs or groups within the school.
Who can get college scholarships?
Although many scholarships are granted based on grades, this is a misconception. There are scholarships for less than perfect academics as long as you meet the other requirements. They range from athletic scholarships, to community service scholarships.
Many scholarship providers want to reward students for choosing a particular school or state. It is believed by older students that only college-bound high school seniors can apply for scholarship awards, this is not true. Scholarships are accessible for all levels of college study, from freshman undergrads to graduate students. You will need to make sure that you check the requirements for each scholarship for which you apply.
How do students find college scholarships?
It takes some time and energy to find and apply for scholarships, but the hard work will most likely pay off. You can sometimes find them by asking department heads if there are available scholarships, in the department you will major in.
Some student's use highly regarded and accurate scholarship search services on the Internet to save time in the searching process. This is highly recommended. Online resources are a good idea as long as the website offers updated, current data and a way to match the student with the scholarship.
High school students can ask their guidance counselors about their eligibility for local or state scholarship awards. You should also make sure that you contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, to see if they qualify for awards issued by the school. Finally yet importantly, students should ask their parents and friends to be on the lookout for scholarships, while always checking local bulletin boards and newspapers for additional scholarship listings.
For more information, visit College Scholarship

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By David Chandler

David Chandler For your FREE Stock Market Trading Mini Course: "What The Wall Street Hot Shots Won't Tell You!" go to: The Stock Market Genie

University Research Projects and Case Studies of the Franchising Model

2005-11-19T04:44:00.000-08:00

It seems there is always a business college somewhere putting out industry data research. These research projects give the kids something to do and learn as they practice studying this industry or that. Often one political group or another to illustrate a point or in an attempt prove their side of an argument about a particular industry uses these reports. Sometimes governments, political groups or the industry, fund these projects themselves. Those who use such research or figures should immediately be called into question, as we all know figures lie and liars figure. But are all these kids really lying? No, generally they are doing the best they can with limited resources and lack of knowledge, as well as highly skewed data.
In studying over 22 Industry sectors for the last 20-years in hopes of keeping my company at the forefront of the cleaning industry, I have seen my fair share of research which did not fit my actual knowledge of the industry as an insider or observations thru careful analysis. Recently a research student contacted me to send me a free copy of a research project they did on the Franchising Industry. Sounds great, as it is free right? Well, sure free is a good price indeed, yet the research student and college was in India and it was a study of the franchising Industry World Wide. Being deeply involved in the Industry and having wrote books on the subject, I respectfully declined my free copy noting;
“I appreciate your offer, really I do. Yet, I have experiences, observed and follow the trends, so I find it difficult to understand what information could come from academia that I would not already know. I find academia views of things to be quite skewed and non-understanding of reality. Do you have justification of why I would want your academia-jaded knowledge as perceived by someone who has never done it? Franchising I mean?”
Is this unfair of a comment to the academia world? It is better to make them feel all warm and fuzzy about their work and stay Politically Correct? Or is it better to save the trees to print it and the fuel to ship the research book, if you really do not want it? Additionally isn’t it better to send a message to academia to stop putting out bogus crap or half-backed claims, which in turn are used by worthless politicians to make policy, effecting jobs, tax base, industry and our economic engine? Instead I asked; “If you will send me a summary, I will review it and if appropriate, then I will be glad to post it on our website to help you alert the World about your research and book at my leading industry website Franchising.org”
Additionally I asked the question that everyone should ask when someone tells them that they have proof of their argument due to a study from academia; “Can you convince me, why this information is worthy of note? I would be interested in our justification.” Of course I got no reply and therefore I rest my case. Do not trust academia research on industry, any industry, unless you know the facts and can check their data. Think on this.

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By Lance Winslow

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Find Out What Astrology Can and Can't Do for You

2005-11-18T04:47:00.000-08:00

Almost everyone worries about the future at one point or another. We become uncertain about income, relationships, and health, and we do everything in our power to ensure positive outcomes. When personal strength fails, some people decide to turn to astrology and stargazing in hopes of learning more about what lies in their path and what they can do to prepare for it.
If you are thinking about calling a 900-telephone line for advice, keep in mind that anyone can set up shop as a horoscope reader, and there are many scams in place on the Internet and in the yellow pages. Think about it: anyone who could really tell the future could make a pretty good living by working for government agencies, wealthy clients, and serve their own interests through investments and gaming. The vast majority of people purporting to tell the future share very little personal information with a client, but tend to make more generalized statements, like “Happiness is in your future” or “You will lose a loved one in the foreseeable future.” Does “foreseeable” refer to one week or ten years? Without detailed facts, no one should seriously consider the advice of someone with untried or unproven claims.
With that in mind, though, there do seem to be those who have a sixth sense in understanding much about a person they have just met. Sometimes these people can make claims that seem very close to reality, which, when they come to pass, fit the interpretation offered by a horoscope reader.
If you are thinking about consulting a medium, or fortuneteller, about your future, here are some things to consider when selecting a person to contact:
1. How long has the person been reading horoscopes? Has she lived in the immediate area for a long or short time? Does she live in a place that betokens someone making a successful living?
2. Where did the reader learn her skills? Who trained her? When did she realize she had second sight? Does she get ongoing training or study? Have her skills improved over time?
3. Can the person tell her own future? How has that worked out for her? What has she learned about herself and her clients in practicing this skill?
4. With what degree of accuracy can the teller predict your future? Can she offer immediate insight that will prove her claims? Are there client referrals that you can check with to see if their predictions came true?
5. Ask about the teller’s methods. How does she see into the future? How reliable is her methodology?
Take specific questions or areas of your life that you would like to ask about during your consultation. Write down the teller’s specific words or phrases so you can check for accuracy later.
If you believe that you have encountered a scam, don’t hesitate to report it to the Better Business Bureau to help protect others from falling victim to the scam artist.

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By Charles Kassotis

Find out if Astrology Study can help you when you visit Astrology Study at http://www.astrologystudy.com

Is an MBA Worth it?

2005-11-18T04:40:00.000-08:00

What is an MBA worth? It depends. There is no one correct answer that applies to everyone. Career goals, personal circumstances, and occupational requirements are some of the major factors to consider.
Think of getting an MBA as an investment and weight the risks and benefits accordingly.
There are several potential advantages in getting an MBA:
* Recognition from others and self-satisfaction in earning an advanced degree
* Gain enhanced strategic thinking and managerial effectiveness
* Higher pay than someone with less education
* More upward job opportunities, especially management positions
* Larger professional network through faculty, fellow students, and others you meet while in an MBA program
There are some potential disadvantages in getting an MBA:
* You may be considered by some companies, especially the smaller ones, as too expensive
* An MBA may not be required for your career goals
* Emphasis on the MBA might not be worth as much as years of experience to some employers
The cost of an MBA is of its most daunting aspects. But, according to research conducted by Forbes, despite a shaky economy and job market, an M.B.A. still pays for itself in the long term. The average time to recoup your investment is 3.1 years.
An MBA will improve your strategic-thinking skills, develop your leadership abilities, and foster managerial effectiveness. These are skills needed by every type of enterprise. If your career aspirations require the edge of an MBA, it remains a good investment for your future.

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By Manik Thapar

Manik Thapar (MBA) http://www.careerpath.cc

The Benefit of Home Schooling - 8 Reasons to Educate Your Child at Home

2005-11-17T04:47:00.000-08:00

Making the decision to home school is, on the face of it, not an easy one. There are many questions that need to be asked, and answered, before you can take this very significant step in your child's education. What can influence the decision is an idea of some of the benefits of home schooling.
So here are some things to think of.
1. Your child will get one to one attention with you. The issues associated with large class sizes will be gone forever.
2. Noone knows your child better than you, so you can tailor the lessons to suit your child. That will be something that could never happen in a conventional class room.
3. If your child is someone who is particularly susceptible to peer pressure, then home schooling can alleviate the problem. With your child completely under your control, you not only dictate the curricular activities, but the friends and social elements of their day.
4. Family life can return to how it should be. No more strangers passing at the breakfast table.
5. Many children get wrongly labeled with 'learning difficulties' when all that they needed was a different approach. If your child falls into this category, you will be best placed to evaluate your child's needs and requirements.
6. Scientific studies indicate that home schooled children can come out ahead in every measurement. Other factors may affect this of course, but the indications are that home schooled children achieve more academic success than their traditionally schooled counterparts.
7. Research also indicates that home schooled children actually have better social skills than traditionally schooled children. This rather flies in the face of most people's beliefs.
8. Although not a statistic that should affect your decision making, every child taken out of the state controlled education system actually saves the tax payer around $9000 per pupil per year.
Whilst it is not a task to be undertaken lightly, there are compelling reasons for educating your child at home. It can be argued of course that the benefit of home schooling will not be so strong for all children, but equally, there are many who could benefit significantly from home tutoring.
http://www.teaching-your-kids.com/home_school_ben.html

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by: Charlie Cory

The article was written by Charlie Cory, who is the owner of Teaching Your Kids. Teaching Your Kids provides advice about home schooling your children.