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Your Next Family Vacation – Planning Tips

 

Your Next Family Vacation – Planning Tips

Word Count:
483

Summary:
There are many details to consider when planning a family vacation.  Whether your family includes two or ten people, you will, no doubt, be presented with the challenge of including sights and activities that appeal to all in your group.  This can become especially important if you will be traveling with children, since it is likely they will not wish to take part in all the activities that interest you.  Nevertheless, there are ways to plan your vacation that can make it mem...

Keywords:
Car Hire Sydney

Article Body:
There are many details to consider when planning a family vacation.  Whether your family includes two or ten people, you will, no doubt, be presented with the challenge of including sights and activities that appeal to all in your group.  This can become especially important if you will be traveling with children, since it is likely they will not wish to take part in all the activities that interest you.  Nevertheless, there are ways to plan your vacation that can make it memorable while appeasing everyone in the process.

One of the most difficult aspects of planning a family vacation is finding a time that will suit everyone.  This means having to juggle work and school schedules, and figuring out how to optimize the time you will have in a way that will meet the needs of everyone.  Because it is very likely that every individual in your group has different schedules, and likewise, different interests, you'll need to plan as far in advance as you possibly can.  The key here is knowing what everyone enjoys and planning it with the resources you have at your disposal.

Figure your expenses.  The first step to planning a family vacation is to figure out how much money you will be able to spend.  Knowing this will help you narrow your options.  This is especially important if you do not travel to the same destination every year or for every vacation. 

Optimize your costs.  Just because you have a certain amount of money you can spend doesn't mean you have to spend it.  Instead, save where you can.  This can also help you plan for the next vacation by leaving with money left over when you return or, in some cases, before you ever begin. 

The second step to planning your next family vacation is exploring your options.  You will probably want to base this on the interests of everyone in the group, so as to optimize the experience and try to complete as many of the activities as possible.  This can be difficult if you will be traveling to a new location, or if the age range of your family varies widely.  Still, a well-constructed plan can definitely reduce the stress of planning, so keep this in mind while you are making all the important decisions.

Plan each day of your vacation, but at the same time, be prepared to make changes.  This is important because you or other family members may decide to do something else instead of the planned activity.  Also, some activities are done outdoors, so you will want to plan for various weather conditions that could occur.  This s also why you should have a back up plan or at the very least, alternate activities.  The more you are able to plan, the less stress you will encounter, which will bring you optimal fun on your next family vacation.

 

15 Strategies For Managing Attention Problems

15 Strategies For Managing Attention Problems

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1296

Summary:
The following strategies are offered for enhancing attention and managing attention problems. This listing is by no means exhaustive, but rather is meant as a place to begin. The best resources for strategies are the creative, inventive minds of enlightened assessment professionals, teachers and parents, in partnership with the students they serve. Together they can create multiple alternative strategies.

1. Take the Mystery Away

The first and perhaps most important man...

Keywords:
attention,strategies,add,adhd,manage,problems

Article Body:
The following strategies are offered for enhancing attention and managing attention problems. This listing is by no means exhaustive, but rather is meant as a place to begin. The best resources for strategies are the creative, inventive minds of enlightened assessment professionals, teachers and parents, in partnership with the students they serve. Together they can create multiple alternative strategies.

1. Take the Mystery Away

The first and perhaps most important management strategy is to insure that all students understand how attention works and identify their particular profiles of attention strengths and weaknesses. Then, students should be taught attention management strategies.

2. Understand Consistent Inconsistency

Teachers and parents should understand that the inconsistency of children with attention problems is not evidence of a poor attitude or lack of motivation. It is a part of their biologically based attention dysfunction, and is beyond their easy control.

3. Explore the Option of Medication

For many children and adolescents, medication can be helpful in dealing with attentional difficulties. Medication can improve mental alertness and the intensity and duration of concentration. In addition, it may diminish impulsivity and hyperactivity. The student and his parents may wish to explore this option with his physician.

4. Allow for Movement and Breaks

It is helpful for students who have problems with inconsistent alertness and mental effort to be provided with opportunities to move around. For example, at school, teachers could ask the student to erase the board, collect papers or take a message to the office. At home, parents and/or the student could schedule regular breaks and change work sites. That is, the student could work several minutes at the kitchen table and several minutes on the living room floor. Each time the location is changed, the student may experience a burst of mental energy. Additionally, students may need to be doing something with their hands while seated. They may doodle, roll a piece of clay or perform some other manual tasks that enhance their alertness and arousal.

5. Vary Instructional Strategies

Teachers should use a variety of instructional strategies and these should be changed approximately every 15 to 20 minutes. For example, they could deliver information for 15 minutes via lecture. This strategy could be followed by small group work or cooperative learning for 20 minutes. Next, students could engage in individual seatwork or watch a video.

6. Use Signals

The teacher and parents should have a private way of signaling students when they are tuned out. For example, a gentle tap on the shoulder may be effective. Also, the student's teachers and parents may need to signal him when something important is about to be stated. Looking right at him, his teacher or parent could say, "Now listen very carefully. I am about to give you important instructions about tomorrow's test."

7. Leverage Interests

Attention is enhanced when interest is heightened. Thus, students should be encouraged to read, write and talk about subjects in which they are interested. Additionally, students' attention is enhanced when information is personally relevant to them. For example, if students need to learn a chronological timetable, the teacher could begin with having the students develop a chronological timetable of the important events in their own lives.

8. Minimize Noise & Other Distractions

Students who are easily distracted should benefit from a structured auditory environment. They may need preferential seating near the front of the classroom so that noise and distractions from other students are minimized.

9. Develop Previewing and Planning Skills

Teachers and parents can help students develop previewing and planning skills by requiring them to formulate plans for writing reports and completing projects. For example, when completing a book report, the students could submit plans for how they are going to accomplish this task. They will likely need specific instruction, followed by modeling, then guided practice, and finally feedback on performance. The concept of previewing should be explained to the students and they should be aware of the fact that the activities they are engaging in will help them develop previewing/ planning skills. It is helpful if they are first given practical examples of planning, such as planning for a party.

10. Use Behavior Modification and Self-Assessment

The use of behavior modification and self-assessment strategies can be helpful in increasing desired behaviors (e.g., task completion) and/or decreasing behavior problems (e.g., impulsive blurting out during class). The specific behaviors that need to be changed should be identified (e.g., completes reading classwork; raises hand before answering questions; brushes teeth before going to bed; puts dirty clothes in laundry). The specific consequences for behavior change should also be identified. The consequence for positive behaviors must be more rewarding to the student than failure to complete the positive behavior. For example, if the child is allowed to stay up an extra 15 minutes in the evenings, this behavior must be more rewarding than leaving his/her dirty clothes on the bathroom floor. Additionally, performance of the targeted behavior must be the only way that the student is able to obtain the reward. In the previous example, the child is only able to stay up the extra 15 minutes at night if he puts his dirty laundry in the designated place. School-home notes can be used to communicate back and forth between home and school. In both settings, charts and graphs can be used to monitor progress toward the goal. Students should be encouraged to assess their own behavior in addition to being assessed by the adult. They could be given an additional reward for accurate self-assessment.

11. Discourage Frenetic Work Patterns

To help students refrain from rushing through their work, teachers and parents could avoid making statements such as, "You can go out to recess as soon as you finish your assignment" or "You can watch television when you finish your homework." Offers such as these may inadvertently encourage students to work too quickly and carelessly.

12. Get Organized

A notebook with three sections labeled "Work to be Completed," "Work Completed" and "Work to be Saved" may be used to help students organize their assignments. Color-coding notebooks for different subjects may also be helpful for organizing work.

13. Use Daily Planners

A student should use a structured daily planner to help him organize his assignments and activities. A planner that is broken down by subject within the day and has sufficient room to write all the information he needs would be preferred. ELAN Publishing offers a number of good student organizers. Alternately, he may benefit from using a personal digital assistant (PDA).

14. Set Up a Home Office

At home, parents should guide their child/adolescent with setting up his/her own well-organized "office." Parents should schedule a weekly time that their child/adolescent will dedicate to straightening up the office and making sure all office supplies are well-stocked (e.g., post-its, pencils, pens, highlighters, paper, paper clips, stapler). The student should find his/her best time(s) for studying (his/her most alert times of day), and post these times as his/her "Office Hours." The student should also experiment with different kinds of background noise levels that work best for him/her when doing homework of studying. Some children/adolescents actually concentrate better in a noisy environment or while listening to music while others may need to use ear plugs.

15. Allow Time to Wind Down

Many students with attention problems have trouble falling asleep at night. It is helpful for them to have an established routine for going to bed at night. For example, they could read a book or have a book read to them. They can engage in stretching exercises before getting in bed. They could drink a glass of milk or hot chocolate prior to going to bed. They might also listen to quiet, easy music while falling asleep. "White noise," such as a fan, may also be helpful in facilitating sleep.

 

11 Strategies For Graphomotor Problems

11 Strategies For Graphomotor Problems

Word Count:
492

Summary:
1. For children who have difficulty with orthographic coding, it may be helpful to tape an alphabet line to the corner of their desk for easy reference.

2. Students with graphomotor problems should be given extended time to complete written assignments and/or a reduction in the volume of written output. For example, if the exercise given is to correctly capitalize and punctuate sentences or a passage, these should be provided to the student in typed form so that he/she has...

Keywords:
Writing,problem,graphomotor,handwriting

Article Body:
1. For children who have difficulty with orthographic coding, it may be helpful to tape an alphabet line to the corner of their desk for easy reference.

2. Students with graphomotor problems should be given extended time to complete written assignments and/or a reduction in the volume of written output. For example, if the exercise given is to correctly capitalize and punctuate sentences or a passage, these should be provided to the student in typed form so that he/she has to only correct the work, rather than write it and then correct it. Also, if the assignment is to answer the questions at the end of the chapter in social studies, the student should be required only to write the answers, not both questions and answers. Additionally, he/she should be allowed to state answers in short phrases. In other words, if the subject matter being assessed is knowledge of information presented in the social studies chapter, it is this that should be assessed, not how competent the student is with the physical act of writing, or how much writing interferes with his/her ability to demonstrate his/her knowledge of social studies.

3. Children with handwriting difficulties may need to be given the opportunity to provide oral answers to exercises, quizzes, and tests.

4. Learning to type is helpful for these students. Writing assignments should be done in stages. Initially, the child would focus only on generating ideas. Next, he/she would organize his/her ideas. Finally, the student would attend to spelling and mechanical and grammatical rules. There are computer software programs available with spell and grammar checks.

5. Students with graphomotor problems may need to be provided with information presented on the board or on overheads in written form, such as teacher-prepared handouts or Xerox copies of other students' notes.

6. Children with handwriting problems should be provided with written outlines so that they do not have to organize lectures or class materials themselves. This becomes particularly important in junior high grades.

7. Parents should be given the opportunity to purchase an extra set of textbooks for the purpose of highlighting, particularly for content area subjects. Also, notes may be made on Post-Its and then the Post-Its could be attached to a larger sheet.

8. It is often necessary to use alternative grading systems for children with graphomotor problems. One grade would be given for overall appearance and mechanics of writing, and the second for content.

9. When writing reports, it may be helpful for the student to identify his/her own errors and to correct these after learning specific strategies to do so. He/she would then list his/her most frequent errors in a workbook and refer to this list when self-correcting.

10. It should be stressed to school personnel that slow work habits are often a result of graphomotor difficulties and do not reflect deficits in motivation.

11. Electronic devices, such as the Franklin Speaking Spelling Ace may be helpful for students with handwriting problems.

 

10 Steps to Developing a Quality Lesson Plan

10 Steps to Developing a Quality Lesson Plan

Word Count:
500

Summary:
This guide is not meant to be the one and only way to develop a lesson plan; however, it is going to provide you with at least some good methods to start with. A general overview highlights the key points of creating a useful and working lesson plan.

Keywords:
home school, lesson plans for home school

Article Body:
This guide is not meant to be the one and only way to develop a lesson plan; however, it is going to provide you with at least some good methods to start with. A general overview highlights the key points of creating a useful and working lesson plan.

Below is a list of the steps that are usually involved in developing a quality lesson plan as well as a description of what each component should be. They will be listed in 10 of the best points.

1. The first thing that you will have to consider, obviously, is what you want to teach. This should be developed based upon your state or local school standards. You also need to be aware of what grade level you are developing the lesson plan for. Record a time estimate for your lesson plan to help you to better budget your time.

Once you have chosen your topic, you can begin choosing how you want to teach the topic in general. If you didn't use the state standards to help in developing your topic, you will want to refer to them now to see what specific standards your lesson plan can fulfill.

Having your lesson plan properly set up with state standards, helps to prove its worthiness and necessity later. It also helps to assuring that your students are being taught what the state requires.

If you are able to blend your lesson plan with the local school standards, record links to those standards in your lesson plan in writing for reference later. If you are however, writing this lesson plan for a website, you will want to be sure that you include a title that properly reflects your topic.

2. Develop clear, specific objectives to be sure that your lesson plan will teach exactly what you want it to. You must note that these objectives should not be activities that will be used in the lesson plan. Rather, they should be the learning outcomes of those activities.

As an example, if you wanted to teach your class how to add 1 + 3, the objective may be that "the students will know how to add 1 + 3" or more specifically "the students will demonstrate how to add 1 + 3."

Your objectives should also be directly measurable. What this means is that you need to make sure that you will be able to tell whether these objectives were met or not. You can certainly have more than one objective for a lesson plan if you feel that this would be more useful.

In order for you to be able to make objectives more meaningful, you may want to include both wide and narrow objectives. The wide objectives would be more like ambitions and they would include the overall goal of the lesson plan, for example, in order for you to gain familiarity with adding two numbers together.

The specific objectives would be more like the one listed above, in such a manner, as "the students will demonstrate how to add the numbers 2 and 3 together."

 

Ways to Grow Flowers

Ways to Grow Flowers

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349

Summary:
Want a more beautiful garden? It's easier than you think once you understand the 5 "Zen" rules of fantastic gardens. This article provides all the tricks and tips you need to make it happen.

Keywords:

 

Article Body:
Flowering landscape trees are the crown jewels of the yard.
Perhaps no other plants, individually, can have as great an
impact on how a yard looks in spring. Browse the articles to
which I've linked below for information on particular varieties
of flowering landscape trees. Pictures are included.

Crape Myrtles: Landscape Trees of the South

A popular choice in flowering landscape trees for Southerners,
crape myrtles have a long blooming period (mid-summer to
fall). The blooming clusters of these flowering landscape trees
come in pink, white, red and lavender. The clusters appear on
the tips of new wood. Northerners can sometimes get away
with treating these flowering landscape trees as perennials
that die back in winter but come back in spring.

Trees

Not all specimens with a weeping habit are flowering
landscape trees, but this article looks at several weeping
varieties that do bloom, headed by four types of cherry.
Saucer Magnolias

The size and shape of the blooms are what suggested the
common name for these flowering landscape trees. Want a
specimen with a brilliant bloom as big as a saucer? Access
information on these beauties here.

Rose of Sharon

Although some people think of it as a landscape "tree"
(because it gets tall and can be pruned so as to have a single
trunk), rose of sharon is, in fact, a flowering shrub. The fact
that it blooms relatively late -- and for a long time -- makes it
a valuable plant for those looking to distribute their yard's
color display throughout the growing season.
Top 10 List of Flowering Landscape Trees and Shrubs for
Spring |

This article features information on ten flowering landscape
trees and shrubs that brighten our spring seasons. Included
are redbud, callery pear and crabapple.
Hawthorn: Late-Blooming Landscape Trees

This article offers information on Washington hawthorn trees,
which are perhaps most valued for the time at which they
bloom (late spring to early summer). Many of the popular
flowering specimens bloom earlier in the spring, and while
their blossoms are pleasant sights for eyes sore from winter's
barrenness, they desert us too quickly!

 

 

Steps To Guide Your Graduate School Search

Steps To Guide Your Graduate School Search

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529

Summary:
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 proces...

Keywords:
graduate school

Article Body:
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 opportunities 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.

 

5 tips to choose the online nursing school right for you

5 tips to choose the online nursing school right for you

Word Count:
526

Summary:
No one can tell you which online nursing school is right for you.  As a rule, you must be the one who chooses which path to take and how you want to get there.  The differences between the online nursing schools are varied and one needs to be aware that they all have their pros and cons

Keywords:
Online nursing school, online nursing

Article Body:
No one can tell you which online nursing school is right for you.  As a rule, you must be the one who chooses which path to take and how you want to get there.  The differences between the online nursing schools are varied and one needs to be aware that they all have their pros and cons.  However, if you make a wise and informed choice then you are half way to your goal.  If a nursing school fits with your schedule, needs and personality than there is nothing stopping you from succeeding.

Bear in mind that no matter which online school you choose you will still need to take part in clinicals which require 'in person' teaching to complete your degree.  So before you have earned the degree you will need to transfer to a land campus school.

1. First and foremost check out the fees that the online nursing charges for their courses.  This is probably the most important part of choosing an online nursing school.  It is the common practice of all reputable online nursing schools to be up-front with their fees.  They realize it is important to new students to know how much they will be paying for the course.  This will help to build trust in the school as they put fourth the effort to respect their students by offering their fees in an honest manner.

2. You will need to check out the course requirements before signing up for anything.  Each school has different requirements that must be met before entering their program.  These may include a high school diploma, previous nursing courses, or specific course studies from other schools.  All of these requirements are easily located in the prerequisite area of the course description.

3. Time available is very important when choosing an online nursing program.  You will need to check and make sure that you have the minimum amount of time that is required by the school to dedicate to class and course type studies.  Most of the schools that offer online programs operate on the same premise of standard schools and require that students complete a minimum number of hours in class room study to be eligible to graduate.  All of the time that is required will be listed in the course description during the review process.

4. Degrees offered is another area where one should put fourth some effort in research.  If the online program does not offer the degree that you need to get the job you want then it is useless to you as a school.  Through most of the online nursing schools you can choose the type of degree that you wish to obtain and enter the course of study as set down by those guidelines.

5. Finally you should determine if the school you are looking at fits the individual needs that you have.  If a school does not fit the most basic needs than it will not be of much worth to you as a student.  If you have special needs or require an aggressive course study you should check with the online schools advisor to ensure that they can accommodate such a need or desire.

 

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Taking Your First Online Class

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Taking Your First Online Class

Word Count:
623

Summary:
Just a few short years ago, the idea of taking a college course through the Internet was something online "techies" considered. Now that people realize how convenience it is to take a class without leaving home, more and more people are taking advantage of using their computer to learn.

But while the technology used for online classes is so simple just about anyone can become an online student, you should ask yourself the following 5 questions first – and save yourself a l...

Keywords:
online classes, distance learning, distance education, online course

Article Body:
Just a few short years ago, the idea of taking a college course through the Internet was something online "techies" considered. Now that people realize how convenience it is to take a class without leaving home, more and more people are taking advantage of using their computer to learn.

But while the technology used for online classes is so simple just about anyone can become an online student, you should ask yourself the following 5 questions first – and save yourself a lot of stress!

1) Do you have the time?
Many people think – mistakenly – that online courses are "easier" than traditional campus classes. But most online classes require regular participation. So, you must have the time to "log on" to your course several times each week, complete the assignments and do your homework, and interact with the other students.

All of this takes time…and, you have to account for the time you would normally have spent in the classroom. If you have the time, you will find taking an online class to be very convenient!

2) Do you have the discipline?
Sure, most online classes don't require you to be on the computer at a specific time (although some do). So it is up to you to make sure you check in on your class several times each week. With a busy work schedule, sports, hobbies, housework, kids, it's easy to put your class low on your priority list. And that could mean big trouble when it comes time to get your grade.

It's not the teacher's job to remind you to keep up with your work – that's your responsibility. A simple way to make this work is to create your own schedule, so each week you know exactly when it's time to "go to class"!

3) Do you have the money?
While there are many free or low-cost online "self help" courses available, college courses almost always cost the same whether you take them on-campus, or online. Colleges have to buy the software, train their faculty, and offer student services after hours – so expecting online courses to be less expensive is not reasonable.

On the other hand, the same financial aid is often available for online classes, just as with campus classes. So, money should not stop any student from furthering their education!

4) Do you have the right technical skills?
Fortunately, you don't have to be a computer "genius" to take an online class. The technology has become very simple for students and teachers to use, so that students who can "surf the Internet" and use email usually have the necessary technical skills.

Before getting started, the school offering the course should have a sample course, tutorial, or other training to help you determine if there are any skills you need to learn, so you can become a successful online student!

5) Do you have the right computer equipment?
Since most online classes are taught through the Internet, students usually don't need any special computer equipment. However, most online classes require students to have reliable access to the Internet, an email account (and the knowledge to use it), a word processor (such as Microsoft Word), and antivirus software. Check with your school to see if there are any other requirements.

A high speed internet connection is usually not required, but if instructors use graphics, videos, audio lectures, or other big files, a high speed connection (such as DSL or cable) will help you open the files, and do you work, more efficiently!

Are you ready now to take your first online class? Then it's time to contact your local college, or search the internet for an online class directory, and see what online courses you can take!

 

Tips To Find The Best Online University For You

Tips To Find The Best Online University For You

Word Count:
600

Summary:
It's easy to find an online degree program in your area of interest as almost all degree courses offered by regular universities are now go online. But you need to make some research in order to find an online degree program that really meets your education goals. Here are some tips to help you find the best online university for you.

Keywords:
online degree, online degree program, online university, accreditation, online college,  education

Article Body:
Online degree programs have growth rapidly in conjunction with the high demand of online education. Today, getting a university degree online has become a practical reality for people who cannot spare the time and commitment just to go back to regular university for earning a degree. You may find it confusing and hard to make a decision on so many online degree program choices. Although it is a hard decision, making the right choice that will suit your schedule, your learning style as well as your education goal is of prime importance.

Depending on your specific needs and goals, here are 4 tips to help your find an online university that best suit your needs:

1. Know your education goals

Different people have different needs for getting an online education. Some people enrolled into an online degree program just to sharpen their knowledge in certain area whereas others may hope to make a career switch by earning a degree in the area they are interested in.

Hence, you need to know what you are your purpose of getting an online education. Before you begin considering your options on various online degree programs, do some self assessment on what kind of education you are looking for, how much time and effort you plan to invest and whether it is personal fulfillment or career advancement that you aim to achieve through the course.

2. Do research on your options

Most online universities provide free information on their online degree programs and many do provide online chat session with their academic advisors so that you can ask any related questions and getting the necessary information needed before you make up your mind. Take your time to gather as much information as you can from various online universities that offer the education program that within your education scope. Ask the academic advisors for further clarification for any doubts; make sure you have a clear idea of the program being offered before you invest your hard earned money and time into any one of them.

3. Beware of online degree scams

Onlinde degree scams or mostly know as diploma mill is a college or university that operates primarily to make money; such schools are not properly accredited and issue degrees without ensuring an education occurs. You need to be wary of these degree mills when doing your searches for the right course; make sure your are enrolled with online university that offers legitimate courses with proper accreditation. Fake degrees and credentials are plentiful and you will only be wasting your time, effort and money if you go with one of them.

4. Look for online degree program with recognized accreditation

Accreditation of the online university that you enroll in is vitally importance. Accreditation provides assurance that the program in which you are enrolled is engaged in continuous review and improvement of its quality and it meets nationally endorsed standards in the profession, and that it is accountable for achieving what it sets out to do.

If the reason you are pursuing further education is to advance your career, the degree you will be earning needs to be recognized by your employers or prospective employers. A degree from an accredited online university is one of the important consideration factors by many employers.

In Summary

It's easy to find an online degree program in your area of interest as almost all degree courses offered by regular universities are now go online. But you need to make some research in order to find an online degree program that really meets your education goals.

 

3 Women Get Passports to Success by Returning to School

3 Women Get Passports to Success by Returning to School

Word Count:
280

Summary:
The story is all too familiar to people who drop out of high school. Many have low-paying jobs or no jobs at all. And when they try to learn a trade or get a certificate to enter a profession with decent pay, they find out a harsh truth - all professional or post-secondary schools require a high school diploma.

Keywords:
3 Women Get Passports to Success by Returning to School

Article Body:
The story is all too familiar to people who drop out of high school. Many have low-paying jobs or no jobs at all. And when they try to learn a trade or get a certificate to enter a profession with decent pay, they find out a harsh truth - all professional or post-secondary schools require a high school diploma.

Three women in New York City - Lillian Betancourt, 37, Latoya Abrams, 21, and Shereen France, 41 - all found themselves in this type of frustrating situation.

After years of trying to pay bills on time and just getting by, these women decided to turn their lives around and get high school diplomas.

Through advertisements and word of mouth, the women found Careertel, which represents the Liberty High School Diploma Program. This distance-learning program enables adults to earn their high school diplomas while they continue to work and attend to their other obligations.

"Location, working hours, age provide no barrier for serious, motivated distance-learning students," said Jerome Polvay, president of Careertel.

Approved by the Vermont State Board of Education, Liberty High School allows students to control the pace at which they study. Material is provided for each class and all assignments and exams are completed at home. If students need tutoring, faculty advisers offer help over the phone. Also, credit is given for courses they previously completed.

Now, with their high school diplomas in hand, the future looks very promising for the women. In fact, all three are now seeking higher education. Betancourt is studying criminal law in New York, Abrams will attend Georgia College & State University, and France will be attending nursing school in New York.

"Finally I feel important," said Betancourt. "I'm reaching my goal."

 

3 Tips For Being A Successful Distance Learning Instructor

3 Tips For Being A Successful Distance Learning Instructor

Word Count:
594

Summary:
Are you looking to teach an online course for the first time? Or have you already taught online but are looking for some tips to help you become more effective?

The world of online learning is expanding at a rapid pace.

More courses are being offered and more students are enrolling every semester. And while teaching an online course can be done while sitting at your computer in your pajamas, being an effective online instructor requires a good deal of practice and prepa...

Keywords:
distance learning,distance education,online teaching,teaching tips

Article Body:
Are you looking to teach an online course for the first time? Or have you already taught online but are looking for some tips to help you become more effective?

The world of online learning is expanding at a rapid pace.

More courses are being offered and more students are enrolling every semester. And while teaching an online course can be done while sitting at your computer in your pajamas, being an effective online instructor requires a good deal of practice and preparation.

Of course, teaching online does take away the face to face involvement with students. Nothing can take the place of seeing a student smile after finally understanding a difficult concept.

But online teaching can be even more rewarding than on-campus teaching, when done well.

What makes an effective online instructor?

While good teaching involves a large number of qualities and techniques, effective online teaching centers on three main points:

1) You must be clear about your expectations!

Since students are not sitting right in front of you, it is extremely important to be very clear. Since you cannot see the students, you cannot see them sitting with a puzzled look while nodding their head in agreement.

How do you know if you are clear enough?

• Ask the students.
• Carefully evaluate the quality of the work, and how close the finished product matches the instructions.
• Have a colleague read your material before the course begins.

If student evaluations are distributed at the end of the semester, you can use the feedback to help you improve your course and teaching techniques – but keep in mind that by then you can no longer help the students learn what you want them to learn!

2) You must communicate frequently…and effectively!

Most students will expect you to be sitting at your computer whenever they send you a question by email. Of course, that is not practical, nor is it reasonable. So it is a good idea to give students a time frame in which you will respond, with 24-48 hours being typical.

And it's not enough to just communicate frequently. You must also communicate effectively. While some students (especially new online students) will want you to "take them by the hand" through each step, if you already have clearly written instructions, you can direct them to the instructions.

Keep in mind that most students are not asking you questions to bother you – usually, they just want to make sure they are doing what you want them to do. So be understanding, even when you get questions that make you shake your head.

If you get the same questions frequently, it is a good idea to save the questions – and your responses – to create a "frequently asked questions" section.

3) You must let your personality shine through!

If students just wanted to read a book, they wouldn't need you to read it for them. So, when teaching online, avoid taking the "easy way out" by simply posting a few readings and having students answer the questions:

• Add a little of your personality to your assignments and communications (but be careful when using humor, as it is difficult to convey online).
• Give real life examples that you have learned from being the subject matter "expert".
• Create interesting and interactive assignments to help students really learn the material.

Good teaching, like being good at anything, takes practice.

If you are clear…if you stay in close contact with your students…and if you create an interesting learning experience, you will be the online instructor that students want to learn from!