Advantages of Online Education 25 Oct 2012 3:20 AM (12 years ago)
Online education is defined as learning, training, degree program or credit-granting course, which is mainly delivered via the Internet or an Intranet. It is a method of redefining the method of study where people can educate themselves without boundaries of timing, attendance and travel difficulties. In online courses, the students and teachers can meet once or periodically in a physical setting for lectures, labs and exams. Overall, online education gives more emphasis on global interaction and the concept of latest knowledge expansion.
Advantages of Online Education
For online education, one needs a standard personal computer with an Internet connection. Many people with family and job responsibilities don't have time to attend the regular classroom studies and find online education beneficial. Online education includes many online courses and online degrees. Let's discuss some of the advantages of online education.
People can opt for many online courses, in universities where the facility of online education is available. It is very helpful for students residing in remote places. One can study any course of his/her own choice offered by universities around the world, without the physical presence for that course. There is no need for relocation and hence, is cost saving.
Physically handicapped students can go for higher studies without worrying about traveling or being physically present for studies. Also, one can continue education at any stage and update himself with the latest knowledge through online education.
At present, many of the online universities are accredited by recognized educational bodies. Hence, the degrees offered by these universities are accepted all over the world and one can enroll in a top university within the comfort of home.
If somebody is looking for additional training for a better career prospect or promotion, then online education is the best option. It is the most convenient and flexible way of learning and updating one's knowledge without disturbing the current job.
People can study at their own pace without any strict regulations; there are no class schedule and fixed timings and assignments. Only the quality of work is evaluated, not the speed or the appearance of the student. Even, people can interact online and discuss with the students, scholars, researchers, subject-matter experts and professors for any type of query or problems.
Advantages of Online Education
For online education, one needs a standard personal computer with an Internet connection. Many people with family and job responsibilities don't have time to attend the regular classroom studies and find online education beneficial. Online education includes many online courses and online degrees. Let's discuss some of the advantages of online education.
People can opt for many online courses, in universities where the facility of online education is available. It is very helpful for students residing in remote places. One can study any course of his/her own choice offered by universities around the world, without the physical presence for that course. There is no need for relocation and hence, is cost saving.
Physically handicapped students can go for higher studies without worrying about traveling or being physically present for studies. Also, one can continue education at any stage and update himself with the latest knowledge through online education.
At present, many of the online universities are accredited by recognized educational bodies. Hence, the degrees offered by these universities are accepted all over the world and one can enroll in a top university within the comfort of home.
If somebody is looking for additional training for a better career prospect or promotion, then online education is the best option. It is the most convenient and flexible way of learning and updating one's knowledge without disturbing the current job.
People can study at their own pace without any strict regulations; there are no class schedule and fixed timings and assignments. Only the quality of work is evaluated, not the speed or the appearance of the student. Even, people can interact online and discuss with the students, scholars, researchers, subject-matter experts and professors for any type of query or problems.
Another advantage of online education is that all the learning and training materials of the online course are archived. One can retrieve and use it anytime via mail or from the school's website. If somebody has a doubt, he/she can communicate with the college or university through e-mail.
In addition to the above advantages, there are some disadvantages of online education. Student assessment and feedback is limited as compared to the traditional classroom programs. There may be problems about the validity of the degree assigned after completion of the course. In this case, one has to produce certain proofs such as copies of the course assignments and syllabi and most importantly, proof of the college or university's accreditation. Since, most of the interaction of the teacher and student takes place via mail, sometimes, there may be chances that the student misses the instructor's advice. Another disadvantage is non-availability of the course of study. Also, one should take care while choosing the online universities, as certain universities are better than the others.
By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani
Which Undergraduate Classes Should I Take Before Law School? 24 Oct 2012 3:21 AM (12 years ago)
So you want to get into law school. This is becoming an increasingly larger goal for ambitious young people, since a career in law offers respect, affluence, and stability. In the post-recession period, with the economy yet to recover completely, there are many aspiring students hoping to land an amazing career as a prominent lawyer. However, entering a prestigious institution is tremendously difficult. Schools look for students who can think critically, apply logic, analyze complicated situations and articulate their thoughts clearly and concisely. The logical thing to do as an undergraduate, then, would be to figure out exactly what undergraduate courses law schools like to see.
You may be racking your brain trying to figure out that answer. Take a breath; the truth is there are no specific courses that you have to take. Not exactly. There's no specific course that can "prepare" you for law school. In fact, while it is true that some courses might help an applicant to develop analytical thinking skills and other cognitive abilities that will definitely help on your LSAT and law school application, no graduate school mentions any specific academic background as an entry requirement. Usually a class at law school is quite heterogeneous, comprising of students from diverse academic backgrounds. Law schools usually prefer to have a multidimensional aspect in the class, especially apparent today as law becomes increasingly integrated within multiple dimensions of our daily lives.
However, that's not to say that you should coast through your undergraduate career taking classes like "The Living and Undead: An Inquiry into Zombies in Cinema and Literature". Even though that does sound kind of cool.
The main thing a law school will judge in your application is the way you challenged yourself. Learning from any course can be applicable to your law education. For example, if you have taken mechanics courses, that experience might help you to understand construction defect disputes better. So, one of the best ways of preparing yourself for law school during your undergraduate years is to really learn from whatever course you take. In depth knowledge on any course will benefit you in the long run.
Having said all that, there are some points you can consider about your undergraduate courses.
Thing To Keep In Mind When Applying To Law School
Law Schools expect at least a basic understanding of the United States Government, politics, and history. Though they aren't required, taking courses United States and World History, Government, Economics, and Political Science.
Courses in Debate, Public Speaking, English, Philosophy, Logic, and Literature will allow you to enhance your abilities in writing, thinking, and public speaking. Law schools like this, so consider enrolling in a few of these undergraduate courses.
Critical thinking and analysis are two skills that will serve you well in law school. Taking undergraduate classes in sociology, psychology, criminology, and even religion before applying to law school may help you a great deal.
You should go for those courses that are likely to challenge your cognitive and analytical capacities. Also, it is better to get used to a significant amount of writing and reading since you have to do a lot of that in Law school.
Whatever courses you take, try to apply your analytical and problem-solving abilities to address the subject matter.
You probably won't even have a choice with this one: get used to writing essay exams during your undergraduate years. Essay exams are the most common way to evaluate law students. That's why it is better to avoid courses during your undergraduate studies that mainly depend on multiple choice questions.
In short, the whole point is to push yourself forward to handle academically rigorous courses. If you perform exceptionally on those courses, that might give you an edge because law schools tend to evaluate applicants who attended and excelled in advance level courses a bit more favorably than applicants who focused on easier courses. Having said that, don't just go for the tough classes; it would be a serious blunder to choose a course outside of your interest just because it is hard and you believe it to give you advantage in your law school application.
Nevertheless, these advanced level courses can be categorized in three groups. As mentioned earlier, they will not give you any direct advantage for law school admission but may help you acquire some skills necessary for the study of law.
Courses That Help Students Build Useful Skills For Law School
Besides analytical and problem-solving skills, there are some other abilities that an aspiring law student may consider developing during the undergraduate years. These skills include public speaking, familiarity with Latin, and an understanding of accounting and financial principles.
Courses That Help Students Develop Skills On Substantive Areas Of Law
There are some other undergraduate courses that cover substantive areas of law and the legal system. For example, courses on Ethics help a student to clarify his ideas about the moral basis of law. In a similar way, courses covering the Constitution and Federal taxation system contribute to the development of a student's skills in areas relevant to many cases faced in court.
Courses That Familiarize Students With Legal System
There is another set of courses that familiarize the student directly with the legal system, legal problems and the social aspects of law. Business law, advertisement law, Constitutional law - all these courses introduce different aspects of law and legal systems to the student. Hence, these courses can help them to have a more sophisticated understanding about how law works in a practical context. Taking these courses can improve the quality of one's law school application because having completed these courses successfully, the applicant will likely have a more fundamental understanding of law.
You may be racking your brain trying to figure out that answer. Take a breath; the truth is there are no specific courses that you have to take. Not exactly. There's no specific course that can "prepare" you for law school. In fact, while it is true that some courses might help an applicant to develop analytical thinking skills and other cognitive abilities that will definitely help on your LSAT and law school application, no graduate school mentions any specific academic background as an entry requirement. Usually a class at law school is quite heterogeneous, comprising of students from diverse academic backgrounds. Law schools usually prefer to have a multidimensional aspect in the class, especially apparent today as law becomes increasingly integrated within multiple dimensions of our daily lives.
However, that's not to say that you should coast through your undergraduate career taking classes like "The Living and Undead: An Inquiry into Zombies in Cinema and Literature". Even though that does sound kind of cool.
The main thing a law school will judge in your application is the way you challenged yourself. Learning from any course can be applicable to your law education. For example, if you have taken mechanics courses, that experience might help you to understand construction defect disputes better. So, one of the best ways of preparing yourself for law school during your undergraduate years is to really learn from whatever course you take. In depth knowledge on any course will benefit you in the long run.
Having said all that, there are some points you can consider about your undergraduate courses.
Thing To Keep In Mind When Applying To Law School
Law Schools expect at least a basic understanding of the United States Government, politics, and history. Though they aren't required, taking courses United States and World History, Government, Economics, and Political Science.
Courses in Debate, Public Speaking, English, Philosophy, Logic, and Literature will allow you to enhance your abilities in writing, thinking, and public speaking. Law schools like this, so consider enrolling in a few of these undergraduate courses.
Critical thinking and analysis are two skills that will serve you well in law school. Taking undergraduate classes in sociology, psychology, criminology, and even religion before applying to law school may help you a great deal.
You should go for those courses that are likely to challenge your cognitive and analytical capacities. Also, it is better to get used to a significant amount of writing and reading since you have to do a lot of that in Law school.
Whatever courses you take, try to apply your analytical and problem-solving abilities to address the subject matter.
You probably won't even have a choice with this one: get used to writing essay exams during your undergraduate years. Essay exams are the most common way to evaluate law students. That's why it is better to avoid courses during your undergraduate studies that mainly depend on multiple choice questions.
In short, the whole point is to push yourself forward to handle academically rigorous courses. If you perform exceptionally on those courses, that might give you an edge because law schools tend to evaluate applicants who attended and excelled in advance level courses a bit more favorably than applicants who focused on easier courses. Having said that, don't just go for the tough classes; it would be a serious blunder to choose a course outside of your interest just because it is hard and you believe it to give you advantage in your law school application.
Nevertheless, these advanced level courses can be categorized in three groups. As mentioned earlier, they will not give you any direct advantage for law school admission but may help you acquire some skills necessary for the study of law.
Courses That Help Students Build Useful Skills For Law School
Besides analytical and problem-solving skills, there are some other abilities that an aspiring law student may consider developing during the undergraduate years. These skills include public speaking, familiarity with Latin, and an understanding of accounting and financial principles.
Courses That Help Students Develop Skills On Substantive Areas Of Law
There are some other undergraduate courses that cover substantive areas of law and the legal system. For example, courses on Ethics help a student to clarify his ideas about the moral basis of law. In a similar way, courses covering the Constitution and Federal taxation system contribute to the development of a student's skills in areas relevant to many cases faced in court.
Courses That Familiarize Students With Legal System
There is another set of courses that familiarize the student directly with the legal system, legal problems and the social aspects of law. Business law, advertisement law, Constitutional law - all these courses introduce different aspects of law and legal systems to the student. Hence, these courses can help them to have a more sophisticated understanding about how law works in a practical context. Taking these courses can improve the quality of one's law school application because having completed these courses successfully, the applicant will likely have a more fundamental understanding of law.
One more time, it is worth mentioning that courses belonging to any of the above-mentioned categories do not impress the admissions committees in and of themselves. You performance in your undergraduate courses comes first. There is no set rule about which undergraduate courses you should take before applying to law school; you have to follow your passions if you are to become the lawyer you have always wanted to become, but above all: work hard, excel in your classes, and make sure you don't run out of coffee - you are going to need it!
Still need some more tips on how to become a lawyer? Then head on over to my blog at LawPracticeHQ.com for all sorts of great resources on passing the LSAT, getting into law school, and becoming an absolutely superb lawyer!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christepher_J_Hoffman
Advantages Of Online Learning 23 Oct 2012 3:22 AM (12 years ago)
The world wide web is growing at a crazy pace, and the number of youngsters hooked to it is also increasing. Taking this into account, many educational institutes are now providing online learning options. There are many online colleges and universities that are dedicated to online learning. All you need to get a degree is a computer, an Internet connection, the willingness to learn, and cash to pay the fees. There are some websites giving free tutorials too, but if you want a proper degree you will have opt for the paid options. As in any other system of education, there are some flaws and some benefits of online learning too. Currently we are focusing on the many advantages that online learning has, in the following article.
Advantages of e-Learning
You may be surprised to know that there are quite a few benefits of online learning. The following paragraphs will tell you about how learning with the help of the Internet can help people, in spite of there being no one to physically monitor you.
Convenience
The only requirements for taking an online course are a computer and Internet access. You also do not have to commute to the college campus and so the necessity of living near the campus is out of question. The online course is delivered mainly in the form of lecture videos and webinars. So you can take the course more thoroughly by viewing the videos as many times as you want.
Economical
The online education options are far more economical than courses that require you to attend college everyday. This is because the transportation cost to you and the infrastructure cost to the college is eliminated completely. Also, the best teachers that the college cannot afford to employ full-time, can be hired for a limited amount of time. As the cost is only one time, colleges can afford it.
Self-discipline
E-learning courses give you complete freedom to learn anytime from anywhere. This freedom will give you some lessons in self discipline and time management. The need to be self disciplined arises because when you are online along with the useful and informative things, there are also many distractions.
Learning through Games at your Pace
Online learning also gives you the option to learn through games and puzzles. There is wide number of online educational computer games available on the net. Moreover, most of these games are completely free of cost. They are entertaining along with being highly informative.
Earn and Learn
While attending a full-time college, students get hardly any time for anything else. But if you are taking an online course, then you can have the entire day at your disposal and you can do your studies at night or any other time. This is one of the best advantages of online education. It is a great way to learn for students who have no option but to earn and learn.
Prolonged Access to Course Material
Many times you will feel the need to brush up your knowledge of a certain subject, and online learning gives you the opportunity to do that. All the course material that you get as a part of your online course remains permanently with you, so you can revise any of the subjects any time you want.
Advantages of e-Learning
You may be surprised to know that there are quite a few benefits of online learning. The following paragraphs will tell you about how learning with the help of the Internet can help people, in spite of there being no one to physically monitor you.
Convenience
The only requirements for taking an online course are a computer and Internet access. You also do not have to commute to the college campus and so the necessity of living near the campus is out of question. The online course is delivered mainly in the form of lecture videos and webinars. So you can take the course more thoroughly by viewing the videos as many times as you want.
Economical
The online education options are far more economical than courses that require you to attend college everyday. This is because the transportation cost to you and the infrastructure cost to the college is eliminated completely. Also, the best teachers that the college cannot afford to employ full-time, can be hired for a limited amount of time. As the cost is only one time, colleges can afford it.
Self-discipline
E-learning courses give you complete freedom to learn anytime from anywhere. This freedom will give you some lessons in self discipline and time management. The need to be self disciplined arises because when you are online along with the useful and informative things, there are also many distractions.
Learning through Games at your Pace
Online learning also gives you the option to learn through games and puzzles. There is wide number of online educational computer games available on the net. Moreover, most of these games are completely free of cost. They are entertaining along with being highly informative.
Earn and Learn
While attending a full-time college, students get hardly any time for anything else. But if you are taking an online course, then you can have the entire day at your disposal and you can do your studies at night or any other time. This is one of the best advantages of online education. It is a great way to learn for students who have no option but to earn and learn.
Prolonged Access to Course Material
Many times you will feel the need to brush up your knowledge of a certain subject, and online learning gives you the opportunity to do that. All the course material that you get as a part of your online course remains permanently with you, so you can revise any of the subjects any time you want.
Getting Proficient in Computer and Internet Use
Computers and the Internet are widely used in every walk of life today. Taking an online degree program will help you attain more proficiency in the use of computers and the Internet. You will also get used to many software and that will add more value to your resume.
Along with the above advantages of online learning, there are a few disadvantages also. The teacher-student interaction is almost nil. Every time you have doubts you have to contact the course helpline. Some recruiters consider an online degree less effective than conventional degrees. On the whole though, online learning represents a great opportunity for people, especially those who cannot make it to regular colleges, to get educated, and this can be called the biggest advantage of online learning.
By Pankaj Chobharkar
Advantages of Online Education 30 Sep 2012 3:23 AM (12 years ago)
Online education is defined as learning, training, degree program or credit-granting course, which is mainly delivered via the Internet or an Intranet. It is a method of redefining the method of study where people can educate themselves without boundaries of timing, attendance and travel difficulties. In online courses, the students and teachers can meet once or periodically in a physical setting for lectures, labs and exams. Overall, online education gives more emphasis on global interaction and the concept of latest knowledge expansion.
Advantages of Online Education
For online education, one needs a standard personal computer with an Internet connection. Many people with family and job responsibilities don't have time to attend the regular classroom studies and find online education beneficial. Online education includes many online courses and online degrees. Let's discuss some of the advantages of online education.
People can opt for many online courses, in universities where the facility of online education is available. It is very helpful for students residing in remote places. One can study any course of his/her own choice offered by universities around the world, without the physical presence for that course. There is no need for relocation and hence, is cost saving.
Physically handicapped students can go for higher studies without worrying about traveling or being physically present for studies. Also, one can continue education at any stage and update himself with the latest knowledge through online education.
At present, many of the online universities are accredited by recognized educational bodies. Hence, the degrees offered by these universities are accepted all over the world and one can enroll in a top university within the comfort of home.
If somebody is looking for additional training for a better career prospect or promotion, then online education is the best option. It is the most convenient and flexible way of learning and updating one's knowledge without disturbing the current job.
People can study at their own pace without any strict regulations; there are no class schedule and fixed timings and assignments. Only the quality of work is evaluated, not the speed or the appearance of the student. Even, people can interact online and discuss with the students, scholars, researchers, subject-matter experts and professors for any type of query or problems.
Another advantage of online education is that all the learning and training materials of the online course are archived. One can retrieve and use it anytime via mail or from the school's website. If somebody has a doubt, he/she can communicate with the college or university through e-mail.
In addition to the above advantages, there are some disadvantages of online education. Student assessment and feedback is limited as compared to the traditional classroom programs. There may be problems about the validity of the degree assigned after completion of the course. In this case, one has to produce certain proofs such as copies of the course assignments and syllabi and most importantly, proof of the college or university's accreditation. Since, most of the interaction of the teacher and student takes place via mail, sometimes, there may be chances that the student misses the instructor's advice. Another disadvantage is non-availability of the course of study. Also, one should take care while choosing the online universities, as certain universities are better than the others.
By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani
Advantages of Online Education
For online education, one needs a standard personal computer with an Internet connection. Many people with family and job responsibilities don't have time to attend the regular classroom studies and find online education beneficial. Online education includes many online courses and online degrees. Let's discuss some of the advantages of online education.
People can opt for many online courses, in universities where the facility of online education is available. It is very helpful for students residing in remote places. One can study any course of his/her own choice offered by universities around the world, without the physical presence for that course. There is no need for relocation and hence, is cost saving.
Physically handicapped students can go for higher studies without worrying about traveling or being physically present for studies. Also, one can continue education at any stage and update himself with the latest knowledge through online education.
At present, many of the online universities are accredited by recognized educational bodies. Hence, the degrees offered by these universities are accepted all over the world and one can enroll in a top university within the comfort of home.
If somebody is looking for additional training for a better career prospect or promotion, then online education is the best option. It is the most convenient and flexible way of learning and updating one's knowledge without disturbing the current job.
People can study at their own pace without any strict regulations; there are no class schedule and fixed timings and assignments. Only the quality of work is evaluated, not the speed or the appearance of the student. Even, people can interact online and discuss with the students, scholars, researchers, subject-matter experts and professors for any type of query or problems.
Another advantage of online education is that all the learning and training materials of the online course are archived. One can retrieve and use it anytime via mail or from the school's website. If somebody has a doubt, he/she can communicate with the college or university through e-mail.
In addition to the above advantages, there are some disadvantages of online education. Student assessment and feedback is limited as compared to the traditional classroom programs. There may be problems about the validity of the degree assigned after completion of the course. In this case, one has to produce certain proofs such as copies of the course assignments and syllabi and most importantly, proof of the college or university's accreditation. Since, most of the interaction of the teacher and student takes place via mail, sometimes, there may be chances that the student misses the instructor's advice. Another disadvantage is non-availability of the course of study. Also, one should take care while choosing the online universities, as certain universities are better than the others.
By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani
Exploring Madrid on a School Tour 29 Sep 2012 3:28 AM (12 years ago)
As the capital and largest city in the Mediterranean country of Spain, Madrid is a perfect place to go on a school tour for a varied and exciting look at Spanish culture, history and art. Madrid is the third largest city in the European Union and sits in the centre of the country along the Manzanares River. One of the interesting aspects of Madrid that makes it an ideal place to visit on a school tour, is the way that it continues to progress and modernise while still maintaining the authentic look and feel of many of its ancient streets and neighbourhoods. While you are in the city, take time to visit some of the best-known and impressive landmarks such as the Royal Palace of Madrid, Almudena cathedral and the Teatro Real.
The Royal Palace of Madrid
Any school tour to the city of Madrid will take students to the Royal Palace of Madrid; it is the official home of the Spanish royal family, but is actually only used for state affairs, and the family lives in the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela near the outskirts of the city. The palace sits on the site of a 9th century fortress and the old palace was built on the spot in the 16th century, but burned down. The current palace was built between 1738 and 1755 and is 135,000 square metres in size. A visit to the palace will take students into a fraction of its 3,418 rooms to see works of art by famous artists such as Velázquez, Goya, and Caravaggio, just to mention a few.
Almudena Cathedral
Facing the Royal Palace from across the Plaza de la Armería, is the Almudena Cathedral. When the capital of Spain moved from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the seat of the church did not move with it and for a while Madrid was a rare capital city without a cathedral. This changed when plans for a cathedral were drawn up in the 16th century, but the building did not actually begin until 1879. The Marquis of Cubas designed and built the cathedral in a Gothic Revival style but work ceased before it was completed. In 1950, the original plans were adapted for a Baroque exterior and made to match the Royal Palace opposite. It wasn't completed until 1993, when the Pope came to Spain to consecrate it.
The Royal Palace of Madrid
Any school tour to the city of Madrid will take students to the Royal Palace of Madrid; it is the official home of the Spanish royal family, but is actually only used for state affairs, and the family lives in the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela near the outskirts of the city. The palace sits on the site of a 9th century fortress and the old palace was built on the spot in the 16th century, but burned down. The current palace was built between 1738 and 1755 and is 135,000 square metres in size. A visit to the palace will take students into a fraction of its 3,418 rooms to see works of art by famous artists such as Velázquez, Goya, and Caravaggio, just to mention a few.
Almudena Cathedral
Facing the Royal Palace from across the Plaza de la Armería, is the Almudena Cathedral. When the capital of Spain moved from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the seat of the church did not move with it and for a while Madrid was a rare capital city without a cathedral. This changed when plans for a cathedral were drawn up in the 16th century, but the building did not actually begin until 1879. The Marquis of Cubas designed and built the cathedral in a Gothic Revival style but work ceased before it was completed. In 1950, the original plans were adapted for a Baroque exterior and made to match the Royal Palace opposite. It wasn't completed until 1993, when the Pope came to Spain to consecrate it.
Teatro Real
Also known as the Royal Theatre, the Teatro Real in Madrid is one of the most important musical venues in the city. After 32 years of planning and building the Teatro Real was finally opened in 1850. After students have wandered around the Cathedral and been to the Royal Palace on their school tour, they can head to the nearby Teatro Real to take in the history of the building. Until 1925 the theatre housed the Madrid Royal Conservatory (a musical college); it was evicted due to the damage caused by the building of the metro. In 1966 the building opened as a theatre. In 1997, the building was remodelled again to house the opera and now hosts a variety of peratic and ballet performances.
Angela Bowden works for STS (School Travel Service), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing school trips for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. A school tour with STS can encompass art/design, foreign languages, history, science/nature, geography and more, to worldwide destinations.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Bowden
How Students And Schools Benefit From Class Management Software 28 Sep 2012 3:28 AM (12 years ago)
The number of people using class management software is certainly rising these days. Students are the primary users of it for many reasons. This actually helps them go through their daily lives at school in a very smooth manner - they avoid missing any of their classes and important dates like deadlines of certain tasks.
Such application is helpful for the teachers and educational institutions as well. Its use makes them exert fewer efforts and cut the expenses when it comes to booking venues for their courses, utilization of varied devices that aid in the learning of the students and ensuring that all the classes are well-attended.
Moving forward, the class management software has introduced a different way of learning and teaching at the same time. Although chalkboard and visual aids are still available, tablet PCs and electronic boards make both processes more interactive and enjoyable. Lessons are now discussed in a virtual manner which learners find easier to relate to since the influence of the internet is rampant. This is further enhanced by the use of other medium of communication.
Registration processes for students have never been easier since this kind of software was created. They are free to choose the courses they need anytime and anywhere they want to do it. The same convenience is experienced by the school staff or training instructors. They can simply provide information about the courses or trainings that they offer. In connection to that, they can simply create online forms by which interested students can sign up for their preferred classes. Payments would be easy as well because course or training fees may be shared or viewed with just one click. Besides instilling the best time management skills among its users, it helps them promote their classes to a wider audience.
When the time comes that students need to know their exam scores or card grades, there would be no need for administrators to gather all students around just for the setting of the distribution dates. They can simply update the software calendar for quicker information dissemination. Additional resources for the students and teachers may also be uploaded for quick reference. In fact, social media sites like Facebook can also be used hand in hand with these updates.
Such application is helpful for the teachers and educational institutions as well. Its use makes them exert fewer efforts and cut the expenses when it comes to booking venues for their courses, utilization of varied devices that aid in the learning of the students and ensuring that all the classes are well-attended.
Moving forward, the class management software has introduced a different way of learning and teaching at the same time. Although chalkboard and visual aids are still available, tablet PCs and electronic boards make both processes more interactive and enjoyable. Lessons are now discussed in a virtual manner which learners find easier to relate to since the influence of the internet is rampant. This is further enhanced by the use of other medium of communication.
Registration processes for students have never been easier since this kind of software was created. They are free to choose the courses they need anytime and anywhere they want to do it. The same convenience is experienced by the school staff or training instructors. They can simply provide information about the courses or trainings that they offer. In connection to that, they can simply create online forms by which interested students can sign up for their preferred classes. Payments would be easy as well because course or training fees may be shared or viewed with just one click. Besides instilling the best time management skills among its users, it helps them promote their classes to a wider audience.
When the time comes that students need to know their exam scores or card grades, there would be no need for administrators to gather all students around just for the setting of the distribution dates. They can simply update the software calendar for quicker information dissemination. Additional resources for the students and teachers may also be uploaded for quick reference. In fact, social media sites like Facebook can also be used hand in hand with these updates.
In this fast-phased world, the traditional processes which used to characterize the daily operations in school and other business establishments can no longer give the quick results that people need. In order to survive, advancements in technology must be utilized in any way. Going back to the manual processes of registration for students and promotion of courses and trainings can lead to great loss of time and opportunity to earn more. A class management software can help you reach your business goals and the goals of your student clients too. It will definitely cost you to some amount of money at the start. Nonetheless, you will be able to get its rewards after some time so long as you will know how to use it the right way.
Are You Using Calendar Communications To Manage Your Classroom Activities? Visit http://ecal.net/ For The Best Help In Using This Class Management Software Today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Coxx
Finding the Best Schools for Your Children 26 Sep 2012 3:29 AM (12 years ago)
Schools are places where children learn, and attending one is a necessity. If you are a parent, you may be interested in learning all of your options before choosing one that is right for your kids. In some towns, there are not a lot of choices. Other towns and areas give several options to parents. If you live in certain areas, you may have to pay extra if you send your kids to one that is in a different district than you live in. This extra fee may be worthwhile to you if the children will get a better education and have more opportunities.
One thing to look at in schools is their accreditation. This is an important feature and these organizations must work hard to earn accreditation. Accreditation is something that is done to check the education and other factors of a place of education. If the organization passes all of the requirements, they will be considered accredited. You may also want to look into class sizes. This is a factor that can have a big impact on a child's education. If you find one that has 20 children per classroom and another that has 30 kids, you may be pulled slightly to the first one. This will mean that your child will get more personalized attention because the teacher will not have as many students to work with.
Learning about the education and curriculum is another important thing to look at. Find out where they rank in terms of standardized testing too. All of these things will help you find schools that are in the top for educational standards. By doing this, you will know that the education your child receives is the best around. You can ask to see the curriculum they use, and you can ask any other questions regarding the education.
Opportunities offered by schools may also play a role in your decision. Some schools offer many different activities, sports and programs for kids to join, while others do not. If there is a particular sport that your child is exceptionally good at, you might use this factor as one that helps you decide what to do. Other opportunities include things such as field trips, plays, clubs and student council.
One thing to look at in schools is their accreditation. This is an important feature and these organizations must work hard to earn accreditation. Accreditation is something that is done to check the education and other factors of a place of education. If the organization passes all of the requirements, they will be considered accredited. You may also want to look into class sizes. This is a factor that can have a big impact on a child's education. If you find one that has 20 children per classroom and another that has 30 kids, you may be pulled slightly to the first one. This will mean that your child will get more personalized attention because the teacher will not have as many students to work with.
Learning about the education and curriculum is another important thing to look at. Find out where they rank in terms of standardized testing too. All of these things will help you find schools that are in the top for educational standards. By doing this, you will know that the education your child receives is the best around. You can ask to see the curriculum they use, and you can ask any other questions regarding the education.
Opportunities offered by schools may also play a role in your decision. Some schools offer many different activities, sports and programs for kids to join, while others do not. If there is a particular sport that your child is exceptionally good at, you might use this factor as one that helps you decide what to do. Other opportunities include things such as field trips, plays, clubs and student council.
Another choice that you may want to consider is whether you want to look only at public schools or private ones. There are parents that are willing to consider both, but there are other parents that prefer one or the other. If money is a problem, private education will probably not be a good option for you. If you are a Christian, Catholic or other type of religion, you may really want to look for this type of private school. For example, if you choose one that offers a Christian education, you will know that your children will receive education in this subject. You can feel confident that your children will be taught the same values that you are trying to teach them at home.
Give your children the best education. Learn more about Indian River County schools at: http://www.steds.org.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton
Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities 31 Aug 2012 3:31 AM (12 years ago)
I totally agreed with Scott Hamilton when he said that the only disability in life is a wrong attitude. I strongly believe that disability is not a curse or punishment from God for some wrongdoings. No, I feel these people can live a normal life just like any normal person. In fact, people with disabilities are more determined to overcome this barrier and do not want to gain sympathy from people. I remember watching a video clip of a differently abled person who didn't have hands but was writing with the pen held in his mouth. These people really inspire us to work harder and convert the weaknesses into strengths.
While choosing a college there are certain points which a differently abled person should evaluate before applying to the desired college.
Easily accessible campus and 24x7 buses available with special needs.
Offices having full-time staff for answering the queries of differently abled persons.
Help available in form of attendants or nurses for people with severe disabilities.
Course curriculum and extra tutoring for those who lag behind in class.
Extra curricular activities designed for people with disabilities and coaching for these people who are capable of entering into paralympic Olympics.
After considering these factors the next step is choosing from the list of best colleges which have great programs for differently abled persons.
University of Arizona,Tucson
The Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center popularly known as SALT has been the oldest in rendering best programs for people suffering from ADHD and other learning disabilities. This institute offers world-class workshops with well equipped computer labs. The tutors in this program are well experienced and many hold doctorates in their respective fields. The tutors are CRLA (college reading and learning association) certified and render expert services in Maths, Science and other courses. The fee structure for undergraduate lower division and upper division varies from $1000 to $2500 per semester. The tutoring fees is extra $20-25 per hour.
Wayne State University, Detroit
This University located at Detroit offers best facilities in off campus programs, pre - enrollment counseling, ASL interpretors and volunteer note takers. The average tuition fee for undergraduate lower and upper division ranges from $450 to $6000. Known programs like business administration and fine arts are rendered through the campus. The institute also offers excellent placement opportunities and has efficient staff in tutoring and career counseling.
University of Connecticut, Storrs
One of the top ranked public university this institute offers world-class program B.O.L.D (Building Opportunities for students with Learning Disabilities). This program is specifically designed for psychiatric, ADHD and LD disabled students. Through this program students are encouraged to improve their skills in order to gain employment. The average tuition fees for first semester is $1600 and for rest of semesters it is around $1100. The tutoring fees are extra $45 to $51 for a course. The college also provides SEAD program specially designed for autistic students. Through this program the student is encouraged to make transition to college level courses and instill positive attitude among students to achieve their goals.
Curry College, Massachusetts
Located in Milton, a 135 acre campus which is seven miles from Boston offers a suburban setting. The course is designed for students suffering from learning disabilities. The tutors prepare students to participate in group level discussions and provides $10,000 worth of scholarship to a high school senior student who has been successful in overcoming the disability barrier. The average tuition fees for first year per semester is approximately $3300. The curriculum includes using strategies to develop the thinking, reading, writing and listening abilities in students.
Augsburg College, Minneapolis
The CLASS (Center for learning and adaptive student services) provides normal classes and also helps the students by assisting them with scanned exams,extended time exams and recorded textbooks. Assistive technology caters to the students' needs and the tutors encourage students to excel in their field with working on the underlying weaknesses. The tuition fees are nominal and students are accepted with a grade point average of 2.6. The institute has full-time staff assisting students with disabilities to learn. Individual tutoring is being promoted by the CLASS program.
University of Iowa, Iowa City
This university offers two year program for students suffering from multiple cognitive disabilities. The program termed as REACH (realizing educational and career hopes) helps students to be independent and educate them to fulfill their future dreams. It has community based internships, accessible campus and prepare students for employment. The average tuition fees for one year is approximately $14,100 and need based scholarships are available to the students.
Florida State University, Tallahassee
The Student Disability Resource Center has programs designed for ADHD students. It also helps these students' transition to college level courses and provides services such as extra exam time, specially designed Math and Reading programs.
Beacon College, Florida
The courses are specially offered for learning disabilities, gifted LD and ADHD students. The average tuition fee for a year is around $14,500 and it also offers full student support in form of extra curricular activities. It also has Travel Abroad Program where students can experience rich cultural diversity.
While choosing a college there are certain points which a differently abled person should evaluate before applying to the desired college.
Easily accessible campus and 24x7 buses available with special needs.
Offices having full-time staff for answering the queries of differently abled persons.
Help available in form of attendants or nurses for people with severe disabilities.
Course curriculum and extra tutoring for those who lag behind in class.
Extra curricular activities designed for people with disabilities and coaching for these people who are capable of entering into paralympic Olympics.
After considering these factors the next step is choosing from the list of best colleges which have great programs for differently abled persons.
University of Arizona,Tucson
The Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center popularly known as SALT has been the oldest in rendering best programs for people suffering from ADHD and other learning disabilities. This institute offers world-class workshops with well equipped computer labs. The tutors in this program are well experienced and many hold doctorates in their respective fields. The tutors are CRLA (college reading and learning association) certified and render expert services in Maths, Science and other courses. The fee structure for undergraduate lower division and upper division varies from $1000 to $2500 per semester. The tutoring fees is extra $20-25 per hour.
Wayne State University, Detroit
This University located at Detroit offers best facilities in off campus programs, pre - enrollment counseling, ASL interpretors and volunteer note takers. The average tuition fee for undergraduate lower and upper division ranges from $450 to $6000. Known programs like business administration and fine arts are rendered through the campus. The institute also offers excellent placement opportunities and has efficient staff in tutoring and career counseling.
University of Connecticut, Storrs
One of the top ranked public university this institute offers world-class program B.O.L.D (Building Opportunities for students with Learning Disabilities). This program is specifically designed for psychiatric, ADHD and LD disabled students. Through this program students are encouraged to improve their skills in order to gain employment. The average tuition fees for first semester is $1600 and for rest of semesters it is around $1100. The tutoring fees are extra $45 to $51 for a course. The college also provides SEAD program specially designed for autistic students. Through this program the student is encouraged to make transition to college level courses and instill positive attitude among students to achieve their goals.
Curry College, Massachusetts
Located in Milton, a 135 acre campus which is seven miles from Boston offers a suburban setting. The course is designed for students suffering from learning disabilities. The tutors prepare students to participate in group level discussions and provides $10,000 worth of scholarship to a high school senior student who has been successful in overcoming the disability barrier. The average tuition fees for first year per semester is approximately $3300. The curriculum includes using strategies to develop the thinking, reading, writing and listening abilities in students.
Augsburg College, Minneapolis
The CLASS (Center for learning and adaptive student services) provides normal classes and also helps the students by assisting them with scanned exams,extended time exams and recorded textbooks. Assistive technology caters to the students' needs and the tutors encourage students to excel in their field with working on the underlying weaknesses. The tuition fees are nominal and students are accepted with a grade point average of 2.6. The institute has full-time staff assisting students with disabilities to learn. Individual tutoring is being promoted by the CLASS program.
University of Iowa, Iowa City
This university offers two year program for students suffering from multiple cognitive disabilities. The program termed as REACH (realizing educational and career hopes) helps students to be independent and educate them to fulfill their future dreams. It has community based internships, accessible campus and prepare students for employment. The average tuition fees for one year is approximately $14,100 and need based scholarships are available to the students.
Florida State University, Tallahassee
The Student Disability Resource Center has programs designed for ADHD students. It also helps these students' transition to college level courses and provides services such as extra exam time, specially designed Math and Reading programs.
Beacon College, Florida
The courses are specially offered for learning disabilities, gifted LD and ADHD students. The average tuition fee for a year is around $14,500 and it also offers full student support in form of extra curricular activities. It also has Travel Abroad Program where students can experience rich cultural diversity.
Landmark College, Vermont
Located in Putney this college is voted the best in offering programs catering to students with learning disabilities. The courses are language intensive and focused on developing intellectual abilities in students. The attractive point about this college is it considers students as partners in learning and strives to achieve excellence through technology based curriculum. The average tuition fees is around $48,000 for the academic year and financial aid is available for need-based students. The college also offers a full-time disability resource office with best career counseling activities.
Northeastern University, Marino Center
This University has been voted as having the best learning disability programs. The college has intensive programs in reading and writing specifically catering to attention deficit disorder. The average costs range from $1200 to $2600 per semester for the program. The USP of this college is individual attention by experienced tutors.
Most of these colleges prepare students to live independently and instill workplace skills. Many colleges also offer many services like mentoring, providing transportation services within campus and providing tutoring services. These institutes with help of the families of students encourage them to be self motivated to achieve their career goals. Disability has not and will never be a hindrance, this motto is what these best institutes endorse.
By Reshu Mehrotra
Special Schooling 30 Aug 2012 3:33 AM (12 years ago)
In the past centuries, school was not available for everybody. School was a luxury only few could afford, not necessarily because it was expensive but because it was selective. Minorities were not aloud to go to school, nor did women in some places, or peasants in others and in some places not even people belonging to a certain race, such as the Afro-American people. School was only for royal descendants or for the high class.
The contrary is what happens today. Almost everyone willing can go to school and moreover, there are also special schools, such as schools for blind people, schools for minorities, schools for girls or schools for boys. Is this way of specializing schools efficient? It may be for some categories, but it surely isn't for other.
In the first place, schools for moderate special needs children have proven their inefficiency. They seem not to stimulate enough the cognitive resources of the children and in addition they don't contribute to the socio-emotional development of these children. Being in a special school puts a permanent stigma on them and they also fail to integrate those children in the community later on. Of course, such schools are needed for severely affected children who represent a menace to other children or who are too impaired to be solely under the supervision of non-psychiatric or physical specialists. But in these schools one can find also children which have less serious impairments or problems. These are those who have physical disabilities, learning disabilities, ADHD, the Asperger syndrome or other mental impairments which the psychologists consider to be light and under control.
Nowadays, some countries work on integrating these children in normal schools. They do it because in normal schools these children have the opportunity to have a healthy emotional and social development, and also they are stimulated to develop they intellectual potential. Specialized persons, such as psychologists, are focused on informing the parents, the teachers and also the "normal" students about these mental issues, about their characteristics, trying in the same time to demolish the stigma laid upon these children. There are courses meant to prepare and train the teachers to deal with such children in order to offer them the biggest chance for cognitive, emotional and social development. In some schools, the governments hired specialized people to work together with the teachers for the optimization of their activity. Research has shown this is a more effective procedure than the one offered by special schools.
Secondly, schools which gather only the genius have also proven to be less efficient than schools who maintain a balance. The first category may lead to the development of a more than sufficient competitive spirit, but also the lack of diversity of friends, the lack of choices. The solution, of course, is not treating the prodigious children as "normal" children, because by doing that they may not come to develop their full intellectual potential, and they may quit school because they can become bored of the simplicity of the things they are taught. The solution is to socially integrate them in the classroom and then offer them harder and more complex exercises that the others are offered, and double the speed by which they are supposed to finish their tasks. By this, they will remain interested; they will develop their cognitive resources and also will have the social variety encountered in everyday life.
The contrary is what happens today. Almost everyone willing can go to school and moreover, there are also special schools, such as schools for blind people, schools for minorities, schools for girls or schools for boys. Is this way of specializing schools efficient? It may be for some categories, but it surely isn't for other.
In the first place, schools for moderate special needs children have proven their inefficiency. They seem not to stimulate enough the cognitive resources of the children and in addition they don't contribute to the socio-emotional development of these children. Being in a special school puts a permanent stigma on them and they also fail to integrate those children in the community later on. Of course, such schools are needed for severely affected children who represent a menace to other children or who are too impaired to be solely under the supervision of non-psychiatric or physical specialists. But in these schools one can find also children which have less serious impairments or problems. These are those who have physical disabilities, learning disabilities, ADHD, the Asperger syndrome or other mental impairments which the psychologists consider to be light and under control.
Nowadays, some countries work on integrating these children in normal schools. They do it because in normal schools these children have the opportunity to have a healthy emotional and social development, and also they are stimulated to develop they intellectual potential. Specialized persons, such as psychologists, are focused on informing the parents, the teachers and also the "normal" students about these mental issues, about their characteristics, trying in the same time to demolish the stigma laid upon these children. There are courses meant to prepare and train the teachers to deal with such children in order to offer them the biggest chance for cognitive, emotional and social development. In some schools, the governments hired specialized people to work together with the teachers for the optimization of their activity. Research has shown this is a more effective procedure than the one offered by special schools.
Secondly, schools which gather only the genius have also proven to be less efficient than schools who maintain a balance. The first category may lead to the development of a more than sufficient competitive spirit, but also the lack of diversity of friends, the lack of choices. The solution, of course, is not treating the prodigious children as "normal" children, because by doing that they may not come to develop their full intellectual potential, and they may quit school because they can become bored of the simplicity of the things they are taught. The solution is to socially integrate them in the classroom and then offer them harder and more complex exercises that the others are offered, and double the speed by which they are supposed to finish their tasks. By this, they will remain interested; they will develop their cognitive resources and also will have the social variety encountered in everyday life.
The distinction will eventually come, when they will choose their high schools and later on, when they will apply for university. By that time they would have had time to make their own decisions regarding both their professional and social life.
Thirdly, special schools are not efficient for minorities. Separating minorities from the citizens of the country they live in, only deepens the stereotypical way of thinking and the conflicts. By integrating minorities in a normal school, the conflicts may be resolved and the stereotyped demolished. Living with them, the children learn that they are not different, or abnormal, that they could be friends and they could help each other. They teachers and the parents are the key. They have to be taught to guide their children into understanding and accepting ethnic differences. The parents and the teachers themselves have to learn to accept and understand these differences in the first place.
In conclusion, special schooling may be efficient in some cases but seriously damaging in others.
By Claudia Miclaus
Equality In Education For All 29 Aug 2012 3:34 AM (12 years ago)
I began my teaching career in 1985 in what was then an Inner London College. South Thames College in Putney was a college which was keen to maintain its high literacy and numeracy standards, and worked closely with local schools to improve its 14-16 provision. My role as the newly appointed School Link Tutor was to ensure, in consultation with the Senior School Link Co-ordinator, that the curriculum reflected the diverse needs of the young people who attended the college twice weekly. The course had been designed to accommodate those who did not have academic aspirations, and as such vocational tasters comprised fifty per cent of the programme. The students were from two schools, one an all girls school and the other an all boys school. These students, who were only fifteen years of age were already deemed as less likely to achieve good academic grades. One of the main aims and objectives of the course was to encourage the students not to simply drop out of the educational system, but to realise that educational opportunities were available to all.
The course offered vocational tasters in keyboard skills and office practice, (today it would be classed as ICT) cookery, painting and decorating, motor vehicle and basic skills in English, Maths and Personal Development. The vocational tasters operated on a carousel basis for the duration of six weeks. In addition there were two weeks of work experience built into the course. The three days spent at school enabled an opportunity for a more in-depth study of traditional curriculum subjects such as geography, history, science and RE. The students were challenging and some had behavioural difficulties. However, because they were in a new environment and had not as yet been labelled by the institution as underachievers, some of the students began to show a great deal of promise, and were once again engaged in the learning process.
I have worked with disaffected young people throughout my teaching career, either those disinterested in the traditional curriculum or those who were uninterested in learning about English Literature, and were in the classroom through no choice of their own. I learned how to make the teaching of Shakespeare and other traditional literary works more relevant to the student's everyday experience, and so involved the student's in the learning process. I also persevered with these challenging students through a variety of other strategies. One such strategy was to encourage students not to simply accept what they were being told but to check the information for themselves. In today's technological world it's easy enough to find information. Therefore as part of the learning experience, when you are writing up your notes you should make additional comments by researching the subject matter in more depth. Additionally do not simply accept things as being the truth; but check their validity. Does it make sense? Discuss it with other students and your teacher. Most of all take responsibility for your own learning and understanding of the topic.
Differences in Gender Learning
The philosophy and politics inherent within teaching changes fairly regularly, but a firm foundation on which to base one's teaching can be found through religious scripture as well as from an understanding of pedagogical techniques. From a scriptural perspective I ensure that God is at the centre of my life and is the foundation on which I assess and re-assess my moral and ethical values. I believe that most teachers show their students acts of kindness and ensure that they know they are valued and respected within the classroom. Arguably those who place Jesus Christ at the centre of their lives also ensure that their students understand God's purpose in our lives.
The pedagogy of teaching is more concerned with the practicalities of teaching, for instance effective learning resources and tools, ensuring the students are involved in the learning process, as well as regular assessments and evaluations of the students' knowledge and understanding. As educators there are a whole host of factors which need to be taken into consideration to equip our young people with the skills, knowledge and experience required to make them effective members of society. One important consideration is that there is a difference in the way boys and girls learn. Exponents of this argument would suggest that girls often develop good interpersonal skills and are keen to communicate and interact with their peers. They see learning as a way of impressing their peers and many value education as a focal point in their lives.
On the other hand boys tend to act out in order to impress their peers rather than show that they are intelligent and quite competent learners. This macho image is often quite negative and the behaviours associated with it, could lead the young man to be excluded from school. For instance, I am aware of a male student who some years ago needed to bond with other males in the group. However, the ways in which this manifested itself was very negative and included 'shaping up' to the male teachers. His 'laddish' behaviour became anti-social and he began to cross school boundaries. The inevitable happened, and had it not been for the pastoral support plan which was put in place through negotiation with the Head teacher of the school, the Head of the school year, his parents and the school counsellor, this particular young person would have been permanently excluded from school. Fortunately this did not happen and he was re-integrated back into the classroom, and was closely supervised by all concerned.
Proponents of the argument that boys and girls are not only socialised differently, but also compete in differing ways in school would further argue that boys need to take part in these 'rites of passage', however in so doing it may mean challenging the establishment and this in turn could lead to being permanently excluded from the educational system. If this were to happen it may damage their prospective academic achievements and future career prospects. Girls on the other hand tend to be socialised to interact and be supportive of each other. Most girls tend to talk, listen and share emotions, ideas and knowledge with each other, and while they too challenge authority figures it is often in a less confrontational manner. Arguably, girls are less likely to experience long term exclusion from school; and the continuity within their education may ensure they get better qualifications and eventually good jobs.
The course offered vocational tasters in keyboard skills and office practice, (today it would be classed as ICT) cookery, painting and decorating, motor vehicle and basic skills in English, Maths and Personal Development. The vocational tasters operated on a carousel basis for the duration of six weeks. In addition there were two weeks of work experience built into the course. The three days spent at school enabled an opportunity for a more in-depth study of traditional curriculum subjects such as geography, history, science and RE. The students were challenging and some had behavioural difficulties. However, because they were in a new environment and had not as yet been labelled by the institution as underachievers, some of the students began to show a great deal of promise, and were once again engaged in the learning process.
I have worked with disaffected young people throughout my teaching career, either those disinterested in the traditional curriculum or those who were uninterested in learning about English Literature, and were in the classroom through no choice of their own. I learned how to make the teaching of Shakespeare and other traditional literary works more relevant to the student's everyday experience, and so involved the student's in the learning process. I also persevered with these challenging students through a variety of other strategies. One such strategy was to encourage students not to simply accept what they were being told but to check the information for themselves. In today's technological world it's easy enough to find information. Therefore as part of the learning experience, when you are writing up your notes you should make additional comments by researching the subject matter in more depth. Additionally do not simply accept things as being the truth; but check their validity. Does it make sense? Discuss it with other students and your teacher. Most of all take responsibility for your own learning and understanding of the topic.
Differences in Gender Learning
The philosophy and politics inherent within teaching changes fairly regularly, but a firm foundation on which to base one's teaching can be found through religious scripture as well as from an understanding of pedagogical techniques. From a scriptural perspective I ensure that God is at the centre of my life and is the foundation on which I assess and re-assess my moral and ethical values. I believe that most teachers show their students acts of kindness and ensure that they know they are valued and respected within the classroom. Arguably those who place Jesus Christ at the centre of their lives also ensure that their students understand God's purpose in our lives.
The pedagogy of teaching is more concerned with the practicalities of teaching, for instance effective learning resources and tools, ensuring the students are involved in the learning process, as well as regular assessments and evaluations of the students' knowledge and understanding. As educators there are a whole host of factors which need to be taken into consideration to equip our young people with the skills, knowledge and experience required to make them effective members of society. One important consideration is that there is a difference in the way boys and girls learn. Exponents of this argument would suggest that girls often develop good interpersonal skills and are keen to communicate and interact with their peers. They see learning as a way of impressing their peers and many value education as a focal point in their lives.
On the other hand boys tend to act out in order to impress their peers rather than show that they are intelligent and quite competent learners. This macho image is often quite negative and the behaviours associated with it, could lead the young man to be excluded from school. For instance, I am aware of a male student who some years ago needed to bond with other males in the group. However, the ways in which this manifested itself was very negative and included 'shaping up' to the male teachers. His 'laddish' behaviour became anti-social and he began to cross school boundaries. The inevitable happened, and had it not been for the pastoral support plan which was put in place through negotiation with the Head teacher of the school, the Head of the school year, his parents and the school counsellor, this particular young person would have been permanently excluded from school. Fortunately this did not happen and he was re-integrated back into the classroom, and was closely supervised by all concerned.
Proponents of the argument that boys and girls are not only socialised differently, but also compete in differing ways in school would further argue that boys need to take part in these 'rites of passage', however in so doing it may mean challenging the establishment and this in turn could lead to being permanently excluded from the educational system. If this were to happen it may damage their prospective academic achievements and future career prospects. Girls on the other hand tend to be socialised to interact and be supportive of each other. Most girls tend to talk, listen and share emotions, ideas and knowledge with each other, and while they too challenge authority figures it is often in a less confrontational manner. Arguably, girls are less likely to experience long term exclusion from school; and the continuity within their education may ensure they get better qualifications and eventually good jobs.
There are many ways to address the apparent differences in which boys and girls learn. Some might argue that single sex schools are one way of ensuring that the differing genders are able to compete on equal par with each other. Another strategy which might be implemented is for teachers to take the differing learning styles into account when planning lessons. It has for instance been suggested that some boys tend to learn better through visual stimuli which incorporates movement; and they also like dark colours such as browns and greys. While boys like darker colours girl student eyes are more inclined towards bright colours such as reds, yellows and oranges. These factors can be taken into account during the lesson to motivate and encourage both genders to participate in the learning activity. Teachers can also consider placing students in single-sex groups for a part of the lesson. If the argument holds true that separating boys and girls produces immediate academic improvements, then the environment should take this into consideration when educating young people.
It has been my experience, and this is supported by the Ofsted Report(1996) that not only are there differences in the learning styles between genders; but that boys, especially black boys tend to be disproportionally excluded from school. This report may encourage some understanding of the debate which illuminates that the 'macho' image presented by young black boys; which may or may not be an aspect of the rap music culture, is having an adverse effect on the educational achievement of males. While we cannot deal in absolutes I think it's fair to argue that some boys are more at risk in the educational system. For the most part girls are quite successful at school; and it is when they enter the male dominated workplace that their experiences may be less positive, and they are not as likely to be promoted as their male counterpart.
The socio-economic imbalance between genders can be challenged in numerous ways, not least of which is for teachers to continue to encourage girls to continue to be good at what is perceived as traditional boys or men's roles and careers. Other factors which could be taken into account are for girls to understand that they need not get pregnant too early. Being informed about birth control and managing their bodies should ensure that they do not become teenage mothers. It may also be useful to socialize girls slightly differently in contemporary society. While I believe in the sanctity of marriage, it does not have to be entered into too early, or if you marry at an early age, it should not necessitate the end of your career aspirations. Girls need to be goal focused and believe that they can realise their dreams and become astronauts, president and the heads of large corporations.
Veronica Williams
Veronica Williams can be contacted on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/KufiEducation) or you can e-mail her at [email protected] Telephone number 1 869 664 6438
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Veronica_B_Williams