L. D. Mairet
394

Choosing your homeschool curriculum is by far the most important foundation of homeschooling. I strongly suggest buying a prepackaged curriculum for your base curriculum. A prepackaged curriculum will give you lesson by lesson, step by step, strategies and resources for your lesson plans. Let’s face it, we’re not super heroes. We can’t possibly know everything in every grade level and every subject area. A prepackaged curriculum will give you a great ‘core’ foundation on which to teach your child.
Make sure to get a curriculum that encompasses all core subject areas for your child/ren. Core subject areas include math, science, social studies, language arts and reading. A bonus would be to find a program that includes music, art, and P.E. as well.
Make sure that all lesson plans are included in your prepackaged curriculum. Some curriculum even includes workbooks, testing, and select materials. Many companies will even allow you to view samples of their curriculum prior to purchase.
Know what you are getting into upfront. Will there be extra curriculum or materials to purchase? What about workbooks? Are they included? Ask the company to provide you a complete list of what is included in the curriculum or kit that you are buying.
Keep in mind that curriculum will be your biggest expense in your homeschool budget and sometimes cheaper is not always better. Research the value that you will be getting for your money with all curriculums you are interested in.
People ask me if they can homeschool their child without buying prepackaged curriculum. The answer is “YES”. However, I would highly advise against it. As a former teacher in the public school district, I realize that having a strong curriuclum foundation base is key to your child’s education.
Supplemental curriculum or lesson plan swapping and sharing, is excellent to add to your child/rens curriculum. Use your core prepackaged curriculum and then add your own ideas or other lesson plans to help reinforce the learning process. For example, your curriculum has you do a lesson plan with your child on graphing. You research other graphing ideas and find a lesson plan on graphing M&M’s. This sounds like fun and now you can do both graphing projects with your child to reinforce the learning process.
Remember that the curriculum that you choose is just a foundation or building block to help guide you through the teaching process with your child/ren. You know your child the best. Adapt lesson plans to their interests for a more enjoyable learning experience.

Jim Greenberg
556

ITT Tech has about 80 locations in 30 states and is the largest operator in the US of post-secondary school technical education. The school has over 37,000 students in different streams of education. There are, however, a few things that you must know before entering the ITT Tech school of criminal justice.
1. ITT Tech school of criminal justice has come under criminal investigation initiated by the US Justice Department. Although the top management of the school has been given a clean chit by the Justice Department, investigations are still going on at some of the local campuses of ITT Technical Institute. But clean chit or not just ask yourself why an educational institution should come under a criminal investigation?
2. ITT Education Services Inc, the corporate entity that owns and manages ITT Tech has come under investigation by Securities Exchange Commision (SEC). Although the company has so far come out unscathed with no fines or penalties being imposed on it, the fact that it came under investigation should ring a few warning bells.
3. ITT Technical Institute is accredited by ACICS and not by any of the eight regional accrediting bodies that are funded by the US Department of Education. As a result many RA accredited schools may not accept or allow transfer of credits earned at ITT Tech school of criminal justice. Similarly many law enforcement agencies at the local, state or federal level may not accept degrees earned at ITT Tech school of criminal justice for purposes of employment.

Rose Musyoka
7

Distance learning students seem to enjoy the best of everything. They get their education without actually needing to attend classes, and at the same time are able to keep their jobs and get a paycheck. In fact, this is one of the more prominent distance learning benefits that attract many students to make this their choice of education. In addition to that, distance learning students also gain the advantage of flexibility where they are able to study at their own pace without adhering to class schedules.
However, amidst these perks, distance learning requires a lot of discipline and motivation from students. When we are juggling between a job and studies, it is very easy to lose track of our priorities and fail to keep up to mark. Moreover, distance learning students do not have the advantage of getting their learning drive renewed whenever they interact with lecturers or peers in classes.
Therefore, how can distance learning students then overcome this challenge? The first thing that a student must have is good time management. Everyone has 24 hours and it is up to us to utilize our time in the best way possible. Set up a daily or weekly plan for yourself and ensure that you set aside time for your studies daily. If you have a family, let them know about your schedule so that they know when you should not be disturbed. Divide your time appropriately between your work, your family and your studies. Of course, discipline is important here as any schedule will not do any good if it is not followed.
Getting yourself motivated is also essential towards distance learning success. One of the ways to do this is to stay in contact with your classmates. With the internet today, it is often easy to stay in touch through email, instant messenger as well as internet phone. Discussing projects or assignments with your teammates will help you stay on track and keeps you and your teammates accountable for one another.
Setting goals and rewarding yourself when you attain them are great self-motivating habits. Start by drawing a chart on the milestones that you need to reach in order to complete your course. Strike out each goal as you complete them and reward yourself accordingly. There is a certain satisfaction whenever we see ourselves progressing and this becomes a motivating force for us to face the next hurdle.
Additionally, it is ever essential for a distance learning student to set up a quiet place for study away from home life distractions, such as the television, phone calls or other family members. Organize an off-limits study area or lock yourself in a quiet room to ensure optimum focus. Apart from that, a good chair, a strong table and adequate space are also essential elements in creating a conducive environment.
Finally, although distance learning is a great and effective learning concept, much of its effectiveness is dependent on the habits and determination of the individual. The full advantages of distance learning can only be gained through hard work, discipline and determination for success.

David Lithman
162

High school students take having free books for granted. Most incoming college freshmen are in for a big shock when they see the price of their new calculus book. That’s what my advice is here for. $150 for one book is a lot to swallow, not to mention the $30 lab manual that comes with it. Oh and did you forget the $15 CD too? Buying textbooks is very, very expensive. On average a student buying his/her books from the school bookstore can expect to pay anywhere from $300-$400. So you’re looking at spending nearly $750 for books the whole year. In this article I am going to discuss some of the unconventional means of acquiring your books for the semester.
Nearly all incoming students look up their book lists online a week before class starts and buys their books from the university bookstore. People make fun of freshman because they don’t know any better, and this is a prime example. I’ll admit it, I bought my first semester’s books from the university book store, and boy did it show in my pocket book. University bookstores (or bookstores on campus) have the highest mark-up of all stores. You are a fool if you buy your books from them. The only time I recommend buying your book from the university bookstore is when they are the only supplier. For instance, if your professor wrote his own book and you can only buy it through the school.
The next best method of buying books is from a bookstore off-campus. But even here you will still pay hundreds of dollars for books you probably won’t read. Off-campus bookstores are generally smaller and don’t have the selection size of a university bookstore. If you are buying off-campus be sure to pick your books up early, because they will probably run out.
In my opinion, the best method of buying books is online. You can not beat the prices. If you are new to college an unfamiliar with sites that sell textbooks, please visit Amazon (I have several links to them on my site). Half.com and Ebay are also excellent places to find new and used textbooks. Most teachers post their required textbooks online a few weeks before the semester starts. This is the perfect time to search Amazon for you book. You have to look early because shipping can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. If you can wait the shipping time, buying online is the best option. I turned to online buying after my freshman year. It was the best money saving method I used all through college. You turn $350 semester book fees into a mere $150 (or less). It’s amazing how so few students are actually buying online. These companies are 100% safe. There is no reason not to buy online.
Now I will go through some of the pros and cons of buying books from our three different means.
On-campus Bookstore
Pro ?prime location
Pro ?save time
Pro ?get the exact editions you need
Pro ?offer new and used books
Pro ?offer buy back plans
Con ?too expensive
Con ?you get like $10 buy back for a $100 book
Con ?not as many used copies
Off-campus Bookstore
Pro ?less expensive
Pro ?lots of used books
Pro ?offer buy backs
Con ?may have older editions
Con ?not located nearby (unless you live off campus)
Con ?small selections
Online Bookstore
Pro ?cheapest books anywhere
Pro ?get exactly the book you need
Pro ?buy anytime
Con ?have to wait 1-2 weeks for delivery
Some other tips on how to save money when it comes to buying books
Tip 1. Share a book with a friend
Tip 2. Always buy used
Tip 3. Buy previous editions (the books don’t change, trust me)
Tip 4. Look if the book is in e-book form
Tip 5. Swap books with other students
If you are going to get anything out of this article, the most important point being made is to be smart with your money. Buy your books online. It is by far the cheapest method. You can buy previous editions of the book you need for a fraction of the price. Editions don’t change from year to year. Buying edition 4 instead of 5 will not make a difference. This is based on my experiences, the pages numbers and writing will be exactly the same. Publishing textbooks is all a big scam. They update editions every year or two and expect us to buy them for $150.
Also, please be cautious when buying books from a bookstore on or near campus. They will tell you “Bring you book back at the end of the year and you will get CASH!?They always make up these gimmicks that put a picture of you stuffing wads of twenties in your wallet. What they don’t tell you is that they don’t always buy books back. If a new edition comes out, guess what, you’re screwed. I would say 75% of the time you will wait in the buy back line and they will say “I’m sorry, we aren’t buying that book back? If this does happen to you I suggest you make an Amazon account and sell your book online. I’ve done it, and it works.
For more information on how to save money when buying textbooks, or if you have any questions in general, please email me at collegesos@yahoo.com

http://collegesos.blogspot.com

Adwina Jackson
8

College may be many years away?or it may be just around the corner. Whether your kids are 6 or 16, it is important that you prepare them for college long before the time comes for them to attend.
For many children going to college is a rite of passage. For others it is an unknown, a world of mystery.
You never know, your child may not even be sure if they want to attend college to begin with.
You’ll never know if you don’t take the time to sit down and talk with your kids about college. While you are doing this, you should also consider participating in 5 steps that will help prepare your kids for college long before that first monumental day.
Step 1: Communicate with your child about their goals and dreams. You have to keep the lines of communication open at all times. If you never talk to your child about what they want to do later in life, you won’t have a sense of what their goals, dreams and aspirations are. If on the other hand you regularly engage your children in conversations about education and their future, you’ll learn early on the types of studies that might interest them and can help them make important decisions about their college career when the time comes.
Step 2: Stay involved in education. You have to be involved in your child’s education from day one. It’s not enough to take an active interest their first day of college. Ask them how they are doing in school regularly, talk with them about the classes they like and the ones they are struggling with. They will be more likely to lean on you for support during their college years.
Step 3: Encourage your children to explore new things and subjects early. Don’t wait until they are about to head off to college to encourage them to try new things. Start when they are young. Expose them to different subjects, music, sports and other creative activities so they have a chance to experience as much of the world as possible before they make the giant leap to college.
Step 4: Don’t push. You should be available for your children when they have questions about college or pursuing a career, but you shouldn’t be overly aggressive about pushing them toward attending or even going to a particularly school. Why? Your efforts may actually backfire and you may find that your teenager decides to forgo an education all together, not because they aren’t interested, but because they want to defy your strict orders.
Step 5: Teach your child to start saving early. College is expensive. As time goes on your child may find themselves spinning a wheel of deeper and deeper debt. Teach them to be financially responsible early on by helping them set up a savings account. It doesn’t have to be for school or college only, but it will help teach them the value of saving a dollar. While you are at it, save some money too.
Preparing your children for college is a big step, but a worthy one. You’re children will thank you one day for taking time out of your schedule to help them through their college years.

Colin P
1

An ever growing number of thoughtful parents are concerned about the status of public schools in many cites across North America. At the same time, a good number of families are struggling to make ends meet. They simply do not have excess funds available to send their children to private schools. One solution that many families are embracing is home schooling. With each passing school year, more and more families in North America — indeed, in many countries around the world — are electing the home schooling for their children.
There are some definite benefits and specific drawbacks to choosing home schooling for your children. Turning to the positive elements of home schooling first, chief amongst them is the fact that parents have greater control over the education of their children.
One of the more significant complaints frequently expressed about both public and private schools is the lack of input and control a parent has over the education of his or her child or children. While there are certain educational standards that must be met when it comes to home schooling, a parent has a significant degree of discretion over how his or her child or children will be taught.
In addition to more control over the educational process, most parents who are involved in the home schooling of their children believe that their children are obtaining a far better course of education. Many of these parents simply believe that public schools are not up to muster and that home schooling ensures that their children will be properly educated.
Of course, when contrasting home schooling with the private school alternative, educating your children at home is significantly less expensive. The tuition costs and other fees associated with most private schools continue to increase each and every year. As a result, many families simply have been priced out of the private school market all together.
People who are involved in home schooling believe that education children at home works to develop a stronger bond between parents and children. The very fact that children will be spending more time with their parents because of being schooled in the home enriches the relationship between the generations.
There are some drawbacks to home schooling as well. The primary complaint that some education experts have in regard to home schooling is based on the need for children to interact socially with other children. These experts maintain that one of the most important components of attending school — be it in a public or private setting — are the opportunities for children to interact with each other. These opportunities are more limited when a child is home schooled.
With that said, there are now different organizations and associations that have been formed that bring children who are home schooled together for different activities and events. Home schooling advocates assert that these activities and events allow children who are home schooled ample opportunity to interact with other children their own ages.
Most education analysts believe that the trend towards home schooling will continue onward into the immediate future. These experts believe that an ever growing number of parents are going to elect to educate their children at home as an alternative to problematic public schools and expensive private schools.

All Homeschooling
609

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

Jay Moncliff
55

There are a lot of people out there who just don’t have the time to go to a college campus for an education. This can be for many reasons, such as work, finding a babysitter, costs of college courses, or even coordinating it to fit into your busy schedule. There is a solution for this. You can obtain an online college degree.
An online college degree is just as valid as a degree you receive at a regular college campus. In fact a lot of people prefer it. This is because you can get an online college degree from the comfort of your own home. You don’t have to go anywhere to get the online college degree and you can register for the courses for your online college degree at home as well. You also don’t have to commute to go to school, which in turn will save you gas, time, and money. An online college degree program will fit into any busy schedule and is convenient for anyone.
Online college degree programs offer financial aid and assistance just like regular college campuses do. Online college degree programs also offer job placement programming to anyone who completes the courses and obtains the online college degree. Online college degree programs often boast that you can get your degree in half the time it would take from a normal on campus course program. This is true because an online college degree program allows you to take the courses as quickly or as slowly as you want. It is all done at your own pace!
Now that you see the advantages of obtaining an online college degree, let us look at some of the online college degree courses offered. Some are: accounting, teaching, business, computers, criminal justice, legal and paralegal, dental assistance, travel and tourism, and many more. There is even master degree programs offered online so you can even further you education.
The prices of online college degree programs can vary from school to school. It is best to do your research and see what school offers you the best deal and the best education. If you need financial aide, be sure the school offers it before you enroll. Remember, this is an online college degree program so it doesn’t matter where the course is coming from!
You can now see the huge advantageous of obtaining an online college degree. There really aren’t any disadvantages. Only positive things have been said about online college degree programs. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Why not give an online college degree program a try? You will find it is truly worth it, for you and for your future.

James Marriot
490

Increasing demand for corporate training as well as the logistical headaches associated with assembling instructors and students at a single location has been the main reason for the birth of E-learning services. In an attempt to avoid the logistical complications of on location training, many companies have opted for a virtual approach to training. Stand-alone CD-ROM modules, enterprise-wide, Web-based programs comprised of hundreds of courses custom-designed for thousands of users all fall under the concept of E-Learning. However, there’re many who’re skeptical of E-learning services and believes it to be just a lot of hype.
E-learning is basically a new or different form of learning. E-learning enables learners to combine traditional methods of learning with the internet facilities. In fact, some learners opt for a mix of face-to-face experiences with network-based education. However, like everything, E-Learning programs have its pros and cons. It has been found that often, E-learning provides a more individualized, self-paced, self-directed learning experience.
A main advantage of E-learning services is flexibility. With E-learning services there is no need to go to an institution in order to learn a subject or a skill. Also, you can work as well as study because E-Learning solutions don’t have fixed classroom timings and therefore you’ve the freedom to learn at your own pace and at your convenience. E-Learning solutions also have the flexibility of being CD-ROM-based, Network-based, Intranet-based or Internet-based.
It’s a hands-on learning experience without the disadvantages like crowded classrooms or a huge auditorium, where your questions and views might not get addressed. Another advantage is the amount of time you can save. With E-learning services you can save the time as well as costs that you’d otherwise spend commuting to your classes. But, you’ll however miss out on the experiences that come with campus life and the social interaction that are a part of traditional classrooms and institutions. And with E-learning solutions, you can learn as and when you need it and your learning options aren’t constrained or limited by your geographic location.
Another unique feature of E-learning services is that the instruction can be more personalized and flexible. Therefore it’s more effective for particular kinds of learners like, shy, reflective, language challenged or slow. Within E-learning the focus is on the students and not on the instructor.
However, like everything, it has its share of disadvantages as well. For example, E-learning services that have ineffective online instructors are not very useful. Also, many instructors find it difficult to use E-learning services for traditional content. And it’s at the same time more time consuming as instructors have to provide individualized feedback. Also, often there is the matter of equipment needs of students and learning providers as well as the technical training and support of learners and instructors.
Another issue that needs to be addressed is the academic honesty of online students, especially when it comes to testing and assessment. In this matter the absence of face-to-face interaction is a big set back. Another fact is that E-learning services are not available to all learners from all walks of life, because it needs special infrastructure to support it as well as new skills and responsibilities from the students.
However, E-learning services provided by offshore E-Learning solutions provider companies have now become more universal, and is now giving people and organizations the competitive edge that allows them to stay ahead of the quickly varying global information economy. In the long run, this will help the Indian economy grow, since many companies have now started to outsource their E-learning services to India.
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Mark Woodcock
290

You might be at a crossroads in your life. You might realize that you need your Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree to land that exciting and high-paying job you have always wanted. You might realize that you need your Master’s degree to rise higher in your current profession. You might realize that you are ready to return to work after taking a break to raise your family, and that getting a degree will help you achieve your professional goals. Simply the most convenient and flexible way to achieve any of these ambitions is by getting your degree online at a college that offers distance learning. Distance learning is not “correspondence? Rather, it utilizes today’s Web technologies to allow anyone from anywhere to attend college via the Internet, and receive a college education.
There are many advantages of choosing to receive your education online from a college that offers distance-learning programs. Proximity is no longer a factor in determining where you attend college. There is no need to live near or commute to a college when all classes can be attended and all work submitted online. Studying for a college education online allows you to achieve your educational and professional goals at your own pace, whether you want to get a 2-year Associate’s degree, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree, or take an accelerated course program to receive a professional certificate. Attending school online is a great option for those who might have uncertainties about going to college as an older student or returning after many years. Taking advantage of a distance learning program can be an easy way to ease into the routine of class work and projects, and can reduce the stress of feeling the need to fit in with younger students. Further, course availability is often convenient for those who work full time or care for a family. Often, distance-learning programs offer evening and weekend classes.
There are distance-learning programs available for just about every professional and academic discipline out there. Fields of study include Business, Social Sciences, Humanities, Library and Information Sciences, Education, Nursing, Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, and various Healthcare programs. These are but a few of the subjects in which you can earn a college degree by choosing a distance-learning program. While there are many fully accredited online-only colleges and Universities that offer distance learning programs, there are also many traditional colleges and Universities that are adding distance learning to their curricula. Most of these colleges and Universities are accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation is an important credential to look for when choosing an online program if you have prior college credits you wish to transfer. Accredited institutions are also more readily recognized and accepted by employers and professional organizations.
You might be concerned about affording a degree through a college that offers distance-learning programs. Often, financial aid is available to students in the form of grants, loans, even scholarships. Also, many employers are willing to pay for part or all of an employee’s tuition and fees. Investing in an employee’s future reaps benefits for everyone involved.
The misconception of receiving your degree from a college that offers distance-learning programs is that the experience might not be as enriching or legitimate as attending campus-based classes at a traditional college or University. This just isn’t the case. Programs offered online present the same opportunities for group work, independent study, and interpersonal communications as their traditional counterparts. While it is true that being an online student requires a certain amount of self-discipline and organization, receiving your college degree online will probably help to facilitate the learning process as well as develop your time management and self-motivation skills. With the prevalence of the Internet and advancements such as teleconferencing in both education and the business world today, it is possible to come away from the experience not only with a college education and your dream career, but also with greater knowledge and comfort with technology. Receiving your college degree through a distance-learning program is a valuable, convenient, and flexible way to broaden your career opportunities, and have the career you have always dreamt about.

Jim Greenberg
597

When deciding which criminal justice program to attend, the accreditation issue is very important. There are certain things that you should know about accreditation.
1. What is accreditation?
Accreditation means that a school and its programs have been peer reviewed through site visits by bodies recognized and authorized by the US Department of Education to do so. It, therefore, ultimately means that degrees obtained from accredited schools are recognized across the nation and are accepted as valid by employers.
2. Who are the recognized accreditation bodies?
The US Department of Education funds eight accreditation bodies. There are six regional accreditation (RA) bodies and two spin-offs of two of the six RA bodies.
These bodies are authorized to grant accreditations to schools falling within their specified regional jurisdictions.
These bodies are:
?the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont);
?the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia);
?the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Panama);
?the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming);
?the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (California, Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Pacific Basin, and East Asia); and,
?the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington).
The two spin-offs are:
?the Western Association’s Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (see WICHE Best Practices), and,
?the North Central’s Higher Learning Commission (see NCA Best Practices).
If your school is accredited by one of these eight (8) groups, which receive U.S. Dept. of Education funding and operate primarily by site visit-peer review, then you need not worry — your school has the best accreditation there is.
3. Are there other accreditation bodies?
There are other accreditation bodies and many online schools proudly advertise that they are accredited by one or the other of these bodies. But these so-called accrediting bodies are themselves not accredited so that their accreditations are not worth the paper they are written on.
Out of all these other accrediting bodies there are some that are simply blacklisted and not recognized while there are others that may be accepted as valid in 30 per cent of the organizations that matter. Employers, on the other hand, are likely to reject outright degrees given by schools accredited by these other agencies.
4. Is there a list of blacklisted schools or a list of schools whose degrees are not recognized?
Yes, at present there are two such lists. One list has been prepared by the state of Michigan and another prepared by the state of Oregon. Employers use these lists to check whether a particular degree from a particular school is worthless or not.
5. Is accreditation a really important issue?
Yes! It is the most important issue when you are deciding which criminal justice school you should enroll in. If the school you enroll in is not accredited, then the degree that you earn after spending a lot of money and effort will not be worth the paper it is written on. You will be a sucker of the worst kind!

John Edmond
568

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

Shaan Randow
49

There will always be con artists, people trying to make a buck on the shady side of the street. They prey on the unsuspecting and the ill-informed. Every year thousands of Americans are hoodwinked by direct mail scams that offer them great prizes and vacations. Some of these victims, many of them elderly or senior citizens invest their hard earned savings with unscrupulous crooks who fleece them of their money through promises of exorbitant returns. The bottom line in business is to know who you are dealing with and check them out if things they say or do raise concern.
Unfortunately these scammers have found the Internet to be a great and anonymous way to select new victims. One way they do this is by creating fake universities and colleges that grant bogus degrees.
A bogus online degree is one that will be worthless to you in the future and will not be accepted as proof of your credentials by any other institution or employer.
Some experts say that there are at least thirty “universities?offering bogus online degree programs and they are willing to sell you a degree, even if you never plan to attend classes. Be forewarned, a degree without the proper accreditation is only worth the piece of paper that it is written on and no one will give you any of the respect and rewards that you think you may deserve with a bogus degree.
The process of accreditation is supervised by a set of regional accreditation agencies across the United States. They examine all aspects of the online degree program to ensure that it meets or exceeds nationally established standards. They look at the curriculum, the instructors, the course material and the quality control processes that the institution has in place before they agree to accredit the program. This ensures that an online degree granted by one institution is as least as good as all of the rest and it protects students, the school and prospective employees from embarrassment or disappointment later.
There are over 750 online degree programs that are accredited and open to the public across the United States. Some are very small and highly specialized

Kacy Carr
271

Lack of communication in the education system of yesterday deprived many a scholar of becoming the next Richard Branson, due to the fact the importance of having an education behind you was never first and foremost on our list of studies unlike it is today in 21st century schools.
Caring parents need to know where to draw the line and face up to reality that we are not in the position to help with our children’s education. Parents I agree know what’s best for their child when it comes to nurturing and preparing them for the future but when it comes to succeeding in life, then mum/dad you need to step down.
Educational instructors have trained/studied for years passing exams to take on the role of teacher/tutor passing on their knowledge to others. As caring parents it is in your child’s best interest to leave the task of furthering their education to the professionals.
With no educational background and being a 15 year old school leaver what right have I to destroy this generations chance of success by teaching them what I don’t know.
A career move in days gone by was to join the staff at Woolworth’s, a company that never asked for papers i.e. GCSE etc on how to fill shelves, but this is all changing.
How can we possibly believe that ours kids future will be bright and rosie without qualifications. Why live in hope that our children make the right decisions in life to fulfil their dreams.
Children are influenced by their parents, but if mum/dad decides to sit back and do nothing then you as a parent have failed by taking away a lifeline for their survival.
If you are concerned about securing your child’s future then do something about it now. Parents do not live forever and in some sad cases children have been orphaned from a young age with no one to point them in the right direction.
For success in days gone by we looked for support from our parents, but how could mum/dad help us to make the right decision where their lack of knowledge taught them that living a life was about trudging through the snow to work in the mill or mines.
Parents of the 21st century have come along way and understand the meaning of the word wisdom, learn by others mistakes. If it takes some ones downfall for you as a parent to come to your senses then so be it
Confront those fears of what will happen to your kids if something should happen to you by furthering their education.
If you want the initials RIP mean what they represent then make sure to do right by your kids, if you don’t then you will forever turn in your grave while your children struggle in this life to survive.

Chris Dunn
575

First and foremost, a good medical transcription school will have a comprehensive curriculum designed specifically for medical transcription training. This does not mean some off-the-shelf program that mixes and matches curriculum and study material from a hodge-podge of medical and non-medical sources. You are looking for a solid A to Z curriculum that was designed by Medical Transcriptionists specifically for medical transcriptionists. There is a big difference. You don’t want a version of anatomy that is adapted from a veterinarian course. Yes, this sounds crazy, but you would be surprised at what you will find out there!
You are looking for a medical transcription school that teaches you the medical terminology, human anatomy, physiology and disease processes, abbreviations and plurals, and a host of other foundational material ?all from a medical transcriptionist’s perspective.
Second, and of no less importance, the medical transcription school that you select must have an extremely strong focus on practical application. All the text-book training in the world is insufficient without a strong practicum to go along with it. Sitting in a classroom without applying what you are studying would be like memorizing vocabulary and learning to conjugate verbs in a foreign language and then assuming you could immediately go to that country and speak fluently with the natives. It just isn’t realistic. It takes a lot of practice before you can start actually doing it well.
The best medical transcription schools will not graduate you until you can demonstrate a level of practical competency. And guess what? The way many doctors dictate reports is more reminiscent of a foreign language than anything else. Slurred speech, poor grammar, rapid wording, and run on sentences only serve to exacerbate an already complex and specialized language ?the language of medicine!
But in the end, the best way to select the right school is to find out where the national medical transcription employers are recruiting. You can rest assured that they are doing their homework. They will not be in the habit of hiring graduates from institutions that have not proven themselves capable of producing productive graduates. Getting a good job with a great company is really what counts isn’t it? In the ideal world you want the employers to come to you!

Hanif Khaki
378

The following article relates not only to nurses but also to those aspiring to enter the noble profession of nursing. We hope you will get some insight into this field.
Although we have used the female reference for nurses throughout this article (“she”, “her”), this is done purely for convenience and in no way reflects the gender status of nurses in today’s society.
Most people assume that once a nurse has completed her education and has become registered, that is the “end” and that no more learning or education is required. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s more to nursing then just tending and looking after patients.
It is highly critical that a nurse maintain and continue her ongoing education and is kept current on her profession. This is an integral part of maintaining her registration.
A nurse’s life in the 21st century is extremely fast paced. There are medical advances in precedures almost on a daily basis and it is essential that a nurse is kept abreast and is at the forefront of these improvements. This requires a high level of time management and dedication to improve oneself in addition to spending long hours in clinics and hospitals. Of course this is much easier said than done.
It is in the best interests of a good hospital to provide everything needed for nurses to continue their education. A good hospital will also more than likely pay for the education of their nurses. A lack of funds should not be a deterrent to a nurse continuing her education.
Many nurses regularly subscribe to nursing periodicals and magazines to keep up to date with their ongoing education.. Nurses are encouraged to go through the relavent published journals on a regular basis.
Of course let’s not forget that just as important to success is the keeping of portfolios and timely documentation detailing all the training and education received throughout the nursing carreer. This written journal also serves as a method of organizing in an orderly manner, all the continuing education undertaken.
Admittedly, there exists a challenge with regards to access to this education for nurses, namely the expense, since nursing is still not considered to be among the better paid professions. This challenge to accessibility can perhaps be met by employers coming forward and funding the continuing education of registered nurses.
Please be sure to check out the many additional resources available on this topic online.

John Tipton
32

Distance learning and elearning are usually linked with furthering an education. The technology of distance learning, along with the opportunities provided by elearning and online courses, are making it easier for thousands of people to learn something new.
Busy adults can advance their careers by finishing a degree or gaining some special skills, and young students can earn college credit well before they graduate high school, often through distance learning or elearning opportunities.
But do you realize that distance learning and elearning can be just for fun? Maybe it’s always been a dream – to learn to paint with watercolors. But there’s no class offered nearby. Or maybe you’ve had a desire to learn to master a foreign language, not because of any requirements to do so, but simply because you want to know how.
Perhaps it’s even more basic than that – your lawnmower continually breaks down and you just want to be able to impress your friends by fixing it yourself.
Technology often advances in response to specific needs. People needed a way to finish a degree online so businesses, universities and colleges stepped in to create that opportunity.
But as is often the case, the technology exists in a basic format and users have some control over what happens next. That’s probably the reason that some very basic skills, trades and lessons can be learned online – “elearned.”
The idea of lifelong learning is not new, though some of the terms generally associated with lifelong learning are constantly being updated. Distance learning, elearning and other such words signify the ability for a person to gain knowledge without sitting in a classroom.
Most adults continue to long for knowledge long after their days in a classroom are over. Different people set about gaining that knowledge in different ways. Some choose topics and just start reading, gathering whatever books and materials they can find.
Others seek out the professionals and sign up for lessons or classes. Many people are putting technology to work for them, seeking out online courses for elearning about a myriad of topics.
It’s easy to find colleges, universities and businesses that offer degrees or specific classes as either distance learning or online courses. Finding those “fun” things might be a little more difficult, but you can start by talking to family and friends.
You might find that some of them have even taken some online courses. Check with local schools, colleges, universities, community centers and libraries. While these aren’t clearing houses of information about online classes, there may be listings of specific classes available.

Find out why distance learning lets anyone go back to school. Discover what you need to look for in a distance learning program, and what you should avoid. Click http://www.distance-learning-exclusive.com/

Michael Carter
411

Community colleges are local colleges that offer two year degrees and certifications. Students can take classes at community college and earn credits toward a two year or four year degree program.
Community college tuition rates can be quite affordable for anyone wishing to persue a college degree. On average community college tuition is lower than four year universities.
The national average college tuition cost for public universities is $4,694 per year for in state residents. This figure includes both tuition rates and fees for a full time student. The average college tuition cost at private colleges and universities is around $20,000 per year in tuition and fees.
Now compare this to the average community college tuition rate. The average cost of community college tuition is only $2,076 per year. This is less than half than a traditional four year public university and much less than a private college.
Attending a community college will also help offset the costs if a student decides to continue his or her education toward a bachelor’s degree. Since community college tuition rates are lower, students are not as likely to be accumulating student loans which will help their financial state in long term future.
Another factor to consider is that each year tuition rates rise. In fact college tuition costs increase at about twice the general inflation rate, about 8% per year. The future and long term costs are something that all college students, current and future, should consider when choosing a college.
Even though community college tuition rates and four year college costs increase, many students benefit from financial aid programs. Government grants such as the Pell grant provide funding for many college students. In fact students who attend community colleges may qualify for grants that would cover most or all of their community college tuition costs.
Scholarship programs awarded by colleges, businesses and non profit organizations are also available to help students defray the cost of community college tuition. With a combination of savings, financial aid, and scholarships many students today are able to afford community college tuition and further their education.

Dakota Caudilla
168

Imagine the applause, the appreciation, the pats on the back you’ll get after you’ve delivered your speech. The feeling is probably like…wow! This is the kind of ‘high?you’re looking for. And you want to achieve this level of appreciation every time you deliver a speech, right?
No problem.
Your best bet is to ‘ice?your cake with a lot of quotes from respectable figures. Simple, you say. Well, good quotes are pretty hard to come by, given the fact that most lame quotes available are from celebrities who are either high on one thing or the other. Good quotes you want to use for your speech should be of substance, something that makes perfect sense, suits the audience, suits the mood and suits your personality. Quoting Schwarzenegger for an English Language speech is nonsensical. One of the most powerful ways to add ‘punch?or ‘oomph?to your speech is to add some logical and quirky ‘quotes?into your speech.
For example, Christian Nevell Bovee noted that if you don’t have the wits to write your own quotes, quote another. “Next to being witty yourself, the best thing is being able to quote another’s wit? And what about this quote from the 28th U.S. President, “I not only use all the brains I have, but all that I can borrow? Using quotes from others in your speech is like borrowing another person’s brains and wits.
A popular source of quotes is this website – http://www.quotationspage.com/. It doesn’t rank highly on Google for nothing. There are thousands upon thousands of quotes in there that you can sort by author or topic. For your speech, find the topic that you’re going to speaking about, type the keyword in and you’re on your way. Recently, http://www.quotationspage.com/ implemented a new tool whereby you can compile your favorite quotes into your own quotations page which is useful for those who uses quotes in their speeches consistently.
http://www.quoteland.com/ is another popular quotation website that has tons of quotes that you can use in your speech. And who can forget http://www.brainyquote.com/ when it comes to quotes for speeches? By far, http://www.brainyquote.com/ has the most extensive list of categories to choose from in terms of quotes for speeches. This makes searching for quotes very easy indeed.
Now after finding all the quirky and funny quotes you think you like, it’s time to slip it into sections of the speech that you think it will fit into. Don’t be hasty in choosing your speech quotes because you might want to save the best few for last. It’s good to end with a good quote from someone famous.
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th U.S. President, said, “I not only use all the brains I have, but all that I can borrow.”

Ron Tichenor
425

Learning a foreign language can be a daunting task. But when we break it down, it’s really a numbers game. How much time are you putting into it and how many words do you know? In most cases, you will require a few hundred hours of study time and overall 2000-3000 words of active vocabulary to be conversational with any hope of one day being actually fluent. Once you learn it to that point, it pretty much becomes self-sustaining, if you maintain it and continue to use it.
This sounds like too difficult a task for someone who casually says “hey i’d like to learn spanish!” but the reality is, you can learn to speak a language at a daily conversation level much more quickly if you apply a few additional techniques to supplement your language method or class. You can be functional with a lot fewer words and you can significantly reduce the number of hours necessary to learn the foundation of the language.
Flashcards Pound for pound the single best and most efficient use of your time when learning a language. Ten seconds of free time becomes a quick quiz – whip card number one out of your pocket “what is the spanish word for … food? comida? flip the card over … correct!” Two minutes is a major review session. Look at it this way – if you spent ten seconds on one word, for two minutes – that’s twelve words in two minutes. Twelve words a day for five days a week is 3000 words in one year. All the words you need to be conversational in just two minutes a day. That doesn’t account for grammar and pronunciation, but still – one year to learn all the vocabulary you need. Don’t say you don’t have time to learn a language. Remember this the next time you are on line at the bank or the grocery store, doctors office, waiting at a red light etc.
Read Once you have some basic understanding of the language, get some reading material. Here’s the important part – something you are interested in. If you’re into gardening then get a magazine or print out an online article on gardening in your target language. You’ll be learning vocabulary and phrases that really interest you, and that will help you pick it up that much quicker.
Audio If your language method doesn’t have an audio component then get one. If it does then get another one anyway. Hearing the language is the most important aspect of learning if you intend to speak it. Give yourself opportunities to use it during otherwise non-productive times like while driving or just relaxing.
Internet Radio Following the above advice, give yourself more (and free!) opportunities to hear your new language. Radio can expose you to new vocabulary and fresh content daily. Don’t overdo it with your one audio cd. Mix up your audio with other sources, and constantly changing ones like music and internet news broadcasts from other countries. The more sources you have to hear from, the better.
Daily Contact This is probably the cardinal rule when it comes to learning languages. You must expose yourself to the language every day if possible. Studying ten minutes a day is better than cramming for an hour once or twice a week. Frequent review, even if only a few minutes, is essential. This is true for maintaining a language after you have learned it too. Long periods off are deadly.
Penpals Use the power of the internet to hook up with other people around the world who speak the language you are learning. They can help you immeasurably. You can help them with English and they can help you with your target language. There are plenty of free sites and forums to find people who will be happy to work with you.
Study With Others Studying and practicing with other people can give you instant feedback and interactivity that you just can’t get from a book or even audio or software. Even if you only know very little, you will absorb it quicker and with more enjoyment than just studying alone. Ultimately, that’s the purpose of learning a foreign language anyway – to communicate with other people.
So, try applying some different techniques to your language learning regimen. You will probably find that you can add a few techniques without requiring any more time from your already overtaxed schedule. You may find that you can actually use less time studying as you streamline your learning process. Learn to learn more effectively and remember to keep your eye on the goal whether you put a number on it or not.