According to the United States Department of Education, 92 million adults took part in some type of formal education to accommodate new job requirements, earn an advanced degree, keep their skills current or simply to attain a higher education. The education specialist degree program is intended for teachers, supervisors, administrators and counselors in elementary and secondary schools. This degree program offers specialization for teachers who have completed their master's degree, along with in-depth opportunities for enhanced professional growth.
The minimum educational requirement to pursue an education specialist degree is 60 hours of graduate credit, which might include a master's degree. A candidate for the program should have a minimum 3.0 grade point average on their previous graduate work. Furthermore, many educational specialist programs require at least three years of successful teaching in the field, standardized test scores, writing samples and recommendations. Since a specialist level teacher is considered an instructional leader, the education specialist degree program builds upon the teacher's prior education and professional experiences to accomplish this. The specialist program ensures that a teacher who completes the course is particularly knowledgeable about current theory and practice in education.
Specific areas of study can be pursued within the education specialist degree program. Such areas of include curriculum and instruction, administration and counseling.
Curriculum and instruction: Teachers pursuing an education specialist degree with a concentration in curriculum and instruction are involved with the teaching, supervision and curriculum of discipline-centered areas of study.
Administration: Those educators seeking an education specialist degree with a concentration in administration can seek licenses for advanced administrative positions within public and private schools, such as building administrator, administrative specialist, vocational director and district administrator.
Counseling: Teachers taking the education specialist degree program with a concentration in counseling have the opportunity for advanced training and study in specialized areas of interest, such as individual, group or family clinical counseling.
Specializations within each of the three segments of the education specialist degree include literature, art, English, foreign language, science, social education, mathematics and special education. The education specialist degree program encompasses 30 semester hours.
An education specialist degree is intended to develop proficiency and professional among teachers already in service. By earning an education specialist degree online, working teachers are afforded the flexibility to attend classes around their own schedule. Online education makes it easier for teachers to pursue higher education while keeping their current positions and maintaining tenure. Thus, attending an education specialist degree program online enables teachers to remain in the classroom with students while they learn how to enhance the educational experience. Teachers who attain an education specialist degree are useful in imparting leadership skills to other teachers, administrators, colleagues and students. Many such teachers implement school improvement plans, developing and using unique teaching practices right in their own classroom.
So are the longterm benefits of pursuing an education specialist degree online worth balancing time between earning and learning? The U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2006-07 Edition states that 1 in 4 Americans are enrolled in educational institutions; this makes the educational services the second largest industry in America. About 13 million jobs exist in education services today and most of them require at least a bachelor's degree. The Guide further offers that, “Wage and salary employment growth of 17 percent is expected in the educational services industry over the 2004-14 period, higher than the 14 percent increase projected for all industries combined. The number of teachers retiring is expected to remain a record high over the 2004-2014 period, so there may be a lack of students graduating with education degrees to meet this growing industry's needs. This makes job opportunities for graduates in many education fields good to excellent.”
Education remains an important part of life and school attendance is compulsory the United States, so there are numerous educational establishments to teach at. As technology expands and the economy changes, there will be an increased need for skilled teachers with an innovative approach to dynamic classroom situations. People holding an education specialist degree will have increased opportunities to advance into positions as administrators, specialized counselors or even assist in developing cutting edge curriculum for students. In a Report released in July 2006, The U.S. Department of Labor reveals that school districts report difficulties in recruiting qualified administrators and teachers, especially in urban and rural areas.
According to the Distance Education and Training Council, over 4 million students are enrolled in online universities and schools and that number is growing by 30 percent each year. The convenience of pursuing an education specialist degree online enables teachers to learn while they earn, as well implement the skills they attain in their own classrooms as they go. Thus, education specialist degree online programs are beneficial to both teachers and their students.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Special Education On Evaluation For Childrens Benefits
Do you have a child with a learning disability or with autism that is not making academic progress, even though they are getting special education services? Would you like to know what educational and related services your child needs in order to learn how to read, or do other academics? This article will discuss what an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is, and how you can use one to benefit your child with a disability.
The definition of an Independent Education Evaluation (IEE) is:
An independent educational evaluation is an evaluation conducted by a qualified person, who does not work for the school district. Parents of children with a disability often get IEE's so that they understand what educational needs their child has and what services they require. Most independent evaluations are parent initiated and paid for by the parent.
Once you have decided to get an IEE, there are several things to consider about the evaluator:
a. Make sure that they are qualified to perform the educational evaluation. For Example: a registered Occupational Therapist could conduct an Occupational Therapy evaluation. If sensory processing disorder (used to be called sensory integration disorder) is an issue, make sure that you find a registered Occupational Therapist who is SIPT certified. If your child has autism, make sure the evaluator specializes in educational evaluations for children with all types of autism.
b. Whether this person is now, or ever has been an employee of your school district. Talk to the person, and make sure that they do not have a relationship with your school district. Be careful, even if they used to work for another school district, make sure they are truly independent, and willing to make recommendations for what your child needs.
c. Make sure that the evaluator is willing to write a detailed report, to include recommendations for related and educational services. Ask the evaluator if they are willing to recommend specific amount of minutes of service and specific methodology for educational and related services. If they are not, consider going to a different evaluator.
Once you have answered these questions, make an appointment and take your child. Bring up any concerns that you have, and make sure that you understand what tests will be conducted on your child. When the report is finished, have the evaluator mail a copy to you. If you have concerns about what is written, you may contact the evaluator and tell them your concerns. Make sure recommendations are specific for minutes, #of times per week, goals, methodology, etc.
Call the school district and set up an IEP meeting to discuss the results of the IEE. If they request a copy up front, you can give it to them. If possible, set up with the evaluator, a time that she or he can participate in the IEP meeting by telephone. By having the evaluator participate, special education personnel will have a harder time not including the evaluators recommendations.
At the IEP meeting, if the school personnel will not put the recommendations in your child's IEP, they must give you prior written notice (PWN), as to why they are not willing to accept, the evaluators recommendations. This notice must include the reason that they are not accepting the recommendations, and what evaluations they are using to refuse. If at the IEP meeting the school personnel do include the recommendations, ask for reimbursement of the independent educational evaluation.
An independent educational evaluation can be invaluable to your child. By understanding what your child's educational and related needs are, you may be a more effective advocate, for needed educational and related services. If your child does not receive an appropriate education their future may be in jeopardy!
The definition of an Independent Education Evaluation (IEE) is:
An independent educational evaluation is an evaluation conducted by a qualified person, who does not work for the school district. Parents of children with a disability often get IEE's so that they understand what educational needs their child has and what services they require. Most independent evaluations are parent initiated and paid for by the parent.
Once you have decided to get an IEE, there are several things to consider about the evaluator:
a. Make sure that they are qualified to perform the educational evaluation. For Example: a registered Occupational Therapist could conduct an Occupational Therapy evaluation. If sensory processing disorder (used to be called sensory integration disorder) is an issue, make sure that you find a registered Occupational Therapist who is SIPT certified. If your child has autism, make sure the evaluator specializes in educational evaluations for children with all types of autism.
b. Whether this person is now, or ever has been an employee of your school district. Talk to the person, and make sure that they do not have a relationship with your school district. Be careful, even if they used to work for another school district, make sure they are truly independent, and willing to make recommendations for what your child needs.
c. Make sure that the evaluator is willing to write a detailed report, to include recommendations for related and educational services. Ask the evaluator if they are willing to recommend specific amount of minutes of service and specific methodology for educational and related services. If they are not, consider going to a different evaluator.
Once you have answered these questions, make an appointment and take your child. Bring up any concerns that you have, and make sure that you understand what tests will be conducted on your child. When the report is finished, have the evaluator mail a copy to you. If you have concerns about what is written, you may contact the evaluator and tell them your concerns. Make sure recommendations are specific for minutes, #of times per week, goals, methodology, etc.
Call the school district and set up an IEP meeting to discuss the results of the IEE. If they request a copy up front, you can give it to them. If possible, set up with the evaluator, a time that she or he can participate in the IEP meeting by telephone. By having the evaluator participate, special education personnel will have a harder time not including the evaluators recommendations.
At the IEP meeting, if the school personnel will not put the recommendations in your child's IEP, they must give you prior written notice (PWN), as to why they are not willing to accept, the evaluators recommendations. This notice must include the reason that they are not accepting the recommendations, and what evaluations they are using to refuse. If at the IEP meeting the school personnel do include the recommendations, ask for reimbursement of the independent educational evaluation.
An independent educational evaluation can be invaluable to your child. By understanding what your child's educational and related needs are, you may be a more effective advocate, for needed educational and related services. If your child does not receive an appropriate education their future may be in jeopardy!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Student And Teacher
Student And Teacher
Your education can be more about what you learn in the books. We all go through school, and we are all expected to learn what is presented to us in the books, and through things like observations and experimentation. We learn a lot more than reading and math through, we learn about life and the people around us. There are so many life lessons to be learned and it’s not just our peers who affect who we may end up being in the future. The student and teacher relationship can nurture you, or can leave a scar on your soul.
I have a friend who once had a bad student and teacher episode that she carried with her for a very long time. In fact, up until recently she didn’t discuss it let alone try to get over it. Though she was not abused in any way, the effects of this student and teacher encounter did a lot of damage. She was very young, and was in her early years of learning to love art. She had a gift, it would seem, but her teacher decided to tear her down. She ripped up my friends painting right in front of her and berated her in front of the entire class.
As a result of this moment between student and teacher, my friend gave up on art and never painted or drew another thing. What the teacher had said and done had affected her so deeply that she was broken inside. She is now in her thirties and has just now faced the demons born from that student and teacher interaction. She decided to try to face her fears and pick up a paintbrush again. She showed me some of her work, and it is really good. That teacher obviously had no idea what she was talking about. That’s not even the point though. No teacher should have ever treated a child in that manner, talented or not. It’s unforgivable.
If you think your child is having trouble with the student and teacher interaction in their class, make sure you talk to them about it. Never dismiss it by saying that the teacher must be tough and that is just the way life is sometimes. This may be true, and surely we have all endured bad student and teacher relationships, but there are some moments than can paralyze and important part of your child’s growth and expression. If you sense something, talk with them and get them to tell you what happened. You may not be able to fix the problem, but you can try to minimize the damage.
Your education can be more about what you learn in the books. We all go through school, and we are all expected to learn what is presented to us in the books, and through things like observations and experimentation. We learn a lot more than reading and math through, we learn about life and the people around us. There are so many life lessons to be learned and it’s not just our peers who affect who we may end up being in the future. The student and teacher relationship can nurture you, or can leave a scar on your soul.
I have a friend who once had a bad student and teacher episode that she carried with her for a very long time. In fact, up until recently she didn’t discuss it let alone try to get over it. Though she was not abused in any way, the effects of this student and teacher encounter did a lot of damage. She was very young, and was in her early years of learning to love art. She had a gift, it would seem, but her teacher decided to tear her down. She ripped up my friends painting right in front of her and berated her in front of the entire class.
As a result of this moment between student and teacher, my friend gave up on art and never painted or drew another thing. What the teacher had said and done had affected her so deeply that she was broken inside. She is now in her thirties and has just now faced the demons born from that student and teacher interaction. She decided to try to face her fears and pick up a paintbrush again. She showed me some of her work, and it is really good. That teacher obviously had no idea what she was talking about. That’s not even the point though. No teacher should have ever treated a child in that manner, talented or not. It’s unforgivable.
If you think your child is having trouble with the student and teacher interaction in their class, make sure you talk to them about it. Never dismiss it by saying that the teacher must be tough and that is just the way life is sometimes. This may be true, and surely we have all endured bad student and teacher relationships, but there are some moments than can paralyze and important part of your child’s growth and expression. If you sense something, talk with them and get them to tell you what happened. You may not be able to fix the problem, but you can try to minimize the damage.
Top Universities
In this day and age you'd have to be a fool to dismiss a quality education as unnecessary. The truth is most of us need a college degree of some sort to succeed in this highly competitive world. Employers far and wide are looking for it. Large companies have no use for those who lack essential academic knowledge and skill. So, where does this leave you in the big scheme of things? Well, it's simple really. It leaves you searching for a great University to attend. Maybe you even want to take it to the next level and seek out top universities across the world. A great education can never hurt! I'll give you one guess at the current top universities in the USA. Do the words Princeton, Harvard and Yale mean anything to you? Yeah, I thought they might. These are the top three Universities for 2007, and in that order. Obviously not everyone is going to make it into an Ivy League school. Many of us could not afford the tuition if we did.
This is why I suggest that you ponder your chosen major or field of interest and take it from there. Think about what you want to attend a University for, and then proceed to find the best rated Universities that offer that particular major. This is the way to go!
There are countless colleges with great reputations to choose from. If you're stuck on finding a University in your area, then simply do a quick search online. Punch in the major you're looking for and applicable Universities should pop up. This is how I found my University.
Okay, maybe you're bent on attending one of the top universities in the country. If so, here are a few to pick from; California Institute of Technology, Dartmouth College, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. Those are just a few of the several.
Fortunately for us Americans, we have plenty to select from when it comes to finding a good college. Be sure you acquire the education you deserve and need to succeed at whatyou love in life.
This is why I suggest that you ponder your chosen major or field of interest and take it from there. Think about what you want to attend a University for, and then proceed to find the best rated Universities that offer that particular major. This is the way to go!
There are countless colleges with great reputations to choose from. If you're stuck on finding a University in your area, then simply do a quick search online. Punch in the major you're looking for and applicable Universities should pop up. This is how I found my University.
Okay, maybe you're bent on attending one of the top universities in the country. If so, here are a few to pick from; California Institute of Technology, Dartmouth College, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. Those are just a few of the several.
Fortunately for us Americans, we have plenty to select from when it comes to finding a good college. Be sure you acquire the education you deserve and need to succeed at whatyou love in life.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Higher Education Oppurtunities In California
I had not planned on going on to get a graduate degree. Living in California higher education was not on the top of my list of priorities. You see, there are so many opportunities in California even if you don't have a higher education. There is Hollywood, there is the environmental non profit community, there are opportunities for starting your own tourism business, high-tech business, or restaurant. California really is the land of opportunity, So I had no intention of spending all of my time cooped up in school.
It isn't that higher education California isn't good – it is. California schools are among the best in the nation. Both California public universities and private schools are amazing. The UC system is so good that there is almost no point in going to a private university in California, and if you are a resident there, you can get significant deductions from your tuition. Even still, I didn't think that higher education in California was for me. I was sure that I would get that big break if I waited for it. I worked hard in my office, day in and day out, knowing that I was enjoying living in the real world more than I would enjoy chasing after a higher education California degree.
Now, I realize how silly I was being. I had not thought about all of the higher education employment opportunities that there were, but there were many of them. With higher education California, I would be able to make more money, have an easier life, and have more options available to me. Maybe California was the land of opportunity, but many of the opportunities were in academia. I decided to pursue higher education California By going back to get my Masters of arts. I wanted to be a writer, and I new higher education California would help me with that goal.
Looking back, I wonder why it took me so long to take advantage of the higher education California had to offer me. I guess I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. I was so busy enjoying myself that I never thought about where the real opportunities lay. With higher education California, I will be able to get a job at one of the University of California schools one day. I will be able to live my dreams, living easily and spending all my time writing and teaching. I can't think of a sweeter life!
It isn't that higher education California isn't good – it is. California schools are among the best in the nation. Both California public universities and private schools are amazing. The UC system is so good that there is almost no point in going to a private university in California, and if you are a resident there, you can get significant deductions from your tuition. Even still, I didn't think that higher education in California was for me. I was sure that I would get that big break if I waited for it. I worked hard in my office, day in and day out, knowing that I was enjoying living in the real world more than I would enjoy chasing after a higher education California degree.
Now, I realize how silly I was being. I had not thought about all of the higher education employment opportunities that there were, but there were many of them. With higher education California, I would be able to make more money, have an easier life, and have more options available to me. Maybe California was the land of opportunity, but many of the opportunities were in academia. I decided to pursue higher education California By going back to get my Masters of arts. I wanted to be a writer, and I new higher education California would help me with that goal.
Looking back, I wonder why it took me so long to take advantage of the higher education California had to offer me. I guess I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. I was so busy enjoying myself that I never thought about where the real opportunities lay. With higher education California, I will be able to get a job at one of the University of California schools one day. I will be able to live my dreams, living easily and spending all my time writing and teaching. I can't think of a sweeter life!
Educational Counselling To Become A Nurse
Being a nurse has long been considered to be the noblest of professions. In fact, even to this day, people from certain ethnic groups or communities look at nursing as the only viable career option. Apart form the tremendous satisfaction it brings from the sheer act of caring for and nursing people to good health, nursing is slowly but surely becoming a lucrative profession. Most nurses today in American hospital and private nursing homes earn reasonably good salaries. And hospitals continue to recruit scores of nurses from all over the world to cater to the demand for qualified nurses.
But becoming a nurse is not really inexpensive. Apart from the fact that the course itself is expensive, most nurses have to appear for certifying exams in order to get the necessary licenses or registrations that enable them to become full-fledged nurses. Which is why, a vast majority of nurses complete their basic nursing qualification (usually a diploma) before they enter the workforce.
Once inside, they realize that for nurses with better qualifications, there are tremendous growth opportunities. This usually puts them in a dilemma. If they quit their jobs to take up further courses of study, they not only stand to lose valuable income, but also run the risk of further students loans to pay for costly education. If on the other hand, they stay back in their jobs, they may never see a promotion or an opportunity for growth for a long time to come. The answer to such a dilemma is nursing continuing education.
Simply put, nursing continuing education is an “earn while you learn” scheme. When working nurses sign-up for nursing continuing education programs, they can continue to work at their regular hospitals while they improve their qualifications on the side. Most Diploma in Nursing holders can thus sign-up for a Degree program and work for their degree part-time while working as a regular nurse. Of course, such a course might be longer than a conventional full-time course, but the working nurse need not give up her job to pursue her education.
Most hospitals in the United States have a tie-up or affiliation with a college or university that provides nursing continuing education. Since the hospital itself administers the program, the nurses stand to benefit as they can schedule their rounds conveniently in order to accommodate the demands of the course. They also prefer hospitals which provide the option of nursing continuing education because this is a guarantee that they will have chances to grow in their chosen profession and consequently, earn more. And for the hospitals, it makes commercial sense because they have a steady pool of nurses guaranteed to undertake the course. Further, hospitals favor the nursing continuing education programs because it helps them retain staff in an industry that is always short of qualified nurses. It makes for better business sense to retain and train their existing nurses than to find new nurses.
Most American Nursing Associations like the American Nursing Association (ANA), American Nephrology Nursing Association (ANNA) and others are strong proponents of nursing continuing education. After all, it is a win-win situation for all concerned. And who would say not to happy, qualified nurses working in stress-free hospitals!
But becoming a nurse is not really inexpensive. Apart from the fact that the course itself is expensive, most nurses have to appear for certifying exams in order to get the necessary licenses or registrations that enable them to become full-fledged nurses. Which is why, a vast majority of nurses complete their basic nursing qualification (usually a diploma) before they enter the workforce.
Once inside, they realize that for nurses with better qualifications, there are tremendous growth opportunities. This usually puts them in a dilemma. If they quit their jobs to take up further courses of study, they not only stand to lose valuable income, but also run the risk of further students loans to pay for costly education. If on the other hand, they stay back in their jobs, they may never see a promotion or an opportunity for growth for a long time to come. The answer to such a dilemma is nursing continuing education.
Simply put, nursing continuing education is an “earn while you learn” scheme. When working nurses sign-up for nursing continuing education programs, they can continue to work at their regular hospitals while they improve their qualifications on the side. Most Diploma in Nursing holders can thus sign-up for a Degree program and work for their degree part-time while working as a regular nurse. Of course, such a course might be longer than a conventional full-time course, but the working nurse need not give up her job to pursue her education.
Most hospitals in the United States have a tie-up or affiliation with a college or university that provides nursing continuing education. Since the hospital itself administers the program, the nurses stand to benefit as they can schedule their rounds conveniently in order to accommodate the demands of the course. They also prefer hospitals which provide the option of nursing continuing education because this is a guarantee that they will have chances to grow in their chosen profession and consequently, earn more. And for the hospitals, it makes commercial sense because they have a steady pool of nurses guaranteed to undertake the course. Further, hospitals favor the nursing continuing education programs because it helps them retain staff in an industry that is always short of qualified nurses. It makes for better business sense to retain and train their existing nurses than to find new nurses.
Most American Nursing Associations like the American Nursing Association (ANA), American Nephrology Nursing Association (ANNA) and others are strong proponents of nursing continuing education. After all, it is a win-win situation for all concerned. And who would say not to happy, qualified nurses working in stress-free hospitals!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)