Education

Ways to Further Your Education While Teaching

January 3, 2014 by Tim McMahon

As a teacher it is essential that you continue to keep your education current. Most school systems require that you take a certain number of credits or in other ways maintain your education. But like a muscle it is also important that you continue to “exercise” your brain and stay in the habit of learning new things. In addition to taking classes for credit there are many other ways for you to continue to expand your education. And with modern technology the avenues for education are expanding on an almost daily basis.

Here are just a few ways you can broaden your educational horizons while working in the field.

Free Online MOOCs

As many people discover the advantages of taking classes online, more top-tier universities, such as Harvard, Yale and MIT are providing “MOOC’s” or massive open online courses . These online lectures are often available free of charge. Stanford has the most popular free course: Introduction to “AI” with 160,000 students from 190 countries.

Subjects range from economics to psychology and offer wonderful ways to hear cutting-edge professors explain their areas of expertise.

In addition to MOOCS some universities are offering classes, lectures and books via mp3. So, many people interested in expanding their educations can now learn on the go anytime they want. Whether on the bus or out for a jog, listening to podcasts from institutions such as Oxford University can provide hours of enjoyment and deeply meaningful learning experiences. For many teachers, the ability to learn from Oxford professors while keeping their day job is a dream come true.
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Can Universities Keep Charging an Arm and a Leg?

November 1, 2013 by Guest Contributor

The cost of an education at a four-year college or university in the United States has consistently risen at a rate greater than the overall cost of living. In 2013, the total cost increases (including tuition, books, fees, and room and board) were at their lowest level for both public and private schools. Public school costs “only” rose 3.2 percent, while private school costs “only” increased 3.7 percent. This cost percentage increase was the lowest that it has been since the 1980s; however, annual public school costs are $31,701, while private schools charge an average of $40,917. For most Americans these costs are still well above what they can afford to send their children to college. See: Sky Rocketing College Costs

Colleges (residential colleges, as distinct from online school) are coming to realize that the rising cost of higher education has priced many moderate and low-income families out of considering college as a first option. Many of these families instead have chosen two-year community colleges, military service, online school or employment as alternatives to a four-year education. A hard look at the economics of college education and the current pricing model presents some interesting questions about the future survival of the traditional college model.

Impact of the Economic Recession on the Cost of College

During the recession, college endowment funds lost [Read more…] about Can Universities Keep Charging an Arm and a Leg?

What’s the Latest Buzz on Online Medical Education

October 31, 2013 by Guest Contributor

The advent of the internet and personal computers revolutionized the way we receive information. Modern technology makes it possible to educate and train the next generation of health care providers in a virtual classroom (such as those at CNACertification-Training.com). While online education creates opportunities for many people, especially those unable to pursue an education otherwise, it does not come without challenges and concerns. Many professionals are concerned that the quality of education received online may be substandard. Lack of personal interaction, potential academic dishonesty, and inadequate training of instructors bring into question the reliability of these distant learning programs.

Team Work

Classroom vs online medical educations: which is right for you? A universal concern among skeptics of online curriculum is the seeming lack of interpersonal interaction between peers, students, and faculty. There is doubt that online programs provide the necessary training to prepare students for working as part of a group. All healthcare workers are part of a team of professionals providing patient care. Learning to communicate and cooperate with others is essential to building a cohesive unit, and without it, patient care suffers. An online classroom generally does not afford the opportunity of face-to-face collaboration. And an individual, knowledgeable in theory, may yet be ill equipped to work with others. Most online programs deal with this issue through the use of online forums requiring students to post a certain number of comments on each assignment. This allows students to provide and receive feedback on their ideas from other students and the professor.

The Honor Code

Academic honesty is another concern. The anonymity provided by [Read more…] about What’s the Latest Buzz on Online Medical Education

15 Great Healthcare Careers

September 13, 2013 by Tim McMahon

With the baby boom generation aging there is more and more demand for healthcare professionals and not just in nursing homes either. Todays seniors are more active (and interested in staying that way) but their bodies aren’t necessarily cooperating. Here are 16 Health Care occupations with good prospects to consider.

1) Audiologists – Audiologists diagnose and treat a patient’s hearing and balance problems using advanced technology and procedures. Their Median Salary in 2010 was $66,660. Becoming an audiologist requires a Doctoral or professional degree. Available jobs are expected to grow much faster than average with an estimated 37% increase during the period from 2010 to 2020. Most audiologists work in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, and audiology clinics.

2) Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists – Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists use imaging technology to help physicians diagnose cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments in patients. They also help physicians treat problems with cardiac and vascular systems, such as blood clots. This position only requires an Associate’s degree and the median salary in 2010 was $49,410. Available jobs are expected to grow much faster than average with an estimated 29% increase during the period from 2010 to 2020. One example of this type of position is an EKG Technician, certifications are available from a variety of different schools including Csinow healthcare career training.

3) Chiropractors- Chiropractors treat patients with health problems of the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They use spinal manipulation and other techniques to treat patients’ ailments, such as back or neck pain. To become a Chiropractor requires a Doctoral or Professional degree which involves 7 to 8 years of post–high school study: 3 to 4 years of undergraduate education, followed by a 4-year Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree program. Chiropractors also must be licensed by their state. The median salary in 2010 for a Chiropractor was [Read more…] about 15 Great Healthcare Careers

10 Reasons You Should be Blogging

September 5, 2013 by Guest Contributor

No experience is necessary to become a blogger. So, if you enjoy writing and have a lot to say – what are you waiting for? It could open up a lot of doors…

Here are 10 reasons why you should enter the blogosphere.

1. You can use it as your new CV

Your blog can act as your CV to showcase what you can do by highlighting your skills and capabilities. You never know who might be looking at it – perhaps a potential employer or recruiter? [Read more…] about 10 Reasons You Should be Blogging

What Skills are Needed to Become a Plumber?

August 29, 2013 by Guest Contributor

To become a plumber you may not need any previous experience or academic qualifications, but there will be certain skills you need to demonstrate.

Some courses and apprenticeships may require a number of GCSEs, whereas others are open to everyone. Despite the lack of need for formal qualifications, plumbing isn’t for everyone so you need to evaluate your suitability based on your own individual skill-set.

Note: The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Physical

Plumbers need various skills to succeed It may not seem like a particularly physically demanding job at first, but plumbers need to have some dexterity and flexibility. Small confined spaces underneath sinks and round the back of appliances means that you might end up stuck in an uncomfortable position for some length of time.

While it may be awkward, you will still need to be able to do the job in hand. It’s also likely that you’ll need to climb ladders or steps and lift heavy items, so a reasonable level of fitness is essential.

Academic

It may not be necessary to have 10 GCSEs and 4 A Levels to become a plumber, but there are some basic skills you will need, particularly in mathematics.

You’ll probably have to do some arithmetic and use statistics for certain projects but it’s also possible that physics will come into play with fluid movements and pressure. But often tables and standard sizes are available so you probably won’t need to do the calculations yourself.

If you left school without any qualifications in these areas, you may get the chance to show your natural abilities and develop your knowledge on plumbing courses.

Personal

As a plumber, most of your work will be [Read more…] about What Skills are Needed to Become a Plumber?

Teaching Assistant: The Next Best Thing to Being a Teacher

July 1, 2013 by Guest Contributor

Teaching Assistants often lead rewarding careers in education. People who enjoy being around children and helping them learn find that TA jobs can be enriching experiences. Such positions are also a great way to determine if working in an academic setting is the right life-long career choice. While entry-level TAs can become valuable supports for classrooms and schools, TAs with advanced experience and training may even garner greater levels of responsibility.

What Does a TA Do?

A teaching assistant is seldom bored. Each day may require various tasks that may involve helping the teacher prep for an activity, one-on-one tutoring, supervising children at a task, or any other number of things that come up during the school day. Both teacher and TA may operate as a team most days; though, TAs rarely must lead lessons and are often subject to the teacher’s direction. However, this arrangement is often what TAs love so much about their work. They aren’t responsible for lesson planning or grading so they can focus their attention primarily on their relationships with the students and finding ways to [Read more…] about Teaching Assistant: The Next Best Thing to Being a Teacher

Training and Certifications: A Leg Up in a Tough Market

June 21, 2013 by Guest Contributor

The job market is tough. Even though the unemployment rates are slowly improving, there are still hundreds of applicants clamoring for every available job opening. Thousands of people who were unemployed one month are still unemployed the next.

Training and certifications could give you the edge in the job market

In such a competitive market, job seekers need to do whatever they can to make themselves stand out to employers. For some, this could mean bolstering their resumes with additional training and certifications.

But many of these certification programs are not cheap. There’s an old saying: “You have to spend money to make money.” But if you’re living on unemployment and you’re savings are gone, is it really worth it to spend money you need to live, on additional training? [Read more…] about Training and Certifications: A Leg Up in a Tough Market

What “IT” Skills Pay Most for Undergraduate and Experienced Developers?

June 1, 2013 by Guest Contributor

The IT field has blossomed over the last few decades, with the UK labour force climbing from a few thousand developers thirty years ago to more than one million today. The skills available for an IT student to learn have also proliferated with the development of new programming, scripting and markup languages, which appears to give those hoping for a career in IT more choice—except that all of those skills do not pay the same or offer the same earnings prospects for the future. The following is a summary of what skills IT students should seek in order to launch their careers and enjoy success and greater earnings as their careers progress.

Junior Salaries — Data source: workcircle.co.uk

Right After Graduation

The more money IT graduates earn right out of uni, the faster they can be rid of their student loans, so a decent earnings rate early in your career is important. In this regard, Java is widely taught by IT schools, and many study it, but the market for Java developers has become oversaturated with candidates, and rates at which employers hire new Java developers has not kept pace. Similarly, PHP is relatively new and exciting and everyone is jumping on the PHP bandwagon, but that serves to oversaturate the employment market and make obtaining a PHP job directly out of school more difficult.

For new graduates, the market is particularly attractive in older, more basic languages such as C++ and .net. More than half of junior developers use their C++, .net and related skills in the early stages of their careers, so having them is attractive to prospective employers and increases the chance of quality remuneration to begin with. Jobs requiring Perl tend to pay better than jobs requiring PHP.

Junior vs Graduate Roles — Data source: workcircle.co.uk

In a Progressive Career

The type of initial IT job makes a difference to career progress, as does the industry. For example, testers are far less regarded than first-instance developers, so that a job in testing often means lower initial pay and much lower prospects for career advancement—which greatly affects future pay rises. Also, while the game industry seems to be rich with opportunities, the rates of pay in game development are comparatively low and the hours long and taxing, with some game development work even being outsourced to other countries such as India, where the cost of living is much lower and programmers work for much lower wages.

One nugget of gold for progressive careers is Oracle. Although beginner jobs rarely use Oracle skills, developers with solid experience and facility with Oracle tend to make among the best salaries available to developers today.

With so many IT students graduating today, and so many working IT professionals already in the market, a wise choice of skills to learn in school, as well as a wise choice of job types and industries to join, pays off in both the short term and the long term.

Increase in Salary over Junior — Data source: workcircle.co.uk

About the Author:

Tim Aldiss writes on behalf of workcircle.co.uk who search the UK’s top job boards, employers and agencies so you don’t have to!

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Tutor Others While Between Jobs

March 4, 2013 by Guest Contributor

Searching for a job can be frustrating as you put in application after application. If you’re looking for something to do while you are between jobs, then you should definitely consider becoming a tutor. Here are a handful of benefits that you can gain from being a tutor.

A Reliable Source of Income

The amount of money that you will make as a tutor can vary, but you can potentially make enough money to cover your bills. In fact, you may be able to get a full-time job as a tutor. A full-time tutor can make anywhere from $10 to upward of $80 per hour, but again, the pay is contingent upon many factors including the subject you tutor, the location and the affluence of your students.

Flexible Hours

If you become a tutor, then you will generally have the opportunity to set your own hours. Many tutors only work during the evenings and weekends. Because school is out during the holidays, you may have students who need to “catch up” during this time or conversely they may have no assignments and you will get the chance to have several days off. Furthermore, you may have the opportunity to set your own hours and work whenever you please if you become an online tutor.

Travel

There is a high demand for native English speaking tutors overseas. So even if you have no training or certifications it is possible to [Read more…] about Tutor Others While Between Jobs