Higher Education Sized to Fit

What is the most important thing you should know before selecting a degree program? Your self. Understanding your own learning style will help you select a program that suits you-making the journey toward a higher degree more profitable and pleasurable.

Universities have responded to the need for flexibility, portability and convenience by responding to different learning styles. Working adults can earn bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from local, regional and national universities-by attending day school, night school, weekend programs, online and blended programs.

The point is: the 'college experience' now runs the gamut from day classes on campus to online courserooms that let you log in from home or a post in the Middle East. To make the most of the educational experience, choose wisely.

Consider the following before you select a university:

1.
Are you a visual or auditory learner? Visual learners: About 40 percent of students are visual learners. If you are a visual learner, you learn best with the help of written words, pictures, diagrams, films, and demonstrations. You prefer visual stimuli and may have trouble concentrating in a noisy environment. Consider online education.

Auditory learners: If you are an auditory learner, you prefer listening to seeing, would rather give an oral report than a written one, and are better at following spoken rather than written directions. Check out on-campus programs.

2.
Does frequent interaction with your peers inspire you to higher performance? This is a tricky question. What does interaction look like to you? Does it mean being in the same room with your classmates? And if so, are you really conversing with other students or simply listening to a lecture together? Do you desire interaction that will improve your mastery of the subject matter? Interaction in both on-campus and online courserooms can be robust-often depending on the style and skill of the instructor. One significant difference in online courserooms is that mastery of the subject is typically demonstrated through writing rather than tests. During your tenure in the course, you'll have the opportunity to see other students'
best thinking in writing; this level of interaction often greatly enhances learning.

3.
Where will education fit best into your schedule? Nearly half of all grad students enroll between ages 24 and 35 and one-quarter start at age 36 or older. About a third of grad students are rearing children. In other words, the 'average' student these days has lots of obligations.

For students with lots of activities in addition to work, a university that flexes to the student's schedule may be the number one requirement. Onlineeducation gives students round-the-clock access to the tools and content of the course. On the other hand, if you're a student who prefers to build your schedule around a twice-a-week course, on-campus learning may be for you.

An expert opinion

Virginia College Online President Stanley Banks suggests students consider the following when deciding which learning model is right: If you enjoy test-taking, live discussions, and face time with your professor and peers as stimulus to manage your time and get your work done-you're probably a candidate for on-campus learning.


If you are a self-disciplined, self-motivated learner, prefer communicating through writing and desire learning through the writing of other students, online education may be the ideal solution for you. If you see yourself in both camps, try a blended model of on campus and online learning.

For more information or help deciding your best course of action, contact the Admissions Department at Virginia College Online at 888-827-7770 or visit Virginia College Online at www.vconline.edu

Top 5 GED Study Secrets

The 39 million adult Americans who have no high school degree earn lower wages and aren't eligible for many career and educational opportunities. That's why more than 800,000 people take the GED each year. Unfortunately, many of them don't pass on their first try. Adults who need a GED probably never acquired good study skills, and learning on your own can be very challenging if you never graduated high school. Here are five simple study secrets that can help anyone learn:


1. Know what you don't know.

If you don't know what areas you need to study, you waste a lot of time and energy. By taking a GED practice test as a first step in studying for the GED, you can better understand what you need to learn. Keeping track of what questions were difficult and understanding your GED score can help you plan what you need to study.

2. Apply what you study.

Reading a textbook is not an efficient way to learn. Many learners don’t know how to absorb all the information in a book. By applying what you're studying to real-life situations and problems, you will retain the knowledge and be able to use it on a test. Try using what you’re learning in your life, using math at the supermarket or applying social studies ideas to things in the news. If we don't use knowledge, it doesn't mean anything to us. Imagine learning to drive a car from a book. It wouldn't work. You need to get behind the wheel.


3. Focus on thinking skills.

While the GED tests basic reading, writing, and math skills, the focus is not on memorizing facts or equations. The GED is designed to test your ability to solve problems, evaluate situations, and analyze information. Hone your thinking skills in these areas by learning about inferences, evaluation, and analysis. Thinking critically and clearly will help with every area of the GED.

4. Manage your time.

Set aside a small amount of time every day to study, and study one subject at a time. Don't try to learn everything all at once. You need time to absorb information. A half an hour of study time every night will give you better, faster results than a cramming session before the exam. Start with the easiest material first, so that you can get some of the tests out of the way.

5. Assess your progress.

As you're studying, continue to test yourself to track your progress and see how you're doing. GED practice questions are the best way to test how you’re doing. This will give you a good idea of what you still need to study. Plus, it will tell you when you're ready to take the test and pass.
Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

Choosing the Right Pharmacy Technician Training

Author: Unitek College

If you’re considering a career in the pharmaceutical industry, and more specifically as a pharmacy technician, there is one thing that is important to learn before you ever begin your training. That is: what are the main characteristic of a good pharmacy technician course?

Without the right training, you may find yourself struggling to find work. There are many companies out there who are in need of PTs. As a career choice, taking your pharmacy technician training will enable you to find jobs in any city. Without the right training, however, you may find yourself wondering why all of those other guys are getting hired, and you aren’t.

With hundreds of options to receive your Pharmacy Technician Training, finding the right school can be confusing. You can learn to become a PT at technical schools, colleges, universities, and even with from some private schools/businesses. Since choosing the right program is the key to getting the right start, we have developed this guide to help you get started.

Characteristics of a Good PT Technician Course

Choosing the right program isn’t difficult. It’s as simple as paying attention to a few key areas. Looking for these characteristics will ensure you’ll be getting the right start in your new career as a PT.

What the Course Teaches

The first thing to look at is the content of the course itself. Good PT training should include elements in: pharmaceutical compounding, pharmacology, drug distribution, and the industry itself. The program should also provide an introduction to law as it applies to pharmacies.

Time Frame

The next area to look at when choosing your Pharmacy Technician training is the length of the program. You will find that these courses range from 6 months up to two years. Choosing an accelerated program, which will put you into the workforce in less than 1 year, will cost you less in the long run.

Both Classroom, and On the Job Training

Another aspect that will help you learn faster, and gain experience, is an externship. The better PT training programs will include a portion that gets you out on the job, and working with a pharmacy in the area. The experience you gain here will help you find work faster once you graduate.

Availability of Student Financing

One area that really separated a good school, from the pretenders, is student financing. A school that has programs in place to help you get financing for your course, is important. Not only does it make paying for your training more convenient, it also means that they are actually qualified to provide your PT training (most countries require an institution to become certified before gaining the ability to provide financing).

Placement Assistance

The last important part of a good PT training program is help getting a job when you’re done. It isn’t that you won’t be able to find a position yourself. With the demand in the industry, you very likely will be able to. If the school does offer placement assistance though, it means they have developed relationships with pharmacies, and that they are respected as a school.

Taking the time to go to school and get educated in any field is a big step. By paying attention to the program you are about to take, you will help to ensure that you get the best education possible.

About the Author:

For more information please visit Nursing Training at Unitek College.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/choosing-the-right-pharmacy-technician-training-723837.html

Is Medical Transcription School right for you?

Submitted by Christopher Dunn
Thu, 8 Jan 2009





Do you know anything about the medical transcription industry? If not, listen up. As you know, the medical field is taking off and there is no end in sight. For this reason, medical transcriptionists are in high demand. There are thousands of people the world over working in this capacity, and with many medical transcription schools out there it is safe to say that this number is going to continue to grow.

There are many reasons why you may want to consider enrolling in a medical transcription school:

1. For a career change. If you no longer like your job and want to transition into something more exciting and financially beneficial, attending medical transcription school may be the first step in the process. Once you graduate from medical transcription school you will be well on your way to a career you will enjoy.


2. You can join the medical field without spending tons of money to become a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, etc. While you may not work directly with patients you will be right in the middle of all the action.

3. You can move through medical transcription school in no time at all. It does not take eight years to become a medical transcriptionist. Once you find the right school you can get started and have your degree within a year or so.

Now do you see why more and more people are deciding to attend medical transcription school? If you want to get involved in the medical industry, but don’t want to spend a lot of time and money doing so, you should not overlook the benefits of becoming a medical transcriptionist.




About the Author
http://www.medical-transcription-school.com/ focuses on training for a career in medical transcription. Medical transcriptionists can receive online training to work at home in the fast growing medical transcription industry. Site explores school options and makes recommendations.

Home Schooling: The Pros and Cons

Submitted by MarkeD
Fri, 19 Dec 2008





It was good enough for Che Guevera, for Abraham Lincoln, and to a certain extent Queen Elizabeth II. In the UK at least, home schooling is popular (whereas in some Western countries it is illegal), and home study in students enrolling on further education courses is growing also alongside the growth of online education. So what are the pros and cons of home schooling?


One of the most typical criticisms of home schooling – and to a certain extent home study – is the limited socialization with a peer group. This can restrict the individual from influence by differing gender, racial, class, and cultural backgrounds and may have the implication of leading the student to have a one-sided point of view (as according to Rob Reich in The Civic Perils of Homeschooling).

In opposition to this however, others argue that learning environments with many other students may not be the most worthwhile for all. Despite not being the most popular reason for home schooling to be undertaken instead of traditional school-based learning, in a 2003 US poll 30 per cent felt that school was a ‘poor learning environment’.

In line with the growth of home study in higher education, home schooling in the US has found a growth in acceptance over the last few decades. In 1985 Gallup polled the attitude of American voters towards homeschooling and 73 per cent were opposed, but by 2001 this figure had dropped to 54 per cent. However, home schooling is not without its controversies as many non-state school systems arguably are. In Washington DC, a mother was charged with murdering her four children after withdrawing them from school education, and many blamed the fact that her being allowed to take them out of school had led to the lack of detection. However, it must be acknowledged that such negative press has been attributed to traditional schools in the past also.

As with home study in higher education, as well as home schooling in children, logistical reasons such as convenience and lack of transport can have a major part to play. Quite simply, education at home cuts all travel costs that may be incurred by driving or travelling on public transport for lectures, seminars or lessons. If the student lives a great distance away also, the journey may well take too long or prove inconvenient. 23,000 of those asked in the 2003 poll cited this as their reason for home schooling.


There are many more reasons for and against education at home. However, the fact remains that certain students achieve better in certain environments at all levels of education, and the wellbeing and happiness of the individual must be of the utmost importance.



About the Author
Sarah Maple writes about online courses offered by an online UK university