Another interesting part of the presentation today was the questionnaire we filled out concerning how prepared we felt from the information we received in our on-campus education courses and how important these factors were in practicum.
To be honest, aside from a handful of skills that could have been taught more in depth, I felt fairly prepared for my practicums – as prepared as you can be with little actual field experience. There are definitely some things that need to be learned out in the field; however, having the information given to us in class was very helpful. I might not have felt completely confident in all of these areas entering the school but I knew that I would learn what I needed to through experience.
It seems as though a lot of people in the class felt underprepared in areas such as establishing rapport with students, developing interpersonal human relationships with peers and superiors, and working with parents. Touching on these issues in class is helpful, however, I don’t know if these skills can necessarily be taught. It has a lot to do with personality and life experience. As we progress with our careers, we will become increasingly confident in these important skills.
One skill that I had not really considered was number 16 – Understanding the changing nature of pupils’ families. This is something that is becoming very prominent. Many children are living in single parent homes or have parents who are divorced. There can be some very touchy issues there and this seems important to talk about before actually experiencing it. In my PSI experience, I had twins in my Grade 2 class whose parents were divorced. The parents did not get along at all, tried to turn their children against the other parent, blamed the other parent when the children came to school unprepared, and demanded separate parent/teacher interviews because they could not be in the same room. My TA was awesome when dealing with this situation but it really scared me because I would not know how to deal with this at all. It was helpful that I got to experience this. Maybe I will feel a little more prepared if I encounter this in my career.
I learn through experience. I don’t necessarily need all of the theories and strategies. A lot are VERY helpful don't get me wrong but putting them into practice is the most important. I think that this is why the U of L is often held above other Universities - because we get a lot of great field experience. All of our work here will be worth it!
Do Post-Secondary Grades Measure Teacher Success?
The presentation today led to some fantastic discussions at the end of class. It is interesting that there are so many differing opinions on the topic as well.
One issue that has come up many times in class and also in blog posts is the topic of being admitted to the faculty of education based only on GPA. We know that being highly intelligent and getting straight A’s does not mean that you will be a good teacher by any stretch so why are admissions based on marks? This is an interesting topic. To be clear, I don’t think that this is the best system. However, I disagree when people make the argument that so many people who would be great teachers don’t get there because of the admission requirements to get into the program. I feel that if a person has a strong passion to become a teacher, they will become one. When I took Ed 2500, my professor explained the admission requirements to us and he said not to worry and that if we wanted to be teachers, we would be. We might not get in right away and we might go to different institutions but we will get there if we want to. I agree completely with this. Perhaps grades don’t matter when you are a teacher but I think that people should be able to work for it. It’s not like you need a 4.0 to get in. I will admit that I did not get in the first year I applied because of my marks. However, I worked hard, reapplied and got in right away. If this is impossible for some people, I question whether they should be educators. It may seem a little harsh but that is just my opinion on that particular argument. On the other hand, I do agree that individuals who have struggled at some point in their academic career do make great teachers as they can relate to students and can better explain and break concepts down. I think we all have something that we have struggled with that can help us relate to our students.
Robert also brought up a really interesting point about giving marks in Education classes once in the program. I always wondered why education classes weren’t just “pass or fail.” It seems that everyone just got an A on everything anyway. What I did not consider was what this would do to a person’s GPA. Classes that are pass/fail are not calculated into a GPA and so may give an inaccurate representation of an individual’s undergraduate work. I understand this but I also think it is so important at this stage in our academic careers to really concentrate and reflect on our own learning and not worry so much about marks.
One issue that has come up many times in class and also in blog posts is the topic of being admitted to the faculty of education based only on GPA. We know that being highly intelligent and getting straight A’s does not mean that you will be a good teacher by any stretch so why are admissions based on marks? This is an interesting topic. To be clear, I don’t think that this is the best system. However, I disagree when people make the argument that so many people who would be great teachers don’t get there because of the admission requirements to get into the program. I feel that if a person has a strong passion to become a teacher, they will become one. When I took Ed 2500, my professor explained the admission requirements to us and he said not to worry and that if we wanted to be teachers, we would be. We might not get in right away and we might go to different institutions but we will get there if we want to. I agree completely with this. Perhaps grades don’t matter when you are a teacher but I think that people should be able to work for it. It’s not like you need a 4.0 to get in. I will admit that I did not get in the first year I applied because of my marks. However, I worked hard, reapplied and got in right away. If this is impossible for some people, I question whether they should be educators. It may seem a little harsh but that is just my opinion on that particular argument. On the other hand, I do agree that individuals who have struggled at some point in their academic career do make great teachers as they can relate to students and can better explain and break concepts down. I think we all have something that we have struggled with that can help us relate to our students.
Robert also brought up a really interesting point about giving marks in Education classes once in the program. I always wondered why education classes weren’t just “pass or fail.” It seems that everyone just got an A on everything anyway. What I did not consider was what this would do to a person’s GPA. Classes that are pass/fail are not calculated into a GPA and so may give an inaccurate representation of an individual’s undergraduate work. I understand this but I also think it is so important at this stage in our academic careers to really concentrate and reflect on our own learning and not worry so much about marks.
The Up Series Revisited – Age 28
On Thursday, we were able to watch a few follow up videos of the Up series. As previously mentioned, the video we watched on Tuesday showed the thirteen children at age 7. The video we watched on Thursday focused on these individuals at age 28 but showed some footage from when they were 14 and 21. This was very interesting to see and I think the results surprised a lot of us.
Because of time constraints we were only able to watch updates on three of the thirteen children. Here were their results …
Paul
At age 7, Paul went to a Charity Boarding School and was considered to be lower class. Paul expressed his interest in wanting to become a police officer but realized that he would not be able to get into university to achieve this goal. We predicted that he probably would be working a lower class job in adulthood. However, at age 28, Paul is a successful brick layer in Australia. He lives in a middle class suburb with his wife. Their house it a descent size, they have two children and two cars. It appears that Paul has experienced social mobility by moving into the middle class. How did this happen? Well, it seems that the reason for his success is the fact that he moved to Australia. Australia is characterized by a contest system (like North America) whereas England is based on the sponsorship model. Because of his move, he sort of cheated the system. He was able to advance much further in life than he would have if he remained in the UK. Paul expresses how he hopes that his children can do even better than he did by receiving the education he was not able to receive. This is interesting because this is something that would happen in the contest system. In the UK sponsored system, parents expect their children to be of the same social class as them.
Suzy
At age 7, Suzy went to a Private Girls Boarding School and was considered to be quite upper class. Her days were very structured and her mom had picked out schools for her to attend. We predicted that she would probably attend school but end up marrying a rich husband and stay home to raise her children. What was interesting about Suzy is that she was quite rebellious at age 21. She had dropped out of school and said that she never wanted to get married or have children. By age 28, Suzy was married to a wealthy man and had two children. They had a nice home and she was raising her children. She indicated that she would send her children to a private boarding school even though her and her husband did not really enjoy the experience. She said that it was what they knew and also acknowledged the quality of education they would receive there. Even though she went through her rebellious stage, she still ended up more or less where we thought she would be.
Nicholas
Nicholas was perhaps the most surprising to me. At age 7, Nicholas lived in a rural community and was the only child his age in the village. He went to school in a one room school house and indicated that he wanted to learn about the moon and things. He was not considered to be high class or cultured. However, at age 28 … he is a nuclear physicist! He studied at Oxford and moved to Wisconsin with his (crazy) wife to be a professor at a university. I definitely did not expect this. So, how did this happen? At age 11, Nicholas scored very highly on the 11 Plus exam and was identified as gifted. Therefore, he was resocialized in the elite class and received a very good education from a prestigious institution. Even though he received this high education, there was apparently not much use for scientists at the time in the UK and he was not making much money. However, when he moved to the US, he makes more money. By switching from a sponsored system to a contest system, Nicholas was able to be more successful in his chosen field.
It was so interesting watching these follow up videos and I am very interested in watching more of them. It appears that it is difficult to change classes in the sponsored system unless you score well on the 11 plus exam. Both Paul and Nicholas were able to be successful because they moved to another system. I am interested to see if this is the case with all of the children.
Because of time constraints we were only able to watch updates on three of the thirteen children. Here were their results …
Paul
At age 7, Paul went to a Charity Boarding School and was considered to be lower class. Paul expressed his interest in wanting to become a police officer but realized that he would not be able to get into university to achieve this goal. We predicted that he probably would be working a lower class job in adulthood. However, at age 28, Paul is a successful brick layer in Australia. He lives in a middle class suburb with his wife. Their house it a descent size, they have two children and two cars. It appears that Paul has experienced social mobility by moving into the middle class. How did this happen? Well, it seems that the reason for his success is the fact that he moved to Australia. Australia is characterized by a contest system (like North America) whereas England is based on the sponsorship model. Because of his move, he sort of cheated the system. He was able to advance much further in life than he would have if he remained in the UK. Paul expresses how he hopes that his children can do even better than he did by receiving the education he was not able to receive. This is interesting because this is something that would happen in the contest system. In the UK sponsored system, parents expect their children to be of the same social class as them.
Suzy
At age 7, Suzy went to a Private Girls Boarding School and was considered to be quite upper class. Her days were very structured and her mom had picked out schools for her to attend. We predicted that she would probably attend school but end up marrying a rich husband and stay home to raise her children. What was interesting about Suzy is that she was quite rebellious at age 21. She had dropped out of school and said that she never wanted to get married or have children. By age 28, Suzy was married to a wealthy man and had two children. They had a nice home and she was raising her children. She indicated that she would send her children to a private boarding school even though her and her husband did not really enjoy the experience. She said that it was what they knew and also acknowledged the quality of education they would receive there. Even though she went through her rebellious stage, she still ended up more or less where we thought she would be.
Nicholas
Nicholas was perhaps the most surprising to me. At age 7, Nicholas lived in a rural community and was the only child his age in the village. He went to school in a one room school house and indicated that he wanted to learn about the moon and things. He was not considered to be high class or cultured. However, at age 28 … he is a nuclear physicist! He studied at Oxford and moved to Wisconsin with his (crazy) wife to be a professor at a university. I definitely did not expect this. So, how did this happen? At age 11, Nicholas scored very highly on the 11 Plus exam and was identified as gifted. Therefore, he was resocialized in the elite class and received a very good education from a prestigious institution. Even though he received this high education, there was apparently not much use for scientists at the time in the UK and he was not making much money. However, when he moved to the US, he makes more money. By switching from a sponsored system to a contest system, Nicholas was able to be more successful in his chosen field.
It was so interesting watching these follow up videos and I am very interested in watching more of them. It appears that it is difficult to change classes in the sponsored system unless you score well on the 11 plus exam. Both Paul and Nicholas were able to be successful because they moved to another system. I am interested to see if this is the case with all of the children.
Education Purpose
To make matters more complicated, theorists have made a distinction between the purpose of education and the functions of education.(2) A purpose is the fundamental goal of the process—an end to be achieved.
Functions are other outcomes that may occur as a natural result of the process— byproducts or consequences of schooling. For example, some teachers believe that the transmission of knowledge is the primary purpose of education, while the transfer of knowledge from school to the real world is something that happens naturally as a consequence of possessing that knowledge—a function of education.education purpose
Because a purpose is an expressed goal, more effort is put into attaining it. Functions are assumed to occur without directed effort.education purpose For this reason it's valuable to figure out which outcomes you consider a fundamental purpose of education. Which of the following do you actually include in your planning?
As Tom Peters reminds us, "What gets measured, gets done." Regardless of the high sounding rhetoric about the development of the total child, it is the content of assessments that largely drives education. How is the capacity/ability to think creatively assessed in today's schools? education purpose. To what extent is the typical student recognized and given respect? How often are students given the opportunity to recognize and evaluate different points of view when multiple choice tests require a single 'correct' answer?
Teachers who hold a more humanistic view of the purpose of education often experience stress because the meaning they assign to education differs greatly from the meaning assigned by society or their institution. It is clear in listening to the language of education that its primary focus is on knowledge and teaching rather than on the learner. (education purpose)Students are expected to conform to schools rather than schools serving the needs of students.
Stopping to identify and agree upon a fundamental purpose or purposes of education is rare. One sees nebulous statements in school mission statements, but they are often of the “Mom, baseball, and apple pie” variety that offer little substance on which to build a school culture.education purpose. Creating meaningful and lasting change in education is unlikely without revisiting this basic definition. At the very least, educators must be challenged to identify and reexamine their beliefs in the light of present knowledge.
It is time for the focus of education to shift from what's "out there—the curriculum, assessments, classroom arrangement, books, computers—to the fundamental assumptions about and definitions of education held by educators and policymakers. NASA did not send men to the moon by building on the chassis of a model T. In the same way, education cannot hope to move beyond its present state on the chassis of 18th century education.
Functions are other outcomes that may occur as a natural result of the process— byproducts or consequences of schooling. For example, some teachers believe that the transmission of knowledge is the primary purpose of education, while the transfer of knowledge from school to the real world is something that happens naturally as a consequence of possessing that knowledge—a function of education.education purpose
Because a purpose is an expressed goal, more effort is put into attaining it. Functions are assumed to occur without directed effort.education purpose For this reason it's valuable to figure out which outcomes you consider a fundamental purpose of education. Which of the following do you actually include in your planning?
As Tom Peters reminds us, "What gets measured, gets done." Regardless of the high sounding rhetoric about the development of the total child, it is the content of assessments that largely drives education. How is the capacity/ability to think creatively assessed in today's schools? education purpose. To what extent is the typical student recognized and given respect? How often are students given the opportunity to recognize and evaluate different points of view when multiple choice tests require a single 'correct' answer?
Teachers who hold a more humanistic view of the purpose of education often experience stress because the meaning they assign to education differs greatly from the meaning assigned by society or their institution. It is clear in listening to the language of education that its primary focus is on knowledge and teaching rather than on the learner. (education purpose)Students are expected to conform to schools rather than schools serving the needs of students.
Stopping to identify and agree upon a fundamental purpose or purposes of education is rare. One sees nebulous statements in school mission statements, but they are often of the “Mom, baseball, and apple pie” variety that offer little substance on which to build a school culture.education purpose. Creating meaningful and lasting change in education is unlikely without revisiting this basic definition. At the very least, educators must be challenged to identify and reexamine their beliefs in the light of present knowledge.
It is time for the focus of education to shift from what's "out there—the curriculum, assessments, classroom arrangement, books, computers—to the fundamental assumptions about and definitions of education held by educators and policymakers. NASA did not send men to the moon by building on the chassis of a model T. In the same way, education cannot hope to move beyond its present state on the chassis of 18th century education.
The Up Series Part 1
How much of our future is determined by the time we are 7?
Yesterday in class we watched a very interesting video. The video, which took place in Britain, followed a number of children around the age of seven. The children were from a wide range of social classes from a lower class orphan to upper class prep school children. They were asked various questions about their thoughts and beliefs, and what they wanted to be when they grew up. It was so interesting to hear how the answers varied between the social classes.
First, it is important to reiterate how our formal system of education differs from that in the UK. Schools in North America are open to everyone, whereas in the UK schools are open to everyone … as long as you have money. Those who are wealthy in the UK attend the best schools and will go on to the best universities. In addition, in North America, it seems that the material taught is relevant for the most part. On the other hand, in the UK, topics and literature studied are more traditional and based on high culture. For example, Latin is often learned in the UK because it shows high class. In North America, there is a lot more opportunity to change classes and it is unlikely to know what lies in store for your future when you are seven. In the UK, class and level of future occupation are predetermined.
It seems as though all of the children in the video knew what class they were from and what it meant for their future. Those upper class boys who attended the prep school already knew what universities they would attend and what house they would belong to. Their language was much more advanced than the lower class children and I would imagine that they will become very successful. Those children who were from a lower class did not set high standards for themselves and understood that it would be difficult to be successful. It was often difficult to understand what these children were saying. Another noticeable difference was that the upper class children were more disciplined both at school and in the way they spent their free time while the lower class children had more freedom in this regard. The upper class children looked down upon lower class people, including minority races.
Thinking back to when I was seven years old, I had no idea what I would be when I grew up and I did not consider any limitations that I may face. I did not consider that it would be too difficult for me to become what I wanted to be. It was sad when the boy, Paul, said he wanted to become a policeman but that it would be very hard for him to get the education to fulfill this dream. In addition, when I was seven, I changed what I wanted to be every 5 minutes (actually I probably did that until I was 20). In our society, it seems we get to experience more before we decide what we want to be and there are not as many limitations.
After watching this video, we were asked to make predictions about where we thought these children would end up in life. Next class, we will be shown what actually happened to these individuals. I am very interested to find out if their futures are as predetermined as they seem.
Yesterday in class we watched a very interesting video. The video, which took place in Britain, followed a number of children around the age of seven. The children were from a wide range of social classes from a lower class orphan to upper class prep school children. They were asked various questions about their thoughts and beliefs, and what they wanted to be when they grew up. It was so interesting to hear how the answers varied between the social classes.
First, it is important to reiterate how our formal system of education differs from that in the UK. Schools in North America are open to everyone, whereas in the UK schools are open to everyone … as long as you have money. Those who are wealthy in the UK attend the best schools and will go on to the best universities. In addition, in North America, it seems that the material taught is relevant for the most part. On the other hand, in the UK, topics and literature studied are more traditional and based on high culture. For example, Latin is often learned in the UK because it shows high class. In North America, there is a lot more opportunity to change classes and it is unlikely to know what lies in store for your future when you are seven. In the UK, class and level of future occupation are predetermined.
It seems as though all of the children in the video knew what class they were from and what it meant for their future. Those upper class boys who attended the prep school already knew what universities they would attend and what house they would belong to. Their language was much more advanced than the lower class children and I would imagine that they will become very successful. Those children who were from a lower class did not set high standards for themselves and understood that it would be difficult to be successful. It was often difficult to understand what these children were saying. Another noticeable difference was that the upper class children were more disciplined both at school and in the way they spent their free time while the lower class children had more freedom in this regard. The upper class children looked down upon lower class people, including minority races.
Thinking back to when I was seven years old, I had no idea what I would be when I grew up and I did not consider any limitations that I may face. I did not consider that it would be too difficult for me to become what I wanted to be. It was sad when the boy, Paul, said he wanted to become a policeman but that it would be very hard for him to get the education to fulfill this dream. In addition, when I was seven, I changed what I wanted to be every 5 minutes (actually I probably did that until I was 20). In our society, it seems we get to experience more before we decide what we want to be and there are not as many limitations.
After watching this video, we were asked to make predictions about where we thought these children would end up in life. Next class, we will be shown what actually happened to these individuals. I am very interested to find out if their futures are as predetermined as they seem.
Something to Consider ...
ANNA
“WHEN YOU ARE A KID you have your own language, and unlike French or Spanish or whatever you start learning in fourth grade, this one you’re born with, and eventually lose. Everyone under the age of seven is fluent in Ifspeak; go hang around with someone under three feet tall and you’ll see. What if a giant funnelweb spider crawled out of that hole over your head and bit you on the neck? What if the only antidote for venom was locked up in a vault on the top of a mountain? What if you lived through the bite, but could only move your eyelids and blink out an alphabet? It doesn’t really matter how far you go; the point is that it’s a world of possibility. Kids think with their brains cracked wide open; becoming an adult, I’ve decided, is only a slow sewing shut.”
- Jodi Picoult,
My Sister’s Keeper
I have just finished reading this book by Jodi Picoult and I made a note to remember this quote from the novel. I wanted to share it with other teachers so it’s a good thing that I have this blog to do so!
I found so much truth in this quote and also found it sort of sad. It reminded me about how children aren’t afraid to take chances and will often throw many creative ideas at you. As we get older, that seems to stop. Do we feel as though we are too old for Ifspeak? Do we realize more about the world and forget we once had limitless imaginations?
Teachers of all grade levels should encourage creative thoughts and establish a classroom environment in which students should feel comfortable to take risks. For some reason, students in older grades are so afraid of giving a wrong answer or getting made fun of for an idea that some truly amazing thoughts may not be escaping. This would definitely be a challenge to overcome – especially with middle and high school students. This is just something to think about as future teachers and also as adults who should remember that we can still be imaginative and creative! The great thing about being an educator is that those qualities only add to the effectiveness of our practice.
“WHEN YOU ARE A KID you have your own language, and unlike French or Spanish or whatever you start learning in fourth grade, this one you’re born with, and eventually lose. Everyone under the age of seven is fluent in Ifspeak; go hang around with someone under three feet tall and you’ll see. What if a giant funnelweb spider crawled out of that hole over your head and bit you on the neck? What if the only antidote for venom was locked up in a vault on the top of a mountain? What if you lived through the bite, but could only move your eyelids and blink out an alphabet? It doesn’t really matter how far you go; the point is that it’s a world of possibility. Kids think with their brains cracked wide open; becoming an adult, I’ve decided, is only a slow sewing shut.”
- Jodi Picoult,
My Sister’s Keeper
I have just finished reading this book by Jodi Picoult and I made a note to remember this quote from the novel. I wanted to share it with other teachers so it’s a good thing that I have this blog to do so!
I found so much truth in this quote and also found it sort of sad. It reminded me about how children aren’t afraid to take chances and will often throw many creative ideas at you. As we get older, that seems to stop. Do we feel as though we are too old for Ifspeak? Do we realize more about the world and forget we once had limitless imaginations?
Teachers of all grade levels should encourage creative thoughts and establish a classroom environment in which students should feel comfortable to take risks. For some reason, students in older grades are so afraid of giving a wrong answer or getting made fun of for an idea that some truly amazing thoughts may not be escaping. This would definitely be a challenge to overcome – especially with middle and high school students. This is just something to think about as future teachers and also as adults who should remember that we can still be imaginative and creative! The great thing about being an educator is that those qualities only add to the effectiveness of our practice.
Why People Fail at Study And What To Do About It
Have you ever read a book and started to fall asleep, yet a few moments before you were wide awake? Almost everyone has. Have you ever read a page and then gotten to the bottom and realised you could not recall anything you just read? Ever been frustrated in reading a subject and no matter how many times you read the text, it just did not make sense to you? Ever seen “academic burnout” at schools?
All this phenomena is usual. There is an underlying simple cause and a very simple solution.
The reason people cannot understand what they are reading is this fact: They are reading past words or symbols they do not understand. This was first educational discovery by the Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard in the 1970s.
Here is an example. Read this: “As the crepuscule approached, the young children became quiet.”
Now, you as a reader do not know what this means. If you ask someone to tell you what the sentence means, they will try to guess it a few times and then maybe work out they do not know what the word crepuscule means.
And the word crepuscule means twilight or darkness. Now read the sentence again, and it makes perfect sense.
This phenomena can be tragic for our children at school. What if you had a subject, called, Satellite Studies, but no one told you the meaning of the word satellite. You never had it defined for you and you never had pictures to work it out, and you had never seen one. How far would you get on that study? Not very far.
Ask a group of students, “Who has trouble studying MATHEMATICS?' Then when half the class put up their hand, ask them if any teacher has gone over the definition of the word Mathematics? Did the teacher even know what it meant herself? The word mathematics means: the science of numbers and shapes, and the word science comes from Latin, meaning to know. So mathematics would mean knowing about numbers and shapes. Pretty simple, right? Teach that to a class and they brighten right up.
Words have meaning. Go past one without knowing the meaning and you lose the meaning of that sentence, and maybe the information in the whole page is lost to you. Go past several words you do not know the meaning of and the chapter is lost, and a dozen more misunderstood words will see you give up the entire subject as “unknowable.” That is how the mind works. One for one, this is true.
The solution? That is easy. Get a dictionary that equates to the educational standard of the person doing the study. Look up the words and define the word not understood. We call this word clearing. Clear all the words you or the student do not understand about the subject and he will become very literate in that subject. I promise you.
There is a special way to use a dictionary so as to get the greatest literacy out of it and this can be taught to children easily. But this is the subject of the next article.
In Scientology, the exam pass rate is 85%, and any student can get that same pass mark in any subject if they use this word clearing method. Words have meanings. Just be determined enough to not be a classroom dummy. Pass as an A grade student instead. Oh, and one last thing, students who go past words they do not understand get confused and their IQ goes down, and those who clear their words, their IQ goes up.
So, teachers, make sure your students really understand what the words mean. They will truly admire you and love the subject you teach.
So parents, it is up to you. Here's to your kids education and a brighter and more literate future for mankind.
All this phenomena is usual. There is an underlying simple cause and a very simple solution.
The reason people cannot understand what they are reading is this fact: They are reading past words or symbols they do not understand. This was first educational discovery by the Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard in the 1970s.
Here is an example. Read this: “As the crepuscule approached, the young children became quiet.”
Now, you as a reader do not know what this means. If you ask someone to tell you what the sentence means, they will try to guess it a few times and then maybe work out they do not know what the word crepuscule means.
And the word crepuscule means twilight or darkness. Now read the sentence again, and it makes perfect sense.
This phenomena can be tragic for our children at school. What if you had a subject, called, Satellite Studies, but no one told you the meaning of the word satellite. You never had it defined for you and you never had pictures to work it out, and you had never seen one. How far would you get on that study? Not very far.
Ask a group of students, “Who has trouble studying MATHEMATICS?' Then when half the class put up their hand, ask them if any teacher has gone over the definition of the word Mathematics? Did the teacher even know what it meant herself? The word mathematics means: the science of numbers and shapes, and the word science comes from Latin, meaning to know. So mathematics would mean knowing about numbers and shapes. Pretty simple, right? Teach that to a class and they brighten right up.
Words have meaning. Go past one without knowing the meaning and you lose the meaning of that sentence, and maybe the information in the whole page is lost to you. Go past several words you do not know the meaning of and the chapter is lost, and a dozen more misunderstood words will see you give up the entire subject as “unknowable.” That is how the mind works. One for one, this is true.
The solution? That is easy. Get a dictionary that equates to the educational standard of the person doing the study. Look up the words and define the word not understood. We call this word clearing. Clear all the words you or the student do not understand about the subject and he will become very literate in that subject. I promise you.
There is a special way to use a dictionary so as to get the greatest literacy out of it and this can be taught to children easily. But this is the subject of the next article.
In Scientology, the exam pass rate is 85%, and any student can get that same pass mark in any subject if they use this word clearing method. Words have meanings. Just be determined enough to not be a classroom dummy. Pass as an A grade student instead. Oh, and one last thing, students who go past words they do not understand get confused and their IQ goes down, and those who clear their words, their IQ goes up.
So, teachers, make sure your students really understand what the words mean. They will truly admire you and love the subject you teach.
So parents, it is up to you. Here's to your kids education and a brighter and more literate future for mankind.
Online Homework Helper
Homework haunting is something which everyone has felt in his student life. I still remember those days when I used to try all excuses for not attending the classes. Many students cannot complete their homework of their own because for one or the other reason they have missed the lecture or they have still some confusion regarding that topic.
But, you need not to worry any more. We are living in 21st century where the whole world is running on technology which has changed the way we deal with knowledge management, communication and information. Our tech-savvy nature has facilitated us to develop new methods of imparting knowledge and education. Online Homework helper is a way that has made education an easy and entertaining process. This revolutionary idea has not only added dynamism to education process but also made the information available to everyone.
With its innumerable benefits, online homework helper has become a boon for students. This study technique has improved the quality of education by opening new avenues for students as per their convenience. This has become an extremely popular method to complete homework as it saves time and money. Homework helper gives plentiful opportunities to the students to put their opinions, observations and remarks about the topic. Students get motivated by this learning process as they can discuss their query with the subject expert without any hesitation.
The subject expert pay equal attention to each and every query related to the topic and helps in keeping up a regular exercise by motivating the student to give online tests and solve practice papers. By exploring individual characteristics of the individual learner, the expert contributes to the academic performance of students in their exams. This learning method is designed to improve the personal ability and caters to all the queries of a student. The statistics homework help encourages them to work with dedication on home assignments by providing study help in real time. The students get regular feedback and evaluations from the expert to be aware of their academic progress rate. This method of imparting education through the means of innovative technology has made online homework helper a boon to students. With this homework helper, quality study can be availed to all, anytime, anywhere.
But, you need not to worry any more. We are living in 21st century where the whole world is running on technology which has changed the way we deal with knowledge management, communication and information. Our tech-savvy nature has facilitated us to develop new methods of imparting knowledge and education. Online Homework helper is a way that has made education an easy and entertaining process. This revolutionary idea has not only added dynamism to education process but also made the information available to everyone.
With its innumerable benefits, online homework helper has become a boon for students. This study technique has improved the quality of education by opening new avenues for students as per their convenience. This has become an extremely popular method to complete homework as it saves time and money. Homework helper gives plentiful opportunities to the students to put their opinions, observations and remarks about the topic. Students get motivated by this learning process as they can discuss their query with the subject expert without any hesitation.
The subject expert pay equal attention to each and every query related to the topic and helps in keeping up a regular exercise by motivating the student to give online tests and solve practice papers. By exploring individual characteristics of the individual learner, the expert contributes to the academic performance of students in their exams. This learning method is designed to improve the personal ability and caters to all the queries of a student. The statistics homework help encourages them to work with dedication on home assignments by providing study help in real time. The students get regular feedback and evaluations from the expert to be aware of their academic progress rate. This method of imparting education through the means of innovative technology has made online homework helper a boon to students. With this homework helper, quality study can be availed to all, anytime, anywhere.
Are Norms Necessary?
After reading a couple of blog posts of my colleagues on the topic of norms (These Unwritten Rules Called Norms & Norms…it can be a scary thing). I started to wonder if norms are necessary for society to function harmoniously. There has been some discussion concerning the notion of not conforming and not following the norm, but I think this just causes problems for the most part. But what happens if we don’t agree with the norms put in place? Should we still follow them?
Being a polite and respectful member of society is important in my opinion. We should be open to following norms in public such as waiting in line, walking in an organized manner in high traffic areas, holding doors open for each other, and keeping our outbursts to a minimum. However, like Brandie mentioned in her post, what if the opposite becomes the norm … should we still follow it? I think for the most part, the norms in our society are put in place to keep everyone happy and to encourage people to behave “properly” in public. Maybe it’s just me but I don’t like when people don’t follow the norms when it affects me (well maybe I only care about the “common courtesy” norms…). I feel as though they think they are above being polite and waiting their turn.
I used the example of going to the movies in my comment on Vanessa’s blog. It just blows me away what some people do – especially when it’s busy. People push, are upset about waiting in line, talk through the whole movie, make loud annoying predictions about when Eric Bana will show up next in The Time Travelers Wife, and so on. I would be embarrassed if I did things like this in public. However, there are no repercussions for people who don’t follow these simple norms, other than my built up anger of course, so why not do whatever you want?
I realize that conforming and following norms when you don’t agree with them is not a good thing, I just feel that perhaps society needs some norms in order to function cordially.
Even though I clearly had a bad experience with people not following the norms… go see A Christmas Carol 3D, it was awesome.
Being a polite and respectful member of society is important in my opinion. We should be open to following norms in public such as waiting in line, walking in an organized manner in high traffic areas, holding doors open for each other, and keeping our outbursts to a minimum. However, like Brandie mentioned in her post, what if the opposite becomes the norm … should we still follow it? I think for the most part, the norms in our society are put in place to keep everyone happy and to encourage people to behave “properly” in public. Maybe it’s just me but I don’t like when people don’t follow the norms when it affects me (well maybe I only care about the “common courtesy” norms…). I feel as though they think they are above being polite and waiting their turn.
I used the example of going to the movies in my comment on Vanessa’s blog. It just blows me away what some people do – especially when it’s busy. People push, are upset about waiting in line, talk through the whole movie, make loud annoying predictions about when Eric Bana will show up next in The Time Travelers Wife, and so on. I would be embarrassed if I did things like this in public. However, there are no repercussions for people who don’t follow these simple norms, other than my built up anger of course, so why not do whatever you want? I realize that conforming and following norms when you don’t agree with them is not a good thing, I just feel that perhaps society needs some norms in order to function cordially.
Even though I clearly had a bad experience with people not following the norms… go see A Christmas Carol 3D, it was awesome.
Social Mobility
I found today’s lecture regarding social mobility really interesting. Social mobility refers to the movement of an individual from one social class to another. I had never really considered what my social class is or will become before. I would consider the family I came from to be middle class. I don’t feel as though my status will change much from that once I become a teacher and start my own family. Therefore, I feel that I will experience very little intergenerational social mobility. Intergenerational in this sense refers to the difference between parents and children regarding their status. This is interesting because my parents did not attend university but because social status is most often based on occupation and wealth, education does not seem to play a large role in this case.
I couldn’t say for sure where I personally fit right now. I feel like I am kind of in limbo as a student … I don’t have a career yet, I owe money, I don’t own a house, I don’t own an Oxford tie, etc. but at the same time I don’t consider myself lower class because I know that when I earn my degree and get a job things will (hopefully) change and I can actually consider myself to be middle class again – I will have earned my way there.
Intragenerational social mobility refers to the change of status within one’s own life. It is hard to say how much this could change in a person’s life because our society is based on contest mobility and with that can come personal insecurity. In the contest mobility model, individuals must compete for success and earn their elite status (this reminded me a little of meritocracy which basically says that you get what you put in). You can become a member of the elite in many different ways by earning your place there. According to this view, everyone has the same chance of reaching elite status; it is all based on ambition.
In contrast to our society’s contest mobility, we also learned about sponsored mobility which is based on Britain’s social mobility system. Within this model, status is given, rather than taken. There is some predetermination and everyone knows their place from day one. You become a member of the elite by being considered a suitable candidate and then recruited. There is also an emphasis on early selection of elites. This way there is more time for the individual to be shaped to fit the mold. Within this model, it seems that it is unlikely to change your social status and most people accept their predetermined place in society.
As much as it would be awesome to have elite status for being chosen for doing well on some test at age 11, I prefer our contest mobility model. Status should be earned and those who work hard should be rewarded. However, our society recognizes many different types of elite individuals and some definitely don’t deserve to be there (i.e. Paris Hilton…). Status should also not be predetermined; however, unfortunately a family’s status can have great effects on where their children will get to in any society. It is not correct to say that everyone has an equal chance. Sometimes people get where they are because of money or who they know. There are definitely some exceptions within this contest model but overall I think that the right idea is there.
Good Reasons For Choosing An Audio Book
Did you know that audio books are becoming more and more popular by each day? For example, in 2004, over $124 million worth of audio books were sold in the UK and $120 million in Germany during 2005. Experts say that this year the market is expected to rise by 20% in Europe, and audio books seem to be even more popular in the USA.
But why are audio versions a convenient way to 'read' a book?
1) You save time, because you can listen to an audio book anywhere and everywhere, and you can even do other things at the same time. You can listen when driving to and from work, when walking the dog, cycling, working around the house or at the computer, exercising, and so on. The possibilities are endless.
According to a recent survey, in the USA a person is driving an average of 1 hour and 13 minutes daily, which means over 440 hours a year for each driver, or 11 full-time work weeks. This is huge! Imagine how many things you could learn during this time by simply having your MP3 player withaudio books at hand.
2) If you love reading but don't have a enough time, audio books can give you the opportunity to read many more books that you would otherwise have time for. Audio books are a great way to fill the "dead" moments we all have in our lives.
3) Audio books are good for older, ill or recovering people and can be a wonderful gift for someone in a nursing institution. This is a gift they can remember and enjoy time after time.
4) Audio books can be a blessing for blind people, disabled people or people with impaired vision. Everyone should have the chance to experience and enjoy a book and in many cases, this is the only way for such persons to do it.
Spoken books can help these people improving their education, help them developing new hobbies and habits and greatly enriching their life, both personally and professionally.
5) The most important skill a child can ever acquire is probably the ability to read, and audio books can be easily used to stimulate literacy in children. Books can be listened to by children while following the story in the paper book. Or they could listen just to gain and improve vocabulary and communication skills. If you want to instill in your child the love of reading,audio books can be a excellent start.
There are many more benefits of using audio books, but even these few reasons should be enough to convince you to enter the exciting world of the spoken books.
But why are audio versions a convenient way to 'read' a book?
1) You save time, because you can listen to an audio book anywhere and everywhere, and you can even do other things at the same time. You can listen when driving to and from work, when walking the dog, cycling, working around the house or at the computer, exercising, and so on. The possibilities are endless.
According to a recent survey, in the USA a person is driving an average of 1 hour and 13 minutes daily, which means over 440 hours a year for each driver, or 11 full-time work weeks. This is huge! Imagine how many things you could learn during this time by simply having your MP3 player withaudio books at hand.
2) If you love reading but don't have a enough time, audio books can give you the opportunity to read many more books that you would otherwise have time for. Audio books are a great way to fill the "dead" moments we all have in our lives.
3) Audio books are good for older, ill or recovering people and can be a wonderful gift for someone in a nursing institution. This is a gift they can remember and enjoy time after time.
4) Audio books can be a blessing for blind people, disabled people or people with impaired vision. Everyone should have the chance to experience and enjoy a book and in many cases, this is the only way for such persons to do it.
Spoken books can help these people improving their education, help them developing new hobbies and habits and greatly enriching their life, both personally and professionally.
5) The most important skill a child can ever acquire is probably the ability to read, and audio books can be easily used to stimulate literacy in children. Books can be listened to by children while following the story in the paper book. Or they could listen just to gain and improve vocabulary and communication skills. If you want to instill in your child the love of reading,audio books can be a excellent start.
There are many more benefits of using audio books, but even these few reasons should be enough to convince you to enter the exciting world of the spoken books.
The Hidden Curriculum (Process) Presentation
Today’s presentation was really well done. I really enjoyed it and found it very interesting! It definitely expanded my knowledge about hidden curriculum and socialization. I appreciated that the presenter approached this topic in an impartial way. That is, she was not criticizing this type of hidden curriculum; she was just explaining how we use it every day in the classroom and how it affects our students’ behaviours – especially in early elementary school. I found that this approach allowed me to think more about my experiences in school as both a student and a teacher, and determine the function and implications of this hidden curriculum.
The process type of hidden curriculum refers to everything that children learn in school concerning socialization and establishing social norms and values. Hidden curriculum is not part of the formal curriculum. Once a child enters the school system in Preschool or Kindergarten, they are no longer socialized exclusively in the home; the teacher and the school become another form of socialization. I have always thought of school as a socialization process but I never realized how much we do as teachers to reinforce what society views as important characteristics and values. Some that were listed today were: conformity, delayed gratification, competitiveness, and obedience to authority figures. I would consider the process of socialization to be almost as important as actual curriculum content. These are skills that will definitely be needed and utilized in the future.
We were asked to think about our first day of school as a young child. For everyone, it seemed to be characterized by a set of rules, routines and procedures that were to be learned and obeyed. Students are socialized to be somewhere when the bell rings, to listen when someone else is talking, to put up their hands when they want to speak, to be responsible for their possessions, to share and play nice with others, to be honest, to be positive about their abilities, to respect themselves and others, and the list goes on. Usually when we think about hidden curriculum, it has a negative connotation. However, in this case, I feel as though all of these skills are vital for success in school and later in life. We are not telling student they always need to conform and be like everyone else, we are implicitly (and sometimes explicitly) socializing them to succeed in school and society by understanding the standards put in place.
In my opinion, one of the most interesting topics discussed was the literature used by teachers (and parents) to explain these societal norms and moral lessons through the use of stories. Unlike the use of rules and procedures, this is something that I hadn’t previously thought a lot about. There are so many books about first days of school, listening to your teachers/parents, being a good friend, etc. I think this is a great way to teach children about these concepts (even though some of these stories seemed quite funny). Without these societal norms, the classroom would be chaos.
I plan on teaching early elementary and I definitely plan on having very clear rules and procedures set out. I think that this is absolutely necessary in the early years of schooling. It is a big transition for young students to go from being the center of attention to being a part of a group and I think they need to learn these behaviours early as they are also important later in life.
Career in Special Education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the student’s individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings, and other interventions designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and community than would be available if the student were only given access to a typical classroom education.
Common special needs include learning disability, communication challenges, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental disabilities.[1] Students with these kinds of disabilities are likely to benefit from additional educational services, different approaches to teaching, and use of technology.
Intellectual giftedness is a difference in learning and can also benefit from specialized teaching techniques or different educational programs, but the term "special education" is generally used to specifically indicate instruction of students whose special needs reduce their ability to learn independently or in a classroom, and gifted education is handled separately.
Special education can be an extraordinarily rewarding career for the right person. It takes someone with a great deal of patience, a love of children, and a thick skin to deal with difficult problems. But as in any field, the jobs with the greatest challenges tend to offer the highest rewards.
You want a career that allows you to help others. Being a special educator allows you to make a positive difference in the lives of children with disabilities. With the help of special educators, an increasing number of children with disabilities have succeeded in school and enrolled in college.
Being a special educator gives you the opportunity to use many talents and skills creatively and to grow both professionally and personally.
The need for special education professionals has never been greater. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the need for qualified special educators and related service personnel will increase "faster than most other professions" in the next 10 years. And the U.S. Department of Education reports "The number of students with disabilities served under IDEA continues to increase at a rate higher than both the general population and school enrollment." Read about the need for special education professionals. The personal rewards of educating children and youth with disabilities is greater than you can ever imagine.
These days many schools and universities across the country are making efforts in teacher education reform in order to better the training of instructors, educators and therefore the education of children. Besides this, factors like reduced class sizes and an increase in the number of students are also forcing many schools to acquire teachers who have skills to handle every student effectively.
Looking at the present scenario, educators or teachers require special skills that can be nurtured through intensive training. Addressing to meet this demand, special education degrees have increased its popularity in recent years. So, if you are already involved in this teaching profession and wish to advance your career in the education leadership, a special education degree is a necessity.
Today where teaching is considered as a highly noble profession, attaining a degree in special education can enhance your teaching career. A special education program can even help you learn special skills including understanding diversity, teaching reading literacy, counseling and special education. During this course, you will receive training and educational information that educates you how to translate the knowledge to the students. Once you complete this special education program, you will be able to make decisions and take a stand on political issues that affect education and learning.
Another good thing about this degree program is that it gives teachers more opportunities in private schools and universities. This special education course provides you with one of the most convenient ways to gain higher income and greater career opportunities in the field of education. Today, in fact many of the employed teaching professionals looking to advance their career to leadership roles like principal or dean are considering attaining a degree in special education.
There are lots of institutions and schools that offer degree programs in special education. They can vary from student behavior management, institutionalized learning methods, student-teacher supervision, specific areas and solutions for effective child education and more.
Enjoying a better salary and job security, today a special education degree can put you at an advantage and may boost your career path. It is one of the best options for all those who are planning for career advancement in education.
In the last few years the requirement for qualified educators has boomed rapidly. In fact, with the rise in education standards and the number of educational institutes and schools, the education industry expects to look for more qualified educators in the coming years. Today, we cannot deny the fact that education is an extremely rewarding career field but currently it demands more qualified teachers to educate children at the elementary school or college level.
Looking at the present scenario, educators or teachers require special skills that can be nurtured through intensive training. Addressing to meet this demand, special education degrees have increased its popularity in recent years. So, if you are already involved in this teaching profession and wish to advance your career in the education leadership, a special teaching degree is a necessity.
Today where teaching is considered as a highly noble profession, attaining a degree in special education can enhance your teaching career. A special education program can even help you learn special skills including understanding diversity, teaching reading literacy, counseling and special education. During this course, you will receive training and educational information that educates you how to translate the knowledge to the students. Once you complete this special teaching program, you will be able to make decisions and take a stand on political issues that affect education and learning.
Another good thing about this degree program is that it gives teachers more opportunities in private schools and universities. This special education course provides you with one of the most convenient ways to gain higher income and greater career opportunities in the field of education. Today, in fact many of the employed teaching professionals looking to advance their career to leadership roles like principal or dean are considering attaining a degree in special education.
There are lots of institutions and schools that offer degree programs in special teaching. They can vary from student behavior management, institutionalized learning methods, student-teacher supervision, specific areas and solutions for effective child education and more.
The popular national level institutes for disabled persons are the National institute for Hearing Handicapped, National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, National Institute of the Visually Handicapped and National Institute for orthopedically handicapped. National Institute of Rehabilitation, Training and Research and The Institute for Physically Handicapped are other two national level institutes run by government.
Moreover, government has initiated District Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) scheme in ten states to make all-inclusive rehabilitation. Moreover, four Regional Rehabilitation Training Centers are there to train the staff and teachers who work with these institutes.
Today due to global competitiveness, education scenario in India is fast changing. Along with that, special education is also catching importance and various government agencies are working hard to make it available to masses. There are almost 37 diploma courses in the field of special education in India some of the institutes offer courses like B.Ed as well. All these courses are regulated and governed by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)- a legislative body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Common special needs include learning disability, communication challenges, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental disabilities.[1] Students with these kinds of disabilities are likely to benefit from additional educational services, different approaches to teaching, and use of technology.
Intellectual giftedness is a difference in learning and can also benefit from specialized teaching techniques or different educational programs, but the term "special education" is generally used to specifically indicate instruction of students whose special needs reduce their ability to learn independently or in a classroom, and gifted education is handled separately.
Special education can be an extraordinarily rewarding career for the right person. It takes someone with a great deal of patience, a love of children, and a thick skin to deal with difficult problems. But as in any field, the jobs with the greatest challenges tend to offer the highest rewards.
You want a career that allows you to help others. Being a special educator allows you to make a positive difference in the lives of children with disabilities. With the help of special educators, an increasing number of children with disabilities have succeeded in school and enrolled in college.
Being a special educator gives you the opportunity to use many talents and skills creatively and to grow both professionally and personally.
The need for special education professionals has never been greater. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the need for qualified special educators and related service personnel will increase "faster than most other professions" in the next 10 years. And the U.S. Department of Education reports "The number of students with disabilities served under IDEA continues to increase at a rate higher than both the general population and school enrollment." Read about the need for special education professionals. The personal rewards of educating children and youth with disabilities is greater than you can ever imagine.
These days many schools and universities across the country are making efforts in teacher education reform in order to better the training of instructors, educators and therefore the education of children. Besides this, factors like reduced class sizes and an increase in the number of students are also forcing many schools to acquire teachers who have skills to handle every student effectively.
Looking at the present scenario, educators or teachers require special skills that can be nurtured through intensive training. Addressing to meet this demand, special education degrees have increased its popularity in recent years. So, if you are already involved in this teaching profession and wish to advance your career in the education leadership, a special education degree is a necessity.
Today where teaching is considered as a highly noble profession, attaining a degree in special education can enhance your teaching career. A special education program can even help you learn special skills including understanding diversity, teaching reading literacy, counseling and special education. During this course, you will receive training and educational information that educates you how to translate the knowledge to the students. Once you complete this special education program, you will be able to make decisions and take a stand on political issues that affect education and learning.
Another good thing about this degree program is that it gives teachers more opportunities in private schools and universities. This special education course provides you with one of the most convenient ways to gain higher income and greater career opportunities in the field of education. Today, in fact many of the employed teaching professionals looking to advance their career to leadership roles like principal or dean are considering attaining a degree in special education.
There are lots of institutions and schools that offer degree programs in special education. They can vary from student behavior management, institutionalized learning methods, student-teacher supervision, specific areas and solutions for effective child education and more.
Enjoying a better salary and job security, today a special education degree can put you at an advantage and may boost your career path. It is one of the best options for all those who are planning for career advancement in education.
In the last few years the requirement for qualified educators has boomed rapidly. In fact, with the rise in education standards and the number of educational institutes and schools, the education industry expects to look for more qualified educators in the coming years. Today, we cannot deny the fact that education is an extremely rewarding career field but currently it demands more qualified teachers to educate children at the elementary school or college level.
Looking at the present scenario, educators or teachers require special skills that can be nurtured through intensive training. Addressing to meet this demand, special education degrees have increased its popularity in recent years. So, if you are already involved in this teaching profession and wish to advance your career in the education leadership, a special teaching degree is a necessity.
Today where teaching is considered as a highly noble profession, attaining a degree in special education can enhance your teaching career. A special education program can even help you learn special skills including understanding diversity, teaching reading literacy, counseling and special education. During this course, you will receive training and educational information that educates you how to translate the knowledge to the students. Once you complete this special teaching program, you will be able to make decisions and take a stand on political issues that affect education and learning.
Another good thing about this degree program is that it gives teachers more opportunities in private schools and universities. This special education course provides you with one of the most convenient ways to gain higher income and greater career opportunities in the field of education. Today, in fact many of the employed teaching professionals looking to advance their career to leadership roles like principal or dean are considering attaining a degree in special education.
There are lots of institutions and schools that offer degree programs in special teaching. They can vary from student behavior management, institutionalized learning methods, student-teacher supervision, specific areas and solutions for effective child education and more.
The popular national level institutes for disabled persons are the National institute for Hearing Handicapped, National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, National Institute of the Visually Handicapped and National Institute for orthopedically handicapped. National Institute of Rehabilitation, Training and Research and The Institute for Physically Handicapped are other two national level institutes run by government.
Moreover, government has initiated District Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) scheme in ten states to make all-inclusive rehabilitation. Moreover, four Regional Rehabilitation Training Centers are there to train the staff and teachers who work with these institutes.
Today due to global competitiveness, education scenario in India is fast changing. Along with that, special education is also catching importance and various government agencies are working hard to make it available to masses. There are almost 37 diploma courses in the field of special education in India some of the institutes offer courses like B.Ed as well. All these courses are regulated and governed by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)- a legislative body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
How to become an accessory designer
Fashion
has a great power to play with human minds. Whether it is textile designing, accessory
designing or jewelry designing, people are always fascinated by the beautiful products produced by them. But in addition to enthralling human minds with its magical spell, the fashion world is also considered as a lucrative career option by youngsters, as it promises remarkable growth, glamour and financial success.
In India, the fashion industry is soaring newer heights these days and at the same time, it is carving out its own position in the global market. So, to meet the growing demands of skilled resources in this sector, there are many fashion institutes in India that offer various fashion technology programs including Accessory and Jewelry Design. One can easily measure the popularity of these accessory and jewelry design courses from the passion of human beings for jewelries and rising use of accessories complementing contemporary fashion trends. In fact, job opportunities in accessory designing as well as jewelry designing have led to the establishment of certain fashion institutes that offer exclusive courses in this field.
What are the types of Accessory and Jewelry design courses available in India?
There are various types of diploma, certificate and advanced diploma courses that are being offered by jewellery and accessory designing institutes all over India. In some of the institutes, computer aided jewellery design courses are also being offered.
These courses are offered at diploma as well as certificate levels. If an aspirant is well-versed in CAD, he / she can easily apply for Accessory Design and Technology courses at postgraduate level too. Most of these courses are short duration courses.
What are the basic qualifications required for Accessory and Jewelry design courses?
Apart from meeting the basic eligibility criteria to get admission to accessory and jewelry design courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level, a student must have some inherent qualities for successfully completing the courses. All those creative personalities who aspire to be accessory or jewellery designers should have a strong eye for details and colors, passion for fashion and technology-friendly attitude.
What are the career prospects of an accessory or jewellery designer?
One of the most encouraging and profitable career moves in this field is to own a fashion house or a store. One can see both online and offline accessory studios coming up everyday. Even though only a few have been able to grow astonishingly in accessory lines, most of the successful accessory designers are able to earn decent income to lead a luxurious lifestyle.
What is the profile of an accessory designer?
An accessory designer is supposed to design and create various jewellery pieces and ornaments that are to be worn along trendy fashion apparel. The job of an accessory designer is not only to create beautiful pieces from metals like gold, silver or platinum but also to create hip and junky jewellery using different kinds of metals, plastic and fabric.
There is absolutely no restriction on the creativity of an accessory designer.
If an aspiring designer has a limited budget, that designer can even sell his / her designs. This way, all the profit is absorbed by the designer instead of sharing it with a middleman.
The beauty of this business is that in spite of your past experiences and educational background, you can be an accessory designer. All an aspirant needs to have is certain innate skills that complete him / her as a promising accessory designer. According to the preference, a designer can start living and working in a small town and start a business there or can sell designs online. If one has plans to live and work in a big city outside Indian like Los Angeles and New York, this business is a lucrative opportunity for him / her too.
One of the best parts of being an accessory designer is that one does not necessarily need a licence or a special degree. But what is important is to have a creative bent of mind and some natural skills. It is always better to have some basic qualification in designing as it helps them in enhancing their personal skills.
So, all those who are want to become a successful accessory or jewellery designer should start now.
has a great power to play with human minds. Whether it is textile designing, accessory
designing or jewelry designing, people are always fascinated by the beautiful products produced by them. But in addition to enthralling human minds with its magical spell, the fashion world is also considered as a lucrative career option by youngsters, as it promises remarkable growth, glamour and financial success.
In India, the fashion industry is soaring newer heights these days and at the same time, it is carving out its own position in the global market. So, to meet the growing demands of skilled resources in this sector, there are many fashion institutes in India that offer various fashion technology programs including Accessory and Jewelry Design. One can easily measure the popularity of these accessory and jewelry design courses from the passion of human beings for jewelries and rising use of accessories complementing contemporary fashion trends. In fact, job opportunities in accessory designing as well as jewelry designing have led to the establishment of certain fashion institutes that offer exclusive courses in this field.
What are the types of Accessory and Jewelry design courses available in India?
There are various types of diploma, certificate and advanced diploma courses that are being offered by jewellery and accessory designing institutes all over India. In some of the institutes, computer aided jewellery design courses are also being offered.
These courses are offered at diploma as well as certificate levels. If an aspirant is well-versed in CAD, he / she can easily apply for Accessory Design and Technology courses at postgraduate level too. Most of these courses are short duration courses.
What are the basic qualifications required for Accessory and Jewelry design courses?
Apart from meeting the basic eligibility criteria to get admission to accessory and jewelry design courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level, a student must have some inherent qualities for successfully completing the courses. All those creative personalities who aspire to be accessory or jewellery designers should have a strong eye for details and colors, passion for fashion and technology-friendly attitude.
What are the career prospects of an accessory or jewellery designer?
One of the most encouraging and profitable career moves in this field is to own a fashion house or a store. One can see both online and offline accessory studios coming up everyday. Even though only a few have been able to grow astonishingly in accessory lines, most of the successful accessory designers are able to earn decent income to lead a luxurious lifestyle.
What is the profile of an accessory designer?
An accessory designer is supposed to design and create various jewellery pieces and ornaments that are to be worn along trendy fashion apparel. The job of an accessory designer is not only to create beautiful pieces from metals like gold, silver or platinum but also to create hip and junky jewellery using different kinds of metals, plastic and fabric.
There is absolutely no restriction on the creativity of an accessory designer.
If an aspiring designer has a limited budget, that designer can even sell his / her designs. This way, all the profit is absorbed by the designer instead of sharing it with a middleman.
The beauty of this business is that in spite of your past experiences and educational background, you can be an accessory designer. All an aspirant needs to have is certain innate skills that complete him / her as a promising accessory designer. According to the preference, a designer can start living and working in a small town and start a business there or can sell designs online. If one has plans to live and work in a big city outside Indian like Los Angeles and New York, this business is a lucrative opportunity for him / her too.
One of the best parts of being an accessory designer is that one does not necessarily need a licence or a special degree. But what is important is to have a creative bent of mind and some natural skills. It is always better to have some basic qualification in designing as it helps them in enhancing their personal skills.
So, all those who are want to become a successful accessory or jewellery designer should start now.
How to become an accessory designer
Fashion
has a great power to play with human minds. Whether it is textile designing, accessory
designing or jewelry designing, people are always fascinated by the beautiful products produced by them. But in addition to enthralling human minds with its magical spell, the fashion world is also considered as a lucrative career option by youngsters, as it promises remarkable growth, glamour and financial success.
In India, the fashion industry is soaring newer heights these days and at the same time, it is carving out its own position in the global market. So, to meet the growing demands of skilled resources in this sector, there are many fashion institutes in India that offer various fashion technology programs including Accessory and Jewelry Design. One can easily measure the popularity of these accessory and jewelry design courses from the passion of human beings for jewelries and rising use of accessories complementing contemporary fashion trends. In fact, job opportunities in accessory designing as well as jewelry designing have led to the establishment of certain fashion institutes that offer exclusive courses in this field.
What are the types of Accessory and Jewelry design courses available in India?
There are various types of diploma, certificate and advanced diploma courses that are being offered by jewellery and accessory designing institutes all over India. In some of the institutes, computer aided jewellery design courses are also being offered.
These courses are offered at diploma as well as certificate levels. If an aspirant is well-versed in CAD, he / she can easily apply for Accessory Design and Technology courses at postgraduate level too. Most of these courses are short duration courses.
What are the basic qualifications required for Accessory and Jewelry design courses?
Apart from meeting the basic eligibility criteria to get admission to accessory and jewelry design courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level, a student must have some inherent qualities for successfully completing the courses. All those creative personalities who aspire to be accessory or jewellery designers should have a strong eye for details and colors, passion for fashion and technology-friendly attitude.
What are the career prospects of an accessory or jewellery designer?
One of the most encouraging and profitable career moves in this field is to own a fashion house or a store. One can see both online and offline accessory studios coming up everyday. Even though only a few have been able to grow astonishingly in accessory lines, most of the successful accessory designers are able to earn decent income to lead a luxurious lifestyle.
What is the profile of an accessory designer?
An accessory designer is supposed to design and create various jewellery pieces and ornaments that are to be worn along trendy fashion apparel. The job of an accessory designer is not only to create beautiful pieces from metals like gold, silver or platinum but also to create hip and junky jewellery using different kinds of metals, plastic and fabric.
There is absolutely no restriction on the creativity of an accessory designer.
If an aspiring designer has a limited budget, that designer can even sell his / her designs. This way, all the profit is absorbed by the designer instead of sharing it with a middleman.
The beauty of this business is that in spite of your past experiences and educational background, you can be an accessory designer. All an aspirant needs to have is certain innate skills that complete him / her as a promising accessory designer. According to the preference, a designer can start living and working in a small town and start a business there or can sell designs online. If one has plans to live and work in a big city outside Indian like Los Angeles and New York, this business is a lucrative opportunity for him / her too.
One of the best parts of being an accessory designer is that one does not necessarily need a licence or a special degree. But what is important is to have a creative bent of mind and some natural skills. It is always better to have some basic qualification in designing as it helps them in enhancing their personal skills.
So, all those who are want to become a successful accessory or jewellery designer should start now.
has a great power to play with human minds. Whether it is textile designing, accessory
designing or jewelry designing, people are always fascinated by the beautiful products produced by them. But in addition to enthralling human minds with its magical spell, the fashion world is also considered as a lucrative career option by youngsters, as it promises remarkable growth, glamour and financial success.
In India, the fashion industry is soaring newer heights these days and at the same time, it is carving out its own position in the global market. So, to meet the growing demands of skilled resources in this sector, there are many fashion institutes in India that offer various fashion technology programs including Accessory and Jewelry Design. One can easily measure the popularity of these accessory and jewelry design courses from the passion of human beings for jewelries and rising use of accessories complementing contemporary fashion trends. In fact, job opportunities in accessory designing as well as jewelry designing have led to the establishment of certain fashion institutes that offer exclusive courses in this field.
What are the types of Accessory and Jewelry design courses available in India?
There are various types of diploma, certificate and advanced diploma courses that are being offered by jewellery and accessory designing institutes all over India. In some of the institutes, computer aided jewellery design courses are also being offered.
These courses are offered at diploma as well as certificate levels. If an aspirant is well-versed in CAD, he / she can easily apply for Accessory Design and Technology courses at postgraduate level too. Most of these courses are short duration courses.
What are the basic qualifications required for Accessory and Jewelry design courses?
Apart from meeting the basic eligibility criteria to get admission to accessory and jewelry design courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level, a student must have some inherent qualities for successfully completing the courses. All those creative personalities who aspire to be accessory or jewellery designers should have a strong eye for details and colors, passion for fashion and technology-friendly attitude.
What are the career prospects of an accessory or jewellery designer?
One of the most encouraging and profitable career moves in this field is to own a fashion house or a store. One can see both online and offline accessory studios coming up everyday. Even though only a few have been able to grow astonishingly in accessory lines, most of the successful accessory designers are able to earn decent income to lead a luxurious lifestyle.
What is the profile of an accessory designer?
An accessory designer is supposed to design and create various jewellery pieces and ornaments that are to be worn along trendy fashion apparel. The job of an accessory designer is not only to create beautiful pieces from metals like gold, silver or platinum but also to create hip and junky jewellery using different kinds of metals, plastic and fabric.
There is absolutely no restriction on the creativity of an accessory designer.
If an aspiring designer has a limited budget, that designer can even sell his / her designs. This way, all the profit is absorbed by the designer instead of sharing it with a middleman.
The beauty of this business is that in spite of your past experiences and educational background, you can be an accessory designer. All an aspirant needs to have is certain innate skills that complete him / her as a promising accessory designer. According to the preference, a designer can start living and working in a small town and start a business there or can sell designs online. If one has plans to live and work in a big city outside Indian like Los Angeles and New York, this business is a lucrative opportunity for him / her too.
One of the best parts of being an accessory designer is that one does not necessarily need a licence or a special degree. But what is important is to have a creative bent of mind and some natural skills. It is always better to have some basic qualification in designing as it helps them in enhancing their personal skills.
So, all those who are want to become a successful accessory or jewellery designer should start now.
Computer Programs That Will Improve Your Computer Skills
The operating system which helps the elements of your personal computer interact, but it can't perform practical tasks such as letter writing and calculating your bills. For these jobs you need to use additional software called applications or programs which is designed to carry out specific tasks. Here are a few computer programs that will improve your skills:
- Microsoft Word. A powerful word processor that's able to produce written documents of all kinds, including letters, memos, newsletters and posters. You can create documents from scratch yourself or, for many types of document, you can use one of the program's Wizards or templates. The Wizards let you choose the content and how the document looks, while the templates have a preset layout.
- Excel. A spreadsheet program used for organizing and calculating numerical data. It is ideal for keeping track of all types of budgets and accounts. Like all spreadsheets, it takes the form of a grid containing cells into which you input figures and formulas to calculate the figures. Excel allows you to have several spreadsheets or worksheets within the same document, and to enter calculations using figures from each of the worksheets. This is particularly useful when organizing a major event that includes mini-projects.
- Outlook. A desktop information management program that contains an address book into which you can enter contact details for friends, family and business associates. Also has a diary and calendar that will help you to keep track of your current schedule and appointments. Outlook can also be used to send and receive email through the internet or through an internal company network.
- Powerpoint. This is most often used in business. It enables you to create presentations for conferences, company meetings and marketing projects. It helps your business to structure information efficiently and do graphics within your text. It even offers animation effects to maximize the impact of your presentations. You can also use powerpoint at home to make a computerized slide show for your friends and family.
It's always a good ideal to learn different computer programs because knowing what each program, especially in your bundled software package can do will help you decide which will be the most appropriate for the tasks you want to perform.
Fortunately, many people these days have discovered that the best way to learn new skills fast, is through the use of Video Lessons (whenever possible). By using new and improved Video Lessons, you will be able to Master Basic Computer Skills fast. You'll be able to see every step necessary to perform every task you need on your computer. You will drastically improve your learning ability by a hundred folds, if you use video tutorials to learn new skills, compared to someone who still insist on learning new skills from books only (the old fashion way). So many people who have already try learning new skills or learning Basic Computer Skills fast from books only, always end up not acquiring basic Computer Knowledge fast. This is because, the more you read, the more confused you'll become, as you try to understand so many things and terms at the same time. So many things or terms that you probably never heard of before.
- Microsoft Word. A powerful word processor that's able to produce written documents of all kinds, including letters, memos, newsletters and posters. You can create documents from scratch yourself or, for many types of document, you can use one of the program's Wizards or templates. The Wizards let you choose the content and how the document looks, while the templates have a preset layout.
- Excel. A spreadsheet program used for organizing and calculating numerical data. It is ideal for keeping track of all types of budgets and accounts. Like all spreadsheets, it takes the form of a grid containing cells into which you input figures and formulas to calculate the figures. Excel allows you to have several spreadsheets or worksheets within the same document, and to enter calculations using figures from each of the worksheets. This is particularly useful when organizing a major event that includes mini-projects.
- Outlook. A desktop information management program that contains an address book into which you can enter contact details for friends, family and business associates. Also has a diary and calendar that will help you to keep track of your current schedule and appointments. Outlook can also be used to send and receive email through the internet or through an internal company network.
- Powerpoint. This is most often used in business. It enables you to create presentations for conferences, company meetings and marketing projects. It helps your business to structure information efficiently and do graphics within your text. It even offers animation effects to maximize the impact of your presentations. You can also use powerpoint at home to make a computerized slide show for your friends and family.
It's always a good ideal to learn different computer programs because knowing what each program, especially in your bundled software package can do will help you decide which will be the most appropriate for the tasks you want to perform.
Fortunately, many people these days have discovered that the best way to learn new skills fast, is through the use of Video Lessons (whenever possible). By using new and improved Video Lessons, you will be able to Master Basic Computer Skills fast. You'll be able to see every step necessary to perform every task you need on your computer. You will drastically improve your learning ability by a hundred folds, if you use video tutorials to learn new skills, compared to someone who still insist on learning new skills from books only (the old fashion way). So many people who have already try learning new skills or learning Basic Computer Skills fast from books only, always end up not acquiring basic Computer Knowledge fast. This is because, the more you read, the more confused you'll become, as you try to understand so many things and terms at the same time. So many things or terms that you probably never heard of before.
Bill 44 - A Step Backwards?
During the presentation today, Bill 44 was also brought up. I had heard of this before but the presenters really gave me a lot more information about it! Basically, Alberta passed a law in June of this year that allows parents to remove their kids from classes that discuss sexuality, sexual orientation, and religion. The school board must give written notice to parents when controversial topics are going to be covered in class. At first I was wondering how this could be accomplished as many controversial topics often come up unexpected in classes. However, after doing some research on Bill 44, it seems that there are no restrictions on casual classroom discussions but parents have to be made aware if it is directly in the curriculum content.
This law seems to be upsetting a lot of people because it is preventing our students from being educated about these issues and able to form their own thoughts and informed opinions. I understand and also have that concern for sure. We should be exposing young people to these issues and be able to discuss them in a positive manner in the classroom. Learning about different religions and different views on sexuality can be a very positive educational experience. It will increase awareness and acceptance of others which would hopefully teach us to respect one another. We should be able to form our own opinions but also be informed about and accepting of others’ values, beliefs and opinions. In addition, other critics of this law state that it is only further showing the close-minded intolerance of Albertans – why not teach our students to accept homosexual individuals as equals in our society and why not criticize religion in the classroom? According to those opposed to this law, this is a step back for education.
I very much understand the importance of discussing these issues but I also think that parents have every right to teach their children about these issues themselves. Parents obviously want their children to grow up with the values they have taught them and are probably just worried that teachers will not approach these topics in an appropriate way. It might not be that they want their children to be uneducated; it just might be that they are worried that the teacher’s values will get drilled into their children’s minds. If a teacher was challenging the values that I was instilling in my children, I would be upset. There are many controversial and sensitive issues that I would want to talk to my kids about rather than them learning about it exclusively at school. I’m not saying I would pull my kids out of classes such as these; I would just make sure they had enough knowledge to make an informed opinion regarding the new information they receive – in case the teacher wasn’t approaching it free of bias. I think it is better that parents have this right to pull their kids out of the class as opposed to the content being removed from the curriculum all together – which would be another extreme option.
Overall, I don’t fully agree with the Bill, I just understand why it was put in place. I think it is good for teachers to be able to inform students about different beliefs – as long as they are not telling them to believe a certain thing. For example, I think it would be great to teach students about all of the different religions. In Social Studies in Saskatchewan, we did exactly that – which I’ve learned now is not the norm. I went to public school and we learned a lot about all of the different religions and their foundations and beliefs. This was very informative and increased my knowledge on the subject. However, if this was done in such a way to say that one religion is better than the other or that clearly no religion is right it would be very worrisome. Perhaps this is why the bill passed.
Teachers should use these controversial issues to teach their students how to think not what to think. I would like to think that this would be the goal of most teachers and hopefully parents would look instead into how the information is being taught instead of preventing it from being taught at all. We need to open our students’ minds to these issues and new ideas while having respect for everyone involved. In which case, there would be no need for the bill.
The Hidden Curriculum (Content) Presentation
The presentation in class today concerned the topic of hidden curriculum. In particular, the group presenting looked at content as opposed to process. Process refers to the learning that takes place from the act of being at school. This would include rules, procedures, policies, and values that schools instill in students. On the other hand, content refers to those unintentional messages that are shown through content materials used in the classroom. The four examples discussed were race, religion, gender, and disability. Their discussion focused around how these groups are represented in recommended textbook materials – in particular science materials.
According to the presenters, one way an unrealistic view of gender is created in science is by omitting contributions that women have made to the field in curriculum materials. This is something that has come up in the presentation last week regarding gender. The group presenting on gender mentioned that when studying social studies and the history of Canada, male contributions are prominent. Unfortunately, this is part of our history and the predominant mention of male contributions to science and other subject areas in unavoidable. I don’t know if they necessarily “omit” contributions of women, I just think there were fewer contributions acknowledged from women. We cannot teach students that there were as many women contributors to early science when there simply weren’t - or they were not recorded as contributing. This is not to say that women weren’t capable of this study, it was just not allowed or encouraged. Instead of trying to change history, we as teachers should be explaining that this is how it was for men and women in our history. They will learn from that and see how it is not like that anymore and everyone should be seen as equal. There are many female scientists in more recent times that have done great things and discussing their contributions now would be beneficial. We can’t create more female contributions to the history of science when they simply aren’t there but we can encourage both men and women to pursue a career in science if that is where their interests lie. It was also mentioned by the group that when counting pictures of men and women in high school text books they were basically even which shows that we are hopefully moving in the right direction. Although science was previously dominated by men, times are definitely changing and we should be concerned with the present and learn from the past not try to change it.
Another topic that I would like to touch upon was the discussion regarding race representation (or lack of representation) in course materials. This is something that confused me. They were upset that white people were represented in ~70% of pictures in a particular science text book but previously had stated that textbooks should show an accurate representation of our society. I know that not everyone has had the same experiences as me, but all of the classes I have been in and all of the classes I have taught were at least 70% white. Those text books therefore may have been an accurate representation of the society I was in. I think it is great that they are trying to represent other races at all with our predominately white society. This is something that definitely would not have occurred a few decades ago and I find it encouraging (again, showing that we are going in the right direction). However, it is impossible to have a textbook that accurately represents everyone in your particular area – unless each area has its own textbook published. Each region will have a different percentage of each race mentioned and it would be impossible to get it right. Robert mentioned how FNMI are severely underrepresented in Canada’s curriculum materials depending on where resources come from. This is definitely true if the materials we are using are American. I’m not sure where the majority of materials come from in the field of science, but as a social major, I have used current Canadian social studies resources in the classroom. I feel as though the current books I used represented FNMI in a more even way. Even though I remember seeing this particular group represented, I did not consider how they were being represented. This is something that I will definitely consider now. Personally, I don’t think we should be concerning ourselves with how many individuals from each group are represented but more on how they are represented. We should be making sure that even though our textbooks show many cultures and races, that they are not showing these individuals in stereotypical roles – this is also true when concerning gender representation.
Hidden curriculum shows up everywhere - even when we are trying to be aware of it. We cannot control the text books we are given but we can teach our students to recognize biases and encourage them to create opinions based on the information we give them. Then again, I suppose that imposes an entirely different form of hidden curriculum…
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