posted by admin on Nov 3



Recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that individuals with BAs will earn approximately $600,000 more during their lifetime than those without an undergraduate degree. This estimate was cited by then Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley in his statement before Congress during the authorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965. He noted:

More than ever before, education is the fault line between those who will prosper in the new economy, and those who will be left behind. Today’s jobs increasingly require skills and training beyond a high school education, and accessible postsecondary education is critically important to individuals as well as our nation’s economy and democracy. (Price-Ellingstad & Berry, 1999, p. 1, quoting Riley, 1997)

Postsecondary Education

Trends in enrollment of students with disabilities in two and four-year programs continue to increase, with some estimates ranging from 9.3 percent to as high as 17 percent (National Center for Education Statistics, 2000; NCD, 2000). In spite of this increase, individuals with disabilities still remain less likely to pursue postsecondary education when compared to individuals without disabilities (Whelley, Hart, & Zaft, 2002).

Although the gap for high school completion is closing between individuals with and without disabilities, this trend is not the case in higher education. In fact, completion of some college coursework has declined from 30 percent to 26 percent from 1986 until 2001. Earning a college degree has dropped during this same time period from 19 percent to 12 percent (National Organization on Disability, 2001).

Contributing to the lack of persistence and retention of college students with disabilities is the issue of their adapting to an entirely new set of challenges in managing their academic program. Such a student now becomes one of potentially hundreds of students seeking services through a Disability Support Services office on campus. They are responsible for requesting their supports and services, providing documentation to receive these accommodations, and interacting with faculty to implement their supports.

Adjusting to a college environment presents challenges for all students; however, for students with disabilities, the responsibility of managing their accommodations along with their academic coursework presents a set of challenges unique to these students. Often students with disabilities enter college unprepared to disclose their disability, or they lack the understanding of how to access services on campus. Students with disabilities must self-identify to the university to request accommodations and supports. Students decide for varying reasons not to self-disclose. Some students are anxious for a “new beginning” in an educational setting by not having to deal with being labeled. Others decide to wait to disclose until they are experiencing academic problems. In too many instances students with disabilities are made to feel that they do not belong in advanced degree programs because of their need to self-identify for specific services. As a result, students may elect not to disclose their disability to the university in order to avoid being labeled (Burgstahler & Doe, 2006; Getzel & McManus, 2005; National Center for the Study of Postsecondary Educational Supports [NCSPES], 2000). This decision may turn out to be the one on which a student’s fate rests.

There is also the issue of faculty attitudes. While it seems hard to fathom that professional educators could be uninformed about the nature of learning disabilities this, in fact, does occur. A student unfortunate enough to get a professor like that can be made to feel self-conscious and unwelcome in that class. At a critical juncture, when these students need the most support and encouragement, a professor who is not “tuned in” to LD can seriously undermine a student’s confidence, causing an already tentative person to question whether college is indeed the right decision.

Given the inherent risks of college for students with learning disabilities, it makes sense for them to increase their odds of success by learning as much as possible about the postsecondary system prior to transition. Awareness of the pros and cons of disclosure can assist students in making an informed decision, rather than an emotional one. Ability to “vet” colleges based on the services they actually offer, and not what you read in a catalog or website, can play an important role in eventual success. Knowing in advance how many courses you can adequately handle and how much support you will need sets students up for success from the get-go. Having a student learn how to self-advocate and practice in high school prepares him for his responsibilities in college. Understanding the academic, organizational, and time-management demands of college clearly helps the student prepare both practically and mentally, as does being aware of the potential pitfalls.

Students who enter college with realistic expectations and knowledge of how to meet them are more likely to succeed. Therefore, college preparation can be a pivotal factor in success and serve as “insurance” of sorts for the actual college investment.

posted by admin on Nov 3

“How to get cheap college textbooks”…this is a question which, unlike “how to calculate accelerated depreciation” or “what is the sampling distribution of a statistic”, you probably won’t be taught in college. And yet college textbooks are very expensive- so expensive, in fact, that a full-time student can expect to spend hundreds of dollars per semester on books alone! But what if there was a cheaper way?

The most straightforward way to get cheap college textbooks is to buy them from you college bookstore used. These used books are simple to locate- they are typically shelved right next to the new copies of the same book- and will work just as well for your class as if you had bought them brand new.

Another rarely-used trick is to speak to your professor about the edition of the book you’ll be using before purchasing the one listed for the class. Sometimes, a textbook’s latest edition will contain important new material and information that the professor specifically wants to reference. Oftentimes, however, a textbook’s latest edition is similar enough to previous editions as to make the two virtually interchangeable. If your professor tells you that this is the case, then buy the previous edition, and expect to save around 50% off what you would have to pay for it the same textbook new!

Half.com is an excellent tool for buying cheap college textbooks. You can typically find a large selection of the books that you need for your classes, and browse prices based on book condition. An added benefit is that sometimes you can find the teacher’s edition of these same books, which may have CD’s or other supplemental materials that can help you with your lessons.

Lastly, you can choose not to buy your textbooks at all, but to rent them instead! Chegg.com has an excellent textbook rental program, where students oftentimes enjoy a 40-80% discount over buying the books new at their college bookstore. Better yet, for every textbook that is rented out, Chegg.com plants a tree.

posted by admin on Oct 15

A number of people see homeschooling as ‘do it yourself education’ and the majority of parents immediately see themselves as the ‘you’ in ‘yourself’. As a result, many parents who have busy lives making a living or pursuing other important activities, and especially single parents, tend to dismiss any thoughts of schooling their children at home out of hand. But are they correct to do so?

Homeschooling has been with us for an extremely long time now and involves more than one million children in the United States and experience shows us that are many options available to parents nowadays. Indeed, it is not surprising to find that parents in almost any situation which you can think of have found a solution to homeschooling their children.

Of course we are all familiar with the traditional two parent family with dad out at work and mum looking after the home and this situation makes homeschooling a reasonably simple option. Since the 1960s our society has changed markedly and nowadays there are a wide range of family situations including, role reversal, extended families, same-sex couples, single parents and much more.

Every situation carries with it both problems and advantages for homeschooling and it is a matter of examining both and then finding ways to overcome the difficulties and enhance the advantages.

For example, many parents turn to their extended family or to friends for assistance and ask family or friends into their home to help. This is not new of course and, for many years, it was not uncommon for families to offer an older family members such as an uncle or a friend a place to stay in exchange for assisting with the education and care of the children.

Neighbors can also frequently provide help. Many ’stay-at-home’ moms are already providing day care for children and, with the continued rise in homeschooling numbers, babysitting services are increasingly being extended to encompass homeschooling.

In more and more cases families are also getting together to provide homeschooling on a ‘group’ basis.

Yet another increasingly popular option is that of employing a tutor. Today tutors come from a wide range of different backgrounds, in all age groups and include both specialists, like those teaching music or languages, as well as general tutors. In fact, it is not unusual to find ex-public or private school teachers who are dissatisfied with the ’system’ becoming tutors because of their basic love of teaching.

Most parents think that private tutoring is simply beyond their financial reach but, after some careful research, they are frequently surprised to discover that the cost of tutoring can indeed be within their reach.

One other very important consideration is the children themselves. It is often surprising how well motivated children are by the independence which homeschooling brings and many parents find that educating a child at home can be considerably less time consuming than you might think.

If you find that you are tempted by the advantages of homeschooling over the poor quality of the public school system then you should avoid the common pitfall of simply dismissing the idea out-of-hand. Take time to examine the options open to you and you might well be surprised to find that it is easier than you think

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posted by admin on Oct 15

With the growing competitiveness in the job market today, an advanced degree is becoming more and more of a necessity. This is one reason why Eastern Kentucky University has developed the Master of Science in Safety, Security & Emergency Management and Concentration/Certificate Programs as a part of its distance education line up. Eastern Kentucky University, which has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), offers the only Master of Science in Safety, Security & Emergency Management program that can be completed entirely online. So that you can obtain the vital training and education that you need while maintaining your current lifestyle.

You have four options with the Master of Science in Safety, Security and Emergency Management program. You may choose a concentration in one of three ares including: Homeland Security, Occupational Safety, or Fire and Safety Services. Alternatively, you may elect a multi-track concentration that combines all three. Incidentally, these three areas are also available from Eastern Kentucky University as certificate programs. The Master’s program is designed to instill a strong sense of responsibility in students while providing them with a broad knowledge base from which to draw on.

Taking around two years to complete, the Master of Sciences In Safety, Security and Emergency Management online degree program consists of thirty-six credit hours. To complete the program you have the option of preparing a thesis or taking two additional courses. Given the highly specialized nature of the field and the uniqueness of the program, admissions requirements are somewhat competitive. Accepting applications only 6 times a year, Eastern Kentucky University requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate work, especially in the last 60 hours of degree work as well as a score of 425 on both the math and verbal portions of the GRE and a score of 3.0 on the analytical writing portion of the GRE or a 375 score on the MAT. Additionally, international students must have a TOEFL score of 550. To complete the admissions process you must submit your transcripts demonstrating that you hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and test scores along with three letters of recommendation, a completed application, and the $35 application fee. In some cases, Provisional or Probationary admissions may be allowed for some students who do not meet all of the required elements. If you have questions about this, be sure to speak with an enrollment advisor in Eastern Kentucky University’s admissions department.


Tuition will run you around $500 per credit hour but the exceptional quality of the program may be well worth the cost. And of course, financial aid and student loans may be an option for many students who are serious about pursing a Master of Sciences In Safety, Security and Emergency Management degree. Again, this is something than an advisor from the admissions department can help you with and the application process for student financial aid is free and relatively simple to complete. So cost may not keep you from pursing your career goals.

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posted by admin on Oct 15

Five Gadgets Every Student Needs to Avoid a Computing Disaster
It’s only the beginning of August but already time to start shopping for the high tech necessities every student is going to need to succeed at school. Whether you’re buying someone’s first laptop computer, upgrading the old one, or looking for advice on essential gadgets for today’s student, here are some suggestions for what to buy along with some tips on good deals.

A Reliable Computer, seriously
Computers don’t last forever. If your student is using the old hand-me-down computer with 512 MB of RAM running Windows 98 it’s probably time to upgrade. First, you’ll need to decide between a desktop and laptop, or you could buy one of each. You’ll also have to decide between Windows and the Mac OS. Mac’s can run Windows applications easily but not the other way around. A desktop can deliver a lot more performance than a similarly priced laptop. With a desktop you’ll get more storage, a real keyboard, better graphics processor, bigger monitor, and more expansion options but laptops are what every student wants so what are you going to do?

eMachines recently announced some new desktops including the T3656 which comes with 1GB RAM, a 160GB hard drive and sells for around $299.99. The T5274 has 2GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive and retails for $399.99.

Hot Back to School Deal from Apple
Apple launched a Back to School promotion campaign that offers a free iPod when you buy a qualifying Mac. You need to purchase both products and then submit a rebate to get up to $299 back on the iPod.

A good anti-everything application
It’s too easy for anyone, especially students to click on the wrong link and find their computers loaded up with malicious software like virus’ or spyware. There are many commercial applications to choose from like McAfee and Symantec. These companies maintain expensive labs to identify and combat malware. Unfortunately, you end up paying an annual fee for these programs which can add up when you’re maintaining multiple computers in a household. Fortunately there are some very good applications like ones from Avast who offer “home” versions for free. PCPitstop.com offers some free tests for anything that could adversely affect your computer.

Extra Ink
You can often find third party ink cartridges for sale on ebay and other places. The ink may not be the very highest quality but we’ve found them to be quite adequate for most tasks and we’ve saved a lot of money too. Just in case the ink is out of stock or too expensive you should consider upgrading the old printer to a new model.

A fast, high resolution, inkjet printer can be amazingly inexpensive. Maybe it’s because manufacturers know they’ll make up for giving the printer away when you buy lots of expensive ink cartridges. The HP Photosmart D7460 is a wireless printer and it’s a fast color inkjet that gets good reviews. A mutifunction printer might make a lot of sense for a student. They can copy and scan documents and many of these devices produce high quality photo prints. The Canon Pixma MX850 that gets high marks from users.

External Backup Disk
It would be a terrible shame to spend a lot of money on computer gear only to lose that important term paper(not to mention that photo and MP3 collection) from a hard disk malfunction.. External hard drives that hook up to the computer through a high speed USB connection and very often include back up software can be relatively inexpensive.

Removable Storage
Two forms of storage we highly recommend are flash drives and optical discs. You can get 2 GB flash drives for under $20 which will store 4 years worth of term papers. Blank DVDs not cost around $.30 each and hold over 4 GB of data. You can back up all your docs to a few of these in spread them around for safe keeping.

posted by admin on Oct 15

The latest trend for high school students looking to fast track their college education is CLEP testing. Basically, a CLEP exam is a standardized test allowing potential college students to earn college credits. Passing these examinations is an excellent method of advancing their college plan along with a great way to save money on tuition.

CLEP exams speeds your progress towards your degree completion by acting as a substitute for most college core classes. Keep in mind, however, that the number of credits earned per exam varies by the subject matter and college. Here are my four essential tips on how to take and pass a CLEP study test:
Start Studying Early – The majority of colleges offering CLEP testing normally only offer them for lower level, general education or liberal studies classes. If you have completed these classes, then CLEP study really won’t be much help to you. Instead look for higher level classes since these exams are meant to show your knowledge in that particular area of study. For example, a student that just finished a course in college algebra may not be prepared for a calculus test with the proper CLEP study materials and why CLEP study guides are so important.

What is Available? - Find out if a CLEP exam is being offered by your school. High school students should ask their guide counselor for help with CLEP study. If you are already enrolled in college, check to see if they have a CLEP office or department. Sometimes the Registrar’s office handles these types of questions too and can help you with any questions you may have on CLEP testing.

Study, Then Study Some More - Once you decide on the testing subject you want to try, register for the exam and then get studying! Give yourself plenty of time to study with the help of helpful CLEP study guides. Check to see if where you signed up for the test can help you with any questions you may have pertaining to CLEP study such as a sample exam. You can always search online for study resources and practice tests.

Practice Your Test Taking Skills – Get to bed early the night before the exam and be sure to have a good breakfast the next morning. Be sure to show up fully prepared for the exam with all of the materials you will need. These CLEP exams are moderated in a number of different ways depending on how many other people are taking the test with you. The most important thing is to just relax, take some deep breaths, and take your time.

You’ll have no problems passing this important test. All you need to do is put the work forth, study, and follow my advice.

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posted by admin on Oct 15

Schools report that more than a quarter of a million students are physically attacked during the school day with 160,000 kids missing school everyday due to bullying and school violence. Nearly a million students across the U.S. bring weapons to school every month. More than 5.7 million young people in the U.S. are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both. Unchecked bullying can escalate to more serious violence as 75% of school-shooting incidents have been linked to harassment and bullying issues. Bullying is deeply seated in our tough and competitive culture. Experts maintain that it is a barbaric, ingrained human survival behavior. Though regrettable, that may explain its widespread presence in our everyday lives: in schools, households, workplaces, sports arenas, media and politics. However, with a nation shaken by school tragedies, it remains difficult to comprehend what fuels such behavior.

What’s not difficult is assessing the impact on its victims. The tension and anxiety created by bullying is burdening kids with worry. The threat affects concentration, health, relationships and self-worth. It can create social isolation and depression with long term consequences. One out of every 10 students who drop out of school does so because of repeated bullying, and those who are bullied are five times more likely to be depressed and far more likely to be suicidal.

Brock Bowman, a ninth grader living near Columbus, Ohio who found difficulty in the classroom despite his high IQ, found a solution through distance learning. Brock was not thriving in his public school and was labeled ADD. Angie Bowman, Brock’s mother said, “This diagnosis led to Brock being placed in a reading special services program, which only made matters worse. His peers picked on him relentlessly and his self-esteem plummeted.” The stress left him completely exhausted, school became unbearable and they looked into distance learning options. “We were able to find a fully accredited school with caring teachers that eliminated negative social distractions and reignited Brock’s interest in learning,” said Angie.

Families looking for peaceful solutions to bullying are turning increasingly to distance learning providers like Laurel Springs School. At Laurel Springs, the focus is on Brock’s learning style, interests and passions. Established in 1991, Laurel Springs now has more than 4,250 students in 50 states and in 43 countries. Distance learning in an all-inclusive learning environment creates a place for skill building and mastery without the threats of bullies. For Brock, Laurel Springs offers web-based and text-based curriculum built on state standards. Instruction is targeted to his innate learning style profile; a proactive evaluation of his disposition, motivators, interests and learning modalities. No attacks occur. No guns are drawn. Students and families blossom in the natural flow of the learning process. Nick Marks-Paschal, an eleventh grader, was emotionally shut-down at school even though he demonstrated creative genius outside of the classroom. According to his mother, Shelley Marks, “Nick was put-off by school-wide bullying and antagonizing. He withdrew, not wanting to participate in this dynamic, and others called him stupid and slow. At Laurel Springs, he took the Learning Styles Profile and the results were an astounding endorsement of him.” Nick’s learning style is ‘invent/perform’ — he learns best by discovering, designing and exploring in an independent environment. He was assigned a teacher appropriate for his learning style and together, they designed curriculum to bring out his highest ‘invent’ capacity. “Nick is inspired by the aligned focus of his learning and has a huge digital multimedia design career ahead,” Shelley added.

Distance learning is a growing option with the impact of the Internet, educational software, video learning tools and online communications systems. It began mostly as a higher education convenience for completion of college and continuing educational credits. Now the trend is evolving to support K-12 students, challenging the traditional premise that learning occurs best within the confines of a classroom under the control of faculty. “Most people are still in the Industrial Age mind-set, even though our economy has moved into the information knowledge age that requires an ‘unleashing of talent’,” according to noted author, Stephen R. Covey. “Management means control; leadership means release.” The same goes for our educational systems and finding ways to foster greatness beyond drawing lines of control that can breed conflict.

Schools like Laurel Springs have the information age in mind and are bringing distance learning programs to K-12 students. By linking students like Brock and Nick with excellent teachers and personalized curriculum, K-12 distance learning provides a realistic alternative. Students, parents, counselors, administrators and teachers have begun to recognize that distance learning for K-12 students is transformative – moving education from a school-centered to a student-centered approach and often providing talented, tormented kids with a safe haven from the schoolyard bully.

posted by admin on Oct 15

In the past several years, the field of K–12 distance learning education has grown considerably, supported by the charter school movement and a host of national and statewide technology initiatives in education. Parents, teachers, and school administrators can mix and match a multitude of distance learning options for their students. Here are a few guidelines to help determine what program is right for you.

1. Individualized Approach to Education

Look for programs where students are well-served by the personalized care of their teachers. Look for self-paced or customized curriculum, and a mastery-based learning philosophy that emphasizes complete proficiency at every stage of the process. Knowing a student’s learning strengths and weakness, as well as particular learning styles, can be a great asset in effective and long-lasting learning.

2. Personalized Teacher Services

Teacher services should be comprehensive and responsive to student needs. Teachers should be highly responsive to their students’ needs while building a one-to-one relationship with each family. Regular communication is essential, as is coordinating among multiple teachers and with parents. Seek out programs that understand the challenges as well as opportunities of the distance learning setting.

3. Regional Accreditation

For traditional schools as well as distance learning programs, regional accreditation bodies such as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or the New England Association of Schools and Colleges demand that schools adhere to a rigorous set of practices to guarantee excellence in education. Few distance learning programs have been accredited yet it is an important factor as many universities and colleges prefer that their applicants come from accredited schools.

4. Strong Curriculum

Programs frequently offer online, text-based, project-based and customized courses, and students should be able to mix and match courses according to the mode of delivery as well as appropriate grade level in a given subject. Look for programs that are correlated to state and national standards so that key skills and concepts are properly reinforced. Course catalogues should offer a range of Advanced Placement, honors, and College Prep courses, as well as academic, art and technology electives. Quality curriculum will emphasize higher-level critical thinking skills with ample opportunities for students to sustain a meaningful dialogue with teachers.

5. Program Accountability

The recent boom in online learning has resulted in a flood of start-up programs so be attentive to the school’s actual track record where it comes to assessment and accountability. Many programs are run by private firms that lack sufficient input from certified teachers, so finding a school with qualified educators is a must. Look for longer-running programs and schools that adhere to best practices established by organizations like the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL).

6. College Placement

If your student is college bound, examine graduation rates, percentages of students who go on to two- or four-year post-secondary schools, and the schools where students are being admitted.

For example, one of the leading distance learning schools, Laurel Springs School has exceptional college placement statistics:

• 85% of seniors are attending college.
• 90% were accepted to the college of their choice.
• The 15% who postponed college were mainly professional, elite athletes and actors.
Their SAT scores were also higher than state and national average.

7. Academic Opportunities

Look for cooperation with other educational institutions to provide students with a range of academic opportunities. The University of California, for example, pre-approves coursework as meeting admission requirements, as does the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Schools may also participate in the National Honor Society, recognizing academic achievement and community service among outstanding students.

8. Student Support Services

Beyond teacher support, the entire school should provide extensive personalized care for its students. Knowledgeable advisors who can assist in selecting courses, guidance counselors who monitor ongoing progress, college counseling, and a registrar that issues report cards and transcripts are all important support features that might not be included in all distance learning programs.

9. School Community

A distance learning program should strive to create a sense of community, especially since its students and teachers aren’t located in the same place. Look for online meeting places, regular newsletters, posted announcements, chat rooms and message boards, and physical events such as an annual prom and graduation ceremony.

10. Parent Training

Parental involvement is important in any learning situation, and in distance education, where students don’t regularly maintain face-to-face interaction with their teachers, the parents’ role is all the more critical. A strong distance learning program should provide comprehensive parent training and support. Parents should be able to check the progress of their students’ work and be in frequent communication with teachers.

The task of selecting a school doesn’t need to be an overwhelming process. Of the numerous factors to consider, these ten areas should help you ask the appropriate questions in finding the school that’s right for you.

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