Education Assistant

Online Education: A Brief History

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:51:04 +0000

When the educational process takes place in an environment other than a live classroom, it is known as distance education. The idea of distance education can be traced by to the advent of the printing press. From the very earliest days of printing, it became possible to develop a learning method whereby the student learned at his own pace and without the aid of an instructor. The self help manual is one of the earliest examples of distance learning.

As each new technological advance was made, the possibilities of its adaptation for distance learning were explored. When radios came into common use, the possibilities of giving instruction via this medium were investigated. Television was a major advance that was used in distance training. The development of closed circuit television networks made it possible for classrooms to be spread out over great distances with the instructor in one location, and the students in another. The drawback to this method was that it still required the student to be actually present at the time the class was being held. It did not free him of that restraint.

It was the introduction of computers, and the wide spread growth of the internet that brought us to the current golden age of distance learning. Online education actually began with the introduction of the “Computer Assisted Learning Center” (CALC) in 1982 in Rindge, New Hampshire. This was the first actual online school in the United States although a similar program was being tested in Norway at around the same time. In was not until 1994-1995 when the internet became more widespread and available to the public from small and local internet service providers that online education really began to explode.

The first stage was the introduction of individual classes online. They were intended to supplement on campus classes and not replace them. There was a bit of reluctance in the educational establishment to change the traditional methods, and this reluctance still exists to some extend. It is fast fading, however, as the advantages of online education became apparent. Before long, you could find a complete degree program online. This was followed by online degree colleges. At the present time, online education opportunities increase with each passing day, and the status of online degrees and how they are received by employers is improving constantly as the internet becomes more integrated into daily life.

By: Natalie Aranda

Special Education Acronyms – What Do All Those Letters Mean?

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:16:37 +0000

Do you sometimes wonder what some of the Acronyms in special education mean? Do the acronyms make your head spin? This article will discuss common special education acronyms and what they mean. This will make it easier for you to actively participate in your child with disabilities education.

1. FAPE: stands for Free Appropriate Public Education. Each child has the right under IDEA to receive a free appropriate public education.

2. IDEA: stands for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; which is the federal law that applies to special education.

3. IDEA 2004: This is the federal law that was reauthorized in 2004. If you see this in an article, it usually means that something was changed in IDEA, by the reauthorization in 2004.

4. LEA: stands for the local educational agency, which is your local school district.

5. SEA: stands for the state educational agency, which is your states board of education.

6. IEP: stands for the Individual Educational Plan, which must be developed for every child that receives special education services.

7. LRE: stands for Least Restrictive Environment. LRE means that children with disabilities need to be educated in the least restrictive environment, in which they can learn. LRE starts at the regular classroom, and becomes more restrictive.

8. NCLB: stands for the No Child Left Behind Act.

9. IEE’s: stands for an Independent Educational Evaluation. These are initiated and paid for by parents, to help determine their child’s disability or educational needs.

10. IEE’s at Public Expense: stands for an IEE where the school district pays for it. There are rules that apply to this, that you must learn before requesting an IEE at public expense. Many special education personnel try and do things that are not allowed under IDEA, so you need to educate yourself.

11. ASD: stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder, which some school districts use in their paperwork.

12. ADD: stands for Attention Deficit Disorder.

13. ADHD: stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

14. PWN: stands for Prior Written Notice. Parents must be given PWN when the school district wants to change things in the child’s IEP. (such as eligibility, change services, refuse to change services etc.).

15. ABA: stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis that is an educational treatment for Autism.

16. SID: stands for Sensory Integration Disorder. A lot of children with Autism have difficulty with sensory integration.

17. SPD: stands for Sensory Processing Disorder which is the same as above, but some people in the special education field, call it different names.

By understanding the acronyms used by special education personnel, you can be a better advocate for an appropriate education for your child.

By: JoAnn Collins

Driver’s Education Books

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:11:18 +0000

Most students prefer online courses to classes being offered in school when it comes to driver education. However, for those who cannot afford these online classes, driver education books would be a good option.

These books have earned some rave reviews from people who have actually used them. They offer complete information and keep the reader’s interest with colorful illustrations. The content is approved by the state and can be bought from the nearest DMV. Some books can be bought on the Internet also and are written by private authors. Even though these books are also very interesting, many might prefer to buy the book from the DMV instead of outside, keeping in view the difference in the cost between the two varieties of education books.

Most driver education books provide very clear and precise text and are well written. A book that provides a program that helps students manage the risks and responsibilities of driving might be a good alternative to a regular course.

Books such as 110 CAR AND DRIVING EMERGENCIES provide quick answers to any problem a driver might possibly face, whether it’s mechanical, electrical, weather, or an on-the-road hazard. It is a book that shows how to deal with minor problems or major hazards calmly, either in the driveway or garage or on the road far away from home. These books can fit easily in a car’s glove compartment for easy access.

Some books provide interesting information even to experienced drivers in brief informative chapters. They help in situations where the driver needs to handle difficult driving situations, and how to deal with an emergency such as fender benders, tire changes, and overheated engines. These books are user-friendly and make reading even the most boring topics seem interesting.

By: Jimmy Sturo

Effective Sat And Gmat Test Preparation

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:17:28 +0000

Test preparation schools offer many different options for people who are studying to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test or Graduate Management Admission Test. Some people prefer to do their SAT preparation in a traditional classroom with planned lessons and practice tests. Other people prefer GMAT test preparation programs on the Internet, which provide the opportunity to go over course materials and take timed practice tests as many times as you want at any time you want. However you decide to prepare for these challenging and daunting tests, it is important to start early and get as much studying in as you can before test day. It is a good idea to sign up for your test before signing up for one of the programs at test preparation schools. This will set a deadline or end goal for your GMAT or SAT preparation that you can take small steps toward. And once you have reviewed the materials and started taking practice tests, you can determine what your weak spots are and set goals for improvement in those areas over time. The key to effective SAT or GMAT test preparation is consistency over an extended period, which means setting aside time for studying every day, or as close to every day as possible, with periodic days off to relax the mind. If you can continue biting off one chunk of studying at a time until you can get most of the practice questions right without making careless mistakes or running out of time, then you should be ready to make it to test day and score high. If you try to cram all the information, however, you run the risk of making foolish errors on test day. Whether you’re taking the SAT or the GMAT, your acceptance into the schools of your choice will depend on this score. So anything you can do to prepare and score higher will help to make your goals for the future a reality.

Distance Learning Education Degree

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:47:55 +0000

The major reason for distance learning education degree is to lend a hand to teachers to sharpen their teaching talent. Moreover, it assists them to read the latest teaching technology. As a teacher, there are scores of opportunities for you on the web. In other words, you should not remain dormant in your profession. The net has made it unproblematic for you to boost up your career. Additionally, you don’t have to exit your work in order to go back to school to work on your talent. You can get this done in the convenience of your home or office.

There are a lot of profits of distance learning education degree. One, you will be able to discover classes and acquire an advanced degree in your specialties. This is made achievable because of the variety of opportunities for distance learning education on the internet. Additionally, it helps to perform the need for extra training while giving opportunity for flexibility that you may need as a result of your tiring schedule. This means that it is achievable for you to get credits in the evenings and weekends and you also get to learn at your own rapidity. So, you can finish the degree program at whatever time you want.

The good news is that there are countless educational institution out there offering distance learning education degree. Most of the schools uses the net as a medium. In spite of this, you must be very alert as there are countless deceptive educational institution out there offering certificates that will do your career no good. Thence, it is extremely recommended that you shun them by all means. One of the lots of things you must look at when looking for a decent and reliable school is accreditation. Accreditation depict that the school has all that is required to transmit and impart knowledge. In other words, the school has met satisfactory standards required for a legitimate school. This indicate that you can be certain that you will get the most excellent education including a degree certificate that any employer out there will give a positive response.

While registering for distance learning education degree is good and highly suggested, there are a few things you must work out. Discipline is one the necessities for successful completion of an education degree on the internet. This depict that you must be able to get tasks executed without being forced by anyone. If you are always putting off, I encourage you to give up the suggestion of registering for the online program. Even if this is a kind of education that can be completed whenever you want, I imagine you don’t want to do it without end. Thence, you must be disciplined to attend the classes, do the class work and still have the time to read.

By: Ras Reed