Archives for July, 2008
Jul 26, 2008 | Uncategorized
Cooperative Learning is actually having the students work in groups or a group setting. Instead of the traditional style of teaching, the students interact with each other and build upon their school relations. In Week 4’s class lecture it states, “Cooperative learning teaches students to be a functional member of a team, with not only individual responsibilities, but group responsibilities as well” (Week 4, 2005). This is an importance learning style to incorporate in the lessons because it builds communication skills in the classroom. These skills will become the basis of their adult relations. In order to better understand cooperative learning, the main theorists and basis of this subject need to be explored.
Due to the internet and the vast majority of sites on this subject, teachers can implement this information into their classroom quickly. When going to google and typing in “Cooperative Lesson”, 826,049 sites can be viewed. The main idea behind the 10 most popular sites are “What is Cooperative Learning” and “How can Teachers implement it in the Classroom”. The most vaulable site found in regards to this subject is edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm. This site is titled, “Cooperative Learning” and have a dozen links which will help a teacher grasp this style. The consensus of this site states cooperative learning.
Is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for helping teammates learn, thus creating an atmosphere of achievement. Students work through the assignment until all group members successfully understand and complete it (Cooperative Learning, 2005).
Learning how to use Cooperative Learning in the classroom room is a must for teachers because of the communication and social relations she can develop for the students. These communication and social relations are best understood by comparing and contrasting the major theorists of Cooperative Learning.
In the models of Johnson, Johnson, and Holubec explain, “the five advantages to cooperative learning are interwoven in five basic principles: 1) positive interdependence, 2) simultaneous interaction, 3) individual responsibility, 4) Interpersonal and small-group learning skills, and 5) reflection and planning” (University of Phoenix, 2002). These five basic principles seem to be the basis for cooperative learning. These theorists understood children need to learn to work together and know each other in a non-competitive environment. Some of the interesting facts about these theorists is the “sink or swim” philosophy, mutual goal idea, and assigned roles (Principles of Cooperative Learning, 2005). Johnson, Johnson, and Holubec seem to have grasped the updated version of cooperative learning in the classroom. Their methods and ideas are more conservative than the other theorists and tend to be more approachable by teachers.
Dr. Robert Slavin’s approach to cooperative learning is more based on catering to individual students needs. He developed the Student Teams and Achievement Division, STAD. His theory was also based on 5 different ideas much like Johnson, Johnson, and Holubec. The five components are Class Presentation, Teams, Quizzes, Individual Improvement Scores, and Team Recognition (Cooperative Learning a New Direction, 2005). The difference in Slavic’s earlier theory and the theorists present before is his concern for the lack of experience teachers have in this subject and how the subject might not achieve all the expectation. This theorist had a strong belief that high risk students and special educational students would benefit the most from cooperative learning (Dr. Robert Slavin on Cooperative Learning, 2005). In reality, this man’s theory was a good basis, but his lack of experience in the needs of today somewhat discredit his thinking. In the reading it seems this doctor presented the lack of vision of a world where teachers are highly educated and there is a melting pot of students in a classroom, which is the major difference between the theorists.
Dr. Spencer Kagan has
Two important points to be made: (1) The world is not just competitive and in some important respects is becoming less so; (2) I do not advocate exclusive use of cooperative learning methods, but rather a healthy balance of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic classroom structures to prepare students for the full range of social situations (Ten Frequent Questions, 2005).
When reading about this theory a more liberal view of cooperative learning comes to mind. When trying to find a specific amount of steps by this theorist, it is impossible because there are too many to count or write about in one paper. Basically this style focuses on “stress positive interpersonal peer relationships, equality, self-esteem, and achievement”. With these different concepts comes different goals such as, “building team spirit and positive relationships among students; information sharing; critical thinking; communication skills; and mastery (learning/remembering) of specified material”(Spencer Kagan’s Positive Learning Structure, 2005). Unlike the simple 5 steps of the last theorists, a teacher would have to put the information together based on her students. The teacher would have to explore many different lead and use the information to her best judgment.
In conclusion, Johnson, Johnson, and Holubec have set the basis for cooperative learning in the classroom. Their theory is easy to understand and can be simple implemented in the classroom. Overall, Cooperative learning is important because it bind communication with social skills, something every student needs to develop. It is easy to compare and contrast the different theorists because each one has a different idea on what cooperative learning actually is. The Cooperative Learning Style has been developed and redeveloped by many theorists; it just depends on the teacher’s learning style to determine the best approach to this method.
Reference:
Cooperative Learning. (2005). Retrieved on May 31 from edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm#activities .
Cooperative Learning a New Direction. (2005). Retrieved on May 31 from findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3673/is_199610/ai_n8745987#continue .
Dr. Robert Slavin on Cooperative Learning. (2005). Retrieved on June 5 from ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/math/slavintrns.htm .
Principles of Cooperative Learning. (2005). Retrieved on May 29 csudh.edu/dearhabermas/cooplrn.htm .
Spencer Kagan’s Positive Learning Structure. (2005). Retrieved on June 6 from jalt.org/pansig/PGL2/HTML/Nakagawa.htm .
Ten Frequent Questions. (2005) Retrieved on June 5 from courseweb.tac.unt.edu/overall/CECS4100/Resources/CoopLearn/10Questions.html .
Week 4 Lecture. (2005). Mat 532 Week 4 Lecture. Shannon Miller.
University of Phoenix (Ed.). (2001). Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Science and Math.. [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-text]. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing.
Debbie Cluff is the owner of Links for Learning, links-for-learning.com links-for-learning.com, an online tutoring and instant homework help site for K-College in Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. She is the mother of 3 and has been married for 5 years. She has her B.A. in Liberal Studies and her Master’s in Education. She is currently in the first grade classroom having experience in the Title 1 program and 6th grade
Jul 26, 2008 | Uncategorized
San Diego Schools are concerned with closing the achievement gap and providing opportunities for its students from preschool to graduation. The task is challenging because of the district’s size, diversity, and socio-economic makeup. One way that San Diego Schools are trying to meet these challenges is by attacking the problems from both ends.
The San Diego Schools and their famous home team the San Diego Padres are in the 13th year of a community service initiative that provides motivation and financial incentives to high school students. The Padres Scholars program was started in 1995 to encourage and help San Diego Schools students to attend a four-year college.
The program provides selected San Diego Schools scholars with $5,000 upon graduation- provided they have met grade and behavior standards. Padres players pay for the first half of the funds and team management the second. To qualify as a Padres Scholar, a student in the San Diego Schools must participate in AVID.
The AVID program is an elective that targets students in San Diego Schools who are the first to attend college in their family, or are from a low-income group, and show academic potential based on grades and desire. AVID students receive direct instruction in motivational, academic, reading, and writing skills weekly. In addition, a tutor provided by San Diego Schools leads two hours of group study a week. Administrators and teachers in the San Diego Schools are hopeful that this added support will help these at-risk students qualify for and excel in a four-year college.
The economic impact of education in the San Diego Schools doesn’t begin in high school. Since low-income parents are less likely to afford preschool, or to recognize the importance of early learning, educators in San Diego Schools say that the learning gap starts early. In fact, Superintendent of San Diego Schools Randy Ward has called preschool “the civil rights issue of today.”
San Diego Schools have seen a lot of support for a Preschool for All initiative. The First 5 Commission started the Preschool for All project with funding from Proposition 10 and the taxes on tobacco products. Ward, once a preschool teacher in Boston Schools, sees preschool as an equity, social and educational issue.
While the project has great support from teachers in San Diego Schools, they realize that a link between early education and future success will need to be proven to gain on-going community support. Strong support by the top administrators of San Diego Schools bodes well for the program’s short-term existence; but politics and finances make its future unclear. San Diego Schools are trying to stop students from slipping through the achievement gap when they first enter public school, and as they prepare to leave it.
Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Diego/index.html San Diego Public Schools
Jul 26, 2008 | Uncategorized
Science and technology has brought a phenomenal change in the career and technology education. Vocational education has evolved to prepare students to work efficiently, after completing high school and graduation. In the U.S., practically one-third of the college students are involved in vocational programs. About 40 million adults are engaged in short-term, post-secondary vocational training. Students need to analyze their preferences, before choosing a vocation.
Career education planning is necessary and students can seek professional advice on career education from counselors of various career forums and programs. They can also take advice from their friends and family members who are able to easily ascertain their aptitude and interests.
There are many people who want to explore new options and are looking for specific career guidance. The counselors and professional experts of career education centers enlighten them about the various institutions that offer vocational courses. They also inform students about possible finance loans from federal finance aid programs, summer jobs and national and international employment opportunities.
Internet offers various education programs and resources that help students in planning their careers. There are certain building blocks and the first step comprises of self-assessment followed by research and strategies to match the personal inventory and create a plan.
Self-assessment relates to creating a personal inventory of skills, interests, values, personality development and learning style. Through research, students can learn about the career options available. The strategy involved to match the personal inventory with the career gives a general idea about salary expectations, working conditions, future outlook and educational requirements.
The last stage includes creating a plan by locating an education program, selecting a school and arranging financial aid. It also involves resume preparation, standardized admission tests and interviewing techniques. Career education planning helps aspiring candidates to choose a vocational course and become proficient in whatever they choose to study.
e-CareerEducation.com Career Education provides detailed information on Career Education, Career Education Online, Life Centered Career Education, Career Education Programs and more. Career Education is affiliated with e-AdultEducation.com Adult Continuing Education.
Jul 26, 2008 | Uncategorized
With the Chinese advances in space technologies and now having put yet another astronaut into space, it appears that the Chinese are well on their way to advancing their space program for another Space Race. Against who; well, it will be a race against the United States and the ISS with the Russian and American teams. The Chinese already have satellites for communication and lease some space and bandwidth from European Space Agencies and Corporations engaged in Satellite Communications.
This means as their Satellites fly over our military bases and places like the Nevada Desert, they are able to take pictures of our secret X-Planes. How can we keep our designs and advances secret, with spies in the air far above the Earth? Well, right now we can’t, but we can time the satellites and make sure we are not parked outside during the time of flyby of their satellites. There satellites are allowed to flyby as per international law and satellite treaties, but we need to be cognizant of this as to not give away any advanced secrets.
I therefore propose some new materials that act as Radar absorbing membranes for our buildings and bases. Inflatable hangars with this material and coated with a coating to give back a signal simulating the ground around it, which can be done by using specific frequency manipulation on the material and a reflective base coating. Thus the Satellite will not be able to see what is really there and we can keep our super advanced technologies secret from those who might use this technology to do harm upon the American People sometime in the future, if that ever comes to be. Think on this.
“Lance Winslow” - Online WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/ Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; WorldThinkTank.net www.WorldThinkTank.net/
Jul 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
The time that the students spend in college is the time when every single second should be dedicated to getting more knowledge and experience. Of course, books can give us a lot of information about culture, economy and the experiences of other countries. As studying in college is one of the main ways leading to the accomplishment of my academic and career goals I need this information and I do get it from books. Nevertheless, the best ways to get the knowledge about any country are obtained through having encounters between students with diverse backgrounds and experiences. A student gets significantly more information from live experience and in addition to that he learns how to interact with different people performing different cultures.
College is a perfect place for this cultural exchange and making conclusions on the basis of the experiences learned. Understanding the culture and the experiences of people of different backgrounds is the key to seeing the advantages and disadvantages of what we have now. And this concerns any sphere of life and every field of science. I believe, that to make the interaction between the students more productive in the sphere of experience exchange I can draw the “portrait” of a potential classmate that I truly believe I will learn from. The cultural background of the “classmate” has no real importance it can be a person from any country and any religion. Nevertheless, it has to be a person that is not superficial in his views but can motivate each of the statements he or she makes.
A person that does truly know and deeply understand his own culture and does not feel superior over the other students. This classmate is always eager to share his opinion and to face confrontation in class in the first place. It is widely known that the opinion forms according to the experience of a person. And it will be especially cognitive and interesting to hear the opinion of this classmate and to organize a discussion on the given topic. It has to be a person who is not afraid to speak his mind in public, a confident person able to oppose and with a strong system of values to prevent conformism. To support this type of discussions, especially during informal interactions a potential classmate also needs to show understanding towards the experience of other people, respecting it.
The primary goal of the encounters with this classmate will be learning new aspects in different fields of knowledge that can somewhat improve the knowledge I already have. At the same time he needs to be able to learn to and to compromise when it is required. In other words it has to be a very flexible person with very strong academic knowledge and various experiences. Such a classmate can make the time spend in college unforgettable and very “saturated” with useful information. But to achieve this we all need to show an ability to communicate with people of different cultural backgrounds, different life experiences and points of view. Having the classmate with the qualities above will keep my experience in college on the most possible level productivity.
custom-essay.net/ Buy admission essay
custom-essay.net Buy Custom Essay
proessay.com Research papers
Aaron is a professional freelance writer at custom essays writing service: custom-essay.net
He is also a technical writer, advertising copywriter, & website copywriter for Custom Essay Writing Service.
Jul 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
The United States of America counts its citizens every ten years. This count is used by the government to distribute
services, plan infrastructure improvements, such as schools and
highways, and to adjust political representation. In theory,
every man woman and child is enumerated by name, address, date
of birth, relationship to the head of household, sex,
citizenship, employment type, education and ethnicity. People
who are in the country illegally, the homeless, and those who
cannot be contacted are not counted. A percentage is added at
the end of the census to include these people.
Over the years other information has also been collected, such as country of origin, date of immigration, date of naturalization, and language spoken in the home.
Imagine, every decade, every person, in every residence, from 1790 through 2000. This is a world of information for the genealogist. However, there are some problems mixed in with all of this very reliable data. In early censuses, not everybody could write. Name misspellings were common. It is hard to believe, but some people lie about age, or number of children, and citizenship. Due to privacy laws, only statistical data is available for the first sixty years after the census is taken. No individual’s information is currently available since 1930. This can be a problem for the genealogist. And worst of all, the 1890 census records were destroyed by a fire in a warehouse in Washington, DC.
All in all, the national census is probably one of the most useful tools the modern genealogist has at his or her disposal.
About the author:
Craig Hinz is an amateur genealogist with over 15 years experience.
You may visit Craig’s website at searchforrelatives.com searchforrelatives.com or email him at mailto:craig@searchforrelatives.com craig@searchforrelatives.com
Jul 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
As long as the teacher is finished with the academics and pre-requisite requirements in teaching English as the Second Language or a graduate of a baccalaureate course having English as the major field of study in the academic years, then this non-native speaker of English has the capability on delivering English lessons to the students, especially the young learners to learn English as the Second Language.
Non-native English Teachers are equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills for these youngsters to learn English. During the time where these non-native teachers are still on the process of learning how to teach English, all the possible problems to arise were thoroughly discussed and evaluated. In fact, most of the resources and references used in learning the language and on how to impart it came and were written by prominent personalities like Avram Noah Chomsky, Zellig Harris and more are native English speakers and a language enthusiast themselves. Furthermore, other references, techniques and strategies on how to impart English as the Second Language which were then authored purely by English Speakers were adapted by these non-native English Teachers.
Today most non-native English speaking countries are hiring English Teachers for their young generation. This is an obvious phenomenon that English Language will be the international language to be used soon in transacting business or in a simple communication with another country.
But most of these non-native English speaking countries hire teachers from English speaking countries. Of course, it is logical that the best teacher will be the person who is very much inclined and a natural speaker of the language. Recently I have spoken to an Arabian National who, according to my understanding, he owns a school catering young Arab kids with ages ranging from 6 to 10 years old. He is hiring non-native English Teachers. That according to him, even though these teachers are non-native English, he is confident that they could handle and train these kids to learn English as their Second Language. And he told me that his teachers (non-native English Teachers) had proven a lot to him and to kids.
Teachers are trained to teach with their chosen field even if he/she is a non-native teacher of English. It true that a native English speaker will be a good teacher of the language, but this is through imitation purposes only. Unless of course it the teacher is a qualified teacher and graduated as an English teacher. The youngsters will surely imitate their teacher’s diction and articulation and so on, because these kids are in that stage of learning by imitation. Unless of course, if the teacher has the knowledge, techniques and strategies on how to impart the language is another thing. Whether it be a native English speaker or a non-native English speaker, as long as they both passed to a certain qualification and have the necessary requirement to teach English, both teachers knew how to make these kids learn English.
Though it is the prerogative of the non-native speaking countries School Administrators to hire teachers whom they see fit to teach English with their young generation, they should look beyond what a language teacher really is especially Language and English Teachers.
Today, it is necessary to englishsubject.net learn English as the Second Language. For beginners, especially young kids, teach them the basics first. But for advance learners and those who are already on the process of writing a letter, you should have a pattern or a lettercover.com cover letter sample as guide.
Jul 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
Online education is the latest trend in alternative education choices. Also known as distance learning, options in online education are being pursued by people from all over the world who are looking to further their education. And it’s never been easier to join the growing class of Internet U.
Whether you’re interested in simply getting your GED or receiving your MBA from an accredited university, your options in adult education have doubled in the past five years with the advent of online education and will likely continue to grow as more colleges, universities, graduate schools, and trade schools begin offering distance learning classes online.
How Does Online Education Work?
In most cases, it is not the specific college or university that runs the online education portion of their program. Most schools outsource their internet education duties to companies that specialize in hosting distance learning classes. These companies (who have names like eCollege, SkillSoft and such) perform the actual tasks of running the online classes, assigning work, and conducting exams, all according to the curriculum provided by the specific school. Students that enroll in online education courses are typically required to provide their own computer and any necessary software needed to participate in the online classes and take the exams. In the world of online education your books, binders, and number two pencils are replaced by a PC (or MAC – but compatibility may vary), a word processor, and some form of multimedia player. Broadband internet access is advisable as well. It may be hard to get your masters with low baud.
Things to Look Out For
Online education is a very worthwhile trend in the evolution of education in our world and it is conceivable that sometime in the future nearly all official education will take place online. The internet, however, is the real-world equivalent of George Lucas’ Mos Eisley Spaceport; a wretched hive of scum and villainy. As online education becomes more prominent, there will be more companies looking to take advantage of the trend by offering sub par classes and fly-by-night degrees from non-accredited schools. Before you commit to any online education program, do your homework and make sure that the school is accredited. The last thing you want to do is spend your time and money earning a degree online that isn’t worth a byte in the job market or to other educational institutions.
To view our recommended sources for online education and
degrees, visit us here ezerk.com/articulos.php?category=47 Recommended Sources For Online Education.
Carrie Reeder is the owner of
ezerk.com eZerk, an informational website with articles
and the latest news on various topics. Visit eZerk for more information
about online education and degrees.
Jul 24, 2008 | Uncategorized
Now, I am all for special education for children with disabilities. I attended school at a time when such children were either put into “special” schools or thrown in with the general student population to sink or swim on their own. It was a terrible inequity. It finally was addressed in the 1970s with a law designed to correct such discrimination by giving these children the civil right to an equal opportunity to learn. The law covered children from birth to age 22, guaranteeing them the right to a free and “appropriate” public education. It is the ambiguous word “appropriate” written into the law that is creating a crisis for the California schools, according to Nanette Asimov, staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.
The article cited a situation of one California schools child with a disability. The assigned public middle school offered special college prep classes, daily help from a special education expert, a laptop computer, extra time for tests, the opportunity to temporarily leave class if the child’s had an anxiety attack, and a special advocate to smooth over any problems with teachers.
The parents hired a special consultant instead, who found alternative schooling opportunities — all were private schools and all were out-of-state. They settled on a boarding school in Maine, outside the main city, that had one-tenth of the enrollment of the California schools. The one thing this school did not offer was a special education program. The mother said that smaller classrooms and a smaller campus were more important than a special education program. Since the possibility of anxiety attacks was mentioned in the article, no one can truly judge the merit of this situation except the child’s physician and/or psychologist.
After the child was placed into the private school, the parents then hired an attorney, who specializes in special education cases, to file papers with the court demanding the California schools pay four years of tuition and family travel costs between California and Maine. Tuition was $30,000 annually. The California schools met the demands.
This is only one such case in the California schools, which may or may not have been justified. The problem is that it is not the only case. In 2005, there were 3,763 California schools children with disabilities that were the focus of formal complaints — the vast majority of which came from parents. This is triple the number of only ten years ago, and the numbers are growing.
With a cost of almost $40,000 to go to a court hearing and the possibility of an expensive judgment, the California schools attempt to settle cases before they get that far. In 2005, ten percent of the California schools’ cases went to a full hearing — 386 in all. The remaining 90 percent were resolved through confidential settlements. With 700,000 special needs students currently in the California schools and already paying hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for private placements, the school system is headed for a financial crisis.
In 2004, the California schools received $4.1 billion for special education from the government and local sources. It was still not enough to pay these extra settlement costs, and the California schools had to take $1.6 billion from the regular class budget. Twenty-eight percent of the special education expenditures that year came from the regular education budget.
California schools educators complain that parents who are able to afford an attorney are assured more opportunities for their children than those who cannot afford to do so, creating an inequity between the haves and have-nots. Additionally, special education teachers see benefits to special programs, such as horseback riding therapy, but acknowledge that such parent demands are not education related. California schools parents and educators are at odds.
Parents are making tuition payment demands of the California schools for such programs as private day schools, boarding schools, summer camps, horseback riding therapy, and aqua therapy. Additionally, the California schools are expected to pay for computers, airfare, car rental, hotel stays, meals, new clothing and tailoring for the children, cell phone calls, stamps, gas and tolls, and future round-trip visits from time of enrollment until the children graduate from high school.
In all, the California schools are paying billions of dollars each year for private placements and auxiliary costs. It is creating an inequity for children the civil rights law was passed to protect and a financial crisis for the California schools.
I have to admit that I wanted every opportunity possible for my child to live a happy and normal adult life. I had a special needs child and spent many hours sitting in principals’ offices and at the school board demanding that his needs be met. I was thankful that he received access to the available offerings within the public school system.
In my view, however, it is not a question of right or wrong, justified expenditure or not. It is a question of the legislators going back and specifically defining the word “appropriate”. Until then, the California schools are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, which means less opportunities all the way around.
This information on California schools is brought to you by
Jul 24, 2008 | Uncategorized
Online Electrician and Energy Trades Schools provide opportunities for study at home, or at the office, or wherever it is convenient for the student. Earning a degree in electrician and energy trades can be done comfortably without hassles of traffic and meeting other’s schedules.
Online electrician and energy trades schools offer training through Internet courses for basic information and education in the field, followed by apprenticeships that last three to five years. Before entering into professional practice, electricians are required to pass examinations that prove knowledge and skills of electric and building codes, electrical theory, and the National Electrical Code.
Electrician and energy trades occupations handle electrical system maintenance; heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC) mechanics and installations; power plant facilities construction and maintenance work; gas and oil construction and maintenance work; electrical and electronics installation and repair; home entertainment equipment installation and repair; telephone line installation and repairs; and small and large appliance repair. Electrician and energy trades professionals regularly work 40 hours per week in five 8-hour day shifts, however, night and weekend shifts are fairly common.
Electricians generally specialize in either construction or maintenance of electrical systems, though many do both. Electrician and energy trades specializing in construction install new wiring systems into new buildings, or rewire and upgrade existing electrical systems as needed. Specializations in maintenance deal with upgrading electrical systems and repairing electrical equipment.
If you are interested in learning more about electrician and energy trades schools, please search our site for more in-depth information and resources.
Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved
Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com
Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.
Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with