Archive for October, 2011
Why Distance Learning Accredited Degree Programs Are Many People’s Choice Today
Posted by in Distance Learning on October 19, 2011
In the world we are living in today, there are many activities that we all need to undertake so as to earn a living. To get any job, one needs to have the relevant academic and experience requirements so as to be able to handle the challenges that come with the job. Getting qualifications for any course or career is therefore a very crucial step that all people need to take carefully. It is not a rare occurrence nowadays to find already employed people in lecture rooms getting more education to add weight on to their careers. This has become a rising trend in all countries around the world and there is no wonder distance learning accredited degree programs have become very popular with this and even different classes of people.
With accredited distance learning degree programs, the student uses the world as his/her classroom. Their main convenience is that the student can utilize all the given distance learning accredited materials and at the end of it all, manage to get the degree at the comfort of his own his/her own home. The materials include e-books, internet libraries and other online related resources. Getting awarded for distance learning accredited degree programs is not that easy however. A lot of effort and research needs to be done so as to effectively accomplish that. In fact, the courses are designed just like the normal ones in the lecture rooms.
Finding an accredited distance learning degree program is the easiest thing ever. The interested student just needs to search for his/her interested course. After carefully going through the identification process, the next step is to choose the right institution or service that is accredited. This is the most important part because the student needs to make the right choice. The school that he/she goes for should by all means be sufficient for the degree being offered. It should also have a reputation of offering the same and if possible, more courses successfully over the years. Every accredited learning institution needs the student to have at least a good internet connection so as he/she can actively participate in the learning. Most of the time, the institutions use synchronous technology like webcasts and watching streaming live video lectures. It therefore calls for the student to have very good internet connection at all times.
Distance learning accredited degree programs are the fastest rising modes of learning today. The have very many advantages but the main one is their accessibility. Everyone everywhere can access them provided he/she has a good internet access. These programs can also be tailored to fit the student’s needs. No student is supposed to complain that these programs are preventing them from doing their other things in life. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Maximize Cooperative Learning by Tapping Into Personality Strengths
Posted by in Cooperative Learning on October 18, 2011
Cooperative learning is a widely-used classroom team-building strategy. The goal of each cooperative group is simply to accomplish an assigned task together. Cooperative learning group or teams work best when the size of the group is small and the task is well-suited to a “more heads are better than one” approach.
Probably one of the most important components of cooperative learning (beyond a clear understanding of objective) is the defining of roles for each group member. This is what separates cooperative learning from mere group work. Teachers and facilitators should use roles appropriate to the task. Although there are endless role possibilities, some examples commonly used are: materials gatherer, presenter, fact checker, cheerleader, and coach.
When each group member has a real and relevant role in completing the task, it builds a clear understanding that it will take the whole group to succeed. However, building successful cooperative teams takes time and practice. Students need to work through the cooperative process many times before the team process begins to be internalized.
Each of the temperaments tend to have different reactions to the cooperative learning process. Golds, for example, may express their frustration in having to work in a group while Blues are delighted to have the chance to work together. However, once in groups, the learning process begins and each temperament has a chance to reinforce their strengths and develop skill strengths found in other temperaments. Oranges, for example, may find themselves responsible for checking facts, which is a task that may appeal more to Golds or Greens.
Let’s look at some temperament-specific questions relating to cooperative grouping.
Q. Should I attempt to use cooperative learning strategies with all temperaments?
A. Absolutely, although there may be some initial stresses and complaints! Someone once said that “learning is uncomfortable.” Life requires cooperation and each of the temperaments will greatly benefit by learning how to cooperate within this structure.
Q. Should I consider temperament when deciding the makeup of each team?
A. Yes. It’s helpful to have a different mix of temperaments within any task group. Each temperament has skill strengths that will help the group move forward. It is also more realistic and therefore more relevant to future experiences.
Q. Wouldn’t it be better to create homogeneous temperament groups?
A. No. Assigning Blues to work only with other Blues does not use the cooperative model to it fullest capability. Blues need to learn to work with Golds, Greens, and Oranges. Each temperament needs to understand how the others prefer to work. Only then will the exercise be truly cooperative. Read the rest of this entry »
High School Classroom Management Strategies That Work
Posted by in Classroom Management on October 17, 2011
A classroom that behaves, listens and learns is one of the ultimate goals of every educator concerned with rendering effective service on the job. In reality, effective strategy for building classroom discipline is the Holy Grail that many tired and stressed out educators need to rejuvenate their teaching career. It is also what is needed to make many educators who though passionate about teaching yet are already thinking of quitting the profession to rescind their decisions. If you are a high school educator looking for how to raise your students’ test scores, updating your knowledge on high school classroom management techniques is the way to go.
Importance of classroom management workshops: Improved classroom management strategies are part of a continuing education program commonly taught in classroom management workshops which educators who are passionate about attaining success in the teaching profession should benefits from. There are practical skill sets new educators need to acquire and learn when they graduate newly from universities and colleges and join the teaching work force. These skill sets also commonly taught in classroom management workshops go beyond the theories they learnt in these higher institutions and if the new educators are fully equipped for the new trends, then they will be able to withstand the modern age classrooms that are in existence in our high schools and deliver on their callings as practicing educators.
How to build skill sets needed for achieving success in the teaching profession: All educators are unique in their different personalities, that is, weaknesses and strengths, and in their teaching styles. Therefore, the goal of every educator should be how to develop effective classroom management strategies that fits own style and personality using the core techniques needed to facilitate reduction in disruptive behaviors among high school students and create conducive learning environment. While you are working on building your teaching skill sets that works, take note of the following important hints.
Maintain consistency in your approach. If you are looking to enjoy an attentive classroom learning environment and reduce inappropriate student behaviors to the barest minimum, then you must be consistent in whatever high school classroom management techniques you choose to adopt. If you fail to be consistent, you will lose your students’ respect as quickly as possible and your skills at managing your class will deteriorate fast which may lead to frustration on the long run. Read the rest of this entry »
Management And Case Studies
Posted by in Case Method on October 16, 2011
There is quite a great number of ways through which the management techniques and principles could be better impacted into potential or new managers. Case method or case analysis is one of such methods to train management students and prepare them for future challenges or better still make them to be aware of what happens at their potential working place.
Case study is all about set up a scenario needing analysis and bringing out the solution(s) to the identified problems or challenges. The role of case study in management study cannot be overemphasized. It has ever remained not only a learning tool but also a training tool. Case study is said to be good problems without ideal solution (Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered, 2009).
As pointed out earlier, case study has no ideal solution because of the following reasons:
1. These days, management students are not well equipped with the necessary skills to give correct/ideal solution to the case so studied. This accounts for poor solutions proffered by the students.
2. Most students, may be due to inadequate knowledge in the management field, tend to adopt poor approach to the study of management cases. Management concepts and management cases are not well treated.
3. Management cases are scenarios and perception has great influence on how readers interpret the passage and apply their knowledge in solving such problems presented in the case.
Management case plays an important role in training young managers and its benefits for the company and the manager are quite enormous. These benefits include:
o Management case provides students and young managers with the experience of organizational problems that they probably have not has the opportunity to experience firsthand.
o It reveals what is going on in the company and allows the students to evaluate situations that specific companies adopted to deal with their problems.
o Management case likewise provides management students with the opportunity to participate in serious class discussion and gain experience in presenting their ideas to others.
o It also helps students and young managers to learn about the group process involved in working as a team.
o Management case helps to strengthen student’s or manager’s ability to identify business problems.
o It offers realistic training in problem solving and proper decision making.
o It adds to young managers’ and management students’ wealthy knowledge. Read the rest of this entry »