Archive for the ‘Online Education’ category

Becoming A Paraprofessional By Earning A Two-Year Degree

August 24th, 2011

Don’t you just love when a new term gets thrown at you and you have no idea what it means just to find out that you know it by another name? Well here it is, “paraprofessional.” Of course, maybe you are already familiar with this word; for the rest of us, it basically means having an Associate’s degree.

Just for your information, the beginning of the word, “para” or being a “paras” means assisting in a specific occupational field for the person who you work for. You might think that it would just be easier to refer to one as an assistant. The areas in the workforce that use these paraprofessionals are in health care, law, education and engineering. To become one, you must have a two-year degree. It could be that you are already doing this but do not have the necessary credentials needed to use this title. Well, with the help of an online degree plan, you can become a paraprofessional!

The occupation that uses paraprofessionals the most is working in the classroom as a teaching assistant. These workers are in high demand, have a good income and their job security is one of the highest reported. However, most states now are requiring an Associate’s degree along with a state exam in order to be considered for employment. All of this can be obtained online through an accredited school without having to leave home!

If you do not want to assist in a classroom, there are other areas in education that might appeal to you, such as in the school’s administrative office, performing clerical duties or working in playground and/or cafeteria supervision. Often, paraprofessionals choose to work in special education with children who have a variety of difficulties to contend with, although this area does require special training. » Read more: Becoming A Paraprofessional By Earning A Two-Year Degree

Online Education Enables Worldwide Participation

August 24th, 2011

Colleges without walls are also colleges without national borders. Professors are beamed in through teleconferencing. Students pursuing degrees online and otherwise are able to establish worldwide networks. As rising numbers of international students enroll in colleges and universities throughout the United States and elsewhere, the buzzword in higher education is “global”. Those obtaining a distance learning degree really do come from everywhere.

American colleges and universities during the 2008-2009 academic year saw a record high of nearly 672,000 international student enrollments, according to an annual Open Doors report from the Institute of International Education. Most students hail from India, China and South Korea, and most major in business and management and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) studies, the report noted.

While a preliminary survey for the 2009-2010 academic year reportedly produced mixed Institute results, the Chronicle of Higher Education has reported that some 3 million study abroad students overall in 2009 is projected to climb to 8 million by 2025. And Ben Wildavsky, who penned the book, “The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities are Reshaping the World”, has likened the worldwide happening to a “free trade in minds” and “a chance for greater intellectual exchange, collaboration, and innovation”, according to an Inside Higher Education report.

Global education can also be big business. International students and their families contribute more than $13 billion a year to the American economy, much of it in the form of tuition, the Institute for International Education noted. Students tend to begin their searches for schools based on guidance from family and friends, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education report on a spring Going Global conference held in London. Latin American students also look toward publications for assistance, undergraduates in Africa and the Middle East rely on the advice of their professors and graduate students look for quality, reputable programs that best meet their career goals, the Chronicle report noted. » Read more: Online Education Enables Worldwide Participation