Below are the 10 most recent journal entries recorded in collegesinfo's InsaneJournal:

Thursday, November 4th, 2010
12:16 pm	The True Value of a Two-Year College Higher education in this country is rapidly becoming a necessity in the business community rather than a luxury. There was a time when those who had a high school education still had the opportunity to build a better world for themselves and their families. Those days are rapidly becoming another dieing ember of the past. If you hope to have significant earning potential during your lifetime you are almost completely limited by your learning potential and the level of education you have received. The good news is that you do not have to have an all or nothing approach when it comes to education. You can begin by taking baby steps when it comes to higher education. If you have a community college in your area, this is one of the greatest resources for beginning your college education at any stage in your life. Most community colleges offer classes at various times during the day and evening, even some on Saturday in order to accommodate students of different ages and backgrounds. Community colleges also offer an excellent opportunity to begin your learning quest in a manner that is much more easily affordable to the average citizen than a full-blown university. These colleges are largely commuter colleges though there are several that allow students the experience of living on a college campus at a much lower price than most major universities charge for the same or very similar privileges. Community colleges also allow you to explore your options if you aren't really sure what direction you wish for your education to take without paying such a high price for the process. If you know the career path you wish to take you might find a two-year degree program that can have you out of school and in a career much sooner than a four-year program will allow. If that isn't good enough news for you, many of the two-year programs of study that are offered at the community college level may very well transfer quite easily into bachelor degree programs at the university level. Community colleges offer an excellent start for many people who are seeking higher education whether to further their careers or just to find fulfillment on a personal level in life. There are many wonderful programs in vocational fields as well as academic fields that can be explored and studies on the community college level. For graduating high school students community colleges help students ease into the adjustment from high school to college without going through the culture shock that some universities can put students through. You will find that there are often many opportunities to meet educational as well as social needs on the community college level for students that are interested in pursuing a community college education. You should also discover that community colleges are much easier to budget when it comes to setting aside funds and savings for either your personal college education or the educational expenses of your children. Having them attend a community college for two years then transferring to a University can save a great deal of money and provide you a little piece of mind that your children are still receiving an excellent level of education. Seriously, if you are looking for an excellent value when it comes to education you would be doing yourself or your children a disservice if you do not check out the community college options in your area before taking the plunge and diving into the university lifestyle. You will find that community colleges often offer an equal level of education for the introductory classes that first and second year college students often take, they are a much better value for the money, and they are an outstanding values for those who are trying to juggle their education with family and work responsibilities. Colleges in US Tips | Colleges in US Information Links Colleges (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	Asthma Education is Critical for Community Health Rather than treating asthma like a string of isolated asthma attacks, doctors are now treating asthma as a chronic condition that is affected by nearly every aspect of the patient’s life. Instead of focusing on acute care intervention, doctors now focus on daily management, medication and monitoring to help minimize symptoms of asthma and lessen the severity of asthma attacks when they do happen. Asthma education is a key part of that management. By teaching the patient and his family how to monitor his own condition, what causes flare-ups of symptoms and how to avoid them, doctors can reduce the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits due to asthma. Using a peak flow meter, an asthmatic can keep track of his lung capacity – and seek appropriate treatment if it wanders into the danger zone. Education about asthma can impress upon him the importance of measuring every day – and keeping careful records. Extending that education into the community can literally save your child’s life. Something as simple as spending an hour with a third grade class to show them how to help someone having an asthma attack can pay back unexpected dividends. After all, wouldn’t you rather know that all of your child’s classmates will recognize an asthma attack – and do the right thing when they see one? The administration of your child’s school is another place where asthma education can pay off big dividends. Many schools still don’t understand how vital it is that a child with asthma has his inhaler with him at all times. When schools deny an asthmatic child his right to carry his inhaler for fear that other children will find a way to abuse it, the results can be disastrous. Making the effort to do a bit of advocacy and asthma education can literally make the difference between life and death. Community asthma education can also make a big difference in whether or not children with asthma are properly diagnosed. Many people still don’t recognize the symptoms of asthma unless they see an acute attack – but mild asthma, and the symptoms of chronic asthma can be devastating to a child’s life. Chronic respiratory illnesses, bronchitis, pneumonia and chest pain can keep children out of school and in the emergency room. By educating the community through public service announcements, school outreach programs, clinic visits and physician incentives, many children with hidden asthma can be reached and treated, reducing the overall costs of health care as well as improving the individual child’s health. Like diabetes education ten years ago, asthma education today can help alert parents, identify those who suffer from asthma and make sure that appropriate treatment is available to everyone who needs it. This is especially important in the case of childhood asthma, where the diagnoses and treatments and standards of care so often seem to be inequitable. Asthma education can help ensure that all parents are aware of the standard of treatment that their children SHOULD be getting – which is the first step to ensuring that the children get the care that they require. Colleges in US Review | Colleges in US Links Colleges (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	What Is Debtor Education? A debtor education course by an approved provider should include information on developing a budget, managing money, using credit wisely, and other resources. Like pre-filing counseling, debtor education may be provided in person, on the phone, or online. The debtor education session might last longer than the pre-filing counseling – about two hours – and the typical fee is between $50 and $100. As with pre-filing counseling, if you are unable to pay the session fee, you should seek a fee waiver from the debtor education provider. Once you have completed the required debtor education course, you should receive a certificate as proof. This certificate is separate from the certificate you received after completing your pre-filing credit counseling. Check the U.S. Trustee’s website to be sure that you receive the certificate from a debtor education provider that is approved in the judicial district where you filed bankruptcy. Unless they have disclosed a charge to you before the counseling session begins, debtor education providers may not charge an extra fee for the certificate. Important Questions to Ask When Choosing a Credit Counselor It’s wise to do some research when choosing a credit counseling organization. If you are in search of credit counseling to fulfill the bankruptcy law requirements, make sure you receive services only from approved providers for your judicial district. Once you have the list of approved organizations in your judicial district, call several to gather information before you make your choice. Some key questions to ask are: What services do you offer? Will you help me develop a plan for avoiding problems in the future? What are your fees? What if I can’t afford to pay your fees? What qualifications do your counselors have? Are they accredited or certified by an outside organization? What training do they receive? What do you do to keep information about me (including my address, phone number, and financial information) confidential and secure? How are your employees paid? Are they paid more if I sign up for certain services, if I pay a fee, or if I make a contribution to your organization? For More Information and Assistance The U.S. Trustee Program promotes integrity and efficiency in the nation’s bankruptcy system by enforcing bankruptcy laws, providing oversight of private trustees, and maintaining operational excellence. The Program has 21 regions and 95 field offices, and oversees the administration of bankruptcy in all states except Alabama and North Carolina. If you have concerns about approved credit counseling agencies or debtor education course providers, such as the failure to provide adequate service, please contact the U.S. Trustee Program by email, or in writing at Executive Office for U.S. Trustees, Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Unit, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 8000, Washington, D.C., 20530. Provide as much detail as you can, including the name of the credit counseling organization or debtor education course provider, the date of contact, and whom you spoke with. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues contact the FTC toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-877-FTC-HELP      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (1-877-382-4357 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-877-382-4357      end_of_the_skype_highlighting). The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Colleges in US Information | Colleges in US Index Links Colleges (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	How To Get An Education Online In order to go to college one must be able to overcome the obstacles of money and time. Money issues can be addressed through student loans, scholarships or grants. But dealing with the time issue can be more difficult, especially if a student has to work a lot of overtime on their job. Of course students who have jobs requiring no overtime might have more luck with their school scheduling, as long as they don’t have young children. If they do they will not be able to take classes at night, since most daycares are not open late hours. For either situation the option is taking weekend classes, (which get full very quickly), switching to different hours on the job or getting their education online. This article will discuss the alternative that offers the most flexibility: getting an education online. When you get an education online, you have access to a virtual classroom 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. You can log in any time you want. If you want your classroom session to commence at 3 o’clock in the morning you are free to do so. However, don’t expect the academic challenge to be any less than if you went to a ‘regular’ college. You will still have assignments that will have deadlines, and you will still need to study for your exams. In fact, many students think getting an education online might be harder than learning in a traditional classroom, because the learning process is more independent. Lectures are usually just posts on the message boards of your virtual classroom. If you need help you can e-mail, IM or call your professor, but you have to make sure you reach them at the right times. At least in a classroom they are right there, ready to answer your questions once you raise your hand. So, for this reason, when getting an education online, expect that you’ll have to rely more on your own reading, deduction and studying skills to thoroughly learn the material. To start getting an education online, it is best to search the Internet for online college finders. These are websites which are affiliated with various online colleges. Once you enter in your information, (which usually consists of your name, address, email, phone number and major), you will be returned a list of colleges the website thinks are best for you. More extensive online college finders, (such as Peterson’s), will return more specific data about your recommended colleges. Regardless, once you choose the college you would like to get an online education with, you will get a call or an e-mail from their representative. If after talking with the representative you are impressed with the school, you will get an application packet to get the enrollment process started. In conclusion, getting an education online is an excellent solution if you are otherwise pressed for time when it comes to traditional colleges. Academically things will not be easier if you decide to get an education online, but in terms of scheduling, it will be much more convenient. Universities Guide | Universities Tips Links Colleges (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	How To Market Yourself with an Online School Degree The desire for distance education has caused an outpouring of new online schools all over the internet. Some of these schools are legitimate and go through the accreditation process. Other schools are merely fronts for diploma mills and lackluster education. Occasionally, employers and other schools view online only schools differently than online classes taken from reputable universities. So how do you know which school gives you the best edge in life? The following advice can help you market yourself and your degree to future employers and academic institutions. Online only schools do not have a brick and mortar school where they operate. They might have a small office in a strip mall or business center. They may have very little staff even though they offer numerous courses and degrees. However, just because there is no fancy building to visit does not mean the school cannot provide you with a sound education. When researching online only schools, make sure that they are accredited by a regional accreditation agency. Check to see if they have won any recognized awards for online education. Click on the 'contact us' button on their website and make sure there is an email address, phone numbers and business address. Avoid any online school with only a 1-800 number or email address. After you have done some research, apply and begin enrolling. There are online only schools that offer degrees in business, psychology and liberal arts. So why do employers view online schools differently than regular schools? Distance education is being embraced by the academic world with open arms and a big smile. To those no longer furthering their education, distance education seems too easy to obtain and not like a real college degree. Big changes always take time to adjust to and become accepted. Therefore, when employers see resumes with online only schools listed as the diploma granting institution, they are unsure about the quality of education you received. The same may be true for certain academic institutions that consider online education inferior to classroom education. When interviewing, make sure you mention if your degree does not contain any life experience credits. Life experience credits are not as valued by schools or employers because they cannot be validated. If your degree does contain life experience credits, be able to communicate effectively why the degree granting institution felt your life experience was worth college credits. Let them know about relevant projects you worked on, associations or clubs you started or supervised and any other aspect of your education that highlights your strengths. Overall, you market yourself to a prospective school or employer with enthusiasm and confidence. Do not let anyone make you feel that an online degree is inferior to a traditionally earned degree. Even if you run into a few people unfamiliar with online education, use it as an opportunity to show them how well online degrees prepare students for the future. The key to marketing yourself is showing them how competent you are and how well prepared your college degree has made you. Universities Tips | Universities Review Links Colleges (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	Autism Research and Education Autism Research- Autism can be defined as an abnormal absorption with the self, which is marked by communication disorders and short attention span and inability to treat others as people. It drastically affects a person’s behavior with others as well as with self. The person suffering from autism is unable to relate to the world or comprehend it. An autistic often suffers from learning disabilities. A research shows that autism has increases as much as ten times over the last decade. Many researches have been carried out by psychologists and researchers to understand how an autistic’s mind functions and what is the wiring in the brain like. Causes an symptoms of autism: Most researchers believe that there are no definite reasons for autism to develop. It is more often than not genetically inherited. Also this disorder can be caused due to inappropriate before and after birth conditions. Any kind of damage caused to the brain can lead to autism. The symptoms of autism are complex; hence diagnosis cannot be done very easily. During the early stages of autism, it becomes difficult to spot it, however as it goes on the becoming more and more severe, clear behavior differences can be noted. The person’s social interaction becomes greatly affected. An autistic shows an array of symptoms, including problems interacting with other people and repetitive behaviors. There are many autism research centers. What does autism research aim at? These researchers try to determine causes and treatments and prevention for autism. Researchers at the new center will seek to develop ways to identify different subcategories of autism. These researches are essential as allow clinicians to tailor interventions and make predictions about a child's future functioning. Some researches believe that autistic children can be cured and these children can grow up and lead lives as normal adults. The researchers have also differentiated between 2 categories of autism, complex and essential. These categories are studied and separate treatments are drawn. The children require quiet atmosphere to concentrate and learn social skill. Given a chance to have specialized education and structured support these children can be completely treated of the disorder. Autism Education: Autism is a brain disorder that begins in early childhood and persists throughout adulthood which affects three crucial areas of development that are communication and language, social interaction, and creative or imaginative play. Education for autism: Past two decades, many effective strategies have been developed to teach children and teenagers who have been diagnosed with autism but however not everyone involved in education or even special education is knowledgeable about all these methods.  Few teachers work in an autism-specific classroom and most are responsible for classes where a variety of disabilities is represented.  Now a days overworked and stressed teachers may not have the time or the resources to implement an effective program for every child hence it is important for parents to develop a sense of their child's learning style, and to educate themselves about what strategies will best help their child to succeed in school. At last parents are said to be the best teacher of their child. Some education centers or organization listed below: * The Autism Education Network’s mission is to improve public special education programs and to influence public policy that affects individuals with autism and this mission uses new technology and the Internet to connect in order to empower people that affect to change. * The TEACCH (treatment and education of autistic and related communication handicapped children) mission helps to enable individuals with autism to function as meaningfully and as independently as possible in the community and they also provide exemplary services throughout North Carolina to individuals with autism and their families and those who serve and support them. * NECC - 30 Years of Autism Education in New England The New England Center for Children (NECC), a school for autism located 20 miles west of Boston in Southborough, Massachusetts is a private, nonprofit autism education center dedicated to bringing out human potential and creating productive lives for children with autism. Since 1975, this school provides state-of-the-art autism education and individualized treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and Asperger’s Syndrome. * RAE(resource in autism education ) is an organization committed to providing the highest quality behavioral intervention services to children diagnosed with autism and related Pervasive Development Disorders and also empowers people with autism. Hence these organizations help autistic people to improve them. Universities Tips | Universities Information Links Colleges (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	Online Drivers Education Classes Just like anything else today, there is not much that is not online today, so why should driver's education classes be any different. Now days, if you get a speeding ticket you don't have to spend any time in those boring classes to keep the points off your license. There are plenty of drivers' education classes online today, many online driving classes are less than $100. You can get your learners permit and prepare for the written DMV test in your state. All you need to do is follow the steps and there you go! You've got your drivers license. You still need to go to your local DMV and take the actual driving test, no one has figured out a way to actually drive a car online-yet, it probably won't take too long for someone to figure that out too. Once you have your Certificate of Completion from an approved drivers education course, you can make an appointment at your local Department of Motor Vehicles and take your written exam. Many online drivers education courses will prepare you for the DMV written exam and comes complete with 50 practice tests. These classes are fully approved driving schools, for the state you live in. In addition to our drivers Ed course and practice tests; we offer traffic school, defensive driving courses, and resources for parents teaching their teen to drive. Driver education classes are an excellent way to improve the safety of our roads. It probably wouldn't hurt if many of us studied up on our driving skills. Now it's easier than ever to freshen up your driving skills. Many drivers education classes can increase awareness of hazardous road conditions and introduce driver's education techniques to minimize the danger of driving in such conditions. Whether or not a driver's Ed class is required, or needed to decrease insurance premiums, remove points or dismiss tickets, it's a good idea to take at least one driver's education course to improve your own confidence, awareness and overall safety. Now when you get a speeding ticket or any other moving violation fine, did you know it's illegal to drive through a business parking lot to use as a shortcut to get to where you're going? I didn't either until I got an $86.00 fine for doing so, that's one hard lesson learned. All I had to do was go online and take a defensive driving course, print out the certificate and no more points. Now all you need to do is log onto one of the many drivers Ed courses online, you don't even need to leave the comfort of your couch. It's all legal, and the program is very simple and designed to accommodate the expert and novice Internet user. All you need to do is simply read through how ever many sections that particular driver's education class has and complete how ever many questions they have at the end of the program. Universities Review | Universities Guide Links Colleges (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	Things To Consider In Choosing A Distance Education In this day and age of multiple careers many people are considering furthering their education online. While this distance education alternative to the regular college campus offers the convenience of working with your current daily obligations this mode of education is not a good choice for all. If you are thinking about obtaining additional education and are looking at distance or online alternatives look over the following personal characteristics to help you decide if you would make a good distance student. Are you self-motivated? This personality trait is perhaps the most important when it comes from separating successful distance education students from the rest. Unlike a traditional classroom you will not be meeting several times per week to keep you moving along towards progress. You will be assigned projects to complete, and have tests to take, and perhaps will view some teacher notes and then you will be left to your own devices. This means you have to make yourself study even the blandest of material. Your success or failure in learning the material and meeting deadlines will be solely on your shoulders. Are you a procrastinator? While self motivation and procrastinating seem to go hand in hand, some people are motivated, but only at the last minute. If you wait until the last minute to study for tests or write assignments a distance education would not work well for you. Since you are on your own to prepare you will need to set aside time to prepare and study routinely in order to succeed. Do you learn well by reading? If you went to a traditional college you would spend most of your class time in lectures, viewing videos, and participating in classroom discussions. If you learn well by reading and have better than average reading comprehension skills you’ll be more prepared to digest all of the reading material on your own. Unlike reading in a traditional environment, reading for a distance education may replace the majority of your lectures. If you cannot readily recall written material vs. learning by listening this could hurt your chances of doing well. There are some study tips that you could utilize to help you in this regard but you need to assess your learning style honestly. Are you distracted easily? If you find yourself accidentally spending your study time watching the newest reality show, or on the phone, or surfing the internet, you will have to make sure you can discipline yourself come study time. Setting aside a quiet area to study will help. But ultimately, if you cannot resist temptation you won’t be able to take in the material you are attempting to learn. Lastly are you a social butterfly? For many considering a distance college education you may be past the traditional college years and not mind missing out on sorority parties, or keggers. However, college has other social opportunities including classroom debates, and just taking in the eclectic sort that hang out on college campuses. If you are craving the social interactions that can only be had on a college campus you may regret choosing a distance education. So, if you are self motivated and have faith in yourself and do not need the assistance of lectures or others to learn you may do well choosing a distance education. Universities Information | Universities Index Links Colleges (2 Comments |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	Obtaining College Education Online Most people put off attending college because they feel that it will interfere with a work schedule or family responsibilities. When they find that obtaining a college degree is a structured pursuit, and that getting a college education can be accomplished through the completion of online courses, many people begin checking out which degrees are available and what the cost of attending college online will be, as compared to day or night classes at the local university. Getting a college degree through an accredited institution is one of the first things a college student will consider when thinking about taking college courses through the internet. There are over 1000 college and universities across the United States that take an active part in online education pursuits and all of them are accredited. People are finding online education to be a great way of taking educational pursuits to a whole new level that is modern and recognized by employers. More people are pursuing an online education because the various degree programs that are offered through accredited universities and colleges are eligible for funding through traditional channels found at land-based centers of education. Student aid funding is one of the most widely used funding sources for online courses and traditional college courses taught at universities and colleges across the country that all students can utilize. There are other funding avenues available from the Government for students that qualify for scholarships and online course payments can be made utilizing these sources. All methods of payment can be utilized through the online enrollment process and students recognize the value of Government discounts because they allow students to pay a low monthly fee to cover the tuition not funded through these scholarship awards and tuition assistance programs. The selection of courses that can be taken through online college and university programs can earn students a quality education and award them an associate, bachelor, or Master's degree in a shorter period, if the student completes the online courses ahead of schedule. There is a large selection of free online courses that can be taken for earning a few college credits that are needed for graduation. Some college students take online college courses to fulfill hiring requirements in the work place. Online courses will fulfill the requirements that a student needs to earn a certificate, and educators find online courses meet their needs perfectly. Many people use these courses to advance in the career field of their choice and continue taking online college courses throughout their careers to further their education. Many corporations have policies in place that encourage employees to attend college, and these corporations will match the cost of taking these courses. This type of job benefit is a win-win situation for everyone at work because both parties are getting a quality product from the online education opportunities. People are still able to work a full day and still obtain a quality education. Obtaining a college education online can be achieved while a person takes care of family responsibilities. Online college courses are available to any person who has access to the internet and the courses can be completed in any location. Most people have the pre-conception that online courses must be completed at home and they are very happy to learn that they can be completed anywhere that the internet portal can be accessed. Colleges Guide | Colleges Tips Links Colleges (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:16 pm	Minneapolis Schools: Just The Facts Minneapolis is located in the mid-Eastern portion of Minnesota. It is the sister-city to St. Paul, and sits on the banks of the Mississippi River. Minneapolis Schools serve approximately 36,000 students. 16% of those students are enrolled in special education programs, 24% are English Language Learners, and 67% are participants in the state’s Free/Reduced Lunch program. Minneapolis Schools employ 226 administrators, 115 principals and assistant principals, 3,276 teachers, and 2,682 other staff members which includes educational assistants, clerical and student support workers, food service workers, transportation engineers, janitorial engineers, and tradesmen. The Minneapolis School consists of 99 different schools: 23 K-5 elementary schools, 22 K-8 elementary schools, 7 middle schools (grades 6-8), 7 senior high schools (grades 9-12), 8 special education schools, 8 alternative schools, 19 contract alternative schools, and 5 charter schools. The entire budget for the 2006-2007 school year was $587,371,902, with the majority - $376,924,691 – going to the general operating fund. With the mission: “To ensure that all students learn. We support their growth into knowledgeable, skilled and confident citizens capable of succeeding in their work, personal and family lives into the 21st Century,” the Minneapolis Schools use the following strategic plan: • Reconnect with families and the community to support student learning • Refocus our attention on student learning and academic achievement • Recreate a viable school system that is responsive to the needs of students, families, staff, and the community Of particular interest are the more than 90 languages spoken in the homes of the students of Minneapolis Schools. They range from Afgan, Afrikaans, and Croatian, to Yiddish, Swahili, and Sign Language. Most of the Minneapolis Schools communications are printed in English, Hmong, Spanish and Somali. Educators, legislators, and parents alike are ever mindful of school funding. The $13.8 billion education bill recently passed by the state legislature boosts spending on special education by about $330 million, the largest-ever increase. A school district with large numbers of special education students, like the Minneapolis Schools, is one of the biggest winners under the bill. The legislature has typically put most new education spending into the per-pupil formula. That's the basic amount that Minneapolis Schools get for each student. But this year, the biggest chunk of new education spending goes to schools to educate students with physical and mental disabilities. The Minneapolis Schools, where one in six students qualify for special education services, would get more money than nearly every other district in the state. Federal law requires the district to provide special education services, yet the state and federal governments don’t pay the full cost of those programs. So the Minneapolis Schools have previously used money from other parts of their budget to cover those costs. The special education money in the education bill will give Minneapolis Schools an additional $382 next year for every student, not just those in special education programs. Additional spending means additional programs can be maintained or implemented; like when the Minneapolis Schools added Spanish immersion hoping to attract students and curb declining enrollment. According to figures kept by the state Department of Education, the Minneapolis Schools’ enrollment increased by 3 percent from 9,974 to 10,302 between 2005 and 2006 -- right after the district began offering immersion. Colleges Index | Colleges Review Links Colleges (2 Comments |Comment on this)