I am looking for a new degree or a course of study. With the current poor economy, I know this is the best time for me to start looking for culinary arts degrees, as this is where I want to be. I have found a number of different programs out there, some of which seem to be the best of the best.  I’m puzzled by the options that I have.

One school I am planning to go to is Culinard.  I think out of all of these programs and schools, this one has the most to offer to me. It has a full course of study, with everything that an individual needs to start cooking, from basic skills through the most advanced training. I also like that the school offers a few accelerated options so that I can do very well in terms of getting a new job. I see my future as a chef or working in another culinary profession. The more that I think about it, the more I realize that this school, or other cooking schools around it are the best option for me. Take some time to consider what these schools have to offer to you. I am doing that to be sure I pick the right one.

Technorati Tags: cooking schools, Culinard, culinary arts degrees

Tags: cooking schools, Culinard, culinary arts degrees

I’ve always admired my son’s moxie.  Even though I’m the parent and he’s the kid, sometimes it feels like I learn more from him than he does from me.  Part of it is his intelligence.  He’s always been a bright kid.  I was sorry that it looked like he wouldn’t be able to go to college, because I’m a single dad without a lot of money, his grades weren’t perfect in high school, and most scholarships don’t cover things like dorms and dining halls.  He’s been living at home, working at his summer job, and taking courses toward an online bachelors degree.  When he started explaining his plan to me, I got excited before I even knew what he was talking about.  There was something familiar in his voice, something that said, “I can do anything.”  Whenever he gets that attitude, he succeeds.  I’ve had a lot of disappointments and failures in my life, which is partly why it’s so wonderful to see him tackle the tough parts of life and come up on top.  I know he has the brains and drive and charisma to go far, and now not having a degree won’t hold him back.  My only contribution was to convince him to go for the BA instead of his original plan, business administration associate degree online.  It’s working out so well that I’m even thinking about going for an associate degree online.  I couldn’t be prouder.

Technorati Tags: associate degree online, business administration associate degree online, online bachelors degree

Tags: associate degree online, business administration associate degree online, online bachelors degree

Standardized testing has long been a controversial educational issue in the United States.  While there are many arguments for and against the implementation of this sort of testing, the two that stand out above all others are the following.  Proponents of these tests point out how reliable and valid facts and statistics can be drawn from the results of these tests that show administrators, the government and the population how a group of students compares to another group of students.  Opponents bring up one of the main issues of the No Child Left Behind Act, which is to say that teachers may feel pressure to teach to the test instead of to teach to the student’s needs or to the subject’s inherent requirements.  Of course, behind that complaint lies the idea that standardized tests cannot encompass the inherent requirements of each subject taught, though test makers are trying to get closer to that goal.  The SATs, a standardized test required of high school students wishing to attend a college or university, recently underwent changes to include a writing section among the vocabulary and mathematics sections that already existed on the test.  SAT subject tests are also recent in the past decade and a half, and seek to test a student’s abilities in a specific subject matter.  However, criticism of these types of tests continues to rest on the notion that different students learn best from different methods, and the same can be said for testing the abilities of those students.

Technorati Tags: sat subject tests, sats, standardized testing

Tags: sat subject tests, sats, standardized testing

Homeschooling has been in practice for many years and holds a strong place in the history of education, being the primary form of education before public education was introduced to the masses.  Even then, home education continued to be prevalent, in the form of tutors who catered to those who could afford their services, as well as those who wished to reach beyond the confines of one room school houses and budding public schools.  There are a number of different methods used in the practice of at-home education, including but not limited to: unit studies, all-in-one curricula, student paced learning, online education, community resources and natural learning.  Motivations to school children at home range from political to religious to social.  Some parents don’t care for the environments of public schools and opt to teach their children at home.  Opponents of at-home education point out the inability to accurately measure results due to the lack of standardized tests, and also because not all states require parents or tutors to undergo certification programs in order to teach.  Proponents of these programs remind others that public school is not mandatory, so long as a child is provided some sort of education, and the choice remains in the hands of that child’s parents or legal guardians.

Technorati Tags: history of education, homeschooling, online education

Tags: history of education, homeschooling, online education

Higher education, that is, at colleges and universities, is becoming increasingly expensive to not only fit the salary requirements of faculty and administration, but also to suit necessary campus expansion programs.  However, for those students who find the price of a higher education daunting, there is always the option of student financial aid.  There are two ways that financial aid is assessed: merit based and need based.  Merit based requires that the student either have exceptional academic records, sport participation or community service experiences.  Need based aid is assessed in relation to the student’s household income.  There are two types of aid, debts and grants.  Grants don’t require that students pay the money back, but are usually merit based so that, if for example, a student receives a grant but after one semester, his or her grades considerably drop, the grant may not be offered past that semester.  Debts are usually need based, and therefore will continue to be offered so long as the need exists.  Students are required to pay back debts, but payment schedules usually do not commence until the student has graduated.  An exception to the rule is the Pell Grant, which is need based but does not require students to pay the money back.  In order to qualify for merit based grants, students must fill out applications and submit various materials, often including an essay.  In order to qualify for need based debt lending, students must first fill out a FAFSA.

Technorati Tags: fafsa, pell grant, student financial aid

Tags: fafsa, pell grant, student financial aid

Virtual learning has become increasingly popular as of late, especially for adults already holding down full time work and taking care of a family.  Why?  Because it allows students to work on their own schedules.  Students can study, complete assignments and take tests in the wee hours of the morning, on weekends or during the week if they so please.  Virtual classrooms offer as much diversity in the way of learning styles and methods as a physical, brick-and-mortar institution.  Bulletin boards are the most common technology implemented on the internet in the virtual classroom; they allow students to discuss various topics with one another, help each other with complex concepts and allow for collaboration on work for presentations or group research.  Though many universities and colleges offer distance learning programs, there are some schools that don’t even have physical campuses, save for one building used for administration.  One of the most well known of these schools is the University of Phoenix.  Schools devoted to online education or distance learning are typically able to offer course programs for a slightly lower cost than brick-and-mortar institutions because there is less cost to maintain and improve the campus, being that there isn’t a campus.

Technorati Tags: bulletin boards, university of phoenix, virtual learning

Tags: bulletin boards, university of phoenix, virtual learning