In the teaching of education courses at the college level, it is common to discuss the various modes of learning and to emphasize the premise that “we all learn differently.” When there is a case study of a student discussed that involves a diagnostic evaluation determining the learning mode of the student, it is common practice to recommend instruction that teaches to the strength of the student. Therefore, if a student is diagnosed as having a serious weakness in the visual areas, such as visual perception or visual memory, it is recommended that the educator uses an auditory mode of presentation. If the student’s weakness is in the auditory mode, the teacher is encouraged to use a visual mode of presentation.

There are, however, two questions that arise from this teaching recommendation.

1. Exactly how does a classroom teacher who is working with fifteen to thirty students realistically present instruction using one mode for one student and another mode for another student when he or she has a limited amount of time to cover the required curriculum to the entire class?

2. Is the teacher truly meeting the needs of these students by teaching to their strengths? Or is the teacher creating a situation whereby compensations are being made for the students while their weaknesses are being ignored?

Take the case of Ryan, an eighth grade student who consistently displayed very poor spelling skills. While Ryan’s overall grades were good, for years his teachers had overlooked his inability to spell even basic words because the overall content of his work was very good. Ryan’s parents, however, were very disturbed by the fact that he could not write them a simple note without misspelling common words. They knew he was headed for college and were embarrassed for him. A diagnostic evaluation was made of Ryan’s reading, spelling and learning skills. The results indicated that while his reading skills were highly developed overall, he needed remediation for the development of a good understanding of syllabication and, in particular, the spelling of common syllables. Most importantly, Ryan’s visual memory letter span was very weak. While he had read the word “were” thousands of times, he often misspelled the word, spelling it phonetically as “wir” or “wer” simply because he could not visualize the appearance of the word when he needed to spell it.

Working with Ryan to increase his understanding of the spelling of syllables and his ability to visually recall words using Achieve: A Visual Memory Program, a program that developmentally expands a student’s ability to spell words, Ryan was able to develop his visual mode of learning so that he no longer was faced with this embarrassing problem.

Ryan went on to college with good spelling skills, and is now an engineer for a prominent company in New York State.

Instead of teaching to students’ strengths, we should be instructing our teachers to develop the learning skill weaknesses of our students. When you consider that a learning disabled student is one with an average to superior IQ but one who generally has very serious learning skill deficiencies in both the visual and auditory learning modes, it is obvious that he is not going to learn as the average child learns. However, case studies have proven that if we address the weak learning skill areas and develop these skills, learning disabled students learn just like any other student!

Take the case of Jamie, a seven year old learning disabled child who also had AD/HD. As with most ADD or ADHD children, he had seriously weak listening skills. However, his visual and auditory skills were interfering seriously with his ability to learn. With a concentrated program for the development of Jamie’s visual and auditory perception and memory skills, along with his basic skills, Jamie was able to overcome his disability and learn so well that by the time he was in sixth grade, he was at the top of his class.

Since most learning disabled students are seriously weak in both the visual and auditory skill areas, teaching to the stronger of the two does not solve the problem because these student are not able to learn well from either one of these mode. Therefore, developing both the visual and auditory skills of these students is the only way to set them up for learning like the average child.

One of the most important aspects of the success of the “No Child Left Behind Act” lies in the inclusion of basic learning skills within our teaching training programs, and an emphasis on developing students’ weak modes of learning. It lies in teacher training programs that emphasize the development of both the visual and auditory modes for all students, learning disabled to gifted. Then and only then, will we be truly addressing the needs of our students.

Addie Cusimano, MEd, an educational therapist who has worked as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, diagnostician, clinician and researcher, specializing in working with learning disabled children for over thirty years. She is the author of Learning Disabilities: There is a Cure published by Achieve Publications http://www.achievepublications.com.

Many times once a nurse has earned a nursing degree, they will go on to earn another. These days, earning an online LPN to RN degree is an option more and more people are considering when looking to enter the nursing field. It makes sense once a person earns their LPN to stay in school for another year or two. Nurses who have an RN earn more money, and have more choices when it comes to where they want to work. Having choices can help if person wants to relocate.

Earning a degree online can save a person time in many ways. Not having to commute to classes and then sit in a classroom can save up to ten hours a week. An online LPN to RN degree program allows a person to keep their current job which may be necessary. If a person does not have to work, then they will have extra time for an internship or volunteer work at a hospital to see first-hand how nurses care for others in need. Working online can be done when a person feels comfortable. This may be in the morning, or late at night.

Online LPN to RN degree classes are traditional in that a person must complete all course work in order to receive their degree. Instructors are available along the way to answer questions and offer advice. They can be reached by phone or by email. Devising a study plan is the best way to maintain a steady schedule. People who are able to manage their time without too much supervision will do well in an online program. Those who work and have families are used to multi-tasking. They should be able to fit in an online program and further their nursing career by earning a degree and getting the position they desire.

To find out more about the online LPN to RN, Sara Reed recommends Nursing Online Degree.

What is an LPN?

LPN stands for "licensed practical nurse". This type of nurse usually works under the supervision of a registered nurse and can be responsible for a variety of caretaking tasks, including patient feeding, medical record updating, patient call answering, and vital sign monitoring. In some states, an LPN is allowed to administer intravenous medication as well. In California and Texas, an LPN is referred to as an LVN (licensed vocational nurse). On the nursing hierarchy, an LPN takes on more responsibility than a certified nurse assistant, but not quite as much as an RN.

Becoming an LPN

In order to become an LPN, one must hold his/her high school diploma or equivalent and then complete a two-year practical nursing program. Upon course completion, a candidate must pass the NCLEX-PN to become officially licensed as an LPN. LPNs can expect to earn approximately $16 per hour, which is the national average.

Comparing Online LPN Programs

There are many colleges that offer LPN training online, so that anyone can learn from home in his/her spare time without having to quit his/her job. Some things to consider when looking for an online LPN program include time flexibility, cost, prerequisites, and professor availability.

Ask yourself first how much spare time you have to study in an online LPN program. You should be able to complete your training online without having to sacrifice your day job. Maybe you also have family to consider. Additionally, you should be sure to look at cost to make sure that enrolling isn’t going to put a huge dent in your budget.

Also be sure to consider any prerequisites that a program may have. Most online LPN programs will require nothing more than a high school diploma, but it never hurts to double check this. Also consider your computer system requirements as well. Make sure you have a reliable Internet connection and a sturdy Word processing program and you should be good to go.

Finally, it is usually helpful if you can get in touch with professors during the course of a class term. Some programs allow for more communication than others, so you will definitely want to consider this factor as well.

To find out more about choosing an online LPN program, Sara Reed recommends Nursing Online Degree.

In many careers there comes a point where a person cannot advance without more education. Nursing is one of those careers. Online nursing continuing education was designed by universities to give nurses who have been working for a while a chance to further their education while maintaining their current position. Many nurses do not go into the workforce without an RN degree. But for older nurses, who did not need the training at the time, being passed over for promotions because they do not have an advanced degree is a reality. This is unfortunate, but a reality for many nurses. Getting the training needed is essential if they want to advance any further in their career.

Online nursing continuing education programs offer these nurses a chance to earn an advanced degree. Courses are arranged much like traditional classroom courses except all the work is done at home instead of a classroom. Students are expected to turn in assignments and reports on time and also complete all tests required. The degree program can take a year or more depending on how many credits a student wants to take. Once a nurse completes their training, they will be better able to compete for higher level positions and earn a better living.

By giving nurses a chance to train for better positions, online nursing continuing education is becoming more and more popular each year. Nurses who want to work in administrative or managerial roles can now get the training they will need in order to perform the job to the best of their ability. Even RN’s who want to earn a mater’s degree can do this online. Having the time to work and still enroll in classes has been a lifesaver to many. Online nursing programs are changing the way people are looking at learning and about the nursing profession.

To find out more about online nursing continuing education, Sara Reed recommends Nursing Online Degree.

What is the lowdown on the online RN to BSN degree? Those of you that are a registered nurse may be quite content with your current position. It may fit your needs just fine. But, for those that are looking for a bit more of a leadership role in their coursework or in their employment will want to consider moving from the RN to the BSN degree. There are many benefits to this from advancement opportunities to being able to get graduate level degrees. The lowdown on the online RN to BSN degrees is quite simple. You can do it if you would like to.

You can expect the RN to BSN degree program from an accredited online school to take you about two years time if you go full time. If you add more courses to your schedule each semester, you can complete this degree under that amount of time. Of course, when you stretch it out, it can take you as long as you need to, to complete it.

There are several key benefits to making this transition. The main one to consider is the aspect of leadership that you will be able to now accept. Those that are working in the field currently will be able to move to higher paid and more managerial aspects of the nursing job. You will be qualified for nursing positions, hospital administration positions and nursing management positions. Although you will need to invest in doing so, this is one step that you can take to earn your graduate degree in nursing as well.

Before you get started, though, make sure that you get the lowdown on the online RN to BSN degree programs first. This will mean that you will need to invest time into getting the information on coursework and hours directly from the schools you look to attend.

To find out more about earning an online RN to BSN degree, Sara Reed recommends Nursing Online Degree.

Get the lowdown on enrolling in an online nursing course and get your life started. If you are considering this as a method of educating yourself, then what are you waiting for? There are plenty of opportunities for you to find success in this field. Nurses are very much in demand right now. In fact, individuals will tell you that online nursing education is the best way to jumpstart a career in the field. So, how do you get started? What do you need to do to get into the courses that you need? Here’s the lowdown on enrolling in an online nursing course.

Online education is no different than the education that is provided to you through your local college or university when it comes to the coursework and the material covered. Therefore, just like any other type of school, you will need to get your education only after you are accepted into the school. For this to happen, you will need to provide an application. This will take your personal information, gather your educational background to insure that you qualify and it will help you to determine your career path.

In addition, you will want to work with a counselor to get a good foundation set for your education. They will work step by step with you to structure your programs. They will tell you what the school can offer you, how the process works, how the coursework is set up and more about the school. Once you are accepted into the course you can get started on your education.

Take some time right now to get the lowdown on enrolling in an online nursing course. Visit the websites and get the information that you need to see if you qualify. Then, get started at living the life that you want to live by getting the education that you deserve.

To find out more about taking an online nursing course, Sara Reed recommends Nursing Online Degree.

If many new graduates are like my niece, they are wondering how to come up with money for college. I remember when I was a high school grad wondering the same thing, some thirty years ago.

I never thought about not going to college. But it wasn’t obvious how I was going to afford it.

Even with loans, grants and work, it still appeared I would be short what would be required. With my mom’s help, I had enough money for the first semester, but would I be able to pay for the next?

Jesus might answer, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

My mom and I had witnessed the truth of those words many times. She and my dad divorced when I was ten years old. With no formal education or work experience, she managed to build a new life for both of us. She firmly trusted in God to provide whatever we needed. And along the way, she made a believer out of her daughter — me.

Prayer to God had always brought solutions in the past, even in financial matters. Why should I doubt now? Could I believe there might be a situation or condition when God had no control — where God was powerless?

The healings and teachings of Jesus recorded in the Bible had been a source of guidance to me all my childhood, and they still are. I read again about a man who was waiting at a pool called Bethesda. It was believed that, at a certain time, the water there was stirred by an angel. Tradition said that whoever got into the water right after the angel had visited the pool would be healed.

A crippled man had been waiting 38 years — probably most of his life — to enter the pool. But each year, he missed the perfect moment and others got to the water first. Still, he didn’t give up. And his hope was finally realized through Jesus. His healing came — but in an unexpected way.

This account, in John’s Gospel, gave me a new perspective on my worries about college expenses. Was I limiting my options? The man at Bethesda had thought the only way he could be healed was if he got into the pool at exactly the right time. Yet that wasn’t the "only way." When Jesus redirected his faith from a pool of water to the Christ-power that uplifts and heals, the man found the freedom he had longed for.

Where was my faith, I asked myself? Was it tied only to loans and grants? To finding ample employment? Getting a scholarship? What were my options? Did I face an uncertain future?

What I learned from thinking about Jesus’ encounter with the man at the pool of Bethesda was that God is continuously sending me — and everyone — infinite possibilities. I needed to open my thought to them. Not define or limit the ways my needs could be met.

I could replace fear and uncertainty with the knowledge that God was governing my life. Affirm that God makes all things possible. Including a college education!

So I headed off to college on what some would call a leap of faith. But it was more like a confident and expectant trust that solutions would come, even though I couldn’t see them immediately. I focused on one semester at a time and worried less about the future.

As it turned out, it was semester by semester prayer that led the way to my college degree. And expenses were paid each semester in countless — sometimes unexpected — ways.

One unexpected solution came in the form of a note in my school mailbox. An anonymous donor had paid the remainder of my tuition that year. There were many loans, grants, scholarships and awards. Plus a variety of jobs — some of which gave me valuable experience that served me well in future endeavors.

My college years strengthened my trust in God, divine Love, who truly does meet every need. And I know this is true for my niece and other college-bound grads. Everyone. Maybe we just need to remind ourselves — His ways are infinite and sometimes quite unexpected.

Annette Bridges is a freelance writer and lives on a north Texas ranch with her husband, John. For the past 25 years, she has been a student of Christian Science, the method of healing explained in Mary Baker Eddy’s book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Visit her website at http://www.annettebridges.com and send her an email at annettebridges@gmail.com. © copyright 2006 by Annette Bridges

In many cases, a nurse must have an RN degree to get a better paying job in a specialized area such as intensive care and administrative duties. For nurses who already have an LPN, an online RN degree may be their best option. These degrees usually take a year to complete and are done entirely on the computer. Teachers assign books and other reading materials. Tests are given periodically. Depending on the program, a person can learn the information at their own pace. Other programs are on a regular college schedule, but a person will not have to spend extra time driving to the college and attending classes.

With an online RN degree, a nurse can apply for higher level nursing positions. A nurse can also decide to move to a new city and find a job. The possibilities are more open for those who have more training. Also, if a nurse wants to continue their education even further, perhaps earning a master’s in nursing, they first must successfully obtain their RN degree. This degree too may be achieved through an online program. Online programs have helped many people earn their degree and find better jobs or advance in their present one by training them in the latest techniques and procedures in the medical world.

Online programs do not require too much computer knowledge. A person must be responsible enough to turn in assignments and complete all tests within the given time frame. An online RN degree is for those who are willing to push themselves instead of getting constant guidance from a teacher. If a person keeps their eye on the goals in front of them, they will have little problem earning their degree. An RN degree will open many doors for a nurse and hopefully they will get the job they want and deserve.

To find out more about the online RN degree, Sara Reed recommends Nursing Online Degree.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau statistics, people with a bachelor’s degree earn on an average over 62 percent more than those with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, the gap in earning potential between a high school diploma and a graduate (or higher) is more than $1,000,000.

Such figures act as a motivation for several students to pursue higher studies. Depending upon the course that they want to study, students decide upon certain schools to apply to. Different schools have become famous for different disciplines.

Each top graduate school in the U.S. is renowned for certain specialties. This reputation makes students seek out universities as per specialties. In the field of education, Harvard University (MA), the University Of California and Stanford University (CA) are the leaders. The main players in the medical field are Harvard University (MA), John Hopkins University (MD) and Washington University in St. Louis. The field of engineering studies is dominated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University (CA) and University of California–Berkeley. These universities attract brilliant students from over the world. Harvard University (MA), Stanford University (CA), University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) and Massachusetts Institute are the trendsetters in Business studies. The highest-ranked law schools in the country are Yale University (CT), Harvard University (MA) and Stanford University (CA).

Every year there is a list published containing the names of the best graduate schools. There is a lot of hype attached to the ranking but it should be merely used as a guideline. Many colleges do not make it to the list but are well reputed and provide students with a good quality education. Generally, the national universities are rated as the best colleges. They provide academic excellence, have a good faculty, superb infrastructure and offer a wide range of subjects.

The selection of an appropriate school should be made taking individual criteria into account. An objective assessment should compare one’s interests and abilities with the school’s infrastructure and excellence of the teaching faculty in the relevant course. If satisfied on these counts the school will fulfill all expectations. This kind of a decision can be reached taking ranking of the school as a good guideline.

Graduate Schools provides detailed information on Graduate Schools, Best Graduate Schools, Graduate School Rankings, Graduate School Scholarships and more. Graduate Schools is affiliated with Summer Graduate Art Programs Abroad.

What is the lowdown on online nursing education? Those that have gotten their RN through a local college may not realize the benefits of furthering their career through an online nursing school. Yet, there are many to think about. First off, there is no doubt that you can begin your career in nursing here as well as continue it. No matter what type of degree you are interested in or how you will get it, you can find the success that you need in online learning. Secondly, why not get it online?

Consider what the lowdown on online nursing education can provide you. Take a few minutes to select several of the better schools of online education especially in nursing. What can they provide to you? Here are some things that may matter to you.

-The ability to continue working at your job while advancing your education.

-The ability to begin a new career while still taking care of your family and other needs.

-You can take courses any time of the day or night that it fits with your schedule.

-You can get through your degree in a couple of years or less, if you want to. Or, you can slow it down and complete it over several years.

-You can get the education that you have always wanted without having to stop life to get it.

There are many things that make online education beneficial. To get the lowdown on online nursing education, why not take a look at the online campuses that many of the schools provide? See what it is that they can give to you and if that will work in your life. If you would like to get your education in nursing, why not do so in such a way as to live your life while you are doing it?

To find out more about online nursing education, Sara Reed recommends Nursing Online Degree.