Online Degree Programs

Psy D and PhD Offer Different Opportunities for Doctorate Students
The emergence of the Psy D degree in recent years has brought about change in the way psychology students approach earning a doctorate degree. A traditional PhD program focuses on the scholar-practitioner model while Psy D programs are aimed at those who wish to tailor their careers less toward research and more toward clinical and counseling psychology.

Recognized by the American Psychological Association, Psy D programs have steadily grown in popularity since their acceptance into mainstream academia. As PhD graduates in the field of psychology often enter into purely research oriented, clinical and research or teaching positions, the need for a program that could adequately prepare graduate students for the specialized area of clinical and counseling psychology has been ever present. Many who earned PhD programs before the advent of the Psy D program found entering the profession in a counseling capacity to be difficult. Simply meeting state licensure requirements and setting up a private practice or working for an established practice does not a clinical or counseling psychologist make.

The extensive coursework and dissertation work involved in a doctor of psychology degree program is geared toward the hands on instruction of the "Vail model" as opposed to the “Boulder model” associated with a PhD in psychology. The Vail model is named after a national training conference held in Vail, Colorado in 1973, which resulted from a disagreement from an earlier conference traditionally held in Boulder, Colorado (hence, the Boulder model). The Vail attendees endorsed an alternative training model that would be used to distinguish the scientist role from the clinical and counseling practitioner role.

In its earliest stages, the Psy D program was only offered by private colleges and universities. Today, several state schools offer Psy D degree programs in addition to the traditional PhD in psychology. Public University Psy D programs are some of the most competitive of all available doctorate degree options as a result of their relative newness. Entering classes at some institutions can be as few as 5 to 10 students, compared to substantially larger numbers for well established PhD programs.

As of this writing, Psy D degree programs from any accredited institution are accepted by licensing boards from all 50 states. Recognition from the APA, state licensing boards and the American Board of Professional Psychology is a good indication of level of acceptance regarding the validity of Psy D programs from the profession as a whole.

To learn more about Doctorate Degrees Online visit our site at http://www.doctoratedegrees.net You can also obtain online learning information at http://searchforclasses.blogspot.com as well as additional online and campus based degree program information at http://www.searchforclasses.com

Does Your Child Have a Bad Case of Senioritis (aka the Senior Slump)?
This is the time of year that some kids really begin to slack off. You know, they feel like because the applications are done, the colleges won't care how their grades are or what classes they are ta... [Author: Ron Caruthers - Education - April 26, 2008]

Learn To Speak French Free
Do you know that you can now learn to speak French free online? All you have to do is know where to look. I have put a list of the four best places to start looking. If you follow my simple ideas you... [Author: Jane Morgan - Education - April 28, 2008]

Learn Japanese Easily - All It Took Was A Movie...
My quest to learn how to speak Japanese began with the Anime movies, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, by the renowned Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. These amazing movies were the catalyst tha... [Author: Suzanne and Paul Brown - Education - April 21, 2008]

Learn French Guide
Learning French is now easier and more accessible then ever. I have put together a list of the top four ways to learn French. Hopefully this will help you choose best possible French tuition option f... [Author: Jane Morgan - Education - April 28, 2008]

Developing Learning Activities And Simulations In E-Learning Content
What turns your best dress into a showstopper? Accessories. And what turns your online course content into dazzlingly useful learning content? Learning Activities. What is a Learning Activity? In e-learning content development, we use all forms of questions for test and quizzes:

1. Multiple correct, which presents a number of choices as answers to a particular question. There may be more than one answer to this question. The students chooses all answers that are correct.

2. Single correct, which presents multiple choices as answers to a particular questions. One answer of the possible choices is correct.

3. Item matching, in which there is one column of possible answers that relate to another column of questions. Item matching is commonly used for matching the correct term to the definition.

4. Fill-in-the-blank, in which the students enters the correct word or words that complete a sentence.

5. True/false, in which the student answers whether a statement is true or false.

6. Short answer, in which the student enters a one to two sentence answer to a question.

7. Essay, in which the student responds to a question with a page (or more) long response.

All of these question types are useful for testing knowledge gained from taking a course, as well as testing the level of knowledge prior to a course. In addition, such questions are useful in the course itself as learning checks. The learning check enables the student to determine whether he understands the material. Most companies consider these questions to be adequate learning activities. However, learning activities can be much more. Learning activities that are simulations can involve the student and give him a safe environment in which to practice skills gained through the course. .

Learning Activities are interactive activities that help to explain concepts and involve the student with hands-on learning. This may include all forms of drag and drop questions (one to one correlation, many to one correlation) as well as interactive ordering of graphics or text, and finally, simulations.

An IDC article and survey, Technology-Based Simulations: Cloning the Work Environment for More Effective Learning, June 2004 by Michael Brennan, states, "By 2008 the use of simulations will quadruple.... Simulations provide a parallel universe in which employees hone their skills... Innovative companies have realized this, and others will follow."

Simulations are currently the most expensive learning activity. Simulations must be individually designed and programmed. For example, suppose you have a sales course in which you are testing the sales student?s retention of the message that the company wishes to deliver to its customers. You could do a question workshop: several questions that give situations requiring an action in multiple correct or single correct formats. Another, more entertaining, method would be to have the sales person run through a scenario in which he indicates what he would do to sell his product. The learning activity indicates whether the customer would buy this product based on those actions. This feedback could be indicated by a graph indicating customer readiness to buy. It could also be complimented by video, in which the customer appears aggravated when the sales person gives his message incorrectly and pleased when the sales person gives his message correctly.

Online courses are taken privately and at the student?s convenience. If the student requires several attempts with a particular scenario, praise the student for continued effort and eventual competency.

Adding humor to simulations and learning activities is essential yet can be controversial. As the simulation developer or content developer, you do not want to add any humor that could be perceived as offensive, sexist or worse, unfunny. To extend our sales example, when the sales person is unsuccessful at selling his product in the learning activity, you would not want your customer video or simple animation of the customer to offend the sales person. Yet you want him to laugh and try again. Perhaps the customer morosely shaking his head and leaving the room, with text indicating how the sales call went dreadfully south would be acceptable and could be done in a humorous fashion. You would not want this animation to be disturbing ? the customer should not shake his fist and yell for a restraining order against the sales person, for example.

In the past, I participated in designing a simulation of patient anesthesia. The computer program consisted of a patient on the operating room table and two dials that the student could turn. One dial administered oxygen, the other dial administered anesthetic. The patient?s parameters could change (height, weight, age). As the student administered the anesthesia, a graph showed the patient?s stats. If you administered too much anesthesia the patient would die! It was a great simulation, but scary. The death knell of the patient was accompanied by funeral music. . Ouch!

On the other hand, sometimes we encounter simulations and learning activities that add nothing to the content or the course. They are superfluous, added to maintain interest. You must be very careful in these instances. If you want to add something to maintain interest, it should still be useful and explore some aspect of the topic. A Flash movie of interesting fractals may be colorful and fun - useless in a course that is not about fractals, art or Flash. For example, suppose you are teaching contractual document details. You can still relate the content of the course to a learning activity in which the student must put the correct elements from a list into three different types of contracts. As dry as you may think detailing the elements of a contract might be, if you add audio that indicates whether the addition was right or wrong, you can keep your student?s interest. ?Wrong!? can be contrasted with ?Oh, not that element, it does not belong? said in a beautiful feminine voice. The second response can add a smile and cause the student to remember how the contractual elements are added to a contract. A booming male voice that states, ?You sir, are correct!? can bring that same acknowledgement.

In conclusion, questions and quizzes while useful are not the end of interactivity. We need to provide the means for simulations inside online courses to provide the hands on learning that students need. Through clever activities that allow seeing the consequences of your actions on the simulation model, we can provide activities that enable retention of material and practice. If these activities lead the student to greater understanding, we have provided not only an entertaining activity but also great value for our online courses.

Dana Fine is a Senior Instructional Designer at SyberWorks, Inc. SyberWorks is a custom e-learning solutions company that specializes in learning management systems, e-learning solutions, and custom online course development. Dana is also a frequent contributor to the Online Training Content Journal.

Language Learnng Tools 2.0
Learning a new language can often be a tedious task. In years past you'd have to go back to school, take an online language course or rely on books and audio CD's. The good news is that technology has given us a few new tools that we can use to make it easier and less burdensome. Here is a review of MeGlobe, a new, next generation, language learning tool:
MeGlobe — Instant messaging meets Language translation is the best way to describe this new and innovative service. Although its creators do not specify that MeGlobe is a language learning tool, the potential application is obvious. Users can log onto the MeGlobe network and chat with each other as long as they speak one of the 15 different languages that are supported by the translation engine.
Multi-lingual chat on MeGlobe is easy, there are no bots do download or software to install. The entire experience is web based. Type in a message in your native language and it is instantly translated it into the language of your chat partner. Both the original message and the translated version are simultaneously displayed in the IM interface. What is truly innovative is that if there are grammatical or contextual errors in the translations MeGlobe performs, users are free to make contributions to improve them. MeGlobe then stores the contributions which are used to teach MeGlobe to become a better translator.
It is often said that practical application and immersion are the best ways to learn a new language. MeGlobe provides users with a quick and easy way to interact with native speakers of the language they are learning which is why it is a useful language learning tool. The collaborative nature of the translation engine also helps with the practical application portion new language acquisition. MeGlobe is free to use and can be found at http://meglobe.com

Copyright Jose Rodriguez 2008

Earning Your Associate?s Degree Online
An Associate?s degree, or a ?two-year? degree, provides a valuable pathway to career enhancement, and provides an educational foundation which makes it easier to earn a Bachelor?s degree down the road. Earning an Associate?s degree online is a flexible, convenient, and innovative way to advance your career and improve your education. Traditionally, going to college requires a student to physically attend. This often requires relocating, or settling for a college because it is close to home. The advantages of technology now afford students the opportunity to attend college outside the confines of a traditional college, and earn a degree online. As the popularity of earning a degree online increases, more traditional colleges are joining online-only colleges in offering educations over the Internet, presenting students with broader educational options, not to mention flexibility and convenience.

In order to land that promotion you?ve worked so hard for, or attain the career of your dreams, it?s often necessary to have some type of secondary education. There are many advantages to earning your Associate?s degree online. Receiving your Associate?s degree online allows you to achieve your career goals at your own pace, without interfering with your current work commitments. You need not live locally to attend the college of your choosing. Attending courses and submitting coursework online eliminates the need for commuting or relocating. Convenience is another plus in earning a degree online. A college may offer more sections of popular courses at many convenient times, including nights and weekends, allowing you more options as to when to attend class. This allows you more flexibility, and is ideal if you work full time and/or care for a family. In addition, who wouldn?t find it appealing to attend college from the comforts of home?

There are many types of Associate?s degrees you can learn online. There is certainly a degree to suit every educational and professional need. Some of these programs include General Education, Information Technology, Paralegal Studies, Business, Healthcare, and various professional certificates. These are but a few of the programs available to study online. Most of these programs are offered at fully accredited colleges that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which is a necessity if you have prior college credits that you wish to transfer, if you intend to continue at another college in order to receive a Bachelor?s degree, or if you want your degree recognized by your employer and any professional organizations you are affiliated with.

You might be worried about affording an online Associate?s degree. Often, financial aid is available to online students in the form of grants, loans, and even scholarships. Also, many employers may be willing to pay for part or all of your tuition and fees. After all, investing in your education is investing in the firm?s future as well.

The misconception of receiving your Associate?s degree online is that the experience might not be as enriching or legitimate as attending face-to-face classes at a traditional college. The degree programs offered online present the same opportunities for group work, independent study, and interpersonal communications as their traditional counterparts. In fact, continuing your education online might help to facilitate the learning process as well as develop time management and self-motivation skills. With the prevalence of the Internet and advancements such as teleconferencing in both education and the business world today, it is possible to come away from the experience not only with a degree, but also with greater knowledge and comfort with technology, which could prove to enhance your career as well. Receiving your Associate?s degree online is a valuable, convenient, and flexible way to broaden your career opportunities.

Learn the essential information for picking the right online degree course at <a href="http://www.higher-education-online.com/online-associate-degree.html" target="_blank">http://www.higher-education-online.com/online-associate-degree.html</a>

Picking Out the Best Nursing School
The health care industry has grown dramatically throughout the last 15 years or so, creating new jobs for doctors, pharmacists, and especially nurses. Especially in the United States these numbers are increasing daily. Now because of this recent growth, there are many nursing schools that have arose in the country, and there are many nursing degrees available to those who wish to purse a career in the industry. The first thing one needs to do when considering pursuing a career in nursing is to lean of all the options available to them. There are a variety of types of nursing jobs you can get after you graduate. It's your job to figure out which one suit's you best and then match that to the type of nursing program that fits. You can choose from a wide rage of programs like a Registered Nursing Degree, RN & MSN Programs, Licensed practical Nursing Schools, CAN Training, RN & BSN Programs, and the list goes on. The next thing one need to know is that a good amount of nursing programs are specifically made for students who are already registered as nurses in the health care field, and are trying to advance by taking RN or BS nursing programs to help further themselves in their profession. This is one reason that proper research of what program suit's you best is necessary. Next you want to know that out of any nursing school you choose you want to make sure that it is NLN accredited. This will ensure that out of any of the variety of programs you choose from, you will be offered the necessary clinical training to get you a job or to further your career. Graduates of nursing school and students that hold nursing degrees are in high demand nowadays because of the need for professional nurses in positions as managers in hospitals and clinics. In the country today there is an extreme shortage of nurses, and statistics show that even with the push for more nurses, by 2015 there will still be a shortage of over 300,000 nurses. This is why the United States is encouraging people to become nurses regardless of the professions numerous benefits. This is also one reason that almost every nursing school and program offers financial aid and job placement assistance. Now obviously most people working as nurses, and even those who are currently employed but not as nurses, and are looking for a career change, won't have the time to go to nursing school because of their hectic work schedule. But it's a good thing that various nursing schools across the country have been setting up online nursing programs. What this means is that if needed, nowadays you can earn your nursing degree online, only having to meet at a campus a few times if at all. All of your course materials are worked on and submitted online, such as test, modules, homework, and live video lectures and demonstrations. There are many great nursing schools you attend online, such as The University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, Walden University, and The California College for Health Sciences. In naming these four schools is only scratching the surface. To highlight one school in particular, The California College for Health Sciences offers a superb online nursing degree, for getting both your bachelor's and master's degree in various field of the health care industry. For example, Nursing, public health, health care management, respiratory therapy, and early childhood education. They offer the following programs, medical office administration, gerontology, EKG technician, dental assistant, health care management for your master's or bachelor's, medical transcription, pharmacy technician, and nursing degrees for your master's, bachelor's, and RN. In recent years and in the future the nursing field is going to explode! Nursing jobs are in great need and there are great programs our there for anyone seeking a wide variety of options. Right now there are nursing jobs waiting for professionals with an education. Some of these jobs include registered nurse, hospital nurse, midwife nurse, and even nursing aids. The jobs in this field are endless it's just up to you to find the one right for you.

Phillip Bernard writes of <a href="http://www.the-best-online-colleges.com/">nursing degrees online</a>. For more information on getting your <a href="http://www.the-best-online-colleges.com/">degree online</a> or anything else visit us at, http://www.the-best-online-colleges.com/

Online Accounting Degree - Expenses & Payoff's
Accounting is a crucial aspect of any business to quantify the finances. It is a required element of all businesses and also is necessary for personal organization as well. There is a great need for accountants to organize and track bookkeeping in every industry. To be an accountant, one must obtain a degree and get professional certification. People who are already in the workforce may not have available time to go to classes at a college in order to obtain a degree. Therefore, an online accounting degree is an ideal solution.

An online accounting degree provides the flexibility for those who are unable to attend traditional classes for any variety of reasons. Some people may have work responsibilities that restrict their time available. Others may have family responsibilities that enable them to have short blocks of time but that do not allow for a full day of class. Regardless of the reason, partaking in an online accounting degree program can be highly beneficial.

Some people who have previous work experience in a related field may already have vast experience with the basics of accounting. Starting with a traditional class schedule can seem boring to these people because they already meet or exceed the requirements for the class. Often people find this a waste of time and money to sit through a class in which their experience level is more advanced than the instruction. This can lead to frustration and a lack of motivation. Online accounting degree programs limit this problem by allowing the student to test as frequently as they need to demonstrate their command of the course. This can lead to a more rapid advancement through the course prospectus and enable a student to obtain a degree much faster.

An online accounting degree is one of the most popular degree courses available today. Because accounting needs are so abundant, there is a demand for accountants in every field imaginable. Accounting also allows the flexibility of finding a job outside the home or even working at home and maintaining a lighter work load. This is ideal for stay at home parents who wish to add another income but do not want to work full time. With today?s busy lifestyle, an online accounting degree is a perfect way to further education without sacrificing existing commitments and responsibilities.

A traditional higher education is very expensive. However, an online accounting degree can be much cheaper. Because there is no need for formal classroom and testing facilities, plus the student to teacher ratio can be much higher, the cost for educating a student is significantly less. This savings is passed to the student for an affordable way to obtain a degree. There are also tuition assistance programs and grants available to keep the cost down even more. Budgeting is also easier with online programs because you will generally need to pay for only the class you are in as opposed to annual or semester tuition for a number of classes. This allows you to sign up and pay for only the courses you need and are currently taking.

An online accounting degree can help advance your education and career. It is an affordable and convenient solution for working adults who do not have the time to attend more traditional classes. Search the Internet for a degree program that is affordable and available in your area.

If you are looking for more information on an <a href="http://www.college-reviews.org">Online Accounting Degree</a> please visit our site. We have a wealth of free information available directly from the online colleges you want to attend.