Education methods are evolving, like it or not!

When I began my education as a 4 year old I was sat in front of a wooden table with an ink well, the legacy of a bygone era of quils and ink. Nowadays the classroom environment abounds with projectors, laptops and interactive whiteboards. Education has moved so far in such a short period of time (I am not a dinosaur that schooled in the 1910's. Really!!!).

When I completed my junior school there was one computer in the classroom that was shared between 30 children and was rarely turned on because the teacher just didn't get it. Now I am sat on a laptop routinely pouring out a stream of consciousness relating to the current state of education in the 21st Century. A state where you can do a degree online, where essays are emailed to tutors for perusal and physical presence is no longer required.

Search for "online university usa"

The best online schools have amazing online functionality for sharing documents and imparting learning that incorporate fundamental psychological principles. All this adds up to a schooling system which can be more cost effective, more efficient and just maybe could open up education to more people around the world. Gone are the days when the likes of the UK Open University were the only choices for learning at distance. A simple search on google shows how huge the online education market has become.

Like it or not education is movin online. Personally, I am a traditionalist. I love the lecture hall far more than the webinar. I love the group tutoring session sat in circles far more than than the Skype conference call. But sadly I think I am in the minority and the drivers pushing the move online are so powerful that momentum is building fast. With the ever improving technology and internet connection speeds maybe my grandchildren will describe the univeristy classroom environment with fondess harking back to a bygone era when Degrees were done in person. Well maybe I am going a bit far but you get my point...

So you want to be a Criminal Psychologist? Are you sure?

Silence of The Lambs

Ever since I read my first book on forensic psychology I was hooked. It was a Paul Britton book called "The Jigsaw Man" and recounts the input that Paul made to dozens of criminal investigations. The way in which he used the available clues to profile criminals and predict future behaviours was incredible. He took pyschological truths and translated them into the criminal field in a way that changed the way police work on serious crime.


In the UK there was a programme called "Cracker", starring Robbie Coltrane. Coltrane portrays a character, Fitz, "an abrasively eccentric forensic psychologist that aids in the solving of difficult police cases". The character's personal life is littered with failure and he lives a pretty dark existence. He becomes consumed by his work. If you haven't seen the TV Series it is well worth a watch if this is a discipline you are interested in (I think Paul Britton contributed as a consultant- although I am not 100% on this).


Many of us have seen films such as the Bone Collector, with Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington (1999), and been inspired by the methods of a Forensic Psychologist. We all have the detective mentality in us fighting to get to the surface and provide it's analytical stamp on puzzling situations. By our natures we are inquisitive and enjoy a puzzle.

Could you be a Forensic Psychologist though? Or would you want to be? When I first came across the work of Paul Britton and the field of Criminal Psychology I was already studying Psychology. I was doing my first degreee and deciding where to specialise. Should I go for Clinical Psychology, Sports Psychology, Occupational Psychology or any other of the many arenas in which psychologists ply their trade. On deciding whether Forensic Psychology was the route I wanted to take one thought became the deciding factor. That thought was that "if you want to understand the way a criminal is thinking you have to start to think like them".  With this in mind I knew I was not tough enough to do the job even if I do possess all the other mental attributes required.

So what do you need to be a Forensic Psychologist? For a start you need a great deal of education, which of course requires money hehe. You also need to be intelligent, be able to assess situations quickly to dechiper the truths, be able to accept close scrutiny of your work and be able to work in an environment where confrontation is the norm. Add to this an ability to work alone, a comfort with details, and a naturally inquisitive mind and you have some of the package.

Just found this interesting site on the topic of criminal psychology that may be worth a look to find out more.

Time is money, or so they say!

When my brother was on holiday from University he looked around for opportunities to earn a fast buck. He scoured job sites, newspapers and networked with all his mates to try and find what would be the most lucrative way to spend his holidays.

Now, when I was paying my way through my studies I worked in factories. It was a hard slog with long hours and meagre pay for really hard graft. So you can imagine how I vexed when my brother told me what Medical Assistant Salaries were for agency staff. He was earning somewhere approaching $20 an hour and drank far more cups of tea in a day than I did in a week working in the factories. Don't get me wrong, I want my kid brother to do well. But I  felt the green eyed monster swelling within me as I recounted the difficulty with which I had sustained my college lifestyle.

Well time has passed and now I am married to a nurse. We have two beautiful kids and I have a new even more expensive lifestyle to sustain than that which I enjoyed in my formulative years. Remembering my brothers job search I recently delved into the world of nursing agencies to see what kind of salary my wife could command as a freelance worker. I am smiling. She can earn $50+ per hour. We are now looking into the possibility of our lives becoming more flexible, more lucrative, and more family-focused. Too many of us live to work when the reverse should be true.

As I recount my days working in the factories and enjoying the fruits of my labour during term time I feel a warm glow. I worked hard for my fun and I think becuse of that I enjoyed it all the more.  The money I earned was hard earned. Perhaps I missed something when I first felt that burning envy for the salary my brother earnt as a medical assistant. Perhaps the amount of money we earn is less important than the journey, and it is the journey and experiences that will stick with us in future years, not the hourly rate.

Sadly, I know that if our family income increases and my wife takes the plunge into self employment, after studying all the permeatations, pros and cons, then ignoring them all and looking at the money, our lifestyle will expand to meet our means. Isn't that what happens to everyone? Sooner or later we will be looking for a more lucrative way to spend our working time and meet our lifestyle needs. Oh the joys of living a time is money trapped existence. I really need to find a way to earn money while I sleep. Anyone got any ideas?

A Career in Education

Have you ever thought of a career in education? If not, you should consider it. A career in education can be very rewarding as you have the power to teach young minds. You can work with children, work within subjects of your specialty, as well as the opportunity to work with children of different ages and grade levels.

Now while you might think that a career in education may not be a good idea due to all the cuts in state and federal education budgets, education is still a prospering career. A career in education involves a lot of work and education. In addition, teacher licensure requirements are different depending on the state in which you are planning to teach. Most states require at least a Bachelor’s degree in either early childhood or secondary education, or a specialty subject, such as Math, English, or Science. However, other states require a Master’s degree in education.

For example, Massachusetts requires at least a Bachelor’s degree in either early childhood education or secondary education, or a specialty subject. Massachusetts also requires a Master’s degree in education, a passing score on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), and at least five years of full time teaching in order to qualify for tenure and entrance into the teacher’s union. All in all, you will need to research what your preferred state requires to become a teacher.

Now while this field seems to require not only a lot of undergrad and graduate coursework, there is also a lot of field work and testing requirements. However, luckily there are many online Master’s degree programs you can take advantage of. Online courses are becoming extremely popular today due to the convenience and flexibility of the Internet. As a result, many adults are taking advantage of online courses, as well as it gives students the ability and flexibility to work and go to school at the same time.

If you continue your education and achieve a doctoral degree, you can even teach at a university level. You can make your own schedule, have summers and vacations off, and work with higher ed students in helping them choose their own careers. Once you have completed your education degree program, whichever level you choose, you will be in the process of beginning an exciting, stimulating, and fulfilling career as a teacher.

Why choose a carreer in criminal justice?

Many people watch CSI and wonder about jobs in criminal justice.  Is it really as exciting as they make it out to be on TV?  I can't say for sure, that's obviously up to you at the end of the day, but there are many practical reasons to take a job in the criminal justice field.  Unlike a lot of boring desk jobs, criminal justice offers a large diversity on a day to day basis. 

One good reason to join the criminal justice field is that it is recession proof.  People are always going to be committing crimes, probably more so when the economy is down and people are out of work.  This means that you will always be in demand, your job won't be tied directly to the economy like many jobs out there.  There will always be a need to study criminals and bring them to justice.  Even with more technology, it will never completely replace the need for people in this field.

Another great reason to be in the criminal justice field is that most jobs are through the government which gives you many advantages.  Not only are you recession proof, but it affords you all sorts of government benefits.  You will have a 401k plan, health insurance and more stability than most jobs.  There are also many different fields within the criminal justice umbrella that you can pursue.  From being in law enforcement to working in a court house, there are many options that all fall under the same label of criminal justice that might not have crossed your mind.

Working in this field will also give you the sense that you are bringing law and order to our society.  It can help you feel a sense of purpose in your community that you are helping your fellow citizens and neighbors.  People in this field usually enjoy studying the psychology of the criminal mind and what makes people turn into criminals.  Working in this field will also open many doors for you, as it will show other employers if you decide to leave the field that you value society, law and order. 

There are many reasons to go into the criminal justice field, but make sure that its for you.  Do your research and maybe talk to some people that are in the field.  The benefits of working in law enforcement and criminal justice are plentiful and can open doors to many other industries that may have never crossed your mind.  Just remember as with any job, at the end of the day you have to be happy with yourself and your life.  

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu  Words have never rung truer in my mind.  Traveling has always been an exciting passion of mine and as it sits I have had the luxury of growing up around the world.  When I started backpacking, more than 10 years ago, it was a totally different scene than it is today.  Today most backpackers have a computer or iPhone, Facebook and every other conceivable way to stay connected on the road, able to have an adventure without losing connection with friends, family, even work.

Today is different, today I have actually started my very own adventure blog all about backpacking on a budget, going to amazing different places in the world and having an adventure that suits your particular needs and comforts.  I have seen so many different types of travelers over the years and it seems that everyone has a different goal or destination.  It’s a lot like playing telephone when your a little kid in a circle, someone whispers to the next person and by the time it gets to the last kid the idea is totally different then when it started.  You start your trip with a goal in mind and it morphs and changes into reality in a completely different way then you expected.  That has to be my favorite part of traveling, never knowing what is coming next.

So here is the view from my rooftop, and well I guess I am pretty fortunate to be able to travel to such amazing places.  And now with online bachelor degree programs you can study from wherever you choose to make your home.  The world is so huge, but daily it seems to be getting smaller.  The internet is connecting everyone to everything and making the travelers life even easier.  Why not get a degree while you travel, or find a job that you can do from anywhere through the internet.  It seems like this is the future, space seems to be the final frontier, but until that pans out for the masses we are here exploring our crazy planet.

So today I leave you with one final thought,
“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with one step”  -Lao Tzu

And in much the same way a blog of millions of pages must begin with one word.

How to eat better and feel great

A lot of people are in a rush these days.  I mean it's Christmas, the holidays are here and everyone is in a rush to do something.  Whether it be to get presents or just trying to catch up with work, or taking care of your family.  Everyone has something to do and no one has time for thinking about eating healthy and taking care of your body.  It happens every year and then people start making their crazy new years resolutions to make up for all the bad habits they have allowed themselves to fall into over the holidays.

It wasn't that long ago that I was in college, and it was very stressful.  At the time I was considering switching to an online degree because I figured it would be easier if I decided to move or travel I could still keep working towards my goal.  It was just stress coming in from all angles and I didn't know what to do or how to handle it.  So I did what most college kids did I ate lots of fast food, got lazy didn't work out and by the end of the holidays I was fatter than I'd ever been and definitely not happy.

I realized that it was a combination of everything that had gotten me there and I promised myself that I would not let it happen again.  I vowed right there that I would make a real difference in my habits everyday.  Let's be honest that lasted all of two days before I was back to my usual habits.  So over a course of a couple weeks I realized I really needed to make a change and I needed to stick to it.

I realized I was doing a lot of work at home and that making a change had to be about a daily change.  So I put a notepad on the fridge and everyday I would write down everything that I ate, anything I felt was bad I put in a big black marker.  Anything I ate that I felt was healthy and putting me towards my goal I put in a nice colorful marker and then everyday before I went to bed I would review the list.  It amazed me as I saw all the black on the list instead of nice colorful writing. 

The more I reviewed the list the more I would remember to make a change each and everyday.  When I would go to the fridge I would see the list from the day before and try and make changes every time I ate.  I also made other simple healthy choices.  I realized it was unrealistic for me to go to the gym everyday.  I simply didn't have the time, so instead I made quick easy changes.  Instead of driving the couple blocks to the grocery store and being lazy, I would walk it.  Instead of driving to school everyday and searching for a parking spot wasting gas, I bought a bike and rode to school.

It doesn't seem like much, but after a while everything started to click.  I realize these are very easy changes that anyone can make, but the more I made them, the more my subconscious would kick in and start making them automatically.  The moral of the story is when the holidays end and you decide to make your new years resolution, be realistic with your goals. 

Don't tell yourself you'll work out everyday or that you will eat healthy everyday.  It's not impossible, but it just won't happen overnight.  Instead start making small gradual changes and you will see that overtime it will become not only easier, but the subconscious decision in your head.  I still eat a fast food burger every once in a while, but my subconscious healthy decisions have evolved and now I work out 3 times a week, ride my bike to work, and almost always have a nice yogurt and fruit breakfast and a healthy salad with dinner.

How Do I Become a Zoologist?

So maybe you are studying biology or animal biology, but aren’t sure what to do? You could become a Zoologist! A Zoologist is any person who works with animals. You could become a veterinarian, work in a zoo, or even a museum. So how do I become a Zoologist?

Since you are most likely working on your undergrad, it is best to study zoological science or animal biology, or a related field. However, as a potential Zoologist, be ready to continue your education. Most Zoologists achieve Master’s and even doctoral degrees. You can absolutely find a job with a Bachelor’s, however, know that there is little room for advancement in this area. The key here is the more education you complete, the higher your position, which also means higher pay.

Now while this may seem like a lot of work, and it definitely it is, remember that today you can take a number of your courses online. With the flexibility and convenience of the Internet today, there are a number of accredited online schools to choose from. If you’ve never taken an online course before, you should give it a try! They are similar to a regular classroom lecture, however, you can “attend class” by sitting in the comfort of your own home, or while commuting, or even while you are on vacation! These days you can complete your entire degree program all online without ever taking a step on an actual college or university campus!

All in all, a career as a Zoologist can be a lot of fun! When we were young, the majority of us wanted a career working with animals. Well, you should know that this doesn’t have to be just some childhood fantasy, you can actually develop a well-rounded and fun career as a Zoologist.

So while you’ve got a lot to think about, particularly on all the school you may have ahead of you, keep in mind that education is never wasted. Zoologists that complete their Master’s or doctoral degrees can make up to $100,000 in some government positions! So with that high earning potential, six or seven years of school doesn’t seem all that bad, especially if you can work towards your zoology degree online.

How To Get An Internship

1. Ask around. The best way to get an internship is through people you know. Ask friends, family friends, acquaintances. Put a request out on Facebook and Twitter. Someone must know someone else. Think six degrees of separation. If you are only six people away from the person who can give you an internship that will change your life, it makes the task seem less daunting.
   
   
2. Brush up on your activities; An active, community spirited person is more likely to be hired than someone who has nothing to say and spends their time doing nothing. Make yourself sound as interesting as possible. 
   
   
3. Lose the sense of entitlement; No-one likes someone who thinks the world should give them everything, you are no more special then anyone else. Arrogance is off-putting, confidence is key. 
   
   
4. Work Harder than anyone else. Employers love people who help themselves. Do an online degree, the more skills you have the more likely you are to get an internship. Employers love people who go for it. 
   
   
5. Think about what is stopping people giving you an internship, and then remove it. Take the feedback that you are getting from other people. If you are trying to get into finance do you keep getting told you need another qualification? Get it. Are you trying to become an actor and people tell you you need to be able to dance? Take some dance lessons. Remove the obstacles. 
   
   
6. Account for gaps on your CV; Think about what you could say when asked about these. Bad things to say are; sitting around the house or watching TV. Say that you were learning French or something similar that could add another string to your bow. 
   
   
7. Be likeable; It's a simple one but people like working with nice people. Try to smile even if you don't feel like it, say please and thank you and hold doors open for people. People will remember you as a good, decent person. The kind of person who gets hired!
   
   

Good Luck.

Top Ten Ways to Get Along With Your Fellow Students

How to get along with your fellow students whether you are studying for a masters degree or are doing a part time course. 

1. Don't take things personally. It is very easy to get off on the wrong foot with someone. Just because someone doesn't like the same thing as you, doesn't mean they are criticizing you. Everyone likes different things. You will probably have some stuff in common.
   
   
2. Don't ask personal questions: It is best never to ask people questions about age, politics, religion and sex. Asking people questions about these explosive subjects is the quickest way to an argument....
   
   
3. Agree to disagree. If you cannot agree with someone then just respect their opinion and ask them to respect yours. Don't just state that you are right and they are wrong. This will not make you any friends. 
   
   
4. Be Polite: Manners cost nothing. Even if you do not like someone you should be nice to them. A good person treats people nicely even when that person can do nothing for them. 
   
   
5. If you can't be kind, be vague. Least said, soonest mendest, as they say! 
   
   
6. Respect other people's boundaries. Don't invade other people's space, talk over them or hit on their partners. Have other people's feelings in mind. 
   
   
7. Don't talk behind other people's backs. Not only will it probably get back to them, but the person you are being indiscreet with won't trust you either. 
   
   
8. Reputation is everything. Protect yours. As Bob Dylan says: 'You're dignity is something that you can sell, but you can't buy back'. 
   
   
9. Say sorry. If you do something that upsets someone, apologize. It may be the last thing you want to do, but it will make you the bigger person. 
   
   
10. Talk it through. It is easy for misunderstandings to happen. Always be brave enough to talk things through with people. They will respect you for it. Be honest. Maybe there wasn't even a problem in the first place! It's easy for misunderstandings to escalate into something bigger. Stop it from doing so immediately. 
    
    

How to Start Your Writing Career At College

Sometimes it pays to get a head start in life. The years of college can go pass in a blur and while you are getting a degree, other people are getting ahead in their careers. College is stressful and piling on any more work can cause burn out, so here is a few ways to get your foot in the door of a writing career. So when you leave college, you have that all important head start.

1. First, go to one of the best journalism schools you can and write for the student paper, if there isn't a student paper, make one. Lots of people, including Richard Branson, got their start from doing a student paper. You will learn all the basics of journalism and will make invaluable contacts. You will also have a market for your publication: you're fellow student.
2. Start a Blog: Starting a blog had made many people rich and famous. Think Belle Du Jour. You will also get into the habit of writing regularly, learn what people are reading most and gain invaluable skills.
3. Write as much as possible: You probably won't get paid at first but you will find your voice as a writer and also learn the discipline of writing. Many people give up because of the sight of a blank screen.
4. Ask for feedback: Ask your most trusted friends and family for feedback on your writing. It's the only way you will get better. You will probably have some bad writing habits or overuse certain words. Only ask people who's opinion you trust. Don't take the feedback negatively, but as an opportunity to learn.
5. Write an e-book: There a number of e-readers out there. Amazon's Kindle has made it very easy for anyone to write a book and sell it on Amazon. Write fiction or take something you know and sell your wisdom to someone else. If you write 500 words a day, it will take you 160 days to get to 80,000 words. It is completely manageable to do that in a year.

Will Accounting Majors be Required to Learn International Financial Reporting Standards?

In order for financial statements to be comparable, there must be a set of agreed upon methods to ensure everyone is following the same set of rules.  This is comparable to ensuring everyone uses the same street light colors of green and red for “go” and “stop.”   In regards to their own set of “accounting rules,” The United States has adapted the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which tells businesses how and when they are to record income and expenses, along with a long list of other accounting procedures. However, there is a popular accounting standard with its own set of “rules” called the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).   Many countries have already decided to converge from their own set of accounting standards to International Financial Reporting Standards.

If you’re considering sitting for the CPA Exam, you should be aware that it now requires you to be tested on your understanding of both GAAP and IFRS accounting, which should allow new CPAs the ability to quickly understand and help companies transition over to IFRS, if the United States ever decided to converge.  However, this would not happen until the SEC officially crowns IFRS as the official accounting standard within the United States over GAAP accounting.  But the question remains, would this ever occur?

The answer to this is unfortunately not completely known, as many questions still need to be answered.  While the SEC issued release Nos. 33-9109 and 34-61578, stating the support of the United States to “Converge to Global Accounting Standards,”  there is no decisive time period stated, but the FASB and IASB are attempting to get the United States converged to IFRS by 2015. Please read the IFRS FAQ by the AICPA for more details.  However, US colleges are still teaching GAAP accounting  accounting in the majority of their accounting courses, and have not made IFRS accounting a mandatory subject for accounting majors, despite major talk of the United States converging. This is likely due to head college professors doubting the SEC's ability to converge to a whole different set of accounting standards.

I believe the United States’ willingness to converge to a whole new set of accounting standard is not going to happen, due to the lack of their willingness to change.  For example, consider the United State’s unwillingness to converge to making the metric system the official measuring standard. They are now only one of three countries that have not made it the official measuring standard.  In short, The United States simply does not enjoy giving up their own ways of doing things.   I believe there are many reasons behind this.  One being the fact that the United States has predominately been one of the most financially secure and successful countries, thereby making them believe their methods is superior.  It could even be the possibility that the United State’s culture tends to be a more individualistic, thereby making us think each should “be of their own,” and not necessarily follow a trend set by others.

Regardless of the reasoning, I believe it’s unlikely that the SEC will mandate public companies within the United States to converge to IFRS accounting.  Additionally, it appears colleges are also not optimistic about IFRS conversion, and are still going to focus on primarily teaching GAAP accounting.  

The mind of a programmer, is computer science right for you?

I can recall my first day sitting inside Introduction to Computer Science class.  As I sat waiting for the professor to officially start, I was quietly scanning through my textbook.  Another student then sat next to me and started conversing.  He was also extremely excited to learn how to program, as he was a computer science major.  

As we continued to talk, he gave me the appearance that he enjoyed setting himself on a pedestal, as he continuously bragged about his high SAT scores, along with his high GPA and advanced high school courses he passed.  I tried to give him the appearance as if I was truly amazed at all his talents, but inside of me, I was thinking how overly conceded he was.    

                As our course went into the second week, we were given our first program assignment.  I was very surprised to see how my classmate was unable to write the code, even though he was so smart at math and science.  On the contrary, I was able to easily complete all my program assignments, despite the fact that I never even took an advanced mathematics or science courses during my high school years. 

                So what was the major difference between me and my classmate that allowed me to be better at programming? I believe I have something that I will call the “programmer’s mind.”   To me, this is a skill set that allows some computer programmers to easily think of program algorithms inside their head and be able to get the program done correctly with the least number of errors.  These individuals can think of everything in an "algorithmic fashion."  They can instantly pin point where programming errors are coming from by thinking, "if I was the program, what code is telling me to do this error?"   

While this skill can definitely be achieved by gaining experience, I believe the majority of the greatest programmers have this innate trait within them.  So if you are considering computer science as a major, how do you determine if you have this “programmer’s mind?”

                If you’re considering a computer science degree, I would highly recommend purchasing a programming book before even stepping into a computer science course.  Additionally, you can consider taking just the introductory course at a college or university and see how well you’re able to adapt with it.

Is Accounting the Right Major for You?

Do you enjoy working with numbers?  Do you find interest in being able to take business processes and quantify them into something important for management to make decisions?  If this sounds like you, then a career in accounting might be the right path.  While this was my initial perception, after experiencing my first job as an accountant, I was sorely mistaken.

Like many colleges students, I was initially unsure what I wanted to major in.  After deciding to pursue a business major, I was required to take two principles of accounting courses, in which I instantly feel in love with. There was just something about learning about double entry accounting, accrual accounting methods over cash basis accounting, along with a host of other accounting procedures that quickly lured me into making accounting my official undergraduate major.    Additionally, the salary potential was not bad as well.  According to Payscale, the average salary for an accountant is around $44,000. 

After receiving my diploma in 2007, I was really excited to get a job offer as an accountant.  I was initially offered a position in accounts payable, but was quickly offered a position as an assistant controller.  However, as an assistant controller, I was sorely disappointed in the job responsibilities accountants are expected to perform. No courses taken in college could have even closely prepared me for what the accounting profession required when working with private businesses. The job responsibilities I was required to perform but did not enjoy include: 

• looking through hundreds, or sometimes thousands of transactions in the general ledgers in order to reconcile and find mistakes.
• having to determine who made the mistake so I could contact them and find out why and how it was done incorrectly.
• having to search through many files and documents for verification.
• having to call customers to collect on delinquent accounts.
• sending statements to customers so they are aware of their open balances.

While some of these responsibilities should logically appear to be something that an accountant is responsible for, they were honestly not part of my strengths. I am not someone that enjoys working in an organized fashion, as I am more spontaneous.  Additionally, I get completely irritated if I have to clean up other people’s messes on a consistent basis. On the other hand, I truly enjoyed learning accounting in college.  Therefore, just because you enjoy learning accounting as a subject, doesn’t mean you will enjoy it as a career. Now I don't consider my major as a lost by any means, as there are still many accounting careers I can pursue that perfectly fits my niche. But as far as my career as a controller or senior staff accountant for a private business, I think I cannot enjoy doing that as a long-term career.

Then who would be a good fit for the accounting profession?  While it is essential to obtain an accounting degree online or through a traditional four-year college, some other essential skills include being someone that is:

·     

• always clean and organized.
• doesn’t mind having to clean up other people’s messes, and is able to patiently teach them their errors.
• able to stare at numbers on a computer screen all day.
• extremely patient  and does not become easily irritated over many little problems.
• is able to work a lot of overtime, especially during year end.

Writing and Publishing: A Good Career or Dying Industry?

As a college or potential college student, perhaps you are thinking about pursuing a career in publishing, or how to choose a career, but you are worried…is it worth it? With today’s social media and technological gadgets such as the Kindle or the Nook or the iPad, is there even a need for books anymore? Or are they becoming obsolete?

The truth is, yes, books are becoming more and more obsolete. However, that doesn’t mean that they are suddenly going to disappear. Believe it or not, there is still a demand for print publishing. The big publishers are still cranking out textbooks and selling them to schools, and magazines as well as novels are still around. Now, of course, in addition to that, eBooks, media cards, websites, and curriculum portals are all available in e-format. So while the publishing industry is absolutely at a crossroads, publishers are holding up both the media as well as print sides to their audiences.

So you might be thinking, what does this mean for me? Well, the good news is publishing offers a lot of opportunities to new graduates. And if you think “publishing” and think of yourself sitting in a cube reading for eight hours straight or drowning in paperwork, while this may be true for some editorial or writing jobs, you aren’t limited to only these tasks. Some publishing careers include:

• Graphic Designers
• Project Managers
• Editors (Editorial and Production)
• Sales/Marketing
• Proofreaders
• Writers
• Administrators

Again, the realm for these positions is very large. You could work in textbook publishing, custom publishing, magazine publishing, media publishing, art/design, journalism, and the list goes on. Now that you know that there are a lot of great opportunities in publishing, let’s talk money. As far as salaries, editors, graphic designers, project managers, etc. can make anywhere from $35,000 - $70,000 annually. If you are near the city or are willing to commute, you could work for one of the big publishers such as Pearson Education, Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt, Cengage Learning, or even the New York Times, or the Boston Herald.

All in all, a career in publishing is not a waste of time. Hopefully you found these pointers helpful on how to decide on a career. Or if you still aren’t sure, you could always shoot for a communications or English degree, and decide to go into writing or publishing afterwards. Most publishers look for students with a degree in English, Communications, or relative field. So don’t feel like you have to pinpoint it the moment you take your first step onto a college campus. You’ve got time to decide. And remember, education is never wasted.

Reduce College Debt by Enrolling in a Work College

Paying for college gets tougher every year. Not everyone will qualify for a grant or full scholarship. Even online colleges charge tuition that could be beyond some families' budgets. And some people want to have the traditional "college experience." So, what's an aspiring college student with a limited budget supposed to do? Well, one option to consider is applying to what's known as a work college.

For students in work colleges, work-study isn't optional; it's mandatory. There are a total of seven work colleges in the United States that comprise the Work College Consortium. Five, Alice Lloyd College and Berea College in Kentucky, College of the Ozarks in Missouri, Ecclesia College in Arkansas, and Warren Wilson College in North Carolina are below the Mason-Dixon Line. Blackburn College and Sterling College are in Illinois and Vermont, respectively.

Work colleges are much like any other college in that they offer majors like liberal arts, business administration, communications and computer science among others. Unlike mainstream colleges and universities, no student graduates without some sort of practical work experience, even if the work they do isn't in their chosen fields of study. The kinds of jobs students at work colleges do depends a lot on each college and where it's located. For example, students at Sterling College could find themselves working on a maple sugaring team, as breakfast prep cooks or computer support technicians.

Despite their name, work colleges are still, first and foremost, institutions of higher education. Students, generally, have to complete 10 to 20 hours of work each week. Sterling College demands that students work a mere six hours each week. At Warren Wilson College, students must do community service in addition to working 15 hours each week.

Even in a booming economy, people can have trouble paying for college. Yet not a lot of people seem to know about work colleges. Attending one can drastically reduce college debt while simultaneously helping students acquire some much needed work experience.

How to Find Your Dream Internship

One reason employers like to hire past interns is familiarity. They already know what they're getting in terms of cultural fit, abilities and work ethic. So, doing at least one internship while still in college is a good idea, even for students who attend online colleges or universities. The steps you take to find your dream internship are also the steps you can take when you start looking for your dream job.

Of course, you'll want to find the best possible internship. One way to do that is by taking some time to ask yourself a few key questions.

First, what does your dream internship look like? This is an important question to answer. So much so that you should actually sit down with a pen and paper and list all the things that your dream internship would have, in order of importance. The last thing you want to do is accept an internship in an industry or with a company that is at odds with who you are as a person. For example, some people only want to work for companies that are environmentally conscious. If that's important to you, then add it to your list. Keep in mind that we don't live in a perfect world. Anything that you could live without should go on the bottom of your list.

Second, what do you really like to do? If you love playing video games or cooking or photography or whatever, try to find a job with a company in that industry. For example, if video games are your passion, you could try to get a job working for a company that creates video games ... even if you're majoring in accounting. If the company has an internship in the accounting department, apply for it. Just because you start out as an accounting intern, that doesn't mean that you can't end up employed as a video game tester one day.

Finally, what do you want to give to your potential employer? Bet that caught you by surprise. It's obvious that you want to get a decent salary and challenging work out of your internship. That's what most people want. But it's also important for you have something to give. Make a list of the things you want to give to an employer, things that could benefit any employer in any industry, such as a sense of humor, a willingness to work extra long hours whenever needed, computer skills that go above and beyond what the average person might bring, etc.

It's not easy to find your dream internship or job, but it's not impossible either. By taking a moment to get to know yourself a little better, you could put yourself in a position to make all your career dreams come true.

Facilitated Communication

What types of instructional strategies do you use when it comes to working with children and adults with disabilities that are accompanied by extreme negative behaviors?  A special education teacher is required to understand a variety of tactics to teach children with disabilities, but rarely focuses on teaching different forms of communication to reduce adverse behavior.

Facilitated Communication (FC) uses a keyboard and a facilitator to support the individual to express their words through typing.  The facilitator provides physical and emotional encouragement.  Typically, the individual typing has a good rapport with the facilitator.  They trust their support and know them well.  The facilitator may start by providing support to the person’s wrist and gradually move the physical assistance back to the elbow, then the shoulder.  Just providing a gentle touch can encourage the individual to begin communicating through typing.

 

Facilitated Communication is a controversial topic where people tend to go to one extreme or the other.  Typically, there are those who adamantly refuse to use a method of communication that has not been extensively researched to date.  Others, who have used FC or have seen it in action, are quick to see if the method works for other individuals as well.

I have had opportunities to use FC with a variety of individuals who are unable to express their thoughts and feelings verbally.  These individuals had a difficult time interacting with people and events that went on around them.  They would essentially communicate their thoughts and fears through inappropriate behavior such as screaming or by being physically aggressive towards themselves or others.  This obviously causes issues for the individual with the disability and their circle of support.

Even though FC has not been proven reliable in the few controlled studies that have been attempted, this method of communication has given many people a voice that they have long been searching for.  As a result of this, their adverse behaviors have reduced or even gone away completely.  FC is clearly worth introducing if it means giving children the opportunity to eventually speak what they are feeling and learn with their peers.

People First

I am continually dumbfounded at how my friends and clients who are blind are treated by the general public.  Chris and I have been friends and colleagues for many years.  She is completely blind and has a guide dog that supports her while traveling.  Chris and I are friends because we like each other, not because I pity her disability. 

 

• Get off of the pity train.  People with visual impairments are just that – people.  They do not need to be told how sorry you feel that they are not able to view the world with typical vision. 

Chris and I frequently go shopping together.  During each outing we almost always encounter a store employee who feels that I am the translator.  Chris will ask a question to the employee and they will respond to me as if I should relay the information back to Chris.  Often, she will politely respond to the team member to speak directly to her.  Generally, this works, but the employee will feel the need to talk in an extremely loud and overly articulate voice. 

• Talk directly to the person and not through another individual.  Their eyes may not work well, but their ears usually do.

• Talk in a normal voice and do not scream at the person with a visual impairment.  Again, their ears are usually fine.

Chris is currently attending college where she is majoring in psychology.  She generally knows where she is at in relation to buildings on campus.  Her guide dog supports her in safely arriving at each location.  However, it is not uncommon for a stranger to come take her arm and practically drag her to her destination.

• Do not randomly grab people with a visual impairment to help them.  Most blind people have extensive training in orientation and mobility to travel efficiently in the environment.  Let the person ask for help if they need it.

Do not worry about being politically correct.  Remember, individuals with a visual impairment are people first.  Treat them as you would any person you run into.