Early Childhood Education Practicums, Internships And Volunteer Hours

Many community colleges, distance learning providers and colleges and universities off Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification, diplomas and degrees. Most certificate, diploma and associate degrees can be completed in one or two years, while university degrees, which are specialized and tend to focus on specific skills or areas of study such a special needs or administration, are four year programs.

One thing in common for all types and lengths of programs is the need for observation and hands-on learning through volunteering and practicums. Child development classes are an important component for all the programs as well, focusing on stages of development, instruction techniques and classroom management, and these are more effective when the information taught can be observed first-hand.

It is crucial to observe the developmental levels and teaching methods, and to practice the techniques in an actual classroom setting, with typical children and teachers in a standard early childhood program. While personal experience as a parent, sibling or babysitter can be incredibly helpful, it isnt the same as observing a group of children in a preschool or childcare setting.

A crucial part of an ECE program is the supervised observation and practicum. Many programs have access to an on-site daycare or preschool, sometimes known as a teaching lab, even while it is a functioning, licensed childcare program. Other programs, such as distance learning providers, will help to arrange practicum placements with programs in the community.

Students are never expected to work with the children at the beginning of their practicum, especially not in a teaching capacity. The first sessions in a classroom are observing children, often with specific assignments of what is to be observed, and assignments based on their findings. Very gradually students are given teaching tasks, from small lessons and circle activities through to planning and leading full lessons and activities independently. All of this is under the direct supervision of licensed ECE staff on site, who are in consultation with the course instructor. This is a crucial part of the certification program, regardless of the level of certification being pursued.

It is important to check with the state or provincial licensing body to ensure that the minimal number of classroom volunteer hours have been clocked. Usually, practicum hours can count for part, though not all, of these hours.

How Diagnostic Testing Determines Your Child’s Best Education Curriculum

For many parents, the most important consideration when beginning to homeschool is choosing the right education curriculum. Though finding a curriculum that matches both a childs particular learning style and parents teaching style is important, what is equally critical is placing a child into a curriculum at the appropriate grade level. Therefore, diagnostic and assessments tests that contain standard evaluation criteria are key in helping your homeschooling experience be more enjoyable. Here are a few reasons why:

Diagnostic tests measure strengths and weaknesses As a yardstick for measuring a childs progress, most placement tests are in-depth and offer a variety of questions that truly evaluate a childs abilities. Because the test results display a students proficiency of skills, a homeschool parent is able to be much more effective as a teacher. Parents will not only determine the best lesson plans and teaching approach to use with an education curriculum, but theyll also find a way to make learning more fun and exciting.

Diagnostic tests eliminate learning gaps Not every child begins his homeschooling education in kindergarten. For many, homeschooling may involve transferring from a traditional classroom setting in a public or private Christian school. In these cases and also in cases where a homeschooling family switches curricula, parents can easily eliminate learning gaps. Diagnostic testing takes the guesswork out of placing a child into the right grade level and makes sure foundational skills in Bible, language arts, history, geography, math, and science have been covered. Plus, placement tests prevent the Im bored look that usually occurs when education curriculum repeats material already learned.

Diagnostic tests customize curriculum Assigning an education curriculum based solely on a childs grade level is not an effective approach for academic success. As many experienced homeschooling parents have discovered, most children do not fit into one cookie cutter mold that includes the same grade level in every core subject area. Some children may excel in math, but struggle with learning language arts skills, such as spelling, reading, and writing. For other children, the complete opposite might be true. Testing a childs abilities prior to placing him within an education curriculum will provide a better individualized learning experience.

Diagnostic tests save money Assuming a childs grade level and failing to administer placement tests for each subject can be a very costly mistake for a homeschooling family. The added expense of shipping and return costs for curriculum that wasnt challenging or too difficult needlessly depletes the homeschool budget. Having to discard partially-used education curriculum creates an even worse expense simply because a childs correct grade level wasnt accurately determined from the beginning.

Diagnostic tests provide peace of mind Homeschool parents repeatedly ask themselves if their child is really learning everything he needs to know. With diagnostic and placement tests, parents can finally put this worry to rest and be assured their child is exactly where he needs to be in his schooling.

Diagnostic tests identify special needs Although the thought is distressing, diagnostic and placement testing indicate if a child is performing far from the skills and abilities recognized for a certain grade level. Because the tests reveal more than just a poor performance, parents will ascertain if further testing is required to determine if their child may have a learning disability or special needs.

Clearly, the difference between success and failure in homeschooling comes down to correctly placing a child within the proper education curriculum. As more parents take on the responsibility of home education, they would be wise to not only take the time to choose the right curriculum, but also to find their childs current skills and abilities to place him in the appropriate grade level.

ONLINE EDUCATION (Post-master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate)

The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program provides a formal program of study for Master’s-prepared nurses interested in taking the national certification exam to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. To be eligible for the certification exam, students must “successfully complete graduate didactic and clinical requirements of a Master’s nurse practitioner program through a formal Master’s level Nurse Practitioner program in the desired area of practice.” The Certificate program offers a formal program of study to meet this need for students who already have the Master of Science in Nursing degree without requiring them to complete a second Master’s degree.

The Family Nurse Practitioner Program prepares nurse practitioners with extensive clinical practice and role preparation for advanced practice in caring for patients across the lifespan. Students work with physicians and nurse practitioner preceptors, and are given access to a wide variety of clinical agencies and practice settings. The most versatile NP role allowing graduates to care for patients, families and communities in a wide array of practice sites from community-based clinics to primary care offices and from retail clinics to urgent care centers.

Our core courses prepare you with the foundational knowledge required of all graduate students. Our clinical courses enable you to build on your existing clinical skills, broaden your knowledge base related to care of the family and individual across the lifespan, and gain the knowledge and skills essential to independent for collaborative practice in primary care settings. We place our students with preceptors who serve as mentors and role models throughout the clinical practice experience. Our graduates are highly respected for their knowledge and expertise and are employed in primary care settings across the country.

At completion of this track, graduates will be able to:

Integrate advanced knowledge and experience in delivering safe, effective quality care of patients across the lifespan in primary care. Demonstrate competence in managing the health/ illness status of patients in primary care. Monitor and ensure quality health care for clients in primary care. Incorporate an understanding of family systems and dynamics in planning and providing primary health care for a wide range of patient populations. Demonstrate leadership and competence in implementing the role of the primary care nurse practitioner. Engage in counseling, communication, collaboration and teaching in a manner that reflects caring, advocacy, ethics and professional standards. Conceptualize one’s individual role as a primary care nurse practitioner and one’s personal philosophy of primary care practice.

The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner program of the Decker School of Nursing is designed for nurses with a Master’s Degree in nursing who seek advanced clinical preparation as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Upon completion of the program graduates are eligible for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner in New York State and are eligible to sit for the national certification examination. Graduates of the program are prepared to provide primary care to families. Supervised clinical practice is an integral part of the program. Whenever possible, clinical experience will be arranged near the student’s place of residence.

The Department of Nursing offers the Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program for students who completed a master’s of science degree in nursing. The certificate of advanced practice is designed for those individuals with a master’s degree in nursing who wish to expand their practice into the role of a family nurse practitioner. The specialty area prepares nurses to provide comprehensive care that includes health promotion, maintenance and restoration for persons across the life span. Depending on educational background and previous coursework in master’s program, students accepted into the certificate program are required to take as few as 3 and as many as 12 courses. Successful completion of the required curriculum qualifies the RN to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination.

The School of Nursing offers a post-masters Nurse Practitioner (NP) certificate for nurses holding a master of science in nursing degree in a different nursing specialty. The three specialty concentrations offered are acute care, primary care family, and primary care pediatrics. The NP certificate curriculum reflects a comprehensive approach to the provision of primary (family and pediatric) and secondary care to individuals, aggregates, and communities. Students acquire advanced assessment skills, a specialized clinical knowledge base, and advanced clinical management and decision-making skills. Admission to the certificate is competitive and follows the same admission guidelines as the MSN Nurse Practitioner major. The post-masters curriculum consists of core advanced practice courses (if not taken previously) and specialized courses in the major. Completion of the NP post-masters certificate requires a minimum of three semesters of full-time study. Instruction is online and includes clinical experiences. Graduates of the post-masters certificate are eligible to sit for national certification exams given in their specialty.

You May Qualify For Financial Aid.

Overseas Education – Gain Exceptional Exposure

Education is an integral part of ones professional career. The institute, University, location and the degree itself all of this is extremely essential and severely affects an individuals professional decision. The fact that cannot be ignored is that an education degree from a college or University of repute gets higher chances of getting employed in renowned commercial houses. However, with passing times, the importance of education has been known and today the meaning and definition of education has broadened, it is not just about acquiring dream jobs in the corporate sector but also about opening up minds and becoming aware. Along with the meaning, the system of education has also grown and improved!

The global system of education in todays era has opened up diverse opportunities for inquisitive students to learn and explore. Overseas education has emerged as a popular and rather a beneficial choice of study amongst young aspirants. Ambitious students fly out to different destinations of the world not just to enjoy high standards of education but also to benefit from an opportunity to learn and experience new cultures and traditions. Global education has created a huge world of opportunities. Several students from India too wish to experience the new era of education and benefit from varied potential professional opportunities.

Globalization is the key reason behind the increasing number of students wanting to pursue their learning abroad. However, if theres no pain there will b no gain! To acquire the global standards of learning, one has to undergo intensive preparations for acing the competitive entrance examinations. Even after getting into their choice of education institutes or Universities, the students studying abroad have to undergo intensive training for gaining the holistic knowledge and skill of their chosen profession and become industry ready professionals.

Faculties comprising of experienced academicians, excellent infrastructure and exceptional placement opportunities all make global education the most lucrative and desired choice of study. Another advantage of studying abroad is the confidence and independence that comes with living alone, facing different challenges and interacting with other students from different nationalities. Overseas education is exposure to the entire globe as one studies varied topics relevant to global community, spend quality time students from different nationalities and also get an opportunity to visit and explore beautiful places of the world.

Canada is a popular travel destination of the world. It has to its pride mesmerizing beauty and enriching cultural heritage. Also this exotic country is famed for a excellent system of education. Besides other professional courses, management programs are very popular in Canada. Numerous ambitious students seek to pursue their MBA in Canada and acquire professional understanding of the commercial world. Also extremely famous and popular is PhD in UK. The course gets its popularity from the intensive training techniques adopted by talented academicians who impart finest quality teaching and guidance to youthful learners.

Flexible Learning with Adult Education in Ireland

The world is still feeling the effects of the global financial crisis as tens of thousands of people in the developed economy have been left without a job. And while we wait for a recovery, a new study about adult education in Ireland suggests that flexible learning could be the key to improving your situation during the recession.

Over the past thirty years, education reform has transformed higher education in Ireland by making it more accessible for the general public. During this time, the needs of adult students have also dramatically changed. In order to remain relevant, institutes offering adult education in Ireland have been forced to adapt in order to become more flexible to cater for the needs of their students.

Educational institutions that offer flexible part-time courses provide adults who want to further their education with real opportunities for increased choice, convenience and personalisation when it comes to their studies. This allows the learner to choose when, where and how learning occurs. Flexible learning also recognises that different students have different learning preferences and requirements based on their unique circumstances.

Why do adults in Ireland choose Further Education?:

There are many reasons why more adults are choosing to further their education by signing up for flexible part time courses at various educational institutes throughout Ireland. Some have turned to adult learning as a way to upskill and stand out in a competitive job market after losing their job due to the current economic climate. Other students might still have their jobs but want to gain additional skills in order to become more valuable to their organisation. In other cases students may still have their jobs but are unhappy in their current career. In this situation, adult education provides them with the ability to acquire new skills to improve their lives without losing their monthly income.

If you are an adult who is interested in furthering your education, here is a bit of advice to help you on your way:

Make sure you have enough time to dedicate to your studies:
Whether you are a stay-at-home mum or have a full-time job, you’ll be able to find a variety of part-time and full-time courses suited to your lifestyle.

Do your research:
Start by searching the web to find institutions in your area that offer the courses that interest you.

See education as an investment:
Most courses are not free but the price of admission is well worth it if a course can help you further your career or break into a new industry or profession..

There has never been a greater need for adult education and the availability of flexible learning has been a priority for policy makers and those involved in. If adult education can make an important difference to Ireland as a whole, it can certainly make a positive impact on your own lifestyle too.