Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Unit Studies: The Solution for Homeschooling Multiple Children

Unit Studies: The Solution for Homeschooling Multiple Children
The Problem: New home schooling families are often overwhelmed with just the idea of homeschooling all of their children at the same time. Some will begin homeschooling one child one year and adding another the following year. That, in itself can add the problem of having to plan your schedule around the school's schedule because at least one family member goes to school. One of the big benefits of homeschooling is to be together as a family and to schedule life around the home and the education of the children. If the family "brings school" home and sets up a school schedule with textbooks for each subject for each child, teaching multiple children in a family would be very tedious and overwhelming.

The Solution: Unit studies --- This is a method of study that allows most of the curriculum to center on a topic of interest to one or more members of family.

For example, in the state of Washington, the home school law delineates eleven required subjects for students K-8: Math, Reading, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, History, Social Studies, Health, Science, Occupational Education, Art/Music. If your state does not specify subjects or classifies them differently just modify your list. Most of these subjects can be covered well by using this method. Exceptions include: math, grammar and early reading skills. In those cases you would need curriculum that follow a "scope and sequence" - a list or chart that shows what will be covered and in what order. Since math builds on skills, order and practice are important. I would include these subjects in a unit study so that your children understand that knowledge and skills are not separate, but unified.

Steps in Forming a Unit Study:

1. Choose a subject. Keep in mind the longer you want to stay on a subject, the broader the topic.

2. Use a "Mind Map" or "Web' to brainstorm the different parts of the unit.

3. Based on # 2, decide how long to study this topic. For beginners and younger children, I would begin with a two-week unit study. Later, larger topics / longer studies may be planned. Older students could use this method and follow the scope and sequence of an American History book to "complete" this required high school subject with a series of unit studies.

4. Make a list of subjects and plan activities to cover each of the subjects.

5. Gather materials - personal library, public library, Internet, local attractions etc.

6. Evaluate - during longer studies, you should periodically evaluate what has been learned and what remains to learn. You may decide to shorten or lengthen the unit study.

7. End the Study with a Culminating Activity - this could be a notebook, video documentary, display or a play for Dad and other family or friends.

Homeschooling parents can use the unit study method to keep everyone learning about the same topic using age-appropriate materials you own or you can get from the library. While there are many products available that have ready-made unit studies, I personally like the flexibility of planning my own unit studies. In my opinion, aside from academic excellence, the greatest benefit of the unit study is building family unity.

Maggie Dail and her husband, Ronnie operate the Center for Neuro Development in Lakewood, Washington which is affiliated with Family Academy. They home schooled two foster sons and have worked with home schooling families for nearly 20 years. Maggie earned her M.A. in Special Education in 1989 and has taught for nearly 40 years. http://www.homeschoolhelps.com

Family Academy offers an online home school parent's course that includes more information about developing your own Unit Studies and much more: Able to Teach

http://familyacademy.org

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By Maggie Dail

When You Eat the Dog Biscuits and Other Holiday Tips

When You Eat the Dog Biscuits and Other Holiday Tips
OK. So we were cleaning out the freezer and found this bag of what looked like cookie dough (or mashed potatoes!). We couldn't tell what it was, but I knew it had been in there awhile. thawed it decided to bake it. I tasted a bit and it seemed like cookies, but not much flavor. I broke into cookie-sized bites and baked.

10 minutes later and all cooked, we stared at the baking sheet to see who would get to try them first. We all took one and began to nibble. They tasted like weird corn cookies to me. It was silent as everyone was chewing and contemplating the odd flavor and texture. Then my hubby said, "Are these the homemade dog biscuits you froze for Ally?!"

Yikes! We laughed and then bagged them up for our pooch! Some days just turn out that way sometimes. Especially around the holidays when you are so busy and there are more things being added to your plate? If you are like me, you want to do all the fun stuff like bake, create homemade gifts and decorate the house. But, the everyday stuff is still there and can take away your energy.

Here are a few tips and my favorite resources to help you simplify your holidays and make sure you have fun.

1) Don't try to do it all.

I used to do this and it really was hard. BK (before kids) I would decorate the house with hand braided greenery and bake treats for everyone I knew, plus sew gifts and host several parties. Now, I enlist the kids help for decorating, and spend 1 day baking. We do sew a few handmade gifts, but we do 1 theme (like all aprons or tote bags). Your creative soul will be nurtured but not exhausted if you plan to do less.

2) Plan a night for yourself.

Give yourself the gift of doing nothing but reading a good book with hot cocoa and a snuggie. Enough said.

3) Enjoy the Season.

I find so many time we are rushing to "get through" the holidays or it all builds up for one day and can be disappointing. We chose to spread out our celebrating over the whole season. Starting with Advent, St. Nicholas Day, Winter Solstice, Christmas and Three Kings Day. I try to be present and hold the magic of this time of year for myself and family.

Donna Ashton has devoted over 5 years to learning Waldorf Education and homeschooling her twin girls. She brings her experience with raising her 8½ year old in a mindful way to help struggling homeschoolers and parents trying to balance their daily rhythm and get clarity in homeschooling. In 2009, she created The Waldorf Connection to bring the experts directly to online homeschoolers. She is now a certified Simplicity Parenting Group Leader so she may bring this amazing wisdom to her families and help them simplify and balance their homes and lifestyles. You can learn more about Donna and her programs, workshops and products at http://thewaldorfconnection.com and http://theparentingstudio.com

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By Donna Ashton

Teaching Multi-Levels in the Same Setting

Teaching Multi-Levels in the Same Setting
We've all seen shows like "Little House on the Prairie" with the one room schoolhouse in which all ages and grades are taught. If you are a home schooling parent with multiple children, your daily routine might resemble that old time schoolhouse. It may seem overwhelming to teach multi-age, multi-grade level, and multi-ability level kids at the same time, but it absolutely does not have to be.

There are a couple of options for you to try. First, you can purchase a curriculum for each grade level. These come as a sort of a kit, and make planning lessons, instruction, independent work, and assessments quite a breeze. While these kits may come in handy, keep in mind that it may be quite difficult to follow multiple curriculum guides at the same time.

Another option for you is to use unit or thematic studies. Using this approach, it is possible to teach the same subject or concept to multiple grade or ability levels at the same time. It is also much easier to plan for. Social Studies and Science are the easiest of the subjects to plan units or themes around. Math and Grammar skills may be the subjects for you to consider totally different curriculum for since they entail more complex skills building on lesser complex skills.

The most important skill for the students to acquire in order for multi-level teaching to be successful, is the ability to work independently on assignments or projects while you are spending one on one time with individuals. This teaches kids to think independently, to take ownership and responsibility for their own learning, and how to "figure things out" or problem solve. The younger children will most likely need the most individualized attention, so be sure to plan blocks of time during the day when the older kids are either working independently or helping another younger child, freeing you up to do some one on one instruction.

The idea behind a unit study is to choose a topic or concept, teach the basic idea at the same time, and fashion the individual assignments to multiple learning levels and styles. For instance, if you have chosen to teach the concept of explorers in Social Studies, you can not only integrate different levels of learning, you can integrate other subjects. Your older children can study the cultures of the different explorers, the geographical area from which they came, the politics surrounding the expedition, and the intricate mapping of the exploration. Younger children can study who the explorers were, where they came from, what they were looking for, how long the expedition took, and what the explorers encountered along the way.

Science could be integrated in this unit study by adding the topography of the land, the fauna and flora encountered, the illnesses introduced to the new lands, the weather patterns, and the ocean currents.

Reading materials of all levels can probably be found in the public library on explorers. Your children can choose reading material on their own level and prepare reports on what they have learned. Writing assignments can be modified as well. The more advanced students could be charged with writing a research report, and the first grader could retell the story and illustrate it or write complete sentences about the explorers. Vocabulary and spelling can be pulled from the same unit. This same idea can be applied to most subject matter.

Quiz games can also be tailored for multiple levels of knowledge and ability. These games can be played by all, can provide a great review for older students and an exposure to new, more complex material for younger students, and can be enjoyable and exciting for all participants.

Teaching multi-levels takes a lot of creativity and thinking outside of the box. Using unit studies or thematic units can take much of the stress out of the process and has proven to be beneficial to all levels.

Homeschool help and networking homeschool conference or Homeschool convention visit http://www.greathomeschoolconventions.com

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By Dave Buckley

Homeschooling: Can I Begin at the High School Level?

Homeschooling: Can I Begin at the High School Level?
I am often asked if it is okay to start homeschooling at the high school level when you have never homeschooled before? The answer is a definite, YES!

It's perfectly fine and actually I am seeing this happen an awful lot as public schools are having more and more difficulty. A growing number of parents are trying to find the best possible education for their children. Yes, it's perfectly possible.

When you are a beginning homeschooler it is sometimes nice to have someone to hold your hand and help you through the process because it can be a bit scary until you get your feet wet. I usually recommend for beginners to take a look at Sonlight curriculum. That is the curriculum that I used when I started homeschooling and it really helped me figure out how much schoolwork was a normal amount each day as well as what I needed to cover.

Sonlight is a literature-based curriculum, and it is not right for everybody, but I do like recommending it as the first place for people to look at when they start.

It is very easy for you to begin homeschooling high school. The only difficulty is if you want to put your children from homeschooling back into a public school. The reason for that is that public schools care very much about accreditation, unlike homeschoolers and unlike colleges. While homeschoolers can continue all the way to high school and get into college without difficulty, sometimes the public schools have a great deal of difficulty accepting your transcript as a homeschooler.

One thing that you should make sure of is that at the high school level you are pretty much committed. If you don't feel like you can commit then you should make sure that you are going to commit for the first two years and then have your child perhaps do dual enrollment or some other option afterwards.

Yes, I believe that homeschooling is a great option for your high schooler and it is very possible to begin homeschooling in high school.

Some parents may want additional hand-holding and that's one of the things I can help you with if you become a member of my Gold Care Club. Then, I become your best homeschool buddy and we can talk each week. There are also classes on my website that will help you learn how to homeschool high school.

Let me be there to hold your hand as you begin homeschooling high school.

Lee Binz is an expert in homeschooling high school and maintains a website that can provide answers to your homeschool questions.

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By Lee Binz

The Unschooling Debate

The Unschooling Debate
Those who have chosen the path of homeschooling have many choices and decisions ahead of them. One of the methods for consideration is that of unschooling. Before going into the pros and cons of this idea, what exactly is unschooling? Some brief definitions are:

· Unschooling is a belief system rather than a method.

· The radical idea of learning without "doing" school.

· The only true "free" education.

Unschooling parents believe that all people have a desire to learn and children should be encouraged to follow his/her interests in order to gain knowledge. They also think that kids are naturally curious (which they are) and will learn continually in the right environment. Kids should be free to choose exploration of what interests them in their own way on their own timeline. In this method, the adult is the facilitator and the child is the guide. Therefore the child sets the goals for each day.

The naysayers to this particular movement offer many cons to unschooling. Some of the more common arguments against unschooling are:

· Children are given entirely too much power.

· Children are taught the "center of the universe" mentality and don't learn that disappointment or the word "no" are a part of the real world.

· Children, in their power of always choosing their path, don't learn discipline, always get what they want, and do not gain coping skills necessary to deal with many parts of real life.

· There is little to no structure. Many believe that kids need routine as well as learning a respect for authority figures. There also seems to be little discipline enforced in this model.

· In the wrong environment, with less than dedicated "teachers," children will not necessarily show the enthusiasm for learning or the initiative needed for success.

True believers in the homeschooling movement also put forth valid points in support of the method.

· First, and foremost, children learn independence, decision making and problem solving skills, and learn to take responsibility for their own learning and education.

· Students learn through a desire to learn rather than because they are being forced to learn.

· In a truly dedicated, nurturing environment, unschooled kids most likely love to learn and will develop into life-long learners.

· There are no deadlines, no time limits. If learning is honestly flowing, there is no reason to screech to a halt in order to move on to something else.

· Kids will learn things in their own time such as when they learned to walk or talk. They learned these things through observation and a natural desire to master a skill.

Whether you have chosen a side on this issue or still on the fence, this author thinks that one last thought must be taken into consideration. I acknowledge that with this method children will learn a great deal about things that they are truly interested in. My question is: What about those things that they have absolutely no interest in but are absolutely necessary in order to survive in this society? You decide.

If you are looking into more information on homeschooling or would like to visit some great Homeschool conventions visit Great Homeschool Conventions

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By Dave Buckley

Christian Homeschooling - Am I Preparing My Students for God's Will In Their Lives?

Christian Homeschooling - Am I Preparing My Students for God's Will In Their Lives?
Am I preparing my children properly for what God's plan is for their lives? This is a big concern for many homeschool parents.

That's really a tough question because, as Christians, we know what God's calling is on our own life but it is much more difficult to know what God's plan is for somebody else. It is difficult to know because it is what God is speaking to them, instead of to us. As a parent, we hope, we pray, we assume a lot of things but we really don't know. It's between the child and God, as they grow up.

So, one of the things that you want to be doing as a homeschool parent is to make sure that you have as much of the groundwork laid for whatever God is calling them to do. That is one of the reasons why I believe that college preparation is best for every child. Sometimes they will discover that God's plan is for them to go to college and to be an Engineer. And if you have been preparing them all along for let's say, to be an auto-mechanic or something hands-on, then it's going to take them longer and be more difficult for them to achieve what God wants them to be achieve in their life.

When you're thinking about how to make sure your kids are ready for God's plan no matter what their next step ends up being, they are going to be ready for it. Consequently, having that college prep education can really help.

The other thing that will make a difference is to be sure you raise them up in the faith, so that they know their Bible and they know how to listen to God and to have a quiet time. So when God's is speaking to them, He doesn't have to scream and yell. He can whisper to them in that still, small voice and they can hear for themselves what God wants for them.

Part of preparing them for college is to them a great start homeschooling high school. Lee Binz, The HomeScholar has an award-winning Christian homeschool blog and helps parents homeschool for high school. Check out her homeschool online free minicourse and training webinar on how to give homeschool credit in high school.

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By Lee Binz

How to Homeschool

How to Homeschool
If you see that your child is struggling to learn and want to change the direction that he or she is going, many people will turn to homeschool as another alternative. Homeschool is teaching your child at home. Every state has different rules and regulations on homeschooling so always check these rules and regulations before you begin. Most of the time, you will need to have a high school diploma or a GED to oversee your child's education at home.

Today there are many ways a child can be homeschooled. First, the traditional way that includes you or a responsible adult teaching your child one-on-one from a book. Your child will have a set of books in all different subjects and you will have the teacher's book, classroom supplies, and workbooks. You will sit down with your child and go through the lessons. You can create a classroom setting in one room of your home or you can sit around the dining room table; it's your choice. Most homeschool parents try to create a classroom setting so they can walk away from school at the end of the school day. It can be confusing if your homeschool is done where everyone else is. Creating a classroom environment in a room that is not used that much is a great idea because you may have a science project out that you don't want to move so you can eat dinner.

Another way to homeschool is by using the computer. Today everything you need to know is available online including your child's education. When homeschooling online, there are several companies to choose from however it is best to investigate and determine which company is right for you before you commit. Changing online schools is somewhat similar to changing locations of where your child goes to school at; it can be confusing, hard to get caught up, and could effect the way that your child progresses. Do a lot of research to determine if the school has a good reputation or not before paying the fees.

Fees for homeschool teaching can vary. The least expensive way is through the traditional way of buying school books and teaching your child. The most expensive way is by enrolling your child in an online homeschool course. You can control the cost by shopping homeschool websites and visiting homeschool organizations close to your home.

You need to make sure that whatever your child is taught that it is through an accredited school and they will get credit for it otherwise your child will not be able to graduate when they complete.

The best thing about homeschooling is that you get to see your child's progress first hand. You experience the learning with them and if they struggle you know it almost instantly. Homeschool can work around your schedule so if you work during the day you can homeschool at night. You can make homeschooling three full days a week or break it up with some in the morning and then again that night.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

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By Maxine Wagner

A Work Study Program Can Help Those Students Who Are In Financial Need

A Work Study Program Can Help Those Students Who Are In Financial Need
These days it is greatly encouraged to continue education after receiving an undergraduate degree, but after gaining four years of student loans, how can you possibly go back to school? Even though there are many different loans and scholarships out there, you may have trouble finding ones that help you enough, especially since the possibilities are limited for graduate school. A different route you can take if you fit a certain degree of financial need is to apply for the Federal Work Study Program.

Make sure you fully look into your financial aid opportunities before committing to one. If you are eligible for Federal Work Study you may have a hard time receiving other loans since most financial aid is awarded based on your profile. However, if you think you are one of those who could use the extra help, the program will be a great relief.

To find out if you can acquire a work-study award, you must first apply. The award reads as a lump sum that is the limit of the amount of total money you can earn through a work-study job. At this point you can apply for jobs listed on a work-study website through your graduate school. If hired, this becomes your work-study job. The pay is at least minimum wage, but the more skills the job requires, the higher your earnings will be. You can have this job until your total wages match your award amount.

It is possible to have more than one work-study job over the years of your education so that you can experiment with different lines of work. These can be either on-campus or off-campus. Some on-campus jobs are at campus facilities, such as libraries, labs or buildings with reception areas and offices. Others can be research positions with faculty.

Off-campus jobs are normally with non-profit companies, such as an organization devoted to the community or a public radio station. This collaboration with the college not only helps students financially but also benefits the non-profits that may need extra help.

With such a wide array of choices, you can find a job that is related to your studies or a job in an industry you've always wanted to try out but would not have time for in the future. It is definitely recommended to do the former for at least one job in order to gain experience and show dedication to your focus. This is a great thing to add to your resume since it shows commitment to helpful work even during a busy schedule.

This program is not the same as receiving money directly for your tuition, but you can use the money you earn in any way you need it. It could be for books, groceries, rent, or keeping up with an enjoyable social life to balance out your studies. If you chose, you could still put this money toward your tuition. This could be considered a better situation than a loan because you do not have to pay it back and there is no interest involved.

The wonderful thing about work-study jobs is that employers understand that you have the schedule of a student. They work with you to create a schedule that prevents a stressful workload and are normally lenient when it comes time for finals. For instance, you do not have to contribute a normal workweek when papers or exams build up. This program provides financial aid for graduate school that works to create a well-balanced environment throughout your graduate education. Keep that in mind when performing a grad school search.

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By Kayla Russell

Do Better SAT Scores Or A Higher GPA Really Get More Financial Aid?

Do Better SAT Scores Or A Higher GPA Really Get More Financial Aid?
One of the most common questions that I hear from high school students and their parents is about grades and SAT scores. Many of them believe that unless you have a perfect 4.0 GPA or score higher than a 2000 (out of 2400) on the SAT's, it will not affect their financial aid. But is this true?

Every college and university has its own internal guidelines, but I have found that there are certain break points that most colleges use when handing out merit based financial aid.

Private Schools: At most private colleges, academic or merit aid is awarded to incoming students based on their SAT or ACT scores. An SAT score of 1,800 or higher (out of 2,400) or an ACT score of 23 or higher (out of 36) will usually qualify for some academic scholarship money. The higher scores will usually qualify for more. Most private schools offer as much as 50% of their entire cost in merit aid to qualified students in an effort to make their college comparably priced to a state school.

State Schools: While state schools generally have a lower cost of attendance and offer less merit based financial aid, those with better grades and test scores will be offered those academic dollars. The test score levels for most state schools are the same as private colleges, but each school may slide their scale up or down depending on the group of incoming freshman each year.

Community Colleges: The majority of community colleges do not offer merit based aid or scholarships. But the lower cost of these colleges can be a real attraction for some students that want to study two years at a community college then transfer to a four-year college to finish their degree.

Possible Solutions:

If you need to get those SAT or ACT scores higher try the following methods. Ranked from least expensive to most expensive, but remember if you can get an additional $2,000 to $15,000 each year for four years... they are all "Relatively" inexpensive.

FREE SAT/ACT Prep Programs: There are a variety of free resources out there to help prepare and improve scores. With a quick search on Google, you will find sites like - Number2.com, CollegeBoard.com and 4Tests.com. They each have some great free help.

SAT Prep. Books: A quick book search on Amazon or Barnes & noble will find many good books to help increase your scores. Take a look at "Up Your Score", "Cracking the SAT" and "How to Survive the SAT". For under $20, you could add enough extra points to qualify for more academic aid.

SAT/ACT Software: There are plenty of software programs available from Kaplan, Swift and others that will provide plenty of help and practice exams. These programs run from $10 to about $50 and if you like interactive computer preparation, they can help considerably.

SAT/ACT Online Prep Programs: Many companies offer both online prep programs and personal tutoring programs. For as little as $80 or as high as $2,000, you can use Sylvan Learning, Princeton Review and Huntington Learning Centers to help structure an online or in person program to help strengthen your weaknesses. You can always start small and if you need more help, take on a more personalized approach.

School Sponsored Prep. Programs: Ask your local high school guidance department if they offer any programs. Many high schools have specific faculty members that offer SAT/ACT prep classes in the evening over the course of several weeks. They generally charge a fee for workbooks and attendance that can range from $200 up to $500. It might be a better idea to take a class from a different high school in your area where your student will be exposed to a different group of teachers. Sometimes, all it takes is a different viewpoint to make these exams easier to understand.

Private Tutor: As a last alternative, you could hire a private tutor to focus your study efforts on your weak areas. Private tutors can run anywhere from $20 per hour up to over $100 per hour depending on your location. How many hours you will need depends on your current levels of understanding. For some students, this individual attention can actually cost less due to the concentration of your efforts.

Summary: Without a doubt, if your student is looking at going to college and/or needs some assistance with preparation for these exams, it can be very cost-effective to pay for some extra help. At private colleges it can be the difference of receiving $15,000 each year or receiving none. With state schools, it could be the difference between no merit aid... or getting $2,000 or more each year.

But if your student is already deciding on a local community college, you may want to focus your efforts on the lower cost preparation alternatives as very little merit aid will be offered. So make sure that you discuss the alternatives, evaluate your present situation and plan a strategic course of action that will best fit your needs.

****

Keith Maderer is a financial expert, author, speaker and father of five. He has been a financial adviser in the Western New York for over 30 years. He is the owner of SENIOR Financial and Tax Associates and founder of the Maderer Foundation, a private scholarship program for area youth.

If you would like to discover additional strategies to help maximize financial aid and reduce the high cost of college, you can check out his blog or download your FREE College Cost Savings Kit by visiting http://www.CollegeEducationForLess.com

He is the author of the book, "How To Get Your College Education For Less", available on Amazon.com - ISBN No: 978-1-4538-2053-7. He also offers a FREE Wealth Expansion Kit which you can download at http://www.SFTAweb.com

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By Keith Maderer

Organize Fundraisers and Accept Payments 24 Hours A Day

Organize Fundraisers and Accept Payments 24 Hours A Day
The holiday season is finally here with the worldwide celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas; and the New Year is also on its way! People of all ages and professions enjoy this festive season with their family and friends; while some of them plan a trip to some beautiful place, others prefer staying back to enjoy by organizing a holiday party at home. Nonprofits and humanitarian organizations also arrange fundraisers during the holidays to support homeless kids, sick people, and the elderly. Lots of K12 schools initiate fundraising campaigns to collect donations to buy text books or to sponsor their upcoming educational trip.

However, despite the best efforts to raise money through a charity walk or raffle show, often you will find people reluctant to support a cause. It may be because it's a holiday time and we generally prefer to spend time together with family and friends instead of attending a fundraising campaign. Now, the question is how you can attract more people toward your fundraiser and raise high amount of donation? This article will help you find out the probable solutions in order to collect maximum funds from individuals and sponsors.

One of the best ways to send money to a charity program easily is through the use of an online payment management solution. You no longer have to wait for the courier or post office to deliver your money to the fundraising organization's office. You can easily donate it via the online payment system within days. The Cloud-based payment managing service allows you to donate cash 24X365! You just need to decide who to pay and can get started immediately. The online payment mode will help you send donations via credit cards, checks, or PayPal. You can also use the standard payment gateways, such as CyberSource or Authorize.net, to pay for a good cause. The web-based payment management service is highly secured and compliant with PCI. Financial fraud can also be avoided if you select this safe online fund transferring mode. The online solution also eliminates the chances of cash-handling error.

In addition to the Cloud-based payment management solution, you can also use the online registration service that comes with the online event management solution to manage the process of signing up attendees. The registration portal gives the individuals free access to your event registration page from any part of the world. Whoever is interested in your fundraising event can enter your customized registration webpage to fill up the form. What's more! The online communication tool also lets you send emails and reminders to all your friends to attend the program on time. You can even use the online marketing tool to offer special discounts and barcodes to some of/all your attendees.

Jonathon is a professional event planner. Event professionals worldwide are increasingly relying on automated software to streamline the online event registration, payment management, and attendee relationship management. Acteva is the market leader in providing event registration solutions at competitive price.

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By Jonathon Reynolds

Georgia's Financial Aid to Students

Georgia's Financial Aid to Students
One of the things that is mostly looking forward to by high school graduating student is their college life. This is the time where they think of a better future. They have several things in mind. They want to finalize the course that they will be taking up. However, this normal thinking of students has turned into a sad memory, especially if they are aware that they do not have enough money to support their college education. This is common to students who belong to the poor family. Their dreams have been put into the corner. This is the dilemmas that most of them are facing. As everybody knows, education is not just a luxury, but it is a necessity. Everybody has the right to proper education. This is not only limited to a certain group of people. This is the reason why every government has an educational program offered to deserving students. UGA financial aid and Georgia Tech financial aid are working together to give each student an opportunity to pursue their dream of having a college education. They are the hope of those students.

UGA financial aid is given to students who have no financial capacity to enroll themselves in college. As everybody may know, the cost of education in today's time is really high. There are many scholarship programs under the UGA financial-aid program. Each of the programs has different qualifications that you have to meet, in order to avail of the free college education. In the case of the Georgia tech financial aid, they are giving free education, but you have to pass all the requirements, have at least no failing grades, and most especially you need to have a very good grade throughout the eight consecutive semesters. In other words, you have to be brainy in order to qualify in their programs, plus given the fact that you belong to the middle to poor family class. If you are rich, then this scholarship is not for you. The main concern of the Georgia tech financial aid is those students who belong to the third class family. They want to make sure that they are helping the needy.

Federal grant is also given by the UGA financial aid. This is given to them with the assistance of the government. Hence, in order for you to qualify you need to be a pure citizen of the United States of America, the very same grant given by the Georgia tech financial aid. There are also other forms of scholarship. If you are not that intelligent, and have low chances of entraining very good grades, then you might want to consider being a working student. This is also a form of scholarship. The only difference is that you are working under their program. You are given the chance to select the hour of work in consideration with your class schedules. There is no need to maintain an excellent grade. A passing grade will do provide you have to work.

There are, in fact, many forms of scholarship grants for college students as included in the program of Georgia tech financial aid. With this assistance, you will never have any reason, not to have college education. It is a good thing that the government has come up with UGA financial aid.

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By Antony Dee

Financial Aid Offers in Florida

Financial Aid Offers in Florida
There are several financial-aid programs given to students. Each of the programs has different requirements and qualifications. Every university and college in the United States of America have scholarship offerings to students who are financially incapable of supporting their college education. The ones that are given an opportunity are those students who belong in the low-class family income. The statistics showed that most of the intelligent students come from the low-income family, which in the end hinders them to get a quality college education. As you may know, education is your stepping stone to achieve greater success in the future. Among the place in the United States of America that has a very big population is the Florida. This is where you can find the prestigious school, Florida International University. Most students in Florida and their neighboring place want to pursue their education at this school. However, the cost of education in this university is a bit high. Hence, the government made a program to let the students have their education at this school. It is called as Florida student financial aid.

FIU financial aid is made available to those students who have a low-income family status. There are various FIU aid programs made available to interested students. All you have to do is to select that program that will work best for you. The general qualification at any scholarship grant is that you have to be a citizen of the United States of America. If you are aspiring to apply to Florida student aid, all you need to do is to fill their registration form, and be sure to submit all the needed requirements. There are also things that you have to consider with you before qualifying on their program. There are detailed qualifications set by this particular financial aid.

FIU aid is appealing to every student. This is the perfect opportunity to grab. As you may know, the cost of education, especially when you reach college education is a way far expensive. Hence, if you have the help of this particular program, you will never have to worry that much on your tuition fee. If you are planning to grab this once in a lifetime chance, make sure to check out the FIU financial aid requirements. The best time to apply for the scholarship is few months before graduating to high school. This is to make sure that you will win a spot, as many students are applying to the said program. Surely, the Florida student financial aid is a big help to everybody. The program is also known as Bright Futures.

FIU financial aid is only one of the programs offered by the government. There are, in fact, plenty of scholarship grants and programs that the students can cling on to in achieving their dreams of college education. Each state and universities has different programs to offer. All you have to do is to choose the best program that fit for you. Read more info about Florida student financial aid by clicking the link.

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By Antony Dee

Eligibility for Pell Grants

Eligibility for Pell Grants
The education is considered as one of the basic needs of every person. Everybody is entitled to have their own education. However, it is not easy to get yourself to school in today's time due to the high cost of tuition fee and other miscellaneous stuff. The higher the cost of education at a certain school, the higher the standard of education they can offer. This is mainly the reason why a lot of student dreams of enrolling themselves at prestigious schools. There are lots of students who are interested in studying, gifted with intelligence, but do not have enough money to enroll at the school that they want. They do not have the financial stability to make themselves possible to enroll at high-end schools and universities. It is a good thing; there is what known as pell grants for women. It is a financial help given by the government to those women who have the potential, but lacking of financial support.

This education opportunity is not only given to single women, but even single mothers, or pregnancy out of wed luck can also be given an opportunity to pursue their dreams of studying. It is referred to as pell grants for single mothers. The society acknowledges that these occurrences commonly happen to youth of today. Hence, they are given new chances to straighten their lives. There are certain criteria that you have to meet for you to be eligible for the grant. The pell grants for women are basically for those women who are financially incapable of schooling. Each university or institutions have different requirements or standards to be able to you to qualify in the pell grants for women.

The basic thing that you need to have in order to qualify for the grant is that, you should be a citizen of the United States of America. You also need to comply with every document needed. You also have to fill up a form stating that you are applying for an educational grant. Both Pell grants for single mothers and pell grants for women need to submit this form. There is an also certain income bracket of the family annually that you need to provide information with. Typically, applicants who fall on $20,000 and below income have the opportunity to be granted. These rules are not applicable to pell grants for single mothers. Their minimum income should be $50,000. It is important for an applicant to have a clean record. It is observed that those applicants who have a smooth background have the higher tendency to get the grant. Pell grants for women is a wonderful program extended by the government. As a way of giving back to the government the help that they gave, each of the scholars should have satisfactory grades within the duration of the scholarship program.

Pell grants for single mothers are a way of the good government to help out their people, especially the youth. They believe that everybody has the opportunity to excellent education, and that education is the key for everybody's success. You could read more about pell grants for women on my site.

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By Antony Dee

Religious Scholarships For College Attendance

Religious Scholarships For College Attendance
Faith and religion have deep meaning and relevance for a large part of American society and cultures around the world. The office of a priest, minister, missionary, rabbi and other religious workers serve a great purpose in our society. They conduct most marriages, funerals, christenings, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies that primarily center around family life. They provide counseling, shelter, comfort, spiritual education, guidance and inspiration to their congregations and any other lives they may touch.

It's only natural, then, that faith-based and secular institutions would exist who seek to provide college education opportunities for those who aspire to be a religious leader and enter into ministry. If they can give financial aid to the right person for the job, what better investment could they make?

It is usually a faith-based organization or institution that offers these types of scholarships, because they have a strong belief in giving back and propelling into ministry those with the hunger, skill and potential to do well in a religious office.

There are some secular organizations who also understand the value such individuals add to our world, many of which have a strong theological department or focus on religious studies. Scholarships from these organizations tend to be denomination-specific, church-specific, religion-specific or nonspecific.

Scholarships from Religious Organizations
Below are some scholarships offered by religious organizations:

The Mary E. Bivins Foundation Religious Scholarship Program - Awards up to $3,000 per semester to undergraduate and graduate students residing in the counties of the Texas panhandle, who aspire to become a Christian minister and who have a G.P.A. of at least 2.75.

The Alpha Tau Omega Foundation Scholarship - Awards go to graduate students who are studying theology and any other courses in preparation for the ministry.

Carolyn Weatherfod Scholarship - Awards up to $1,000 to post-grad students who want to enter into foreign missions

Julia C. Pugh Scholarship - Awards up to $1,000 to children of North American and international missionaries.

Lee Francis Heller Memorial Award - Awards up to $1,500 to Christian transgender students toward a degree in religious studies at any U.S. college or university.

UCC Brown Scholarship - Awards up to $10,000 a year to students seeking pastoral degrees.

Lipton Graduate Student Research Scholarship - Awards $5,000 to Jewish graduate students based on their dissertation.

KFF Scholarship - Awards full paid tuition, plus a monthly allowance, and paid airfare back home every 2-3 years as an approved student to high-achieving Muslim graduate students who are studying science, medicine or engineering.

Explore these options and get your application in by the deadline.

Learn more about Unusual College Scholarships and Financial Aid College Ideas.

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By Kathie R. Dionisio

What a Holistic Massage Diploma Can Offer You?

What a Holistic Massage Diploma Can Offer You?
A demand for a holistic massage diploma these days is increasing among incoming college students and people who are jobless but wanted to venture into massage therapy. This mounting interest on massage therapy as a newfound career alternative comes from the shift on most people's awareness to stay healthy. People from all walks of life perceived massage therapy as a form of relaxation, a healthy hobby and cure to muscular problems that most people with busy, physically demanding schedules are suffering. The rise on popularity of therapists is manifested particularly on the sports sector. Apparently, athletes and sports enthusiast alike prefer and hire credible massage therapist. Sportsmen and women require these therapists to ease whatever pain they are suffering due to their physical activities. The therapists are significant contributors to the working out and eventually performance of an athlete. The wide opportunities and market for people who obtained a holistic massage diploma are evident because massage is the simplest form of staying healthy and fit.

Obtaining one's own holistic massage diploma from a highly dependable school or training institute indicates credible, reliable and highly qualified skills for massage therapy. If a person is a product of a globally recognized school for massage therapy, he or she embodies the excellent performance and execution on various massage techniques and methods. Most of the people who seek to be a professional massage therapist undergo extensive training not only for the finest methods and techniques but also includes the assessment of the general health of their patients, the understanding physiological and anatomical parts and functions of the human body and identifying the importance and needed nutrients of their patients' body. Uninformed people may think that doing massage is merely kneading and rubbing of the body but it can be compared to what other medical practitioners undergo such as nurses and doctors. The medical and health care courses normally demand excellence from their students or trainees and that includes the massage therapy trainees and students alike. With the rise in popularity both globally and locally for therapists, an influx of hopeful therapists seek competent schools to acquire a valid holistic massage diploma and fulfill their dreams of becoming an expert on therapy.

Those who are interested to enroll in world-renowned schools that train and provide holistic massage diploma must braced their selves for an intense and extensive training. With the name "holistic", it clearly suggests dealing with the patient's body in whole and not just part of it. The holistic massage in its entirety means to cure whatever the body is going through. It identifies the causes, applies the apt treatment and it covers not only the external problems but also internal. Some may think that holistic massage only treats the physical aspect of the patient; little did they know that the patient's mind or mentality and psychological side are also being restored to health. The mere lying down on a soft and comfortable bed inside a peaceful room transports the patient's mind into a relaxed state. Receiving all these kinds of qualifications is possible from a competent institution such as the International Therapy Examination Council located in London. It is widely recognized as a competent council that provides valid and qualified holistic massage diploma which is advantageous for massage therapy hopefuls.

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By Arrabella Sophia J Everdeen

What Does It Take to Be Able to Render Electrician Service?

What Does It Take to Be Able to Render Electrician Service?
An electrician is needed in the home to fix any sort of electrical malfunction. He is needed in commercial establishments to perform electrical repair work. He could be also employed in industrial plants to conduct all types of electrical work, hired by just about everybody at some point or another. Let's face it, everybody needs electrical work.

Electrical contractors need to be really flexible in the expertise they offer, whilst many companies stay with what they know and could make a comfortable living doing so. Those electrical contractors providing residential electrical services as well as a commercial electrical service make themselves more employable and may gain a much wider group of customers. When one sector is quiet, invariably they're still kept busy in the other. Consider this when applying for your electrician course as a busy master electrician is one which offers an array of electrical services to varying client specifications.

A person can't provide an electrician service if he is not skilled to do so and as such, a person who intends to provide such service must know the skills 1st by taking up electrician courses. Such trainings are usually offered by trade schools within the community but with the attraction of the internet, trade colleges have publish websites and have started to offer electrical courses online.

For those who wish to offer an electrician service you can enroll in a trade school to learn electrical skills, but 1st research on the different trade schools providing such courses. The trade school must be registered with the government agencies and must be qualified to offer such training programs. Simply because electricians work with electricity, it is but necessary that training programs of such trade schools pass the standards set by the government and trade associations.

Almost all trade schools also provide apprenticeship programs to the trainees to be able to offer on-the-job training after they finish the electrician course. Soon after finishing the course and on-the-job training, the student can turn into a fully-fledged electrician.

The size of the class is important when it comes to joining in an electrician course because there's a tendency for big classes to not meet the learning needs of the individual. The trainer can't oversee the progress of every trainee if the class is too huge to deal with. Typical class size includes only eight students so that a very conductive learning atmosphere is established.

The trade school must furthermore give a workshop environment and not simply a classroom setting. The workshop must be big enough to cater all the trainees. Tools required for the trade must be made available to students on a one-to-one basis.

For those who feel that you'd like to provide an electrician service but have minimal time to enroll in standard classes, an online electrical course could be the answer.

However, it must be noted that these electrical courses do not offer on-the-job training programs. It is actually up to the student to find a company where he can be an electrical apprentice.

Typical training programs incorporate one hundred and forty four hours of lecture and 2 thousand hours of work as being an electrician apprentice before 1 becomes an electrician. There's also a licensing exam that 1 has to take after the training program. It's usually administered by the city, county, or state. Licenses could be limited on the city, county, or state exactly where they were granted.

There's a huge opportunity for people who desire to provide an electrician service. College graduates often stay on for further education, but it is the electrician industry that's crying out for recruits. Limited supply along with aging electricians which will sooner or later stop working and indeed leave the Country, thus there's always an enormous gap to fill when it comes to the demand and supply of electrician service.

Electrician Courses

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By Christalyn G Pagente

Try And Learn A Trade Over Christmas

Try And Learn A Trade Over Christmas
If you were thinking of learning a trade this year, it is not too late to sign up to training courses that take place during December.

Private training providers are likely to have a number of various qualification courses running over the traditional Christmas break such as the popular City & Guilds 6129 in plumbing and the 2330 in electrical.

Trainees looking at taking weekend courses should also try to enroll with a centre during December as the month is typically a quiet time of year so there may be some last minute places available.

New Year is normally a busy time for training centres as many people plan to take trade courses in order to retrain for a fresh career and use the beginning of January as a catalyst for their plans.

It is not just people that are unsatisfied in their current job and are looking to enter the construction industry who are encouraged to visit training centres in order to investigate whether learning a trade is for them.

People who have served in the armed forces are especially welcome to learn a trade once they have finished their career in the military and this is often a popular route for many former soldiers.

An increasing number of ex-forces individuals are enrolling on trade training courses after learning relevant skills whilst serving in the military and are enjoying the solidarity with fellow former soldiers.

Many instructors are also likely to have worked in the military as engineers and are adept at passing on their knowledge to both civilians and ex-forces individuals learning new trades.

If you have served in the military and are looking to learn a trade, try a centre that is approved by the ELCAS and CTP because this means that they are a registered preferred provider of training for the Ministry Of Defence.

Many reputable training providers are opening new facilities around the country as recent legislation has made it harder for rogue centres, which provide misleading qualifications, to operate.

Trainee gas engineers should look for new gas training centre offering new entrant gas courses, ACS initial and reassessment as well as pipe skills and plumbing courses as this will give them all the relevant skills necessary.

It is also important to look out for centres offer offering renewable energy courses in solar thermal as well as unvented hot water systems courses because these will become more popular in the future.

Able Skills provide training through plumbing courses and electrical courses. Able Skills have opened an Energy Saving Training Centre to provide approved training on the installation of energy efficient forms of heating and lighting. Click the links to find out more.

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By Martin Hofschroer

Becoming a Neonatal Nurse: Meeting the Educational Requirements

Becoming a Neonatal Nurse: Meeting the Educational Requirements
Becoming a neonatal nurse is a comparatively new option for registered nurses, as compared to other traditional nursing specialties with abundant openings available for nurses wanting to provide care for newborn babies. This nursing specialty includes assisting chronically ill or premature newborns or working with mothers and providing care for their healthy newborns.

Exactly what is a neonatal nurse? A neonatal nurse provides specialty and intensive care for newborn babies twenty-eight days old or less. Neonatal nurses work in one of three types of nurseries:

Level I nursery is normally for healthy babies. With the advent of shorter hospital stays and the fact most mothers and their babies now share a hospital room, Level I nurseries have essentially disappeared.

Level II nursery provides specialty care for premature newborns or those dealing with an ailment. These newborns may require additional oxygen, intravenous or specialty feedings, or more maturation time before they are ready to go home.

Level III nursery is a neonatal intensive care unit that provides care beyond the abilities of a Level I or II nursery. These newborns may not be of sufficient size, premature, or suffering ailments that require advanced technological care. These units can include ventilators, specialized equipment including incubators or surgical intervention. The level III nursery is generally found in larger conventional hospitals or within a children's hospital.
The educational requirements in becoming a neonatal nurse require simply becoming a registered nurse, which can take between two and four years, depending upon whether a bachelor's degree or associate degree program is chosen. Following graduation, you must take a state licensing exam in order to become a registered nurse.

The qualifications for working as a neonatal nurse are varied depending on the institution. Some hospitals require a year of medical surgical or adult health nursing experience. Other medical centers will hire registered nurses without any previous experience.

Following graduation from nursing school, there are continuing educational requirements established by either the state a nurse is practicing in or the nursing certifying body. The state board of nursing establishes how many hours of continuing education are required in order to renew a registered nurse's license, which is normally every two or three years.

What sort of salary can you expect in becoming a neonatal nurse?

In the Midwest United States, the starting salary for nurses without experience may be in the range of $38,000 to $44,000.
On both the east coast and the west coast of the United States, the starting salary can exceed $40,000.
In the southern parts of the United States, the starting salary is closer to $30,000.
The upper range for a starting salary without experience is close to $48,000.
Salaries for experienced nurses can be considerably greater.

If you decide on becoming a neonatal nurse, it can be quite rewarding. The joys of working with healthy babies cannot be understated; however, there is great satisfaction in the discharge of a mother and baby that have overcome life threatening ailments.

Learn more about the training and educational requirements for becoming a Neonatal Nurse and how to get started in this exciting career at http://www.BecomingAnRN.net.

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By James Hamby

Getting the Required Certified Nurse Midwife Training

Getting the Required Certified Nurse Midwife Training
Midwifery brings to mind old-fashioned home-attended births, but today certified nurse midwife training opens a door to a mixed bag of birthing options for women and comprises a variety of occupational choices for nurse midwives. Some of the employment options include:

Independent childbirth and well-woman care.
Healthcare team practice.
Hospital associated practice.
Birthing centers.
Health departments.

First, let's look at the training for how to become a nurse midwife. This role of nurse midwife is a master role in nursing, so it requires study and practice for certification beyond an RN or a BSN. It's important to find the right fit and location for this very demanding nurse-midwife program.

When training to be a midwife, there are many of the same requirements as becoming a master's-level nurse of any kind. However, beyond general nursing practices, the focus of certified nurse midwife training will be on women's care through labor and birth, as well as prenatal and postnatal care. In addition, there will be classes in pharmacology, and women's health across the lifespan.

On any given day, a nurse midwife might conduct a gynecologic exam, prescribe drugs, measure a uterus, check a newborn, deliver a baby, and perform an episiotomy.

Some training programs are online, and may allow a student to enter the nurse midwife program with a bachelor's degree in another area of study. In these programs, there will still be some demanding science prerequisites needed before applying.

Many schools require up to a year of experience in a labor and delivery setting. Some prospective students take this first step by becoming doulas. A doula is a trained companion hired by the client to coach her through a birth without pain medication. The doula attends labors and deliveries but does not perform any functions except encouragement. A nurse considering certified nurse midwife training might follow this track for a year to be sure.

Babies come at all hours of day and night, so it helps to know ahead if your energy level is up for this demanding vocation. The student will also have an extensive practicum before completing a graduate degree in this field. Practicum is based experientially on attending at least forty births along with all the other visits leading up to and following those births.

Additional gynecologic visits, and peri/post-menopausal care is also required as part of the practicum. Practicing these skills under supervision can take as long as two years.

The American Midwifery Certification Board provides guidelines for certification and requires re certification every five years, requiring proof of continuing education credit. Certification exams are administered regularly in a computer-based format at testing centers around the country. Exam cost is about $500, so it's important to be prepared both academically and financially for the certification exam.

Of all the nursing professions, pursuing certified nurse midwife training accesses the widest array of nursing care skills from birth to death to include regular exercise of basic surgical procedures. Choosing midwifery as a nursing vocation carries with it both monetary and spiritual rewards far beyond other nursing choices.

Learn more about the required certified Nurse Midwife training and how it can help you advance your career by becoming an advanced practice nurse at http://www.BecomingAnRN.net

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By James Hamby

Phlebotomist Training: Training for a Career in Venipuncture

Phlebotomist Training: Training for a Career in Venipuncture
If you are interested in working in a medical lab setting, then phlebotomist training may be an occupation to explore. If you are skilled at making people feel comfortable, this may be a good career fit for you.

Have you ever had a blood test? Most of us have at some time in our lives had blood drawn to check for signs of illness. The medical specialists who collect our blood are called phlebotomists. Their primary role is to make individuals feel comfortable while they extract blood for diagnostic testing.

To become a trained phlebotomist, be sure to look for a training program that is accredited; this endorsement means that specific standards have been adhered to in designing and delivering the instructional content. Known also as venipuncture, this specialty offers several training options ranging from a few months to a year, two years or even four years.

Some community colleges or private schools offer one-year training programs. Community colleges provide two-year associate degrees and higher education institutions deliver bachelor's degrees.

It would be to your benefit to check your state's guidelines when planning how much time and money you want to dedicate to phlebotomist training. In many areas, this specialized position requires certification.

The first step toward certification is to complete a program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Certification can be derived from organizations such as the National Phlebotomy Association, the American Society for Clinical Pathology and the American Phlebotomy Association.

The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) establishes national standards for phlebotomist training. To be eligible for the certification exam the NPA requires prospective phlebotomists to have completed a minimum of 160 hours of classroom plus 200 hours of clinical training. NPA is the governing body that oversees ethics and professionalism of phlebotomists.

The American Phlebotomy Association also certifies those who have completed 140 hours of classroom, hands-on and clinical instruction. The American Society for Clinical Pathology certifies any training approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

Classes in training to be a phlebotomist may include:

Anatomy, Genetics and Immunology
Medical Safety & Processes
Record Keeping & Labeling
Handling Medical Equipment
Donor & Information Processing
Legal Issues & Quality Control
Ethics & Professionalism
Theory & Lab Training

Job duties normally encompass the following tasks:

Collecting blood for analysis
Labeling blood and other specimens
Communicating effectively with patients and medical staff
Transporting specimens to and from laboratory
Sterilizing collection equipment
Recording information

As with many medical specialties, phlebotomy is expected to flourish; the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates growth until 2018. Hospital settings are by far the primary job location, but medical facilities, labs, private practices, blood banks, and research facilities also employ phlebotomists. Salaries range from $23,000 to $60,000 according to geographic area, education, experience and position.

If you enjoy working in a laboratory setting and helping people, then phlebotomist training may be the answer to a promising career. Be part of the healthcare team and help save lives.

Get more in depth information about Phlebotomist training and the career opportunities available at www.FindHealthCareTraining.com

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By James Hamby

Certificate Programs In Film, Video, And Broadcasting

New York University has a great number of certificate programs available within the field of film, video, and broadcasting. These programs offer students the ability to gain expertise in various aspects of the genre without having to enter into a multiple-year program. Many students have enhanced their current careers by entering into the certificate programs at NYU.

Earning a certificate in cinematography offers students the ability to learn about the art of cinematography and how to capture motion picture images. Students are able to learn hands-on how to work with 16mm film, DV, and HD video. They are also able to learn how to properly light scenes, how to operate film and video cameras, as well as the theoretical and aesthetic aspects of cinematography.

NYU also offers a certificate program in digital video production, which is designed to provide students with the ability to create projects using the medium. Students learn about the technology associated with digital video, how to properly light for digital video, and nonlinear editing. Throughout the program, students are guided by faculty on the process of using digital video and how to produce a quality digital video from start to finish.

Students who are looking for an intermediate film program can find it in the certificate in documentary film-making program. Students are given the opportunity to study the various approaches to documentaries and allow them to apply these techniques to their own individual project. Within the program, students learn how to conceptualize a story, create a budget, how to market a documentary, and how to distribute it.

NYU also offers a certificate program in editing. This particular program gives students the skills necessary to effectively edit a variety of film projects. Students will learn how to assemble footage in a meaningful way, how to add multimedia such as music, sound effects, voice-overs, and graphics to a film as well. Students who complete the program are able to understand all the aspects of an editor's role in film and television production.

The entertainment media management program is a great way for individuals to learn about what makes up the entertainment industry, specifically in the areas of film, television, and new media. Once students complete this program, they will be able to understand the structure of the industry, typical business arrangements, and how to put together an investment package.

Students can also choose to enroll in the certificate program for producing. In this program, you learn the skills that make a successful producer, which includes being an entrepreneur, a manager, and having a great amount of creativity. You will learn what the responsibilities of a producer are and will also gain an understanding of the business management principles of television and other media.

If you are interested in gaining skills within the area of film and broadcasting, then checking out the certificate programs offered by New York University is a great idea. There are many options available no matter what aspect of the field you are interested in. By completing one of these great programs, you can better your chances of enchaining your current career and can even be on your way to starting a new one. If you are unable to complete a program through NYU, there are many vocational schools that you can look into, some of which offer online classes.

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By Erin Malone

Earning A Journalism Certificate Can Enhance One's Current Skill Set

Earning A Journalism Certificate Can Enhance One's Current Skill Set
New York University has great certificate programs in publishing and writing. These programs are a great way for individuals to enhance their current educational skills and add qualifications. If you are looking for a way to enhance your publishing or writing skills or want to gain skills in these areas, then enrolling into one of these certificate programs is a great idea.

Students can choose to earn their certificate in creative writing. You have the choice of either concentrating in fiction or nonfiction. Students are taken on a journey through beginning to advanced courses that build upon each other. Throughout the program, they are able to acquire writing skills, develop a portfolio, and refine career goals in order to pursue a career in writing.

NYU also offers a certificate in journalism. During the program, students are able to create a portfolio of journalistic work as well as develop a series of career goals. They are taught all the skills necessary to become a print or online journalist in the 21st century. There are four required courses that make up the program in addition to three five-session elective courses.

Individuals who are interested in how to create effective screenplays can benefit from the university's certificate program in screenwriting. This is a great option for anyone who is looking to write his or her own screenplay or who wants to break into the screenwriting field. This certificate program consists of three require courses which include a basic craft class, an advanced screenwriting course, and a master class in screenwriting.

Digital publishing is another choice offered by New York University. In this program, individuals are provided with specific and targeted digital skills that make them more valuable within the career field. The digital publishing program shows students how to shift their expertise to web and other digital programs to market content. If you are looking to enter into the publishing industry, you will be much more valuable with knowledge of how to publish in a digital format.

Students who are interested in entering into an editing career can benefit from NYU's certificate in editing. This is a great option for individuals who want to work as a book editor, magazine editor, or copy editor. Throughout the program, students learn how to think like editors, how to work with various writers, and how to mold articles and manuscripts into polished works. You will also learn how to effectively proofread and use proper grammar as well.

You can also choose to earn your certificate in publishing. This is for students who want to be able to work in the field of magazine or book publishing. These courses are taught by professionals who are currently working in the industry and are able to provide students with overviews of the core functions that make up publishing. By the time this program is completed, individuals will walk away with the ability to enter into the field confidently in addition to making valuable contacts with those already employed in the industry.

These certificate programs are a great way for individuals to enhance their careers or begin new ones within the field of journalism. Perhaps if you choose to pursue one of these programs or a vocational degree, you can take a course online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erin_Malone
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By Erin Malone

Accredited Barber Schools in California

Accredited Barber Schools in California
This article looks at accredited barber schools in California state from a broad perspective. It initially discusses the various parameters of the state with reference to the potential for personal care services. An outline of the licensure requirements for barbers in the state is also given. The link given towards the end of the article takes you to the most recent list of barbering schools approved by the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

California is the most populous state and the third largest by land area in the United States. As per the figures put out by the US Census 2010, California's population was 37,253,956, a 10% growth over the year 2000. To put this figure in perspective, only 34 countries have a population higher than California's. Its main cities Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Sand Beach and Oakland are among the 50 most populous cities of the country. An economic powerhouse in its own right, the state is responsible for an eighth of the country's Gross Domestic Product.

The largest sectors of the state in terms of jobs are trade, transportation and utilities; government; professional and business services; education and health services; and leisure and hospitality. Agriculture too is an important sector in the state's economy. Sure enough, California is a major market for personal care services. The major cities mentioned above provide jobs to thousands of barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians, estheticians and such. In keeping with the rise in population and the growth of the economy, demand for barbering services is expected to grow at around 15% annually for the next ten years. It is therefore a good idea for those looking for a vocational job in California to seriously consider barbering as a career option.

Barber license in California

The California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology requires that you meet the following to be eligible to appear for their barber license examination.

Minimum age of seventeen years.
Minimum education of tenth grade or its equivalent.
Completion of a training course of at least 1500 hours at an accredited barbering school in California. The accreditation is given by the Board.
The examination assesses the applicant's knowledge of both theory and practice. License is issued to those who are successful in the examination.

You can contact the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology directly, at 400 R Street, Suite 5100, Sacramento, CA 95814 for more information on barber license in California.

Accredited Barber Schools in California

Prospective students of barbering have a wide choice of schools to get themselves trained. You can visit the list of approved barber schools in California published by the Cosmetology Board for the latest information on this. Depending on your preferred location, you are likely to find more than one barbering school. You should assess the schools on such parameters as placement history, tuition costs and availability of financial assistance. Also, before deciding on a particular school you are advised to verify that the Board approval is valid for the current year. Being educated in one of the approved barbering schools in California, ensures that you will be eligible to appear for the licensing examination conducted by the Board.

Becoming a barber can provide you with a very rewarding professional life. Choosing the right barber school is probably one of the most important decisions in your barber career. Find the best barber schools in California, visit barberingschools.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allen_Hiles
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By Allen Hiles

Qualities of a Good Motorcycle Repair School

Qualities of a Good Motorcycle Repair School
Individuals planning to have a successful career as a motorcycle mechanic may consider enrolling in a motorcycle repair school. Duties of motorcycle mechanics include maintaining, inspecting, repairing, and overhauling of motorcycles and other similar modes of transportation: motor scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Mechanics are responsible for different kinds of repair and service duties such as engine repair, transmission work, ignition work, brake jobs, and even minor repairs. Because most motorcycle mechanics work for dealers that service a number of makes or models of motorcycle, they have a tendency to specialize in servicing only the type of vehicles that are sold by their employer.

Requirements for a trainee mechanic position vary greatly from one employer to another. Some employers expect their applicants to have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent. Some are more lenient in that they accept even those with less education provided that they have math, reading, and writing abilities. However, because motorcycles are becoming far more complex, applicants with a diploma or a certificate from a motorcycle repair school often have a greater advantage. This is why more and more are choosing to enroll in this type of trade school so that they can become a certified motorcycle mechanic.

Aspiring motorcycle technicians can either opt for a technician diploma or an associate degree in mechanics. A technician diploma is generally completed in 6 to 12 months, while the associate's degree program can be completed in 1 to 2 years. Although both options are sufficient enter this field, those who finish an associate degree generally have a more extensive knowledge base, giving them a potential edge in the hiring process.

In a certificate program, which is highly focused, motorcycle mechanics are required to complete a coursework that concentrates on 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. Students are considered to have learned the complete mechanic process once they complete training in which they learn about the tools used in the field and safety skills. Typical courses that they can expect to learn in a certificate program include duel systems, ignition systems, exhaust emissions, troubleshooting techniques, and repair procedures.

In an associate's degree program, students learn not only the fundamentals of repair but also other important things. Students learn to work with snowmobiles, foreign motorcycles, and several other types of motorized vehicles. They are equipped with the whole process of how to troubleshoot, repair, and improve a motorcycle as well as other small engine vehicles. Typical courses include Frame Welding, Accounting, Hydraulics, Business Law, and Repair Shop Safety. A combination of mechanics and business-oriented courses like these prepare students not only to work as a technician in a shop but also to manage their own business.

Because there are many technical schools offering motorcycle repair courses, aspiring motorcycle technicians should know how to carefully choose the school that can help them reach their full potential and guarantee their success in the industry. They should look for at least four essential qualities of a good training facility.

First, and perhaps most important, a good technical school should give their students plenty of opportunities for hands-on training. Clearly it is when students work with their own hands fixing motorcycles that they learn the most. Second, a good motorcycle repair school is one that offers the most up-to-date repair classes. This can ensure that students will have the proper training on repairing modern motorcycle engines.

Another thing for students to make sure of is that they attend in a school with highly qualified instructors. Excellent motorcycle repair instructors are often those that have many years of experience in the field. Finally, a good motorcycle repair school is one that helps their graduates land a good job. This way, students are assured that they will not only receive a proper training on motorcycle repair, but that they will also have a good start in this field.

Andy West knows that a good motorcycle repair school not only provides proper training to their students, but also helps them in establishing their career.

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By Andy West

Basic Motion Control - A Glossary of Terms Used With Variable Frequency Drives and Electric Motors

Basic Motion Control - A Glossary of Terms Used With Variable Frequency Drives and Electric Motors
Electronic VFDs are speed control devices which vary the voltage and frequency to an induction motor using a technique called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). Since they are inexpensive and reliable, VFD's have become the preferred way to achieve variable speed operation. The following is a glossary of commonly used terms when describing or specifying Variable Frequency Drives for electric motors.

Alternating Current (AC): A periodic flow of electricity which changes direction each cycle, reaching a maximum in one direction, decreasing to null, then reversing to reach a maximum in the opposite direction.

Air Gap: The space between the rotating and stationary parts of an electric motor. Magnetic energy is transferred across this gap.

Ambient: The air surrounding a motor.

Ampere: A measure of the rate of electron flow (current). It is often abbreviated as Amp.

Breakdown Torque: The maximum torque a motor can develop at a rated voltage without stalling or experiencing an abrupt drop in speed.

Brush: The material in contact with an armature or slip ring assembly that provides the electrical connection between rotating and stationary parts of a motor.

Capacitor: A device used to store electrical charge. The unit of capacitance is the Farad.

Commutator: An assembly mounted on the shaft of a DC motor that provides the switched connections between the power supply and armature coils.

Conductor: Material which offer little opposition to the flow of electricity..

Duty Cycle: The relationship between the operating time and the idle time of an electric motor.

Eddy Current: Losses and heating in metals resulting from localized currents caused by an alternating magnetic flux.

Efficiency: The ratio of mechanical output to the electrical input power of a motor.

Electromotive Force (EMF): Induced or generated voltages in an electric circuit.

Field: The stationary part of a DC motor that provides the magnetic flux which interacts with the armature.

Flux: The magnetic field established around a current carrying conductor or a permanent magnet.

Frequency: The rate at which alternating current reverses its direction of flow expressed in cycles per second or Hertz.

Full Load Current: The current that a motor draws at rated voltage, frequency and load.

Full Load Slip: a ratio of the synchronous speed to full load speed of a motor.

Full Load Speed: The speed of the motor at rated voltage, frequency and load.

Full Load Torque: The torque that is necessary to produce rated horsepower at full load speed.

Horsepower: A measurement of power. One horsepower is equal to 746 watts.

Impedance: The vector sum of resistance and reactance used to express the total opposition a circuit offers to the flow of alternating current.

Inductance: The property of an electrical circuit which opposes a change in current due to the magnetic field induced by that current.

Inertia: The resistance of an object to a change in its state of motion. Since rotating parts do not operate at the same speed, calculating the inertia for each moving part allows them to be modeled as a single unit. It is determined by the weight of the object multiplied by the square of the radius of gyration.

Line Voltage: The mains voltage supplied to the power input terminals of an electric device.

Magnetomotive Force (MMF): The magnetic energy supplied to create a magnetic flux.

Phase: The relationship (in electrical degrees) between voltages and currents in a circuit or the spatial relationship (in angular degrees) of windings in an electric motor.

Power Factor: A measurement of the difference in phase between voltage and current in an electric circuit.

Reactance (capacitive): The property of a capacitor in a circuit which causes the voltage to lead the current.

Reactance (inductive): The property of an inductor in a circuit which causes the voltage to lag the current.

Resistance: The property of an electrical conductor which opposes the flow of electricity.

Rotor: The rotating part of an electric motor.

Service Factor: A multiplier applied to the rated horsepower of an AC motor indicating the permissible loading which may be carried under a set of specified conditions.

Slip: The ratio between the synchronous and operating speeds of an induction motor.

Stator: The stationary part of an AC motor containing the housing, steel laminations and windings.

Temperature Rise: The difference between operating and ambient temperature in a motor winding.

Torque: The turning force applied to a shaft, expressed as pound-feet (English) or Newton-meters (metric).

Voltage (Volt): The standard unit of EMF which produces a flow of current in a conductor.

Watt: A measurement of power in an electrical circuit. It is equal to one joule of energy being expended in one second.

Glen Taylor is the owner of eWerks Inc. ( http://www.ewerksinc.com ) for over 25 years he has been involved in the design and manufacture of industrial electronics. Glen holds a Master of Science degree (with distinction) in Electronic Product Development from the University of Bolton in the UK, a CID certification in circuit board design from IPC Designers Council, and is an authorized Microchip Design Partner. He is also a senior member of IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and ISA - International Society of Automation. For more free tutorials in electronics visit his blog at http://www.Thingsthatgoblink.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glen_C_Taylor
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By Glen C Taylor

How To Choose The Right Plumbing Training Centre

How To Choose The Right Plumbing Training Centre
Plumbing courses can cost thousands of pounds so it is essential that you discover the right training centre for your requirements.

If you are looking to achieve a plumbing qualification, you must make certain that a trades training centre has dedicated facilities that recreate a realistic working environment that mirrors real life environments as closely as possibly.

Whether you are looking to become a fully qualified plumber or you are an existing tradesman who needs to update their skill set, you must make certain that a training centre provides the right level of learning.

There are a wide variety of plumbing courses available so trainees should be convinced of their aims before signing up with a centre because this will allow them to make the correct choice.

Some people may not want to join the plumbing profession and instead would just prefer to learn how to get to grips with the kitchen sink so that they will not have to rely on tradesmen in an emergency.

For those people who want to gain basic knowledge of plumbing, short intensive courses are ideal because these are not expensive as qualifications and should give them enough understanding to complete simple tasks around the house.

Once someone has passed a basic course they find that they have developed a passion for plumbing and would like to pursue this by then enrolling onto a qualification course.

People that are set on becoming a professional plumber will need to take the City & Guilds 6189 level 2 qualification because this is the industry recognised entry into the industry.

Once the C&G 6189 has been achieved, a training centre should then be able to assess a trainee either at their facilities or even at their place of work if required so advise them on the appropriate progression route.

Reputable training centres will split their facilities so that there are dedicated areas for different qualifications such as having one hub for the City & Guilds 6189 level 2 learning and other for the level 3.

The design and layout of a good plumbing training centre will have the space and facilities to provide every form of learning possible and encourage students to take an interest in advancing their skills in renewable technology and gas.

All good centres should be setup to encourage optimum education with air conditioned classrooms and workshops equipped with the latest tools and materials to ensure that all courses run as smoothly as possible.

Able Skills provide training through plumbing courses and electrical courses. Able Skills have opened an Energy Saving Training Centre to provide approved training on the installation of energy efficient forms of heating and lighting. Click on the links to discover more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Hofschroer
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By Martin Hofschroer

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Different Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures and Treatments

The Different Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures and Treatments

The smile has the ability to change the whole viewpoint of a person. A perfect smile with the perfect white teeth is often seen as a sign of beauty, elegance, and confidence. However, a person who has crooked, unsightly, and discolored teeth may probably be at the lowest level of confidence. They may also have low self-esteem and may even look at themselves as unattractive. This is where cosmetic dentistry comes in the picture.

Cosmetic dentistry is an inclusive oral care treatment that covers a diverse range of dental procedures. If you have bad teeth construction, this type of dentistry can be of great help. The treatments can be used to reshape, repair, straighten, and lighten up the teeth to achieve that perfect smile. It includes veneers, bridges, tooth-colored fillings, implants, crowns, and teeth whitening. These treatments are relevantly quick, effective and cause no discomfort.

Most people think of cosmetic dentistry is a sophisticated process but the truth is that the process requires minimal effort. Treatments used in cosmetic dentistry are easy, safe, and causes no side effects, as long as it is handled by a professional dentist.

It is important for everybody to know the different types of procedures and treatments used in cosmetic dentistry. One of the famous types of treatments used in cosmetic dentistry is veneers. These veneers are actually thin slices shells made from porcelain and they are used to cover the teeth, which look bad. The most common application for veneer is tooth discoloration. There are several reasons why teeth become discolored. The most particular cause is smoking or bad oral hygiene. Drinking wine, coffee, or soda, and chewing tobacco can greatly cause tooth discoloration. However, veneers are a quick and easy fix for this kind of problem.

If you have a crooked or broken teeth, you best solution is to use dental crowns. A dental crown is a type of artificial covers that are shaped like a real tooth and can be positioned over the broken teeth. They are usually used to cover the residual part of the teeth and may protect you from any infection or diseases that can cause serious dental problems. These covers can also help people who have been suffering from stained and crooked teeth.

Another problem that most people suffer from is the restoration of natural appearance of their teeth. However, with tooth colored fillings, commonly cosmetic dentistry, the restoration of natural appearance of tooth has become very easy. This type of cosmetic dentistry procedure proves handy in closing cracks and gaps in between teeth, making it look straight and even.

When you lose one of your teeth, your best solution is to get a dental bridge. This type of dental procedure comes with many advantages as it can significantly help you restore the posture of your teeth. Naturally, if you have a missing tooth, you are ashamed to walk around in public. Therefore, you need to undergo through dental bridge to create an artificial tooth that will build a new look to your teeth, in spite of having tooth loss.

Dramatic Smiles offers a variety of Professional Teeth and systems available to Dentists and the direct public. We also specialize in wholesale tooth whitening products to select Cosmetic Dentists and distributors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_W_Wittchow
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3747064

By Matt W Wittchow