Friday, 11 September 2009

Last Call for the Fall!: Assessment in E-learning

Have you realized how powerful assessment is in the online learning environment? Assessment has the capability to drive interactions and engagement, as well as minimize plagiarism in the electronic classroom, strengthen higher-level learning and build e-portfolios. Learn what is needed to become an excellent online course designer while developing your electronic record keeping systems and methods for evaluating student learning, discussion postings and group projects. Become familiar with assessment tools that could make or break your online course.

EDUC 762 900C 3 graduate credits 
September 21 – November 14, 2009

Course Info     Registration

What the students are saying:

"My toolbox runneth over thanks to everyone here. I now have a whole arsenal of tools, a clearer vision of how to use them, and a brain full of ideas."
~ Susan Inak, 30 years in education; Middle School Science Teacher and Media Specialist.

"I feel more comfortable trying new things - actually pressing those buttons to see what else I can do with a tool. I enjoyed our discussions and felt support from everyone in the class. I truly felt like I learned a lot.  Everyone brought more to the material for me with their comments."
~ Melissa Anibas, Nursing Instructor

"My appreciation goes to Dr. Khalsa for the great course that she has created. This course has taught me some great assessment tools that can be used in my future online courses.  I have learned advantages and disadvantages of many of these tools."
~ Dora Szemborski, College Accounting Instructor  

Last Call for the Fall!: a Unique Online Graduate Course with Ann Bell

LAST CALL FOR THE FALL Enroll Now!

  •  EDUC 744-966F September 22 – December 4, 2009
  • 3 graduate credits
  • Online Course - No travel to campus required
Web 2.0 provides critical tools to meet the demand for easier and more efficient ways of teaching and learning. Investigate core concepts of how Web 2.0 is impacting learning environments. Explore how to improve instruction using new technologies such as wikis, blogs, podcasts, photo sharing, virtual offices, simulation and digital game-based learning and other emerging technologies. Create personalized and group online learning environments.
EDUC 744 966F 3 graduate credits September 22 – December 4, 2009
EDUC 744 966M 3 graduate credits January 25 – April 9, 2010
Course Info     Registration

“I have truly enjoyed this class, the discussions, readings and the new applications we have learned have stirred a real passion for teaching. I hope we will all bump into each other using these wonderful tools we have learned about. We can continue to collaborate on Web 2.0  I feel like I have a great new tool box. I have already started to use much of it…”
~ Bonnie Spies, Art and English/Reading Teacher, Connecticut

Accomplished writer and online educator, Ann Bell has written three books: Creating Digital Video in Your School; Handheld Computers in Schools and Media Centers, and Exploring Web 2.0:: Second Generation Interactive Tools - Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis, Networking, Virtual Words, And More. 

Attention Information Age Educators: Primary Sources A Great Online Class!

Teaching Information Literacy with Primary Sources 

Learn how to locate authentic digital primary sources in multiple formats to enhance your curriculum. Develop age appropriate learning activities that promote higher level questioning and critical thinking skills while adding excitement to student learning through engaging activities. The course is especially helpful for teachers of AP classes, teachers addressing state and national standards requiring the use of primary sources, and teachers working with National History Day activities. Materials from TPS Direct, the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources professional development program, will be incorporated in the class.
EDUC 744 951F  3 graduate credits September 21 – November 25, 2009

Course Info     Registration

Last Call!

This course is taught by noted Library Media Specialist:


Mary Alice Anderson

School of Education
Mary Alice Anderson, Instructor University of Wisconsin-Stout
140E Voc Rehab Bldg
Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone: (507) 452 1180 after 4:00 p.m. CST
E-Mail: andersonmary@uwstout.edu
Primary Sources, Where have you been? Why have I never used primary sources? I didn’t use them because I didn’t know where to find the resources.I never considered all of the possibilities.

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

Simmons College - universities review and online degrees review

Simmons College - university and degrees review

A brief look at the university – Simmons College

Simmons College is a highly respected university in America, a small place located in Boston. It has a cherished history for two core values - visionary thinking and social responsibility. Simmons College was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons to educate women for various professions so they could enjoy independent livelihoods with the education that they received.

Simmons College is a member of the Colleges of the Fenway consortium, which also includes Emmanuel College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Wheelock College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Simmons absorbed Garland Junior College in 1976.

The undergraduate program is single-sex, with 2,060 female students enrolled 2008-2009. The graduate schools (Library and Information Science, Social Work, Health Sciences, Management, and an Arts and Sciences program, which provide degrees in Education, Communications Management, Gender and Cultural Studies and Liberal Arts) are mostly co-educational. The exception to the co-educational graduate programs is the School of Management, which provides the world's first MBA designed for women. There are currently no known controversies, so this university might be a good place to consider.

Which university courses are offered here at Simmons College?

With regards to academic structure, the principal academic units of Simmons College are:

The Undergraduate College
College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Studies
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
School of Health Sciences
School of Management
School of Social Work

An interesting point to note is that the college also has a library with more than 250,000 volumes.

For the undergraduate programs, Simmons's innovative undergraduate college for women offers more than 40 majors and programs. In addition to the established majors offered, the OPEN Program (Option for Personalize Educational Needs) allows students to custom design majors. With this program in place, students may choose from more than a dozen integrated undergraduate/graduate programs and accelerated degrees. Thus, with the convenience and variety of choices provided, it is no surprise that nearly 30% of Simmons students major in two subjects.

The list below shows the various majors and programs offered at Simmons College. It is by no means fully comprehensive, so do check with the university for more details!

African Studies
Art
Art & Music
Arts Administration
Biology
Biochemistry
Boston Semester
Chemistry
Chemistry-Management
Children's Literature
Cinema and Media Studies
Communications
Computer Science
East Asian Studies
Economics
Education
English as a Second Language
English
Environmental Science
Exercise Science
Finance
Financial Mathematics
French
Gender/Cultural Studies
Graphic Design
Health Informatics
History
Honors Program
Information Services
Information Technology
International Relations
Leadership & Women
Management
Marketing
Marketing Communications/Public Relations
Mathematics & Statistics
Modern Languages & Literatures
Music
Nursing
Nutrition
Pharmacy
Philosophy
Physical Therapy
Physics
Physics of Materials
Political Science
Pre-Medicine
Pre-Law
Psychobiology
Psychology
Public Health
Public Policy
Public Relations
Retail Management
Scientific Computation
Social Studies / Education
Sociology
Spanish
Statistics
Special Education
Women's and Gender Studies

In addition, you might be pleased to know that Simmons also offers a number of integrated undergraduate and graduate programs, and special academic programs:

Integrated B. A. English or other/M. A. Children’s Literature
Integrated five-year master’s degree programs are available
Integrated B. A./M. A. Gender and Cultural Studies
Integrated B. S. Nursing/M. S. N. Nursing
Integrated B. S. Nutrition/M. S. Nutrition
Integrated B. S. Chemistry/Doctorate Pharmacy
Integrated B. S. Physical Therapy/Doctorate P. T.
Integrated B. S. Chem, Math, or Comp. Sci./M. S. Library and Information Science

As for graduate matters, Simmons College has four graduate schools, as well as graduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. Each school has its own admission office.

College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Studies

Archives Management
Children's Literature
Communications Management
Education
English
Gender/Cultural Studies
Spanish
Teaching (MAT) and Liberal Arts

School of Health Sciences

Health Care Administration
Nursing
Nutrition
Physical Therapy

Graduate School of Library & Information Science

Archives Management
Preservation Management
School Library Media Specialist
Competitive Intelligence
Doctor of Arts, Library and Information Science
Dual Degree Programs
GSLIS at Mount Holyoke College

School of Management

Business Administration (MBA)
Executive Education

School of Social Work
Social Work

Some of the degrees or certificates are not offered on physical campuses but online, and some of the online degrees of Simmons College are offered at the various physical campuses through e-learning, so do look out and more research is required.

Finance and other important matters here at Simmons College

All this information was gleaned from Wikipedia, college website, and other sources, so you can make an informed choice on education and possibilities:

Tuition fee varies based upon course selection, location and the number of courses studied each quarter. More than 90% of Simmons first-year students receive some form of financial aid.

Last but not least, there are graduate scholarships and assistantships; there are many academic merit awards available, from US$5,000 to full tuition awards, renewable for four years. Besides, students can apply for scholarships, loans, grants, and Federal Work-Study, which is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student awarded to students by their respective departments and course programs.

Here are some notes regarding a few of the financial aid services available.

Federal Student Loans
Federal student loans are available to U.S. citizen or permanent residents, who are in good academic standing and enrolled at least half time. Federal loans are given through the university and serviced by a private loan service-provider.

To be eligible for Federal aid, all applicants must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). More information on Federal Student Aid eligibility can be found on the university’s online website. Federal Aid includes Subsidized Stafford, Unsubsidized Stafford, Grad PLUS, Federal Perkins Loans, Health Professions Student Loan and the Federal Loan Consolidation. The federal loan aggregate limit for professional and graduate students has been recently increased to US$224,000.

Grants
Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are awarded based on the level of enrolment (the number of credits being taken per term) and financial need as determined by federal formulae.

Private Loans
When other funding sources are exhausted, students often utilize private loans to meet the costs of their university education. Private loans are credit based, and cannot be certified for more than the financial aid budget.

Why you should study there and my own personal recommendations
“Here are some of the advantages Simmons College has to offer:

A small, accessible community that encourages collaboration and challenges students to do their best.

Faculties that focus on your educational objectives and career needs, while undertaking research and publishing books, but never at the expense of their primary obligation to teach.

An outstanding location in the heart of Boston, a world-class college town with unlimited educational, career, and social opportunities.

A vibrant alumni community that's 50,000 strong.”

The above is the university’s take on why you should join them!

Personally, I think that Simmons College’s established name in the field arts, sciences and health sciences, as well as the wide variety of choice for various undergraduate and graduate programs in the university appeals to me. If you are a female undergraduate looking for a single-sex admission program, look no further! Simmons College, with its array of choice courses to choose from, could be the dream university you are looking for! Simmons College is likely to help you make the most of the time, money, and energy you invest in your education and in your future.

Simmons College has top-rated faculty, prestigious alumni and an ideal Boston location. It offers its students a learning experience that is highly collaborative and much more personal, as compared to that in the larger universities. The university is also known to provide an engaging, supportive academic environment. Of course, the question is whether the course you want is offered at Simons College.

Overall, I would recommend this university as it is accredited, student-centred and vibrant. Hence this could be the university that you are looking for, with its range for an affordable and enjoyable tertiary education!
Discover yourself as you immerse in the vibrance within this small but well received university. Thanks for reading and cheers.

Get your university degree online -

online degrees, universities, degrees, programmes and courses review for your convenience and comparison
Girls Generation - Korean