Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Online Education Degree

What is education?

Education is the transmission of information, skills and other learning. Formal education takes place when systematic, planned instruction is delivered, typically in schools or universities and other such institutions.

What should I look for in an online education school?

The best online education schools should either possess regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, you can often recognize top online education schools based on:
  • The school’s name and status
  • The school’s history
  • Teacher credentials
  • Alumni network
In choosing the best online education school for you, you should consider the followingfactors:

  • Admission requirements
  • Residency requirements
  • Class and teaching style
  • Testing methods used
  • Course content and presentation
  • Program length
  • Class size
  • Student-teacher interaction
  • Technology use
  • Tuition and financial aid
  • Transferability of credits
  • Availability of a dedicated administration team and resources

What levels of online education programs are available?

The following levels of education degree online programs are available:
  • Online Education Certificate Programs
  • Online Associates in Education
  • Online Bachelor in Education
  • Online Masters in Education
  • Online EdD in Education

How long does it take to get an online education degree?

The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online education degree depends on the level of education degree being pursued and the pace of the student.

Typically, the breakdown is as follows:
  • Online Education Certification Programs – 6 months to 1 year
  • Online Education Associates Degree– 2 years
  • Online Education Bachelor Degree– 4 years
  • Online Education Masters– 2 years
  • Online Education EdD – 2 to 5 years

What are some examples of online education courses?

Coursework at an accredited online education school will vary depending on the level of studies and on particular specializations. However, some of the most popular online education degree courses found in many curriculums include:
  • Classroom Management
    Online education courses in classroom management train teachers in time management as well as strategies for keeping students on task and working together productively.
  • Special/Exceptional Learners
    This course is geared towards helping teachers to understand and adapt their teaching to the special learning needs of students with disabilities.
  • Educational Psychology
    An introduction to psychology course with a special focus on the development process, learner types and other educational matters is typical to the curriculums of most top online education degrees.
  • Child Development
    Students in this course study the role of the teacher in the overall development of children - their abilities and beliefs.
  • Measurement and Evaluation
    This course prepares teachers to implement a range of evaluation techniques for measuring their students’ performance and progress.

What areas of education specialization are available?

The best online education degree programs offer a broad selection of concentrations, particularly in advanced online education degree programs. Here is a sampling of the options found at accredited online education schools:
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Special Education
  • Adult Education
  • Educational Leadership
  • Distance Education
  • Education for Development
  • Multicultural Education
  • Higher Education Management
Additionally, teachers working in secondary schools must specialize in a particular secondary school subjects. Some of the most popular online education school subject specializations are:

  • Social Studies
  • Technology/Computer
  • Art
  • Math
  • Science
  • English
  • Foreign Language
  • History
  • Music

What can I do with an education degree?

Top online education degrees provide a foundation for many career paths. Online education degree graduates often go on to hold job titles such as:
  • Adult Education Teacher
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • Primary/Secondary School Teacher
  • Gifted Education Teacher
  • School Secretary
  • Reading Specialist
  • English as a Foreign Language Teacher
  • Speech Therapist
  • Substitute Teacher
Applicants with work experience combined with an advanced accredited online education degree from a top online education school, such as a master’s in education, are excellent candidates for the following positions:

  • School Principal
  • School Vice-Principal
  • Head Teacher
  • Curriculum Developer
  • Daycare Centre Director
  • Private School Director
  • Continuing Education Director
Postgraduate level accredited online degree holders, such as doctor of education degree, have a distinct advantage in securing these high status positions:

  • Superintendant of School Board
  • President of Association
  • Policy Maker
  • University Professor
  • Educational Development Program Director

What is a teacher?

A teacher is responsible for directing the education of a student or group of students.

What does a teacher do?

The majority of education degree holders find work as a teacher. The main tasks of a teacher are to prepare and deliver lesson plans. They work in a variety of educational contexts and apply different types of teaching methodologies. The best online education degrees equip teachers with many approaches to choose from.

Teachers in kindergarten and elementary schools help students develop a foundation in many subject areas as well as in basic study and social skills. These teachers require the patience and energy to form a strong rapport with the children they teach. They are normally in charge of a particular class’s education for an entire year and one year, to a five year-old, is a life-shaping amount of time.

Middle and secondary school teachers focus on teaching a particular subject in which they have specialized. Middle and secondary school teachers will sometimes hold administrative duties, possibly head a school department, work as coaches for school sports teams or as excursion and social activity coordinators.

Higher education teachers work in colleges and universities delivering lectures, workshops and seminars. Their students are normally pursuing a degree or other form of certification and thus tend to be keenly interested in their educational success. In addition to teaching duties, higher education teachers often work as researchers and may also write books, contribute to academic journals and, depending on their specialty, supplement their earnings with consultancy work.

How much does a teacher earn?

The amount a teacher earns depends on many factors including the degrees they have obtained, where they work (for example, urban versus rural communities), the educational level in which they teach and their amount of experience. Teachers generally have much more vacation time than most professionals (some use this to work in other areas for additional income). In most cases, teachers also enjoy other benefits such as regular pay increases and, once they have been hired to a regular position, greater job security than most workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that job opportunities will remain good for educators through to 2018.

According the BLS, kindergarten through to grade twelve teachers make an annual average between $30,970 and $34,280 – this is the national average and school boards in some states pay teachers significantly more than others. Private schools may also pay more than the average. Teachers with specialties in high demand subjects may be able to negotiate better salaries than others and the average for teachers that have specialized in education for exceptional students that require unique assistance can expect to earn annual average between $40,480 and $63,500. Some professionals choose to take on administrative roles in education after having gained experience as teachers. In order to continue teaching while working toward career advancement, many teachers today are opting to complete a top online education degree instead of attending a brick and mortar school full-time. Educational administrators, such as school directors and principals, make an average of $31,290 to $54,680 per year. Higher education teachers make between around $41,600 and $83,960.

How do I become a teacher?

Teachers require teacher certification in order to work in public schools anywhere in the U.S. Each state determines its own requirements in terms of what is needed for certification to be granted. In most cases, a bachelor’s of education is considered suitable. Another major followed by the completion of a post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s program in education is also often applicable. Accredited online education degrees can meet these requirements. Private schools, on the other hand, have the right to determine their own criteria for teachers and can hire professionals on the basis of other types of experience. Higher education teachers do not require teaching certification, but normally must hold at least a master’s degree in their discipline and – in the case of universities – a PhD. At any level, and in any context, completion of additional online education training programs and online education certificate programs are likely to enhance a teacher resume.

No comments:

Post a Comment