Online Education

There is still an increasing debate over the validity of online education, especially when it comes to higher degrees.

Most people tend to believe that education is still at its true value when done face-to-face. Some people find the ease of online education with their busy lifestyles a lot easier to manage than having to attend classes at a university or college. Online education also gives the flexibility to do course work that is outside of the area where you live. Schools such as the University of Phoenix are famous for offering online graduate degrees to busy professionals.

When it comes to higher degrees such as masters and doctorate degrees there are a number of online universities in North America that offer these kinds of courses. Schools such as Athabasca University in Canada have an extremely strong reputation. There have been a number of problems with some of the accrediting policies with schools in the United States. One university that is accredited in the states is Capella University, however some people have had bad things to say about it on the Internet.

In order to do PhD-level work, there is a university called Charles Sturt that is based in Australia where you do not need to do course work and simply work on your thesis or dissertation. Depending on the reason why you would want to do your PhD, it may or may not be seriously recognized in academic circles. There is another school called Texas Tech in the United States that also offers online graduate degrees, even at the PhD-level.

If you decide that you would rather go the traditional route with your education, many U.S. schools offer great stipends that can pay for your tuition and your rent if your grades have been high in previous education. It would mean making the major transition to uproot your life, however more colleges and universities throughout North America are starting to ask for PhD-level education to get your foot in the door of academia. Many Canadian schools also offer the same incentives in scholarships, bursaries and teaching assistantships, as well as the opportunity to teach a class sole-responsibility.

Medical Transcription

Medical transcription involves transcribing the voice recordings of dialogues between a doctor, or group of doctors and the patient. Skills in understanding different kinds of accents, as well as knowledge in English as a Second Language can be extremely useful in this field. These requirements are just secondary to knowing how to type really, really fast.

It is important that when the medical transcription, or MT as it is also known is done; the document is formatted and presented well. These documents need to be clear and easy to read by various healthcare professionals who rely on this information to provide the best care to their client and/or patient. Accuracy is extremely important.

Many doctors will send digital sound files of their meetings with the patients via the Internet to the MT so the transcription can be done. There is also special software available to the MT to help in their work. This is a huge change and improvement from the days when this work was done with a typewriter and tape player. Most MTs can type at the alarming rate of 200 words per minute – about the speed of the average voice speaking.

The educational requirements to do medical transcription are not high. A high school diploma, or GED in the United States, coupled with one to three years experience working can garner this job. There are some schools that offer extra training and some MTs look to become certified to add more credibility to their work.
The pay for medical transcription can vary widely. Generally to start you can expect to make about $8 USD to $12 USD per hour. With about two years of experience it can range anywhere from $12 to $20. With an increase in years of experience, there is also an increase in the hourly rate of pay.

Dental Hygienist

A dental hygienist is a specialist when it comes to oral hygiene. He or she helps the dentist provide the client with preventive dental care. US statistics report that the median hourly wage for a dental hygienist is about $30.00 USD.

Dental hygienists deal with local anesthesia, scaling and root canals, radiography, dental sealing, bleaching and fillings. Although most people are afraid to go to the dentist, good oral hygiene is part of complete health and as a dental hygienist you would be part of a health team for your patients.

Working under the supervision of the dentist in charge, the dental hygienist would undergo some of the more detailed work related to oral care such as root canals. When it comes to the basic cleaning of the teeth, the dental hygienist may even get the opportunity to work unsupervised.

Some other duties of the dental hygienist include:

• Assessing and gathering data about the patient’s medical history
• Performing a dental hygiene diagnosis: this would include interpreting data from materials such as ex-rays
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the oral health plan performed for the patient

To become a dental hygienist, formal education is required. There are many private and public colleges that offer programs to become a dental hygienist. The program can take anywhere from one to two years.

Other related occupations include:

• Dental assistant
• Dental therapist
• Dental technician
• Dentist

Business Administration

This job is all about giving service to business. Working in business administration includes organizing staff; making sure the business where you work is running smoothly, and basically being the mediator between staff and upper management. Education in business administration can also prepare you for a management position, as well as running a business yourself.

Some of the titles associated with education in business administration include: general manager and company secretary. The general manager or company secretary would report to the corporate board of directors ultimately and their direct supervisor would be the executive level of management. Education in business administration coupled with job experience can prepare you to obtain positions in executive management, as well as be one of the corporate board of directors.
In these roles, you can make anywhere from $100,000 CDN plus. The starting salary of a general manager or of a company secretary is usually about $50,000 CDN.

Sometimes, business administration work is viewed as the people who look after the bureaucratic or operational functions within a business. This can include repetitive office tasks that are suited for some people. It is consistent and steady work for those looking for a firm and secure foundation for the future.

Some of the duties a business administrator would perform include:

• Mapping out short-range and long-range goals for the company or institution
• Some human resources work such as choosing whom will fill positions within an organization may be included, as well as delegating tasks to existing staff
• Leadership skills are also required since business administrators are often lending ideas to further the development of an organization
• Business administrators also deal with budgetary concerns
• Business administrators may also be involved with the external and internal communications within the organization

If you are looking to reach the executive levels and/or board of director positions within an organization, in today’s competitive job market, having a master’s in business administration could help a great deal.

Some of the related fields to business administration include:

• Public administration
• Central administration
• Chief administration officer

Top 10 Things that Make Your Professor Great

There have been professors who can help you decide what profession you want to get into based on the enthusiasm and commitment they bring to their work. Here are some tips on what makes a professor great:

1.The professor makes time to answer your questions. They always seem to make themselves available for any concerns you may have and do not seem bothered when you ask too many questions. There is a saying that is “no such thing as a stupid question.”
2.The professor returns your assignments in a timely manner and does not take weeks to give you back your grades. It is important that you know how you are doing in your course and your marks are an indication of this.
3.Having office hours or being able to meet with your professor face-to-face is really important.
4.A professor that is willing to write you a recommendation letter if you have done good work and truly do deserve one is something that can help you either further your education or land that dream job.
5.A professor that seems organized and knowledgeable during the lecture time in-class is extremely important.
6.A professor who encourages group work and fun things to do in your class time with him or her is always a bonus.
7.A professor who recommends textbooks that are actually used in the class is important. You should not be spending your money on course materials that are not even used in the class.
8.A professor that discusses the practical matters of your profession that you are training for and not just all theory is a definite advantage.
9.A professor that is great at leading interesting class discussions is a huge benefit to the classroom environment.
10.A professor that discusses some of his or her more personal aspects of themselves, as well as gets to know you as well as he or she can will help you to feel more “at home” in your school environment.

Getting an A: Top Ten Study Tips

It starts from even before the class starts. You can make a significant difference in your grades by following these useful tips to getting an A in school:

1. When you find out about the course outline, which is usually before the class starts…look it over and try to do as much advance reading as you can. This will help you to be a step ahead when it comes to class discussions related to the required text and other course materials.

2. Do your research about your professor. Find out some of the quirks and quarks of this person you will be spending a semester with. Interview some of their past students. This may help you to get a sense of the kinds of things the professor does and does not like.

3. Always show up to class, unless of course you have a valid reason such as a family emergency. As well as always showing up to class, always make sure you show up on time. There may be vital information given to students, right at the start at the class that you would miss by being late. This will also leave a good impression on the professor when later you may want to ask for a recommendation letter.

4. Ensuring that you make it to class on time and that your mind is fresh and alert to participate in engaged learning, make sure you do not party the night before your classes. Always make sure you have had good rest, as well as a good breakfast before you go into class. This will make sure your mind is alert for class discussions and any in-class exercises you may have.

5. This is a really important one; please make sure you do not procrastinate when it comes to getting your homework done. As soon as it is assigned, you should start working on your assignment. Also make sure you make the best use of class time by asking questions to clarify any misunderstandings you may have about the assignment.

6. School is expensive…this is quite true…however, now that you have committed to studying, do not fill all your spare time with so many activities such as work and extracurricular activities that you cannot do your homework. Make sure you have time to do all the work associated with your school.
7. At the same time you should make time for your school work, “all work and no play” makes anyone dull. Make sure you do make time to have a social life and work part-time too.

8. You may want to consider getting into study groups to increase your chance of passing tough exams. This is also a great way to make friends too. Just make sure your study groups are actually more about studying than socializing.

9. For essays, make use of the writing centres that are usually available on campus. This can be a great way to make sure a second pair of professional eyes catches any mistakes you have made and to increase your grades on the assignments.

10. Always know your professors and teaching assistants are there to help you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask them. Get to know the rules of the school and your rights as a student. You will find out that you are in an excellent position to succeed at school by using all of the resources available to you.

Here’s to you getting an A!

Top 10 Mistakes in Choosing a Career

1.Our parents love us dearly and they mean well, however choosing a career because your parents have forced you into one is not the wisest thing to do. You really have to do what you love because you are not your parents and life changes in such a way that you will not live the life they have lived. They may have good advice, yet make sure the final decision on what you are going to do with your life is yours.

2.Many people go into a profession because they think the money is going to be great. In general, unless you are going to be a doctor or a lawyer…there is no guarantee of this. As well, even some doctors have to work in remote regions to make really good money. Some lawyers have to choose to go into corporate or criminal law instead of family law to make the kind of money that will help support their lifestyle. Choose a career because it is what you love to do…perhaps it is true that the money will come eventually. Actually, this does tend to be true.

3.Choosing a career without any concern of the lifestyle it may bring you is a major mistake that many young people make. You need to realize that some jobs practically expect you to work 100 hours a week. Are you ready for that kind of commitment? If you are looking for a career that will allow for a social life and give you the freedom to explore other interests and hobbies, carefully consider your career decisions.

4.For the same reason that some people will choose a career because they think it will bring them a lot of money – is the same reason you should also make sure you are choosing a career with monetary rewards that fit your needs. Strive to get what you are worth – having realistic goals can really help.

5.Many young people have this false impression that they can land a job that is going to pay them a million dollars right out of college or university. This is not often the case. You have to remember that the people who are older and in high positions have worked extremely hard to earn the kind of living they have. You too, if you work hard, can have what they have.

6.Another major mistake young people make in choosing a career is not getting the proper training needed for the profession they want. If you want to be a doctor, there are different standards and expectations to get into medical school depending on whether you live in Ontario or Quebec. Know the rules…know what is expected of you for your profession and get the credentials you need.

7.A major mistake many young people make in choosing a career is not doing enough research on the career before entering the field. You need to know what you are getting yourself into and educate yourself not only to work in the profession, but also about the profession.

8.When it comes to mistakes in choosing a career, remember that many people change careers at least five times in a lifetime. What research have you done in how your initial career will prepare for other careers you are interested in? Make sure you arm yourself with this knowledge and it will give you the competitive edge in your career search and development.

9.One of the major mistakes many young people make about choosing a career is picking one because you feel you are getting too old to just “bum” around. You think time is passing you by and you just choose one in a hurry and in a rush – just to get it over with. Everyone has their own time schedule, you do not have to make decisions at the same pace or time as your brother, sister, friends – anyone for that matter. Take your time…what your life’s purpose is will come to you.

10.Choosing a career that you are not in love with but is something that your school counsellour, school advisor or a recruiter has talked you into is not a good idea – this is a mistake. You have to love your job.