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(ARA) - Today's middle and high school students, who have been called the "iGeneration," are the first to crave and benefit from on-demand education - or, in other words, the option to choose where, when and how they want to learn.

To put it in context, the iGeneration (where the "i" stands for "information") has never known life without the Internet, being mobile, using avatars, instant messaging or choosing and watching content whether they are at home, in the car, at a football game or shopping at the mall. To reach them in their high-tech, high-touch world, many parents and educators are looking at how to rewire schools to match how the iGeneration learns.

Taking classes online is one way to give middle and high school students (and their school districts) new options to learn using preferred tools in a familiar environment. Through online learning, students can even experience enhanced, one-on-one relationships with educators. Whether they're in need of more assistance, looking for a wider range of classes or simply prefer to learn in a medium that they have grown up with, online learning can be a great way to fit your child's needs.

A recent study conducted by Aventa Learning found that compared to traditional learning environments, online learning is an effective way to teach students who live in a world of customized and instant feedback. Online learning offers a robust and challenging curriculum, as 72 percent of online students spend three or more hours on homework per week versus 56 percent of students in traditional schools.

With online learning, teachers are able to provide a more individualized learning experience and tailor curriculum to meet each student's ability and learning speed. In fact, 54 percent of online students report feeling appropriately challenged when they are doing well in school versus 49 percent of students in traditional schools. Online students also receive more attention from teachers, as 58 percent of online students get more help when they fall behind versus 40 percent of students in traditional schools. The survey also found that online learning creates students who are more committed to attending college, as 78 percent of online students have more interest in attending a four-year college after graduation versus 67 percent of students in traditional schools.

Hybrid learning programs
Students are increasingly able to take online classes in partnership with their local school districts that are facing severe budget cuts, school closings and a reduction in faculty. A recent study released by the Center on Education Policy found that 68 percent of districts expect their total budgets to decrease for the 2010-11 school year and three-fourths anticipate cutting teacher positions.

To combat this problem, these school districts are turning to online classes to ensure their students have access to high-quality curriculum and instruction. They use online learning programs to supplement classroom instruction or to offer classes for which they have no teachers, Advanced Placement classes for students who excel and credit recovery options for students who struggle. In fact, today 1 million children are learning online, either part-time, full-time or between school terms. Additionally, more than 20 percent of schools and educational institutions around the country offer online classes today, and that number should grow by another 30 percent within a couple of years, according to industry research.

Through online learning or hybrid programs with traditional schools, students who take online courses are scoring above national averages on both the SAT and ACT tests and have been accepted into more than 160 colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools.

Online learning resources for parents
For parents looking for more options to enhance their child's education, OnlineSchoolSolutions.com offers online learning options to fit all types of students and learning situations. This website provides academic solutions to fit every child's needs, including options for home-schooled families, students brushing up on skills to compete at the next level and children facing challenges in traditional schools. For parents of students in brick-and-mortar schools, contact your local school district to find out the online learning options available at your school.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Autumn is around the corner and for many American teens, that means the start of college. If you're a freshman, chances are you'll be spending at least one year living in a dorm. But dorm life doesn't have to be all function and no form. You can make things more comfortable for yourself and your roommates with a few simple and inexpensive purchases.

1. Mini refrigerator
Many people assume miniature fridges are expensive, but most department stores carry budget models at reasonable prices. Another, more eco-friendly option is to check with the local recycling companies. You'll be glad to have soda, sandwiches and junk food handy when you've missed the dining hall window.

2. A compact laserjet printer
You don't need a full-fledged office printer with scanning and fax capability - just something to fire off papers and assignments without breaking the bank on toner. Many laptops and desktops now come with printers and small, inexpensive models are widely available. Check for photo-printing capabilities if you think you may want to use your printer for photos.

3. Satellite Internet
Wireless Internet, now widely available throughout the U.S., provides many college students with the mobility and flexibility they need. Using your laptop's USB port, satellite Internet a high-speed signal - perfect for e-mailing, listening to music or even watching movies. This is a solution to consider when space is at a premium.

4. Coffee-maker
A compact coffee-maker with a built-in filter that you can wash daily is a good investment. Relatively inexpensive, these coffee makers are available at nearly all home goods stores. Some even come with single-cup brewing functions and mugs.

5. An all-purpose adjustable lamp
Sometimes your roommate needs to catch some Z's while you've got to pull an all-nighter. A low wattage desk or bed lamp with a flexible neck provides light. You can get things done from your bed or at your desk without bothering others who are trying to sleep.

6. Plastic storage bins
Keep large, plastic bins under your bed to help maximize space. Use them to store out-of-season clothes or simple odds and ends that don't fit elsewhere in the room. Plastic closet organizers are also a good idea for clothes you don't want wrinkled and they save a ton of space in an otherwise cramped closet.

7. A large carpet
It's probably not the first thing you'd think of, but a room carpet makes a space feel far less industrial. A decent carpet or rug helps bring color and warmth to a room, and also keeps bare feet off the not-so-spotless floors. If you're like the majority of college students, you're not going to take the time to mop every week, so it's also helpful for keeping your digs clean.

Realistically, there are dozens of easy, low-cost ways to economize when space is at a premium. If possible, call your roommate and coordinate who will bring what on moving day so there are no conflicts. If you plan ahead and play it smart, you'll be able to make your dorm room a place you don't mind coming home to at night, and even enjoy living in.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - From buying new supplies to soothing first-day jitters, parents have a lot to do to get their kids ready for the new school year. And if your child has a chronic disease, the start of school may feel especially stressful.

Eric, a nurse and father of two sons with hemophilia - a disease in which a person's blood doesn't clot properly - says his family's back-to-school experience isn't all that different from everyone else's. But to make sure the transition goes as smoothly as possible, he recommends taking these extra steps:

* Make sure the school can reach you at all times. It's not enough for the school to have just one or two phone numbers; make sure the office staff has home, work, mobile and e-mail contact information for both parents and emergency backups.

* Talk to your employer about your situation. For Eric, his sons' illnesses mean he occasionally has to visit their school and inject them with a dose of medication. If your employer understands your child's illness, he or she may be more flexible if you need to leave work suddenly or adjust your regular hours once school begins.

* Get to know the school nurse and office staff. It's important for school staff to know how to react if a complication arises with your child. Eric's sons' school doesn't have a nurse, so he makes sure the office staff knows exactly what to do if one of his children has a complaint.

* Educate your child's teachers. It's critical for teachers to know when to send a child to the nurse, when to call the parents and how to diffuse potential teasing from other students. Eric often taps into his local hemophilia awareness group for reading materials and DVDs that he can share with his sons' teachers.

* Encourage the school to treat your child like any other student. Above all, Eric wants his sons to be treated like any other 7- and 10-year-old boys. While safety always comes first, his goal is for them to be active, independent and spirited - and that's not possible if they're sitting on the sidelines or receiving special treatment from teachers or staff.

* Ask for accommodations, but only when necessary. It's important to have a thorough understanding of school policies and feel empowered to ask for an exception if it's necessary to your child's health. For example, if your child can't carry a heavy backpack, it may be easier for him to use a rolling suitcase, which many schools prohibit. Talk to school administrators if a situation like this arises.

* Recognize that every child is different. Even among children with the same condition, there are several variables - how the child feels about his disease, how frequent and severe his symptoms are and even whether he wants other kids to know about his illness. Make sure the school understands and respects your child's individual situation.

* Educate and empower your child about his disease. It's important for your child to know his body and illness so he can act responsibly in any situation. Eric's sons attend local camps and seminars to better understand their hemophilia and this knowledge helps keep them safe and confident during the school day.

* Don't let the disease take control. Eric's family's philosophy is that hemophilia is just a challenge they have to manage - it doesn't define their family or dictate their decisions. He wants other families to know that even if they're dealing with an illness of any kind, it shouldn't stop them from having an education, careers or relationships, just like anyone else.

Remember, every school has different policies related to child health, particularly when it comes to administering medicine. Be sure to talk to your child's school staff about any other steps you may need to take to keep him safe. To learn more about hemophilia, visit www.hemophiliavillage.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Is your resume working for you? There's never been a better time to take a close look and make sure it is. With today's high rate of unemployment, many Americans are competing in a tight job market. Will your resume grab the attention of a prospective employer? Does it accurately reflect your qualifications?

A resume is an essential selling tool in any job search. The document presents a clear, concise outline of your qualifications, skills and accomplishments. "The function of a resume isn't to get you a job, but to get you the interview," says Tammy Smith, director of career services at Brown Mackie College - Hopkinsville. "It's up to you to land the job."

Smith's responsibilities at Brown Mackie College - Hopkinsville include guiding students through the process of creating high-performance resumes. "Employers spend an average of 15 seconds reading a submitted resume, and 85 to 95 percent of all resumes end up in the trash, according to First Place Resumes. In order to keep a prospective employer's attention, your resume must create immediate interest and provoke action. It's important to be concise because every second counts," continues Smith. How do you do this? Smith outlines several important considerations to note when creating or updating a resume.

Create visual appeal.

Your resume should be visually appealing. "This includes suitable font," says Smith. "Job-seekers should use the Times New Roman, Courier or Arial fonts, no smaller in size than 10 and no larger than 12." Smith also counsels students to use professional quality paper in beige, white or gray. Definitely stay away from pink paper, and don't even consider clouds in the background or flowers on the border.

Customize content for each individual position.

It helps to clearly emphasize your specific skills that relate to the open position of interest. Smith advises students customize the resume for each job opportunity. "List duties from prior positions in order of preference relative to the job you want the most, not the job you had. Don't include responsibilities that you don't want to do again," she says. Eliminate job information that is more than 10 years old. Old information is no longer relevant. She also reminds students to be prepared to discuss the content of the resume at the interview.

Use active language and keywords.

When writing your resume, avoid using passive language. Place achievements and results within each job description on the resume. This demonstrates capabilities and responsibility. "When describing job duties, you must use strong action verbs," Smith says. Action verbs, such as implemented, improved, operated and earned, strengthen a resume, making it more powerful and appealing.

"Next, it is crucial to use keywords," says Smith. Keywords can be a single word or a phrase that summarizes your core competencies. These are words or phrases others would use to search online for applicants that could fill a position of interest to you. "This is especially important when posting your resume online with search engines such as careerbuilder.com or monster.com," Smith continues.

Be prepared for unexpected opportunities.

Always ensure your resume is up to date. "You never know when the perfect career opportunity will knock," says Smith. Remember, your resume is the first impression you make to an employer. It is a selling tool that highlights the skills and experience you can contribute to the employer's workplace. It structures the interview, providing a framework of topics to discuss. A resume also reminds employers of you when you're not there, and can help an employer justify bringing you on board.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - With the arrival of the new school year, now is the perfect time to "zone out" and get your family and your home in gear by creating a comfortable, yet functional study zone in your home.

According to Hannah Keeley, host of the public television series "Hannah, Help Me!" and mother of seven, "You may have already noticed there are certain zones within your home - a sleeping zone, an eating zone and a playing zone, but one of the most essential areas is the study zone." An ideal study zone will keep your family organized and on track when it comes to homework and other school projects.

Here are a few tips from Keeley that will help you create a study zone within your home.

Clear the area. First off, identify a place within your home where your child will work best. A study zone can be his or her own room or you can create a workable study zone within a larger room such as the living or family room. However, be sure to keep distractions - like the TV or telephone - at bay. Noise can be a distraction too, so if possible, set up your study zone in a lower-traffic area of your home to keep interruptions at a minimum.

Keep it simple. Don't go overboard buying a ton of new school supplies to fill up the zone. While the coordinated desk calendar, pencil box and note pad set may look nice, it's not going to guarantee success in the classroom. Your study zone needs only a few basic supplies. Make sure the zone has good lighting, plenty of pens and pencils and a trash can close by. You should also provide a storage box or drawer to hold all those extra supplies, like a calculator, erasers, a stapler and other small items. Don't try to have a dedicated spot for each item or things can get cluttered quickly - one general spot for everything will work nicely.

Hang it up. Here's the trick to no more homework left at home: put a hook or make a designated spot for your child's backpack within your study zone. This way, as soon as the work is finished, it goes straight into their backpack. Now you know where the homework is and where the backpack is at all times, meaning you can get up and out the door in record time.

Get comfy. It's important for your child's study zone to be comfortable. Keep your study zone (and the rest of your home) comfy throughout the year with a Heritage(R) Heat Pump from American Standard(R) Heating & Air Conditioning. A heat pump does the job of an air conditioner and a furnace, and can be paired with indoor electric or gas heat, which means it will keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. However, if the zone is too cozy, your child may be tempted to snooze or get distracted instead of doing their schoolwork. This means no lounging on the bed to do homework. Equip your study zone with a table or desk and a chair to ensure your child is upright and focused.

Now you've got the perfect place for schoolwork and studying, right there in your home. "A proper study zone does not have to be elaborate or expensive," says Keeley. "All it takes is a little planning, which will pay off big time in the end."

Courtesy of ARAcontent