Indiana University professor Mark Urtel found that freshmen taking an online class were twice as likely to get grades of D or F or withdraw from the class than their peers who took face-to-face classes. He and other distance education experts offer tips for people to consider before enrolling in an online class.
In her new book, "Sharing Information About Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (Autism Asperger Publishing Company, 2007), Beverly Vickers guides parents through the process of assembling information about their child's unique behavioral patterns, sensitivities and communication issues. Her tips can be useful for parents of children or adults with other disabilities.
The rankings might change in the wake of protest, but they aren't likely to go away. Don Hossler, professor of educational leadership and policy studies in the Indiana University School of Education, said the verdict is out on whether a big change will happen after 24 presidents at mostly smaller liberal-arts college signed a letter critical of U.S. News & World Report's annual college rankings.
Parents and children alike may have mixed feelings as the new school year approaches. "Planning now for that transition will help restore a measure of control, and will alleviate some of the anxiety we may feel the day our children go off to school," says Cathy Beard, family support specialist at Indiana University.
Parents cannot regulate their child's online behavior 24/7. Lois Ann Scheidt, an adjunct instructor in the Indiana University School of Informatics, offers tips and considerations to give parents a hand:
Afterschool programs can boost students' grades; supplement education in the arts, music, and culture; provide essential childcare for younger students; and help prevent crime, pregnancies, and drug use among adolescents. Yet these programs encounter a number of obstacles in disadvantaged neighborhoods, according to research in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
While you won't find many of today's college students in a church, temple or mosque for organized services, they are searching for spiritual meaning, says St. Lawrence University Chaplain Kathleen Buckley.
As college students return to campus this fall, many will search for ways to explore their spiritual side. Rhodes College in Memphis offers its undergraduates a series of courses that help them think about the meaning and purpose of life while they fulfill their humanities requirements.
Wake Forest University students partner with elementary school to encourage nearby students to walk to school and promote better health.
As a lazy summer filled with cookouts and ice cream cones draws to a close, it's a great time to focus on incorporating a healthy lifestyle into the back-to-school routine.
Rhodes College in Memphis has designed an innovative approach to making college more affordable by controlling costs and improving productivity. The Rhodes Student Associates Program, now in its fourth year, is reducing tuition costs for its 65 students by a minimum of $4,800 each.
Student initiatives are leading to the "greening" of the campus and curriculum at many colleges, including St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.
As fall approaches, families nationwide are preparing to send their children off to college, some for the first time. Video games, mini fridges and televisions are on most students' shopping lists, as parents browse for bed sheets, alarm clocks, and textbooks. But one of the smallest items that you may pack could be the most useful "”or harmful"” to your college student.
Free science educational materials produced by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a component of the National Institutes of Health, help students and teachers better understand and appreciate the life sciences.
Pre-teens are experimenting with drugs and alcohol as early as age 11, catching parents by surprise, say mental health professionals who treat adolescents at The Menninger Clinic. The key is to talk to your child before they get to middle school, when they are most likely to encounter drugs for the first time, say mental health experts.
Topic experts with the American Academy of Neuroloyg are available to speak to back to school health issues, including child sports concussion and head injury, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and getting homework done, and the importance of getting children to bed earlier each night in order to help children adjust to early wake times for school.
The annual National School Backpack Awareness Day, sponsored by the American Occupational Therapy Association, is set for Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Occupational therapy practitioners, researchers, and students will hold special events in communities throughout the country to educate students on the proper way to wear a backpack and how much weight to carry.
A recent study warns parents of college-bound students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to be prepared for difficulties when adjusting to life in higher education, suppressing the notion that symptoms of the disorder disappear in adulthood.
It takes more than just a physical exam, some new clothes and a protractor to prepare kids to go back to school. Common eye conditions can affect academic performance, so it is crucial for children to have their eyes checked before school starts, say optometrists at the UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) School of Optometry.
A three-year project aimed at improving science education in 14 school districts representing more than 140,000 students will kick off at a meeting in August. Of the 14 school districts, 13 are from Washington and one is from Alaska.
News about global warming is everywhere. It is hard for grown-ups to sort out what it all means and what we should do about it. For children, it can seem even more complicated and scary. The National Wildlife Federation is launching a new website called the Climate Classroom which provides great guidelines for discussing global warming with students.
As parents get ready to send their kids back to school, moms step up effort to help stop teen medicine abuse.
Children with cochlear implants require a different approach to learning. Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland (CHRCO) in California is one of the few hospitals in the state with a program to educate teachers on how to lead students with cochlear implants to their full academic potential. Teachers from all over California come to CHRCO to attend the monthly seminars.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has many pedestrian, bus riding and home safety tips to help parents prepare to send their children back to school.
An ophthalmologist gives insight into signals a child is having trouble seeing. Amblyopia, decreased vision in one or both eyes, also known as lazy eye, is the leading cause of visual impairment in children and affects up to 4% of the population. When detected and treated early, most cases of amblyopia are reversible.
Nursing students go "Back-to-School" to reach underserved children and Hopkins delivers options in nursing education.
Low-income children tend to do poorly on high-stakes achievement tests like the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). A pilot study suggests their low scores may arise from developmental issues"”particularly in "executive" functions like organization, planning and control over thoughts and actions in addition to other poverty-related factors.
One of the big issues for most parents as they prepare for school in the fall is how to pay for what their kids want and need for the new school year. Cheryl H. Bridges, director of the Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M University's Mays Business School, can address some of the issues listed below.
New Sociological Research Shows that Lowering the Weight of SAT Scores in Admission Decisions Could Eliminate the Need for Affirmative Action.
New sociological research shows disparities between lower- and higher-income children.
Although textbook costs are reported to have doubled twice the rate of inflation during the past two decades, according to a yearlong student by a federal panel, textbook authors such as Dr. Janet Belsky, psychology professor, say it's wrong to blame inflated textbook prices on academic authors who spend years researching and writing books in exchange for only a few dollars per new textbook sold and no money from used-book sales.
Your high school graduate is off to college to embark on a newly independent life. But they're not the only one making a transition: parents too face emotional and lifestyle adjustments. With advice on empty nest syndrome and the college transition, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital physicians offer expert tips on topics including, redecorating your child's room, credit cards, keeping in touch and more.
Injuries are the leading cause of death in young people, and most of them are preventable. Brain injuries are the most serious and deadly, and parents can protect their children by having them wear the right helmet, know football safety, cut those drawstrings out of sweatshirt hoods, and check playground surfaces. Peter LeRoux, MD, FACS, is a neurosurgeon and expert on brain injury prevention.
As students go off to college this year, Deans Jim Rogers and Ron Jackson of Marymount Manhattan College are available for comment on the "helicopter parent" phenomenon.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Education has won a four-year, $800,000 federal grant. The monies will support a new program that aims to raise the numbers of special education teachers who are qualified to instruct children with disabilities who have reading difficulties.
Going away to preschool or kindergarten for the first time can be scary for children.
The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to make sure your child has his or her most recent immunization, especially vaccinations that can help prevent meningitis and middle ear infections (otitis media).
A rise in university student volunteerism makes impact nationally and locally.
When your children show up for the first day of school, you'll want them to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but a poor night's rest because of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could send them to the back of the class.
Jennifer Wider, M.D., is a physician, author, and radio host who specializes in women's health issues. She is the author of three books, the latest being "The Doctor's Complete College Girls' Health Guide: From Sex to Drugs to the Freshman 15."
It's a stressful time of year as children head back to school, and parents face a host of issues dealing with the transition. Children's Hospital Boston has several top experts who can help parents deal with many of the common issues and concerns they may have, as well as some that may go un-noticed.
As the new school year approaches, many parents are preparing their children by buying school supplies, new clothes, and organizing fall sporting events. But in order to help kids get a healthy head start to the school year, the American Academy of Otolaryngology "“ Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) also recommends that school-age children have a complete medical exam, including a routine hearing test.
Combining research and practice, the University of Kentucky is taking steps to eradicate violence against women by focusing on peer influence and intervention.
Going back to school can be just as stressful for parents as for children. Columbia University Medical Center experts are available to talk about a multitude of aspects of the back to school process, including how to cope with your child's anxiety about going back to school and how to talk to your child's school about their special dietary needs because of diabetes.
Studying in groups helps students learn more effectively. More than 20 years of academic research has consistently demonstrated that fact. But what exactly is it about studying with other people that makes it so effective?
Karen L. Coburn is an expert on the college experience. She is co-author of the acclaimed book, "Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years," which, in its fourth printing, has sold nearly 300,000 copies. Coburn is often quoted in the national and international media for her tips on helping students and parents make a smooth transition from high school to college "” from what to bring, to what to expect, to how to stay in touch.
The cell phone is one of the most visible additions on the college campus scene in the last several years, says Karen Levin Coburn, assistant vice chancellor for students and associate dean for the freshman transition at Washington University in St. Louis.
As parents are taking advantage of back-to-school sales and stocking up on supplies like calculators, pens and pencils, a math education expert at Washington University in St. Louis suggests they also may want to check out the quality of their children's math education.
Your child's departure for college is a monumental step and one that you can start preparing for when your child is just taking his or her first steps, says a Washington University in St. Louis expert on the college experience.
A recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement provides new information and recommendations related to safe transportation of children who travel by car or bus, ride bikes, or walk. Specific tips include:
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