Best Education Degree Online

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 that was signed into law by President George W. Bush and supported overwhelmingly by both parties, could possibly be the most misguided and complete failure in education reform. The NCLB is a federal law that mandates a number of programs aimed at improving U.S. education in elementary, middle and high schools by increasing accountability standards, if the standards are not met federal funding for the failing schools will be reduced. No child left behind is a well meaning law that lacks fundamentally in its overall design and application.

No child left behind is based on the outcome based education model, outcome-based education is a model of education that rejects the conventional center on what the school provides to students, in support of making students demonstrate that they “know and are able to do” whatever the required outcomes are. OBE reforms highlight setting clear standards for clear, quantifiable outcomes where the focus is on mathematics, language, science, and history, without ever referring to attitudes, social skills, or moral values.

The standardized test that must be passed for schools to receive their funding is one of the biggest drawbacks to no child left behind. Teachers are no longer teaching the students they are teaching to the tests. For multiple-choice tests, “teaching to the test” means focusing on the content that will be on the test, sometimes even drilling on test items, and using the format of the test as a foundation for teaching. Since this kind of teaching to the test leads first and foremost to better test-taking skills, increases in test scores do not essentially mean progress in academic performance. Teaching to the test also narrows the curriculum, forcing teachers and students to concentrate on memorization of facts, instead of nurturing basic and higher order abilities. Read the full story

Many employers require paralegal training when hiring people for paralegal careers. This degree can also be gained online. An online paralegal degree can help you get equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for this career as a paralegal. You can find many institutions offering this degree online.

How Do Online Degrees Work?

Online degrees do not require physical attendance. All quizzes and assignments are submitted online. Students can also log in to the online learning system and take classes in their spare time. Moreover, a number of online programs allow students to learn at their own pace. The courses are crafted and taught by experienced professionals. The teachers are also available through email or phone whenever you have a query. Online degrees in paralegal studies work in more or less the same way. Students can learn conveniently. They may be required to write research-based essays on topics related to law and submit them online. Students will also be required to take online examinations which test their knowledge and understanding of the course content. Hence, it can be seen that earning an online paralegal degree is a convenient alternative to traditional programs.

What you can Learn While Earning This Degree?

The curriculum of online paralegal degrees varies across different schools and colleges. Topics usually covered in this program include legal research, contract law, criminal law and civil litigation. You can also acquire general education and be required to study for courses on communication, mathematics and English. Students also develop communication skills, research skills, and technical competence while earning this degree. Specialized skills related to this field that students can learn include drafting of legal documents and legal research. Besides this, you will learn the code of ethics governing this profession as well as the current and predicted trends in law. Read the full story