Support workers provide services to people who need help with their daily needs. You will provide these services in facilities and within the community. Supervised by a nurse or other professional, you are a vital part of a health care team. Legislation, employer’s policies, and the person’s condition influence how you function and how much supervision you will need. Once you gain the required experience, you will find that you are able to adapt your care depending on the setting and situations that arise.

Ultimately, the goal of the support work is to improve the individuals overall quality of life. Care needs to be provided in a kind, sensitivity, and understanding manner. While tending to the person’s physical needs, you can also help to relieve loneliness, provide comfort, encourage independence, and promote the person’s self-image. Your service helps people in their homes remain independent. You should always conduct yourself in a manner that let’s the individual know that you care for them and about them. You will make a positive difference in people’s lives!

Now, let’s take a look at where you’ll be performing your tasks as a personal support worker. There are two accepted groupings of locations, the first being facility-based and second, community based. To be listed as a Facility-based workplace, a location must provide accommodations, health & support services. There are several different types of facilities, including hospitals and long-term care (retirement) homes. Community-based workplaces include locations within the community where health care and services are provided, but where overnight are not necessary. The most common of these settings would be a person’s home.

Obtaining certification to become a Personal Support Worker can follow one of two paths. The first being a traditional educational institution such as a College or University and the second being a specialized educational institution, such as a local learning center (for example, a continuing educational center at a local high school). The government of each province creates a course outline & standard that each institution must adhere to.

The wages that a Personal Support Worker can expect to earn can differ from province to province, city to city, and from a unionized to a non-unionized workplace. CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) states that the average wage for a Canadian unionized Support Worker is $14.65 and a non-unionized worker averages $13.42 per hour. 

By: Matthias Koster

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Matthias Koster operates Personal Support Worker Canada (www.personalsupportworker.ca) , a resource site that provides information on Personal Support Worker job duties, educational institutions offering the course, supplies, and job opportunities.

Adults want their education to be relevant to their specific needs. What they are learning must be applicable to their job, values or other responsibilities. Once they see the relevancy in their learning, adults want to create goals for their education. They will desire to see the path that leads them from the beginning to the end of a course, or even a whole curriculum. Each step of this path must make its value evident to the adult learn - why its important, how it will help them on their job, or how it will help improve their life. Finally, adults already have many life experiences and have acquired knowledge from a variety of sources outside of a formal educational environment. So they want to understand how they can connect this prior knowledge, what they already know, with what they will be learning.

Here are the steps to take to select the best value in an adult education class depending on what your specific needs are:

1. Determine whether the location of the class is convenient for you. This includes taking into consideration the time class begins and the time it ends. Typically, continuing education classes will be held in the evening due to adults working during the day.

Ask these questions: How will I get to class (driving, public transportation)? Will I leave for class directly after work, or do I need to make a stop at home? How far is the location of the class from my home and my job? Will I have to allow extra time before or after class because of traffic? Is there parking near the class (college campuses usually have limited parking for commuters) or will I need to walk a distance?

2. Determine whether the class and the institution offering the class allow for flexibility that you need. Often these requests will be handled by the individual instructor, but if a diploma or certification is being offered at the completion of the class, the institutions offering the class may have certain guidelines you must follow.

Ask these questions: How many days am I allowed to miss? Does the instructor offer a make-up class for those who might miss? Am I allowed to leave class early or arrive late?

3. Identify the prerequisites for the class. This simply means understanding what you need to know before enrolling. If you do not have the basic background for the subject matter being taught, a great class can end up being a frustrating experience. The prerequisites are normally listed along with the class description and will indicate other classes that should be taken first or skills you should already have before enrolling.

4. Identify all of your required materials and determine their costs. Most classes will require a textbook. The prices of textbooks are rising all the time and are often not affordable for many students. Depending on the subject matter of your class, your books can cost upwards of $100 each, particularly in technology, accounting and nursing. You may also need materials other than books such as access to a personal computer, special types of calculators or other equipment, certain types of paper or portfolios.

5. Determine your instructor’s availability to respond to questions and meet with you. Find out the instructor’s office hours, phone number and email address. Most of the time the instructor will give this information in the first class, but you should be able to easily find this information if you are considering enrolling in a class. You can test the responsiveness of your instructor by contacting him prior to the first day of the class.

6. Review the course description and outline. This is the most important step. You want to make sure that the class you are investing your time and money in is what you really need or want. The course outline is your map of the class. It should describe the objectives of the class (what you will know once the course is over) and the topics you will cover (how you will reach the objectives).

You may attend an adult education course for many reasons: it is required by your job, it is an initiative you are taking to further your career, to increase your general knowledge of a topic, to network with your peers, or to even just get away for a few hours a week. Whatever your reason, you need to make sure you are getting what you need from the course. If you review the course outline and find that only one topic is relevant to your needs then this is probably not the class for you. Search for another course that perhaps focuses specifically on that topic. In some cases, this course may be required for the particular curriculum you have chosen. If you feel you have enough experience with the topics of the required class, you can often discuss with your instructor about “testing out” of the course.

7. Determine what you get for completing the adult education course or curriculum. You want to see the value of having taken the class or classes. At the end of a class you may receive a certificate of completion, diploma or even a professional certification. If you are attending a college or university, you will most times end with a degree, graduate certificate or continuing education credits.

Try to understand what these completion “rewards” mean to you, your career and your life. It could mean a new designation you can place on your resume or a diploma to display proudly on your wall, but it should be something to make you happy and appreciate the hard work you have put into the class.

Being an adult learner is exciting, but can also have serious negative effects on a person. Self-esteem can be lowered if performance in the class is not as expected, frustration can occur if there is lack of convenience, and boredom is evident if the class does not seem practical. So be sure to thoroughly review all of the information you can about a class you may be interested in enrolling and be certain you feel you will get what you need out of it. 

By: Deanna Mascle

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Malcolm Knowles (1913-1997), pioneer in adult education, titled one of his books, “The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species.” And no wonder. Many people closed their books halfway through life; research on how grown-ups learn was in its early stages; teachers equipped to handle mature students were hard to find.

Today lifelong learning opportunities are plentiful and instructors well-versed in space age information delivery. Still, millions fail to take advantage. They need constant reminders of the pot of gold at the end of the adult education rainbow.

Five bright benefits come to mind. First is the prospect of a fatter paycheck. Job promotions go to smart people who keep up with the latest information and technology. It’s just good sense to refresh and retrain for the workplace. New careers are created all the time so those who see what’s coming and want to jump ship have got to be prepared with new certifications, diplomas and degrees.

Second is the enhanced self-esteem when you reach for new horizons, accept tough challenges and arrive at a whole new level. New learning is not a picnic but the joys of accomplishment are real. Your children are proud. Your neighbors are surprised and maybe just jealous enough to go out and do likewise.

Third is the freedom given to adult learners. The teacher is more facilitator than dictator. Adult students, unlike young kids, may be just as experienced as the person at the front of the room. Adult classmates share ideas and teach each other. Assignments may culminate in a group project or program rather than a graded exam. Memorizing facts is at a minimum; answers are not absolute.

True, there are some studies where exactness counts and tests are mandatory. But a quick Internet search turned up references to the use of adult education theories in highly regimented disciplines, such as nursing and medicine. Getting ready to pass state boards did not prevent creative teaching where students’ views are respected and acted on. It is possible to combine traditional methods with adult learning styles.

Fourth is the shift of schooling to a 24/7 model and long-distance or online methods. Trade the classroom for your computer. Stay home and study in your bathrobe. Earn a degree without ever stepping on campus. Leave an email message for the professor at 3 a.m. With time and space constraints removed anyone who truly wants to go on learning can do so. Further, some class enrollments are open with start dates at your convenience.

Number five is making scholarship a habit. Education becomes second nature; it’s who you are as much as what you do. People live longer now and their health stays robust. Folks dread the thought of 15 or 20 years after retirement with idle hands and minds. Luckily, such waste is out of fashion. Well known programs, such as Elderhostel keep people thinking, socializing and traveling. Grandmothers get their master’s degree.

Invest in yourself. Empower your life. Jump start your future with strong commitment to lifelong achievement. Knowing these five benefits can wipe out all excuses. 

By: Deanna Mascle

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Coaching Certificate Schools can take many forms. Vocational, trade, and technical schools provide programs for coaching certificates, as do community colleges and four-year institutions, colleges, and universities. Graduate school coaching certificates for training in professional coaching are found in business schools. Life Coaching programs are taught in advanced classes in psychology schools. Additional coaching certifications are possible in various disciplines.

Coaching Certificate School programs designed to prepare for coaching school and independent athletic teams provide coaching students with principles and philosophies of athletics in education, techniques, and health related aspects of athletics used for coaching specific sports, such as baseball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, football, and other team sports. Coaching certificate courses will include philosophy and principles of team sports, theory, and techniques of coaching, and health sciences. An education in such sporting techniques as archery, gymnastics, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, horseback riding, and dance can be found in vocational schools as well as community colleges.

Professional Coaching Certificate Schools prepare students in areas of executive coaching for consulting, authoring proposals, and educating for improved business functions. These Coaching Certificate Schools are often located in colleges and universities, and develop coaching skills for building communication skills and improving human relations.

Coaching Certificate School programs can prepare students for preparing curricula, conducting training seminars, and designing programs for helping individuals and groups to improve emotional intelligence in the workplace, which improves work-related performance.

If you are interested in learning more about Coaching Certificate Schools and other types of schools, please search our site for more information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

There are many options for students seeking an education today. There are many quality two-year, four-year and graduate programs available online to students seeking a college education or for those simply looking to further their careers. Employers look at the completion of college or university coursework as an indicator that you are motivated to better yourself and move ahead in your career. Many online schools offer programs ranging from certificate programs all the way to masters degrees and beyond. Earning your degree online gives you the opportunity to start small - and possibly move on to earn an advanced degree - all at your own pace. The following gives you detailed information on the basic degree types available to students.

Certificate Programs offer a useful, concentrated study of a particular professional area. These programs can help you start a new career or develop your skills and knowledge, giving you powerful qualifications to enhance your occupation. A Certificate of Participation is awarded upon completion of your course or program. You may take individual courses for professional development or work toward a certificate in your chosen area of interest.

Diploma programs are a sequence of classes focusing on both theory and practice in a particular field. They are not as broad as degree programs and they usually concentrate on a particular area. Some diploma programs also offer an overview of several different areas. The terms ‘certificate’ and ‘diploma’ are often the same. Some universities refer to their programs as certificate programs while others call them diploma programs. There is not a common criterion to differentiate them.

An associate degree is an undergraduate degree that can be earned in 2years. An associate degree program consists of three parts: general education requirements, major requirements, and electives. An associate degree is a 2-year degree given by either Community Colleges or Junior Colleges upon completion of an associate degree program.

A Bachelors degree by definition is an academic degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete the undergraduate curriculum. A Bachelor’s Degree is the conventional degree given by undergraduate colleges and universities in the United States.

For detailed information on all types of college degrees please visit us online.

Quicker than either a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree, a top-notch certificate program can qualify you for a skilled entry-level position or give you a boost up the ladder at your current job in a remarkably short period of time.

Every company of any size needs personnel with some kind of accounting knowledge. A good certificate program can give you the skills to land that first job, or move up from the data entry job that is beginning to lose its appeal. The basics of financial and managerial accounting and a background in federal taxation will open doors to a wide variety of financial jobs.

Or maybe the hands-on nature of cooking and baking appeals to you. Start off with the nuts and bolts knowledge of food purchasing and culinary skills and procedures, and the management of safety, sanitation, and security, and then branch out into either the fundamentals of cooking or baking. Completing either the cooking or baking certificate program can gain you entrée into any commercial kitchen in the country.

In addition to accounting, cooking, and baking, popular certificate programs include Human Resource Management and Software Development programs. They generally range anywhere from 15 to 24 credit hours; many of them can be completed easily in two semesters, while you’re gaining work experience on your current job - a short-term commitment that can result in a dramatic shift in your career.

Before you can decide on an online school you have to decide which online degree program best suits your needs.

The actual degree programs are online certificates, an associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and an MBA degree, and doctoral degrees. The three the average online student is pursuing either a certificate, an associates, or a bachelor’s degree.

A certificate program is the fastest to obtain. The US News refers to certificate programs as mini-degrees. Certificates are used in industries such as financial planning, technology, food services, and criminal justice. A certificate program is fast paced and skill-centered. It can take anywhere from eight weeks to one year to complete a certificate program depending on what the student is studying. Studies show that students are two times more likely to finish certificate program then other students are to finish any of the other degree program.

It takes sixty credit hours to complete an associate’s degree sixty credit hours in a It’s the degree that most students get while attending community college. Many students who earn an associates degree later transfer to a bachelor’s program where the hours spent earning the degree can be applied directly to the total number of hours needed to finish the longer degree. If you are looking for a hospitality, or telecommunications and associates degree is a solid choice.

A bachelor’s degree is the most popular degree program. It requires between 120-128 credit hours, sixty of those hours can be transferred from an associates degree. People working in public administration, theology and divinit and human resources have bachelor’s degrees.

A recent study showed that people who had master’s degrees earned an average of two hundred dollars more a week then students that were content to settle for a bachelor’s degree. This prestigious degree requires anywhere from one to three years of graduate or post gradate study. In order to obtain a masters degree some students write a thesis while others are able to apply their work experience. In several careers, such as international business and technology, an on-line master’s degree garners more respect then master’s degrees earned through more traditional routes.

If a student is planning on starting their own business, specializing in a specific area, or competing in a global market, they may want to consider pursuing an MBA.

In a recent study done by the U.S. Census Bureau students that went on to earn a doctoral degree are earning an average of $37,265 more then their counterparts who simply earned their bachelor’s degrees. The doctoral degree is the highest possible level of education. It takes approximately five years to complete. In order for a student to earn their doctoral degree a write a publishable thesis, complete original research, and complete a course of study. Only one in one hundred Americans earn a doctoral degree. Doctoral degrees can be earned in fields such as business and public health.

To choose the degree program that best suits your needs decide how much time you can conceivably dedicate to your education.