Behaviour Tracking

By Guest Contributor

March 31, 2013

Tracking each pupil’s behaviour has become an important factor regarding a school’s behaviour policy. There are several methods of doing so and each school will have their own method of keeping track of this data. Popular methods include generating incident slips, produce referral forms or having each staff member having their own account of behaviour issues. However, modern methods have begun to replace these methods with CMS’s (Classroom Management Systems).

A CMS allows staff members to input behaviour issues into an electronic system – on their desktop, tablet or mobile, quickly and easily. Points systems are usually used in a CMS – positive behaviour results in positive points being awarded to a pupil whereas negative behaviour will deduct points from a pupil. This can be used to evaluate which pupils are causing issues in class and which deserve to be rewarded for making good progress.

Another useful feature of a Classroom Management System is that staff can write a note with each behaviour point awarded, detailing the behaviour issue in as many words as required. Staff are able to clearly explain the issue without being restricted as they would using slips or forms as well as logging the solution used to overcome the problem. From this data, the Head of Department can assess whether the staff member has allocated the correct praise or punishment depending on the pupils behaviour level and then compare that to the school behaviour policy.

If a staff member has not been following the school behaviour procedures correctly, they will then need to be retrained until they are entirely sure of making the correct decisions in these situations.

Parent involvement is always an important factor to improving a pupils behaviour. Parents are usually alerted to their child’s poor behaviour by the school, however this is only cases involving extreme or consistent poor levels of behaviour. Using a Classroom Management System, codes can be generated for parents of each child, these allow the parents to view their child’s behaviour online, daily and in real-time.

As all CMS activity is logged and dated, behaviour changes after applying the school’s behaviour policy depending on the policy infraction by the pupil, is easily viewed. Reports can also be generated automatically involving graphs, pie charts and attendance records to easily and quickly show data as well as produce quickly printed documents. The Head of Department would usually set a barrier or limit to the range of negative behaviour points applied before staff involvement may result in provisions (or interventions) being required.

If behaviour issues stem from certain sections of the class, a good CMS will include classroom management and allow the user to create a seating plan of the classroom and add their pupils to their desks. From here, the system offers the option to randomly shuffle the seating plan or apply filters to that shuffle such as gender separation, SEN requirements and overall scores.

Internships: Not Just for Kids

By Guest Contributor

December 11, 2012

For most people, the word “internship” conjures images of a flustered college student, juggling a handful of coffee cups and fighting with a copier. In the past, the term intern may have been synonymous with indentured servant, but today internships are far more structured and far more beneficial to those who want to build their resumes and get an insider’s look at their chosen industry.

One growing segment of the student population is taking advantage of internship opportunities more than ever before: adult graduate students. Adults who return to school for master of public health programs, business programs, and education or nursing are flocking to internships to gain real-world experience in their fields.

Why Adults Become Interns

In some cases, graduate students are required to complete internships as part of their master’s program, especially if they do not have a professional background in their area of study. Internships provide the opportunity for students to apply their new knowledge and skills to real-life situations, as well as build a network of contacts that could prove useful in their careers.

Not all adult interns are students, though. In some cases, professionals who have lost their jobs opt to take unpaid internships as a way to build experience in a new industry or to avoid having a gap in their employment history.

Issues for Adult Interns

Regardless of the reason an experienced professional decides to accept an unpaid internship, older interns face certain issues that younger apprentices may not face. For example:

“I Already Know How to Do That.” For experienced professionals, there are certain tasks or concepts that transcend the field or job type. However, when someone has several years of experience working, it’s easy for him or her to fall into the trap of becoming a know-it-all and failing to see the educational value in the tasks he or she is asked to complete. Adult interns need to be open to new knowledge, instruction and training — and have the ability to recognize when they should put their past experience behind them.
“This Is a Whole New World.” For those who have returned to school after being out of the workforce for some time, such as stay-at-home mothers who enroll in human services degree programs, the advances in technology and methods of working might be intimidating. In the past few years, for example, social media have become increasingly popular as business marketing and communications tools, and older interns may not always be comfortable using them. An internship is the ideal time to become familiar with such changes, though — and when a prospective employer asks about an applicant’s skills in those areas, she can answer with confidence.
“I’m Older Than My Boss.” Adults who work as interns, particularly in technology-based firms, might discover that they’re significantly older than their supervisor and co-workers. Although this might feel uncomfortable, it can actually be a benefit. Older interns can learn from their younger colleagues and build skills in working with a multigenerational team.
“People Think I’m Weird.” Because interns are traditionally younger college students, when an older, experienced intern joins the team, some might wonder why and make unfair assumptions about that person. Adult interns should be upfront about their reasons for interning, whether it’s because they are building experience as part of a degree program or simply testing the waters to determine whether a career change is a good choice before paying for education and training. Maintaining a good attitude and remaining open to learning opportunities are the most important parts of a successful internship at any age, so remain an example for the other workers and interns. If you’re truly uncomfortable, remember that internships are generally short-term, and you can move on to new opportunities in a few months.

Internships are an important part of any educational program — even for those who have several years of work experience. Interning as an adult does have its challenges, but as with many things in life, facing those challenges brings significant rewards. Don’t let your age or level of experience deter you from interning, take the opportunities as they are presented and get your new career on the right track.

Image from Flickr’s Creative Commons

Darla van Simon holds a master’s degree in human services and currently manages a community career counseling center. She has successfully helped develop several internship programs for older workers with major companies in her area.

How to Write a Winning Human Resources Resume

By Guest Contributor

November 20, 2012

Resume Many companies and organizations are expanding, meaning they’ll require the unique skill set of a well-educated and highly competent human resources representative. This fact, and your love of people, spurred you on to earning a master’s degree in human resources. The interview is lined up and you have your favorite suit pressed, but you aren’t sure how to write a resume that will highlight your accomplishments and educational background while making you stand out from the crowd? When it comes to writing a winning human resource resume, it’s all about being specific and knowing what kind of employee the company wants to hire.

Do Your Research

Before compiling your references or giving a second thought to your cover letter; research the company and the job description. Go over every aspect of the organization or company’s philosophy and keep them in mind while writing your first draft. For instance, if the company is well-established with a reputation for being no-nonsense and extremely professional, reflect similar attributes. A smaller, non-profit might be interested in past volunteer work instead of your affiliation with certain professional organizations.

Find a Great Template

Once again, you want your resume to stand out from the stack of similar white sheets of paper on a HR representative’s desk, but you also want it to appear well planned and professional. Many overlook the importance of a great resume template, so don’t hesitate to choose one that highlights your strengths. For instance, a straight chronological resume is great if your past work experience is vast. If you’d rather highlight your skills, a functional resume is the better option. This format allows you to draw attention to what you learned from your relevant previous job experiences rather than simply listing off the vast number of non-related positions you’ve held in the past.

Keep it Professional

Many individuals make the mistake of including too much personal information in their resume. There are a few exceptions to the rule, such as past volunteer work, but for the most part it’s important to keep it simple by only listing your educational history, past jobs and any certifications or training you possess.

Be Specific

Your first draft is filled with terms and phrases that are relevant to the human resources field. From “conflict management” to “general administration;” you’ve covered every attribute of a successful human resources employee. When it comes to creating a successful and noticeable human resources resume, it’s all about relevance and specifics. Let the HR representative know that you have past experience in hiring and firing or that in your last job you helped create human resources-specific software. Don’t be ashamed to highlight your past successes; just make sure you keep it pertinent to the human resources field.

Check, Double Check and Triple Check Everything

As with most aspects of life, your computer’s spellchecker is fallible. Before printing off your final draft, go over every word and sentence of your resume with a fine-toothed comb. The most obvious issues are spelling errors, but don’t forget to look for other common grammatical issues, as well. Read the resume out loud a few times to make sure it reads well and makes sense. Finally, check one last time that you’ve remembered to include your name, address and telephone number on the resume. Your credentials might be impressive, but there isn’t an HR representative in the world that will hunt you down if you forget to include your telephone number.

Get a Second Opinion

Print out a copy of your resume and hand it over to a past employer, colleague or knowledgeable friend and ask for a second opinion Take all of the criticism into consideration and don’t hesitate to use their suggestions to make your resume better. It’s equally important to also follow your instincts and only take to heart any suggestions you truly feel will improve your chances of landing the job.

It’s never a bad idea to include any additional degrees, certifications and training you possess, just once again make sure they’re relevant. For instance, your certification in CPR might not impress anyone, but that masters in project management will definitely pique a HR representative’s interest.

Stewart Jacobson is a contributing blogger and full-time student for his masters degree in human resources. When Stewart isn’t studying or writing, he can be found working part-time as a project manager for a small construction company.

Getting the most out of your computer

By Guest Contributor

September 19, 2012

Many people don’t try to push the limits of the capabilities of their computers. They use them for simple, run-of-the-mill tasks and nothing more. Gamers are usually the ones that figure out the limitations of their systems before anyone else. They have to stretch their system’s power to play the latest and greatest computer games out there. The computer manufacturers get the most business out of gamers in terms of upgrading their systems or purchasing new ones. When upgrading your computer, you should go above and beyond the commonplace system capabilities. This approach will prevent you from having to upgrade your system in the near future. Your upgraded system might seem faster than you need right now; however, it won’t seem that way in a year or few years. It has to catch up with the current developments in the computing world. The differences between the newest models and the ones that came before them are becoming less and less significant. Now, you will be able to keep the same model for a couple more years without having to worry about its obsolescence.

Choosing the Right Computer

The best way to come up with your super computer is to have someone make it for you. When you choose a computer that comes off the line from a manufacturer, you’re limited by what they want to include in their computers. With a customized computer, you can make your computer as weak or as powerful as you want. There are limitations to the amount of power that you can put into a system, but they’re becoming less prevalent as times go on. The cap for the amount of speed you can get from a computer that’s straight from the manufacturer is about 4 GB of RAM. You can get up to 16 GB of RAM with a customized computer and that’s the minimum. If you wanted to go higher, the store you decided to buy your computer from would find a way to make it work. The requirements that go into new computer games keep getting more extravagant in an effort to top previous installments. Get something like a Dell alienware.com.au computer.

Choosing the Right Monitor

Once you have the inner workings of your computer in place, you have to pick out the best monitor to view your games and the other things you do on a computer. Naturally, you’re limited to what’s available in the world of flat screen monitors since CRT monitors fell out of favor years ago. The best type of monitor out there is an LCD one. You also have plasma and touch screen monitors to choose from, but the technology associated with these accessories is underdeveloped and far too expensive. Touch screen monitors hold a lot of promise because they combine all of the equipment needed to operate a machine into one unit like a tablet computer. They’re still too unreliable to justify the amount that you have to pay to bring them home. You could take your chances with them, but you have to remember that there are going to be some hiccups.

Traditional or Online? Which College is Right for You?

By Guest Contributor

June 11, 2012

If you’re part of the class of 2012, you’re in the midst of deciding your future! Today’s entering freshman have more choices than ever. Unlike generations before you, you have the choice of entering an online university to complete your degree. Even though online programs are a fantastic option, they aren’t for everyone. Here are five questions to ask yourself when you’re choosing between a traditional college and one that is entirely online:

Can I Teach Myself?

For some students, the flexibility of an online education is beneficial. Other students find it difficult to keep themselves on track with their studies. While you can contact your professors and fellow students via email, it’s quite different than spending time with them face to face. An online program requires that you are able to take an active part in your learning in the physical absence of a professor.

Will I Receive a Quality Education?

You can absolutely receive a quality education from an online college or university. Look for a school that is accredited to be sure that they are following standards. Accreditation also ensures that your credits will transfer with you should you choose to change schools in the future.

What if I’m Too Busy?

If you have outside obligations that you are afraid may interfere with your studies, an online program may be exactly what you need. Rather than driving to campus on certain days to attend class at a set time, you can “attend” class when it is convenient for you. For students who have full-time jobs or children, online schools offer a range of flexibility that can’t be found at a traditional college.

What do Graduation Rates Look Like?

Research has shown that students who attend an online college are more likely to drop out before graduation. The reason for this can be attributed to different factors. Some students find that the technical requirements of attending an online program are too difficult to grasp. Other students need a more disciplined setting in order to successfully complete their program. Only you know if you’ve got what it takes to make it to graduation!

How Much Does an Online College Cost?

Ultimately, you will pay less to attend an online college. While tuition rates are comparable to that of a traditional school, you will save money by not having to live in a dorm, not having to commute and not being required to purchase a menu plan. Not having to pay for these things can make an online college thousands of dollars cheaper than a traditional school!

An online college is a great choice for many people. Online schools cost less, are more flexible and can be attended in the comfort of your own home. For other students, a traditional college provides the stability and discipline that they need to have in order to succeed.

At the end of the day, you know yourself best. You’ve got to decide if your lifestyle lends itself to a traditional college or an online school. Are you organized? Are you disciplined? If you are, an online college may be just what you’ve been looking for.

Angela Paxton writes for several higher ed blogs. To read more about online degrees click here.