Correspondence courses toward my history degree
Shelly Tong
Hello,
I'm starting correspondence courses this fall. Finally going back
for that history degree, hoping to eventually become a teacher like
I always wanted. The kids will both be in school, so it's finally
time. I have a couple questions I'm hoping someone here can answer.
First, Can you offer any advice that will make the distance
learning process easier? I'm worried about maintaining my
motivation since I won't actually be attending classes. I'm also
worried about not having much contact with the professors. Any
experienced correspondence students here have tips for me?
Second, Computer stuff. I'm thinking about upgrading to Office XP
from Office 2000 in order to have an easier time writing papers.
Has anyone here upgraded, and if so, what do you think of it? Was
installation easy? I figure the easier it is for me to do my
homework, the likelier it is I'll do it. I already have DSL, so
connection isn't a problem.
Third, an ignorant question for the educators among you. Is it
necessary to concentrate on American history in order to become a
high school teacher? For instance, if I concentrated on European
history, will I have a harder time getting a job when I graduate?
TIA,
Shelly
remove * for email
John Bear
on distance learning, I quote the wonderful Dear Abby line. Someone
wrote her saying, in effect, "I'm thinking about starting my degree, but
I'm 37 years old, and if I do this, it'll take four years, and I'll be
41." She replied, "And how old will you be in four years if you *don't*
do the degree?"
Motivation is the biggie. There are data that suggest that about 2/3rds
of people who start distance degrees don't finish -- not because they
can't do the work, but because they don't do the work, despite the best
of intentions.
My wife did her Master's entirely by correspondence (Cal State,
Dominguez Hills, offered in history, philosophy, art, music, and
religion), and there were many times when the choice between reading
that chapter or writing that paper were in direct competition with
helping a child or painting a wall or going to dinner, whatever. The
only solution that worked for her was deciding to do it in as close to
'real time' as possible, and budgeted her time accordingly. If a course
on campus would take 16 weeks, she determined to do her home study one
in 16 weeks. And everyone she knew became a kind of support group: "Are
you sure you want to go to that meeting -- don't you have a paper to
write?"
You might get some very specific and helpful replies on the large and
very active forum called http://www.degreeinfo.com
Best wishes in your quest.
John Bear
Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning
http://www.degree.net
Tish Wolfe
schedule for reading, study, writing with deadline dates for sending
assignments. And often you can have some good interaction with the
instructors. Try sending a cover letter with your first assignment to tell
the prof something about yourself and your reasons for taking the course.
Ask if it would be possible to schedule a phone call if you have questions
about how to proceed with an assignment. With subsequent lessons, include a
note about readings you found especially interesting or questions you found
puzzling. Ask for suggestions for further reading and research.
Charlie Sellers
*shell...@4hermail.com says...
> Second, Computer stuff. I'm thinking about upgrading to Office XP
> from Office 2000 in order to have an easier time writing papers.
> Has anyone here upgraded, and if so, what do you think of it? Was
> installation easy? I figure the easier it is for me to do my
> homework, the likelier it is I'll do it. I already have DSL, so
> connection isn't a problem.
>
> Third, an ignorant question for the educators among you. Is it
> necessary to concentrate on American history in order to become a
> high school teacher? For instance, if I concentrated on European
> history, will I have a harder time getting a job when I graduate?
Although it's good for kids to get a basic grounding in world
history, I feel that American history is the most important aspect
of the subject for them to learn in high school in order to become
responsible citizens. I don't know about requirements/hiring
preferences, but they probably vary from state to state. I looked
into getting a teaching certificate when I was in college in IL,
and I know it required several units of American history for ANY
kind of teaching. As, I think, it should.
As far as Office XP goes, I recommend that you sign up for the
month trial period. It's only $10, and you'll be able to see if
it's worth the cost of upgrade for you. I have it myself, and am
very satisfied. One note, since you're going back to school-an
educational discount is available on XP. Probably worth checking
into.
Charlie
{{{ History repeats itself whether we forget it or not. }}}
Change got to hot for my correct email address.
Hubbard C. Goodrich
> Hello,
>
[snip]
>
> First, Can you offer any advice that will make the distance
> learning process easier? I'm worried about maintaining my
> motivation since I won't actually be attending classes. I'm also
> worried about not having much contact with the professors. Any
> experienced correspondence students here have tips for me?
>
Personal and student motivation: both can be maintained, I think, by
trying to advance your own historical interests and to anticipate
student interests while also satisfying course requirements. History
can be deathly dull (it was for me in highschool and college), but if
you try to do more than "generals, presidents, and dates" you might
stimulate yourself and your pupils. For example, you might do more in
women's studies, you might question why New England differed from
Virginia from the early 16th century, you might study Indian
treatment, the Tory arguments against the Revolution, the southern
position in the Civil War, cooking in Colonial America and etc. Be a
contrarian and offer opinions that might differ from that of the
textbook (and possibly your own).
> Third, an ignorant question for the educators among you. Is it
> necessary to concentrate on American history in order to become a
> high school teacher? For instance, if I concentrated on European
> history, will I have a harder time getting a job when I graduate?
American History provides the most likely avenue to employment, but
as a 'world historian'I hope you will not ignore history at large. It
can maintain your own sanity. For example, I was stimulated by an
answer given by my daughter's history teacher "why Europe rose and not
Asia". Her teacher said it was "the climate." I took exception to
the response and read more deeply into the history of 14-15 century
China and India, the explorations of Adm He from China to Africa, and
the subsequent 'isolationism' of the Ming dynasty just as the
Portuguese were entering the Indian Ocean. What might this tell us
about the impact of isolationism in America? Also, a section on
slavery in America led me to examine slavery throughout the world: how
it began, how it is defined, where slaves came from and etc. What is
the impact of oral 'history' or historical 'truth'? While doing all
this reading takes time, it keeps the brain alive and often helps you
answer those pesky aside questions students (and your own children)
keep raising.
Hope this is of some help.
Hubby G.
>
> TIA,
> Shelly
>
Freddie Newsgroup
The first rule, is set aside a regular time slot to work in. Make sure you
keep in contact with the tutor.
The usual rules about University still apply. The history is always the way
the professor or university wants it to be. The text books are outdated and
the research in them is outdated, or done to prove a theory already adopted
by the writer, or to be politically correct.
"Hubbard C. Goodrich" <hcgoo...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b18532eb.02071...@posting.google.com...
Robert Chapman
hcgoo...@hotmail.com (Hubbard C. Goodrich) wrote:
> American History provides the most likely avenue to employment, but
> as a 'world historian'I hope you will not ignore history at large. It
> can maintain your own sanity. For example, I was stimulated by an
> answer given by my daughter's history teacher "why Europe rose and not
> Asia". Her teacher said it was "the climate."
Horrific!
> I took exception to
> the response and read more deeply into the history of 14-15 century
> China and India, the explorations of Adm He from China to Africa, and
> the subsequent 'isolationism' of the Ming dynasty just as the
> Portuguese were entering the Indian Ocean. What might this tell us
> about the impact of isolationism in America?
This was VERY different to what happended in China. There is a huge
difference between simply avoiding political and military involvement
around the world and in rejecting all contact, trade, ideas and
relationships with the rest of the world. Throughout the so-called
isolationist period the USA was the world's leader in the latter areas
and it was on that basis that their success in that period (and other
periods) rested.
Rob
John Gilmer
> This was VERY different to what happended in China. There is a huge
> difference between simply avoiding political and military involvement
> around the world and in rejecting all contact, trade, ideas and
> relationships with the rest of the world. Throughout the so-called
> isolationist period the USA was the world's leader in the latter areas
> and it was on that basis that their success in that period (and other
> periods) rested.
Exactly!
Calling the US "isolationist" is to ignore reality.