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The top non-tuition costs of college education

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Image source: onlinecolleges.net Attending college is a major investment, and tuition fees make up only a portion of the overall costs of college education. In this article, <a href=" https://independent.academia.edu/VictorRestis"> Victor Restis</a> discusses the other expenses that aspiring college students must prepare for before they take the next step in their academic careers.   Lodging and Transportation In most cases, the non-tuition costs that have plagued numerous college students over the years are housing and transportation. A study by the Consumer Expenditure Surveys from 2014-2018 shows that older college students spend an estimate of $12,400 per year on housing and $6,300 on transportation. Students can mitigate these expenses by opting to look for a college in-state and living at home instead of choosing to live in student housing, says Victor Restis. Of course, a tradeoff in residing in one’s own home is the additional transportation costs ...

The cost of studying engineering in the UK

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Image source: studying-in-uk.org Freelance writer Victor Restis has built a following of readers because of his passion for education. He has made it his own goal to document university education in and around the country. In this blog post, he talks about the cost of pursuing a degree in engineering in the UK. If you are planning on pursuing a university degree in Engineering, you might want to consider heading to the UK. Before you proceed, it would be helpful to consider some of these details about the cost of such a prospect. 1. Studying engineering in the UK is quite costly. It is a known fact that the UK offers quality education in engineering, which certainly comes at a hefty cost, shares Victor Restis. According to a recently conducted survey, the tuition fee for studying a degree related to engineering in the UK may cost as much as £9000 per annum. Image source: isc.surrey.ac.uk 2. The cost of living in the UK is high. Student board and lodging in th...

School hunting: Tips on how to look for an affordable college

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I mage source: procon.org College is quite an expensive investment. As a result, many have fallen into student debt holes to pursue secondary education. It has even become a full-blown crisis, with Americans owing a total of $1.73 billion because of student loans. Victor Restis , who has been in the education sector for many years, has seen some students get scared away from applying to college due to extreme costs. Some of them are even eligible for financial aid. But the prospect of being unable to pay off debts is enough to stop them from enrolling in the universities and colleges they prefer. I mage source: unsplash.com Even so, the reality is that obtaining a college degree is still one of the most reliable means to get ahead financially. Skipping college can end up costing more money down the road because of potentially lost wages. For cash-strapped individuals and families, there are ways to look for an affordable college. Victor Restis discusses some of them in this blog. ...

Some things that you need to know about studying in the US

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Image source: stoodnt.com Blogger Victor Restis has earned a reputation as one of the keenest observers of the educational system. He shares his ideas through his blogs and his social media channels. Many students from abroad aspire to study in America each year. This blog is for them to be more informed about education in America. 1. The Ivy League goal Many prospecting students think that the only way to get a successful education in America is to get a degree from any of its foremost Ivy League Universities. While it's true that these institutions have quality and prestige attached to their reputations, 4,000 other universities offer very competitive programs, shares Victor Restis. You can do your research and see if they offer something that suits you well, and saves you money, too. Image source: chicagotribune.com 2. The reality of choosing your major It is common in schools outside of America to commit to a specific major right in your first year in college....

How should higher education professionals improve their online learning systems?

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Image source: Unsplash.com Higher education institutions are always looking for ways to improve their learning systems, and there is always room to innovate. Education professional Victor Restis shares that there are many ways higher education professionals can enhance their online learning systems to provide the best possible educational experience to students. They can also strive to create an engaging and interactive curriculum and what technologies could help make the classroom feel more real-time. Combat "Zoom fatigue" by cutting down hours for videoconferencing Teachers and students alike are going through videoconferencing fatigue. Hours of conducting and listening to an online lecture can be taxing if a person stays in one room for hours. Others might find the setup difficult, especially when they always experience technical difficulties. For teachers, it can also be twice as hard to check on how students are doing. So instead of conducting classes on vide...

The best engineering universities to consider today

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Image source: latimes.com Because of his expertise in education in the country, , Victor Restis has a grasp of where to get the best educational offerings in any known industry or field of study. In this blog post, he shares the best places to study engineering in the country. 1. California Institute of Technology In 1891, Throop University was founded, but since 1921, it renamed itself the California Institute of Technology. More commonly referred to as Caltech, it has been one of the most successful universities in engineering and science through its six academic divisions. However, it only serves about 2,000 students each year, and it is characterized by a 3-1 faculty ratio, notes Victor Restis. Their more notable course offerings are electrical engineering, engineering and applied science, and mechanical engineering. 2. Carnegie Mellon University Image source: today.duke.edu Getting part of its name from its benefactor Andrew Carnegie, CMU started as a technical sc...

A few important points when giving online lectures

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According to Victor Restis , even with schools opening up again, it’s very informative to look back at the past months and see how people succeeded in their professions.   Image source: Pexels.com For today, educator Victor Restis shares the strategies teachers used when giving successful lectures online. He says that these two points can be used by most anyone who plan to give online lectures. Don’t underestimate the importance of advance information. Aside from reminding audiences that they can always check the advanced reading or the course syllabus, lecturers can preview their lessons in the discussion groups or in the last minutes of the online class. One of the main reasons students stop paying attention is because they can no longer relate to the discussion. Giving students a heads up at least a day before will allow them to read up a bit and do an online research. Image source: Pexels.com Victor Restis emphasizes the importance of the audience being proactive...

College and career readiness in the US

K-12 builds a solid foundation for students before entering college and eventually finding jobs that will suit their skills. But US education writer Victor Restis wonders about the readiness of these students. First, what exactly does college readiness means, and to a significant extent, career readiness? Victor Restis explains that college readiness refers to a high school student's skills, knowledge, and behavior once they graduate and are about to enter college. It seems simple, isn't it? But as everybody knows, college readiness goes a long way than merely acquiring a diploma and having a passing grade from an accredited high school. And what about career readiness? Where does this fall into the picture? Victor Restis notes the frequent pairing of college and career readiness due to the belief that these two distinct goals are equally important and that a rigorous college preparation involves a program that will prepare students for the workforce. He furthe...

What we should know about flipped learning

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Image source: advancementcourses.com Blended learning has become a hot topic these days as educators discuss ways on how the education system will cope with the new normal. Freelance writer and education expert Victor Restis says that among the blended learning types that is getting some attention is the ‘flipped learning’ concept because of its radical way of reversing the current setup of traditional teaching. Victor Restis explains that the old way of teaching focuses around the teacher bringing the lecture to the class, presenting its content, answering queries, and giving homework. This method is largely seen as rather passive and ineffective, as only 20% of information gets absorbed by students. Moreover, homework activity is no assurance at all that students will master what was taught in class due to the absence of a teacher to guide them. Flipped learning relies on technology to deliver content for students to learn at home, says Victor Restis. He clarifies thoug...

The top pre-med major options that you can take in America

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Image source: berry.edu Each year, thousands of American high school seniors apply for various colleges and universities, which Victor Restis likes to refer to as one of the most important stages of their lives. Some of these kids aspire to be doctors, which certainly affects their efforts in choosing a school and a major. This blog shares the top pre-med major options that you can take in America. 1. Biological Sciences Based on the statistics from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), over half of medical school applicants major in the biological sciences. Truly, among all the courses that are available, nothing is more similar to medicine than biology-oriented studies. You can surely take your pick from a diversity of science majors such as neuroscience, physiology, medical science, microbiology, zoology, and biotechnology, adds Victor Restis. 2. Physical Sciences If you enter the physical sciences, you may see less of the parallels in medicine that you w...

Choosing a course in college: How to do it right

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Image source: npr.org According to Victor Restis , many students encounter challenges in choosing the school they would like to earn their bachelor's degree in. Those who search for academic pursuits are naturally at risk of making some crucial mistakes, which can truly be lessened or avoided altogether by doing several things right. The most important thing to ask yourself when you are faced with an option or a potential course to study is if you really like it. Of course, this may be a bit of a challenge proven by the thousands of students who say that they don't know which course to take, shares Victor Restis. If you don't know what course to take, you need to read up on various types of literature. Many students are simply unaware of what the outside world has to offer, which can possibly be causing confusion or a lack of initiative on your part. In any case, you can always seek the help of the guidance office to help you choose the kind of course that suits y...

The state of mental health of US students in the pandemic era

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Image source: googleusercontent.com College health professionals are monitoring students in America. Their state of mental health have dipped significantly as an effect of the covid-19 health crisis. This is a worrisome trend, says freelance writer Victor Restis , who is also an expert on US education. This article attempts to uncover this other health crisis among the youth that could have serious consequences if not mediated. In a research of undergraduate students in New Jersey, a result of its findings cited issues such as “ability to focus on academic work” (73.5%) and “difficulties with online learning” (58.6%) among others. Difficulties with everyday life include “obtaining hygiene supplies and medications” (59.3%), and “losing job/work hours/reduced wages” (56.8%). “Difficulties in getting food” (22.2%) among a number of students were also cited, as well as (66.7%) participants greatly concerned about Covid-19. Victor Restis adds that study participants even reported ex...

A look at Jolly Phonics as a way to learn speech

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 Education is an interesting topic, especially when examined in terms of how it has evolved throughout the decades. Victor Restis follows this closely as it shapes America. Today, he shares about one of the more interesting developments that many American students are learning with, Jolly Phonics. Image source: youtube.com In general, phonics is understood as a method of teaching people how to read and write an alphabetic language. What sets it apart is its unique way of demonstrating the relationship between the sounds of language (phonemes) and the letters or groups of letters (graphemes) or the syllables of the written language. Exposing oneself to different sounds as a basis to build on speech development, and later, language itself, is a very sensible learning framework, shares Victor Restis. However, phonics was criticized for being relatively lackluster, and many students reported losing interest in their learning of the subject matter. Image source: indoindians.com Joll...

The value of appreciation in learning and teaching

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Image source: understood.org   Anyone who has ever felt forgotten or unvalued knows the struggle of having to keep moving on an empty tank. Regardless of a person’s status, the desire to be appreciated is always present. In learning, being appreciated by one’s teacher motivates them to dig deeper into the skill or knowledge. When teachers are appreciated by their students and colleagues, they are encouraged to do more. Appreciating a student lets them know of their value in the class and the impact they make in a teacher’s life, says Victor Restis . Appreciation acknowledges the efforts of students and encourages them to improve and become more inquisitive. For some, getting into teaching means diving into a thankless job. Teachers produce the leaders of tomorrow; showing appreciation to educators reassures them of the good they do for the society. Image source: gettingsmart.com In both learning and teaching, bad days are inevitable. During times when it’s difficult to...

Online learning: Three tips that will boost a student's focus

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Unsplash.com  Not all students are prepared for online learning. With technical challenges and other important matters at home, sometimes it can be tough to stay interested on studying. Education professional Victor Restis shares some tips that will help boost a student's focus in this new normal set-up. Designate a space Even if it's just a corner in a room, a student must have a designated space at home where they can do their schoolwork without distractions. As much as possible, Victor Restis suggests avoiding the bed to avoid associating a place of rest with work and study. A corner with a desk, chair, good lighting, and proper ventilation is always a safe choice for a study area. Take notes during the lecture Many teachers provide notes for their students after their online session. They also provide copies of the required reading beforehand to allow students to prepare for their lesson. To boost focus, taking notes can help. Instead of just watching the lecture, writi...

How teachers can overcome classroom stage fright

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Image source: nea.org  If you had a classmate who had difficulty talking in front of the class, note that they grew up to become adults with full-time jobs. Some of those shy kids could even turn up to class one day but as an educator. However, it's not unheard of to have a first-time teacher having stage fright in front of a small class. According to Victor Restis, stage fright among first-time teachers happens a lot, especially for substitute teachers who are just filling in for a day or two. But if you are planning to be a teacher but have fears talking in front of a class, here are some tips to help you overcome classroom stage fright. Prepare your body beforehand If you feel like your body is stiff, take a quick bathroom break to make yourself looser and comfortable. Jump a few times, shake your limbs, force yourself to laugh, and get your blood circulating. This can help eject any nervous tension you might have. Stop yourself from freezing Freezing while in the middle of ...

Why the public education system needs to be put front and center

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Image source: npesf.org While Victor Restis primarily focuses on higher education in the U.S., he believes that the public education system in the country plays a huge role in the entire education system. Public education is essential to so solving so many of the major issues that the U.S. faces today. In fact, Victor Restis believes what so many other experts believe – that public education plays a vital role in protecting the American way of life. The problem is that public education is hardly at the top of the priority list in America's political climate. Some may say that it's even largely ignored. And this is a shame, really, because public education needs to be addressed more often on the local, state, and federal levels. It deserves to be. It demands to be. Public school education is responsible for teaching generations of Americans to think for themselves, to prepare themselves for the challenges that await them in the future. Millions of Americans today, working an...

Homeschooling: What parents need to know

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After several months of trying to prevent the spread of the disease, the national government is still unable to come up with a plan on how to safely open institutions like schools. The ones that reopened too early reported dozens of cases where students and faculty contracted the Coronavirus in campus. This is why a lot of concerned parents are looking to other options like homeschooling. According to Victor Restis, homeschooling is already an established form of early education and could be worth looking into while educational institutions are still closed or struggling to open as safely as they could. If you are currently weighing your options, here is what you need to know about homeschooling. First off, parents don’t need to be subject matter experts. They just need good source materials that are easy to understand. Parents should also be more active in participating in the learning/teaching experience as opposed to handing them material to read. Victor Restis suggests parents shou...

K-12 education in America

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Image source: brookings.edu One of the most widely renowned systems of education all over the world is the K-12, which is a series of academic levels from kindergarten through 12th grade. Today, Victor Restis explores its roots in American history. It was only in the late 18th century that public education became a catchphrase in the United States. Generally, people had to pay for education around that time, and it couldn’t be helped but become rather discriminatory. In 1790, Pennsylvania was the first state to require free education for those who couldn’t afford it. Several years later, New York followed suit by way of legislation. By 1820, Massachusetts became the pioneer in tuition-free high school education known as Boston English. K-12 was first formed in public systems in the early 19th century. Around the 1830s, Ohio took an interest in public school education. However, this time was also characterized by highly independent school systems across different states....

How can educators deal with bullies?

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Image source: irishtimes.com Bullying has been a pandemic in schools for several decades now. And while the educational system has made leaps and bounds in terms of deterring school bullying, times have changed, and so did the idea of bullying. Students can be bullied anywhere -- in their classrooms, school hallways, in the gym, in the locker rooms, in the parking lot, and even in the comfort of their own home with the proliferation of cyberbullying, notes Victor Restis , who has written about the education sector for years. Thankfully, educators are doing what they can to foster a better relationship among students and deal with potential red flags. Here are some ways educators deal with bullies.   No tolerance policies Image source: whyy.org At the start of the school year, a teacher can list down behavior which they will not tolerate. Any violations of these demands will warrant a trip to detention. But besides making a list, the educator should explai...