February 22, 2012

Teacher Awards

Teacher BHodge

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There are many awards available for teachers who are great at what they do and inspire their students to learn. Two of those awards are the National Teacher of the Year Award, and the National Teachers Hall of Fame Award.

National Teacher of the Year Award

This award, which began in 1952, aims to reward excellence in teaching. It was devised by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The selection process operates by students, principals, teachers and administrators nominating their favorite teacher to receive the award. A winner is selected for each state of the United States, as well as the:

  • District of Colombia
  • American Samoa
  • Guam
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • U.S. Virgin Islands

Out of these state and territory winners, four finalists are chosen for the ultimate award. The winner is then chosen by a panel of experts who look for:

  • inspirational teachers
  • respectful teachers
  • teachers who are active within the community

The award is given at a ceremony held in the White house Rose Garden and is presented by the President of the United States.

National Teachers Hall of Fame Award

The hall of fame also aims to recognize excellence in teaching. Founded in 1989 it is committed to spotlighting hard-working and inspiring teachers who make a difference in the lives of their students.

Each year the hall of fame recognizes five teachers. So far, 100 teachers have been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

Recognizing hard-working teachers who are committed to education and inspiring children is important.

 

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Academic Majors

An academic major is what an educational institution uses to refer to a student’s main field of study, or his or her specialization. The term is used for the most part by colleges and universities to refer to the area separate to a person’s core studies in his or her undergraduate degree.

Many students choose their major before commencing their undergraduate degree. However it is not a fixed part of a degree and can be changed if the student decides to study something different, or if they have not completely decided on a fixed career path upon commencement of university.

When choosing a major, a student needs to think about what areas of employment are appealing to them after graduation from university. For example, a student in high school is thinking of becoming a video game designer. This student will more than likely be required to complete an art or multimedia based degree with an academic major of game designing.

Or, a student who is one semester into university decides they no longer want to study the history of art, and instead want to study journalism instead. This student would then change their major to a more appropriate one, in which they can then progress their career towards becoming a journalist.

Choosing an academic major for university does not have to be a final decision. Many universities are very flexible and allow the student the opportunity to change majors and to follow an academic path that will lead them to the career of their dreams.

 

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Higher Education

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Higher education, also called post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to any level of education that taught at an educational institution above the level of high school.

Higher education in the United States is among the best in the world. With many students from different countries attending college across a range of universities.

Such institutions include the following.

  • Universities
  • Colleges
  • Academies
  • Seminaries
  • Institutes of technology (independent colleges)
  • Vocational schools
  • Trade schools
  • Career colleges
  • Community colleges

All of these schools award students who complete the required number of credits wither an academic degree or a professional certification. They are commonly referred to collectively as tertiary institutions; however the term ‘tertiary education’ is not commonly used in the United States or Canada.

Higher education institutions include the following areas.

  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Applied work (such as the applied work in medical school)
  • Social service activities

Getting into a university or other higher education institution in the United States is competitive. Most teenagers start the preparations for college admission in the early years of high school. This is because the marks that a student gets in the later years of high school go on an academic record which is then assessed by a universities admission panel. In order to prepare appropriately, a high school student needs to make a choice early on as to which area of study they wish to pursue in higher education.

Higher education in the United States has given many people the opportunity to progress their learning further and to pursue a fulfilling career.

 

 

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