Easiest Masters Degree of Education?

Re: Re: Easiest Masters Degree of Education?

I have to respect how Gus feels here. I am in college to learn and improve my ability to perform my profession. I didn't have to go back to school, but I chose to. I wish I had the financial wherewithal, the time, and opportunity to go to a prestigious brick and mortar university. I am in school to learn and improve.

I understand that today's demands are " get more and get it yesterday" and I am no one to judge.

I only can say I agree with Gus. We are losing sight of why
we are going to college universities. It should be to learn.

 

Yea right!

Most people get degrees for advancement, and recognition. If you wanted to just learn would you truly go about it in the way that your degree program steers you? I would not.

If I wanted to learn to teach I would be big on learning teaching methods, curriculum developement, and multimedia presentation. I would much rather spend time learning HTML, Javascript, and Authorware, so I would be able to create computer based training rather than taking applied public relations.

 

plcscott wrote:

> Most people get degrees for advancement, and recognition.
> If you wanted to just learn would you truly go about it in the
> way that your degree program steers you? I would not.

Hear, hear! -- with one proviso.

If you're an 18-year-old going for a Bachelor's degree, or a 22-year-old going for a Master's degree, I understand that your learning plan may be a bit vague ("I want to learn biochemistry"), and the university may have to spoonfeed you on the details.

But if you're more mature, I'd expect you to know in detail what you want to learn, and how to go about learning it. The university's function is then to certify that you've learned it.

c.novick wrote:

> We are losing sight of why we are going to college universities.
> It should be to learn.

Yes, it should. I love universities for the marvelous learning resources that they have.

But strangely enough, the less time you spend fufilling the requirements, the more time you have left to learn things that in your own judgement will be useful or interesting to you. Don't let your schooling interfere with your education, and all that.

 

Re: Easy masters reply

And a very well-informed opinion it is, too. However, I am not one of DegreeInfo’s most prolific posters, not by a long shot.

Why is that sad? If this is the prevailing wisdom, could it be that there is some truth to it? Could it be that the only thing that prevents this from being true is that many teachers purposely don’t choose programs that will prepare them to be the best they can be in their chosen field, and instead choose programs on the basis of what’s easiest or quickest? That was precisely my point. For example, I have a friend who chose to specialize in teaching gifted children. Another did her Master’s thesis on the special needs of immigrant children. Yet another did a Masters degree in an unrelated subject (the school district pays extra for the graduate degree regardless of major) and felt that the process itself (being a student, learning new things), made him more empathetic, curtailed burnout, and gave him a fresher perspective on the learning process. My daughter was in his class and his excitement for learning was contagious.

I don’t disagree. However, I have also pulled one of my children out of a classroom (and consequently the school) because two out every three statements the teacher would make contained egregious grammatical errors. She too, had been “Teacher of the Year” (who votes for these things, anyway?). The truth is, it is almost impossible to get rid of incompetent teachers and the teacher shortage only makes things worse.

I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Do you mean that the individual teacher determines what is learned, or is it the individual student? The teacher, at best determines what is taught, not learned. Moreover, in most school districts the teacher does not determine what is taught, but only (within strict limitations) how.

Coincidentally, most school districts and most parents would also favor outcomes-based compensation. Unfortunately, the teachers (backed by their powerful unions) are dead set against it.

Sure. My thoughts are as follows.

First, "easiest" is a subjective term and its definition varies from individual to individual. Only you can determine what is easiest for you. For some, especially those with an already hectic schedule, it is a leisurely pace, for others quickest and easiest are synonymous.

Second, contrary to what some may think, I am not in favor of unnecessary difficulty. I believe my point was clear. Ease and difficulty should take a back seat to acquiring the knowledge and skills that will permit you to excel in your chosen profession or avocation. It just might be that an easier program might do just that. But then again, what is easy for one person may be difficult for another.

Third, regardless of what program you choose, I am sure it will involve a certain expenditure of time, money and effort. Invariably, somewhere along in the program, the time will come when you will have to dredge up a modicum of inner fortitude in order to persist. At that time, it will help immeasurably if you did not consider the school you chose to attend an "accredited degree mill."

No. And I forgive you, my son, for thou art truly a newbie.

This is has been the motto of snake oil salesmen and charming (albeit despotic) dictators throughout history. I also think it is the mission statement for Domino’s Pizza.

 

Stop picking on Tom Monaghan. He's just another Michigan guy (with the hots for Debbie Reynolds, as he said in a strange interview with one of the Detroit papers a while back).

 

One of the biggest problems in education is the way teachers are paid. There is no incentive for a teacher to be a great teacher other than his or her own motivation. If you have a bachelor degree, and you have five years experience you make the same as any other teacher at that school with a bachelor degree and five years of experience.

In the real world people are evaluated on their credentials, and their performance. I have a guy that works for me now that has no credentials, but he has skills and a great attitude. He will do what he is asked, and go the extra mile when doing it. I also have a guy that is a licensed master electrician, and has more experience than the other guy, but they are not comparable as far as capabilities, and attitude. Who do you think I pay more? I objectively evaluate my employees on attendance, attitude, and capabilities. The guy with the license knows why he makes less, but does not choose to change it. He can bitch about it, and throw up his license, but if I ask him to stay over and make sure a job is completed, or to work overtime he wants to make every excuse not to. You can see the same comparison between two teachers.

If objective evaluations can be done in the private sector then they could be done in the public education sector. Then as Greg points out if he does an outstanding job he could be rewarded. If he wants to take seminars to learn something new and valuable he could be rewarded instead of being paid by a chart.

 

Greg

Here are some education programs from Jonnie's Distance Learning Page.

http://www.geocities.com/liu_jonathan/dledu.html

With Gus, my favorite question is "and Gus where did your veritable cornocupia of degrees come from?" Still waiting.

 

Doctorate of Delivery, Domino's Pizza ?

 

As I am still waiting for you to tell me why it would be in the best interests of my family and me to divulge this information in a public forum. In other words, what’s the relevance and how would I benefit?

If I ever thought there was the potential for a conflict of interest in my statements and comments, I would, of course, in the interest of full disclosure, reveal my affiliations.

 

Standard millspeak!!

What if others think there is potential for a conflict of interest?

 

Gus

You choose to make yourself a public figure by participating in a public forum.

You spare no effort in criticizing others.

When questions come back to you, confidentiality reigns supreme.

Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to crawl in a hole out the public spotlight for that privacy you cherish.

By By Gus

 

I'm with Gus.

Dennis Ruhl writes:

> You choose to make yourself a public figure by participating
> in a public forum.

As I understand the law, being a "public figure" causes an individual to lose certain rights that he would otherwise have against "invasion of privacy." So if somebody else discovered Gus's credentials and published them, Gus might have less recourse by virtue of his being a "public figure." But being a "public figure" doesn't force Gus to answer any question he doesn't want to!

> You spare no effort in criticizing others.

Gus (like me) thinks it's unethical to claim degrees one hasn't earned, and that's where most of his criticism is directed. If Gus doesn't claim any degrees at all, that's perfectly ethical, whether or not he's earned any.

> When questions come back to you, confidentiality reigns
> supreme.

Can you give examples of Gus's posing questions to others that parallel questions that Gus himself won't answer?

Yes, sometimes (as in this thread) I disagree with Gus. Sometimes I wish he were more polite, or more willing to admit he was wrong.

But the coyness about his own education? Most people like to advertise their degrees. Gus is refreshingly different, that's all.

 

Earth to Degreeinfo:

Greg tried to enlist our help in finding him some "accredited degree mills".

He was trying to manipulate us into denouncing some accredited schools.

But you idiots have no reading comprehension at all. You have all rushed off and started denouncing each other.

Get with the program, Einsteins.

 

Thanks Bill. I thought it was me. I agree with you.

 

Or engaging some self-deprecating humor in so describing his choices.

Maybe you could have asked Greg what he meant by the oxymoronic, "accredited degree mills."

 

A mill makes it as easy as possible for you to get a degree.

An accredited mill makes it as easy as possible for you to get a degree without losing its accreditation.

I like the concept.

 

Well, that's grinding it fine. But a fine explanation.

 

Uncharacteristically unintelligible (or was the ubiquitous grinning smilie simply an oversight?). Et Tu, Brute?

How would they know? For example, a judge recuses himself or herself from a case when he or she feels there might be a conflict of interest, not when others think there might be one.

Moreover, five days ago, when Uncle Janko politely refused to answer a similar question, here’s what you had to say:

Why the double standard?

I challenge anyone to quote me recommending a particular school or program. Should I ever do so, I believe it perfectly proper and meritorious of an answer to ask me whether I have any affiliation with such a school or program. I can assure the answer will be negative, for if I had such an affiliation, I would have already disclosed it with my original comments.

The only perceived bias that I may be accused of is that of favoring regional accreditation for U.S. schools. Therefore, in the interest of full disclosure (although I have already made this public), I hereby admit that all of my degrees are from regionally accredited schools.

 

1) Key word - politely.
2) That would be uncharacteristically helpful.
3) Which ones?

 

I wasn’t aware that by posting on this forum I had to renounced my civil liberties. Where do you draw the line? Blood type? Political party? Home address and phone number? Social Security number?

In the case of some people, you’d be amazed at how effort is actually required. However, the real effort is in keeping quiet. As Nietzsche put it, "It is difficult to live with people because it is so difficult to be silent."

The question remains: Why is it in my best interest to disclose to you the provenance and nature of my degrees? What will you (not to mention all the other kooks out there) do with this information?

Perhaps it is high time you started making sense. Do you have any kids?

I did not author any of the… Wait a minute! Did you mean, “Bye Bye?”

Sorry, Dennis, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here to correct you everytime you infer that the school that granted you your doctorate was accredited (assuming, of course, that you do earn your doctorate and CCU achieves DETC accreditation).