The current political climate nationwide is bubbling with anticipation of the upcoming 2012 Presidential Election. Political science  students and American politics devotee’s alike are analyzing the Romney and Obama campaigns—both the good and the bad. Political jockeying and mudslinging aside, there are three top issues emerging from both camps that if played correctly, could possibly sway the undecided voter and win this neck-and-neck election for either candidate.

An APU Political Science Graduate Student, Robert Garrison, share’s his Top Three Issues in the 2012 Presidential Campaign:

1. Entitlement Reform: If Republicans fail to articulate their vision for healthcare and Social Security reform, President Obama could use the situation to his advantage. If Republican proposals alarm senior citizens too much, they will vote to reelect Obama and that may help him win reelection outright. To win, Republicans must assure voters that Social Security and Medicare will be there for future generations, while assuring seniors those current benefits will not be cut. This is an important issue for Obama as well: If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns his healthcare law, he will have to revise plans for healthcare reform. This issue affects me as well since I am disabled, use a wheelchair, and rely on Social Security and Medicare for my own financial and medical assistance.
2. Immigration Reform: Democrats are often favored by minority voters, because they have supported programs to help minorities and other disadvantaged groups. To win, Republicans must be more open-minded on this issue and propose ways to streamline the legal immigration process. For the purpose of “optics” in the general election, Romney would be well-advised to put Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio on the Republican ticket as his running mate. If a Romney-Rubio ticket can propose immigration reform ideas that do not alienate minority voters, they could substantially increase their support among key Hispanic and other minority voters.
3. Articulating a vision for America: Ultimately, this election will be decided as a contest between two ideologies. One ideology pits the expansion of government and government spending against a vision of limited government and less regulation. If Romney can persuade voters that his programs will grow the economy and create jobs, he will win. However, if President Obama can paint the Republicans’ positions as too extreme, (i.e., cutting too much spending too fast) he will win.

The underlying factor that will dramatically influence all three of these political issues will be the state of our national economy on November 6, 2012. As we get closer to waiting in line at the polls, we as voters will need to make an educated decision based on our ideals and vision for America. When it’s time to cast that ballot we know who we’ll be voting for and why. Do you?

By Online Learning Tips Staff

The Political Science degree program draws individuals with a passion for government and politics, but it is also offers interdisciplinary curriculum that is attractive to students seeking a broad, liberal arts education that will serve as a precursor to post-graduate studies. Students may choose to focus their studies and their career interests on international, federal, or state government or political systems.

The most popular career path for political science graduates is to become a lawyer. Political science is a common pre-law degree and the majority of law school students actually hold degrees in political science. The problem-solving, analytical, and oral and written communication skills emphasized in political science curriculum are critical components of post-graduate legal studies.

[Next Step: Law School]

These skills are also valuable and relatable skills for working in:

• Intelligence communities.
• Non-governmental and nonprofit organizations.
• Media or journalism.
• Political campaigns.
• Lobbying or policy analysis in the private sector.

Federal careers can be found in most states and with the largest concentration located in and around the Washington D.C. region. You can find out which jobs are available by searching the government’s Human Resources page. For the federal government, you can see what jobs are available through the Office of Personnel Management.

While a degree offers no guarantee of employment in these areas, political science does provide an outstanding foundational education for developing core analytical, leadership, and communication competencies that are universal and relevant. It is recommended and a common practice that political science students or graduates seek out and complete internships in order to progress in their political-science career of choice.

By Stephen Schwalbe, PhD
Program Director, Political Science at American Public University

Having a college degree usually comes with a bit of prestige. The higher you go, the higher your value is in the job market right? Well, that answer really hinges on your degree focus.

[Learn more about online degrees in Information Technology.]

Those that chose degree programs set on a management track have a higher hiring potential, and a matching salary. Students that chose to study liberal arts still have a chance of landing a well paying job, but they’re in a minority. Even being a liberal arts major with a prestigious Ivy League education doesn’t guarantee a fat paycheck. Those in computer sciences, engineering, medicine and finance have higher earnings potential.

Interested to see what your degree is worth? Check out this great post by Reuters columnis Lauren Young, “What’s the value of a college degree?”

By J. Mason

Follow us on Twitter @tips4learning

We recently enlisted the help of one of the online librarians at APUS to share why Wikipedia may not be the best place to search for information.

How to find alternatives to improve your scholarly research.

The quality of your education hinges on the quality of your research. Did you know that Wikipedia entries can be written and edited by anyone? That’s why I advise students to always consider the source when researching information for their scholarly projects. Wikipedia can be helpful in guiding you as you gather ideas about a subject, but remember the information is unsubstantiated and in some cases, inaccurate. What you’re looking for is a trusted academic source.    

“Wikipedia, as well as Google, Bing, Yahoo and other public search engines offer unprecedented searching power — but they can also be an intellectual mess for scholars,“ said Fred Stielow Dean of the Academic Library at American Public University System (APUS). Although you may feel more comfortable using search engines like Google than with in-depth Web resources like the library databases; turning to an open Web search engine can cause problems if you aren’t careful. Search results and unverified entries like those found in Wikipedia pages are inconsistent. Some entries are long and thorough, while others are short and omit critical information.

For example, I can click the “Edit this Page” tab in Wikipedia and change an entry I’m searching on however I choose. So if I decide that Flora is not only the goddess of flowers and the season of spring, but also of minty fluoride toothpaste, I can make it so, regardless of whether or not it’s false.

While there is nothing wrong with turning to a Wikipedia entry to collect background information, be sure that you:

• Verify the information you find with at least two other sources
• Cite the authoritative source in your paper and not Wikipedia
• Check with your academic library site or a librarian if you’re unsure

Blogs and Websites

Your research paper can only be as strong as the sources you cite, and Web searches tend to pull up many sources that are not very strong at all. Just as anyone can edit a Wikipedia entry, anyone can publish a website or blog. Many blogs and websites—particularly anonymous ones or ones where you cannot verify the author’s credentials—are inappropriate to use in a college-level research project. This is true of personal webpages too, even when they appear on .edu sites, which is the domain designated for educational institutions. For example, student papers, including those that received poor grades, are often published on .edu sites, so you will want to evaluate the information carefully and only cite sources written by experts in the field.

Dot-Com Sites

Dot-com sites are often too problematic to use for research projects. Most of the sites that have .com in the URL are most likely marketing related. The people hosting the sites are trying to sell you something. So if you’re writing a paper about the potential health benefits and hazards of milk consumption, gotmilk.com isn’t your best or impartial source. While you might find it useful to analyze the content of .com sites, beware of using information in these sites to support your arguments.

I encourage you to utilize your school’s library staff when researching assignments. They’ll be able to help you pinpoint credible journals and sources. With options like Turnitin.com, a plagiarism check Website used by many universities, you’ll want to ensure that what you’re turning in for class is factual and properly cited.

By Christy Stevens
Online Librarian, American Public University System

APUS Library Stacks in Charles Town, WV

Most schools have online libraries these days, but what exactly is an online library and how can it help you succeed as a student? I sat down with Priscilla Coulter at American Public University System and asked her to share three things most students probably don’t know about the library at APUS.

This isn’t your average library. The librarians at APUS make it their mission to provide students and faculty with the highest quality of information specialists on the Web while at a distance. Learning how to balance pedagogy, media, information resources, and technology is no easy task. So, how can a student best leverage these valuable resources from the experts?

1. Collectively, our team of librarians has more than 30 graduate degrees.
   The APUS Online Library has a team of 19 professional librarians. And one of them is standing by to answer your questions approximately 18 hours a day, every single day (including weekends and holidays). So, if you send a message to librarian@apus.edu, you can count on a quick reply. We have years of experience guiding students through the research process. The librarian team has more than 30 graduate degrees combined spanning a dozen different disciplines, including history, business administration, education, biology, and more.
2. We have resources for night owls.
   If you hit a research snag during those six hours a day that a librarian isn’t online, check our Ask a Librarian site. You can find answers on information literacy, citing your sources, government documents, university archives, and much more. You can browse hundreds of library FAQs and more. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can submit your own question by using the “Ask Us” button.
3. We’re striving to have course and program guides for every program.
   The library subscribes to thousands of online books and journals, so it’s no wonder that students often deliberate where to begin searching. Librarians have created (or are developing) library guides which are designed to link students to every course offered at the University. These guides provide relevant tools for any research project. You’ll find library subscriptions (e.g., article databases and books) and high-quality websites—even video and social networking sites—tailored to your class topics. You can search for materials based on your class or academic program here.

As always, we invite you to email us for additional assistance. No matter what degree you’re working on, we can assist you in researching any degree subject. We love a good research challenge and don’t believe in “dumb” questions—so don’t be shy—ask us!

By Priscilla Coulter
Senior Online Librarian, American Public University System

Future administrators need experience observing master teachers and struggling teachers. They must also practice effective note taking. While this sounds simple, scripting teacher and student behavior is especially challenging during the context of a class. The best tools in the administrator’s toolbox are scripting sheets. Each scripting sheet should address a specific skill or observable behavior.

Some questions you’ll expect to address in your scripting sheets are:

• Did the teacher plan effectively and set clear objectives?
• Was the subject material appropriate for the lesson?
• Were the students well managed and were high standards of behavior insisted upon?
• Were the students fully engaged throughout the lesson?
• Is homework used effectively to reinforce and extend learning?

It is impossible to see everything all of the time, so these tools help administrators manage their observation time. Performing a variety of skill assessments across a period of time, and multiple class visits, give the administrator a quality snapshot of teaching behaviors.

[How do you get on the path to administration? Learn more about the M.Ed. in Administration & Supervision online.]

With observation techniques and practice, administrators can master this difficult task. Each state has specific assessments for identifying student skills. In my education program, I ask our students that teach outside of the program to provide information from the state in which they currently teach (or plan to be certified). Together, we identify key observable skills in accordance with any state mandates.

Should administrators draw attention while observing a class?

Administrators should be visible on campus. The more often they visit classrooms the more they will get a “full picture” of what is normal in a classroom. If an administrator is visible, students will learn to accept the administrator’s presence and it won’t be disruptive. Administrator interaction with students will depend on the current classroom activity. Teachers often tell the students to keep working if an administrator comes into the room. Quite honestly, the goal is to be so visible that students and teachers are used to you being there, which results in a better picture of daily classroom life.

How should the administrator communicate feedback to the teacher after a class is observed?

The administrator meets with teachers regularly to discuss observations and to provide the teacher with written feedback. The forms will be kept by the administrator and used as a part of the formal evaluation process. Observations are used to monitor teachers’ strengths and to identify potential areas of professional development for the entire staff. These notes can also be used for remediation or to provide support when recognizing teacher excellence.

Ultimately, the main purpose of evaluating effective teaching and providing consistent feedback is to create an engaging classroom experience for students and to enhance their learning outcomes.

By Dr. Amy Burkman
Director of M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision, American Public University

Why did you choose education as a career?

This is a question many are answering before entering the Troops to Teachers program. Not sure what that is? It’s a great program that supports active, and former members of the military to transition to teaching. While the military is one career goal for many, teaching is an important area to cover and a viable 2nd career option.

I sat down with former Marine, Craig Gilman, who is the Manager for the Troops to Teachers program at American Military Univerity. He answers the question on why education become his career path after the military, and how the program, Troops to Teachers, is a wonderful to those looking to be certified to teach in their home state. Listen to the podcast below for more insight on the program, and also visit www.amuonline.com/Troops-to-Teachers for more information.

Troops-To-Teachers-OLT by APUS

To the public, the field of “intelligence” can be quite a mystery – often sensationalized or misinterpreted in an attempt to fill in gaps between what is visible and the unknown. Some think intelligence is cool and sexy, while others believe it is a nefarious and unscrupulous field. In truth, it is impossible to fully assess agencies or their practices when a complete picture is undiscoverable by design. Significant attention has been placed on some agencies for their decisions and practices. On the flip side, some context for these decisions and the contributions of these agencies will never be made public — or cannot be scientifically measured with judgmental “what if” scenarios. Living within this grey area can be a problem for those seeking to enter the profession. Let’s start by establishing a better understanding of what we know intelligence practitioners actually do on a daily basis.

Those of us within the field think of the world of intelligence as more science than art. In its simplest form, intelligence work requires the following three basic skills to be effective in the field.

Reading Analysis and Comprehension

In an academic intelligence program, students read peer-reviewed academic journals and books from a variety of sources. They’re tasked with deconstructing arguments by defining claims the author asserts and assessing the validity of the evidence presented. It is also important to be able to understand the context of conflicting arguments and to possess a certain amount of ambient knowledge about the subject matter. This is why many good intelligence officers are trained in the fields of geography, history, social science, political science, or linguistics; and then specialize in those fields so that they can truly assess the impact of what they investigate and provide analysis to others on the threat or outcome of reviewed materials. Students learn these skills by completing assignments that include literature reviews, short summaries of a book or short story, and content analysis exercises.

Communication

Communication is one of the most essential components of a successful intelligence analyst. The lack of quality can communication can lead to incorrect threat analyses, missed threats or significant geopolitical conflicts.

There are many types of written intelligence tools, ranging from a few paragraphs in a formatted message or email, single page briefing documents, all-source analytical reports; and more in-depth research and analysis reports. Attention to detail, brevity, and clarity are all desirable attributes in the short briefings and reports. Certainly brevity is not as important when producing an in-depth project that requires exhaustive commentary, research and analysis. Students within an intelligence program learn how to produce essays, research papers, and project reports. In an online environment, writing is doubly important for students because it is their primary mode of communication with instructors and peers.

Critical Thinking

The best intelligence analyst is one who has enough confidence in his or her analytical abilities to question theories, even those that are well established, and to consider and present possible alternatives based upon facts and evidence. Humans are creatures of habit and tend to adhere to standard practices and beliefs based upon apathy unless they are regularly challenged by and tolerant of other views, including dissenting opinions. In order to sharpen critical thinking skills in the classroom, students study a curriculum that must include materials that present a balance of main stream documented theories as well as their alternatives, including newer and emerging theories. This will help students develop discipline in how they internalize and operationalize ideas.

In short, the academic skills taught at the baccalaureate and master’s levels provide a strong foundation. It takes years of refining and honing these skills to produce the consummate professional. The basic foundational skills require to succeed in this profession are typically covered in entry level intelligence courses. As student’s progress through their studies into more senior and specialized classes, these skills become even more important in shaping their future success as an intelligence analyst.

By Dr. Kathy Hogan
Program Director, Intelligence Studies at American Military University

What are your options?

An education is like a vehicle that can help take you down the road to success. As a veteran, you’re already well-equipped with valuable skill sets from your service. Great time management, attention to detail, and self-motivation are all wonderful assets when considering the next step, especially if that includes online education. You can channel them into a degree that will help launch you back into civilian life.

Should one go back to school and get a bachelor’s or master’s degree? It’s a big decision. When I returned from Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2002, I chose to tap my Post-9/11 educational benefits and return to college. Looking back, I know I made the right choice for my situation. In fact, I hold a doctorate in my field today, and it has opened more doors for me than I ever knew existed.

Online education and the military presence

It’s important to understand all options that are on the table. The Post/911 GI Bill, for example, can be used to work an apprenticeship, receive one-the-job training, or to fund a college degree. The Post 9/11 GI Bill will help pay tuition and fees. It will even subsidize the cost of housing while you attend school. To find out the maximum benefits available to you, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs online.

If you decide to earn a degree, there are myriad of traditional and non-traditional universities you can choose from. If you prefer learning in a traditional or synchronous environment, you may want to attend a bricks-and-mortar institution. Or if you prefer the flexibility of asynchronous learning, check out an online university. Asynchronous (online) learning is great for those that want to set their own pace, and attend classes on their schedule.

Asynchronous means that you can attend your online class anytime of the day or night to complete your assignments. Essentially, any place that you can take a computer, iPad, laptop, or even a smartphone; you can access your classes. Online education is a great platform for active duty, reserves, and veterans alike, because it helps us to fit a quality education into our hectic and changing schedules.

Network with classmates and peers

Whether you choose an online or traditional university, remember that you’re never alone. At American Military University (AMU) we have a large veteran population we support through social media, and within the classroom. The challenges within this community are widely understood by faculty and administrators and have resulted in individual results and organization-wide practices that are responsive and adaptive to Veterans’ needs.

I also encourage my students to contact the advising staff for guidance. Academic advising can help connect students with a mentor. We have a strong mentoring network that assists students at each step along their degree path. The Global Mentoring Network is a revolutionary distance-mentoring program that offers secure mentoring and networking possibilities to our AMU community. Our staff members excel at helping students with anything from classwork, tutoring services, peer advice, to just general guidance.

It’s a great idea to network with fellow classmates while you’re in school. Utilize social platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn to get connected with peers in your school and in the career fields that you’re looking to pursue. You also have career assistance options like VOW to Hire Heroes, Vet Success, and your school’s career services group. Think of your university peers as your civilian network. You’ll also want to maintain relationships that you developed while serving. Carrying those connections over into your education will be valuable when you begin to look at new careers.

By Dr. Chris Reynolds
AVP – Dean, Center for Teaching and Learning at American Public University System
Online Learning Tips Special Contributor

School is a big time commitment, and the advice you’ll get is similar to what you’ll hear as a first time parent. Things like, “your priorities will change” and “it’s not just about you anymore, it’s a big commitment!” You may nod and smile in response, but don’t let others deter you from pursuing your dreams. If getting a degree online is in your plans to further your working knowledge, and to satisfy your curiousity then go for it! Just make sure to educate yourself on what you’ll expect before you enroll online.

1.  Make sure you’re comfortable managing your time.
Since the format is virtual, you won’t have a professor coming up to your desk in class asking why you’ve been missing so many assignments. Online learning is at your own pace, but the only person reminding you to check assignments and discussion board posts will be yourself. You’ll need to develop some great time management skills quick in order to stay on top.

2.  The school should be regionally or nationally accredited, or both.
Accreditation is an important factor in deciding on investing in higher education. While there are many different types of accrediting agencies, the important thing to know is that the accrediting agency is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (www.chea.org) – which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

3.  You need to be comfortable using technology…for just about the entirety of your program.
Since the online education format is solely online, you will be reliant on your internet connection and laptop/desktop. You can’t use your car breaking down, or dog eating your homework as an excuse for missing assignments. Check out the school’s technology requirements first.

4.  There are several ways to make connections with classmates. Just because you’re online doesn’t mean you’re alone.
This is a big question for many looking at online schools. And even though you don’t have the daily interaction with peers in the physical sense, there is always interaction through social mediums like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and also inside the classroom. Online learning can, for some, be more productive and beneficial in terms of absorbing information because there isn’t the distraction of being in a physical classroom. It’s just about the relay of information from one source, your professor and peers, to another, you.

5.  Once you apply, make sure to develop a working relationship with your academic advisor.
Don’t wait until after registering for too many classes. Make first contact after you’ve applied to the school of your choice. Once you’re in there are 5 questions you should ask up front. Ask them if transfer credit should be used, or if you’re in the right degree program.

[Learn more about online education programs at American Public University.]

Once you’ve followed my list you should be ready to begin your program. Don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way. Online education is a great medium of delivery for education, but it does have its challenges. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to your advisor or sign up with a tutor. Your education is what you make of it, so make the most out of your experience.

By J. Mason