Virginia Online High School Pilot Is Ahead of the Curve

Come this fall, 100 students from across Virginia will have the chance to participate in the commonwealth's first fully online high school through a pilot program recently announced by state officials. And if the program comes to full fruition after the pilot, it would be the first of its kind in Virginia, and only the second of its kind in the country. Students in Virginia currently have no option for a full-time online program. While more than two dozen states, including Virginia, offer part-time or supplemental courses through virtual schools run by the government or outside providers, the commonwealth and Florida would be the only states with state-run, full-time online programs. The pilot grew out of the Virtual Virginia program, which launched in 2002 as a way to help students in rural parts of the state – such as Highland County, where there are fewer than 300 students in the district – gain access to Advanced Placement courses and world languages not available in their schools. T hose opportunities were somewhat limited in our more rural, remote school divisions because of challenges in recruiting teachers to present the content, and also challenges in terms of forming classes with enough students to justify a teacher," says Charles Pyle, communications director for the Virginia Department of Education. "[Virtual Virginia] has opened doors for students that otherwise wouldn't just be closed, they just wouldn't exist." The students, who will be chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis, will be officially enrolled in their local public schools but take all of their core academic courses and electives necessary to earn a diploma online, with instruction provided by teachers with official certification from the commonwealth. The boom around virtual education at the K-12 level started a little more than 10 years ago, says Susan Patrick, president and chief executive officer of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, also known as iNACOL. By 2002, just a handful of states were starting the early versions of their state virtual schools, says Patrick, who previously served as the Director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education. But now, 27 states have their own virtual schools offering part-time or supplemental courses. Thirty-eight states allow for full-time online programs to exist through charter schools or individual or multiple school districts. Though there have been successes with fully online high school programs, Patrick says the model isn't the best choice for all students. "There have been times when students struggle with their traditional high school environment, might be far behind and mid-year switch to a fully online high school program and think it's going to be easier, when in fact it's quite rigorous," Patrick says. "So s tudents need to make sure that they can identify where they are in their academics and identify that the online school has the services, has the direct support from teachers and regular interactions." Students can utilize online education courses during the summer to gain high school credits. RELATED Earn High School Credits in Online Summer School Some online programs, such as those offered through universities, cater to gifted and talented high school students. Kathlyn Gray, director of the Stanford Online High School, says the program was created in 2006 to meet the needs of "intellectually talented and academically motivated" students in seventh through 12th grade who have not been able to find the courses they need at their local schools. But one of the challenges with an online school, unsurprisingly, is maintaining student interaction, Gray says. A climate survey revealed that many students in the online program spend their free time on another digital platform – Skype. The school, which serves about 600 students from 20 different countries, has made a concerted effort to create "the essence of a brick-and-mortar school," according to Gray. School officials have tried to create opportunities for students to socialize outside of class by encouraging parents to organize meet-ups with peers nearby and by forming clubs and holding school assemblies. Additionally, Gray says every class – whether the student is taking classes full-time or part-time online – meets twice a week in a mandatory video conferencing system for 70 minutes. "We have learned that for high school kids, they really need time together," Gray says. "Learning happens in relationships – with their instructors, as well as with their peers." Funding is also a factor. Patrick says sometimes the funding is the same as what a traditional school or charter school would receive, and other times it may be as low as 60 percent of a traditional school's. Students sit at a graduation ceremony. RELATED Experts Debate Graduation Rates for Online Students "If they don't get the full funding, they have a hard time offering the support," Patrick says. Some have also criticized the quality of online schools run through charter management organizations. Recently, an investigation by The Plain Dealer in Ohio revealed the state was not including the performance of its online charter schools – even those that were failing – in its calculations of school ratings. That's a problem because online charter schools in Ohio are among the lowest-performing in the sector, The Plain Dealer reports. Still, there has been some research showing how online programs can be successful when implemented well. A 2009 study from iNACOL found that students who took all or some of their courses online, on average performed better than those taking the same course in a brick-and-mortar setting.The Department of Education also funded a three-year study to examine the effectiveness of West Virginia's Virtual School Spanish program for middle school students, and found students in the online program performed as well as those in face-to-face Spanish classes. "We're really trying to push for ensuring that all of the online schools offered around the country are high-quality," Patrick says. "The new online high school pilot is going to be really important for lots of students across Virginia." taken by usnews.com

Explore Summer Online Learning Options for High School Students

Through summer online courses, high schoolers can tackle advanced subjects, prepare for college entrance exams and retake classes.

Students looking for online help preparing for the SAT and ACT can use free online practice exams and video tutorials whenever their summer schedule allows.

Kim Davie remembers her reaction when her mom suggested she and twin sister Shayla enroll in a summer online course after their freshman year.

"I wasn't all for it," she says sheepishly.

A year later, though, both Houston-area high schoolers are willingly returning for another summer with the International Connections Academy to get a head start on next fall's course material. Shayla will take statistics after enrolling in Algebra 2 a year ago. Kimberly will study physics after last year's geometry course. Both expect a similar summer as​ last year, when they still had time for cheerleading camp, fitness camp and a vacation to Mexico.

"You could still work the class into your schedule," Kim says. "Any free time you had, you could use it."

[Consider taking online college courses in high school.]

Whether the goal is getting a head start like the Davie sisters, tackling advanced subjects, preparing for college entrance exams or even retaking difficult classes, summer provides an unique opportunity forcollege-bound high schoolers to use​ online learning options.

"You might be traveling or you might be doing a summer enrichment program, things like that," says Michael Boothroyd, Kaplan Test Prep's executive director of SAT and ACT programs. ​"So online programs obviously travel with you."

And students have plenty of choices. Of the 75 percent of school districts nationwide which offer some sort of online or blended courses, the vast majority do so during the summer months, says Susan Patrick, president and CEO of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning.​ Then there are more than two dozen states with statewide virtual schools, ​programs run by private companies like Connections,​ and a stable of traditional college test-prep companies like Kaplan that have moved​ their services online.

"I think it's really important for students to determine the goal of why they want to enroll in a summer school class," Patrick says. Students considering an online course should also find out what the cost may be – even some public school systems charge a fee – as well as the format of a given course and an instructor's involvement, she says.

Class format can vary quite widely, and in some cases could conflict with other summer plans.​

With the International Connections Academy, the Davies sisters estimate they spend two hours a day studying. But at programs designed specifically for high-performing or gifted students, like theAccelerated Summer Option through Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development, students can spend as much as six hours a day on compact nine-week honors and Advanced Placement courses.

[Discover the keys to success in advanced placement courses.]

Eric Calvert, the Center for Talent Development's associate director, ​says the program generally isn't a good fit for students looking to wedge summer learning into the margins of a busy schedule that may include vacations, camps or other enrichment opportunities. That's not often an issue, though, because such programs typically draw enthused students who have prioritized the program, Calvert says.​

Conversely, students looking for online help preparing for the SAT and ACT may not even choose to enroll in a class, but rather use free online practice exams and video tutorials at their disposal whenever their summer schedule allows. taken by/usnews.com

Consider an Online MBA Program With a Residency Component

The right kind of online MBA residency has the networking perks to make missing work worth it, experts say.

Residency requirements can give online MBA students face-to-face access to businesses or industry leaders they may not encounter elsewhere.

 

For busy working professionals considering an MBA, online programs can certainly have their appeal.Online MBA students get to avoid the daily commute to campus and keep their day jobs without relocating across the country.

But students who think they can complete their degree without ever filling up the gas tank or banking some air miles may be mistaken.

Some online MBA options – and many of the top programs – have residency components that require students to meet up at certain locations throughout the year. Students may spend days or weeks participating in seminars, socializing and learning from business leaders.

[Explore networking tips for online MBA students.]

"For online MBA programs at any business school of national status, a required residency component (big or small) is predominant," says Phil Powell, faculty chairman of Kelly Direct, Indiana University'sonline business school programs, through email. "I think it has evolved as a common standard."

While residencies can have a host of benefits, including making an online MBA program feel intimate, experts say they're not always a viable option for prospective students in terms of time and money. Before students choose to pursue a program with a residency program, in other words, they should have a sense of what they're getting into.

Among the potential benefits of online MBA residencies is the chance to build a professional network. 

While establishing personal and professional connections is one of the most important parts of MBA programs, creating that network in an online program isn't always easy. "One of the challenges of an online MBA is that you really don't get that personal touch – it can be a bit distant," says Hansel Rodriguez, a student at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill's online MBA program, called MBA@UNC.

Rodriguez got a chance to strengthen his network by taking part in three residencies, or what his program calls immersions, in New York, San Francisco and Mumbai, India. 

UNC's program requires students to participate in a three-day immersion experience from Friday through Sunday at least twice during their studies. The weekends, which are offered both domestically and abroad, combine classes, socializing and meetings with business and thought leaders. 

"It gives you the opportunity to see your classmates in a social setting, and you get to build those social relationships," says Rodriguez, director of operations for the National Security Council at the White House. "I just went to a classmate of mine's wedding – it shows you the kind of relationships you get to build." 

Another perk of residencies, experts say, is their ability to enhance the MBA educational experience​​​​​​​​​​​​​​. While students can soak up a lot of knowledge in an online classroom, residency requirements can give them ​face-to-face access to businesses, industry leaders and faculty who they may not encounter elsewhere.  

[Seek online MBA programs that provide travel opportunities.]

Leah Miller, a student​ in the online MBA program at Pennsylvania State University—World Campus​, says the chance to have practical experience outside the classroom was one of the main reasons she chose​ a program with a residency. In May of 2014, ​she and her classmates had a weeklong​ stay in Virginia, where they shadowed and studied the Mitre ​Corporation, a nonprofit company that operates federally funded research and development centers. At the end of the residency, students were expected to create a presentation analyzing the company.

"There was someone of the executive level at everything we did," says Miller. "Having that time to interact with them, that was really eye-opening for us."

Unfortunately, even prospective students who want a residency requirement might not be able to swing it. 

"Possible drawbacks would probably be logistics and financing," says Ashley Kilburn, MBA coordinator for the University of Tennessee—Martin. Students typically have to front ​travel costs and use vacation days for these opportunities, she says. 

Some companies may allow students to attend a residency without using vacation days, but that is rare, Kilburn says. 

Miller, manager of operations innovation at The Hershey Company​, was able to get her company to let her attend residency without taking vacation days by explaining how the program would help her better manage capital projects, part of her job.

The downside: On top of 12 hours a day of school commitments, there was still her own work to do. "It was a tough week," she says. taken by/usnews.com

3 Ways Colleges Are Working to Improve Online Learning

By forming online learning institutes and collecting data about student progress, programs hope to improve virtual learning.

The University of Phoenix and DeVry University have implemented systems that run an analysis to look for troubling patterns in a student's progress.

For many online students, the flexibility of an online degree or certification program outweighs the possibility of a less immersive student experience.

But without having to physically walk into a classroom, an adviser’s office or a study session, experts say students who are struggling to keep up or stay interested in course work are sometimes more difficult to recognize and easier to ignore.

As a result, some programs are using innovative methods to foster an online educational experience that is more supportive, engaging, and responsive to student demands.

Among those tactics are the use of big, integrated data and analytics to help identify and supportstruggling students, the creation of research bodies devoted to studying online learning methods, and the development of collaborative relationships with virtual student clubs and associations.

[Learn about the debate over graduation rates for online students.]

Big Data

In an online environment, a professor may not know if a student is dropping out of courses, turning her assignments in at the last possible moment or not engaging directly with online course materials.

At the University of Phoenix and DeVry University, that's where integrated data systems come in.

Within the last two years, both for-profit institutions have implemented systems that unify data from all points across a student's online experience, run an analysis to look for troubling patterns in that student's progress and potentially alert an academic adviser if danger signs are seen.

"The system looks at everything," says Constance St. Germain, the executive dean of the University of Phoenix's colleges of humanities and sciences and social sciences. "It looks at what they're accessing in terms of textbooks. Are they posting in the classroom? How are they responding to fellow peers? Are they submitting assignments late?"

The University of Phoenix implemented its integrated data system about 18 months ago, officials said. DeVry University piloted its system last summer, and then applied it across the institution's online division this March, says vice president of operations Earl Frischkorn.

"It's data that we have naturally in the course of working with the students inside the institution," says Frischkorn, whose school is also in a data research partnership with Stanford University. "It's just that we're putting it together, and we have a little better sense of the student's situation."

[Video: Find out if your online program is legit.]

Frischkorn says it will take at least a few academic cycles before any judgments can be made on current systems' effectiveness, noting that it's one thing to identify whether a student is at risk, and another entirely to identify why, let alone solve the problem.

Further, just because a student is identified doesn't mean he or she will welcome assistance.

"You can't force anybody to get help that they don't want," St. Germain says. "The only thing you can do is make sure to reach out, to show that you care. Believe it or not, a lot of times, students just want the question, 'Is everything OK?'"

Research Centers

The University of Florida's Online Learning Institute may be in the nascent stages of its development, but its research interests show a strong focus on issues surrounding student engagement. taken by/usnews.com

Methodology: Best Online Bachelor's Programs Rankings

 For working adults with some college credit, completing a four-year degree online may be the most practical way to obtain the knowledge and credentials needed to boost their careers. The 2015 edition of the Best Online Bachelor's Programs can help prospective students select the schools that are right for them.

The new entrants admitted to nearly all ranked programs are predominantly adults aged 25 and older who have some credit already applied toward their degrees. Consequently, the factors U.S. News selected to make comparisons between programs were not measures like high school class rank or standardized test scores. Instead, U.S. News chose factors that weigh how these programs are being delivered and their effectiveness at awarding affordable degrees in a reasonable amount of time.

U.S. News assessed schools based on four general categories. Here is a look at each category and its weight in the current rankings formula. All are unchanged from 2014.

• Student engagement (40 percent): Quality bachelor's degree programs promote participation in courses, allowing students opportunities to readily interact with their instructors and classmates, as is possible in a campus-based setting. In turn, instructors not only are accessible and responsive, but they also are tasked with helping to create an experience rewarding enough that students stay enrolled and complete their degrees in a reasonable amount of time.

• Faculty credentials and training (20 percent): Strong online programs employ instructors with academic credentials that mirror those of instructors for campus-based programs, and they have the resources to train these instructors on how to teach distance learners. 

• Peer reputation (20 percent): A survey of high-ranking academic officials helps account for intangible factors affecting program quality that are not captured by statistics. Also, degrees from programs that are well respected by academics may be held in higher regard among employers. 

• Student services and technology (20 percent): Programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility for students to take classes from a distance. Outside of classes, strong support structures provide learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid resources commensurate with quality campus-based programs.

How the Rankings Were Calculated  

U.S. News selects factors, known as ranking indicators, to assess each program in the categories outlined above. A program's score for each ranking indicator is calculated using data that the program reported to U.S. News in a statistical survey. The value for each ranking indicator is standardized about its mean to account for statistical variance.

U.S. News multiplies these standardized values by weights it has selected for the ranking indicators and then sums these values to compute the five separate category scores. Each of these category scores is rescaled for display purposes on usnews.com so that the top-scoring school receives a display score of 100 and the bottom-scoring school receives a display score of zero.

To produce the overall scores, U.S. News takes the raw category scores before they have been rescaled and multiplies them by the category weights detailed above. The resulting scores are then rescaled from zero to 100.

Numerical rankings are assigned to programs in descending order of their overall scores, with the highest-scoring program ranked No. 1. Schools with tied scores are tied in the rankings. 

Programs whose overall scores are in the bottom 25 percent are categorized as Rank Not Published. U.S. News calculates numerical ranks for these schools but does not publish them.

For the 2015 rankings, 10 schools are designated as unranked because they reported having fewer than 10 students enrolled or because their programs were less than a year old at the time of data collection. U.S. News did not calculate a numerical rank for these schools.

All unranked and Rank Not Published programs are still listed in the searchable directory.

Data Collection  

Gathering the information necessary to create the 2015 Best Online Bachelor's Programs rankings required two steps. Step one was compiling a list of schools offering bachelor's degree programs online. Step two was collecting data from these schools. 

To complete step one, U.S. News sent statistical questionnaires to regionally accredited public, private and for-profit institutions granting bachelor's degrees. Respondents were asked if they would be offering a bachelor's degree program through Internet-based distance education courses in the 2014-2015 academic year. 

U.S. News defines a distance education program as follows (along the same lines as the U.S. Department of Education's definition): 

A program for which all the required course work for program completion is able to be completed via distance education courses that incorporate Internet-based learning technologies. Distance education courses are courses that deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor synchronously or asynchronously. Note: Requirements for coming to campus for orientation, testing or academic support services do not exclude a program from being classified as an online bachelor's degree program.

Between the start of data collection in July 2014 and the September 2014 closing date, 296 schools, or 17 percent of schools surveyed, said they would be offering online bachelor's degree programs in accordance with the definition, while the rest either said they would not or chose not to respond. This count is up from 283 the previous year.

To complete step two, U.S. News used the same questionnaire to collect additional statistical information from the 296 schools with online programs. This information was scored as outlined in the table below. (Note: All student and faculty statistical data are for the July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, cohorts, while the remaining data reflect policies, services and technologies in place at the time of the questionnaire completion in summer 2014.) taken by/usnews.com

LG makes the global launch of the model Zero

LG ka njoftuar se është duke e filluar lansimin global të modelit të saj të ri të telefonit të quajtur LG Zero, i cili zbarkoi në Evropë në fillim të këtij muaji.

LG Zero vjen me ekranin prej 5 inç në HD i cili përmban një rezolucion prej 1280 x 720 pikselëve, ndërsa pajisja vjen edhe me procesorin quad core në 1.2GHz.

“LG do të fillojë lansimin global të telefonit të saj me trup metalik, LG Zero¹, duke filluar nga kjo javë. LG Zero ofron teknologji të avancuar të kamerës dhe karakteristika ekskluzive të ndërfaqes së LG G Series dhe paraqet një trup të plotë metalik për një përvojë më të avancuar dhe modern, thuhet në njoftimin e LG.

Karakteristikat tjera të telefonit përfshijnë edhe 1.5GB RAM dhe 16GB memorie, baterinë me 2050 mAh, si dhe kamerat në të dyja anët e pajisjes, njërën me 13MP, ndërsa kamera e përparme sjell 8MP për video dhe selfie

7 Things You Should Never Take Personally

Women are delicate by nature, which is why many of us tend to take everything personally. It’s hard not to take things personally, but if you don’t break this habit, then you’re going to live a miserable life full of worries and health issues. Most of the stuff we hear about ourselves is exaggerated and taken personally while it`s only the waste of our precious time and limited energy that can be spend on something really important. Here are things you should never take personally in order to live a more peaceful life:

1. Someone pushing in front of you in a queue

If someone pushes in front of you in a queue, it really annoys but you still shouldn`t take it personally. It`s not the reason to get nervous and start screaming like a child. That person is just intolerant and ill-mannered. Be wiser and act like a grown-up woman. There’s no sense in fighting with someone you don’t know and hopefully never meet again.

2. Traffic jams

Almost all people lose their temper because of traffic jams when they have a lack of time or are simply tired of waiting. Well, it’s frustrating and annoying but worrying about it is senseless. Do you really think that the traffic jam has been arranged to cause you troubles? Stay calm and find some activities to do instead of worrying. Turn on your favorite music, listen to some inspiring and positive podcasts, or learn a foreign language, it always helps me to relax when I`m stuck on the road.

3. Negative online comments

If you spend a lot of time online, you probably know how it’s difficult to deal with negative comments. Why should you worry about the opinion of someone you don`t even know? Don’t feel down when you suddenly find out that someone doesn`t agree with you. Everyone has their own point of view so taking it personally is a quick way to go mad. Let others think what they want, and keep following your own thoughts.

4. Your meal isn`t appreciated

If you cook for someone, you expect to be praised for your creation. When it doesn`t happen you may feel bad about it but you don`t need to take it personally. Remember that tastes differ and so it’s okay when your partner tells you that he doesn’t like your dessert, for example. Ask him to cook for you instead – just be honest if his dessert will be tastier than yours.

5. Someone looks at you

If someone stares at you, it doesn’t mean that something’s wrong with you. I used to pay attention to those looks and I always thought that people laughed at my appearance or strange behavior. It lasted until I once noticed that the guy I looked at started to get nervous. I was smiling because of my high spirit and unintentionally I touched him with my look. Then I realized that he might have thought I was laughing at him. Taking someone`s stares personally is silly and even selfish. Why do you think you deserve their attention at all? Those people may be looking at something behind you or simply laughing at the subject of their talk.

6. Customers` rage

If your job requires you to deal with customers, oftentimes you can face dissatisfied ones. Keep in mind that if they get angry and even scream at you, they`re not contented with your company but not with you. You should better try to smooth the conflict instead of taking those arguments personally . Let your work stay at work and never bring that stress to your home.

7. You didn`t get the job

It`s a tough challenge, of course, and it`s often hard to move on after you haven`t got the job you want. But it happens because the employers have to make a difficult choice. They must choose only one person and if you don`t get the job it doesn`t mean you`re bad. It`s life and you should be able to accept the challenges it gives you. It may be beneficial for you as you can find even a better job in future.

Taking everything personally is surely a terrible habit that takes our time and sometimes even causes a long-term depression. In fact we often misunderstand something and suppose that someone wants to hurt us when it`s not so indeed. My advice for you is to ignore everything that prevents you from reaching your goals. When you stop caring about those trifles, it`ll be easier to think clearly and you`ll keep being positive in all your actions and thoughts. What things do you usually take personally?

Jennifer Ellison Biography

Jennifer Lesley Ellison (born 30 May 1983) is an English actress, glamour model, television personality, dancer and singer. Ellison is perhaps best known for playing Emily Shadwick in the television soap opera Brookside until 2003, and as Meg Giry in the 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera.

Abbey Clancy Early life

Born in Liverpool, the oldest of four children born to Karen (née Sullivan) and Geoffrey Thomas Clancy, Clancy formed girl bandGenie Queen, who were managed by Andy McCluskey from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).

The London School of Economics ( LSE ) second in the world for social sciences

The London School of Economics and Political Science has kept its position as second in the world for social sciences, according to the latest global university league table.

The QS World University Rankings has, for the second year running, ranked LSE ahead of Oxford and Cambridge and just behind Harvard in its ‘social sciences and management faculty area’.

The latest overall rankings also rated LSE as the sixth best university in the world for employer reputation and seventh for the size of its international student body.

The specific subject rankings placed LSE as second in the world for geography and communications and media studies, and third for politics, economics and accounting and finance.

Commenting on the results, Professor Craig Calhoun, Director of LSE said:

“It is great that LSE continues to be recognised as a truly world-class social science institution, highly esteemed by academics, students and employers alike.

Regardless of league table results, LSE will continue to do what it does best: produce excellent teaching and research that focuses on real-world problems.” 

The School was also ranked at joint 71st in the overall table. Although QS recognise the difficulty of comparing specialised universities like LSE with those that cover a wider range of fields, the methodology of the overall ranking tends to favour institutions with large science, engineering and medicine departments.

The full 2014/15 rankings are available at http://www.topuniversities.com/

10 Amazingly Tasty Detox Diet Drinks

Nature is full of fruits, vegetables and nuts that come with powerful detoxifying properties. You don’t need to touch another detox supplement if you allow these ingredients in your diet each day. With the right recipes, you won’t need to worry about depressing taste or calories. The detox smoothies on this list are both delicious and great for your waistline.

1. Raspberry cherry smoothie

If you don’t know a lot about raspberries, a bright pink raspberry cherry smoothie may not seem like a serious detox idea. Raspberries, though, help your body produce plenty of detoxifying enzymes. You need fresh or frozen raspberries and cherries, and almond milk for this smoothie. Blend these ingredients with honey, fresh ginger, flaxseed and lemon juice to have a great detoxifier that’s only 112 calories.

Reiki: An Introduction to Ancient Healing

An Introduction to Natural Healing

As with most ancient healing technique, reiki is performed without using any tools or instruments. You only need your hands to heal a specific body part.

This healing method is based on the idea that the life force flows through the body. If a specific body part is damaged, the life force is blocked. By performing reiki healing, it improves well-being and even restores the body to full health. Reiki isn’t strictly used to heal the body, it’s also used to treat emotional or mental problems.

Reiki healing is easy to master. Once you learn the basics, you can use the technique to heal yourself and others. It also works in conjunction with other medical or therapeutic methods to promote better health and speed up recovery.

The Intention to Heal

Reiki is centered on self-healing. The simplest, most basic way to perform healing is to place your hand on the affected area. Placing your hand on areas you want to heal helps the reiki energy to flow freely. It’s important to let reiki flow at the beginning of a treatment.

Start by putting your hands into the classic “Namaste” position, bow gently with your hands at the heart. Close your eyes and ask for the reiki to flow through your body.

Then, raise your hand above your head. Keep the palms up. Visualize the life force energy flowing from the heavens and into you. Once you’re done visualizing, place your hand on the area you want to heal. Silently ask reiki to heal the area. This ritual is all about surrendering yourself to Reiki to guide you to heal yourself and others.

Performing Self-Healing

The most basic of self-healing hand position starts by overlapping the hands on top of the head. Put one hand on the forehead and the other at the back of the head, just above the base of the skull. Rest your hands on the eyes then, the ears. Put on hand on the upper chest then the other on the solar plexus. Put the hands on the hip area too.

Each time you place your hands on specific body parts, relax and maintain the position for at least two minutes. Repeat the positions until you’ve mastered the basics. Reiki healing is always watched over by the Divine. You have to trust your inner guidance in order to reap the health benefits of reiki.

Healing Others

Once you’ve mastered the positions for self-healing, you can move on to healing others. The positions remain the same. The life force will do all the healing for you. All you need to do is to trust your inner guidance and surrender yourself to the Divine for healing.

by/healthydietbase.com

Jumping Your Way to Fitness – Your Basic Guide to Rebounding Exercise

Rebounding exercise – more popularly known as rebounding – refers to a low-impact workout that uses a mini-trampoline or any type of “rebounder.” The main concept of rebounding is bouncing up and down to improve posture, strengthen muscles and tendons as well as to achieve a healthy body. Rebounding is comprised of three types: Health, Strength and Aerobic Bounce.

Health Bounce: This workout requires gentle bouncing up and down without the feet leaving the mat. This workout drains the lymphatic system and strengthens the joints.

Strength Bounce: this workout requires jumping as high as you can on a trampoline. The movement strengthens the muscles and improves balance.

Aerobic Bounce: Performing jumping jacks, jogging in place or bouncing on one leg after another helps keep the heart rate up, improves balance and posture. It also burns a lot of calories.

Benefits of Rebound Exercises

Detoxify the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system collects toxins that harm the body. To minimize risks, the lymphatic glands have to be drained. Usually, the system relies on body movement to drain the lymphatic nodes. Bounding up and down helps eliminate toxins in the lymphatic system. The movement forces harmful compounds out of the body. The toxins are then eliminated safely as waste.

Improves Bones and Joint Health

Because rebounding exercises are low-impact, they are kinder to the bones and joints. They are virtually painless, even those who suffer from gout or rheumatism can perform rebounding exercises with no trouble at all. Rebounding also promotes the re-mineralizing of the bones. This process keeps the bones denser, stronger and thicker. Rebounding is also kind on the tendons, ligaments and joints too!

Gradual Weight Loss

Bouncing on a mini-trampoline torches a lot of calories. When you pick up the pace, the breathing gets deeper, the heart starts pumping harder. This workout keeps the heart healthy while promoting safe, gradual weight loss. It also boosts the metabolic rate and encourages fat loss!

Improves Posture and Balance

Slouching causes damage to the spine. Rebounding exercises help correct misaligned spine, it improves posture and boosts balance too. When you bounce up and down, the abdominal muscles are activated. This forces the body to stand straighter to maintain the natural curve of the spine. And when you are not hunched over, you look taller, slimmer!

Protects from Cardiovascular Disease

Rebounding training is an excellent workout for the heart. It promotes deeper breathing, improves blood circulation and decreases edema. It can lower blood pressure and keep the heart healthy too. Rebounding also minimizes the pooling of blood in the veins.

Rebounding Exercises: How to Get Started

Start by getting a rebounder, like a mini-trampoline. Wear comfortable clothing, clothes that won’t keep you from moving around.

Step on the rebounder and start by bouncing without letting the feet leave the surface of the trampoline. Gradually pick up the pace. Establish a moderate pace until breathing becomes heavier and heart rate starts picking up too. Next, start bouncing by bending the knees. From here, you can create a customized fitness routine. You can incorporate energetic music and jumping jacks, etc. You can also follow rebounding workout online to burn off more fat.

by/healthydietbase.com

Hiring uptick helps GCU grads chart career paths

As he neared the end of his Grand Canyon University premed degree program,James Prigge realized his heart wasn’t in doing the required testing and interviews for medical school applications.

Prigge felt called elsewhere, so the former resident adviser decided to stay put. He applied for jobs at GCU, earned a position as an enrollment counselor and began taking courses in the University’s master’s program in public health earlier this spring.

Prigge, 24, who helps Colangelo College of Business online students, is an example of the type of GCU-educated, entry-level, full-time employees the University wants to produce. After hiring 67 graduates in 2014, the University so far this year has hired 28 recent grads for a range of positions in Academic Web Services, Facilities, Ground Admissions, Information Technology, Office of Academic Records, Online Operations, Residence Life, Strategic Educational Alliances and the Qualifying Center, according to the talent acquisition group in the Human Resources Department.

For many new hires, their first full-time jobs are entry points into a university where the possibilities for future jobs are plentiful due to the rapid pace at which GCU is growing.

“I never thought I’d sit at a cubicle, but the way this job is going now, and it’s going great — I might be here forever,” said Prigge, who works in the Peoria office complex.

He enjoys speaking with students and helping them navigate their degree requirements. He’s recommended several friends for jobs at GCU, and those friends have recommended others.

Prigge, who recently was promoted, said he dreams about someday opening a hospital overseas, and feels connected to his alma mater and its mission to improve the lives of students and the community.

“Here and at the other campuses, there’s always change with different jobs opening or new jobs they’re creating,” he said. “I hope I can work my way up here. I like it — it keeps changing, keeps me on my toes.”

GCU Career Services Director Jacqueline Smith said her office’s partnership with the HR talent acquisition group has helped the University plug its best and brightest into meaningful jobs. Each March, the departments work together to host the GCU Wants to Hire You job fair, giving students plenty of employment options.

Many of the new hires are former student workers who are familiar with University culture. They have established relationships with faculty and staff, and can comfortably perform their entry-level duties, while gaining experience to earn a position in a field that more closely aligns with their degrees or passion.

“They’re part of a growing, very progressive company,” Smith said. “We’re not the status quo … where you might start isn’t going to be where you finish. Hiring managers really focus on that, getting students into their gifting area.”

Like Prigge, recent psychology graduate Lily Schwartz, 22, saw the opportunity to work for her alma mater while pursuing a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology.

Smith hired Schwartz and alumna Sara Lynch about a year ago to work in Career Services after learning that both had earned high commendations from previous supervisors. Schwartz, who was a manager at McDonald’s before and during college, also worked at the Student Contact Center and as a tour guide at the Antelope Reception Center. She told her supervisors she wanted a position in which she could make a greater impact in the lives of her fellow Lopes.

“I definitely let it be known what I was interested in,” said Schwartz, who helps GCU’s student workers with their assignments. “But I always made sure I was working really hard and acting in a professional manner.”

Her job is preparing her for a career in which she can continue to care for others and help them navigate their own careers, she said.

“What’s important, and we talk about this in our orientations, is it’s not just a student worker position or an entry-level position,” Schwartz said. “There’s no position too little, or that’s preventing you from gaining valuable experience. You’re still networking, gaining that experience and developing skills.

“It’s important for students to know when they’re in a position, that it’s a stepping stone.

by /gcu.edu