Mindfulness and Education: Teachers, Make It FunWritten by Maya Talisman Frost
As a mindfulness trainer, I’m a big fan of promoting greater mindfulness in classroom. However, it’s interesting to me that those who seem to be most thoughtful and passionate proponents of mindfulness in education are ones most likely to be trapped by their limited thinking. Now, don’t get me wrong. I praise those who introduce silence, stillness and contemplation among students. I applaud those who explain concept of mindfulness and invite their charges to explore wonder of watching mind in action. I celebrate teachers who use “mindfulness” as an everyday word in their lessons. But why stop there? In name of recess, field trips, and all that kids hold holy in school, can’t we make mindfulness FUN? By using bells to signal silence and having kids close their eyes in order to be mindful, we’re sticking to tried-and-true meditation model. Must we? Could kids settle peacefully in their chairs at sound of a kazoo? Would they benefit from an eyes-wide-open approach to mindfulness that allows them to be active? Can they develop heightened awareness and concentration while playing—with words, music, numbers, colors, shapes, textures and smells? We learn best when we’re enjoying process. Teaching kids to meditate? Great. But we are unnecessarily limiting possibilities for greater awareness by preaching—er, teaching—that meditation is only path to paying attention.
| | Kick Starting a Career in Criminal JusticeWritten by Alexa Apallas
Do you watch Cold Case religiously? Do you love CSI in all its incarnations? Do you devour police procedural novels, like ones by Ed McBain? Are you interested in a career that doesn’t always involve spending eight hours behind a desk? If you’re nodding in recognition, you may be ready to turn your passion into a new career in criminal justice and law enforcement. And a college degree in field can help you achieve that goal.Many job seekers are drawn to careers in criminal justice and law enforcement, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, because those jobs offer attractive salaries and benefits. Plus, opportunities in field are likely to grow quickly because of an increased emphasis on security in American society. According to U.S. Department of Labor, criminal justice is a professional field poised for growth in coming decade: Demand for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is expected to grow by 23.2%. In addition, overall demand for criminal justice professionals is expected to grow by 29.8% by 2010. Although many careers in criminal justice field, such as serving as a police officer, do not require a college degree, extra education can only improve a job seeker’s potential for finding a suitable position. In fact, “applicants with college training in police science, military police experience, or both should have best opportunities,” according to Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Clearly, those who are serious about pursuing a career as a police officer, a fraud investigator or a probation officer would be well-served by earning a specialized college degree. But real-world responsibilities may mean that on-campus college classes just won’t fit into a busy schedule. That’s where Colorado Technical University Online comes in. Colorado Tech Online offers a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and students can complete entire degree program online in as little as 15 months,* assuming they already have an associate’s degree or equivalent. Students with no previous college credit can complete program in about two and a half years. The degree helps prepare students for careers in law enforcement, courts or corrections. At Colorado Tech Online, students study topics such as corrections solutions, law enforcement and community, American criminal procedure, white-collar crime, and forensic behavior analysis. The professors who teach classes have practical experience in subjects they teach, and they are more than willing to share their firsthand knowledge with their online students. Just take it from Professor Chris Drew, former officer with Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department: “Teaching is best way for me to use what I learned in my years in field. I’ve found I love to mentor, and learning format at Colorado Tech Online is set up perfectly for it. The chats are student-friendly and very helpful, and curriculum and assignments are based in real world.”
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