The following is a collection of responses from students and alumni of Walden University explaining what factors led them to choose Walden for their higher education experiences. Luis Marquez |…
Student
Selecting My University
Tom Toolan | Senior Consultant, TJK Consultancy ServicesI completed my first degree in 2010, which was a BA (Hons) in Education. In the six months preceding the completion of my first degree, I started thinking about what…
āCo-written with Vanessa Allen | Teacher, Anchorage School Districtā As higher education moves deeper into the electronic age, Web-based training has become a pertinent focus. As companies seek the means…
Teachersā Ongoing Learning in the Hands of School Boards
Simon Quattlebaum | Teacher, New Jersey Public SchoolsHow much should school systems spend on professional development? In its Standards for Staff Development, Learning Forward advocates that school districts are responsible for teacher professional development and at least…
"Some of the best years in life are the time spent as a child and later our collegiate years... As working adults in a fast paced society, we sometimes forget…
My Road Enriched by Education
Rudene Thomas | Special Needs Assistance Program Specialist, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentEducation has always been at the forefront of my life. This began by admiring my sixth grade elementary teacher Mrs. Williams and our family doctor Dr. Williams who are African…
Going back to school is never an easy choice for most people particularly for the majority that have families and/or jobs to manage. This was the decision I had to…
Why Professional Development for Teachers is Critical
Simon Quattlebaum | Teacher, New Jersey Public SchoolsEducators must understand the concepts in processing professional development and what it means to education. The National Staff Development Council (2007) created a set of nine standards that all professional…
As an adult, higher education means achievement andĀ learning to think at a higher level. It meansĀ learning to look at theĀ bigger picture, being able toĀ complementĀ the knowledge you already have andĀ growĀ your expertise…
My Constant Quest for Knowledge
Kimberly Handy | Teacher, Anchorage School DistrictI am a lifelong learner!! My beautiful but sometimes grueling quest for knowledge has shaped me into what I am today, a lover of the written word. Ever since I…
As a lifelong learner, my reason to continue my university education was to stay abreast of my craft as a teacher and an adjunct faculty member prepared for promotable positions.…
Lifelong Learning: The Pursuit of True Happiness
Simon Quattlebaum | Teacher, New Jersey Public SchoolsTo a music lover watching a concert from the audience, it would be simple to believe that a conductor has one of the easiest jobs in the world. Yet, hidden…
During different times within my adult life, I have been asked, āWhy do you continue to go to school?ā My first instinct is to answer their question with a question…
JUNE PANEL | Placing Adult Students at the Center
Crystal Ryan | Student, Duquesne UniversityBy accommodating adult student learners, an institution is strengthening the studentās confidence of learning new things, satisfying the studentās career needs, and giving students a real sense of worth. Duquesne…
I remember the old saying about the West ācome prepared or not at all.ā I thought I was ready, so I left my southern city and headed for the mountains…
Seeking Balance: Experiential Learning in Academic Courses
Kimberly Handy | Teacher, Anchorage School DistrictOnly a small portion of what we learn during our lives occurs in a classroom. Every experience, every person, and every place teaches us something new about our world and…
I have attended Capella University, where I received my Masters degree, and am currently attending Walden University, where I've been in my doctoral program for going on two years. I…
Sharpening My Skills
Shirley Singer | Masters Student, University of South DakotaDuring my career I have had a number of opportunities to rise up the corporate ladder which have passed me by. People who were hired at the same time as…
As you might recall from my first article, Iām in the unenviable (but increasingly common) position of needing to engage in further education in order to move forward in my…
Looking Back on the Most Important Year of My Life
Robert Hoy | Student, Crowder CollegeTwo years ago I quit my job as an administrative assistant with few prospects, little money in the bank but a fire in my belly. I was tired of being…
When I embarked on my path toward educational success in the early 90s, the excitement of easy access to online education clouded the need to fully understand the differences between…
On The Brink
Alexander White | District Relations Manager, Major Financial Services CorporationI guess I need to back to school to continue doing the job Iāve been doing successfully for the past 20 years... and that really annoys me. Iāve been working…
With every God given day, we, the resilient parents try to address every issue the day may bring. We make sacrifices, we multitask, and we give our children the best…
Going Back To Reach The Future
Lee Ann Walker | Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa UniversityTo understand your future you must take a moment to understand your past, and what brings you to the point of change. For me the turning point of change was…
Increases and Decreases In the U.S. nontraditional students are a growing population. These increases in nontraditional students are not exactly news if we look back over the past two decade.…
Diary Of A Lifelong Learner Enrolling In Her First Massive Online Open Course
Marianne Dombroski | Regional Vice President for Boston Reed, Ascend Learning"Hello and welcome to each of our 2500+ participants from around the world! Thank you for joining us for this open course; we look forward to learning together with you.…
About five years ago I decided to return to graduate school to obtain my doctorate. My choice was to return to school was based on a number of different factors:…
Better Than The Lottery
Heather Grierson | Graduate student (MA Lifelong Learning: Policy and Management), Aarhus University and Universidad de DeustoI sat there staring at my computer screen. I couldnāt take my eyes off the email. The noise, the people around me ceased to exist for just that one moment.…
I chose to pursue an online degree for a variety of reasons. I had somewhat of a prolonged undergraduate experience, however knew that continuing my education was going to be…
For Better Or For Worse, Till Death Do Us Part: Non-Traditional Retention And Higher Education
Crystal Ryan | Student, Duquesne UniversityWhen you marry the love of your life you can expect support and encouragement from your significant other when trials and tribulation come your way. Higher learning institutions should practice…