Introduction
The overarching aims of education underlie the construction of the curriculum. Education, in the broader sense, aims to develop the individual, to enlarge an individual’s knowledge, experience and imaginative understanding, and thus his awareness of moral values and capacity for enjoyment (Waddock, S. 1995) and also to enable an individual to take his place in society. The school education on the other hand, has the aim to provide opportunities for all students to learn and achieve, to promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and to prepare students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.
Consider the school of the late 20th century. It has not changed a whole lot in the last fifty years or so (Waddock, S. 1995). Isolated from the rest of the world except for one or two school-business partnerships. Working at the edges of the school, these partnerships attempt to provide students with some insight into the working world or give some marginal discretionary resources for the principal to use. The resources are used on one of a multitude of unrelated programs that the school has set up to cope with the problems that society has dumped on the school.
The school itself has created barriers that shelter and isolate it from the work of the world that goes on around it. The technological innovations that are pervasive in the business world have yet to penetrate the classrooms except for a single computer in each classroom that the teacher barely knows how to use. Few business people, even the partners, ever come to school; those who do are shocked by the conditions they find and by the discipline problems with which teachers must contend. Still they are comforted by the fact that school feels pretty much like it did when they went to school. With these regard, this paper will evaluate a certain article pertaining to the issues in traditional and nontraditional education.
Discussion
Distance education/online education is a method of teaching in which the students are not required to be physically present at a specific location during the term (Lewis, L., Snow, K., & Farris, E. 1999). Actually, this type of education is considered a nontraditional type of education. Most often, regular mail is used to send written material, videos, audiotapes, and CD-ROMs to the student and to turn in the exercises; nowadays e-mail and the Web are used as well (Lewis, L., Snow, K., & Farris, E. 1999). Often students are required to come to meetings at regional offices on specific weekends, for example to take exams. Distance education is offered at all levels, but is most frequently an option for university-level studies. Full time or part-time study is possible, but most students choose part-time study. Research study is possible as well.
From the study conducted by NCES, “Two-thirds of highly nontraditional students perceived their primary role to be that of an employee, suggesting that school did not have first claim on their time and energy. Among highly nontraditional students who considered themselves primarily students, many found that work limited their class and scheduling options.”[1] With regards to the results of beginning postsecondary students seeking bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, the students from both traditional and nontraditional tends to be similar in their education behavior since they were both in risk of dropping school in their first year. Actually, the given research report shows a clear assumptions pertaining to the current status of both traditional and nontraditional education. However, in making an introduction, specifically in the presented research project, it should contain an outline, background information and presentation of the sides. Further elaboration of the sides is not necessary, for it can be found in the succeeding paragraphs. The writer of the report may also include, the timeliness or relevance of the topic. In the paper presented, the writer shows a good introduction in relevance to what is the project all about. Aside from this, the writer of the report included to answer the question, “why does the reader need to bother in reading the paper? What will it inform them of?” Actually, the report included a striking introduction by mentioning some facts related to the current status of traditional and nontraditional education. It is indispensable to writing an introduction of any kind to make it as interesting as possible.
With regards to the body of the report, the writer considers and supports all ideas with evidences that make the reader decide on which side he or she wants to be on. The report also shows some transitory words, the use of transitory words or phrases is vital in helping the readers follow the flow of the thought of the writer. Readers should not be lost somewhere in middle of this composition, or they will lose interest in continuing to read the paper. The presentation of the data, tables and other information facts is well-presented and it also conforms to the methodology used in the research project.
In conclusion part of the report, the writer summarizes everything stated in the body of your essay. He highlighted the main points raised specifically, in the case of both traditional and nontraditional undergraduates, the two sides to the issue. However, the resolution part is missing in which most research paper has it. It could also include, but not necessarily limited to, the writer’s final opinion about the matter discussed in this paper or his stand regarding the issue. In the topic of traditional and nontraditional undergraduates, the writer could end with saying that one or the other side is much logical than the other. Let’s say traditional education is much better than nontraditional in terms of risk. Elaborate on the statement. Or, choose to remain neutral. The writer should think or create a lasting effect for his ending. Make every word of conclusion count. Leave an impact on the readers’ mind, like any good composition writer would do. Also, never introduce an idea which cannot be found in the previous paragraphs. A conclusion is only a wrapping up of the paper, so the writer should avoid that. Above all, do not ever forget to acknowledge your sources.
Conclusion
Based on the given report, it is very vital to consider several factors in making a report. The writer/researcher should consider its reader, contents and facts/information to give. Actually, from the given data in the report, the writer convinced me about the current status of nontraditional education. However, the writer creates a hanging conclusion in which he leaves the decision to the reader pertaining to the advantage of nontraditional and traditional education. He never mentions if nontraditional is better than traditional education or vise-versa. He only mentioned that “nontraditional beginning students who left their first institution were more likely to leave postsecondary education altogether and less likely to transfer downward.” In the sense that the writer present the perspectives of the subject and leave the readers to decide which side they are going to take or agree upon is quite good. This paper allows for the freedom of choice of the audience based on the results. It tries to convince them to agree with the writer with facts and analysis, who happens to be you. However, in the end of the report, the writer could still offer an opinion regarding the topic, but it’s still pretty much up to the reader to make up their minds.
References:
Lewis, L., Snow, K., & Farris, E. (1999). Distance education at postsecondary institutions: 1997-98 (NCES 2000-013). Washington, DC: U.S.Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, National Center for Education Statistics.
Waddock, S. (1995). Not by Schools Alone: Sharing Responsibility for America’s Education Reform. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers
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