ACS Distance Education Newsletter ACS Distance Education 

NEWSLETTER

$$$ Save on Course Fees $$$

You can still enrol in courses or additional course modules at the low current fees. Next month, fees will be increased to reflect increased operational costs.

If you are interested in a course, enrol now before fee increase.
If you are a current student on a payment plan, consider making your next payment now, before the fees rise.

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New Office

Our Australian administration office has moved to a new location adjacent to Robina Town Centre, Qld. While our physical location has changed, our postal address remains the same.

Note our new phone and fax numbers:

New phone number:  07 5562 1088

New fax number:  07 5562 1099

Phone for an appointment.

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COURSES

Special Offers
Check this month's course special offers at

http://www.acs.edu.au/courses/product_listings.aspx?catid=special%20offers
See Bookshop special offers at

http://www.acsbookshop.com/Products_special.aspx

 

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Course Development

Things just keep getting better.  We have added new courses, made others available online or on CD, and done major revisions and upgrades on some old favourites.

Major Revisions Completed on:

  • Marine Studies II
  • Ornithology
  • Ecotour Management
  • Ecotour Tour Guide
  • Bushcraft & Wilderness Skills
  • Commercial Vegetable Production
  • Water Gardening
  • Human Biology II (Muscles & Movement)
  • Human Biology III (Cardiorespiratory Performance)
  • Children’s Nutrition
  • Nutrition III
  • Travel Photography


    New Courses
  • Workshop I
  • Certificate in Alternative Education (see item below)

    Courses Now Available on CD and Online

  • Organic Plant Culture
  • Viticulture
  • Marine Studies I

    For details on any of these courses, email admin@acs.edu.au

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    New! Certificate in Alternative Education

    Education comes in many different shapes and forms, and traditional education systems do not suit everyone. Some people simply don’t learn as well in a highly structured or conventional situation. Sometimes, a parent or employer seeks a different kind of learning: perhaps one that is more focused on the capacity to be innovative and creative and less focused on learning facts and skills; or learning that is more based on developing problem-solving skills. Also, there is a worldwide increasing demand for more flexible forms of delivery or multi-model education.

    We have designed this course for educators and trainers who want to develop the skills and broader perspective that will help them meet these new and changing demands. Our Certificate in Alternative Education is not about teaching alternative content to that offered in traditional schools. Rather, it is about developing alternative education strategies and the ability to offer alternative educational options to meet the changing needs of students and employers.

    With its emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning, this course is ideal as a supplement or complement to education certificates, Proficiency Awards or degrees, and also, as a basic training course for educators or trainers who are interested in alternative education methods.
    The course is made up of the following modules:
    Classroom Delivery Skills; Course Writing; Delivering Distance Education; Educational Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Workshop I (see below).

     

    New Course - WORKSHOP I

    This course uses a Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach to enable students to learn what could realistically be achieved by attending a 2 week workshop (100 hours). PBL is a very credible and well established method of learning originally developed in USA medical schools, and now used in universities around the world.

    This new program is applicable to all areas of study, and is designed to satisfy the workshop or workplace project requirement of ACS Advanced Certificates, Proficiency Awards and higher qualifications. Fee: S3

    For details, email admin@acs.edu.au

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    CAREERS

    New Job Profiles

    More great advice on careers is now available.  To see more, click on your career of choice, below:
    Cut Flower Grower 
    Occupational Psychologist
    Computer Technician 
    Writer, Editor, Publisher
    More on: www.thecareersguide.com
     

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    STUDENT PROFILE

    It was while living in China, cut off from any form of English material that I realized just how much I enjoyed writing and that I wanted to learn about what to write, and how to write more concisely.

    I found ACS, and they offered online courses. I was impressed by what the freelance course offered, especially as I was travelling and it suddenly seemed possible that I could write about my experiences and potentially get published as well. I enrolled and excitedly submitted my first assignment. Tosca, my tutor is fantastic. She gives great feedback and advice about what to change, problems to look out for and how to fix them. She gives constructive criticism and I never feel like I have failed.

    The freelance writing course has taught me how to plan my articles, keep them tight, write with a voice that is my own and how to recognize what publishes want. I have written two pieces for the Teach International (an ESL company) newsletter, been published in a Chinese newspaper and also on the Journey Woman website.

    http://www.journeywoman.com/girltalk/china/girl_talk_china.html

    Living and travelling through China provides constant inspiration for stories and I am discovering that there is the potential to be published in many different media; the internet, local papers & magazines, and papers or magazines at home in Australia just to name a few. Doing to the course has given me the confidence to write more freely and be more expressive. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn to write for their own personal enjoyment or those seeking to start a career in the field of writing.

     

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    JOB BOARD

    Why do so many graduates struggle to get work?
    Career success comes from having skills that are in high demand and low supply. To find more about prospective careers, visit http://www.thecareersguide.com/

    ACS courses are experiential, content is unique, and graduates succeed. See our course options at http://www.acs.edu.au/default.aspx

    Job seeking? Looking for good employees?
    Use our new Notice Board

    Current Listings include:

  • ACS Student Katie Enright (studying a Certificate in Horticulture) is seeking work in Hunter Valley Australia
  • Arkley Nursery Landscape Ltd near Cambridge in the UK - seeking a Trainee Horticulturist.
  • Vacancy for a Photography Tutor in Australia

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    PUBLICATIONS

    John Mason and staff of the school are regular contributors to a range of publications.  Check out our recent articles in:

    A new and exciting homes magazine from Northern Ireland, with great articles from John Mason and staff of ACS, and others. Download the latest issue for free on the net, or subscribe.

    The Garden Guru  www.thegardengurus.tv
    The Garden Guru Newspaper is published quarterly by Trevor Cochrane and Neville Passmore of the popular Australian TV show, with articles from gardening experts across Australia. See John Mason’s article on hydroponics in the current May-August issue, and look for an article on aromatherapy in the next issue.

    The Garden Guru screens on Channel 9 Saturdays 5pm and on WIN in most Australian states (Coming to Qld later in 2006).

     

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    ACS Distance Education Newsletter ACS Distance Education
    Phone: +61 755 621 088
    Fax: +61 755 621 099
    Email: admin@acs.edu.au
    ACS Distance Education
    June 2006 
    Inside this Issue:

    Fee Increase SAVE $$$

    Office Move – New phone and Fax in Australia!

    Special Offers

    Courses – Revised and New

    Careers – New Job Profiles

    Student Profile
    sd

    Employment Notice Board
    fsd

    Publications
     
    John Mason - Principle, ACS
     

    Comments by John Mason Principal of ACS & author of over 40 books.

    Will this Course Get me a Job?

    Some colleges and schools make all kinds of promises about getting jobs after completing a course, but in reality, it is not so simple.

    Getting a job, keeping a job, and having a successful career depend upon many factors, and the course you study is only one factor.

    EDUCATION CONTRIBUTES TO GETTING A JOB, BUT DON'T THINK THAT A QUALIFICATION IS ALL YOU NEED!

    ALL of the following factors will affect your likelihood of success:

    1. Knowing the core aspects of your discipline. You need a broad understanding of any discipline as a foundation. Employers understand that you will be more adaptable to change with a broad based knowledge. Specialist knowledge is always valuable, and may serve you well in the short term, but excessively specialised people sometimes become unemployed when their specialisation is no longer in demand.

    2. Having a wide range of specific skills, even beyond your own discipline. (eg. Most employers find an understanding of computers and other technologies useful).

    3. Gaining management and possibly business skills. Some people have the qualification but never go to management level because they have not acquired the ability to manage well.

    4. Establishing good contacts and networking. Often, who you know can make all the difference. At ACS, we develop these aspects through our assignments. Some schools don't.

    5. A positive, appropriate attitude. Employers will more often than not employ those who communicate an attitude that is in tune with their organisation and business.

    6. Ability to think laterally (or outside the box). Creativity and adaptability are essential in today’s fast-changing market.

    7. Uniqueness. Many employers have said to me, "Why employ someone who has the same skill set as everyone else?.I want someone who can bring something different to my business".

    8. Licensing. Some jobs do require a license or government registration (eg. doctors, electricians). However, a license alone is rarely a guarantee of employment. Anyone can do a short course to get a relevant licence.

    Those who address all of these factors when preparing for a job or career, or when planning to advance in a career, will be in a much better position to succeed than those who do not, in the short and long term.

    We believe that the training provided by our school is as good as the best anywhere. But at the end of the day, your success or failure will be affected by a lot more than what you study. We try to give you a much broader base for future success by helping you develop contacts in the industry, an appropriate attitude toward the industry, and an ability to think laterally.