Anita Ginsburg

Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education

The top 7 reasons to pursue a Master’s degree, besides the paycheck

**The Edvocate is pleased to publish guest posts as way to fuel important conversations surrounding P-20 education in America. The opinions contained within guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of The Edvocate or Dr. Matthew Lynch.**

A guest post by Anita Ginsburg
Recently, there has been much debate whether the benefits of a master’s degree outweigh the cost of obtaining one. Many experts claim that a master’s degree in certain subjects does not improve your salary significantly, making it not worth the cost of an education at the graduate level. However, there are reasons, other than a paycheck, to pursue your master’s degree.

Learning About Your Passion

Most people enter a career because they are passionate about it, whether that is teaching, management or nursing. By pursuing an education at the master’s level about a subject you are passionate about, you get to learn more about that subject. You develop a deeper understanding which can help you enjoy your career even more.

More Job Opportunities

In many industries, you cannot advance without higher education. Although there are some who argue that on-the-job experience is far more valuable than a graduate degree, the fact is that some industries require graduate level education in order to advance. By not getting that degree, you could risk limitations at your workplace. For example, getting an online master’s of education in higher education gives you the knowledge needed to obtain better jobs in teaching.

Career Change

For many people, a graduate degree represents the ability to move into a different career. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, you can obtain a master’s degree in a completely different field by taking just a few extra classes. For example, if you obtained a bachelor’s degree in business and have discovered you have a fascination with law, you can earn your law degree in less time than if you did not have a degree.

Respectability

Although obtaining any college degree should command respect, earning a master’s degree will be recognized more quickly than an undergraduate degree. Employers are aware that obtaining a master’s degree is difficult, which is why they often respect those who complete graduate programs more than those who do not.

Networking

When you pursue a Master’s degree, you are exposed to industry leaders, either as faculty members or as part of the education process. This can help you build a network of colleagues which may lead to leadership roles in the future. In addition, your classmates will become part of your network and those connections can lead to promotions or job placements in the future.

Intellectual Growth

Graduate school provides intellectual stimulation and cognitive development. Just as regular exercise helps build physical strength, regular education can also build mental strength. Education helps you grow and expand your mind.

Leadership Skills

Graduate school helps you improve your leadership skills. Most graduate programs have requirements that push you into leadership roles. This can help you grow as an individual and provide potential employers with the knowledge that you are willing and able to be a leader in your chosen field.

There are many reasons to pursue a master’s degree beyond the increase in salary you may achieve by earning your diploma. These are just a few of the reasons many people choose to advance their education at the graduate level.

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Matthew Lynch published in Education Leadership

Educational leadership: Tips for inspiring students and making a difference

**The Edvocate is pleased to publish guest posts as way to fuel important conversations surrounding P-20 education in America. The opinions contained within guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of The Edvocate or Dr. Matthew Lynch.**

A guest column by Anita Ginsburg

As a teacher, you do your best to plan every lesson and prepare every lecture several days in advance. You follow the curriculum to the letter, and you only use the best textbooks when planning your assignments. But as a teacher, you want to do more than just hand out grades and percentages. You want to inspire, encourage and motivate students. You recognize that a complete education doesn’t always come from a textbook or essay. If you truly want to make a difference in the classroom, you’ll need to implement the following steps:

  1. Set High Expectations

At the beginning of each school year, you probably establish a few ground rules for expected behavior. You let students know that you want their homework in on time, and you tell them to turn off their phones when they enter the room. But your expectations should go beyond basic classroom guidelines. You need to communicate that you expect them to not just listen but to absorb, and that you want them to not just pass a test but to remember what they’ve learned. At every opportunity, let your students know when you see an improvement in their progress. Give your students examples of what a successful assignment, paper, or test looks like, so they can work toward that goal.

  1. Show Your Enthusiasm

You likely spent several years studying specific courses to earn your degree, so clearly you have a passion for certain areas of education. When you share your enthusiasm for your favorite subjects, you can spread that energetic spark to the rest of your students. Even if students don’t seem initially engaged in science, math, or social studies, your own excitement can often pique their curiosity. They’ll feel intrigued about your enthusiasm, and they just might want to do a little research of their own to find out more. To develop better teaching techniques and leadership skills to keep students engaged and excited, consider getting a master’s degree in education. The experience and knowledge you can pass on to your students can be very beneficial.

  1. Let Your Students Take Control

While you shouldn’t let your students push you around, you can give them a degree of choice about what they do in your classroom. Rather than reigning supreme and assigning what you think best, let your students choose their own topics for papers and projects, so long as they relate to the course content.

For example, if you teach history, you could let a student write about his or her family’s historical immigration experience, rather than restricting an essay to the immigration act of 1924. Or if you teach physics, you could let an athletic student compare the spin and rotation of a soccer ball versus a football. When you let your students connect their assignments to their own personal interests, you give them the opportunity to engage in and explore their work more deeply.

Of course, these are just a few ways you can make a difference in the classroom. It’s important to keep learning yourself to continue inspiring your students. From small seminars to higher education, every step counts to making a difference in the lives of your students.

 

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