While many students wake up each morning contemplating what to wear for school or how they’ll do on their class presentations, some students don’t need to move far from their beds to get their education. Homeschooling is a growing choice for students throughout the country. Options for homeschoolers are also increasing; they can choose their own curriculum, attend virtual schools, or enroll in correspondence schools. Find out what options are available for those choosing this educational path and what some of the benefits or disadvantages may be over attending public school.

Thousands of university and college students rallied last February as a national day of action to demand lower tuition fees and more education funding. Student debt in Canada is estimated at $20 billion across the country and increasing $1.5 million each day. Organizations such as the Canadian Federation of Students are refusing to allow this to continue.

In the 1980’s, Dr. Howard Gardner, a psychologist and Harvard University professor, devised a theory of multiple intelligences, espousing that nine kinds of ‘intelligence’ exist in humans. This means that just because a student has a tougher time learning a certain course or topic doesn’t’ necessarily mean he is less intelligent; he may just have a different learning style. Yet it is said that most teachers only appeal to two or three intelligences. Find out how this theory is making headway in the education system.

Tuition: $5,000. Room and board: $3,800. Books: $1,000. The value of a good education: priceless. With the much publicized tuition hike protests occurring across the nation, it has become apparent that funding post-secondary education is a serious matter that will not simply resolve itself. Rather than accepting governmental policies on debt, many students are looking to reduce tuition through alterative means. One of the most popular means is scholarships and bursaries. Here's what to keep in mind if you're seeking a scholarship.

Not sure what your next move should be after high school? You’re not alone. Since the elimination of the Ontario Academic Credit (OAC), some high school students feel pressured to choose a path, and quickly. But there are several avenues students can choose to take that may even benefit them in the future instead of considering just delving into postsecondary school.

High school students across Ontario are aware that it is compulsory to complete 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. But for both public and Catholic school boards, the 40 hours is not connected to the curriculum and is an aspect that students must take full responsibility for. This leaves many students feeling pressured to find appropriate volunteer placements while juggling their regular workloads. But while some are struggling in the process, others are finding their volunteer experiences enjoyable and beneficial.

When Erin Gruwell began teaching at Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif., she found herself among students who were deemed ‘unteachable’, their lives full of racial clashes and exposure to violence, juvenile detention, and drugs. Gruwell decided to take a different approach to teaching, encouraging her students to read about people whose feelings of pain and suffering they felt they could relate to and pen journals on the issues in their lives and those of the characters. These teaching methods helped empower the students, and their grades went up. In 1998, almost all of Gruwell’s students graduated, and they captured their journey in The Freedom Writers Diary, calling themselves the Freedom Writers. Along with some of the Freedom Writers and her colleagues, Gruwell is now passing on her teaching methods to other educators across North America through the Freedom Writers Foundation, hoping to deter the drop out rates from schools and ensure students are not left behind.

Many teens dream of making a positive difference in their communities or on a global scale. But they often don’t know how to go about putting these ideas in action. Toronto based Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) has created the Tools for Action educational resources to help students organize effective advocacy and fundraising campaigns in their schools on a variety of international development issues. CPAR has also designed Tools for Learning resources aimed at high school teachers so they can develop lesson plans to engage students in global issues. Find out what it takes to start making positive changes.

At many high schools, students’ votes for valedictorians are swayed faster than notes passed around math class. It’s often the popular students who get selected, and they’re not always the ones with the best academic record. 

The question on many students’ minds is no longer whether they should get a computer for postsecondary school, but rather what kind of computer to get. The first decision a student needs to make is whether to buy a desktop or laptop computer. Jared Palfrey, CAID Technology network consultant and president, said it’s “absolutely laptop, hands down. As long as you take care of it, it’ll last you for at least an entire education degree.” But laptops are more expensive to both buy and repair. Read on to find out more about the various computers available and what may best suit your needs.

Still wondering how to fill your co-op hours and find meaning in your work? Shift Unlimited, created last December by 18-year-old Jamie Arron, aims to broaden students’ knowledge of careers centered on social change through unique co-op opportunities. The first initiative is offering co-op placements for Toronto high school students at over 50 different organizations, exclusively within sustainable businesses and innovative social/environmental organizations.

For some students, graduating high school is no easy feat. Stemming from the recognition of the potential of all students, the Alternative Cooperative Experiential program is helping make a difference in the lives of senior students who lack school credits and are at risk of dropping out.

Do you get overwhelmed whenever an exam comes up and don’t know where to begin with studying? Maybe you find yourself getting stumped on those confusing multiple choice tests. There are key ways to better prepare for your tests and learn how to pace yourself when writing them. Speak with the experts about some study tips and how to achieve the best marks you can during the dreaded exams period.  

It’s often been said that music study makes people smarter. It stimulates certain parts of the brain, leading to a greater understanding of math and languages. Researchers have even found that using music therapy for children with autism can help in communicating with them.

The next four years of your life in the Humanities or English program may be a blast, but what happens after? Four years of well-rounded liberal education leave many students in Ontario with massive OSAP debts and not many ideas of how to repay them. Reporter Karon Liu uncovered some of the options out there for those pursuing the more general Bachelor of Arts degrees.

While you may expect a tough road to acceptance in your early years of post-secondary school, there are ways to manage without losing your cool. Learn from the adventures of One80 reporter and university freshman Carolyn Yates.

While you may find your parents urging you to attend university, there comes a time when you have to decide what may be best for you. There may be advantages to attending college instead if you’re keen on certain careers. Reporter David Singh spoke with experts and graduates about the differences between these two avenues of education and why you might want to reconsider.

Suffering from back pain? Feeling exhausted after sitting at your desk to do homework? You may be using a poor work environment. Find out about some of the proper and healthy ways to do homework and arrange your work space.

In an attempt to entice high school students to explore careers in skilled trades, the federal government is channelling funds once used for costly classes like visual arts and food and nutrition toward skilled trade classes such as woodworking and auto-shop.