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-Make wiser long term investments
-Have a clearer sense of self identity including self awareness and knowledge of personal talents

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The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

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How do we think and understand? Looking at specific intellectual skills that define our thought processes and ideas can answer that question and give insight into the human mind. Intellectual skills are defined as the methods an individual can use to evaluate or organize information and data. In the 1950s, educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom created a model of intellectual skills that defined abilities such as application, analysis and synthesis as building on basic knowledge. Since then, different psychologists have used multiple models and approaches to understand intellectual skills. However, a few types of skills, such as problem solving, are commonly used in a wide variety of intellectual disciplines.

Knowledge and Understanding

Learning about intellectual skills is often distilled down into Bloom's Taxonomy. It is likely you have studied or applied Bloom's ideas in school or at work. In Bloom's system, the most basic forms of intellectual skills were defined as knowledge and comprehension. Knowledge is defined as the ability to memorize and reproduce information. Comprehension builds on knowledge and is the ability to understand what memorized information means. For example, memorizing that two plus two equals four is a use of knowledge as a skill. However, knowing that two of an object plus two of an object equals four of an object is comprehension or the simple understanding what the parts of the formula mean.

Critical Thinking

One commonly recognized intellectual skill is critical thinking, which is the ability to analyze and interpret information to assess its context and validity. This can include multiple specific skills: asking questions about information, comparing material to known information and drawing connections between information and its context to for analysis.

Bias

Checking for intellectual bias is an important aspect of critical thinking. Some psychologists connect critical thinking to an additional intellectual skill of determining if a preconceived bias in present. This is sometimes referred to as disinterested scholarship: the ability to distance oneself from material or information being presented to evaluate its validity.

Problem Solving

Another set of intellectual skills is problem solving. Where critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information, problem solving involves an individual using intellectual skills to solve situations she is not familiar with. Psychologists have connected multiple intellectual skills to problem solving: analyzing the problem, using information to come up with potential solutions and testing solutions empirically. Other skills related to problem solving include setting goals and planning different ways to approach the problem. In each case, these skills involve relating the information of the problem to multiple sets of known information and finding a way to creatively synthesize that information with the problem; this makes problem solving one of the most complex forms of intellectual skills.

Creative Skills

While problem solving and critical thinking involve using intellectual skills to understand and solve exterior information, intellectual skills can also be used creatively. In fact, some 21st century educational psychologists have modified Bloom's taxonomy to show creating as the most developed intellectual skill. Different intellectual skills connected with creativity involve synthesis. When combining multiple sources of information and fluency, the ability to create quickly from limited information comes from that synthesis. Originality, the skill to create distinctive solutions, and flexibility, the skill to alter and revise information given changing circumstances, are also important skills in the creative process.

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Intellectual skills are the methods used to evaluate or organize information and data. Educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom created an intellectual skills model to define abilities such as application, analysis and synthesis. Psychologists have used multiple approaches and models to understand.

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-College graduates have higher rates of employment and are less likely to be laid off
-More likely to find themselves in a career that interest them

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-Lower levels of anxiety
-Higher levels of life satisfaction and personal happiness

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This is the time of high school graduations. Many of these young adults will be spending perhaps their last summer at home before going off to college, while others will be entering the workforce. Some will have their next step securely in place, while others may be less sure about what to do for the ensuing chapter of their life. The predominant emotions around this time tend to be very positive with a combination of excitement, pride, adventurousness, and even relief. At the same time, however, parents and those who spend time with our new graduates also need to be mindful about some other feelings that could be swirling around in the mix.

Loss. For many graduates, their entire social network is about to change completely for the first time ever. While technology makes it easier than ever to stay in touch, even this generation can feel the difference between actually spending time with friends and a text. The prospect of not being around family members as much may also be looming, even if it is hard for some graduates to admit that they will miss their parents or siblings.

Jealousy. Most of us don't always get what we want, and it can be difficult for graduates to see others going to the college that didn't accept them or beginning a job for which they were turned down.

Regret. Up to this point, our graduates have been told repeatedly that "their entire life is ahead of them" and that their efforts are "opening doors" to limitless possibilities. These clichés remain largely true, but now, the sounds of a few closing doors can also be heard. As wonderful as choices are, they generally mean that other things are not picked. Doubt about the path not chosen may felt more acutely than it has in the past.

What should a good parent do about this? Here are a few tips during this wonderful but challenging time.

1. Encourage a conversation by telling your own stories. Many adolescents don't respond well to direct questions about how they are feeling about certain situations. One way to open the door is for parents to talk about their own stories and emotions either about the past of what they are experiencing right now. You might first get the eye rolling "here comes another old story" look, but it can help get a discussion going. My kids have heard the story more than once about how I changed majors four times in college and how being a physician was the first career that I ever ruled out. And when your graduate does start talking....stop and listen.

2. Don't feel like you have to fix everything. Many well-meaning parents go immediately into problem-solving mode when they hear about struggles their child is facing. This is natural but not always necessary or even optimal. Sometimes just hearing people out and normalizing their emotions can do more than we think.

3. Talk about the future. It can reassuring for some graduates, especially those who plan to move farther away, to hear some concrete plans about getting together for parents weekend or travel arrangements back home for Thanksgiving. Discussions about plans for regular phone or video calls (even if you end up changing them) can remind graduates that they will still be very much part of the family.

Of course, parents and family members of graduates are also likely feeling a lot of intense and mixed emotions. These are completely expected, and an ability to recognize, accept and talk about them with others can help everyone navigate these transitional times best.
David C. Rettew, MD, is a child psychiatrist at the UVM Medical Center and director of the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Program.
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High School Graduation: A Time of Mixed Emotions for All

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This is the time of high school graduations. Many of these young adults will be spending perhaps their last summer at home before going off to college, while others will be entering the workforce. Some will have their next step securely in place, while others may be less sure about what to do for the ensuing chapter of their life.

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-Better leadership skills
-Stronger interpersonal and human relation

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5.Higher quality of life for their children 

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5.Higher quality of life for their children 

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-Have children who are more likely to graduate from college.
-More likely to save money for their children to go to college

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We all know about the obvious benefits to having a college degree -- namely, a steady job and financial security. But we often overlook other benefits to higher education: quality of life improvements that deserve to be brought into focus, whether you're on the fence about going back to school or are just having a hard time appreciating the degree you already have.

Here are just a few of the benefits you should take into account to start giving college credit where it's due, according to the College Board's newly updated study " Education Pays: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society":

There's just something about a college grad that makes her stand a little bit straighter and a little bit taller. It likely has to do with the boost to one's self-esteem and confidence that comes with making it through a higher education program.

Studies conducted by the College Board and others like it have found that those who have completed additional schooling are not only more well-equipped to handle mental challenges, but also report a higher level of satisfaction when doing so.

Since earning a college degree has long been considered a rite of passage, there's an extra sense of accomplishment when you reach the finish line. You've accomplished something that no one can ever take away from you.

Sure, you can lose the physical piece of paper, and you may move on from the job your degree helped you attain, but you'll never lose the work behind the journey you undertook to get your diploma. Even when tough times fall, you know you have what it takes to start something and finish it successfully, and that is priceless.

In addition to the mental boost that comes with higher education, college grads are healthier overall. Higher socioeconomic status (measured by total family income, level of education attained and professional career status) is directly correlated with better physical health and life expectancy.

This correlation seems obvious when you consider that those who earn more money have greater access to health care and healthier food options. But what you may not have considered is that higher education means the ability and desire to make better choices when it comes to habits -- eating and otherwise.

For example, those with extended educations are less likely to smoke and more likely to exercise. When you put greater emphasis on taking care of your mind with additional schooling, you naturally put greater emphasis on taking care of your body, too. It's truly as simple as when you know better, you do better.

While we're on the subject of bettering ourselves, one common reason people seek higher education is to get out of a dead-end job. Having a degree often means having an actual career rather than punching the clock to pay the bills.

That's all fine and good, you may say, but having a career means nothing if you can't keep it -- a task many are finding difficult as of late. Fortunately, a diploma gives you the upper hand when it comes to economy-driven layoffs.

Graduates not only have higher job retention rates during a recession, but also an easier time finding re-employment due to higher marketability than their non-graduate colleagues. That means less stress overall during tough economic times.

Finally, one of the greatest benefits to having a college education is passing on the legacy to your children. Children of a college grad are more likely to have a better quality of life and pursue extended education themselves. Those children also have a much easier time getting into good schools because their parents have emphasized the importance of an education to them. They also tend to have better grades and test scores.

As experts often state, children of college grads -- even those who don't attend college themselves -- are more motivated to reach for their dreams. They know that their parents pushed through adversity to earn their degrees, and they apply that same philosophy to going after what they want in life -- a bar that is placed that much higher by having college-educated parents.

Although financial enrichment is one of the main reasons people choose to pursue higher education, there are many other benefits to obtaining that degree. You better yourself through improved self-confidence and enhanced decision-making ability, which also betters the lives of your family members and others around you.

Lizzie Wann is the Content Director for Bridgepoint Education. She oversees all website content and works closely with New Media, Career Services and Student Services for Ashford University.
Brazen Life is a lifestyle and career blog for ambitious young professionals. Hosted by Brazen Careerist, we offer edgy and fun ideas for navigating the changing world of work -- this isn't your parents' career-advice blog. Be Brazen.

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Why Your College Degree Has More Value Than You Think

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We all know about the obvious benefits to having a college degree -- namely, a steady job and financial security. But we often overlook other benefits to higher education: quality of life improvements that deserve to be brought into focus, whether you're on the fence about going back to school or are just having a hard time appreciating the degree you already have.

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-Live longer and heathier lives
-More likely to have health insurance and better (more comprehensive) health insurance coverage

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-More interest in natural issues-both social and political
-less likely to be incarcerated

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What it takes to be a good citizen can vary by culture. Overall, though, people who obey laws and contribute to society are generally seen as good citizens.

The qualifier "good" constitutes a subjective judgment that is likely to vary based on context. Humans do not have a single objective definition of the specifics of what "good" might mean when applied to a person. Therefore, the exact circumstances that make a person a good citizen or bad citizen may depend heavily on the laws of the land in which he or she lives. Some people may consider that a good citizen is a person who can generally be considered "good" according to standard social rules that generally apply to all human societies, such as being kind to others and exercising proper etiquette according to cultural norms. Others may believe that good citizens need to make personal sacrifices for the betterment of their countrymen, such as paying high taxes to fund social programs that help people in need.

The Many Definitions of Good Citizenship Good citizenship can be defined in more specific ways within the context of a government institution with a specific mission. For example, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service explains that good citizens feel a strong commitment to their country. They show appreciation for their civil rights by utilizing their freedom to become successful. They are industrious, responsible and avoid becoming a burden on society. However, education is extremely important for good citizens because it allows them to make correct decisions and avoid being fooled by power-hungry demagogues. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service is dedicated to ensuring that only the most worthy applicants are granted citizenship to the U.S., so this definition serves a functional purpose for that institution. Institutions dedicated to public service or environmentalism may add more specific definitions of what "industrious" and "responsible" mean based on their organization's mission.

The Legal Aspects of Good Citizenship Laws usually play an important part in how good citizenship is perceived. A good citizen would typically not be one that willfully broke laws in his or her country. Some people also think that participating in government is an important characteristic of a good citizen. This doesn't mean that one has to become a politician or otherwise work in government in order to be a good citizen, but citizens of democratic nations are generally encouraged to participate by voting in order to participate in government properly. However, some people think that good citizens need to be able to make properly informed decisions and think critically about the options available to them at the ballot box.

However, in a nation that does not conduct free and open elections, this kind of critical thinking and personal decision making may not be considered to be good citizenship. For example, in North Korea, opposition to the government is a punishable offense, and the government would likely not consider such dissidents to be good citizens. This is where the subjective nature of the "good citizen" judgment becomes tricky, however, because a dissident speaking out on behalf of human rights would likely be considered a good person. Dissidents, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr., are generally seen as good people even if governing powers didn't see them as good citizens.

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What it takes to be a good citizen can vary by culture. Overall, though, people who obey laws and contribute to society are generally seen as good citizens. The qualifier "good" constitutes a subjective judgment that is likely to vary based on context.