Connexions which way now

Customers can still place calls while surfing the Internet. Cable Internet connection is a form of broadband access. Through use of a cable modem, users can access the Internet over cable TV lines.

Cable modems can provide extremely fast access to the Internet, making a cable connection a viable option for many. In certain areas where broadband connection is not yet offered, a satellite Internet option may be available.

Similar to wireless access, satellite connection utilizes a modem. ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network allows users to send data, voice and video content over digital telephone lines or standard telephone wires.

The installation of an ISDN adapter is required at both ends of the transmission—on the part of the user as well as the Internet access provider. As you decide what Internet connection is the best fit for your needs, you may wish to narrow down your selection based on your preferred download and upload speeds, or based on deals and pricing options. Reliably fast speeds and comprehensive coverage make it easier than ever to stream your favorite TV shows and movies, share photos, chat with friends and play games online.

Learn more about the EBB Program to see if you qualify. Get the reliable Internet speed you need at a price you'll love. Plus, enjoy the most in-home coverage and the control you need for the ultimate WiFi experience.

Understanding The Differences Between Internet Connections When determining which type of Internet speed and Internet connection type is right for you or your family, it's important to understand the distinction between each connection.

Who knows you really well? Talk to the people who know you really well — like your family, friends, form tutor, subject teachers, mentor, coach or learning support staff. They want the best for you. They will soon tell you if they think that an option will suit you or not.

They will also tell you why. Who knows what you need to know? Make sure that learning activities, workload and assessment do not come as a surprise. Find out what courses are really like. Go to options events. Read the information you get. Sign up for taster activities and visits.

Talk to the people running the courses and the students who are doing them. Who can give you practical help if you have trouble deciding which options to choose? Need balanced and up-to-date advice and information? Then talk to an expert. Speak to your careers co-ordinator — the person in charge of careers work in your school. Co-ordinators know a lot about what each option involves. They can tell you how it could help you in the future and where to get more information and help.

Speak to a Connexions personal adviser. They have special training to help you tackle personal and career problems. Sometimes you can drop in to see one at break or lunch times, so watch out for information about when they are in school. Otherwise you will have to ask your form tutor or careers co-ordinator to make an appointment for you.

Get in touch with a Connexions Direct adviser through www. They are specially trained to help you deal with personal and career issues. You can talk to them online, on the phone 13 2 19 and via email, text 4 13 2 19 and textphone Who can help you if you need extra support?

Are you already getting extra help with your learning, personal problems or career thinking? If so, speak to the people helping you — people like learning support staff, the special educational needs coordinator SENCO , the gifted and talented co-ordinator, mentors and coaches. To help him make his option choices Michael found it really useful to talk to a range of people in and outside of school.

If you have no particular career in mind, choose options that will give you plenty of choice in the future. If you have a firm career idea, research it and choose your options accordingly.

Remember, no qualification is ever wasted. Qualifications Do you understand the qualifications system? Do you know how qualifications can help you in the future? Find out here. The qualifications system Whatever you want to do in life, there is a qualification to help you do it. The important thing is to choose the right ones at the right time. To do this you need to know how they fit together.

All qualifications fit into a national framework. It has nine levels. Entry level is at the bottom and level 8 is at the top. Every level includes different types of qualifications. Some are subject-based.

Some are work-related. Some are job-related. The level tells you how hard a qualification is — the higher you go, the harder the qualification.

How qualifications can help you in the future There are six good reasons why you should take qualifications seriously. To give you a choice of jobs — the number of jobs you can get without any qualifications is shrinking quickly. If you want a choice of jobs, you need good qualifications.

To improve your earning power — there is a big pay gap between people with qualifications and those without them. If you want a well-paid job, you need good qualifications. To show other people what you can do — qualifications show employers, universities and colleges that you have the attitudes, skills and qualities they value.

They tell them what you already know and can do. They also give them an idea of how well you might do in the future. To prove to other people that you can learn — qualifications show people that you want to learn and that you can learn.

Employers, universities and colleges need people like this. To show yourself what you can do — gaining qualifications boosts your self-confidence and self-awareness. Choose one career or job that interests you. Look it up in the jobs4u careers database at www. Associate, Certified or Chartered Professional. LEVEL 3. HOT TIP You can use this framework to see how you can move up the levels and do different types of qualifications as you progress through learning and work.

Learning pathways Not sure how subjects and qualifications fit together to make a learning programme? Want to know more about how they can help you in the future? Whatever option you choose, you will be able to change direction or qualification pathway when you reach your next decision point.

Whatever your interests there is probably a mathematics or science career that matches them — in finance, film, TV, music, gadgets, travel, health, sport, design or environment for example. Find out more about careers at www. Preparing you for work and adult life Some subjects and skills are so important to your future that they are part of all key stage 4 learning programmes. Personal, learning and thinking skills PLTS These skills make it easier for you to organise yourself and work as part of a team.

They help you to improve your learning and solve problems so that you perform better and achieve more. The skills are split into six groups: independent enquiry, creative thinking, reflective learning, team working, self-management and effective participation. Functional skills These are the practical skills of English, mathematics and information and communication technology ICT.

You use them in everyday life, in learning and at work. Everyone needs good functional skills. That is why they are included in all key stage 4 learning programmes.

Schools and colleges are being encouraged to enter students for separate functional skills assessments to make sure that they have the best possible preparation for progression to further study and work. English, mathematics and science You can do very little in life without a good grasp of these subjects. That is why you have to study them at key stage 4. Learning activities that help you become confident and responsible young adults These help you understand the world around you and develop the skills you need for adult life.

They include ICT, PE, citizenship, religious education, sex and relationship education, careers education and work-related learning. Your school may offer a course that leads to a qualification in one or more of these areas. Schools sometimes make other subjects compulsory too, so read your options information very carefully. Do you need a bit more time to build your confidence and gain basic qualifications? If so, your school may offer you one of these learning programmes.

What do you learn? Your school will help you pick courses that suit you. You could study some of the subjects you do now. You could also take some new subjects. The new subjects could show you what work is like and help you with your personal and social development.

What qualifications will you get? Your school will pick qualifications that suit you. What can you do next? He spends two days a week on a placement with an employer where he is learning how to fit carpets and wooden floors and three days in school working towards a range of GCSEs. As well as his placement, Christopher also goes to a learning provider where he has gained other qualifications such as first aid, health and safety and food hygiene.

When he has finished Year 11, Christopher would like to join the army and gain qualifications. He has been on a two week training course to find out more about army life and help with his application. In case he is not successful, Christopher has a back-up plan.

His employer has offered him a job as a trainee carpet fitter where he can continue to learn and gain new skills. It gives you the chance to learn new skills and to work in a team with other people. Also, you can find out if it is something you want to do when you finish school. Find out more about them here. Most people take GCSEs at key stage 4, often with one or two other qualifications. Subjects Schools decide what subjects to offer.

They can choose from over 50 different subjects. These range from English, mathematics and science to archaeology, citizenship studies and engineering. Look this GCSE up in your school options information and in your local online prospectus. What does the course involve? You can find the prospectus by going to www. Learning Mostly classroom learning. Mix of theory and subject-based investigations.

The amount of practical work depends on the subject. Your school will decide which tier you should do. Foundation tier leads to grades C to G. Where they lead GCSEs will help you whatever you plan to do after key stage 4. Having GCSEs at grades C and above in English, mathematics and science gives you a much bigger choice of opportunities in the future.

Now visit www. Type the subject into the job search box and see what careers this GCSE could help you with. Undertaking practical sky observation. Business and communication systems Learning about business communication and money transfer systems. Finding out how business gathers, records and presents data. Exploring the constraints and influences on business systems. Classical civilisation Learning about Greek and Roman civilisations, their literature and their historical context.

Dance Learning about and developing the knowledge and skills needed to perform, choreograph and appreciate dance, including its artistic qualities.

Economics Learning about personal, national and global economic issues in a modern industrial society. Understanding basic economic principles, concepts, theory and institutions. Engineering Learning about engineering products, systems and services. Working with design briefs. French Developing reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Using these skills in different situations such as being on holiday or travelling on business to France, or welcoming French visitors or business people to England.

Geography Learning about the relationship between people and the climate, environment, water, landforms, places, work and development. Information and communication technology ICT Learning how ICT systems work, how to store information and how to help people solve problems.

Exploring new developments in technology and different ways to use ICT. Music Listening to and learning about a variety of musical styles. Composing music and performing as a soloist and in a group. Sociology Learning about human society and social structures and systems. Advisers have a background in working with young people and undergo four weeks' training before starting.

But there is no recognised pre-entry course. However, the evidence suggests the majority of contacts - the term given to phone or web-based communication - is for careers purposes.

Learning and work-related issues account for 62 per cent of contacts see table p Connexions, it seems, is indelibly linked with careers, but Lidster adds: "Careers talk is often the safe option as a way into discussing more sensitive issues.

But unless you are a young person living in one of the 16 Connexions partnership areas where the service operates you are unlikely to know about it. Public consciousness Like Connections Card, the third strand of the Connexions strategy run by Capita, another independent company, Connexions Direct has made its way slowly into public consciousness while successive fanfares heralded the launch of each Connexions partnership.

Locally, the service has been advertised through cinema and radio advertising, as well as on posters in schools and bus shelters.

As the service goes nationwide see box p15 , expect to see glossy teen magazines running adverts alongside features on issues such as teenage pregnancy, as well as Connexions posters in the background during TV shows Hollyoaks and Grange Hill. Hollyoaks demonstrated the power of the media when a storyline on self-harm resulted in a sharp increase in contacts. Now it is only 36 per cent. Web chat, which accounts for 45 per cent of contacts, is the most popular option.

Communicating in this relatively new way presents challenges to advisers such as Denise Atkinson. But you can't make judgements based on appearances, which is good. Here we try to guide people forward using their ideas," he says. They receive around 1, contacts a week, anticipated to rise to 3, on full roll-out, which Lidster estimates will need 30 full-time advisers.

Each teenager receives a limitless amount of time.