Archive for July, 2008
Posted by colettavw on July 31st, 2008
As a student of an on-line program, I fully appreciate the flexibility that the program provides. I am a working mother with a four-year degree under my belt. I chose my particular online program to achieve the skill sets necessary in my field. The reputation of the school is not as important in my case as the work I create and the education I receive from the program. The online program I attend is a match to my lifestyle and career goals; I can work from home, at any hour of the day or night, I have professors who are only an email away and who are very proficient with the computer as a means of communication and I work at my own pace–not at the pace of the slowest student in the room. Feedback is often received the same day an assignment is submitted and this adds to the value of the study. Students considering an online education should take in to consideration the intrinsic value that an online education provides.
Posted by alex on July 31st, 2008
One of the greatest myths that surrounds online education and adult education is that as you get older it becomes impossible to get financial air or student loans in order to help you afford rising school costs. While it is true that more scholarship are available for younger students, this does not make it impossible for returning students to get funds. Especially in today’s age when having a college degree is becoming more and more essential to embarking on a successful career, the fact is that you simply can’t afford not to earn a college degree, no matter the cost.
Fortunately there are a number of potential options that could help you to get started, because—let’s face it—college is expensive and most people just don’t have the money to get the ball rolling. Many financial aid and scholarship programs available to returning students through various organizations such as AIE and the Federal Government. But the real key is knowing about all of the different avenues that can be taken in order to receive educational funding.
In addition to scholarships and loans it is important to keep in mind the fact that there are State Education Grants, which most states have set aside for returning students over the age of 25. Also there are the often-overlooked work-study programs that many returning students don’t even realize that they are eligible for, and can often be an indispensable source of financial aid that generally isn’t too difficult to come by.
These are just a few general ideas, but there will be more in the future. In the meantime have a look at the info on this page, which is a government education site that outlines a number of different ways that returning students can get money towards college.
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Posted by J.M. Striegel on July 30th, 2008
Whether you’ve finished your online degree or not, it’s time to post your résumé online and become visible to the employers who are in need of someone like you. While some employers are searching for college graduates, others are seeking active students who can benefit from an internship or entry level position.
The search for employment has, by some degree, become more convenient for job seekers who turn to online job listing sites. Posting your résumé online for employers to view can help you save time and money. The exposure these sites offer make it worth your while to take the time to gather your transcripts, previous work history information, and any letters of reference or contact information and spend time an afternoon creating your online profile.
There are a large number of job listing sites available. The term “job listings” returns 19.5 million hits in Google. There are the well-known sites like CareerBuilder and Monster, but there are also niche driven job listings like Delaware State Jobs and Federal Jobs Digest. Alternatively, for a fee, you can submit your résumé to sites like Resumé Rabbit and they will post your résumé on a potential list of 85 job search Web sites.
Post away job seeker—just remember to keep your résumé and contact information current!
J.M. Striegel
Posted by Phyllis Stith on July 30th, 2008
Understanding Instructor Responsibility in the Online Learning Environment
Instructors in the online learning environment are faced with the same tasks as those that work in traditional brick and mortar institutions. However, there is also the added responsibility of facilitating online communication to ensure that discussions are both unbiased and lively, in addition to being educationally relevant.
Thus, the instructor is charged with developing pedagogical lesson plans that engage students in the critical thinking process through objectives that are both clear and concise. This is accomplished when the instructor facilitates discussions in ways that encourage active participation from students.
In addition, the instructor should remain objective when assessing student performance because personal biases can lead to unfair grading methodologies that hinder learning opportunities. In addition, the instructor must develop lessons and discussions that do no offend students that come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Thus, sarcasm and other types of language that may be offensive should be avoided at all costs.
Instructors must also take the time to learn particular learning styles in order to meet the needs of the class and this can be accomplished when students are required to provide class introductions. Moreover, instructors must maintain a sense of flexibility because all students do not learn and comprehend at the same pace. However, the online learning environment is based upon the schedules that are developed by the learning institutions which means students must meet course requirements or receive incomplete grades if the situation warrants such a measure.
Finally, the online instructor must employ the use of effective classroom management skills at all times. This will serve to eliminate the potential for disarray which is not conducive to the learning environment. Thus, any behavior that is unsuitable for the classroom should be immediately addressed by the instructor and disciplinary actions should be taken on a case by case basis.
Posted by Phyllis Stith on July 30th, 2008
Students enrolled in online classes have the responsibility of managing their time effectively to ensure success in higher education. Adheringto the following measures will help students meet course requirements and deliverables:
Preparation
Students should make a checklist of needed textbooks and supplies before the start of class to avoid falling behind. They should alsolog into classes at the beginning of each week to preview the assignments and course related messages. In addition, a hardcopy of the scheduled assignments should be made (preferably in a planner) so that they can be completed in a timely fashion. Once a task is completed, it should be checked off. It is important to note that students should spend at least 2 to 3 hours per week on each assignment; additional time may be required to complete difficult tasks. And last but not least, non relevant Internet surfing and personal emailing should be avoided.
Avoid Distractions
Distractions can cause students to lose focus and noise control methods should be implemented as a means of prevention. As such, students should study in an environment that is conducive to learning and does not leave room for disturbances. In addition, cell phones and instant messaging should be kept at a minimum during study time because these tend cause students to move away from the study materials.
The Advantages of Down Time
There are times when students will have the potential to use down to their advantage such as when they are doing laundry, waiting on the bus, etc. As a consequence, this time should be spent doing things that are relevant to educational pursuits. For example, students may choose to log into their online class to set up the week’s study agenda when they wake up on Monday morning. In addition, the student may choose to read during bus rides or while doing laundry; all of these will serve to help the student make the most of their time.
Posted by admin on July 30th, 2008
The State of Massachusetts announced yesterday that they will not be guaranteeing 40,000 college students with federally backed college loans this coming fall semester due to their inability to raise the necessary funds through MEFA, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority. The state recommends that nearly 40,000 students and their families seek alternate arrangements, through federal plans.
There are a number of loan packages available for college students including private college student loans from Nextstudent.com and Sallie Mae and students can find college scholarship opportunities at sites like Fastweb.com, collegeboard.com and through corporations like Coca Cola, and Apple.
Posted by shonjohns on July 28th, 2008
Each year, thousands of high school graduates aspire to continue their education at the college level. There are a number of students who have clear goals as to what their studies will be at their upcoming universities. Most of those who’ve acheived academic prominance and extra curricular activities will receive large sums of money to attend the college of their choice. Although this free education seems wonderful, sadly this is not the case for most college wanna b’s.
Fear not young ones, there is money out there, you just have to know how to dig for it. None of the generous companies that give away money, advertise it. The one with the biggest shovel wins the free money game. Finding your money needs to be like another part time job (1-2 hours week). There are other tactics as well to shorten the college price tag:
* Always show them you have less money than they thought. They need to know about shorter work hours, or the need to care for a sick relative.
* Take the loans. Most of them don’t charge until months after graduation, and the Grandmothers of college funding already expect a nice long relationship with each and every lendee.
*Get a four year deal from your school. Some schools will boost prices after Freshman year once you’ve already committed mind, body, and soul.
For every ten students who can’t get a penny for school, there’s one student out there putting time in EVERY week taking here and there until it all adds up. There are hundreds of companies who want to give money away. So get your road maps, and shovels and start looking. If you make finding the money a priority over everything else, you will find it!
Two hours on the computer, can turn into a $3,000 education loan……….just for asking.
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Posted by Nicole Acosta on July 28th, 2008
I’m sure this is on everyones mind and at one point it was one mine. Some people feel that Online Universities are a scam and that once completed the degree might not apply to most jobs. Others feel that this is a great opportunity to finish college to get either their life started or get a better career. I researched and spoke with several different people regarding online college courses. The University of Phoenix helped me out a great deal in answering all my questions regarding, degrees, degree plans and how things run. The information they provided for me was exceptional. I got off the phone when a since of understanding and less fear of applying for the college. I believe this is a great way to start your college life, you can still live the life your in and attend college. So remember to ask questions, write them down so you know to ask the ones that are concerning you most.
Posted by jstoppi on July 28th, 2008
Obtaining an online education requires one to write quite a bit more than would be required in a traditional program. This is because reading/writing is the primary or sole means of communication in the online education arena. Real-time chats, message boards, and email are the ways students, professors and teacher’s assistance (TAs) interact with each other. Little, if any, phone calls take place. The benefits of this are obvious: refining such skills in the online classroom will pay dividends in one’s future work.
Unfortunately, not all aspects of this fringe benefit are positive. I found my ability to interact directly with people, conversation skills, verbal listening skills, and verbal speaking skills declining as I was engrossed in the reading/writing in my online education. Students can parry this potential, unwanted side-effect by investing some time for continued socialization with friends and family.
It is very difficult to formulate complex academic questions in written prose. Learning how to overcome this challenge is an yet another challenge of obtaining and online education. The online student will find him/herself reading emails to professors, over and over, listening to whether or not the question is actually interpretable. The dialogue that would have occurred in the professor’s office to help the professor understand what the student is asking takes place in the online student’s mind. The student must learn how someone might incorrectly interpret their written sentences and make adjustments to save time and quickly get the answer they need.
Posted by Phyllis Stith on July 27th, 2008
The asynchronous learning environment is static in nature and such, instant communication does not occur because information is posted on message boards. Most of the communication that occurs in this type of format is done through threaded discussions which consist of general questions or topics that have been posted by the professor. In turn, students are expected to respond in writing for all class members to see. In addition, students may pose questions and concerns in the online learning environment although email is the preferred method for issues that may require one on one interaction. It is also important to note that professors may also post audio and video files that students can view during weekly assignments.
The students are also able to upload files for storage in the online learning environment which may include research papers and projects. In turn, the professor grades these assignments and discussions and posts the corresponding grades in a grade book that is located on the online course web page.
Thus, it is imperative that both professor and student use critical thinking skills that will serve to ensure that all discussions have a logical structure. Moreover, effective writing skills must also be utilized because all posts are highly visible. Most importantly, effective writing skills are required in all institutions of higher learning and proofreading and editing skills are imperative.
