J.M. Striegel's Archive
Posted by J.M. Striegel on August 29th, 2008
Whether you are beginning your search for college or looking ahead to an advanced degree, chances are you’ll have a test in your future. With so much riding on these tests, it is never too early to start preparing for them. The old method of preparing for a test involved purchasing a study guide for each test you were interested in taking. The options were usually limited to entrance exams, and anyone wishing to get a jump on a professional certificate study guide either had a really difficult time locating one or was just out of luck entirely. If your local bookstore stocked the study guides, they were likely to have been old versions and expensive. If you discovered you really didn’t have the aptitude for medical school, you were stuck with your useless MCAT guide and the stinging disappointment.
Online test preparation allows the potential student an opportunity to dabble in a prospective field without handing over a dime. These online sites offer free practice tests, guides, and advice. Granted, for the full versions of a test, and to receive a qualifying online study course, you’ll need to pay a fee. Who knows, maybe you’ll take a practice test and discover an unknown skill or passion. Here are just a few practice tests you can access online.
ACT Online Test Prep for the High School graduate
Free GRE Practice Test for Graduate School entrance
LSAT Practice Test for the Law School entrant
Typing Tests for the Civil Servant
Are you Mensa material?
J.M. Striegel
Posted by J.M. Striegel on August 16th, 2008
Lifetime Television and the University of Phoenix have teamed up to bring you an amazing opportunity to win a full scholarship to the University of Phoenix. Fire up the webcam and enter the contest via an online video submission where you have two minutes to convince the panel of judges “how a scholarship from the University of Phoenix will help make your dreams come true.” Three finalists will be chosen from the eligible videos and will be asked to complete a University of Phoenix application. A Grand Prize winner will be selected from the three finalists, with the winner announced on September 15, 2008.
The contest, running August 1, 2008 until August 27, 2008, will award the winner with “a non-cash, non-transferable credit of fifty five thousand dollars ($55,000) to be used solely for tuition and fees for courses in a University of Phoenix degree program of Grand Prize winner’s choice.” Check out the rules and regulations and then get thee to the application where you can enter for a chance to make your dreams come true. What are you waiting for?
Hurry! Contest ends: August 27, 2008
J.M. Striegel
Posted by J.M. Striegel on August 15th, 2008
School is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to make sure you have your greatest online tool, your computer, ready to assist you in all your online educational needs.
Let’s be realistic, if you computer isn’t running with enough memory, at least 1 gig, you might run into some issues with saving documents, running programs, using collaborative software, and general memory swapping issues. Shop around, make certain your new components will work with your current system and make the changes you know you’ve needed to address. A computer crash in the middle of working to meet a deadline is not a productive educational challenge you need to face.
Take a day to remove any old programs you no longer need, clear your cache, clean out the recycle bin, and tidy up your on-screen desktop. Get ahead of the game and start labeling your online folders and begin to organize where your new semester items will be contained. A little organization and tidiness now will pay off later.
Are your programs current? Are you running the latest version of Adobe Acrobat, iTunes, and RealPlayer? These are just a few programs you may need for your online classes. Others include online communication tools like Yahoo Instant Messenger or AOL Instant Messenger. Having the latest updates will make sure your communication gets through accordingly. What about the latest version of your internet browser? Email program? Adobe Flash? Virus protection? Windows updates? Deal with these issues now before they prohibit you from getting your work done. Don’t forget to check if your school offers educational discounts or free programs!
When I see kids shopping for new school supplies, I’m always a little envious. I loved shopping for new notebooks, folders, boxes of crayons, and new pens and pencils. While you may not need all of the items in the “back to school” aisle, don’t forget you need printer paper, printer ink or toner, maybe a flash drive (for both portability and backing up your work), and any new software/hardware you need to help you get the most out of your educational experience. It’s okay if you can’t stop yourself from picking up a few highlighters, sticky notes, and pens.
While you’re at, just like in the days of old, why not get your eyes checked? You’ll be looking at a computer screen a lot this semester, and it never hurts to make sure your eyes are ready for the computer hours you are about to log.
J.M. Striegel
Posted by J.M. Striegel on August 9th, 2008
1. “It’s All About Me” - Every student, the traditional or online variety, works hard to balance the responsibilities of family, school, and work while squeezing in some leisure time. The balance you strike between each of those responsibilities is up to you. Some online students erroneously believe that because the work is online they can either make excuses for submitting the work late, or they can decide to blow off class entirely while they pursue other tasks.
The consequences and rewards you endure and reap will be direct reflections of the successful balance you’ve struck. Don’t expect to be treated differently because you are older/younger, have a family/are single, like to go to concerts/are a homebody, are hung over/tired, or are unable to study on Thursdays because you like to watch television…. You may encounter some serious setbacks or experiences like a sickness or death in the family. Save your “get out of jail card” for those moments that require it.
2. “They Don’t Really Mean That…” - When your instructor states that they expect you to comment on three other student’s work, they mean it. They don’t want to hear excuses and won’t accept that you made two great comments but couldn’t squeeze a third out. Follow the syllabus and the guidelines for grading.
3. “Tardiness Doesn’t Exist Online”-You can’t disguise the time you turn in your work. If you are required to respond on a discussion board, your post time is noted. If you are required to turn in work via email, the time you sent it is documented. Keep up on your due dates and you won’t try imaginative methods of scamming the system or lying about a computer crash. Those headaches happen all too often, and you don’t need to invite more by creating bad karma for yourself.
4. “No One Will Notice…”-Schools are cracking down on students who plagiarize. The penalties range from receiving a failing grade on the assignment, for the term, the class, and possible dismissal from the program/school. Instructors utilize programs like Turnitin to sniff out a student who plagiarizes. If you commit plagiarism, you must ask yourself why are you even in school?
5. “Surely This Is Enough” -Responding to your classmates in the discussion forums with a simple, “That’s a good point!” and “I agree” does not constitute participation. It’s great that you are active on the boards, but unless you are contributing with well researched information and facts (cleverly disguised as your opinion), you are missing the point of the exercise and your role as a student. Your instructor may or may not point out your deficient posts until you receive your grades.
J.M. Striegel
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 J.M. Striegel on July 26th, 2008
Are you still apprehensive about diving into the land of online learning? Fearful you won’t know what to do, won’t know where to go, and maybe you are wondering if you can even stick to a routine of studying, participating in class, and reading the materials on the syllabus? You can test drive a car before you buy it, so why not take a few free online classes before you send in that application and course fee?
I’ve previously written about education being portable, and when you can download a lecture from iTunes, I think you have to agree that we are in a wonderful time where the power of knowledge can be harnessed by those who actively seek it. The internet has opened the door to so many wonderful opportunities and information, but it can begin to look like a badly organized junk drawer. The tools are there, they just might be lost in the clutter.
The OpenCourseware Consortium is a free digital publication that attempts to make free online learning a little easier to navigate. Boasting 2,810 courses from 26 sources within a collaboration of more than 200 higher education organizations and institutions, the Consortium hopes to encourage “the adoption and adaptation of open educational materials around the world.” From Tufts University to the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain, there are online course materials just waiting for you to take notice and utilize them.
Don’t forget languages. The Foreign Service Institute offers courses that were developed by the United States government. The site uses text, podcasts, and online forum discussion to teach you Arabic to Yoruba. Adding a foreign language to your resume may open doors to new job options. No employer has ever complained that the employee knew too many languages.
Not only can these sites be helpful tools in assessing whether or not you are ready to return to the halls of academia, they can inspire your course of study. Now, thanks to sites like Lecturefox, you can dabble in courses and topics that you may never have known existed, much less would have been able to pursue within a specific course of study. Who knew you could be so excited about Religion as a Natural Phenomenon?
J.M. Striegel
Posted by J.M. Striegel on July 18th, 2008
You excitedly logged into your online learning program account and discovered a detailed syllabus encouraging you to pick up the materials on the reading list as soon as possible, but they forgot to tell you where to acquire these items. Fret not—there are some great online sources to help fulfill your required reading lists that will save you money and time.
Some courses may only use online documents and lectures, but most use a combination of online materials, textbooks, and additional reading in the form of novels and reference guides. Granted, if you are close enough to your school, you should check out the bookstore. Depending on student discounts, trade-in prices, and used book prices, you could walk out with a bounty of books without leaving too much of your wallet behind. It is worth a look and it helps to become aware of the school’s offerings.
Your first step for any novel or short story selection should be an online search engine. Chances are you will be reading your fair share of classic works and you can find them, both in text and audio versions, online, free of charge. Project Gutenberg, the trailblazing eBook producer, offers over 25,000 titles for you to add to your library. Librivox offers free, volunteer-read audiobooks you can download. Need help understanding some of these great works? Bibliomania has study guides to guide you through your literary confusion. Whether you need a book for a class or strictly for pleasure, you can access over 1.2 million eBooks at the World eBook Fair from now until August 4, 2008.
Turn to online used textbook sources like Amazon.com, Abe Books and Half.com when searching for used textbooks. Not only can you pick up a book for a steal, you can purchase your text from a previous student who not only wants to rid themselves of the material, but could use some spare change too.
Don’t ignore your local thrift stores or community libraries. Both often receive large donations of books, including textbooks. Still looking for a good deal? Turn to your local version of Freecycle. Members of Freecycle request items they need and offer items they are happy to pass on to someone in need. While you’re at it, why don’t you post a “wanted” ad for a new desk chair so you can check out all these online resources in comfort?
J.M. Striegel
Posted by J.M. Striegel on July 12th, 2008
Not unlike your MP3 player, mobile phone, and digital movie downloads, online education offers instant and constant access to the halls of higher education. Aside from a few hours of maintenance on the servers every term, these online doors don’t lock and students can be found roaming the halls of their cyber school at all hours.
A large attraction to online education is the accessibility online learning offers. As long as you have the minimum requirements needed to access your classes and materials, you can study and submit your assignments from any location you choose. Some people don’t perform well in a traditional classroom setting. These individuals may find they would thrive in an online educational setting. The same holds true for the student who requires a specific study environment that wouldn’t be attainable if they were held to a rigorous schedule that only allowed them a certain window of time to study and participate in classroom activities.
Summer classes don’t seem half as bad if you access them while you enjoy a cool breeze on a hammock. Your plans to visit with relatives over the holidays can still happen. Now you have some work to escape to when you’ve had enough “reminiscing,” and they aren’t allowed to make you feel guilty for it. You won’t feel bad about sitting down to “class” when snow is covering the streets outside your door.
Education has evolved. From a café to the beach, online education has become an accessible and portable option that makes quick work of attaining educational goals. So go ahead, make your plans, just don’t forget to include your educational goals and remember to pack a power source.
J.M. Striegel
Posted by J.M. Striegel on July 4th, 2008
Think you can be an online student and not participate in the classroom discussions or readings? You should reconsider your position. Professors and instructors are taking advantage of the latest technology and using it to connect with their students online.
Webcams can help your instructor and fellow classmates “put a face with a name” and are used for everything from informal chats among classmates to formal class discussions and seminars. Online classes offer a great deal of flexibility, but some classes are taught in real-time settings online and you may need a high-speed internet connection to keep up with the video demands.
You’ll find that some instructors are more technologically savvy than others. Some include audio versions of their text lectures, allowing you the option to download the lecture onto a mobile device and continue to learn and study while you workout, run errands, or take a break from the computer. This method is especially beneficial for the student who learns best when hearing the material rather than reading it on their own.
Most online classes are conducted in a similar method to their traditional versions. There may be weekly readings that feature group discussion that requires the student to post their views/feedback in a specific chat area and respond to the comments of others. This participation shouldn’t be overlooked for it is often a large portion of your overall assessment and can become the deciding factor in a final grade.
The exchange of ideas within the walls (virtual or otherwise) of a classroom is nothing to shy away from. These discussions are essential to creating new ideas, increasing understanding of the subject, and improving critical thinking skills. Choosing to be an anonymous online student may not only be a thing of the past, but could very well hurt your grades and skill development.
J.M. Striegel
Posted by J.M. Striegel on June 27th, 2008
Despite the fact that more colleges are adding online certification courses and degree programs every week, there are still a few people that question if an online student is a “real” college student. Fear not, your tuition, books, and student account fees will quickly silence any doubts you or your loved ones may have about the reality of online education. If the receipts aren’t enough to impress them, watching you achieve your educational goals and improve your earning potential will definitely make them reconsider their position.
Online education has quickly become a well known and respected option for a student’s higher education needs. Pursuing an online degree works for the student who needs to negotiate study and class time between working and having a family and it is tailor made for the student who doesn’t live near the school of his/her choice and enjoys independent study.
As a “real” college student, you are eligible for scholarships, grants, and loans. You can check out books from the school library (some have home delivery available), have access to subscription research services, and receive discounts for everything from educational software to automobiles and technology. Don’t be afraid to ask what services are offered for free and at a discount or reduced price to students both on campus and within your community. Yes, flash that student i.d. card and you can save on your groceries, tickets to movies and concerts, and public transportation, just to name a few.
Keep in mind that some schools do not differentiate the student account fees between traditional and online students. You may have access to gyms, pools, clubs and organizations, and other services that you’ve paid for and can use right alongside the “traditional” student. Whether or not you are within close proximity to use these services, you’ll want to be aware of the charges so you can take full advantage of the facilities and opportunities that are available to you.
Remember, choosing an online education does not diminish your educational accomplishments or validity as a student. Online education is simply another option for pursuing your dreams and goals. Upon completion of your chosen program, you will have earned a legitimate, tangible, frame-worthy degree or certificate that does not differentiate between your status as an online or traditional student. That, my friend, is as “real” as it gets.
J.M. Striegel
