University of Phoenix: Procrastinators Need Not Apply

Posted by Jeff Davis on March 4th, 2009

To procrastinate or not to procrastinate? That is the question. College is not easy whether you attend online or on campus. But then again, is it really supposed to be? It is just one class after another and deadlines to meet and class participation and both group and individual assignments. Whew! It is a procrastinator’s worst nightmare! Lucky for me that I do not fall into that category.

One thing about the online classroom environment and flexibility is that they tend to go hand in hand. My online classes at the University of Phoenix were very flexible in my opinion. They allowed me to get my work done ahead of time when I had family or work commitments and we all know how life can often get in the way of pursuing our goals. Although I liked the flexibility that was provided, it might not be suitable for just anyone. There were often times when it was difficult to stay on focused and on track, but I managed and without missing out on the important things in life. Yes, there were some last minute assignments and many a sleepless night but it was all worth it in the end.

This is one online school where deadlines had to be met. The class syllabus always informed the students of all due dates for assignments from the very beginning on the first day of class. I always appreciated this so that I could better manage and schedule my time between work, family, and school. If I knew of a family obligation coming up, then I could simply make sure that my class work was done ahead of time.

It used to be that the University gave us one week off between each class and I liked this because it allowed me to regain my sanity, if only for a brief time. Unfortunately, that has ended now and there are no breaks between classes. When one class ends, a new one begins the very next day. Working on my Master’s degree, I am used to this schedule now and actually glad about it since it will allow me to graduate a few months earlier than it would have previously. If you gain nothing else from your online experience, you will gain a new appreciation for time management.

Online Materials: Who Needs Textbooks? Not me!

Posted by Jeff Davis on February 27th, 2009

For my classes at the University of Phoenix online, basically the only materials required were a computer, an internet connection, and any software that the class specifically required or asked for. However, some online collaboration tools were necessary, especially when working in a team environment. As for textbooks, there was no need to purchase any since all course material was available online through the University library or other University resources.

An up-to-date computer was required in order to run the appropriate software for the online classes which included programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Project. Up-to-date doesn’t necessarily mean “brand new” however. The minimum system requirements for running the chosen software would work just fine on any computer running a recent Windows operating system such as Windows XP or Vista. As for an internet connection, I wouldn’t recommend anything other than a broadband connection in order to achieve adequate speed for tasks such as downloading course materials and uploading assignments.

Some of the other materials used included online communication and collaboration tools in order to work effectively within a team environment. Among these tools were applications such as Skype, email, and an instant messenger program of some sort. Based on my experience, there are many excellent and inexpensive tools located on the web that would work well in an online classroom team setting.

One thing I really enjoyed when it comes to textbooks was being able to download book chapters and read them offline at my own convenience instead of having to do it only while online. Also, the thought of saving money for every class by not having to purchase textbooks got me even more excited about attending online. The University’s online library was a tremendous help in locating articles and journals for research and in writing papers. The size of this library is quite huge and includes a large number of databases in which to search from. I can’t even imagine that I skimmed the top of it all during my enrollment there. But I can say that I never had any problem finding adequate material for my research.

“If You Build It, They Will Come”: Online Professors as Builders

Posted by Jeff Davis on February 19th, 2009

Haven’t we heard that before? Oh yeah, that baseball movie. You know the one. A true classic in my book. Much like the quote from the movie states, the online schools were “built” and the students did “come”. Whew! I must have had 20 or 30 online instructors over the past several years and I would have to say that 99% of them managed the online classroom in an efficient and effective manner. Managing an online classroom versus managing one on the ground is very similar, yet very different. For one, I cannot tell you what any of my past online instructors looked like. This just isn’t a concern in the online class. What does matter though is providing clear instruction, answering questions, and being readily available. My online instructors were able to accomplish this through the use of written syllabuses, emails, and even phone calls if necessary. The class syllabus was always clearly defined in what was expected, assignments, due dates, and how to contact the instructor for all types of situations.

Since all classes had different instructors, not all syllabuses were identical however. For the most part and regarding the assigned questions, team work, written assignments, and due dates, they were similar. But they did vary somewhat when it came to items such as preferred method of contact, leniency in grading assignments, and response times. Some instructors took a very active approach and participated in the class as much as the students, while others took more of a backseat approach and just issued reading assignments and seldom gave further guidance than what the syllabus already offered. These types of instructors were not in the majority and were typically the ones who seemed to have great difficulty in returning replies to students. Imagine that!

From what I recall the most about the overall effectiveness in the materials that were provided to us students, it was almost the same across the board. I would attribute this to the university probably having some identical format and curriculum when it came to what the students would receive. There were always plenty of relevant articles and book chapters to read for each class and of course, you could easily find more in the online school library. Resources were never a problem. The materials for each class always provided valuable information that proved to be effective in meeting the course objectives.

Overall, I believe that different instructors have different expectations. You just need to learn what your instructor expects from you and as long as you are willing to read until everything’s a blur, ask questions until you’re blue in the face, write papers until your hand cramps, research until your eyes hurt, spend countless nights without sleep, spend weekends at home fulfilling your online educational obligations, and able to get along with a diversified group of individuals who will help determine half of your grade, then you will have covered all the bases. But, it was still really enjoyable.

How Online Classes Function and the Technology that Fuels Them

Posted by Jeff Davis on February 13th, 2009

My experience with online classes at the University of Phoenix consisted of having due dates each week that had to be met for items such as attendance, participation, team projects, individual assignments, discussion questions, and weekly summaries to name a few. As a student at this school, I was required to post two responses per week in order to meet the attendance requirements and four times per week to meet the class participation requirements. Each week there were discussion questions that each student was required to answer on a specific day. Meanwhile individual assignments consisted mainly of researching and writing papers while team projects varied based on the type of class and the program you were enrolled in. I can recall most team projects consisting of virtual organizations and creating business solutions for these by utilizing simulation type environments and team research papers.

My experience with the University of Phoenix’s online curriculum was remarkably similar to a traditional classroom, except that it occurs on a tightly compressed schedule. The first class of each course is held on a Tuesday, with faculty members assigning textbook chapters and articles to read from the electronic library and suggesting Web links for additional research.

Faculty members then deliver a weekly lecture, distributing it electronically as a text-formatted Word document, and then they post discussion questions based on the readings and the lecture. Students spend the greater part of the week participating in faculty-led class discussions online and working with other students on small-group projects using e-mail and group-collaboration software. At the end of the week, which always falls on a Monday, students turn in a paper or a project.

The technologies used by my online courses included having broadband internet access, Microsoft Office, Online Resources, Simulations, Threaded discussions, and Real-time live support. Included in the Resources were an electronic library of journals and newspapers, a reference library, and Web links. Simulations were made up of multimedia software programs that helped us to learn the more difficult and complex concepts that were part of the curriculum.

University of Phoenix: Undergrad IT Program

Posted by Jeff Davis on February 3rd, 2009

My online program of study was a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology curriculum which combined networking, communications, computer programming, and systems development and analysis. This particular program was focused on acquiring the theories and technical competencies that are typically associated with the information technology profession. The courses I took provided me with a fundamental knowledge and application in both the information systems function and in systems development.

My program basically covered 5 main content areas: Business Systems Development, Programming and Operating Systems, Database Management, Networks and Telecommunications, and Web Management. Each of these specific areas had multiple classes and are really too numerous for me to list all of them here.

Since I had already obtained an associate degree in prior years, I was able to transfer those credit hours and apply towards this degree. Therefore I only needed to complete half of the coursework that was required for this undergraduate degree. Upon successfully completing the program, graduating with this degree gave me the ability to successfully perform and obtain desired outcomes in a variety of information system and technology environments and to develop, maintain, and apply information technology skills to support the strategic goals and objectives of my current organization.

I feel that this program lived up to its ability to properly prepare me with the competencies, skills, and attitudes necessary for success in the workplace. It gave me a basis on which to work with while allowing for growth in my career, to continue learning as an IT professional, and to pursue a graduate degree in the future. Even if you are not working in the information technology field right now and have no prior computer experience, this program can help to pave the way for a career in computer information systems.

Final Score: Time Management 1, Procrastination 0

Posted by Jeff Davis on January 28th, 2009

Time management is probably the biggest challenge you will ever face while learning online. Trying to balance school, work, and family along with whatever else is occurring in your daily life takes a lot of dedication, self-motivation, and prioritizing.

Often it seems that there are just not enough hours in the day to fulfill all of our personal and work-related obligations. Many times it seems that we are too busy to even analyze how we are really managing our time. It can also take way too long to develop a plan of action, especially when this time could be better spent on finishing assignments, studying, or even catching up on lost sleep.

In my opinion, an online course requires even more work than a traditional course and therefore, managing one’s time should probably be considered as the most important skill needed for success in this online learning environment. Often times, many deadlines for school work will occur at the same time, and unless you plan ahead carefully, you will find yourself in a bad situation.

For me, prioritizing my tasks was the first step I knew that I had to take in order to manage my time more effectively. Believe it or not, this was not easy for me, as I am the world’s greatest procrastinator! In my first few weeks of online classes, I did find it a little tricky to manage my time, but through trial and error, I managed to find a nice balance.

I believe that learning time management skills is one of the most important things that you can do in order to improve yourself both personally and professionally and is also necessary in reaching all of your goals and being successful not only in school, but in life. In turn, effective time management will free up your quality time so that you can spend it with family and friends. After all, isn’t it activities such as these that make us the happiest?

Going to School Online - The Simplicity of Enrollment

Posted by Jeff Davis on January 13th, 2009

Typically, the enrollment process for an online college program includes online registration, transcript processing, placement testing, program placement, and advisement. However, this can vary depending on which school is chosen. In my case, the enrollment process was a simpler process than this. There was really nothing difficult about it at all. Any questions that I had at that time were answered by the school Enrollment Counselor via telephone. In fact, this counselor actually walked me through the whole process as I did it online. So, I hope this demonstrates the difficulty level of one of the enrollment processes to others who are considering enrolling online. Quite simple indeed!

Once you have decided on the degree that you would like to earn, you should start by requesting information from online universities that offer that particular type of degree. Most online university websites have an application that allows you to request detailed information on enrolling in the college and on the requirements for the degree that you are seeking.

Most online universities will also assign you to an Enrollment Counselor, who will guide you through the process of enrolling in the college, filling out the necessary forms, and paying tuition. This counselor will also help to transfer in any credits from previous college courses that might apply to your degree. It might also be necessary to speak to a Financial Aid Counselor who can also help in finding scholarships, grants, and loans to pay for tuition.

Based on my experience, I believe that a prospective online student should begin their search for the right program at least a month or two before they are ready to start the program. This should provide ample time to complete the entire enrollment process. In some cases, the school may have an open admission policy in which case no ACT or SAT tests will be necessary for admittance and many schools will also waive the standard application fees. I know that with the University of Phoenix Online, the program allowed me plenty of flexibility in order to balance work, my family, and an education.

Choosing an Online College: Sometimes Local Presence is Important

Posted by Jeff Davis on December 31st, 2008

When I first began my search into selecting an online school and furthering my education, it was important to me that the college I choose have a strong internet presence as well as a local presence. After all, there are many online colleges to choose from but not all offer a quality education. Call it personal preference or what you will but I preferred a more recognized school over a mere local educational institution. Not that a local school would have been a bad experience or anything, but it just would not have fit into my life’s schedule as well.

After much research, I determined that there were quite a few online schools that actually had a good reputation for offering a quality education but not all met my personal criteria. I based my final decision on factors that were important to me at the time such as class sizes, accreditation, cost, available online resources, and the simplicity of being able to get help and/or support if necessary. Most of my ideals leaned me towards selecting the University of Phoenix and so I chose to pursue my degree within this environment. Locating an excellent online school that will meet your educational goals should really be no trouble if you do your research and find out all the answers to your questions beforehand.

Based on the items mentioned above, this has been my personal experience and I found a wealth of resources available on the internet in helping me make to make a final decision. There are numerous guidelines available for further consideration but the college websites were full of pertinent information and staff support is just a phone call away. I found my online college experience to be educational and self-rewarding. I would highly recommend attending an online college to anyone who is considering of returning to school.

University of Phoenix Ranked Top 20 College for Military

Posted by admin on December 18th, 2008

Why Look at the University of Phoenix online school?

Posted by admin on October 6th, 2008

Many people fear the GMAT. Another test that has to be taken in order to get into graduate school. But did you know this isn’t necessarily the case? That’s right. There are online schools that do not require the GMAT at all. The University of Phoenix is one such school.

The application process is seamless. First fill out a short questionnaire and almost immediately you get a call from an enrollment counselor. They ask more questions to make sure that you enroll in the right program. Make no bones about it, deciding to go to an online school is not a piece of cake. You still have to work. Some might say even harder because you determine when you will log on each day and when you do your assignments. There are deadlines that have o be made. It is not do what you want, when you want it. You are constantly writing papers, answer discussion questions and replying to other school mates’ answers. If you have a hard time with deadlines and creating a workable schedule, his might not be the right thing for you.

The University of Phoenix (UOP) prides themselves on hiring quality teachers. Every teacher has a mountain of experience and is willing to help you in your professional endeavors. They provide wisdom for the teachers-to-be, business professionals, and others. No matter what the major, you are assured of receiving a wealth of knowledge.

UOP uses the most technologically advanced platform. It is easy to maneuver in the online classroom and learning how to use it is simple. UOP also has IT help 24/7 for the students.

The financial aid department is fantastic. They are friendly and very helpful. There are two applications that have to be completed. The university has their own application which can be accessed online. Also, the federal financial aid application must also be completed on the FAFSA website. For both applications all you need is your latest completed federal tax form and you are ready to go. Nothing could be simpler.

The advisors are also fantastic. every student is assigned to an academic advisor. If the student should have any questions regarding their classes, major, changing of a major, or taking some time off, the academic advisor is the person to contact. They are a great source of information during the entire school enrollment.

Finally, UOP is well-known. They run television commercials and are all over the Internet. Receiving a degree from UOP is prestigious. If they have been surfing the net, chances are they have heard of the school.

So, what do you have to lose? If you really want to try out an online school, why not go with a school that has been doing it since 1976? Check out the University of Phoenix. You might be pleasantly surprised.