Thursday, February 22, 2007

College Degrees: 5 Online Resources You Can Use To Surf Your Way To An Online Education

Sometimes college students simply do not have the time - or do not want to take the time - to go to the library or class, which makes learning even more difficult. To combat the inconvenience, many colleges are now offering online degrees and classes, making students’ lives easier by providing different online tools for their learning experience and convenience.

By earning an online college degree, students can trade face-to-face contact with the teacher and old-fashioned fill-in-the blank exams for new-age technological advances in online education and learning. Instead of taking a test in a classroom or even going to class, students can learn the same material at home by using some of the many online resources available on the web.

1. Electronic libraries simplify the reading process
The new age of technology has produced many progressions in online learning. Traditionally, students were getting into their car and driving to the library, finding a book that was available and checking out the book and having the responsibility of bringing the book back on time. By providing a user name and password, many universities electronic libraries at any hour of the day. Students can sit at their desks in the comfort of their own homes, clicking and reading their way through different books that are readily available all the time.

2. Online tutorials help students learn step by step
To help students learn online, teachers and universities are providing online tutorials. These step-by-step processes show exactly what needs to be done by the student to complete a task or assignment. So whether you are learning a new computer program or learning the overall progression of how a bill becomes a law for your online degree, each online tutorial is going to help you learn step by step, giving you the opportunity to go forward or take a step back as quickly as you like, enabling you to learn at your own pace.

3. Advisers and instructors are actively available for assistance
Some trade schools, technical colleges and other online universities offer live active chats with teachers and advisers. As students get their online degree, they are able to ask teachers about assignments, notes or exams. Students are also able to chat with advisers about graduation advice, course information or employment opportunities after they graduate with their online degree.

4. Discussion boards and chat rooms enhance online learning
Students can also connect with their peers online using online discussion boards and chat rooms. Students can post a question on the discussion board and the instructor can answer it online, where every classmate can see the answer, just like in the classroom.

5. Online assessments show students' progression toward an online degree
After students use the online resources to understand their curriculum, they can further their learning experience by assessing their progress through online assignments, quizzes and exams. Some teachers allow students a time block to take the exam, and some set the date and time for when an assignment, quiz or exam is due. The student is then able to take the assignment, quiz or exam any time they have available before the due date and time, then check their progress once it is graded.

With the advancement of technology, colleges are making it easier for you to get your college degree. Take advantage of the use of online resources, and save time while achieving your goal of a college education.

About Author:

M.J. Joseph is a freelance writer from Kansas City, MO. You can read more of his articles about distance learning, online education and general education at Seek-OnlineCollegeDegree.com. For more information on colleges in your area, visit CollegeSearchEngine.net.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Online Distance Education: Six Things You Need for Success

You've decided it's time to go back to college to further your education, but you've got a problem. You're a working adult with many responsibilities, and you just can't see how going to school the traditional way will fit into your busy schedule. Fortunately though, after doing some research on the internet, you discovered that the best option for you at this time is to get an online distance education degree.

Now it's time to get prepared for school. It's probably been a few years since you've attended school, and you're a little unsure about what you're going to need. To help ease any anxiety you may feel, here is a list of six things you'll need for success with your studies:

1. A computer. You will need a working computer that you can rely on. It doesn't need to be brand new, but should be new enough that you can run any software necessary for the course. Because you're going online, you need to make sure you have adequate protection for your computer such as a virus and spam blocker, and a good firewall to keep out hackers and malicious software.

2. Internet access. The very nature of online courses requires that you have access to the internet. Although a dial-up internet account may be adequate for basic class functions such as sending and receiving emails and making posts in classroom discussion threads, it would be to your advantage to have high speed internet access if at all possible. Some classes may require large file downloads or video streams which will take a virtual eternity to download with a regular dial-up modem.

3. Textbooks. Lectures, syllabuses, textbooks and other course material are generally all available by download from the online school. However depending on the institution and the type of course you are taking, you may need to buy textbooks and other material for your degree study. You will be notified at the start of class as to exactly what material is provided online, and what you will have to buy.

4. Software. You may need to purchase additional software for your computer. In some cases, the software will already be included in the cost of the course. In most cases however, you will need to have specific software in order to watch the lectures, to attend virtual classes, and communicate with your classmates and instructors. If you don't already have this software, you will have to buy it and have it installed on your computer.

5. Other materials. As in a traditional classroom setting, there are some standard items you'll need. Pens and pencils, paper, and 3-ring binders for the syllabus and other class material are all essential items you'll need in you study area. And if you live with other people you should have a headset to listen to audio portions of lectures and video streams without disrupting their need for quiet. Your instructor will let you know if you will need anything else for your class.

6. A quiet place to study. Don't underestimate the importance of this one. It is imperative that you have a quiet place to work on your assignments and class projects, as free as possible from extraneous distractions that will sidetrack you away from your study. Of course, you will need to have a computer at this location as well.

So there you have it, six things you'll need for your first online distance education course. When you start class you may need to add some other things to your list, according to the course requirements. But for now, this list of six things can help set you on the path to e-learning success.

Jesse Whitehead earned his B.S. in Business Administration degree with honors from an online university in 2005. For more information about online distance education degrees click here.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Online Education, The Advantages and Disadvantages

Ensure you do the Groundwork before Making a Decision

There has been a huge increase in online schools and colleges across the United Kingdom, North America and the United States in the past couple of years, which shows that there is an increasing popularity of online education and learning. However, jumping into online education without doing the groundwork can be dangerous, as educational needs of students do vary quite a lot depending on their levels of intelligence and social and economic status. Therefore, the student's parents and tutors must ensure that the students weigh all the pros and cons of an online education and prompt them to decide the best course of action. The aim of this article is to educate the student's on some of the more major advantages and disadvantages of an online education.

The Advantages of an Online Education

Accessibility: The Distance from a university campus is no longer a barrier in the education of students. Today's generation have the advantage of utilizing time effectively, since there are numerous choices in distant online education for them. For the student to access online education, all he or she needs is a personal computer with internet access with which he or she can find the desired courses online and enrol. The online education systems ensure that the student's put all their energies into studies.

A Flexible schedule: The good thing about an online education is its effective use of time. As a student of online education, you have the ability to maintain a flexible schedule, which is of particular help when you are working simultaneously.

Student-Centred Learning: As a student of online learning, it is you who dictates your learning experience. As your tutor will not be teaching you all of the time, you can prioritize your schedule and complete any and all assignments accordingly. You will also be given the choice of which learning methodology you wish to use, such as audio, visual, or oral components. Fair Playing Field: Online education is in vogue also as it provides a level playing field for all the students. Learning online provides a situation where decision-making is not based on the candidates' gender, ethnicity, physical appearance, or race. Instead, the evaluation is only based on your performance. The provision of this fair-playing field has significantly contributed to the popularity of online education.

Disadvantages

Employment: Not many industries will acknowledge an online professional degree.

Oral Communication: Since, the majority of online learning systems encourage communication through e-mails and text chatting only, the student's may be deprived of the ability to improve their oral communication skills.

Fraud: A large number of online courses are not accredited and hence are not valid.

Courses: Not all of the courses which are available elsewhere are available online.

Moreover, online learning requires a complete dedication and patience from the students to ensure they achieve superb results. It is most advisable that the students first, patiently and persistently familiarize themselves with online learning technology. Additionally, they need to always keep themselves abreast of the latest updates within the online education system, since there will be no instructor to turn to in this respect.

Website: http://bowiebooks.com Bio:

James Bowie is the owner of the following sites: http://bowieukbooks.com and http://jamesbowiebooks.com