Tuesday, August 4, 2009

eLearning

E-learning (or sometimes Electronic Learning or eLearning) is a term which is commonly used, but does not have a common definition[1]. Most frequently it seems to be used for web-based distance education, with no face-to-face interaction. However, also much broader definitions are common. For example, it may include all types of technology-enhanced learning (TEL), where technology is used to support the learning process. Although pedagogy is usually not part of the definition, some authors do include it. For example in this definition, where e-learning is said to be: "pedagogy empowered by digital technology" [2]. It is important to realize that the term e-learning is ambiguous. It is nearly impossible to define what it is, as it has different meanings to different people [3]. Furthermore, it is often used interchangeably with various other related terms, such as distance learning, distributed learning, and electronic learning[4]. The meaning of the term also seems to be dependent on the context in which it is used. In companies, it often refers to the strategies that use the company network to deliver training courses to employees. Lately in most Universities, e-learning is used to define a specific mode to attend a course or programmes of study where the students rarely or never meet face-to-face, nor access on-campus educational facilities, because they study online.

Distance Learning

Distance education, or distance learning, is a field of education that focuses on the pedagogy and andragogy, technology, and instructional systems design that aim to deliver education to students who are not physically "on site". According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “is a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.”[1] In other words, distance learning is the process of creating an educational experience of equal qualitative value for the learner to best suit their needs outside the classroom. Rather than attending courses in person, teachers and students may communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed or electronic media, or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time and through other online ways[2]. Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason including the taking of examinations is considered to be a hybrid or blended course of study. This emerging technology is becoming widely used in universities and institutions around the globe. With the recent trend of technological advance, distance learning is becoming more recognized for its potential in providing individualized attention and communication with students internationally.

Online Degrees

The term online degrees refers to college degrees (sometimes including high school diplomas and non-degree certificate programs) that can be earned primarily or entirely through the use of an Internet-connected computer, rather than attending college in a traditional campus setting. Improvements in technology and the increasing use of the Internet worldwide have led to a proliferation of online colleges that award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Online Degree

Financial Aid is a Factor - If you are planning on using a school that has no option for federal financial aid and you are forced to finance your education with private loans, you are going to end up spending much more money in interest in the long run. Look for schools with full accreditation that will qualify for you to get federal financial aid money.

Look For "Brick and Mortar" Schools in Low Cost Areas - Look for state schools and public universities that are in low cost of living areas. Many of those schools offer online degrees on the side. Sometimes, even when out of state tuition is factored in, the cost of tuition is lower than other more expensive areas. Sometimes the public universities waive out of state tuition for those getting their degree online. That can make tuition costs much more affordable.

Try Getting Your Associates Cheaper Than Your Bachelors - If you can find a really cheap school online, but not necessarily one that you want to get your bachelors degree from, you could get an associates degree there and then go somewhere more prestigious for your bachelors degree.

See if Your Employer Will Help With The Cost - Sometimes employers will help or pay for their employees to continue their education. Employers are motivated to do this because then they bring the new skills to the workplace and are able to better contribute to the company.

Make sure you research as many schools as you can before you decide on which school to go with.

See my list of recommended Reputable Universities With Online Degree programs.

All of the Universities and Colleges on my list are "brick and mortar" schools that mostly serve on-campus students. Most of them offer federal financial aid and do not differentiate between online degrees and on-campus degrees on the diploma.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CL_Haehl

Is an Online College Degree Right For You?

Online degrees are not necessarily good for everyone. It takes a lot of strong characteristics to make a dedicated student, but it takes even more to make a devoted online student. Placing your own destiny tightly in your own hands can be a risk, especially if you are not entirely aware of what it means. However, a little exploration can enlighten you, but additionally make the potential of studying on your own even more daunting than it ever seemed before. This will not deter the majority of those that really want to take an online class or program, but it is important to be sure before you follow the distance learning route. Here are some of the most desirable characteristics that any good online scholar will need in plenty!

Patience - Every student needs a degree of patience since knowledge by no means comes easily. It should be worked at, and this is even more important to those choosing to finish their education online. What if you cannot find the one text you need to complete an assignment? You have to be patient. It may take more time to understand things than campus-based students find it during the course of study since you do not have anyone nearby to help you.

Initiative - You need to be able to motivate yourself sufficiently to learn by yourself. There will be no one watching over your shoulder or reminding you of forth coming deadlines. You must remember them and work towards your degree on your own schedule. There is no way to get around this. What happens if something comes up and you get behind schedule? Do you completely give up, or do you move forward on nonetheless?

Aspiration - You have to want to study. You have to want your ultimate goal of an education. You have to require to earn yourself and your family a better future. This may possibly be difficult to complete if you are not sure where you are going in life, so it is best to have some a goal in mind before you begin.

Organization- This is one of the most critical characteristics an online student might ever have. If you are not well organized then you are likely to overlook deadlines, lose information and might never actually finish your degree. A high level of organization is critical for online students because you have to be able to schedule your education around your lifestyle. If this seems out of the question then distance learning may not be best for you.

Determination - Finally, you must be strong-minded to accomplish your goals. The day you finish your degree will be one of the happiest days of your life if you have been resolute to achieve your goal.

FindOnlineDegrees.com offers a comprehensive directory of accredited online degree programs in hundreds of different disciplines. All the top online universities and colleges are listed with the degree types including Associate, Bachelor, Master and Doctorate.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Plescan

How to Get Your Associate's Degree Online

Preparing for a business career means that you will need a quality education. An Associate's degree is a strong step in the right direction and it can enable you to get the focused training you need to make your entrance into the business world.

AA degrees give you the advantage over traditional four-year programs in that they eliminate a lot of the more general type courses. In their place, they provide online courses that are highly focused on your particular needs.

Some of the courses available in online Associate's Degree programs are often so focused that they are not available in four-year degree programs. This means you actually receive a better preparation in a shorter time span which enables you to get right down to business in your chosen career field.

Compare Courses from Different Online Associates Degree Programs

Because of such a variety of courses available for distance learning AA degree programs, you should take a look at the courses offered through several programs. These may vary quite a bit, and you should evaluate them carefully to see which one will give you the best preparation for your intended career field - or job.

Think Ahead As You Choose a Program

There are many different degree programs to choose from at the AA degree level. This gives you the widest possible preparation as you narrow down the online degree program best for your purposes and career development.

The Right Degree Can Prepare You Faster

An Associates degree is like a fast-track toward your career. It can sharpen and prepare you faster than other programs, and it certainly can quickly enable you to become competitive in the job market. With credentials from a quality school, you can be on your way toward quality career preparation and even be able to enter into it - depending on what the career is.

Advantages of Earning an Online Associates Degree

Online Associate's degrees are for busy people. This type of degree program enables you to pursue your college education while continuing to meet your current obligations. You do not need to leave a job, a home or hometown, in order to get started with your online degree.

In many cases, you can complete your entire online AA degree and never need to step into a traditional classroom. Instead, you can take the online courses at your own pace and work on them as you are able. This enables you to take them either as fast as you want, or as slow as you need to go.

Earning your degree through distance learning can make the difference in how fast you get to enter into the career field of your choice. Online degrees are definitely just as valid as one earned in a traditional classroom setting - but less costly.

Get Started Now

One more great advantage of earning an accredited online Associate's degree is that you are able to start when you are ready. You do not need to wait until the semester starts (some online colleges may require this) with many schools. You can start as soon as you select the school and the course you want to start with.

Since your education is already available, it only makes sense to get started working toward your own career development quickly. You can beat out the competition and get the job you want by giving yourself the background needed with an online Associate's degree that will lead an employer to look more carefully at your resume. Or, even better - it could enable you to get promoted faster.

The job market is tougher than ever, so it's vitally important to have every edge possible when pursuing work. More and more people are bolstering their resumes by going back to school. Find out how to earn an online Associate's degree through one of many accredited distance learning programs. Mark Allen is an expert on the topic and explains online degrees in great detail on OnlineDegreeZone. Search thousands of degrees and learn the ins and outs of distance learning.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_B._Allen

How To Get an Accredited Online Masters Degree

Are you aware that doing accredited online masters degree can very much change your life for the better? Online education has become simple and easily accessible, but ensure that the online College or institution you register with for your masters program is accredited, and that the course is also accredited.

It is a wise decision for you to acquire an online higher education from a recognized university to enable you compete favorably in the job market. People who have degrees, especially Masters and doctorate are find employment easier than those who have just first degrees.

Before you enroll for an accredited online master degree program, you ought to have an entry level bachelor degree or its equivalent in the same discipline. If your entry level qualifying degree is not in the same discipline of your intending masters or post graduate degree, then you have to do a post graduate degree (PGD) program on the subject of your masters degree program to meet your masters degree requirement.

Several conveniences are attached to an accredited online masters degree. For instance, your studies are in your own home, office and just about anywhere you have a laptop and internet connection. You have no need to commute to and from school nor do you have to live on campus. Your studies will be at your own schedule at your convenience without. Your work, if you are holding down a day job, will not be in the way. Family and other personal affairs can be easily harmonized to accommodate your studies.

An online accredited degree course will provide you a good opportunity for rapid promotion in your career, because people with masters online degrees are well sort after.

If you diligently do an accredited online master degree program, you will be awarded a degree that is respected by employers, especially if you get it from a reputable online University.

Finally, note that an online degree program whether associates or Masters is not a push over thing. You will need to work hard to obtain an accredited online masters degree. Bear that in mind and also ensure that you research thoroughly the online institution you are about registering with for your accredited online masters degree program. Make sure that it is an approved school and the course you are going for is also accredited for the school. relevant authority or agency to run the program

Get more information on obtaining online degrees at Online Degree Information Kits Or Accredited College Courses Online and be what you wanna be!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Neshah

Online Degrees - What Online Colleges Have a Payment Plan? Loans, Grants Or Scholarships!

What online colleges have a payment plan is a common question regarding getting an online degree if you want an online college or an on-campus school that offers classes online. Most students get some financial aid whether it is directly through a college or from outside funding, but there is plenty of financial aid available. It doesn't matter if you want a bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctorate, MBA, associate degree or other. If you're looking specifically for a payment or repayment plan this is usually the standard way of repaying for a loan.

However there are many ways to get financial aid to go to an online college and you may also be able to go free through various grants and scholarships that are available. The grants are easy to find through the financial aid departments of the college you're considering, Scholarships take a little more research but every year hundreds of scholarships go unawarded. This may take a little more creativity. Many science scholarships are eagerly waiting for applicants for example.

So all colleges have a payment or repayment plan. It usually goes through the U.S. government programs -- federal money that is available such as the Stafford or Perkins loans. There are also many types of education loans available. Those may or may not be of higher interest than the government loans depending but the government loans are usually of lower interest. So checking to see what is available through the financial aid departments is the first step. Then compare rates of interest and the term of the loans. Makes sure to apply for scholarships and grants because many people have gone through online colleges for their degrees successfully, either through financial aid programs or scholarships or grants and sometimes a combination of them which is not uncommon.

Make sure the online college you plan to attend is accredited through the U.S. Department of Education. Most are but you want to make sure. You may want to transfer your credits to another school, college or university in the future. So make sure to check with the schools to make sure they will accept your credits. I always state this warning in the event you attend an online school that is really not accredited. You can be pretty safe if the school is a nationally recognized on-campus university or college also with a well- known name and reputation. But always double-check.

So as to what colleges have payment plans, the answer is they all do. Although as I mentioned the payment may go to the federal government or to some other source of funding such as an education loan. Hopefully you can get some grants and scholarships to get your online degree free or at a reduced cost. You want to make sure to go to the best online school also so make this part of your criteria too.

For more tips and info on avoiding scams, choosing the best online degree program or accredited bachelor's degree online and finding the best online degree scholarships, grants, education loans or financing go to http://www.OnlineDegreesTips.com for all types of online degrees.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Hecker

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Brushing Up Against the 80-20 Rule With an Online Education

Have you ever talked to someone that did not have an advanced degree from college or a university, but they seemed like one of the smartest people you had ever met? Sometimes these people that are completely with it are entrepreneurs or they run their own business, while others became book smart from reading, studying on their own, spending time in the library or from surfing the Internet. That's right in this day and age just about anyone can get an online education for free.

Just about any type of question you can type into the search engine you will find the answer too. In fact, and I mentioned this the other day to someone while I was sitting in Starbucks, you can become an almost quasi-expert in just about anything in about 2 to 3 weeks of diligent and hard-core study online. You can go onto Google Scholar and read all the latest white papers, and research papers on a given subject.

You can go to YouTube and download videos of actual university professors teaching classes and giving lectures. You can go onto Wikipedia and learn "all the world's knowledge" on a given subject. You can go onto Google Earth and fly over a region of the world, and zoom in to really get an understanding of the layout of the city or area.

You can join social networks and talk with other qualified experts in the field, some that may have been in the industry for 10 to 20 years and ask them questions and start up dialogs. Now I'm not saying that you can get a PhD or an advanced degree array of knowledge on a given subject by spending only 2 to 3 weeks online. But I would submit to you that you can brush up against the 80/20 rule by giving 100% of your efforts for a 2 to 3 week period on any given top.

They say that 80% of the people in any given industry are just placeholders, while 20% of the people are the movers and shakers. If you can get to the top of the 80% in that short amount of time you will be brushing up against those that really know what they're doing in that industry or area of human endeavor. At that point you will be at a place and have enough knowledge to ask very good questions, and then maybe you can break into that 20%. Please consider all this.

Education is the Key to Green Living

Green living is on everyone's mind these days but do you really know what it means to live green? It's more than simply separating the trash into different bins to be picked up or using energy saving light bulbs. Green living affects every aspect of your life. Making your home more energy efficient is a great way to start living green but there is so much more that you can do. For example, buying fuel efficient vehicles, car-pooling or simply cutting back on how often you drive by walking whenever it's practical are all part of living green.

Living green also includes the following areas of your life:


Food
Clothing
Personal hygiene products
Cleaning supplies
Drinking water
Toys
Laundry products
Pet products


Basically, every aspect of your life can reflect green living in some way. Each time you go shopping for anything you should know what's green and what's not. Learn how to host a green dinner party or how to barbeque the green way. The more you learn, the more of an impact you can make when it comes to reducing the amount of resources you use.

Education is the key to green living because it's the only way a person can learn what it truly means to live green. You need to learn about the problems the world faces, what caused them and what can be done to help. The more information you have, the easier it will be for you to make decisions that have a positive effect on the environment. When you're ready to learn more about green living, there are many online resources that can provide the information you need.