Archive for the ‘College’ Category
Guide to Online College Accreditation
Saturday, December 13th, 2008
When obtaining your degree online, it’s important that you make sure you’re receiving your education from a college that is fully accredited. This ensures that your degree will be widely recognized as legitimate by employers, as well as guarantee that you’ll be receiving a quality education from a school that you can trust with your time and money. Without proper accreditation, you have no guarantee that the degree you have worked hard and paid dearly for will be worth anything, so it’s incredibly important that you don’t skip this step when researching online schools.
Schools become accredited by being validated as legitimate educators by a third party, also known as an accreditation agency. These agencies generally investigate the school to ensure that the quality of education is acceptable for students. They will also find out whether or not the school operates legally, so by studying with a properly accredited school, you can rest assured that you won’t be taken for a ride.
Although accreditation agencies offer an assurance of legitimacy to schools, the industry of accreditation isn’t really regulated. It’s a voluntary process that is conducted without a lot of intervention from the government. So you will find that for as many good accreditation agencies that there are out there, there are just as many phony ones. Some schools even set up fake accreditation organizations in order to appear to have more authority, so you’ll need to do your research to find out if you’re being mislead in any way.
Posted in College, College Life, College Tips, distance learning, online degree | No Comments »
Online Education as Preparation for the Future
Friday, December 12th, 2008
There is more than one way to prepare for the future. In some countries, the educational fate of a student is essentially decided before puberty. Students are tracked and tested early in their primary years. By the middle school and high school years, college-bound students are siphoned off for entry into high schools with an academic focus. The others are given little choice but to enter an educational system that teaches basic skills for independent living, and terminates with home economics or vocational instruction. For them, an associate’s is a two-year terminable degree. The credits cannot later be applied toward a bachelor degree even if the student develops the maturity, motivation, and intellectual curiosity necessary for the rigors of academic life.
Fortunately, in America, students get a second chance… and usually a third, fourth, and fifth, too! Students take many paths to college – there is no right one. One size does not fit all. Some students are home-schooled, some are tutored, some matriculate through the public education system, some enroll in private schools, some take the requisite four years to complete high school, some opt to earn their diploma early, some drop out entirely, some go to nigh school, and some drop back in and take the high school equivalency test in lieu of earning a diploma. It is simply never too late.
Online learning makes education accessible to virtually everyone, at any stage, on the path to achievement. Students are not bound by physical disabilities, poor life choices, geographic limitations, or socioeconomic status.
Posted in Online College and University, distance learning, online degree, online education | No Comments »
Online Learning for Higher Education
Friday, December 12th, 2008
American youth who wish to return to school and aim for higher education, gets to do just that, get their chance. Some students adhere to a degree plan generated with input from their academic advisors, and choose to make steady, regular progress toward their degrees. Others may choose to reduce their course load, take a semester off here and there, or change their areas of study. Some may plan to earn an associate’s degree and later apply those credits to a bachelor’s degree. Indeed, the same holds true for certificates, which can, at some schools, be applied to a master’s degree. Online learning makes education accessible to virtually everyone, at any stage, on the path to achievement. Students are not bound by physical disabilities, poor life choices, geographic limitations, or socioeconomic status. Online learning makes the playing field about as level as it can get. A student who is determined enough can and will succeed.
Opportunities abound. If you have landed on this page, that means you are already considering an online education experience. Congratulations. You have made a smart move. Enroll and you will be in good company. According to a 2005 survey, “Growing By Degrees: Online Education in the United States, 2005”, backed by the Alfred P. Sloan foundation, online enrollments increased from 1.98 million in 2003 to 2.35 million in 2004. Over 360,000 new students are expected to enroll in online courses each year. The number of students are rapidly increasing. They are unlocking their potential and you can, too!
Posted in College Tips, Online College and University, distance learning, online degree | No Comments »
Stress Free Online Degree
Friday, December 12th, 2008
Stress is a biological term which refers to the consequences of the failure of a human or animal body to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether actual or imagined. It includes a state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion. It refers to the inability of a human or animal body to respond. Common stress symptoms include irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and accelerated heart rate. Evidence shows that many of the leading causes of death in the United States — such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, injuries, etc. — can be prevented by improving personal health habits. As distance learners, staying healthy is especially important since we don’t receive the physical activity and interaction of a traditional campus. Fortunately for us, staying fit is actually quite simple and affordable. Just continue reading to learn the habits successful distance learners practice to stay healthy.
Stay in touch with friends. Humans are social creatures and there is a lot of value in our relationships. The people in our lives are essential to helping us feel motivated, encouraged, and solve problems. All of this leads to less stress and greater relaxation.
Organize your way to success. Another key component to being relaxed and reducing stress is to stay organized. When you are busy juggling work, school and family life, getting into the habit of writing everything down and maintaining a scheduling system will keep you accountable and drastically reduce stress.
Posted in distance learning, online degree, online education | No Comments »
Physical Strength and Distance Education
Friday, December 12th, 2008
Studying online can physically burn you out. In turn, your performance in your online courses could be poorer and your body will start deteriorating as well. It would be best if you keep your health in check so that your work will not be in jeopardy.
Go offline. Even with a pressing deadline it’s still important to step away from your desk. Heading outside for a brisk walk can increase your circulation and mobility, as well as bring the necessary nutrients and oxygen to your body’s systems.
Catch up on ZZZZZs. An occasional late night or even all-nighter won’t leave you too run down, but continuously cutting your sleep cycle short can wear you out. People suffering from sleep deprivation experience drowsiness, an inability to concentrate, memory impairment, and poor physical performance. All of these are necessary to perform well at work, school, and completing family/household responsibilities. While forgoing sleep on occasion may help you tackle a deadline, doing this long-term will impede success. Power up with catnaps. If you are feeling tired from a lack of sleep, don’t underestimate the effectiveness of powernaps. Taking a short 20-30 minute catnap may be just the break your mind needs to improve function.
Playtime! All work and no play leads to stress which has adverse affects on the immune system and your ability to function. Finding ways to relax — participating in hobbies and allowing for some down time in your schedule — will actually make you more productive. Simple ways to relax include listening to music, meditating, doing yoga, and reading for pleasure.
Tags: distance education, online courses, online educationPosted in College Tips, distance learning, online courses, online degree, online education | 1 Comment »