Archive for the ‘College Tips’ 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.
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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!
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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 | No Comments »
Online Learning and Fitness
Friday, December 12th, 2008
Fitness is one aspect that online learners tend to miss. These are some ways to gain fitness.
Sanitize surfaces. To further reduce the spread of germs and infection in your home make it a practice to routinely wipe off common surfaces. This includes telephones, light switches, keyboards, and door handles. It only takes a matter of minutes and keeping disinfectant wipes around can be a helpful reminder. This is also a simple job to delegate to your children.
Eat healthy meals and snacks. Consuming healthy foods is important to fight disease, provide energy, and for the body’s systems to function properly. The food choices you make now can have lasting affects on your health. Don’t let your busy schedule prevent your from eating foods that benefit you in many ways.
Drink lots of water. The brain is made up of over 80 percent water and is essential to concentration and memory function. Get into the habit of filling a large water bottle and keep it with you wherever you go. Keeping one at your desk is a great reminder. Also take into consideration the way your routine varies from the weekdays to weekend. You may be in a great habit of drinking plenty of water at work, but then forget when you are at home on the weekend. Avoid feeling sluggish over the weekend by staying properly hydrated.
Stretch. The human body was created to move and change positions. Prolonged sitting in a chair will make you more fatigued, decrease your circulation, and leave you distracted by being uncomfortable. Simple stretching techniques you can do from your desk area can ease built-up tension in your body and reduce your chances of developing headaches.
Tags: College Tips, online classes, online learnersPosted in College Tips, distance learning, online courses | No Comments »
Health Tips for Distance Learners
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
Believe it or not, distance learners require health tips to achieve optimum performance in their studies. Below are some health tips that may be useful.
Schedule regular check-ups. Avoid waiting until you have annoying symptoms before visiting the doctor. Scheduling check-ups with your family physician, dentist, and chiropractor is an important step in preventing illness and injury.
Add vitamins to your diet. A busy schedule may leave you eating in a rush and making poor food choices. Now is a good time to get into the habit of taking vitamins and minerals to supplement your nutritional needs.
Medicate early. Uh oh, is a cold coming on? You know that feeling…the scratchy throat, plugged up nose and just all around feeling of being out of it. Act now and don’t wait for it to get worse. Try sucking on a zinc lozenge or some other stop-that-illness-in-its-tracks remedy like Airborne. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you wake up feeling great and ready to tackle another day.
Hand wash regularly. Nothing wards off germs more than good hand washing with soap and water. Hand washing is the single, most effective way to stop the spread of germs and infections. Antibacterial gels can help in a pinch, but nothing beats scrubbing up and washing those germs down the drain.
To properly wash your hands:
- Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Lather well.
- Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds.
- Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
- Rinse well.
- Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
- Use a towel to turn off the faucet.
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