Posts Tagged ‘College Tips’
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 »
Kids in Helping You Study
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
In addition to everyday tasks (dusting, sweeping, picking up toys), there are many fun and often forgotten jobs that will make your house sparkle and get you closer to earning an online degree. What are they exactly? Have your kids do the following chores while you are doing your school work:
Clean mirrors and windows. Cleaning windows and mirrors with a gentle spray cleaner such as Windex® is a fun way to keep kids busy. As long as the cleaner is nontoxic, kids can spray it independently and wipe smudged surfaces clean.
- Bonus tip: These cleaners can also be used to clean appliance surfaces, such as dishwashers and refrigerators.
- Increase the Fun: Buy markers specially made for writing on windows. Let your kids draw pictures on the windows and then clean them.
Organize the pantry. If your pantry houses old pasta, vintage gravy packets and an antique peanut butter jar, you’re not alone. But you can set your kids loose on tidying up this unruly space. First, make a simple sheet of instructions. Otherwise, your children will have a million unanswered questions when you’re trying to concentrate. The instructions can be as simple as:
- Take everything out of the pantry and put it on the kitchen table.
- Wipe out the pantry with a damp sponge.
- Throw away all open pasta packages that are nearly empty.
- Group the pantry items by type (soup, pasta, JELL-O®, etc.)
- Line up the items back on the shelves.
Posted in College Tips, distance learning, online courses, online degree | No Comments »
Overcoming First Day Online Jitters
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
Doing new things can be unnerving at times. Even if you are enrolled in online education at the comfort of your own home and time, you can be easily agitated by the thought of it. The first day of online class is not as stressful as it seems. In reality, you should be confident because it actually is easy as long as you are prepared. Here are some advice that could help you overcome your first day online jitters.
Post your introduction and find a friend. Most online courses start by having the students write a short self introduction and posting it on the discussion or bulletin board. It takes time to get acquainted, so take advantage of it. Find someone in the class who you find interesting and send them a private e-mail using their school e-mail address. Let them know you like their posting and why. Keep it short and simple. (Hint: having a friend in an online class is important — you can compare notes, share thoughts and understandings of assignments, and be a little less alone in class.)
Take a deep breath! The first online learning experience can be a little intimidating for anyone, but once you get the hang of it, you will do fine. Colleges and universities spend lots of time and money developing online courses and the Web site — much more than they do for classroom-based courses —just so online students will have a great experience. Remember to ask questions, enjoy the experience and most of all, remember to relax and breathe! (Hint: deep breathing is a way to relax your body.)
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Online Course - a New Way of Learning
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
So you are embarking on a different way of learning — an online course. Good for you! But before anything else, you have to be sure that you are ready for what is ahead of you. Although studying online seems pretty easy, it should not be underestimated. Some preparations have to be made.
You must learn the layout of your online classroom. Check out the course Web site by logging into your course (or a demo course if your course is not available) and familiarize yourself with the space. Think of the space as a classroom. Click on all the links, check out the discussion board, the assignments page, the e-mail system, and anything else you can access just as if you were checking out the physical space of a classroom. Every online course is built in a course management system (WebCT, Blackboard, Angel, Desire2Learn, Sakai, etc. - some schools have proprietary systems). It is to your advantage to learn how to navigate the course before you begin class. (Hint: nothing adds to frustration more than having to learn how to do something or where to find something when you face a deadline.)
Try and scope out the course. Find the syllabus and read it. This will give you an idea of what you are going to study, how much reading there will be, what kind of assignments you will be doing, and generally acquaint you with the professor’s expectations. (Hint: knowing what to expect will help keep you focused and not overwhelmed.)
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Apprehensions of an Online Student
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
You are now admitted and enrolled in an online college, problem now is, you have some concerns and hesitations and you do not know what to do. This is common for first timers. But, don’t worry, there are solutions to your uneasiness.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. As an online student there are several ways to get the answers you are seeking. If your course offers instructor support (and I would recommend courses that do), you can always direct inquiries to your teacher. Top-notch courses tend to provide first-class support so that students never feel lost or alone during the e-learning process. However, online chat rooms, if provided, are another great resource for students seeking answers. Online chat rooms give students a forum to meet other students taking the same course and ask questions or discuss assignments. More than likely another student taking the course has had or will have the same question. If you need an immediate answer – do your best to find the answer yourself. You’ll likely satisfy other lingering questions in the process and often times the journey to the answer teaches you more than the answer itself.
Get What You Give
Remember that noncredit, continuing education and certificate courses are designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional caliber positions for in-demand occupations. The more effort you put forth in these online courses to comprehend the lessons taught the more likely you are to succeed after the course is finished. Extra effort during the course will lead to an easier transition in your new positions or with your new responsibilities. E-learning has a lot to offer students who dedicate the time and focus to extracting everything the course has to offer.
Tags: College Tips, education, online collegePosted in College Tips, distance learning, online courses, online degree | No Comments »