Posts Tagged ‘distance education’
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 »
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.)
Posted in College Tips, distance learning, online degree, online education, online programs | No Comments »
Habits of Successful Distance Learners
Monday, December 8th, 2008
If you think that having distance education is easy as one, two, three – think again. Distance education requires some characteristics for you to become successful. Below are some habits you might want to consider.
Successful distance learners have good reading comprehension skills. While most people learn by listening to lectures and taking notes, the majority of distance learners are expected to master material through reading alone. Although some distance learning courses offer video recordings and audio clips, most programs require that students understand a large amount of information that is only available through written text. These students are able to comprehend texts at the college level without the direct guidance of a teacher.
Successful distance learners can resist constant distractions. Whether it’s the phone ringing off the hook, the kids screaming in the kitchen, or the allure of the tv, everyone faces distractions. Successful students know how to filter out the constant disturbances that threaten their progress. They feel comfortable turning down an invitation or letting the machine pick up the phone when they know there is work to be done.
Successful distance learners feel alright about missing the social elements of traditional schools. Sure, they realize that they’ll miss out on the homecoming game, the dances, and the student elections, but they’re convinced that the independence is absolutely worth it. Whether they’re mature adult learners who aren’t interested in the fraternity hype, or younger students who get their socialization from extracurricular activities elsewhere, they are comfortable with their current social situation. In place of classroom discussion, they explore the issues with their peers through email and message boards or discuss what they’re learning with spouses or coworkers.
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Characteristics of Distance Learners
Monday, December 8th, 2008
Distance education offers a new type of system of learning. Remember that online learning is not for everyone and, while it is an excellent choice for some, others will always struggle with learning independently. It may be best for you to check some characteristics of distance learners and reflect on yourself if you have the same qualities.
Good distance learners do just as well, if not better, without people looking over their shoulders. While some people need teachers to keep them motivated and on-task, distance learners are able to motivate themselves. They realize that they will never be face-to-face with the people who give them assignments and grade their work, but they don’t need others to encourage them. The most successful students are self-motivated and set their own goals.
Good distance learners never (or at least rarely) procrastinate. You’ll rarely find them putting off assignments or waiting until the last moment to write their papers. These students enjoy the freedom of working at their own pace and appreciate the ability to complete their work in as much time as it takes them, instead of waiting for an entire class. However, they understand that putting off their work too often can end up adding months, if not years, to their studies.
You have seen some qualities and characteristics of distance learners. Try and see if you have the same qualities as these people. If, after comparing your personality and habits to those of successful distance education students, you’ve discovered that you have a lot in common, online classes may be the perfect option for you.
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Synchronous Technology in Distance Education
Sunday, December 7th, 2008
One type of available technology used in distance education is synchronous technology. This type of technology is a mode of online delivery where all participants are “present” at the same time. It requires a timetable to be organized. Here are some sample items of synchronous technology:
Telephone - The telephone is a telecommunications device that is used to transmit and receive sound (most commonly speech), usually two people conversing but occasionally three or more. It is one of the most common household appliances in the world today. Most telephones operate through transmission of electric signals over a complex telephone network which allows almost any phone user to communicate with almost anyone.
Videoconferencing - A videoconference (also known as a videoteleconference) is a set of interactive telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. It has also been called visual collaboration and is a type of groupware. It differs from videophone in that it is designed to serve a conference rather than individuals.
Web conferencing - Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings or presentations over the Internet. In a web conference, each participant sits at his or her own computer and is connected to other participants via the internet. This can be either a downloaded application on each of the attendees computers or a web-based application where the attendees will simply enter a URL (website address) to enter the conference.
There are many other types of synchronous technology used in distance education. It would be great if you could maximize the use of these items and make sure that you are receiving the proper quality education that you need.
Posted in Online College and University, distance learning, online courses, online education | No Comments »