Posts Tagged ‘online courses’
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.)
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Advancing Distance Learning
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
Distance learning is a great and convenient way to advance your career and education. In fact, online courses are much like face-to-face courses in that they must meet the highest standards of quality design and instruction. But that also means they come with the same fears of “can I handle the coursework,” etc.
Visit the bookstore. Once you’ve logged on, locate the bookstore and order your books for your course(s). (Hint: Sometimes it takes 10 days to get the book to you, so you want to do this right away.)
Find the important offices and contact information. Locate any offices you might need, like the computer help desk, business office, the advising office, the department teaching your course, and the library. Lucky for you, you don’t have to learn about the dining halls (if you’re an off campus student) since your own kitchen will be your dining hall (and snack bar). Schools vary greatly in how their Web sites are laid out, but most provide links, numbers, and e-mails for all the services you will need as an online student. (Hint: Knowing where these things are will save you time and effort when you are trying to get information in a hurry.)
Locate the login and password for your course and the directions for logging in. Most of the time, your login and password for your class will match your login and password for the school. (Hint: you don’t want to find yourself without this essential information when the help desk is unavailable and you have your first assignment due, so make sure you can log in, even if you can’t access your course right away.)
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Succeeding as an Online Student
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Online courses are an excellent way for busy professionals to gain advanced training and certifications or switch career paths. They can also be very effective for first-time job seekers who need specialized training. However, before signing up, here are a few factors that can ensure an online student’s success.
Time management may be the biggest factor in succeeding at your online course. Successful online students have to be very proactive in their studies and take responsibility for their own learning. To master time management, first determine what time of day you think you will be most focused on your studies. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you concentrate best after a cup of coffee or after lunch? Once you narrow in on a time of day reserve a designated allotment of time to dedicate to your course. Stay committed to that reserved time and treat it like an appointment that can’t be budged.
Balancing Personal Obligations. While there are many reasons to take an online course – one of the most frequent reasons students choose these courses is because of the convenience. Whether you have a full-time job, don’t want to fight traffic or are raising a family – balancing school and personal obligations can become a juggling act. The beauty of self-paced, online courses is that you can study around your schedule – so be sure to set study time during your down time – even if that means 11 p.m.
An ideal study environment is just that – ideal. Some students need absolute silence while others can’t seem to concentrate without noise in the background. No matter what your preference is, a well-lit place that is free from distractions is recommended. Note that you’ll make much better use of thirty minutes of disruption-free study than an hour’s worth of commotion-filled learning. If you can’t escape in-home interruptions, try the library or a coffee shop. Schedule your designated study time when you can be in a distraction-free environment and your chances for success will increase and the time you need to devote to your course will decrease.
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Gains from an Online Degree
Monday, December 8th, 2008
If you’re ever feeling discouraged with your distance learning courses, just consider the many ways earning an online degree can enrich your life.
You’ll learn new things. You might think that learning is such a boring thing, but if you really think about it, learning is actually helpful. Not only will you increase your knowledge, but you will also increase your brain value.
A degree on your resume may lead to a raise or a better job. Let’s face it, earning a degree will greatly make your resume look a lot better. It’s not just your resume, but it will make you as a person better because a degree would mean that you are capable of finishing something. A degree would also mean that you are certifiably knowledgeable on a certain field and that you could help improve the organization you would want to be in.
You’ll have something interesting to say at cocktail parties. On-line degree is a hot topic. Not lot of people know about it, more so, not a lot of people know people who are actually enrolled in on-line courses. Imagine just how interesting you can be. This is an opportunity for you to spread the word to people on how awesome it is to be an on-line degree student. Who knows, you might even be able to interest other people in investigating and ultimately, enrolling in the online courses.
Your list of helpful contacts will grow. One advantage in getting an online degree is that it is online. The internet world is actually a small world considering you are able to contact people from everywhere through the computer.
You’ll meet interesting people who share your passions. Another advantage with having online courses is that you can narrow down and choose the people you want to correspond with. Here, you can meet people who have the same interests as you and from there, you can learn more from each other.
Your mind will stay sharp and alert. The internet is a fast-paced technology. Every so often, new things come about. You always have to be updated; if you don’t, it is possible that you lose track of things. That is why it is your responsibility to always be present; sharpness and alertness is a prerequisite of that.
With all that time online, you’re sure to become a better typist. Typing is one of the basic skills that you will surely be an expert in when studying on line degrees. If you stay in the computer long enough, you will be amazed at the magic your fingers can work.
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