Doors to Adult Education Thrown Open by Online Classes

July 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Online education and Financial Aid 

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Stepping up a career rung, changing vocations, or just learning something new for the fun of it requires an extra commitment that, in the past, was prohibitive to many adult students, because they had to attend classes or because correspondence courses by mail were inconvenient. But this was turned on its head with the advent of online classes, which flung open higher education to anyone with access to the internet. More options, including payday cash advance, are now given to students.

In Australia there are organisations specifically tailored to adult online education, such as the Centre for Adult Education and Distance Learning Australia. These organisations tailor their teaching styles to mature students, such as granting extensions if students have heavy work or childcare demands, and offer workplace-specific courses.

Facilities such as chat rooms and online Q&A or discussions with tutors are available, while things like libraries, which campus-based students take for granted, are well on their way to putting all their physical information online – with some newspapers and research papers only available on the internet.

Then there are other organisations such as Kaplan Professional, which offer specialized courses for professionals and require a base-level of knowledge rather than offering entry-level taster classes. In the case of Kaplan, university-equivalent stockbroking, accounting and finance degrees and post-graduate qualifications are offered to professionals working in the field; students must already have some experience or basic qualification in order to take the courses.

To protect adult online learners from dodgy online providers, bodies like Adult Learning Australia provide training for educators and librarians, support for students and they lobby for greater awareness of adult learning and better facilities for mature online students.

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Online Education Options

July 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Graduation

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Pursuing higher education can be expensive and time consuming, especially for those who choose a traditional university or college campus. Students at these schools often take at least four years to complete a degree, and the majority of courses are offered during the days. Those who need to work full-time to pay for their educational experience might not have the ability to obtain a night job, and would need a different course schedule in order to succeed.

Choosing to pursue an online education can be a great option for those who will be working during the schooling process. While it can sometimes be more difficult, since there aren’t as many deadlines to keep students motivated, it can also be a great option for those who are diligent. It is also ideal for students who do not live near a college campus, since courses can be completed from anywhere that has an internet connection.

Some students struggle in a classroom environment, or with classes that require tests to be completed during class time. These students often thrive on a school atmosphere that allows them to work at their own pace and complete assignments as they are able. While most of the online courses will have some deadlines in order to receive credit, they can be completed as quickly as desired.

Selecting an online college to obtain a degree is a great option for many. Students can continue to work full time, spend time with family members, and avoid a lengthy commute while receiving a valuable education.

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Become an Online Instructor

June 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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If you have a degree and want to share your background and knowledge with others, you may want to consider becoming an online educator or teacher. Not only will you be able to teach others, but you will also be able to gain online technical skills, not to mention adding to your resume. And, best of all, you will be able to do this from home.

How do you go about becoming an online instructor? Here are a few helpful tips.

Examine your professional and academic background. Create a list of your degrees, work experience, as well as additional professional certifications. Some online institutions may only require a bachelor’s degree while others may require a Master’s or even a PhD. You can check out sites such as curriculumweb.org for more information.

Now that you have your qualifications listed, you can now search for online opportunities that match your education and skills. There are many free job search sites that can help you with this endeavor. You should also consider broad Internet searches for institutions that are hiring.

Once you have identified institutions that may suit your background, forward your resume via email. In addition, many schools have formal, online applications that you will need to complete.

Now that you have applied for open positions, you should be prepared to be patient. It can take several weeks before you receive a reply. It generally takes between three to four weeks to receive a reply. You will most likely receive a call or email requesting more information or to schedule an interview.

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The Benefits of Classroom Computers

April 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Many students now have access to a computer at home and probably utilize it for help with homework, projects and other school assignments. Those who do not have computers at home can be at a distinct disadvantage, but having access to computers in the classroom can help make up for this. They can also take advantage of the resources that are available while they are at school so they can keep up with assignments and projects also.

Fortunately, schools understand this. Many students can now use the technology for education that is available even when they are not on campus. This allows students to work on projects as much as they need to outside of school hours. During school, all students, whether they have access to a computer at home or not, can take advantage of classroom computers. Being able to use a computer at school means the student can ask questions while completing the assignment, as well as use the different functions and features of a computer for work.

Reports can be typed on word processing programs, and presentations can be created for different projects or assignments. Students can learn the basics of these features by working at school. Many schools include basic computer courses on their campuses to help students who may have questions about programs.

Students who do not enjoy handwriting, for any reason, and who may balk at completing assignments otherwise, might be more willing to do the work needed if they know they can use classroom computers and the technology that is available. Computers can help students improve their grades and remain motivated to finish their education.

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Getting started

March 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment

All this stuff is very nice. But where do we start?

It can feel like there are gaints in the land, rampaging through our emotions telling us that there are too many problems with getting a handle on this online learning stuff!

There’s only one thing that Giants are good for, and that’s killing! Yep, they’re the only thing we are allowed to kill otherwise we’ll never be free of them.

Getting started online education (studying) can be just like that. We know where we want to end up (with a better job or learning about a hobby) But where do you start? I mean the choice is so big that it’s one of the main things that puts people off in the first place

Well there’s a saying ‘How do you eat an Elephant? one piece at a time!’ and that’s the best way to get started with studying online, one piece at a time.

At curriculumweb.org that’s how they approach online learning. Online learning is the weapon that can slay giants! and you can learn to use it from the comfort of your own home!

King David took five small stones from a river bed to Kill Goliath the giant. He only used one, they say it’s because Goliath had four brothers, that may be true. But he took what he needed to do the job and got it done.

You can do the same, except you don’t have to run to the Battle front standing there alone like he did. You can do it from the comfort of your own home and work together with other Giant killers as they seek to put an end to their gaints as well as yours!

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Online Games: Make Learning Fun

February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Your children may be curious about the wide world of the Web. This is natural and okay as long as you are there to supervise them–do NOT let your children browse the internet without parental controls or strict supervision. Look for browsers or other child-based security systems that will only allow your child on certain sites. Password protect your other browsers. As long as you take precautions and thoroughly investigate sites before you allow your child to visit them, allowing your children to enjoy online games will be safe, fun, and enjoyable. Don’t use online games as a babysitting service, either: while you may need some time to catch up on some housework or professional work, play with your children as often as possible.

Game Sites

  1. ABCya.com. ABCya is a massive free online game site with tons of fun, educational games. Some games include “Marble Math Addition,” “USA Puzzle Map,” “Math Match,” “Make a Pizza,” “100 Snowballs” and “Alphabet Puzzles. The site conveniently separates its game offerings from kindergarten all the way to fifth grade. The site is also surprisingly connected to social media, offering both educational accounts and a twitter account for parents to follow.
  2. Neopets.com. Neopets requires an account and is one of the safest sites for kids on the web. The site is attractive, fun, colorful, and involves the immersing world of Neopia. Kids take care of a pet, play games, and earn “Neopoints,” a virtual currency that they can use to buy things for their virtual pets. However, only SOME of Neopets’ games are educational (the rest are just for fun). If you’re concerned about it, handpick the games your child can play.
  3. Funbrain.com. Funbrain is one of the best and most popular educational game sites on the web. Classic games include “Math Baseball,” “the Plural Girls,” and “Proton Don.” The site does include non-educational games and beware of outsider advertising.
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Can You Prevent Cheating on an Online Exam?

February 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Online exams are notorious for issues with students cheating. In some cases, what’s to stop a student from Googling the question? How do you know if they’re not using a book or notes for non-open-book online exams or opening a chat room with class members to discuss possible answers? How do you know if they’re having someone else besides the student take the test for them? These tips may help you stop cheating in the online classroom, or at least try to prevent it.

  1. Time your online exams.
    Cheating takes a lot longer than simply knowing the information. Searching the web takes time. If a student genuinely knows the answer, they’ll click the answer and move on. Don’t allow for overly generous time limits.
  2. Mix up your question order.
    If every student is faced with a different question number, it limits “community cheating.” Not only does it prevent previous students from taking screen shots of the online exam for future students, but it also ensures that students can’t compare answers on their phones, in chat rooms, or on social networks like Facebook or Twitter. It’s another good idea to create more questions than you absolutely need so not all students have the same test questions to compare.
  3. Use outside applications and services.
    Online testing services can require students to sign in with their Student ID and password. They can also limit where students go on the internet, so they can’t visit outside websites.
  4. Host your test live. If students must visit a campus to take a proctored exam, the chances of cheating are greatly lowered. This is potentially the best way to test your students in a traditional, non-open-book format that will test their knowledge without the possibility of cheating.
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Staying Ahead in Your Online Class

February 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Let’s say you’ve enrolled in an online class. You probably thought it was going to be pretty easy. Isn’t it a lot better working in your pajamas than heading to class at 8 AM every day? Isn’t it nice to spend more time doing what you want to do instead of sitting through all those lectures? Well, as you’ve probably already learned, online classes can actually be more difficult than regular classes because you have to be more self-aware and more self-disciplined. Here are some tips to ensure you won’t be left behind in your online class.

  1. Pick set times during the week to do your online classwork and stick with them. You’ll need that set schedule to ensure you have enough time to work and review the material. You can also review deadlines and make sure no new bulletins or announcements were posted.
  2. Set constant alarms for yourself. Whether you prefer to set your alarms on your phone, computer, email, or other devices, you’ll need the reminders. Live classes help you remember when things are due because students and professors will talk about upcoming deadlines and assignments. Other students will ask questions that may help you in your own assignment. You’d be surprised how quickly deadlines creep up on you in online classes. Think about it: if you have Algebra every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 AM and you have a big assignment due Friday, your professor will probably bring it up on Monday and Wednesday. You’ll know that you need to walk into that class with your assignment in hand. With an online class, the deadlines tend to feel more arbitrary. You may have something due on Friday at noon, but because you don’t have a physical class, it’s easy to forget. For small assignments, set up an alarm a day or two in advance (preferably around the same times you picked to work on that particular class) and also the day it’s due. For large assignments, do several alarms so you continue to think about it. It’s easy to wait until the last minute.
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Taking Advantage of Online Learning

February 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Students who are interested in furthering their education are confronted with significant barriers to entry. When you want to get into a University program to get your bachelors you must take the SAT–the notorious enemy of many high school kids. After you graduate from college however, there is another beast they call the GMAT. If you want to further your education by getting a graduate degree like your MBA you must defeat the GMAT.

GMAT stands for Graduate Management Assessment Test. This is the exam that every candidate needs to take in order to be accepted into an MBA program. Now, I know all about the benefits of getting a higher education. To stay competitive in today’s business world means you need to get the upper hand whenever you can. The best way to achieve that upper hand is with a graduate degree. I know that sounds like a lot of work, but thanks to online learning getting a college degree has never been easier. You can pick your courses and take them at your own pace. If it takes a few extra months, so what? It’s about the reward at the end of the journey — not how long it takes! But first, you need to pass the GMAT.

The online GMAT prep course is going to get your ready to take this exam by breaking down all the categories. You’ll get sample questions and essay examples. That’s a huge advantage. Remember taking the SATs back in high school? Did you study? Don’t you wish you studied more? The GMAT is a bit more involved than the SATs and that’s why you want to give yourself every advantage you can. My review: two big thumbs up for a GMAT prep course.

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How to Study for an Online Exam

February 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Studying for an online exam can be much more difficult than studying for a live class exam. Your review will be much more intense because you won’t have a professor to lead a class review. You’re already being tested on material you’ve been forced to learn yourself. So how do you beat the online exam study blues? Use the following tips.

  1. If your professor utilizes online forums to promote classroom discussion, pay close attention to what your professor is asking. Did something garner a lot of replies? Were some topics required (meaning that you had to answer or reply to them)? These are the points you should definitely study for your upcoming exam. If a subject or issue garnered a lot of debate, there’s a good chance your professor will ask you about it on your upcoming exam.
  2. Create outlines for each chapter you read. Do this BEFORE your exam. If you cram it all in before your exam, you’re not going to remember it nearly as well as you would have if you’d kept up-to-date outlines. Every time your professor assigns a chapter, create an outline that highlights the main key points. Define any terms you run across. If you had trouble understanding a certain subject, go into more detail about it on your outline. If a chapter focuses on one particular concept, pay close attention to it in your outline– there’s a good chance that topic will show up on your exam. A few days before the exam, go through all of your outlines. It’s a good idea to refresh yourself on the chapters too, in case you missed anything in your outlines. Since you already have your outlines, you won’t have to reread everything.
  3. Ask people in your class if they want to study together. If you live in the same area, you can meet up for a live study group. Otherwise, you can organize a study guide swap, where you each create a study guide based on what you think will be in your exam and then post it on the forums for other to utilize.
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