This year has seen several prominent trends that have turned the spotlight on online schools. There were questions raised concerning how these schools can provide quality and relevant education during these economically challenging times, and the problems students face when they graduate and cannot pay back their loans. There were ongoing investigations related to problems [...]
The work of an online instructor can be enjoyable, demanding, rewarding, and challenging at times. I’ve worked as adjunct online instructor, and I can share with you the reality of working in this environment, along with the most common benefits and challenges, the skill sets you’ll need, and a plan for developing your educational and [...]
You’re about to start a new online class. Do you have any expectations about the level of involvement for your online instructor? Are you concerned about being able to communicate with your instructor and when they may be available to assist you? The online classroom has changed the format of traditional learning. Words form the [...]
Have you ever felt disconnected from your online class or wished that you could get to know the other students in your class better? Many online schools will ask students to post an introduction at the beginning of the class to establish community and break the ice. I read all of introductions posted by my [...]
Choosing an online school involves weighing several options, including the type of degree programs that are offered, the costs involved, and the reputation of the school. As part of the decision-making process you should also consider the actual classroom you will be working within when you access your course, especially if you do not have [...]
If you’re over the whole Generation Jobless pity party, check out these inspiring pep talks.
Have you considered how your mindset influences your work as an online student? Think about the last time you felt a negative reaction – whether it was a result of feedback received that wasn’t what you expected or a grade that you thought should have been higher. Did that experience influence your self-belief and cause [...]
The following philosophy books will likely find their way into the curriculum at some point.
Online schools have made an impact in higher education because the needs of working adults who want to expand their career options and meet professional goals are being addressed. The Sloan Consortium 2010 Survey found that the “21% growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the 2% growth in the overall higher education student population.” [...]
These authors took it upon themselves to create their books and to get them sold, and went on to become bestselling authors.
Recent news articles and job surveys indicate that job prospects are improving for college graduates, with a 4% increase in jobs overall this year. These reports don’t make a distinction between graduates of traditional or online schools, and more importantly, there isn’t a separate category for college graduates who are new to the workforce and [...]
Students with disabilities represent a significant percentage of the overall student population and in fact, recent statistics indicate that there are approximately 400,000 students in post-secondary education with a disability. There isn’t a distinction made for the type of degree program; however, online schools have helped to expand the accessibility of degree programs to many [...]
You’ve made an investment of your time and finances to earn an online degree. But once it’s completed and you begin a career search, what is the reality you are likely to face when you tell a prospective employer than you earned your degree online? Will it be accepted or will it be questioned? What [...]
If you have considered obtaining an online degree, one of the questions you may have is about the quality of online schools. You are making a significant investment in your education, so you should consider how quality is determined and how it is monitored. Accreditation is one of the first aspects of quality assurance you’ll [...]
Book clubs offer up an appealingly casual, low-pressure environment in which to dissect the writerly arts.
Most online platforms have built-in features for instructors and curriculum designers to develop and integrate tests into the course design, and many online schools have incorporated auto-graded quizzes to supplement the assessment process. But as online learning continues to evolve, educators recognize the importance of addressing multiple learning styles through a variety of assessments, so [...]
Your new online class is about to begin and you will have to hit the ground running with little time to prepare, as most online schools don’t allow full access to the course until the day it is scheduled to begin. Online degree programs are often developed with an accelerated schedule, which means that classes [...]
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Virtual communication has grown significantly because of the increase in social media use. However, most people participate in social media for social and entertainment purposes. For the field of higher education, the most common reason why students are encouraged to be involved in social networking is the ability of these websites to help promote [...]
Take a look at any syllabus and you will likely find a list of objectives for the course. Students often glance at the list without consideration of what those objectives mean to them because this isn’t a topic of discussion within most online classes. The fact is that learning objectives are considered a component of [...]
Online students have weekly assignments that frequently require them to find new sources of information — and they have to obtain that information quickly because of assignment deadlines. In addition, whether it is a written paper or discussion board posting, students are required to process and interpret the information they've acquired rather than just collecting [...]
The online classroom paved the way for easier access to education and now mobile devices are extending that reach. With Smartphones and laptops, students can interact with and process information in real-time, or at a time and place that is convenient for them. In fact, students who were raised with access to technology (referred to [...]
Many online schools incorporate tests and quizzes into the curriculum as a supplemental assessment, often as an addition to weekly assignments. A test is designed to assess what is known about the course topics and the questions can likely be answered after a review of the course materials. This sounds simple enough; however, many online [...]
These 20 videos, full of enlightening lessons from around the world, are bound to make class time more interesting.
Online students receive a lot of information throughout their courses. Most is read on a computer screen because of the nature of the materials, which are typically downloadable versions of textbooks, along with articles obtained from Internet searches and online library databases. After reading through a few of these resources, it may become clear [...]
You’re an online student balancing many responsibilities, including school work, a career, family, and other obligations. Many online students complete their work whenever they have free time – during a lunch break, at night, or on the weekends. The pressure to meet these requirements and manage other important aspects of your life can produce a [...]
Your success as an online student depends upon how well you perform and how effectively you develop supporting skill sets. Students often gauge their performance by the grades and feedback received from their instructor, which may not be received until the next assignment due date. However, to fully understand and improve your progress, you need [...]
In 2009, there were approximately 12 million college students taking courses online and that number is expected to rise to 22 million by 2014, according Ambient Insight research projections. Clearly, the online classroom is attracting many new students because it offers flexibility and convenience. But what do students need from their online courses? As an [...]
If you are considering an online degree program, what is your initial impression or belief about this type of learning? Your perception about the value and effectiveness of online learning will have a direct impact on your willingness to take an online course and work within this type of classroom environment. Some of the most [...]
Do you find it challenging at times to answer the required discussion questions? Is it difficult to think of something new to say when you need to post your participation messages? Online students may find it frustrating to create meaningful discussion question responses and interactive participation postings because these messages take time to develop. In [...]
Many students talk about “getting good grades” for their classes and this may become a source of anxiety because of the perceptions related to the outcome – especially if they do not earn an “A” and their overall grade-point average (GPA) is adversely affected. However, are grades an indicator of success for online students, and [...]
By: Erika Jaramillo After the stress of midterms and finals, the only thing on your mind is relaxation and college break. While both you and your parents may be anticipating your return home, be prepared for the possibility that things might not look or feel the same way as you remember them. This is due [...]
These blogs offer great advice, commiseration, and resources for moms of students or moms who are going back to school.
Online students are expected to complete their own work and follow the school’s code of conduct, which includes rules for academic honesty. What this means is that any time you post a message, submit a written assignment, or take an exam, it is expected that this is your product. To better understand academic honesty, [...]
By: Angelita Williams Would you like to know how your instructors evaluate your performance? As an online instructor, I can take the mystery out of the grading process and help you understand what’s required so that you can perform well by sharing the methods many instructors use when they review your discussion board postings and [...]
Humans studying humans is what anthropology essentially boils down into.
By: Erika Jaramillo Many online students have an array of different activities they have to complete throughout the day, and turning to caffeine to help them keep going is the norm. While a cup of coffee or a can of soda is fine every now and then, caffeine can have many harmful effects on your [...]
Managing the demands of your work as an online student requires a significant investment of time, energy, and effort. You are often balancing many responsibilities and you need to find time to participate in class, study, and complete your assignments. Development of an effective time management plan involves finding tools and techniques that help you [...]
Conflict is likely to occur as students interact with each other, and it can happen in a traditional or online classroom. But when conflict occurs in an online classroom, it is much harder to resolve than conflict in person because you are relying on your perception and interpretation of the other person's message. You don't [...]
Effective communication in an online class requires careful thought because when your primary means of interaction is through message board posts, it can be easy to misunderstand others and have others misunderstand you. Once you post a message, everyone can see it. You may not have an opportunity to change it or explain its meaning [...]
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Once you begin an online class, you have started the process of formal learning. What’s the difference between informal and formal learning? Informal learning is how you learn every day — through experiences and interactions, along with information received from what you’ve read and heard. It’s a passive form of learning because you are the [...]
As the idea of same-sex schools experiences a revival, critics and proponents of the notion are pointing out its weaknesses and strengths.
By: Erika Jaramillo For many students, coffee is the drink-of-choice when it comes to getting that extra pep in their step in the mornings— and especially on those late study nights. In fact, according to statistics, more than 150 million of people drink at least one cup of coffee a day. That’s a lot of [...]
Online students have a lot of information to process. When a class begins, there are assigned course materials and resources, along with additional information provided by the instructor. Discussion boards are another source of information, often with a high volume of postings. Information overload can occur as you attempt to process this information, review the [...]
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As a student, you may put off reading the textbook or any other course materials if it appears to be difficult, complex, or unappealing. What is needed in these situations is a strategy that allows you to read any type of material through the use of an analytic approach, which allows you to feel less [...]
By: Erika Jaramillo Sometimes, going off to college means traveling to an unfamiliar city or area, away from your family and friends. You may experience a severe sense of loneliness. Combine the overwhelming stress that is typically caused by excess schoolwork, and one can easily develop a case of depression. But how do you differentiate [...]
You may not realize it, but there is a basic list of needs that every person has, and there is even a specific order to those needs. Your needs influence your internal sense of self-motivation because you will act based upon what you believe is the most important unfulfilled need. One of the most popular [...]
If the phrase "critical thinking" sounds important, that’s because it is. As a student, you can improve every aspect of your performance in class, from written assignments to your contributions during discussions, by learning how to develop this skill. It is even more important for an online student because of the unique communication challenges that [...]
Understanding how you learn is as important as knowing how the process of learning occurs. Not everyone learns by picking up a book and reading through it. Some people learn better by listening and others learn better by interacting with the information they are receiving. By understanding your preferred method or learning style, you will [...]
Hate crimes conjure up gale forces of controversy in pretty much every setting. Some say hate and discourtesy motivate most crimes, so there’s no need to make distinctions between motivations. Others find this mindset entirely too broad and believe a hate crime should be considered anywhere discrimination against sexuality, race, ethnicity and/or disability plays a [...]
Comics like Dan Cagle and Charles Schulz are well known for their comics in high profile newspapers. But hiding between the pages of college newspapers lies incredible, often undiscovered, talent. College newspaper comics have the potential to share tremendous insight, youthful humor, and talent beyond the university level. Some college comic writers even win awards [...]
Most shows take on social issues, personal drama, and even supernatural villains instead of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
These debaters’ mad arguing skills landed them social, political or sociopolitical success.
However dull and impersonal they may be, dorms do at least provide an excellent creative challenge for artistic, crafty and DIY-hungry college students.
Hispanic Heritage Month is coming up (September 15 to October 15), so there is no better time to celebrate the culture by picking up a novel by some of the greatest writers in its history.
From narratives of capitalist triumphs to inspiring stories of united laborers, students choosing business as a major have plenty of great reads available.
Here are a few examples of what we predict will evolve and even improve about the community college experience.
College students comprise a rather vulnerable demographic.
Title IX has gotten a lot of attention in recent years – both positive and negative – from teachers, students, administrators and parents.
From breaking news to becoming “Internet famous,” student journalists are making a difference.
Photos have more power than most people give them credit for. In a world where there are more photographs online than time to view them all, the value of photos is easy to underestimate. At their surface, they are a record of history: wedding photos that capture who was there for your celebration, war photos [...]
Homebrewing is legal, fun, and perhaps best of all, cheap.
Regardless of whether you’re looking for a one-night stand or long-term relationship, the dating world can be a confusing and frustrating place to navigate.
Here are some of the novels we believe will be the best reads for young artists in training.
Minorities, low-income students, and women have been left behind in STEM education and careers, and these stats take a look at the serious problem we’re facing in US education.
We think these controversial scientists, philosophers and theorists represent some of the most controversial academics in history both for good and bad reasons.
Nobody can deny that the online encyclopedia, not to mention the other Wikimedia websites, certainly left a splash in the classroom and mainstream society alike.
Working an internship while you are still in college is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself and one of the most valuable things you can do for your career. Internships provide real world experience to those that are looking to explore a particular career, field, or industry of work. Internships [...]
Even if you don’t spend your nights staring at the stars for your coursework, having one on campus, or affiliated with your school, can be a great asset for any student who has an interest in learning more about the cosmos.
Considering everyone has a brain it’s behooving of all people to at least put forth some modicum of effort to educate themselves on how the thing actually works.
Check out our list to learn about the real story behind fictional colleges.
Libraries everywhere are adopting gaming programs that allow patrons to not only check out popular titles, but also play games.
Some libraries have gone above and beyond in helping children and teens to find reading a worthwhile and fun activity.
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Soaking up advice through any reads available opens up new worlds and ideas and can help mold a work from just OK to just plain awesome.
Homeschooling appeals to a surprisingly broad range of families, each with their own unique motivations for pursuing the method.
By: Kelly Solana Getting to know your college professors is a good way to leave a lasting impression on them. Whether you take your classes online or attend a traditional brick and mortar school, getting to know your professors and making an effort to interact with them can usually be beneficial to you. Professors like [...]
Great plays proudly stand the test of time along other written works.
By: Kelly Solana Binge drinking and alcohol consumption have long plagued college campuses across the country. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 grams percent or above. That percentage is typically reached when men consume more than [...]
By: Kelly Solana Let’s face it- studying isn’t exactly everyones favorite thing to do. Many college students blow off studying and reading time for other things that seem more important at the time. Whether that is shopping, playing sports, going to the gym, socializing, or grabbing a beer with a buddy, students seem to be [...]
These talks provide an in-depth look at some cutting-edge research and very interesting phenomena in the chemical world.
It used to be that online colleges in need of federal aid had to deliver more than 50 percent of their courses in traditional classrooms to be eligible. In 2006, the U.S. Congress gave students and colleges a break by dropping the “50 percent rule.” Now students can apply for aid regardless of their school’s [...]
You can wear the nicest clothes and have the highest GPA in your online school, but if you tense up and fub even the most "generic" interview questions, you could hinder your chances of landing your dream job. The best way to truly prepare for an interview is to rehearse your responses to questions typically [...]
High school English, even for avowed bibliophiles, sometimes imbues participants with boredom and frustration
Working in television can be a very thrilling job prospect. Working behind the scenes for episodic television shows, journalism programs or commercials is not only lucrative, but also a great way to use creativity. While this industry is popular for students to consider as they first enter college, the number of people who actually succeed [...]
Do you struggle focusing in your online courses? Do you study non-stop, but can’t seem to retain any of the information that you just read? If your grades are slacking, you might need to sit back and evaluate your sleeping pattern and habits. This because according to research, sleep plays a crucial role in ensuring [...]
Students majoring in Spanish have positioned themselves for a variety of lucrative careers after graduation.
Even if you are pursuing a major in a subject that is completely unrelated to accounting, such as English or Art History, you should make an effort to fit at least one accounting course into your schedule. The skills you learn in this course, whether it is taken on campus or online, are easily applicable [...]
The slow depletion of bricks-and-mortar bookstores may lead us to wonder if libraries and librarians are nearing extinction. However, with the advent of ebooks and the digitization of text books, encyclopedias and other print media, an experienced librarian is still necessary for cataloguing, categorizing and recommending these electronic resources. Getting your library science degree online [...]
Colleges have fully embraced Facebook as a way to interact with current and prospective students, alumni, and even the general public.
You may not have any aspirations to go into court and argue a case, but an introductory law course could still be a great thing to add to your schedule. As a law abiding citizen, it can be immensely helpful for you to have in-depth knowledge about how the legal system works. This will help [...]
Studying furiously for six straight hours is not as efficient as you may think. The fact of the matter is that after a certain point, your brain becomes tired, causing you to lose your ability to concentrate and retain information. To get the most out of your study sessions, remember to give yourself regular intervals [...]
Students eager to play a part in keeping Earth clean and sustainable flock to degree plans allowing them a chance to leave a positive impact on the environment.
“You can’t learn everything from a TV,” parents and teachers would always warn whenever children spent too much time sitting in front of the Tube, watching reruns of cartoons and sitcoms. But as it turns out, while you can’t learn everything from television programming, you can learn a great deal about philosophy and logic from [...]
Nearly every online college course will require you to write lengthy essays. These essays are designed to test your knowledge on the class subject, as well as to encourage you to research more intensively on a particular topic within your class subject. However, essays can be a real drag if you simply cannot think of [...]
Whether they’re deemed too racy, promote radical ideas or sometimes just don’t fit into the status quo of college classes, these courses have been some of the most controversial and newsworthy every offered.
Since the early 1990s, the Internet has exploded in popularity and functionality. Now, every business owner strives to have a web presence, whether it is through social media, blogging, or having an official website. Yet, out of all of those things, having an official website may be the most important factor of all. In fact, [...]
It goes without saying that online students spend a lot of their time on the computer. They must receive their assignments on the computer, complete them on the computer, turn in work on the computer, and even communicate with other classmates and instructors on the computer. While this type of remote learning makes it easier [...]
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Literary syllabi overflow with works of all structures inextricably tied to their settings.
If you spend hours studying only to find that you can’t remember a single thing when test time rolls around, chances are you are not studying correctly. As strange as it sounds, there are strategies to studying that students should be aware of in order to get the most out of their time hitting the [...]
After all of your major and minor requirements have been fulfilled, all you have left are some electives credits. These are hours that need to be met before you can graduate, but what classes you choose to fill those hours are entirely up to you. Do not think of this as a waste of time [...]
Visit these blogs to explore plant taxonomy, learn about plants in politics, ogle a few pretty pictures of plants and find advice and information from botanists, professors, students and even gardening gurus.
It is discouraging when, despite all of your hard work and effort, you still face the possibility of failing one of your online college courses. But rather than giving up and not trying anymore, you should still cling to the hope of pulling through with a passing grade before the course ends. The first step [...]
Those who take their college classes online will most likely be doing so from the comfort of their own homes. Yet, the learning experience can be severely hindered if your home is a mess, cluttered, disheveled, and full of distractions. Luckily, with a bit of cleaning and rearranging, you can establish a great home classroom [...]
With these helpful links, you can find resources including learning tools, communities, and advice for living and studying with dyslexia.
Sitting at home and doing your coursework and looking over lectures online can seem isolating compared to sitting in a classroom surrounded by 25 of your peers. However, online learning is anything but isolated. With a simple click of a button, you can contact classmates and your instructor, and as many students have different schedules [...]
As if trying to get any college student to focus on a boring lecture about the history of computers wasn’t hard enough, trying to get a disinterested ADD/ADHD student to do it can be nearly impossible. Maybe that’s why more and more families prefer that their children pursue a higher education online. Continue reading below [...]
You might think your career starts once you’ve graduated from college, but why wait?
Getting the adequate amount of sleep is highly important when it comes to performance—especially for online students who have to juggle school, a job and their families. But sometimes even when your body is physically tired, it seems almost impossible to get some good shut eye. To learn how you can improve your sleep patterns, [...]
By simply following hashtags, you can get connected with discussion groups, resources, advice, and more.
Whether you’re being an ambitious student, hoping to finish up your classes this semester or just took one too many hard classes and are now in over your head, there comes a time in your college career when you just might need to drop a class in order to hang onto your GPA and your [...]
There are few people who really hop out of bed in the morning, bright eyed and ready to take on the day, and even fewer, overworked, stressed college students who do so. Yet classes can start as early as seven or eight in the morning, making it difficult for those who aren’t born morning people [...]
While most students don’t go into school with the intention of creating mounds of paper in notes, study tools and personal documents, very often that’s just what happens. Not only can it make it difficult to find what you need when you need if you’re not super organized, it’s also not great for the environment. [...]
These tricks can help you find the best results, while saving time and making your life easier.
For those who have to work during college, it can be tough to balance going to classes with working enough hours to have some spending money. While part-time jobs on campus are one option, students in certain majors may be able to take on some freelance work as well that can offer them some great [...]
If you’re like most college students, you’ve done some pretty stupid or embarrassing things from time-to-time and with modern technology, many of them may have been digitally documented and distributed over the web. These photos, even if they document something you did in public at a party, bar or out with friends, aren’t necessarily always [...]
Most of us know that the key to staying in shape is eating healthy and exercising regularly. However, today’s culture encourages a sedentary lifestyle, and it’s difficult to remember that you have to get your body moving somehow, some way at least five days a week. Just think about it: many people work out of [...]
Whether you’re interested in computers, science, art, or other creative subjects, there’s something for you to find.