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 [...]
.jpg)
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 [...]
