Online Learning Not for Everyone..

Online learning isn't for everyone. And that's fine, because the face-to-face classroom isn't for everyone, textbooks aren't for everyone, satellite courses aren't for everyone, and computer-based training modules aren't for everyone.

But if you are thinking of taking an online course, you need to consider whether or not you'll be successful as an online learner. Some of the questions you need to ask yourself are obvious, but others may be less intuitive. Let's try to answer a few of these.

Do I have basic computer skills?Let's face it: online courses are being shoved down the throats of people who simply aren't ready to make the leap out of the classroom. If you're going to take an online course, you should have a basic level of comfort with your computer. You should be able to turn it off and on, start your web browser (Netscape and Internet Explorer), copy and paste text, save files, attach files, and send and receive e-mail.

Much of the content in these courses are delivered through the Web browser. You may be asked to visit other websites and then return to your course to discuss them, so you'll need to know how to move forward and back with the browser's buttons. You should also be able to conduct a simple search for information on the Web, using a tool like Yahoo or Google.

If you're not comfortable with your computer, it's OK to look for a face-to-face version of the course. Odds are, you would spend as much time in the online course learning the technology as you would the content.

Bachelor Degree: Growing Global Trend

More and more working adults today appreciate the value of a bachelor degree or a first degree not just to help them advance in their career but also to help them increase their knowledge and the scope of their skills.

More people are considering bachelor degree studies or further training to make themselves more marketable, as this will increase their skills and resources as well as bring greater value to their existing qualifications.

Multinational companies are also encouraging their employees to pursue bachelor degree qualifications. In today's knowledge-driven economy, organizations are encouraging staff to acquire knowledge and skills, which are practical and industry-driven, to ensure the continuous progress and growth of the organization.

Companies often encourage their staff to go for weekend classes, as they are required to work productively during weekdays. However, some sponsored candidates are allowed to take time off to do 'block training' during working hours. Employers often provide great supports to staff who are taking on a program by giving them study leave to prepare for examinations.

There is a growing trend of companies allowing their employees to go on sabbaticals or study leave. The advantage of allowing employees to go on study leave is that they will return to their organization with new skills, expertise and bring much greater value to the job. They also tend to focus on areas that are relevant to their organization and this means that they will be able to fit in and adjust much better than a new employee with the same skills.

Some companies are also allowing their employees to work flexi hours, which allows them to concentrate on their dissertations and theses, which again, are often relevant to their organization. Here, again, it is in the best interest of the employer to accord them time off.

Corporations are looking at training programs that will provide their employees with a global perspective. To ensure that employees stay committed to their training programs, it it's critical to 'marry' employees' training needs with the programs that are available.

As most working adults are reluctant to leave their jobs to pursue bachelor degree studies, time off from work is a boon. The availability of distance learning and e-learning helps too.

E-learning and distance learning are a natural choice for those who have family commitments. While it can be quite demanding, it's a preferred option for many as they don't have to leave their jobs and families.

While e-learning and distance learning afford convenience, they also require a lot of discipline and independence. This explains why many choose hybrid programs where they're required to attend and enjoy face-to-face interaction though seminars and workshops.

Distance learning is the fastest-growing form of learning in the world right now and e-learning is the way of the future. The gap between the supply and demand of education is getting bigger and one way to close it is by having more e-learning centers.

There are approximately 100 million students worldwide and 50 million in Asia-Pacific seeking higher education. There isn't enough time or money to build campuses. It is believes that e-learning is increasingly becoming a prevalent way of obtaining a quality education.

The fact that students don't restrict themselves to geographical boundaries can be a strong driver to encourage people to take up online education.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com Michael Russell

Advantages of Accelerated Online Courses

To advance in certain careers, you need a degree. However, returning to college as an adult may be difficult alongside a full-time job or if you already have a family.

Many people simply don't have the time or financial resources for a four-year degree program. So what are your options?

Accelerated online programs, unlike other online classes, allow you to obtain associate, undergraduate, or graduate degrees at a faster pace, but still with lower costs and in far less time than traditional four-year universities.

Types of Accelerated Online Programs
Some online schools, usually linked with a traditional university, require you to attend a certain number of classes at the school itself. If this does not suit your needs then you need to search for accredited online classes with a ?no residency? requirement. But it is important to make sure you still sign up for a recognized accredited school.

According to the article "Accelerated College Degree Online: Learn how to Get One" at certain schools you can gain credits through challenging exams, life experience assessments, military service, job training and continuing education. Again, it is important to ensure these programs are officially recognized before paying anything.

The more legitimate accelerated online courses require you to study and earn your degree online, usually over a two-year period, which is still only half the normal time required to obtain a degree. And the accelerated online classes cost far less than half of traditional university costs.

These accelerated online programs allow you to learn and earn your degree with minimal disruption to your work and family life.

Author: Nancy Lambert ArticleAlley.com

The Burden of a Student Loan

Before you decide to depend on student loans for your education - make sure you know how much you will be required to pay each month to cover your student loan.

Welcome to New York City, Katy Sullivan. And welcome to poverty!
That's how it felt when the 25-year-old New Hampshirite moved to the Big Apple for her first job after college. True, her $35,000 salary as an assistant account executive for a public relations firm is decent. But the cost of living is indecent. So she moved into an unfashionable neighborhood, took a roomie, and started cooking at home. There's one expense she can't finesse, however, which gobbles nearly $450 a month, or about one quarter of her take-home pay. It's her beastly post-college burden: $45,000 in student loans.

So it would seem Sullivan is one of the multitude of students drowning in debt. Yet Sullivan, who graduated in 2004 from Boston's Suffolk University with a bachelor's degree in communications, is not gulping for debt-free air. "I thought if I'm going to get an education, I might as well get the best one I can," she says. "The loans will eventually go away." Many educators and counselors endorse Sullivan's attitude. "People need to think of education as an investment," says Sandy Baum, an economics professor at Skidmore College and a senior policy analyst at the College Board. "You're investing in yourself," she says, "and you're going to get a return on it for your whole life."

If you do take out loans, you'll have plenty of company. In the 2003 academic year, 73 percent of students graduating from private, nonprofit colleges had taken out at least one federal education loan. Their median amount of debt: $19,400. Meanwhile, 62 percent of students graduating from public schools carried a median $15,500 in debt. (The typical total debt load is most likely higher, since these numbers do not include private or alternative loans, which make up an estimated 22 percent of all educational debts.) In recent years, student loans have grown as a share of total funding for college and now represent 46 percent, right on a par with grants.

How much is too much? But how much debt is reasonable to take on--$20,000, $60,000, $100,000? If your resources are limited, should you bother applying to pricey private colleges, where the average cost for a year's tuition, fees, and room and board is nearly $30,000? Or is it smarter to stick with a well-regarded and less expensive public school, with an average $12,750-a-year price tag?

The answer, of course, will be different for everyone.

Your decision should depend at least in part on the paycheck you expect upon graduation. An aspiring musician might want to borrow less than a future computer scientist, says Jacqueline King, director of policy analysis for the American Council on Education. A good rule of thumb: For the average college grad, it's reasonable to expect to put about 10 to 12 percent of your income a month toward paying back college loans, says Baum.
But it's tough for even the brainiest math whizzes to figure out whether borrowing more to attend a pricier school pays off in higher earnings down the road. Princeton economist Alan Krueger has shown that students who entered selective schools in 1976 did no better after college than similar students who were accepted but chose to go to less selective schools. In other words, smart and motivated kids tend to do well, careerwise.

Excerpt from USA News and World Report

Higher Education = Higher Income

Here’s a finding you can bank on: The more education you get, the more money you are likely to earn. And usually, those extra earnings are more than pocket change.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that median earnings increase at every level of education. In 2005, as the chart illustrates, people who finished high school earned almost $175 more every week compared with those who dropped out. People who completed an associate degree program netted more than $100 compared with high school graduates.

But diplomas and degrees aren’t the only routes to higher paychecks. Apprenticeships and other types of long-term on-the-job training also tend to increase earnings. Many occupations that usually require long-term training—such as machinist and electrician—also have median earnings comparable with those of college graduates.

Online Courses - Advantages vs Disadvantages

Many working adults are discovering the need to further their education to compete in today's uncertain and constantly changing job market. However, going to school while trying to balance work, family, and social obligations can be a daunting task for even the heartiest of students.

Fortunately, with the advent of the internet and computer technology, there is now an alternative to the traditional college classroom. Thousands of adult learners are finding that online courses provide an e-learning solution that fits their busy lifestyles. If you are thinking about going back to school to further your education, internet courses may be just what you're looking for.

Before enrolling in any online courses, it's a good idea to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages and then determine if going to school online is right for you. Online courses provide a number of advantages for adult students including:

Accelerated Learning modules that focus on core content. Rolling admissions that allow students to begin class throughout the year.
Attend classes at anytime. You can work full or part time, spend time with family and friends, and still be able to study at a time that is convenient and fits into your schedule.
Attend classes from anywhere. All you need is a computer and internet access.
Work at your own pace. If you need extra time to absorb the course content, you can read and re-read the material until you "get it."
Equal learning environment for students, regardless of age, physical appearance, personality, health, gender, social standing or economic status.
More time to make a response to the instructor's lectures and questions. No need to feel pressured or out-matched by more talkative students-online everyone has a chance to be heard-even the most shy student who might never speak out in a traditional classroom.
Reduced expense. While the actual class, textbooks, and other material may cost as much as in a traditional classroom, there may be a significant reduction of expenses in other areas such as travel expense, housing costs, child-care, and loss of earnings.
Improved communication with classmates and instructors through instant messaging, email, chat rooms, newsgroup threaded discussions, phone or fax.
Accredited courses. Many online courses are accredited by regional and/or national accrediting agencies. Improve technical knowledge of computers, software, and the internet. Working in virtual teams provide the student with valuable skills in the global economy.

Disadvantages include:
A feeling of isolation caused by lack of live contact with instructors and classmates.
Absence of a traditional classroom structure may cause students lacking self-discipline and good study habits to fall behind in class. Requires a good working knowledge of computer hardware and software, file management, and the internet. Technical issues.
Obsolete or malfunctioning computers, sluggish internet connections, or incompatible software may cause problems logging into class, and completing course assignments.
Requires high level of commitment and motivation.
Students have little opportunity to improve oral communication skills, due to course work being in an electronic format. Classes with lab or hands-on requirements may by unavailable online.

While online courses offer many advantages for the adult student there are clearly some disadvantages as well. However, for thousands of students worldwide, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. For these students, attending school online is an effective way to attain their educational goals and advance in their career. If you need to further your education, you might just discover that it's also the right choice for you!

By: Jesse Whitehead
Articledashboard.com

Plumbing Trade School

If you have a hankering to be wanted, then maybe plumbing is for you. It's one of those professions that most people can't imagine being without. And even if you think that plumbing isn't that important, one thing's for sure - when someone needs a plumber, they REALLY need a plumber! For most people, until the plumber arrives, they're left with what's likely to be a rather unpleasant problem to deal with. So if you want to feel appreciated for what you do, plumbing is a good choice.

One of the good things about plumbing as a career is the fact that it's not a job that's going to disappear overnight because of some new advance in technology. It's always going to be in demand. Most plumbers are entitled to belong to a labor union of some sort, which means that minimum wages and benefits are guaranteed, and you can be reasonably confident about what you can earn. With plumbers in short supply, it's quite possible that you can do much better than the minimums, and have reasonable job security as well.

So what do you need to do if you want to become a plumber? Well, the first step is to go to plumbing school. This usually takes 2 years, and you can attend either a community or a technical college. The usual qualification is an associate's degree in plumbing, and you may find that you have to gain this qualification in order to join the union.

At plumbing school you will be shown many different types of problems, and given instruction on how to deal with them. These include both residential and commercial property plumbing problems. Your course will start with classroom studies, together with other plumbing students, but over time you will generally end up spending time with a professional plumber as an apprentice, so that you can get some hands on experience. Often it's this real life training that will teach you the most.

If you want to train as a plumber, get in touch with your local college to see what courses they offer, or else spend some time online looking for plumbing trade schools. As a successful plumber you will always know you're wanted and appreciated!

If you want to find out more about plumbing trade schools, click over to Gordon's site at http://www.tradeschoolinfozone.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_Phillips

Distance Learning, Online Education, Electronic Education, Electronic Learning

Whatever you want to label "learning at home" and however you want to define the latest buzz words for non-traditional education, you can find a program and method that suits your needs. Right now over 1.2 million people in the U.S. participate in some form of distance learning, with a projected expansion to 2.3 million in just a few years.

In looking at this rapidly expanding and viable form of education and training, there are a few basic things you need to consider and some decisions you need to make in order to create the environment that will best suit your needs. You need to know the what, the why, the benefits and the how of the various forms of distance learning.

Distance learning (correspondence courses) started in Europe in the 1800’s and has evolved into a multifaceted term that serves many purposes. Some of the forms of distance learning are: correspondence courses, online education, internet based education, electronic education, e-education, electronic learning, and e-learning. How these terms differ will depend upon how the institution defines and labels the programs which they offer. To simplify the whole concept, let’s say that these terms represent ways of learning away from a "brick and mortar" facility. Some distance learning and/or online programs may or may not be connected to a university or college. There are many programs that are independent and are not affiliated with any institution.

Distance learning offers a variety of paths to personal goals which include: GED, associate degrees, bachelor degrees, graduate certificates, master degrees, doctoral degrees, non-credit training courses, and others. Whether a person is seeking a degree, keeping professional skills updated, or pursuing skills for an interest area or hobby, there is a program or offering that should work.

Why are so many people turning to distance learning? What are its advantages? On a personal level look at such pros as: maintaining privacy; provides convenience; enables a flexible schedule; allows for balancing job and family obligations; working at own pace, going slowly or accelerating learning; can be less expensive; great for homebound individuals; no unnecessary travel; no formal class attendance; and can "learn while you earn." These are a few of the many things that are causing quite a number of people to take an entirely different approach to attaining knowledge/skills and/or earning a degree.

Those who advocate against an alternative of distance learning, often site the lack of socialization which is a part of a traditional type of education. However, not everyone is looking for the classroom activities, college events/parties, and the interactions that are a part of a school campus. Many of the classroom activities such as discussion and support can be achieved online. The other things that an online education will reinforce are: reading - ebooks, up to date references, current research; listening - through audio lectures or clips; seeing- through graphic illustrations and demonstrations; doing - assignments, quizzes, exams, research papers; and speaking/communication - through email, chats, and electronic discussions. A distance learning program can be far more than just reading and writing.

What are the requirements for becoming a part of a distance learning program? Many programs require a minimum of a GED or taking an admissions test. Usually, the process for applying will include: an application; transcripts; test scores; an essay; and letters of recommendation. The less formal the program, the less formal the requirements. There is a wide range in answering this questions. However, what is necessary for an online program is the right computer equipment with the internet connection (high speed), word processing capability; email; and multimedia player. The program you choose will provide more specific details for recommendation about equipment and software.

In choosing a program there some questions to ask as you do your research and make your selection. Ask about the following: help/support is offered; qualifications of the instructors; number of years the institution has provided services; is it an accredited program; details about the curriculum; and multimedia elements of the program. By the way, accreditation is voluntary since there is no officially sanctioned entity in existence. However, most schools considered the six regional accrediting agencies listings to be legitimate agencies. Ask if it is regionally accredited.

The last thing you need to think about is your motivation and work ethic. If you are a good reader (good reading comprehension skills) who doesn’t procrastinate and can avoid distractions, you will be a good candidate for an alternative approach to education. In this age of global education and the need for current knowledge and skills, this is a fast delivery system that will bring all the technological advancement right into your living room instantaneously. It works for more than a million people, and it can work for you.

Visit our Resource Center on Distance Learning at: http://sbmag.org/distancelearning.html
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About the AuthorBarbara Snyder is a retired California Distinguished School Principal and Coordinator For Human Resources. She has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She holds elementary education, secondary, community college, and administrative credentials. She is currently the publisher of http://EducationResourcesNetwork.com, co-publisher of Strictly Business Magazine, http://www.sbmag.org.
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