7 Questions to Ask When Choosing an Online College December 29, 2010
Posted by elearningtyro in : Guest posts, Useful Resources , add a commentThis guest post is contributed by Joy Paley who is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on accredited online colleges for the Guide to Online Schools.
Sure, online education suffers from scam artists who steal people’s money in exchange for worthless pieces of paper. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find a reputable, valuable online program—you just have to do some research first. From the course style to financial aid, take a good long look at any college you are seriously considering, as well as your own needs, before you jump into any online program.
- Is this college or program accredited?
Accreditation is sort of like Consumer Reports, but for college programs. In accreditation, third party agencies evaluate a school or program’s curriculum, teachers, and overall merit, and only if they meet certain standards will the school receive accreditation.
National and regional accreditation are two types of accreditation that are awarded to an entire school or institution. You can check the Department of Education’s database of accredited colleges to see if your school has these credentials. Programmatic accreditation may be important for you if you’re pursuing a particular type of degree, say nursing or business, where certification by a professional group is helpful. You can check the Bureau of Labor Statistics website for your desired career, to see if programmatic accreditation is necessary for your job. - Does it participate in the Department of Education’s federal financial aid program?
If you’re interested in getting any of the federal government’s money to help pay for your education, in the form of grants, subsidized, and unsubsidized loans, your school has to participate in the Department of Education’s financial aid program. Ask the school’s financial aid officer if you’re unsure, and make sure you fill out the FAFSA 6-8 months before you enroll. - Does it offer merit or need based financial aid?
Besides money from the government and private lenders, you may be eligible for grants or other scholarships through your school. See if they decide financial aid packages based on merit or need: if you’re a stellar student, merit will be better for you; if you’re facing financial hardship, a need-based package is probably a better bet. - What type of online classes does it offer?
Not all online classes are created equally. In fact, there are four distinct types, ranging in their flexibility and time commitment. Some are self-paced, meaning students work through the syllabus independently, without due dates. Others have due dates, but give you flexibility about when you log on to watch lectures or do assignments. Synchronous classes require students to get online at certain times, to chat with professors or peers. Finally, hybrid classes have some in-person requirements at a nearby college, while still keeping some of their curriculum online. - How much professor/peer interaction will it have?
A truly great online program will give students full access to professors and peers, in the same way that a traditional program would. See how closely students work with their instructors—a very interactive program will have video chats, instant messaging, and frequent emailing between professors and students. - Can I really make this commitment?
Online college can offer a very flexible alternative to regular school, for people who need to continue working or taking care of other obligations. Be realistic with the time commitment you can make, however, and don’t overload yourself with course work that you can’t realistically complete. Is it possible to work full time and go to school full time? Yes. Is it enjoyable or easily managed? Probably not. - Does it have everything I want?
If you’re going to the local college near you, you probably have to accept whatever major or price tag they have to offer. Prospective online students should remember that with online school, you don’t have to settle. You’re not hindered by geographical location, so you can find a program with the specific focus you want, the right type of classes, and with a good price tag. You just have to look around.
Advantages of Web 2.0 as a Training Tool December 23, 2010
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , add a commentThis guest post is contributed by Mark Davies who regularly writes on the topics of Online Masters Degree. He welcomes your comments at his email id: markdavies247@gmail.com
For a few years now, it’s been all about Web 2.0, the new and current avatar of the evolving face of the Internet. This version is more interactive, it allows you to voice your opinion and be heard, and it lets you take an active part rather than just be a passive bystander. It’s a great tool for communication because you can reach the far ends of the world with just a computer and an Internet connection, and it makes the commonest of men as famous as kings and queens.
While we all know that Web 2.0 can be used for marketing and entertainment purposes, we’re still unaware of how it can be used as a training tool. Corporations spend millions of dollars in training their employees and getting them to adapt to their ways of doing things. With Web 2.0 tools, training becomes easier and more personalized. Also, these tools lend themselves to customization and sustenance. The advantages of Web 2.0 as a training tool include:
- Information can be tailored to the needs of any organization. With Web 2.0 tools, it’s easy to adapt any training material and tweak it to suit your company and the kind of employees you need to train.
- From the sheer volume of information, it’s easy to assimilate only what you really need by filtering out unnecessary content and retaining what’s necessary to your training needs.
- Information and tools are accessible from any location and are not confined to any physical area or place. This means that training can be conducted anywhere, and at very short notice too.
- New information can be added as and when available to the training module by keeping tabs on your sources through RSS readers and aggregators.
- There is a wide cross section of tools available to make the training more effective – audio, video and text combine to form multimedia presentations that pack a more effective punch than just the written or spoken word alone.
However, in spite of all these advantages, Web 2.0 tools for training work only when:
- There are ways to authenticate and validate information from multiple sources that contradict each other.
- There is no fear of technology in those being trained
- There are adequate safeguards to protect the information from being stolen or being tampered with.
- There are ways to deal with and overcome the failure of technology when it happens. The danger of keeping all your data online is that technology could let you down in more ways than one when you need it the most.
If organizations can find ways to maximize the potential of Web 2.0 tools for training and minimize their disadvantages, that’s when these tools live up to their billing.
E-Learning Tools and Skills Everyone Can Use December 8, 2010
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , add a commentThis guest post is contributed by Alvina Lopez who regularly writes on the topics of accredited online schools. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alvina.lopez @gmail.com
In today’s society, we can obtain a lot more than just music and movies online – we can even achieve an education. Being in charge of making sure that students have the opportunity to actively practice what they are learning, an Instructional Designer is responsible for designing and developing learning experiences. Simply pouring heaps of content into PowerPoint slides and Word documents and asking students to read it all does not create an interactive experience. As An Instructional Designer, one is responsible for knowing how people learn, and is in charge of creating ideas on how to help individuals learn better. The simple function of an Instructional Designer is to create learning and facilitate practicing.
However before they can do so, the audience for the course must be known. Once you know who you’re talking to and what their skill levels are, then you can begin the extensive task of actually putting the training program together. As you begin, you must never forget the importance of organization. If you cannot easily navigate your way to the information needed, it cannot be expected of the students. An easy way of keeping things in order is by creating an outline.
When you are creating an online world designed to give students a realm where they can find engaging learning activities, it is important to think outside the box. The stereotypical thought of e-learning is that students just sit at their computers to take an online class. But that is not so, thanks to the boom of technology. In fact, our society has witnessed over the last half decade that online learning can be much more than simply studying on a laptop. Today’s e-learning tools go beyond computers and extend into the realm of MP3 players, podcasts, blogs and more.
While students can still take online classes on their laptops, they can also download podcasts of a course’s lecture to their phones or MP3 players to review wherever and whenever they have time. Flexibility is important as it can take away some of past limitations.
A professor’s blog is a great place for posting a course syllabus, any necessary assignment changes, or other important information such as due dates. In addition, by providing each student with their fellow classmates contact information (e-mail and cell phone number), study groups can be arranged fast and effortlessly. These sessions can allow students the chance to answer any questions they may have about the material they are studying.
Something important when you are learning is being able to check your own progress along the way. Having access to ongoing grades for each course a student is taking can enhance their effort and impact how they study their subjects. For example, maybe you didn’t know you needed to spend more time on Math than Science. With self-checks on progress, you will know where your weaknesses lie so that you work on strengthening them.
Another great tool for e-learning is about availability. Students need to be able to communicate with their professors on a regular basis. This can be achieved through instant messages or over the phone. No matter which outlet is used, that communication must take place.
There are multiple different e-learning tools out there. Some may only fit a certain criteria, so it is important to know all of the resources you have to work with. In the end, it is all about learning and practicing.
