How to Manage Online Courses While on Vacation February 23, 2011
Posted by elearningtyro in : Guest posts , add a commentThis is a guest post by Katheryn Rivas, a freelancer who blogs about online universities. She can be reached via email at: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.
The best thing about pursuing a degree online is the flexibility it affords. The convenience of completing coursework in your pajamas if you wanted to is what makes online schooling such a wonderful option for those of us who want the freedom to set our own schedules. Online schooling also means that you can take vacations whenever you feel like it. As such, you can take advantage of cheaper airfare by going on vacation during off seasons. Of course, you’ll still have to complete your work, but gone are the days when you had to wait till spring break to take a week off at the beach. Here are some tips for managing your online coursework while on vacation.
- Make sure that your place of accommodation has a fast and solid 24-hour Internet connection.
This is the most important consideration you’ll want to keep in mind, especially if you are traveling overseas to countries in which Internet connections aren’t as readily available. Some cities have very few free Wi-Fi spots. Although most cities and towns will have “Internet cafes” for tourists, these places are mostly for a quick email check, not several hours of use. The fees at cafes tend to add up, so it’s best to make sure your hotel or hostel has Wi-Fi for customer use. - Make a list of all the materials and equipment you’ll need to take with you.
When we are studying and completing coursework at home, of course, we have all the materials and equipment we normally use at our disposal. However, when you go on vacation, chances are you might forget something. Make sure that you make a list of all the things you’ll need several days before you embark on your journey, including items like your laptop, notebooks, textbooks, as well as some things we tend to overlook, like passwords to particular courses, etc. - Plan out all your assignments such that you make time for play.
If you’re spending some time in an exotic locale while still having to complete assignments, time management become so much more important, as you don’t want to spend your entire vacation doing work. Make sure that you schedule all your homework and study time such that you finish everything in the early afternoon, giving you plenty of time to explore sights as well as experience the nightlife. - Set up automatic emails notifying friends, family, and professors that you are out of town but will get back to them as soon as possible.
Going on vacation, especially if you are going overseas, means that you’ll be in a different time zone than those with whom you usually keep in contact. As such, it’s extremely important to notify your professors that you may not be able to respond to emails immediately. The easiest way to do that is to set up an automatic email notification system on your email account, so that everyone who tries to get in touch with you will know that you may respond later than you normally do.
Pursuing a degree online is one of the most convenient ways to be working toward a professional goal while still making time for yourself. Take advantage of this and go on vacation when you feel like you need the break. At the same time, however, make sure you plan everything carefully so that you have a great time while still getting all your work done. Bon voyage!
Midwestern and Southern States Fall Behind in Online Education Regulation February 15, 2011
Posted by elearningtyro in : Guest posts , add a commentThis guest contribution was submitted by Raine Parker, who specializes in writing about online accounting degree. Questions and comments can be sent to: raine.parker6@gmail.com
In a recent report, consulting firm Eduventures found that online colleges faced the toughest regulatory obstacles in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Essentially, these states were the least open to allowing online programs to enroll resident students and otherwise operate inside their borders. And yet, elsewhere across the nation, states have done well to keep abreast with eLearning developments, allowing their students who desire an education to seek it however they see fit.
Part of the trouble that online programs in the Midwest and South face is a result of the U.S. Department of Education’s backing away from creating a nationwide regulatory stance regarding what it means for an online program to function within a state. Instead, the department has left states and online degree programs alone to work it out between themselves, though it did say that programs that do not pass state requirements will not be eligible to receive financial aid.
This mandate is effective this coming July, which means that states have several months to further define how they expect online degree programs to work, what will be allowed, and what will not be allowed. The good news, however, for online and eLearning programs is that the majority of states, around 34, are permissive in allowing the program to not be licensed by state regulators and not keep a physical location within state borders. These two permissions allow online degree programs to flourish healthily.
So what then for states and online degree programs in the Midwest and South? Inside Higher Education suggests that we cannot be sure if they will loosen up their regulations or not, though they suggest that the growth of non-profit online degree programs could be a good indicator that the method of educating students is becoming far more acceptable. States will have to follow or risk being left behind.
Unfortunately, until that happens, those organizations that are new to online learning could suffer under those strict regulations, especially since the federal government has not stepped in to simplify everything. Those same non-profit programs aren’t as well adjusted to regulations as the for-profit counterparts, so they could struggle to meet the complex requirements that vary state-by-state.
So how can new online and eLearning programs learn to deal with and adapt to these different regulations? One thing to try to do is to look at how established online programs work with different states. They should examine successful online programs and try to replicate their own methods as they work to establish themselves.
All that’s left to be seen is how states prepare for the July federal aid mandate.
Annoucing the Winners of Graphic Design Contest February 4, 2011
Posted by elearningtyro in : Announcements, Graphic Design , add a commentHello all,
As you are aware, the contest for graphic designers ended on January 31, 2011. Despite several viral marketing strategies and our personal invitation to over hundereds of graphic designers, this contest received entries from just TWO contestants! Its our pleasure to thank Mr. Mayukh Das and Ms. Shivi Kapil for their interest to participate in this contest.
Mayukh's Entry
Shivi's Entry
Its time for announcing the results! Entries from both contestants were unique and awesome in many ways. Mr. Mayukh’s entry conveyed the meaning of e-learning in a traditional way of representation using appealing color schemes and graphic objects. On the other hand, Ms. Shivi’s entry was simple yet innovative in conveying the meaning of e-learning. Considering various parameters such as design style, use of color schemes, and clarity in conveying the meaning of the contest theme, we chose both Mr. Mayukh Das and Ms. Shivi Kapil as the winners of this graphic design contest. We will share the total prize amount of $20 between them.
Congratulations winners. You will shortly be receiving your prize amount :)
Note: If the contestants agree, we will also share their contact details with you. Watch out our blog section frequently for updates in this regard.
