Learning Online Info » Education

Is Online Schooling Right For You?

Guest Blogger — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:47:40 +0000

Online learning programs are becoming increasingly popular largely due to the increased accessibility of this method of education.

Benefits of Online Schooling Programs
Also known as distance learning, online schooling has a number of benefits. These include:

Convenience and Access for Students in Rural Areas – Students can complete the class anywhere they have access to a computer and the internet without long commutes to a physical campus
More Accommodations for Learning Disabilities – Online classes are often more user-friendly for those with disabilities especially for students who already possess computer technology adapted for their particular needs.
Lower Costs – Fees for such on campus factors as meal plans, housing, text books, and miscellaneous fees covering other campus expenses are avoided for online programs

Yet, even with such benefits, many students who are used to attending campus in a physical location with face to face instruction may wonder if online schooling options are right for them. One thing to consider when making this decision is the different types of online options that are available.

Types of Online Education Learning Options
There are several types of online education options, predominantly defined by the amount of time the students spends online vs. in a physical classroom with live instruction, when completing a certificate or degree program. The most common types of online education are:

Individual Credit or Non-Credit Courses – Colleges often offer the ability to take or audit certain classes online either at the school the student attends or at another school. Classes can be synchronous (requiring instructors and students to be online at the same time in order to receive credit for the lecture, discussion or activity) or asynchronous (class materials can be accessed by the student at any time).
Blended or Hybrid Courses – These courses mix classroom instruction with online instruction. Commonly instruction is split fairly evenly between face to face class time and online class time while assignments, activities, discussions and often tests are completed online. The number of blended courses available differs by college but is generally significantly less than traditional classroom or fully online courses.
Low Residency Online Degree Programs – While most of the degree requirements for this type of program can be completed online, students are required to attend short classes, day-long or weekend-long workshops. Residency requirements differ by school and degree program.
Online Certificate or Degree Programs – These programs allow the student to complete all requirements for a certificate or degree online, with no residency requirement included.

Even with all these options, however, many students wonder if an online education is right for them.

Determining if Distance Learning is the Best Option for Your Education
There are a number of factors to consider when deciding if an online education is the best fit for you. While motivation and independence play a large part in successful online learning, there are other important internal and external determinants of whether distance learning is a good match for an individual student. Internal characteristics are those that are intrinsic to the individual.

Important internal characteristics for success in online learning programs include:

Learning Style – Those who learn best through visual and kinesthetic (based on movement) channels tend to be comfortable with online learning since it involves a great deal of reading and typing. Auditory learners are less comfortable outside a traditional classroom setting since they are more successful when they can listen to the material as it is presented orally and process it as the hear it.
Self-Motivation and Organization – Those who are internally motivated and do not need others to keep them on track perform best in online courses. A successful online student must be able to organize the components of the class. It is also crucial for online students to be able to organize their schedules in order to balance course requirements with other responsibilities in their lives.
Independence and Time Management Skills – Completing an online course or degree requires the ability to work well with minimal external structure and the capacity to impose structure without the need for outside guidance. In addition, online work requires the self-discipline to set and meet individually determined goals.

Important external characteristics for success in online learning programs include:

Time Availability – While asynchronous courses are more flexible than classroom based courses, there are still required deadlines. In addition, though many assume online classes aren’t as time-consuming as traditional classroom courses, most online courses require more time per week to complete, generally around 15-20 hours weekly vs. 10-15 hours weekly for classroom courses.
Computer Competency – For online education to be a good fit, the student must be comfortable with basic computer technology including internet use, familiarity with programs like Word and Excel and the ability to learn the specific computer platform used to teach the course.
Expression of Ideas in Writing – Online courses involve correspondence via email. Courses also often require participation in discussions or synchronous chats. Therefore to be successful in online coursework students must be comfortable communicating about the course with your professor and fellow students online and be able to express your thoughts and opinions accurately in writing, sometimes in real-time.

So Is Online Schooling Right for Me?
There are numerous factors that predict whether online schooling is right for an individual student, some of which are intrinsic while others are extrinsic. If after reviewing the requirements of online learning, you are still uncertain, there are several interactive assessments available to aid your decision. Easily completed online, such assessments can help you determine your comfort with this type of learning and whether you possess the characteristics and skills needed to succeed in an online learning environment.

About the Author: Jessica Alan is a guidance counselor earning a counseling masters degree online from the comfort of her own home.

Is Online Schooling Right For You? is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

5 Useful Android Apps For Students

Jorge Goncalves — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:57:31 +0000

Gone are the days when mobile phones were just meant to be used for making and receiving calls and text messages because nowadays with the number of smartphones and iPhones available in the market, mobile phones have been transformed into PDAs. While iPhones may be synonymous with the image of a cool mobile phone, it is not an affordable option for everyone. Therefore those who cannot afford to get an iPhone can settle for smartphones featuring Android OS (operating system) which is just as useful as iPhone if not more.

For the contemporary generation, Android smartphones have become the friend, philosopher and guide for students. They help them study and organize their study materials better. The following is a list of top five useful Android apps that are meant for use by students:

Merriam-Webster Dictionary
This is definitely a must-have app for all students since it is not practical to carry a pocket dictionary with you everywhere. Dictionaries play a very important role in a student’s life and this app is best because it allows them to find out the meaning, synonyms and antonyms of words with the snap of a finger or rather the tap of a finger. The app also supports voice search and the best thing about this is that internet connectivity isn’t required to use it.

Android Scientific Calculator
This app can be downloaded from the Android marketplace just like the other apps. Even though scientific calculators have evolved and they are no longer big and bulky, but small and compact, students would still prefer this app over their scientific calculators any day. This app is considered to be the best for students and it is free of cost. One can use it for calculating degrees, fractions, complex mathematical problems, trigonometric problems, conversions and much more.

Evernote for Android
Evernote has long been in the list of ‘top 10 must-have apps’. This app is not just useful for students but just about everyone from businessmen to homemakers, office-goers and school-going kids. It is free and it can be used for the purpose of organizing one’s photos, ideas and videos. As a student, you can use it for tracking your study plans, managing your study materials, summarizing your notes, capturing photos of the whiteboards, preparing time tables, capturing important notes and many more. Don’t try cramping everything into your brain and use Evernote instead to help you to remember everything.

Aldiko Book Reader
Given the modern world that we are living in, students are bound to use certain e-books instead of using the traditional physical books all the time. To view such e-books you will require a good application like the Aldiko Book Reader. This one allows you to customize, highlight and copy the text. You can also download or buy e-book with this app.

My Budget Planner
Students generally have a hard time planning their budget because they have to balance so many expenses. Budget planning is required in order to have a successful financial life as a student and this app will help you plan your budget and manage your finances easily so that you will have money whenever you require it.

About the Author: Denis a contributor for http://www.carinsurancecomparison.org provided us with this free article on android apps.

5 Useful Android Apps For Students is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

3 Ways to Supplement an Online Education

Jorge Goncalves — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:27:13 +0000

The online education route is becoming an increasingly popular way for students to obtain degrees and educations in a number of fields. There is no doubt that it affords numerous great benefits including levels of schedule flexibility, personal freedom, and personal comfort that many physical institutions just can’t offer. But there are some additional things that students taking online classes should consider doing to supplement their educations that can be very helpful in landing a job after degree completion. Here are just three of those supplements for your consideration.

Internships

Although many people take the online education route because they don’t have enough spare time or means for getting to a physical institution, if you can manage it, getting an internship can be a huge step to help you land a job upon completion of your online education. Many internships offer part-time or very part-time positions that can still give you valuable experience that will make you a better candidate for future employers. Check out a list of sites that offer plenty of internship postings. There are bound to be multiple that will fit the profile of what you’re seeking.

Job Resources

Using the internet to figure out some beneficial resources for finding jobs is something you should do prior to graduation. There are some great job placement agencies out there that can be of immense service to you in finding a job after obtaining your degree. Do some research to figure out the best job resources for your particular needs.

Mock Interviews

Many students receiving their education through online courses don’t have the benefit of getting personal mock interview experience. Do some research on the types of questions asked most often in an interview setting, and get a friend or family member to sit down with you and ask you some of these questions. Getting comfortable with certain responses and questions is a great way to be ready for the real thing when that day comes.

No matter how far along in your education you happen to be, preparing for a job search in your field of study is something that you can start doing now. There are tons of comprehensive and helpful online resources out there to help you get comfortable with all the various aspects associated with finding a new job once you graduate. Keep up the hard work and look to the future at the same time.

3 Ways to Supplement an Online Education is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Academic Subjects that Best Lend Themselves to Online Learning

Guest Blogger — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:39:02 +0000

When looking to study online, there are some classes that are meant for independent study and distance learning. These classes do not require much hand on experience. Most of the work for these courses is in understanding the information and applying it to real life situations. There are several topic that are great for online learning.

Psychology Courses Online
Psychology is a great subject to study online. There is a lot to learn in this field, including the parts of the brain and how each one works. There are also many theories to analyze. A psychology student can learn a lot by examining case studies and applying what they have learned to those cases. Psychology often does not require lab work or an internship making it a great subject to learn online.

Online Business Studies
Business is another great subject to study through distance education. This program requires learning important concepts and applying them to real life situations. In business, a person also needs to spend time online looking up the new statistics and laws. Business does not require an internship in most cases, which means the coursework can be done online. Business meetings can be held via web conference or telephone so there is no need to travel. Business is great for those who are not able to attend a traditional classroom but still want to get a degree. There are also many great MBA programs online for those who are looking for further their education in the business field.

Criminal Justice Online
Criminal Justice can now be studied online. This program gives a person the training to work with lawyers, probation officers, or in the court system. All the information that has to be learned can be done at home. The course material is available on the internet or in a textbook. Any legal information or cases that need to be studied are most likely going to be found through an online source. This is another program for those that want to study and receive a degree from an online school. Criminal justice is a growing field with many employment possibilities. It is one of the most popular degree programs with online learners.

Cyber Security
The internet opens many new doors for people. Unfortunately not all people have the best intentions. There has to be someone monitoring on the internet to keep people safe. A degree in cyber security is relatively new, but much-needed. This degree program teaches a person how to spot hackers, online predators, and viruses. This program is based around the internet so it is appropriate that it is offered as an internet class. A person can review the coursework and apply what they have learned right at their computer. Cyber Security is needed to keep unsuspecting people who use the internet safe.

Taking course online is increasing in popularity. Many top schools are now offering their education through online classes. When choosing an online school, make sure it is accredited and any certifications are accepted by the state. Online learning often offers accelerated programs so a person can have their degree in less time then attending a traditional campus.

Adam Greene is a former online student and financial writer comparing masters in taxation programs to recommend the right one to his readers.

Academic Subjects that Best Lend Themselves to Online Learning is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Online Doesn’t Always Mean Online: 4 Hybrid Subjects

Guest Blogger — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:22:24 +0000

Online classes are specifically designed for those who are pressed for time and seek the luxury of being able to “attend” classes whenever their schedule allows via the internet. This opens up a whole new world of opportunity for those that can’t go to a traditional college. But just because there is a plethora of online degree programs to choose from, doesn’t mean that you’ll necessary be able to conduct everything in cyberspace—there are certain unique “hybrid” programs (sometimes also called “blended learning”) that require an in-person component in order to fulfill degree requirements. That said, if you feel as though you won’t ever have the time to strip yourself away from the computer to earn your degree at least one point during your college career, then you should definitely not pursue the programs listed below.

Online Nursing, Physical Therapy & Vet Tech Programs
If you want to pursue a career in the medical industry but only want to do the course strictly online, then it’s your best bet is to pursue something more on the administrative side, like medical billing and coding. This is because if you want a career that will require in-person patient care, such as nursing or physical therapy, you’re going to need in-person patient training. It only makes sense. But most online programs don’t mandate this portion until the end of the program—so if you don’t have time the first year or so, you don’t need to worry about it right away. At the end of the program however, students are sent to a designated hospital or facility to complete clinical hours. At this time students learn how to speak with patients, administer actual shots, work on muscles etc. Those pursuing a vet tech degree are also sent to practice treatment on actual animals. If the school you’re considering enrolling in says you can earn your degree without getting any type of “hands-on” experience you should really investigate the school further—chances that it’s a fraudulent school is high.

Online Chemistry & Other Hard Sciences Programs
No matter if you want to pursue an online degree in chemistry, biology, physical science or any of the other “hard” sciences, you’ll need to conduct labs and other experiments to fully grasp what you are learning. These experiments typically have to be monitored by a proctor since an inexperienced individual can really hurt him or herself—not to mention that the tools and equipment are generally inaccessible to the average public. Therefore, most science programs will require its online students to go to the school’s brick and mortar location or some other designated facility when labs come around. Labs typically happen as early as the first semester, so you need to make sure you have some time to complete them when scheduled.

Engineering
Similar to hard science programs, no matter what specific engineering program you decide to take they too are also heavily focused on labs and experiments—after all, “engineering” isn’t something that only focuses on theoretical concepts.

Fashion/ Interior Design
Last but certainly not least are fashion and interior design degrees. End of year assignments typically include creating an ensemble from scratch or remodeling a room from the bottom up. Photos don’t suffice since the naked eye isn’t equipped to be able to identify quality by sight alone. Therefore, at some point you’ll need to show off your work to a professor or some other trained professional.

Online courses are a great option for those who can attend traditional school. Just make sure that it’s not a hybrid program if you can’t squeeze in some additional in-person time.

Alvina Lopez is a freelance writer and blog junkie, who blogs about accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alvina.lopez @gmail.com.

Image by 24x7learning.com [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Online Doesn’t Always Mean Online: 4 Hybrid Subjects is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Stay Productive in Your Online Classes

Guest Blogger — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:49:34 +0000

Completing online classes, you work on and submit your assignments in your own time and in your own way. For most students, that flexibility represents the principal advantage of online study. It can, however, degenerate into the class’s greatest threat, because it allows for lots of avoidance and procrastination. You know that big assignments buried in small print can sneak-up and ambush you. In order to avoid digital disaster, you must restructure all the old school rules to fit with your virtual circumstances.

Different school. Same rules. Although they keep score according to your log-ins and time on the website, your instructors do “take attendance” in your online classes, and some will exact penalties for excessive absence. Instructors also strictly enforce minimum word counts for class “discussions,” and many administer quizzes to make sure you keep up with your reading. Although you need not appear in a classroom and mind your manners, you do have to satisfy the virtual equivalents of the traditional school rules. Therefore, simultaneously capitalizing on your class’s flexibility and complying with the rules, set a regular schedule for your study and homework. Your instructor probably requires three log-ins each week. Make three appointments with yourself, and use the time to stay not just current but a little ahead of the class schedule. Five weeks pass very quickly.

Structure and discipline support excellent performance. Nearly 80 percent of online students juggle full-time work and families with their college classes. Among those highly motivated, frequently over-caffeinated, always-stressed students, about half do their coursework as time permits. The other half strictly manage their time, scheduling study time according to their biological rhythms, and working-out the details with their families so they get the peace and quiet they need. Not surprisingly, the “random” group earns C’s; the self-disciplined group earns A’s. The moral to the story: Although you have lots of latitude, you still must have structure and discipline to earn good grades in your online classes.

Focus. Then, more focus. If you do your homework when you’re exhausted, and especially if you do your homework in the hour before it’s due, everything about your performance will look “a little fuzzy.” Fatigue will detract from your reading comprehension, so that quiz and test scores will suffer. Stress will detract from the quality of your writing, so that you will lose points on discussions and papers. Do your best to schedule your study during your personal “prime times,” the times of day when you naturally feel most awake and alert. If you must study during off-peak times, do not try to substitute energy drinks and coffee for natural focus and concentration; the buzz will turn to a blur. Instead, lower the temperature in your study area, and transform your assignments from passive to active, taking lots of notes or regularly quizzing yourself to stay on-task.

Engage with the material. Back in the good old days when course materials came in book form, you probably learned a study technique called “SQ3R”—survey, question, read, recite, review. The technique helped you stay engaged with the textbooks by transforming every study session into dress rehearsal for a test. Your all-new and generally improved online course materials follow the same design standards your textbooks did, so that SQ3R works even better with the stuff on your monitor than it worked with the stuff on the raggedy old textbook pages. Reprise those old skills in electronic form, so that you are constantly reading and answering questions about your reading. Promoting your engagement with the texts, you naturally will increase your comprehension; and that increased comprehension translates immediately to higher test scores and better discussion grades.

Interact with your classmates and instructor. Just as they would shy away from controversy in “real life” classroom discussions, so most online students become victims of their own classroom courtesy, forfeiting great opportunities to learn and grow from spirited discussion and debate. Next time you enter your virtual classroom and develop a discussion post, take time to read all of your classmates’ posts. Count how many times you see “good post” and “I agree.” Then, ask yourself, “Who learns anything from that stuff?” Face the inescapable fact that your classmates make mistakes, sometimes fail to get the point, and occasionally make controversial statements of their own. Help them correct their mistakes, get the point, and benefit from their controversies by asking lots and lots and lots of questions. Get even more aggressive with questions about your instructor’s responses. The more you inquire, the more you will learn.

Take advantage of the flexibility built into your online classes, but beware the risk that comes with the flexibility. Most of all, make sure you maintain the foundation of your academic success: Make sure your colleagues and supervisors at work understand the importance of your college study, and make even more certain your family knows what your degree means to you and will mean for their quality of life.

Ryan Carter is a writer and finance consultant earning his masters degree in accounting online in his spare time.

Stay Productive in Your Online Classes is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Master the Mysteries of Money with an Online Course

Guest Blogger — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:55:26 +0000

Eighty percent of American families are only one paycheck away from homelessness, and 60 percent could not pull together $1000 in thirty days if an emergency arose. Most Americans do not know and therefore do not follow the income-to-debt ratios lenders expect when they grant mortgages and other consumer loans. Although the market has improved as the economy has turned upward, one in approximately every 120 homes stands in jeopardy of foreclosure. Perhaps most alarmingly, though, financial analysts say hard-working families like yours put themselves in financial danger simply because no one ever has taught them about managing money. Put your domestic economy on the road to recovery. Take an online financial management class. In the class, you will…

Learn effective budgeting and money management
Developing an intelligent, balanced, and reasonable budget lays the foundation for working your way out of debt and building your wealth. Experts have worked-out proportions and ratios that allow you to satisfy all your desires and have money left-over for savings and investment. When you apply the proportions, your domestic economy takes a dramatic turn for the better. As you learn budgeting, you also learn how to manage credit and control your credit score—the magic digits that determine whether or not you qualify for consumer loans and how much interest you pay. An online personal finance course teaches you when and how to borrow, and it helps you develop techniques for negotiating effectively with lenders.

Cut your taxes
No matter your annual income or your tax bracket, you dramatically can reduce your taxes with strategic pre-tax investments, income properties, property depreciation, and other proven, perfectly legal strategies. Learn about how to manage retirement and college savings plans that yield substantial tax benefits, and develop investment strategies that build long-term wealth while minimizing tax liabilities.

Develop investment strategies
Find out when to “buy and hold” a stock, and learn to evaluate the comparative advantages of mutual funds, indexed and fixed annuities, certificates of deposit. Discover the pros and cons of life insurance, and explore a variety of techniques for protecting your assets against all kinds of disasters. Drill down on the significant details of intelligent real estate investments, and find out what “a diversified portfolio” actually includes. Become skilled at calculating risk-reward ratios and managing the risks in your investments according to your age and earning potential. Similarly, outline a lifelong plan for developing wealth and passing it to your children via trusts and other durable financial instruments.

Economize and maximize value
Operate your household economy strictly on cash to minimize expenditures and optimize savings. Become self-conscious about your spending patterns, and begin aligning your expenditures with your values and expectations. Discover how to shop in-synch with product cycles and retailers’ seasons, and discover a variety of savings tools that require little of your time but save lots of your dollars. Learn to balance the price of your major purchases against the life expectancies of the products you buy, and learn how to find unpublicized discounts, rebates, and manufacturers’ incentives.

Boost your net worth
Your “net worth,” the bottom line on your financial scorecard, increases as you generate income, maximize savings and investments, build equity, and reduce indebtedness. Your net worth influences your credit-worthiness, and it qualifies you for a wide variety of “preferred risk” perquisites—discounts and savings that come with top-tier credit.

Taking a financial management class online has huge advantages for busy professionals: You take the class according to your own schedule, and you complete study modules at your own pace. Repeat and review different kinds of instruction, taking time to apply the principles to your own finances and learn what works best for you. You study in the privacy and comfort of your own home, and all of the details about your personal finances remain perfectly private. Best of all, online financial management courses cost less than big, impersonal, fast-paced and high-pressure seminars. Look at the websites offering instruction in personal finance, and find the one that works best for you.

Author Thomas Hathaway is a financial consultant and content contributor to a payday loans site providing information and advances when you may need money before your regular paycheck arrives.

Master the Mysteries of Money with an Online Course is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

5 Technology Tools Used by Teachers

Guest Blogger — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:19:12 +0000

These days teachers are required to make use of various technologies as they strive to shape the young minds of tomorrow. But what technologies are becoming increasingly commonplace both in the classroom and to help continue the education process when the students aren’t in class? Here are five technologies that teachers make use of both in and out of the classroom to help the education process.

Laptops

Yes, a lot of schools will provide an educator with a desktop computer, but laptops are quickly becoming the preferred computing technology for teachers because it allows them to easily take their work with them between home and school and can even facilitate the learning process outside of the confines of a classroom. The ability to stream video and other media from a laptop also makes them a desirable option as it can limit the number of devices needed in the classroom which can save the school money in the long run by consolidating devices.

Email

Email has been around for a while now, but with the ready availability of free email addresses it’s easier than ever for teachers to provide their students with an email address that was created purely for the students. This can allow students to ask their teachers questions regarding assignments or other issues during off hours and can even help facilitate communication between teachers and students that may be too embarrassed to ask certain questions in class or face to face at all.

Blogging Software

Blogging technology is becoming an increasingly popular way of having students work on collaborative projects together while still giving the teacher the control necessary to ensure that the students are acting responsibly in the digital world. Blogs are also popular for teachers that instruct writing or art as they can provide a permanent digital portfolio for the students.

Instant Messaging

Much like email, instant messaging software allows the teachers to be available to their students for questions and concerns during off hours. Many instant messaging programs also allow for chat room functions, allowing students and teachers to have conversations in groups much like a discussion board. This can be helpful when having all of the students in one place isn’t an option or to teach certain lessons about written versus spoken communication and language. By providing the students with an exclusive screen name the teacher can keep in contact with the students while still protecting their private accounts.

Social Media

There’s a lot of discussion about the propriety of teachers and students interacting on social networks, with some schools and school districts having enacted rules about how teachers are allowed to use it in relation to their students. That being said, many teachers have found it to be a useful tool to keep track of students they’re concerned about and it provides another vehicle for students to reach out to their teachers with questions, comments, or concerns that they may feel uncomfortable bringing up in the classroom or face to face with an adult.

Eddy Ayala is a freelance writer for Master-Degree-Online.com, a super helpful graduate education portal for domestic and international students interested in advancing their career with a masters degree. Eddy recently wrote about 9 Tips for Surviving Grad School which has had a great deal of response. Eddy welcomes all feedback from you.

image credits: ante3

5 Technology Tools Used by Teachers is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

The Future is Open Courseware: Three Institutions Offering Online Learning Opportunities

Guest Blogger — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:51:11 +0000

As society becomes increasingly more tech savvy, more and more of the foundations of our lives are turning to the web. Our professional lives have been conduced online and plugged in for several years now and, with the advent of social media and social networking, so too are our personal and social lives. The latest trend today seems to be online learning and online education. While at one time online education and online degrees were frowned upon by most employers and scholars, more and more people are turning to online avenues for their educational and academic endeavors. Furthermore, as online degrees and online courses become more popular, online courseware that is free and readily available are becoming the next hot thing. The internet is all about immediate access to information for no cost—this is the crux of open courseware. Open courseware allows anyone with a computer and the internet access to endless knowledge and academic pursuit. These three open courseware resources are wonderful waves of what will be part of the future of education and academics.

MIT Open Courseware

As one of the most prominent names in higher education, MIT plays a major role in America’s opinion on higher education. That being said, MIT has made real wave on the front of open courseware and online learning. Offering up to 1,800 courses online and free to access, MIT is one of the absolute best resources for open courseware in the world. These courses come directly from the actual traditional courses taught at MIT, including syllabi, reading lists, course notes, assignments, and much more. Of course, because MIT is a technical school, most of the courses offered are of that nature. There is both video and audio that accompanies many of the courses, providing a learning environment that closely compares to being inside a class at MIT. MIT’s initiative to provide higher learning material to anyone who wants it is admirable and forward thinking.

Berkeley Open Courseware

UC Berkeley offers webcasts of several different classes offered on their campus. UC Berkeley is one of the top ranked public universities in the nation and boasts some of the most influential professors in their fields. Allowing anyone to watch various webcasts or listen to podcasts of their lectures, Berkeley’s open courseware initiative is one of the best. Each course that is offered provides printable assignments, notes that you can get from the professor’s website, and tests from the actual class. This is a wonderful resource for anyone looking to expand their mind or build on their educational repertoire.

Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative

Carnegie Mellon is another one of the biggest name universities in the nation offering open online learning resources. With Carnegie Mellon’s open learning initiative you can choose to either sign up as a user for free to keep track of your scores and progress or you can simply take a class unregistered. Though the school only offers a few courses online at this time, they are offered in a very useful and approachable way. Mellon offers classes such as Modern Biology, Media Programming, Statistics, French, and several others. These classes are easier to jump into than UC Berkeley’s or MIT’s simply because of the way they are presented. There is basically presented as an eBook, where you can jump from chapter to chapter at your own will.

Each of these open courseware initiatives are examples of how education can be accessible to anyone wishing to find it. These schools set a wonderful example by sharing their wealth of knowledge and resources and making learning and academia available to anyone who seeks it.

Jane Smith is a freelance writer and blogger. She writes about free background checks for Backgroundcheck.org. Questions and comments can be sent to: janesmth161 @ gmail.com.

The Future is Open Courseware: Three Institutions Offering Online Learning Opportunities is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Online Learning and How it is Leveraged by the Internet

Guest Blogger — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:15:01 +0000

Summary: Online learning is largely benefitted from the use of internet and the computers. The content deals about how computers benefit students learning online.

The onset of the computer era has left us dumbfounded. We can feel its existence in every second step we take. Gradually, the education system has undergone changes with the coming of distance schooling. A transformation in distance education has given birth to online education. UK distance learning has warmly welcomed the arrival of online schooling in our lives. Now, you can enjoy studying at home, while indulging in other activities. Just like shopping has recently joined the online platform, one can think of acquiring a higher education degree while studying over the internet. Computer networks are of immense help when it comes to educating a working professional.

Learning online gives you a host of advantages, which is possible only because you have opted computers over the traditional means to simultaneously work and learn. UK Distance learning has urged the world to think smart. Computers play a definite role in educating millions of aspirants.

Online Learning and how it leverages the student community
Computer assisted learning benefits students in various ways as discussed in the following lines. Let us take a look:

Instructions assisted by computers allow students to achieve respective academic goals. Educational programs of today involve tutorials, problem solving classes, games and simulations.
The online programs ensure self-assessing programmes, allowing the pupil to judge his core competence and his improvement in a chosen field. The results are shown online to allow 24×7 accesses to the student.
Speedier learning is a key reason for students to pursue online programmes. Learning online makes it easier and quicker for the student to gather knowledge. Those indulging in online education are provided with quick feedback.
UK Distance learning programs taking place over the internet are all accredited by reputed universities and colleges.
Students get to access and master their skills over use of multimedia tools. These tools feature a host of new age media applications such as graphics, print, audio, video and print.
Education practiced over the net allows the student to understand and avail complete accessibility to the web world offering a host of resources. The better the connectivity of the server, the greater are the chances of the pupil to learn more.
Computer technology supporting UK distance learning is vast and is readily undergoing changes to invent the new.
Online education helps students to interact with educationists and other fellow students living in different corners of the world. Students communicate with educationists and are able to indulge in productive interactions.
The online mediated programs make use of e-books, email and different types of electronic knowledge imparting means.
Online education has helped students improve their interactions with educationists; since the platform is spread over the world, one can attain quality knowledge by communicating with teachers and students hailing from a different background.

UK Distance learning is broadly connected with the internet. Candidates can join in forums and communities in order to broaden knowledge horizon. Since the internet is considered the biggest networking tool on earth, it is instrumental in imparting knowledge amongst aspirants.

Anna Willkins has written several articles on UK distance learning, which are quite rich and informative. Her offerings have benefited a fair number of students get enrolled for online educational courses.

Online Learning and How it is Leveraged by the Internet is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.