Online Education - Do you want to return to school? In
our rapidly changing global world, millions of students are currently
taking college-level online (distance education) classes. Private and
public universities in the United States and abroad are offering
Certificate, Baccalaureate, Masters and Doctoral degree programs over
the Internet to adult learners. From Ivy League to Community Colleges,
an increasing number of students can log on to their classes from home,
work or while commuting by bus and train. Adult learners frequently
juggle a myriad of responsibilities including raising children, career,
and care giving for senior parents. Formerly, a university of interest
may have been out of reach geographically. Presently, an employee
located in the United States can register for classes taught half way
around the world. Non-traditional venues outside of the more
traditional classroom offer viable opportunities for continuing one’s
education. Adult learners make up the largest demographic of
post-secondary institutions in the United States. For this student
group, the benefits of online academic programs are: · To update current skill sets · To learn new skill sets · To earn an undergraduate or graduate level degree · The fulfillment of academic requirements necessary for a current job or promotion · To change careers · The satisfaction of certification or licensure requirements · Personal and spiritual growth and development Not
for the faint of heart, success in distance education academic programs
requires high levels of stamina, discipline, and motivation. A good
candidate must be computer literate, possess the ability to read
massive amounts of material in short-time frames, have good writing and
communication skills, hold high expectations for good grades, enjoy
applying critical thinking and commit a minimum of 15 hours per week per course (be prepared to allocate more, if necessary). The
Internet and the World Wide Web provide the critical technology
platform for distance education. University technological and
operational infrastructures (including hardware, software and
transmission) provide the additional cornerstones to the technology
platform needed to execute distance education programs. The delivery of
academic content may be accomplished in several formats. The more
traditional venues are correspondence courses, videos, audio-cassettes,
CD-ROMS, and broadcasts via television and radio. Modern formats
include synchronous and/or asynchronous education content distribution
channels. Synchronous delivery refers to real-time interaction between
instructor and student i.e., two-way video-conferences, whiteboards,
chat rooms, telephone software (ex. Skype), and mobile technology
devices. Asynchronous interaction does not involve real time
communication. Instead, interaction between instructor and student is
accomplished through the use of e-mail, DVDs, and the traditional
education delivery formats. As a student, you will need a
desktop or laptop computer, an Internet Service provider, a cell phone,
software (i.e., word processor, financial spreadsheet, calendar and
Power Point), a backup storage disk drive (nothing can make your heart
drop faster than losing a body of work that you’ve diligently
developed), a headset with microphone for virtual team discussions and
the traditional school supplies. Optional technology may include memory
upgrades, scanners, digital scanners, and fax machines. Ten Tips For The Successful Online Student:
· Have a credit card or debit card ready for downloading e-books and other required course reading materials. ·
Maintain a list of more than one bookstore in the event that a required
textbook is sold out. It’s always a good idea to obtain a list of the
required textbooks midway through the term and order in advance for the
following term. · Do not be shy about asking for help if
needed. I cannot stress enough the importance of communicating openly
with your professor or instructor about course material that you may
not understand. Online academic programs tend to move rapidly and
course content that you do not understand will most likely cause
problems down the road resulting in frustration and possibly, lower
grades. · Seek out a tutor. If there are areas that you know
need strengthening, even before the class begins, have a tutor on
stand-by. Also, the telephone number of a computer specialist should be
in your rolodex. · Time management will be critical. Keep a planner. Read your syllabus as soon as it becomes available and plan accordingly. · Uphold your responsibilities as a virtual team member. Your contributions will directly impact the team grade. ·
Exercise. Long hours at the computer can cause strain on the neck,
shoulder, arm and back muscles, not to mention the hands. Remember to
periodically stretch and tone. · Eat a healthy diet. Keep good
healthy recipes handy. Hydrate. Avoid heavy snacking on calorie-laden
food and instead eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Avoid white flour
and choose high fiber grains. · See your doctor. A healthy body feeds a healthy mind. ·
Stay in contact with your Academic Advisor to be sure that you are
satisfying the requirements needed to complete your degree.
In
2005, 3.2 million students took at least one online course (2006.The Sloan Consortium). It is
projected that distance education will continue to grow in popularity
domestically and internationally. The most commonly offered online
academic programs are Business, Computer Science and Engineering,
Education, Engineering, Library Science, Nursing, and Public Health.
Whether you select a community college, public institution, private
institution or Ivy League university, enjoy the learning experience. Jeanna Foy-Stanley, M.B.A., B.S.
The Online Education Store.com
(http://theonlineeducationstore.com)
The Online Education Store (http://theonlineeducationstore.com)
is an academic support resource website which provides access to
software, hardware, peripherals, books, reference materials, supplies,
PDAs, telecommunications, technology home support services, wireless
devices, briefcases/laptop cases, nutrition and fitness, tutorial
services and the shared experiences of the online education community. © 2007-2008 Jeanna Foy-Stanley | 
