Twenty years ago a typical college classroom had very little technology. Maybe there were a few computers, but for the most part students turned in assignments written from a typewriter. Ten years ago technology began to seep into the college academic setting. For example, Professors started simple WebPages containing course information and perhaps links to reference resources.
In the late 1990's, however, college academia took a giant step forward in elearning by introducing courses that could be taken entirely online. The environmental trends in elearning have changed dramatically from the infrequent use of the Internet and elearning to relying on the elearning for an entire course.
This environmental trend in elearning opened up the opportunity to study at the college level to many more students. Technical colleges, for example, are home to many nontraditional older students. These students have full time jobs, families, and little free time. It is difficult to miss work to attend class during the day. Night classes are possible, but that means less time with family. That is when an online course can save the day and allow these types of students to work on their degree.
Online courses are available at many four-year and two-year colleges and universities. In the last few years, online colleges have emerged that offer an entire degree program online. These comprehensive courses of study allow a more diverse student population to have access to the education they seek.
Another environmental trend in elearning is the way classes are conducted. Classes are administered through software programs such as Blackboard and WebCT. These web-based programs allow students to login to a virtual classroom. They can access course materials such as lecture notes, assignments, and tests. They can communicate with the instructor and other classmates through email messages and a class message forum.
Professors, teachers, and instructors also have an array of options. There are calendar, email, and syllabus tools. Electronic grade books are a nice feature of elearning software programs. Electronic grade books are more than just a repository of grades. They can actually calculate final grades based on specific classroom grading criteria and policies. This is a welcome addition for many teachers that are technologically savvy. Plus students can view their grades online throughout the semester and track their progress.
As technology progresses so will the elearning environment. The academic options are far different from what they were even ten years ago. Imagine what the options will entail ten years from now.
Read More...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Discover How Online College Classes Work
It's no secret that more and more people are looking to the internet for a convenient way to further their education. Online classes are a great way to obtain an accredited college degree from home and continue to work a full time job. Many times a student can attend classes from their computer and schedule those classes around their job. Some schools allow the student to login to a class at their convenience. Imagine taking a class from the comfort of your own home and not having to deal with parking problems, child care, lunch, or transportation expenses.
You can also get an online degree from top, accredited online colleges and online schools that may not be available in your local area. An online education is also a great option for non-traditional students, the handicapped, people in remote areas, and people with a full-time job or a schedule that doesn't allow for a traditional education.
Distance education can be delivered in several ways. We will examine two of the many ways education can be delivered via the internet.
One of the most common is through live media. In this type of online classroom, students typically login to a chat room type environment that allows not only for text chat but also live audio chat, similar to many of the popular 'instant messaging' programs that are widely used today. The lecture can be heard through the computer speakers or through a set of headphones. The students communicate with the teacher and other students by text chat or simply by talking into a PC microphone. The teacher can also allow students to view him/her in a smaller window on the monitor via a webcam. The lecture can also be recorded and posted to the school website to allow students to listen to the lecture and review the material at a later time according to their schedule, and as many times as necessary. This type of online class makes it necessary to be at the computer at a scheduled time each day.
One advantage to this type of online college classroom environment is the student receives live instruction with structured classes. It is well known that students working within in a structured setting have a higher probability of success of finishing their degree. An obvious disadvantage would be lack of scheduling flexibility.
Another variation of the online classroom setting involves text messages such as email and message boards. Each class may share a group mailbox or a message board system, which becomes the "electronic classroom". The instructor generally posts lectures on the topic of study, posts the assignments, and provides discussion questions related to the topic. The student can view lectures, notes from the instructor and other students, and assigned projects. The student can also post messages or questions to the instructor and other students.
One advantage of this system is 24 hour access to course materials and the ability to work at one's own pace without regard to scheduling. A disadvantage would be lack of direct contact with the instructor.
In both scenarios students are expected to logon to the class site a certain number of days per week. Students also can contact the instructor via e-mail to ask questions or receive answers. When assignments are due, students send them to the instructor online or by email, where they are graded and returned. Students may also have access to their individual performance reports by logging in to a website where that information is posted. Test may also be taken online. Typically, online classes last five to six weeks.
Although the degree of difficulty is the same for the online classroom as in a traditional setting, the internet has broken down many barriers and is providing educational opportunities for people worldwide that were not previously thought possible.
About the author: Tim Arnold has recruited online students for http://www.acit.com and also recruits students via his online college portal http://www.all-college-degrees.com
Read More...
You can also get an online degree from top, accredited online colleges and online schools that may not be available in your local area. An online education is also a great option for non-traditional students, the handicapped, people in remote areas, and people with a full-time job or a schedule that doesn't allow for a traditional education.
Distance education can be delivered in several ways. We will examine two of the many ways education can be delivered via the internet.
One of the most common is through live media. In this type of online classroom, students typically login to a chat room type environment that allows not only for text chat but also live audio chat, similar to many of the popular 'instant messaging' programs that are widely used today. The lecture can be heard through the computer speakers or through a set of headphones. The students communicate with the teacher and other students by text chat or simply by talking into a PC microphone. The teacher can also allow students to view him/her in a smaller window on the monitor via a webcam. The lecture can also be recorded and posted to the school website to allow students to listen to the lecture and review the material at a later time according to their schedule, and as many times as necessary. This type of online class makes it necessary to be at the computer at a scheduled time each day.
One advantage to this type of online college classroom environment is the student receives live instruction with structured classes. It is well known that students working within in a structured setting have a higher probability of success of finishing their degree. An obvious disadvantage would be lack of scheduling flexibility.
Another variation of the online classroom setting involves text messages such as email and message boards. Each class may share a group mailbox or a message board system, which becomes the "electronic classroom". The instructor generally posts lectures on the topic of study, posts the assignments, and provides discussion questions related to the topic. The student can view lectures, notes from the instructor and other students, and assigned projects. The student can also post messages or questions to the instructor and other students.
One advantage of this system is 24 hour access to course materials and the ability to work at one's own pace without regard to scheduling. A disadvantage would be lack of direct contact with the instructor.
In both scenarios students are expected to logon to the class site a certain number of days per week. Students also can contact the instructor via e-mail to ask questions or receive answers. When assignments are due, students send them to the instructor online or by email, where they are graded and returned. Students may also have access to their individual performance reports by logging in to a website where that information is posted. Test may also be taken online. Typically, online classes last five to six weeks.
Although the degree of difficulty is the same for the online classroom as in a traditional setting, the internet has broken down many barriers and is providing educational opportunities for people worldwide that were not previously thought possible.
About the author: Tim Arnold has recruited online students for http://www.acit.com and also recruits students via his online college portal http://www.all-college-degrees.com
Read More...
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Impossible is Just a Word
Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn't fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn't dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships?
Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that - dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.
This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.
But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.
The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can't do this. It's too hard. It's too impossible. No one can do this.
However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.
Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumble, bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.
On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.
If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream.
Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things 'you know you can do'. Under another header, write the things 'you might be able to do.' And under one more, list the things that that are 'impossible for you to do.'
Read More...
Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that - dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.
This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.
But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.
The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can't do this. It's too hard. It's too impossible. No one can do this.
However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.
Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumble, bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.
On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.
If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream.
Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things 'you know you can do'. Under another header, write the things 'you might be able to do.' And under one more, list the things that that are 'impossible for you to do.'
Read More...
Monday, April 13, 2009
THE TOP FIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS
Since competition in terms of health insurance is on the rise, it is no wonder that more and more forms of health insurance are being designed. Among these, there are few that are popular and they are briefly described below.
Individual Insurance: Ensuring a person individually is a common mode of insurance. One may be selective about what s/he wants in a plan through this process. Accordingly, one has required premium is calculated, and the insurance plan takes effect.
Group Insurance: Another type of insurance is the group arrangement. Through this type of insurance, one is compelled to abide by what others are going for, and this is dependent on the insurance providers. They are the ones that decide what is feasible to include in a plan, and on that basis, a group insurance can take place.
Indemnity Plan: This plan allows one to go to any doctor when one needs to; there are no restrictions on this, and it is believed to be more of a traditional plan. One does not need permission to go to a particular health care provider. However, usually what happens is that the member pays 20% of the total fee for treatment while the insurance provider pays 80%. In addition to this, there is a period through which one pays up in this manner, and then the company takes over paying the whole 100%.
HMO: The Health Maintenance Organization is one that allows a member to select a particular doctor off the panel. It is these selected doctors that will deal will with members' problems. The selected doctor is the one that will be approached for checkups of any kind, and if there are problems with a member that cannot be handled by him or her, the member is referred to specialists.
Read More...
Individual Insurance: Ensuring a person individually is a common mode of insurance. One may be selective about what s/he wants in a plan through this process. Accordingly, one has required premium is calculated, and the insurance plan takes effect.
Group Insurance: Another type of insurance is the group arrangement. Through this type of insurance, one is compelled to abide by what others are going for, and this is dependent on the insurance providers. They are the ones that decide what is feasible to include in a plan, and on that basis, a group insurance can take place.
Indemnity Plan: This plan allows one to go to any doctor when one needs to; there are no restrictions on this, and it is believed to be more of a traditional plan. One does not need permission to go to a particular health care provider. However, usually what happens is that the member pays 20% of the total fee for treatment while the insurance provider pays 80%. In addition to this, there is a period through which one pays up in this manner, and then the company takes over paying the whole 100%.
HMO: The Health Maintenance Organization is one that allows a member to select a particular doctor off the panel. It is these selected doctors that will deal will with members' problems. The selected doctor is the one that will be approached for checkups of any kind, and if there are problems with a member that cannot be handled by him or her, the member is referred to specialists.
Read More...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Make Money With Facebook Chat to Text
There is a new Facebook application that has been recently introduced to the social networking community. It enables a Facebook user to chat via text to a cell phone. It has fantastic potential in more ways than one, and I think it will moving across the Facebook community very soon. Facebook Chat to Text is a new application that enables the Facebook user to chat with another person who is using a cell phone.
Recently, my cousin came for the weekend. I think he checked his Facebook messages using his cell phone at least 200 times. What he could not do though, is text back to his friends using his cell phone. With the new application that was just launched,that is exactly what he can do. As soon as Facebook users know about this new application it will be something that everyone has to have.
I mentioned that it has great potential in more ways than one because it is also an opportunity to make money. Once you get Facebook Chat to Text, you can email all of your contacts and see if they want to get it also. It does not cost much, and it is a great application so many people sign up for it. The person who refers his friend to the chat service, gets a small commission. He gets another commission on everyone that his contacts refer to the service. Its a win win situation because its a very usefull feature for Facebook users and you can make some extra money each month letting others know about it. The only drawback is that for now Facebook chat to text is only available in the United States and Canada.
Read More...
Recently, my cousin came for the weekend. I think he checked his Facebook messages using his cell phone at least 200 times. What he could not do though, is text back to his friends using his cell phone. With the new application that was just launched,that is exactly what he can do. As soon as Facebook users know about this new application it will be something that everyone has to have.
I mentioned that it has great potential in more ways than one because it is also an opportunity to make money. Once you get Facebook Chat to Text, you can email all of your contacts and see if they want to get it also. It does not cost much, and it is a great application so many people sign up for it. The person who refers his friend to the chat service, gets a small commission. He gets another commission on everyone that his contacts refer to the service. Its a win win situation because its a very usefull feature for Facebook users and you can make some extra money each month letting others know about it. The only drawback is that for now Facebook chat to text is only available in the United States and Canada.
Read More...
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Six Tips for Using Facebook to Support Your Career
With over 100 million users, Facebook is one of the most popular Internet social networking sites in the world. If you're already on Facebook, you know how much fun it can be to read status updates, find long-lost acquaintances, and send cyber gifts. If you limit yourself to just the fun side of Facebook, you could be missing out on one of the most effective aspects of this powerful networking tool--it's potential to further your career.
It's a widely-accepted truth that the more people you know, the greater your chances of finding a job or encountering a professional opportunity. As recently as five years ago, jobseekers hoping to grow their professional networks relied on phone calls, emails, or formal letters to make contacts in their field of choice. The development of social media sites such as Facebook marked the beginning of a new age of communication. While it used to take hours to contact everyone in your address book, your message can be broadcast to an audience of hundreds in a manner of minutes on Facebook.
The immediacy and breadth of this technology make it a highly effective professional resource, when used correctly. Take a look at the following tips to help you begin to harness the professional power of Facebook.
Be yourself, tastefully.
Think of your Facebook page as an introduction to both friends and potential employers. Most career experts advise caution when selecting photos to post or deciding how and when to express yourself. Would you offer a job to someone who was always online during office hours or constantly degrading their current boss? Photos of your drunken weekend in Vegas might be best shared with a limited group of friends, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the security settings so you can be in control of who can access your profile.
Update your page regularly.
Try to monitor your Facebook site weekly to ensure that friends haven't written inappropriate comments on your wall or posted photos you'd rather not show the world. Firefox offers a Facebook toolbar which can help notify you when there's something new on your page. Share your interests and talents online, by creating links to your blog or uploading photos. You may be surprised by the opportunities and connections that could be triggered by a simple posting about your current hobby or latest interest.
Give and you shall receive.
Just as in the professional world, the old adage of "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" is true on Facebook. Spend time reading and responding to the posts of others in your social network. Answer questions when you can and help connect your contacts to one another when appropriate. Your efforts to help others will be remembered when it's your turn to reach out for a favor or some important career information.
Use Facebook with discipline.
As any Facebook user knows, it's a slippery slope once you start exploring all the possibilities this site has to offer. It takes discipline to be an active participant without whiling away hours of your time taking quizzes or watching YouTube links posted by your friends. Consider giving yourself a time limit for each session to avoid letting this site take over life. As with the Internet in general, there are plenty of apps on Facebook that are addictively fun and could easily gobble up half your workday. If you hope to use this site as a professional tool, try to minimize the games and silly apps you add to your page.
Join groups that are associated with your current (or future) profession.
There's a group or cause for everything and anything on Facebook. Do some research to find and join the ones associated with your career and interests. Can't find the group you want? Create your own and spread the word. Once established, the contacts in your group can be a valuable resource for career advice, support, networking, or event organization.
Continue to grow your network.
You never know who could help connect you to your next opportunity. The longer your list of friends, the better the chances that someone will be able to help when you're looking for a physical therapist to shadow or a job in fashion design. If you are unsure about accepting friend invitations from certain acquaintances, consider creating a limited profile for these people to access.
With Web developers constantly creating new technologies, the possibilities for users on Facebook should continue to increase. Explore the site and don't be afraid to experiment to discover how it can best work for your career.
Read More...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)