Monday, September 29, 2008

Three Advantages of Taking College Courses Online

You spend years and years doing the same job without moving a step forward towards a much better quality of job and life because you surely lack something. Same job, same boss, same place, no scope for success makes one depress. A better college degree might have done something for you. Time is not a barrier for achieving your goal. For some of you, it might be a difficult task to join a college for a degree during your work.

This is not a problem of a single person; most of the youngsters today face the same problem. Keeping in view this problem, most of the universities and colleges come up with a solution of Online Degree Programs. Online degrees are becoming more common every year since the number of students enrolling, for online degree programs from colleges and universities, is increasing every academic year.

Students get attracted by these college courses online because of its advantages. Some of the main advantages of these college courses online are:

More Convenient

One of the reasons why students choose college courses online is because of its convenience. You are not bound by any means and you can easily manage your working schedule if you are enrolled in an online college course. These degree programs don't ask you to pace your life rather it helps you in slowing down the things according to your convenience. Convenience has now become one of the objective and trademark of online schooling.

More Affordable

Another major advantage of these college courses online is that they are more affordable as compared to the traditional college courses. Reason? Obviously you save lots of money that you would have spent on transport if you had chosen traditional schooling methods. Since you are not required to be present physically in the school, it saves lots of money for you. Getting what you want at a cheaper cost is what most of us dream about. This is what you get in college courses online. You get a good professional degree at a really affordable expenditure.

No need to Vacate

One of the most realized benefit of college courses online is that students need not to attend the classes physically. It gives them flexibility in terms of geographical locations. College courses online also allows the faculty to be at different geographical location. They also need not to deliver the lecture in a real physical classroom. Students can schedule their coursework according to their professional and personal obligations. Even if you are out of country, you can easily complete your credit hours online. You will be no longer required to leave the comfort and ease of your own home.

All of these advantages makes college courses online more versatile than any other traditional college course. The convenience, flexibility and diversity of subjects make online college courses one of the most favourite options for students who are finding it difficult to adjust their academic schedule with other commitments. It gives better education without altering your day to day life.

Now that you have read this information, you might be interested to know which options for online higher education there are plus more detailed information on how to apply for an online degree program. Click here for more information.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Professors - Overcome Reading Overwhelm - 8 Ideas That Work

There's no question that you have a great deal to read - and it's easy to become overwhelmed with the sheer quantity. Here are some ideas to help you overcome your reading overwhelm - by using your brain and your time prudently.
  1. If you start reading a book and it doesn't "grab" you, close it and move on. Regardless of whether you bought it, borrowed it, or checked it out from the library, you don't have to finish a book if it's not interesting, fun, worthwhile, moving, or somehow compelling. There are thousands and thousands of books published every year (and hundreds of thousands available from past years) so you need not spend your time or your guilt on slogging through something that isn't worth it. I promise.
  2. "Read & Rip". If you decide to go zooming through a pile of magazines or journals in a given time period, then set it up to be a "read & rip" session. Just go right through the magazine, keeping focused on the articles you want to read and not looking at the advertisements. This takes a fair amount of discipline, but you will make short work of the pile if you do this. As you finish a section of the magazine, just tear if off and put it in the recycling bin. Then, even if you finish your allotted time for reading and ripping, you will know what is completed and what you have left. The pile is much smaller to go back to the next time and you don't trek through what you've already read.
  3. For heaven's sake, take a speed reading class! There are many offered throughout the world! Some are offered by specially trained instructors and others are offered through schools, community colleges, universities, or in public seminars. Even if you've taken one before, take another one. All of us can learn new techniques for maximizing our speed and efficiency while reading. Note: This is something I LOVE to teach to teachers and to students and have done so for years. It makes a difference, there's no question.
  4. Set aside time each day (or week) to read. Many people carry loads of reading materials home at night to work on--and it's reading that is related to or is an integral part of their professional responsibilities. It's as if people feel guilty about reading at work. If you're reading the latest "bodice ripper" at work, then you probably aren't doing your job, but if you are reading professional materials, reports, articles, research updates, or whatever else that you are expected to read to be able to do your job, then read it AT WORK whenever possible. It IS your work. Block in an appropriate amount of time each day or week to do this work, just like you block in time to meet, write, observe, etc. You know your rhythms and what your days and weeks are like. Determine the optimum time for you and one that you know you can protect and then use it for reading, just reading.
  5. Gently but firmly refuse what others are offering you to read. Our friends, colleagues, and acquaintances are often giving us books, magazines, newsletters, etc. to read--and we take them. Consider telling them the truth(!) that right now, you have so much to read that you can't take one more word into your home or office. Let them know that if and when you are ready for new items, you'll get back to them. This relieves the potential piles of items and relieves the guilt you might feel when you aren't getting your friend's items read and returned. It's a double win!
  6. Start a "Read" folder and only allow it to become a certain size. Get a 3 ½ or 5 inch expandable file folder that you put in a drawer near where you sort your mail and do your work. Whenever you come to something that you want to read but it's not urgent and important that you read it now, put it in the folder. If (and when!) the folder is full, then you've reached your limit. Remove some of the items from the front (if you've been dropping new items into the back) and just immediately deposit them in the recycle bin. Having a folder of a designated size keeps you from have mountains of "to read" piles all over your office.
  7. Take your "Read" folder with you. Get in the habit of grabbing either the whole folder or a few items out of the folder any time you are heading out the door to a meeting, an appointment, or on a trip. Use the minutes (or hours) waiting for colleagues, standing in line, sitting at a child's soccer practice, or traveling on an airplane to read through what you've collected in your folder. You'll travel back to your home or office much lighter than when you left! And it's not just a physical lightness!
  8. Read a sample chapter of a professional book either on line, while standing at the bookstore, or at the library. Professional speaker Larry Winget jokes that authors could save themselves a lot of time by writing only first chapters of books because that is essentially all that ever gets read. So, "test" a book for whether it is worth your time and energy to read in its entirety. If it isn't, then don't purchase it so that it sits around adding to your feeling of overwhelm about what you need to read.

So what will you do first, this week? I mean it. Get started.

To access additional ideas for achieving peaceful, predictable productivity, join others (worldwide) who receive Meggin's weekly emails (and see what is available for download at no cost at the following websites):

**Top Ten Productivity Tips (http://www.TopTenProductivityTips.com)

**Keys to Keeping Chaos at Bay (http://www.KeepingChaosatBay.com)

(c) 2008 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Productivity Professor"(tm). Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do. Sound interesting? It is!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Online Education for the Elderly

Some people believe that education is only for youngsters. This is wrong as education is a continuing process and age doesn't really matter. If you have attained the age of 50, it doesn't mean that you cannot continue your education. With the advancement in technology, elderly people now have an option of going for education through eLearning.

Benefits of Online Education

For elderly people, online education offers plenty of benefits. Some of them are mentioned below:


• In online education, elderly people will not face a dilemma of generation gap. Point to be noted here is that in online education, elderly people can attend classes through Internet. Therefore, they do not need to disclose their identity at the time of study.

• Elderly people who are not able to finish their secondary education can now take the benefit of the online learning flexibility. Online education accommodates all kinds of learning preferences, so elderly people can customize their study on the basis of their personal requirements.

• Elderly people can also register in alternative adult programs, which specialize in a particular field. If the main objective of you acquiring education is to learn rather than getting a degree then you have a choice of picking classes, with every omission decreasing the total fees amount. Further, you don't need to appear in examination or indulge in projects and term papers.

Online Institutions

With most of the online institutions catering to all educational areas, there are lots of options available for elderly people. Whether you are looking to earn an online associates degree or a master's degree, you will surely find an online college or university that is going to satisfy your requirement. Since elderly people are privileged members of society, they can easily avail grants, scholarships and loans. Though every online institution is different from another institution in terms of makeup and policy, online classes normally involve an active instructor which is given a responsibility of one class.

Majority of online institutions have a logon website where you need to sign in at scheduled times. Correspondence is done with the help of email that is sent through the school website. Additional study materials such as DVDs and textbooks are also provided by the online institutions. Before taking admission in any online institution, it is quite vital that you check the accreditation status of the institute. There is no point taking admission in an online college or university which is not accredited as course structure of these institutes is often quite poor.

Scholarships

Elderly people can search for eLearning scholarships offered just for them. There are a few universities and businesses that give special scholarships to elderly people. Apart from scholarship money designated for elderly people, one can also go for various awards that are given to all adults. The elderly should keep in mind that apart from tuition fee, they also need to pay for books and supplies. Quite a number of times, students apply for and are given money for all these things by the university.

Hence, online education has proved to be beneficial for the elderly as well who can now rest at home and continue studying so they may still be helpful members of the society. Some people believe that education is only for youngsters. This is wrong as education is a continuing process and age doesn't really matter. If you have attained the age of 50, it doesn't mean that you cannot continue your education. With the advancement in technology, elderly people now have an option of going for education through eLearning.

Benefits of Online Education

For elderly people, online education offers plenty of benefits. Some of them are mentioned below:

In online education, elderly people will not face a dilemma of generation gap. Point to be noted here is that in online education, elderly people can attend classes through Internet. Therefore, they do not need to disclose their identity at the time of study.

people who are not able to finish their secondary education can now take the benefit of the online learning flexibility. Online education accommodates all kinds of learning preferences, so elderly people can customize their study on the basis of their personal requirements.

Elderly people can also register in alternative adult programs, which specialize in a particular field. If the main objective of you acquiring education is to learn rather than getting a degree then you have a choice of picking classes, with every omission decreasing the total fees amount. Further, you don't need to appear in examination or indulge in projects and term papers.

Online Institutions

With most of the online institutions catering to all educational areas, there are lots of options available for elderly people. Whether you are looking to earn an online associates degree or a master's degree, you will surely find an online college or university that is going to satisfy your requirement. Since elderly people are privileged members of society, they can easily avail grants, scholarships and loans. Though every online institution is different from another institution in terms of makeup and policy, online classes normally involve an active instructor which is given a responsibility of one class.

Majority of online institutions have a logon website where you need to sign in at scheduled times. Correspondence is done with the help of email that is sent through the school website. Additional study materials such as DVDs and textbooks are also provided by the online institutions. Before taking admission in any online institution, it is quite vital that you check the accreditation status of the institute. There is no point taking admission in an online college or university which is not accredited as course structure of these institutes is often quite poor.

Scholarships

Elderly people can search for eLearning scholarships offered just for them. There are a few universities and businesses that give special scholarships to elderly people. Apart from scholarship money designated for elderly people, one can also go for various awards that are given to all adults. The elderly should keep in mind that apart from tuition fee, they also need to pay for books and supplies. Quite a number of times, students apply for and are given money for all these things by the university.

Hence, online education has proved to be beneficial for the elderly as well who can now rest at home and continue studying so they may still be helpful members of the society.