Education Articles from College Matching Service

Chatting during an online class may be a breeze, but it can even be a lot easier if you do these measures:
Be on time. Just be on time for your chat. In fact, be a little early so you can get the feel of the chat room. If you are going to be late, make sure you let your professor know ahead of time or see if you can reschedule. When you come to a chat late, it’s like coming to a class late, everyone, including the professor, notices. (Hint: Most class chats are recorded, so the professor has the exact time you entered the chat in the transcript!)

Have your references on hand. Make sure you have your paper, your textbooks, and any other documentation readily available, so you can refer to it to support your ideas or you can check your interpretation with the other students in the chat room. (Hint: If you want to reference something specific in a reading you know the whole chat room is using — like the textbook, just refer to the page; don’t type the whole thing in.)

Avoid disruptions during the chat. A chat room where the professor asks a student a question and gets no response, especially if the student has been responding quickly, indicates the student isn’t there. It gets uncomfortable for everyone, so make sure your chat has your full attention. If given the option, select a chat time where you know you will not be interrupted, avoid the temptation to check your e-mail or you’re my space page while in the chat room, and keep focused. (Hint: If the chat is just not moving fast enough for you, make notes on a sheet of paper about the ideas you are having during the chat.)

Expect the unexpected. Even with the best of technology, something can go wrong. You could lose power, others could lose power, the website could go down, you might have to miss because of something unexpected at the last minute, etc. If something happens, don’t panic. E-mail your professor as soon as possible. Be open and honest and ask how you can make up for your absence. (Hint: If the professor lets you copy the transcript and interject your comments — don’t destroy the flavor of the chat by over stating your position because you have time. Just write your comments and ideas exactly as if you had stayed in the chat. No one likes a show-off.)

Before you can get started on any online school assignments, you need to find a place to study. A separate space for your online class will help you stay focused on your work, and keep your study materials organized. This area should be designated only for academic work and test taking. If it is possible, keep your work area clutter-free and comfortable. Ideally, you would want an entire room designated for you to study, so that you can stay on task and be at par with your timelines.

Prevent distractions. Distractions are plentiful, especially if you are a parent. A message board on the door or outside of your home office will help with communication (especially with older children). Signs like “Studying until 7:30,” or “Preparing for exam at 8,” will tell your spouse or kids what to expect, and prevents any unnecessary questions or interruptions like, “What are you doing?” or “Are you going to be done soon?”

Keep everything close at hand. Have enough storage space to keep extras around. Items like: a dictionary or thesaurus, pens, pencils, notepad paper, printer paper, highlighters, 3-hole punch, stapler, book flags or sticky notes, etc.

Coping with noise. The perfect room is one that is completely sound-proof, but that would require renovating! If noise is a problem, consider purchasing a white noise or sound machine for your home office. These machines produce sounds that drown out other distracting noises and can help keep you focused when you’re reading, posting to your discussion board, writing and studying.

Some people think that studying at home is easy, but when it comes down to actually studying, they find that their workspace for online classes is just so uncomfortable. Below are some solutions:

Make it comfortable. Consider your working style: do you want to feel energized and upbeat when you are studying or would you prefer a feeling of tranquility and reflection? If you want a feeling of stimulation or activity, paint the walls with warm yellows or chose red drapes for your window dressing. If you want serenity and calm: soothing, cool blue tones or deep, rich greens. If you want classic simplicity in your workspace, stick to taupe, grays and even chocolate browns. Do you like to stretch out while you take notes? Add some throw pillows or a beanbag. Don’t be afraid to add some personality, but make sure that everything will help you stay productive. Too many pillows and you may find yourself curled up next to your laptop, asleep!

Choose appropriate furnishings and equipment. To optimize your space, list all the items that must go into your home office. By doing this, you can plan the best layout for your room. Depending on the size of the space, you may need to take some measurements to ensure that everything will fit and that you won’t feel crowded or uncomfortable. Think about what you may need:

• A desk and chair
• Desktop or laptop computer with an Internet connection.
• Printer, scanner, and/or fax
• Shelves for your books, binders, print-outs, and reference materials
• Filing cabinet(s)
• Floor lamps or desk lamps
• A bulletin/memo board to keep track of notes and other bits of information

Caution! Don’t place your computer in an area that receives direct sunlight or gets too warm. Electronics are temperature sensitive, so make sure the room receives adequate air circulation and that the sun can’t damage your equipment.

If you are looking for online degree, the internet the right place to look. You can select from the wide range of courses available online. The internet can provide links to some of the best online universities as well as campus colleges.

You can earn while you learn. You can continue with your full time or part time job while doing your online college course. Online degrees are becoming more popular for the person who wants to study and look after the family at the same time.

Other reason why people are more interested in getting online degree is because it comes to you at a very low price as compared to the money spend in campus colleges.

In online universities, you can study according to your own time; there is no fix schedule as you have in campus colleges. So it becomes very easy to adjust time according to your job, business or family.

You have wide range of learning methods available. If you like reading you have access to vast study material online or if you like hearing then audio lectures are available online. There are online instructors present to answer any of your queries.

You can earn your degree in your desired subject from the comfort of your home. You can learn while being with your family and at your own time.

Internet gets updated regularly, so you get the latest study material online. You don’t have to buy new books or articles to get the latest information.

A school accredited by the right agencies can grant degrees that lead to increased income and higher positions. But, a degree that is given by a “fake” school can turn out to be a huge waste of time and energy. Make sure you know the facts about accreditation before you register for classes with any online school.

What is accreditation? Accreditation is the process of reviewing a school’s programs and policies to see if it meets criteria set by an outside agency. When a school is found to meet the minimum criteria, it is granted accreditation.

Why is accreditation important? Accreditation is meant to protect students, schools, and employers. It ensures that a school is educating its students and meeting quality standards. When a student receives a diploma from a school accredited by the right agency, he can be assured that it will be accepted by employers. Likewise, when an employer is looking to hire, she can be assured that a graduate from an accredited school has received the training necessary and didn’t pay for a degree from a diploma mill school.

Who can grant accreditation? Not all accreditation is equal. Accreditation from the wrong source (such as an accreditation mill) can be worse than no accreditation at all. Make sure that your online school is accredited by an agency recognized by either the United States Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). These organizations maintain lists of legitimate accreditors. If you want your online degree to be widely accepted, select a school that is accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies recognized by both the USDE and CHEA. These are the same agencies that accredit reputable brick-and-mortar schools. Many online schools are accredited by the Distance Education Training Council (DETC). This accreditor is also recognized by the USDE and CHEA. It is recognized by many employers. However, DETC accreditation is not as widely accepted as regional accreditation. Many regionally accredited schools do not accept transfer credits from DETC accredited schools. Use discretion when selecting an online college with DETC accreditation.

What if my school isn’t accredited? If you choose a school that isn’t accredited (or is accredited by an illegitimate agency), it may be difficult to use your degree. Few employers will take your degree seriously. Additionally, you may not be able to transfer your credit hours or degree to an accredited school. If you are seeking a degree for personal enjoyment, accreditation may not be important to you. However, if you want to use your degree in the workplace or plan on furthering your education at a later date, accreditation is essential.

Trade email address with your peers. Make the other online students your allies. They can help you study, answer your questions, and remind you of any upcoming deadlines. Best of all, they can act as a sort of support group. Online courses can be grueling, especially if you’re already involved in a career and family activities that make up a large part of your day. Sometimes it’s nice to just chat with someone who knows exactly what you’re going through.

Acquaint yourself with the class structure. Each online course has its own structure. Spend a few minutes exploring the course webpage before jumping into the lessons. Make sure you understand how you can access all of the necessary online class components (lessons, lectures, chat rooms, message boards, multimedia presentations, assignment submission forms, etc.) Take note of any optional components that can be used to help you with your coursework.

Record tests and assignments on your calendar. Don’t expect your online class professor to give you regular reminders. Many instructors only mention big assignments at the beginning of the online course. As soon as you receive a syllabus, record all of the assignments, tests, essays, and projects on your personal calendar.

Establish a regular study time. Figure out how much study time you will need each week and set a regular schedule. Let your friends and family members know that you’ll be unavailable during that time. If you establish this routine early on, you’ll be more likely to stick to it.

Get a head start on the assigned work. Jumpstart your online course by beginning upcoming assignments and papers during your first week as a student. When the assignment deadlines draw near, you’ll feel confident knowing much of the work is already completed.

Some people are very doubtful on the quality of education that distance learning centers give; however, on the other hand, there are some people who have firm beliefs that distance education is a top-notch kind of schooling. Here, we will find out some facts on distance learning and get some clarity on these issues.

One myth that people hear is that distance learning credits don’t transfer to other colleges. Diplomas and credits from online schools that are accredited by the proper regional agency will be accepted by traditional institutions in the same way that diplomas and credits from “regular” colleges are accepted.

Another characteristic that people hear is that accredited schools always offer a good education. Anyone can claim to be an accrediting agency, and many do. However, in order to be widely accepted, your degree needs to come from a school approved by one of the six nationally recognized regional accrediting agencies. Be aware that many “diploma mill” schools make up their own accrediting agencies in order to trick students into feeling secure. Checking with one of the big six agencies directly can help you avoid being scammed.

Lastly, people believe that online schools are faster and easier than traditional schools.

While some online students choose accelerated programs, others select online schools that let them do their work slowly, over a longer period of time. Just like traditional schools, some online institutions are known for being easier and others are known for being harder. Flexibility is key in the world of distance learning and the majority of online programs tailor their curriculum to fit the needs of specific students.

Getting into an online course may be very simple; however, there are numerous educational aspects to consider that the enrollee should think about and ponder on.

Class size is as important in online education as it is in a traditional college classroom. Investigate average class sizes at the institutions you are considering.

Find out about the faculty in the program(s) of interest to you. What degrees do they hold and from what institutions? What experience have they had “in the field”? How long have they been teaching? Have they had prior experience teaching online classes? Get answers. And, if more than one or two faculty hold degrees from the college at which they are teaching, be careful. It is often a bad sign.

How easy does a college make it for you to contact your instructor or a tutor if you have questions or need help? The level of support offered to students varies considerably from college to college. Choose one in line with your needs and expectations.

One of the great things about online degree programs is that you can begin almost anytime. So, don’t let anyone (including a college admissions officer) rush you into beginning until you are ready to put in the time and effort required for success.

It is very important that you do the proper research and really think about what you want for your online course because it will dictate the way things will work out during the duration of your study. Taking into consideration the different aspects above will greatly help you in this endeavor.

There are certain questions that students ask when looking for a good online program:

How is the course presented?

Investigate the method by which the instructor gives lectures. Does the instructor simply put the lecture online as text? Are there accompanying slides? Is there any interaction? Is there video or audio? Are exams given? How are assignments turned in? The format of the course is sometimes as important as the content. Great content is more easily absorbed if it’s done in a dynamic and innovative manner that involves interaction between the student and instructor as well interaction with the content itself. Online learning technology provides many opportunities for innovation. Find a school that takes advantage of it.

How do students interact with each other?

Is there an established method for interaction and congregating? Online programs can use chat rooms, instant messaging, teleconferencing, and video conferencing to communicate. The key is to find a program that has this interaction built into it and even requires it. How the online community functions should be very important to both the instructor and the educational institution.

Are the instructors qualified?

Check out the credentials and degrees the instructors hold, as well as their knowledge of online learning and its differences from classroom learning. What kind of support do the instructors get for their online courses? If technical problems arise, is there someone to turn to? A school that is dedicated to its online programs will have the development staff and the support staff to make it successful. Instructors (and students) have to be able to adapt to changing technology.

There have been doubts on the quality of education that spring from online degree holders. A lot of job-seekers who graduated with an online degree encounter having to defend the effectiveness of their education. A recent study has been made and the researchers have been able to come up with some advice and recommendations for those online degree holders who need help in getting a job.

Some of the comments and recommendations the respondents made might help online degree holders land a job even if the interviewer is hesitant about the value of the degree. Some of the those recommendations included:

Tell employers and potential employers that your degree was earned online. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said this should be a requirement.

Bring along transcripts and course study examples, as well as letters of recommendation or authenticity about the program and its accreditation.

Have industry experience to back the degree.

Traditional courses like public speaking, debate, public forum and group dynamics might be helpful to show that you have people skills. (This is probably more helpful if you don’t have a long work history behind you.)
Other sources, such as Thomas L. Russell of North Carolina State University, did studies that revealed that there is little if any difference in the quality of education received through online distance learning versus traditional classrooms. John Losak at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale found similar results in his own study. He analyzed graduation rates, time to graduation, and knowledge, as well as other elements. He found the students performed as well or better in online courses.