How To Work And Study While Pursuing Distance Learning Education
Distance learning students and those pursuing online degree programs seem to enjoy the best of everything. They get their education without actually needing to attend classes physically, and at the same time are able to keep their jobs and get a paycheck. In fact, this is one of the more prominent distance learning benefits that attract many students to make this their choice of education. In addition to that, distance learning students also gain the advantage of flexibility where they are able to study at their own pace without adhering to fixed class schedules.
However, distance learning education is not without certain challenges. Traditional students are spurred on by the interaction with others and attending the lectures. Without a lot of discipline and intrinsic motivation, distance learners can easily get sidetracked by life and fail to keep up with the coursework needed to pass the class. Enjoy the benefits, but do not forget the responsibilities.
So, how can a distance learner overcome the challenges of shuffling work, school, and family? Creating and sticking to a schedule is the only way to survive and succeed. The trick is to apportion a 24 hour day to include enough time for the family, work, and school responsibilities. Thus, it is very important to let the family in on the plan, and when you should not be disturbed. Again, do not give into the temptation to deviate from the plan.
Another important aspect of a distance learning education is to stay in touch with classmates and instructors through email, instant messenger(IM), college discussion boards or Internet calling. Discuss projects and assignments with peers who can help you stay focused by holding you accountable, and providing motivation and encouragement whenever needed.
Setting goals and rewarding yourself when you attain them are great self-motivating habits. Start by drawing a chart on the milestones that you need to reach in order to complete your course. Strike out each goal as you complete them and reward yourself accordingly. There is a certain satisfaction whenever we see ourselves progressing and this becomes a motivating force for us to face the next hurdle.
Finally, make sure to have a quiet, undisturbed place to study. It is extremely easy to be distracted by the television, a ringing phone, or normal family activities in the household. If necessary, lock yourself in a quiet room equipped with a comfortable chair, a good desk or table, and ample space to create a productive learning environment.
Distance learning education is an excellent way to improve job skills while opening a door to new job opportunities. However, success depends on the individual. With hard work, determination and the discipline to stay on track and maintain good study habits, academic excellence is within sight, without relocating and sacrificing job and family.
Learning the Mechanics of Speed Reading
The human mind is an extraordinary force of which we only use a very small portion. In this book, “Speed Reading in only One Hour” I will demonstrate how to tap some of that unused power and use it for your own success in high school, college, and life.
Your brain is capable of understanding from 10,000 – 50,000 units of data per minute; one unit equals one word. This information is based upon old statistics (1980′s). Based on recently developed speed reading technology, and strides in brain and mind development, you can achieve even greater reading speeds.
The average HS grad, when tested, reads about 250 words per minute. The college student reads at about 300 words per minute. But, no matter what your baseline reading speed, don’t worry, it is only the beginning. Can you imagine what an advantage you would have to be able to read over 100% faster than you did before? The possibilities are limitless.
We receive information through our five physical senses, (touching, tasting, hearing, smelling, and seeing) and through those senses we make decisions. We make choices and judgments from various factors that the physical senses bring into play. The five physical senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch) are pre-programmed for automatic response.
We learn in many way, not only from physical senses, but through other forms of thought. Most thinking is conscious in nature. Senses, on the other hand, work automatically. An example of an automatic response might be: when a hungry teenager smells pizza, he or she begins salivating. Or was that Pavlov’s dog? Actually, it’s the same! What’s taking place is that the sense of smell (called olfactory senses) has automatically brought up a thought, “PIZZA”, to the brain and mind. The thought may be unconscious.
Sensing food is a physical sensation through smell. It is a mental sensation (unconsciously or consciously) through thought. And lastly there is a physical sensation through eating, swallowing, and smiling. To summarize the PIZZA adventure: Brain and mind is where the “action” is taking place. Body is where the “reaction” is taking place.
The brain and the mind has enormous untapped power; I’ll teach you how to tap into that potential through Speed Reading in One Hour, available at www.speedread.org . I’ll show you how you can be a total success in your college life and beyond.
If you have an hour, a half hour, or even 10 minutes, we have programs to teach you to read faster Double/Triple Your Reading Speed, Improve Comprehension, Better Your Grades, Learn speed reading todayBe a speed reader now! This and other unique content ‘reading’ articles are available with free reprint rights.
The Most Amazing Speed Reading Course Ever — 11 minutes!
Many people can’t believe that they can become a speed reader in 11 minutes. Dr. Jay Polmars 11 minute speed reading course (from www.11minutespeedreading.com) will teach you how to be a speed reader in 11 minutes flat. No Bull! He’s taught over 100,000 people around the world the techniques and you also can learn them in 11 minutes.
It’s truly an amazing method, but how did they do it? First, they explained how the method worked and why. Then Dr. Polmar, demonstrates to you the fastest speed reading techniques ever invented. You will start to use the methods immediately after you start studying, it all takes — 11 minutes flat and you are a speed reader.
You’ll also learn the right way to read a book. And, you’ll discover how to get your reading task organized, what to look for, and how to remember what you read.
Now you can learn all the secrets on how to write your own term paper, any report, or any type of paper including research, organization, writing, reviewing, and the formal presentation. The methods are easy, even a 9 year old can learn to use them.
That method is unique, unlike any others, and you can teach your friends and family to be speed readers in only 11 minutes also. You and yours will be reading 50% to 75% faster in 1 minute. With practice, when you are reading – you’ll double your reading speed.
Dr. Polmar is famous for speed reading and accelerated learning courses since 1977. He is the only speed reading teacher and author who has incorporated several different techniques of speed reading along with visualization and relaxation techniques and accelerated learning to help people, from every country, to read faster and have a better and more productive life.
Written by Dr. Jay Polmar, (www.speedread.org’s founder), an amazing man who has written over 100 success oriented books in his career. His specialty speed reading course, 11minutespeedreading.com is based on 16 years of teaching at colleges and universities.
What can you do for 20 bucks that will improve your whole life? In 11 minutes, you canl double your free time to enjoy life. Use 100% guaranteed 11MinuteSpeedReading. In 11 minutes you’ll know how to double your reading speed. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory
Do Distance Learning Degrees Impress Employers?
Distance learning degrees and online degree programs have become popular since the internet became a household name. This has opened doors to a great opportunity for those wishing to pursue further education. But just as it is with everything new, the internet has also presented challenges and created room for sale of unscrupulous degrees and diplomas. The figures released by USA Today indicate that in 2003, over 400 diploma mills were in operation and the number was on the increase. Surprisingly, this dubious operation of degree mills seems to be thriving in an industry currently estimated at $500 million per year.
However, despite all of the negative talk about the value of distance learning degrees, many such colleges and universities offer valid online learning degrees and diplomas. The students and instructors are held to the same standard of educational excellence as those in the traditional classroom. The method is simply an alternative for the individuals who may otherwise not have an opportunity to earn a degree. Online courses, online video lectures, test examinations, and even online library facilities ensure the students truly earn their degree in higher education. Unfortunately, many potential employers have heard about the bogus degrees and tend to assume an online degree is of lesser value.
To address the misinformation, 6 accreditation agencies have been authorized by the U.S. National Education Board to weed out the unscrupulous bogus programs. Then, the agencies give accreditation to the colleges and universities that meet the minimum standards for legitimate learning institutions. In addition, the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) also provide accreditation specifically to distance learning schools. The DETC has the backing of both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Department of Education. Therefore the students can rest assured their education has matched, and often exceeded that of their traditional peers.
In addition, specific programs in specialized areas can obtain accreditation through the agencies associated with the subject matter. For example, the American Health Information Management Association provides accreditation for qualifying health programs; accounting programs are assessed by the International Association for Management Education. However, it only counts if the agencies are endorsed by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Why does accreditation matter to a student? A college accreditation agency evaluates the different aspects of colleges or universities against minimum standard criteria to determine if the particular institution meets set basic requirements that determine the quality of education it should offer. College accreditation is important to ensure that the quality of education, facilities in a college and support given by that college meets certain standards while specialized accreditation checks the excellence of specific programs regardless of the institution offering that program. Likewise it means specialized accreditation check on course content and the curriculum of the program against pre-determined standards of the distance learning college or university.
Accreditation assures employers, parents and students that a respective college awarding degrees has undergone and passed a stringent test of excellence in offering quality education in the respective areas of training. On the other hand, diploma mills and fake colleges don’t meet the same standards of education imposed by the agencies since they don’t possess any legitimate accreditation. Thus courses taken by prospective employees that are accredited by the respective agencies would have met standards imposed on the respective specialized areas.
8 Top Careers For Online Information Technology Degree Graduates
With an online IT degree, you can apply for great jobs in the IT or computer arena like testing the newest software and learning the latest programs. After graduation, here is a partial list of some of the most sought after occupations:
Computer engineer Systems analyst Computer programme Database administrator Software Support Software engineer Network Administrator Interface designer
Each of these careers is rewarding and necessary as more and more companies are in need of those who can use this technology to further their businesses.
One of the best resources for checking out job statistics is the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. According to the 2008-09 edition, 50% of computer programmers hold at least a B.S. Degree in Computer Science or similar area of expertise. With an online IT degree, you will have more opportunities to have the occupation most people only dream about.
What will you learn through an Online Information Technology Program?
A computer science or Online Information Technology degree will prepare you for a career in IT, Computer Security or any of the above positions in the same way as a traditional classroom degree. But instead of having to go to class, rearrange your work schedule, or disturb other areas of your life, you can take classes online, study at your convenience and not have to worry about the added costs of parking or leaving work early to attend classes.
With online IT studies, you can take classes in the fields of:
Hardware and software design Software development Troubleshooting Networking Data Security Database management Web design Develop security plans
In truth, many companies have a department exclusive to IT professionals who understand how to maintain and secure networks. The ability to stay in communication with customers, vendors, employees and others is the difference between failure and a successful and growing business. Computer systems and companies dealing in the manufacturing industries are always on the lookout for new talent to create hardware and software for customers. In fact, the employment opportunities open to individuals with technological expertise means you can explore many different fields and pick the one you enjoy the most.
Bogus Online Bachelor Degrees – How Can You Tell?
Along with the growing popularity of obtaining an online Bachelor degrees, many bogus schools have cropped up to cash in, taking advantage of potential students seeking a genuine education to maintain their current level of employment, or achieve specific career goals. Unfortunately, the sales pitch attracts many students who do not possess the time, or the finances, to gain a college education. The main selling points may include easy graduation, no tests or end of semester exams, credit for life experiences, and lower tuition fees. Some diploma mills even have the audacity to make money through bulk emails offering to sell university degrees.
So, how do prospective students determine whether an online college is accredited or only offering bogus online Bachelor degrees? Especially for International students, it can be very difficult to determine a school’s validity. In most cases it is impossible for distance learners to visit the campus, so the website is the only point of contact before making the choice and enrolling, which makes it hard to determine credibility.
The first thing to do is to verify the type of accreditation the college claims to have. Only 6 government agencies have been given the authority by the U.S. Department of Education, to award accreditation to colleges and universities offering online Bachelor degrees. Therefore, if a site brags about worldwide or nationwide accreditation, beware. Unless they specifically name the agency, chances are they are not a legitimate institution of higher education.
In the U.S., college accreditation is awarded by one of the following six accreditation agencies which are all appointed by the National Board of Education – New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU). Each agency has been allocated responsibility for providing accreditation for schools in specific states. Therefore, it would be best to run checks on a particular online degree institution with the agency offering college accreditation for the state in which the college is registered in.
If a university sends out mass e-mailings offering on online Bachelor degrees, Master’s Degree, and even Doctorate degrees for a fixed rate, it is a sure sign the result will be a bogus degree. Course credits for such a degree may include such strange elements as: credit for life experiences, work experience, previous educational background, workshops, community services, travel, and books read in the past. To further confuse the issue, fake accrediting URLS are set up to prove accreditation, but unless it is from one of the 6 agencies endorsed by the Department of Education, the award is most likely phony. The unscrupulous institutions depend on the desperation of people who do not have the time, or the money, to earn a valid degree. Nevertheless, without that all-important diploma, good jobs are impossible to find.
In short, with the plethora of bogus degrees already causing employers to question online education, make sure your online Bachelor degree is earned from a college or university accredited by one of the six agencies endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education.