Distance Education- The World Is In Your Hands

Distance education has come a long way since it was first developed in the 1700’s when weekly course assignments were passed out by horsemen messengers in a very small area of Boston. In the 19th century correspondence courses got a serious boost when the Postal Service was established and college courses could be completed in a matter of six to ten years. That was a major boon to Victorians looking to advance their education. It got even better when airplanes came and started express mailing assignments.

Now, distance education can take place in real time, just like a traditional college. The advances in the internet and computers have created a whole new world for distance education. Web 2.0 and technological innovations that have increased internet and computer speed have made learning much faster than it has ever been before. Distance education no longer takes years to complete, and you can basically get any degree that you want on your time.

The flexibility of online courses has put you in the driver’s seat. You can work as hard as you want or take your time depending on your situation but one thing remains true, you can get a quality education and achieve a higher degree that is just as marketable from an online college as a traditional one.

Having an education will open up your career opportunities big time. Getting an associates degree, bachelor’s degree, or even a higher degree from an online program shows that you’re committed to succeeding in your career and can boost your chances at getting a good job. You need all the help that you can get to advance your career, and this is a great tool to add to your arsenal.

Online degree programs and distance education have limitless possibilities, and you don’t have to worry about moving or commuting to a traditional campus. You can do everything right from your computer, either from home or from wherever you want to learn. Plus, the programs online will be much less expensive than a traditional college education.

Distance education isn’t exactly a new thing. However, thanks to the internet and technology, it certainly is much different and much more popular than it has ever been before. Every day, more people are taking advantage of distance education and all the benefits that it has for career success. The convenience and affordability of online learning make it perfect for just about anyone, and you can start your new career path by enrolling in an online program today.
About the Author:
Robin Brown has earned two degrees online. She counsels and writes about online degree programs and the availability of scholarships for students enrolled in online college programs.

By: Professor Ash

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Online Degree Program- How To Choose?

Are you looking for a good online degree program? Trying to choose a college that suits your requirements? Confused about where to begin? Well, since location is not important when deciding on an online degree program, you literally have hundreds of programs to choose from, making things even more confusing. To make things simpler the following is a list of things to look out for when choosing an online degree program:

1. Check out the track record. Universities and colleges have snazzy brochures and catchy advertising to lure students in to enroll for their programs. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by such slick marketing. Instead, take some time and check the graduation and drop out rates for the program you are interested in. It will give you a clearer picture of how well students are being taught by the particular school.

2. With online education growing by leaps and bounds, the entrances of ‘diploma mills,’ which churn out degrees that are more or less useless have also increased. To be on the safe side, make sure that you are enrolled with a college that is accredited by a United States Department of Education recognized accreditation agency. Without this accreditation, you might end up with a degree that is not acknowledged in the work place.

3. When deciding on your online degree program, find out if it specializes in the programs you need for your career advancement. If possible, ask the relevant employers if the degree you are interested in is recognized by them. Check if the programs being offered have up to date material, particularly in the field of your interest. Also check if the license or certificate being applied for at graduation is valid in the state where you plan to use it.

4. Colleges and the online degree programs they offer have different policies regarding credit transfers. Not every university will accept online credits, so check before enrolling.

5. Who is on the faculty? The quality of the faculty is imperative in an online program. Success depends on how students are instructed and guided through the study material. Check how long the faculty of the program has taught online and whether teacher-student interaction is encouraged by the college. If it’s possible, take a look at how classes are conducted before you sign up. It will give you a better idea of the teaching style, communication levels and how students are assessed.

6. Before committing any time or money to a program, read the fine print carefully. Study the program schedule to ensure that you will be able to meet all the deadlines and submit your assignments on time.

7. Look for a well-designed program that is clearly organized with in-depth instructions for assignments and other logistics. There should be opportunities for interaction and activities that encourage students to participate.

8. Are there special services offered to online students by the college of your choice? Will there be someone to help you out and answer your questions on financial aid or where to research your next assignment? Is the school’s website accessible and is the program advisor responsive to your calls and e-mails? Clear cut and transparent information is essential for any good program to function.

9. Before enrolling for your program, it is recommended that you e-mail the school a list of your questions about the program. Some of these questions could include: Is the program completely online or is there a portion that has to be completed on-campus? Are there entrance exams to be taken before being accepted for the program? How does one register? Are there facilities for online tutoring in case you have problems with the program material? How soon can you complete your degree?

10. Enquire about how the college handles the technical and technology requirements of online students. Since you might be working on your assignments at any time – night or day, it is important that tech support should be available around the clock.

Once you have all the answers to these questions and are sufficiently satisfied with the information you have received, you can confidently go ahead and sign up for the online education degree program, taking that first step towards enhancing your career and your qualifications.

By: Scott C

Stevens-Henager College was established in 1891 and is distinguished as one of the oldest colleges in Utah. It has trained generations of graduates through its on-campus and online degree programs for Master's, Bachelor's and Occupational Associate's Degrees. Stevens-Henager College also offers FastFlex programs and online graduate degree programs for working professionals to enhance their career.

Online Degrees: Invest In Yourself

With the declining values of stocks, it is difficult to know which stock will yield the greatest results. Here’s in an insider tip…invest in your self. Online degrees are convenient, attainable, and overall a smart investment. Everyone knows an education is an investment with good returns, not only monetarily, but also in many other aspects that affect your lifestyle such as income, health, and employment prospects.

Online Degrees Can Yield More IncomeAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers Report for the fourth quarter of 2008, the median income of one with a high school diploma as the highest level of education was only $619 per week or $32,188 per year. Investing in yourself with an education can increase your earnings vastly. In fact, if you get a bachelors degree, you can almost double your salary. Referring to the same report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly earnings of those with a Bachelors degree was $1,115 weekly, or $57,980 annually. With more income, you can enjoy more discretionary income to spend or put away towards your savings.

Online Degrees Can Yield Better HealthWith an education, you increase your employment prospects not only in number, but also in quality. Rather than working in jobs with unpredictable schedules, short life expectancies and bosses that treat you with little respect, with an education, you can have a professional, quality career. In a professional career, you work with like-minded individuals and peers that work with you rather than against you. You may also work with companies that promote your well-being by investing in your health and mind. Overall, an education will provide you with opportunities to attain a professional career that you can enjoy. A job that you can enjoy will lead to lower stress.

Online Degrees Can Yield Lower Risk of UnemploymentWhile many jobs today already require a bachelors degree, according to the University Continuing Education Association, of the 19 million new jobs expected to be added between 2004 and 2014, 36 percent will require at least a bachelors degree and 27 percent will require a minimum of some college education. In all, this accumulates to 63 percent of all new jobs requiring a minimum of some college education. By investing in an online degree, you can remain competitive in the workforce and enjoy greater job stability. Furthermore, with an education, you can also enjoy greater promotion aspects, as those with advanced levels of education tend to get more consideration for management or director level positions.

Online Degrees: A Good InvestmentOnline degrees are an excellent investment. Not only will they give you the satisfaction of attaining a higher level of education, but are also convenient and flexible to attain. Online classes are offered day or night and you can study at your own pace. A major bonus is that you don’t have to worry about driving to a campus and fighting for parking. Furthermore, you may not have to fund your education entirely on your own. Some employers offer tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs so be sure to check with your employer to see if they offer any assistance towards education. Additionally, you may also qualify for financial aid or tuition assistance from the government. With all these reasons, you would be crazy not to invest…start your search for online degrees now!

By: Kimberly Diane

Kimberly Diane is a frequent contributor to EducationAdvancementOnline.com. Education Advancement Online promotes higher education for students seeking online degrees and is a premier online education directory. For more information on Education Advancement Online or to search online colleges, please visit EducationAdvancementOnline.com

Information About Online Colleges

Online colleges make obtaining a degree a possibility for anyone with access to the internet. If you have always dreamt of obtaining a degree or other certificate then online colleges are a great way to make that dream come true. One of the main benefits of studying with online colleges rather than conventional campus-based colleges is that you can work on your chosen subject at your own pace and at a time that suits you. Instead of having to attend classes and lectures you can fit your study in around work and family commitments. In particular, many stay-at-home moms are finding that online colleges offer course that they can take while the kids are at school in preparation for returning to work when the kids are older.

Many employees are overlooked for promotion at work because they lack formal qualifications but this is where online colleges come in. Instead of having to take time off work to be able to attend a regular college you can continue working your normal hours and access your course in your free time. If you have been with a company for a while and see no opportunity for advancement you can also study with any of the online colleges to enable you to find a new job whilst you are still earning.

Online colleges offer a wide range of course and have no time restriction in which you have to complete the modules. This gives you the freedom to study where and when you want to and a number of online colleges will allow you to take lengthy study breaks. Some courses do not require a formal exam at the end to obtain a diploma but consist of a number of assignments that are to be completed throughout the course. Most online colleges have specialist tutors who can communicate with the students by email or other means to give support and guidance to them throughout the course. Quite often the online colleges will also have facilities to link students with each other so that they can discuss assignments.

There are online colleges based all around the globe and there are usually no residency restrictions applied. If you want to learn about French art then why not choose one of the online colleges based in France or one of the many Japanese online colleges to obtain a certificate in business management techniques then you can. Finding the right course is the easy part but deciding which of the online colleges you want to study it with is probably going to be the hardest choice to make. This is because there are literally millions of courses available through online colleges around the globe.

By: John Simon

Learn about effective study skills and best places to study at the Studying Tips site.