As news reports reveal the secret espionage work that Julia Child, the culinary pioneer, performed during World War II, and as the Obama vs. McCain presidential contest heats up, online learning has also garnered its share of media attention. 

Packed to the gills due to high gas prices and changing times, online schools and e-learning classes are making waves. Unprecedented student enrollment in distance learning courses has grabbed headlines as colleges and universities gird up for increased demand borne out of economic concerns.

High numbers of job layoffs, an increase in outsourcing, exorbitant transportation costs, and a crisis among banking institutions — all have contributed to an increased interest in distance learning.

The opportunity to work a full-time job to maintain a steady income stream while completing college coursework has clinched the deal for many.  

Adult learners lead the pack of online enrollees as technological advances fine-tune the delivery of course information and ease the jobs of e-learning teachers. These students are particularly motivated to succeed in their online associate’s degree, online bachelor’s degree or online professional certificate programs.

However, only a limited number of e-learners will be able to fill the finite number of slots available in online schools and traditional schools this fall.  Each year, the numbers of those slots have increased and are expected to continue to do so.

Yes, other stories may be filling newspapers; but distance learning is also earning its share of kudos. And millions of students enrolled in online classes this fall are among those experiencing an innovative way to study — a way that may rule the future of higher education.  

online schools, colleges and universities, distance learning, e-learning, higher education, job layoffs, julia child, online associates degree, online bachelors degree, professional certificate, online learning, Obama vs. McCain

Popularity: 10% [?]

Share This

If an Alabama high school student wants to enroll in Mandarin Chinese or Latin, or choose from a veritable smorgasbord of Advanced Placement (AP) classes, they may now do so.

 Governor Bob Riley’s announcement last month – that every Alabama high school would offer distance-learning classes beginning this fall – offers a cutting-edge solution to the problem of students being limited to their particular school’s course offerings.

Beginning this fall, whether a student attends a rural high school with limited funds or a wealthy big-city school, he or she will be able to choose from a wider choice of courses. With e-learning classes now providing equal access to a high-quality education, the option to attend the best colleges and universities is available to all Alabama high schoolers.

The program, known as ACCESS, utilizes advanced distance-learning technology to provide an enhanced learning environment for each course. Teachers and students will be able to both view and communicate with one another in real-time.

Approximately 30,000 students are expected to be served through the ACCESS program.

Although AP classes are generally limited at individual schools, students will be able to enroll in courses offered at different high schools throughout Alabama. As a result, while some students physically attend a class, others will view the class via computers, web-cams and other video-conferencing technology.

This statewide investment in the lives of young people should elevate Alabama far ahead of the pack among public education systems. Although students benefit first, the state of Alabama will reap the future rewards of its innovative foresight and willingness to designate several million dollars to insure the program’s success.

Approximately 30,000 students are expected to be served through the ACCESS program during 2009-2010.

Students who are exposed to this high-tech distance-learning solution will transition easily to accredited online degrees as an option for the years after high school. They will be able to navigate the latest computer-related innovations to avoid sacrificing jobs, apprenticeships or resume-building opportunities in order to attend college. 

Alabama’s endorsement of distance-learning as a valuable tool for education has already been embraced — to a limited degree – by numerous elementary, junior high and high schools across the country. 

Still, Alabama is an innovator and a model for other states to follow. Way to go Alabama!

accredited online degrees, advanced placement, Alabama, Bob Riley, career, colleges and universities, distance learning, distance learning software, e-learning, education, high_schools, job, online degree, teachers, technology

Popularity: 15% [?]

Share This

The way to an interesting, professional job is not always through two to four-year traditional or online degree programs.

A smart option allows a faster way to a specialized job:  a professional certificate program.

Although an associate’s degree generally requires two years of full-time college work, a professional certificate often takes less than a year.  And an online certificate program may be completed through distance learning while working a full-time job.

Online certificate programs are available through online schools, vocational schools, and junior colleges. Most involve a short, intensive course of study focused upon gaining excellent knowledge and skills in one career area.

After finishing the program, it is possible to use the the professional certificate to boost one’s resume or indicate to prospective employers that specialized training has been completed.   

A few career fields that may be available after completing a professional certificate program include:  

• Web Design
• Motorcycle Repair
• Graphic Art
• Travel Agent
• Medical Billing
• Jewelry Design
• Private Investigator
• Bookkeeping
• Nursing Assistant
• Photography
• Floral Design
• Child Care

Once the professional certificate allows entry into the desired career field, additional education via e-learning may pave the way for promotion and higher pay.

Sometimes the shorter path is the sweeter path to finding the right job. So check out professional certificates for so little to lose and so much to gain.

online professional certificate, career, online degree program, professional certificate, distance learning, online schools, e-learning, motorcycle repair, web design

Popularity: 18% [?]

Share This

According the the English language newspaper, the Arab News, most colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia plan to switch from traditional learning to e-learning next year.

Interestingly, the change is expected to bring about “dramatic progress” in higher education and in the country. The article goes on to add that the traditional learning model does not adequately prepare students for the “complexities of today’s rapidly developing society”.

As Saudi Arabia prepares to move toward utilizing educational technology to better prepare college students to compete in this age of technology, distance learning continues to grow in popularity in the United States and around the world.

E-learning has taken off in elementary schools, middle schools and high school classrooms as well.  School districts across the United States and Canada have embraced distance learning as a way to enhance classroom learning, or to offer parents a flexible option for the education of their children.

However, it will be interesting to observe whether distance learning will prevail over traditional colleges in the future as the more technologically advanced and efficient pedagogy model for higher education.

Is it possible that Saudi Arabia is the forerunner in recognizing the true value of e-learning and its impact upon the future power of a nation?  That is something we will have to wait and see.

e-learning, Saudi Arabia, higher education, distance_learning 

Popularity: 21% [?]

Share This

According to Air Force Link, a source of current Air Force news, the switch from traditional air transporation classes to online classes has saved taxpayers and the military approximately $21 million since 2004.

For example, one popular class –Air Freight – would have cost almost $4.3 million using the traditional classroom model. But with e-learning, the cost was reduced to $265,000.

Also, by changing to the more flexible distance learning format, over 4,700 Airmen were able to access this class from almost anywhere and at any time.

Eight air transportation classes are offered to online to military personnel in a way that efficiently provides necessary training; and all of the classes are accredited by Community College of the Air Force.  Classes include: Aerial Port Vehicles, Global Air Transportation Execution System, Air Terminal Operations Center, Data Records and others.

The huge success of e-learning has encouraged plans for the Mobility Operations School Air Transportation Branch to offer additional classes in the future. In 2007, approximately 10,700 Airmen took advantage of the online air transporation courses.

Distance learning has continued to make remarkable strides in growth and revenue in the non-military sector as well, with over 3.5 million students choosing to enroll in at least one online class during the fall of 2006. This statistic was documented in a study by the Sloan Foundation, which collected data from over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Air Force, air transportation, colleges_and_universities, distance learning, e-learning, military, online classes

Popularity: 23% [?]

Share This

At select gas stations across the United States, escalating gas prices have already soared to $4 a gallon. The high price of gasoline has forced many people to avoid unnecessary driving trips and to pinpoint creative alternatives to car travel. 

But some are already in the driver’s seat when it comes to saving big on gas – online students. And not surprisingly, they also help the environment at the same time!

E-Learners Save Gas

Instead of attending traditional colleges that require frequent drives to a nearby or far-away college campus, e-learners opt out of expensive trips to the gas pump by studying at home or at work.  These distance learning students register for classes, purchase books, utilize library resources, watch live or archived lectures, communicate with instructors, and turn in assignments — all from the keyboard of a computer.

In addition to cutting back on gas, e-learners may rack up extra study time because of the driving time they save!

E-Learners Help Save the Environment

The Sloan Consortium reports that almost 3.5 million students took at least one online course in the fall of 2006, with a growth rate of 9.7% from the previous year. Even if half of these students had chosen to take an on-campus class instead, the additional 1.75 million cars on the road would contribute to increased air pollution, diminished oil resources and greater traffic congestion. 

The effects of automobile pollution on the environment and on our health have been well-documented. Yet those who enroll in online classes are doing their part to help the environment just as surely as those who:

• recycle paper and plastic, 
• use less water,
• turn off unnecessary power to conserve energy,
• use rechargeable batteries, and
• use energy-efficient household appliances.

The benefits of online classes keep piling up; and saving gas and the environment are just the tip of the iceberg. But the bottom line is that an accredited online school provides an excellent education; and those who are planning a return to school should consider this win-win situation. 

distance learning, e-learning, online school, accredited online degree, gas prices, save the environment, conserve energy, save gas

Popularity: 26% [?]

Share This

A timely article in US News & World Report lauds the information on distance learning that is being compiled by several e-learning institutions. The schools are gathering data to assess how well online degree students are faring and who they are demograpically.

This voluntary data collection is expected to result in the release of a school-specific report in 2009 that is designed to measure accountability and provide demographic information about online schools and their students.

The study is called “Transparency by Design: Principles of Good Practice for Higher Education Institutions Serving Adults at a Distance“.

Several of the schools that are taking part in this accountability study include: Kaplan University, Regis University, Capella University, Western Governors University and Fielding Graduate University.

We look forward to hearing more about this.

online schools, online degrees, distance learning, e-learning

Popularity: 26% [?]

Share This

In the past couple of weeks, an outdated statistic has been quoted widely in education articles and blogs.  

The problematic quote generally states: “It is estimated that 70% of distance learners do not complete their courses.” 

This unproven claim is a prime example of how statistics can mislead the public.

Skewed information like this potentially discourages students from pursuing their dreams of a college education via online degrees, convincing them that only a select few successfully finish their courses of study. And that is the problem with inaccuracies being widely dispersed and accepted as fact.

The basic historical trail of the disputed information is as follows:

• The above-named “70%” quote was recently extracted from a report by Shawna L. Strickland entitled, “Understanding Successful Characteristics of Adult Learners“, Respiratory Care Education Annual, (Fall 2007) . Ms. Strickland states, “Furst-Bowe and Dittman estimate that 70% of distance learners do not complete their courses.” From this, we can assume that the statistic originated not with  Ms. Strickland, but from other research.
• In her review of literature pertaining to the topic of adult learners, Ms. Strickland cited a 2001 research paper by Julie Furst-Bowe and Wendy Dittman entitled, “Identifying the Needs of Adult Women in Distance Learning Programs“, International Journal of Instructional Media 28.4 (Fall 2001).  In their paper, Furst-Bowe and Dittman state: “It is estimated that nearly 70 percent of students who enter distance education programs drop out, permanently or temporarily, before program completion”. This was written in 2001, six years before the Strickland publication. And yet the statistic is not based on research by Furst-Bowe and Dittman either.
•  Furst-Bowe and Dittman were citing a study by doctoral student, S. Parks, who published, “A study of the importance of customer satisfaction on students’ intent to remain in a distance education program.” Doctoral dissertation. Pennsylvania State University, 1997. (Dissertation Abstracts International, 58, AAG9802732, 1997.)

So the bottom line is that the “70%” quote was based upon research that was gathered and analyzed by graduate student, S. Parks, in 1997 or earlier. That makes the research over 11 years old and outdated. Most findings about how adult learners fared in distance learning would be irrelevant by now, considering the significant changes since then in instructional technology and personal computers. Also:

• Most Internet connections were slow 11 years ago; now faster modems and wireless connectivity are common.
• WiFi hotspots were basically unknown to most of us 11 years ago, even on college campuses.
• The popularity of  distance learning has expanded phenomenally in those 11 years as technological changes have introduced live lectures via computer, efficient real-time communication with instructors, webcams, interactive message boards, and better learning software. 
• College and university instructors now routinely receive training in e-learning instructional media and utilize a slew of efficient, technological tools to successfully teach and communicate with their online students.

The authors of the above-named studies all provided insight into the world of adult learners. They drew a number of well-researched and helpful conclusions about what type of adult learners are more likely to successfully attain their educational goals. And their body of research is valuable in the continued shaping of online instruction and its efficiency. 

However, the “70%” statistic is obsolete; and hopefully new studies — using proper research methods and an adequate sample size — will compare the success rate of online learners vs. traditional students. 

In the meantime, potential students should continue to fulfill their dreams through the opportunities afforded by distance learning and join the 3.5 million students currently enrolled in online courses.  

online degrees, distance learning, e-learning, college education, online students, college and university, statistics, instructional_media, adult learners, technology

Popularity: 29% [?]

Share This

When the main mode of transportation was the horse and buggy, distance learning was already an alternative form of education. Radio and television were years away; and computers were not even on the radar for the average person.

Yet even back then, working adults wanted the opportunity to take classes that could be completed at home while working full-time. They saw the value of higher education and its importance in securing a better future –a future that included the potential for job promotion, a higher salary and a better standard of living.

In the beginning, flexible college, vocational and enrichment classes took place through the mail via correspondence courses. But now, computers have transformed distance learning into a hot, hip way of education known as e-learning. Even traditional college students line up to enroll in online classes utilizing tools that the average student already has available either on campus or at home – a computer, a modem and access to the Internet.  Distance learning, however, continues to accomplish what it did when it began back in the 1800’s – but on a grander scale: 

• Distance learning offers a flexible study schedule.

• Distance learning offers college classes to those who would otherwise not be able to attend college.

• Distance learning saves the time usually spent traveling to and attending on-campus courses.

• Distance learning saves money on gas and transportation costs.

• Distance learning classes are available in most college career fields.

• Distance learning is growing at a rate faster than that of traditional colleges. 

Any student who is considering a return to school to obtain a college degree should explore the options offered by an accredited online degree program. Online schools are neither a fad nor a passing craze, but an advancement in education that has already impacted the way traditional colleges deliver instruction to their students. 

Yes, distance learning certainly has grown up. 

online schools, online degree, distance learning, education, online classes, online degree program

Popularity: 29% [?]

Share This

A wonderful resource has surfaced for men and women of the U.S. military armed forces. 

Military Advanced Education has released the top 30 military-friendly colleges in the United States based upon information gathered from 100 schools that applied for the distinction. The top colleges and universities were selected based upon criteria such as number of military students, availability of financial aid, number of military contracts and more.

A significant number of online schools showed up among the winners, along with educational institutions that offer both accredited online degree programs and traditional on-campus classes.

Those selected are institutions that open their arms to active duty and non-active duty military. Many of these schools are either located in close proximity to military bases, are distance-learning schools, or offer courses directly on military installations.  Others provide special scholarships and financial  aid to the troops and their wives. But almost all bend over backwards to offer additional support and consideration to members of the military and their families.

The top 30 military-friendly colleges are as follows:

1. American Military University
2. Central Texas College
3. Coastline Community College
4. Colorado Technical University
5. Excelsior College
6. Saint Leo College
7. Thomas Edison State College
8. University of Maryland
9. The University of Oklahoma
10. Webster University
11. American InterContinental University Online
12. Bellevue University
13. Capella University
14. Central Michigan University
15. Colorado State University-Pueblo
16. Columbia Southern University
17. Duquesne University School of Leadership
18. Florida Community College
19. Grantham University
20. Hawaii Pacific University
21. Jones International University
22. Kansas State University
23. National University
24. Olympic College
25. Southern Illinois University Carbondale
26. Strayer University
27. TUI University
28. University of Mary
29. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
30. Western Governors University

 Read the entire Military Advanced Education article for additional information.
online schools, distance learning, online degrees, financial aid, colleges and universities, military education, military students, education

Popularity: 100% [?]

Share This