Need Advice about Online Education and Going Back to School Online

Re: distance learning?

Melissa09 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:48:13 GMT

I had similar thoughts while going through the site, but thank you both for your responses. I wanted to get some feedback, because while doing random research on distance learning I found out they were one of the newer universities and the whole stimulus job relation caught my interest, as I'm currently unemployed. So far I'm enjoying my courses. I'm taking one bundle of microsoft courses (just as a refresher) and an IT bundle which includes flash courses. At this point I'm satisified with the university, and understand it doesnt offer degrees, but I like the information I'm learning.

Thanks again for the responses!

Re: distance learning?

SteveFoerster — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:39:54 GMT

Hmm. There are lots of places that use the word "university" to explain they're an educational program, but that are neither accredited nor offer degrees. For example, there's a company here that does interior design called "Blinds To Go" and the place where they train their people is called "Blinds To Go University". I don't have a problem with this as such.

Twenty-five bucks isn't much (in the developed world, at least), so it's not that much of an investment to find out whether their courses are worthwhile or not. Although "they're awarding scholarships to a million people!" seems to me like a transparent trick to make you think you're getting a better deal. It's like those late light infomercials: "Act now and we'll double your order and make the first payment for you!"

For them to imply that their courses have anything to do with the job stimulus plan is ridiculous, though. And all the photos of the founder with famous people is a very suspect way to demonstrate credibility. Okay, so the founder had his picture taken with Bill Clinton. What does that have to do with whether NEF offers an effective set of courses? Even more mysterious is why there are tennis players on the board of advisors. Then there's the list a bunch of "partners" with well known company logos flashing across the screen but with no explanation whatsoever what the nature of those partnerships is. I mean, they say that they're partners with Dell and Microsoft. Did they just buy a couple of Dell PCs with Windows on them? Or is there something substantial?

So overall I think I have to file this one under "wait and see".

Also, how did you learn about this group? I ask because we've gone from zero inquiries ever about them, to yours being the second in the last week.

-=Steve=-

Re: distance learning?

Cajun — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:05:35 GMT

Melissa09:

Hi, I was curious if anyone had any opinions on taking classes with NEF University. It’s a distance learning online university which has classes which directly correlate with the new job stimulus plan. I’m asking because its not part of the elearners site, but has an amazingly CHEAP deal, they award scholarships to the first million people to join and you end up paying just $25 for a bundle of classes. Thanks in advance to anyone with information on the topic!

It's unaccredited, it doesn't award degrees, it calls itself a university, it gives scholarships to anyone and doesn't have any discernable screening process or criteria by which these scholarships are awarded. I'm suspect at best.

Re: distance learning?

Melissa09 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:59:24 GMT

oh heres the website incase anyone wanted to check it out : www.nefuniversity.org/scholarships

distance learning?

Melissa09 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:57:25 GMT

Hi, I was curious if anyone had any opinions on taking classes with NEF University. It’s a distance learning online university which has classes which directly correlate with the new job stimulus plan. I’m asking because its not part of the elearners site, but has an amazingly CHEAP deal, they award scholarships to the first million people to join and you end up paying just $25 for a bundle of classes. Thanks in advance to anyone with information on the topic!