Search Results matching tag 'General Online Education'

All About Online Communications Degrees

AndriaL — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:50:00 GMT

eLearners just finished the Mini-Guide to Online Communications Degrees, in which you'll find a ton of great information if you're considering starting a career in communications. Here's some of what you'll find in our guide:

Average salaries for professionals in this field
What courses you'll take to get a communications degree online
What you can do with a communications degree
How to tell if your personality is a good fit for communications

Check out the guide now and then see what communications degrees you can get online!

The weekend is here, guys — have a good one!

-Andria

Will E-Learning Kill the University?

AndriaL — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:39:00 GMT

In a recent Washington Post article, A Virtual Revolution Is Brewing for Colleges, Zephyr Teachout paints a bleak picture for brick-and-mortar education due to the burgeoning popularity and relative cheapness of online education. In response, ZDNet's Christopher Dawson asked, Will Online Education Kill the University?

The gist of Teachout's article is that while it's great that e-learning has made education and college degrees infinitely more accessible, it threatens to wipe out universities that won't be able to compete cost-wise; the business model on which traditional universities have operated will no longer work, she argues. Teachout expresses concern that a boom in, and, ultimately, a reliance upon, e-learning threatens notions such as tenured professors and well-funded academic research — by 2030, Teachout says, typical faculty will be adjunct professors working from home grading multiple choice quizzes. She also purports that within the next 40 years, most brick-and-mortar schools will either need to partner with other services or shut down completely.

This all sounds a bit too Henny-Penny for me, though. Some viable comparisons were made, yes. She likens e-learning to the news industry of 10 years ago — an industry with redundancies that was revolutionized (some say destroyed) by the Internet — people aren't confined to getting all their news from one source; we're more likely to read news online, article by article from many papers. But how does this apply to education, exactly? If learning is everywhere and accessible by anyone, is it less special? Maybe, more than anything, this is more predictive of a movement toward degrees, especially bachelor's degrees, mattering less; in 40 years, I can see bachelor's degrees having such ubiquity that graduate education will be the new standard, but IMO brick-and-mortar institutions and the whole college campus experience are so intrinsic to American culture, I just don't see them disappearing. I feel the traditional schools will be able to adequately adapt their business models and continue to make e-learning more effective and efficient.

What do you guys think?

Learning a Language Online is as Effective

AndriaL — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:47:00 GMT

According to research conducted by University of California, learning a language online is just as effective as learning in a traditional classroom setting. In their words, e-learning is a "responsible and equivalent option to the classroom experience." Yay!

Here's a link to online language courses that can be found right here on eLearners (http://www.elearners.com/courses/languages.htm). Languages that can be found on eLearners include Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Russian, and even Latin!

-Andria

For Your Information, e-learners!

Victoria — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Earlier this season I received an e-mail from a very nice admissions person from Mt. Sierra College, a school located outside of Los Angeles, California. After talking about their distance learning programs, I wanted to share with our Community here highlights of this institution. Their academic programs center around graphic as well as web design, business administration and information technology.

If you are interested in learning more about Mt. Sierra College, please contact Dustin Figueroa, the Admissions Representative at (626) 873-2118 and tell him that eLearners.com sent you!

Fast Track
Earn your bachelor's degree in three years, and enter the job market prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a difference.
Tuition-Free Classes
Because Mt. Sierra is a lifelong educational partner, graduates may repeat or take newly developed courses within their degree program and area of specialization tuition-free. For your convenience, you continue to be at the leading edge of your industry and ready for new opportunities.
Career Development
While you are a student and even after you graduate, the Career Development department is available to help you find the right job, teach you interview skills, and help you build your resume, and much more.
Convenient Class Schedules
Take classes all online or in person with our innovative FlexLearn® system. You can choose from a set of morning, afternoon, or evening and weekend schedules that best fit your needs. Having a combination of in class and online is also available for further convenience.
Financial Aid
Money should not keep you from obtaining the education you want and need. Scholarship dollars as well as federal and state funding are available to those who qualify. Let our full time financial aid staff help you secure the best financial aid package.

Degree Programs Offered Online

Business — Bachelor of Science Degrees
Business — Business Administration
Business — Entrepreneurship
Media Arts and Design — Bachelor of Arts Degrees with concentrations in:
Game Arts and Design
Graphic Design
Multimedia Arts and Design
Visual Effects and Digital Video
Technology — Bachelor of Science Degrees with concentrations in:
Computer Information Technology
Information Security
Telecommunications Technology

More About Mt. Sierra College

Mt. Sierra College is a private college offering bachelor's degree programs in Media Arts & Design, Business, and Technology. Founded in 1990, the College focuses on providing students with practical, real-world skills using current tools and technologies, preparing students for successful careers in today's rapidly changing and complex global marketplace.

Mt. Sierra College is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). ACCSCT is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

My Orange Has Never Been So Green

JonM — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:22:00 GMT

What does it mean to "go green?"...When someone says "go green," common associations that come to mind are issues , such as global warming or the energy crisis. Yet, at its heart the Green Movement's main objective is the maintenance of the human health and condition; including taking better care of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.

Consider your average meal. The typical American meal has traveled an average of 1500 miles before getting to your plate and is usually grown by industrial agriculture corporations. This plate of food emits tonnes of fossil fuels and is likely injected with steroids and peppered with pesticides while depriving your neighbor and local grower out of viable business. Sustainable foods, in contrast are grown seasonally, locally, and are organic. Food should be sustainable post-consumption as well; uneaten food comprises over 7% of the National Average waste stream. Food prep scraps, post-consumer food residuals, waxed cardboard, paper towels, napkins, and food prep waste comprise 70% of a college's food waste; all are completely compostable and are the major sources of methane released into the atmosphere from landfills. Recognizing the predicament they have caused, over 200 universities have jumped onto the eating sustainable bandwagon.

Universities Making a Difference:

Inherently rebellious, college students always seem to be on the forefront of change. Student-run organizations across the nation have single- handedly changed the ways their campuses operate. Like most schools, the University of Portland received its meals from giant food providers like Sysco and Aramark. The first step taken was the removal of the Pepsi Vending Machines and Hunts Ketchup bottles. Then in 2005, under pressure from its students, the University transformed its food consumption to over 40% from local farms and growers in Oregon. The shrimp and chicken they used to offer students grown and shipped in from different countries like Thailand, was now grown in the adjacent county of Clackamas.

The Sustainability Integration Office (SIO) at Middlebury College pushed the school to award over ⅓ of its four million dollar budget to Burlington Foodservice Company, which consists of over 47 Vermont-based growers. The percentage rises each year as the dining halls work directly with the farmers. The SIO also started The Middlebury College Organic Garden a trend soon followed by over 45 colleges across the nation. This program grew more local and organic food and taught experiment learning along with agriculture production. The SIO didn't just stop there; they took all the leftovers and food prep waste, ran them through a pulp to remove water and then composted over 300 tonnes of would be waste. The Ski Team also uses the vegetable oil waste ot power their biodiesel truck and the excess oil is sold off campus.

A major success story tells the tale of the students of the University of California Santa Cruz. Students for Sustainable Agriculture forced Sodexho (a food service giant) out of contract in favor of a local food grower and distributor. The movement began to grow and spread and soon the SSA started Local and Real Food Week annually across UCal campuses throughout the state.

In 2003 Alice Waters head chef at Chez Panisse (winner of best restaurant in America 2001 by Gourmet Magazine) visited her daughter at Yale. Disgusted by the food her daughter was forced to eat, Waters went to the President to solve the problem. After a couple months of fundraising, Waters converted the Berkeley College dining hall into an entirely seasonal and local eatery. The menu threw out hot dogs and fries and only served food that was in season around campus. As lettuce and tomato disappeared from the Connecticut fields so did the selection from the menu. Surprisingly to President Levin-but not to Waters, Berkeley College was soon the most popular dining hall on campus. Even the school chefs took pleasure to this change, ridding themselves of the traditional monotony of lunch lines. Students went to the extreme as making fake IDs to enter the dining hall and chow down on the chef’s squash gratin and beet slaw. Waters was later inducted into the California Hall of Fame (2008), Co-Recipient with Kofi Annan of the Environmental Citizens Award (2008), won a Lifetime Achievement Award (2007), Chez Panisse was recognized as one of “Best 50 Restaurants Worldwide,” and founded the Sustainable Food Program at the American Academy in Rome. Even campuses overseas were getting a hint that sustainable foods were the way to go.

Over 200 colleges across the nation are now investing in sustainable foods. Some are starting new recycling programs others are eating local, each are making a difference to the students and community.

"Go green" in your own way, several colleges and universities offer sustainability studies online.

Learn more at Sustainability Programs on eLearners.com

Schwarzenegger: "Textbooks are outdated"

AndriaL — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:03:00 GMT

Schwarzenegger: "Textbooks are outdated"

California spent $350 million on textbooks in 2008 — 1.4% of the entire state budget. Astonishing, right? It makes you wonder how. I'd imagine that most textbooks are hardcover, and hardcover textbooks are good for probably 5-10 years. Just how many new textbooks are being printed each year?

According to California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the answer is way too many. In his words, textbooks are "outdated," and he will be expanding online learning throughout California schools, counting on ed-tech to lessen the strain.

While I wouldn't say textbooks are worthless, teaching using the Internet and CD-ROMs certainly has its perks. Materials are produced much more cheaply, and lessons can be updated more easily and more often, delivering more timely course materials.

What do you guys think?

Link to the original article:
http://www.printweek.com/RSS/News/911931/Textbooks-wont-back-says-Schwarzenegger/

Join Kaplan University's MBA Student Panel

Victoria — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:43:00 GMT

Interested in obtaining your MBA? Learn more about the MBA by attending a free webinar Tuesday, April 21^st, at 6:00 pm ET.

To register for this event, click here.*

* You must register for the event and create a password in order to attend the webinar.

To participate in the event, click here.

Dream of Teaching? Want to Switch Careers?

AndriaL — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Dream of Teaching? Want to Switch Careers?

So we knew the recession was affecting education, causing an upward trend in enrollments, but we didn't know how it was affecting educators.

A March 22 USA TODAY article says that as the recession has worsened, many are going back to school....to teach! The article reports that the number of people switching careers to become teachers is on the rise. So much so, in fact, that 33% of new teachers are these so-called career switchers. Interesting!

In response to the trend, the New Teacher Project was created to help people switch from other careers to the classroom, and applications are up 44% this year over last.

Are you interested in swtiching careers, or have you always dreamed of being teacher?

Here's a link to all education degrees on eLearners.com, including general, K–12, early childhood, and others
If you just want to know what an education degree entails, read the eLearners "Mini-Guide to Online Education Degrees"
Or, of course, you can just read the USA TODAY article

Online nursing programs prove skeptics wrong!

AndriaL — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:54:00 GMT

Online Nurses Prove Skeptics Wrong

Traditionally, online nursing degrees weren't offered frequently due to the practical nature of the occupation. After all, how can you major in such a hands-on subject at a distance? Pratt Community College (PCC) of Kansas is showing that a) it is possible, and b) one can achieve equal or greater success than someone earning a nursing degree at a brick-and-mortar school.

Because the area surrounding the college is so rural, many students aren't close enough to a campus to attend college in the traditional sense. Enter online learning...

In 2006, PCC instituted an online nursing program and, since its inception, four classes have graduated with an average first-time pass rate of 85 percent, which is above state and national averages! And the numbers have only improved since — in November 2008, 94 percent of the students enrolled in the online nursing program passed the test on the first try.

If you're wondering how a nursing program can be done solely online, it can't. Students must go to campus for labs, and they have to complete clinical hours like all prospective nurses. But studying and learning theory at a distance is a huge help to those with jobs, families, or just busy schedules.

While online nursing degrees gain in popularity, some are still wary of the concept. Jim Stratford, Vice President of Instruction at PCC, has this to say to the skeptic — "The way to counter [them] is to demonstrate a high level of student learning outcomes." With pass rates like those at PCC, I'd say they're doing exactly that.

Read the article about PCC in the Pratt Tribune online.

When Recession Hits, Enrollments Soar!

AndriaL — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:10:00 GMT

College enrollment soars as jobless seek new skills

Though Brian Campbell of Massachusetts calls the present economy an "equal opportunity unemployer," he acknowledges how difficult it is not to take it personally when you're laid off. Because he has savings and his wife's income to hold them steady, he's enrolled in online courses to get his MBA from Western New England College. He feels the MBA will ensure he's in a better position when the economy bounces back, and we at eLearners wholeheartedly agree!

Massachusetts is seeing an upswing across the board in registration for continuing education classes, and Kimberly Tobin, dean of graduate and continuing education at Westfield State College, credits the increase to the recession. At her school, continuing ed enrollments were up about 5 percent in the spring semester. At Western New England College, applications last fall for online graduate courses were up 50 percent, while those for online undergraduate courses were up 40 percent, compared to a year earlier. At University of Massachusetts, online enrollments were up about 28 percent!

"The days of people being able to take a weekend or a night during the week off to go to school are disappearing. So they're studying online when the kids go to bed or when they are on the road on business, sitting in a hotel room at night," says Eric Berkowitz, associate dean of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass in Amherst.

Read College enrollment soars as jobless seek new skills at http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1236842200229920.xml&coll=1.