Online Education Hot Topics
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Find an Online School
Guide to Online Education
Our comprehensive guide addresses what online education entails, what online learning options exist, how to select the best online education for your needs, and much more.
In designing the "Guide to Online Education," we worked closely with online students, graduates, professors, and online learning experts to collect practical information to help you succeed in online learning.
Download the "Guide to Online Education."
Debt-Free College Guide
Need help paying for college? Learn how to get someone else to pay for your education, so you can finish college debt-free.
Check out the Debt-Free College Guide for different ways to help finance a college degree.
How To Reference This
eLearners.com. (2007). Guide to online education. Retrieved 2/9/2010, from the World Wide Web. http://www.elearners.com/
guide-to-online-education/.
Hot Topics in Online Education
Online Education Topics of Interest
Guide to Online Education > Online Education Trends > Hot Topics in Online Education
Here is where you will find the most complete and up-to-date information about important issues and hot topics related to online education. Check back often to keep up on what's happening in the world of online and distance learning!
Distance Learning Accreditation
Will employers value the online degree you have earned? Will you be able to transfer credits from your online course to another institution? Will the online program you select provide a rigorous and worthwhile educational experience?
A key to answering these important questions is understanding accreditation and the accreditation process in the U.S.
Regional vs. National Accreditation
Now that you've wisely decided to select an accredited distance learning degree or program, the next question is: What kind of accreditation am I looking for? The two main categories are regional accreditation and national accreditation. How are they different? How are they similar? This introduction compares the two to help you decide which type of accreditation best meets your needs.
Diploma Mills: Beware Fake Degrees
"By hiding behind a mask of legitimacy, diploma mills can be used by the unethical and can fool the unwary student or employer into believing that their degrees are as legitimate as a degree from an accredited university that provides a quality education and plays by the rules." — Senator Susan M. Collins, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, May 2004.
Top 10 Myths about Distance Learning
Though distance learning has gained immense popularity, especially over the last decade, a number of online education "myths" and misconceptions keep some from embracing this learning method. After reading these ten most common falsehoods regarding online learning, you'll know fact from fiction where eLearning is concerned!
How to Know When to Drop Your Online Program
Are you feeling unsure about your online program? Maybe you don't like your professor or maybe you had a family emergency and fell behind in your course work. Regardless, how do you know when it's right to drop your online program? You don't want to give up too soon, but you don't want to waste time or money, either. Read this article to help you judge if it's best to drop your online program or course.
How to Defend Your Online Degree
As a graduate of an online degree program or as a current student, you may have to explain your reason for not enrolling in a traditional brick-and-mortar program. Whether you are discussing your resume with a prospective employer or chatting casually with friends and family, here are a few talking points you can use to defend your decision for earning your degree online.
Focus on Self-Paced Online Education
The distance learner is typically older, already working in an established career, and has family obligations. For these students, self-paced online programs are a big draw. Self-paced programs offer students the opportunity to pursue higher education without taking time off from work, missing important family events or being tied to a cohort arrangement in which they have to work on class projects with other students.
Transferring Credit from Foreign Universities to U.S. Schools
American higher education is well regarded throughout the world. The United States currently hosts half a million foreign students, more than any other country. But it's not always practical for foreign students to travel internationally to study, whether because of visa issues, family responsibilities, or simply disinclination to come to the United States.
CLEP Tests: Earn Credit For What You Already Know
We're going to let you in on one of distance learning's best kept secrets: CLEP tests. You can save valuable time by preparing for an exam instead of taking an entire semester-long class. You can save money, because instead of paying for tuition and fees, you pay to take a computer-based examination. And best of all, you can get your degree in less time.
How to Choose an Online High School and What to Avoid
Interested in an online high school, so you can finally earn your high school diploma? Did you know that selecting an online high school is not very different from selecting an online college? Without a doubt, future growth in distance learning will happen at the K-12 level. We are fast becoming saturated with online college degree programs. After all, how many undergraduate programs do we really need in business?
Finding and Comparing Free Online High Schools
Many virtual, or online, high school programs charge tuition fees to students, but there is an increasing number of legitimate, accredited, and free online high schools available to us. When starting your search, you should know how and what to evaluate these high school programs. Online high school programs differ from the GED, or General Equivalency Diploma, but do you know how? Read more!
How to Request Your Academic Transcript
Your academic transcript is an important record of your work. For every institution that you attend, your records are kept for an amount of time. Your official academic transcript is typically necessary if you are: enrolling in a degree completion program; transferring to another college; or applying for a scholarhip. Budget your time wisely as some schools take longer than others to process this type of request.
New Educational Benefits for Veterans
If you are military personnel and you have served more than 90 days active duty since September 11, 2001, you are eligible for new educational benefits! In a Congressional nod to troop support, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill will go into effect on August 1, 2009, at which time eligible servicemen and women will be entitled to full tuition, $1000 for books and school supplies, and, often, a monthly housing stipend.
Blackboard's Patent: How Will It Affect Online Higher Education?
Widely criticized as being overly broad and even described as "patently unjust" (Martin Dougiamas, founder of Moodle) and "ill-conceived and illegitimate" (Boycott Blackboard.org), Blackboard's U.S. patent No. #6,988,138 "Internet Based Education Support System and Methods" and litigation against a competitor is stirring up great controversy in the world of online higher education.
What Does The Future Hold For Online Education?
As Internet adoption spreads, one would envision a rosy future for online education. This is not the case however as technological and legal obstacles abound for this new medium. Though it is a reusable learning object and satisfies the appetite of today's "on-demand" generation, online education must still fight for the same legitimacy as its brick-and-mortar counterparts. Given these struggles, does online education have a future?
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