Whether you’re pursuing a Bachelors degree or a Masters, choosing the right educational program for you is critically important to your future. It’s not unusual to spend upwards of a year or more simply researching different schools and programs around the country. Considering the price of tuition these days, a few months of research is well worth the time.

An excellent college experience prepares young adults, and adults looking to change careers, to adapt to fluctuations in job markets, growth sectors, and academic institutions. Knowing what to look for in a college depends, to a large extent, on your careers plans and financial situation. Everyone’s will be a little different. However, there are core elements to education that can be considered universal factors. What follows is a list of a few generally held considerations that many college-bound adults address prior to choosing a college:

Confirm that you will get hands-on experience in your field. Theory is great and can lead to its own career options, but before you commit to a certain college you should make sure that your department immerses its students in plenty of hands-on experience. This includes being trained to use new software and being exposed to a learning management system that will prepare you for the integration of technology in the classroom. Lectures should be coupled with labs and workshops that allow students to learn by doing. If you’re a Film major, for example, you should get to operate a camera and learn how to edit footage with video editing software. If you’re a Biology major you should dissect specimens in order to see their anatomy in real life. Reading books, writing papers, and listening to lectures is not enough to get a well-rounded education.

Look for a school that has connections with internship programs. Interning is a wonderful way to get invaluable job experience and resume-building skills while pursing your degree. You should be mindful of whether or not your school facilitates its students acquiring summer internships. Often times these opportunities can pave the way for future jobs. At the very least, you can see whether you enjoy working in a certain field and whether or not you have an aptitude for the skills it demands. Many schools have academic connections with various companies and internship programs and will actively encourage students to apply. Some professors actually cull students from their classes for summer research projects and field expeditions. Make sure you school actively works to place its students in career-building activities and programs during the year and during breaks.

Make sure the professors you will be studying under are approachable and devoted to teaching. Many professors pursue research projects and publish articles and books during the school year. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. In fact, it usually signifies that you’ll be learning from a person who is ambitious, intelligent and at the top of his/her field. However, it’s not impossible that these other projects will distract your professor from fully devoting him/herself to lectures and interacting with students. Sometimes, professors unload a lot of the coursework onto TAs. Just do a little research to find out how much time you will actually get learning from the person who is trained to teach at a collegiate level. If, after doing a little investigative work, you discover that the main professor you would be studying under does not hold regular office hours and its not very friendly with students, you may want to look elsewhere. An approachable professor who is devoted to teaching may be one of the most important factors in where you go to school.

Few decisions you will make in life are more important than choosing the academic institution where you want to pursue a degree. Years later, you may look back on this decision with pride, knowing it paved the way for your future career. It’s not something to be taken lightly, or to leave up to chance. Doing some background research on what kinds of internship possibilities, hands-on experience and professor interactions you will receive should allow you to make an informed decision about whether a school is right for you or not. Especially when you consider the amount of money it costs for a college education these days, it’s worth a little extra due diligence.

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Information technology is a growing sector, with thousands of jobs available in the field at any given time. With IT being a lucrative field, that also makes it very competitive. Many young professionals are joining the field for future income and job security.

So if you’re an IT professional searching for a new position or jump-starting your career, your resume needs to make a strong first impression that will get you in the door for an interview. Here are five mistakes every IT professional should avoid when building his resume.

Listing Obsolete Technologies

Employers don’t care if you know how to use obsolete software; they want to know what current and relevant technical skills you have. When you list the technology you are comfortable with, skip anything that has since been replaced by a different kind of technology. You should also skip software that everyone uses, such as Microsoft Office, because employers will assume that everyone applying for IT jobs knows how to use basic tools.

Neglecting Degrees

Although IT jobs focus more on your skills than your education, showing that you have a recent IT degree can give you an edge above other applicants. Instead of hiding your education at the bottom of your resume, list any recent certifications at the top of your resume. On the other hand, a degree that’s five to ten years old might be outdated. In this case, list it at the bottom unless you have completed continuing education courses since getting your degree to stay up to date.

Using little-known acronyms

When describing duties at your past jobs, remember that the people reading your resume didn’t work at your company, may not even be IT specialists, and probably won’t know what DKRP stands for. So go light on the acronyms and technical jargon. Using some technical language is important to showcase your industry knowledge, but when you use it ensure it is clear what you mean to anyone who might review your resume. Instead of inserting industry jargon, focus on the results you achieved at the company and why you would be an asset.

Forgetting Keywords

Many employers use software to screen resumes for specific keywords before having a real person look over them. Therefore, you resume needs to have relevant keywords for the IT field to get into the hands of a person with decision-making power. To find which keywords to use, read the job description and pay special attention to the skills and experience they are looking for. If you have the skills listed in the job description, make sure to include them using similar language to what’s listed in the job description. If you don’t have the skills, you shouldn’t apply for the position. Never lie or misrepresent your skills on a resume because the employer has plenty of ways to find out that you aren’t telling the truth—and you’ll take yourself out of the running immediately.

Using text only

With your technical skills, you should aim to create a resume that’s more interesting than a normal, boring, text-only sheet of paper. Display your creative skills when building your resume, and make something that is visually appealing and easy to scan and follow. Don’t go overboard and put too many visual elements in, though. Hiring companies are looking for an IT pro, not a graphic designer, so you don’t need to show artistic skill. A few well-placed horizontal lines and smart formatting in the header can be enough to make you look great.

Job searching in the IT field can be a tricky prospect, especially when there’s so much competition for so many jobs. But with a few extra additions and attention to detail, your resume—and your skills—could become sought after.

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Online education has come a long way since its humble (and shady) beginnings in the 90′s. 

Today, diploma mills have been exposed and all but dismantled, and the for-profit education model has brought professional instruction to millions of students who otherwise could not have pursued higher education.

As far as distance education has come, however, the stigma that hangs over it is just now beginning to fade, and businesses are finally recognizing just how graduates from online programs are — and here’s why:

• Self-Motivated:  Unlike traditional institutions, online education programs don’t require students to come to class, and don’t have the same built-in motivational structures that orthodox classes do.  As such, online students have to be much more self-motivated to complete their work.  There is nothing hanging over them to make them turn in assignments and excel, and no professors to baby them through the syllabus.  Often, online students work much harder and with more concentration because they are balancing school, work, family, and other responsibilities, which shows employers that they are great candidates because they don’t have to be supervised or motivated to do work.



• Time Management Skills: In addition to being self-motivated, online students are exceptionally skilled at managing their time — when you work full time, have a family, and still go to school full time online, you have to be.  The primary reason students choose online education is that they can work school in around their work schedules.  This often means that they work 8-5 and then pursue their studies in the evening, when most people are relaxing.  In order to succeed they often have to find creative ways and times to study, which, again, demonstrates to employers that they are mature and dedicated to work.
• Independent: More impressive than the fact that online students have excellent time management skills and don’t need constant supervision is that they are taking control of their futures and choosing to go back to school for their own improvement.  Often traditional students are more or less shepherded through the school system and haven’t taken enough time away from studies to even know what they really want to do with their lives.  Online students, however, are often coming back to school after a prolonged break, and have a determination that younger students do not.  Online students understand that the time to hesitate passed long ago, and they are typically very driven to succeed.

What employer wouldn’t want those qualities in a potential new hire?  So, if you are thinking of going back to school, consider enrolling in an online program, and impress your future employers with your determination, independence, and skill.

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When you’re trying to pick a college, there are numerous decisions you can consider without even stepping foot on a campus. What do you want to study? How much are you able to pay? Do you seek a small or large student body? What kind of school will accept you in the first place? All these questions, and many more like them, can be answered with some targeted research online.

But there are many other factors that can only truly be determined by setting foot on campus. You might have found a school that looks perfect on paper, with an academic focus and reputation for quality that you seek, but the college may seem completely different to you when you actually go and visit. You might not like the people. You may find the classes unappealing. The food and the dorm rooms might gross you out. People usually don’t have strongly negative reactions to schools that they liked on paper, but often times they will walk away with a mixed or negative “vibe”. Conversely, you may get a great vibe from the most unsuspecting of places.

So, if you can afford to make the trip, a campus visit can be incredibly beneficial. But what should you keep in mind as you tour and walk around? Let’s take a look at a few helpful considerations:

1. Pay attention to vibrancy. An admissions tour can’t stage a vibrant campus, so if you visit during the school year keep an eye out for any and all signs of activity. Are students interacting on the paths between classes? Are people rushing or idling around? Is anything happening in the main quad? You also might want to look for “relative vibrancy.” For example, what building seems more vibrant – the dining hall or the library?

2. Have questions ready. One of the great aspects of a campus visit is that you are surrounded by current students of that college. Each and every student is an expert about the school, and consequently you should talk to people in an effort to gauge their opinions. Having a few questions ready beforehand can certainly help. If you can’t think of any good questions, ask students: “What do you like least about this school?” Those answers will probably be informative.

3. On the campus tour, focus on what matters to you. A campus tour will take you all around a school and will likely try to highlight the most appealing elements of the institution. Along the way, make sure that you concentrate primarily on those places that apply best to you. If you’re interested in a career in medical coding, for example, the construction of an impressive new English construction shouldn’t sway you in the least.

4. Live like a student. Spending at least part of your visit living your day like a student would. Eat at the dining hall. Sit in on a class. Watch a sporting event or athletic practice. Spend a few hours sitting in the library. Even if you expect to rarely eat on campus as a college student, for example, it is still beneficial to have a meal in the dining hall and get a feel for being a student at that school.

5. Maximize your face-to-face exposure where it most counts. Since people are usually more receptive in a face-to-face interaction, stop by the admissions office, the financial aid office, and maybe the office of a sports coach whose team you’d like to join. Doing so can convey the degree of your interest and can attach a face to you as an applicant. While this piece of advice is certainly more applicable to your admissions process, a successful meeting with financial aid may help you leave with a better vibe about the school.

6. Explore the area. Unless the college is located in a small town, you will likely spend a considerable amount of time exploring a school’s local area once you become a student. Stepping off campus during your visit and exploring the larger town or city can therefore be helpful in making your decision. Even a drive or a run around the nearby neighborhood can provide a good deal of perspective.

There are many other things you may want to keep in mind during your college visit, but hopefully this list provides you with a good starting point. Ultimately, however, even if you look for all the right things and ask all the right questions, the greatest benefit you get from a tour is the feeling in your gut the moment you walk away – the vibe. If the vibe is a good one, many of the above discussed details matter far less.

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If there’s one thing The Great Recession has taught us, it’s that a college degree is becoming increasingly important in order to land a well-paying, stable job. Gone are the days when you can work your way up the corporate ladder with just a high school diploma. Instead, employers are becoming more and more selective in whom they choose to interview and eventually hire.

With this in mind, it should be obvious that college degrees should be oriented around how to find the best job with your particular skill set. Flexibility is a must! For many, this is simple: many degrees, such as a marketing degree, mathematics degree, or engineering degree are useful in several different areas, rather than being confining in nature.

However, what if you have a more creative bent of mind, or are interested in studying what you’re passionate about, rather than what “makes sense”? Does the new economic climate make these studies impractical or—even worse—obsolete?

In a 2008 article, Michael Roth argued that a liberal arts education is valuable regardless of the job market. “A successful liberal arts education develops the capacity for innovation and for judgment,” Roth wrote. “Those who can imagine how best to reconfigure existing resources and project future results will be the shapers of our economy and culture. We seldom get to have all the information we would like, but still we must act. The habits of mind developed in a liberal arts context often result in combinations of focus and flexibility that make for intelligent, and sometimes courageous risk taking for critical assessment of those risks.”

While this sounds good, how can current and future college students study what they love while still keeping an eye to the future? While it may seem ideal to study what you’re passionate about, it is more feasible to minor in what you love and major in something more practical (as painful as that sounds).  This isn’t to say that you should study something that is completely uninteresting to you, however.

For example, you might want to be a world-famous poet. You could minor in creative writing, but major in marketing. That way, when you have finished your first book, you will know how to take your work and market it to the world, rather than relying on others to do it for you. The same applies for any artistic endeavor. There are millions of artists out there who no one has ever heard of, for the simple reason that they do not know how to get their work noticed.

Conversely, if your interests run more toward the intellectual—philosophy, history, literature, etc.—and you entertain thoughts of teaching, be prepared to major in education and minor in your favorite subject, or to head directly into graduate school. While most schools do not require a master’s degree to teach at the elementary or middle school levels, some do require an advanced degree to teach at the high school level.

The thing to remember when deciding on your course of study at college is that you want to study something that you are interested in, or you will have little motivation to succeed. If you spend four or more years studying a subject about which you have no passion, then you will spend the rest of your life pursuing a career that will be lackluster at best.

So go ahead and study what you love. Just be smart about it, and be sure that you have thought well into the future as to how you will best be able to use your education in the job market. While it may seem romantic to be a struggling artist who lives on love, the reality is that this grows very old, very quickly. So think ahead, and make the most of your education. Best of luck!

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It all starts out the way you imagined. You and your spouse graduated from college, got married, moved into a house and even had your first baby.  Now your spouse brings up the subject of going back to school!  She has always wanted to be a lawyer but between getting married and having children it was put on the back burner.  Now that things are somewhat calmed down an opportunity has presented itself.  World winds of thoughts go through your head – thinking about exactly how do you become a lawyer? How much does it cost? Or how will we pay for our expenses?  These questions are valid; let’s discuss some of these in a little more detail.

What Does It Take To Become A Lawyer?

Graduating from both high school and college is the first step to becoming an attorney.  After getting your four year degree you need to apply and attend law school.  After law school the bar exam needs to be taken and passed.  Finally, a newly appointed lawyer will be sworn in and start applying for legal positions.  So how long does it take to become a lawyer?  Including high school, it’s an 11 year journey.  Law school is typically 3 years.

How Much Does Law School Cost?

The cost of law school varies depending on where you attend.  Some law schools can be as ‘cheap’ as $15 – $20,000 a year where as more prestigious law school cost upwards to $50,000 + for each year.  The good news is that there is a lot of student loan options available.  Interest rates are pretty reasonable and you can take out a little more then what school costs to help cover additional costs.

How Do We Pay Our Bills?

As mentioned above, student loans are available to individuals looking to go back to further their education.  Most student loan programs understand that working full time while attending school isn’t always possible.  For these individuals – taking out additional loans is possible to cover bills.  Yes it will need to be paid back but if you’re going to school it should be your priority.  This is sometimes difficult for the spouse not going back to school to understand but it’s an important part to recognize in order to be supportive. Bills always need to be paid but you would be amazed how much you can save by just making small cuts from your normal spending patterns.  For just example:

• Brew your own coffee – each coffee from Caribou costs roughly $3-$5.00
• Downgrade or cancel your cable – Netflix is an extremely cheap alternative to cable saving almost $50.00 per month.
• Readjust cell phone plans – $5-$10 per month can be trimmed by downgrading data & texting plans.
• Call up insurance companies – Do you need full insurance on your car? Can you raise your deductible on your house?  These have their pros and cons but you’re looking to cut just a little from several bills.  This option can save you hundreds of dollars each year.
• Eat out less – Eating out is a luxury and can get expensive.  If you eat out twice a week try cutting it down to one time.  That can easy save $30-$50 a week for a family.

Nobody said the money aspect of going back to school would be easy but I outlined just a few options above to easily save several hundred dollars per year.   When you’re living off of an income that is less then what your use to every dollar saved counts.

Being Supportive Is Hard But Rewarding

It’s never convenient for you or a spouse to go back to school.   It’s a big commitment, expensive, and adds stress to the entire family.  However, knowing that your significant other is happy with their career choice is very rewarding.  They will remember that you stuck with them and you both can share stories and laugh about the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ experiences together.  Plus as an attorney – hopefully their making some good money which is always good for future vacations and toys!

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In today`s high tech society, distance learning is becoming an increasingly popular choice for students wishing to earn a college degree. Distance learning simply means that you attend class outside of a traditional classroom setting, typically through online courses or telecourses. Numerous accredited educational institutions offer distance learning courses and degree programs. Although these programs offer several advantages, you need to make sure that distance learning is the right choice for you. Successful distance learners share a few common characteristics.

Distance learners are independent people who learn best through reading and research. They do just as well, if not better, without instructors looking over their shoulders. Although some students need professors to keep them focused and motivated, distance learners are quite capable of motivating themselves. They are able to set and meet their own deadlines and goals.

Successful distance learning students are self-disciplined and organized. Although your instructor will assign homework and set deadlines, you will have to manage your time wisely by setting an effective schedule and sticking to it. If you tend to procrastinate until the very last minute, then distance learning probably isn`t the right educational path for you.

Do you have excellent reading and writing skills? Most distance education courses require you to master the course material only through written text. You have to be able to understand and follow written directions because you won`t have any face-to-face meetings with your instructors. You also might be required to communicate with your fellow students on a classroom forum or a discussion board. In addition, a majority of the distance learning assignments are in the form of written essays.

Successful distance learners have fantastic focusing abilities. You must be able to ignore ringing cell phones, friends dropping by and your favorite television shows and stay focused on your schoolwork. If you can easily filter out constant distractions, you have a great chance of succeeding in a distance learning setting.

Before enrolling in a distance education program, seriously consider whether you have the time to devote to your studies. Although there is a common misconception that distance learning courses are easier than traditional college courses, this is simply not true. You will need to spend at least as much time on your coursework as you would if you were attending a traditional class. A good rule of thumb is that you should devote 10 to 15 hours every week for each 3-credit course you are taking. If your schedule can`t handle this time commitment, you should reconsider distance education.

You must have at least basic computer skills to succeed at distance learning. You should be capable of emailing your instructor, browsing the internet, logging into your class`s website, searching online library databases and possibly downloading required software. Since most assignments will be in written form, you also need to be comfortable using a word processing program.

Are you okay with having limited social interaction with your instructor and fellow classmates? You will probably interact with them only through emails, forum postings or discussion boards. Although you might work in online study groups or on virtual teams, you still won`t have the same level of camaraderie that you would get if attending class in a traditional setting. Some students learn best by interacting with their instructors face-to-face and conversing with other students in group discussions. Be sure that you recognize your own personal needs before you spend a lot of time and money on a distance learning course that just doesn`t suit your personality.

If you possess the traits listed above and are thinking of enrolling in distance learning courses, you need to find a program that`s right for you. Reputable websites such as college.com allow you to research the various distance learning degree programs and find courses that pique your interest.

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Online learning and online degrees are no longer viewed as a lesser credential in the professional world. On the contrary, many employers in specific areas of industry seek employees with specific skills that online learning promotes. Many attributes online learning and online learners present are some of the most valuable qualities an employee can possess in today’s professional atmosphere. This being said, there are numerous job opportunities available to online degree holders in today’s market.

Though the job market continues to be a challenging and turbulent environment for job-hopefuls, there are endless areas that an online learner can contribute to if the position is available. For employers, it is not so much the type of degree a candidate obtains, but rather what characteristics and traits a candidate demonstrates with (and because of) that degree. These three traits fostered in the online classroom are highly desired within the professional world today.

Strong Written Communication Skills

The ability to effectively communicate with all different types of personalities and in all different forms is one of the most essential skills any employee (or individual) can possess and master. Because online learning takes place in a non-traditional setting, students must learn to communicate with their classmates and professors in new and different forms. Most communication is done through email or online chat. So, these students become masters of written communication.

While face-to-face discussion and expression is no doubt essential in the professional world, written communication is something many people seem to struggle with as professional adults. Students coming from an online background are comfortable with written forms of expression in a professional manner. Being able to accurately and effectively express your concerns, needs, thoughts, ideas, and questions through writing is paramount in any area of industry. Many employers recognize that online learners are more familiar and therefore (typically) more comfortable with written expression.

Self-Motivation and Discipline

Another attribute of online learning is a certain level of self-determination and motivation that is highly regarded in any professional setting. Employees who are capable of motivating themselves to complete their work to the best of their ability can be difficult to come by. Moreover, finding individuals with the self-discipline to complete a project or assignment that is challenging, new, or unsupervised can be difficult.

Many of the students who enter online programs are those that are also working full or part time, maintaining a family, or participating in some other personal activity that requires their time and attention. These students display a tremendous capacity for self-motivation and determination, managing several aspects of adult life while also maintaining their academic lives. Online learning is a fairly individual endeavor, encourages students to complete assignments on their own time and in their own way. Online learning fosters independence and confidence in students that is a welcomed asset in the professional world after they graduate.

Comfortable with all forms of Modern Technology

While this trait may seem rather obvious and inconsequential, an aptitude with new forms of technology is extraordinarily important in the professional world. Online students are exposed to many different forms of new technology, including programs, devices, and methods. This knowledge can be extremely useful and sought after in the professional arena. However, even more so, having a level of comfort with new forms of technology is even more valuable. Even if an individual has never seen or used some new form of technology, if they were online learners they are likely comfortable with trying and learning new forms of technology without too much hesitation.

This confidence and ability to learn new things is very desirable in today’s working world. Furthermore, students from an online learning background have a significant level of comfort with online work (obviously). They are able to quickly and easily navigate the web for the things they need. Use of the web and web technology will only continue to grow throughout all areas of industry. For this reason, online learners possess essential traits concerning technology and ways of thinking for the world today.

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The digital revolution has already come to classrooms across the country: Students from all grade levels are using programs like Skype to video chat with virtual pen pals, playing outcome-based education games on computers, and e-mailing their teachers for help with homework. And e-books are slowly being added to the arsenal of resources used for teaching and learning.

The e-book industry has exploded over the past couple of years, thanks to Amazon’s family of Kindle e-readers, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, and Apple’s iPad. In fact, Amazon is selling more e-books than physical books this year—but digital textbook sales aren’t nearly as brisk, despite doubling from 2.1 percent to about five percent from last spring to this fall. There are multiple factors that could be interfering with digital textbook popularity—price, availability, access to e-readers. More importantly, if publishers are eager to make the switch, they’ll have to find ways to make it easy for teachers and students to use them.

So, what can publishers and educators do to make digital textbooks more financially viable and popular among students? And how can digital textbooks be used to enhance the learning experience? I thought you’d never ask.

More than just a book

There are advantages of going digital with your textbooks, particularly for college students: carrying dozens of books on one small device instead of a heavy backpack is just one. But a simple digital copy of a paper book doesn’t do students much good if there aren’t any interactive features or additional content. Academic publishers are designing digital texts that include videos, interactive exercises, and other elements of multimedia. Features like these can encourage collaboration among students making it easier to trade notes and participate in discussion forums. For college students earning online degrees, a digital text that can interact with other readers which can be remarkably valuable.

Name your price

Of course, a digital textbook with bells and whistles will almost certainly cost a lot to produce—and those costs will be passed on to consumers. But with the price of tuition rising steadily from year to year, students aren’t likely to clamor for more expensive textbooks. Luckily, companies like Amazon and Chegg are offering students an alternative to buying digital textbooks, with options to rent books for as few as 30 days. Many e-books allow users to take notes—an important feature for college students—and rented digital texts allow students to keep the notes they’ve “written” in their books. With apps for mobile phones and tablets, students can read and take notes wherever they are. This doesn’t solve the problem for students who prefer to keep their books from previous semesters, but it does offer some relief for students interested in using technology instead of traditional paper books.

Although the Internet and advances in computer technology have shaped the way students learn now, digital textbooks have a long way to go before they’re fully integrated into school resources. As more publishers invest time and money into producing digital textbooks—and as more teachers and students begin to choose them over paper books—sales may begin to grow as quickly as the rest of the digital book market.

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In today’s tech centric society, online education has become an ever more popular choice for our learning needs. There are numerous institutions offering online courses and programs that help non-traditional students obtain the degrees they desire. Online learning is a wonderful choice for many different types of students. However, there are several challenges that online learners may face in the online classroom.

Because most of us grew up in a traditional learning atmosphere, making the transition to an online classroom environment can be a struggle. While it is in no way impossible to adjust to a new way of learning, many students struggle with the flexible, self-motivated nature of online education. As new (or veteran) students to the world of online education, take note of these three tips to help you become more successful in the online classroom.

Create a Consistent Schedule

One of the most basic differences between a traditional brick and mortar college experience and an online learning situation is the class schedule difference. Online classes rarely require students to “attend” class at a specific time. Students choose when they would like to do their work and complete their assignments within a given time.

This can be a serious issue for many students who have grown up with the structured scheduling of most traditional schools. It is imperative for online students to develop a regular and consistent class schedule of their own to be successful as an online student. Choose a specific time that you will review class materials and complete your assignments. You should stick to this schedule as carefully as possible. It can be easy to fall behind in an online class with less structure than you are used to. Create a schedule and impose it upon yourself strictly to stay on top of your work.

Find a Successful Study Area

While working from the comfort of your own home can be a huge luxury involved with online learning, it can also pose some challenges. The atmosphere and location in which you do your learning is one of the most essential factors of successful learning. Doing schoolwork out of your personal space can make it difficult to maintain focus. Our homes are typically the place we go to relax. Our minds are not in school mode when we are in our own personal spaces for the most part. For this reason, it is essential that you create an at-home classroom that is conducive to learning.

Pick an area of your home that is away from distraction and noise. You want to try to study and work in the same spot every time so that you can train your mind and body to view this place as an environment for concentration and deep thought. Do not put your study area in your bedroom, in front of a television, or at the dining room table. Each of these areas are for different activities. You want your study space to be a space only for learning and thinking.

Mind Your Equipment

Obviously, if you are completing courses online, your computer is an essential aspect of your education. It is important as a distance learner to maintain a healthy computer and system. Blaming late assignments on malfunctions with technologies or devices is the oldest trick in the book and just won’t cut it in the online learning world. As a responsible online learner, you have to take dedicated care of your computer. Back up your material on an external hard drive or with a cloud system, so that you are sure not to lose any of your important school documents. You should regularly update your computer and be sure to keep it in its best running order.

While this may sound silly or trite, your education really relies on the success of your computer. Don’t let something silly like a computer error or bug cause you to lose all of your material.

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