An Online Degree Opens Doors

In February, Blackboard Inc. completed its merger with WebCT Inc. The two companies, once competitors in the online education marketplace, are planning to combine the best that each has to offer to students seeking online degrees. The news couldn't be better for students enrolling in courses online.
If you're considering entering an online degree program, you can look forward to the new and improved technologies offered by companies like Blackboard, which are designed to make your online learning experience as easy and productive as possible.

What Do Online Programs Like Blackboard Do?

These programs are Course Management Systems that schools use to offer classes online. They provide students and teachers with a user-friendly way to communicate and carry out all class activities usually involved in an online degree. Best of all, they provide a one-stop shop for all your course materials online.

Online Course Management System Features

Unlike a traditional course binder, which can be bulky and unorganized, these new online technologies can provide you with an organized and easy-to-use online "notebook." Here are some of the most common features you can look forward to:

• A Course Syllabus: As an online student, you can refer to a digital copy of the class syllabus.
• Course Lectures: Class lectures are available to you around the clock.
• Assignments: You can access up-to-date course assignments at any time online.
• Calendar: A course calendar provides daily updates, due dates, announcements, and more to help you manage your time and stay informed.
• Chat Rooms/Posts: From the main page you can interact with your online classmates and discuss important class issues in a live setting or through regular postings online.

Online Programs Create a Convenient, Worry-Free Learning Environment

Online tools like Blackboard and WebCT will make your online degree program much easier to manage by allowing you to access each and every course you are enrolled in, all in one place. In addition to having easy access to all course materials online, you will be able to turn in all your work through the same program--no more worrying about lost emails or even worse, snail mail!
These course management tools are taking the potential hassles out of getting an education, and making it easier for busy students like you to manage an online degree program.
Sources:
"Course Management Systems" EduTools
"Blackboard Inc. Completes Merger With WebCT, Inc." Blackboard Investor Center

T. Jansen is a freelance writer and Ph.D. candidate in the education field

Online Training Can Keep You Employed

On the last business day of April 2006, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. Over the year, the job openings rate increased in several industries, with the largest gains in information and educational services.

What Can You Do to Remain Employable?

There are no guarantees in today's world. Just because you have years of experience, there is no assurance that you'll have a job tomorrow, much less next year. One way you can improve your chances of avoiding the unemployment line is to enroll in online training or online learning programs to increase your skill set. E-learning is one of the best educational options for someone who wants to continue to work while they go to school.

Online Learning: The Key to Continued Success

A common mistake many people make is replacing their old job with a similar job at another company. Often they don't have an opportunity to advance to a better position because they haven't increased their skills through continued education. Online learning programs are a great way to keep up-to-date in the latest information in your industry or break into a new industry all together. If you're always learning, you're always employable.

Where the Jobs Are

Figuring out which online learning program is the right one could be as simple as reviewing the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, available on their website. It provides information on trends for 300 of the most popular jobs in the United States and can give you an idea of what areas are growing, so you can choose online learning or online training programs that will put you in a position of power in the labor market in your chosen field or another growing field.

E-Learning and You

For working adults, e-learning is a great option for updating your skills. E-learning allows working adults to take online training courses when it's convenient for them, without interfering with their current career and family obligations. With online learning programs available in just about every discipline imaginable, the only question left is how e-learning will change your life.
Sources:
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Gain SkillsMove Ahead

Edward Castro is a freelance writer specializing in new technology, entertainment, and the World Wide Web. He currently assists entrepreneurs in using the Web.

Course Structure Matters in Online Education

Before you begin your elearning experience, make sure you know what you're getting into. Studies show that simple elements of the courses you take online can have a major impact on your overall experience.
Recently the journal Online Cl@ssroom reported that a study by David Stein indicates that course structure affects student satisfaction. The study found that some of the most important structural elements of online courses are clarity of course objectives and the amount of interaction involved.

In Online Education Clarity Is Key

Stein's study found that one of the more important issues for students enrolled in courses online is that the structure makes sense. Online students have a greater need for "clearly defined objectives, assignments, and deadlines" than traditional students. When considering which courses to take online, make sure to check out the course website and see if the structure of the course is clearly defined.

Interaction Is Important When it Comes to Elearning

According to the study, class participation can vary significantly. Elearning students said that interaction between the instructor and the students is the most important factor when it comes to the overall value of the class.
Before you begin your education online, make sure that the college encourages and even requires high levels of student-teacher communication. The course should clearly call for several kinds of interaction such as regular email communication, live class chat rooms, question and answer sessions, and weekly posts.

Not All Courses Are the Same Online

As with any learning environment, elearning experiences will differ from course to course and school to school. Part of your responsibility as a student is researching your future courses and institution.
When considering your choices for online education, make sure that you know what kind of environment will help you to succeed. If you're like most students, your satisfaction will be affected by the structure of the course. Look for course goal clarity and high levels of student-teacher interaction in the courses you sign up for online, and you will better your chances of getting the most out of your elearning experience.
Source:
"Student Satisfaction Depends on Course Structure." Online Cl@ssroom. February 2004.

T. Jansen is a freelance writer and Ph.D. candidate in the education field.

Prime for Online: More Adults Continuing Education

This fall when millions of college students read their class syllabi, only 16% will be 18-22 year-old students hanging out on campus. Surprisingly, most students are working adults who are juggling families, work, and school. Many of these adult learners have found that online learning is their best option.

Why Adults Are Continuing Education

We're learning more skills because we need them for our careers. The surge in the number of nontraditional students isn't as shocking when you consider that 90% of the fastest-growing jobs require some kind of postsecondary education.
We're also learning more because the Internet makes relevant courses readily available. You no longer have to wait six months for a class to begin or need to worry about scheduling conflicts. Working professionals have the benefit of fitting an online class into their lives instead of arranging life around a class.

Driving the Need for Online Learning

One of the greatest benefits of online learning is the quick response to students' needs. The variety and number of classes, including vocational training, have quickly multiplied in the last few years. Over two million students have enrolled in online classes, and many more plan to pursue online degrees.
If a particular course wasn't offered the last time you checked, check again to see if it's been added. Better yet, send the school a suggestion that they add the course in which you're interested. If you know others who are also interested in the same online class, ask them to contact the school as well. Numbers matter, especially to administrators.
Whether it's vocational training in locksmithing or an introductory course in children's writing, there are educational opportunities available online to suit all learners' professional and personal needs.
Source:
"Hidden in Plain Sight: Adult Learners Forge a New Tradition in Higher Education," Department of Education.

Free Money: Grants Offer Education Funding

Education can be expensive, but grants can help you get some of the money you need for college. With grants, unlike loans, you don't have to pay the money you receive back, so they're well worth pursuing. According to the Wall Street Journal, hundreds of millions of grant dollars are available for students who need money for college.

What Are Grants?

Simply put, grants are money you receive for college that you do not have to repay. However, grants usually won't cover all college expenses, so you'll probably need to supplement them with further student financial aid.

Government Grants Provide Money for College

The federal government is always the first place to start securing student financial aid. Federal grants are based on students' financial need. The largest federal grant program is the Federal Pell Grant, helping undergraduate students cover their college expenses. If you have "exceptional financial need," you can also get money for college with the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). To be considered for any federal student financial aid, you need to file an FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Individual states help students by giving students money for college with the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program. Based on financial need, the amount you receive for a grant depends on the estimated amount you or your family members are expected to contribute, cost of college attendance, whether you attend college full or part time, and whether you attend college for the full academic year. Each state has its own application, so check with your state higher education office.

Private Sources Also Offer Student Financial Aid

Although the federal government provides the majority of student financial aid, many private foundations and colleges also offer grants that could help by giving you money for college. Sources that offer free money for college can be found on websites or in books at your local libraries, bookstores, and high school guidance offices.
As long as you submit your FAFSA, however, you have a start toward obtaining additional money for college. In addition, when you apply for grants through the FAFSA, the federal government will automatically consider you for both federal subsidized and federal unsubsidized loans.
Sources:
Wall Street Journal
Federal Student Aid

H.L. Staples teaches at Syracuse University in on-campus and distance learning formats. Her articles have appeared in The Boston Review, Denver Quarterly, The Georgia Review, and elsewhere.

Michigan Pioneers Online Learning Requirement for High School Students

According to The Gallup Poll, 56% of Americans think high school students should not be required to take one online class as part of a mandatory graduation requirement. Michigan--the first state to pass such a requirement as part of their new Michigan Merit Curriculum--strongly disagrees.

Online Learning Prepares Students

This spring Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm signed legislation requiring all high school students to have an online learning experience prior to graduating. Granholm proposes that the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) "will help ensure that every student in Michigan is prepared for college or technical training when they finish high school."

Online Education in Traditional Classrooms

The MMC states that Michigan's students must either take an online course or have online learning incorporated into each of the sixteen required credits of the MMC. This gives teachers and administrators the chance to emphasize the Internet as more than a place to play video games or instant message friends.
Liz Pape, president and CEO of Virtual High School, believes that although students are comfortable with informal online communication for social networking (think MySpace for instance), their literacy skills on the Internet need help. "What has happened to K-12 online education is that we're finally talking about standards. The benefit of that is going to be the fact that the delivery of those online classes will set standards for classroom teachers who will need to have online components. We need to take what we have in online courses and transfer it to classroom teachers, so students can go beyond the walls and into online research."

Online Classes Complement Traditional Classes

Having grown up with technology and the Internet, today's students are comfortable with computers. It makes sense for educators to familiarize students with online learning as opportunities for online continuing education and vocational training become more available. With Michigan leading the way, online education looks to be joining with the traditional classroom experience.
Sources:
Caronia, Nancy, "Michigan Proposes Online Course Requirement," Government Video, April 1, 2006: 38. "Improving Outcomes for High School Students," Michigan Department of Education
Koren, James, "Graduation Worries," Lenawee Connection
Lyons, Linda, "Should High Schools Require an Online Course?" The Gallup Poll Tuesday Briefing, October 2005: 66. Watson, Heidi, "Governor Signs Bills Establishing Rigorous High School Curriculum," Michigan.gov

Getting Help from the Government with Federal College Loans

If you need money to pay for college, consider taking out a student loan. According to the College Board, loans make up the largest form of student financial aid, comprising a total of 54 percent of the total student financial aid awarded each year for college attendance. There are two major types of college loans--loans based on financial need and non-need based loans--and many of these loans are offered through federal government programs.

Need-Based Federal Loans for College

The federal government is the chief provider of need-based student financial aid. These loans usually have low interest rates, delayed repayment, and an interest subsidy paid by the federal government on the interest that accrues while you're in college. The most typical need-based loans are the Federal Perkins Loan, the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, and subsidized direct loans.
Since these loans are need based, to qualify for federal loans, you'll need to report your family income by filing a FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The federal government awards student financial aid on a first-come, first-serve basis, so submit your FAFSA to the federal government as soon as possible after January 1 of the year you plan to attend school.

Federal Non-Need Based Loans

The federal government, colleges, and banks all provide non-need based student loans. These loans usually have higher interest rates, no interest subsidy, and a requirement to begin to repay principal immediately upon graduation from college. The standard non-need based loans are the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, PLUS Loans (a loan for parents), and private loans like the GATE loans. To qualify, you'll need to file a FAFSA. Non-need based loans often require a credit check, and approval is required.
For many people in need of money for college, loans play a key role in covering tuition and college-related expenses. The many available loans providing money for college mean that no matter what your financial situation, you can likely find the student financial aid you need.
Source:
College Board

H.L. Staples teaches at Syracuse University in on-campus and distance learning formats. Her articles have appeared in The Boston Review, Denver Quarterly, The Georgia Review, and elsewhere.