Posts Tagged understanding

Educating for Understanding by Project Zero

Description
This comprehensive professional development program, filmed at Harvard University, presents the work of Project Zero, a research group at the Graduate School of Education that explores the development of learning in children, adults, and organizations. Through this video series and accompanying staff development guide, Project Zero staff provide an examination of how understanding can be viewed, taught, assessed, and deepened. Featuring Howard Gardner and David Perkins, f… More >>

Educating for Understanding by Project Zero

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , ,

Understanding Online College Education And Degrees

Technology revolutionized everything.  In this digital age, every seems to be just a click away.  Online shopping, movie streaming, catching up with old friends and even earning online college degrees are possible.  Regardless of geographical distances, internet has learned to connect people.  

Online college education has become so popular, that an approximate 2 million students attend different online college programs in the United States alone.  The numbers are increasing.  Although, outnumbered by students who would still attend traditional colleges and schools, the number is significant which is why more and more educational institutions are offering online programs. Virtual colleges are also being developed.

Simply, online college education is about going through your studies on the internet.  There are synchronous online discussions, course readings could be downloaded on the internet, assignments and exercises are also conducted online.  Of course, everything is relied on the use of technology which is why it is important for online students to have at least basic navigation skills on different programs used by the degree program.

In earning online college degree programs, the focus and the one who will decide on the pace, will be the student.  Students would get to decide on what classes will best fit their time and they would be able to work on their classes based also on their time. In addition to that, students can study regardless of geographical location.  They could attend classes without spending on transportation or renting a room near the school or university. These characteristics makes online college programs ideal for single parents, those who are working, and those who have disability.

There are some college programs that would rely completely on technology.  The tools, readings, workbooks and everything else are online.  Online education maximizes e-mails, word documents, message boards and chat rooms for discussions.  Written communication is how students mainly interact with each other and with their course expert.

In online education, there are two kinds of classes: the asynchronous and the synchronous classes.  Asynchronous classes do not have specified meeting times. Since online students would have different schedules and free time.  This type of classes or learning would require students to be articulate in writing to be able to communicate effectively.  

Synchronous classes on the other hand would have specific meeting times.  It could through video conferencing, teleconference and chatting.  This would require students to possess necessary equipment needed for the sessions.  Will all its technical demands, synchronous classes would offer the human interaction that some students may need to show progress on their work.  

A sure way to see if the online educational institution you would like to apply to is qualified and has met the standards of quality education, then there are accreditors that set academic standards.  There are two accrediting agencies in the United States, the U.S. Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Online accreditation would review the online institution’s teaching methods, curriculum, and the credentials of the teachers and staff members.  Accrediting institutions and agencies would then issue certificates to online college institutions that met their standards.  

Accreditation is important when choosing an online college degree program.  This would give you an insight if the subjects and courses offered will equip students with the necessary skill. It is important to understand though, that different from traditional colleges, online college degrees would rely much on the students motivation and discipline.  

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , ,

Tips to understanding the ABC’s of online colleges

The world of education has been revolutionized. E-learning is a world where by using simple computing skills and having an Internet connection one can earn a bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree. Nothing is impossible.

Young or old, whether you live in a rural environment or urban, online learning is for all. A person can further their education, train to enhance their skills, continue professional education, or take a course for the love of it.

A large number of reputed universities offer online courses which can be completed from home, a library, or workplace. The courses are multi-disciplinary and interactive with discussion boards, chat rooms, personal tutors, as well as course study guides.

Self-paced, a student decides when to learn, how to learn, when to be assessed. A wealth of resources offered by the World Wide Web makes learning easy. From the PC one can access books, journals, and thesis, new as well as old in the many online libraries. These are open 24/7 and students can complete their reference work at leisure. Being electronic these libraries offer facilities like automatic generation of bibliography and so on.

Find out more about the wonderful world of online colleges by using the World Wide Web. Thousands of articles as well as sites offer advice as well as information on programs and links to colleges.

Examples are:

• WorldWideLearn at http://www.worldwidelearn.com/ is a directory with information, articles on online learning, different search engines to facilitate search by subject, location, school identity and so on. It offers information in 408 subject areas offered by schools and colleges both online and at 516 locations in the United States and Canada.

• Online Education.Info at http://www.online-education.info/ lists various degree and certificate programs, popular institutions, as well as colleges by state.

• OnlineCareers.com at http://www.onlinecareers.com/ is devoted to career change, development, and skill enhancement.

• eLearners.com at http://www.elearners.com/, features 84 accredited online colleges and universities.

• 2005 Colleges, College Scholarships, and Financial Aid Page at http://www.college-scholarships.com/ssac.htm contains information presented by the American Educational Guidance Center. It gives information on and links to accredited online degree colleges as well as universities. Contains valuable information on preparation for qualifying exams as well as financial aid and scholarships.

• Search for Colleges Network at http://www.searchforcolleges.net/ is a directory of post-secondary educational resources, schools, colleges, and universities that offer undergraduate online degrees.

• The Education Department at http://www.educationdepartment.org/ is an US Education Department Website featuring several learning options, an occupations guide,

Online courses need:

• User comfort with a text based environment. A large fraction of study material is visual.

• A basic knowledge of computers, Internet, and e-mail.

• Synchronization of interaction between student and teacher or mentor. A deep understanding between the two fosters higher learning curves.

• A thirst for learning and the discipline that comes with it. It needs to be a quest for excellence.

• Commitment as far as time and effort are concerned. At the minimum a student needs three hours of study for every three hours spent in class. A three-unit course needs 12 hours of study per week. The benefit is that these hours can be fulfilled at the convenience of the student.

To be successful a student must:

• Set goals.

• Establish and maintain a regular study/learning schedule.

• Share the experience with others. Have a study partner or group or have a mentor.

• Optimize personal learning style. Learn hands on.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

• Set rewards for even small achievements.

Check accreditation as well as credibility. Even online education has a downside. Protect yourself from being duped. Realize your dreams educate yourself without constrains.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for
Online Colleges , the premier website to find top ranking colleges online directory including topics on public colleges, private colleges, online college, college course online, information on college costs, financial aid, degrees awarded, enrolments and more. His article profile can be found at the premier College News Article Submission site
Online Colleges Articles.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , ,

Powered by Yahoo! Answers