Getting Ahead In Your Career With An Online Education

By Tango Pang

The path to get ahead, as many studies and surveys have brought out, is taking some online courses or getting an online degree. This opportunity that has rapidly evolved in the recent years allows many of us who do not have access to university or college campus due to various reasons to get ahead and obtain an education certification. Today, more and more institutions are offering a variety of classes online and you can choose between a certificate, a diploma or even a degree.

Online education opens vistas that were unavailable previously. It allows people to take courses in their own time while continuing to pursue their jobs. Study through online also allow people to upgrade their existing skills, or perhaps change their careers completely. Those who are unable to go back to school full time can still pursue their dreams while working and thus able to continue to pay the bills of everyday life. Not everyone can quit a job for school as student loans are not easy to obtain and they do not cover enough of the costs associated with a quality education program.

The individuals who need to to work can continue do so and yet at the same time, obtain an online education. They can get online and do their course work whenever they are able to spare
some time. To get ahead and quality education, sparing a few hours each evening and on the weekends is not much to ask for, especially when it places you on the fast track to a new career with better pay.

Online education may also be the perfect choice for you if you don't live in a metropolitan area. In the past, students would have had to move to a city that housed a college or university. This was just about impossible if your spouse had a great job and your kids were still in school. Unfortunately in these situations, the education had to be put on hold. This is no longer true as you can log on and work toward that degree without even leaving your house - beauty of technology.

With most online education classes, you sign up to whatever institution you would like to attend, no matter where it is, and they will send you all the material you will need almost immediately. Depending on the course layout, you may need to go to certain place to write the final exam, but the rest of the course work can be done at home at your own pace.

Before you consider taking any online classes, you should consider about how much time you will have to spend on your homework. Some people are under the wrong impression that online
courses are easier and take less time than classes taken in a traditional classroom setting. This is often not the case.

The time required for the course is generally discussed upfront with you. Most institutes indicate the normal duration and the minimum input required to meet that time schedule and commitment. Make sure that you can devote at least the minimum suggested required time. Often the time required is more than the recommended as the pupil is unable to lead a disciplined routine - common. It is very easy to get into the habit of putting things off to the next day. That is why it is important to set a deadlines that you adhere to strictly and do the daily work.

Online education is great for those who are discipline and can manage their time well. Many courses have advisers on call who can be contacted whenever you need clarifications. It is better to check your suitability for a course by taking on a few classes and shorter courses before signing up for a long duration degree course - you do not want to regret it only in the middle of the course program. If you can manage your time well, can lead a disciplined schedule, can finish the work in a timely manner, then the path of online education is meant just perfect for you.

About The Author:

Tango Pang is an authority in the Education field. Home Schooling need not be difficult. Visit
http://www.howto-homeschooling.com.

SEM Industry Training - What Are The Options?

By Kalena Jordan


The State of SEM Training

Search Engine Marketing is the hottest new career to sweep the employment sector. There are literally more jobs available than there are marketers to fill them, hence the high salaries. Traditionally, SEO/SEM has had a long, steep learning curve, so there is currently a large supply/demand gap.

The growth of the industry has underscored the need for faster, more flexible training options. The demand for trained SEO/SEM staff has accelerated the launch of online training programs in the past three years. The spread of misinformation and the growth of dodgy SEO practices have also highlighted a need for best-practice industry certification.


Advantages of a Career in SEM

Here are the major advantages of having a career in search engine marketing:

The search industry is hot, hot, HOT!
SEO considered one of four jobs on the cutting edge
The pay is (usually) fantastic
You can learn it all online
You can be your own boss
Search marketing has the WOW factor
The demand is strong and growing
The industry is hip and groovy
The skills are portable and global
Job satisfaction is high


SEM Training Options

If you decide to start that career in search engine marketing, you have numerous training options open to you:

Do It Yourself (DIY)
E-books and online manuals
Books and offline manuals
Conferences and seminars
In-person training
Online courses

Let's go through these training options one by one.


Do It Yourself (DIY)

You could try to learn search engine marketing on your own, by conducting your own research, reading widely in webmaster forums and honing your skills on your own sites via trial and error.
The advantages of learning SEM on your own are:

You can set your own timeframe
It's generally inexpensive
You have the satisfaction of acquiring skills on your own

The disadvantages of learning SEM on your own are:

There is a very long lead time
You will be faced with conflicting and unreliable information sources
There is only a limited ability to network with peers
Research is time-consuming
You won't know what works and what doesn't until you trial it
You'll have no record or proof of skills acquired


E-books and Online Manuals

There are plenty of e-books and manuals about search engine marketing available online.

The advantages of learning SEM via e-books and manuals are:

They are generally inexpensive
They are readily available

The disadvantages of learning SEM via e-books and manuals are:

They are generally considered lower quality than training
There is no interaction with your peers
You'll have no record or proof of skills acquired

Examples of SEM e-books and manuals include:

The SEO Book by Aaron Wall
The Nitty Gritty of Writing for the Search Engines by Jill Whalen
SEM: The Essential Best Practice Guide by Mike Grehan


Books and Offline Manuals

As with online versions, there are just as many physical books, CDs and offline training manuals available to persons wanting to learn search engine marketing.

The advantages of learning SEM via books and offline manuals are:

They are usually inexpensive
They are readily available

The advantages of learning SEM via books and offline manuals are:

The information dates quickly
There is no interaction with your peers
You’ll have no proof of skills acquired

Examples of SEM books and offline manuals include:

Search Engine Visibility by Shari Thurow
SitePoint’s SEM Kit by Dan Thies
Building Your Business with Google For Dummies by Brad Hill


Conferences and Seminars

As search engine marketing has grown as an industry, so too have the number of conferences and events dedicated to it.

The advantages of learning SEM via conferences and seminars are:

They offer cutting edge information
They often provide access to search engine staff
They give you the ability to network with peers

The disadvantages of learning SEM via conferences and seminars are:

You must travel to the venue
They generally provide no training material
They can be more expensive than other options
You’ll have no record or proof of skills acquired

Examples of SEM conferences and seminars include:

Search Engine Watch's Search Engine Strategies
Webmaster World's PubCon
Search Engine Land's Search Marketing Expo
Australia's Search Summit


In-person Training

Just as the number of conferences relating to search engine marketing has grown, so too has the demand for in-house training in SEO and SEM subjects.

The advantages of learning SEM via in-person training are:

It generally includes step-by-step instructions
Training material is usually provided
Verification of subjects studied is provided
You have the ability to network with your peers
Some form of certification is generally given
University credits are sometimes available
Certification may be recognized by potential employers

The disadvantages of learning SEM via in-person training are:

You must travel to the venue
The information can date quickly
It can be more expensive than other options

Examples of SEM in-person training include:

Bruce Clay's SEOToolSet
Jill Whalen's SEM Seminars
Robin Noble's Search Engine Workshops
Search Engine Bootcamp
Elite Retreat


Online Training Courses

It’s not always viable or affordable for webmasters to attend conferences or training sessions at a venue other than their home or workplace. For these reasons, the demand for online training in search engine marketing subjects has skyrocketed.

The advantages of learning SEM via online training courses are:

Courses are available 24/7 from any location worldwide
Training materials are provided
They are usually cheaper than venue-based options
They generally include step-by-step instructions
Courses are self-paced and interactive
Certification is provided
A knowledge benchmark is required to qualify for certification
Verification of subjects studied is provided
The lesson materials are updated regularly
University credits are sometimes available
Certification is usually recognized by potential employers
Training institutions can assist graduates with employment

The disadvantages of learning SEM via online training courses are:

They can be more expensive than other options
There is only a limited ability to network with peers

Providers of online training courses in search engine marketing include:

SEMPO Institute
Search Engine College


Benefits of Industry Certification

When it comes to industry certification, there are various schools of thought in the SEM industry. Some suggest certification is simply not necessary, others state that SEO/SEM has no official industry standards, so any certification is meaningless, still others insist that certification is becoming increasingly important to potential employers and persons seeking careers in SEO and SEM.

If you’re skeptical about the value of industry certification, ask yourself these questions: Will you be looking to hire search marketing staff over the next 12 months? Would you prefer to hire search marketing staff that hold industry certification? Will you be seeking a job in the search industry over the next 12 months? Do you think holding industry certification would give you an edge over applicants applying for the same jobs?

Here are some advantages to having industry certification in search engine marketing:

For Staff:

Proof of subjects studied and skills acquired
Ability to promote certification on web site / CV
An edge over other applicants when applying for SEO/SEM jobs.

For Employers:

Ability to hire based on a proven skill set (e.g. ability to set up a Yahoo! SEM campaign quickly). Ability to impress clients with certified status of staff.
Reassurance that search engine-approved methods are used.
Less on-the-job training is required.


To Sum Up

Everyone has a different learning style, so don’t assume one method will work for you. Don’t rely on a single source of training for your search engine marketing needs. Attend conferences, purchase books, take a course, network in forums and DIY when you can to acquire a broader knowledge base.

Finally, remember that training should always be supported by hands-on SEO/SEM experience so get those hands dirty!


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About the Author:

Article by Kalena Jordan, one of the first search engine optimization experts in Australia, who is well known and respected in the industry, particularly in the U.S. As well as running her own SEO business, Kalena is Director of Studies at Search Engine College - an online training institution offering instructor-led short courses and downloadable self-study courses in Search Engine Optimization and other Search Engine Marketing subjects.


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Finding The Best Course For Internet Marketing

By Salihu Ibrahim

The concept of internet marketing is very complex and there are many different strategies that you may want to implement. You have to worry about getting the information to your target marketing, offering quality materials on your website, the check out process, customer service, and getting a good ranking on the various search engines so that internet users will be directed to the materials.

It doesn't matter what type of goods or services you are offering online, it is vital that you have effective marketing strategies in place if you want to be successful. The more research you do first about effective marketing the better chance you have of making the most profits from your marketing ploys. It can be risky to invest in an online business but if you have done your homework you can significantly minimize that risk.

Some of the most successful online businesses started out with just an idea and a small business being operated out of a home or garage. Yet the fact that they were able to effectively advertise what they had to offer to the right consumers made them thousands and even millions of dollars. These individuals had more than luck on their side - they knew about effective marketing strategies and how to implement them.

There are plenty of different courses offered online to teach you the ins and outs of internet marketing. These can be very useful as the written material is information that you can refer
back to time and time again. It is important to look for an up to date course on internet marketing. Things change in this area rapidly so if you are reading material from five years ago many parts of it will be obsolete.

Take your time to look at what different courses on internet marketing have to offer you. Look for those that offer you the basic fundamentals of internet marketing in easy to understand terms. You also want to look at the price because this type of information shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg.

Make sure it offers you step by step instructions on how to get your website up and running. You also want information on how to offer a layout that will be appealing to those reading the
information on your web pages. Many of the different internet marketing courses offer you examples, templates, and information on registering your domain name.

Since each online business is different, look for a course on internet marketing that offers you a complete description of various strategies you can implement. You will need to find out what your competition is engaging in as well as the average cost of different internet marketing strategies. This includes classified ads, newsletters, e-mail marketing, and other types of contact with those in your target market.

The investment you make in any course for internet marketing needs to be one you are able to get a return on. Read reviews from other consumers to find out how effective a particular course is. It is also a good idea to consider those that offer a preview of the material or a money back guarantee.

About The Author:

Salihu Ibrahim is a online marketer with several websites providing free directory submission service to webmasters at http://www.gwona.com

Tips To Find the Best Online College

By James Gunaseelan

It is a known fact that most of us aspire to have a successful and fruitful life that we could be proud of and one of the best and surest ways where we could achieve that is through having a degree. But then, it is also a known fact that some of us were unfortunate enough that some time in our lives, we get to encounter some things that would hinder us into achieving that dream of having the degree that we are all dreaming of.

So right now, thanks to modern technology and other people's dedication in sharing their knowledge to others, we could have the education without leaving our homes and that is through enrolling in a learning institution that offers the best online college degree. But with so many online learning institutions, finding the best online college degree may sometimes be very confusing and leaves us feeling bombarded with the different choices. Read on and know the tips that you can take note of when you are looking for the best online college degree that would suit your needs and your passions.

One of the most logical and practical tips that you can take note of when you are looking for the best online college degree is to know the school's institutional reputation. And you could tell if the school is one of the best when you come to learn the exact age of the school or how long it has been established because this would initially tell you about their experience in the field. Another great tip when looking for the best online college degree is to know the curriculum of the course that the school is offering and see if they meet all your expectations, your educational needs, and if they would guarantee or at least help you out in achieving your career goals. It would also help it if you will know about their technological considerations for you to see how accessible and dependable they are at all times for the students.

And also, you may want to consider the this tip in looking for the best online college degree if they are student-friendly or know what are the online services that students from different places could easily avail in times of need. And of course, expenses is one of the most important things to consider when looking for the best online college degree and you could weigh in how much are they as compared to traditional way of learning and what are the expenses that involves in the tuition.

For Information Contract,Telecommuting and Part time Jobs in India Visit http://www.bharathcontractjobs.com/index.php

About The Author:

James Gunaseelan Wrties for India's No.1 Contract Job Portal
http://www.bharathcontractjobs.com/index.php

Five Tips To Ensure Your Online Degree Is Taken Seriously

By Bill Wilson

Do you want your employer, or prospective employer, to take your new distance learning degree or certificate program seriously? Of course you do - why else would you have invested
the time to earn this advanced degree or special certification? It is important for your employer to take your distance learning degree, or certificate program, seriously and appreciate the value of all your hard work and the new skills and knowledge you have obtained.

Advancing your career through continuing education, whether online or at a traditional university, is a serious matter. You should expect the value of your online education degree or
certification to be recognized by your present, or prospective, employer as long as they believe that your online school is credible. So, firstly, you can help yourself by following these two steps:

1. Make sure your distance learning school is fully accredited by a regional accrediting agency. This adds credibility and integrity to your educational accomplishments and real value to your degree or certificate.
2. Make sure that your online degree or certification is germane to the field that you are working or pursuing employment. A degree in Education will most likely not help you advance your career if you are an accountant.

If you are still concerned that your boss, or future employer, may be skeptical about the value of a degree earned through online courses, there are additional steps that you can take to put their fears to rest. These tips are not intended to deceive, but to paint your distance learning degree in the best possible light.

These tips are relatively straight forward and should be considered before selecting your online college or school.

• As mentioned above, one of the most important steps to take when you choose your distance learning program and school is to ensure that they are accredited by the appropriate regional agency.
• If possible, try to find online courses at a university that also has an active "brick and mortar" campus. More and more traditional colleges and universities are offering both in-class and online courses as they start to identify the benefits of online education for both school and student.
• Try to select a school that does not promote "online" or "distance learning" in their school name. Today, most schools offering online classes do not follow this practice, but there are still a few that do - avoid these institutions if this is a concern.
• Most credible distance learning schools are reachable during normal business hours. Make sure that your selected school has a "live" person answering their phones in case a prospective employer calls to verify your degree or request a copy of your school transcripts.
• Request a sample of the school's transcripts that would be forwarded to an employer. Make sure that the format and headings appear professional and do not contain references to online or distance learning classes or degrees.

Following these simple steps will give your distance learning degree or certificate program the best opportunity to be viewed by those few cynical employers with the same respect as a traditional school's degree. You worked hard for your online degree and are proud of it. So shouldn't you take the time to make sure it is given the consideration it deserves?

About The Author:

Bill Wilson is a professional researcher and writer. To learn more about distance learning degrees visit http://www.learningforsuccess.net/blog/ where you will find helpful tips for finding accredited online colleges.

Distance Learning MBA Basics

By Chonticha Marijne

If you've ever tried to earn a degree, no matter where or how, you know what it takes to reach your goals. If you've already achieved an Associate or Bachelor's degree, why not take your
education, and your earning clout, to another level by earning your Master's degree? What? You don't have the time with your job and family commitments to attend a traditional campus any more? No worries! Earn a distance learning MBA degree from the comfort of your own home or office.

Master of Business Administration degrees will open doors that you thought might be permanently closed. Today, there's no reason for anyone not to be able to attain the education dreams they've always aspired to, with the wealth of distance learning colleges out there. More state university systems are also adding online or distance learning curriculum to their rosters,
because they understand the needs of today's students and adults who would like to pursue further education goals.

Because traditional campus learning requires a major portion of any person's time, and one must often perform feats of magic to blend school time with work, job and family responsibilities, the concept of distance learning has taken education to a new level in the 21st century. If you have a computer, you can attend online classes from anywhere in the world. No longer are you limited to state or community college systems that are within driving distance of your front door. Taking advantage of a distance learning college or university to pursue your Master of Business Administration can get your career on the fast track. Work is available within just about every job sector market when it comes to degrees in business administration.

You don't have to work in a bank or other financial institution to put a MBA degree to good use. Every industry in the world needs gifted and educated men and women in their ranks to take care of the finances, legalities and day to day running practices of their companies. The health industry is one of the largest growing fields around the world these days and is expected to
hire millions before the year 2014. No matter which sector you enter, there are positions open and waiting for business administration graduates in health care management, billing, recording, and administrative. The same goes for the law enforcement field, within both private and governmental sectors.

Distance learning colleges and universities or extension programs should be fully accredited, so make sure they are before you fill out applications. You may also want to check into student financing and student support services before you decide. A distance learning MBA is one of the degrees that can be used in the widest variety of job sectors. Distance learning opportunities offer the courses you need, fully accredited and ready for you to start. Finding the college or university that offers the MBA course you are looking for is your decision. Completing coursework can be done as quickly as you want, or you may take your time. That's the beauty of distance learning. It's your decision when to sit down and study, not the other way around.

About The Author:

Find out more about earning your MBA and get tips and more on distance learning at
http://distancelearningrevealed.com .

Beware Of Fake Online Degree Scams

By Chris Chew

With modern technology, the internet offers students many opportunities to study for online college degrees. Students can also find a wealth of information regarding their online education ambition, for instance like how to apply for college student loan, how to find the right online college degree program for a wide variety of other online education information.

Since many prospective online students are usually working adults, more and more people are turning to the internet to obtain a college degree education program, studying completely from the internet.

However, do be careful when you choose an online college to study with. Beware of fake college degree scams. What many students fail to do is to research the online collegess accreditation process. This is a vital process and is done to make sure that the online college you chose to study from is genuine and creditable.

Since the benefits of an accredited college degree are plentiful, potential students need to ensure that the online college they study with offers fully accredited degrees. An accredited college degree is an endorsement and recognition that you have received a certain level of standard and quality in your education.

However, in the online degree industry, scams abound. There are many so called "degree-mills" on the internet which promise that you will receive degrees in half the time that is normally taken to study for a degree and some even to go as far as to claim that you can earn a college degree even without studying or taking examinations.

These scams and fake "colleges" only want your money and when you are done with them, you will be left with a degree that has not been through a proper accreditation process or worse, you will receive a fake college degree which is completely worthless. So you must beware of them.

A properly accredited online college degree program ensures that a student is receiving a high quality education that is the standard among colleges and universities both online and offline. By being accredited, it holds the online colleges and universities accountable for their performances and this auger well for employer's confidence in the degree's credibility.

By having a fully accredited online college degree by the proper governing boards ensures that your hard work is rewarded. Employers and other learning institutions will accept your degree as being credible.

Students who wish to apply for college financing can only do so if their college is properly accredited by the proper educational boards. No banks will give any college student loans to students who are intending to study with a college without accreditation.

Furthermore, in order to transfer your credits to another educational institution that is accredited, you have to receive a degree from an accredited college or university online.

While the internet is a good medium where students from all over the world with internet access can obtain get a college degree education, you should by all means avoid being a victim of such ruthless scams. Proper accreditation ensures that your online degree will be respected by your employers and other colleges and universities should you wish to go for your post graduate degree.

It is therefore imperative that you research your chosen college's accreditation process thoroughly before committing to any online college degree program. This will make sure that the accredited online college degree you will obtain is properly accredited through the proper state or regional boards. By doing your research well, you will avoid being a victim of fake college degree online scams may cost you lot of money, time, hard work and heartache.

About The Author:

Chris Chew is a writer and author. More education articles at his sites
http://universityeducation.blogspot.com and http://create-attract-wealth.blogspot.com

What To Expect With Distance Learning Courses

By M. Xavier

Distance learning courses can be a wonderful way for anyone with a computer and Internet to pursue a higher degree. These classes are now offered by a variety of different institutions and really cover the gamut as far as study area is concerned.

But, what can students really expect to get out of distance learning courses?

The answer to that is a lot! If the idea is that distance learning is a "free ride," an easy way to go or a snap to finish, get that out of the head right now. The truth is many of these courses are as difficult and challenging as their classroom counterparts and some are even more so.

Students who sign on for distance learning courses will find they are typically handled quite a bit differently than classes attended in person, but that doesn't mean the course requirements are slack. The reality is for accreditation to extend to these classes, professors and students have to walk a very fine line to ensure the teaching is quality and the learning is, too.

Some of the things students taking distance learning courses might be wise to expect include:

* Actual lectures. These might take place during set times in chat rooms or they might be video recorded for watching on the Internet at a students' convenience. Either way, some actual teaching is very often involved in these classes. If it's not, students will be expected to do a whole lot of reading on their own.

* Books. These don't tend to go away just because coursework is turned in online. Most universities still requires students get the books and read them, too.

* Homework. Papers, reports and even special projects will still all be required by these courses. Part of getting a degree is proving the material is understood and even mastered.

* Tests. Yes, these too are part of the online learning experience. Some tests will be taken online, and in some cases, all of them. Some programs might require students travel to a set location for certain tests along the way.

* Discussions, interaction. This is a very big part of college life. To ensure the flow of thoughts and information between students and faculty continues, many of these programs set up online discussion groups to fill this need. This can be vital for ensuring students understand the material, have done the work and get input they might need to take learning to the next level.

* Access to professors. Whether this is online, over the phone or in person, distance learning courses should not cut this factor out. It is vital in many cases for students to be able to ask questions of their professors. Programs that don't provide some avenue for this might not be as good as they sound. Even if it's only through e-mail, some contact should be available.

Distance learning courses can help busy people finish or even earn from start to finish their degrees. Although the setting is very different, students should still expect to actually have to "earn" those degrees.

About The Author:

For more information on distance learning, try visiting http://www.distancelearningopportunities.com - a website that specializes in providing distance learning related tips, advice and resources including information on distance learning courses.

How To Find The Best Internet Marketing Training

By Titus Hoskins

So you want to be an Internet Marketer? You want to be your own boss. You want to set your own hours and work from the comfort of your own home, no matter where in the world you choose to live. You simply want the freedom working on the web gives you.

Realistically, the only major obstacle in your way is a good solid training or education in how online marketing really works.

So just how does one earn a living online?

No doubt you have heard all the over-hyped stories of how some nearly comatose dim-wit with just a few functioning brain cells makes a financial killing online. Or how some geeky high school kid working on a computer in his parent's basement, cracks the formula for making big bucks on the net.

However, if you can dismiss all the bogus claims and see through all the marketing hype, you will find thousands upon thousands of very ordinary people quietly working on the web and making a very decent living from the comfort of their own homes.

All of them had to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to become part of this new cyber workforce. Each one had to obtain a good education or training in order to make the web work for them. They had to discover the techniques and methods of making a website or online business produce revenue 24/7/365, earning income automatically even while they're sleeping.

Different Ways To Earn Online Income

Complicating the whole process is the fact that there are countless ways to earn income on the web. You can build websites and earn money thru advertising, you can sell your own products or services, you can do affiliate marketing and sell other people's products, you can become a
consultant and sell your expertise, you can work the eBay system, you can do Google arbitrage buying and selling traffic... these are just a few of the countless ways you can earn a living online.

One obvious fact still remains - you have to learn this stuff. You have to know how all this works. You have to obtain an Internet marketing training or education.

Like any profession it is best to learn from someone who is actually pursuing that profession, simply learn your trade from another reputable online marketer. Unfortunately, this can be a virtual minefield if you're not careful in your choice of educator you may end up wasting a lot of time and money on foolish 'get-rich-quick' programs and useless info products that you will never use.

With this thought fresh in your mind, here are some of the most worthwhile teachers and training courses you might consider. All of these have earned solid reputations for producing effective online marketing products and courses.

These should make the top of your short list:

Ken Evoy and his whole Site Build It system. A comprehensive online marketing system that takes even the most complete novice and shows them step-by-step how to build a web business. Sometimes referred to as "The Full Monty Of eMarketing!" You can now take the SBI training in over 18 universities and colleges.

Brad Callen and his SEO & Keyword Elite products. For the professional marketer Brad has not only developed some of the best marketing tools, he has created a whole series of training lessons with videos, ebooks and podcasts as bonus incentives to buy his Bryxen Software products.

John Reese with his Traffic Secrets gained notoriety in online marketing circles by selling over a million dollars in just one day. Recently, John has devoted his time around Income.com which offers many great free training products.

Joel Comm with his Adsense line of products, plus the first reality show for online marketers: The Next Internet Millionaire. This reality type concept had to happen with Internet marketing and Joel is bringing in some top names including Armand Morin, Mike Filsaime and Mark Joyner who is often referred to as the Godfather of Internet marketing.

Marlon Sanders and his whole line of Higher Response Marketing products including the Amazing Formula. Another one of the pioneers of Internet marketing and a great source to learn how to market on the web.

Neil Shearing with his Scamfreezone products is another remarkable online teacher. With a PHD and British background, Neil is often credited with bringing a high level of professionalism to the often over-hyped arena of Internet marketing.

Jim Daniels with BizWeb2000 is another marketer who has built up a solid following on the web. One of the first marketers in the States to popularize working full-time online.

Kenneth A. McArthur with Affiliate Showcase and his Learning Folders. Ken is also one of the top JV (Joint Venture) experts on the web with his jvAlert site.

Other Training Sources

Then there are others such as Janet Wilson (Empowerism), Mike Merz (Im4newbies), Micheal Green (Howtocorp), Stone Evans (The Home Biz Guy), Brad Fallon (Stomper & FreeIQ) and Yanek Silver (33 Days To Online Profits).

Of course, these are just the top names that spring to mind and they are good starting points for anyone wishing to explore Internet marketing. In addition, you must realize many large companies are now getting involved in training webmasters and marketers on how to earn online.

Google offers extensive information with their webmaster tools as well as their Adwords and Adsense programs. Don't overlook Google as your major source of online training. For those willing to learn, Google gives any marketer invaluable free information and tools in which to monetize their sites. Google Analytics should be consider as the online marketer's primer.

Large affiliate networks like Commission Junction, LinkShare, ClickBank, Shareasale... should also be considered as valuable learning resources for the online marketer. These companies will help you succeed with your promotions and marketing.

Likewise, the major PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising companies will offer valuable tools and training. Yahoo!Marketing (Overture) Microsoft Adcenter and Google Adwords all offer excellent resources to help the online marketer proceed in the right direction.

In addition, there are companies like Web CEO which offer training products not only to individuals but also to companies as well, helping over 360,000+ businesses in 124 countries and counting.

Take The Backdoor!

Perhaps, in the final analysis, any person wishing to learn Internet marketing can draw a hands-on training from any of theses individuals or companies listed above. Also remember, acquiring training from these parties does not have to cost you a fortune for almost all have a convenient backdoor. They offer affiliate programs which you can join at no cost and most will train you how to market their products, offering you a valuable education in online marketing in the process.

The prudent student will no doubt take information from many of the sources listed above and proceed with the one that suits their own personality and working habits. For in the end, unlike traditional jobs of the past, becoming a full-time online marketer is all about satisfying your own needs and objectives.

It's all about building a lifestyle that offers you the freedom to pursue your own goals and interests in whatever location you choose to live. Internet marketing offers everyone, regardless of age or background an equal opportunity, to obtain a part or full-time income from the web. Earning a living simply doesn't get any better than this.

About the Author:

The author is a full-time online marketer. For the latest and most effective web marketing tools try: http://www.bizwaremagic.com Or try these excellent free training manuals and videos: http://www.marketingtoolguide.com/free_marketing_tools.htm Titus Hoskins 2007. This article may be freely distributed with box.

E-Learning & M-Learning In The Process Industries-Presenting The Business Case

By Sam Polniak

Executive Summary:

Today's business depends heavily on employees who are trained in the right skills that they need to run the business. It is not for nothing that an ideal business organization is also called "The Learning Organization". With shortage of staff due to competitive pressures like downsizing and outsourcing, it is highly critical for any business to ensure that all of its employees are trained regularly. This is especially so, for businesses like the process industry (chemical processing, oil & gas production, refining, petrochemical manufacturing, etc) who are heavily involved in engineering and technology, because of the rapid changes and advancements (and equally rapid obsolescence) in technology today. Not just technology changes, but the employees of these businesses have to be regularly trained in safety aspects of plant operations, to ensure safety & environment compliance.

Training employees and other stake-holders in your business regularly is a daunting task if attempted to do with the traditional instructor led training. In this White Paper, we examine the issues involved and see how e-learning can offer a better solution.

The challenge of learning in the traditional way:

In current times, in the process industries, there are several problems and issues related to learning in the traditional way. By traditional way, we mean attending a live class, or training workshop, or information seminar, where the expert teacher or instructor teaches a group of learners on the subject matter.

The problems and issues include the following

• Not all employees can be spared for such training at the same time. The employee has to travel away from the place of work for a full 2-3 days at the minimum.
• Costs of travel and stay, if learners are coming from different locations to study. These costs can be pretty significant if air travel is involved.
• Different employees may have different levels of grasping, hence even after undergoing the same course, each learner's level of understanding will be different.
• Pressure on Instructor to complete the course in shortest possible time.
• No scope for learners to revise the course concepts or re-take the course again and again, unless the company has a policy of regular refresher training. However, typically this is done only for essential training like mandatory safety training, fire-fighting, etc.
• Learning is a continuous process but instructor led training makes it a one shot event.

Let us see now how this situation can be improved.

The case for e-learning & m-learning:

As can be seen from above, process technology has come a long way but people are still caught up in 18th century techniques to teach 21st century technology. How is this so? The traditional classroom based training, is a product of the industrial revolution of the 18th century. At that time, this kind of teaching was the state of the art. Now with the advent of the internet, broadband connections & excellent software, is teaching using these old methods OK?

Certainly not! 21st century training has to be imparted to learners in 21st century fashion! Not in an obsolete way.

Hence all over the world businesses, big or small, local or global are turning to e-learning & m-learning as a means of imparting effective learning.

What does one mean by e-learning & m-learning.? E-learning can be defined as using computer technology, internet, multimedia & other technology to impart learning. M-learning is similar to e-learning except that, it happens not with a computer or laptop, but with a mobile phone.

Advantages of e-learning & m-learning:

The advantages of e-learning are:

• No need to spare all employees at the same time. The employee can choose time and place of learning.
• It will be self paced and if need be can be run again and again till employee is confidently well versed in the subject.
• No time constraints. Learning can be in bite sized chunks or all at once-totally as per the learner's need-rather than the instructor's comfort.
• Large number of courses can be managed through suitable LMS (Learning Management Systems) by a very small number of training administrators. The LMS can also document and log number of courses taken, test scores, time taken, etc for each learner which can provide intelligent data for developing your employee's skills.
• It results in measurable learning. Due to score tracking, progress tracking and time tracking, the performance of each employee undergoing the training becomes measurable. In earlier days with traditional training, this was typically not done.
• Flexible course deployment---either through stand alone CD ROMs, Internet or a company wide Intranet. Hence no travel and stay expenses, which can be a substantial cost today.

Geography is history. Learning can be anywhere, anytime at your convenience.

An e-learning solution can be either off the shelf courses, or a custom designed course.

Off the shelf courses:

You can find several excellently designed off-the-shelf courses in several topic areas .For process industries, these include e-learning courses on Hazardous Area Instrumentation, RFID technology and Gas Monitors from Abhisam Software. To know more about these please visit http://www.abhisam.com

Custom Designed courses:

A custom designed course has to be designed keeping in mind the audience, goals of the course, time allotted to the course and testing requirements. You should ensure that a custom designed course provider can provide to you all these resources at competitive costs. Often custom designed courses tend to be very very expensive. For most standard topics you can safely assume that the standard off the shelf e-learning course is good enough.

Use the right teaching tools in the course:

Your off the shelf course provider should have produced the course not merely as a bunch of pages stuck together electronically but an integrated course consisting of text, flash based animations, graphics, photos, videos, exercises & simulations. It should also have a glossary & an assessment test. For example e-learning courses made by Abhisam Software have all of these features. Also the arrangement of the course material should have a logical progression, starting from basic concepts going to more advanced topics.

Going beyond traditional courses-Electronic Learning Manuals (Not just e-books):

One should think of going beyond just traditional courses and putting all of your company's user manuals, procedures, maintenance manuals and installation guides into e-learning modules. This is especially useful for companies who sell capital equipment and need to train their customers thoroughly. Instead of supplying a staid user manual (with perhaps a three day course thrown in for good measure) it would be a better option to convert all this knowledge into an e- learning module which can then be used teach everybody who needs to know it anytime. Say, your company makes an oil fired heater and needs to train the customers in its operation. What better way to train than do it through an e-learning course which through the right combination of text matter, graphics, animation and sound can create quite a lasting impact. This kind of audio-visual training has better retention amongst plant operators than going though a dull manual.

(Please note that we are not talking here of e-books or e-manuals, which are nothing but soft copies of the same dull manuals!)

These kind of modules can be hosted on the company's website and used to impart very effective training to even faraway customers in a cost effective manner. Does your e-learning service provider have this kind of service?

Deployment:

Ideally courses which are organization-specific should be able to be deployed immediately in a cost effective manner.

The easiest way to do this is to buy the course from a service provider who does not ask you to install any specialized or expensive software. You should be able to take the course directly by using your PC or laptop & logging in to the course provider's site via a web browser like Internet Explorer. All of Abhisam Software's online courses are hosted online by Abhisam Software & its business partners and are available to you instantly by just visiting the course pages. No special software is needed. Thus you can get trained on subjects like Hazardous Area Instrumentation, Gas Monitors or RFID almost immediately.

If you do have a Learning Management System (LMS for short) already installed in your company then your e-learning course provider must be able to give you courses that are compatible with your LMS. Most LMS these days conform to the SCORM or AICC standards and so the courses must also follow these standards. All of Abhisam Software's e-learning courses are also available in SCORM or AICC compatible formats.

Conclusion:

E-learning is a technology whose time has arrived and companies, especially those in the Process Industries now have compelling reasons to adopt it, which was not the case a few years back.

If you are not considering e-learning for your organization, then you are losing an excellent opportunity to sharpen skills, increase productivity and thus increase the general skill level of your organization, at a fraction of the cost of traditional learning.

If you are unsure about how e-learning can help your company or organization, don't hesitate. Contact us now and get a free no obligation consultation.

About The Author:

Abhisam Software is a leading provider of e-learning courses for various businesses & industry. Abhisam Software's e-learning courses are used by Fortune 500 companies, small & medium sized companies as well as individuals. For more information please visit http://www.abhisam.com

You Have to Love the Creativity of Google

By Merle

Have you ever wondered how Google continually comes up with new service ideas? Not a company to be content at the back of the line, they're constantly launching fun goodies for the enjoyment of "Internet Junkies." With many of these new services you'll need an account with Google to use them. Get yours at http://google.com/accounts

So what have they been up to lately? Let's take a look.

1) Google Notebook: http://google.com/notebook

If you do a lot of research online this might be right up your alley. As you surf the net
you can collect text and or images and place them in your own "Google Notebook." You can have multiple notebooks, keep them private or share them with others. Currently only available for Internet Explorer 6.0

2) Google Page Creator: http://pages.google.com

Google's offering free websites now? You betcha. This is still in the testing phase and you'll need to have a Gmail account to sign up. You get 100MB of space for your pages and be using IE 6.0 or Firefox 1.0 or higher. You can build your own website with no HTML knowledge right in your browser. Your newly built site's name will look like ... http://yourgmail.username.googlepages.com

3) Google Co-op: http://google.com/coop

Everyone's an expert on something right? Google Co-op allows you to share your expertise and help others with their Google search efforts all at the same time.

4) Google Trends: http://google.com/trends

Want to know how often something is searched for at Google? You can enter up to five
different topics to gauge interest and also see how often your subject matter has appeared in Google news stories and which geographic regions have searched for them the most.

5) Google Desktop 4: http://desktop.google.com

Not a new product but a big upgrade. The newest addition is called "Gadgets" which are mini- programs delivering things, such as weather, news updates, games and more.

6) Google Spreadsheets: http://spreadsheets.google.com

Now you can keep your spreadsheets online and pull them up from anywhere you like with just your browser.

You'l find some of these new inventions and plenty of others over at "Google Labs." The lab is where Google launches new services that aren't yet ready to go out into the mainstream. It's located at http://labs.google.com

Google really is a giant online. If you've only been using them for search, it's time to step out of your comfort zone and try one of their new tools. Trust me, you'll have fun and you can thank me for it later.

About the Author:

"Must Have Marketing Resources" by Merle is loaded with VALUABLE online resources YOU need to know about, when it comes to running your online business. Download your copy now at ... http://mcebook.mcpromotions.com

A Distance Learning Bachelors Degree Can Open Doors

By Candice Sabrina

When life has to go on while college classes are taken, turning to the Internet can really help. A distance learning bachelors degree can open doors while allowing students to matriculate on their own schedules.

Distance learning bachelors degree programs used to only be offered in a few fields and by a few "select," unknown institutions. That is simply not the case anymore. Students interested in earning this very important, employment-benefiting degree will soon find there are plenty of options out there now. There's no reason to expect to have to go to class all the time to earn a valuable bachelors degree.

Distance learning, for those who are unclear, involves college classes that are taken over the Internet. Books might be mailed to a students' door and access to professors is also still generally available via chat, forums, telephone or in person, but the bulk or all of the material is handled online. The type of programs available for full degrees will vary. Some of the most common include such areas of concentration as business and accounting, education and criminal justice, and history and theology.

The benefits to this type of learning situation can be many, especially for those without the time to physically attend classes. Some of the perks can include anytime learning, accredited courses, sometimes discounted fees and a variety of program offerings. Many students find this is one of the best options for them to completely earn a degree or fill in needed classes on a better time schedule.

Looking for the best distance learning bachelors degree programs can be a little tricky, but the truth is this trend is growing in leaps and bounds. Even some of the Ivy League schools are offering at least a few classes online.

The places to look for distance learning bachelors degree programs include:

* State universities. Many state-funded universities offer online degree programs, or at least classes. It is possible for students to take a mix of these classes in some locations or to completely finish a degree online in others.

* Private colleges. Accredited, private institutions are often opening their doors, so to say, to online students. How many or few classes they will allow online toward a degree will vary. Some colleges allow for a degree-seeking student to go from start to finish online.

* Specialty schools. Many specialty schools, such as arts institutions, business colleges and more, have gone online in a lot of cases. Some locations offer complete course work online, others provide this opportunity for only a few classes.

* Junior colleges. Many of these typically lower-priced institutions are also available for students online.

As long as they come from accredited institutions of higher learning, distance learning bachelors degree programs carry a lot of weight in the real world. This didn't used to always be the case, but the reality is as this "trend" sets into common practice, more and more people are understanding the Internet can be a powerful tool for teaching and learning.

About The Author:

For more information on distance learning, try visiting http://www.distancelearningopportunities.com - a website that specializes in providing distance learning related tips, advice and resources including information on distance learning bachelors degree.

Distance Learning Online Courses

By Michael Saville

Until recent times, further education was a problem for many people. Busy lifestyles and demanding jobs meant that individuals could not commit to attending night school at the same time each week. Daytime classes were completely out of the question. However, the growth of the Internet has started to change options as well as attitudes. There are now many distance learning online courses to chose from, ranging from certificate to doctorate courses.

The big advantage of distance learning online courses is that you do not have to physically attend classes to improve your education. You become an online student instead. So they are ideal for people who are in full time employment. It is important to note though that it has brought the famous universities to you. You don't have to relocate to study at Oxford or Cambridge in the United Kingdom or Harvard in the United States. You can enrol for distance learning courses at many famous universities, provided you pass their entry requirements.

Distance learning online courses are not an easy option though. It is true that they are more accessible for many people. However, the universities do maintain academic rigour with these courses. A distance learning degree is on a par with a degree studied full time.

Flexibility is the name of the game with distance learning courses. There are generally minimum and maximum time frames in which work has to be completed. Many people try to keep on top of their studies and complete them as quickly as possible, but have that reassurance of knowing that if a domestic problem arises them can ease right off with their studies until the problem has been sorted. Many students report in their feedback that it is this flexibility which is the greatest benefit of distance learning online courses.

You may be thinking online courses may well be flexible but what about the quality of the tuition. The answer is that in many cases the online student gets more attention than a student who attends traditional classes. When you enrol online you are allocated a tutor who you are able to keep in touch with constantly. You have `one to one' access. Whereas in a traditional class there are generally too many students for the tutor to give much time to individual tuition.

The benefits of distance learning

The first benefit and for many it is the biggest benefit is that distance learning is not as expensive as the traditional method of attending college. Most institutions offer flexible payment options so you should be able to work out a plan which fits in with your budget.

A second benefit of distance learning is psychological. It gives you the opportunity to develop in ways that you could have missed out on in the past. This leads to increased confidence and increases your marketability to prospective employers or even give you the impetus to start your own business.

The third benefit of distance learning is of convenience as mentioned earlier. For many people once they have started to study online they carry on taking higher level courses or studying a topic just for the sake of learning itself. Whatever the reason there has never been a better time for going back to college and you can thank the Internet for that.

Distance learning is not for everyone so you need to decide if it is for you. You need to have a learning style that would work with this style of education. If you are good at motivating yourself and are self disciplined, that is, you can keep to deadlines then you are ideally suited to distance learning. If you need to be pushed along or are easily distracted from what you should be doing then distance learning may not be your cup of tea. In this case the traditional method of attending classes may be best so that you can get the `face to face' support you require.

About the Author:

Michael Saville has written more articles about distance learning. These can be found at
http://www.vicariously.net/career The site provides information and advice on distance learning online courses and ways to study.

How To Become A Web Expert Without Spending A Dime

By Jason OConnor

If I could show you how to become a Web design, development or marketing expert without spending a dime, would you want to learn?

Imagine you're a master at making money online, that you're passionate, and excited during almost every hour you spend working. Visualize people coming to YOU for answers to their most important Web-related questions. Envision emails and phone calls flooding in every day with eager, prospective customers. Read on to learn the secret to achieving all of this.

First, discernment and discretion are vital. There are many programs online, many e-books, many self-proclaimed Web gurus and so much information today that it's overwhelming and could send you to the poor-house faster than the speed of digital communication.

Where should I go to learn Web marketing? How should I spend my time? Who should teach me? What websites offer the best information? How do I make money using the Internet? What are the most important things I should learn? Should I learn Java or PHP? What are the fundamentals? How do I write effective copy online? How long will it take me before I can start my own business? The answer to all these questions can is . . .

Before I explain, let me tell you a brief story of my inchoate professional life. I barely knew what a computer while in college. It was only after living on both coasts playing live music did I conclude that a career in computers may make me a few more dollars than a career in music. It was then I decided I wanted to become a Web expert.

I had first considered attending a high-priced computer school that a programmer friend had recommended. But I had no money, and the school required all its students to attend full-time. I needed to eat and provide a roof over my head, and for that I needed to work full-time, so this expensive computer school was out of the question for me.

Although my options were limited, but I diligently looked in the Want Ads till I found a job that I could possibly do that was related to computers. The job title was "Internet Exploration Specialist". I know that sounds slightly strange, but if you had met my chair-throwing, screaming and eccentric boss-to-be, it would make a little more sense.

I got the job and outlasted the most optimistic office pool prediction for how long I would remain working for the perpetually livid CEO. Looking back, it was probably one the best things I could have ever done (minus the maniacal boss, that is). I learned how to surf the Web. I became an expert Internet peruser, a digital explorer, a website connoisseur, and a professional information superhighway surveyor.

At around the same time I learned one of the secrets to becoming an expert at something. You have to put the time in. People who remain working in careers that they hate don't put in the extra time to develop a career in something they love. Pure and simple. So while I had down time at work, I read books and found websites that taught me how to do things Web-related tasks. More importantly, I spent time after work and on the weekends reading, practicing and developing my Web skills.

Back when I began developing my Web career, the Internet wasn't as big as it is today. There weren't as many options for learning Web-related skills. Since I had no money, I simply searched for free online tutorials, primers and how-to's. They became my staple for learning. Since I had seriously developed my Web surfing skills, I inevitably found many highly educational websites. And there weren't as many scams back then either, there weren't as many "gurus". Web marketing or e-marketing hadn't even become terms yet, so I had a lot of success getting reliable information.

Today it's different. This is both good news and bad news. I'll start with the bad news.

You can't throw a rock into the Internet ocean now and NOT hit a get-rich-quick plan, a Web marketing curriculum, or an e-marketing "expert". You've got StomperNet, Portal Feeder, Pipeline Profits, The Rich Jerk, Strategic Profits and Traffic Secrets to name only a few. There's too much to choose from and they all come for a steep price. Now many of these programs may teach you a lot, but it will cost you. I'm here to say that you don't need to spend any money. You're reading this for free, aren't you?

But here's the good news.

Because of the way Google ranks websites now, because the very nature of the Internet as man's most prolific and complete resource on everything, and because of human nature being curious and information-driven, the Web has massive amounts of extremely useful, high-quality, free information. People are falling all over each other trying to produce and publish high-quality Web content all at no cost to you.

Again, Google is one reason. One main way Google ranks a website is by how many authoritative sites link to that website. The best way to get new links pointing to your site is by creating useful content that can be accessed by anyone. If the content is fresh, original and high-quality, people will link to it.

And here's more good news. Of all the subjects there are in the world, and therefore all of the subjects discussed online, the Web is the most popular.

Of course this has to be true. Think about it. Who's doing all the posting? Webmasters. And what do webmasters know best? The Web. So you're going to find a huge amount of tutorials, primers, articles, forum posts, blogs and websites that offer tons of useful information on how to become good at all kinds of Web-related things, and all at no charge.

Here are a few tips for effectively searching online.

* Open up two or three browser windows at a time. One should have Google, the next Yahoo or MSN Search and the third should be your working browser. Use all three browsers when searching by toggling to each of them. Toggling is achieved by pressing ALT+TAB. By using different search engines, you'll get a wide range of different results.

* Use quotes around your phrases to find exact phrases. This will give you results that have the words in your phrase only in that order.

* Use long tail search phrases when using a search engine. Long tail means many words. The more specific your search phrase is, the more relevant results you'll get. For example, searching in Google for "free tutorials for beginner web marketers and expert career advice" instead of "web marketing tutorials" will yield more relevant results for you.

* Use the minus sign to weed out superfluous results. For example, if you're looking for event tickets and you type in "Boston tickets", you'll end up with lots of airline related results. Instead use "Boston event tickets" -airline -flights.

* Get creative in contructing your search phrases. Combine multiple concepts.

* Don't just use search engines. Join forums like WebmasterWorld, DigitalPoint, SitePoint, HighRankings and SEOChat, visit blogs, and read how-to's and tutorials found in article directories. Regularly visit authority webmaster sites like DevGuru, Developer.com, TheNetGazette.net, HTMLprimer.com and WebKnowHow.net.

* Go to and participate in Web 2.0 sites such as PlugIM, FreeIQ, Digg, Technorati, Simpy, Del.iciou.us, MarkTD, BibSonomy and Squidoo.

* Become good friends with your Favorites or Bookmarks feature in your browser. Set it up so you develop a well-organized, useful list of websites, Internet destinations and Web pages and posts that you can constantly refer back to.

Becoming an expert Web marketer or Web programmer can be done by putting aside time every day to learn your craft and by becoming good at finding the right information online that doesn't cost anything. The more you search for useful information, the better you'll become at it, and it will soon take you less and less time to find what you want.

Therefore, the answer to all the questions above is: you'll need patience, discipline, time management skills, and Internet searching skills. The searching skills come to you by simply practicing, by putting the time in online. Everything you need to know to become a Web expert without spending a dime is literally a few clicks away online and most of it is free. Get to work.

About the Author:

The content of this article is solely the property and opinion of its author, Jason OConnor
http://www.thenetgazette.net/

The Virtual Schools Of Tomorrow Are In The Florida Schools Today . With More On The Horizon

By Patricia Hawke

The kindergarten through 8th grade virtual school was created in the Florida schools in 2003. It was sold to lawmakers as a great way to save money, offering coursework to replace on-campus teachers and classrooms at a savings of $700 per student. Only students who had attended the Florida schools the previous year were eligible to participate at a cost to the Florida schools of $4,800 per student. The savings over physical classroom instruction for the Florida schools was expected to be $700,000 with a 1,000 student enrollment in the virtual school program.

Though in theory the money saved by the Florida schools was substantial, someone forgot to tell the rules to Jim Horne (then education commissioner). He allowed kindergarten and first grade students, who had never attended the Florida schools previously, to enroll in the virtual school. These newly eligible students accounted for 27 percent of all students enrolled at a taxpayer cost of $4,800 per student. All projected savings were lost, and it ended up costing the Florida schools an additional $653,000, according to a March 14th article in the Palm Beach Post.

The Florida schools have found the virtual school a success, even though a costly one in the beginning. All participating students must meet the Florida Sunshine State Standards and
must take the state-required Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT).

In March, the House education committee approved HB 799, which expands the K-8 virtual school program. If passed by the Senate, all home and privately schooled children in Florida will be allowed to participate in the virtual school program with no cap on the number of students enrolled.

Currently, the virtual program is limited to 1,384 students at a $5,200 per student cost for a total of $7.2 million funding cost to the Florida schools. Though few privately schooled children are expected to enroll (a parent must be present during use of the program), there are currently 52,000 children in Florida being home schooled. The expanded program, which provides parents with a computer, books, software and online access to teachers, could easily cost the Florida schools about $312 million with a per student cost increase to almost $6,000.

Such a cost to the taxpayers and the Florida schools may force lawmakers to place an enrollment cap on the virtual school program. Backers believe the Senate will insist upon it, since they expect a tight budget this year.

The bill also requires all program providers to be nonprofit. Current contracted providers are the Virginia-based K12 and Maryland-based Connections Academy. The Florida subsidiaries of these two firms are currently making a transition to nonprofit status in compliance with HB 799. Though the subsidiaries will be nonprofit, they will be allowed to continue purchasing supplies and equipment for the virtual school program from their for-profit parent companies. The bill does not require competitive bidding by these providers.

The expanded virtual school bill, HB 799, is sponsored by Representative Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel). He believes that the parents of home and privately schooled children pay taxes, and their children should have equal opportunity to participate in this state-paid program of the Florida schools, too.

About The Author:

Patrica Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Houston Schools please visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Florida/index.html

MP3 Books: The Digital University For Busy People

By Lu Smith

Time schedules are packed solid these days for most of us. Can you easily set aside time for some old-fashioned reading? Bet it's a chore to do it. Yet, without reading any books, learning's put on the proverbial back burner. Have you been missing fun and entertainment reading, too?

There is a solution to this problem. MP3 books and the progress in computer technologies are here to help all of us who crave to be well-read regardless of time demands.

Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy and other top business speakers of America have mentioned the phrase "university on wheels" in their presentations countless times. First, the hidden magic behind the phrase doesn't sink in at all. "So what, there's nothing new or revolutionary about it," you may say. But, once you give it deeper attention, there opens a new world of possibilities.

And it all happens effortlessly over relatively a short period of time.

What the top speakers are referring to is the powerful value you get from listening to professional recorded books while driving to and from work every morning.

You see, instead of "wasting" as many as 2 or often more hours every single day while commuting to work; now you have a choice that can swiftly change your life.

Some people turn on the radio while driving to work and spend the time listening to music or the news. There's nothing wrong with that.

Now, though, here is a fact worth considering.

Did you know that just by listening to various quality recorded books every morning, as you commute to work, can help you turn into an expert on that topic within a short period of time?

It's like going through a private university without the financial and have-to-attend-lectures needs.

Worth considering, isn't it? Especially with the flexibility recorded books offer.

I know the idea might not make sense to you just yet, but stay with me while I try to explain why I said that.

Think about it, in some university degree programs, students spend no more than 10 hours weekly attending their lectures. And after a few years they get their degrees framed on the
wall.

And what do they mostly do during these 10 hours each week?

You guessed it - they mainly "listen" to their lecturers to be able to write their exams.

Many people miss this fact. You can get the same value from just listening to the right audio books. And that's in the field or area of expertise you want to learn about minus writing the exams.

I realize that no university will give you a degree certificate after you have completed your chosen recorded books. But as they say, knowledge is power. And specialized knowledge put to good use is the winning ticket of how to get ahead in today's world.

Did you know there are certain professional audio book programs that will give you exams after completing their training programs... and will give you a certificate for passing their course?

Many such certificates can be used in certain places to give evidence of your expertise in that area.

You turned a specialized expert in what interests you? And all the transformation occurred while you were driving and barely noticed it?

In that case, why would you continue to "waste" valuable time on your daily commute? As they say, you can "kill 2 birds with one stone" by using the same hours to learn a new skill. How about a new business idea, a new profession perhaps?

To start, ask yourself what new skill or expertise you'd love to learn. When you've picked a few topics of interest, hop online and search for recorded books or MP3 books you'd like to start with.

Once you grab them, you can start your "university on wheels" program next time you drive to and from work.

Recorded books come in downloadable MP3 formats, on CDs, or cassettes. Today's brilliant technologies give you choices hard to ignore.

Come to think of it, even if you don't drive to work, you can easily do it. Grab a portable CD, cassette or Mp3 player and still benefit from your "digital university on wheels" program `cause audio books can go with you anywhere - anytime. The "wheels" can even be the ones on your rollerblades, bicycle, or a skateboard.

Become an expert on any topic through the transformational power of MP3 books. The process of how to do it is simple. All you need to do is to follow through on your decision to become one. You'll be amazed what recorded books can do for you.

About The Author:

Lu Smith shares with you hard-to-find MP3 books about business, finance, self-help, relationships,dieting, humor and more. Listen to samples and download free recorded books right now at http://www.mybigaudio.com

The Advantages Of Obtaining A Cybersecurity Degree Online

By Andy West

Computer fraud and Internet related offences are becoming a very widespread epidemic, especially in the Western world. And with technology bettering itself every day, it is becoming more and more crucial to properly defend yourself. That is where a cybersecurity degree online comes in handy.

There are of course institutions that offer a course similar to this within the confines of an actual school, but doing it online lets you learn at your own pace. It also allows you to plan your schooling around your life, instead of planning your life around your schooling.

There are many useful things that you will learn with this type of course. One of the biggest and most important parts of the course is cyber terrorism. Since this is becoming such an epidemic, it is something that needs to be studied in great detail. And since the faces of cyber terrorism are continuously changing, it is crucial to stay up to date.

Cyber terrorism deals with hackers accessing confidential information, usually via the Internet. It is usually large companies that are particularly targeted and it can cause a world of problems for the company involved. The anonymity of the Internet makes it possible for certain groups to attack other groups and individuals with less chance of getting caught.

Therefore, the world is in need of many people well versed in the world of cybersecurity. Of course, it is imperative to have some sort of computer knowledge before obtaining a cybersecurity degree online as well as an interest in the field.

A few of the other items that are covered in the course are cyber law, forensics, viral activity and compliance. Although it may sound complex at first, if you have the proper background you can excel in this course. There is also a large focus on firewall devices as well as intrusion detection.

What this course boils down to in the end is the protection of personal information. These days, there is so much information shared over the Internet, cell phones, email and other devices and it can be catastrophic if that information should fall in the wrong hands. It is a very broad category and can include anything from virus' ruining your computer, someone hacking into your personal information or even identity theft.

More and more people are turning to online learning as time gets harder and harder to find. However, it is important to have a lot of self-determination and be able to ensure that you allocate yourself enough time to get the work and the studying done. And all you need is a computer with Internet access and you are set to go.

This will allow you to pursue other interests while obtaining your cybersecurity degree online. Many people choose to take this route if they have children at home or have to work full-time while pursuing an education.

This is a great career option for anyone who has an interest in computers and technology who also wishes to help others safeguard themselves from online predators. With this course, you will be able to help countless people who have been the victims of cyber terrorism so it is a career that really gives something back to the community.

So if you've been searching for a new career but just don't have the time to go back to school, a cybersecurity degree online might be the answer you've been searching for.

About The Author:

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers an accredited Cybersecurity Degree online program. Please visit Virginia College Online at
http://www.vconline.edu/site/program.cfm?Program_ID=23 to select the online program that is right for you.

Going To An Online Vocational School

By Low Jeremy

Not everybody is able to get into a good college or even have enough money. This is the reason many Americans have decided to just find work after secondary school without anymore dreaming too far ahead into the future.

Years later, these people will realize that the money being earned isn't enough to support the needs of the family. When this happens, this is the only time people decide to back to school to acquire a better skill or degree. Since most universities will let the student still go through a
four year curriculum, those who don't want to stay that long can choose to go to a vocational school and get a diploma or certificate in two years or less.

Another stumbling that many students will face will be how to get an education and at the same time work. Some schools provide night classes and if the individual is still unable to, it is still possible to make it happen by acquiring the skills online.

The first thing the person should do is request information from these colleges. Some of these places are not located in the neighborhood and the rest are from out of state. The student should just fill up the form and a brochure will be delivered in a few days.

Most of the vocational schools will require the individual to have at least passed the general education test or GED. After passing the interview, the student will be allowed to enroll in any program of your choice that is offered.

Since the classes are done online, the person will have to get a computer with a good Internet connection. This should be compatible with the software used by the school so there won't be any problems in receiving lectures and perhaps exams that are given out by the instructor.

The cost of online vocational schools is a bit cheaper than what many universities or colleges will offer charge to a student. Given the difference, those who want to specialize in something should take advantage of this and use the tools given to get a higher paying job.

People have said time and again that nothing will ever happen to a person without the value of education. Though some geniuses have provided otherwise by not even graduating from college, many people are not that lucky.

These individuals still have to learn a skill in order to have a job and a better quality of life, which only an online vocational school can provide.

About The Author:

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Vocational Schools & other useful information, please visit
http://vocational-schools.articlekeep.com

How To Improve Your Life With An Accredited Online College Degree

By Andy West

With the information super highway raring full steam ahead, quality accredited online college degree programs are becoming a more plausible way to get an education. Now more than ever,
time is becoming a huge factor in people's lives. Balancing personal and professional lives on top of school is becoming increasingly difficult.

Therefore, many people are choosing to get the education they deserve without sacrificing the other important areas of their lives. It is now possible to receive the same credits that you would get from attending full-time classes at a college from the comfort of your own home.

There are a lot of things to consider when deciding if accredited online college degrees are the route that is best suited for you. It takes quite a bit of self-discipline to do well in an academic setting. However it takes even more to be able to do it from home.

In a class setting, a routine will be set that will involve the students and the instructors getting together several times per week. But if you are learning online, it is up to you to decide what times are best for you and to make your schedule accordingly.

There are also a few other things to take into consideration before deciding on this method. Basic computer knowledge and a reliable computer are absolutely essential to successful online
learning. You will be using the computer to access your assignments, to send them in and also to conduct research. If you are not comfortable with computers, or you don't have a dependable Internet service, then you might find it exceedingly difficult.

It is also imperative to be comfortable with the written language. Almost all of your communications will be in writing, so that is something that is very important. There is virtually no personal contact, so proper writing and communication skills are essential.

A few years ago, online learning was not as broad as it is now. There were only a few select courses to choose from and it was difficult to find the one you want. But these days you can get
almost any degree you could ever dream of without ever having to leave your house.

Whether you have an interest in law, accounting or health care you are bound to find the perfect course for you. And most accredited online college degree course can be found at the bachelor, associate and graduate levels. Therefore, no level of education is out of reach.

One of the major costs in attending school is the textbooks. After a full program, you would normally have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on textbooks alone. Not the mention the cost of tuition.

Many accredited online college degree programs include the cost of the textbooks in the tuition. Well balancing a work life and a school life, every penny saved adds up in the end.

One of the best features of any online learning program is that it suits your schedule. You can learn and study any time of the day and on any day. This is a great benefit for those who wish to continue working full-time and earning their degrees in the evenings.

The appeal of learning online is being realized by more people every day. The sheer convenience is reason enough to motivate you to earn the degree that will land you your dream job. So, make that dream a reality with one of the many accredited online college degree programs.

About The Author:

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers many accredited online college degree programs. Please visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu/index.cfm to select the online program that is right for you.

Online Bachelor Degree Programs Go Mainstream

By Andy West

The Internet has seen an explosion in online bachelor degree programs in the last five to ten years and this trend should continue to expand rapidly in the future. In large part the increasing popularity of online bachelor degree programs is due to the now common acceptance of a bachelor degree from on online university as equivalent to what can be obtained at any bricks
and mortar school.

When online classes first began springing up on the Internet in the 1980s, they were primarily focused on certificate programs or technical degrees. Some of the schools were started virtually overnight and did not have proper accreditation and the reputation of online schooling became tarnished as a result. However, in the last decade there has been a significant turn-around. There are several reasons for this new attitude, due largely to the increasingly exceptional education that can be had through an online university.

Today's online bachelor degree programs rival traditional university classes. Colleges and universities that had already established reputations as traditional schools long before hitting the Internet now offer these online programs. Employers know that the curriculum is identical whether the course is online or in a classroom, so the education is top-notch in either case. In fact, there is often more one-on-one attention with an online bachelor degree program because each student can regularly communicate directly with the professor by email to get feedback and direction.

Good online bachelor degree programs are now accredited by the same agencies that accredit more traditional colleges and universities. Three accreditation organizations that are recognized by the Federal Government as high quality indicators are the U.S. Department of Education, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Any online universities accredited by one of these councils offers a program recognized as at least equal to a bachelor's degree program at a traditional post-secondary school.

In fact, if you graduate from an online bachelor degree program today you will receive a diploma that is no different from the one that students attending the residential college will receive. You will have completed the same curriculum, including taking core requirement classes, and will graduate with the same knowledge. When applying for jobs, employers will not know whether you attended traditional classes or online classes because it is no longer acknowledged on official transcripts or diplomas.

Employers favor online bachelor degree programs for their employees. Employers have always known the value of allowing employees to pursue a college education. In the past, this was usually done through night and weekend classes and the employer sometimes reimbursed costs. Unfortunately many class schedules aren't flexible and employers began to realize the expense of university classes in both money and time.

An online bachelor degree program has become the ideal solution for employers who encourage an education for employees. They can set their own pace and work schooling around their work
schedule. The cost of online classes is generally less than the classroom setting as well, making it attractive for company reimbursement programs.

Finally, employers appreciate the additional opportunities that an online bachelor degree program can offer. Because individuals do all of the work online, location is not an issue. If a computer salesman with an associate's degree would like to focus on a Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems, for instance, he can look for an online university anywhere in the United States that offers this specialized degree.

With everyone from accrediting agencies to employers giving them high marks, online bachelor degree programs have firmly arrived in the educational mainstream.

About The Author:

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers many online bachelor degree programs. Please visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu/index.cfm to select the online program that is right for you.

Online Degree Program Just A Click Away

By Andy West

You want to go shopping, but your car is low on gas. You want to know your account balance, but do not have time to go to the bank. You want to further your education but do not have the
time to go to classes. We turn to the World Wide Web. As fast as Ipods and Tivo were mainstreamed, Internet colleges are making their mark in the educational world and an online degree program is just a click away.

Online classes have existed for nearly as long as the Internet has been around. Many people across the United States and the world find it as an easy way to further their education in a
flexible setting. Colleges that have an online degree program offer a wide range of courses and degrees to suit pretty much everyone. For those who are already in the job market and want
to expand their knowledge but are not interested in a four year program may be interested in an Associates Degree. If an individual strives to become more marketable in the work force
and wants a four-year degree, a Bachelor's Degree would be best suited. And then there is the Graduate Level Degree for those who already have their Bachelor's, but are still looking to
expand their knowledge. Whatever the desire, it is more than likely offered in an online program.

A great aspect of an online degree program is the flexibility associated with it. If you're an early riser and would rather read those required chapters or complete the assignments in the morning, online courses allow for it. On the other hand, if you are a late owl and would rather complete the assignments at midnight, this is also possible with an online course. The Internet gives you the flexibility to choose when you want to take your class. In essence, you choose your own hours.

Another flexible feature of receiving a degree online is that an individual can work and go to school at the same time. Trying to work full time while going through a traditional degree program full time is nearly impossible. However, an online degree program makes it simple to work full time. An individual can go to work during the day and complete course work at night and on weekends. This flexibility makes online education a viable option for many people who thought they would not be able to further their education because of work or their financial situation.

The cost of an online degree program is another benefit to completing a degree online. Being able to work full time while going to school helps in covering expenses, but there are other cost benefits as well. Your classroom is the Internet, so a student does not have to relocate in order to go to school. Many people do not have an institution of higher education located right in their community, so completing a traditional degree program would inevitably mean relocating. Completing the course work online would save costs in relocating as well as other fees and expenses associated with moving or commuting.

While an online degree program may intimidate some people, it is set up so that it can accommodate everyone. Some may be intimidated because there is no personal, face to face
interaction with other students or even a professor, however, the flexibility of the programs outweigh those factors. Some may also shy away from an online degree program because of a
number of scams on the Internet. However, if you research an institution's credentials and accreditations before making a decision, your experience will be a whole lot better. Pick a
reputable online educational institution and you are on your way to the degree of your choice.

About The Author:

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers many online degree programs. Please visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu/index.cfm to select the online program that is right for you.

Online Learning Authoring System for Creating E-Courses

By Kathy Sparks

I'll go back about a year and a half when I began researching an online learning system for two of my clients. What keywords to use - online learning. Well no, that brings up all sorts of colleges, universities, technical schools, software certification schools with hundreds of listings of classes. Okay, how about "writing courses online." No again, these words simply tell me where to go to find about writing courses online.

The subject is really rather obscure. This might be because authoring systems are generally for large companies who can afford to purchase customized software specifically written for their company. Okay, let's try "online authoring course." Good, a little closer, but now I'm coming up with software packages to purchase. And they are not inexpensive. What I was looking for was a tool on line where I could have my own account and do the following at an affordable price:

- Log in to my personal account

- Create courses that have
-- Reading material
-- Self check quizzes
-- Final test
-- The ability to print
-- The ability to use PDF files with the course
-- Learners can start a class, leave class and come back to work on their class with their own personal log in.
-- Do a final quiz
-- Have the quiz graded and if successful, receive a certificate of successful completion

- Track the results of Learners
- Edit the course content on demand
- Have several different courses within one account
- Not have to worry about downloading software and publishing programs to my web site and creating login screens

And I needed a Pay as You Go price for a small start up online course business where I can increase the service as I increase business.

When I didn't find this solution a year and a half ago, I created my courses as E-books and sent them out to Learners who ordered them and wanted the ability to do their classes from the
convenience of their homes. Although easier than printing and mailing booklets, it did cause new problems, like "I couldn't get my course to download," I didn't receive the email," I can't find the Enrollment Code," but at least they weren't telling me "the dog ate my course." However, those Internet gremlins do show up occasionally.

At last I stumbled upon my perfect solution and a free 30 day trial! This is a 100% web based e-Learning toolset. I've created my first course. It really is quite easy. You don't need programming skills - simply copy and paste your material. If you are a coach, consultant, tutor or teacher and have courses to share, you should really try this tool. It's easy to get started.

Visit E-Course Management at http://www.ecoursemanagement.com to learn more about the system and to learn about the basics of writing online courses. Take a tour and then sign up for a free 30-day trial to try it out. Customer service has been terrific. It's a "virtual" blessing.

Copyright © 2005 Kathy Sparks

About the Author:

Kathy Sparks began building her successful Virtual Assistant practice after being certified with AssistU in 1998. She has partnered with clients worldwide in a multitude of professions
and is editor and contributor for "The Virtual Advantage," an online newsletter for VAs and their clients. Web site: Your Virtual Resource at http://www.yourvirtualresource.com. "I feel so good - it's like having a "busy bee" working behind the scenes to help me. I'm loving it." ~ a client.

A New Way To Learn: Online

By Samuel Murray

Many of the most universities in the country are realizing that no everyone can attend regular classes to obtain a college education. As a result almost all of them offer distance learning programs that allow students from anywhere in the country to get a university education and even get an online degree.

There are many barriers to overcome in order to get a college education. They range from cost to motivation to accessibility. Many young people and their families simply cannot afford to pay the tens of thousands of dollars that is necessary in a regular degree program. Others live in remote areas of the country that make it impossible to attend college without major support and subsidies.

Distance learning allows them to overcome many of these challenges by connecting to the school of their choice through the Internet and enrolling in online degree granting programs in their field of choice. They can get a college education and still help out on the farm at home or they can work to support themselves during the day and take online classes at night.

These types of programs have transformed the higher education landscape almost overnight. Many millions of American kids will follow their college dreams right after high school, but they are now being joined in the academic world by military veterans, housewives, and thousands of other people who want a second chance at living out their dream.

Distance learning has democratized the higher education system in this country and it doesn't matter now how much money your family has or what stage of life you choose to continue your education. An online degree from a reputable and accredited program is worth just as much as if you went to that school for four years right after high school.

If you could picture an online classroom you would see a wide range of ages and life experiences sitting at their home computer, engaged in the pursuit of an online degree. Their enthusiasm to learn is just as great as those who sit in a regular classroom or lecture hall at the university. But what may strike you the most is that these people who are studying for an online degree have a zeal for learning and a motivation to get ahead that any university professor would love to see in his much younger class. These people desperately want to get their college education and distance learning will help them get there.

About The Author:

This article courtesy of http://www.schoolguideusa.com

Juggling Career, Family, Consider Online Education

By Hana Lee

Finding the time to do it all - career, family, continue education? Having trouble jugging? Some problems in this area that people face are very similar to those of the beginning juggler. According to The Instant Jugglers' Manual, (c)1993 Infinite Illusions/Lofty Pursuits, four common problems are handling two areas of focus at the same time, moving forward while you try to juggle instead of standing still, not being able to juggle in a third area of focus, and keeping all three areas from bumping into each other or overlapping. So let's take a look at some solutions to these problems.

Two at Once

To juggle two objects, you first toss one into the air to about eye level, then toss number two. The same with life. Pick any two areas of focus, and only try to tackle one at a time to establish goals and a system for it in your life. Then work in the second area. And just as juggling wouldn't work if the wrist puts too much or too little force into the toss, causing one or both objects to go too high or too low, the same can happen in life. If established goals are too high or low, not compatible with one another and your lifestyle, that juggling act doesn't stand much chance.

For instance, if fictitious person, John Wentworth, wants to complete a doctoral program, yet only earns minimum wage, he may need financial assistance with his continued education to
balance the act. Otherwise, John could have to work over time and take on a second job to fill gaps and pay bills. He may miss out on valuable family time with his wife and young son and become stressed out and exhausted. Not to mention his grades could take a dive! Student loans, grants and work-study could be some possible solutions in this case.

Where is juggling help? Instead of The Instant Jugglers' Manual, there are many resources available to help with juggling career, family and education. Local colleges are a good place to start.

Not Being Able To Juggle In A Third

Ready to add a third factor into the equation? Concentrate on throwing ball number #3 and do not even try to catch ball #2, advises The Instant Jugglers' Manual. Or once you have two areas of focus pretty much underway, say your career and family, add the third - education.

Get help planning your education into the mix with resources. Head to your local educational center or public libraries for help. Don't get left dropping - or not juggling - the ball!

About The Author: This article courtesy of http://www.university-phoenix.com

Online College Programs - How to Apply

By Katie Robbins

The first step to getting your online degree is to apply to colleges. Research several colleges offering the degree program you need. Once you have decided on a school, you are ready to begin the application process. While the requirements may vary slightly, most colleges have similar processes. You will need to fill out an application, either online or on paper. Check with the university for application deadlines. Just about all schools charge an application fee; these fees are usually small.

You will need to include any supporting documentation required by the school where you are applying. You will find this information included with the application. All schools require original transcripts from all schools previously attended. This will include both high school and college transcripts. A few schools look for college preparatory courses in high school. Send your requests early to allow enough time for transcripts to arrive at the college. Some schools will require SAT test scores and immunization records as well.

You will have to meet the admission requirements of the college you will be attending. The requirements vary by school and in some cases can be different based on your major. Be sure to check with the university to determine the requirements. Many schools have a minimum SAT score requirement for admission, although some waive this for some programs or for non traditional students. Non traditional students are defined as older students who have been out of high school for at least five years and have work experience. Students transferring from other institutions are in this category as well.

Many schools require students pass placement tests prior to registering for classes. These tests usually have English, math and writing components. This is to determine if potential students have the reading, writing and math skills necessary to succeed in college. If you don't pass one of the placement tests, you may be required to take remedial courses prior to starting
your degree; this is not unusual for people returning to school after many years. Graduate programs will usually require additional testing, such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

When you apply to the school, you can also apply for financial aid. Talk to a representative about programs available to students in the form of financial aid and scholarships. Start the process by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Complete the application even if you don't think you will qualify for federal aid. Most other student loan programs use the same application. To be able to accept federal financial aid, the school must be regionally accredited. Accreditation is a voluntary process and matters mainly for financial aid and transferring credit to other universities. Check with an admissions counselor if you're not sure about accreditation.

Once you have completed all applications and testing, you will find out if you have been accepted into the program. Once you have been accepted, you will be eligible to register for classes and begin the journey toward your college degree. The admissions counselor at your university can assist you in scheduling your courses. There is often an order in which classes should be taken. Once you have registered, you pay for your classes, get your books and attend orientation, if required.

About the Author:

Katie Robbins is an educationally focused writer, providing content to help the online student. Check out her other articles at:
http://www.degreeclick.com/
http://www.degreeclick.com/master-degree-education-online.html
and
http://www.degreeclick.com/criminal-justice-online-degrees.html

Obstacles To Small Business Usage Of eLearning In Europe

By Colin Mc Cullough

I would like to start my article with a few economic facts
which could lay a background for the message I want to get
across.

The political agenda of making Europe the most competitive
global economy by 2010 has not been matched by developments
over the past five years. Demographics show that Europe will
continue to have a shrinking workforce between now and 2020
with older workers forming the core of the European workforce.

Currently 80 million EU citizens are low-skilled. By 2010 it is
estimated that half of all additional new jobs on the labour
market will require tertiary education and almost 40% upper
secondary level. Logically, the job prospects for the low
skilled will decline. So we are currently confronted with the
situation where half the EU workforce (some 100 people) require
upskilling.

This in my view cannot take place in the back to the classroom
scenario, Learning and upskilling must be integrated in the
workplace.

These unsettling prospects must also be seen in the current
European economic structure. Small and medium-sized enterprises
are the European Union. They account for 99% of all businesses;
they provide employment for 74 million people.

Elearning through the flexibility and facility of access it
offers is seen - at least politically - as an important enabler
of lifelong learning. However, while we can observe an increase
use and impact of elearning in large European companies - up to
60% of the training needs of key players in the ICT sector is
now provided by elearning) the uptake in SME's is at best slow
and does not meet initial hopes and expectations.

A recent study carried out by Cedefop and the European
Commission shows that elearning has had a limited impact on
SME's in terms of those who use it and what it is used for, The
use was almost always limited to managers and ICT based staff.
The case studies carried out showed that in five European
countries there were a number of factors decisive in
influencing the development of ICT for learning in SME's. The
most significant were:

- the total lack of training culture within the SME
- lack of appropriate learning materials
- the attitude of individual managers
- and lack of access to sufficient bandwidth to ensure high
quality training.

Broadly speaking and with few exceptions, despite spawning a
number of new technology companies and numerous government and
European sponsored programme's the uptake and efficacy of
learning using ICT has been less than convincing. The
development of learning in Europe has been dominated by the
metaphor of the virtual classroom and the virtual university,
it has equally been dominated with an obsession with technology
and very little attention has been paid to vocational and
occupational learning or the development of elearning
environments in less formal learning contexts.

Like it or not, research suggests today that most learning
takes place in every and work social situations, In other
words, most of our learning is informal and takes place in a
variety of social contexts. Work is carried out in a social
context - this is particularly the case in small and
medium-sized enterprises and plays a very important part in
people's lives. If elearning is to make a contribution to
changing the traditional learning paradigm - institution based
- phase and stage related) it must become embedded in the work
organisation.

The use of ICT in the broad sense for learning is considered a
major factor in implementing the paradigm of lifelong learning
and in providing staff from SME's in particular with access to
continuing vocational education and training.

The main objectives of ICT supported learning should take
forward the following objectives:

- it should increase access to learning opportunities through
increased flexibility of delivery modes and by overcoming
geographical barriers to participation,

- it should enhance the quality of the learning experience in
terms of content and teaching

- ultimately it should increase the efficiency of the
organisation by reducing costs and increasing productivity.

So what are the obstacles to making elearning happen in SME's

Firstly I believe that people are ready to learn when they
realise that they don't know something that they need to know
in order to accomplish a goal they wanted to approach. Thus
there is little use in a philosophy of one size fits all, To
date most elearning has been an attempt to put books on
computers interrupted by a multiple choice test, The advocates
of elearning have not spent time trying to understand how the
new medium changes the educational experience. They are simply
trying to replicate what is there now while leaving out some of
the important parts such as the teacher. The value of a computer
may seem at first to be its ability to deliver information
anytime anywhere but its value in education is much more
important. When the air flight simulator was invented what was
important was not the fact that it could be used in any remote
location. It enabled pilots to learn to fly without risk and to
accumulate the experience but not be harmed by it

Today, to give another example, most university courses are
lecture courses. Lectures are evidence of the inertia that
exists in education and still reflects ancient educational
considerations. ELearning needs to be about learning by doing,
also using the computer to evoke simulated experience. One
should learn to run a business by running it rather than
reading or hearing about how to do it.

The emphasis in the elearning industry has changed somewhat
over the past five years from a technological to a pedagogical
perspective.

So first and foremost there must be a broader understanding of
what elearning really is and that it impacts largely on how,
where, what and how the learner progresses.

Secondly, I would return to the issue of the learning culture.
What is the motivation of the learner in the SME. Are their
incentives - tangible or intangible for improving his/her
competences. ELearning cannot be removed from the whole debate
of the learning organisation, of managing human capital and
recognising the assets of the company are largely in the heads
of its employees. Workplaces need to be designed to facilitate
learning and learning infrastructures. This requires
examination of what forms of work organisation are needed to
support elearning in SME's and how skills gained from formal
and informal learning activities can be applied in the
workplace. In this domain current research is weak.

The third issue I would touch upon is the question of
pedagogies and learning cultures. Work is still outstanding in
defining and analysing the training and learning needs of SME's
and of its managers and employees. In an elearning context there
is a need to develop effective pedagogies, materials and
eresources,

Fourthly the issue of elearning materials and infrastructures.
We need a much broader understanding of how electronic media
and applications can be used to support elearning. This should
go hand in hand with an audit of what elearning materials are
actually available to SME's, how does it fit their real
learning needs. This would led me on to the issue of
localisation of software but that I shall leave aside for the
present.

Point number five. That elearning is a cheap learning solution
is a myth. On average US estimates put costs of one hour
elearning instructional material at 20 000 dollars - in some
cases as high as 80 000 dollars. If materials can not be
recycled, if learning materials cannot be adapted to specific
learning environments, it learning materials have not complied
with technical standards, then there use is limited and the
return on investment non-existent.

And perhaps the last point I wish to make. What about the
models and frameworks to support elearning in SME's. There are
growing national and regional initiatives, and here I would
point to Scotland as one outstanding example for networking and
support to the SME looking for elearning opportunities. For
SME's I believe in terms of financial resources, the most
convincing model is one based on learning regions and
partnerships.

The issue of open standards is essential it elearning is to be
a feasible investment = particularly for SME's. Similarly there
is a need for a lifecycle model of learning content covering all
aspects of content from creation to delivery storage and
retrieval.

The issue of the changing role of the trainer or educator is
equally important. They potentially play the key role as change
agents. Their continuous professional development is essential
and work we have carried out at Cedefop shows that there is
major concern among teachers and trainers that they are not
equipped to support technology in the learning environment

To conclude, I think I have tried to advocate the view that the
issue of how a culture of lifelong learning should be developed
and supported in SME's is a complex one. It is unsure to me if
present national and European policies promote access to
continuing learning as a pubic right or. a private good, What
is the balance between the responsibilities of the public and
private sectors regarding elearning. And this raises the vital
question of funding. Already there are substantial differences
in access to lifelong learning and elearning for different
occupational and social groups. This in turn raises the issue
of social exclusion.

I am afraid that my article raises more questions that provides
answers to the issues of elearning in SME's. But if such issues
are not addressed at all levels - European, national and
regional, the promise of elearning as a driver of economic
growth and performance in Europe could easily turn into a myth.

About The Author:

Colin McCullough works at a European level
for increasing awareness of technology supported learnng. He
has consulted for a number of companies including
http://www.modusvivendi-design.com

Researching the Pros and Cons of Getting Your Degree Online

by Dan Allen

Are you considering getting your bachelor's or master's or other
degree online? It's a growing field that's receiving acceptance
and approval for all types of career and education goals.

The biggest advantage to online degree education is that it's
a complete college degree program that is delivered via the
Internet. All classes, materials, tests and lectures are
delivered online. This process allows the student to "attend"
class from anywhere at any time that is convenient to them.

According to educators from Cornell University, "the web
provides significant new functionality in transmitting
information to the student and providing forums for exchange.
The web is revolutionizing some areas of study through increased
opportunities for learning and alternative formats for
information." (Dwyer, Barbieri, and Doerr, 1995).

One of the ways it has done this is through enhanced student-to-student and faculty-to-student communication. Students and faculty can both benefit from using the communication and assessment tools that are made available via online learning.

The technology also enables students to exercise more flexibility
in their approach to education, depending on what best suits
their personal learning styles and busy schedules.

In addition, the class material and program is continuously
updated for up to the minute, real world application. This allows
the student to immediately begin applying their new knowledge to
their existing work environment.

There are many different types of programs available. Students
can receive a bachelor's or master's degree in many areas such as accounting, marketing, human resources, e-business, information technology, nursing and even elementary education.

The typical online program takes three years to complete. A
master's degree program may take up to four years depending on
the type of degree sought and the prior education of the student.

Most programs are accredited and they usually accept the transfer of prior credits from other accredited universities. Some of them are also well-known off-line schools such as Duke, Stanford, Jones International, and Capella.

While enrolled, a student typically takes just one class at a
time for a five to six week period. This allows the student to
concentrate solely on that material before moving on to the next
module of information.

The price of an online degree education program is comparable to
that of a regular college degree. Plus, many students are
eligible for financing in the way of a student loan. Sometimes
employer education programs can even reimburse a student's
tuition fees.

Keep in mind though, that you may have to be a little more
organized and self-motivated for this type of education and you
will have to manage time demands in other areas of your life.
Because you normally won't have set class times, it will be up
to you to the time into your schedule. Then again, some programs
require that you log on to the Internet at designated times for
virtual class sessions.

Another potential disadvantage is that some employers still
prefer that their employees have degrees from traditional
colleges. However, these views are rapidly changing.

A recent survey of 1,300 graduates and 80 employers asked
supervisors to rate the value of the degree earned by their
employee compared to a resident school degree in the same field.
Sixty-nine percent of the supervisors rated the online degree
"just as valuable" or "more valuable" than traditional degrees.
This means that one out of three supervisors need to be convinced that an online degree offers the same quality and content as a traditional degree.

Plus, traditional brick and mortar universities who offer online courses often make no separation between their programs and the type of degree awarded. And transcripts do not indicate whether a course was done at a distance or on campus.

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About the Author:

Dan Allen is the founder of AboutOnlineDegrees, a site dedicated
to providing a wide array of information and resources for those
thinking of getting their degree online.

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E Learning: Why Choose Online Education?

By John Thompson

The Internet boom is far from over, although it has been taking
a slightly different slant in the past few years; hardly
surprising as technologies advance and trends change. The World
Wide Web is the largest resource of information in the whole
world and whatever your needs the Internet can provide. What
started as a bubble has soon become a massive tidal wave and
online education is one of the areas that is still increasing,
probably more than ever before.

You can shop online, you can watch TV online, and you can even
book your holidays online or work online and now you can
complete perfectly legitimate and recognised educational
courses online. Far from being the alternative form of
education used solely by working parents it is becoming just as
popular with teenagers and professionals all around the world.
There are no boundaries to learning when using the Internet.
You can study a course that local colleges and educational
institutions in your area don't offer and you can do so without
having to quite your job and leave home.

You don't need to take three years to complete a course; you
can often work at your own pace, fitting in around your
commitments and according to your spare time.

What courses are on offer?

As well as courses designed primarily for completion on the
Internet, many educational institutions are now leaning towards
offering the major courses to be completed in the comfort of
your own home. College degrees and graduate degrees are
available in almost any subject you could imagine with many
benefits over the traditional 'classroom' approach.

E-learning offers a vast array of topics too, from American
History to Zoology and everything in between. Perhaps you are
in full time employment and want a change in career. Not many
of us can afford to just give up work and go back to college so
online education could be the perfect answer.

Maybe you are unemployed and can't find work suitable for you
or the qualifications and experience you have. Online education
can offer you the opportunity to gain more qualifications
without the expenses of travelling or accommodation.

Why should I choose an online education course?

There are many advantages to online education. The courses are
usually tailored to meet the different demands that are
entailed within an online learning community. You are usually
free to study at your own time and pace, so you have the
opportunity to complete your chosen course quickly or as slowly
as you want.

There are no travel costs involved with online education and no
travel time whatsoever. The only time you will need to dedicate
to your learning will be the time you spend studying and any
trips to the library or other institution you may need.

Many jobs and careers demand a good working knowledge of the
Internet, and by completing your course online you are already
many steps closer to that end. You will have excellent
knowledge on Internet research; always being able to find the
information that is useful to you.

There are some factors you should consider when deciding
whether to opt for online education or a more traditional
classroom education. You will need a reasonably up to date PC,
together with an Internet Connection. Fortunately, computer
prices have dropped in recent years, so you can get a capable
PC for little more than $300. If you consider using Ebay or
buying a refurbished PC then you can reduce this price even
more. Don't forget, you will need a printer, operating
software, word processing software and an Internet connection
but again the price of these has dropped dramatically.

If you don't have much working knowledge of a computer or the
Internet you will need to find your way around at first and
this can seem a daunting task for the beginner. Don't panic,
just stick with it and buy yourself (or borrow from friends or
the library) books on how to use the software you are going to
need. Once online the Internet has all of this information at
hand, and the world becomes your playground.

A summary of online education

Online education can help all people from all walks of like
gain the education they want to better themselves or to advance
in the career they already have. Whether you are a working
parent or an unemployed bachelor, there are courses available
for you to complete through online education.

Online education offers many benefits and few pitfalls when
compared to the more traditional 'classroom' approach but you
should carefully consider your options before jumping in.

There are costs associated with virtually all online education
courses but these are usually little more than the costs to
study at a college and when you consider that there are no
travelling expenses and no extra living costs, you may find
online education to be a much more financially viable option.

©2005 John Thompson

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About The Author: John Thompson is editor of E-Learning
Resources, an web resource for online education and e-learning.

For more free-reprint articles by John Thompson please visit
this site.
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