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Experts are Made,Not Born
www.oreillyschool.com
©2009 O’Reilly Media, Inc. O’Reilly logo is a registered trademark of O’Reilly Media, Inc.
august 2009 Your guide to balancing work and class
Online Education
online education
2
CONTENTS 2 Foreword:ThereisnoTimelike
thePresent
3 TechnologyandtheRevolution
inEducation
4 PanelofExperts
5 EducationforLifeLongLearning
6 CustomizingYourEducation
8 ServicingtheMilitary
9 LogginginWhileontheGo
10 WhyTeachOnline
11 AcademicContinuity
ONLiNEEduCATiON
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Contributor:CSGPublicRelationswww.csg-pr.com
designer:[email protected]
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“Unfortunately, more
than 70 percent of
Americans 25 and
older do not have a bachelor’s
degree. Prospective and current
studentssurveyedbyeLearners.com,
overwhelmingly cited the lack of
financialaidfornon-traditional,adult
collegestudentsasamajorconcern
affectingtheirdecisiontogobackto
school.Infact,FinancialAidSuperSite.
comdiscoveredthatonly2percentof
allfinancialaidgoestowardtheadult
population(aged25+).”
PresidentBarackObamahasstated
thataccesstohighereducationforall
agesneedstobeimproved.According
to the Organization for Economic
Co-Operation and Development,
twenty years ago the United States
rankedfirst intheworldwithadults
25-34 who had a postsecondary
credential.Thisrankinghasfallenwith
the U.S. now ranking 10th. By 2020,
President Obama wants America
to have the highest proportion of
college graduates in the world. To
accomplish this feat, the President’s
2010 budget expands student aid
andcreatesincentivesforcollegesto
benefitaswell.Hisproposedbudget
includes a $2.5 billion Access and
Completion Incentive Fund, which
helpsstatesimproveaccesstohigher
educationforlow-incomestudentsso
theycanbeginandcompletecollege.
Inaddition,startingJuly1st,President
ObamaincreasedthemaximumPell
Grantawardto$5,350.
This is great news as the need
for a college degree is growing in
importance. It is estimated that by
2016,fouroutofeverytennewjobs
will require, at a minimum, post-
secondary education or advanced
training. However, for millions of
working adults with full-time jobs,
children, and other demands, tradi-
tionalcampuscollegesdonotoffer
aviablesolution.Thegoodnewsfor
manystudentsisthatonlineeduca-
tion,inmostcases,makeseducation
possible.Bystudyingonline,students
don’thavetoworryaboutgettingto
classandalsohavetheflexibility to
studywhenandwheretheychoose.
Ifstudyingat10p.m.afterthekidsgo
tobedworksbest,onlineeducation
canaccommodatethis.
Michael Cushman, one of the
career coaches on the 40 city RV
CareerStimulusEmpowermentTour,
recentlylaunchedbyeLearners.com,
metamaninhis50’swhohasmore
than 25 years of experience in the
Information Technology field and
hasspenthislast10yearsinproject
management.Thegentlemandoesn’t
have PMI Certification for project
management,andaround70percent
ofprojectmanagementjobsrequire
thiscertification.Hewassurprisedto
learnthathecouldhavebeenworking
towards his certification through
online education while he was em-
ployed, without having to take vital
timeoff.Michaelreassuredhimthat
there is no time like the present:
“The most significant investment
thatyoucanmake isn’t inthestock
marketorgold, it is inyou. Invest in
yourself—at any time—and good
thingswillhappen.”
But,itisnotjustaboutyourcareer,
it is also about raising the bar of
personaldevelopment.LisaJohnson,
arecipientofafull-tuitionscholarship
fromeLearners.com’sProjectWorking
Mom campaign, brings statistics to
life.“You are never too old to learn,
and this gives me the opportunity
to go back to school to provide a
greatexampletomykids,”saidLisa,
a mother of two sons, ages 16 and
11. Lisa is now pursuing a master’s
degree in Business Administration
andisdemonstratingtheimportance
ofeducationtoherkidsastheyget
closertoenteringcollegethemselves.
In the following pages, you will
learn about additional benefits for
continuingyoureducationandhow
an online education is providing a
convenient and first-rate route to
upgrading your career. For more
informationonpursuingyourcollege
degree online, eLearners.com offers
a wealth of information about
accredited colleges and universities
and offers advice, how-to guides,
communityforums,financialaidand
scholarship databases. It’s just one
of numerous resources available to
prospectivestudents.
Our economy will emerge from
thiseconomicslump,butitwon’tbe
smooth sailing. Take advantage of
opportunities now, so you are pre-
paredfor thenexteconomicdown-
turn.Thereisnobettertimetoinvest
inyourfuture.
There is no Time like the PresentBY:AnDREWGAnSLER,PRESIDEnT,PROSPECTInGSERVICESDIVISIOnOFEDUCATIOnDYnAMICSAnDELEARnERS.COM
AndrewGansler
The unemployment rate is twice as high for peoplewith only a high school diploma when compared tothose with a bachelor’s degree.This clearly illustratesstaggering disparities in employment and shines alightonthecorrelationbetweeneducationandcareeropportunities.
3
online education
Online education is no longer
about simply reading or
watchingPowerPointsonthe
computerandtakingquizzesandtests
online.VariousLearningManagement
Systemsnowincorporatesocialnet-
working to enhance the eLearning
experienceforstudentsthroughvideo
chatsandonlinediscussions.
ManyonlinecoursesusingLearning
ManagementSystemsguidestudents
through materials based on their
customizedneeds,adjustingtoeach
student.AccordingtoRobertSchudy,
Ph.D.,anAssociateProfessoratBoston
University,intheMetropolitanCollege
ComputerScienceDepartment,more
challengingmaterialcaneasilybein-
corporatedasextracreditoradvanced
topics,throughonlineeducation.This
concepthitshomewithalotofpeople
consideringareturntotheclassroom
whomaywantadditionalassistance.
According to the Department of
Education, online learning also has
significant advantages over the tra-
ditional classroom environment in
termsofteachingandlearning.With
the constant demand for students’
time from work, family and social
commitments, thevirtualclassroom
isexactlywhatmanystudentsneed.
notonlydoesitprovidegreateraccess
to instructors, fellow students and
resources,italsohelpsfacilitate—and
oftenexpedite—thelearningprocess.
“Our virtual classrooms provide
studentswithrichlearningresources
suchasinteractiveanimations,tuto-
rialquestion-and-answerdialogs,su-
perviseddiscussionsandmultimedia
facultydialogsfromanywhereonthe
Internet.” -Robert Schudy, Ph.D., As-
sociateProfessoratBostonUniversity.
PaulGleason,SeniorVicePresident
of Embanet Corporation, notes the
importanceofactiveparticipationin
collegecourses,whichonlinelearning
allows,“As we move forward in our
understandingofboththecognitive
andsocialaspectsof learning,class-
rooms emphasize active learning in
which the student is responsible to
use the material to make decisions,
solve problems and reflect on their
ownlearningprocess.”
ForcompanieslikeEmbanetwork-
ingbehindthescenesofeLearning,it
is all about“Lean Forward” learning
versusa“LeanBack”philosophy.Tradi-
tionallearningenvironmentsexpect
students to sit, listen, observe, and
reproducecontentuponrequest.To-
day’sonlineclassroomisanengaging,
highlysocialandmobileexperience.
Technology and the Revolution in Education
Higher education is tapping into
wholenewworldsofonlineactivities
to engage and communicate with
students.Oneofthehotbedsofactiv-
ityisSecondLife,a3Dvirtualworld.
SecondLifehasalarge,activehigher
education community—with hun-
dredsofhighereducationmembers,
thelikesofHarvard,MIT,Duke,Penn
State. Many of these forward think-
ing universities have set up virtual
campuseswherestudentscanmeet,
attendclasses,andcreatecontentto-
gether.Infact,recentlyBryant&Strat-
tonCollege,after150years,became
thefirstschooltoofferaliveSecond
Lifecollegegraduation.
our virtual classrooms provide students with rich learning
resources such as interactive animations, tutorial question-and-
answer dialogs, supervised discussions and multimedia faculty
dialogs from anywhere on the internet.-Robert Schudy, Ph.d., associate Professor at Boston university
Itisthefutureofeducation—videochat,onlinelecturesanddigitalconversa-tions.TheflexibilityandconvenienceofonlineeducationispromptingmorecollegesanduniversitiestotaketheircoursestotheInternet,makingaccred-itedcollegeprogramsmoreaccessiblethaneverbefore.Infact,accordingtothenationalCenterforEducationStatistics,66percentof2-and4-yearTitleIVcollegesanduniversitiesofferedonlinelearninginthe2006-07schoolyearandthisnumbercontinuestogrow.
Second life
First Ever Second Life Graduation
Call Today!800.895.1738
Download a Brochure online.bryantstratton.edu/contact
One Example Of How We Make Your Online College Experience As Rich And Rewarding As Possible
COME TOuR OuR ViRTuAl CAMPus
Open House August 19th, 6:00 - 8:00pm EST online.bryantstratton.edu/openhouse
Meet with current students, admissions and financial aid staff to answer all your questions about going back to school.
Call Today!800.848.7067
Download a Brochure online.bryantstratton.edu/contact
Pictured: Actual shot Of Graduation Afterparty
First Ever Second Life GraduationFirst Ever Second Life GraduationOne Example Of How We Make Your Online College Experience As Rich And Rewarding As Possible
First Ever Second Life GraduationFirst Ever Second Life GraduationFirst Ever Second Life GraduationOne Example Of How We Make Your Online College Experience As Rich And Rewarding As Possible
online education
4
Are you looking for practical training, effective practices and diverse perspectives for online teaching?
Find out how Sloan-C can help you: www.sloanconsortium.org
The Sloan ConsortiumProviding knowledge, practice, community, and direction for educators
WAtCh For 2009 online leArning Survey reSultS At: http://WWW.SloAnConSortium.org Join uS on: linkedin FACebook tWitter
How is elearning technology creating dynamic learning experiences?
For ten years, the Kelley Direct online pro-
gramhasenabledtheworld-renownedIndiana
UniversityKelleySchoolofBusinessfacultyto
createdynamic learningexperiences through
variousweb-basedtools:
Discussion Forums: Working professionals
canbringtheirdailyexperiencestocasediscus-
sions while simultaneously linking to outside
sourcesthatprovidedeeperandmorerobust
learningexperiences.
Asynchronous Presentations: Instructors
provideaudio-visualpresentationsinadown-
loadableformatthatenablestudentstostudy
anywhere.
Live Chat Sessions: Students participate in
live discussions hosted by faculty. In addition
tosimulatingthe“traditional”classroomexperi-
ence,sessionsarerecorded,allowingstudents
to“replay” specific points to facilitate better
comprehension.
Virtual Teams: Students learn to work in
teamswithmemberslocatedaroundtheworld,
simulatingtoday’scorporateteams.
GlobalLeadersnetwork:Directaccesstothe
perspectivesofbusinessleadersisnotlimited
tothenormalconstraintsoftimeandspaceas
Kelleyprofessorsareabletobringthemintothe
electronicclassrooms.
Panel of Experts
ERICRICHARDSKelleyDirectPublicProgramsChair
eLearning technology allows delivery of
high-quality learning opportunities to indi-
viduals who previously could not complete
theirundergraduateormaster’sdegreedueto
geographyandtimeconstraints.Theadventof
activeonlineteaching,combinedwithexcellent
course delivery technology, greatly expands
accesstoandimpactofeducation.eLearningis
thenextmajorstepineducation’scontinuous
adaptationtosociety’sneeds.Ithasadynamic
andsystematicimpactbyaffectingwholearns,
andwhere,how,andfromwhomtheylearn,all
accordingtotheirindividualneeds.
Dynamic elements of eLearning are being
refined and used more effectively every day.
Onlinediscussionsarenotrestrictedbyclass-
room time, greatly increasing students’ and
faculty’sability toshare thoughtsandexperi-
encesanytime,anywhere.High-qualitysoftware
andhighbandwidthallowreal-timeinteraction
via audio and video, as well as archiving live
discussionsforstudentreview.WitheLearning,
we are creating high-quality, low-cost public
educationthatgrows.
A dynamic learning environment, whether
it occurs in the classroom or online, has cer-
taincharacteristics.First,theexperienceisnot
organizedaroundrotememorizationofstatic
content.Ratheritengageslearnersinchalleng-
ingandrealistictasksthatrequireintegration,
applicationandreflectiononthekeyconcepts
and competencies of the course. Second, it
fosters a community of learning where social
interactionsurroundsandstimulatesthelearning.
It is critical to emphasize the requirement to
explain, defend and expand your thinking
basedonestablishtheoryandrenewedappli-
cation.Thesearepartofthesocialfrictionthat
precipitate learning and are very important
onlineaswellasintheclassroom.
Technology provides the structure and the
functionality to create these active learning
environmentsbybringinglearnersfromacross
thecountryandaroundtheworldintolearning
proximity with each other and world-class
faculty.Oncetogethertheycanengage inter-
active multimedia case studies, work on proj-
ects, participate in live webinars, battle it out
on blogs, form study groups, and in the end,
becomecompetentmembersoftheirdiscipline.
PAULGLEASOnSeniorVicePresident,EducationalOperationsEmbanetCorporation
The most dynamic learning goes on in an
active and engaging learning environment.
eLearningtechnologyisallowingactivelearn-
ingandcommunicationbeyondboththewalls
ofthetraditionalclassroomandthelimitsofthe
networkedcomputeratadesk.Web2.0—the
web in your hands—and the combination of
emergingsocialnetworkingtoolsandexisting
anytime-anywhere discussion tools are being
used to extend and improve learning. These
toolshaveopenedthedoortohighlyinterac-
tiveandpersonalizedwaysforstudentstocol-
laborate with their professors and classmates
beyond the standard limits of time, distance,
andsocialandculturalspace.Universities’learn-
ingmanagementsystems,suchasBlackboard,
connect with Facebook, Linkedin, andTwitter
tomorefullyintegratewithstudents’socialand
professionalnetworks.Theexcitingtrendwith
emerging eLearning technologies is that the
technologyisfadingintothebackground,and
thestudent—thehuman-being—isnowatthe
centerofthedynamism.
FRAnCISx.MULGREWPresident,PostUniversityOnline
HUnTLAMBERTAssociateProvost,ColoradoStateUniversityContinuingEducation
5
online education
Life Demands aDegree of Flexibility
Online Graduate DegreesApplied Industrial/Organizational PsychologyBusiness AdministrationCivil EngineeringIntegrated Resource ManagementStatisticsSystems Engineeringplus many other degrees
Online Undergraduate Degree CompletionsAgricultural BusinessFire and Emergency Services AdministrationHuman Development and Family StudiesLiberal Arts
Online CertificatesFinanceGreen BuildingSustainable Military Lands ManagementVeterinary Medicine
www.learn.colostate.edu • (877) 491-4336
Most college students with
full-time jobs need a flex-
iblescheduletoallowthe
jugglingactofwork,familyandschool
tobeasuccess.Onlinelearningallows
students to study when they want
andwheretheywant,but it isstilla
lotofwork.Onaverage,athree-credit
collegecoursetakes10-12hoursper
week;addtheotherlifedemandsand
itcanbeoverwhelming.Thoughtra-
ditionalschoolsanduniversitiesoffer
breaks, these breaks may not allow
enoughtimetorechargeandregain
focus.ForeLearners,a farmoreflex-
ible schedule for breaks is allowed.
Dependingontheprogram,eLearn-
ing provides students the opportu-
nity to take off extra time between
classes—a suitable solution for any
busyprofessionalseekingtokeepup
hisorhermotivation.
Another benefit of online educa-
tionisthatmanyprofessionalsareac-
customedtothefastpaceofthe“real
world”andenjoythatthistempocan
bemirroredintheonlineclassroom.
Online students can set their own
schedule, working as fast or slow as
theyneed.Onlineclassesalsodonot
typically followastandardsemester,
butrather,areoftenreducedtoafew
weeksorjustamonthortwo,allowing
maximumflexibilityandanincreased
paceinreceivingadegree.
Many online education programs
buildoffwhatstudentsalreadyknow
andassisttheminapplyingwhatthey
learn to real life events in the work-
place.Becauseofthisstrategy,many
students attend online programs to
advancealreadyestablishedcareers.In
additiontoahigh-qualitydegree,on-
lineeducationhelpspeopledevelop
proficienttimemanagementskills,an
invaluableassetintheworkplace.
Timecanbeanintimidatingfactor
whenaddressingthe ideaofreturn-
ing to school, but online education
programs provide the answer many
professionals and other adult learn-
ersseek.Theflexibleandselfadjust-
ableaspectsofeLearningallowfora
comfortable balance between work,
family,schoolandleisure,enablingall
goals tobeaccomplished inaman-
ageableformat.
Education for Life Long Learning
Going Back to School Benefits the Whole Family
By going back to school, you
are providing a life-long lesson
for your children about the im-
portanceofeducation,discipline,
motivation and goal-setting. A
reportbytheInstituteforHigher
EducationPolicyshowsthatchil-
drenofeducatedparentsareusu-
allyhealthier,dobetterinschool
andgotocollegethemselves.To
search for an accredited online
programvisitwww.elearners.com.
Formanyadults,thehardestpartaboutgoingbackto school, after several years away, is returning tothe classroom. For these learners, an online edu-cation provides an ideal solution.The flexibility ofonlineclassesandreal-lifeapplicationsofeLearningcurriculumpresentadultsanappealingwaytoad-vance their career both personally and financially.Infact,accordingtotheCollegeBoard,overthespanof their working lives, on average, college gradu-atesearnabout60percentmorethanaveragehighschoolgraduates.
online students can set their
own schedule, working as fast
or slow as they need.
online education
6
Americansarebusy.Betweenwork,familyandsocialcommitments,gettingacollegedegree often is put on hold indefinitely.However, online education is helping tosolve this dilemma by providing a cus-tomizable solution to a college degree.
Bygoingtoschoolonline,studentscansettheirownpace,scheduleclassworkwhenit’sconvenientandstudyfromhome.Thisflexibility has helped lead to a surge inonlineeducation,withnearlyfourmillionstudents enrolled in at least one online
course in the fall of 2007, an increase ofnearly13percent.AccordingtotheSloanConsortium,thisincreaseoverwhelminglyexceeds the 1.2 percent increase for thehighereducationpopulationoverall.
Customizing your Education
Golden Gate University’s Award-Winning CyberCampus:Fulfi ll Your True Potential
Earn your graduate or undergraduate degree fully online in: Taxation • Business • Accounting • Public Administration • Human Resources Professional certifi cates also available
Golden Gate University:• US News and World Report rated GGU online programs as among the best
in the nation (2001) and our online graduate programs as the largest in the nation (2009).
• Over 100 years of experience providing practice-based, career-focused education to adult professionals.
• One of the largest schools of taxation in the nation.
Start today and get ready to join over 60,000 successful GGU alumni world-wide!
[ TIME MAnAGEMEnT ]
ELearningworksprimarilybecause
of its inherent availability. In a time
whencalendarstakecontrol,flexibil-
ityis increasinglyimportanttobusy
adultswhowanttoobtainacollege
education.Theabilitytoattendclass
at night, or in between jobs, and to
studywhenthekidsareinbedopens
up the opportunity for working
adultsandbusyparentstofindaway
tostillgetacollegedegree.
[ ACCESS]
The high-quality education af-
forded by online programs has
openedthedoortohighereducation
formorepeople.Distancenolonger
has to be a deciding factor when
consideringwhethertogetacollege
degree.SinceeLearnersdonothave
toworryaboutcommutingtoclass,
theydonothavetotakeintoaccount
drivingtimesortheamountofmoney
theywouldspendongas.
[ COMMUnICATIOn]
Onlinestudentsoftenfindgreater
flexibility in communicating with
professorsandfellowonlinelearners,
compared to traditional campus-
basedstudents.Withanonlineforum,
professorsareusuallyjustaclickaway
inachatroomorviae-mail,making
professors feel more approachable
for many students who would not
typically speak up. In addition, the
24/7 ability to access assignments
and discussion boards online helps
ease concerns about getting this
informationatatimethatmightnot
beconvenient.
[ LEARnInGSTYLE]
no two students learn and retain
information in thesamemanner, so
onlineeducationoffersvaryingpro-
gramsthatcatertodifferentlearning
styles.Whetherastudentlearnsbest
by reading the information, seeing
with visual models or building and
makingstudyaides,onlineeducation
hascoursestailoredtospecificneeds.
“The Internet has empowered us
toforgethecircumstancesandcon-
ditions of our own education,” said
Marvin Weinbaum, Dean of Golden
GateUniversity’sCyperCampus.
Online learning provides college
degreesthateverystudentcanadjust
andmorphtofittheircurrentlifestyle
and learning approach, making it
an attractive option for millions of
peopleeveryyear.Withmorethan75
percentofU.S.collegesanduniversi-
ties now offering online education
options for their students,gettinga
collegedegreeismoreaccessibleand
customizablethaneverbefore.
the internet has empowered us to forge the circumstances and
conditions of our own education.
- Marvin Weinbaum, dean of Golden Gate university’s cypercampus.
Redefining the classroom.
> Earn your undergraduate or graduate degree online from a top-tier university
> Choose from more than 65 degrees and certificates in high-demand areas such as education, leadership, technology, and communications
> Competitive tuition rates, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities make a college education more affordable
> Rolling admissions process for most programs allows you to begin whenever you’re ready
Learn more at www.northeastern.edu/online
online education
8
ADVERTORIAL
Henley-Putnam University is the
country’sleadingaccreditedonline
institutionspecializinginthefieldof
Strategic Security. Students can
earnBachelorandMasterofScience
Degrees online in Intelligence
Management,TerrorismandCoun-
terterrorismStudies,andManage-
ment of Personal Protection. The
universityalsooffersflexiblecertifi-
cateprogramsinthesefieldsanda
Doctorate in Strategic Security.
Henley-Putnam prepares military,
lawenforcement,intelligence,and
privateindustryprofessionalswith
the resources, skills, and insights
necessary to advance in their
careers.
Why Henley-Putnam?FOCUS:The only online university
exclusively specializing in Intelli-
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agementofPersonalProtection.
FACULTY:Professorsandfaculty
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MEnTORSHIP: Degree students
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Learnmoreabout
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orcontacttheadmissions
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Servicing the Military
Post University has been a pio-
neerinprovidingeducational
benefitstomilitarypersonnel
since1976.Theyarecurrentlytheonly
universitytoofferactivedutyperson-
nelaccesstoeducationwithnoout-
of-pocket expenses. Online classes,
alongwiththenewGIBill’s“layaway
plan”andfundingassistancewillhelp
boostopportunitiesforeducation.In
thepast,manyveteransdidnotuse
their GI Bill benefits, most citing a
lackoftime.Withraisingafamilyand
earningalivingtakingpriority,educa-
tionfelltothebackburner.
“The online program gives me
the ability to continue my educa-
tionwhetherIamdeployedorback
home,andthatisimportanttomeas
asoldier,”saidSgt.SherwynGibbs,a
combat veteran who is enrolled at
Post University and currently sta-
tionedatFt.Polk,Louisiana.“Iknow
gettingacollegedegreewillhelpme
getahead,andI’vehadnothingbut
goodexperiences.”
Servicemenandwomenhavestood
upfortheircountry;nowitistimethey
standupfor their future,bygetting
a college degree. Online education
alongwithincentives liketheGIBill
allows members of the military to
learn while they serve, so they get
theeducationtheyneedtoadvance
intheirmilitaryandciviliancareers.
SergeantFirstClassSherwynGibbsispursuingaB.S.inBusinessManagementcompletelyonlinethroughPostUniversity.
“each course was tailored to relevant
issues in the field and can be applied to
today’s issues throughout the world. the
never-ending sense of understanding
displayed by the faculty made this degree
nothing short of outstanding. i feel ex-
tremely fortunate to have been a part of
such a great organization.”- Master Sergeant, u.S. air Force Special operations
and Henley-Putnam graduate, 2009 (Bachelors degree in terrorism and counterterrorism Studies)
Members of the United States military now havegreater access to higher education thanks to thenewGIBill,whichwentintoeffectAugust1,2009,andprovideseducationassistanceforU.S.service-menandwomen.Therevisedprogrampaysupto100%oftuitioncosts,dependingonthecollegeoruniversity. It also provides funding to help defraythecostsofhousing,booksandsupplies.MembersofthemilitarycanusetheGIBillbenefitupto15years after their release from active duty, a sortof layaway plan, allowing them to more easily fiteducation into their lives. In addition, for the firsttime servicemen and women may be eligible totransferthisbenefittotheirspouseandchildren.
...gives me the ability to continue
my education whether i am
deployed or back home, and that is
important to me as a soldier...
9
online education
Through online education you
can log in and get your de-
greefromhome,theoffice,or
wherever an Internet connection is
available. Although getting any de-
gree takes sacrifice, online students
can determine when they want to
study and where, making the sacri-
ficeseasiertohandle.Onlineeduca-
tionprogramsdonotrequirealotof
adjustments to one’s home life, just
a computer and if possible a home
studyspacethatprovidesaquietarea
tofocusonschoolwork.
Anonlinedegreewillhelppropel
yourprofessionallife.Itwillalsohelp
you earn more money. In fact, ac-
cording to the U.S. Census Bureau,
ifyouhaveabachelor’sdegreeyou
willmake,onaverage,about$26,000
moreayear than thosewithahigh
schooldiploma($57,181vs.$31,286
respectively).
Today’s society is on the go 24/7
and online education programs un-
derstand and operate knowing the
juggling act students go through.
That’swhytheyofferflexibleschool-
ingmethods.Withoutlocationtying
students down, time zones and
country borders become irrelevant.
Through online learning, a college
education becomes accessible
aroundtheworld,allowingstudents
tointeractwitheLearnersfromother
countries to gain valuable cultural
experiences.
Oneuniversitythatofferscourses
for students around the world,
throughKelleyDirect, isthe Indiana
UniversityKelleySchoolofBusiness,
whereyoucangetaworld-renowned
MBAorMSdegree fromhome.Stu-
dentsinKelleyDirectreporthavinga
rewardingexperienceandenjoythe
encouragement and guidance they
receivefromthefacultywhostriveto
help students succeed both profes-
sionally and personally. The knowl-
edge, leadership qualities and net-
working with high-caliber working
professionals garnered from Kelley
Directareinvaluableforthestudents.
Onepersonwhounderstandsfirst-
handthejugglingactforstudentsis
ClaudiaHernandez;arecentgraduate
from the Chapman University Col-
legeinIrvine,Calif.Whilecompleting
online courses, this 34-year-old
student in Organizational Leader-
ship worked full time as the presi-
dent of Orange County Real Estate
and Promerica Funding. Hernandez
integrated online courses with on-
campuscoursestoreceiveherbach-
elor’sdegree.Asastudent,Hernandez
valued the traditional classroom
setting and face-to-face interaction
withotherstudentsandoptedforthe
hybrid approach, integrating both
onlineandon-campuscoursework.
For Hernandez, earning a degree
wouldnothavebeenpossible,with-
outonlineeducation.After learning
thatshecouldloginforassignments,
discussion groups, feedback, grade
retrievalandanythingelseshemight
need for class from home, earning
herdegreebecameaneasydecision
tomake.
“Even vacationing in Cabo San
Lucas Iwas inschool,”explainsHer-
nandez.“Iworkedonafinalpoolside,
can’tbeatthat!”
ChapmanUniversityCollege,Her-
nandez’s alma mater, is a popular
option among eLearners mainly for
itsreputation.Formorethan50years
thecollegehashelpedadultlearners
incorporate education into a busy
lifestyle. With extended education
programsat25campusesinCalifornia
andWashingtonandonlineprograms
for students across the country, the
optionsarenearlylimitlessfortoday’s
busystudents.
Thanks to online education a
college degree that once seemed
impossibleformanystudentsisnow
arealityinthisfast-pacedworld.no
longer can time or distance be an
excuse for not receiving a college
degree. Through online education,
studentscansettheirownschedule,
paceandlocation,makinggettinga
college degree more attractive and
accessiblethaneverbefore.
For Hernandez and many other
adult learners, earning that degree
is justamatterofgoingfor it,“That
nagging voice that is telling you
to complete your degree is never
goingaway.”
Logging in While on the GoTakingthekidstosoccerpractice.Pickingupdinnerwith a friend. Cleaning the house for company.Workingfivedaysaweek.Yourlifeisalwaysonthego.Sowhyshouldearningacollegedegreebeanydifferent? Thanks to online education it doesn’thavetobe.
online education
10
You’re creative.Youwant toattendclassonyour terms.Anytime.Anywhere.Youcando thatwith the 100%onlineprogramsofferedat the
InternationalAcademyofDesignandTechnology. Put your
passionand talent towork ina career as imaginativeas youare.
TheAcademy isa close-knit communityof studentsandstaff
whocareabout youandyour success. And learn real-world skills
from instructorswhoareworkingprofessionals in theirfields.
It’s all here foryouat theAcademy.
Wegetyou.
OnlineProgram
sOffered: >Graphic Design
> FashionMerchandising
>Advertising andDesign
>GameProduction
>DigitalMedia Production
>WebDesign/Development
1.877.699.6400 | www.online.academy.eduONLINE CAMPUS: 5104 Eisenhower Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33634CEC2307345-07/09
Call today for your Career Guide.
IADT ONLINE USATODAY AD:Layout 1 7/27/09 3:27 PM Page 1
FactsACCREDITATIOn
It is imperativetomakesurethattheschoolyouselect isaccredited
throughanationalaccreditingagency.Youcanfindoutiftheagencyis
nationallyaccreditedthroughtheU.S.DepartmentofEducationorthe
CouncilforHigherEducationAccreditation.Allcoursesandschoolslisted
onwww.eLearners.comareaccredited.
SETUPAnAREAFORSTUDYInG
Beforeclassesstart,youneedtohave aplacesetasideforstudying.A
separateworkspacewillhelpyoufocusandstayorganized.Trytokeepthe
areaclutter-free,makeitcomfortableandquiet.Ifyoucan’tfindanarea
wheredistractionsareimpossible,youmaywanttobuynoise-cancelingor
noise-reductionheadphones.TheeLearners.comGuidetoOnlineEduca-
tionhasmoreinformationonsettingupahomestudyareaathttp://www.
elearners.com/guide-to-online-education/.
Why Faculty Teach Online
Meetstudentneedsforflexibleaccess
Bestwaytoreachparticularstudents
Forpersonalandprofessionalgrowth
Itisthewaveofthefuture
Forpedagogicaladvantages
Toearnadditionalincome
BecauseI’mrequiredto
Source: A•P•L•U-Sloannational Commission on Online Learning, 2009
O% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Important VeryImportant
11
online education
New ChalleNges RequiRe New solutioNs
Embanet partners with institutions to launch fully online degree programs with world-wide reach.
Meet your challenges head on. Speak to us today about a no-obligation consultation and viability analysis for your institution. 800.572.7558 or [email protected]
www.embanet.com
For many students in the Loui-
siana area, during this time,
schoolwasputonhold.How-
ever, online education made aca-
demic continuity possible for thou-
sandsofonlinelearners,lettingthem
continuetheircourseworkandfocus
onsomethingbesidesthehavocfrom
HurricaneKatrina.
Academiccontinuityisthe“process
ofmaintainingcontinuityoflearning
inacrisissituationcausedbyanatural
disaster, human-induced disaster, or
otherprecipitatingfactor,”according
toTheSloanConsortium,aninstitu-
tional and professional leadership
organizationdedicatedtointegrating
onlineeducationintothemainstream
ofhighereducation.
“Crisissituations,naturaldisasters,
pandemics, campus shootings, etc.,
don’tdisruptstudents’academiclives;
theydisrupttheirentirelives.Allowing
them to continue their academic
studiesinsomeformcanhelpmain-
tainatleastsomenormalcy,”explains
JohnSener,DirectorofSpecialInitia-
tivesfortheSloanConsortium.
The continuous advancements in
onlineeducationmakeacademiccon-
tinuity possible and allow students
to keep at least one aspect of their
regular routine during a disaster.
However, maintaining educational
programs when an emergency hits
requiresextensivecoordinationand
communication by the institution
to ensure everyone from IT staff
to students, professors and senior
managementknowhowtorespond.
According to a recent Chronicle of
Higher Education article, fewer than
25percentofcollegesregularlyassess
howtopreventorrespondtothreats.
However,acrisiscommunicationplan
isvital inmakingsurepeopleknow
whattododuringacrisissituationto
ensurequickandefficientaction.
Connections via technology such
as e-mail, online classes and text
messages play a pivotal role in
helping faculty and the institution
itselfstayintouchwithstudentsand
keep everybody informed during
a crisis situation. It is imperative
forall facultytobetrainedtoteach
online, should the need for online
education programs arise post-
disaster.Inorderforthistobecarried
out, faculty must be trained prior
toadisasterorcrises;thusensuring
asmoothtransitionfromon-campus
learning to eLearning for students
and teachers alike. Furthermore,
studentsmusthaveclearandconcise
instructions for accessing online
courses and other technological
tools.Theseturn-of-the-centurytools
are valuable, but only if students
knowwheretofindthemandhowto
usethem.
“Our experience is that academic
continuity is often overlooked
despite its importance. Colleges
and universities (especially larger
andwell-resourcedones)have long
focused on the larger issue of busi-
ness continuity, but not necessarily
on the more specific issue of main-
tainingclasses,”addedSener.
TheSloanConsortiumnotesthree
reasons why academic continuity
is an important function in a crisis
situation. Alongside campus safety
and security for students, academic
continuityallowsatleastsomesense
of normalcy to be maintained or
restoredinstudents’lives;itbecomes
a strategy for reducing enrollment
loss in colleges and universities
during a disaster; and finally, aca-
demiccontinuityaidsinmaintaining
avitalpartofthenation’seconomic
andknowledgeinfrastructure.
Disasters typically strike with no
warning; so do not wait until it is
too late to start planning. now is
the time to take proactive steps to
make sure your institution is ready
andwillknowhowtorespondduring
anyemergency.
Academic ContinuityOnAugust29,2005,HurricaneKatrinaleft80percentofnewOrleansunderwater,nearly2,000peopledead,andmorethan90,000squaremilesbattered.
FactsFInAnCIALAID
Oneof thebiggesthurdles in
deciding whether to go back to
school is finding financial aid.
However,therearegrants,schol-
arships and loan forgiveness
programsavailabletohelpmake
acollegedegreeaffordable.The
eLearners.com“Career Stimulus
Package”offersfull-tuitiononline
scholarships through www.ca-
reerstimulus.com.eLearners.com
alsooffersthe“Debt-FreeCollege
Guide”(http://debtfree.elearners.
com),whichisastate-by-statelist-
ingoffinancialaidopportunities.
TUITIOnREIMBURSEMEnT
Morethan50percentofcom-
panieswith100ormoreemploy-
ees offer tuition assistance or
reimbursement as part of their
benefits package, so make sure
to check with your company’s
human resources department. If
yourcompanydoesnotoffertu-
ition reimbursement assistance,
eLearners.com offers tips for
talkingwithyourbossaboutthis
benefitinitsGuidetoOnlineEdu-
cation at http://www.elearners.
com/guide-to-online-education/.
...academic continuity
allows at least some sense of normalcy to be maintained or
restored in students’ lives...
What does your future look like?
What is your plan to get there?
How will your education help you?
Post University Online Student-Focused, Career-Driven
®
• B.S. in Accounting• B.S. in Business Administration / Finance• B.S. in Business Administration /
Entrepreneurship• B.S. in Management• B.S. in Marketing• B.S. in Computer Information Systems• B.S. in Criminal Justice• B.S. in Legal Studies• B.S. in Management for Registered Nurses• B.S. in Sport Management• A.S. in Accounting• A.S. in Early Childhood Education• A.S. in Legal Studies• A.S. in Management• A.S. in Marketing
• M.S. in Human Services• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES GRADUATE DEGREES What Our Students Say
www.post.edu/online 1-888-458-POST (7678)Admissions Representatives are available: 9am-7pm EST Monday-Thursday9am-5pm EST Friday
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES• CPA Exam Preparation
(Accounting Certificate)• Early Childhood Education• Early Childhood Education Administration• Finance• Forensic Accounting• Human Resource Management• Legal Nurse Consulting• Management Certificate• Marketing Management Certificate• Paralegal (Legal Studies)
John Manks -Forensic Accounting Certificate—MBA Corporate InnovationEarned a promotion at his government job.
“I really believe that Post is the hidden treasure of academic America. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I enrolled. I didn't know if it would be aschallenging as in-class courses. The professors really make you earn yourgrade. If you want an A, you will have to work for it. I think I'm very fortunate to have found Post. Before I found Post, I didn't think it was possible for me to go to college and work full-time, and now I'm going to getmy MBA. I would love to see all of my friends reach their dreams.”
Renee Polletta-B.S. in Criminal JusticeRecently Hired by Verizon.
“What I really enjoyed at Post is that the classes have been really small andyou really do get personal attention. You’re held more accountable becausethey know who you are, and you’re not just a number.”
SFC Sherwyn Gibbs - B.S. in Business AdministrationAfter a four-year stint in Schweinfurt, Germany, SFC. Gibbswas deployed to Iraq for a year as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Currently he's taking courses and serving at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
“The online program at Post is awesome. I've had nothing but good experiences. My advisor is fantastic, and the faculty is very responsive andsupportive. The online program gives me the ability to continue my educationwhether I am deployed or back home, and that is important to me as a soldier.”
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