For Students
Articles and information for online and distance learners & students to advance their e-learning and distance education skills and knowledge.
Building Community - How Students Can Help  Autonomous students do well in distance learning courses. However, it can feel lonely if you don't communicate with classmates or the instructor, especially if you need some help. It is therefore advisable that you help to develop a sense of community in your online courses. 10 Gift Suggestions for Distance Learning Students  Are you looking for gift ideas for a special person who is attending college? These 10 suggestions range in price from the cost of your time, to a few dollars, to several hundred dollars. 5 Common Misconceptions about Distance Learning  There are still misconceptions about distance learning even though there are more and more students choosing to study by distance learning every year. The following are 5 misconceptions about distance learning. A Good Study Space  What should you think about when you are choosing a place to study? You want to accomplish as much as you can in the time that is available to you. To do that follow these suggestions for choosing a place to study. About the Associate Degree  It is possible to earn an associate degree through distance learning. Find out what an associate degree is, what the benefits are to earning one, and why it is advantageous to take it online. Accredited Online Colleges & Universities  Reviews and overviews of accredited online and distance colleges and universities. Advantages of Taking Examinations for Credit  In previous articles I talked about some of the different exams for credit that are available. There are some advantages of taking exams for credit. Here are five of those advantages. An Outline for Your Essay  Writing an outline is the third step in writing an essay. If you write a good outline it will help you enormously with the actual writing of the essay. You will only need to add transitional sentences to the items in the outline. Be a Successful Online Learner  Students in online distance learning courses have needs which are different from students in on campus courses. If there is help available through the school, they need to take advantage of it. They also need to be self-motivated and manage their time as if they had classes at a given time. Book Review – The Wisdom Trail  Today many women move from work to homemaking and raising children and back to work again while still raising children. However, the women of "The Wisdom Trail" had no footsteps to follow on that path. They were the ones who blazed such a trail for their daughters and the women of today. Choosing a School –Will I have Good Instructors?  Many students like to know if the school at which they want to study will have good instructors. However, the definition of "good" varies from student to student. Here is my definition and some ideas to think about regarding instructors. Choosing a Topic and Researching for Essays  Choosing a topic and researching it are the beginning steps that must be taken when writing an essay. Beginning with research will help you in choosing the topic, help you to learn about the topic, and provide the support for your ideas when you do write the paper. Choosing an Online Graduate Degree Program  Choosing an online graduate degree program is a major decision in life. It can have long term consequences in one's career. Degree programs are expensive too. It only makes sense to consider carefully before making your choice. Here are some factors that will help you to make a better decision. Choosing an Online School  Distance learners have many online schools to choose from today which makes it difficult to choose the best one for you. Choosing an online school is not unlike choosing a traditional school. That means you need to do the same amount of research to choose the school that best suits your needs. Citing the Sources for Your Essay  Before you write you rough draft of your paper, be sure that you are clear about how to cite your sources of information for the essay. You do not want to be guilty of plagiarism so make sure that you know how you are expected to make the citations for all your sources before you begin writing. Complete Assignments and Meet Learning Goals  All distance learning courses, just like on campus courses, have assignments that must be completed. What can you do to make those tasks more interesting, relevant, and help you to meet your personal goals for the online courses you take? Completed Essay from Rough Draft  Once you have the information about your sources and your outline, writing the rough draft of your essay should be relatively easy. The next step then would be to edit the essay to make sure that it is just the way you want it before submitting it for the assignment.
Computer Equipment Required for Online Learning  One of the frequently asked questions by students new to online distance learning is, “What equipment do I need to take an online class?” Here is a list of the most common computer requirements for most online classes. Confident Learning [offsite link] Unlimited Learning offers resources and programs to help students make the most of their learning. Diploma Mill Warning Signs  With the professional looking websites and convincing statements they make, it can be hard to tell that you are dealing with a diploma mill rather than a legitimate school while you are searching for the best school. Here are some warning signs that you may be dealing with a diploma mill. Disadvantages of Taking Exams for Credit  Taking exams for credit can be a disadvantage to many students. To decide if taking exams for credit is right for you, you need to consider your own educational and life goals and how these exams will help or hinder those goals.
Distance Learning Careers  Are you interested in working in the field of distance education? There are many jobs available besides the obvious ones of teaching online. People are required behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly. Here are some of the distance learning jobs that I found by doing an online search. Distance Learning for Special Needs Students  Is distance learning a good way for special needs students to learn? That is a question that many special needs students and their parents ask. It can be a very beneficial way for them to learn but they should check out the pros and cons keeping their own goals in mind. Education Financing  Information on how to finance your education. Erratic Impact´s Philosophy Research Base [offsite link] Categorized by history, subject and author. Integrating text resources with the best online resources, this study guide attempts to aid both academic and general interest in all philosophical genres and their related fields. ESL Student Resources [offsite link] From OWL - the Online Writing Lab, a collection of resources, handouts, links, quizzes, chats, and much more to help ESL students learn to operate in English. Evaluating Online Resources  Do you know how to evaluate online resources? Can you tell which ones give you useful information and which ones are mainly trying to persuade you to do something that is to the author's benefit? Here are some factors to look for on the websites you are reading. Exams for Credit  In another article I discussed what the CLEP examinations are. However, there are other exams available which can also give you some credits that may be accepted by your college or university. Here is information about 2 of them that are widely accepted by many universities and colleges. Finding a Summer Job in Your Field  You may not be able to get an internship position for the summer at this point but you may still be able to get a job with an organization that is at least related to the subject you are studying. Here are some tips on how to make the most of such a job. Free Practical Distance Learning Courses  This is another article identifying some free distance learning for people who who want or need to learn about a subject but do not want to attend formal classes and for those on a tight budget that has no room for extra spending. On the GCF website there are many practical subjects to learn about. Gift Ideas for Student Budgets  Online students are usually on fairly tight budgets. How do you find gifts for friends and relatives that you can afford? Here are some ideas for inexpensive and even some free gifts that will show people how much you care. Global Study Hall [offsite link] Resources and interactive mediums available for students and teachers. Forums, chats, links, cards, and other goodies. How To Set Learning Goals  Goals need to be written down and given a completion date. They also need to be goals that you really want to accomplish. If you are about to set goals for your learning or review goals you have already set, here are some suggestions for setting goals that will help you increase your accomplishments Inexpensive Online College Courses  There are some very inexpensive college courses offered by the StraighterLine Company which may be valuable for some people. You should weigh the pros and cons against your own goals, skills, and circumstances to determine if they will be beneficial to you. Is Distance Learning Right for You  Distance learning has some great advantages for some people over attending a bricks and mortar school. It is not the best way for every person to study. Here are some of the factors to consider when making the decision about whether distance learning is right for you. Learning Goals for the New Year  The beginning of a new year or new school year is a good time to set some goals for your learning. You will achieve more in your distance learning courses and remain interested in them when you have some goals to reach for. Learning Styles in Distance Learning  Learning styles has become a buzz word at all levels of education over the past three decades. Awareness of one´s own styles can help you to study, participate and engage in learning in more meaningful ways. LiqwidMinz.com Study Aids [offsite link] Resources for high school and college students, including tutorials, links and tutoring. Make Your Summer Job Work for You  What if you can only find a job as an unskilled laborer? Should you write off the summer and be happy that at least you are making a little money? Definitely not! Use your imagination to make the best of the situation both on the job and for your resume afterward. Making Time for Studying  You have decided to take distance learning courses part time while you are working. However, it is difficult to find time to study in your hectic day. These ideas will help you to find the time so that you are successful in your studies. Mind Mapping - Use in Distance Learning  Mind maps are tools that can help you to do well in all your courses and help with your motivation because they are fun to use and they are a visual tool. Mind maps can also be used by instructors in distance learning courses.
Note Taking Skills  You are required to do a lot of reading in distance learning courses. Do you have the skills to take notes as you read so that you can study the main points being made and recall them later for exams. Here is a brief view of some of the sytems which are used by successful students to take notes. Online Accelerated Degrees – Not for Everyone  Earning a degree in up to half the time it normally takes to earn it certainly has a great appeal to those who may be able to begin earning a better salary with a degree. However, students need to consider carefully what will be best for them because there are some drawbacks for some people. Overcome Procrastination for Better Grades  Are you stressed out about your assignments or your upcoming exams for your distance learning courses? Have you have been procrastinating about getting started on those assignments or the review of your notes for the exam? Try one of the following suggestions for overcoming procrastination. Portfolios for Distance Learning  If you have set learning goals for yourself, the next step is to create a learning portfolio for yourself. It will help you determine your progress on those goals. In addition there are many other uses for different kinds of portfolios which you may want to take advantage of in the future. Preparing for Tests  Many distance learning students prepare for their tests by cramming the day before the test. This is not the best strategy to use if you want to get good grades on the tests. Here are 14 tips to help you prepare for your tests so that you are more likely to do well on them. Prior Learning Assessment for Distance Learners  Many universities and colleges that offer online courses will allow students to earn some credits through Prior Learning Assessment. Here are answers to some of the questions students have about Prior Learning Assessment. Professional Development with Distance Learning  In most careers professional development is important for career progress and for keeping up with changes in your field. Today it is possible to remain current in most fields by using distance learning courses, seminars, or videos, online in the place and at the time that is convenient for you. Recognizing Your Learning Style  Do you know what your learning style is? Learn what it is so that you can improve your chance of success at online learning.
Self-Motivation Through Good Career Choice  Loving your subject of study can be highly motivating and lead to success in distance learning. Following these steps could help you in deciding what it is you want to learn about. Site Review of The Princeton Review  Distance learning students who need to prepare for college or university should visit The Princeton Review site. You will find a large amount of relevant information and they can help you prepare for the entrance exams. Skills Needed for Distance Learning  Are you trying to decide between distance learning and on-campus courses?
Learning about these five skills necessary for distance learning may help you to decide. Springtime Renewal  Spring represents a period of renewal for the earth and its inhabitants. As a distance learner, what do you do for your self renewal in the spring? Students' Role in Feedback  Students want and need good feedback to get the most from their learning and meet their learning goals. Feedback does not all come from the instructor. It can come from peers and from self-reflection too. Students’ Responsibilities in Online Discussions  Students have a responsibility to themselves and to the other students in a course to use good netiquette and to help promote learning in the course. To do this you will need to participate in a courteous manner in the discussions taking place on the discussion board for the course. Study Guides and Strategies [offsite link] Joe Landsberger has researched and written these study guides as a public service. A comprehensive collection of helpful study techniques and tips. Success as a Logical Mathematical Learner  If you are a logical mathematical learner you have some excellent skills and abilities that will help you to do well in distance learning courses. Here are some suggestions to make the best use of those strengths. Success as a Physical Kinesthetic Learner  Are you a physical kinesthetic learner? Here are some ideas to help make your distance learning a little easier and successful. Success as a Verbal Linguistic Learner  Are you a verbal linguistic learner? Learn how to be successful in your distance learning courses. Success as a Visual Spatial Learner  Are you a visual spatial learner? Here are some suggestions to help you be successful in your courses. Success as an Auditory Musical Learner  Are you an auditory musical learner? Learn some ways that you can be more successful in your distance learning courses by following some of the suggestions I make here. Success as an Interpersonal Social Learner  Are you an interpersonal or social learner? You have the ability to be very successful in your online learning courses. Here are some suggestions to get you started. Success as an Intrapersonal Solitary Learner  Are you an intrapersonal solitary learner? If you are, here are some suggestions to help you to be more successful in your distance learning. Time Management Study Skills  Time management skills are useful for everyone but for distance learning students they can make a big difference in both your marks and your motivation for a course. This is especially true for those who are recently out of high school where teachers helped you to keep on top of assignments. Tutoring Help Online  Getting tutoring help online is a form of distance learning and may be the preferred source for distance learning students. As with any service you are purchasing online it is necessary to research to find the one best for you. Here are some factors to consider while doing the research. Using the Library  Using the library is an important study skill for all students and no less so for distance learning students. Here are some suggestions for becoming skilled in using the library for your course research. What is Blended Learning  Blended learning has a general definition but can vary from almost all face to face learning to almost all online learning. Here is the general definition and some factors for students to consider when deciding whether to enroll in blended learning courses. What is CLEP?  Many students have wondered what CLEP is and whether they could use it in some way. Here is some basic information about what it is and how it can be helpful to some students. What is Distance Learning  What exactly is distance learning? Learn how various methods can allow people anywhere in the world to be educated regardless of how remote their location. Working Successfully on Group Projects  Working successfully on group projects can be an important part of your distance learning education. The skills you develop can help you to work well with others on projects in your career in the future as well as helping to ensure a good grade in the course you are taking. Writing a Thesis for an Essay  An important part of an essay is the thesis. Write your thesis keeping these points in mind so that it will guide both you and your readers through your argument on the topic. Writing the Test  Preparing well for your test means that you should be able to demonstrate that knowledge on the test and receive a good grade for it. However, you need to be able to remain calm with just a slight degree of tension in order to do well on that test. Here are some suggestions for doing that. Links marked with the [offsite link] designation point to websites not associated with BellaOnline.com. BellaOnline.com is not responsible for the material found there.
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