Posts Tagged ‘Education’

Why is the Shift Toward Online Education Happening?


This paper deals with the question: Why is the shift toward online education happening? This is a complex issue that involves questions of educational access, paradigms for teaching and learning, competition and globalization among universities, the development of new and better online technologies, and the financial pressures facing higher education. A huge transition is underway. The same networking and computing technology that has revolutionized global commerce, and many other facets of modern life, is now being targeted at education. Partnering the Internet with modern course management systems makes it possible for universities to offer online coursework on a global basis. The critical task that lies ahead is to create and disseminate curricula of high quality that students can embrace and educators can sustain. For more details visit to www.guardadsense.com .The overall objective of José’s Online Education Forum is to examine the realities of college and university online teaching, and the processes of education using today’s information technologies. Collectively, the authors of this paper have taught over a hundred different university-level courses online, both graduate and undergraduate, mostly using the Internet. The issues and insights discussed in this Forum will provide educators with important tools and the understanding needed to effectively embrace the world of online education.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Sloan Consortium

In a Sloan-C survey of 1170 Provosts and Academic VPs, more than half indicated a belief that online education would be ‘critical for the long-term’ in higher education. Surprisingly perhaps, the same percentage said that they believe success in achieving learning outcomes is already equivalent between online and traditional teaching methods. And there was also a consensus of opinion among these respondents that the quality of online courses would continue to improve, with a third of them believing that online teaching quality will soon surpass the quality typical of conventional teaching. These opinions may be surprising for many of us in the teaching profession, coming as they do from such high level and influential administrators. They signal a fundamental change in perceptions about the potential of online education in the immediate future.

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1.2 Overview

The objective in this paper is to investigate and assess why this shift to online education is happening. Several factors can be cited beginning with improvements in access to educational services using online technologies and changing paradigms for teaching and learning that integrate well with these technologies. Other factors include heightened educational competition and globalization, the ongoing and often dramatic improvements in online systems capabilities, and the underlying economics of providing online education versus conventional means. The following sections of this paper explore each of these factors individually.

2. ACCESS TO EDUCATION

2.1 Access for the Masses

The ability to use information technologies effectively is one aspect of achieving success in today’s society, both for individuals and for organizations as a whole. The current job market requires educated workers who are capable of changing and adapting as business and cultural realities shift and evolve in today’s fast-paced, global economy (Kantar, 2001). Information technology is enabling the development of this kind of economic world structure. For more information logon to www.instant-adsense-dollars.com .It is also making possible the education of the workforce that this new economy requires by providing new capabilities for teaching and learning online.

Online education offers the promise of increased access to high quality education for the masses. Exactly how this is going to occur is not clear yet, but there is no doubt that online education is rapidly becoming an established modality. The development of the modern world economy demands an educated workforce. Places like the three It’s (India, Indonesia, and Ireland) and more recently China, are finding that the need for an educated workforce is overwhelming the capabilities of their traditional educational systems .In America and Western Europe, the same economic and political pressures associated with ‘equality of opportunity’ contribute to demands for equal access to a quality education for all who seek it.

Library Science ? Available Online Education Options


The information inside a library has to be correctly managed and maintained so individuals can use it. Students can step into careers as librarians after completing the appropriate training. Available online education options for library science can provide students with the chance to gain undergraduate and graduate degree training in library science.

Online education can be gained at the undergraduate study. However, for students that want to become librarians an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program will only act as a prerequisite to the required graduate training. To enter a master’s degree program in library science students need to have a bachelor’s degree. Students have two educational options to choose from when preparing for a master’s degree in library science.

Online training at the associate’s degree level provides students with the knowledge to enter assistant positions inside a library. Students work through two-year programs that develop their knowledge of how libraries are ran and what tasks are to be completed by assistants. The daily operations are broken down to teach students how to correctly maintain the circulation desk, carry out reference research, and appropriately use library equipment. Coursework is designed to prepare students to understand how to manage and categorize information. Depending on the program, students may be able to study specific areas such as library technology or children’s services. Further education at the bachelor’s degree level deepens students’ knowledge of the field.

Students that complete an online bachelor’s degree program gain an in depth education that can be applied to careers or graduate training. The modern library is broken down so students can understand how to correctly organize the media inside several different types of libraries. Library administration as a whole is learned and students are able to focus the rest of their courses on a particular area. For example, students that are interested in museum work can tailor their education to learning how to manage that type of information. Other possible areas include corporate, medical, school, and military libraries. Resource management, classification, media selection, and database usage courses are some subjects that will prepare students for the field. Students that don’t continue education can become technicians and associate librarians.

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Masters degree programs allow students to study information technology along with the entire field of library science. Students are able to correctly manage all information located in a library. Electronic and print materials are explored using the Dewey decimal system and the Library of Congress classification system. Specific courses break down the roles that librarians fulfill such as obtaining new materials and archiving materials for later use. Online programs typically have students choose a concentration and complete specific coursework related to that area. This is important because students learn how to catalog information for their concentration. Some possible areas of concentration include:

Government
Medical
Public

 

For each area students learn about source referencing, cataloguing, accessing information, and collection development. Education allows students to step into several careers, which may include becoming school, reference, media, and archival librarians.

Accredited online education is a great choice for students that need to work from home. The American Library Association (ALA) can provide online library science schools and colleges with the full accreditation they need to prove they offer quality career preparation and training. Begin the right educational path today and become a library science professional.

 

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Education System in UK – Colleges and Universities


Why do many people like to go on a study tour to UK colleges and Universities? What do you know about education system in UK? Like many other countries United Kingdom has developed and diversified education system foe school graduates and those who want to get further or higher education. The incredible number of colleges and universities offers thousands of courses and subjects to study. Thus, it is very important to be well-oriented in education institutions diversity to choose the right one which will suite your interests and further career best. First, there is a difference between further education and higher education. Further education is provided by colleges and gives a number of special qualifications such as Business Study, Engineering, Catering etc. They are specially designed for basic knowledge study, which is an integral part of further education and special subject study. Often further education students are able to combine a few subjects and get two or three certificates accordingly. Most further education students are adults who are above 21 years old. They prefer to study part-time and go to work while studying. Anyway, it is your choice whether you will study full-time or part-time. Usually part-time jobs allow further education students cover their tuition fees expenses. UK educational institutions are divided into state and private colleges and universities. Some decades ago state colleges and universities considerably differed from each other, especially in education funding system and costs. Nowadays both types of institutions have high tuition fees and smaller amount of grants, University Access Funds and student loans assistance programs. Universities UK provide a wide range of subjects and qualifications to study. Education programmes at universities include lectures, seminars, workshops, trainings and practices. Some of them even organize working experience for a year or less. High tuition fees cover access to university books, software and computers. Be aware of ALL university facilities before applying for study: you must know well what you will have for your big money! Although higher education requires much study, research, writing and reading the most study process is independent; lectures, seminars and workshops take much less time than self-research and study. Of course you will be signed your own individual tutor who will guard your study and control your results, but be ready to become a self-organized student who plans his education process himself. All universities and even further education colleges in UK have specially assigned consultants who provide all information which you need. They are happy to consult you even in your private matters. However, it would be better to check the university or college environment by yourself. For example, such aspects as social environment, college/university city or town society, availability of night clubs, sports clubs or beaches play a significant role in our life. City/town living standards will help you count your accommodation and living expenses; remember, you are going to spend a couple of years there! Each year both private and state universities reduce their financial assistance, state and university grants cover only about 10 percent of education fees. Find out as much as possible about financial aid availabilities, at least you can apply for student education loans system. This system is the easiest way for funding education in UK now. However, you should remember it is repayable and sometimes has high interest ratio which expands to 20 years for paybacks to be affordable.

Online Education Degrees: the Right Way for Studying While Working


Too busy with work or at home, yet you aspire for an education career. Then opting for an online education degree is the right way to proceed.

If you love teaching and coaching children something new, then an education degree is your right choice. Maybe you could spend most of the time with cute and innocent toddlers or at kindergarten teaching them nursery rhymes, alphabets, numbers… or doing something exclusive like teaching disabled students who require special skills. This would definitely be a much satisfactory activity disregarding the money factor which could vary upon your institution of service.

An online education degree will prove to be interesting and highly creative. You will be guided through your degree with many interesting presentations, videos, lectures and even books. While at it you can even be in touch and interact with your professors and other fellow students as well. At the same time you can be assured of being trained in problem solving, thinking skills and practical teaching experience as well.

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Depending upon your area of interest you could opt for elementary education, middle school education, adult education, distance and online education, special education and educational administration too. Some of these subjects are highly sensitive and need lot of understanding and attention. The degrees you could opt for range of Associate’s in Education, Bachelor’s in Education, Master’s Degrees in Education and Doctorates in Education as well.

Opting for online education degree makes it possible to realize your goals and you can head for a career in teaching or administration job in an educational institution. The degrees could be associate or bachelor’s education degree or Advanced Education Degree such as a Master’s or doctorate degrees too.

If you accomplish an associate online education degree you stand a chance to become a pre school teacher, kindergarten teacher, special education teacher or a child care administrator to name a few. While on the other hand, if you have an advanced degree, you stand the chance to gain a position of an educational writer, vice principal, school administrator, counselor or after school activities director.

An online education degree is the right way to earn your education degree especially if you are already occupied with another career or looking after your growing children and home. An online education degree gives the extra edge to your qualifications and thus a much needed boost to your career in education.

E-journals and Bloge in Online Education


E-journals can be a very helpful resource, also known as online education journals. They address both online and regular education needs. E-journals provide a source of articles by education professionals as well as beginners in the field. “Blogs” are personal online journals where comments can be posted by students. Online classes are often assigned blogs to be used as community journals where all participants may post information.

Uses for Blogs in a University Online Course

(Source: Trimarco, R. (2004). “Use of Blogs in Online College Classes.” B. Hoffman (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Educational Technology. January 7, 2007, at: http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/blogonlineclass/start.htm)

Blogs are used for:

* Professors to post assignments, class requirements, information, lessons, answer questions from students, and post a weekly topic for students to comment on.

* Professors and students to post articles related to the class and others respond.

* Classes to hold discussions about lectures, assigned reading, news, and projects.

* Students to post completed assignments and notes and give others feedback.

* Students to create writing portfolios.

General Uses For Blogs

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Personal online journals are also used to create a forum for bloggers on which to post their opinions, review books or other sites, or upload articles. Remember that work posted on such sites may be copied and used by others illegally. Unless you paraphrase it and cite the source or quote it and cite the source, it’s not acceptable to use others’ posted information as your own.

E-Journals

Here are some online education sites where you can access lists of journals. In addition to the journals listed here, there are journals for nearly all universities, as well as most majors, such as nursing, technology, business, etc.

Full Text Electronic Journals in Education The Communications Among Researchers Group of the American Educational Research Association creates a list of journals that publish research in education. Find it at: http”//aera-cr.asu.edu/links.html or http://aera-cr.asu.edu/links.html.

Education Journals in the Yahoo! Directory Find education journals of all types online via the Yahoo! Directory at: dir.yahoo.com/Education/Journals/ http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/Journals/

Essays in Education publishes documents written about issues in education. The journal also will publish reviews of educational software and books, if they describe the writer’s personal experiences using the materials. Essays in Education is located at: http://www.usca.edu/essays/.

T.H.E. Journal Online: Technology Horizons in Education T.H.E. Journal Online is the best technology-based education journal. T.H.E Journal Online contains information, news, and activities related to technology in education. Its sites are: www.thejournal.com/ or http://thejournal.com/.

Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks (JALN) The Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks provides names of programs for studying online at one’s own pace and on one’s own schedule. Access it at: www.sloan-c.org/publications/jaln/ or http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/jaln/.

Information about education online can be found in online education journals. If you have experience in education or research, consider submitting an article for publication.

Using online education e-journals for research or personal education journals for blogging are common practices for students taking online education courses. If your teacher assigns blogging or research as part of your class, the tips and resources here will get you started.

The Boom In Online Education & Teaching Jobs


It’s not hard to find the principal reasons for this demand for education. With many candidates vying for a reduced number of jobs, the applicant with the best qualifications is going to have a clear edge over their less well-qualified peers. Many people who have lost their jobs have returned to education, either to up skill themselves or boost their CVs or, in some cases, to retrain in other career fields. The role of online education in these trends is clear.

Although distance education has been around a long time, receiving study materials by post, and even working with interactive materials on CD and DVD, has always had its drawbacks. Online education has a variety of huge advantages.

• Instant access for online learners
• Interactive learning with online tutors and internet resources
• Affordable online tuition due to reduced overheads incurred in online education
• Access to online education, no matter where learners or online tutors live.
• Access to online tutors at times convenient to all concerned.

Studies have also shown that online education is effective. Some studies suggest that blended education (a mixture of traditional classroom-based teaching and online learning) is more effective than other teaching methods.

The growth of online education has had a significant impact on the job market. That impact has been felt not only in conventional education (K-12 and college) but more widely. Online teaching jobs have been created in a range of areas, including adult education and in the leisure industry. Online teaching jobs have sprung up in subjects as diverse as hobby subjects, foreign language learning and even sports tuition.

The availability of new technologies (including video calling, screen sharing and internet whiteboards, webinars and so on) in the interactive Web 2.0 platform has also created opportunities for teachers, as well as learners. Although online teaching jobs for educators in schools and colleges have mushroomed, the internet has encouraged many people to share their knowledge with others. Not all online learning is qualification-oriented and people with a passion for a subject are able to share their skill and knowledge with others as never before.  Some embrace online teaching jobs as a civic or charitable duty, rather than as a career path, though online education today offers new ways for educators to carve out careers in their chosen subject or subjects. Online teaching jobs offer flexible working hours for teachers (including work-at-home mums) that have not conventionally been available. Private tuition, once the province of those able to afford it, is now within the reach of almost anyone with a broadband internet connection.

The expansion of online education and online teaching jobs is in its infancy. As more and more people across the planet get connected to the internet, new opportunities and ways of spreading knowledge are likely to emerge. In addition, people who have embraced existing opportunities and taken up online teaching jobs find it a satisfying, fulfilling and exciting avenue in the world of education. It can only lead to a world in which education is within the reach of anyone in need of tuition or help.

Education Loan and Their Benefits


Education Loans or Student Loans or College Student Loans are designed to help a student, who aspires to enroll for higher studies in an institute, by paying all the education expenses on behalf of him/her. These expanses may include tuition fee, hostel fee, fee for book, food, uniforms, etc. For those, who are, just not lucky enough to get any kind of scholarships, student loan is the best way to pursue higher studies in any domestic and international universities or educational institutions. In India, education loan was first started by SBI in 1995.

Almost all the Public and Private banks offer various College Student Loans and run educational finance schemes for higher studies in international universities, which can be utilized by any student on easy terms. Once you show that you have secured admission in any nominated university or school, any bank would be more than happy to loan you for your studies. Investing on a student, whose future is bright, is considered a good move for the banks as they make a good return. On the other hand, Student Loans are a boon for students, who have secured admission in some of the nominated institutions of the world and wish to fly high with their dreams.

Some of the advantages of an Education Loans

Easy and Simple: Student Loan is very simple to apply for. If you have successfully passed the entrance test and secured admission in any nominated university, college or institute in India or abroad, any bank would love to finance you. You just need to submit your admission letter to the bank and complete few other formalities. The bank would directly transfer the entire amount for your tuition fee, hostel fee, fee for books, meals, travelling, etc to the concerned college or institutes.

Easy Repayment: Once you complete your course, banks give you enough time, which may be up to two years, to start the repayment procedures. One to two years, is a good time to search for jobs and you can pay back to bank own your own. This is the best thing about Education Loan. You don’t need to depend on your parents to repay the money.

Tax Benefits: Under 80(e) of the Indian income tax act, there are some tax benefits, which you can enjoy while repaying the loan. Under this section, you can get deduction for the interest, you pay to the bank.

The Benefits Of 21st Century Online Education


The online learning environment has been gaining a lot of following from students, teachers, and career persons, to the average Joe who is looking to for ways to improve. More people are realizing the benefits of online education because it allows mobility, flexibility, and a new set of teaching methods that can’t be introduced through classical education.

Online Education and the Flat Earth

In an ever changing paradigm of wealth management and financial freedom, information dissemination is the key. That is why free online education courses are flattening the world of information sharing and putting motivated people in a level playing field. Internet based education is an effective tool in dispersing the tenets of 21st century education.

The benefits of online education are endless. While the most important feature of this is time and geographical flexibility, it is also the factor that is taken for granted. This allows businessmen to sit down during their low hours and learn. Meanwhile students are given the incentive to apply for home schooling. For highly mobile people like tourists and business travelers, as well as soldiers or any jobs that require global travel, online learning is a friendly tool to keep improving. People who feel that they are stuck in a grueling 9-5 job will finally have an outlet where they can learn. Thus, kind of education puts knowledge and information from the center to every peer students.

Online education is also a “user-friendly” approach to information management. In this way, the student gets to have more leverage to assess the information for him and make his own impressions rather than be forced under a classroom structure set by the faculty. This allows students to feel a sense of accountability because they are encouraged to learn the way they choose.

Online learning does not require students to keep with the current pacing of the course. In this way, faster students who want to go ahead can do so, while students who prefer to study every material carefully without embarrassment can do so. This education puts the onus of interaction to the student instead of an environment moderated by the teacher. Students are therefore more susceptible to interact with the material and with the instructor; In addition to that, the democratic setting allows students and teachers to meet in a less intimidating setup. With this type of learning, camaraderie between students in online forum is emphasized and informal communication makes instructors more approachable.

Online Education and the Student Appeal

This student-centered approach allows students infinite flexibility while encouraging the creation of more convincing online education journals. Thus, we can say that the quality of information improves a lot under the online environment.

One of the many benefits of online education is its availability of education materials. While traditional learning requires the library and endless number of paper readings, this type of education puts the materials online. Thus, everything that is needed to learn is found online. Even better, the range of materials is limited only by the imagination of the instructor or the student. Web based education materials can take the form of journals, videos, podcasts, forum discussions, audio books and e-books. This method is an infinitely more personal and more organized form of 21st century learning.

The value of internet based education today is staggering. It represents a cultural shift and a change in attitude to classical education. Thus, the medium given by the benefits of online education allows revolutionary ideas like 21st century education to be formalized without the need for institutional approval. The internet has broken the classical structure and thankfully more students are seeing it that way. Online education and 21st century education is a perfect marriage indeed.