Online Education

Statistics and facts for this article were found in “The Web’s Aspect on Student Learning” by Katrina Meyer, written for Technological Horizons in Education.

Online education is different from traditional education. When online education courses first evolved, they were close copies of traditional courses, delivered in much the same way, i.e.; via the reading of text. Now, however, online course designers have realized that online education is primarily a visual learning medium and are delivering course content through highly visual media, including pictures and video, which fits a visual learning style.

What Are The Types of Learning Styles? (Source: http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm#Visual%20Learners:)

Visual learners learn through sight. They need to see the teacher’s body language and facial expression to fully understand a lesson. They prefer sitting at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people’s heads). They think in pictures and learn best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated text books, overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs. During a lecture or discussion, visual learners take detailed notes on the information.

New scientific studies have shown that if you learn through a visual learning style, online education courses may fit you better than a traditional program in a campus-based school. A typical online student will do well if he or she has certain skills and personality traits, such as:

* Learns visually,

* Is independent,

* Self-motivates,

* Has computer skills.

1. If you learn best by reading, studying diagrams, watching animations, pictures, and videos, or observing charts, you are a visual learner. Much of the information presented on the internet is presented visually, which is why it may be the ideal medium for you. In addition, your assignments and tests will be, for the most part, written, so that your visual learning style is the best for completing projects you will be assigned.

In recent years, the visual learning style classification has been modified somewhat and renamed the visual/verbal learning style. At www.metamath.com, it is explained. “The Visual/ Verbal Learning Style” You learn best when information is presented visually and in written format. In a classroom setting, you benefit from instructors who use a chalkboard (or overhead projector) to list the points of a lecture, or who give you an outline of a lecture. You benefit from information in textbooks and class notes. You like to study by yourself in a quiet room. You see information “in your mind’s eye” when you are trying to memorize. Learning Strategies for the Visual/ Verbal Learner (Source: www.metamath.com)

To aid recall, use “color coding” when studying new information in your textbook or notes. Use highlighter pens to highlight information in contrasting colors. Write down sentences and phrases that summarize key information obtained from textbooks and lectures. Make flashcards of vocabulary words and concepts that need to be memorized. Use highlighter pens to emphasize key points on the cards. The amount of information per card is limited so you can easily recall it and create a “mental image” of it. You can learn from material offered in illustrations or diagrams by writing out explanations of it. When learning mathematical or technical information, write out summaries in sentences and key phrases that are simplified. When a problem requires a sequence of steps, write out in detail how to do each step. Make use of computer word processing to speed up taking notes. Copy key information from your notes and textbook into a word-processed document. Use the print-outs for review. Before an exam, create visual reminders of information that must be memorized. Make sticky notes containing key words and concepts and place them in highly visible places –on your mirror, notebook, car dashboard, etc.

2. The independent learner is happy to work alone on projects and assignments. Most of your assignments will be done without input from other students, so it is imperative that you act independent and confident when it comes to completing projects on your own, without support from others. In fact, independent learners prefer working on their own rather than having to give support to other students and share grades with them.

3. The online education student will have limited contact with other classmates. In this situation, you must be self-motivated and have less need to rely on others for assistance. An important aspect of online success is the ability to encourage yourself to complete assignments and solve problems. 4. An independent learner is most likely to learn the computer skills needed to succeed in online education courses. The independent student has enough confidence to deal with occasional computer technical problems, as well. “With online education, we just turn the technology over to them {the students} and let them use it express themselves in their own unique ways.” Quote may be found at: http://www.netc.org/digitalbridges/online/symposium/quotes.php. If you are the type of person who hesitates to solve problems on your own, needs constant assistance from others, prefers to learn by doing hands-on projects or listening, or the use of manipulatives, then campus-based courses would be a better way to go. At a traditional campus, you will find others who have auditory and/or tactile learning styles similar to yours, with whom you can interact.

The key to success in online education courses is to make sure that your learning style fits the visual/verbal learning style needed for online education. You must be able to work at your own pace, independently, using visual media as your input. You must also be self- motivated and have enough confidence to solve problems as they occur. If you fit those criteria, online education courses are for you!

The World Wide Web is embracing all spheres of human life at a phenomenal rate. Ticket reservation, e-mail correspondence and online shopping have become an inherent part of our life. Sure enough, the education field was not left out of the loop…

In fact, according to CCA consulting, nearly 50% of all higher education institutions are currently engaged in some types of online learning. This percentage promises to rise drastically very soon, since the benefits of online education are vivid and speak for themselves.

1.High Quality Education

The outstanding feature of online education is that it can rank on a par with traditional campus education, since the online instructors have the same qualifications and demands to the students.

On top of that, online educators come with practical knowledge and may be from various parts of the world. This allows students to be exposed to the knowledge that can’t be learned in books and see how class concepts are applied in real business situations.

2.Who Pays The Piper Calls The Tune

Another bulky advantage of online educationis that it is “student centred.” This means that once you pick up some online course, you become your own master in terms of studying, having the unlimited choice of:

1.time and duration of your studies: since course materials are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, you can download them any time you want. Moreover, you can plan your schedule so that to be able to fulfill all your tasks apart from studying, such as work, child care;

2.way to study: this means that you can choose your own pace, methods and your own degree of intensity that work best for you;

3.place of studies: all you need to start studying online is a computer with an access to the Internet. That is all that matters. Where you are going to study is solely your choice. Thus, you can study at home, work, on a street or wherever your imagination drags you;

4.special subjects you want to pay special attention to and feel interested in.

Such freedom is a significant part of online education. At university you are restricted to certain rules that don’t register with you, but online education is custom, thus more pleasant and resulting.

3.Cost and Money Savings

Your satisfaction may be even more warmed up by the fact that online education is quite often cheaper than traditional campus education. Truth to be told, online education saves you quite a fortune.

First of all, you are saved from travel expenses, or paying for hotel rooms you will need to stay during all years of your campus education. Moreover, with online education you can print items as needed when provided with handouts and readings online. The result is the reduced expenses for the cost and time associated with never-ending copying, collating, and distributing these materials.

4.Equality with Other Students

Another benefit of learning online is that it provides the learners with the reinforced feel of equality.

Participating online is much more intimidating than in a classroom. All online students have equal opportunities to “speak up” by posting messages without typical distractions such as seating arrangements, volume of student voices, and gender and race biases.

Shy and anxious students feel more comfortable expressing ideas and backing up facts when posting online instead of speaking in a lecture room. Students can also think longer about what they want to say and add their comments when ready. In a traditional class room, the conversation could have gone way past the point where the student wants to comment.

5.Vast an Unlimited Resources

Since there are no geographical borders in online education, students can find diversity of course materials that may not be available to them during traditional education. Internet links can take you to other web-sites, databases, libraries, agencies, special archives and much more.

It should be also mentioned that with technology it is much easier to learn. Course materials include resources with a variety of perspectives in any number of media types-photos, audio, texts thus enhancing the quality and the interest factor of your course. This is especially true for professional training such as medical billing training or purchasing training.

6.Unlimited Access to Teachers

Online environment makes your instructors more approachable. Thus, whenever you have a question to specify or want to get a sound piece of advice, you can contact with your online instructor either via e-mail or in chat boards whenever it is convenient for you without waiting for office hours. In his return, the teacher will try to respond as soon as possible. This option for communication provides enhanced contact between instructors and students.

Taking everything into account, we can see that online education is undoubtedly the best option for those who wish to get qualitative and appropriate education which will easily fit in in their hectic lifestyles. If things keep on developing at the same rate online education promises to deliver even greater benefits in the future.

Have you heard about free online education? Well, if you search the Internet, you can come across many online schools and institutes offering free online education. You can sit back in your comfy home and get a degree that you are looking for long. The most important part is that you do not have to spend hefty sum when you are going for online education.

Online Learning serves all your needs

Online education can be categorized in two categories. You can go for free online learning as a part of self study or may be as assistance to your regular course. This may be part of your assignment or a school project. Another facet of free online education is when you get yourself enrolled for a degree or a certificate course through an online institute. In every case, free online education is a great help for many people today.

Learning made easy with free online education

For those who cannot quit their jobs for studying further, online education is a great solution. And when it comes free of cost, it becomes all the more easily to get. There are number of good universities and colleges that let you get free online education. The education online has solved the problems of those who want to continue their education but cannot go for regular colleges due to restrictions of time and money. When you take up any course online you have full assistance of the teachers and professors. So you do not lack any kind of teaching help when you go for free education online. The online institutes have developed virtual class rooms that are great to help you learn fast. With the assistance of online aids like e books, audio video tutorials, you will not find it hard to grasp things. You can interact with other students who are studying the similar course via forums and question answer sections on the college web site. All this helps you to get the clear picture of the subject matter of the online course.

Free online education via universities

A great news for those who are looking for free online education is that many reputed universities such as the Boston University and the University of Massachusetts has a lot of free course materials over the Internet. These sources are reliable, so there is no harm in getting free online education through them. But one of the biggest problems with free online education is that there is no one who can evaluate you as such. You have to evaluate yourself to know how much you are gaining from the online education. If you have the ability to evaluate yourself then there is no harm in going for these online courses. Many people are not able to make it with the online education as they lack competition while learning which is there when you go for class room study.

Free online education is great for those who cannot afford to get education at good centres. You can get good education in the privacy of your home and without spending a good sum. With little caution, you can get advantage of these online learning programs.