Posts Tagged ‘distance education degree’

Online Degree Program Graduates: What to Include on a Resume

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

If you just graduated from a traditional or distance degree program, you’re probably ready to write – or update your resume. How do you know what to include – and what not to share? Here are a few tips to help you get started.

First, leave out any personal information such as your age, height, date of birthday, weight, etc. Don’t, however, omit any contact information that may be helpful to the potential employer – such as address, telephone number, cell phone number, etc.

Use bullet points to highlight resume information. Start with an Objective, which clearly indicates your career goals. Then, list your education. Be sure to list the full name of your traditional or online degree university, as well as the city and state in which it is located. Include the college degree program in which you majored, and the year that you graduated.

When discussing your experience, include past positions that are relevant to the current position for which you are applying, but don’t list every job you ever held, especially if your first job was a paper route when you were 14. While this can be helpful in showing responsibility when you are 22, it does nothing to highlight your degree when you are 44.

List your jobs in reverse chronological order. If you have work experience that is significant to your distance learning degree program, be sure to use words that draw attention to this information. Many employers don’t mind a second page for your resume, but don’t exceed this.

Finally, never lie on your resume. You worked hard to finish this distance education degree, don’t tarnish it with falsehoods. Be careful to spell-check everything thoroughly; mistakes don’t help graduates of traditional or online university degree programs get the job. Give your resume the professionalism it deserves – even consider asking a family member or friend to read through it to be sure that everything is exactly the way you want it. You won’t regret spending the extra few minutes on these important details.

Distance Learning and the Montessori Method: A Comparison

Friday, September 19th, 2008

It may seem like comparing the Montessori Method with distance education degrees is comparing apples to oranges. In reality, though, there are more similarities than you might think. For example, both stress student autonomy and involvement in learning.

The Montessori Method primarily focuses on preschool and early elementary education, although some high schools also use this approach. While it is not really a method used by most online college degree programs, most professors who teach through online degree universities act as facilitators in much the same way that Montessori teachers do. 

Likewise, both approaches encourage a hands-on, practical approach to learning. Both Montessori teachers and online university degree instructors encourage students to be actively involved in their own learning. Finally, both types of education have demonstrated great success with their graduates. While this speaks well of both methods, it also underscores the importance of diversity in educational methods. After all, we don’t all look or talk the same; why would we learn the same?

Likewise, both educational systems focus on peer interaction and support. While Montessori schools encourage children to learn to interact cooperatively in the classroom and on the playground, most distalnce learning degree programs also focus on encouraging students to interact and learn together. In fact, peer support is a primary component of online degree education.

 

Online Graduate Degree Programs in Education

Sunday, September 7th, 2008

If you graduated with a Bachelor of Education Degree and are planning to teach, chances are high that your school system or state requires you to get a Master’s Degree in Education. If you’ve been wondering how you are ever going to meet the needs of the students in your classroom and complete your own education at the same time, stop worrying. Distance education degree programs can help you complete an advanced degree while beginning your new career.

Although you may find it hard to believe, it really is possible to complete a graduate degree program in less than a year. A few distance learning Master’s Degree programs are designed to be completed in only ten months. Now, teachers can meet their graduate education requirements only a month after surviving their first year in the classroom!

Distance degree alternatives allow dedicated professionals to complete their degree requirements without spending hours each week commuting to and from classes at the end of a busy day. They can complete online degree course requirements in the comfort and privacy of their own homes, during times that work best for them. Online degree universities are rapidly becoming the economical alternative to traditional college degree programs.

If you know you what it takes to finish your degree in less than a year, investigate these affordable alternatives to traditional two-year Master’s Degree programs. Complete your employment requirements, and start earning a higher salary, in a fraction of the time. Get more information about distance learning degree programs in education today!

Online Degree Programs in Nursing: What's Available – and What's Not

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

What other profession offers an average starting salary of over $40,000 after two years of college education? Nursing careers are almost totally recession-proof, and jobs are available in nearly every city and state within the U.S. Additionally, nurses can go on to complete graduate degree programs and earn business managmeent degrees or MBAs. Are you ready to get a distance learning degree in nursing?

Not so fast. The only program that offered non-licensed professionals an entry-level college degree program in nursing was Regent’s University in New York, and this program is no longer available. All Bachelor Degree programs and Master Degrees in Nursing require applicants to have a valid nursing license and from one to three years of nursing experience.

Distance education degree programs that allow practicing professionals to complete online bachelor degree programs or earn graduate degrees in nursing offer excellent opportunities for career advancement. They allow students to complete clinical experiences in a local setting, and allow them to study for non-clinical courses in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Nurses can work on obtaining job promotions or entering related career fields while raising a family or working full-time.

Although you cannot get a distance education associate degree in nursing, you can get on line degrees at the bachelor, master, and PhD level. If you are willing to invest the time and spend two years in a traditional college degree program, you can open the door to nearly endless opportunities. Whether you want to travel the country, or get a job where you will never have to worry about getting laid off, you can find professional nursing opportunities that will surpass your expectations!

Get Your College Certificate in Paralegal Studies Online!

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Get Your College Certificate in Paralegal Studies Online!

Have you always been fascinated by the intricacies of the law? Do you already have an Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in a professional field? Many professionals find that taking paralegal courses significantly enhances their marketability to potential employers.

The majority of people who decide to pursue a paralegal program are either currently working in their career field or actively seeking positions within that field. They simply do not have time to attend courses at a traditional college campus. For this reason, distance education degree programs are an attractive alternative approach to taking paralegal courses.

Distance learning certificate programs are a useful, convenient way to become a paralegal professional with expertise in marketing, business, or technology-related fields. Individuals who choose this career path usually find that their professional opportunities suddenly widen. They are able to consider career choices that before would never have been possible. Through distance learning, they can broaden their horizons without spending huge quantities of time and energy accomplishing their goals at traditional brick and mortar universities.

If you have always been interested in legal aspects of your career, perhaps an on line degree through one of the many available paralegal programs would work for you. Find an accredited online university that offers a program that interests you, and send for more information. This information may lead to a new turn in your career path!

Ethics in Distance Learning

Friday, July 25th, 2008

Believe it or not, online degree universities  struggle with certain ethical issues that are uniqe to online college degree programs. The ethical concerns voiced by both students and professors alike involve issues related to cheating, privacy, and the publication of educational materials online. Furthermore, top online schools have made the admirable commitment to making their distance education degrees universally accessible to all individuals, including those who are physically or cognitively challenged.

Cheating is often rampant among college students attending a traditional college or university. Students are so anxious to earn their college degrees that they often stoop to plagiarism or cheating on tests. Some online universities have attempted to address this problem through the use of open book testing, while others require students to be monitored. While neither of these suggestions is optimal, a more effective solution remains to be found.

Another difficulty faced by students taking online degree courses is the issue of privacy. Most distance learning degree programs use software that makes course content, such as outlines, student postings, and discussions private. Occasionally, however, information is made available to anyone searching. One of the problems with this is that many employers have taken to searching the internet to “dig up dirt” about prospective employees, and an unfortunate comment made while taking an online course could come back to haunt a student.

One other problem with online learning is the publication of education materials on the Internet. This can lead to copyright issues and disagreements between universities, professors, and students concerning who owns the rights to the information produced during an online degree course. While the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, which became law in 1998, has offered some protection, this remains a concern.

Students who plan to earn a college degree at home need to be aware of these issues and be cautious about their use of the internet for sending and receiving information. Academic integrity is still important, and it may fall primarily upon the student to maintain this difficult standard. While universities work to extend their course offerings to meet the needs of a wide variety of challenged students, the students themselves should remain aware of these current ethical issues in distance learning.

Top Ten College Degree Programs: Education

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

Top Ten College Degree Programs: Education

Were you surprised to learn that elementary education was the second most popular career choice for college students today? Then you may be even more surprised to learn that a degree in education is the sixth most popular career choice. Students who choose these education programs typically intend to teach in middle school, secondary school or adult college education programs.

The increased popularity of education programs can make entry into a traditional college degree program more difficult because of limited class sizes and educational cutbacks that result in fewer professors available to teach classes. Distance degree schools are a perfect solution to this dilemma because class size is more flexible, and students can still receive one on one attention from their professors despite large enrollments.

Another reason distant learning education programs have become so popular is that teachers with a Bachelor’s Degree can enter their professions while working on a Master’s Degree in Education. Online degree schools allow teachers to work all week and then take additional courses in their spare time, rather than working all day and spending every evening in a college classroom.

If you are one of the persons who find teaching a fascinating profession, opt for the flexibility offered by distance learning school programs. Get a distance education degree at your convenience, and ensure an optimal learning experience by enrolling in a top online college. Search for online degree university programs that offer education degrees now!

 

 

Sudbury Schools: Learning by Teaching

Friday, June 6th, 2008

Sudbury Schools: Learning by Teaching

Imagine sending a child off to elementary school so that they can learn exactly what they want to learn – when they want to learn it. You, as a parent, have no say in your child’s education. Your opinion does not matter – and will not be solicited.

Does this sound difficult to imagine? The fact is, exactly this form of alternative education is practiced by those institutions that label themselves Sudbury Schools. Students learn independence and self-motivation in learning to be responsible for their own actions.

Although it may be at first strange to think that this type of educational system could really work, more than 80 percent of the students who graduated from the original Sudbury School in Massachusetts have gone on to complete college degree programs. Further, these students continue on and experience success in many professional disciplines and career fields.

The independence and self-structured learning taught by the Sudbury system is highly compatible with distance education degree programs. Students learn to organize their time effectively to provide themselves with optimal learning experiences, and look to their teachers only to facilitate their learning process.

Many business and online liberal arts degree programs offer Sudbury graduates an ideal opportunity to earn a college degree at home. From a parent’s perspective, the Sudbury system may be hard to accept; after all, parents like to have a say in their child’s education, even after they begin working toward a college degree. The evidence is in, however; this system of education offers exciting possibilities for young students with lots of potential!

Get Your College Certificate in Paralegal Studies Online!

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Get Your College Certificate in Paralegal Studies Online!

Have you always been fascinated by the intricacies of the law? Do you already have an Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in a professional field? Many professionals find that taking paralegal courses significantly enhances their marketability to potential employers.

The majority of people who decide to pursue a paralegal program are either currently working in their career field or actively seeking positions within that field. They simply do not have time to attend courses at a traditional college campus. For this reason, distance education degree programs are an attractive alternative approach to taking paralegal courses.

Distance learning certificate programs are a useful, convenient way to become a paralegal professional with expertise in marketing, business, or technology-related fields. Individuals who choose this career path usually find that their professional opportunities suddenly widen. They are able to consider career choices that before would never have been possible. Through distance learning, they can broaden their horizons without spending huge quantities of time and energy accomplishing their goals at traditional brick and mortar universities. 

If you have always been interested in legal aspects of your career, perhaps an on line degree through one of the many available paralegal programs would work for you. Find an accredited online university that offers a program that interests you, and send for more information. This information may lead to a new turn in your career path!

 

Distance Degree Programs offer New Opportunities for Chronically Ill Students

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Distance Degree Programs offer New Opportunities for Chronically Ill Students

Have you struggled with a debilitating illness or disease for years? Did you think that frequently hospitalizations placed your dreams of an undergraduate degree hopelessly out of reach? Through distance learning degree programs, you can achieve your dreams of getting a professional degree from a fully accredited college or university!

Often, students with chronic illnesses are stigmatized because people do not really understand their health condition. Uninformed people may believe that the disease is contagious, that they may become infected simply by sharing a classroom with someone who is ill. This kind of ignorance has caused people with AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), or even spina bifida to be shunned and feared.

Frequently, however, these students are bright young people who desire to obtain a social work degree, psychology degree, or other accredited degree. Many desire to help other students who have health problems that are the same as, or similar to, their own. Having been through the struggles with pain, fear, and ignorance, they desire to impart their survival skills to future students.

A distance education degree offers excellent opportunities for these students. They do not have to leave the comfort of their own homes to walk into a hostile classroom and take an exam. If they are hospitalized or not feeling well, the flexibility provided by on line degree programs allows them to catch up on coursework when they feel better. Furthermore, students aren’t visibly reminded of their “differences.” They are more able to interact with peers and professors naturally and without inhibitions, fears of cruel comments, or uncivil behavior.

Chronically ill students can choose from a wide variety of distance degree programs that meet their interests. These learning opportunities are ideally suited to students with unique physical and personal challenges. They have the chance to achieve the educational goals they have long desired – when they are well enough to achieve them.