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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Online Distance Education Learning


The emergence of the Internet as a worldwide communications network has revolutionized the concept of distance learning. Prior to the Internet becoming ubiquitous, distance education was being provided mainly through correspondence courses and video media. However, using the Internet, it has become possible for a student to study online from any location and at any convenient time.
With the adoption of online learning by universities as an important media for imparting distance education, the quality of the online courses offered has become comparable to traditional classroom courses. Courses on topics across a broad spectrum of disciplines have become available on demand and accessible from any location. These factors have also contributed to the increasing popularity of online distance education.
Earning an educational qualification from the comfort of one's home or workplace is an idea that is appealing to a large number of people who do not have the time to enroll for a traditional classroom-based course. It is usually easier to obtain admission for online courses; another advantage is that sometimes the tuition fee may be lower than a regular course for the same discipline.
One of the common misconceptions related to online learning is that it is a solitary, non-instructor-led, self-paced activity. This is far from the truth. Quality online education is a people-oriented, instructor-led activity that requires a level of communication comparable with on-campus education. Students are able to communicate with their peers through e-mails, online class projects and discussions. The availability of online libraries has also made the learning process easier. Some universities even allow students to shift from on-campus learning to online learning and transfer the credits.
With the proliferation of online distance education, it is becoming increasingly important to select the right college or university. Several websites provide detailed information about the online courses available and also offer a comparison of the colleges and universities with respect to the quality of their online distance learning programs.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Empowering Your Skills Through Adult Education Learning


Adult education learning is something that you ought to try if you are thinking of reviving your career or going through the career ladder a notch higher. For folks who have graduated from school a long time ago, you should never feel that age matters when it comes to going back to school. This is also a good opportunity for those who may not have had the chance to finish college on time.
Various factors may take its toll on someone's education at one point in time. Usually it's about the financial capacity. A medical condition might have previously prevented you too from finishing your degree. Family issues might also be a reason yet adult education does not really take these things as important anymore. It doesn't matter which career you would like to pursue so long as you are willing and resolved to finally get the diploma you've always wanted.
Preparing for Re-Skills Training
If it's been years since you last entered school, there are a few important things to keep in mind so that you can prepare yourself. First, you must clearly define your goals. What do you intend to do and how do you think entering school will help you? Being goal-oriented will also help you cope in school because you are going to go through a series of school works and examinations which would all take its toll on you.
Another important thing to have as a trait is the ability to take directions. If you have been used to having your own way, that's going to be challenged once you re-enter school. You have to follow the rules and regulations implemented by the learning institution as well as your teacher within the classroom.
Thirdly, you should also be able to take in constructive criticism. Your fellow classmates and your instructor would not always agree with your ideas. Sometimes, the way you do things will be questioned. You should also learn not to be too hard on yourself and let yourself learn things while still managing to enjoy the fact that you are back in school.
Benefits of Taking Adult Education Courses
There are many good reasons why you should take some adult education courses if you can. Among the main ones is that you can finally boost your skills level. What's even better is that these courses are flexible enough to fit into your schedule so you can end up juggling work with school effectively.
Also, adult courses are mostly done through distance learning modules. This way even stay-at-home folks would have no problems with education because they no longer have to leave home just to attend a class. This is also perfect for those who are always on the go. In the end you can manage to learn at your own pace in the environment that's most suitable for you.
Despite its flexibility in schedule, most adult courses are still comparably cheaper compared with traditional classes. Some schools even offer their students the ability to adjust the number of hours that they can fill in for class. Most distance learning courses still offer some consultation days wherein the students are going to meet in a typical classroom setup.
There are many different institutions these days that offer adult education learning. In fact, almost every school within cities are capable of doing this. The only thing you need to consider is the course that you will be taking and how you are going to be able to maximize it after you have totally graduated from the course. Some also offer special scholarship programs which you might also want to get into.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Learn the Importance of "Montessori" Education



Dr. Maria Montessori is a pioneer because she was the first person who understood the value of self determination and understanding of the environment in helping a child succeed later on and she did so when she was an assistant doctor at the Children's Psychological Ward at a hospital in Rome. She was the one who first pointed out that a child has a great desire to discover the world all around and is also extremely inquisitive. So to enhance the education of the child, this natural curiosity has to be properly channeled and all the questions needs to be answered, instead of ignoring them, which many tend to do. Some of the fundamental factors of Montessori school education are as follows.
  • It is necessary to treat children as individuals and differently than adults. It should also be remembered that no two children can be the same.
  • Children are unusually sensitive and are keen to learn from the environment and so should be encouraged to do so.
  • Always try to nurture the child carefully in the first six years because this is when the unconscious learning progressively reaches the conscious level.
The child should realize his/her full potential and become successful in all spheres of life -this is the aim of Montessori school education. Specially trained teachers are very valuable here because they can help the children enjoy and also show them the way. And as a result, the child can go through the process of learning in a playful but correct manner where nothing is imposed on the child-student.
The Montessori Method allows the child to experience and comprehend what is all around him or her and thus learn better. This leads to an atmosphere of mutual trust and regard and the bond between the mentor and the child deepens, and the child feels self-confident too. The Montessori education method also involves the following objects and principles through which a child starts learning.
  • Materials: There are many objects that often generate a lot of curiosity and attention among children, and the teacher presents them to a child and takes this opportunity to impart teaching as the child becomes engrossed.
  • No gap in learning: Tasks are planned in such a way that each new learning step will follow whatever has been taught earlier and hence, there is no learning gap between the tasks or the steps. This is the best teaching method to remove any sense of uncertainty among the child.
  • Positive attitude towards learning: As most learning activities relating to Montessori school education are individualized, the child automatically feels a strong attachment towards the process of learning. And it is this attachment that finally leads to regard, which is important for successful education.
  • Power of concentration: Montessori education can also help the child understand about concentration.