| So it's a new year, a new you, and you're ready to | | | | Get valuable experience with web-based media such |
| go back to school. It's time to finish the degree | | | | as threaded discussions, live chats, web-based |
| you've been longing to wrap up, or get the | | | | videos, videoconferencing and podcasts. (I still haven't |
| certification you need for that big promotion at work. | | | | figured out exactly what a podcast is.) |
| But you can't quite figure out how to juggle | | | | - Advancement |
| mid-afternoon lectures, after-class discussions, and | | | | You can stay on your career path while you study, |
| late-night study groups with your full-time job, two | | | | so you don't have to give up that promotion you've |
| kids, three cats, four best friends, five aunts, six | | | | been busting your hump to get. |
| PTA meetings, seven loads of laundry and that | | | | - Accessibility |
| partridge in a pear tree. | | | | Maybe you're a forest ranger who lives on top of a |
| Don't fear, my friends. Just because a traditional | | | | mountain 1,000 miles away from the nearest college |
| campus curriculum doesn't fit into your lifestyle | | | | campus. Through online programs, you can work |
| doesn't mean you can't go back to school. The | | | | towards your degree anywhere, anytime. And for |
| revolution has begun-the online distance learning | | | | those of you who live in a metropolitan area, online |
| revolution, that is. And it's going to help you get the | | | | learning means less commuting. (Just think of all that |
| degree you want or the certification you need on | | | | dough you'll save on gas and parking tickets.) |
| your own time at your own pace. | | | | What makes it even more attractive is that thanks |
| Believe it or not, "distance learning" courses (as | | | | to the boom in online learning, there are distance |
| they're often called) have actually been around for | | | | learning programs for virtually everything and |
| over 100 years. According to the Distance Education | | | | anything. There are distance learning programs for |
| Training Council's website, "since 1890, more than 130 | | | | people who want to get their GED, learn how to |
| million Americans have studied at DETC member | | | | draft architectural plans, or earn their doctorate in |
| institutions, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Walter P. | | | | astrophysics. (Just make sure that whatever program |
| Chrysler, Walter Cronkite, Barry Goldwater, [and] | | | | you choose is accredited-meaning it's been studied |
| Charles Schulz." | | | | and reviewed by its peers and meets industry |
| Back in the days of Franklin D. and Walter P., distance | | | | standards. To find out if a particular school has |
| learning consisted of written letters and materials | | | | accreditation, visit the Distance and Education |
| sent via snail mail from professor to student. Today, | | | | Council's website. |
| thanks to the wonders of the world wide web, they | | | | Still not sold? Keep in mind that an online education is |
| offer a whole host of ways to help you get your | | | | every bit as good as what you'd get at a traditional |
| degree/certification/diploma via online discussion | | | | campus. In fact, it may be better. According to |
| threads, videoconferencing, podcasting, live chats and | | | | "Evolution of Evidence-Based Practices in Online |
| much more. These varied educational tolls provide | | | | Learning," a study conducted by the U.S. Department |
| benefits you can't get at one a regular campus, | | | | of Education in 2009 regarding online learning, "on |
| including: | | | | average, students in online learning conditions |
| - Flexibility | | | | performed better than those receiving face-to-face |
| You can study on your own time-before you take | | | | instruction." It makes sense, given that online learning |
| the kids to school, at a coffee shop in the middle of | | | | allows you to make your own study schedule and |
| the afternoon, or after David Letterman's Top Ten. | | | | participate in a vibrant online community, rather than |
| - Control | | | | be stuck in the back of a lecture hall with 300+ |
| You'll control the pace of your studies, with the ability | | | | students at 8:00 a.m. on a Monday morning. (And let's |
| to review materials and lectures as often as you like. | | | | be honest with ourselves. You know you fell asleep in |
| - Experience | | | | the back of the lecture hall anyways. |