One thing that’s so great about the online classroom is that no matter what your personality may be like whether you are the most gregarious person in the world or the total opposite, you can find your own voice in the online classroom.

Online Learning Offers Great Opportunity for Working Adults

Statistics show that a majority of online students are adults who put off going to or completing college when they were younger and are finally taking a step to go back to school. Personally, I do not think this would be possible for many students without the advancements made in the quality and flexibility of today’s online classroom.

Different Types of Online Students

What I see in my online classes in the beginning of a term are several kinds of personalities in regard to the online learning situation:

1. Students who are very comfortable with a computer and have no fear of learning to navigate through the online classroom.

2. Students who have been out of school for a very long time and are not familiar with computers.

3. Students who have been out of high school for a long time, but they’ve worked in an environment which makes them comfortable with technology and computers.

4. Students who have a bold voice and don’t mind expressing their ideas in the discussion forum.

5. Students who are shy about opening up and sharing their opinions.

The Beauty of the Online Classroom

Enter the beauty of the online classroom – no matter which group you fall into above, you can work your way through it in about a week and get on with the matter of learning and earning your college degree. Believe me; I see it happen all the time.

If you or someone you know is thinking about online education to earn a college degree or get certification in a particular area, Accredited-Online-Colleges.com is a great place to begin exploring your options.

Tags: Accredited Online Colleges, Online Classroom, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Learning

When you tackle a new challenge, how do you feel? Are you nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time? These are some emotions that describe how I always feel when starting something new. The unfamiliar is usually intimidating for most of us, but most of us also enjoy a good challenge too, especially if the result is something we really want.

Week Two is Always Better than Week One

Getting into the second week of a new class is always a good place to be for my students and for me too, actually. In the second week, though still not relaxed and comfortable, most students can see that they’ve taken the initial step and they’ve made it through a whole week without the sky falling.

I spend a good bit of time in the first week trying to reassure and make students feel more confident, but confidence is something one must gain on his or her own terms. Others can be encouraging, but no one can give confidence to another.

As the Apprehension Fades

As the weeks go by I have the incomparable pleasure of watching my students come out of their timidity and state of total apprehension, and begin to express their thoughts and ideas with more and more confidence. It happens every time.

This is what I love about teaching. Even when I am teaching online where I never get to see my students face to face, I am always amazed at what I can learn about them through a short term. I hope the encouragement I offer makes just a little bit of difference in their journey. They make a difference in mine.

If you’re considering an online degree, start by exploring the directory of online colleges and universities offering online degrees in today’s most sought after fields at Accredited-Online-Colleges.com.

Tags: Accredited Online Colleges, Online Colleges and Universities, Online Degrees, Online Learning

If you’re considering enrolling in an online class or pursuing an online degree, your first contact will likely be someone known as an enrollment advisor or enrollment counselor. Various schools have different titles for the person who assists you in getting everything together to complete the enrollment process.

This person can be a valuable asset to you. He or she can help you get your transcripts, apply for financial aid, and walk you through all of the steps you need to take to get enrolled for your online classes.

Document Your Phone Calls And Ask the Right Questions

As the prospective student, you need to be aware of all the things this person can help you with. You will have many opportunities to talk with you enrollment advisor, so take the time to make notes and then consider what questions you want to ask and make a list of those questions for your next phone call.

One of the most important questions you need to ask is: “What type of software is required of the students at this college?” Sometimes this information is not discussed, and students suffer the consequences later. Not having the correct software causes a great deal of frustration for both students and instructors. It is more than likely you will not be able to complete all of your assignments correctly without the correct software. So do yourself a big favor and make sure you find out before the first day of your new class begins.

Check out the directory of online degrees and programs available online at Accredited-Online-Colleges.com to see if there’s a program right for you offered through an accredited college or university.

Tags: Accredited Online Colleges, Enrolling in an Online College, Enrollment Advisor, Enrollment Counselor, Online Degrees, Online Learning

Last week I finished up an online class and, as always, I asked my students quite a few questions during the final week about their experience. I am always curious to know what was most helpful, what was the most difficult and how they will be able to use what they learned going forward.

Building Confidence

I get a lot of different responses, but always there are common threads among the answers. My favorite of all is when they tell me they feel more confident in their abilities to succeed. Helping students gain confidence in themselves is one of my primary goals as an online instructor.

Learning Specific Skills

I know they will learn the specific skills they need as they go through all of the many required courses to complete their degree, but without the confidence to proceed, they will have no opportunity for success in earning a college degree.

What would be your advice to help students gain the confidence they need to keep going and working toward reaching their goals? Have you ever had someone in school or in your career who played a role in building your confidence? I would love to hear about it.

If you or someone you know is thinking about online education to earn a college degree or get certification in a particular area, Accredited-Online-Colleges.com is a great place to begin exploring your options.

Tags: Accredited Online Colleges, Earning Your College Degree, Online Colleges, Online Degrees

Do you remember when you were in high school and your English teacher made you write essays? Oh the horror of it all – learning to write in an organized fashion and using correct punctuation and grammar. How useless you may have thought it was at the time.

Were You A Complainer or a Happy Learner?

Of course, there were a few students who actually enjoyed writing essays and completing other types of writing projects; but for many, it was a painful process. Which group did you fall into at the time?

Now that a few years have passed, do you look back on those days and finally see the reason your teacher tried to help you learn to write coherently? Do you recognize learning to write well as a life-long skill that has actually come in handy over the years, or would you feel the same way today if you had to write an essay?

My Students Today

I just started a new online class and my students are going to go through the process of writing an expository essay over the next nine weeks.  I hope at least some of them have had some practice. I hope their high school English teacher prepared them for the future by helping them learn the basics of good writing. It will surely make my job easier and theirs too!

If you have an experience to share, I would love to hear about it. Have you found what you learned helpful in your career? Do you wish you had learned more? Were you prepared for college writing?

Accredited-Online-Colleges.com offers a directory of online degrees in a wide range of fields to help you prepare for the career you want.  Whether you want to earn your Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree or you’re ready to take your degree to the Master’s level, you can find many accredited programs to help you reach your goals.

Tags: Accredited Online Colleges, Learning to Write, Online Degrees, Online Education, Writing Basics

Today is a very special day for children all across America. It’s a day many kids look forward to each year to celebrate the birthday of someone who has influenced and continues to influence children everywhere – Dr. Seuss!! It’s called “Read Across America!”

Become a Book Buddy at a Local School

A friend and I go to a local elementary school once a week to read with children who need a little individual attention and practice to become better readers – we’re Book Buddies. It is so much fun to see the children improve in both reading skills and comprehension as the weeks go by.

We volunteered to participate in the celebration today and went to read to groups of children at our elementary school this morning. We came away as happy as the children to whom we read a story. It’s a rewarding moment when you can sit with a group of enthusiastic children who are so excited to have you simply spend a few minutes with them and read them a story.

If you haven’t done anything rewarding lately, check out the opportunities in your local area to volunteer just an hour a week to help a child learn to read a little better. It will do your heart good and will mean so much to a child.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Next year, I will remind you ahead of time about the special “Read Across America”  day so you can find a school to volunteer to read a story. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! However, we can all celebrate every day. You don’t have to wait until next year to volunteer a little time. Here’s a link to some fun activities you can try with your children any day of the year. If you have children, you should bookmark Education.com where you will find great resources and educational activities.

If you or someone you know is thinking about online education to earn a college degree or get certification in a particular area, Accredited-Online-Colleges.com is a great place to begin exploring your options. Find out about online opportunities to earn your degree in education online.

Tags: Accredited Online Colleges, Dr. Seuss, Educational Opportunities, Read Across America, Reading, Volunteering