May 23, 2013

Distance Learning for Adults — Is it Right for You?

February 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Distance learning is not the right choice for everyone. There are many things to consider before deciding if this choice is best for you. Online learning requires discipline to complete coursework on your own, self-paced learning, studying and working alone on your classes, and an ability to understand and work a computer well.

There are many positive aspects to online learning, however. With online courses you are able to complete your coursework at your own pace, for the most part. You are able to work alone, which allows you to work at a pace that is conducive to your learning level. When you take courses online it is less disruptive to your family life than a traditional classroom may be.

Through online courses you can earn a degree faster than you would through the traditional classroom. When you complete coursework and receive a degree through an accredited and reputable institution online it is the same as earning the same degree through the traditional classroom.

Although there are many positives to online learning, there are some negative aspects that you need to consider to determine if it is right for you. Some academic areas may not be conducive to online learning. For example math and science courses may not be suitable for an online classroom. Not all degrees are available online, although more are be added every day. When you have a question you usually have to wait for a response. Your computer skills need to be advanced enough that you can easily access classroom pages, discussion boards, and upload assignments. You will need to have high-speed internet to be able to properly access your assignments and classroom instruction.

Once you have considered all the pros and cons, it is time to make a decision of what is best for you.

Filed Under: Adult Education, Online Learning Tagged With: ,

Repayment of Student Loans

February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Many students are finding it difficult to pay back their student loans in the first year after graduation. In fact, the amount of individuals defaulting on their student loans is up approximately 7%. However, in a recent story on “The Early Show,” this is one of the worst things that can be done in terms of credit scores. As a result of defaulting, the lender can come back and garnish as much as 15% of wages, withhold tax refunds, and even place restrictions from obtaining a professional license. However, if a student can’t find a job and has no way to repay the loan, the next step to avoid defaulting is to contact the lender directly. Many will work with students to add extensions or defer payments until income is flowing more regularly. This could add extra fees and more interest in the long run, but it is highly preferred to defaulting on the loan.

Using a debt consolidation service is also a great option for those who have multiple loans with differing interest rates and who want to combine them into one monthly payment. Sometimes using a service like this can reduce the monthly payment by as much as 50%. For students looking into the process of obtaining money for educational expenses, using a federal loan can provide a lower interest rate and more flexibility for repayment options. Generally, loans have to be paid back within 6 months following the graduation date, but working during school or even during breaks from classes can be a way to start saving or making small payments toward the loan prior to graduation. Sticking to a budget is crucial to ensure that the amount borrowed is used for necessary expenses, instead of vacations or other extravagances. By following these steps, students won’t have to make such a large adjustment after graduation when the loans must be repaid.

Filed Under: Continuing Education, Education Tagged With: ,

Education Required to be a Secondary Education Teacher

February 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment

You may be considering being a teacher and have decided upon teaching high school students. To make that decision you need to know more about what that requires. The teacher workforce in the United States is becoming and more and more educated. Therefore, it is important for you to know what education is necessary to reach your goals.

Whether you are entering this aspect of your career goals right out of high school or a little later in life, entering school with a clear goal in mind of where you want your education to take you will help you stay focused and get where you want to be faster. There are many different undergraduate degree programs available. It is important for you to stay focused in order to choose the right program for your goals.

To teach at a secondary education level you will need at least a Bachelor’s Degree. You could obtain a Bachelor’s of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Again, knowing your ultimate goals can lead you in the right direction for your degree. For example, if English is your passion, you will want to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Teachers.

However, if you are more suited to teach mathematics your focus will be on a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics for Secondary Teachers. It is not uncommon for students to be unsure of what area they want to teach or may even want to be able to teach in more than one area. In this instance working on a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree is the way to go. Once you have a better idea of the specific area you are most interested in, you may add additional coursework specific to that subject.

Filed Under: Adult Education, Continuing Education Tagged With: ,

Finish High School at Any Age

February 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

No matter what your age, you now have the option of finishing high school and earning your high school diploma. There are many online schools that now offer an opportunity for adults to earn their high school diploma.

With the way the workforce is nowadays it is becoming necessary to have a high school diploma to get a good job. Some adults may simply have a desire to finally be able to say that they graduated from high school. Others may want to go onto college but prefer a high school diploma rather than simply “testing out” and receiving a G.E.D. or H.S.E.D. certificate. Whatever the reason an individual wants to receive their high school diploma, the option is now there for them to do so.

When choosing a school to complete your high school education and receive a diploma, consider your needs. When you are searching for an online school do you need flexibility to be able to work around your other commitments in your life? Are you looking for the least expensive option? Maybe you need to find a way to finish your high school credits and earn your diploma as quickly as possible. These are all things you need to look at and consider when you are searching for the right school.

During the application process you may be required to supply transcripts and/or other documentation of coursework you have already completed in the past. If you are an older adult this may be difficult to get. Most schools have counselors that can help you through this process.

Most importantly when searching for the right school, you need to check that they are accredited. This is especially important if you are planning to attend college, as most colleges will only accept a diploma from an accredited school.

Filed Under: Adult Education, Continuing Education Tagged With: ,

Moving Away From College Requires Planning

February 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When people move away to college, they often think about the hassles involved. Unfortunately, they don’t consider the issues that they’ll need to deal with once they graduate and decide to move away from college. While you’re in college it may feel as though it’s going to go on forever, but it will actually be over very quickly and it’ll be time to move on to work and real life. Unless you want to move back home to your parents’ house, there are some things you’ll have to do. One of those is finding a job. You can start looking when college is almost over, so you can have something lined up.

Then, you’ll need to find an apartment or a house to rent. Getting one when you’re just graduating college and starting a job won’t be that easy, but it’s possible. Ask around a few weeks before you really need one. Start searching, so you’ll have something lined up. You don’t want to end up out on the street because you didn’t do any kind of planning. You should also get some moving quotes. Somehow, in the years you spent in college, you accumulated a lot of stuff that you now have to take with you. It’s better if you know how much that will cost before deciding what you really want to keep.

Moving out on your own can seem scary, but it’s also a very exciting thing to do – as long as you can afford it. If you can handle at least a part-time job all the way through college, be sure to save as much money as you can. It’s tempting to spend it all on having fun, but you’ll want to have some rent money saved up, and there will be things you need to buy when you move out of college. With some planning, you can be ready.

Filed Under: Continuing Education, Online Learning Tagged With: ,

Tax Tips for College Students and Recent Grads

February 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

As a student – or as someone who has just graduated college recently – you probably have student loans that you’re dealing with. You can deduct that interest on your federal income tax return, and there are also tax credits that exist for students. Be sure that you’re claiming your maximum refund, because you’re owed that money and you’ll want to get it back so you can put it to good use. There’s no point in letting the IRS just keep it, especially when you’ve been paying your taxes and trying to work toward getting a better job (after which you’ll be asked to pay more taxes, because you’ll be earning more money). When you’re just out of high school and into college with a low-paying job, you’ll generally fall into the lowest tax bracket.

Of course, if you’re someone who has gone back to school after an extended time in the workforce, you might be making substantially more – and paying higher taxes. Either way, you should know how to file so you can claim your student loan interest and other student credits. If you’re not sure how to handle this, you can get tax tips from the pros, or you can have a professional handle your return. Doing your own return costs you less, but not if you miss a lot of deductions that you could have taken.

Be sure you know your filing status, and whether you can be claimed by someone else on his or her return. You should also know that you can get deductions if you have children, and for a lot of medical expenses. Don’t assume that you just have to pay and pay, and that you can’t get anything back. Just take legitimate student deductions, and you shouldn’t have any problems. That will help you maximize your refund, too.

Filed Under: Adult Education, Education Tagged With: ,

Challenge of Teaching Adults

February 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Adult students are in the classroom because they choose to be. When adults enter college it is because they have a strong desire to further their career or learn something new. Adult students do not have the time or money to waste time on schooling that is insignificant or trivial. Therefore, it becomes necessary for instructors of adult students to recognize this and offer more thorough explanations in their classes about why what they are learning is important to their learning process.

Understand and respect that your students have different learning styles and it is important to find ways to reach each student through their specific learning style. For example, visual learners rely on pictures and graphs. A visual learner learns best through visually seeing the information. Auditory learners learn by hearing. An auditory learner will listen carefully to everything that is said to get the most from what is being taught. Kinesthetic learners learn by doing. The more a kinesthetic learner is able to feel and touch what they are being taught, the easier it is for them to retain the information.

No matter the age of the student, a student cannot learn until they are ready to learn. This is an old adage that many teachers may not quite grasp. Although, when teaching adult students it can be assumed that they are in your classroom because they are ready to be taught. Therefore, as an instructor of adult students it is now your job to simply look for teaching moments to expound on a subject or bring in a new topic.

One of the most important aspects of teaching adults is to be positive and encouraging. Give older adults time to respond to your questions; they may need a few moments to consider their response. As an instructor you have the unique opportunity to inspire self-confidence and enthusiasm in your students. A successful teacher can change lives!

Filed Under: Adult Education, Continuing Education Tagged With: ,

Another Step Toward Prosperity

February 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
This is going to come as a surprise to everyone as it certainly did to me, but I am seriously thinking of going back to school, and getting an advanced degree.  I know that the process is hard, no matter which school you to go or which curriculum you choose to study. It barely matters if you go for an MFA, an MBA, or a master’s in psychology; they’re all pretty hard.  I’m still not sure if I want to go for a master’s or a doctorate yet.  In truth, I still may end up chickening out of the whole deal.  It isn’t like the process is easy.
After all, even with a GMAT prep course, just getting into a reputable MBA program could be a pretty surreal ordeal in itself.  And then, once you’ve taken that one test, all you’ve accomplished is getting into the program.  Like they say about all the elite schools, it’s pretty hard to get in, but it is really hard to get out.  Of course, that might just be the last traces of my inner loser talking.  Do you ever hear a little voice in your head that always tell you that you’re going to fail at whatever you do?  Admittedly, I do sometimes.
Granted, listening to that little voice is a sure route to going completely insane.  But at the same time, I keep wondering if maybe it’s right.  Do I really have what it takes to take my education to the next level?  Do I have the gumption, the moxie, or even the chutzpah to go all out and just gun it toward a goal that’s this ambitious?  Maybe admitting you’re afraid isn’t very tough or macho, but I have to admit that this one kind of floors me.  No matter how many prep courses I may take, I still feel very “small fish, big pond” here.
Filed Under: Adult Education, Online Learning Tagged With: ,

Challenges Facing Adults Entering College

January 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Adults entering or re-entering college have always been considered non-traditional students. Adult students are considered students over the age of 25. Adults are now returning to college in records numbers and comprise a large percentage of the student population. More adult women than men are entering college, although a larger percentage of men are now returning to college to improve upon their previous education for furthering their career or learn a new skill to re-enter the workforce.
There are different challenges for adults entering college than there are for the younger traditional students. When considering going back to college some of the challenges an adult student are generally faced with include marriage, children, jobs, community commitments, financial responsibilities, or possibly even caring for elderly parents. These responsibilities can be time consuming and/or financially draining. Making the decision to go back to school to obtain a degree requires a time and financial commitment. Many factors need to be weighed in order to find a way to make college work.
Adults may also have concerns about returning to college because they may feel that they are “too old” or that they will have difficulty “fitting in” with the younger, traditional students. However, because of the number of non-traditional, adult students enter college has risen so drastically, adults are no longer “non-traditional.” In fact, according to the Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE), adult students over the age of 25 currently make up over 47 percent of the new or returning student population on most college campuses across the United States.
There is research that also shows that more adults over the age of 50 are now returning to college to pursue new careers or lifelong dreams. This may be due to the economy and the fact that many people are unable to retire as young as they used to be able to. These older adults have most likely decided that they want to find a way to enjoy their “golden years” doing something they enjoy while earning a living.

Filed Under: Adult Education Tagged With:

Navigating Online Schooling

January 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The transition from high school to college is a scary move to navigate. It’s a time of uncertainty and it’s filled with many exciting, but nerve wracking choices. When deciding where to go to college, there is a lot to consider, and it’s important to choose carefully.

The first thing to do is get a clear look at all of your options. There are plenty of schools out there where you can learn. Online schooling is become a popular choice for many. To get a clear picture of the online institutions for learning, you can consult a site like elearners.com. They can provide detailed overviews of each school.

When researching the schools that have piqued your interest, it’s a good idea to consider the full scope of the school and what it can bring to you. You need to consider the money element first and foremost. Many careers, such as the medical administration field, can provide you with an average salary of 30,000 a year. If you are spending well over $100,000 to obtain the degree, it doesn’t make good business sense.

At the same time, someone with a finance degree can make well over $60,000, and so the cost of the education can be higher. But it must come with a sense of worth beyond the certificate. A school’s reputation is everything. Talk to people you know and get a sense of what the school reputation is. Also, see if you can talk to recent graduates and get feedback on their experience. It’s important to know what they think.

Don’t rely just on their word either, talk to your parents. They know a lot more than you think. They understand that BS in Business Management makes $39,000 starting, and so they can help to find a school that will help you land a job and will be cost effective to the kind of career you want. It’s important to be diligent about online schooling.

Filed Under: Online Courses, Online Degrees, Online Learning Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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