Tradition at Peril - How Internet Ripped Through Traditional Education!

Gone are the days when students had to wake up in the morning, wash up, dress and run to catch the bus! Gone are the days when students had to write lengthy research papers to submit to that hot-tempered professor next morning! Everything has changed or the ones that didn't change will soon cave in to the revolution that online education has brought.

The internet fever has redefined everything under the sun - creating limitless possibilities for us to discover, explore, think and reshape our lives according to our choice. Therefore, it was all expected that education too will be taken over as it did. Take a look at the scores of online colleges & universities; they give us enough clues about how the future would look like. The advent of internet has totally transformed the way we use to acquire education.

Fifteen years ago, a student in Florida could never have imagined that he would ever be able to take direct classes from lets say, Columbia University, at New York; it was something outside the scope of his imagination. Simply unthinkable!

But today, students from faraway places like India, China even North Africa are 'attending' classes at Universities in US, Canada and the UK. Enrolling in multitude of online degree subjects and pursuing online degrees from their location.

The affects of internet in the realm of education are truly remarkable. It has changed the traditional face of pursuing education by opening a new window of opportunity called e-learning. As expected, this new trend of online education has gained a solid ground in all the premier universities like Columbia, Yale and MIT and leading industries where graduates aspire to work and build their careers.

And people in general are also liberally welcoming this trend, as data suggests, ever since Universities began offering online degrees in the US, people of all ages and races began flocking in to enroll in various online degree subjects. Students and professional are flocking to these online universities in hope of personal as well as professional development for thriving careers.

Online colleges & universities today are offering online degrees in various fields to students from all over the world. Students are studying from home through online chats, discussion boards, webcams and what not, making the much-dreaded warning a reality, that the conservative formalities of traditional education - long years, discipline, punctuality are all loosing ground to the convenience and flexibility that a 21st century innovation called the Internet has brought for the people.

Author Info:

Tammy Greene is an educationist with decades of teaching and learning experience. Currently, Tammy is working for Online Edu Blog acting as their advisory member and helping students with online degrees and distance learning programs and finding accredited Online colleges and universities.

Distance Learning Guide

The ideal definition of education includes a setting that features both student and teacher exchanging information. In the typical educational setting, the teacher relays information to the student who imbibes it and is tested on it to determine the extent to which that information is understood. The typical educational setting basically involves the fostering of knowledge in the student by the teacher. When it comes to this setting, feedback is instant because both teacher and student are physically present in the same place. In contrast, distance-learning programs do not feature both the student and the teacher in the same place physically.

In distance learning, a medium exists between the teacher and the student, which makes physical contact unnecessary. Distance learning entails the fostering of knowledge in a student by the instructor who isn't physically present. There is no form of contact between either of them.

Distance learning is implemented through a multiple of channels, the most popular one in our modern day being the Internet. With distance learning, a student cannot see the instructor to ask questions to or receive feedback hence feedback is delayed.

Unlike the conventional school setting, distance-learning programs do not demand that your personal schedules revolve round it. You get to decide when you want to study and are not subjected to the set study or lecture periods of a conventional educational system. Distance learning programs feature modules that must be completed within a particular period. Failure to do this can lead to you flopping the program entirely.

You will need to complete your tests and assignments at the time you deem fit to. Distance learning programs are just as effective as on campus learning programs. The only thing that makes it different is the conspicuous lack of a teacher plus flexibility in your study schedule.

Author Info:

RF has proved to be a very versed writer with the hundreds of articles on "Distance Learning" he has written. Visit Distance Learning Resource Page for more info.

Dispelling the Myths - Why Adults Think They Can't Get a GED

39 million American adults never earned a high school diploma. Throughout the country, there is a push to re-educate these adults so they can earn a GED and become eligible for higher-paying jobs and higher education. But many never try for their GED. Why? Each one has a reason. Each one thinks, "I can't." But the truth is, most people can get their GED. Here's a few reasons people think they can't get their GED...and why they're wrong.

"It's too hard."
Is the GED too difficult for adults without a high school diploma? The short answer is, no. Part of the problem is knowing what to study. The GED is a series of five tests in reading, writing, math, social studies, and science. Each test can be taken as many times as needed until they are passed. By taking time and focusing on one area of study at a time, a test-taker can work through each area of the GED. Students can find out what areas they need to work on by taking a pretest. Then, adult learners should find a study program that will fit their needs, in their community, in a bookstore, or online. By focusing study and sticking to a study plan, almost any adult can acquire the skills needed to pass the GED.

"Studying is boring."
A recent study supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found the most high school dropouts leave school because they found school uninteresting, boring and not relevant to their lives. Most of these students had grade point averages of C or better and could have graduated. Traditional approaches like studying out of test-prep books can be frustrating for these learners. But there are more options today for how to study than ever before. Internet and software study programs allow students to study at their own pace, on their own time, and the best programs have entertaining, visual presentations. Discriminating adult students focus on what type of learning works best for them to find the right study method.

"I don't have time to go to classes."
Most people studying for the GED are adults, with adult responsibilities including a job, a spouse, and children. Going to classes takes time, but there are many options for studying at home at any pace. Making time for the GED doesn't need to involve a lot of driving or a set schedule. By setting aside a little bit of time each day to work toward their goal, anyone can complete their GED studying within their busy schedule. If you're managing your own study time, it's important to find a program that can keep you interested and motivated, so look into software or online programs that are visual and entertaining.

"I can't learn all the things I missed in four years of high school."
Because the GED is a high school equivalency exam, many test-takers expect that it will require all the knowledge taught in four years of high school. However, the GED focuses, not on memorization of facts, figures, and dates, but on fundamental skills: math skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills. Test-takers need to focus their learning on how to think for the GED to acquire the fundamental problem solving, analysis, critical thinking, communications, and mathematics skills that are needed to pass. "Depending on their existing skill level," Ormsby states, "properly preparing for the GED can take weeks or months, not years."

"I don't need a GED."
Many undereducated adults have jobs, but most of them are underpaid and lack job security. The job market is growing more and more limited for people without high school diplomas. A worker who is suddenly faced with unemployment will find it difficult to find a new job, and a worker who wants to advance may find promotions blocked without a high school degree. In a competitive job market, employers continue to look for applicants with more education and qualifications. Without a high school diploma, the average income is about $18,000 per year. With one, it jumps to nearly $26,000-and if you go on to finish college, the average income leaps to about $44,000. Based on those figures, a GED is a necessity.

Author Info:

Michael W. Ormsby is the president of The GED Academy and oversees software and curriculum for adult learners and people with educational challenges. For more information, visit http://www.PassGED.com Michael can be contacted by email at: information@passGED.com or by telephone at 888-880-2164.