According to an article from Career College Central, career colleges are helping meet the demand for workers in the healthcare, IT and engineering professions. It states that career college graduates represent over 25% of 79,000 job openings needed across the IT and engineering fields, as well as, 51% of the 9,000 openings for medical and health service managers.
Educations earned from career colleges are becoming more and more popular and widely accepted within the workforce. It’s a venue for individuals looking to change careers or further their knowledge in their current field at an extremely reasonable cost. And, with the emergence of online education, the possibilities are endless.
What success have you had with your career school diploma or degree? Did you find it easier/harder to find a position in the workforce?
Source: “Study finds career colleges could make significant contribution in filling IT, engineering and healthcare worker shortages in U.S. posted by Career College Central; written by The Image America Foundation.
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Colleges won’t accept diplomas from online high schools. To be widely accepted a diploma must come from an online school that has accreditation from the proper regional board, such as Penn Foster High School.
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Online classes aren’t as challenging as traditional classes. It’s true that some online classes aren’t as challenging as traditional high school classes. But, some traditional high school classes aren’t as challenging as other traditional high school classes. When looking for an online school, you’ll find a wide range of difficulty. The nice thing is that you can pick the school and class type that fits your knowledge and ability best.
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Distance learning students don’t get enough socialization. Just because a student isn’t socializing at school, it doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t have the opportunity to socialize outside of the classroom. And there is always the opportunity to interact with students and teachers through message boards, email addresses, and live chat
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Online high school students do less work than traditional students. Online students may finish their work faster than traditional students, but that doesn’t mean they’re doing less. Consider the interruptions in a traditional school day: breaks, transition periods, busy work, waiting for other students to catch up, teachers trying to quiet down the class. If there were some way to take out those interruptions and just let students focus on their work, they’d probably finish in about the same time it takes online learners to complete their assignments. Of course, this isn’t an absolute and the amount of work can vary between online schools. Some may offer a lighter load and others may challenge students with even more work than traditional schools.
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Online high schools are just for teenagers. Adults looking to get their high school diplomas are welcome to participate in many online high school programs. Distance learning schools are often convenient for adults who hold jobs and can only complete assignments during certain hours. Some schools even have programs created specifically for mature students.
Sources: http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/a/HSMyths_2.htm
Virtual High Schools have been moving to the forefront of the distance learning landscape over the recent years with the growing popularity of online learning. Until now, “night school” and charter schools were the only alternatives to attending a full-time program at a local high school. These up and coming virtual high schools are opening the doors for families across the country whose children are in need of an alternative. They’re bringing education to those children who have, perhaps, not been successful in traditional learning environments or who are served better in non-traditional environments. These learners include: home-schooled students, full-time wage earners, students with health or physical challenges; and those who may have struggled socially in a traditional school. Virtual schools also provide a place for homeschooled students or those that have barriers to attending physical school, such as those live in remote areas or have disabilities. It even gives students in a program at a traditional high school a way to make up for lost credits.
Choosing an online high school is a challenge. Parents need to find a virtual program that offers an accredited diploma and provides academic support for students, all without breaking the bank. Asking the right questions will help you find the online high school that best meets your needs. Here are some important credentials when reviewing your potential school:
1. Accreditation. An online high school that is regionally accredited, like Penn Foster’s high school program, will have the widest acceptance.
2. Curriculum. Your online high school should have a time-tested curriculum that meets your child’s academic needs.
3. Quality of instructors. Be wary of online high schools that hire teachers without a college diploma or teaching experience. Teachers should be credentialed, know how to work with teenagers, and be comfortable with computers.
4. School’s history. Online schools come and go. Choosing a school that has been around for longer, like Penn Foster High School, can help you avoid the trouble of trying to transfer schools at a later date.
5. Graduate percentage. You can learn a lot by an online high school’s graduation track record. If a large percentage of students drop out, you may want to reconsider.
6. Additional help for struggling students. If your child is struggling, you need to know that help is available.
Are you or your child thinking of enrolling in a virtual high school? What benefits/drawbacks do you see with online high schools?
Sources:
http://distancelearninginmo.blogspot.com/
http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/a/OnlineHighQ.htm
If you’re like most distance learners, home distractions can become a problem. If you feel overwhelmed by the constant distraction of phone calls, family or roommate interruptions and disorganization … create an environment where you can really get to work. Find your own “study spot”.
Find the place that is the quietest area in your home during the busiest time of day. It may be in the corner of your bedroom or perhaps you have a den or a small room that isn’t being used. Some people use a section of their garage. Whatever place you choose, make sure it is large enough that you won’t feel cramped. As soon as you find your place, start organizing your materials and set up your spot. The following steps can help you on your mission to create the perfect study spot:
1. Purchase a traditional desk. One of the benefits of using an actual desk is that your work-related materials are always going to be near.
2. Get a good chair. This is one of the most important tools of getting your work done at home. Invest in a chair that you actually want to sit in; hard wood or metal chairs are uncomfortable and often deter people from sitting down for the time necessary to get their work done.
3. Organize your supplies. Make sure that all the supplies you need each day are easily reachable from your desk. It’s easy to become distracted from your work if you constantly have to leave your studies to go look for supplies in another area of the house. Put books, pens, pencils, erasers, and everything else you need in the drawers of your desk.
4. Make it your own. If you like to study with background music, bring in a CD player along with your favorite music. Hang your favorite paintings, pictures or posters on the wall. Add anything that will help make your spot feel like home and keep you focused on the prize.
5. Set rules. Set a few ground rules for yourself and anyone else you live with. Rules can help keep distractions away and keep you focused. For example: 1) Work time is between the hours of 7 and 11 a.m. I won’t plan anything else during that time. 2) The ringer on the phone is always turned off while I’m working. 3) I will take one big break in the middle of my work, instead of lots of small breaks.
Hopefully these tips and suggestions will help you to find your own “study spot” so you can successfully achieve your goals!
Do you already have your own “study spot”? If so, tell us about it and if it has helped you become more focused in your studies.
Many distance learners agree that the most difficult part of studying online is staying motivated. Because students must take the initiative to complete their courses completely on their own, without the physical presence of teachers and other peers, many students find it easy to become distracted and discouraged in their work. Don’t let this happen to you – plan ways for yourself to stay motivated before you’re tempted to stray from your books. Use these five motivational tips to stay on task:
1. Connect with your classmates. Visit our MySpace page, Facebook groups, Penn Foster Proud Group on Flickr.com, or even a Yahoo! Group and start conversations with your fellow classmates. Talk about your day, your studies, whatever will keep you connected, motivated and give you that sense of “classroom” in a virtual environment. Once you begin talking to fellow Penn Foster students, you may even find a few in your area that will be willing to start a physical study group! Having the support of your peers during your studies with Penn Foster is extremely rewarding and important.
2. Discuss what you learn. Find a friend or relative who has similar interests or who would enjoy hearing about your studies and let them know what’s going on in your classes. You’ll understand the material better when you have a chance to explain it out loud and will be motivated to stay on task in order to keep up with the conversation.
3. Chart your progress. Design your own map of completed classes and post it somewhere that is visible daily. There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with watching your goals be accomplished. When times get hard, you can always turn to your chart and see how far you’ve come.
4. Reward yourself. You get rewarded for good credit and safe driving, why shouldn’t you reward yourself for doing well in your coursework. Whether it is a night on the town, a new dress, or even a new car, setting up a reward system just may be the extra push you need to succeed.
5. Take time for fun. If you’re spending all your time working, studying, and watching after the kids, you’ll likely suffer in all areas. Everyone needs some down time to re-group. So, set aside a little time every week for a favorite activity. You’ll be more productive when you return to your work.
What helps you stay motivated? Do you have any tips or suggestions to add to our list?
Source: http://distancelearn.about.com/od/managingyourwork/a/motivation.htm