You Deserve Bigger Paychecks! Learn How Getting a Degree Online Can Help

Online education generally refers to computer-enhanced learning, but is often extended to comprise usage of modern mobile technologies such as PDAs and MP3 players. The concept also includes teaching through web-based methodologies, hypermedia, multimedia CD-ROMs/websites, collaborative software, discussion boards, e-mail blogs, computer-aided assessment, educational animation, learning management software, wikis, electronic voting systems and much more. At times, a combination of various methods is used to enhance the learning experience. Online education also involves learning through websites that offer worksheets and provide interactive exercises for adults and children.

There has been a significant rise in online schools and colleges in the United States (US), which is indicative of the increasing popularity on e learning. Online education is very popular in the business segment, where it entails cost-effective learning for the employees.

A number of physical universities and only-online colleges have started offering particular set of academic degrees as well as certificate programs through the internet at various levels and disciplines. To cater to the students necessities, these institutes also offer online registration, e-counseling, and enable online textbook purchase. They also provide students governments and student newspapers online.

Types Of Online Education

Online education is in the vogue in the learning circuit as it offers flexible distance learning. Perhaps, another concept making rounds these days is blended learning, meaning e learning with face-to-face learning. Such kind of a concept is useful, particularly for students pursuing higher education. The beauty of blended learning is that it is instrumental in creating a Virtual Learning System (VLS), wherein all aspects of modules are handled using a consistent user interface that remains standard throughout an institution.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Undoubtedly, the perception about online education has changed from an alternative to serious study to an efficient and cost-effective instructor. A majority of the online educational institutions are well established and are experienced in providing students with in-depth learning in their respective modules. So much so that, some of the most reputed educational institutes in Europe and North America are offering courses to their students online.

However, before taking a plunge into the online pool, weigh its advantages and disadvantages well.

Flexibility of scheduling and convenience of learning are among the major advantages that online education offers. It however needs dedication and patience from the students to bless them with superb results. It is advisable that the students first patiently and persistently familiarize themselves with the online technology. You will have to be always on your toes to keep yourself updated with the online requirements, since there is no instructor to guide you in this respect. Be prepared to dedicate yourself completely to online education to be able to complete it on time.


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College students think they're so special

Study finds alarming rise in narcissism, self-centeredness in ‘Generation Me’

A new study of college students concludes they are more self-centered than any generation in history. But as kids on campus aren't buying it.

NEW YORK - Today’s college students are more narcissistic and self-centered than their predecessors, according to a comprehensive new study by five psychologists who worry that the trend could be harmful to personal relationships and American society.

“We need to stop endlessly repeating ‘You’re special’ and having children repeat that back,” said the study’s lead author, Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University. “Kids are self-centered enough already.”

Twenge and her colleagues, in findings to be presented at a workshop Tuesday in San Diego on the generation gap, examined the responses of 16,475 college students nationwide who completed an evaluation called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory between 1982 and 2006.

The standardized inventory, known as the NPI, asks for responses to such statements as “If I ruled the world, it would be a better place,” “I think I am a special person” and “I can live my life any way I want to.”

The researchers describe their study as the largest ever of its type and say students’ NPI scores have risen steadily since the current test was introduced in 1982. By 2006, they said, two-thirds of the students had above-average scores, 30 percent more than in 1982.

We're all above average!
Narcissism can have benefits, said study co-author W. Keith Campbell of the University of Georgia, suggesting it could be useful in meeting new people “or auditioning on ‘American Idol.”’

“Unfortunately, narcissism can also have very negative consequences for society, including the breakdown of close relationships with others,” he said.

The study asserts that narcissists “are more likely to have romantic relationships that are short-lived, at risk for infidelity, lack emotional warmth, and to exhibit game-playing, dishonesty, and over-controlling and violent behaviors.”

Twenge, the author of “Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — and More Miserable Than Ever Before,” said narcissists tend to lack empathy, react aggressively to criticism and favor self-promotion over helping others.

The researchers traced the phenomenon back to what they called the “self-esteem movement” that emerged in the 1980s, asserting that the effort to build self-confidence had gone too far.

‘I am special, I am special’
As an example, Twenge cited a song commonly sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques” in preschool: “I am special, I am special. Look at me.”

“Current technology fuels the increase in narcissism,” Twenge said. “By its very name, MySpace encourages attention-seeking, as does YouTube.”

Some analysts have commended today’s young people for increased commitment to volunteer work. But Twenge viewed even this phenomenon skeptically, noting that many high schools require community service and many youths feel pressure to list such endeavors on college applications.

Campbell said the narcissism upsurge seemed so pronounced that he was unsure if there were obvious remedies.

“Permissiveness seems to be a component,” he said. “A potential antidote would be more authoritative parenting. Less indulgence might be called for.”

The new report follows a study released by UCLA last month which found that nearly three-quarters of the freshmen it surveyed thought it was important to be “very well-off financially.” That compared with 62.5 percent who said the same in 1980 and 42 percent in 1966.

Yet students, while acknowledging some legitimacy to such findings, don’t necessarily accept negative generalizations about their generation.


Hanady Kader, a University of Washington senior, said she worked unpaid last summer helping resettle refugees and considers many of her peers to be civic-minded. But she is dismayed by the competitiveness of some students who seem prematurely focused on career status.

“We’re encouraged a lot to be individuals and go out there and do what you want, and nobody should stand in your way,” Kader said. “I can see goals and ambitions getting in the way of other things like relationships.”

Kari Dalane, a University of Vermont sophomore, says most of her contemporaries are politically active and not overly self-centered.

Enough about me, what do you think about me?
“People are worried about themselves — but in the sense of where are they’re going to find a place in the world,” she said. “People want to look their best, have a good time, but it doesn’t mean they’re not concerned about the rest of the world.”

Besides, some of the responses on the narcissism test might not be worrisome, Dalane said. “It would be more depressing if people answered, ‘No, I’m not special.”’


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Campus life faces a degree of change

If campus life was a new sitcom, it would come with a catchphrase - user pays.

Many students turning up for the start of the academic year this week, especially those at less wealthy universities, will notice a difference:
fewer clubs and societies, more expensive shops out sourced to private companies and new charges for legal, medical and psychological support.

Griffith University Institute for Higher Education director Kerri-Lee Krause says the changes - forced by laws outlawing mandatory services fees
could reinforce a shift that started over the past decade. Where once students saw university as a life experience, a rising number view it as a product they are buying.

"Students expect university will deliver rather than it actually being a lifestyle," she says."They see university as a service. Particularly international students say they want value for money."

Student demographics are changing: nearly a quarter are from overseas and pay hefty upfront fees for the right to study and in many cases later work - in Australia.

A survey earlier this decade found more than 70 per cent of full-time students work. Government figures show a declining number of students qualify for welfare and student debt albeit debt deferred until after study - is rising by $2 billion a year.

More students are choosing to study by distance, or do part of their degree online. The proportion of new students mixing external study with the classroom rose by 9 per cent last year.

Even student politicians no longer need to be on campus. Ben Davison, president of the Deakin University Student Association, missed Orientation Week last week due to his full-time job as a Labor Party electoral officer in Ballarat.Melbourne University higher education chair Richard James says students were increasingly mixing study and work.

"We know that the typical student these days is doing a lot of part-time
work (during semester). Traditional student work patterns of working in
vacation just arent available anymore," he says.

It means less leisure time on campus for barbecues, clubs and societies and student politics. The number of student union affiliated clubs at RMIT has dropped from about 150 to 38 since 2003.

Students no longer have to pay student union and services fees of up to
$500. Union membership is voluntary and cheaper between $130 and $265.

At Monash, food and drink is about 20 per cent more expensive for non-
members, parking 235 per cent more costly.

Monash associate dean of teaching Mark Peel says the change to the university experience is sometimes overstated, but if students were less
engaged it was at least partly because of the rise on campus of people from different backgrounds.

"There is a much greater proportion of people coming to university now who are the first in their families to come to university," he said.

"Those students often take university very seriously its not just about the
money and the time youre investing people are thinking if they are going
to succeed in the world you need a professional qualification."


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