...Challenges of Graduate Studies & Strategies for Success Challenges of Graduate Studies & Strategies for Success The modern job market makes advanced education necessary, but graduate studies are never an easy task. Distance learning, while it does add a layer of convenience, can also cause additional issues for some graduate students. A study performed by the Babson Research Group found that over seven million higher education students opted for online learning options in 2013 (Blair, 2014). However, as Reiss points out, “It’s one thing to start your online degree, but it’s another to finish it (2014)”. If distance learning graduate students are to succeed and overcome the challenges of graduate studies, they must devise an effective strategy for meeting these potential issues. Potential Issues Many of today’s online graduate students are faced with various educational and external challenges that can hinder successful completion of their studies. These issues could, and at ties do, lead to lower grades and lack of drive. Balancing multiple obligations, struggles with adapting to the online learning processes and environment, and internal battles are just a few of the issues that online graduate students are likely to face. The Juggling Act Balancing obligations can be a challenge for online graduate learning. Modern students must juggle the responsibilities to family and home, work, friends, and self in addition to school work. Quite obviously, this...
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...Online versus Traditional Education COM/170 March 10, 2014 Teresa Purcell Online versus Traditional Education Most people believe that online education is easy. People believe that students are just sitting in front of the computer; they can switch tabs and enjoy social media, listen to music and speak on the phone while attending their class online. Reality is that online education requires time management, discipline, and the same responsibilities that a traditional education does. Online college and traditional classes require that students have excellent time management. Traditional classes allow students to have the freedom of managing their time differently compared to online students. Online schools have more structured time lines as to when participation must be completed. Online schools and traditional schools measure and grade their students participation and commitment. In traditional classrooms students voluntarily participate in class discussions, students are required to participate for a minimum of three times per class period. Traditional students attend class one day a week and manage their time differently compared to online students. Online students also have a minimum requirement of participation per week, and they are required to attend online forum classes for a minimum of three times a week. Online students are required to participate on discussion boards with other students, with a minimum posting participation of eight times a week. Therefore...
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...Usually, learning is the basis in relation of students and teachers in a classroom. However, with the emergence of online education, virtual classrooms are replacing the long-established classroom setting. Although online learning has many advantages for some students, it can also lead to some difficult challenges. In order for online education to be successful, it is crucial that those challenges are identified and efficiently dealt with. Organizational skills, time management, and effective communication are key elements for a successful online education. Having organizational skills is one of the important keys for online education success. I will use the organizational skills I have learned in my professional career to arrange my work into time intervals that will allow me to complete certain parts that need to be completed at a given time. By using the strategy, the amount of time that I usually waste will decrease. Organizational skills are not limited to time and work; it extends beyond materials and workspace. Working with my newfound organizational skills will also make my work and everyday routine more precise and deliberate; I will be a lot more conscious and sure of what I will be doing later. By having, a schedule I will be more prepared and lessen the tension, and in turn, my daily function will be more efficient. Another key for online education success is effective time management. No matter how one approaches time management, there will always be some...
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...On-Line Distance Learning and Its Impact on the Post-Secondary Education System On-Line Distance Learning and Its Impact on the Post-Secondary Education System The $2.6-billion online education market provides an alternative to the campus classroom to meet the educational needs of a growing population of students. With the influx of newly developed online education programs from inside and outside the industry, the market flood has left many institutions scrambling to jump aboard in fear of being left behind. The institutions that will succeed must develop sufficient marketing strategies to differentiate through brand naming and market niches. Proper research and development with careful consideration to the network infrastructure and cost feasibility of programs is necessary. While the opportunities and potential payoffs of online education are endless, they may come at a heavy price for some unprepared institutions venturing into the market if they do not meet the challenges of cost feasibility, technology, market retention, and quality control. Distance-learning programs should be used to compliment and enhance the educational experience rather than damage it or lessen its credibility and benefits. The Internet age has significantly reshaped the higher education industry technological advancements in the distance-learning methodology. Increasing competition in programs throughout colleges and universities and a booming demand from...
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...http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/03/01/the-education-technology-revolution-is-coming The Education-Technology Revolution Is Coming Institutions of learning must learn to incorporate technology or risk being left behind By SIG BEHRENS March 1, 2013 RSS Feed Print Sig Behrens is a president of Blackboard, Inc. Higher education is the next bubble. Facebook will replace classroom instruction. Textbooks will go away, and some colleges will, too. In other words, everything is going to change. Or, at least, that's the talk we in education and technology regularly hear these days. It sounds exciting—and, to some, scary. But it also sounds like what I heard during the dot-com boom of the 1990s when a lot of companies—including Blackboard—began using technology to "disrupt" the education status quo. Since then we've made some important progress, but in many ways the classroom still looks the same as it did 100 years ago. So what's different this time? Is all the talk just hype? Or are we really starting to see the beginnings of major change? [Read the U.S. News Debate: Are Teachers Overpaid?] I believe we are. There are a lot of reasons but one of the biggest is the way that technology has given rise to a new kind of education consumer—the active learner—who is using technology to drive change in ways that we haven't seen before. In the past, change was usually a top-down process, led by campus administrators, district leaders, and other officials. It was often...
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...The Distance Education Learning Online Distance education and learning is an education that depends on information technology, and instructional system that plan to provide learning to students, who are not present in a classroom setting. Instead of attending courses online, teachers and students can communicate at the same time, when it is convenience to exchange printed or electronic material through any suitable source. Taking classes online can be challenge for some students. Most students probably rather take classes on ground, because of fear they might be doing something wrong trying manage online courses. I’m an online student myself, taking classes at Penn Foster College. I did not know what I was doing, when I first start taking classes at Penn foster. I wonder if I was doing things like they supposed to be done. I did not know if I was doing it right way or wrong way. But now I’m glad to be taking classes online, because it more convenience for me and my job. Online education can be recognized as a tangible and learning experience though which students can earn a bachelor, master or doctoral degree. Virtual classroom used the internet to have mutual experience, where one can have video conferences, video lessons, and other learning concepts. The type of education learning is considered nontraditional education. Distance education is offered at all level s, but it is most an option for university level students. Full and part-time students is also available to study...
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...that I chose was to become more familiar with online learning. My reason for choosing this goal is because it will make it easier for me to learn new healthcare information and make career advances without having to go into the classroom. Since healthcare is changing everyday, it is not always fesible to get time off of work to learn new information. According to article entitled Benefits, Barriers, and Intentions/Desires of Nurses Related to Distance Learning in Rural Island Communities, “The key benefit of the use of distance learning and new information technologies in practice and education is to provide a "flexible quality education" that allows nurses to continue to work, raise families, and live in their home communities” (Charles & Mamary, 2002 ; Hall & Fabayo, 2006 ; Kooker, Itano, & Okimoto, 2000 ). Although online learning is made to be flexible, sometimes some of the benefits can also prove to be challenges. Having a family can sometimes make it very difficult to find time to do your school work. To help with this challenge, once my schedule is received for the week I should make a schedule with reasonable times set aside to study and complete assignments while also setting aside time for family matters all while trying my best to stick to my schedule keeping in mind that sometimes with having a family unexpected things arise which could alter my schedule. Secondly working while in school can be a challenge. Sometimes unexpected overtime comes up which...
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...The impact of institutional mergers on information systems and blended learning provision in South African higher education Andrew Paterson Human Resources Development Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council Private Bag X41 Pretoria 0001 South Africa Email: anmpaterson@hsrc.ac.za The period within which higher education mergers have taken place on a large scale internationally overlaps with a phase characterized by extremely rapid take-up of information technologies in higher education. This article analyses the implications of institutional mergers for information systems development in the South African higher education system. The analysis is undertaken with particular reference to the new institutional shape as envisaged in the higher education merger plan, and with reference to the characteristics of current higher education information systems. This article will draw attention to the key decisions that can influence the outcome of information systems integration in higher education mergers. Particular emphasis is given to the challenges of planning, and implementing online blended and collaborative curriculum modalities in the context of institutional mergers. Keywords: Information systems, distance learning, online learning, merger, higher education, knowledge management 1 INTRODUCTION Higher education mergers have been undertaken with the view to achieve a variety of goals in a wide range of national systems, including South Africa (Jansen et...
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...O Top of Form Doing away with the traditional classroom experience in exchange for online classes is a mistake that educators and institutions should not allow. A large amount of online institutions target the uneducated and easily manipulated into believing that a “quality” education is obtainable right from home, in their pajamas. Many of the people wanting to get an online education are poor students to begin with. They are either new graduate from high school or have not been in an educational setting in years. From my experiences, working for a company whose product was online education; these companies do nothing more than profit from the desperate, and those who want nothing more than to improve their overall quality of life. Even if one does graduate, businesses usually do not consider an online education to hold the same weight as a traditional one. The majority of those with online educations are not working in the field they went to school for or at all. Let us not forget about all the debt the government is sitting on because of this new trend. The majority of students attending online classes either paid for it themselves or received government assistance; also known as loans. While the online method of education can be a highly effective alternative to traditional schooling. It is a form of education typically for the mature and self-disciplined student; it is a badly chosen learning environment for students who are poor learners to...
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...both positive and negative impacts on education. As the information available on the web expands, the number of industries that it will impact will also increase. Traditional brick and mortar school buildings as we know them today will gradually become a thing of the past as society transcends into the age of convenience. In the presented assignment I will be analyzing “Will the Web Kill Colleges?” This assignment will describe the key points of the author’s argument, analyze the aspects of the author’s argument that I agree with, analyze the gaps or challenges that I see in the author’s argument, implications for education, and potential ethical questions raised by the author’s vision of the future. The development of the web has dramatically changed the way society acquires and publishes information. This has had both positive and negative impacts on education. As the information available on the web expands, the number of industries that it will impact will also increase. Traditional brick and mortar school buildings as we know them today will gradually become a thing of the past as society transcends into the age of convenience. In the present assignment I will be analyzing “Will the Web Kill Colleges?” This assignment will describe the key points of the author’s argument, analyze the aspects of the author’s argument that I agree with, analyze the gaps or challenges that I see in the author’s argument, implications for education, and potential ethical questions raised...
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...INTRODUCTION In pursuit of advanced discoveries, mastery in academy and continued education, many scholars have resorted to online education, sometimes referred to as eLearning or digital education. This is nothing but a superlative mode of the long existing distance education, undertaken using technological apparatus such as computers, telephones, etc… Like any other systems of education already in existence, the eLearning has its pros and cons. In the following article, the author intends to highlight the benefits and the challenges of eLearning and later explain how this educational system affects leadership on a global level. BENFITS OF GLOBAL ELEARNING Cost effectiveness – Students do not need to travel to and from class. This cuts on costs There is no need to pay the traditional administrative fees No need to pay accommodation fees or food allowance Flexibility – Students plan when to study, there is no need to travel in a rush to the classroom Choice/Option – whereas students from the traditional classroom may not be allowed to take options, online programs are tailored to suit the students‘ objectives. As in the case of University of Liverpool, a student undertaking a Master’s in Business Management has 8 compulsory modules and 4 elective modules selected to suit his future prospects Asynchronous Collaborative Interaction – Collaboration with each one of the class members and the instructor is done one at his/her own free time...
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...Due to the emerging technological era, the propensity to cheat in an academic environment is becoming increasingly enticing for students and problematic for their instructors. As technologically savvy students become more creative in committing acts of academic dishonesty, their instructors must become increasingly competent in their endeavors to deter cheating. With the convenience of computers and online data, unfortunately, an unwelcome new challenge emerges: preventing the misuse of these technological advances in academic environments. Cheating is widespread from high schoolers to college students. Not only do academic and professional teams recognize the widespread problem of cheating, but “students themselves are acknowledging the problem as well” (Campbell, p.35). According to the San Diego Union-Tribune (2001), nearly a quarter of students believe that everyone at his or her high school cheats. Before the Internet, research was a laborious task, requiring trips to the library, searches within the card catalog and extensive handwritten note taking. In contrast, today the same information is readily available through the Internet, thus creating a convenient environment in which to engage in academic dishonesty. In this emerging technological age, many students fall prey and use the extensive amount of technology for negative reasons. Szabo and Underwood (2004) engaged 291 students in a survey of 12 questions on the use and misuse of the Internet. The survey...
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...Future models of higher education Analysing innovative models for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka An Economist Intelligence Unit report produced for the British Council January 2015 Commissioned by and in co-operation with www.eiu.com Trisha Suresh - British Council report New University models Cover.indd 1 1/5/2015 4:21:54 PM Trisha Suresh - British Council report New University models Cover.indd 2 1/5/2015 4:21:54 PM The changing university: In numbers 4.03 3.54 12.15 2.47 5.45 14.2 1.41 17.40 3.58 4.19 9.18 0.91 21.78 6.83 0.69 2010 27.81 25.01 16.07 11.49 2020 36.75 11.93 11.77 2030 39.70 11.65 Sub Saharan Africa South and West Asia Source: "Higher Education in 2035: The ongoing massification", by Angel Calderon, RMIT University North America and Western Europe Central and Eastern Europe East Asia and the Pacific Central Asia Latin America and the Caribbean Arab States Tertiary enrolment: Past and future Global enrolment in tertiary education has increased dramatically in the last few decades. In 2000, there were 99.4m students enrolled in higher education institutions. In 2030, research expects this number to rise to 414.2m. South Asia's proportion of global enrolment has been rapid: the region constituted only 12.15% of global enrolment in 2000, but this is expected to grow to over 20% in 2030. Growing economies and youthful population are driving continued growth in the region's appetite for higher education. Current demand outstripping...
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...detector of how the candidate will perform as a leader (Clifford, 2012). This qualitative study will compare and contrast the hiring practices of elementary school districts. This study aims to identify common strengths effective school administrators possess as well as current tools and strategies used by effective hiring committees. This study will focus on the hiring process of elementary principals within school districts located in central California. The data, tools and strategies gathered in this study will provide educational leaders with an easy follow format to create their own hiring process. Quantitative problem statement Online education offers students an anytime and anywhere method of receiving an advanced education. Online education provides convenience and flexibility for students (Li, & Irby, 2008). Online students have the ability to continue with their everyday...
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...Running Head: GRADUATE STUDY CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES 1 Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies Introduction to Graduate Study in Criminal Justice & Security AJA 501 University of Phoenix September 22, 2014 GRADUATE STUDY CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES 2 There are many benefits of going back to school. As for me, the challenge of returning to school brings me the delight of learning and the experience of something new every day. My years in the workforce have prepared me for dealing with different situations and many different types of people. Going back to school affords me personal growth. I have found out that many people lose sight of who they are after so many years on the job, and also lose sight while trying to balance family life. Going back to school is a chance for me to reconnect with myself. In addition, deciding to pursue my graduate studies is a necessary step to greater pay and career advancement. I don't want to be underemployed or stuck in a job below my skill set. Another reason I am pursuing my graduate studies is in hopes of obtaining a fulfilling position in criminal justice that will also help me meet my financial and family obligations. Enrolling is my prime opportunity to explore, find new passions and...
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