The increasing popularity of distance degrees has resulted in the creation of many new words. Both learners and educators have coined new terms to communicate new concepts and ideas that are completely unique to online degree programs. How well can you speak the distance learning lingo?

Are you familiar with audiographics? This is an audio technology that utilizes phone lines to relay information contained in graphs and charts. Of course, you’ll need a line that can deliver information at a high enough rate of bauds per second to do this. (The standard dial-up modem offers about 56,000 bauds per second.)

Compressed video can also be sent over a phone line; unnecessary information is removed so that the information is transmitted more quickly. Don’t be surprised, though, if you experience lag while watching. (Lag is the time delay that often occurs when these images are being transmitted, making it look as though people in the video are stuttering or taking long pauses between words.)

Even if your online degree program doesn’t involve computer science or networking, you probably are familiar with the Internet and your modem, but you may not be aware that many modern machines operate through mechatronics. (This is the use of software and computer hardware to control a machine’s mechanical functions.)

Other terms you may encounter while working to earn a degree online include twinning, parallel-time coop, or audioconferencing. Does your online degree university use other terms to explain concepts used in its distance education degree program? Share them with our readers today!

Imagine a 12% return on your investment. In today’s struggling economy, that kind of return is something like financial wizardry. Distance learning degree programs, however, are continuing to experience that kind of phenomenal market growth.

The latest distance learning degree program surveys, conducted by the Sloan Consortium, however, concluded that enrollment in online degree courses throughout the country had in fact increased by 12 percent during the last year. As a result, more than 4 million people nationwide are enrolled in distance learning classes.

Increasing fuel costs, job losses and economic uncertainties have contributed to these rising figures, according to the survey. As more people struggle to replace lost jobs during this recession, they turn to online degree universities to find distance education degree programs to help them gain an educational edge over their competitors.

In addition, many people find themselves working harder, or working more than one job, in order to meet the financial demands of their family members. Graduating from a traditional college degree program is almost impossible for these people, who turn to distance degree programs to help them achieve these objectives. And in the end, those who are motivated and dedicated do find what they are looking for - undergraduate and graduate degree programs that provide family and job security.

Online degree programs sound attractive, convenient, and exciting. But how do you know whether you can make the grade? What kind of student does it take to succeed in distance learning degree programs?

Are you a stay at home mom? Do you have plenty of free time while the children are in preschool or taking their naps? If you’d like to advance your career with an online university degree program, you’re probably an ideal student. Of course, you have to stay motivated to succeed.

Military spouses often make excellent distance degree students. Furthermore, the challenges of moving from place to place with each new tour of duty can make traditional college degree programs difficult, which might give you even more motivation and determination to excel at an online degree university.

Do you have a choice? If you have no transportation, or cannot afford the additional costs of travel and childcare, you may find that distance education degree programs offer you your best chance to earn a college degree. If you don’t see any other alternatives, make the decision to make this option work for you.

If you’re a busy professiona with too little extra time for commuting to class, consider distance learning. But remember: even online degree programs require time and energy. If you don’t set aside some time to learn, you aren’t going to get your degree!

During the last 50 years, we’ve seen amazing advances in computer technology. From mainframe computers that filled an entire room to portable laptops and notebooks that are the staple of many university classrooms. Portable information storage has gone from punch cards to large floppy disks to tiny flash drivers, but now it appears that technology professionals are taking another quantum leap in computer networking.

Students enrolled in both traditional college degree programs and online degree universities are facing another learning curve as well. A relatively new concept, called cloud computing, has been making its way toward the forefront of university degree programs. Technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, and a few others have been developing new strategies for cooperative learning and online storage information.

“Cloud” is jargon often used by computer network specialists to refer to the Internet, or cyberspace. The phrase ‘cloud computing’ was coined to describe online storage databanks that can hold files or documents. People can log in from their own personal computers and access data without worrying about hard drive crashes, viruses, or lost storage devices.

Through this new technology, students at university degree programs across the country could log in to school at home or at work and edit homework assignments. Virtual conference rooms allow professors could simultaneously log in and view a student’s progress or make suggestions in real time. The potential applications for distance degree students are almost limitless.

How much do you understand about cloud computing? What effect do you think this technology will have on distance learning degree programs and traditional campus-based classrooms? Share your thoughts about the latest advances in informational and educational technology.

Scholarship deadlines are fast approaching throughout the country. Many scholarships require several references, an essay, or a transcript. It’s time to start searching through the scholarship databases and see what funds might be available to help you offset the cost of your university degee program.

Many students don’t realize that many scholarship foundations now allow their free scholarships for college to be used for distance learning degree programs as well as traditional college degree programs. This is in part due to the increased credibility of online degree education. Even though these scholarships grants can be used for online degree universities, many students are not aware of this.

If you have never searched online for university scholarships, here are a few tips to help. First, never pay to search a scholarship database. This is a scam. Most scholarship sites, such as www.fastweb.com, allow students to search for free. Additionally, you should never have to pay a fee to apply for a scholarship.

Try searching for scholarships based on unique skills or characteristics that you have. For example, if you are interested in getting a degree in education, search for teaching scholarships. Also, don’t be afraid to search for scholarships based on your name, age, religion, or hobbies. Who knows what you will find - but you had better start looking now, before you miss the deadline for a scholarship that is out there waiting just for you!

Have you wondered how distance degrees really stack up in real life? Does anyone actually take distance learning seriously? Can anyone really earn a college degree at home and find a worthwhile job?

You may be surprised to know that distance learning is not only accepted by most colleges and universities, but it is rapidly gaining popularity among even the most elite American universities. Ivy League schools such as Cornell, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, Columbia University now offers more than 60 online degree courses.

More and more majors are being offered online as well. Once, only general programs, such as Bachelor of Arts Degrees, were available through online university degree programs. Today, students can earn a degree online in computer science, management, health careers, or education.

Distance learning degree programs are here to stay, and colleges all over the country are taking note. More than 5 million people are currently enrolled in online degree universities throughout the United States. As transportation costs continue to rise, and the uncertain economy makes a good education more necessary than ever, we can only expect to see this trend continue to increase.

If you’re thinking about going back to school to finish a degree, or pursue continuing education, you may already have a full-time job, and possibly even a family. Traditional college degree programs can make it very difficult to finish a university degree program while balancing all of these responsibilities, and distance learning degree programs often look very attractive to adult learners.

People who know how to use good time management skills and are highly motivated or determined generally have a positive experience with distance learning. For those persons whose lives are already very busy, or who have difficulty prioritizing needs, online degree programs can be an almost insurmountable challenge. If you aren’t able to find and use the time to study and complete class projects, you will probably not be successful in completing your college degree program.

The good news, though, is that there is hope. Study and time management skills can be learned, so you don’t have to completely rule out an online university degree program. Learning these skills before enrolling in a degree program, however, is very helpful.

Many local community colleges and adult education programs offer classes on study skills and time management. Check out these resources, or look for some study materials online. The key is to develop the skills before you enroll, however. This may take practice, but it will be well worth the effort!

It may seem like comparing the Montessori Method with distance education degrees is comparing apples to oranges. In reality, though, there are more similarities than you might think. For example, both stress student autonomy and involvement in learning.

The Montessori Method primarily focuses on preschool and early elementary education, although some high schools also use this approach. While it is not really a method used by most online college degree programs, most professors who teach through online degree universities act as facilitators in much the same way that Montessori teachers do. 

Likewise, both approaches encourage a hands-on, practical approach to learning. Both Montessori teachers and online university degree instructors encourage students to be actively involved in their own learning. Finally, both types of education have demonstrated great success with their graduates. While this speaks well of both methods, it also underscores the importance of diversity in educational methods. After all, we don’t all look or talk the same; why would we learn the same?

Likewise, both educational systems focus on peer interaction and support. While Montessori schools encourage children to learn to interact cooperatively in the classroom and on the playground, most distalnce learning degree programs also focus on encouraging students to interact and learn together. In fact, peer support is a primary component of online degree education.

If you have taken classes for a job, for military advancement, or for another purpose, you may be eligible to receive credit for experience. This is sometimes known as life experience or work experience. If you’ve ever wondered whether your life experiences could offer you credit toward a college degree, perhaps it’s time to find out.

Let’s face it, whether you are planning to attend a traditional college degree program, or attend an online university degree program, college tuition is expensive. No one wants to take unnecessary courses or spend more money than is necessary to earn a college degree. Credit for life or work experience is a valid way to meet requirements for some basic or core courses.

Sometimes, universities allow students to test out of basic or intermediate level classes. For example, if you are fluent in more than one language, you may be about to test out of a foreign language. This can be particularly helpful in fulfilling humanities or language requirements for most university degree programs.

Another option is available for students who took advanced placement courses in math, science, or English at the high school level. Sometimes colleges allow students to test out of core classes, often saving the expense of 12 or more credit hours. These tests are referred to variably as CLEP tests or placement tests.

If you have taken course work for another purpose without being enrolled in a traditional or distance learning university, contact an evaluator to determine whether you are able to receive credit for this work. You may find that you are much closer to a Bachelor Degree in a related field than you could have imagined! Wouldn’t it be great to complete your degree in half the time that it otherwise would require?

If you’ve decided to go back to school and earn a college degree at home, you may experience a brief culture shock at first. Students who get a degree online often find studying and exams more convenient, but there are challenges unique to distance learning degree programs as well. If you have decided to finish your college degree program through an online university, you should be aware of the unique challenges you may face.

You may often find that deadlines are more flexible than in traditional degree programs. However, you have little recourse if you miss a fixed deadline, such as an online submission or post. Although you can argue that your internet service was down (which can and does occasionally happen), you aren’t going to be able to get away with this excuse very often. So, although the program is flexible, you are expected to take responsibility for your own education.

Furthermore, you are expected to be able to use a computer and email, as well as to take responsibility for learning any other computer applications used by the online degree courses you have chosen. While this may sometimes mean a large learning curve, you must be motivated and determined enough to meet this small challenge, or distance education degree programs aren’t right for you.

Some students also argue that nontraditional education offered by online degree university programs doesn’t offer the “full college experience.” While you can’t play college sports, pledge to a sorority, or go to a homecoming dance, distance learning certainly offers a full range of educational opportunities. Only you can decide which is more important for you; education or socialization.