Quality is what Distance Learning Universities Speak About

Believe it or not, what online universities are aiming in today’s world is not to earn loads of money but ensure supreme quality with the intention to make students and working professionals enhance their knowledge, skills and intellect. Of course, money speaks everywhere, whether it comes to enrolling in a university or using its study materials. But don’t you think that receiving quality education right from home and that too without spending lump sums, like one does to enrol in a full-time programme, is the most valuable gift you can ever get?

Well, distance learning universities are making use of super effective measures that are consequently giving rise to world class education. So, let’s take a look at some strategies adopted by today’s distance learning universities to sustain quality academic standards. Take a look:

Concept of Webinar (Image: infiniteconferencing.com)

Live Webinars to ensure success – The majority of online distance learning providers are hosting live webinars for distance learners with the intention to engage them into learning new strategies for success. Webinars can either be conducted before a programme or can be initiated throughout an entire programme to help students enhance their attentiveness by providing them relevant information on campus resources and policies.

Social Media – Online university instructors ask students them to create their personal profiles in social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, as well as in video optimisation sites like YouTube. Here the distance learners come to know everything about all those events going on in their respective campuses. Through the social media sites, students are also informed of various opportunities that can let them build successful careers.

Image: tutorpace.com

Supportive calls and emails – Distance learning university advisers are now making use of telephonic advising sessions, motivational messages and email templates with useful information to interact with students learning online. The intention here is to polish their communication skills.

Orientation – The distance learning universities by designing an orientation for students gives them a list of contacts and resources before they kick off with their respective courses. The instructors clearly address their expectations to the students and familiarize them to the virtual world at the same time.
Resource portal – A portal must be created by every online university so that it becomes easier for students to access latest information regarding their courses. This will help them keep updated and sustain pace with their course lessons.

Learning communities – Creating learning communities is one of the most effective initiatives of today’s distance learning providers. By integrating learning communities into active Learning Management Systems or social engagement networks, students will undergo quality and innovative learning experiences.

So, you see that the distance learning from online universities today are accentuating on quality and not quantity. Therefore, if you are in a dilemma whether enrolling online in a distance learning course would be fruitful for career growth, take your answer as ‘yes’ and proceed to fulfil your career goals online.

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Pros and Cons of Google Play for Education

Google Play for Education will be launched in the fall of 2013 and aims at simplifying the content searches for students. It allows the users to search content by its group, grade level and many other criterions. Here, users can also recommend contents to other educators and can see their recommendations as well. The contents are already approved by the educators and therefore are ready to be used in the classrooms. Until now, iPad was dominating this arena but with the advent of this app, let us see how it can subjugate Apple in the long run.

Image Source: Google

With so much of advancement in the field of education, online learning has also taken a concrete position in the education system recently. There has been the dawn of a large number of courses which one can earn through his/her laptop/desktop/iPad, being at home. Gone are the days when education was all about visiting schools and colleges at a regular basis. Nowadays, with the advent of e-learning, things have become a lot easier.

There are now a number of reputed online institutions who tend to educate the various learners all around the globe and give them the most exclusive of information regarding their subjects. One such Globally reputed online course provider can be found here.

Let us now see a few merits and demerits of Google Play for Education:


Pros

Image Courtesy: goo.gl/ewgjc

• Easy content Sharing: One of the foremost aims of this app is to make the content sharing easy among the students and educators. The sharing is also very simple. The educator only needs to ‘push’ the content to a group whom he/she wants to teach.

• Introduction of Android to the Classrooms: It is an innovative technology which brings about the fast and easy android system in the classroom. Now, the teachers can effortlessly set up and arrange a large number of devices in just a few minutes.

• Cost Effective: Google apps are generally cheaper than the iPad apps. Therefore, many educational institutions are already using them.


Cons

• Cost of the Device: Google apps will be of no use if there is no device to play them. All the students, if, are expected to have Google Play for Education installed in their devices, they should have the mobile phones with them which means that they will have to buy such phone which will support android apps. This is a costly issue indeed.

Image Courtesy: goo.gl/3ViHP

• Battery Life of the Device: Suppose the teacher is explaining an important topic to the class and suddenly a few of the learners get the “low battery” alarm in their devices. At that point of time, what will be their job? To charge the device or to listen to their teacher? This is actually a distraction while learning.

• Not all Learners will be benefited: An android mobile phone and the Google app installed in it can only be available in the technologically advanced schools and colleges. Therefore, as not all the educational institutions are that sophisticated, Google Play for Education will not be able to serve all the learners as a whole.

Role of Information Technology in finding Boston Bombing Suspects

Information Technology (IT) is a staple for big screen movies, soaps and serials; having its impact in real life too. Every aspect of human life is influenced by IT given the fast paced life we are leading. Today, the essence of IT replicated as computer and telecommunication equipment is implied in every field to make life easier. While IT has become in-depth, so has life become more complicated. Evident from what we read in papers or see in news channels; the horrendous act of terrorism has the most intimidating effect with more abominable reality of terrorists supposing that they won’t be caught, after all. Not that there are misses in the rarest of rare cases, but Science has advanced to a paramount level where Information Technology is playing crucial role in catching those culprits. 

Image released by FBI on Boston suspect case

The Boston Bombing- What went wrong? 

Terror struck in Boston on the April 15th, where two alleged suspects Tamerian and Dzokhar Tsarnaev were incorporated in the database. Despite the Database having a host of their photos, at the nick hour the system actually failed to come up with a proper match. Unfortunately, one of the brothers was ultimately identified through other means. 

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s first driver’s licence photo was captured when he was just 16. Over the last three years, his facial structure had taken a sea change when he grew. When he became a suspect the earlier photos became less than ideal for matching with his then driver’s licence photo. Besides, all his photos were forward-looking that made identification later all the more complicated. To make matter worse, his driver’s licence photo was a little older and couldn’t possibly get matched with the blurry surveillance image. Sadly, the cameras that took photos of them at the spot failed to get clean shot. 

Though unfortunate, the Boston Bombing case is a rare case of miss. Today, facial recognition has revolutionised the world of investigation wherein the US government is making big investment for facial recognition technology. Let’s have a look at how FBI or other investigation agencies are using services of Security Intelligence Bureau to assist in investigation methods with security software like facial recognition and others. 

Technology that Speaks of a Visionary Future 

The United States is the most advanced country to have invested staggering dollars in security software. With acts of terrorism scaring its people, the Department of Homeland Security is making ample investment as millions of dollars grants to local governments and states. The idea is about retrieving pictures from driver’s licence of identification areas and creating a library of residents. The Port Authority in New York is also installing the so called, ‘defence grade’ computer driven surveillance system at the site of World Trade Centre so as to catch potential terrorists through hundreds of digital eyes. 

For those who know how about this technology should be aware of the importance of Information Technology in connection to using this software for identifying terrorists. The face detection and also enhancement technology recognises patterns in images for matching the same with algorithms in faces. The software then tries to spot certain facial features as reference points so as to extract a ‘faceprint’. Now, this faceprint, which is feature-based, is used as subject for narrowing searches that can eventually trace gender and age of the alleged. 

Thus, explanation of the above signifies how IT, precisely use of computer and its intricate features combined with information technology based software help in tracking these people and thus curbing the trepidation of terrorism. Undeniably, Information Technology has revolutionised the investigation world and has immensely help the US government and other countries as well in their endeavour.

So, is Information Technology the next big thing?

It would be wrong to say that IT is the next big thing, as it is already. Today, the most complicated world of Intelligence Bureau, FBI and investigation agencies are involving phenomenal endowments of IT for saving the world. A most noble thought in it, many people find it fascinating to be part of this world. But to be so, one has to be a student of IT and learn its nuances to master its complicated skills and expertise. In that case, pursuing IT courses from recognised University will consolidate your career and cement your position in this world. The courses entail key focus on areas that will help you enhance knowledge and upgrade your IT skills.

Wield the power of Information Technology and give your nation relief from terror. 

Cloud Computing an Essential Part of IT assures Promising Job Prospects

The IT Industry is ever expanding and to keep pace with its growing demand, CIT or Cork Institute of Technology launched undergraduate and Masters Degree programmes in Cloud Computing in the year 2011. The move is undertaken to address the rising gap in the IT market. John Dolan, the vice president of Global Technical Support of VMware believes that the collaboration between CIT and cloud computing firm is highly superb for being consistent in its last eight years for contributing significantly to the world of Information Technology.

English: Interactions in Cloud Computing environments (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Instances of Significant Contributions in IT

As offered by CIT, the Higher Diploma in Cloud Computing has impacted VMware Inc. most positively. The outcome is a number of high quality students who are trained in required skills so as to meet a range of business needs. VMware boasts of 700 employees at its Cork base appreciated for their speed of execution, leadership and flexibility; thanks to their expertise and knowledge gained through cloud computing programmes as offered by CIT. Undoubtedly, Cloud Computing is an acknowledging IT programme, which is certainly opening many IT job prospects.

CIT opening a Pipeline of IT Job Prospects

Tim Horgan, Head of Online Delivery with CIT opines that CIT is the main supplier of IT graduates that offer a pipeline of skilled students who are significantly contributing to VMware for assisting in expansion of its operations in Ballincolig.

According to Bob Savage, the managing director and vice president of EMC opines that new graduates in cloud computing are etching impressive milestones towards development of an innovation society. It is believed that cloud is offering benefits of control, efficiency, agility and choice to the IT world. Besides, IT professionals have scopes of adding hugely to the growing demand of next-generation applications as built on Cloud Architecture.

Strong Initiatives by the Government and Education System

Government, education system and industry need to take coherent approach towards adequate supply of talented ICT (Information and Communications Technology) graduates for growth, expansion and support in key emerging sectors within the society. Thus, it is evident that graduates of Cloud Computing are aware of significant workforce skills and experiences for successful contribution in the IT industry and bringing expansive developments to it.

Undeniably, cloud computing is an essential part of Information Technology, which has immense job prospects as stated above.

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Online Education & its Effectiveness Depends a lot on Quality & Affordability

People are now talking about pursuing higher education by using a wide range of modernised technologies. The phase of using blackboards and subject-based text books is gradually getting omitted because students and working professionals now love creating groups and collaborate with one another to complete their respective assignments with ease and perfection.

Students using iPads in Classroom in Utah (Image: 24saltlake.com)

Evolution of technology in education

In the past few years, plenty of new age learners have immensely benefited in updating themselves by utilising resources online. Well, initially it was simple emailing that gave rise to rich communication among people. Today, there are several social media sites through which different people from different communities collaborate with each other and create discussions on various subjects. In fact, this concept has proved extremely useful for numerous institutions for collaborating with their students, facilitators and alumni associations.

Contributions towards technology are widening

Well, pedagogy has emerged to be a major challenge in many schools and colleges all over the world. In fact, it’s a big reason why institutions are now adopting new learning approaches instead of providing monotonous recorded lectures to their candidates.

Plenty of schools and colleges are now investing more towards getting electronic whiteboards and replacing them with blackboards. Several institutions are now making it a point to include DVDs and CDs alongside their course materials to let students acquire a thorough understanding of their respective lessons.

When people earlier started relying on postal mail services, the need for speeding them up popped up that consequently gave rise to advanced technologies. The concept of emailing was thereafter initiated through which people could communicate with ease from several corners around the world. Similarly, what matters most in the world of education now is the introduction of new and effective technologies that can let individuals study with absolute pleasure and hence discard monotonousness.

3 key areas to focus for an online learner

Well, to get the pedagogy right, there are three key areas that can prove extremely beneficial for students learning online – Affordability, Access and Quality:

• Affordability – In a traditional institution, the incremental expenses incurred behind each and every student are much more than those spent on online learners. Although an institution offering online courses is required to coordinate with each and every student and grade individual performances, they are not required to pay extras for chairs and tables. Likewise, they do not require online students to pay lump sum course fees.
  
  
• Access – Utilising the internet, learners from diverse corners of the world can now interact with their online instructors and fellow classmates to discuss on various subjects and sort out queries related to those subjects. As per reports, Western Universities presently have millions of enrolled learners for their Open Online courses.
  
  
• Quality – If the pedagogy is right, the correct use of technology is bound to make one’s learning experiences better and stronger. In fact, interacting with highly qualified teachers, concentrating on collaboration and following consistent curriculums are the best ways to let students undergo quality experiences.
  
  

Remember,

A small investment in yourself can go a long way to making a difference for your future.

In fact, you will have to pay 30 to 60% less than a full-time campus programme. So, will you not gain as an online learner? Think about it!!

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What happened to Telegraph will happen to iPhone one day

Society is constantly changing and the way it was even 5 years back, is now history. We, as children, were happy with our geometry box, a few Barbie dolls and one or two cartoon series on television. However, look at our kids now. They have fascination towards iPhones, PSPs, iPads and what not. God! Did we even know what things are these when we were of their age?

Image: goo.gl/1FnID

From our dresses to our accessories, there is a change in every single thing. The other day I visited London for some work and the hotel where I was staying had a Jacuzzi bathroom. At first, I didn’t know what it is all about, but when the time came for me to take a nice and warm bath, I was surprised. Can a simple bathtub be that stylish and luxurious? I remember when I was a kid, I used to get excited by seeing a shower only, and now when after coming back home I told about my experience in the hotel to my son, he said, “Dad, are you serious you didn’t know about a Jacuzzi? It is in fashion now and I want it in my bathroom after some years, please.” I was surprised.

Fashion Phobia

In my childhood, a typical jeans and a shirt was all we had to buy as new clothes. Even my sister had a few jeans and tees to wear, but now, the fashion industry is blooming with new trends every single day. The fashion shows, great garment sales and what not. A simple piece of cloth is now made into different pieces of clothing, of different styles and shape. That’s what fashion is all about, isn’t it?

Language Evolution

Do you remember answering your mom on phone with TTYL and GN? Or did you ever told your friends to chillax and lol? No, you didn’t as these terms were not born in our time. However, our kids now have different ways to express their feelings. Cool, what do you think?

“Communication” Gap

15-20 years back, how did you communicate with your relatives staying abroad? Either by sending them a telegram or with the help of telegraph, that too once or twice a month or so as the costs were too much. Now, do you think our children will wait to talk to their friends staying in some other country for a month? They will just send them a SMS and wait for their instant replies. Now, they do not think whether to write their message through a telegram or telegraph, but they simply think about changing how their phone looks. My son had a Blackberry and recently, when his BB was only 6 months old, he bought an iPhone. Now, don’t know after 6 more months what he will going to ask me for!

Changing Classrooms (Image: medico-innovation.dk)

Educational Innovations

For me, education was all about going to my school and college regularly and missing a class meant loads of copying from my friend’s notebooks the other day. However, with so much of technological advancement, our kids can now acquire knowledge being at home itself. My best friend’s daughter is pursuing her MBA under a reputed UK University in distance mode. She stays with her family in our neighbourhood in Florida but she had dreams of attending a management course from UK. Due to some financial constraints, she couldn’t opt for a regular course there and my friend enrolled her to her favourite subject in a distance mode under her preferred university. She is now in love with whatever the online MBA course has to offer to her. You can visit this site to know more about such courses.

Hence, there is no stopping for these changes and being a witness of all these changes in my life, I can easily say that there are more to come. Our kids are experiencing something new today and my grandchildren will experience far better than what we see today. Telegraph has converted to iPhone, and with time, iPhone will get converted to something else, and the only thing we can do is wait and watch!

iPad - A Phenomenal Device Lending Education a Touch of Modernity

Apple iPad Event (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The current education system is gradually becoming so modernised and unconventional that teachers will now enter classrooms with iPads instead of carrying chalks, dusters and books. In fact, iPads can now be used as a standalone support device that can prove extremely valuable for classrooms. Besides, one can use it as a control pad to access video content, search online courses and even download free books.

Is iPad really for teachers & classrooms – what experts say?

Academicians who have turned extremely keen to provide education through such modernised technologies are considering iPad to be the most resourceful tool that will not take much time to lend education a new meaning and significance. What’s best is that teachers are allowed to take notes, set reminders and record behaviours of their students through an iPad. Tech experts moreover say that this is going to be one of the most engaging devices for teachers who would be able to initiate group activities in their respective classrooms.

iPad – an asset for classrooms

It’s however true that although teachers are well aware of the benefits of using modernised learning tools like iPads and tablets, budgetary limitations can obstruct the way through which technology will be used to enhance learning experiences in smaller schools.

Plenty of schools today prefer spending money on traditional learning equipments than doing the same for iPads. In this context, some teachers have opined that this will not reap any extra benefits for the students. Rather, if an institution spends on a single or a couple of iPads for a classroom, it will indubitably act as an asset that will further help students in planning lessons and effective curriculums.

iPads offer a variety of software (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Impact of iPads on faculties and students – a global survey

• Almost 77% of the faculties have admitted that the success rates of students have soared owing to the initiation of iPads.
  
  
• About 67% of the staff and 73% of the students have felt that students have been able to enhance the quality of their course assignments through iPads.
  
  
• Almost 69% of the students admitted that iPads have helped them to work with more interest and gain motivation.
  
  

So, how educators will utilise an iPad in a classroom?

Well, an iPad can be a teacher’s pet using which he/she can initiate fun and excitement in a classroom. Let’s see how:

• From an iPad, a teacher can extract a piece of information and mirror it to a projector. This will help students to go through their lessons on a big screen.
  
  
• To monitor noise levels, track behaviour, exhibit messages, calculate down time and select students randomly, teachers can make good use of an iPad.
  
  
• If there is any efficient tool to assess the performance level of a student, it’s none other than an iPad. In fact, a teacher can preserve anecdotal notes, grade student work and accumulate learning artefacts through this multipurpose learning tool.
  
  
• Students desire to interact more with their teachers. So, it’s an iPad that can help teachers to communicate with their students online. In fact, teachers can host game shows and even conduct polls. This will keep the students happy and engaged with their lessons.
  
  
• iPad is also an excellent tool for preserving photos, videos and other documents online. So, whether it’s a teacher or a student, one will be able to access them easily at any time he/she wishes.

So, you see how iPads can help teachers modify their teaching strategies and make students learn with more fun and pleasure. In fact, distance learners will surely love using iPads that will rather let them adopt modern learning approaches to complete their respective courses from any corner of the world. Remember, iPad is an inspiration for the forthcoming generations that will give rise to updated educators and smart learners.

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Education to get more Reasonable with the Evolution of Technologies

The internet based tools are indeed making news among the education reformers. In fact, they are now saying with confidence that the initiation of web-based tools will surely help a huge number of students earn their college degrees within their means. In order to pace up the process, the California legislators are just waiting for the legislation required for universities and public colleges to offer credit for certified online courses including those offered free on behalf of Udacity.

University of Maryland to Offer Four Free Courses Through Coursera
(Photo credit: University of Maryland Press Releases)

Technology to strengthen the world of education

Although online education is not a new phenomena, the unstoppable wave of technology might well create a stir in the traditional educational modes and bring drastic changes in the way the brick and mortar universities operate. One of the senior researchers of an academic institution said that this might surely result in an eruption that is consequently going to help the students. In fact, the new partnership built between San Jose State University and Udacity would probably be the initial tremor.

Online enrolment figures are bettering with time

The standardised web-based courses have already been complemented by San Jose State University, and the on-campus students can now take those courses for credit and earn their degrees online. The Babson Survey Research Group said that over 90% of the public colleges have offered online programmes already a decade ago. However, the enrolment figures have soared with the passage of time. Nearly 32% of the students were found enrolled in institutions granting degrees were found to take a minimum of at least one online programme by the year 2011.

Online learning – a safest valve

In reality, there are several factors that have driven this shift. Technology played a key role in helping starters to access interactive software applications and high-quality videos. Moreover, cost emerged to be the motivating factor since the figures from the federal government showed that the expenditure of an undergraduate soared by over 30% at private schools and around 42% at the public institutions. Moreover, New York’s Federal Reserve Bank found that over 70% of the students took help of loans.

State governments in this respect have considered online programmes to be the safest valve. This will help students meet their academic goals within their means since they will not have to raise taxes, said president of Spenser Foundation based in Chicago. In fact, it was in the late 1990s when the potential for savings provoked a group of governors to establish the Western Governors University, which now holds about 38,000 students comprising a huge number of working adults looking forward to polish their careers.

San Jose State University to take positive attempts

San Jose State University (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The success story of MOOCs is not new. Today, a good number of elite colleges offer these Massive Open Online Courses to students and working professionals. However, experts said that higher education won’t be affected by these programmes unless they will be accepted for credit and properly implemented into classrooms. Well, San Jose State University is taking attempts to fulfil both these purposes.

The edX collaboration has generated hopes in enhancing students’ performance levels while the Udacity partnership has kept its focus on lessening the costs and sustain the educational standards. Well, implementations will continue, but what will remain essential on behalf of the students is their proper attention that will let them sustain pace with their educators and classmates.

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Jobs are only going to be for Graduates in the United Kingdom

The demand of hiring graduates will now be on the rise in the United Kingdom since the employment survey has reported that the number of jobs requiring a graduate has outscored the total number of posts with no degree requirements. In fact, graduates now are eligible to qualify over a quarter of jobs in the UK since studies have revealed a major shift in the employment market towards hiring knowledgeable and skilled workers only. This has resulted in the disappearance of positions having no requirements for graduates.

Image: thenationalstudent.com

Jobs for graduates to go high

The research was conducted at the Institute of Education surveying a total of three thousand adults associated with the employment market. Moreover, the data collected recently from the Skills and Employment Survey showed that the current employment landscape has received high figures for graduate jobs while those for the unskilled jobs were recorded low.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills, and Economic and Social Research Council jointly sponsored the study and came up with recent evidences in regard to the hardships faced by poor and unqualified young people making way to the employment market. Moreover, this strengthened the evidence towards the debate on whether the economy wants more or a handful of graduates.

Economic growth to strengthen

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on the other hand argued that the more the number of skilled workers and graduates increase with time, the stronger is the economic growth. Rather, those who will not be having degrees or skills will find it quite difficult to qualify for prestigious jobs. Moreover, a US research group named Pew showed a major report stating that graduates were quite successful in overcoming the era of recession by avoiding job losses and safeguarding their income.

The study conducted recently in the Institute of Education in UK showed that 74% of the degree holders have qualified for jobs, whereas it was recorded 69% in the year 2006. In this respect, Professor Francis Green of the Institute of Education emphasised on the utilisation of graduates in the workforce.

Neil Carberry, the CBI's director of education and skills has expressed enthusiasm towards saying that it all depends on UK’s competitive ability which will let a huge number of young individuals take effective routes to acquire key skills. With time, economical changes will keep taking place and this will result in the expansion of alternative routes to achieving higher skills.

UK universities to receive a record number of undergraduates

Consequently, the demand for studying graduation courses under the UK universities has reached heights. Undergraduates who have been working for quite some time are now enrolling in online courses under accredited UK universities not only to successfully complete graduation but to enhance their professional standards. In fact, the universities here have started making positive predictions to allure a record number of undergraduates who will be enrolling in courses like:

• Marketing
• Finance and Law
• Computing and Media Design
• Health and Psychology
• Tourism and Hospitality

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