ONLINE EDUCATION | EDUCATION | CAREER ADVICE

Adults want their education to be relevant to their specific needs. What they are learning must be applicable to their job, values or other responsibilities. Once they see the relevancy in their learning, adults want to create goals for their education. They will desire to see the path that leads them from the beginning to the end of a course, or even a whole curriculum. Each step of this path must make its value evident to the adult learn - why its important, how it will help them on their job, or how it will help improve their life. Finally, adults already have many life experiences and have acquired knowledge from a variety of sources outside of a formal educational environment. So they want to understand how they can connect this prior knowledge, what they already know, with what they will be learning.

Here are the steps to take to select the best value in an adult education class depending on what your specific needs are:

1. Determine whether the location of the class is convenient for you. This includes taking into consideration the time class begins and the time it ends. Typically, continuing education classes will be held in the evening due to adults working during the day.

Ask these questions: How will I get to class (driving, public transportation)? Will I leave for class directly after work, or do I need to make a stop at home? How far is the location of the class from my home and my job? Will I have to allow extra time before or after class because of traffic? Is there parking near the class (college campuses usually have limited parking for commuters) or will I need to walk a distance?

2. Determine whether the class and the institution offering the class allow for flexibility that you need. Often these requests will be handled by the individual instructor, but if a diploma or certification is being offered at the completion of the class, the institutions offering the class may have certain guidelines you must follow.

Ask these questions: How many days am I allowed to miss? Does the instructor offer a make-up class for those who might miss? Am I allowed to leave class early or arrive late?

3. Identify the prerequisites for the class. This simply means understanding what you need to know before enrolling. If you do not have the basic background for the subject matter being taught, a great class can end up being a frustrating experience. The prerequisites are normally listed along with the class description and will indicate other classes that should be taken first or skills you should already have before enrolling.

4. Identify all of your required materials and determine their costs. Most classes will require a textbook. The prices of textbooks are rising all the time and are often not affordable for many students. Depending on the subject matter of your class, your books can cost upwards of $100 each, particularly in technology, accounting and nursing. You may also need supplies other than books such as access to a personal computer, special types of calculators or other equipment, certain types of paper or portfolios.

5. Determine your instructor’s availability to respond to questions and meet with you. Find out the instructor’s office hours, phone number and email address. Most of the time the instructor will give this information in the first class, but you should be able to easily find this information if you are considering enrolling in a class. You can test the responsiveness of your instructor by contacting him prior to the first day of the class.

6. Review the course description and outline. This is the most important step. You want to make sure that the class you are investing your time and money in is what you really need or want. The course outline is your map of the class. It should describe the objectives of the class (what you will know once the course is over) and the topics you will cover (how you will reach the objectives).

You may attend an adult education course for many reasons: it is required by your job, it is an initiative you are taking to further your career, to increase your general knowledge of a topic, to network with your peers, or to even just get away for a few hours a week. Whatever your reason, you need to make sure you are getting what you need from the course. If you review the course outline and find that only one topic is relevant to your needs then this is probably not the class for you. Search for another course that perhaps focuses specifically on that topic. In some cases, this course may be required for the particular curriculum you have chosen. If you feel you have enough experience with the topics of the required class, you can often discuss with your instructor about “testing out” of the course.

7. Determine what you get for completing the adult education course or curriculum. You want to see the value of having taken the class or classes. At the end of a class you may receive a certificate of completion, diploma or even a professional certification. If you are attending a college or university, you will most times end with a degree, graduate certificate or continuing education credits.

Try to understand what these completion “rewards” mean to you, your career and your life. It could mean a new designation you can place on your resume or a diploma to display proudly on your wall, but it should be something to make you happy and appreciate the hard work you have put into the class.

Being an adult learner is exciting, but can also have serious negative effects on a person. Self-esteem can be lowered if performance in the class is not as expected, frustration can occur if there is lack of convenience, and boredom is evident if the class does not seem practical. So be sure to thoroughly review all of the information you can about a class you may be interested in enrolling and be certain you feel you will get what you need out of it.

By: Deanna Mascle

Free Adult Education information booklet at adultslearnmore.com.

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Since just getting an interview can often seem like a job in itself, you can go ahead and give yourself a big pat on the back if you’ve landed one…

However, now the hard work really starts…

Now it’s time to actually land the job!

The interview itself is the most difficult part of securing job. Not only do job interviews consist of many difficult questions, but you will most likely be faced with some fierce competition. Therefore, you should thoroughly prepare yourself each and every job interview.

Unfortunately, job interviews vary from one person to the other and from one industry to the next. However, all job interviews do have some similar characteristics and you can follow some basic rules that will help you face your next job interview with confidence.

Here are three things everyone interviewing for a job should do…

1. Communication - Whether it is verbal phone calls or written emails, poorly stated or disorganized communication shows a lack of professionalism. Also, during an interview, don’t be shy or soft spoken. Your speaking style will influence the interviewer’s opinion of you. Also, maintain eye contact with the interviewer and carefully listen to everything they say.

Answer the interview questions confidently without the use of slang or street language. In fact, make sure to use the jargon of the profession.

2. Body language - The fact is you are being judged from the second you walk into an interview. That’s right, before you even say a word the interview committee is already judging you just based upon your body language.

Do NOT underestimate how important body language is during an interview.

There is no doubt that your physical appearance plays an important role in getting you a job. If you are dress too casually you won’t be taken seriously for the job. Dress in a nice suit or other formal clothes that make you look organized, sharp, and controlled. When undecided about what to wear always weigh on the side of caution and dress more formal than less.

Hand shakes also play a big part of body language. A soft handshake doesn’t make an impression while a firm handshake indicates you have drive and confidence.

Also, while seated, you should always sit with your back straight, keep a smile on your face, be attentive, and maintain eye contact with all interviewers.

3. Ask Questions - Having sat on countless interview committees I am always shocked at how many candidates do not ask us, the interviewers, any questions. Asking questions gives the impression that not just any job will do, but that you are looking for the right job…the right fit for you. As much as possible try to make the interview seem more like a two-way conversation rather than a one-way interview.

Again, while job interviews will vary from person to person and from one industry to the next, by following these basic guidelines you will be much more confident and that will shine through during your interview.

By: Adam Waxler

Want to discover some of the greatest “think-outside-the-box” job search strategies ever revealed? Then sign up right now for our FREE one-of-a-kind Cover Letter e-Course @ www.Write-Impressive-Resumes.com

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So, what needs to be done to ensure that a distance learning course is a success? In a nutshell, treat it like a project. Take it seriously and manage it professionally. Make sure it is an appropriate project to take on, one that it fits in with your objectives, your career or personal development plans, your strategy. Prepare for it, plan it, consider other “stakeholders”, monitor progress, respond to changing circumstances, make adjustments as necessary, and when it’s ending, close it down properly.

Before you take on a course of study, by distance learning, you should make sure that the course and qualification that you choose fits in with your personal development plan, your career development plan, your objectives. To make sure this is the case, you need a plan.

If you have not drawn up a development plan, then you must do this, taking advice where needed, before you commit to any new development activity. The questions that you must ask is: “Does this fit in with my plans?” - “Will this help me to achieve my goals, my objectives?” – “Will this be of use to me at the time I finish it?”. One important issue to address is that your personal development plans and objectives take you into the future, and your course will also not be completed until a year or two into that future. What is a valuable qualification today may not be so valuable in two or three years time. Research the business sector that you are in, or are planning to move into. Look for trends and recent changes that indicate what will be needed in 3 to 5 years time. Look at the recent developments in diversity, in understanding other cultures, the growing appreciation of quality management, and project management. These are good examples of trends that can confirm that the knowledge gained and qualification achieved, from a one or two year course of study will be still be relevant in the future.

Another issue is the relevance of the qualification, in terms of your age, your status, what is required for progression in your sector, your profession. What is without doubt a valuable qualification for a 21 year old, for example, a first degree, is probably not going to be attractive to employers if the newly qualified holder is 29 or 39. Think about it, 99% of first degree holders have that qualification at 21 or 22, what does that say about a 29 or 39 year old, when at 29 or 39 the qualification that is expected of you is a postgraduate, professional, one. A qualification in Marketing may be appealing to you personally, but may be seen as illogical and irrelevant by employers or clients in your business sector. Some qualifications, or skills, however, do have relevance across the board. An example is a foreign language, a high value addition in any sector. Another is knowledge of finance, not a professional accountancy qualification, but one that shows you have a broad understanding of the discipline. If you are not sure about the course or qualification being relevant to your future, ask for advice. Any reputable provider will help and will not try to persuade you to take an inappropriate course.

In this project, the project team is made up of you the student, the provider and their back up team and resources, the tutor that will work with you, and some important stakeholders.

If you are the student, appoint yourself as the project manager. If you are an employer, appoint yourself as the client and behave like a major stakeholder in this project.

It is important that you research potential providers – potential team members. Look at the range of courses they offer. If it is massive, everything from dog handling to nuclear physics – back away!!. If it is focused, with a core area of expertise, investigate that provider further, they are more likely to be serious and knowledgeable in that area of expertise.

Check out the potential providers’ accreditations. In the UK and most developed countries, there are government appointed, or approved, accreditation bodies (sometimes known as validation bodies). If the provider is nationally accredited, in their field of expertise, by that county’s recognised accreditation bodies, that is a very positive sign.

Once you have selected your provider and course – prepare. This means thinking about what your planned course of study will mean – to your lifestyle, your time, your social life, your domestic situation, your workload. With all these in mind, start preparing for your course of study by thinking!. Think about the implications, think about what resources you will need. This includes computer equipment, almost certainly broadband access, and a physical study area. Although most of these can be found outside the home, most distance learning students do study at home. Think about what changes you will have to make, some small, some major, to successfully complete the course. This can include changes to your lifestyle, your social life, your domestic life, your work patterns, your hobbies and interests, there may, not always but often, need to be changes in some or all of these areas. Think about all the people who will be affected by your decision to take up a course of studies, see Stakeholders, below.

Stakeholders, these, as in project management terms, are any people who have a “legitimate interest” in the project. In the case of a student taking a distance learning course, this means, amongst others, your partner, family, social friends, work colleagues, managers, your employer, these all have a “legitimate interest” in your decision and your study “project”, this means they are stakeholders in your project. Treat them in the same way that professional project managers treat their stakeholders. Think about their needs, think about their concerns, keep them informed appropriately, of your progress, treat them as partners in your project.
For special stakeholders, such as your partner, your family, talk to them. Involve them, explain what you are going to be doing, talk about the fact that you will need some time to yourself, to study, explain that you are not abandoning them, you are starting some important, essential, personal development that needs careful organisation, and some understanding from them. But, make sure that you plan some “rewards” into this. If you are going to be studying in isolation for a couple of evenings or half a day on the weekend, then give something in return. For example, plan into your schedule a day off, a day out, some time with your partner, your family, or your friends. Find a way to say “thank you for supporting me”.

Planning: plan how, and when, and what with, you will study. Draw up a timetable, if this is not already laid down by the demands of the course of its assignment or examination deadlines. Break it down into manageable periods. The course requirements, units, modules, assignments, examinations, will usually give you this structure. Plan when you will study, where you will study, how you will study. Plan time for reading, going on the internet, visiting the library, writing up assignments, traveling to sit examinations, all these need careful planning. Your course Tutor will often be able to help with this. She/he will have experience of assisting new students in planning their studies.

Monitoring: monitor your progress on a regular, usually weekly, no less than monthly, basis. Use your tutor, she/he will be happy to give you deadlines, objectives, advice and guidance, that will help you manage the course and stay on target.

Respond to changing circumstances. One of the most attractive features of studying by distance learning is that it is a flexible, adaptable, method of studying. All human beings, run into personal problems, illnesses, difficulties at work, family crises, become temporarily disenchanted, temporarily lose interest in the course. If you are hit by any of these, and you will be a rare student if you are not hit by at least one of these, talk to your tutor, talk to your “client” (your employer) if you have one, as soon as you run into any difficulties. Such problems are “normal” for distance learning students. The bonus is that as a distance learning student, on most courses, you can manage these difficulties by slowing down, stopping, starting up again, speeding up, as often as it takes, because you are on a distance learning course. For classroom students, such problems usually mean disaster, classes continue, but if you miss them, you are immediately at a disadvantage.

At the end of a project, professional project managers make sure that they carry out a “close down” routine.
For the distance learning student, this is what you must do. Make sure that you have successfully completed all the assignments, passed all the examinations, if any, and studied the course materials fully. Inform all the stakeholders that you have successfully completed the course, and achieved the qualification. Receive confirmation of completion, a certificate of achievement, a letter confirming your examination successes, for example. Thank all the people who have helped you succeed, your partner, family, friends, work colleagues, tutor, provider organisation.

In today’s world you need to continually, constantly, appropriately, develop your professional skills and update your professional qualifications. Your competitors, those individuals or those businesses, with active, live, dynamic development plans, are moving forward, taking on new challenges, refining their plans, achieving more successes. You need to keep up with them or better keep ahead of the competition.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CJ Williams is a tutor and management consultant currently working with Brighton School of Business and Management in the UK, specialising in Business and Management courses taught via distance learning. The writer, CJ Williams, can be contacted at cjwilliams@brightonsbm.com or via www.brightonsbm.com.

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“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller

Online Degrees are the modern answers to today’s education conundrums. So many of us want higher earning potential, different career options, and advanced learning, but the old-fashioned university route won’t do. We need education to fit in around our lives; not have our lives fit around getting more education. We want to stretch our minds, but not our wallets. We want to know our professors and get the most out of each class without the extra office visits and apples.

Enter Online Degrees.

The best of both worlds, online education offers first-rate learning with individualized comfort and ease.

Here are SIX reasons to choose ONLINE DEGREES:

1. Convenience
Unlike traditional classes, online courses typically
don’t have scheduled classes. So, it doesn’t matter if you are an early riser or a night owl, study and learn when it is best for you. And while you’re at it, you can wear your pajamas and nobody would be the wiser.

2. Availability
Upperclassmen don’t get first picks when registering for
online classes. In fact, nobody gets “first pick”. You don’t need to worry about classes filling up or not being accepted. There is always room for those pursuing online degrees.

3. Financial
While some online colleges and schools can cost as much as
traditional degrees, the savings are exponential when you consider commute, books, room, board, and well, time.

4. Offerings
Whether you live in the heart of a downtown metropolis or
way out in the boondocks, you have the same unlimited amount of programs and classes from which to choose.

5. Anonymity
You’re not too old, too young, too rich, too poor, too
skinny, too large, too smelly, too beautiful, too WHATEVER. It doesn’t matter who or what you are, online educations are for ANYBODY!

6. Convenience
So, it’s a repeat, but for good reason. If you want to
spend more time with your children, you can! If you can’t take a 2-hour break from work to get to a class lecture, no problem. If you want to learn at 2 am, it’s your choice! Online degrees are incredibly convenient.

It’s no wonder online educations have become so popular. Maybe, just maybe, an online degree can make even the fastest life a bit easier and more enjoyable.

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