Yet times are changing. Increasing costs of the traditional University education combined with developing technologies means that the associated stigma is deteriorating.

Today, more and more adults are sitting up and taking note: they’re realising that getting educated online means they can increase their knowledge and skill-set without having to quit their jobs and simultaneously accrue thousands of pounds worth of debt.

Want to know more?

How the Internet is Revolutionising Education

This mind-opening infographic offers a brief history of e-learning, along with an insight into the present stratosphere of e-education and a look into the possibilities that the future may hold.

What we learned:

• The first ever e-learning institute was the Open University, launched in 1971.
• The largest University in the US today is the University of Phoenix, with a mere 500,000 students.
• It’s estimated that by 2019, 50% of University classes will be taught online.

Important Milestones in Online Education

Another infographic that looks at the history of online education, yet in far more detail. Laid out in what should be a very simple to understand timeline, this infographic’s attempt at being ‘different’ actually means that some of the information is a little hard to dissect.

What we learned:

• The University of Phoenix was opened in 1989 by John Sperling and Terri Hedegaard Bishop. The University was the first to offer Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees using online technologies.
• 1994 saw the launch of the first ‘virtual summer school’. As well as listening to lectures and browsing journals, students were able to participate in group discussions, prepare presentations and submit their work virtually.
• As of 2010, the global value of the e-learning industry is estimated to be around 90 billion dollars.

Funding for Online Education

This colourful infographic offers information of a rather different nature; it dives into the world of educational grants, namely those that are available to fund online education.

What we learned:

• That consumer giants Coca-Cola and Best Buy are committed to giving a little back by offering grants and scholarships to U.S. citizens.
• Certain regions of the U.S. place particular emphasis on ensuring ethnic minorities have equal access to education through the distribution of grants.
• Insurance professionals AXA also offer grants – 52 of them to be precise – one for a resident of each of the U.S. states.

How Has the Internet Changed Education?

If you can look past the rather drab ehxterior of this infographic, you might notice that it actually hides some rather interesting facts and figures.

What we learned:

• That an incredible 93% of students choose to carry out research online instead of making a trip to the library.
• That eleven U.S. colleges offer training or courses in search engine optimisation and search engine marketing.
• 1 in 3 academic leaders believe that knowledge learnt online is less valuable than that learnt through face-to-face teaching.

Student Demographics

Another infographic with a difference; this educational chart looks into just who is choosing to learn online as opposed to in the classroom.

What we learned:

• The majority (albeit by a small margin) of students learning online are aged 15 – 23. Those aged 30 and above come second.
• The majority of degrees awarded online are in fact Master’s degrees.
• Of those asked why they chose an online course, more than 50% said convenience.

So – should you choose to learn online?

While many people still believe an online education to be inferior to that of a more traditional nature, it seems that it’s mainly academic professionals rather than commercial business owners who hold this opinion most highly.

When it comes to applying for jobs, few employers are likely to be that concerned with how a qualification was achieved – rather their main concern will lie with how adept the candidate is likely to be at the role in question.

If attaining a qualification online looks to be the best educational route for your needs then there’s only one thing to be said – go for it!

About The Author:
Jessy is a business blogger for Life Insurance Finder, the free educational resource for top life insurance infomation.

Related posts:

1. The Pros And Cons Of An Online Education
2. Making Science Accessible For Special Education Students
3. Is iTunes U The Future Of College Education?

The following list contains 10 places to find free tech tutorials:-

TechTutorials – This website provides a directory of numerous free tech tutorials, ranging from computer programming and networking to basic computing. If you are interested in learning the ins and outs of all things technology, you should definitely pay this site a visit. It also offers an online discussion forum and free usable reference materials.

SkillBuilders – This website features various free tutorials and webinars for anyone interested in learning more about information technology applications, such as Oracle and OS. Although they serve primarily businesses, anyone can check out their free online training programs.

Internet4Classrooms – Anyone looking for a website that offers free tutorials on dozens of different technology topics should check here. The topics on this site range from operating systems to web design, with many in between. Their free tutorials are easy to understand, making them perfect for students.

Instructables – On this innovative website, people are urged to share the things they do and how they do them. Although there are many topics other than technology on this site, it also provides a great assortment of free tech related tutorials.

Extropia – Those with a passion for computer technology should check out this helpful website that houses dozens of free tutorials. It offers great information on computer programming, as well as resources related to web design and development.

GuidesAndTutorials – This online destination is a wonderful place for beginners to learn the basics of many technology tools. With free guides and tutorials on dozens of different tech topics, this site provides great, usable information and other resources for those interested in learning all about technology.

IntelligentEdu – With over 450 free online technology tutorials and IT training courses, this website offers something for just about every type of tech buff. From computer programming to Windows, this is a one-stop shop for all sorts of excellent technology information. This site is useful for both beginners and advanced users alike.

HomeAndLearn – This site is aimed at beginners so all of the information is very user friendly and simple to understand. With free tutorials and guides on tons of different tech topics, it is easy to expand your knowledge on one or many subjects. This site also allows users to test themselves to make sure they are absorbing the information properly.

GcfLearnFree – The Goodwill Community Foundation operates this incredibly useful website that offers over 750 tutorials and lessons on topics such as technology, literacy, and math. It provides users with beneficial information that can be applied to daily life, making it a very popular online resource for millions of people.

These are all excellent places to find free tech tutorials. Whether you need a little assistance in a few areas or a lot of assistance is many areas, these places can give you the instruction you need to expand your knowledge of the technology world.

About The Author:
Guest post from Karen Schweitzer. Karen writes about internet providers for InternetServiceProviders.org.

When it comes to special-needs children, the interactive touch screen that tablets come with makes learning a lot easier. The touch screens are easier for the children to use when compared to the traditional mouse and keyboard. Children also consider touching the screen more fun. Simply put, it’s cool. Touch screens also make learning more direct, something that is vital for special-needs children. Because of the simple interface that touch screens provide, a lot of frustration is eliminated from the learning process. This benefit extends beyond the special-needs classroom to other children.

Children who have a hard time communicating often find it easier to communicate through a tablet. Teachers are reporting great success with autistic children using tablets. In the past, these children would have had a much harder time communicating in the classroom.

Children tend to learn at their own pace, Tablets make this easier for children to accomplish. Repeating a lesson requires a mere touch of the screen. While one child may choose to repeat a lesson, another child is able to go on to the next lesson. This kind of individualized learning also takes pressure off children in the classroom. A child can also switch between subjects with a touch of the screen.

Tablets allow the teacher to expand the classroom. If it’s a nice day outside, the teacher has the option of taking the class outside to learn. The tablets easily hold curriculum for the class. Making the classroom mobile helps to alleviate some of the boredom that can come with being cooped up in a classroom all of the time. Some children simply don’t like to be in the same place all the time.

Enhanced communication between the teacher and student is another benefit of tablets. A student can easily communicate a question to the teacher via the tablet; this may be a question the student may have been afraid to ask out loud in front of the rest of the class. The teacher is then able to answer the student’s concern in a private manner. Gone are the days when a student had to be ashamed of raising their hand in front of the rest of the class. Communication between the student and teacher is an important part of the learning process.

Tablets are clearly changing the way in which children learn. As tablets grow more advanced, their impact on the classroom will be even greater. The popularity of tablets is causing more and more developers to write applications for tablets. In the future, teachers will have a wealth of educational applications to choose from to help teach their students. The tablet is truly turning out to be a game-changer in the classroom.

About the Author
This article was written by Catherine Bynes who has high hopes on the future of learning via these great interactive gadgets. She currently writes for CNATrainingTips website on how to get free CNA Training in your state.

Flashcards make learning more enjoyable and they help your memory, both of which go a long way to helping you or your child retain important information. Luckily, making your own flashcards is easy. Just follow these steps:

• First, determine what’s going to go on your flashcards. If you’re making flashcards for your child this may include letters, numbers, colors, and/or pictures of animals, plants, and so on. For older students, this could include foreign words and phrases, legal terminology, and/or science and math information.
• Turn on your computer and open up a word processing program like MS Word. The program probably has a template for cards. If it does, go ahead and use it. You can also adjust the margins of a regular page so that they’re the right size for your flashcards. For example, if you want to create flashcards that are 4” x 6”, adjust the margins accordingly.
• Type up your flashcards and insert pictures as necessary. Make sure you use a font that’s easy to read. (A sans serif font is usually a good choice.) Color will add more visual interest to your flashcards but you don’t need to go overboard designing them. The flashcards should be as uncluttered as possible.
• After you’ve created your flashcards, print them out and turn on your pouch laminator. While the pouch laminator is warming up, trim the cards if necessary. (You will definitely need to do this if there is more than one flashcard on a page.) Place each card in a laminating pouch that is large enough to fully encapsulate it. There should be a thin border of laminating film around each card.
• When your pouch laminator has warmed up, place one of the flashcards in the machine’s feed opening. The folded edge of the pouch needs to go in first. After the laminated flashcard has exited the machine, laminate the next one. Be careful not to overlap the flashcards. If you do, they won’t be properly laminated. When you’re done, let the laminated flashcards cool off and turn off your laminator.
• Now that your flashcards are made, you can begin using them. Have fun!

As you can see, it’s easy to make your own flashcards. Try making your own today so you or your child will have an easier time learning. Good luck!

About The Author
Brie Beazley is a Staff Writer for MyBinding.com, an Oregon-based retailer of document finishing equipment and supplies.

Related posts:

1. Practical Tips To Help Your Child Deal With A Bully
2. Helping Your Child With Their Homework: Helping Or Hindering?

But, as kids grow older, this need decreases. Unfortunately, so does many a school child’s motivation to complete homework.

Homework can seem like an unnecessary chore for kids approaching their teen years, and sometimes laziness can compel them to ask for help when they really could figure it out on their own.

Other times, older children do legitimately need help on their homework and parents have to step in and assist them with their work. Anyone who remembers grade school probably remembers times when they were completely stuck on a question and needed help. Well this is what moms and dads are good for. However, there is a danger in helping TOO much.

First, your child may just not want to do their homework and is only trying to get you to do it for them. Other times, they may actually need help, but the tendency of many parents is to complete difficult work on their own rather than go through the long process of explaining how to find the solution.

So where does that leave us as parents? Should we help? Or shouldn’t we? I say helping is a must, but how you help is what is important. Here are a few tips on how to help your child with his homework without depriving him of a learning opportunity:

1. Make a Homework Schedule and Keep To It

One of the main ways you can help your child with their homework is insisting that he or she has a specific time where they must complete their homework. This lets them know that they will not be doing anything else during that time, so there is no possibility that they can put it off till “later”, go play and then come back too tired to get their work done.

Also it automatically puts a rewards and consequences system in place; if they finish early, they can go on to do something else. If they dawdle and don’t finish their work, they won’t get to play.

2. Be Careful How You Approach and Explain Problems

Some things are pretty easy to help with. History for example can be easily checked for accuracy if you are not sure about dates and such. These things are more or less set in stone. However, sometimes when trying to explain things we unintentionally confuse or contradict what our kids are learning in school.

One tricky subject is math. Basic math is easy to help with, however more advanced math may be difficult to help with simply because the methods we were taught to solve the problems may not be the same methods taught today.

There are many ways to solve math problems and the ones you are using to help your kids with their homework may be completely different than the ones the teacher expects them to use in class. This is why good communication between parents and teachers is so important.

3. Make Learning Fun

Younger children don’t need much motivation to do their homework. If their parents are excited about homework, they will be too. Showing your child that learning can be fun is one of the best things you can do while they are still young, because it is a belief that will grow with them and help them through their school years and for the rest of their lives.

Older kids need this type of attitude towards homework as well. You don’t need to throw a party every time you do homework, but sometimes just fixing a special snack (also very important to power their continuously working brains) or having an encouraging, rather than pressured, attitude about homework can help keep things light and enjoyable.

About The Author
Stacey Cavalari is a research and technology writer for Phoenix kiosk, a touch screen kiosk manufacturer firm in Tempe, AZ. Phoenix Kiosk specializes in kiosks, software and technology for small to large size organizations.

Related posts:

1. Practical Tips To Help Your Child Deal With A Bully

You must make a clean break from old friends, that boy(or girl) you were just beginning to like, and teachers and coaches you were starting to become familiar with. You must start from scratch, and make new acquaintances in all these areas.

The worst mistake you can make is assuming that you can bring any paradigms associated with your old school into your new situation. If you do attempt to do this, you could find yourself in a lot of trouble, because your new situation may involve an entire set of new rules, both written and unwritten. It is your responsibility to learn those and adhere to them.

First Impressions: Appearance Matters

The first thing you need to do is look your best, without wearing the latest fashion fad, and coming across as a seditty person who looks down her nose at all of the other kids, who are dressed more modestly because their parents cannot afford to dress them in the type of outfits your parents can afford to buy for you. This will make your adjustment period more difficult, for you could find yourself friendless. Few people want to be friends with someone they feel is basically stuck-up.

On the other hand, don’t look like a slouch. Make certain your clothes are the correct size, and belt your clothes on you appropriately. Otherwise, you are not likely to make friends–or if you do, it will most likely be the wrong kind of friends, especially if you choose to walk around with your pants hanging down your bottom, exposing your undergarments.

Body Language

Along the same lines, practice good body language. Walk with your head held high, as opposed to hung downward. Even if you feel like a small goldfish in a huge, new tank–don’t let your body language betray that. Somedays you may want to break down. Do that in the privacy of your own room, at home, when no-one is looking.

Relationships with Adults

Introduce yourself to all your new teachers, principals, and coaches. Exude a pleasant demeanor, as opposed to a negative attitude. When they ask something of you, obey with a respectful attitude, as your parents at home would want you to do at home when they ask something of you. Call them Mr. and Mrs., followed by their last name. At times address them as “Sir,” and “Ma’am.” This will pay dividends when you need to ask them for help with your schoolwork, or any other problem you may encounter. It will most certainly affect the response you get from them, whether it’s “Hi, Ashley, what can I help you with,” as opposed to an attitude of, “Make it quick, girl–don’t waste my time!”

This being said, don’t display a desire to be “too friendly” with your teachers, as if you want to curry special favor with them. Any tactics towards this are doomed to backfire. Maintain an appropriate professional distance; treat all your teachers courteously and respectfully, but don’t show signs of having a favorite adult. If other kids see this, it might evoke a certain fear that you may snitch on them at the first sign of bad behavior on their part. (Sidebar: You should report to an adult any actions that are a clear and present danger to yourself or others. But don’t just tattle to be tattling!)

Relationships with Fellow Students: Making Friends/Dating

Smile at the person sitting next to you. Say “Hi.” The conversation you start could lead to a wonderful friendship. You may start talking, and find out that the two of you have much in common. Exchange phone numbers and email addresses.

Don’t stake yourself only on one friend. Attempt to make numerous acquaintances. Join clubs. My wife often tells the story of how she became part of the marching band, and her high school’s Bible club. She made at least one or two friends that she still keeps in touch with today.

That being said, don’t be flirtatious or give the impression that you want something more to come of the relationship. Before you enter the dating culture of the school, sit back and observe. If the person seems friendly, take it at face value, and don’t read anything else into it. This could keep you out of a lot of heartbreak–and could keep you out of trouble with the boy (or girl) that person happens to be going out with at the moment, if it seems to your friend’s significant other that you are behaving a bit too flirtatiously towards him or her.

Beware of Bullies

Observe your surroundings. Watch how the members of your new student body interact with each other. Ask yourself who the bullies are. Stay away from them, for you don’t want the more decent members of the student body–and your teachers and principals–to label you as one of them. Besides, they could be headed into problems with the law that you don’t want any part of whatsoever. Choose your friends carefully.

About the Author
Cruise Nation is a UK-Based Travel Agents specialising in ncl cruise deals and msc cruise deals.

Related posts:

1. School Rebellion Ends In Forced Compliance
2. 5 Important Reasons For Sticking With School

iTunes U is an incredible app that gives you access to free education content, including courses from Harvard, Yale, and hundreds of other prestigious universities all over the country. This concept alone seems outstanding and unbelievable.

You’re able to take a free college course? Yes, that’s right. While you won’t receive any credit at this time, the concept is enough to make educators’ and students’ heads spin with the possibilities. As Apple shifts more and more of its focus toward education, we may eventually see a drastically different climate of college education. Is iTunes U the future of the college experience?

What’s the Big Deal?

If you haven’t explored iTunes U, you should do so immediately. When you download the app, you have access to more than half a million higher education resources on your Apple device. You can view lectures, read books, watch videos, get class notes, and much more, all for free.

There are materials on almost every topic you can imagine. You can learn about business, the fine arts, science, philosophy, health, language, and so much more. And it’s free.

That concept can’t be stressed enough. ITunes U is an excellent way to expand your knowledge on any topic you can imagine. Whether you want to brush up on material related to your career, learn and study information related to a college class you’re taking, or you’re just interested in learning more about something, iTunes U can help.

And iTunes U will arrange all related class materials, such as syllabus, related textbooks, lecture video, and your own notes in one handy notebook. It’s easy to organize and access courses anytime, anywhere.

How Will It Help?

iTunes U has the potential to revolutionize college education. It was the goal of Steve Jobs to increase access to free education, and iTunes U is doing just that. Recently, Apple updated its e-reader app iBooks. With the second version, there are now interactive textbooks.

Interactive textbooks cost less than hardbacks, and they enhance the learning experience with video, 3D graphics, and more. As you browse interactive textbooks, you can highlight, add notes, and quickly get definitions or perform web searches to learn more about anything. With all of these great features combined, iTunes U will bring the ability to learn about college level topics to the masses.

The rising, huge cost of college education prevents many from receiving it. iTunes U makes it possible for absolutely anyone to have access to high quality education and learning materials.

The Future-Hopefully

More and more people will begin to take advantage of the learning opportunities that iTunes U provides, including more educators choosing to give people access to their courses. There are still many questions that exist regarding how iTunes U could be implemented in an entire school system, but for personal learning and advancement there is no better resource available.

iTunes U absolutely has the ability to change college education and make it available to all, regardless of prior education or income.

About The Author
Minnie Brown is a freelancer and a student at Bayer University. Minnie uses Grammarly grammar checker as a safeguard for superior writing. Minnie also works as a private reading tutor, currently her group is enjoying Lord of the Flies.

Related posts:

1. iTunes U: What Is It and How Does It Work?
2. Finding The Right College Course For You
3. The Pros And Cons Of An Online Education

Salary will vary from job to job but as an employed apprentice you must receive a minimum of £2.60 an hour if you are under 19. This includes all time spent working and training (e.g. an Apprentice working 38 hours will receive a minimum of £95 a week and an Apprentice working 40 hours will receive a minimum of £100 a week). A lot of employers pay more than the minimum wage — on average, apprentices earn £170 a week.

You can apply for apprenticeships at three different levels:

Apprenticeship

A level 2 programme, which is equivalent of five good GCSEs. You will work towards work-based learning qualifications, such as NVQ level 2, functional skills in English and maths and in some cases, a relevant such as a BTEC. From an Apprenticeship you could move into skilled employment, further education or progress onto an ‘Advanced Apprenticeship’.

Advanced Apprenticeship

A level 3 programme which is equivalent to two A levels. You will work towards work-based learning qualifications, such as NVQ level 3, functional skills in English and maths and in most cases, a relevant knowledge-based qualification such as a BTEC. On some Advanced Apprenticeships you may study towards level 2 qualifications before you move on to level 3 qualifications. From an Advanced Apprenticeship you could move into skilled employment, higher education or progress onto a Higher Apprenticeship where they are available.

Higher Apprenticeship

A level 4 programme in which you will work towards work-based learning qualifications such as an NVQ level 4 and some cases, an academic qualification such as a Foundation degree. Higher Apprenticeships are not available everywhere yet.

About The Author:
Neet2eet.com has two objectives. Firstly, they want to help young people who are currently not in education, employment or training to find a course or apprenticeships in London. Secondly, we aim to prevent school, college and university leavers from falling into the NEET category.

Photo credit: Department for Communities and Local Government

The following article is based upon my personal opinion and outlines the key advantages in taking the plunge and jumping into the exciting, competitive world of marketing.

Exciting and Unpredictable

Perhaps the most common complaint echoing around offices across the globe is: “I’m bored”. When you’re expected to spend 7 – 10 hours a day working in an office you cannot underestimate the power and job satisfaction of the unpredictable and the unexpected. Marketing represents a fluid arena where you will be asked to work with constantly changing clients each needing specific treatment. If your role is sales-focused then the challenge will be a more personal one: each pitch, each call made will be to a different person or corporate entity, each representing a different challenge.

Flexibility & Job Satisfaction

‘Marketing’ covers a broad spectrum of roles, including (but not limited to): Analysis, Research, Sales, Branding, Creative Design, Consulting, Management, Promotion… to name but a few. This means the chances of finding a role that suits you are dramatically increased, in turn this will enable you to excel, be satisfied and ultimately – earn more. It is impossible to estimate how many types of company or organisation require marketing personnel; marketing is not just about ‘big business’ and faceless companies. If you’re looking for something that rewards you financially – and spiritually – charitable organisations and public sector departments all need to get their names out there and you could be doing it for them.

Personal Development for the 21st Century

The broad skillset you develop working within the marketing arena will enable you to achieve more success in the future. The age of specialised workers is increasingly being challenged by young, vibrant employees who can apply themselves to a range of roles. This is never truer of Marketing: a field that now relies on networking and promotion through the medium of social-media.

Responsibility

There are many marketing jobs that require you to be responsible to a great extend since you are ultimately responsible for reaching clientele, whether through research, branding, sales or communications. Employers expect you to acquire more clients whilst at the same time, retaining the existing clients. This means that you will have a big responsibility. If you thrive on this, then marketing is the industry for you.

Creativity

Marketing allows you to be creative and to come up with new strategies that could win over prospective customers. It is perfect for everyone described as a people’s person because it involves a lot of networking and your customer skills have to be in line as well. Anyone who is already involved in advertising or public relations can easily make the transition to marketing. There could be many variations in the sort of work you will do which helps to stave off boredom and keeps you busy.

Marketing can take the form of written material, podcasts, viral-videos, graphic design, physical events etc. As such the ability to be flexible is increasingly the crucial ‘personal currency’ that will enable you to succeed in the 21st century. In these challenging times, a career in Marketing can equip you with the skills you need to not survive, but thrive.

About The Author
Susanna Cha is a recent MSc graduate in International Marketing and is currently writing on behalf of Guardian Jobs including graduate jobs, marketing jobs, fundraising jobs and more.

Related posts:

1. 5 Important Reasons For Sticking With School
2. 4 Ways Earning a PhD Can Advance Your Career

The varied nature of leadership, independent of time, place and situation, begs the question: Is leadership taught by those who have led others in the past, or is it simply developed as a necessary survival skill in response to the situation?

To understand the origins of leadership, we have to consider a few factors:
How was someone recognized as a leader? What makes us look to them?
What were the results of a particular individual’s leadership?
Did the training leaders obtain have anything to do with the results their leadership produced?

Situational Recognition

In extreme situations, such as wars or disasters, leaders seem to come out of the wood-works. These battle-field-commission officers and enlisted standouts distinguish themselves because of their skills in situations that require much of them. In such cases, we can definitely say that the leadership displayed in the face of seemingly hopeless odds was clearly nurtured by the circumstances, which were far beyond anything they could have imagined in training.

On the other hand, many of our political and business leaders inherit their positions, or at least the finances they needed to advertise their eligibility for them. While there are some whose experiences nurture a sense of responsibility in them, a great many are brought into their leadership roles through nepotism or even plain coincidence. In these cases, however, we cannot overlook the fact that the only way these individuals are able to maintain their posts is because they were taught a certain set of leadership skills by those who held them previously.

Individual Results

These differences don’t necessarily make one type of leader better than another, they simply result in the highly varied skill sets that all leaders possess. Leadership is a vague quality, one that we can only accurately judge after seeing the results of someone’s actions. Did your business plan succeed? Could a merger have been more successful? Questions like these only come into clarity after the fact, meaning that even well-trained leaders eventually have to think outside the box in response to how things play out.

Connecting Training and Nurturing

Further complicating the issue is the fact that it’s hard to judge the results of training. For instance, a new manager might experience great successes in finishing a huge IT project under budget, but their management training might have nothing to do with it. Perhaps in this case, their gradually developed ability to assist their programmers’ data gathering efforts and keep stress levels low were what clenched their success.

Leadership is far too complex to be simplified to just training or nurturing. In short, some leadership skills are passed on, while others are developed under pressure. Training our new leaders to apply their knowledge is just as important as letting them go and try it out on their own.

About The Author:
Tom writes on behalf of DLProg who addresses an important gap in international thinking and policy about the critical role played by leaders, elites and coalitions in the politics of development. Read more about The Leadership Program and the Pacific Leadership Program at DLProg.org.