Never Too Late

You probably know that Facebook started on a college campus as a way for students to connect and have fun. It has since grown to over 700 million registered users worldwide. This membership includes people from all walks of life and all ages. Personally I’ve found Facebook a great way to reconnect with old high school friends, stay connected with family across the country, and meet some really terrific people I never would have met in person. Social media is a driving force in our society, and now instructors and students are finding creative ways to use Facebook in the online and physical classroom.

You may think Facebook is just a place to post updates on your day and to play games. But it is also a place to form groups, hold online collaboration sessions and to post assignments. Online classes can be isolating, but by connecting instructors and fellow students through Facebook, it can be an enriching platform to help online students succeed. For example if you’re studying how to become a paralegal through an online degree program, you’ll probably have access to a chat room you can ask questions and meet fellow students. But if your instructor uses Facebook, he can use it for so much more.

Here are some of the creative ways instructors are using Facebook for their online classes.

• Question and answer sessions in real time
• Update assignments
• Post calendars and syllabi
• Keep absent students updated on assignments and deadlines
• Post daily learning objectives
• Review material
• Post classroom resource links
• Students can share resources
• Keep students connected during the course
• Create a group for a specific class or project
• Post videos or pictures for class
• Invite industry experts for presentations or interviews
• Obtain instant feedback
• Students feel more connected and productive

These are just some of the ways instructors are using Facebook and other social media outlets as learning tools in the online classroom. If current trends continue, we will see social media sites playing a more prominent role in online and classroom based learning.

Co-working is a new option for professionals just starting out or who don’t need an office full time. The concept of co-working came from freelancers meeting together at coffee houses to collaborate. This grew into a new way to do business. Freelancers, lawyers, writers and anyone who works from home can use a co-working space as an impromptu office or meeting place for clients. Working from home is great and gives you an amount of freedom that working at an office doesn’t offer. But when the kids are screaming or the dog is barking it is hard to sound professional on the phone or over Skype. Add video chat to the mix and Captain Underwear in the form of your 2 year old streaks by and you can see how a place to conduct business would be handy from time to time.

What you get when you take advantage of co-working is up to you. There are several levels of membership in most co-working buildings. The most basic is mail only. You get a post office box and the staff gathers your mail, signs for your packages and keeps everything safe until you can come and get it. The next level up is access to the café and meeting rooms. With this membership you get a post office box and use of the communal café. Usually this includes private meeting rooms when you need them and all of the refreshments you and your clients want. You can also rent a desk or an office of your own. It is yours and no one else uses it as long as you pay for it. You don’t have to sign a lease, just rent it as long as you need it and then walk away.

For example if you’re a software developer and work as a freelancer, you may need a place to meet clients. You may also get tired of working alone at home and crave some social interaction and people to bounce ideas off of. But you have a small budget and can’t afford to rent an entire office and hire a receptionist to watch over things while you’re gone. This is where co-working becomes a viable and attractive option for you. Co-working facilities are generally in larger towns and cities, but as the idea catches on we may see them cropping up in less metropolitan areas.

After you graduate look into co-working, you get a space to work, a chance to work with other like minded professionals at a much lower price than renting your own office. As more people take up alternative work situations, co-working may be the next big trend in workplaces.

Video games have changed a lot since Atari came out with Pong in the late 70’s. Today’s gamers play in rich realistic environments. Back then I was a fan of Pong, Pac Man and Frogger. Today I am hooked on Dungeon and Dragons Online (DDO). (Yes I’m officially an old nerd. Don’t judge…I have to do something to relax after creating such pontifically fantastic blog posts.) When I play I am astounded at the amount of code it must take to create a game like DDO. When I went to college in the early 80’s I took BASIC. In case you’re too young to remember, BASIC was a simple computer language used in the early PC days. I even took a class in COBOL, a more complex computer language. It was that class which convinced me IT was not my forte. The trip down memory lane aside, video games have always held a fascination for me because I know the complexity needed to create them.

Skills and Salary

A career in video game design is one of the most exciting and fun career choices you can make. It takes creativity, imagination and the ability to write the computer programs needed to create the type of games gamers today demand. You will need to be able to think like a programmer yet have the imagination of an artist. This is a true right/left brain job. If you have these skills you will be in high demand and command a very healthy salary. According to Payscale.com you can expect to make $31,018 to $96,940 per year. You can make more if you have the skills and experience. For example 3D Tek lists a job for an experienced video game designer/scripter with a starting salary of $110,000 plus bonuses. Video game design salaries vary greatly depending on the company you work for and your experience.

Education and Job Prospects

You can get your video game design degree online or in a campus based program. There are several schools which offer both options. Full Sail University, The Art Institute, and ITT Technical Institute are just a few. Most designers earn a bachelor degree and are able to find jobs right out of college. You will usually work in a team environment creating only part of a video game. This is necessary because of the complexity of today’s games. After school you may get a job as a character developer, concept artist, 3D modeler, visual effects animator, and  many more creative positions needed to create today’s games. If you like video games and can imagine new ways to improve them; you may want to consider a career as a video game designer.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work in a doctor’s office, but don’t really want to be a nurse or an aide you might want to consider a job as a medical transcription specialist. Medical transcription jobs will continue to be in high demand as the population ages and more people seek medical care. Going to school for medical transcription certification can give you a chance to join in the exciting medical field. Many people who do this job work from home. This would be the perfect job if you have responsibilities such as young children or aging parents to care for.

What’s the Job Like? 

As a medical transcriptionist you’d be spending most of your time at the computer transcribing the doctor’s notes for patient’s permanent records. Although many offices and hospitals now use digital technology to dictate notes, some facilities still use traditional foot pedal recorders. These recorders have a foot pedal that the transcriptionist can use to slow down the recording to transcribe it. You would also be responsible for creating letters and forms. A thorough knowledge of medical terms, pharmacology, anatomy, and diagnostic procedures is need to properly understand the terminology used in health care. Doctors and health care professionals use abbreviations you must know to write them out in full.

What Education Do I Need? 

To become a medical transcriptionist you can go to school at vocational centers, colleges and take online classes through distance learning programs. Courses are usually one year for certification or two years for an associate’s degree. You’re not required to be certified, but according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) certification is preferred by most doctor’s offices and health care facilities. Some offices and hospitals will train you if you have prior medical training and experience.

It is best to seek out a program that is accredited by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP). This committee was founded by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity and the American Health Information Management Association in an effort to improve and standardize the education of medical transcriptionists. Accreditation is voluntary and you may be required to have training from an accredited program to become certified.

Students who graduate from accredited training programs can then apply to be a Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) or a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT). The US Department of Labor offers a Registered Apprenticeship Program through the Medical Transcription Industry Association for on the job training for people entering the field.

How Much Will I Earn? 

You can expect to earn an average of $15.41 per hour. This will vary depending on your experience and area of the country you live in. The following chart is from the BLS website:

Average Wages According to the BLS 1 Average Wages

If you want to be in the medical field, but patient care really isn’t your thing you may want to consider becoming a medical transcriptionist. You will have an enjoyable job that is vital to the maintaining and updating of patient records, correspondence and daily operation of clinics, hospitals and health care facilities.

A career in criminal justice is an exciting choice. You’ll be working hands on to investigate and solve crimes. There are many facets of the criminal justice field, and the opportunities are growing and evolving as technology develops to analyze and collect evidence. Criminal justice is more than just police officers, although they do create the backbone of the justice system. It is also lawyers, judges, forensic specialists, detectives, homeland security specialists and many more people who work to keep us safe.

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According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, law enforcement employed over 800,000 people in 2008. It is projected that the need for police officers and detectives will grow 10% in the next decade; as the population grows so will the need for well educated and competent police officers, detectives, and lawyers. If you’re considering a career in the criminal justice field, you may be wondering how to become a police officer or how to become a detective.

Education requirements vary, but generally college degrees are preferred. Some smaller police departments may hire you with only a high school diploma, but in larger cities many departments may require you to have at least a two year degree. Once you are hired you’ll attend the police academy. This may be a local one, or a state or regional one if you live in a rural area or small town. Police academy lasts from 12 to 14 weeks and is very intense. There you will learn proper procedures, go through rigorous physical training and learn the basics of your job. Police officers learn most of what they really need to know once they are on the job. Hands on training with a more experienced officer will help you to learn the ropes and be safe.

Detectives are generally college educated and have been on the force for quite some time, from three to six years. Once you prove yourself as a competent officer, you can move up to detective. Detectives spend their time investigating crimes and trying to solve them. You can choose to specialize in juvenile law, vice, homicide and forensics. If you want to work for the Federal Government, the requirements are similar, but you usually need a bachelor degree.

Image by FBI.gov

To work for the FBI you need a bachelor degree, pass a thorough background check and attend training school. FBI training is 20 weeks long and encompasses 850 hours of work. You’ll study law, legal procedures, firearm training, physical training and be tested on all of these areas. FBI training school is very hard work, but if you can handle it and pass the exams, you can become a Special Agent and work for one of the top agencies which keep our citizens safe.

As a police detective or supervisor you can expect to earn an average of $75,000. An officer will earn an average of $60,000. These figures may be more or less depending on the area you live and your experience and education. As an FBI agent fresh out of the academy you can expect to earn an average salary of $56,000.

Crime is a fact of life, and the country needs qualified, educated and competent criminal justice professionals to protect its citizens. If you want to make a difference in your community, you may want to consider one of the most in demand careers of the decade. Criminal justice careers give you variety in the workplace, a sense of accomplishment, and will be in demand for many years to come.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the fall of 2010, over 19 million students enrolled into two and four year colleges and universities. This is an increase of 16 million since the fall semester of 2000. With this great influx of students, colleges and universities have had to get creative in order to handle the amount of students seeking higher education. One of these ways is an increase in online colleges. Online and distance learning has become an acceptable and viable way to earn your college degree. Another trend that goes hand in hand with online education are accelerated degree programs.

Liverpool University

The average cost of tuition, room and board for the 2010-2011 school year is $12,804 for public schools and $32,184 for private. If you multiply this by four and add on a 10% tuition increase each year the total cost for a public college education is approximately $68,000. This amount almost triples for private colleges and universities. By offering accelerated degree programs, schools can offer a substantial savings to students. Accelerated degree programs are also very attractive to adult students. Instead of devoting four years to their education, they can earn their degree in three and get on with their lives.

Adult learners are a very focused group of students. Unlike traditional age students, they have jobs, families and responsibilities traditional age students just don’t have. Dr. Kathleen P. King, professor of higher education at the University of South Florida, cites these reasons for the popularity of accelerated programs with adult learners. Some of the ways colleges and universities can offer shorter degree programs is through the combination of weekend classes, online classes and intensely focused curriculums. Several schools offer these programs. Some of them include the following:

• University of Phoenix
• Capella University
• Walden University
• Western Governors University
• Drexel University
• Albright College

These are just a few accredited universities and colleges which offer accelerated programs. If you want to get your degree, but the thought of devoting four years seems a bit daunting, or you need to cut down on the cost of your education, you may want to consider an accelerated degree program.

Distance learning programs have become extremely popular with working adults and students of all ages who want the freedom of taking classes on their own schedule. The availability of the internet has been a major contributing factor to this growth in popularity. A new trend is emerging that will have perhaps an even greater impact on distance education, mobile computing. In a report published by Northern Illinois University in their faculty newsletter Spectrum, Mobile Learning Trends in Higher Education, the authors cite the development of new mobile devices as an indication of higher education opportunities in the near future. Mobile devices have become the number one way for people in Asia to access the internet. Here in the United States and Canada, mobile devices are becoming more popular and more powerful. In 2007 thirty two percent of Americans accessed the internet through their Smartphones and mobile devices. The availability of wi-fi and major cell phone providers offering internet to their customers are other major reasons the mobile experience is getting richer and more sophisticated.

So what does this mean to the average distance learner? For one thing it may mean more access to online classes and a more streamlined experience. The paper states that the interaction between instructors, participants and curriculum are the most important factors in mobile learning.

Think of just a few years ago. The only way to access online learning was through your home’s desktop computer. Today you can access online classes through your desktop, laptop, mobile phone, iPad, iPhone and other mobile devices. According to eWeek.com, Smartphone shipments are expected to surpass desktop shipment in the United States by the year 2012.

Tablets are another major player in mobile distance education. Tablets are seen as a way to not only interact with instructors and other students, but as a way to review and study course materials easily. Smartphones are fine, but a tablet gives you more screen room and larger fonts. These are things important to older students because of diminishing eyesight. I have to use my super-readers to see the screen on my cell phone, and a tablet would make reading the material much easier. I can easily see how a tablet would be the perfect mobile device to use for distance learning.

Many of today’s mobile devices are as powerful as desktop computers of just 10 years ago. I know that my desktop computer I have today is at least 3 times as powerful as my first desktop in 2000. This is just a little over a decade of technological growth. It’s hard to tell what the next 10 year will bring in computer technology. Perhaps mobile devices will surpass desktops for accessing distance learning programs. We’ll have to keep an eye on the developing mobile technology and apps to see how much further they develop in the next few years. If indications today hold true, mobile will become a major player in the online learning experience and make distance learning more accessible to all students.

While this may not technically be an adult education trend, I feel it is important for women and men of all ages to be educated on breast cancer awareness. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many campuses are holding walks and educational seminars to call attention to this killer of our mothers, daughters, sisters and loved ones. Even the best online colleges are holding virtual seminars educating students about the risks of breast cancer. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and learning your risk factors and what you can do to prevent this type of cancer will arm you with the facts. Women aren’t the only ones at risk for breast cancer; men can develop it, too.

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The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates there will be over 230,000 women and 2,000 men diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. Of these almost 40,000 people are expected to die. Breast cancer normally forms in the milk glands and ducts of the breast. Symptoms can include a lump, bleeding from the nipple and an orange skin appearance on the breast skin. Since men and women have these structures, both sexes are at risk although women carry a higher risk than men. Science isn’t sure of the exact cause of cancer, but genetics, environment and poor living habits like smoking are thought to contribute to its occurrence.

The good news is with early detection, you have a much better chance of survival than just a few years ago. New treatments and detection methods have increased the 5 year survival rate greatly in just the past decade. Education about breast cancer is also helping to improve survival rates. The Susan J. Komen for the Cure website is a wealth of reliable information you can print out and help your school start an education initiative for breast cancer awareness.  Organize a breast cancer awareness walk on campus, start a support group for students and faculty who have had to face this disease, and ask your campus clinic what you can do to educate everyone about the dangers and risks associated with breast cancer.

Image by Inforbreastcancer.ca

Know your risk, know how to check yourself each month for symptoms, and spread the word about breast cancer. You can also go to the Susan J Komen website and donate money for research efforts. With these steps we may be able to bring an end to this killer that is robbing women and men of their lives.

There’s a new trend on the horizon that colleges and universities are trying to entice student enrollment. Some of the best online schools and campus based programs now offer students discounts on their tuition if they meet certain criteria. Tuition discounts are a way to offer students an education without burdening them with excessive tuition costs. Following the lead of retailers and other businesses, colleges and universities are now recognizing the need to reign in high tuitions. This is great news for anyone wanting to begin or complete their degree. Discounts can be based on financial need, ethnic background, academic status and many other qualifications. Another form of tuition discount is a shortened degree program.

Some schools have begun to offer three year Bachelor degree programs with all of the credentials and certifications of a four year degree program. This can save you thousands of dollars by removing the need to attend one more year. Online classes carry their own type of built in discount since you don’t have to pay for room and board. Most of the schools offering some type of discount are private colleges and universities. Here’s a sample of schools and the discounts they are offering.

• Seton Hall University offers a 66% discount for students who have the academic qualifications.
• Bluefield College offers working adults a 25% discount if they enroll in their inSPIRE program.
• Duquesne University offers Education majors a 50% discount on tuition.
• Columbia College and St. Mary of the Woods are scheduled to begin programs which keep tuition the same during an incoming freshman’s degree program up to five years.
• Baldwin-Wallace College, Midland University, and Randolph-Macon College all plan to guarantee freshman will graduate in four years. If the students maintain sufficient grade point average and other qualifications, and it takes longer than four years these schools will cover the cost of completing their degree programs.
• Benedictine University will pay for tuition and fees for students over the age of 25 that have been out of work for at least 18 months. This is part of their Illinois Back to Work Program.
• Northland College will match the tuition of a student’s home state public university if the student has a B average or better in high school, and a family income of less than $150,000.

What do you think of tuition discounts? Would they be a deciding factor in which school you’d attend?

As the computer industry continues to evolve and technology gets more sophisticated, news ways of sharing and storing data are being developed. A basic understanding of new IT trends is important so you’ll be prepared and know what is on tap for the future. An understanding of IT technology is also important to give you a leg up on your competition once you graduate. Back in the dark ages of early computer use, a network administrator only had to worry about what was on site and how to keep data safe, keep things organized, and their systems up and running. But today’s IT needs create a new set of skills needed, and the ability to keep things running smoothly at the most cost effective way possible.

“To the Cloud!”

This is where cloud computing comes in. Simply put, cloud computing is the ability to store and share data, software, hardware and networks virtually. This can save businesses thousands of dollars in personnel and equipment costs. For the college student this can mean you will have better access to a larger database of information and quicker turnaround if you need computer help. A cloud can be privately maintained, or have public access. Hybrid clouds are also available which blend the two types giving even more access to information and services. These systems don’t come without risks. Tight security and data protection protocols must be in place so that personal files and information are not accessible to just anyone.

There are some real dangers in cloud computing. Hewlett Packard published a very informative PDF file outlining these threats and how institutions can avoid them. The most dangerous threat is the security of data and the possibility of hackers and spammers to obtain the cloud’s user information. Several ways to deter these actions are possible when setting up a cloud network, and the PDF outlines them in ways that are very easy to understand. Mainly protecting user information and implementing strict protocols for membership are two ways to protect users and the data stored on the cloud.

What’s In It For Me?

So what does this mean for you the college student? It means you may not be talking to an IT tech on campus, but in a remote location. This person will be able to access your computer remotely and solve any issues you may be experiencing right then and there. It also means you’ll have more access to information and software than your university might be able to afford on its own. There is a growing trend for colleges and universities to move their entire IT departments off campus and employ cloud computing. As a student you really shouldn’t see much difference in availability of support. As a matter of fact since a cloud computing application is solely devoted to keeping everything up and running, you may notice a shorter downtime if you have problems. You may also notice a greater amount of software options and support for the many applications the cloud carries.

Computers and technology are developing at such an accelerated rate these days, it will be interesting to see what cloud computing evolves into. If you were around in the early days of computers and remember writing your own BASIC programs to make them work, you can appreciate how far we’ve come. It is amazing to see how technology has grown and it is also exciting to see where it will go next.

What are your thoughts on cloud computing? Would you trust your files and data to a remote location? How do you feel about the chance of unauthorized access to your hard drive and personal information? Do you have any experiences with cloud computing you’d like to share?

With the popularity of distance learning growing, new ways of learning have begun to emerge to meet the growing student body. One of the driving forces behind distance learning and online classes is convenience. Who can deny the lure of taking classes in your pajamas at 2am when you can’t sleep? Or the ability to squeeze in a college education while still maintaining a job and taking care of your family? These and other compelling reasons have made online college courses and distance learning one of the fastest ways to get a higher education.

Image by Feuillu

What are some of the most innovative trends on the horizon? While researching the answer to this question I came across a few I found particularly interesting. These new trends and methods of learning are truly cutting edge and couldn’t have been possible just a few years ago. One or two of them would seem like something out of a science fiction show or novel to older students not used to technology evolving at such a break neck speed. The future is upon us folks, and it will only get stranger as time marches on. So let’s take a look at what is coming up in the near future before they are obsolete.

Mobile Access to Classes

Image by Gail Jade Hamilton

Yes there’s nothing new about mobile access, but technology will soon be available to take classes on your mobile devices. Schools and software developers are working to streamline your online class experience so that mobile devices like smartphones and iPads can be used as tools to get on the internet and participate in online courses.

Virtual Classrooms

Already in use by businesses and the medical field, virtual classrooms move beyond the chatrooms and Skype group chats now used by online colleges. Virtual classrooms will include a realistic representation of a classroom complete with interactive media to give students a “real” feel of being in a physical classroom with an instructor and other students.

Words in the Air

Dubbed augmented reality, this is an application that lets you see words in the air with your mobile device. This can be used to add information to locations, and is being used by some mobile providers as a service to their subscribers. Other users can leave you messages that you can see when you hold up your mobile device in the direction of a selected location. Augmented reality is expected to be fully developed for distance education within the next five years.

QR Codes

We’re seeing those funny looking cubes of black and white boxes everywhere now from magazines to television commercials. They are scannable bar codes that connect users to web pages and make it possible to immediately download information or purchase items online. QR codes are being used in libraries for access to links pertaining to books, media and other materials. They can also hold text which is displayed on a mobile device when scanned. You can see how QR codes may become a common way to share information in the very near future.

Image by H. Koppdelaney

What trends have you noticed? Which one of these upcoming trends do you expect to see become very popular? Got any ideas of your own to enhance distance learning? Let us know, we’re always interested in new ideas.