Online learners are finding new and interesting ways to make online learning fun and beneficial. If you are an online student or plan to attend an online institution, here are the 10 best internet savvy tips for effective online learning.
1. E-Mail
Even though there are probably better and newer way of communicating online, e-mail will always play a part in the way we communicate with each other and a great way to pass important information on to groups of people at one time.
2. Online Flashcards
Since kindergarten, flashcards have always been an excellent tool in the classroom. Flashcards helps you to learn and memorize terms and definition with ease. There are a number of websites offering the tools necessary to make online flashcards. Make use of them!
3. Wikipedia
Wiki is used as a valuable resource for online students. As an online learner, you can find the answers to anything and everything in one place at Wikipedia.com, so take advantage of this additional resource. Keep in mind that Wikipedia in a user edited site, so it is a good idea to verify the authenticity of the information.
4. Posting Your Notes Online
Posting your notes online can be of great value to other online students who may not have the time to read an entire book about the subject. So if you are an excellent note taker and think your notes will help other students, then by all means do it.
5. Blogging
Blogging is another wonderful way to get your ideas and opinions across to others. Blogs gives an opportunity to discuss topics of interest to you and to learn other perspectives on the topic at hand. There are a few free sites such as WordPress or BlogSpot if you are interested in blogging or even participating in discussions.
6. Join or Create Discussion Groups
Joining or even creating an online discussion group on a topic of interest to you allows you to collaborate with other online classmates or other online students. Online discussion groups give you a broader picture of the topic and a chance to get a different perspective on certain issues.
7. Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is an excellent way to collaborate with two or more locations via two-way video and audio transmission simultaneously.
8. Online Interactive Platforms
This is another wonderful idea to discuss topics of interest to you and to collaborate with others who have similar interests.
9. Podcast
You can create a podcast if you have the right equipment and the skills to get this in motion. This is a wonderful way to broadcast your presentation and what you are learning to an online audience. This is also an excellent tool to help you re-learn and retain information.
10. Broadcasting Online
Broadcasting your presentation on YouTube can reach a wider audience who may find your presentation useful.
Finding savvy tips for online learners can be a wonderful idea to make your online learning experience a memorable one. These 10 best internet savvy tips for online learners will be of great value to you throughout your online learning. Give them a try!
Google has finally broken into the world of social networking. Not to say they did not have social networking sites before. Their social networking sites such as Orkut or OpenSocial were not such a hit within the online social networking community. With these sites, they were following the same mold of Facebook and Twitter who fan base started from scratch and then grew with popularity.
What Google have now done is simply a stroke of genius. They have embedded Google buzz into their Gmail service. As a result, the fan base is already existent and studies show is growing at an average 176 million visitors each month. Although Google buzz is new, its impact is huge as users of the service gave access to all the gadgets of the Gmail service including streaming of status updates, links, videos and buzzes. To fathom the impact of Google Buzz, one would have to imagine cramming Twitter, Yammer, Yelp, Facebook and Foursquare into one social network.
Uses of Google Buzz in Education
The open source approach that Google has adopted in the development of Google Buzz has increased the excitement level in the secondary application development market. The flexibility of Google Buzz has brought with it many useful applications outside of the direct social networking world. After close examination, we have seen where Google Buzz has many ways in which it can be incorporated into the educational system. Some of these methods include:
Users of Google Buzz are able to conduct Facebook and twitter like conversations. Students can use this forum to communicate easily with their peers without having to sign into another social networking site while checking their Google mail. They can even throw open questions much like a Facebook status message but with a more interactive flavor.
Being embedded into Google Gmail service, teachers can easily conduct research on any topic without losing sight of the happenings of fellow teachers and linked students.
With Google Buzz, teachers are now able to maintain a closer relationship with their online students.Teachers can now easily with one application use their Gmail embedded Google Buzz to disseminate and collect assignments and then make immediate comments either generally or to specific students. This will certainly reduce the hard copy paper work at school, as all messages can be easily stored on request.
Unlike Twitter, with Google teachers are able to select who can see particular buzz they upload. Therefore, if they want to address only a part of the class you can do so using Google buzz without fear of general exposure.
Google buzz has brought with it an easier method of promoting ideas or items to the public. This is a great opportunity for research doctors at universities to promote their ideas. What Google has done is to give users of the Google buzz the ability to make public posts that are included into their general Google search engine. As a result, professors only have to include keywords that will attract traffic and direct this traffic to your post.
If you are an online student or considering enrolling in an online degree program you should not hesitate, but keep in mind some of the mistakes that are found among online students so that you don’t make the same mistakes. Take a look at the 8 worst mistakes of online students listed below.
1. Choosing an Online Institution that is not Accredited
It is important to seek out an online college or university that has an accreditation from a reputable organization. Look for institutions that have been accredited by a regionally or nationally-recognized accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
2. Believing that Employers do not Accept Online Degrees
Most employers understand the need for busy professionals who want to continue working while attending a distance learning program at the same time. Employers are more concerned that the educational institution is accredited and has a good reputation rather than the method you use to obtain your degree, but this varies from one employer to the next.
3. Thinking that Online Education is Easier
Most, if not all, of the accredited online degree programs are the same as on-campus programs. You will receive the same subjects, assignments, projects and class work that on-site students receive. You will also get the same high quality education online that is found in the traditional degree programs. Studies show that distance learning is just as effective as traditional on-campus learning.
4. Online Attendance is more time Consuming than Traditional Courses
Online learning is ideal for people who would like to continue their education but do not have the time to attend the traditional classroom setting. Distance learning makes education more convenient especially for adults with families and full-time jobs. Many people choose distance learning simply out of necessity. Not everyone can enroll in traditional higher education due to work and other commitments and obligations so distance learning provides the flexibility to continue working at a current job while pursuing your educational and career goals at the same time.
5. Thinking online learning is not right for everyone and may not be for me
It really depends on your learning style. Online learning is very different from traditional, on-site learning I have to agree. However, anyone can adapt to online learning, all it takes is a little adjustment and a bit of getting used to.
6. Procrastinating
Procrastinating can be a major problem and can play a big role in the outcome of your experience, online or in-class. If you are a procrastinator, you will have to work extra hard. Set weekly goals and deadlines and try your best to stick to them.
7. Failing to use all the Online Resources and Mentoring
Educators are the best resource an online student can utilize. Getting the help from a mentor can be of great benefit. So stay connected via online discussions forums, chat rooms and e-mail.
8. Paying more than you have to
– Most online institutions offer financial aid, grants, scholarships, loans and other ways for you to pay for your education, so take advantage of every opportunity. Don’t borrow more than you need and find different ways to save money, like buying used text books instead of new books and so on.
