Engineering Degree Online | A Three Part Primer about Online Degrees - Part 3

Posted by bposton on November 9th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

Here’s part three of my quick primer on taking online courses or getting a
degree online.

So, what’s it really like taking an online class?

OK, here’s the deal.

There are basically two types of online classes. The first kind of class taking is call
asynchronous - a techie term that means the class is not actually scheduled. The professor
will set a particular deadline for assignments and tests, but then you work on your own through
the lessons, anytime you want to - day or night, just so long as you get the assignments and tests
done by the time they are due.

Then there’s the other kind of class-taking which is labled synchronous. This is when both the students and
the professor log in to a website at regular, preset times for online discussion about what the subject matter might be.

Either way, this is way different from going to an actual classroom. No desks with bubble gum under them :-)
no way to raise your hand. And no heavy book bags (that’s my favorite).

However, since most classes use technology like instant messaging, online video lectures, etc an online
class can be every just as interesting and engaging.

Think you’ll miss the classroom environment? Well, if you enroll in an online degree program offered by
a school near where you live, you might be able to attend some of the classroom lectures.

But my guess is you won’t miss a thing.

Actually, a lot of students have said that taking a course online is more challenging than a traditional class.

That’s because it requires more disipline to log in regularly to complete your assignment than getting to a traditional
class, especially where the workload is often bunched around tests and writing assignments.

And you can’t hide quietly in the back of the classroom when you haven’t done the assignment. The comments made in the online chats and posts on the website will tell the professor actively engaged you are.

So it is different, but in a very good way.

Think about it this way - where else can you show up for class in your pajamas and unwashed hair and not worry what
your classmates think of you? :-)

Ben

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Engineering Degree Online | Kentucky Education votes for a Diploma Mill?

Posted by bposton on November 8th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

Hey so it’s the day after Election Day - did you vote? I did :-)

In the spirit of the election I thought I’d report about a recent political news story from
Kentucky.

It seems that a PAC from the Kentucky Education Association endorsed a state Senate candidate who received his
bachelor’s degree from a “diploma mill.”

The Kentucky Educator’s Political Action Committee recently changed its position to recommend
the Democratic candidate Douglas Goodman instead of the Republican Sen. Elizabeth Tori in the 10th
Senate District.

They first picked Tori as their recommended candidate, but then switched to Goodman after Tori
indicated in a forum that she would be open to a pilot program for school vouchers, which the teachers’
lobby opposes.

Then Goodman, a county magistrate who manages a construction company, says he received his
bachelor’s degree from Kennedy-Western University, which is an unaccredited institution based in Wyoming.

Of course, the PAC says that Goodman’s educational background wasn’t an issue…

And of course, Goodman is against vouchers…

Ah, the politics of it all…:-(

A timely reminder to just vote NO for Diploma Mills

Ben

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engineering degree online : more on the technical requirements

Posted by bposton on October 26th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

You know how you have to look on the side of the software box at Best Buy and squint
really hard to read all the techincal stuff you need to run it?

That’s kinda how I feel about figuring our the technical requirements for
an online degree program.

But here’s what I think is a good representation of what you’ll need, PC-wise,
to take an online class.

This comes from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

System Requirements

Minimum Hardware Requirements

500MHz (or higher) PC
128MB RAM
High-speed connection such as cable, DSL, LAN, etc.*
Color monitor (recommended resolution: 1024 x 768 minimum)
Audio card and speakers

Note that 56K modem connections are not guaranteed to provide sufficient bandwidth
to view courses with streaming video lectures. Students with only a modem connection
should contact the Office of Continuing Engineering Education before registering for courses.

Minimum Software Requirements

Windows 98, 2000, or XP
Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher
Windows Media Player
Adobe Acrobat Reader

Other Software
Some courses may take advantage of other multimedia components and thus require additional software.
For course specific information consult the appropriate home page.

Of course, like most technology, this information will be obsolete in about a year, so
make sure you keep up with the college program you’re interested in and get as much specific information as you can before you head out to Best Buy…:-)

Ben

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