Online Learning Research

It should come as no surprise that these days Clinical Lab Technicians are considered a very high demand profession. They are the part of the medical team that analyzes whatever samples a doctor garners from his patients, then run whatever tests are necessary for a diagnosis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states the need for more is greater than average. There are 326,000 of them in the U.S., as of 2008, with a need for an additional 50,000 by 2018. Many of the new students entering this field will do so with the aid of an online degree.

As such, many people with a technological bent would find this a highly attractive career. It also doesn’t hurt that with a Bachelors degree, certification and a few years experience, a clinical lab tech can be making over $50,000 a year plus benefits. On the other hand, there’s the matter of coming up with the tuition. Even if one gets the degree through a recognized state or online college, the cost of enrolling and fees is growing faster than the rate of inflation. Even on an experienced technician’s salary, it could take a graduate years to pay off the student loans he or she could face.

Yet financial assistance is not limited to a Pell Grant and student loans. Actually, because of the nature of this profession there are an incredible number of alternatives to consider. Just to name a few of them:

(1) S-STEM Scholarships – This program was started about a decade ago and has been greatly expanded over the last two presidential administrations. It awards 100 students $100,000 to $600,000 a year, depending on need, what they are pursuing and academics. It’s designed to help students in their pursuit of science, technological, engineering and mathematic degrees, of which clinical techs certainly fit the bill.

(2) American Society for Clinical Laboratory Society – One of the main professional societies for clinical lab techs. They have a web page containing approximately 25 different scholarships and grants to assist aspiring students help pay their tuition and fees to post-grads obtain research funding, who administers them and where you can go to find out more information on each one.

(3) Work Study/Internship Programs – This is a very popular way for students to learn about the field, and is usually done in conjunction with an online college or brick-and-mortar university. It’s not only an excellent way to earn credits, but to get a paycheck every one to two weeks. Again, the Society has a lot more information for those who want to pursue this route. Just realize these days most recruiters look for grads with full four year programs.

(4) Corporate Scholarships – A number of health and technological corporations are a source of financial aid. Among them are Tylenol, who gives out $250,000 to promising medical professionals and the Siemens Corporation, who donate over $7 million in STEM-related grants. Do a little homework and you’ll find many more.

One last piece of advice: do your research with a financial aid officer for resources for your online college degree. They can help you navigate the realms of paper work as you pursue their computer science degree online and offer even more opportunities than the few listed here. Their advice is often invaluable. For more information about science bachelor degree, check the internet.

Higher education is becoming global, as the number of international students reportedly grows by degrees, online and otherwise. “Global” is the buzzword in education as students explore colleges that offer distance learning degrees, throwing open doors and crossing borders in the pursuit of education.

Colleges and universities throughout the United States in 2008-2009 reported a record high of nearly 672,000 international student enrollments, according to an annual Open Doors survey from the Washington, D.C.-based Institute of International Education. The majority of these students came from India, China and South Korea, and most were studying business and management and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects, the Institute reported.

While a preliminary survey for the 2009-2010 academic year reportedly produced mixed Institute results, the Chronicle of Higher Education has reported that some 3 million study abroad students overall in 2009 is projected to climb to 8 million by 2025. And Ben Wildavsky, who penned the book, “The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities are Reshaping the World”, has likened the worldwide happening to a “free trade in minds” and “a chance for greater intellectual exchange, collaboration, and innovation”, according to an Inside Higher Education report.

Global education can also be big business. International students and their families contribute more than $13 billion a year to the American economy, much of it in the form of tuition, the Institute for International Education noted. Students tend to begin their searches for schools based on guidance from family and friends, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education report on a spring Going Global conference held in London. Latin American students also look toward publications for assistance, undergraduates in Africa and the Middle East rely on the advice of their professors and graduate students look for quality, reputable programs that best meet their career goals, the Chronicle report noted.

In this high-tech age, students worldwide want responses to inquiries and applications in as little as a day. And Going Global speakers cautioned against viewing international students in this competitive education environment as “cash cows” and, instead, suggested giving them something for their money, according to reports.

Already, American colleges and universities maintain the largest share of top researchers and Nobel winners, Wildavsky told Inside Higher Education. The United States currently also draws a majority of top international students, he reportedly noted. With regard to colleges’ online offerings specifically, America is the worldwide leader in reputation, accessibility and acceptance, according to a University Business report.

In pursuing American college degrees online or simply taking classes through colleges online, international students don’t have to travel far or worry about passports, visas, I-20 forms or I-94 cards. In many instances, online college tuition in America reportedly costs the same for foreign students as it does domestic students. And where traditional American campuses in the past have attributed international enrollment declines to post-9/11 precautions and student concerns about the H1N1 virus, these issues don’t exist for those considering colleges online. International students seeking to enroll in classes offered by American colleges online or to pursue American college degrees online should, however, look for accredited institutions, interactive programs and courses with flexible formats that allow for tending to family and work responsibilities, Hobsons education consultants have advised.

At least one American university since 2001 has actually required that undergraduates take college classes online, in part, so that students can obtain global perspectives from worldwide scholar and practitioner partners, according to the Sloan Consortium. The school’s Global Virtual Faculty Program as of spring 2004 included 46 scholars and practitioners from 23 countries who worked with some 900 students, the Sloan Consortium reported.

The flexibility provided by ones distance degree is something everyone everywhere can take advantage of. It allows them to proceed at their own pace, yet remain connected with their fellow students. Ones distance learning programs is the way to go for those who want to take the classes they want, for the degree they need, to allow them to reach their fullest potential. If this method of education is of interest to you and more information about your distance learning programs, check on the internet.

Enrolling in a degree program to earn your MBA degree will aid you in achieving your goals. If you are a working professional who has reached a standstill in your career, and you want to learn the skills needed to become and effective manager, you may want to consider furthering your education in a college distance learning program.

When you’re competing against several candidates with work experience similar to your own, an MBA can help your resume shine. With this added knowledge, you can also show you have the skills to take on a management or leadership role for a big corporation.

In the supercharged pace of today’s business world, there is no longer a “typical” way to earn an MBA. Since many students have personal and professional commitments to maintain while they study for a degree, online colleges have several plans that cater to working adults and students with families. Free online classes and flexible scheduling can help these degree candidates accelerate their career growth.

Many online schools can accommodate even the busiest schedules. Some companies even help their employees pay for tuition. A business degree is often a requirement for top management positions, so employers may offer to cover the cost of classes as a way to groom their workers for success. Other students can apply for an array of grants and scholarships.

Regardless of the method students choose, most business schools will require them to read a lot of case studies. These stories of business strategies are often torn straight from the headlines so students can learn from leading firms’ greatest successes and failures. Studying these strengths and weaknesses in the corporate infrastructure is a valuable way to gain practical knowledge of how a company operates.

Determining what your specialist will be can help you start prioritizing and setting goals for when you graduate. Some students choose accounting or finance, while others explore options in marketing, engineering, and more. By beginning to decide what area of concentration you will be working on, you can start to focus your studies on that particular field. There is something for everyone in the business world, and knowing your strengths will help you narrow down and find your best fit.

Recent graduates may choose to apply for positions in traditional business sectors such as accounting, finance, and marketing. Others may aim for leadership levels in government, healthcare and non-profit groups. Some adventurous entrepreneurs set out alone to start their own businesses after they gain marketable skills in an accredited MBA program. The decision is yours, and you will be able to take your time in constructing a well thought out post-graduation plan.

MBAs typically find they can earn a significantly higher salary with their new online degree. Many recent graduates of these programs report they have gotten lucrative jobs within a very short time of graduating. If your goal is to be promoted, and work your way up the corporate ladder, without compromising your work schedule; you may want to consider enrolling in your on line degrees. You will be able to work towards your undergraduate degree at a time that is most convenient for you if you are studying course materials via an online college.

There’s a saying that advancing one’s education pays off sooner or later. Thanks to 2009’s stimulus act, getting a bachelors degree pays before you even graduate. It made it possible to get a tax refund for going to college, and that refund can be thousands of dollars. Included in this are the online college courses so many students are participating in.

This new provision is the American Opportunity Credit, an expansion and renaming of what was previously the Hope Credit. It can even be used in this April’s income tax filing. Determining if and how you fit in under this benefit is important for every student.

According to the IRS, the differences between the Hope and Opportunity credits are several-fold. The Opportunity Credit entitles more students (or their parents) over the next two years to get a tax credit to pay for not only tuition and fees, but also college-related expenses such as required course materials. It also includes many more people with higher incomes and those who owe no tax, which the Hope didn’t.

The credit is now open to single filers with a modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less. For married couples filing a joint return, the ceiling is now $160,000 or less. Previously, the limits were $48,000 and $96,000 respectively. This does not mean you can immediately apply it to your next tuition bill. You have to wait to file for it with your next income tax filing. This means if you started college this September, you’ll have to wait until April 2010 to claim it.

What one gets is a 100% refund for the first $2,000 in tuition, fees and/or costs related items. For the next $2,000, one can claim an additional 25%. After the $4,000 mark it goes down to zero. So if the total costs are $6,000; one gets a 100% refund for the first $2000, 25% of the next $2,000 (or $500) and nothing for the last $2,000. That’s a total of a $2,500 the following April.

If there’s one thing the IRS is serious about though, it’s to be careful with what one claims as “cost related”. For example, just buying a computer does not make it worthy of a refund. On the other hand, if the school requires a new laptop for its curriculum, it can be claimed.

Most important is the Opportunity could turn into a refund. One can be entitled even if one gets a tax refund without the credit. Again there are some provisos. The refund has a cap of $1,000 instead of $2,500.

There’s one other important detail, and that’s the Opportunity credit is only good for the first two years of college. For juniors and beyond, one has to apply for what is called a Lifetime Learning credit. No matter how a student looks at it though, it’s the kind of stimulus one certainly can use when advancing their education. For more information, check with a tax expert, a financial aid officer or go to the IRS website and look up American Opportunity Credit.

In addition to convenience, those who take their online degree education often do so for financial reasons. Exploring this tax credit, which comes after an outlay of funds, as well as graduate school scholarships options is a good way to maximize and facilitate your learning. If you are interested and would like more information about your scholarships, check the internet.

There are a wide array of reasons why people opt for going to an online college. For instance, cost is a considerable reason. Online schooling just costs considerably less than going on campus. A strong second is flexibility. Students can take a class at their convenience, working their way to their best online degree. This is especially beneficial for those working forty hours a week or for parents. Other reasons include not having to commute; the notes are right on the screen and there’s not even a dress code. As it happens, a new federal-sponsored report is providing another one to add to the list. It’s becoming a superior way to learn.

The U.S. Department of Education merged and reviewed literally hundreds of other reports on e-learning over the past decade and came to the conclusion online student performed better than those taking their classes at a real, not virtual, campus. Their report also stated the online comprehension was superior.

The study primarily concentrated on adults holding regular jobs (those getting their degrees outside of their regular jobs). This group is also the largest demographic group for distance learning. Their motivation was simple enough, the economy. Either they were going for degrees to increase their earning potential or to expand their skills to be more employable. The report did include students in elementary through high school. Yet whatever the age, the results for each group was the same. Online students performed better.

The explanation for it all was simple, time. Online students could take their classes when it was convenient for them, such as after supper, when the kids were at school or nothing was on TV anyway. They managed their valuable time to better effect. As a result they could concentrate on whatever they found interesting or was causing them problems. This more efficient use of their time could then be used to collaborate with fellow classmates, whether to problem solve or just to review. They were maximizing their educational environment on every level.

Another thing that helped was the use of different teaching tools than those used in campus-based courses. These included videos, online quizzes, study groups and online guidance. Despite this broad range of choices, the study discovered learning rates were not inhibited by the technology. Yet it was time management that was uncovered as the most valuable part of students’ results.

This didn’t mean it all comes together easily. Online course teachers work hard creating the lessons for their students to maximize this valuable learning time. Serious schools also had to employ premium and the most modern computer systems and experienced IT staff, learning management software, student services, libraries and staff to train their professors on how to teach online.

Even more interesting, most recruiting officers agree it pays off. They consider top online programs as academically challenging as classroom-taught counterparts. Another survey discovered 80% of senior executives of corporations and owners expressed that online degrees gave them similar quality employees as those who graduated with on campus degrees.

As a bonus, online graduates develop additional skills besides time management. They are more self-motivated, forward thinking, adept at online networking, team building/collaboration and the ability to learn independently. These skills are considered a highly attractive package to recruiters.

With the results of studies showing a definite advantage to distance learning, your best college degree will be what you make the time to earn. Getting your bachelor degree, distance learning will provide you with a discerning edge.If this is of interest to you and more information about online masters programs would be helpful, check the internet.

A dentist’s assistant is that person who must coolly and detachedly prep a patient, be a second pair of hands while her boss puts his ‘victim’ through his ‘tortures’, and then clean up after it’s all over. Considering they are the ones who must make sure a patient doesn’t go tearing out of an office like a wounded bear, it’s no wonder the profession is one of the fastest growing occupations in America. In this technology age, it’s also not a surprise that so many are learning through online education programs.

It’s an interesting occupation in that it’s a pretty wide open field. Many dental assistants started their careers right out of high school. Before graduating they took classes in biology and chemistry, knew their way around a computer and had a personality that could put a patient at ease.

At the same time, the assistant will have to continue her education. Every state has a professional certification process with each having their own rules and regs about it. On the plus side, a few years actually spent working at a dentist office is part of what one must do in order to get that certification.

The advantage of this approach though, aside from already having a job, is that over 90% of dental assistant’s jobs are in dental offices, and each dentist likes to run said office his or her own way. This can take a couple of months in its own right. It also means when it’s time to go on for certification, the vocational school or online college one goes to will more than likely give out some credit for the work-related experience.

Reversing the order, school first, is the other way to go. Nearly 300 online colleges and vocational schools have been recognized by the Professional Dentistry Association (the industry’s governing body). One to two years are required to earn a degree. Walking into the office with the degree usually also makes getting hired a lot easier. In addition, schools help prepare students for the certification exam. It should be noted, one can’t even get the certification without the up to two years of experience anyway.

For the record, as it stands, the need for dental assistants is so tremendous it’s quite common for pros to work for two different offices at the same time. As it happens, over 90% of those employed work for dentist’s offices. So the way the assistant handles all this is to keep an eye on each offices hours and time themselves accordingly.

The average salary for a full time position is a little over $32,000, although it can get up to $46,000. Full timers usually also get solid health care insurance and similar benefits.

As it happens, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says there are currently nearly 300,000 of dental assistants in the country. There is also a need for 100,000 more by the end of the decade. It’s a career that apparently will have a long future ahead of it, even if there will always be some patients who will never appreciate what one does for a living.

Getting a distance degree is where it’s at in this field. Working to gain the experience needed while pursuing medical school degrees for the required degree and certification. This growing field through medical degree programs is ready for those who just love to see others smile.

Online college work might come in even more creative formats and be quicker to complete, since the Federal Communications Commission in March provided Congress with a plan to expand broadband network access and speed up Internet services.  This very change may allow even more students to obtain college degrees online as services speed up.

The National Broadband Plan is reportedly intended in part to encourage online education and online education tools as well as to enhance education connectivity. And Congress reportedly required it as part of a federal stimulus bill known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Internet is the biggest platform for commercial innovation and business success this country has seen, Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher told CSPAN. Creating online college classes that combine high quality subject expertise with the latest technological advancements is mentioned in the Strategy for American Innovation report, which was prepared by the National Economic Council’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.

According to the report, the federal government over the next decade wants to spend up to $500 million for creating online college classes at community colleges that, freely available to students, would allow for continued learning and coursework completion. Invitations would be extended to colleges, universities, publications and others to compete in creating state-of-the-art online classes, the report notes.

Many students already take part in online school programs, access a wide range of online databases and connect with scholars throughout the world, according to broadband plan news release. But while reports show that students in online college programs do at least as well academically as students in traditional college classes do, a pilot program at one university suggested completing online school work might take more time.

Students enrolled in online school offerings and pursuing online degrees can access their class work through wireless services, dialup and high speed DSL services that telephone companies offer and by broadband services with wireless and satellite options. With broadband service a transmission “pipeline”, as the FCC calls it, carries content. Broadband also provides quality access to high-tech Internet features such as streaming media, Internet telephone services, interactive offerings and games, the FCC’s broadband Web site notes. And many have expressed a desire to move toward HD video, Boucher noted. The federal government would continue to give money to local telephone companies, which have been expanding their DSL services, until broadband becomes more widely available and even telephone service is carried through the Internet, Boucher said.

Making higher education more accessible to students has been a goal for President Barack Obama, who recently signed an education bill into law that makes more financial aid available to students pursuing online degrees. Online college classes and online degree programs themselves make higher education more accessible.  Many offer flexible course formats that accommodate students with work and family responsibilities who might not otherwise be able to continue their studies.

Many areas of the broadband plan would reportedly involve passing new laws and setting new agency rules. Its goals by 2020 include increasing download speeds from what Boucher said is as few as 5 megabits per second to 100 megabits. The FCC in the plan also notes that network connectivity needs to be expanded. Florida Congressman Cliff Stearns told CSPAN that some 7 million people throughout the United States don’t have access to broadband network services and that, of the 95 percent of households that do, two-thirds use high-speed Internet services.

As more and more people are returning to school, many of those students are getting their distance learning bachelor degree.  Classes and the funding for education are allowing everything from their associate degree on line all the way to a masters to fit the student’s schedule and their life responsibilities.  The future now looks even brighter for those students earning their online college degree. 

Economic times are tough, but the best way to still increase one’s income is by participating in degree programs online.  Still, even if you hold down a regular job while going to school, that doesn’t stop a landlord wanting the rent the first of the month. This lack of finances is a leading reason why many students drop out in their first two years.

Don’t think the government isn’t aware. As it happens, the Board of Education has developed a supplemental grant for those with extreme needs. One of these programs was launched in 2006. The Academic Competitive Grant (ACG) can provide a freshman up to $750 in addition to the Pell. A sophomore can get even more, up to $1,300. For third year or higher students, there is a different program, called SMART.

There are requirements that come with the ACG. First, a candidate must complete a FASFA form and apply for the Pell. The Board of Education decides if the applicant is entitled to the ACG. If so, it will send out an additional questionnaire that also must be completed.

Entitlement isn’t automatic either. The student must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. He or she must also take a minimum of a half-semester’s worth of courses. While the money is supplemental to the Pell Grant, the total sum awarded of the two can’t exceed the cost of attendance.

Speaking of the college, it must have an accredited program. High school is also important. The ACG require the student also go to a state recognized secondary school system. While the rules have been modified to allow for home schooling, there are two important provisos there. The first the home school must be recognized by the student’s local state. The second is the level of study must meet federal standards for “rigorousness”, i.e., it must cover certain basic points in science and the arts.

A student must also stick to a predetermined group of degrees. While the field of studies can be pretty broad, and includes just about every form of science, tech, engineering, math, teaching and a number of liberal arts, no one gets an ACG for basket weaving or something similar. For a list of recognized degrees and specialties, go to the Board of Education’s website.

There is one extra proviso for students applying for a second year of ACG money. They must have maintained a 3.0 average (out of a 4.0) in their freshmen year, or whatever the college’s equivalent of a 3.0 is. The college also must be accredited, but as far as the ACG is concerned, the school can be either on campus or online.

What really matters is there is additional money for those who do want to get an advance education by online college degree. Yes, there are some conditions and provisos attached, but isn’t the extra grants for college worth it? For more information on the ACG, go to its website. If you are trying to find creative ways to get your degree, and need more information about university distance learning degree, research the internet.

Recovering from an illness sometimes takes longer than the illness itself, and often can have its own hazards and setbacks. Because of this, the physical therapist has become an essential part of a patient’s medical team. Yet it doesn’t end there. The therapist also has a person he or she can’t live without, and that’s the therapy assistant. Many of these assistants trained just the way the therapist did – via online programs that let them combine book learning with hands on training.

First and foremost, it should be noted there is quite a difference between a therapy assistant and a therapy aide. Aides generally just need a high school degree, are hired on the spot, and are trained on the job. Their responsibility is mainly janitorial, clerical and as an extra set of hands. They don’t do direct therapy. They also don’t need to be registered or certified.

The way the recovery process often works these days is the therapist usually comes up with a program under consultation with a patient’s doctor. From there, the instructions are passed down to the assistant to carry out. Assistants also keep track of a patient’s recuperation for the therapist and doctor, recording progress and other pertinent information.

Unlike the aide, the assistant is a degreed field. It is generally offered by online colleges and their brick-and mortar counterparts as a two-year degree program. The standard educational process is two-step. The first leg involves classroom courses such as anatomy, physiology and psychology. The second leg involves clinical lab training including learning CPR, massage, first aid and field experience in treatment centers. The clinical experience is considered critical as this position truly is a hands-on position, more so than many other medical fields.

Like the boss, the assistant must be licensed in order to practice. This involves taking a certification exam. One important note an assistant must always keep in mind is many states require they regularly stay on top of the field through continued education. Because of this, most assistants keep subscription accounts with online colleges as a part of the job. One should check with their local state board to see if the live in one of those states.

Compensation is often dependent on where the assistant finds a job. Places of employment can go anywhere from major health institutions to home health care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that private doctor’s offices are on the lower end of the pay scale, averaging around $44,000. Home health assistants are on the high end, at just about $52,000. It can go over $60,000 with benefits depending on the institution and the hours the assistant puts in.

As of 2008, the United States employed nearly 64,000 assistants. The Bureau projects there will be a need for an additional 21,000 by 2018. That’s a 33% increase, making it one of the most in demand occupations out there.

For those who want to learn more, a good place to start is with a college’s career counselor and financial aid advisor for college degree. Because of the extreme need here and in other fields where as medical assistant degrees is the criteria, there is a lot of financial aid available. This aid is well beyond the standard Pell, SEOG and other federal grants. Check with your potential degree about how to obtain those funds as well.