Distance learning degrees - what do employers think of them?

By Mary Jack

Distance learning degrees and online degree programs have become popular since the internet became a household name. This has opened doors to a great opportunity for those wishing to pursue further education. But just as it is with everything new, the internet has also presented challenges and created room for sale of unscrupulous degrees and diplomas. The figures released by USA Today indicate that in 2003, over 400 diploma mills were in operation and the number was on the increase. Surprisingly, this dubious operation of degree mills seems to be thriving in an industry currently estimated at $500 million per year.

However, despite all the unpleasant information going around about distance learning degrees, the fact is there are plenty of legitimate universities and colleges offering online degree programs. These colleges are legitimate and not involved in any way in offering dubious and fake diplomas. Instead, these colleges are going the extra mile to provide quality education online by taking advantage of all available instructional resources such as quality instructional design coupled with video lectures, online digital libraries and proctored exams to ensure their students get quality education and a valid, qualified diploma. Unfortunately, numerous employers have not yet been sold into this alternative way of acquiring education, thus they still regard such degrees as invalid or dubious.

To address the misinformation, 6 accreditation agencies have been authorized by the U.S. National Education Board to weed out the unscrupulous bogus programs. Then, the agencies give accreditation to the colleges and universities that meet the minimum standards for legitimate learning institutions. In addition, the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) also provide accreditation specifically to distance learning schools. The DETC has the backing of both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Department of Education. Therefore the students can rest assured their education has matched, and often exceeded that of their traditional peers.

In addition, specific programs in specialized areas can obtain accreditation through the agencies associated with the subject matter. For example, the American Health Information Management Association provides accreditation for qualifying health programs; accounting programs are assessed by the International Association for Management Education. However, it only counts if the agencies are endorsed by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Why does accreditation matter to a student? A college accreditation agency evaluates the different aspects of colleges or universities against minimum standard criteria to determine if the particular institution meets set basic requirements that determine the quality of education it should offer. College accreditation is important to ensure that the quality of education, facilities in a college and support given by that college meets certain standards while specialized accreditation checks the excellence of specific programs regardless of the institution offering that program. Likewise it means specialized accreditation check on course content and the curriculum of the program against pre-determined standards of the distance learning college or university.

Distance learning degrees from accredited institutions assure graduates, parents and prospective employers any degree earned is well deserved. The work completed has met the standards of adequately preparing people in their major area of study. Conversely, it also means colleges and universities not granted accreditation do not meet the standards of excellence required. Nevertheless, for the student who is only taking classes necessary to an area of specialization, only the courses need that all important stamp of approval.

Nevertheless, in the end, it all comes down to the discretion of the employer. He or she must decide whether potential employees have satisfactorily completed an online degree program. Hopefully, with accreditation through a well recognized agency, the confusion can be eliminated, and a valid resume will make it to the short list of excellent candidates with their distance learning degrees as an impressive symbol of fortitude and dedication to personal achievement.

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How to Work and Achieve Distance Learning Education all together

By Mary Jackson

Consider the perks of a distance learning education: keep working and getting paid, forget a class attendance schedule, and have the flexibility of studying whenever convenient. In fact, students striving for an online degree seem to have the best of both worlds.

However, even learning online is not perfect. It requires a lot of discipline to stay on task and keep personal priorities straight. As a learner, you must be intrinsically motivated to succeed. Without the in-class interaction between peers and the professor, it is more difficult to keep focused on the ultimate goal.

So, how can a distance learner overcome the challenges of shuffling work, school, and family? Creating and sticking to a schedule is the only way to survive and succeed. The trick is to apportion a 24 hour day to include enough time for the family, work, and school responsibilities. Thus, it is very important to let the family in on the plan, and when you should not be disturbed. Again, do not give into the temptation to deviate from the plan.

Another important aspect of a distance learning education is to stay in touch with classmates and instructors through email, instant messenger, college discussion boards or Internet calling. Discuss projects and assignments with peers who can help you stay focused by holding you accountable, and providing motivation and encouragement whenever needed.

In addition to peer contact, rewarding personal education goals is an excellent way to stay motivated and succeed in obtaining a distance learning education. Write particular course milestones on a calendar, and then celebrate the achievement. For example, after turning in a major paper, do something nice for yourself. Then, cross out each accomplishment. With a sense of personal satisfaction, it will keep you motivated to face the next educational hurdle.

Finally, make sure to have a quiet, undisturbed place to study. It is extremely easy to be distracted by the television, a ringing phone, or normal family activities in the household. If necessary, lock yourself in a quiet room equipped with a comfortable chair, a good desk or table, and ample space to create a productive learning environment.

Although distance learning is a great and effective learning concept, much of its effectiveness is dependent on the habits and determination of the individual. The full advantages of distance learning can only be gained through hard work, discipline and determination for success.

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Bogus Online Bachelor Degrees - How Can You Tell?

By Mary Jackson

As the demand for the online Bachelor degree rises, so do the number of fake colleges and universities. Some actually offer diplomas for sale to potential customers through bulk emails. However, many take advantage of innocent and unsuspecting students by offering lower than normal tuition fees, credit for life experiences, no tests, and an easy road to that coveted diploma. If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is the case.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult for aspiring students to differential between a real online Bachelor degree and the one that is not worth the paper on which it is printed. Most students are seeking an online education because they do not have the ability to attend classes on campus. In addition, many simply live too far away-even overseas. Therefore, the only criterion for determining a school's validity is the website. Important decisions are made on whether the site looks professional and seems to offer the right education; but, that is no way to judge whether a college is credible or not.

One of the best ways to determine credibility is to pay close attention to how the credentials are stated. For example, if an educational institution claims to have nationwide or worldwide accreditation, without revealing which government agency provided the accreditation, it's possible the college or university probably does not possess the necessary seal of approval to provide legitimate online Bachelor degrees.

In the U.S., college accreditation is awarded by one of the following six accreditation agencies which are all appointed by the National Board of Education - New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU). Each agency has been allocated responsibility for providing accreditation for schools in specific states. Therefore, it would be best to run checks on a particular online degree institution with the agency offering college accreditation for the state in which the college is registered in.

Another important clue to illegitimacy is mass-emails or mail offering degrees for sale. There are cases of online Bachelor degrees, Masters, or even online Doctorate degrees being obtained by a fixed tuition rate. Some bogus colleges even have the audacity to promise a degree in the mail within 7 days. These unethical businesses take advantage of people who must have a degree in order to get a decent job, or keep the one they have in the first place. However, others take big steps to appear above board and genuine. Displaying evidence of accreditation from a bogus website makes the "school" look real. But, unless one of the 6 authorized agencies is mentioned, it may not be an accredited school. In addition, the only way to earn a college degree is by honest hard work and dedication. If a site offers credit for life experiences, travel, work experience, educational background, or even the amount of books read in the past, rest assured it may not be an institute dedicated to qiality, legitimate and excellent learning.

In short, because of the influx of fake degrees, it leaves the employers worried about the legitimacy of online Bachelor Degrees. Thus to avert these fears and ensure you get a job with an online degree, it is imperative to carefully select a college that possesses all the support and resources to provide quality education approved by the U.S. Department of Education, and granted accreditation through one of the 6 designated agencies with the authority to award proper accreditation to legit institutions.

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8 Best Jobs With An Online Information Technology Degree

By Mary Jackson

With an online IT degree, you can apply for great jobs in the IT or computer arena like testing the newest software and learning the latest programs. After graduation, here is a partial list of some of the most sought after occupations: Interface designer ,Systems analyst, Computer programmer,Network Administrator, Database administrator,Software Support , Software engineer, omputer engineer.

With businesses becoming more reliant on technology, employers are looking for individuals who possess the skills to keep them competitive. One of the best resources for checking out job statistics is the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. According to the 2008-09 edition, 50% of computer programmers hold at least a B.S. Degree in Computer Science or similar area of expertise. With an online IT degree, you will have more opportunities to have the occupation most people only dream about.

How can an online IT degree help you reach an occupational goal?

A computer science online degree will prepare you for a career in IT, Computer Security or any of the above positions in the same way as a traditional classroom degree. But instead of having to go to class, rearrange your work schedule, or disturb other areas of your life, you can take classes online, study at your convenience and not have to worry about the added costs of parking or leaving work early to attend classes. When you take online courses, you can expect to learn any of the following and more: Hardware and software design, Software development, Troubleshooting, Networking Data Security, Database management, Web design, Develop security plans.

As companies continue to grow and advance in the technological age, specialized departments are often necessary keep the businesses up and running, including maintaining open lines of communication with consumers and employees. Companies geared toward manufacturing and computers need talented individuals with expertise in developing new software and hardware to keep up with consumer needs and desires. With so many options, IT students will need to discover their niche of particular interest.

Choosing the right online IT degree

First, where do you see yourself five years from now; what information technology degree will get you there? When making the determination, bear in mind the job market. Some computer related occupations like information security and support are on the rise, while the need for programmers is decreasing.

Once again referring to the most recent edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the coming years should continue to see a rise in the need for support personnel by approximately 13%. When deciding on the best career options, make certain the online college of choice is accredited, determine your technological strengths and interests, decide whether to get a degree encompassing many areas of technology or hone in on one area of expertise. Finally, make sure to select a program most likely to ensure employment right out of college.

Earning an online IT degree in any of the specialized areas mentioned above will provide the opportunity to gain the expertise, in great demand, that will translate into a fulfilling and lucrative career. You chances of finding a good job right out of college are greater. In fact, potential employers may come looking for you, and offer you a place in the company immediately after graduation.

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Why Everyone Should Know How To Astral Project

By John B Keaple

Each person has the natural ability to astral project. Many people do it and are not even aware of the fact that they do. The key is to consciously astral project, and control where your astral body is going and what it is doing.

If you are interested in astral projecting, you probably already know what your astral body is and about the astral plane. Read on to find a few different methods that will help you learn to astral project. Since astral projecting is such a personal experience, it is important for you to find techniques that suit you best.

The first technique is one that you can do when you are in bed and getting ready to go to sleep. This is a simple five step process.

*The first thing you want to do is get completely relaxed. You can't astral project unless you achieve a deep level of relaxation. Lie down in bed, and begin with your toes. Tense them up for a few moments, then consciously relax every muscle. Do the same thing to every muscle, working your way up your body until you finish with your head and face. This may feel unfamiliar at first, but you will soon get used to this method of relaxation. Your body may feel rather heavy. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

*Second, you need to deepen and slow your breathing. There is a technique that is used for meditation, and what you want to do it breathe in deeply and pay attention to the way the air feels as it enters your lungs and moves down through to your diaphragm. Then you exhale completely, slowly and as you feel the air leaving your lungs and going out of the body you are relaxing your body and mind. It is important that as you breathe in deeply that you do not fall asleep, to help avoid falling asleep you may want to focus on the center of your forehead.

*Third, pay attention to how you feel physically. You should feel as if your body were very heavy. It should feel like it would be very difficult to move about. Once you feel these sensations, turn your attention to your astral body. Your astral body should feel light and weightless. It should feel free. Close your eyes to see your astral body. You are as weightless as bubbles or feathers floating on the breeze. The weight of your physical body does not affect the lightness of your astral body.

*At this stage, many people using this method say that they can see their darkened room even with their eyes closed. It may appear to be filled with purple light. If you get to this stage, start focusing your attention on the light fixture on the ceiling.

*The fifth step is where you want to imagine that you are pulling the ceiling light to you. As you are pulling the light to you, you will probably feel as though you are floating. It is important that you stay conscious. Most likely you will now be aware that you are floating, you might even be able to see your physical body asleep below you now.

Wow you just had a successful astral projection session! Now you can begin astral traveling. If this method did not work well for you, try out the next one.

The next method to try is called gazing. Try this as you are going to bed. Find something that you want to use as a focal point it can be a picture on the wall, the moon outside your window, a crystal or anything that you can see easily while lying down in bed.

Once you have chosen an object, place it in your view site and lie down in bed. Focus on the object, as you stare at the object you should being to feel you eyelids get heavy. As they do, it is important that you keep starring at the object. Your eyes will close eventually, but you will still be able to see the object. Keep starring at the object, next you will want to sit up or stand up. As you do this, do not be alarmed to see your physical body still laying there asleep.

If these techniques don't work for you the first couple of times, don't get discouraged. Try them again. If they still don't work, there are other methods to try. It is imperative that you don't get frustrated. This will only cause anxiety and make it more difficult to relax completely so you can achieve a successful astral projection.

It is very important that you understand that it is not really the tools or techniques you use to astral project that may be holding you back. The real stumbling block no matter what method you use is your own subconscious mind. Give your subconscious reassurances that it is acceptable for your spirit body to leave your physical body for a short time. Affirmations are a very effective way to send this message to your subconscious mind. Once your subconscious mind accepts this, astral projection will be very easy for you.

There are also a few other short cuts to help you astral project very rapidly. Without them it can take a long time to get into the right state of mind but if you use them it can happen very fast after your first attempt!

Firstly hypnosis can really help to get you into a fully relaxed state. A quality guided hypnosis session will also explain the steps of how to astral project as you are experiencing it, rather than you worrying about what you should be doing!

There is also a sound technology that is being developed called "binaural beats." In this technology, different sound frequencies are played in each ear. This sends signals to your brain that quickly relaxes you into a deep meditative state, increasing the likelihood of a successful astral projection.

Astral projection is not as hard as many people think it is. Everyone is born with the natural ability to do this, and these tools and techniques help you develop this talent to its full ability. Give them a try and see what works best for you.

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The author John B Keaple writes for the astralprojectiontravel.com website. You can enjoy the incredible experience of astral projection and you can try it yourself when you get 29 Free how to astral project Binaural and hypnosis mp3 audios when you visit here.

A Beginners Guide To How To Astral Project

By John B Keaple

Everyone is born with the ability to astral project. Most people are not even aware that they are traveling. What you want to learn is to astral project consciously you want to control where you send your astral body and remember what it does.

We will assume right now that you know what the astral body is and what the astral plane is. The purpose here is to offer a few different ways to learn how to astral project. Astral projection is a personal experience, so it is important that you figure out which techniques will work best for you.

The first one is fairly easy for most people. You want to do this when you are in bed and just about ready to go to sleep. This technique involves five simple steps.

*First, before you go to sleep make sure that you completely relax your body. You want a deep state of relaxation. An easy way to do this is to lay in bed, and starting with your toes tense and relax each muscle. You want to work your way up your body, each muscle all the way to your face. At first, this may seem uncomfortable or your body may feel very heavy. There is nothing to worry about, this feeling is present because your body is not used to being this relaxed.

*Next, take deeper, slower breaths. Using a common meditation technique works for some people. Breathe in deeply, paying close attention to how it feels for the air to come into your lungs and push against your diaphragm. Exhale slowly, completely emptying your lungs. Feel how the air leaves your body as you relax. Try to stay awake through all this. What may help is to focus on the center of your forehead, in the region of the third eye.

*Third, pay attention to how you feel physically. You should feel as if your body were very heavy. It should feel like it would be very difficult to move about. Once you feel these sensations, turn your attention to your astral body. Your astral body should feel light and weightless. It should feel free. Close your eyes to see your astral body. You are as weightless as bubbles or feathers floating on the breeze. The weight of your physical body does not affect the lightness of your astral body.

*Now is when many people who use this technique report that they are able to see the dark room then are in even though their eyes are closed. The room seems to be cloaked in a purple light. If you are able to get to this step then you need to focus your attention on the ceiling light.

*For the fifth step of this method, imagine that you are pulling the light on the ceiling toward you. This action may make you feel like you're floating. Remember to stay conscious! The floating feeling should continue, and if you look down, you may see your physical body asleep on the bed below.

Wow you just had a successful astral projection session! Now you can begin astral traveling. If this method did not work well for you, try out the next one.

This technique is known as the gazing method. You can do this technique when you are going to bed as well. All you need is something to focus on, this can be a picture in your room, the moon outside the window, a crystal, whatever you prefer.

Now that you have your object, place it so you can see it easily when you are lying in bed. Focus on this object. As you continue to stare at it, you should feel your eyes getting heavy. Even though they get heavy, keep staring at the object. While your eyes will eventually close, you should still be able to see the object. As you continue to stare, you may feel like you want to sit up or even stand. As this happens, do not be surprised if you still see your physical body lying on the bed, asleep.

Don't get discouraged if you don't succeed the first few times you try them. Frustration will increase your anxiety levels, which will prevent you from relaxing and being able to project astrally. If you find that neither of these two techniques work for you, don't worry there are others that you can try.

In fact it is vital you understand that whatever tools and techniques you try, the main stumbling block to successful astral projection is actually your own subconscious mind. You need to reassure your subconscious mind that it is perfectly okay for your spiritual body to leave your physical body. One way you can do this is by using affirmations. Once your subconscious mind understands this, then you will find astral projection easy!

There are a few short cuts that can help you learn to astral project very quickly. They can speed up the process of getting into a relaxed state of mind, making it much easier to have a successful astral session.

Firstly hypnosis can really help to get you into a fully relaxed state. A quality guided hypnosis session will also explain the steps of how to astral project as you are experiencing it, rather than you worrying about what you should be doing!

Another new method using sound technology involves "binaural beats." This involves different frequencies of sound being played in each ear. This technique can rapidly put you into a very deep meditative state that is perfect for successful astral projecting.

Remember that being able to astral project is not as difficult as most people believe it is. It is a natural ability that you were born with, and all of these tools and techniques just help you to fine tune an ability which is already there!

About the Author:

John B Keaple is a writer for the astralprojectiontravel.com website. Discover the incredible experience of astral projection for yourself and get 29 Free how to astral project Audios when you visit here.

How to Find Death Records Online

Death records is considered as one of the important one, because these can be used for some legal actions like if someone want to transfer all his properties on an individual and that person already passed away. By using these records you can search for his descendants and who can claim all his properties.

Death records contain information like, name, address, birth date, marital status, and surviving family members and the cause of his death. Such record are regularly maintained by the government within it’s locality to where the death take place or the state and city of residence of the deceased. These records are for public archives and it is made accessible for the public. There are certain restriction applied in accessing this kind of records but basically everyone can pull out the records of an individual as long as that person followed some procedures. There are lots of ways for you to access these records of someone, you can walk in, write in, ask by phone, or go online and visit few government offices or with some commercial information providers.

There is no doubt about it, most people use the method by going online, than driving to few government agencies or other resources just to get the death records you need, and by sending written request about asking permission to acquire the death records of someone. With going online and doing your search on the internet, you can perform your death records search fast, easy and convenient, since you can do your search at the comfort of your own home, and with just few clicks of your mouse, you will be given access to the records that you need about a person. There are two ways for you to get death records online; you can get it through free and fee bases. Of course, some free websites will tell you that they are offering free search or will show you teaser information that can make feel like doing search with them, but you soon realized that it is just their tactic since you will end up needing to pay for a fee.

There are some other free websites that can’t provide you with accurate information, since all they have are limited and incomplete. So if need precise and correct death records of a person, you better go with paid search service, but make sure to go with a reliable one. You can at least try to check out if the search service is already establish and is there to provide accurate and precise information, a website that has complete databases. Thanks to these paid search services, death records can easily be reach without hassle, definitely, your small amount of money will be worth it. Article Source: Free background check

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Tom Allen Author at Free Background Check and Background Check

Are Obituary Records Available Online

We have all seen obituaries posted in the newspapers, which are given by either family members, colleagues or someone close to the deceased.

Obituaries are not just a way of saying goodbye to people who matter but they also provide biographical information of the deceased. This is also another way of letting people know of the death of a person and inform them of the memorial service. It is also considered as something of a privilege that the deceased deserves when he departs this world only to live forever in the memories of those who he cared for and those that cared for him.

These days, the obituary records are stored at publication houses and other news organizations. These are maintained by all public record offices and usually are a part of the death records. These records can be very helpful in genealogy research because they contain valuable information about the person and not just the name and the date of birth. Everything including, the family members of the person, religious identity, military service, education, awards, credentials, achievements etc.

Obituary records, just like other public records, have become easily accessible to the public on the internet. The huge public interest for these records creates more competition with more and more websites mushrooming all over the net, providing these services. Some are free and some are paid services, but all provide the convenience of obtaining these records from the comfort of one’s home, which is irreplaceable.

The general feeling and one that makes a lot of sense is that any other record may lose its value over a period of time, but obituary records live forever, because they are the remembrance of the departed person and a love that is shown to them by the living.

For more information about this article try to visit Public Records

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Monique Willington
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