There are many people out there who got their educations the old fashioned way. They got up every morning, commuted to their brick-and-mortar college and eventually did walk out with some sort of degree. Now they are realizing that an Associate or Bachelor degree just isn’t enough, and the only practical option is to continue their education online. The thing is, when it comes to a computer – from the desktop to the iPad – their eyes start to glaze. They really don’t know the difference between Internet Explorer or Flash.
In fact, they wonder if their computer will have whatever it needs to let them get online and take their courses. What they don’t realize is learning online is as simple as learning to swim. You just dive in and you’ll get it. There is an abundance of information about online programs on the web.
They don’t realize the Internet itself was actually designed by universities for the passing of information. As such, colleges were among the first to jump on the virtual education bandwagon. Now with 40 years of experience, these online colleges have managed to make their processes as simple as possible.
For starters, whether you use a desktop, laptop or iPad, your modem should have DSL or Wi-Fi. Any computer, even a refurbished one, has Internet access. Online colleges also design their websites to be as easily accessible as possible. So you can access it through Explorer, Firefox or whatever you use for your browser. It also doesn’t matter if you use PC or Mac.
Probably the most important thing is that all virtual schools use a “course management system”, “learning management system” or “virtual learning environment”. The main ones are Blackboard, eCollege and Moodle. All these programs are quite intuitive and the school will teach you how to navigate it.
The other key thing is almost all lessons are written in either Microsoft Word or Adobe. All PC’s come with Word. As for Adobe, if you don’t have it, it’s free to download. Both of these software’s are also easy to learn, as both have also been around for decades. Although, believe it or not, there will be times when you do have to crack open a real book. Even the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, admits he still reads them! There is an abundance of information about online course on the web.
The one thing that online classes do have way over brick-and-mortar schools is its utilization of streaming video and audio podcasts. This is where DSL, Wi-Fi or something similar, becomes important. You need that kind of speed if you want to read your lessons at a proper pace. Slower modems will feel like they take forever.
Maybe online schools seems something completely alien to a person who never studied at home. At the same time, these institutions have made the software and hardware of distance learning degree programs so easy anyone who now goes on Facebook should have no problem picking it all up.