MAIN Education Online Degrees & Classes

If you're like most people, your list of things to do is too long to ever finish. The appeal of going back to school for a degree is easy to understand, but squeezing in time to sit in class can be impossible with your busy schedule.

That's when the thought of online education pops up. Study at home... What could be easier?

Today dozens of schools offer degree programs that allow students to learn on their own time from where it’s most convenient for them without ever having to step foot in a classroom. Even local schools often add some online courses to the regular classroom offerings to fit busy student's lifestyles.

Is this a good option for you?

One group who are reaping the benefits of studying at home are bright, motivated single moms. They know that completing a degree will open the door to promotion at work...but with work and home responsibilities, making time to go to class is impossible. Online classes seem like the ideal solution to this problem. Many moms enroll in local community colleges and only sign up for the classes that are offered as online study.

The benefits are not just for single moms...online school works for anyone with a demanding schedule. If you need to put in overtime on a regular basis or have social obligations that are important and interfere with attending classes, studying at home may be just what you've been looking for.

Don't be fooled... it isn't an easy way to get a degree. The first semester is usually difficult.

Students new to online study don't take into account the fact that after a long day at work, homework with kids, dinner and bedtime routines there is little energy or patience left to start trying to figure out how to use the computer to get assignments and submit work. It's always a good idea to schedule an in person conference with the instructor for some good tips and suggestions.

The one thing that trips up most busy people who try online school is organizing their time to include classwork. It is true that you can do the work whenever it is convenient for you, but when is that? The same lack of time that interferes with in school classes makes getting assignments done on time for online classes difficult.

These are some suggestions that can help:

• Start the day with school - get up half an hour early in the morning - every morning. Pour your coffee or orange juice and sit down for an uninterrupted session with school work. That half hour adds up to 2 1/2 hours to spend on classwork when you aren't too tired to think.
• If you have children...do your homework with your kids. It won't be uninterrupted, but you'd be surprised what an inspiration it is to your children to watch Mommy or Daddy working on homework. You should be able to squeeze in another half hour a day of your own work between answering questions and helping your kids.
• If you live alone, try to set aside a half hour before dinner to work on assignments. Don't put it off until after dinner when you really want to relax and the long day and food add together to make you sleepy.
• Don't try to get in extra study time instead of sleeping. When you are tired, it is difficult to concentrate and easy to get frustrated. This type of schedule sets you up for failure.
• If you feel yourself getting lost and need help...ask for it. Most online classes have discussion forums for students to help one another. Just because you are working by yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Most instructors are more than willing to help a student who is clearly trying to get the work done.
• Keep ahead of the deadlines. If you spend time everyday working on the assignments, it's less likely that a deadline will catch you unprepared. You can avoid the six hour crunch to get homework or a quiz finished. Very few students can take six hours out of their day to catch up and that means you'll get discouraged, because it is impossible, and fail.

Going to school online is not easier than going to a traditional class, it's just different. Because you work at your own pace, most students feel that they actually get more out of their online classes. If you can avoid the traps that first timers run into, you may find that an online Ph.D. is lurking in your future...

also see -> Finding the Best Online University Programs

More Web Sites of Interest:

Distant Learning on the Net

World Wide Learn

Content Village-e-Learning Resource Centre