Adult Learning Online

What does an online learner look like? Probably just like you! Online learners come from both genders and all adult age groups, with a sizeable portion comprised of middle-aged adults. Les Burr at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia reports that people tend to use the Internet as an educational resource more as they age and that people over the age of 50 participated in online learning more than any other age group in his study. Online learners range from traditional students to stay-at-home moms and dads to corporate executives with busy schedules. No matter who you are or how old you are, you’ll be in great company as the number of online learners continues to grow.

According to a recent report by the Babson Survey Research Group, over 6.7 million postsecondary students took at least one online course in 2011, compared to around 6.2 million in 2010. And the number of students who are taking classes and earning their degrees online is only expected to increase. Research firm Ambient Insight predicts that by 2014, 5.14 million students will complete all their coursework in a traditional classroom, but 3.55 million will complete all their classes online. With the increase of online learning comes a new appreciation and respect for what online degree programs have to offer. As part of their recent study, the Babson Survey Research Group surveyed a number of academic leaders, and 77% of them said that online learning outcomes are the same, somewhat superior, or superior to those encountered in traditional classroom settings. As innovation continues to shape and change the face of online education, the appreciation and respect for online education is sure to continue to rise.

At The College Network, we are constantly working to be on the cutting edge of online education. We seek to assist anyone interested in furthering their career by providing them with challenging and meaningful courses that will help them reach an educational goal. If you’re ready to join the millions of people just like you already making their dreams a reality, contact us today!

Since spring is the season of renewal and rejuvenation, it's the perfect time to start thinking about fresh starts in your life. Are you considering heading back to school as an adult learner? Are you perhaps intimidated by the number of years that have passed since you were last a student?

The College Network (TCN) wants to help you bloom into a confident learner with our Center for Learning Empowerment (CLE). The CLE is packed with information to help TCN customers get the most out of their learning experience. It includes engaging lessons designed to lead students toward effective and efficient thinking, studying and learning. The CLE is also home to a learning styles survey, which can help you identify the different types of learning styles that work best for you. 

If you are a TCN customer, you already have access to the Center for Learning Empowerment in our online Resource Center. Log in, and check it out! Knowing and understanding how your brain organizes and digests information will maximize your chance of being a successful adult learner. Additionally, the information you can gain from the CLE will help you become a more empowered learner for the rest of your life! 

The last 150 years has brought more technological advances than all of the years before.  While traditional schools have been around for hundreds of years, online learning is brand spanking new.  And we don't even know everything that it has to offer yet.  

Working adults want to continue their education and online learning provides a flexibility never experienced before.  The internet has given people the option of earning an education without putting the rest of their life on hold.  

This article outlines some of the new advances in online education that are going on and others that might happen in the not-too-distant future:

• Simulation programs with real environment scenarios
• Availability of existing program on a mobile medium
• Programs such as the "1 Laptop per child" project that gives children in developing countries the opportunity to learn
• More personalized methods that allow for customization on a per student basis
• 3-D glasses that will be able to deliver an entire course that will provide the student with an up close learning experience.

Who knows what the future might bring for online students.

Most of us have considered going back to school at one point or another. I want go back to school to get my master's degree. I, like you, research programs to see what will work best for my lifestyle. I will need to continue to work my full time job and run my household, while I obtain my degree. The reasons that we decide to go back to school as an adult are much the same--no matter what degree that we pursue. 

So, let's talk about my top 5 reasons.

1. Career Advancement--Earning your associate's or bachelor's degree will open up more career opportunities for you. If you earn your Associate Degree in Nursing online, you can move forward in your career to become an RN. If you earn your Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, you can advance into higher ranks and move into a leadership role. But whatever degree you pursue, earning it will lead to more options for your career. 

2. Earning Potential--By advancing your education and earning your degree, you increase your earning potential. The easiest example of this is the difference in pay between an LPN and an RN. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average salary for an LPN at $40,380 and the average salary for an RN at $64,690. That is a remarkable difference!

3.Expanding Your Horizons--Learning opens us up to all kinds of experiences. I think we can rediscover our love of learning and how much we enjoy the challenge of finding answers. It can spark a lifelong love of new adventures.

4. Achieving Your Dream--By earning your degree, you will accomplish a milestone in your life. It is one that will take hard work and dedication. There might be times along the way when you feel like giving up--but you can push through to keep going. Thinking about how your life will change can help to motivate you to stay on track.

5. Inspiring Others--Most people don't realize that by reaching their goal, they inspire others to take a chance and follow their dream too. You will impact those around you with your success and will be a role model for those that are contemplating taking the next step in their career.  

I'm sure after reading these reasons, you might even have more reasons to add to your list. If you're ready to discover more about earning your degree online through The College Network and one of our partner universities, call us today at 800-395-1014. Or you can request more information here. 

The average college student is no longer 18 years old and fresh out of high school. In reality, students today are older, more diverse and have more work and family obligations to balance. Today, nearly 40 percent of college enrollments are adults over the age of 25, a percentage that’s expected to grow by 20 percent by the year 2020.

In today’s hyper-competitive job market, a high school education simply isn’t enough.  As businesses raise their expectations for the hiring process, earning an undergraduate degree is becoming less of an option and more of a requirement.

But exactly how are working adults fitting school into their already busy schedules? More and more undergraduates are taking online classes or commuting to campus. In fact, only 14 percent of today’s college students attend classes full time and live on campus.

The older we get, the more hectic life can become, between work, family and personal circumstances. That’s likely why research shows that the older the college student, the more likely it is that they are completing at least some of their courses online.

More education can lead to more job options, better pay and priceless professional accomplishments. As more and more adults make the decision to further their education, it’s no surprise that distance education and online learning options are becoming steadily more popular.

We’ve uncovered lots of interesting info about how adult learners and online education are changing the college landscape, and we've compiled it all to create The College Network's first-ever infographic. Click on the image below to view the full infographic—and remember to share this post with your fellow learners on social media!

To learn more about The College Network on social media, you can visit our new Social Resources page. If you'd like more info on our degree programs, you can view our full list of program offerings here, or view our list of professional certificate options. 

In today’s mobile world, consumers are placing more confidence than ever in the information they find online. But it may surprise you to learn that this even holds true when it comes to personal health. A recent study by Demi & Cooper Advertising shows that over 90 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds reported that they trust health information found on social media.

The phenomena isn’t limited to millennials—in fact, more than half of the online senior population have reported that they are ready to use the internet to communicate with their doctors and/or manage their health care needs.

It may surprise you even more to know that the majority of doctors say that social media is working. In a world where over a quarter of hospitals use social media, 60 percent of health care professionals surveyed said that social media can improve the quality of healthcare.

How can social media help health services?  For one, patients can engage with each other online to review services and connect with others with similar stories, creating a healthy (no pun intended) forum for discussion. Physicians can also share health and safety tips with a wider audience.

Mobile devices are improving health services as well. More hospitals are providing iPads and other similar devices to physicians, simplifying the reporting process and saving valuable face time with patients. From the patient side of things, half of all adult smartphone users regularly use their device to look up health info.

So what do social and mobile really mean for the future of healthcare? As more facilities and physicians continue to contribute to online sharing, the proportion of reliable health information that can be found online will increase. As always, if you’re going online for health info, make sure you are browsing a trusted source.

For more great info, check out the full infographic from Demi and Cooper below. 

If you'd like to implement a social media plan for your health facility, consider a social media training program. 

Let’s face it—most of us have been out of school quite a long time. The prospect of returning to school can be exciting, and a bit scary. Especially if the last time you were in school you sat behind a desk and are now looking at your computer, wondering how it’s all going to work.  Well, don’t worry.  We’re here to help calm your nerves, help you get started and keep you motivated as you work through your online degree program.

Once you enroll in your degree program with help from The College Network—what's next? The steps below outline what you will experience and hopefully take some of the anxiety out of what you might be feeling.  Use this as your guide and you'll be well on your way to earning your degree.

Log in to Resource Center—This is your learning portal.  You will go to the online Resource Center to find your course materials, discussion boards where you can post questions to other students, the resource library and to online chat which you can use to converse with our academic support team when you have a question.

Find out your learning style—As adults, we learn differently than we did when we were younger. It's important to know if you are an auditory learner, a tactile learner or a visual learner. Our learning style survey will help you identify your unique learning style so you can study more effectively. 

Complete your Academic Guidance Call—Our customer support team will contact you to review your learning style so you understand more completely how to be successful in your studies.  You will also work with them to develop a study plan for your program and review all aspects of the resource center.  If you have any questions about working through your degree program, they will be able to guide you. 

Set a goal for taking your first exam— Having a specific date in mind will help to keep you on track and be motivated to succeed. With self paced education, it's easy to put other things ahead of studying. We want to make sure that you stay focused on your goal of earning your degree. After you pass your first exam, schedule the rest of your exams so that you have a calendar to work from. 

 Set a weekly study schedule—With our busy lives and work schedules, it can be hard to find the time to study. If you approach your study time like you would a part-time job with a set schedule, you will be able to commit to this time and make weekly progress toward your goal.

Create your support network--Use the Resource Center to find others in your area that are working through their program.  Or ask around at work to see if any of your colleagues are also pursuing their degree. It's also a good idea to include your family and friends in your pursuit of a degree so they will support your goal.  They can be your biggest motivators! 

So are you ready to get back to school?   We offer the support you need to get started and the motivation to keep you going.  Call us today at 800-395-1014 to learn more about our degree programs and our support team. 

Did you know that you can earn an associate degree in fire science through The College Network and Lake Superior State University?  You might be also be surprised to learn that  you can earn your bachelor's degree in fire science as well.    

If you are starting out in your career, obtaining your associate degree can help distinguish you from others that are just starting out as well.  You can continue to work and gain experience in your field while you earn your degree.  Working through The College Network, you can earn your general education credits online, and then continue with Lake Superior State University to obtain your degree. 

By obtaining your bachelor's degree through The College Network and Lake Superior State, you will be able to advance to higher ranks. You can also receive prior credit  for your associate degree or prior certification.  Earning your bachelor's degree is closer and more convenient than you think.

You can even work on your general education credits while you take you core fire science courses, enabling you to earn your degree in less time than a traditional program.  We know that for busy, working adults who want to take their careers to the next level our programs are a great option.  Our self paced, online programs allow you to fit earning your degree into your schedule.  

Call us today at  800-395-1014 or click here to request more information. Light a fire under your career today!  

I read an interesting blog on encouraging online learners to take responsibility for their own learning. It raises the question that with all the information and resources available to someone, what is the responsibility of the learner?  

This is your degree and ultimately, it's up to you to make sure that you do the work necessary to be successful.  Here are some ideas on how you can be.  

The following are behaviors that will help an online learner be successful in their program:

• Time management
• Know your learning style
• Organization skills
• Set measurable goals
• The drive to learn
• Motivation to succeed

Think about how you can manage your time better and study more effectively.  Challenge yourself to keep your motivation strong and be organized.  

Chances are if you're an adult learner pursuing your bachelor of science in nursing degree or other professional degree, you may also be working full-time and taking care of your family.  It's difficult to juggle school, work and family.  That is why you need to concentrate on measurable goals--commit to studying for one hour each day or take an exam every three months.  You can always schedule your exam and use that as a goal to work towards.  

You can be successful.  But you have to take responsibility for earning your degree.  The College Network can supply the resources you need to make it happen, but we can't supply the motivation and drive to achieve your goal of a degree.  Call us today at 800-634-1443 if you need to review your study plan or would like to schedule your next exam.  

The effectiveness of online education has long been a topic of debate, but a recent study from research firm Ithaka S+R is making strides towards putting the dispute to rest.  The study shows that students who complete their studies online achieve equal or better academic results than students enrolled in comparable traditional education programs. The results could be a deciding factor for adult learners who’ve been on the fence regarding the legitimacy of online learning.

The study surveyed the progress of 605 students enrolled in the same introductory-level statistics class across six different universities.  Half of these students were enrolled in a traditional campus-based class, while the rest completed the same course materials using online learning. The results proved that student learning outcomes were essentially the same across the two groups. Students participating in programs that combined both online and in-class elements actually performed better than those enrolled in strictly on-campus courses. Results were based on student performance on the standardized CAOS test of statistical literacy.

In the coming years, it’s expected that more and more students will begin to favor online education. Whether online or on-campus, the quality of course materials will play an important role in student achievement. At The College Network, our online learning materials and Comprehensive Learning Modules™ have been designed by a selective group of collegiate professors and professional educators to ensure student success. Take a look at our list of degree programs and start considering the possibilities. 

A recent article in Education News discussed some upcoming increases to college tuition across the country. "At the University of California, for example, tuition was raised 32 percent in 2010 and 8 percent in 2011. The next increase could be as high as 20 percent in early 2013."

It's time to separate yourself from the trend too many students and working adults fall into - going to whatever post secondary school, no matter the price, because they believe college is a necessity, making the false assumption that you can't put a price on a necessity. But the truth is that you can put a price on a necessity when there are other suitable, more cost effective options available. 

The College Network has been at the forefront of providing quality higher education since 1992. After twenty years in business, the product has gone from a binder to a course in our online Resource Center, which houses all of our Comprehensive Learning Modules. Get what you need at a fraction of the cost, and earn your degree with the help of The College Network. 

I watched an interesting, ten-minute movie called EPIC 2020 recently that prophesied the death of universities as they exist today.  It is a theoretical look into the rise of technology and the ever growing demand for online content.  I think it also speaks to the pace at which we live our lives.  As working adults, we don't have time to step away from our lives and go back to school.  We need the school to come to us.

With an online education from The College Network and our partner universities, you can access your comprehensive learning modules from anywhere that you have internet access.  If you think about it, it is like you are carrying your classroom with you wherever you go.  You move through your degree program at your own pace so that you can fit learning into your life.

You can also create your own class by connecting with others who are in their online degree program.  By using the online Resource Center to find others who live near you, by posting on Facebook or by asking others questions in the center, you can work through your program with the support of others who share your experience.

Contact us today at 800-395-1014 to find out more about available degree or certificate programs.  Or if you are already in your program, give us a call and we can help you virtually connect you with your peers.  

For college students and most high school students across the nation, May is a month of  stress and intense studying; it's the month of the infamous final examination. Questia, an online research tool for students, has recently released a series of tips to help prepare those studying for their final examinations. The list can be found here: http://www.educationnews.org/higher-education/questia-gives-advice-to-make-finals-a-breeze/. 

For those taking exams with The College Network, it is invaluable to plan ahead, ask plenty of questions, and to take your time. TCN understands these important aspects of preparing for examinations, so that is why we have an entire department devoted to providing academic support - that knows how to identify different learning styles and helps working adults on their way to earning advanced degrees. Research The College Network to learn more about how you can advance your education.

Within the past several years, eLearning has gone from upstart enterprise to mainstream educational method. It's easy to see how its convenience and cost effectiveness have made it so popular in the world of higher education, and the idea is beginning to trickle down to secondary education as well. In the state of Virginia, a bill has been passed to require students to take and earn online credits in order to graduate high school. Governor Bob McDonnell, committed to expanding virtual education, has said that the requirement will help prepare students better for the 21st century job market (Education News).

This huge step in the world of higher education is a vindication of how valuable and effective eLearning is and the significant role it will play in the future. Here at The College Network, we have been providing hundreds of thousands of people with access to our online Resource Center where working adults can learn entirely online. Visit TCN's web site to learn more about how you can earn an advanced degree conveniently and cost effectively. 

Did you know that as an adult learner, the way you learn is completely different from how it was when you were younger?  If you are like me, you never thought about it before--but it makes sense. When you are in grade school, you are led by the adults around you, will most likely accept information without questioning it and are more subject-oriented.

Dr. Malcolm Knowles developed the concept of andragogy to describe adult learning styles specific to adults.  Adults are more results oriented, self-directed and usually prefer to try out new information before accepting it. They also seek out education that relates or applies specifically to their needs--that is timely and appropriate for their current lives.

At The College Network, we help adult learners find what educational needs they have and help them reach their goals by earning an online degree from leading universities. But, you as the adult learner have to take ownership of your program and know that it is going to be your responsibility to move through your program.  Self-paced and self-directed means that we can be here when you need motivation, need help with a module or have a question about your degree; but you have to be the one that is studying. 

And we also know that as an adult learner, you most likely have a job where you work 35 or more hours a week and a family. We understand that it is going to be a big commitment to earn your degree.  But, you can do it. We have the tools that you need to be successful, including a learning styles assessment that will further help you know the best way for you to understand material as you study.

So, become an adult learner!  Call us at 800-39-LEARN. 

Flashcards have long been debated in education on whether they are an effective learning tool for students. With any learning method or study aid, correct usage is paramount in determining effectiveness. Personally, I feel flashcards can be extremely useful when used correctly. Flashcards have helped me and others I know learn a plethora of vocabulary words and definitions, key concepts, and formulas. Below are some benefits of using flashcards:

1. They engage the learner in active recall: When you use flashcards, you force yourself to remember a word or concept from scratch.

2. They help us space learning over time: Flashcards are meant to be reviewed on a consistent basis over a period of time. For example, one could review their  flashcards for vocabulary words 20 minutes a day/5 days a week until the terms have been mastered. 

3. They engage our metacognitive faculties: When you reveal the answer side of a flashcard to access the accuracy of your response, you are essentially asking yourself, “How did my answer compare to the correct answer?” This act is known as metacognition which helps to ingrain memories.

4. They allow for a self-directed, personalized study experience: With the use of flashcards, adults have control over the materials they are studying. You can create the flashcards to fit your personal study habits and needs. There are no guidelines! 

5. They help us gauge our progress: With flashcards, we are able to set numerical benchmarks. It is easy to set goals based on how many terms/concepts you master when reviewing your cards. 

Ideas for Flashcards:

* Create flashcards for all vocabulary terms located within your reading section.

* For math courses, wrote the math formula on one side and an example on the other.

* For the visual learner: utilize pictures/diagrams instead of words. For example: For someone studying Anatomy and Physiology, create flashcards with different parts of the body to recognize by sight.

As always, for assistance with your online education program and for further study assistance please contact our Customer Support team at 1-800-634-1443.

We made it through a relatively mild Winter here in the Indianapolis. We experienced minimal snowfall and were blessed with temperatures that never became sub-zero.  Even though our winter has been one that I can't complain about--I am still looking forward to Spring.  And, the first sign that, daylight savings time, is coming.  

In most areas of the country, you should have adjusted your clock this morning. Yes, it's kind of a hassle. I seem to forget  each time how to change the clock in my car and have to refer to the manual. But, the good news is that you now have an extra hour of daylight. Why not spend that extra time earning your degree through online education?

At The College Network, we help adults who are pursuing their degree in a variety of programs, quite a few in nursing education programs, achieve their goal of moving forward in their careers. Are you one of those people that states you would really like to be an RN? The only thing in your way is you. We can help give you the tools you need to be successful.

So, just like our clocks are moving  forward, make the decision to move forward as well. Get started today by calling us at 1-800-39-LEARN or going to our website to learn more about our programs, customers and our history.  By the time next Spring rolls around you could be that much closer to your goal.  

“I have always wanted to be an RN,” says Alecia Howard, who is a customer of The College Network and working toward her Associate of Science in Nursing degree program. For Alecia, earning an advanced degree means increasing her knowledge base as well as her earning potential, but her biggest inspiration is her family.

“I needed to secure our future a little better,” says Alecia. “Our kids like seeing me study because they see that grown ups have to study to learn too. They do not whine about doing their homework anymore because they know that even adults do things that they don’t want to.”

Part of Alecia’s recipe for success in the program is finding the right balance between studying and her other responsibilities. By doing this, Alecia doesn't have to sacrifice work or family time.

Read more of Alecia's success story, or call 1-800-395-1014 to find out more about convenient online degree programs that can be earned from leading universities with the help of The College Network.