Different Learning Types

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! 

If you are researching and considering online education, you have likely come across several myths about distance learning. Don't let those myths hold you back. I'm here to bust them wide open!

Myth #1: Online learning outcomes aren't as positive as the outcomes of face-to-face instruction.

A recent post on The College Network (TCN) blog discussed an online education study that was conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group and the College Board in 2012. According to the study, 77 percent of academic leaders believe online learning outcomes are equal or superior to the outcomes of face-to-face instruction. Additionally, Thomas L. Russell compiled a large body of research on these two main types of learning, and he described the findings as the "no significant difference phenomenon." According to the No Significant Difference web site, "Mr. Russell found that an overwhelming number of studies showed that when the course materials and teaching methodology were held constant, there were no significant differences (NSD) between student outcomes in a distance delivery course as compared to a face-to-face course."

Myth #2: Online courses and degrees are not accredited.

I can't speak for all courses and degrees you may see advertised online, but The College Network offers a number of courses that are accredited by the American Council on Education. We also partner with the following respected universities:

• Angelo State University
• Bellevue University
• Indiana State University
• Lake Superior State University
• Purdue University
• Regis University
• Tulane University

Myth #3: Degrees and certifications earned online are not recognized by employers.

Degrees earned online through reputable organizations and universities are just as credible as degrees earned through campus-based learning. The College Network has seen many success stories in which people have been able to advance their careers through completion of one of our degree programs. Furthermore, successfully earning a degree through distance learning can show employers that you are hard working and disciplined.

Myth #4: Online learning is only for those who are lazy or who tend to underperform in a traditional classroom.

Online learning requires organization, determination and self-motivation, so those who successfully pursue it are far from lazy. TCN's Back to School infographic shows that many of those who choose online education do so for the convenience of self-paced education and training. Our infographic shows that 37.6 percent of people cite a heavy work schedule as their reason for pursuing distance education, while 19.7 percent cite personal circumstances related to their family and/or health. Additionally, students of all ages seem to be participating in online education with increasing frequency. Our infographic indicates that today's distance learners include 15 percent of those ages 15 to 23, 26 percent of those ages 24 to 29, and 30 percent of those age 30 and over. 

What do you think of when you hear of career options in the healthcare field? Do you think it only means a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or someone that has a nursing degree? There are actually many diverse career options in the healthcare field. And it's a field that is not only stable but growing according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Let's look in particular at a Medical and Health Services Manager. People with this type of degree are often the staff in doctor's offices or hospitals that manage medical services. They may manage an office, a department or a nursing home. And there are different focuses within medical and health services that might match your interests. Nursing home administrators, clinical managers, health information managers or assistant administrators are just a few of the positions that you could hold.

To become a Medical and Health Services Manager, you will need to have your bachelor's degree. Earning your Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Bellevue University will enable to you pursue a career in health services. Bellevue University awards transfer credit for previous college credits, so you might be closer to earning your degree than you think.

Working through our online program at The College Network® will enable you to continue to work in your field while earning your degree. Bellevue University also offers many other bachelor's degree options such as business, criminal justice or software development and many more. If you would like to learn more about the bachelor's degree in healthcare management program at Bellevue, simply click here to request more information or call us at 800-395-1014 to find the right degree program for you.  

 Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.

— Albert Einstein

As both a learner and an educator, it has oftentimes amazed me how easy it is to fall into lazy habits of thinking. Unfortunately, many students have never been taught what it means to think or process information, so they aren’t actually falling into lazy habits; they have simply never been taught proper habits of thinking. The Consider Stage of the AcaciAa™ Model (The College Network's recently released cognitive strategy) continues to assist learners in understanding what it means to be an engaged learner.

One of my professors used to tell us, repeatedly, that telling isn’t teaching. Yet, so often we as educators behave as if dissemination of information is enough to support learners in achieving the required learning. Not so—we must develop instructional experiences that engage our learners and move them along the continuum of engagement. The Consider Stage of the AcaciAa™ model moves learners from attending to information to more deeply processing information by introducing them to the value of three primary functions of basic information processing: reflecting, questioning, and expounding.

Reflection, Questioning, and Expounding

Reflection, in the learning context, is the deliberate act of thinking back on information previously encountered so that as learners take in information they can make meaningful connections between the different pieces and portions of information. So often we as educators conceive of teaching as starting with our knowledge rather than that of the learner. We ignore what may be our best opportunity to change a brain by refining and exaggerating the valuable connections that are already there (Zull 2002). Reflection is a way for learners to tie what they are learning to their life experiences. This also leads to emotional connections to the learning that allow neurons to work together, thus creating the desired connections (Zull 2002). The question posed to learning professionals is this—do you structure your learning experiences so that learners are required to reflect while they learn? As much as I hate to admit it, we have all run into colleagues who seem more concerned with the quantity (which can lead to loosely connected or worse disconnected meaning), rather than the quality, of information they share with learners. 

Even if we are committed to changing our ways, how do we ensure that learners are integrating the act of reflection into their learning process? The answer to this question is so simple that it seems almost ridiculous. The answer? Require learners to stop reading or listening and think. That’s right. Provide activities and assignments that require them to stop and think about or question what they just heard or read. Have them restate in their own words what they’ve read. Once they can do that without too much effort, ask them what they think about what the author or speaker is saying and how it’s being said. Here are a few more items that you may want to include if you really want to be able to support learners in building a strong knowledge base. 

- What was this passage about?

- Why does it matter?

- To what other information is this passage connected?

- Identify the most important aspect of this topic or concept.

- If it is a concept, ensure you understand all aspects of it and how they are related. 

Notice that none of the items can be responded to with yes/no answers or without serious consideration of the material. These types of items don’t just get learners thinking; they lead them to expound on their initial thoughts. Too often our learners want to check the completed box before adequately expounding on what they are pondering. The reflective process, when done properly, leads to insight and has been shown to affect—and ultimately change—patterns in the brain (Ross 2006; Liggan & Kay 1999). The more a learner can reflect, question, and expound, the better they will be able to connect later in the learning process and avoid lazy habits of thinking. 

Take Care,

cd

Henry Ford was famous for stating about color variety in the cars he was manufacturing, "You can have any color as long as it's black." That was turn of the century 1900, but now in 2012 it's a different story. If you've ever bought a new car, you look for one with the features you want and need. If the dealer doesn't have the car you're looking for, they'll usually tell you they can get whatever car with whatever features you want or you can choose to go to another dealer. What's even better now is that you can search for the exact make and model you want and submit an offer all from the convenience of home. 

How would it sound today if someone told you that you could have your education any way you wanted it as long as you went to class, followed the syllabus, and did it according to the teacher's schedule? It would be completely ridiculous in this day and age to think that there is only one way to earn a higher degree. The good news is that The College Network agrees with you and is interested in providing an education that comes in more than one color.

If you're looking for a higher degree provided by experts that understand different types of learning styles, visit TCN's web site to learn more.

What if you could travel in time? According to Einstein and his special theory of relativity, it's impossible to travel backwards through time - a conundrum for alternative history lovers but a relief for historians. So if we oblige Einstein and stick to future time travel, would you want to see your future? Everything that you had spent the years working for, the events that shaped your existence, where you lived, your career, etc. are all visible to you. 

Now this is a theoretical situation, but if you could base your future on where you are right now, at this very moment - take a minute and think about yourself 10 years from now based on your current situation. Is it a satisfying thought? If no, why? Something about your current situation is not meeting your existing needs and that, in turn, creates an unsatisfying dream of the future. 

The great thing about hypothesizing is that there is no right or wrong, so you can take a situation and figure out how/if it would work differently. So let's assume that you're unsatisfied with your level of education, i.e., 10 years from now you want to be more educated and have an advanced degree on your resume. If you work and have many obligations, like most people do, it may seem inconvenient and improbable to achieve such a goal, but it doesn't have to be. 

With The College Network's online Resource Center and newly developed Lesson Plans, earning an advanced degree has never been more affordable or convenient. TCN recognizes the different types of learning styles and will speak with any one interested in pursuing higher education. "All choices take you somewhere; bold choices take you where you're supposed to be." Make the bold decision for your future and visit our web site to learn more.

There are three main types of learning styles: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Since every person learns differently, it is important for you to understand which style or combination of styles works best for you so that you can be successful in the learning process.

Auditory Learners learn best by listening. These learners prefer to hear things being explained rather than to read about them. Reading material aloud often helps them learn better.

Visual Learners learn best by seeing things such as pictures, graphs and charts. They like to see things written out, but may have a hard time concentrating while listening to a subject being explained to them.

Kinesthetic Learners learn best through hands-on experiences. Touching things or participating in an activity helps these learners retain information. They also prefer to write things down.

If you are a customer of The College Network, I encourage you to log in to our Online Resource Center and take the Learning Styles survey, located within the Center for Learning Empowerment, to find out which style of learning best suits you. This will help you focus better and ultimately retain the information you are learning, which will help you have more success with your exams.

It's not every day when you can relate one of your favorite childhood (who am I kidding - current) games to furthering your education, but today I'd like to use the series of Mario Kart games to show you that completing your education is as easy as navigating a track named Rainbow Road.

At The College Network, our goal is to allow customers to complete distance nursing programs within the confines of their own goals and abilities. This is very much like choosing your own character/driver in the Mario Kart games.  Some characters like Mario and Luigi are well rounded - they have good speed, good acceleration, and good steering. Customers with these attributes can study in many different ways and at a steady pace to complete their program of choice with our Comprehensive Learning Modules.  Others are like Donkey Kong or Bowser, where they may start slow, but have a great high-end top speed.  Some customers are like this as well, where they have trouble starting, but once they do, they are able to knock their courses out very quickly.  Another way to study would be to do things in quick short bursts - much like the high acceleration of Princess Peach or Yoshi.  And some folks really like to control their own destiny, and keep things very orderly, consistent, and take the most efficient way around the track to finish their program or race, much like Toad or Koopa Troopa.  

Any way you look at it, all of the previous methods can work.  You just have to choose the right path for yourself and know your strengths and weaknesses.  At The College Network, we offer our Academic Guidance Planner and Academic Support Team to help you set goals, find out what learning style is best for you, and give you study tips on how best to be an independent learner.  Basically, we fit your Mario Kart driving style to your perfect Kart and character that drives it!

In my next post, I'll look at how the The College Network helps you navigate your program by using all the extras and resources that come with this type of program.  Watch out for that banana peel!

Kevin Burton, Program Advisor, kburton@collegenetwork.com, 1-800-307-1006 Ext. 4734

Books that tell you how to bring about change in your life are a dime a dozen these days. But if you’re pursuing that type of information, and you purchase and read several of those books, you will begin to see a pattern emerge.

You see, whether you’re trying to lose weight, make more money, or master a new form of expression through the arts, you have to do one single thing to initiate each of these changes in your life. You must first make a commitment to the process required to achieve your goal. 

It’s no different if you want to become more skilled in the area of learning. It will require a commitment to the process. There are no shortcuts to becoming the best learner you can be.

Depending on where you are in life, you may wonder why learning would matter to anyone over a certain age. After all, doesn’t all of that school stuff fall by the wayside once you graduate high school or college?

The answer is, DEFINITELY NOT if you want to advance in your chosen career. If you disagree with my stance on this, consider the following: 

• New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

When it comes to higher education, there is no shortage of options when it comes to what path you can take.  From traditional brick and mortar universities to independent distance education, you can make your learning experience what you want it to be.

Know Where You Want to Go
Before embarking on your journey, be sure you know where you’d like to end up. While some very different paths may lead you to a similar destination, some may not.  Knowing the end result of the road you choose (at least abstractly) will keep you from being disappointed with your results.

Define Your Traveling Style
While a traditional classroom setting works for some, it may bore others.  Independent learning may be a savior for many, but others may find the lack of classroom interaction too hard to live without.  Know how you like to learn best so you can choose the path that allows you to study your way.

The College Network and its partner universities give you the option to make your learning experience all that you want it to be.  We’ll help you determine what type of learner you are, assist you in identifying other students in your area through our discussion boards, and be a phone call away throughout your journey.  If you prefer to study alone, you can learn independently and on your own time and still arrive at your destination. Find out more today so you can reach your goals sooner than you thought possible.