January 27th, 2011 
jvremec
Online learning – A better alternative in these busy times
Author: Elle Wood
Online learning – A better alternative in these busy times
The plethora of online learning websites today, makes it easy for anyone located in just about any part of the world to pursue subjects of their choice with minimum hassle. If you’re a traditionalist, however, and believe that class room study is the only way to go, then you’ll be surprised at the number of reasons that make distance or online learning not just convenient but also effective.
Take a look at these advantages and you may be rethinking your academic plans for the year:
- Variety of subjects on offer: Not only do most online learning websites offer all the regular courses that standard colleges and universities do, but increasingly, they’ve been making available learning in many new fields, from curriculum tailored to bring you success in the entertainment industry to short courses in handling medical emergencies. Browse through the courses offered by any distance learning online university and you’re bound to find something that interests you.
- Flexible study time: Many of us have responsibilities to take care of and can’t afford to give up on those to attend full time classes. This method of study allows you to decide study times based on your daily schedule. Gone are the days of putting everything aside because you’re getting late for class.
- Ever present support groups: The assignment of a qualified teacher to facilitate the course means that you have access to an expert to help you out when you’re unable to wrap your mind around an especially hard learning concept. If that isn’t enough, the numerous message boards, chat rooms and email access to other students all make it possible for you to reach out to someone who can answer your questions or clarify your doubts.
- Avoid classroom distractions: It’s not hard to think back to school days and class room experiences when the presence of know-it-alls and teacher favorites often got in the way of your own progress and understanding. Online education eliminates such distractions and of course, is also a great opportunity for those who prefer independent study.
- Other benefits: These include such influential reasons as pollution reduction and increased promotion opportunities. Taking a course online not only frees you from the hassle of fighting peak hour traffic but also allows you to contribute to the environment by reducing pollution. Also, choosing a course that deals with skills required for you to climb the next rung in the corporate ladder can result in a better chance of a promotion.
For all these reasons and more the internet now seems to be the way to go. All most online universities insist on are access to the internet, an email id, Internet explorer or Firefox web browser and Adobe flash and PDF plug-ins both of which can be downloaded for free.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/online-learning-a-better-alternative-in-these-busy-times-906488.html
About the Author
Elle Wood alerts you to businesses and organizations that offer exemplary services and value. Find out more about Online Education and how it best serves education seekers wanting to continue to learn by visiting http://www.pcu.edu.
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Alternative Teacher Certification in Texas?
I am going to do the alternative teaching certification route after I earn my degree next year. If I start in May 2008 or June (depending on the program dates) How long do the online training classes take? Will I begin in the fall as an Internship Teacher or will I wait till January? If you don’t know specifically for Texas that is fine but if you do, great. I am not sure how things are in other states. Thank you and I appreciate all the help.
Well first off of the bat, I can tell you that you don’t take the Praxis. Texas has it’s own certification called the TeXes. You do have to take the THEA reading and math to prove that you can adequately perform in both areas. It’s a pre-requisite for teaching programs in Texas. I’m not sure if online alt cert classes are available. You do a pre-internship during the summer while taking courses, then you do an internship for an academic year, then you do a post-internship where you take coursed during the summer following your internship. Here’s the link for my universities alt cert program. We’re one of the largest producers of teachers and educational administrators in the state of Texas.
https://www.tamu-commerce.edu/teacher/ACP/ACPsummer.htm#-%20Complete%20Program%20Description%20-
Texas alternative teacher certification prospects….?
I have my BA in Anthropology, and enrolled in an alternative certification program. I am planning on taking the Texes exam for social studies 4-8 to start since its computerized and offered more regularly, and later taking the social studies 8-12 exam. I was wondering if anyone out there has any insight into the hiring prospects for a social studies teacher in an alternative cert. program. I have been a substitute teacher for the past year, and am willing to move anywhere in the state. And please dont be afraid to say if I am wasting my time and money on a certification that will yield poor results towards my end goal of teaching.
Do you coach? There was a big discussion about this on another board (see source). Right now there are plenty of job seekers and not many jobs. This could change in a few years – who knows? If you think that this is the job for you, go for it! Have fun! Be prepared to “sell yourself” – know what value you bring to the table. Communicate that value to the hiring committee.
Best to you.
Alternative Teacher certification in Texas-anyone out there done it? What was your experience?
Did u specialize on the Texes or do general ed? I am considering an alt. cert. program , already have a BA, and would like to do 8-12 Science & 8-12 Math. Will I get a job or just be wasting my time and money?
My son-in-law had a business degree and got a temporary certificate and taught while he went to college and got his education classes, methods, etc. He has a masters now in counseling, but is teaching. There is a good chance you will get a job. They are looking for good math and science teachers. You can teach (assuming you have a math and science degree and should be BS then rather than BA. If BA, then I don’t know if you would have the science and math you would need to teach those courses. But you can get your education classes in night school. Be sure to get them the first year though as they have to hire certified teachers if they have enough. If they don’t have certified and qualified teachers, they can hire teachers on temporary certificates and the person should work on certification. Once certified, they would keep the job and it wouldn’t have to be posted so finish it up the first year. This isn’t Texas, but was in Ohio, and California, and pretty much wherever when they have alternative certification to start teaching.
Good luck to you.
What’s the best Texas alternative teacher’s certification program available in the DFW metroplex?
I’ve looked into about 5 or 6 different programs, but has anyone been through any of them and liked it? Which program is considered to be the best? Which one do employers like or stay away from?
The following are the links and sites which will give you your desired need :
Texas Teacher Certification (Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano: rent …16 May 2008 … Yes, you can get hired without the Texas Certificate as long as you are a certified teacher in …. Default Teaching Jobs in DFW Metroplex …
http://www.city-data.com/forum/dallas/330415-texas-teacher-certification.html – 72k – Cached – Similar pages – Note this
Dallas Fort Worth Training, Teachers, Trainers, and Training …Dallas Fort Worth DFW Metroplex training directory for training classes in … Advanced Team Concepts, Dallas Texas, Provides training and consultation on …
http://www.town-mall.net/mall/training.html – 24k – Cached – Similar pages – Note this
Alternative Certification Programs for Teachers – Irving ISD …Teacher Certification Programs (Alternative Certification) … Fort Worth, Texas (27.7 miles). Region 11 Alternative Certification Programs 3001 N. Freeway …
http://www.irvingisd.net/alternativecertification.htm – 42k – Cached – Similar pages – Note this
Teacher Development CenterThe UTD Teacher Certification programs provide rigorous, … The University of Texas at Dallas offers Teacher Certification options for both undergraduate …
http://www.utdallas.edu/teach/ – 13k – Cached – Similar pages – Note this
Teacher Certification in Dallas TexasThe landscape of alternative certification programs in the Dallas, Texas area … Alternative certification in Dallas has become more popular as teaching …
http://www.online-distance-learning-education.com/article_info.php/articles_id/72 – 32k – Cached – Similar pages – Note this
Pro’s and con’s for getting a alternative teacher certification in Texas vs. getting certified another way?
Usually people who seek alternative certification have job experience in other areas that help them considerably once they become a teacher. For example, I did some hotel management work and childcare administration work. The amount of paperwork required for jobs like this and needing to stay organized has helped me now that I’m a teacher.
But as far as pros and cons of the programs, I don’t know much about getting certified through your college, but I would imagine that a pro would be going through student teaching (not something that you get going through alternative cert.). Also, the classes are very targeted – for example, you would spend an entire semester on specific topics, like strategies for your special needs students including modifications and accomodations in the mainstream classroom, while in alternative cert program you would spend about a day on that. In other words, your coursework is very specific to the job you will be doing (well, not the specific job, but teaching, in general). Cons for college? Takes four years and you cannot hold a job while student teaching. But if you’re already going to college, might as well major in education and get certified. Alternative cert program is for people who already have a college degree.
Pros for alternative certification: the training takes place during a very short time, usually the summer before you start teaching. Your 1st year is considered an internship year, but you are still employed and get paid regular teacher pay. However, you will have lots of people observing you to make sure you’re doing alright. So it takes a lot less time, but that’s if you already have a degree. If you don’t have a degree, you would have to spend four years getting one, then spending another year going through this program. The one really good thing about the program I went through is that they provided test-prep services for the certification test. I actually got to take a practice test to see what it was like before taking the real one. I was able to identify my weak areas and study only those. I also had a lot of support from my mentors and other people going through the program – we constantly compared notes. But you would also get this in another way through a college program. They also tried to make me very marketable by suggesting areas that I qualified for but had not considered – ESL, specifically. Ends up, that’s what I got a job in; that would not have happened had they not suggested it. Con to alternative cert? It’s expensive!! Basically, I already paid for my college degree then I had to pay another $4000 to go through this program. Good thing I was able to get paid for working, and they just took the program fees out of my check.
Seriously, if you already have a bachelor’s degree and really want to teach, I HIGHLY recommend going through alternative certification. There are several programs available to you, and I went through the education service center program for the region that I live in. Other than going to college and getting your bachelor’s in education, I don’t know of any other way to be certified (unless you’re certified in another state and just need to have your qualifications reviewed to get Texas certification). Please, if you have any questions, please email me, I would be happy to help:
smicheleholmes@yahoo.com