The Online Universities WeblogFinding the right online college you needWestern Governers University Reaches 10,000 Enrolled Students- June 13, 2008 Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Alex SlobodkinWestern Governors University, a non-profit online college, is now reporting enrollment of over 10,000 students. This sometimes controversial school allows students to prove their knowledge through writing assignments and exams. Deseret News reports:"Western Governors University, which was founded just over 10 years ago, has reached enrollment of 10,000 students. Skeptics of the nonprofit, online university founded by 19 U.S. governors, didn&39;t...http://www.onlineuniversities-weblog.com/50226711/western_governers_university_reaches_100... Grant Awards Free Laptops to Native Hawaiians- June 11, 2008 Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Jakub SemeniukA new federal grant is making it possible for native Hawaiian students to receive free laptops. Here&39;s Molokai Times has to say about the program:"The Maui Community College Molokai Education Center is offering Native Hawaiian residents of Molokai the opportunity to qualify for a free laptop. This effort is the result of a USDA Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning and Telemedicine (RUS DS&T) grant. The grant entitled, Project Ohana (Online...http://www.onlineuniversities-weblog.com/50226711/grant_awards_free_laptops_to_native_hawa... Online School Accreditation Laws- June 10, 2008 Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image 3299074I don&39;t recommend enrolling in an unaccredited online school. These programs tend to offer a lower quality education, even if they are not diploma mills. However, some students will inevitably chose to go with unaccredited colleges. If you fall into this category, be sure to check the accreditation laws in your state and any state you may want to live in the future. Some states make it illegal for graduates to list unaccredited degrees on...http://www.onlineuniversities-weblog.com/50226711/online_school_accreditation_laws.php Less Money for School- June 6, 2008 Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Thomas PerkinsSome online college students may have more difficulty securing student loans in the coming semester. It seems that the mortgage crisis has affected more than just homeowners. NPR reports:"Driven by the credit crunch, big banks are cutting back student loan programs, nixing cash access for students at community colleges and small four-year colleges deemed "less competitive." The mortgage industry crisis, says Robert Shireman of the Project on Student.http://www.onlineuniversities-weblog.com/50226711/less_money_for_school.php Online Students Learning as Avatars- June 5, 2008 Pathfinder Linden Many online college students take courses in virtual realms such as Second Life. To enter these worlds they must choose a graphical figure to represent them. The Economic Times reports:"An internet fantasy universe teeming with faux worlds devoted to socializing and video games is expanding to include virtual classrooms and universities. A new trend in online education involves students acting through animated characters called "avatars" mingling in simulated school settings.http://www.onlineuniversities-weblog.com/50226711/online_students_learning_as_avatars.php Learning Communities for Online Graduate Students- June 4, 2008 Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image 5218304Last week, I wrote about the need for social interaction in effective online learning. Now, a new report from the Journal of Online Learning and Teaching shows how these social communities can be formed for online graduate students. Here are the basics:"Community building in online distance education is important to a successful learning experience because it alleviates feelings of isolation for both students and faculty members. Ruth E. Brown...http://www.onlineuniversities-weblog.com/50226711/learning_communities_for_online_graduate... |