Many critics are scared of the future that has begun to unfold before our eyes: the current generation of students beginning to unpack their college dorms being the last generation to move away from home for college.  This fear began with the implementation of online education and has increased over the past years as the industry has taken off with congressional and educator support.  College 2.0, as it has been called, is enough to scare anybody, with its possible future of learning separate from the classroom and solely online textbooks.  While online education is nowhere near a fully implemental industry, online colleges have been sprouting up more rapidly than expected, but offer a new opportunity to students rather than the fear so many anticipated it would cause. 

Online colleges and universities began simply enough, with a few for-profit institutions that sought to encourage working adults to earn supplemental degrees.  Since this point, most schools have ballooned into expanding entities that continue to attract thousands of students every year, of all shapes and sizes.  Even more surprising is the fact that many traditional schools now offer specific online courses and degree programs which attract more students than they anticipated.  This has led more educators to support the online community because of the Ivy League schools that offer classes and the support Congress gave to for-profit schools several years ago.  This reigning support helps make the industry more reputable to many people who are still wary of the process.

The new generation of students who have completed their degree through online colleges and universities is expanding every year and provides a beacon of hope for those students who do not have the time or money to enroll in traditional colleges.  Online schools have therefore opened doors to students who would not have taken the time to earn a degree without the invention of online classes.  We really have become a society that is dependent on the internet, but as these students have proven, it is not entirely a bad thing.  Our new generation of internet-users has indicated to the technology community that social media sites have become a part of everyday life and online colleges have simply added to this community.

Many critics site numerous differences of online education including the separation of student and professor, the lack of interaction, and the inability to grasp concepts through sole research, but these critics have slowly drifted away over the years.  Online education has conquered many of these problems and continues to attract new groups of students every year and grants thousands of degrees to online students every year as well.  While the “doomsday” predictions of critics will probably never come true (online education will not replace traditional classes entirely), the industry will continue to attract new students every year and will more than likely come to a balancing point with traditional college campuses. 

Online scholarships have become easier to earn in recent years largely due to the 2006 Congressional bill that allowed online schools to receive federal funding.  Since this point, many more schools have opened up and many students have been able to receive federal Pell Grants and student loans through the government.  This has opened up vast opportunities for students in the online education world and has in turn opened up many opportunities for online scholarships as well.

Scholarships are a direct representation of the amount of funding any type of school receives, both from the government and private donors.  For-profit institutions, however, have difficulties in accruing money for scholarships since their endowment comes solely from their students.  However, the Congressional bill which was passed allowed for-profit institutions to receive a larger amount of funding, and therefore the means to expand their degree programs and their student base.  This has had an enormous affect on the amount of students who have enrolled in online institutions and their ability to earn a degree.

Online scholarships have thus become a direct result of federal funding to for-profit educational organizations and have slowly emerged in the past years.  Many range according to the school’s degree programs and acceptance rates, and are still hesitantly growing.  Online schools which have the most scholarships are typically traditional schools that have ventured into the online education community.  These schools offer many scholarships to any student who enrolls in their degree programs and many of these schools have been able to influence other online schools in their own financial aid areas.

Earning online scholarships for different degree programs is pretty similar to scholarships in traditional schools.  Most scholarships are based on good academic standing and other types of educational involvement in high school, which is what online universities consider as well.  Federal types of student aid additionally offer another type of monetary buffer for most students and help cover what other scholarships may not reach.  These federal funds normally look at students’ backgrounds, their financial situations, and their academic outlook.  As long as you are taking more than three hours of courses, you will qualify for most federal funds.  Most scholarships, however, require that you be enrolled at least full time (the amount of hours varies according to the school, but traditionally is over twelve hours).  Depending on what grades you have made throughout your academic career and your goals in your academic future, you will be able to secure many scholarships and federal funds for a further education. 
 

Online colleges and universities have experienced a jump in the past few years, largely due to the congressional bill which allowed federal funds to be handed over to online universities, but also due to the economic situation many of us have found ourselves in.  The economy has been the biggest influence for many students to attend online colleges, because many of them have found themselves in a lurch which they cannot easily get out of.  Online education offers many of them the option to gain a further education without paying thousands of dollars for the costs.

Online colleges and universities are for-profit institutions, which means they are able to charge less in their tuition and offer a greater selection of degree programs than most state schools.  Because of this aspect, online colleges have attracted a large amount of students from across the nation, many of whom would never have previously considered earning a college degree.  It is amazing what a few wires can do in the long run.  However, the economy has had a large influence on students of online education, mainly because it offers a cost-efficient alternative to earning MBAs and simple Bachelor’s Degrees, most of which would require four years of education which would result in outrageous loan payments.

Online education has the flexible alternative of allowing students to take classes when they want, and nearly pay what they want to pay.  The cost of online colleges is ridiculous compared to the cost of most state schools, and especially private schools, but the degree is exactly the same.  While you are not able to receive the same face to face interaction that traditional classroom education serves you, you will earn the same degree which will be able to earn you a further career option.

Online education has rapidly gained steam with many educators as it has procured a new option for students who otherwise would never have considered college.  A better education nation will inevitably lead to a better career-oriented nation, one which will be able to meet any challenges which may befall us in the coming years.  Education is more than simply earning a degree, but about learning the steps to grow more educated about certain topics.  Online colleges and universities have these resources available to their students and offer so much more in the future.  This is the new world for college for so many students and as soon as we realize the massive benefits that have occurred, the better off we all will be. 

Online education has only begun its foray into the educational field as new online courses are being offered every semester and new colleges open their theoretical doors every year as they attract online students.  Online colleges and universities have paved the way for a large technological shift in which we are no longer confined to the traditional classroom education, but now have choices of how we learn. 

The growth that has occurred as the result of the new popularity in online education is largely due to the easy accessibility which online colleges offer to their students, as well as the enticing possibility of earning a college degree from home.  We have long passed the days of the commercials that offered associate’s degrees from home through certain programs and have entered the days in which students can now earn anything from associates to doctoral degrees through online classes.  Previous programs could not offer higher degrees because they did not have the resources to allow students the flexibility to communicate with their professors through email. 

More than a technological feat, online education has been an educational miracle for many online college students who otherwise would not have received a degree in their lives.  The lower cost of online education coupled with the flexible class schedule have allowed many students to experience a higher level of education and improve their future career search.  Additionally, online colleges have now expanded their programs and now offer degree programs in nearly every type of imaginable field.  They offer the course offerings of a major public university for the price of a community college, all from the comfort of your home.

While online colleges and universities had a shaky start in the beginning of the new century, they have now received praise around the nation as a tool which promotes a further education.  There are still problems here and there with accreditation and “diploma mill” institutions, but thoroughly researching the school before signing up will protect you against any unwanted issues.  Online education has reached even higher goals in the past year and has attracted students from around the world to online classes, sure to boost education rates in the international sector.  The industry is continuing to grow, sure to reach great heights from its modest beginnings only a decade ago.
 

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There are many, many lists and rankings that provide what the highest ranking online colleges are, dividing each by cost, degree-type, and future career options.  However, determining what school is best for you is an important part of researching for college.  Rankings which may pertain to one person do not necessarily relate as well to the next person, which is why these lists should be purely supplemental in beginning your online college search.

One of the most important factors to consider in choosing an online college is their accreditation status.  Many online schools resemble traditional online universities, but are sham operations and give out “fake” degrees all while boasting a “fake” accreditation.  There are a few tips to look at when researching whether a school is one of these diploma mills: their accreditation rests on claims of affiliation with different organizations that are not related to school accreditation or they use words such as “state-approved” to suggest the equivalence of accreditation.  Additionally, many schools that only offer postal box addresses or offers little interaction with professors is a clear sign that something is not right with the school.  Many times, the name of the school is also a dead giveaway if it resembles a highly reputable university.  Finally, if schools only offer tuition on a per-degree basis rather than on a per-course basis, it is clear that something is awry with the terms of enrollment.

After this step, you have undoubtedly performed much research regarding online colleges and have begun to look into degree programs.  Schools that offer extensive degree problems for your specific degree are the schools you should begin to seriously look at.  Many schools that are not built-up enough offer simple general degrees without delving too far into a specialty.  However, schools that have been around for years longer are more apt to have an extensive degree program which offers a multitude of smaller degrees that can be just what you are looking for.  While broad degree programs may be perfect for some students, others require a more specialized degree, especially if they are searching for a supplemental graduate degree in a certain field.

Finally, reading former students’ remarks may help you decide whether you want to pursue a degree in the institution.  While the school typically will not publish unfavorable remarks, these comments do tend to provide insight into specific degree programs and professor schedules.  Additionally, seeing the manner in which they are written (as well as the subsequent career these students earned) is an important part of the college application process.  Treating online colleges like traditional colleges makes a big difference between ending up with a diploma mill degree and an accredited highly-ranked degree.  While the best online college for you may be vastly different from the best online college for your neighbor, the easy accessibility which the distance learning process offers ensures that there will always be a specific niche for everyone. 

Online education seemed to come out of nowhere, nearly booming overnight (perhaps reminiscent of the dot.com craze), but online colleges and universities have been in the works for nearly two decades, thriving on technological advances in the internet to increase their student-base.  The internet began to be something businesses took notice of in the 80s, and with that, many businesses used software through the internet to better train their employees, the very first hints at online education. 

As the 90s ended, internet and technology truly took off and online courses began to emerge at many traditional universities, offering students a way to take alternate classes from different schools that may not have been available at their school.  This process then began to expand from single classes to entire online colleges and universities, making it easier for students to earn degrees despite working full-time and raising a family.  Advances with digital streaming and online video availability helped spur on this transition to online education as it became a readily available option for many students throughout the country. 

Since this point, online education has expanded rapidly, as more and more technological advancements have occurred which have only led to greater developments within the online community.  Furthermore, we have now reached a point in which professors are specifically hired to teach online classes in which they are simply only video-taped for classes.  Additionally, larger businesses have begun to use online colleges as a way for their employees to earn additionally degrees which are beneficial for the company.  Many businesses now require this type of enrollment.  This is a beneficial option for many employees because instead of learning a packet of information on their own, they are in fact getting a new degree paid for by the company and are still able to prepare for class at home, rather than have late nights at the office. 

Multimedia and video conferencing have evolved to such a point that online colleges and universities now seem as ordinary as traditional schools.  Additionally, nearly every type of degree is now available online, meaning that students of any genre can now take online courses from any part of the country!  Furthermore, technology is always evolving, which leads us to wonder what the future of online education will hold. 

By Claire Webber

Check the headlines of celebrity news lately and you may see a recent rash of articles slamming Gwyneth Paltrow for voicing her concern about environmental toxins and their impact on children.  It’s mind boggling to see that most of these articles label her as a ‘nut’ and ‘loopy’ or out of her mind.  Thankfully celebrity gossip magazines and blogs aren’t controlling our nation’s future, and our recent economic stimulus package actually includes funding to increase the research regarding this very real threat.

According to Elaine Shannon, who writes for Enviroblog, $10.4 billion dollars has been allocated for ‘biomedical and behavioral research.’  These funds, which are to be distributed through the National Institutes of Health, will help keep important government programs alive.

According to the report, microbiologist Linda Birnbaum, who heads up The National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, plans to direct the funds to areas that researchers have determined need attention the most.  And it may come as some surprise to celebrity blog writers that topping this list is research relating to our understanding of environmentally triggered diseases. 

At least $200 million dollars will go towards programs of this nature that continue to investigate the complicated relationship between environmental contaminants and the human body, as scientific research in these areas is still in early stages of development.

According to Shannon’s report other areas that the NIEHS intends to focus on include:

-    Health effects in relation to climate change

-    Stem cell research as an alternative to lab animal use to predict toxicity of chemicals

-    Genetic changes caused by prenatal environmental exposure to chemicals causing conditions that may not present themselves until later in life or even in future generations

-    Studying the risks associated with different materials, like plastics, on a cellular level

As years of progress have gone by, little has been studied to understand the complex interaction between humans and compounds we have created.  Recent reports related to toxic chemicals in the home, in places previously assumed to be safe, can be found almost everywhere on the net. 

Developing new products and compounds to make our life ‘easier’ it is comforting to know that the government is at least taking note of certain risk factors.  And while studies in the area of environmental contaminants are a long way off in many areas of understanding, it is encouraging to see growth in research and research funding.