The Challenges of Online Education

One of the wonders of online learning is the access to each other that teachers and students across the globe can now enjoy. For teachers seeking online teaching jobs, there are many benefits to be harvested. Any teacher who enjoys a challenge, or doing something different, may find that online tutoring of international students will suit them well. Especially in many developing countries, there is a hunger for knowledge and qualifications: a need that Online Learning is superbly well designed to meet.

What international students want - Opportunities for teaching students from all around the world are abundant, with particular demand in some educational areas. They include:

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1. English language teaching. English remains one of the key languages of international commerce, and the demand is perennial. Online tutors who can assist foreign learners with their command of the English language will find many openings. Possibilities include both structured language teaching, including grammar and English literature, and conversational English tutoring online, via video link. China is one country where students are eager to learn English with an online tutor and make the most of the new links between China and western economies.

2. SAT and GRE tutoring and test prep. Many international students, in Africa and China (to name but two) aspire to obtaining places in American and European universities. Online tutoring for aspirant undergraduates (SAT test prep) and postgraduates (GRE or GRE MAT test prep) are both areas that online tutors and educators seeking Online Teaching Jobs can usefully consider.

Skills for teaching international students

Language skills: Though many international students are well-versed in other languages, online tutors taking on foreign students will have an advantage if they are themselves bilingual or have experience of teaching learners for whom English is a second language. Note also that some learners have a good grasp of spoken English but may use a very different written alphabet. Online Tutoring may entail providing extra help with written assignments.

Cultural sensitivity: Online tutors and educators in search of online teaching jobs don't need a degree in anthropology but cultural sensitivity is essential. The scope for misunderstanding and even giving offense is magnified and before starting online tutoring of students from different cultures, online tutors would do well to familiarize themselves with the backgrounds of potential students.

The rewards of teaching international students - Many online tutors find teaching international students exceptionally rewarding, both because most are hardworking and eager to learn and because students from other cultures demand that teachers stretch themselves to meet the challenges involved. It is a way for online tutors to learn about other countries and cultures and sometimes results in lifelong friendships. Online tutors of international students can, in their own small way, use education to contribute to building bridges between peoples and nations across the globe.

Many students choose to pursue online degree without evaluating their learning style and personality whether they will be successful as online students. Survey results show that many online students failed to complete their degree program mainly due to student's personality issues. Earning a degree through online education may not be a right decision for all students. Here are 4 important tips to evaluate yourself to ensure you are a right candidate to success with online learning style.

Evaluation #1: Are your education success mainly depend on face-to-face interaction with instructors and classmates?

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In online learning environment, most learning materials and communications are in text format, you need to adapt yourself to this type of learning environment if you want to success in this type of study. Many students who failed in their online study find themselves learn better in the courses that conducted in classroom-based. They prefer direct interaction with lecturer and face-to-face communication with their classmates.

If you education success or failure really depend of how the courses being conducted and you are not ready to change your learning style, then considering online education may not be your best option.

Evaluation #2: Do you often get things done ahead of time or you prefer to wait until the last minutes?

Self-motivation is very important in online learning because most of the courses and assignments are in self-paced form. You plan your own time that best fit into your schedule to logon to classes, do and submit your assignments. If you are the kind of person who always put on-hold your tasks to last minutes of dead line, then online education may not be your best choice.

Evaluation #3: Do you always need assistance when you are given written directions for an assignment by an instructor?

If you do, then you might have problem to understand instruction in text format. Most communications for online education such chatting, discussion board, email and downloadable materials are in text format. Although there are helps available if you need any assistance, most of your questions will be answered in email or posted text on the online discussion board. Hence, you need to be able to under text instructions if you want to benefits from the advantages of online education.

Evaluation #4: Are you good in time management & able to divide your time between your work, family and online study?

If you are a working individual who want to get a degree online without giving up your career, online education is good choice because the benefits in term of flexibility and self-paced learning style enable you to achieve both your career and education goal. But, for people who are not good in time management, they tend to lose their focus on their study if they are too busy with their career and family. That's why many online students who are not able to allocate their time for study tend to quit without completing their online study program.

If the results of the above evaluation reveal a strong self-motivation and preference for a more independent learning environment, you may be an ideal candidate to take your degree online.

When certain groups of students don't fare as well academically as others do, an achievement gap can occur. Low-income students, students with disabilities, and students from certain racial and ethnic backgrounds are among those who could be at risk of struggling academically. There are, however, college and university programs, as well as scholarships, that might help close the achievement gap. The federal government, for one, awards TRIO grants to colleges and universities throughout the country.

These institutions put the grant money to programs and services especially intended to help at-risk students successfully obtain college and university degrees. TRIO money can go toward projects and services such as tutoring, assistance with study skills and obtaining financial aid, such as scholarships. Many non-profit foundations also make scholarships available to students with disabilities, as well as those with chronic illnesses. From immune deficiencies and asthma to lupus and visual impairments, students with disabilities and chronic illnesses have a number of affliction-specific scholarships to help them pay for a college or university education. Scholarships for some of these afflictions include:

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Scholarships for Students with Autism: The Autism Society of America provides recognizes individuals through a CVS/All Kids Can Scholars program and Outstanding Individual with Autism of the Year awards; the Organization for Autism Research's Schwallie Family Scholarship Program provides ,000 for students with autism or Asperger Symdrome who are attending two- and four-year colleges, as well as vocational, or technical, schools.

Scholarships for Students with Cystic Fibrosis: The Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation provides undergraduate scholarships of about ,000 based on academic achievements, as well as financial needs and leadership abilities. The Elizabeth Nash Foundation provides scholarships of 0 to ,000 for students with cystic fibrosis in undergraduate and graduate school programs. In addiotion, the Abbott Pharmaceuticals' SolvayCARES scholarships of ,500 are also available to students with cystic fibrosis, who might also be eligible for an additional ,500 as part of a Thriving Student Achiever Contest.

Scholarships for Students with Hearing Impairments: The Alexander Graham Bell Association for Deaf and Hard of Hearing offers financial assistance to students ages 21 and younger who are enrolled in a mainstream school program. This same organization offers George H. Nofer Scholarships for Law and Public Policy scholarships for students in full-time law school programs and those in full-time graduate school programs in public policy or administration.

Scholarships for Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD: The National Center for Learning Disabilities awards Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Scholarships of ,000 in four annual installments to high school seniors with learning disabilities who plan to work toward a bachelors degree. The Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic awards Marion Huber Learning Through Listening scholarships to high school senior members who have learning disabilities.

Scholarships for Students with Physical Disabilities: The ChairScholars Foundation awards national scholarships of as much as ,000 to low-income high school seniors and college and university freshmen who have severe physical disabilities. The foundation also has scholarship programs where awards are extended on a more regional basis, to Florida and metropolitan New York students.

More people are becoming aware of the harmful effects that carbon dioxide emissions and excess water use can have on the environment. As a result, many are beginning to incorporate sustainable practices into their daily lives. These practices can more often be found in the workplace, as well as in college, university and technical school courses that are part of campus and distance learning programs.

Choosing an online degree program can be one way that students who are concerned about the environment can cut down on their carbon emissions. Since they don't have to drive to classes, they can help the environment on a day-to-day basis. However, those looking to take this passion one step further can consider a technology degree, many of which are taking on a sustainability focus.

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At Rainy River Community College in Minnesota, for example, an associate degree program in Green and Sustainable Construction Technology offers students opportunities to learn how technologies can decrease a building's waste and increase its efficiency when it comes to energy and water resources. New York City College of Technology offers a Sustainable Technology certificate program where students can analyze the life cycle costs of new high-tech materials, alternative energy systems and new construction methods. Central Carolina Community College this year is planning a new associate's degree in Sustainable Technology, with focuses on alternative energy and green building.

The National Center for Appropriate Technology is a private, non-profit organization that works to promote sustainable technology systems, particularly those in energy and agriculture. The center hosts workshops and events and counts a University of Idaho Biodiesel Fuel Education program as well as Salish Kootenai College in Montana among its partners. Oregon Institute of Technology in 2009 changed its Environmental Sciences bachelor's degree program to a new Environmental Sciences/Sustainable Technology program, where students take courses in renewable energy engineering, mechanical engineering technologies, civil engineering and business management, an article in The Oregonian noted.

In addition to helping students gain a competitive advantage, with workplace settings that are more often taking concerns about the environment into account, courses in sustainable technologies are designed to meet the growing demands of companies involved in the field of environmentally-friendly systems, the New York City College of Technology notes. One of these systems has made news in the Nantucket, Mass., area. The Boston Globe recently reported that officials in the region gave the go-ahead to a controversial alternative energy project known as Cape Wind.

The Cape Wind initiative is intended to bring 130 wind turbines to the coast, creating many jobs and helping the state become a pioneer in employing clean, green technology to procure energy, according to the Boston Globe. Many opponents to the project felt that it would disturb the views from Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Others contended the move could help promote green energy and hopefully enhance the environment by helping to decrease reliance on fossil fuels such as coal and oil that release harmful gases into the environment.

Colleges, universities and technical schools themselves are also becoming more friendly with regard to the environment by employing green technologies. In 2009, some 166 green campus structures either opened or received awards and certifications such as the well-known Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) that recognizes measures to conserve water, reduce carbon dioxide and more, according to an annual report released in June by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Education. More recently, Northern California's Butte College, a national community college leader in sustainability located on a 928-acre wildlife refuge, announced that by May 2011 it would become the only institution in the country to produce more clean energy from sustainable, on-site solar power than it uses.

Sustainable technology credentials might help students find work as sustainability consultants, renewable energy or biofuels technicians and green building supervisors, according to Central Carolina Community College. With new developments in the sustainable energy industry, individuals may also find that they can take additional courses to complement an existing technology degree. Others might want to update their credentials.