Many students understand that they possess a unique combination of learning styles. Learning styles may be referred to as learning modalities, or learning preferences. Regardless of what they are called, they are the ways in which learners receive and processes information through their senses. The four common categories of learning styles are considered to be visual, aural, reading/writing, and kinesthetic/tactile. Together, these are sometimes referred to as VARK.

Did you know that you may also possess as many as nine different types of intelligences? In the 1980s, Howard Gardner introduced the theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI). Gardner established seven separate intelligences.

The nine intelligences are:

• Verbal/Linguistic
• Logical/Mathematical
• Visual/Spatial
• Bodily-Kinesthetic
• Musical
• Interpersonal
• Intrapersonal
• Naturalistic
• Existential

Later he added Naturalistic and Existential. While there is general acceptance of Naturalistic, there is debate regarding the validity of Existential, so more study needs to be dedicated to it. While learning styles theory emphasizes the intake of information through the senses, MI concentrates on the cognitive processes that take place once that information arrives to the brain.

Previously accepted ideas of human intellectual capacity contend that an individual’s intelligence is fixed throughout one’s lifetime and that intelligence can be measured and expressed as a single entity via an assigned IQ score. Traditionally, IQ scores focused mainly on verbal and linguistic skills.

According to Gardner’s theory, intelligence encompasses the ability to create and solve problems, create products or provide services that are valued within a culture or society. Just as an individual will possess a unique combination of learning styles, everyone also possesses a unique combination of intelligences. Gardner concluded that all human beings possess all nine intelligences in varying degrees, each individual has a different intelligence profile, each intelligence occupies a different area of the brain, and the nine intelligences may operate in concert or independently from one another. The advantage to you as a student or teacher is that learning can be improved by assessment of students’ intelligence profiles and designing activities accordingly.

In order to determine your type of intelligence, or combination of, take a self-assessment created by Literacy.org.

By Craig Gilman
Faculty Member at American Public University

What’s your preference for absorbing information? Are you tactile (touch), auditory (sound), or visual (sight)? You may think that you’re limited to only sound and sight as an online student, but you can easily modify your home learning environment to fit your needs. Once you’ve identified where your mind is at, you’ll be able to adopt new learning methods that will compliment your experience in the classroom.

Define your learning style.

1. Visual learners learn best through their eyes.
2. Auditory learners obtain information best through their ears.
3. Tactile leaners absorb knowledge through their hands.

Take the time to observe yourself, and how you relay information in a subject. If you find yourself doing a search for videos and podcasts then you should focus on tuning your skills in the auditory direction. Here’s a great post on how to “Maximize Your Learning Style in School and Life.” It’s has great suggestions and exercises for fine-tuning your learning skills.

By: J. Mason

We all think we know how to write, but once classes start and the word counts rise we slowly realize how behind we are. Keep your head above water, and your brain from cramping, by taking a writing class in your first semester.

 [Related: Understand the Guidelines of Plagiarism and Cheating]

The advising group at American Public University System suggests taking a writing course up front to get familiar with the online format. You’ll have varying lengths of content to hand in. For example, discussion posts are typically short (around 150 words), and term papers can be upwards of 15 pages. Seek help from your advising department if you think your writing skills are falling short, and they can point you in the direction of a tutor with the school.

Good luck, and happy writing!

[Related: Boost Classwork Productivity With a New Writing Environment]

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It’s been said that the virtual platform allows the introverts to come out of their shell. Without the face to face interaction of a brick and mortar school, you rely more heavily on your social communication skills through text and content.

In the online learning environment the class clown isn’t favored, it’s the student that has the most value and information to offer the rest of the class. So, if you’re looking to fit in online, or at least network with students in your program, you’ll need to learn about the overall attitude of the student body. What’s the best way to do this? Get involved the school’s social networking groups. If you frequent a blog, or forum you’ll know that the more you particpate the more feedback and support you’ll receive. The same goes for social groups in an online school. Throw yourself into the mix by answering a question posted by one of the admins, or ask a question yourself. Depending on the response, helpful/not helpful, you can start to get a better sense on where other students are at.

[related: Go Public After Completing a Goal]

Don’t be afraid to use the chat feature, or engage other students within the classroom as well. Check with your advisor on if there’s a virtual student lounge you can visit to get in touch with other students. Online education still has the same end goal as any other brick and mortart institution, to educate and inspire innovation. Everyone interprets their education differently, but for the most part you’re in school because you want to be.

Just remember, you’re not alone in the learning process. There are thousands of other online students just like you working on their degree. One way to keep your motivation levels up while in school? Get social with your peers. I’ve seen friendships develop on our school pages on Facebook from students having continued and supportive interactions with one another. Take a second today to get connected with your peers online, you may find a new study buddy!

[related: Friending Your Classmates and Professors on Facebook]

By: J. Mason

A lot of first-time online students have a bit of anxiety and nervousness surrounding their first online classroom experience.  I wanted to compile some do’s and don’ts for those of you who may be new to this!

I did a bit of crowdsourcing for this post… thanks to the awesome folks from the AMU Facebook page for their awesome insight!

Without keeping you waiting any longer, here’s my top 10 list of online classroom fails (as shared with me by real, live online students!):

1. Cursing or ranting in a discussion post.
2. Improper use of grammar.
3. Failure to use spell check.
4. THE USE OF ALL CAPS.
5. Not citing your work, “borrowing” from classmates’ posts.
6. Failing to proof-read your post before submitting.
7. Attacking classmates and/or their opinions or beliefs.
8. Improperly using the copy/paste function from Word (resulting in a bunch of code mumbo jumbo before your actual post).
9. Scrutinizing classmates’ work instead of constructively contributing to discussion.
10. Being boisterous and presumptuous.

Want to read more? Check out the thread here!

By N. Cooper

Being a friend to the environment is becoming more important with every season change. There are lots of ways to be green as an online student, and saving on gas and paper are just a couple ways to start. If you’re interested in learning about the impact online education is having on climate change, check out the post below from one of our sister blogs.

Post originated from the Sustainability Committee Blog at American Public University System.

by Angie Crone

As this year’s 17th conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, South Africa, resulted in yet another stand-off among today’s leading nations, there are plenty of reasons to share in the embitterment and despair shadowing the climate change community. And while the Durban discussions did lead to a few positive outcomes –the Green Climate Fund and a sustained forum for discussing the issue, for example—the conference, unsurprisingly, was another failure of the global community to come to an agreement of how to slow the heating of the planet. The conference did, however, heed a rather constructive lesson: the climate change issue exceeds the realms of the climate community. This isn’t necessarily a newsflash, of course, but it brings into focus a new question: who is equipped to handle the climate crisis?

In a recent New York Times article, Mary D. Nichols, chairwoman for California’s Air Resources Board, poignantly stated, “Progress is going to come from the bottom up, not the top down.” The proactivity of regional climate commitments such as the Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord and the Northeast’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative which incorporate public stakeholders, private business, non-governmental organizations, and individuals have shown that bottom-up strategies are well-positioned to make meaningful contributions in combatting climate change. Additionally, industry specific agreements have been instrumental in identifying and mitigating their own contributions to the increasingly unpredictable climate. 

Let’s consider the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).  The ACUPCC has emphasized the importance of higher education taking a new lead by preparing for and responding to impacts and implications of climate change that include unprecedented effects on infrastructure, ecosystems, energy and water supplies, food production, national security, and people’s livelihoods.  With the US Census Bureau reporting that there are 4,495 higher education institutions in the United States and with college enrollment having increased 38% between 1999 and 2009, the ACUPCC has a unique opportunity to develop cutting edge solutions and best-practices in the fight against climate change.

The opportunities of the ACUPCC also stem from its immense market (which is partly the beauty of being in the higher education sector). The ACUPCC currently has 674 signatories, representing some 5.8 million students. This means that 5.8 million individuals are being exposed to and are, willingly or unknowingly, participating in climate change fighting strategies in the form of physical projects, collaboration, or simply, attendance. These educated individuals will then (hopefully) take these practices into their workplaces and everyday lives. This is what I call serious bottom-up climate change fighting.

Real significance also lies in the reconciliatory nature of commitments and initiatives like the ACUPCC. These types of agreements are the so called “middle-men and women” between the bottom and the top. So while the annual climate talks are productive in their own right, they’re not the end-all, be-all in climate change. And as we ring in 2012, let’s not take with us the baggage of another unsuccessful international agreement, and instead recognize that those of us in higher education are equipped to make a significant impact in combatting climate change.

You can’t prepare for something when you don’t know what it is. If you have never experienced an online school before, now is your chance to become familiar with the online learning environment.

This is not your typical college fair. It is a real-time meet and greet with real students, staff, faculty and alumni from American Public University System, which includes American Military University and American Public University.

Who: American Public University System
What: Virtual College Fair
Where: Online
When: January 19, 2012
Time: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
How to register: Visit College Week Live for more details on attending.

What can you expect from this event?

• Live video and chat sessions with academics reps
• How to choose an academic program
• Overview of the admissions process
• Federal student aid information
• Military TA/Veteran Benefits
• Tuition Schedule
• A live step by step of the entire FAFSA process
• Special ask the faculty live session
• Exploring the classroom and e-campus
• Live presentation of student life in the online classroom
• Chat with Student Affairs, Career Services, and more University social groups

Reserve your spot today by registering for American Public University’s live virtual college fair.

There’s only a few days left in 2011, so make the best of the time you have left. While a new year for many is simply changing the page on the calendar, others view it as the time to set new goals and guidelines to follow in their lives. You’ll need to decide if you want a wish list, or a task list.

[related: Scribble on Your Desk to Work Out Creativity]

Here’s the difference with the two. A “wish list” is usually full of lofty goals that would be nice to have done or accomplished, but not necessarily possible due to time constraints and other factors. A “task list” is self-explanatory. This is a list of things that you know must get done, because other variables depend on their completion. The shoot for the moon type of goals are great motivators, but can be a let-down if you never get around to them. Instead set yourself up for success, expect less and produce more.

You can start out simple by creating a to-do list for the month of January. Everyday items are expected and recurring, but then sprinkle in 1 thing you haven’t started yet, like a class. Once you start crossing things off you’re in the next month. As you start to work through the beginning of the year you can gradually add in more long term goals, and keep up the pace with your everyday.

[related: Remembering the "Little Things" Just Got Easier]

The more realistic an expectation you set to something, the more likely you’ll be able to accomplish the end result. Don’t put too much weight on yourself, and make sure to keep sight of the top tier priorities. If you’re in class, that should probably be maintained on your weekly schedule as a constant. Keep your family in the loop of goals they can help with. The more support you have, the better.

By: J. Mason

If you’re planning on celebrating the big holidays this week, but are nowhere near done with your work, give yourself an early present and take a break.

To cover your tracks email your professor to find out when they’re expecting the next assignment to be due to them; if it’s before or after the holiday. Your instructor may be taking some time off too, and if you’re lucky you’ll have a later due date. But again, check with them first.

It may not seem like much, but for those in stress packed programs like an M.B.A. it’s hard to breathe at times. Give yourself the day off, hide your books, unplug your computer and set aside the smartphone for a while. Enjoy the time off with your family and friends, even open up a few presents while you’re at it. Indulge in the holiday, and then get back to reality the day after.

If you’re looking for something to motivate you back into learning after your break, check out some tips getting motivated in an online setting.

Happy Holidays from the Online Learning Tips Family!

By: J. Mason

Credit: Wesley Bedrosian

Academic dishonesty isn’t something new, and it’s not discussed regularly unless a scandal breaks. Instructors regularly proof for plagiarism by using tools like Turnitin, and by experience. In an online environment it may seem harder to monitor the cheaters, but the more savvy professors take to social media to look for those skirting around doing the work themselves.

The bottom line is you need to know your school’s policies on cheating. One of the worst things that can happen is expulsion. To avoid getting a bad grade, getting on the teacher’s bad side, or worse getting expelled, make sure you know the rules.

For starters, check your student handbook for writing standards at your school. Since online education is primarily writing, and is all virtual you should pay special attention to this section. Here are some examples of academic dishonesty as explained by the student handbook at American Public University:

• Submitting another person’s work
• Letting another student use your work for a gradable class exercise
• Working in a group effort without your professor’s consent
• Submitting the same assignment twice for different courses
• Getting outside help without the teacher’s permission

It’s kind of like clothing you wear to the office, if you question whether you should wear it to work then you shouldn’t be wearing it. If you’re questioning whether the professor would be OK with how you’re getting answers or not, then it’s better to play it safe and confer with the professor before handing in your “assisted” work.

Keep your education standards high and your work honest. Your professors will appreciate the extra effort you took to create an original answer for their assignment(s).

By: J. Mason