Repost by: Deborah Catalano Ruriani of Inbound Logistics

Traditional classroom education is a viable option for some logistics professionals seeking new skills. But for many, online learning presents a better alternative for acquiring additional training, degrees, or certifications. Irvin Varkonyi, adjunct professor and marketing manager of transportation and logistics management at American Public University, provides tips for advancing your career through online learning.

1. Understand online learning. Online courses use the Internet to deliver material through multiple models, including real-time interactive video conferencing and Webcasts, non-interactive Web-enabled content, and asynchronous courses, which are not held in real time but provide many traditional classroom features, such as interaction between faculty and students.
2. Determine which type of learning suits you best. The main differences between online and traditional courses are student-instructor interaction and scheduling. Online learning interaction is virtual through real-time or asynchronous conversations such as discussion boards, where instructors provide assignment questions and students respond with original posts and comment on other responses. Some online learning offers students scheduling flexibility, while other courses mimic traditional classrooms with fixed meeting times.
3. Decide if you want a degree, certification, or just education. Online institutions offer students the option of taking individual courses without committing to an entire degree.
4. Look for a legitimate accredited institution. Universities that award undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates should be accredited by the regional Higher Learning Commission, the same institution that accredits traditional institutions, and the Sloan Consortium, a group of institutions and organizations committed to quality online education.
5. Ask the experts. Contact program alumni or current students to gather opinions about the course you’re considering.
6. Check your company’s requirements for advancement. Some companies consider advanced degrees in logistics and supply chain management a requirement for promotion beyond a certain level. Some do not. Make sure you understand the rules of promotion within your organization.
7. Learn the total cost of the program. Always check all the costs, including tuition and fees. A university should be able to quote you the entire cost of your education.
8. Seek financial aid. Federal government and military tuition assistance plans apply equally to accredited online learning and brick-and-mortar schools. Scholarships may also be available through the institution and external sources.
9. Make sure you have the proper tools. You don’t have to be a technology wizard, but you do need a computer with a high-speed Internet connection. Some online programs offer real-time video conferencing or Webcasts that use PowerPoint presentations and videos, but you should not need special software.
10. Investigate the opportunities available to program graduates. Make sure your online provider offers virtual career forums for recruiters to meet and interview prospective employees online.

- J. Mason

This is steadily becoming the hot topic in a lot of post high school education discussions. Online universities have an edge when it comes to convenience and availability that most brick and mortar schools can’t come close to. As for those deployed or overseas, continuing your education in an online classroom is a great option.

In this podcast, American Public University is mentioned for their growing number of students 70,000 and counting, availability to people across 50 states and over 100 countries worldwide.

Listen to this webcast now >

- J. Mason

Having children and a career can equal up to a jam-packed schedule with no room for additions. Going back  to school may have not been an option years ago, because of the travel involved in getting to campus, but with the great options in degree programs from online schools many mom’s are headed back to class.

Advancing your education with a degree online is one way to get where you want to be, without having to drive to get to it. At American Public University (APU) there are many mothers doing just that, going back to school online.

Panteha Vaghedi, a graduate student at APU, is a hard-working and loving mother of two pursuing her M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management. She feels the online environment makes getting a degree easier to do. “Since all the courses are online I really have the flexibility to work, take care of my kids and study when they go to bed at night,” says Vaghedi. “I was skeptical as to how much I would learn and pick up from online classes. But to my surprise, the syllabus and organization of the classes are such that we learn a great deal from the teacher and each other. I am really happy that I gave it a try.”

An article came out recently discussing the availability of online education to  mothers planning on returning to school. A question was posed whether mothers attending school are leaving off in their parenting, the answer? “Not at all,” says Frank Mayadas, program director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, an association of more than 900 institutions and organizations of higher education engaged in online learning. ‘Rather, eLearning gives students with busy schedules — like moms — the opportunity to receive a quality education on their own terms. As Mayadas explains, online programs remove the obstacles of transportation and time, and provide a way for individuals to balance their professional goals with their personal priorities.’

“A back–to–school mom is being a living example, showing her children how to establish goals that extend out from the family,” says Thomas Haller, MDiv, MSW, DST family therapist, and author of “The Ten Commitments: Parenting with Purpose” (Personal Power Press, 2005). “She shows her children how to structure time, set limits, and reach personal goals — lessons that her kids will carry with them the rest of their lives.”

Some suggested techniques for making online education work…

Four Keys to Mommy’s School Success

1. Learn to say no. Balancing mommyhood and school is a feat in itself. It’s acceptable to say no to friends and family sometimes. Be upfront that your schedule makes it unrealistic to book too many plans or dates.
2. Put yourself first. Take your friends up on babysitting offers, and use the time to study and complete assignments.
3. Schedule quiet time. Set aside an hour during the day where your children have ‘quiet time.’ Turn the phone ringer off and explain to your children that for the next hour you will be working.
4. Schedule housework time. Believe it not, taking a mental break away from your hectic life may be just what you need to brainstorm or come up with that great new idea.

Read more on this study from AOL >

With a variety of options at their fingertips, mother’s are in a great position to advance in their careers through education. See what online learning has to offer you. Learn more about whether online learning is right for you >

- By J. Mason

Top 10 things you should consider before deciding

Tuesday, April 6, 2010  11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

Register Today >

Our webcast will consist of a roundtable discussion of the top questions prospective students face when considering online education.  Our roundtable will feature a current online student, a graduate from an online program, and a representative from an online school.  Hear their perspectives and ask your own questions too!

With increasing competition in the job market, one way to stand out is with a career-focused degree. According to a 2009 Sloan Consortium survey, more than 4.6 million students were enrolled in online education¹. Pursuing an online degree may be a better fit for your lifestyle, so you can balance work and family with your education and still take advantage of affordable, quality education. You won’t even have to commute!

Register today to get an insider’s perspective of pursuing an online degree and find out if online learning is right for you. 

Top 10 Questions Our Guest Speakers Will Discuss:

1. How does online education compare to the classroom?
2. What to expect when enrolling in an online school?
3. How are online degrees perceived?
4. Is your school accredited?
5. How much will it cost and how can you pay for school?
6. What kind of support is offered by the online school?
7. What does the technology look like and how do the classrooms work?
8. What are the requirements for success as an online student?
9. What kind of assignments, exams, and projects do you have?
10. Why APU? How are we different from other schools?

The webcast will also include a question and answer session so you can ask your own questions!

For more information on this special webcast event >

- Online Learning Tips Staff