Monday, May 16, 2011 – 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ET

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Could religion be headed for extinction or is something else taking its place? In a recent study presented at a meeting of the American Physical Society, scholars suggested that religion may be dying in nine countries including: Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Canada, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. But what is causing this unprecedented cultural phenomenon and what is the future of religious affiliations in these nations?

[Interested in learning more about earning a B.A. in Religion 100% online?]

Join American Public University and our esteemed panel as they discuss the study and delve deeper into the bigger picture of the battle of religion vs. spirituality. This panel will feature both a believer’s and a humanist’s point of view on the topic and include an extensive discussion on religion’s current and future role in the modern world.

Cool news, readers!

American Public University (APU), part of American Public University System, and Northern Virginia Community College today announced a transfer credit agreement. NOVA is Virginia’s largest institution of higher education and one of America’s largest community colleges.

The announcement reflects APU’s continued commitment to provide a ready pathway for community college graduates to continue their studies toward a bachelor’s degree, according to APUS President and CEO Dr. Wallace E. Boston.

“We’re very pleased to partner with Northern Virginia Community College, which shares our mission to provide access to an affordable, quality, post-secondary education to students,” said Boston. “This agreement will enable NOVA graduates to continue their education online with APU while working in their chosen profession.”

NOVA graduates can apply their eligible associate degree credits in a block format toward junior status at APU for the completion of bachelor’s degrees in subject areas ranging from history, intelligence studies and management to marketing, security management and sports and health sciences, among many others.

You can read about the full agreement here.

This recent podcast explored the necessary steps to take for an online institution to obtain and maintain state licensure for online classes.

Dr. Frank McCluskey, VP, Scholar in Residence at APU interviewed Dr. Russell Kitchner who gave insight into how to get licensure in all 50 states. Dr. Kitchner explains that licensure is more about building relationships between the institutions. He also shares a handful of very stringent tasks that some schools have had to follow in order to achieve licensure; like a program by program review, reviewing the university catalog, and checking up on the organizations refund policy.

There are a great many tips in here for schools looking for country-wide licensure, as well as advising on having a dedicated group of people to work on regulation work to maintain the licensure. For more details on this process listen to the podcast below.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Fred Stielow, the Associate Vice President and Dean of Libraries and Educational Materials at American Public University System.

A lot of you may be the way I was at the beginning of my relationship with online education, and may have the same questions about online libraries… What’s an Online Library? Why would I need it when there’s one down the street?

Fred’s got ya covered.  Check out our newest podcast, and let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

– N

OnlineLearningTips.com – APUS Online Library from American Public University on Vimeo.

In honor of AMU and APU‘s graduation ceremony tomorrow, I thought, that as a DC native, I might put together a quick post with some to-dos and must-sees in Washington, D.C. — so if you’re in the area for graduation, here are my personal top ten favorite things to do (in no particular order)!

1. Visit the Capitol - You can either purchase a ticket at the kiosk just outside the building (for an official, guided tour),  or admission is free, so you can just wander in (after a security screening) and people-watch.
   • Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm
   • No backpacks permitted
   • More information here
   • List of restaurants in this area here
2. Check out the Smithsonian/The National Mall – Both the Blue and Orange Metro* lines go to the Smithsonian (the Smithsonian stop is on the Mall).
   • The Mall stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and is dotted by Museums, cafes & restaurants and more
     • The Hirshorn Museum of Art (beautiful sculpture garden)
       • 7th Street SW & Independence A, Washington, DC; 202-633-1000
     • The National Museum of American History(Lincoln’s top hat, Julia Child’s kitchen, Nintendo GameBoy, etc.)
       • 14th Street NW & Constitution, Washington, DC; 202-633-100
     • National Museum of Natural History (Hope Diamond, insect zoo, IMAX theatre)
       • 10th Street NW & Constitution, Washington, DC; 202-633-1000
   • You can also find the National Museum of the American Indian, the WWII Memorial, and an old-fashioned carousel in front of the Arts & Industries Building.
   • Restaurants on/near The Mall
3. Visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – Located at the west end of The Mall, this memorial is absolutely a must-see while you’re in the area.
   • Henry Bacon Drive NW, Washington, DC 20037; 202-426-6841
4. Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum – Located just outside the mall, this museum is a sobering experience, but one of the best (IMO) museums DC has to offer.
   • 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, DC; 202-488-0400
5. Say hi to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian (our giant pandas) at the National Zoo – It’s free and open from 10:00am until 6:00pm daily.
   • 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; 202-633-4800
6. Visit the Newseum- Accessible by Green, Yellow and Red lines on the Metro* the Newseum is an awesome museum (sadly, not free… tickets are around $20/person) featuring front page news from around the world.  Here you’ll have access to 15 theatres and 14 galleries – and I promise a really great, interactive and informative experience.
   • 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., 888-639-7386
7. Walk around Penn Quarter & China Town- If you hit the Newseum, you’ll already be in this area, and the following attractions are all within a 15-20 minute walk:
   • Museum of Crime & Punishment
   • Ford’s Theatre (very cool)
   • International Spy Museum
   • Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
   • The U.S. Navy Memorial
   • The Verizon Center
   • E Street Cinema (eclectic movie theatre)
8. Eat some chili on the U Street Corridor- Home to DC’s famous Ben’s Chili Bowl (1013 U St. NW), the 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW), and plenty of bars, shops, cafes and night clubs.
   • More Food on U St.
9. Take a stroll through Georgetown – Unfortunately, the nearest metro stop (Foggy Bottom) is about 8-9 blocks away, but Georgetown is worth the trip if it’s a nice day.  Here, you’ll find tons of restaurants and shops (from boutiques to big name stores) and it’s just a really beautiful, cute little town that backs up to the water.
   • Georgetown’s main thoroughfares are M Street and Wisconsin Avenue (located right at the end of Key Bridge)
10. Visit Dupont Circle- Accessible by the Red line on Metro, Dupont boasts several posh restaurants and bars, as well as a variety of museums and parks:
    • The Textile Museum
    • Woodrow Wilson House
    • The National Museum of American Jewish Military History
    • The National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall
    • Embassy Row (pretty cool)

Obviously, I’ve given you a TON to do.  And let me put a disclaimer out there: it is highly unlikely that  you would be able to accomplish all of this in one day, so pick and choose, visit the websites I’ve linked to for you above, compare your list to a map and enjoy yourself! Washington, D.C. is really an incredible place (perhaps I’m a bit biased)!

Since this is Nicole’s Corner, and I’m the Social Media Guru here on Online Learning Tips, here are a few apps (iPhone mainly, but I believe some are available on Blackberry and Droid platforms) to facilitate your DC visit:

• Urban Spoon (to help you find good food nearby)
• Yelp (find restaurants, attractions, and events nearby— all rated by locals)
• DC Metro Map (a convenient way to have a Metro map in your pocket at all times!)
• UStream Broadcaster (set up a live streaming video channel online to share your graduation and DC visit with friends and family back home)

Congratulations, grads, and best of luck in your future endeavors…

Cheers, and happy downtown wandering!

*Metro Map

Bored to tears with your job? You are not alone. According to the Conference Board research group, more than 45 percent of workers surveyed expressed that they were dissatisfied with their current jobs. Many factors are to blame for this shift in contentment in the workplace such as,

• jobs are not as interesting as they used to be
• incomes have not kept up with inflation
• climbing cost of health care is eating away at take-home pay

If you are in the same boat, why not try something new? This economy is not ideal for most when it comes to researching and trying new careers, but you can broaden your range of possibilities with an advanced degree, and you can earn it while keeping your job. With the job market slowly climbing back into a healthy status you do not want to be left behind in a career that is unsatisfying. Start by searching for classes today.

View the full worker’s dissatisfaction  report >

Students demonstrate their ability to take classes and perform course work from anywhere in the world in this slideshow. The following photos were submitted by actual American Public University and American Military University students from their home locations.

Meet Jen Deater, a senior customer care professional who graduated from American Public University with a bachelor’s degree in public health. Jen discusses her reasons for selecting APU and her experiences as a student.

Like many of us, you have considered returning to school many times – and then life got in the way. You have weighed the sacrifices of time and money and couldn’t think of a way to make it all work. And you have new reason to worry about cost, in particular, given the down economy. Heck, with your household budget shrinking before your eyes, how can you consider shelling out the money that it will take to earn a degree, despite the wisdom that future opportunities will make that investment worthwhile? So, you’ve set that goal aside yet again. It may sound ridiculous, but current economic conditions actually indicate that this is an ideal time to go back to school. Consider the following:

A tight economy means you must find a competitive edge.

With gas prices at the current levels, you also have to consider how much money it will take to commute to and from school. If you choose to go to school online, you won’t have to factor the cost into the equation!

When it comes to cost, also be sure to look into the tuition dollars and reimbursement programs available through your employer. Programs will vary, and you will want an understanding of what is covered in terms of curriculum as it relates to your job responsibilities as well as caps on costs, the payout timeline and any payback responsibilities you may have upon termination of the employment relationship.

Ultimately, you want to make a smart – not a cheap – decision. It won’t make sense for you to pay less for your degree if the quality of the education is not good. At the end of the day, you are investing time and money to gain knowledge that will help you advance in your career. When it comes to assessing quality, you have help. Regional accrediting bodies assess and monitor the quality of education provided at higher education institutions, so make sure your chosen school meets their criterion and is accredited. You will also want to ask students and alumni about their experiences with the reputation of the degree among employers. (If you don’t know any personally, visit online forums on school groups within social networking communities and/or ask the school’s admissions counselors to speak with someone directly.)

The bottom line is that, in this economy, you need to keep your skills and knowledge current to advance – much less maintain – your career opportunities. Perhaps the greatest cost that you can’t afford is to be left behind while your peers enhance their skills. With today’s affordable and convenient online education options, you can make it work! So, what are you waiting for? Get on the couch, power up your laptop, and take the first step.

By Online Learning Tips Staff

If you’re taking a course online, you’re not alone. According to a Sloan-C survey report titled Staying the Course: Online Education in the United States, in 2008 nearly 3.9 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2007 term.

How can you successfully finish your courses and continue to earn your degree?

“There are common mistakes many students make — whether they study online or attend traditional ‘brick and mortar’ universities,” says Dr. Frank McCluskey. “Unfortunately, these mistakes can stand in the way of career advancement.”

McCluskey is provost of American Public University System (APUS), which serves more than 30,000 online learners worldwide. American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU) are part of the University System.

Here are Dr. McCluskey’s tips for successful online learning:

1. Manage time effectively

It is critical that you effectively manage work, family and school responsibilities — week in and week out. If you are concerned about time pressures, don’t be too ambitious in the beginning with your course load.

One of our students began pursuing his degree in criminal justice, despite a demanding schedule. He had just returned from Iraq. He was working full-time for the National Guard Bureau and part-time for his local police department. And he was helping raise four children. But, he decided, he couldn’t put off his education any longer and “was never going to be any less busy.” So, he began with just two courses.

2.  Make time for family

A supportive family is key to earning a degree as an adult learner. It’s up to you, though, to encourage such an environment by remaining involved with your family.

One business administration student at APUS attends class while stationed with the U.S. Air Force in Portugal. He spends 30 minutes each Sunday evening planning his week’s work. He reserves the rest of the day for his wife and three children. During the week, he studies in the evening — after he’s helped his kids with their homework.

His family understands that he is trying to “better our life situation.” In turn, they respect his privacy when it’s time to buckle down and get schoolwork done.

3. Create a good study environment

Like any higher education offering, online schools require a tremendous amount of reading and “thinking” time. A single course may require up to 10 hours of reading each week, in addition to research and assignments.

Find or create a quiet space that minimizes distractions and lets you stay focused. Some service members continue studying while deployed in Iraq. If they can carve out a good learning space, so can you.

4. Make the most of your university community

Online learning doesn’t have to be — and shouldn’t be — solitary.

• Look for ways to be part of a community.
• Take advantage of student services.
• Readily participate in newsgroups or chatrooms.
• Seek out professors that can be mentors, even after you leave school. For example, one student earned his master’s degree in security management and now works for a private security firm. He turns to a former professor for input regarding difficult workplace issues. Another student regularly uses AMU’s online research center — and calls on its librarian for tough research assignments. It has paid off. A paper he wrote as part of his master’s program was recently published in a history magazine.

5. Value the journey

Keep in mind that each course — each assignment — brings you closer to earning your degree. Certain courses may even benefit you immediately. For example, AMU students who complete the global terrorism course receive a United Nations certificate in peacekeeping.

It’s not only about earning your degree. It’s about lifelong learning. Ongoing education can help you make a difference in your family life, hometown, community, country — and even the world.

By Online Learning Tips Staff