This is a loaded question, I know, but it is something you should ask yourself on a weekly basis. With the stress of school and life you need to make sure your head is in the right place, along with your sanity.

Burnout could be a potential sign of unhappiness, but it may more or less mean that you need a break. Instead of looking for the possibility of being unhappy, ask yourself questions to see how happy you are.

Try these on for size:

• Are you excited about handing in assignments?
• Do you feel a rush when you get good feedback about the work you’re doing?
• Are your thoughts positive and constructive when thinking about school?
• Do you get satisfaction from the work you put in, and the  mission you’re on?
• Do you feel good about being in school?

Having a support system for this helps increase your happiness level as well, but it shouldn’t be your only indicator. If you’re feeling lost, talk with your advisor. They are there to answer questions and to give you guidance. You can also turn to your peers in class, as well as the social communities affiliated with your school.

To be successful you don’t have to be a cheerleader, but having a healthy happiness level can aid in motivation. By understanding the importance of being happy in class you can become a better learner. Take a minute to gauge yourself today, we’ll hope it’s on the higher end of the spectrum!

By: J. Mason

Remember the old adage; if you cheat in school, you ultimately cheat yourself? So, what exactly is cheating? Generally speaking, it’s when someone plagiarizes material, fabricates false data or citations, lies to an instructor to gain an academic advantage, or simply copies someone’s answers on a test. Call it academic dishonesty. Because the Internet is a vast and powerful tool (coupled with the ease-of-use a computer provides in accessing and copying material), the question of academic integrity in online education has attracted attention from time to time.

For example, check out pro tennis player, Serena William’s cheeky postgame interview at the 2011 US Open (starting at the 37 second mark). She jokes that she hopes her sister, Venus would take her online classes for her because, “she’s really smart.” It’s funny. And yes, there sometimes persists the misnomer that academic dishonesty occurs more frequently with online learning than in traditional classrooms. However, the reality is that when cheating occurs, it’s at all levels of education, in the classroom and online. Here’s an interesting Academic Cheating Fact Sheet  provided by the Ad Council.

Look, it’s simple. Online education does provide convenience at a distance, but you’ll find that there are more people who are self-disciplined and truly dedicated to lifelong learning than not. The advantages of online learning, particularly at American Public University, is that students are taught by scholar-practitioners, many who are distinguished leaders working in their fields. The curriculum they teach is assessed constantly and updated based on guidance from industry advisory councils. We’re talking about successful leaders who are at the top of their game. The knowledge and experience online academic programs impart is meant to help students develop important, lifelong skills that could impact their professional abilities. So, why would anyone want to cut corners and pass up these great educational opportunities?

In this day and age when online education is closely tied to professional development and designed to prepare graduates for real-world implementation, that old adage may be even truer. Besides, not all of us have smarter big sisters.

By J. Thompson
Online Learning Tips Staff

How many times a week do you come across a great article that leaves you with new knowledge and a new perspective on things? Now, how often do you share the link to that article with your friends? If you haven’t utilized the social share link yet, then start today!

On our posts here on OLT you can share each one by using the yellow toolbar below, or by clicking on the share bar when you hover over the posts image. It’s a great way to share information across different platforms, and to keep your circle of peers up-to-date on the latest in your degree field, areas of interest, news topics, and much more. Share away!

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If you didn’t have the chance to attend this great webinar yesterday, the summary is available to view. Important takeaways include continual engagement, empathy, and conveying your personality in the classroom.

Interested to learn more? Read more from Mary on the keys for success as an online instructor. Like to see more? Sign-up for APU’s next webcast in our community college series, Identifying and Evaluating New Technologies for Online Learning.