A huge thanks to eLearners.com for inspiring this post!

For online and offline students alike, group work can mean headaches.  It’s tough coordinating schedules, personalities, priorities, etc. But, fear not, loyal readers! We’ve come to your rescue.

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Sure, you’re reading a lot for classes, but after you’ve set aside classwork are you done with reading? Newspapers count in terms of staying current, and top of matters of your state, technology, and new developments, but what about reading from a book?

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We all suffer from it… lack of sleep, exhaustion, the itis… whatever you want to call it; it downright STINKS.  I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that there have been times where I’ve felt like I can’t possibly keep going, I can’t possibly finish my homework tonight, and I can’t possibly wake up for work this morning.

Here are a few tips that’ll help keep you on your toes… allowing for you to keep going, finish your homework tonight, AND make it to work this morning!

1. Exercise. I know, this isn’t a blog about exercise — but the healthier you are, the better you’ll be able to perform in school, at work, etc.  Work in at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity every day or two… you’ll feel a difference.
2. Eat better! It’s so easy to order a pizza or microwave a frozen dinner after a long day of work and schoolwork and family.  I get it.  But, it’s just as easy to toss a few chicken breasts in the crock pot in the morning, or throw together a salad instead.  Again, you’ll feel the difference and your brain and body will thank you!
3. Don’t multitask. When you’re working on school work, work on school work.  Easier said than done, I’m aware.  But the more focused you are on the task at hand, the more efficiently, thoroughly and quickly you’ll be able to get it done.
4. Rinse and repeat. Okay, so maybe don’t rinse, but it’s a good idea to review the last thing you learned when you sit down to study and move forward.  Nothing like a good memory jog!
5. Get those 8 hours. Or as close as you can.  You can’t expect your body and mind to work with you if you’re not giving it what it needs: rest!

What other tips do you put into practice to keep yourself in tip top shape?

By N. Cooper

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