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

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.

Instead of wasting trees to jot down notes (as an online student you’re already cutting back on your eco footprint) turn your desk into a dry erase board.  

[related: It Can Be Easy Being Green]

There is this awesome paint made by Rust-Oleum, where you can turn wood, metal and other surfaces into a dry erase board; most people use this for their kids room, or their home office. The paint allows you to turn the smallest of objects, or large ones, into a canvas for those smelly markers we love to use. Be crafty by turning a paper sized part of your desk into a “sketch pad”. Or, if you have more room on your desk you’re willing to sacrifice cover a bigger portion for big sketches and mind maps for class.

The price for the paint is about a half tank of gas, maybe less, but the outcome is pretty amazing. Consider switching up how you write out your ideas or topics for class.

What DIY projects have you tried in your home office that help you focus for school? Share your ideas below.

By: J. Mason

There are some great and helpful articles out there that can assist with your education choices. Yahoo does a great job of showcasing the online degrees with the most career potential, ones that will make you happy, and ones that are a great stepping ladder. It’s like these sites are becoming personal shoppers for the education consumers out there. If you’ve even read one of these well-researched articles you know what I mean. They give you salary ranges, career potential, as well as great statistics on industry ratings.

[What's the next step in your education? Check out these "Five Smart Online Degree Picks"]

Online degrees are being covered in the news on a weekly basis, and at times daily. If you’ve thought about going back to school, and online learning is at the top of your options then you have a lot of research and support out there to help weight your decision.

[Best Online Degrees for 2012]

So, with the bevy of options out there how do you find a “personal shopper” for your education? If you’ll notice in these articles they list out facts and numbers, typically schools aren’t listed, unless it’s an ad on the page. You can try visiting sites like elearners to engage in the forums with other elearners. Learn more about the program you’re truly interested in as well. This way you can narrow down your search more. Also, “like” the fan pages of the schools that become front runners. Ask insightful questions on the wall(s) to current students and see what type of answers you get.

Once you’ve run through your research, and spoken with a few current students give the admisssions group a call. You can also email too if that’s your style. You can also request information on the school before applying. They’re the frontline of the school and should be able to answer any curveballs about the programs that you might throw their way. Don’t be shy about your questions or your decision either. Unlike clothing, or furniture, this purchase is an investment in your future and potential career opportunities. Enjoy your time researching, and take a second to stop and read what’s out there, the stats may pleasantly surprise you.

By: J. Mason