Just the thought of our kids not carrying textbooks to school can be quite scary, as we have over the centuries, gotten used to associating textbooks with education. Textbooks are part of our lives and are considered indispensable – at least until now. Of course, for school-going kids, this could just be their dream coming true – NO MORE TEXTBOOKS!

Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger jokingly says, “I can use these for the (bicep) curls.” Announcing that California will initiate the process of going digital, he said, “Textbooks are outdated, in my opinion. For so many years, we’ve been trying to teach the kids exactly the same way.”

The excessive cost of textbooks is said to be a huge burden on a student who is already paying the cost of education. The average student spends hundreds of dollars on textbooks each year.

It is estimated that California spent about $350 million on textbooks alone last year. With California running out of cash with the $24 billion budget deficit, authorities figure this is one way of tackling the issue. The throwing away of textbooks might just be what the state needs to avoid bankruptcy.

California is the first state in the United States to begin using digital textbooks instead of the “paper” variety, and the Governor feels that this will save hundreds of millions of dollars. With the average cost of a textbook being anywhere from $75 to $100 each, their digital version is going to cost much less.

The Governor feels they are not going to miss out on anything and they will only be too happy to go online for their homework and studies, leaving their heavy textbooks behind. He says, “Our kids get their information from the internet, downloaded onto their iPods, and in Twitter feeds to their cell phones…Basically. Kids are feeling as comfortable with their electronic devices as I was with my pencils and crayons. So, why are California’s school students still forced to lug around antiquated, heavy, expensive textbooks?

Although, it is too early to say what the impact of this move would be or if it can be sustained in the long run, there have been opinions being voiced by all concerned.

Most of the teachers don’t like it one bit and it’s not just job security they are worried about. The fact is that they are so used to textbooks and consider them central to the school-teacher-student educational paradigm.

On the other hand, educators are embracing it, as there are several significant advantages. They will now be able to create electronic books and course material made up of only relevant material for a given course. Some of the advantages entail children and teens not having to lug their heavy backpacks around, especially in schools where they are not provided any lockers. Another problem that can be addressed with digitalization of textbooks is that schools in the affluent areas have up-to-date textbooks, while schools in the low-income communities have outdated textbooks. And some feel that this move to digital textbooks could even up the playing field and deal with the unfairness of this type of education where poorer students get the short end of the educational stick.

But as with anything else, the quality of the course content and experience will be the major determining factors that will affect successful adoption of this digitalization. Unsatisfactory content = bad experience = reduced learning.

While digital education may seem the way to go, there are several things to factor and one of the most important things is the devices needed to study online. It could turn out to be cheaper than books – eventually but what about right now?

This will cost nothing for students with electronic resources but for kids without these resources, the cost will be much more. According to some, going the all-electronic route will entail continuous buying of electronics for low-income students, and an ideal situation would be every child in a family needing one in order to do their homework and study properly.

Where will the poor children get the computers from? What about the glare of the computers and the posture problems? Isn’t it enough that our children spend so many hours online? Will it not be detrimental to their health?

Do we have answers to all these questions?

Private tutoring is a rapidly expanding industry around the world, including countries such as U.S. spending heavily on tutoring.

Korean parents are no different where education goes, in fact their children are said to spend twelve hours a day at school and even a 3-year old has English language tutors.

You would understand the extent of interest that Koreans show in children’s education by the fact that the Korean Air Force is said to ground its planes, during the college entrance exams so as not to disturb the students.

The pride of most Korean families hinges on what universities their children attend, which is the reason why Koreans shell out more for schooling of kids aged 5 to 21 years of age, than any other country in the OECD.

OECD, which is the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international organization that consists of thirty countries that follow the principles of free market economy and representative democracy. Countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan and others are all part of this organization.

Daeko, meaning big lesson with its 17,000 teachers is South Korea’s biggest education company and its most popular programs are English, Mathematics and Korean. This institution has a unique thinking, where they understand that children learn more from a personalized curriculum and developed their own coursework called “eye-level,” which is designed to help teachers get down to the level of the students and give them the flexibility to tailor lessons based on individual needs. Here, teachers do not get paid a fee, instead they hustle up their own students, as many as they can handle and pay 40% to the institution for the study materials and marketing support. They are of course held responsible for showing results and ensuring the children do well.

This one-on-one approach was liked by most Koreans, especially since each class had about 70 students per teacher. Due to the heavy demand for tutoring in different courses, they are now offering 14 courses and even have classes in essay writing or in English and Chinese, which are taught by native speakers.

These high levels of tutoring organizations are believed to have a salutary effect of ensuring high academic achievement on the part of the students of Korea, particularly their high math and science scores.

The Korean obsession with education and the tech-driven economy is pushing the children into a savage competition for places in the top universities and colleges in the nation. This is fueling the boom in the tutoring business.

Their love of learning means huge competition in the education market and statistics show that about 11% of foreign students at U.S. colleges are Korean, who are only behind Indians and Chinese.

Parents are also willing to pay heavy amounts of money towards their children’s education. As a mother of two children says, “We know we’re paying too much, but their lives will be decided by the universities they attend.” After all, it is a known fact that the parents’ love for their kids is the most unselfish act that has no parallels.

What this means, with the current credit crunch, is the inability to get loans except for the most creditworthy of all and for the ones that do secure a loan, it means higher interest rates.

It is very important for families to consider various alternatives before taking a private loan. The variable interest rates and the fees are much higher now, making private student loans far more expensive than the student loans, which carry a low fixed interest rate. There are some states that offer bargain-rates on loans to those children that live or attend college within their borders.

According to Kalman Chany, author of Paying for College Without Going Broke, “Private loans should be a last resort.”

In spite of knowing the issues associated with such loans, many families still go in for private loans. There are other students that do not qualify for the federal loans, either because they are foreign students of because they have less grade points. These students have no other alternative available but to approach the private lenders.

According to experts, there are certain things to keep in mind while looking for a lender. One should not go by the lower rates being advertised. Interest rates depend on the borrower’s credit score and the percentage varies from person to person. Even those students that have good credit usually take the help of either family or relatives with a better credit history to be co-signers. This means, the co-signer is accepting the responsibility of repaying the loan if the student does not pay back.

They also say that comparison of rates between lenders should be done, by filling applications with more than one lender, keeping in mind not to fill more than three or four applications within a few days, as this would damage the credit score, which encourages a lender to charge higher rates of interest. According to Robert Shireman, executive director of nonprofit Project on Student Debt, “Credit bureaus view a lot of loan inquiries as evidence that you’re trying to load up on debt.”

The financial aid office in the school can help with the rates that different lenders charge. Sometimes, they may also have special deals in place for their students. Even the state-affiliate nonprofits can be approached for advice.

Students that do not have anyone to co-sign for them, may have to consider a private loan that does not depend on credit scores. Another way to look for lenders is to check for those that offer low rates to applicants with good credit scores.

Because of the credit crisis, many lenders have stopped giving loans and some lenders are cutting down on the discounts they used to offer on fees and rates. However, borrowers who agree to make loan repayments while studying, may still stand a chance of availing loans with low interest rates.

There is also the problem of lenders leaving the business before the loan is disbursed. It is always good to have a backup if one lender drops out. Unlike lenders, larger banks are least likely to leave since they depend on customer deposits as a source of funds, it could be a good idea to approach the banks.

A good amount of research needs to be done when availing private loans as choosing the wrong option could mean ending up struggling for years to pay the huge interest rates; and every bit of savings counts, in order to survive in this world of escalating costs.

The concept of e-learning has brought about major changes in the way people look at education. Learning is not just confined to the four walls of a classroom anymore. A disabled person can sit in front of his computer and be educated in any stream he wishes to. If we look at the avenues this new education system opens up, it is certainly a boon to those millions of students worldwide, who for their own reasons cannot go to school or college.

Previously, getting into big universities like Harvard was unthinkable for most youngsters, but now the lectures from these universities are available online, including discussion groups and even examinations. A student can obtain a degree from one of the top universities, studying and giving his exams from home. A wonderful opportunity for higher education is available to people from all over.

Even the primary schools and secondary schools are introducing technology in the education process, where students and even teachers have access to various classroom materials online, enabling them to improve the quality of education.

All countries need to consider education as their most important investment. In the current globalized economy, knowledge and skill are the two most important things for individuals as well as nations.

In the words of the Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates, “India is a great example of the power of this approach. An emphasis on education has been the catalyst for the rise of an information technology industry that has created new opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people and established India as an important global center for innovation.”

If we look at the rapid advancement of technology over the last few years, it is almost impossible for most engineers to keep abreast of the latest happenings, and this is made possible with corporate training.

Corporate training is in itself a multi billion dollar business and more universities are getting involved in the continuous education process. Previously, continuous education or corporate training has been through short video course, but now with the internet becoming a viable delivery mechanism, there are several modes of communication available as well as many types of interactivity, including world-wide delivery.

The health care industry can benefit immensely from such training. The latest advanced methods used in developed countries can be understood better by the developing countries, and health care specialists can keep themselves abreast of the latest medical developments. Even surgeries are being shown on the internet by various medical centers.

Students need feedback when learning and need answers to their questions. In fact, when students are located far from each other, there is a greater need for proper interaction. For this purpose, internet based courses are also concentrating on two-way communication, where students post questions to each other as well as to their instructors, or even use audio and video communication.

Internet based education or e-learning is dramatically different from the traditional courses or even the traditional distance education. Computers and internet have created a new world for us and their impact on education will be greater than anything that has been seen earlier. E-learning provides an excellent opportunity for people to enjoy all the benefits of technology, irrespective of their birth place.

E-learning intensifies focus on young people’s dreams and goals as these youngsters are our tomorrow and hold the keys to the future of nations.

Not all schools are created equal. But, unfortunately, there is simply not room in the Harvard Business School for everyone seeking an MBA this year. Finding the best school for you requires a balance of convenience, ability, and funding.

Consider Your Ability Level
To get in to the top executive schools, you must have a past level of ability proven by your GPA and course load in your undergraduate classes. If you were a C- kind of student, your new drive and dedication won’t have as much impact on your college applications as you old GPA.

Some master’s programs are willing to overlook a few low grades in courses unrelated to the field you’re now pursing, especially since an MBA encompasses a wide field of abilities and interests. But competition for the top schools is intense. If you don’t have the qualifications, networking and schmoozing skills to back up your application, you will likely do better to focus your attention on good schools rather than the best.

Examine Your Level of Commitment
Your next step is to examine your level of commitment. Some MBA degrees are intense rapid-fire programs that require you attend classes full-time and leave room for internship or other program commitments during what would normally be work time. Other MBA classes are done in the evenings and leave very little time for study when balanced with your current career.

If you are committed to earning your MBA as quickly as possible, taking eighteen months to twenty-four months away from your current career to immerse yourself in your studies and the overall business experience will likely prove to be the most valuable method of earning an advanced business degree. But if your budget or career can’t be placed on hold for the time it takes to earn an MBA, taking night classes over the span of three or four years with intense amounts of independent study are likely your best option.

Determine Your Level of Funding
MBA programs range in clout as well as pricing. You can get an MBA for relatively little in the scheme of educational dollars, but you must also examine the value of the particular degree. The reputation of the MBA program and experience gained in your studies will be what pays out in your career – not just the piece of paper.

The amount you have to invest in your MBA might make a difference in the school you select. If your employer is willing to foot the bill, you have much more flexibility when it comes to selecting a program. But if you’re working through school on your own dollars, a mid-priced school might offer the best balance of recognition and value.

There are many student loan and grant programs available to those pursuing higher education. Be sure to research these possibilities to see if you can possibly afford more school than you originally thought.

Examine Options in Your Area and Beyond
When you’re interest, abilities and budget are set; it’s time to examine the schools and programs in your area. Look for accredited programs and those with a solid reputation and alumni. Speak to colleagues about their experiences in various programs and be sure to ask if your employer favors one MBA over another.

MBA programs vary within each school and you might find courses more in line with your own career goals at one school versus another. If you’re not satisfied with the options in your area, expand your search to other cities and universities. A less expensive area and a good grant might make it possible to attend school full-time and begin reaping the benefits of your MBA sooner.

Weigh Your Choices
When you’ve created a short list, weigh your options against your criteria. Should you invest more money and time into a program with more name recognition? Or should you work through an internet based MBA as quickly as possible to obtain the degree? Only you will know what the best balance is for you.

How It Works
The class, which teaches students about the mysteries of the pyramids, is available to the public for free – if they can access it. It can only be seen through some phones manufactured by Softbank Corp., who owns seventy one percent of the virtual university.

Eventually, the online classes may expand to other carriers. Users listen to the lecture and can view the PowerPoint slides on their cell phones. Currently, only one class is offered through cell phones, but more may be coming. While in traditional classrooms, teachers fight to keep distracting cell phones out of the classroom, this classroom relies on and can only be found on cell phones.

Cyber Classrooms
The Japanese university, with a student body of almost two thousand, offers about one hundred courses in addition to the pyramid class on the cell phones. All of these other courses can be taken online. Typically, while the student listens to the lecture from their computer, they view accompanying text and images on their screens with a little picture of their professor, who they will probably never see in person, in the corner of their monitor. The college claims to be able to monitor lecture usage digitally, ensuring that students are listening to the lecture in its entirety, and not skipping their virtual class.

Networking on the Net
Some may claim that an online college robs students of their “college experience” that traditionally helps students build relationships and hone networking skills. Supporters of virtual learning disagree, and assert that the benefits of making a college education accessible to more students far outweigh the costs.

Some students who are constrained by jobs, family obligations, distance, or disabilities are able to take advantage of educational opportunities that may otherwise not be available to them. To facilitate social networking on a virtual campus, many internet colleges promote social networking in a different sense, utilizing chat rooms and message boards to allow students to interact.

Obstacles to Overcome
Before (and if) cell phone courses become mainstream, developers have some obstacles to overcome. The current arrangement of free access by the public presents difficulty in regulating enrollment and awarding credit to students who successfully pass the course.

Also, the university must find a way to open the courses to students with cell phones through carriers not financially invested in the university, and not discriminate against competitors. When the kinks are worked out, students may literally be able to take their classroom anywhere!

But these online education plans are not for everyone. This is a shame since there are few other alternatives. Rather than look for classes that are not online, it is far better to acclimate yourself to the online education environment.

Time Management
The biggest component of online education often presents itself as a stumbling block – time management. Online classes require you taking the time on a regular basis to read material, discuss topics on discussion boards, and send various assignments to an instructor. If you can’t delegate your time properly, you will have a very hard time completing a class and certainly a hard time succeeding in it.

The best way to overcome trouble with time management is to assign your classes times, much like you would if you were actually attended courses. Even if you are, in fact, going to class during the days, allot yourself a set time to complete any online components.

Set up a schedule and follow it. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday take care of two classes before lunch, and every Tuesday and Thursday take care of the rest after your afternoon nap. It doesn’t matter when you do it, just set up a routine so that you are in a pattern of work. This ensures the work gets done.

Web Savvy
You must have a certain amount of web savvy to use the online components of most classes. Most universities offer classes or tutorials to help new students learn how to use various programs and websites. If you are unsure of how to use the online portion of a class, check with the campus to see what help they offer, or if you have a basic knowledge, look at the site in question for tutorials or frequently asked questions.

Plan Ahead
If you are starting to struggle or fall behind, get help sooner rather than later. Taking classes online and pushing things until the last minute means that inevitably the internet will be down or your hard drive will crash exactly when you need to be turning something in. Work at a steady pace thanks to your effective time management so that you can see the big projects coming. This gives you time to prepare and still leaves a bit of wiggle room in case of emergencies.

Press On
Finally, it is important to press on. The first online class will be the toughest as you are learning the ropes of the online education world while trying to learn the actual class material. But the more classes you take and the more familiar you become with the actual program and procedures, the easier the application will become. Pretty soon, you’ll be whizzing through course work without even thinking about it being online.

Time
To complete an MBA program, you dedicate yourself to attending classes full-time, or nine to twelve semester hours, for two or three years. If you attend only part-time your program will take much longer. Naturally it would be ideal to attend classes full-time, but to do so, you will most likely have to take a leave of absence or resign your current position. This essentially eliminates your tuition funds.

Money
University tuition is going up. It’s moving faster than inflation and some quality MBA programs cost more than a standard bachelor’s degree. There are grant programs and student loans that can help bridge the gaps and some individuals are lucky enough to have their companies foot the bill. But to take advantage of that option, you must continue working while attending classes and sign a letter of commitment for a specific period of time in order to qualify for partial or full reimbursement.

Online MBA Degrees
If you are looking to complete your MBA in as short a time as possible, but need or want to continue working, online MBA degrees are your best choice. An online MBA program offers the same or similar coursework as traditional MBA programs, and many are extensions of prominent universities that have decided to offer an online component to their business programs. You simply take most or all of your classes online.

The online MBA degree does not necessarily cost less than the traditional program, although some do, but taking classes online allows you to continue working making the costs more bearable. Your income might be enough to cover the cost of tuition, and if you are fortunate enough to be employed in a company which values higher education, your continued employment might mean your degree is free or greatly reduced thanks to your tuition being reimbursed.

The Work
MBAs are not easy. If a degree was simple to get, it would hold no value for those that do work through the requirements and earn it. When you are selecting an online MBA degree program, find one that is highly reputable and challenging. An MBA is designed to test and enhance you knowledge of the business world, accounting, and economic marketplace. If you are not challenged, you will not be learning as much as possible.

If you are planning on working full-time on a MBA, be sure to allot yourself time to study and complete various assignments. This might mean you lighten your course load each semester, but pick up the missing classes over the summer, essentially going to school year-round until you are finished. While it might be nice to have summers off, even if you’re still working, it is even nicer to have the MBA completed and working for you in terms of prestige and salary.

Evolution of Online Degrees

Online degree education is soon prevailing over the conventional high school and secondary education. There are a lot of big companies that create online degrees and present them to all classes of learners. Normally, these companies will direct the courses and the materials required for them. Talking about the inception of online degrees, it has been legally acceptable since the early nineties and has become a well-admired way of teaching students of all ages and cultures. With the popularity and the ease of Internet availability, online degree education has also become well liked over the period of years. There are scores of unlimited sources on the Internet that facilitate online learning.

There are a lot of debates over online education and there are mixed views about the subject. Obviously, it has its own advantages and disadvantages. As far as the advantages are concerned, online education operates on a very convenient communication for both, the educators and the students. It very easily fits into our daily lives, presenting an opportunity for furthering education to pupils of all ages and ethnicities. The students can interact with their teachers over emails, instant messages and various websites with one single click. It can be concluded that the future of online education is pretty promising especially to the learners of the younger generations as a lot of changes are being brewed in all areas of learning from kindergarten to universities. A lot of equipments and devices are designed to balance out education even in the farthest parts of the globe. Online degrees are thoroughly based on computers but these days it is highly supplemented by videos and television video connections.

Pros and Cons

Online degrees is that it certainly is the best possible way to get a degree rather than having none, however, there are a lot of questions raised on its authenticity. There are a lot of frauds going on the cyberspace today that offer fake diplomas and degrees. The employers also view these degrees in a completely dissimilar way. There are some huge organizations that do not consider these degrees and on the other hand if you possess an online degree from a reputed online university like Stanford or Duke, then in that case it does put some weight on your resume. Some people still look down upon the online degrees and frequently confuse it for fake degrees and diplomas. It is always advisable to obtain a thorough understanding of the courses you undertake and note down the challenges you face with the online degree that you are associated with.

To get associated with the right kind of online university or the perfect online degree, it is necessary to do your own research. Along with the increasing popularity of the online degrees, there are a bundle of fake programs and degrees that exist only with the aim of misleading the genuine masses with the motive to make money. It is essential to find the right groove and get associated with an educational institution that has great online history and has authentic degrees that are compliant with the standards of traditional university degrees. There are innumerable degree programs offered for teaching courses, criminal justice degrees, business administration degrees, accounting degrees and many more. As the other things in this world, there are both, the good as well as the bad sides to online degrees. A lot of misleading has made it an unacceptable form of continuing education. There is still a long way to go for online degrees before it replaces the conventional form of education. It has to exist and gain some more regard when it comes to getting accepted by the employers as well. The day these kinds of degrees get accepted by all the employers around the world, it will replace the traditional universities.

Students can get an online degree by enrolling in an accredited online college or university – accredited is the operative word.

Fake Degrees

Beware of “degree mills” that give out degrees, diplomas, and other certifications that are not recognized by any official accreditation board. Degrees that come from these places are either fraudulent or worthless and usually both. Trying to get a job with one of these bogus degrees often puts you in a worse position that if you didn’t have a degree at all.

Students who are interested in attaining an online degree must do their due diligence to make sure the online college is accredited and respected. Otherwise, the time and money spend obtaining the degree have been wasted.

Online Versus Traditional Education

Online degrees are becoming increasingly important as people begin broadening the definitions of words like “student” and “education”. A student is no longer a person who attends a traditional brick-and-mortar school. Just like an education can now be obtained from the comfort of one’s own home, rather then behind four walls of a college or university.

According to The Distance Education and Training Council there are about 4 million students who are enrolled in some type of distance education program at colleges and universities in the United States. Some studies even show that students enrolled in online courses do just as well as, if not better than, traditional students.

Traditional Schools with Online Options

Many traditional four-year colleges and universities are beginning to offer an online degree option. For example, The University of Illinois Online, Penn State Online, and University Of Massachusetts Online all come from traditional four-year schools.

Choosing to pursue an online degree from a traditional university is a viable option. Since many of these universities are already well-established and respected, it eases some of the fears that come with obtaining an online degree. Like, how will potential employers view this degree?

Choosing an Online College

When you’re making a decision about an online university, don’t just ask if the university is accredited, but by whom the university is accredited. A lot of online universities create their own accreditation agencies and therefore end up approving their own degrees.

The United States Department of Education maintains a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies. If the university’s accreditation did not come from an agency on this nationally recognized list, it is not in your best interest to enroll in the online program. Once you find out the accrediting agency for the college you’re interested in, do a reference check with the US Department of Education to make sure the agency is nationally recognized.

There are several online colleges with established reputations. The University of Phoenix is one of the most well-known and well-established online schools. Capella University, ITT Technical Institute, and American InterContinental University Online are also accredited by nationally-recognized agencies and respected in their industries.