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Take Courses from the Comfort of Your Own Home!
You know you need three more credits to satisfy your re-certification requirement, but it's next to impossible to fit in that drive to the university each week for the next 16 weeks. What will you do? Don't despair. You can earn credits from accredited schools and universities, online, in the comfort of your home! This week, Education World writer Sherril Steele-Carlin alerts you to several schools that offer online courses for educators. Whether you want to update skills or need to re-certify, you'll plenty of choices. Included: Comments from an online educator and an online student!
Jill Wallace, an educational technology consultant from Nevada, teaches an online course for educators at the UCLA Extension in Los Angeles. Her course, Teaching Designing and Developing Online Courses, introduces students to the ins and outs of creating and developing online courses.
Wallace has been teaching the course since 1998. "K-12 teachers, university professors, university instructional designers, community college teachers, and even a couple of university administrators have taken the class," Wallace told Education World. "I usually have at least one or two company trainers in each group as well."
HOOKED ON ONLINE COURSES!
"I love it. I have been bitten by the technology bug, and it's contagious!" Elena Lattarulo, a secondary teacher from California, told Education World. "I love the fact that I can learn and study at my own convenience, on my own schedule, and get exactly what I want."
Lattarulo has taken online courses from UCLA, including technology courses focused on helping educators involve their classes online. She's currently taking Teaching and Learning Models for Online Courses.
"I have met so many interesting and nice people, some that I consider 'friends' in the real sense of the word -- and in some cases, I don't even know what they look like," said Lattarulo. "We have bonded by having to work toward common goals in a virtual community of learners; at my age, I find this an amazingly valuable advantage."
Most online classes can be accessed any time, day or night. Many classes are open for enrollment throughout the year too. Tests are sent to your area, to be administered by an approved proctor that you choose. Online learning is quick, painless, and downright fun! Why not explore the possibilities?
ONLINE COURSE RESOURCES
If you'd like to explore online learning opportunities, here are some great places to find just the courses you need.
- University of Phoenix Online - Since its establishment in 1976, the University of Phoenix has grown its enrollment from 8 students to more than 125,000. Approximately 45,000 students have been educated online.
- Capella University - The education department offers many courses in all facets of education, including Gangs in Schools, Classroom Management Skills, Innovative Leadership, and Educational Philosophy and Change, plus lots more. Online courses are $925 per course.
- eCollege.com - This portal is for educators and students. You can search for online courses and degree programs all over the country. There's also information on scholarships and free access to Webcasts dealing with Internet technology and education.
- Heritage Institute - The nearly 70 courses offered here are self-paced and fully accredited by Antioch University. Courses include history, classroom teaching, counseling, language arts, and more. Students have up to a year to complete a class. Classes are 3 quarterly credits (equal to 2 semester credits). Tuition ranges from $90 per credit (audit) to $100 per credit for graduate-level classes.
- KaplanCollege.com - Learn the tools and techniques that will help you make a difference in the lives of your students!" Course fees are currently $149 per course, for three continuing education credits.
- Masters4Teachers - If you need to earn your master's degree, try this site. It's a resource for degree programs all around the country. Just select your state to learn what degree programs are available in your area.
- Nova Southeastern University - Nova offers a wide variety of courses geared to educators, including How to Start A Charter School, Theories of Learning, and Creativity in the Curriculum. Classes start at several intervals during the year. Tuition is $278 per credit, and most classes are three credits.
- OnlineLearning.net - This consortium of schools offers classes in several areas of interest, including more than 40 education classes. Areas include counseling, technology, certification, and ESL. Fees vary depending on institution.
- PBS Adult Learning Service - PBS offers several streaming video courses for educators, including Beyond Chalk: Teaching with Technology, Developing Web-Based Courses on a Shoestring, and Innovative Uses of the Web to Enhance Learning. Fees vary from free to $9.95 per section, up to $650 for some series.
- Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education/Psychology - You can complete online master's and doctorate degrees in educational technology with this nationally recognized university. Completion can take as little as 13 months.
- Peterson's.com - This is one of the best places to search online for continuing education and distance courses. You can search by college, discipline, or course title.
- Teach for Tomorrow - Here you'll find an online workshop created just for teachers. You can learn more about the Internet and ways to use it in your classroom and curriculum. The course is available for graduate credit through Central Michigan University for a fee of $525.
- University of Nevada, Reno - Look here for several online courses in educational leadership and in curriculum and instruction. The university also offers courses in many areas of interest. Students have up to a year to complete courses and may enroll at any time during the year. Classes are 1 to 3 credits. Some are graduate-level courses; others are undergraduate. Undergraduate credits are $81 per credit; graduate are $99 per credit.
- University of Northern Iowa - This online university offers several online workshops about teaching and technology. Most courses are two graduate credits. Graduate credits cost $192 per credit hour.
Sherril Steele-Carlin
Education World®
Copyright © 2002 Education World
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07/07/2000, updated 9/26/2002
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