Are you thinking about pursuing an online education? Most
people these days have a challenging daily agenda with work, family and trying
to pay bills in a difficult economic time. People are looking for solutions to help them in a fast-paced environment. Dr. Diane Hamilton’s new book titled, The Online Student’s User Manual: Everything You Need to Know to be a
Successful Online College Student will help the inquisitive reader explore
the various options readily available to everyone.
Online schools offer a convenient way to complete many fully
accredited classes, certificates and degrees in the privacy and comfort of your
own home. However, they aren't an easy
way out. The potential student will
still have lots of reading and writing. In addition, online schools
typically require the same amount of work and interaction as a traditional
college course. Students should plan to
spend 5 to 12 hours each week on the class depending on the difficulty and how they
process information. The student has the
main classroom, a discussion board and a forum where they participate in weekly
discussions. Some online schools even
have a “chat room.”
Dr. Hamilton stresses in her book that it’s essential the
student has a functioning working computer and to have backup files of all work
in case the computer crashes. She
strongly suggests you do your research to make sure that you are enrolled in an
accredited school. Dr. Hamilton provides
a recommend link in her book for a complete list of accredited agencies. She writes about making sure not to get
trapped in the “diploma mill schools.” This term is used for schools that are fundamentally just selling
diplomas and extracting money out of your wallet. It’s important to be cautious of any “fake
accrediting agency.” A prime example of
this would be Columbus University.
If you are considering enrolling in any online school or
class, The Online Student’s User Manual
would be a valuable resource that you should read completely. This
book is an outstanding source of advice and information about online schools;
including learning the correct buzz words, setting goals and time management
techniques. The reader will also learn
how to improve their test-taking capabilities and will have access to
easy-to-understand checklists and examples of online tools. Dr.
Hamilton explains important things to consider both about you as well as about
a variety of online programs. In the
relatively new world of online education you need to carefully evaluate your
options and this book will help you do it. She also gives solid advice on what to expect
and how to succeed as an online student. This book includes appendices,
references, an index, a glossary, personality study techniques, and more.
I found this book to be an enjoyable read that communicates
in terms that are easy to understand, yet offers a lot of very helpful
information. I highly recommend this
book for anyone planning to invest in an online education of any kind; invest
in this book first. The Online Student’s User Manual: Everything You Need to Know to be a Successful Online College Student
is the one necessary resource for anyone looking to begin or continue education
through non-traditional means. Online
learning is the futuristic way of achieving an education.
Buy this book at Amazon.com
