An exciting revelation of brain research is that educators get to rethink the long-standing “tabula rasa” theory. This refers to the thesis that individuals are born with no innate or built-in mental content, and that their entire resource of knowledge is built up gradually. Researchers now know that children are ready and motivated to learn, not by being fed knowledge, but by discovering the world around them. It’s up to the teachers, parents and caregivers in their lives to provide the inspiration and facilitation. And instead of a mandated curriculum, it’s creativity and individuation that will best ensure a student’s lifelong success.

Children’s curious nature and natural motivation to learn, instinctively facilitate them to walk, talk, master manipulative tasks and do numerous activities that others, from whom they learn, are doing. Educational experiences that allow students to continue learning in the ways that helped them master these important skills are far more beneficial and sustainable than standardized academic programs.

Parents can be erroneously concerned about children learning “the basics”. But what is meant by the “basics?” Sometime during the last century or so, a misguided theory of what is important for all students emerged. Perhaps this model was thought to be important during the industrial age when training people for the labor market was a priority. But we now know that the world is a fast-changing, increasingly open and global society where individuals need to be confident, flexible and independent thinkers and learners. The importance of nurturing these qualities cannot be understated. We’re finally beginning to understand that a child is not “behind” or “learning disabled” if certain concepts do not emerge in a specified timeline. It’s the teachers and parents that are “teaching disabled” when they believe this to be true.

One of the great detriments of current educational precepts is the idea that we compartmentalize information like ABC’s and language and reading in the early years, or as we mature, math and writing and geometry, etc.. This is contrary to recent findings, and challenges our notions of the way people truly learn. Academic subjects that are presented as interrelated can be synthesized in a more meaningful way, thus retained and applied appropriately and in context. According to David Whitebread, author of The Psychology of Teaching and Learning in School, “This natural and powerful way of learning is vastly inhibited when we are presented with new information or experience which does not relate to what we already know”.

Brain development research is confirming that allowing children to continue learning in ways that are organic and inspiring is what true education is all about. Imposing a curriculum with disregard for personal capacity and preferences is an outdated framework in education, parenting and training in general. It’s thrilling to see research support the benefit of fostering an individual’s innate capabilities through a holistic, rather than pigeonholed, approach.

1. Protect Your Contact Information: Do you know online colleges will spend as much as 100 dollars per name to purchase the contact information of prospective students? When you search for an online degree, remember you have a giant bull’s eye on your forehead. Don’t be afraid to offer your contact information to colleges you are interested in, but take precautions to prevent unwanted direct mail, spam and telemarketing.
2. Don’t Drown in Google Ads: As I mentioned, Googling “Online Degree Search” will yield over 50,000 results. Instead of sifting through these ads one by one, consider narrowing your search by including your preferred degree type and at least two other additional criteria. Also, understand the difference between “sponsored” and “organic” links. The “sponsored” links have paid to be there and may or may not have the most relevant information.
3. Start with a College Matching Service: The best way to get a quick list of potential degree programs is to visit a college matching site. There are dozens of college search sites that claim to help you find the right degree program, but unfortunately, many of these sites base their recommendations solely on the college’s willingness to pay for a listing, not students’ needs. To get a list of potential degree programs, start with an online degree search that will offer honest and objective recommendations. Avoid college search sites that request your contact information upfront, understand that “sponsored” or “featured” recommendations have paid to be listed there and make sure to read the terms of service.
4. Don’t Get Sticker Shock: Students often immediately rule out certain degree programs because of cost, but don’t be so quick to give programs the ax. The price of a degree program is affected by many different factors, so don’t cross off any degree programs until you fully understand your financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and additional costs that may not be included.
5. Understand Accreditation: One of the biggest mistakes students make when choosing an online degree is ignoring accreditation. Many employers will not hire applicants with non-accredited degrees, nor will most colleges and universities accept non-accredited transfer credits. Additionally, you need to pay attention to the type of accreditation. Most colleges have either regional or national accreditation. There are advantages to both, but make sure you understand which one is right for you.

While choosing an online degree may be overwhelming, choosing the right degree will be well worth it. Happy Hunting!

Then one day I was looking though my university website and found out that they were offering an online class on marketing websites through the internet. I decided to pay the 99 dollar fee and took the course. It took a few months but I did pass the course which gave me my basic knowledge on how to market websites online to make a profit. As online education has evolved it has been better able to provide a wider range of courses in which a student can receive a much better education online now then when I took my first online university class, but the one thing that both time frames have in common is the goal, and that is to save time and make education more efficient in time and conveniency.

These days you can even get a doctoral degree or a Masters degree online from a University that is highly accredited such as Keller Graduate School of Management which offered masters Degrees to student thats specialized in doing commerce over the internet, or the University of Nebraska at Kearney which offers very eclectic business oriented fields of knowledge ranging from international business to understanding very complex economic concepts. Just remember before signing up for any online educational course to do your due diligence on the college that is offering these courses to make sure that they are accredited and are valued by the more established land based universities as once you put in your time to get your online degree you cannot get that time or effort back.