Online Education: 100 Links To Get Started

----- Online Education General Articles

Links 1 through 10 are general online education articles.  They will introduce you to the online education industry and help you determine if online education can help you advance your academic life and professional career.

1.  Distance Education Versus Campus-Based Classes (StudentReady.com staff)
Get a quick rundown of attributes and personality characteristics that increase the likelihood of success for online versus campus-based education.  Find out which learning method may suit you best.

2. Ten Ways Online Education Matches, or Surpasses, Face-to-Face Learning (Mark Kassop)
This is a compelling article by Mark Kassop, the distance learning coordinator at Bergen Community College and teacher of more than 50 online courses in sociology to more than 1200 students at Bergen Community College and Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey.  Kassop details the merits of online education from a teacher's perspective.  In the article he outlines 10 ways that online education excels when compared to learning in the traditional classroom setting.  This is a must-read for anyone considering online education.

3. Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom (Steve Lohr of The New York Times)
Explore a comparitive study of online education to education received in a traditional classroom setting.  The statistically significant results indicate that online education may be better than face-to-face learning.  Here is a link to the 93-page report on online education, conducted by SRI International for the Department of Education (.pdf format).

4. Online Education Offers Access and Affordability: Improvements in the quality of online courses are attracting millions of people to enroll (Kim Klark of US News and World Report)
Kim Klark discusses how skill-sharpening during the recession and a flowering of competition promise to drive down prices and raise the quality of online college courses.

5. Online Schools Clicking with Students: Flexibility, technology key to e-learning (Greg Botelho of CNN)
This article was written in 2004, but a number of Greg Botelho's key points regarding online education remain true to this day.  Topics discussed include the rapid growth of online education in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, the ability of online students to learn anytime and from anywhere, and how e-learning is providing opportunities for people of all races, ethnicities, ages and nationalities to attend quality classes.

6. Ecommerce Know-How: Taking Advantage of Online Education Opportunities (Kevin Patrick Allen of Practical eCommerce)
This short article introduces three online education options that can benefit ecommerce merchants.  However, the tools described can help anyone who wants to learn via the Internet.  Tools discussed are tutorials found on both YouTube.com (free tutorials) and Lynda.com (subscription-based tutorials with higher quality and more in-depth content) as well as online universities like FullSail.com, which uses tutorials on YouTube.com and Lynda.com as part of its curriculum.
 
7. US: Online education's outrageous fortune? (Sarah King Head of University World News)
Sarah King Head discusses the various concerns traditional campus institutions have with their online education competitors, including the ability of traditional colleges to compete with the growing number of colleges offering online courses at seemingly higher quality and lower prices.

8. Is Distance Learning Right for You?  (Jamie Littlefield of About.com Guide)
Jamie Littlefield identifies 5 characteristics of successful distance learners.  If you feel that your personality is a good fit with these attributes then online education may be able to help you achieve your academic and career goals.

9. How to Determine if Continuing Your Education Online is Right for You (Robin Jessie-Green of eHow.com)
Robin Jessie-Green identifies 8 steps that potential online students should perform to prepare for online education.  Topics include knowing what to expect, conducting research, and exploring financial aid options.

10. Is Online Education Right for You? (Robin Christian of AC Associated Content)
Robin Christian describes her personal experience with distance learning, and she relays knowledge gained researching and ultimately enrolling as an online student.  She discusses topics that potential students should research before making any decisions regarding online education, including financial aid, scholarships, enrollment counselors, accreditation, and how online education made it possible for her to be both a student and a mother.

----- Online Education Self Assessments

Links 11 through 15 are self assessments you can take online to develop your profile as an online learner.  They will help you discover any weaknesses you may have with the online education format so you can work on them before you enroll.

11. SORT - Student Online Readiness Tool (University System of Georgia)
SORT, or the Student Online Readiness Tool, is the most comprehensive online assessment that we found on the Internet.  SORT breaks down the characteristics of successful online learners into six categories: technology experience, access to tools, study habits, lifestyle, goals, and learning preferences.  There is a short questionnaire for each category, and feedback on your answers is immediately provided.  The feedback includes your profile for a particular category.  Profile A means a high level of readiness, Profile B means a medium level or readiness, and Profile C indicates a low level of readiness.  Once you know your profile you can advance to the next screen to see the Suggestions and Strategies section, which details why the category is important to success as an online student.  You will also see a Resources section, which includes links to various websites that will help you improve your skills in the current category.  This self assessment is a powerful tool, and is recommended to anyone considering online education.

12. Distance Learning Self Assessment test (The Community College of Baltimore County)
This is a 10-question self assessment that you can complete quickly.  Your total score is immediately provided, and how you rate as a potential distance learner is explained.  Your score for each question is shown, as is an explanation as to why you received a high or low score for that question.  This will help you identify potential strengths and weaknesses as an online student.

13. Distance Learning Self Assessment (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
This 17-question self assessment requires yes and no responses on a variety of topics.  Each response you provide takes you to an explanation regarding how your answer may affect you as an online student.  Feedback is immediate and explanations of each question and answer are thorough.

14. Distance Learning Self Assessment Quiz (Quintessential Careers)
This self assessment is comprised of 15 questions each requiring an agree, neutral or disagree response.  The site does not keep track of your answers for you, so you have to note your responses separately (pen and paper will do).  Once you have completed the quiz you click on a link at the bottom of the assessment to learn how to score your answers.

15. Self-Assessment Survey: Is eLearning Right for You? (Virginia Tech Online)
This is a straightforward 7-question survey that asks about computer, time management, and communication skills.  Your answers are immediately scored and you will see how your score rates you as a potential online student.  An explanation of each question is provided so you can learn more about what it takes to be successful at distance learning.

----- Online Education Videos

Links 16 through 25 are to videos that will further familiarize you with the online education process and its benefits.

16.  Online Chemistry Lecture - Relative Melting Point (16 mins 01 secs): This video is taken from an online chemistry course provided by Ecampus at Oregon State University. The topic of this lecture is relative melting points, and it is presented by Dr. Richard Nafshun.  The material discussed is technical, and this video sample shows how easily online education can relay even the most difficult lectures with relative ease.  One big advantage of the online format is that material can be quickly and easily repeated until it is understood.

17.  Online Course Demonstration (6 mins 42 secs):  This is an online course demonstration provided by the MBA program at University of Baltimore & Towson University.  It provides an overview of the life of an online student enrolled in Towson University's MBA course.  The demonstration walks you through the Towson University offering, but many of the features apply to online education in general.

18. Strategic Management -Part1 of 7 (4 mins 58 secs):  This lecture by Dr. Ian Mackechnie is one in a series of presentations on E-Commerce. It is part of a series of modules offered by the MBA at www.stamfordonline.com.my.  This lecture sample is representative of the type of material you can expect to see as an online student.

19. Online Education and Degrees (2 mins 54 secs):  This video features Sandro Tuccinardi, an online IT professor.  He discusses online education from an instructor's perspective.

20. Harold O. Levy on Online Education (2 mins 09 secs):  Harold O. Levy is the former chancellor of the New York City School System. He discusses the merits of online education and the ability of the online format to force students to engage in the education process. This results in more effective learning and expanded career opportunities for graduates.

21-25. Online Education Experiences #1-#5: The following videos are discussions with students who completed their education online.  The videos are less informational and more motivational, but you get to hear actual online students describe how online education helped them advance their lives and careers.

----- Academic Skills Centers (ASC)

26. Learning Strategies: Maximizing Your Academic Experience (Dartmouth College)
The Dartmouth College ASC contains information and suggestions to help students maximize the benefits of their education.  Some of the content is geared towards students attending Dartmouth, but much of the content is for any student looking to improve academic performance.  Particularly valuable is the section called Learning Strategies: Videos, which contains short videos on strategic learning, time management, notetaking, reading improvement and stress management.  Tests are available to help determine your learning and studying styles.  This is a great free resource likely to help all students, including those interested in online education.

27. Study Skills Library - Academic Skills Center (Cal Poly)
The ASC at Cal Poly contains links to information that will enhance your study skills.  Topics include listening, memorization, lecture note taking, note taking systems and tips, reading improvement, and test preparation.  You will also find suggestions on how to avoid procrastination and what to do if you tend to panic before a test.

28. College Success Seminars - Academic Skills Center (Western Michigan University)
The content on this site is designed for students that are attending Western Michigan University.  However, the section on College Success Seminars contains links to .pdf files that contain useful information on a number of topics relevant to online learners.  There are links for exploring learning styles, note taking techniques, research reading and source finding, test taking and time management.  There are even resources designed to help you increase your reading rate and to provide tips on how to get the most out of reading your textbooks.  At this time there is a link labeled College Vocabulary Development, but that resource does not appear to be available.  This seems to indicate that new resources will appear on the site in the future, so bookmarking this page and checking back often may be beneficial.

29. Academic Skills - Strategies for College Success (University of Southern Indiana)
The ASC at the University of Southern Indiana contains a section called Strategies for College Success.  This section is divided into 5 categories: writing and research, study skills, math, reading, and learning styles.  Each category contains links to a number of trusted online resources that will help any student increase their academic skills in preparation for college coursework.

30. Academic Resource Center (Duke University)
The ASC at Duke University contains a number of free resources that can help online students.  One helpful resource is a .pdf file called From High School to College.  This document contains information for students entering college directly from high school, but it may prove helpful to those interested in online education who have never attended college.  Additional information is provided on learning styles, time management, getting the most out of class, science and math learning, studying for exams and writing.  Each section contains links to .pdf documents with information that would benefit any student.

31. Study skills self help information - Cook Counseling Center (Virginia Tech)
The Cook Counseling Center at Virginia Tech provides many resources to help students.  Topics include time management, test taking, improving concentration and memory among others.  An interesting section pertains to the SQ3R reading method (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review), which helps students train themselves to comprehend more of what they read in their textbooks.  Online classes require a good deal of reading, and knowing how and when to use SQ3R can be a big advantage for an online student.

32. UW-Eau Claire Academic Skills Center (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire)
The UW-Eau Claire ASC offers a section called Learning Links.  This section contains resources on a number of topics, to include concentration, exam preparation, learning from lectures, learning from texts, memory, taking exams and time management.  There is also an area for miscellaneous topics.  Each topic area contains links to information from other respected universities pertaining to the topic.  This is a good resource to bookmark for later use.

33. WNC: Academic Skills Center: Useful Study Links (Western Nevada College)
The WNC ASC has a section called Useful Study Links.  Here you will find links to respected resources in a number of specific subjects.  Topics include general, humanities, math, science and writing.  This is another good page to review and potentially bookmark for later use.

34. Augsburg College: Academic Skills Center (Augsburg College)
At the bottom of the home page of the Augsburg College ASC you will find a section for Frequently Requested Info.  This is a series of links to a variety of informationthat can help you enhance a number of skills you will need if you pursue online education.  The Help Sheets page contains links to a many 1-page .pdf documents, each containing a list of tips to help you with a particular skill.  Examples include participating in class, preparing for exams, and relieving test anxiety.  There are 12 of these tip sheets in all, and they can be handy.  Other Frequently Requested Info links provide information on study packets, study strategies, and interactive surveys and assessments.

35. SUNY Oswego - Academic Skills Website List (SUNY Oswego)
The ASC at SUNY Oswego, or State University of New York at Oswego, offers a list of academic skills partner sites.  Topics include general tips, study skills, note taking, listening, test preparation, test taking, dealing with stress, motivating, organization, time management and more.  The links go to content at other respected universities around the world.  This is a great page to bookmark and refer to as issues arise in any of these areas.

----- Financial Aid (reviewing #31, #32, and #33 in order may save you time)

36. Student Aid on the Web (Department of Education)
Student Aid on the Web provides information on applying for college, applying for financial aid, and repaying your loans.  You can register with the site and use tools to match you to a career field, college, or scholarship that may interest you.  The information in your profile can be used to help complete your FAFSA4caster application (see item 32), your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA (see item 33), and any electronic college admission applications.  You will save time by registering at this site first, then proceeding to the FAFSA4caster (which is optional), and then completing the FAFSA.

37. FAFSA4caster - Federal Student Aid (Department of Education)
The FAFSA4caster allows you to get an early start on the financial aid process by providing you with an estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid.  All of the information that you submit to the FAFSA4caster can be automatically transfered to the FAFSA, which speeds the application process.  You will have the option of applying for your Federal Student Aid PIN, which you will need to complete your FAFSA.  The FAFSA4caster is not required, and if you want you can go directly to the FAFSA to get started on your application.  However, going through the FAFSA4caster process is recommended, as it will increase your knowledge of the financial aid process while providing information about other sources of aid.

38. FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Department of Education)
FAFSA is the first site you should visit when considering options for paying for college.  There are comprehensive instructions for preparing, completing, and then following up on your FAFSA application.  There is a great deal of information on this site, and the application process itself can seem daunting.  The FAQs (frequently asked questions) link will answer many question you have.  If you are unfamiliar with FAFSA then the FAQ regarding Federal Student Aid Programs is a good place to start.  It details what types of aid are available (there are 3 types: grants, work-study, and loans) and lists the eligibility requirements for each.

39. Financial Aid 101 (Kim Clark of US News and World Report)
Financial Aid 101 is a simple article that defines some of the terms students will inevitably see when researching financial aid. Terms like FAFSA, EFC, Stafford, PLUS and others are addressed, as are grants, loans and work-study and how they differ.

40. Financial Aid in the Yahoo! Directory
Financial Aid is a category in the Yahoo! Directory, and it contains dozens of links to relevant financial aid content across the Internet.

----- Scholarships

41. Scholarships (FinAid.com)
The Scholarships page at FinAid.com is arguably the most informative and helpful scholarship guide on the Internet.  It conveniently links to resources that are guaranteed to help you in your search, and it satisfactorily answers every question we had about scholarships.  There are additional resources to help you apply for and win scholarships for which you are eligible.  This article is a must-read for anyone considering scholarships to help pay for college.

42. College Scholarships (Scholarships.com)
Scholarships.com provides a number of ways to find scholarships for which you may be qualified.  You can register with the site and search for scholarships by grade level, major, state and type.

43. Guide to College Scholarship Searches - Scholarship Search Links (FinancialAidFinder.com)
This article provides good information on what to look for and what to look out for when searching for scholarships.  You should fill out a profile (this will speed your search) and make sure the scholarship data has been updated for the current school year.  Searching should always be free, and if you are asked to pay or provide credit card information it may be a scam.  The article concludes with links to 5 trusted scholarship search engines that can help you get started.

44. 10 Tips on How to get a College Scholarship (CampusGrotto.com)
This article contains a list of things to consider when applying for scholarships to help pay for college.  The advice is practical, and following each step should increase your chances of success.

45. Top 12 Strange College Scholarships (PersonalMoneyStore.com)
This list is proof that there are scholarships available for just about everything.  If you are having trouble finding scholarships that are a good fit for you, keep searching and do not give up.  There is a scholarship out there for everyone, as this article proves.  At the bottom of the article is a video with advice on how to write your scholarship application.

----- Blogs

41. Online Learning Update
The Online Learning Update is a blog that has been published every day since 2001 by Ray Schroeder, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois at Springfield.  The blog contains articles related to online education from other respected college sources as well as the local and national media.  This is a good source of quality content about online learning.

42. E-Learning Queen
The E-Learning Queen blog is administered by Susan Smith Nash, Phd, who has been involved with e-learning and hybrid learning since the early 1990s.  Her articles focus on strategic issues related to online education.  They are well researched and well written, and anyone who wants to learn more about the online education industry will benefit from reading this blog.

43. Jamie's Distance Learning Blog (About.com)
Jamie Littlefield administers the Distance Learning blog at About.com.  The site contains a number of articles and other resources related to online education.

44. Top 100 Education Blogs (OEDb.org)
This is a list of 100 blogs related to education.  Blog topics are categorized by e-learning, news, policy, culture, teaching, technology and more.

45. 100 Best Higher Education Blogs (OnlineDegreesHub.com)
This list of 100 education blogs is categorized by news, admissions and rankings, professor blogs, libraries, administrators, international and study abroad, athletics, distance learning, technology and more.

46. A List of the Top 200 Education Blogs (GuideToOnlineSchools.com)
This list of 200 education blogs is categorized by news, teaching, learning, professors, colleges, campus life, athletics, study abroad, e-learning, technology and more.

47. Online Education and Distance Learning Discussion Forums & Blogs (eLearners.com)
The eLearners.com site has a Forums & Blogs area that contains good information for potential online students.  The forum lets you ask questions and receive answers on a number of education topics.  The Blogs section is written and maintained by online students currently enrolled in online classes.

48. Online Education Blogs (blogged.com)
This is the Online Education category page at blogged.com.  It lists over 300 blogs covering an array of online education topics.  if you create a user account with blogged.com you can simply click a button to begin following blogs that are interesting to you.

49. Online Education Blog < Online Degree News (Edvisors.com)
Edvisors.com's blog provides articles on a number of topics related to online education.

50. The 411 on Everything Education! 100 Best Education Blogs (CertificationMap.com)
This site contains links to 100 blogs on a variety of education-related topics, including education technology, study abroad, blogs for teachers, education policy, distance learning, university blogs, admissions and rankings, special education, and more.

----- Article Repositories

51. ERIC - Education Resources Information Center - World's largest digital library of education literature (eric.ed.gov)

52. Online Education Offers Access and Affordability (US News and World Report)

53. Library of Online Education Articles and Advice (OEDb.org)

54. Online Education Articles - Find Online Education Related Articles on ArticlesBase.com (ArticlesBase.com)

55. Reference-and-Education - Online-Education EzineArticles (EzineArticles.com)

56. News: Inside Higher Ed (InsideHigherEd.com)

57. Distance Learning - Articles (distancelearn.about.com)

58. Distance Learning and E-Learning Articles (SelfGrowth.com)

59. Magazine Articles on Distance Learning (MagPortal.com)

60. Education Guidance & Advice | Campus & Online Degree Programs (WorldWideLearn.com)

----- Online Education Books

61. 62. 63. 64.

65. 66. 67. 68.

69. 70. 71. 72.

73. 74. 75. 76.

77. 78. 79. 80.

----- How-to Guides
21. How to Find a Good Online Education Course (eHow Contributing Writer)
http://www.ehow.com/how_18320_find-online-education.html
This article provides 6 simple steps on how to decide on a valuable and fitting online education course.
 
22. Online Learning Checklist and Preparation Steps
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-articles/online-learning-checklist.htm (By: Debra Leonard Mertz)
This checklist offers preparation techniques for online education students, many of which refer to the technology behind online education, such as necessary software and virtual bookstores.
 
23. Five Steps to Select an Online Degree Program
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/five-steps-to-select-an-online-degree-program-1294358.html
This article tells you about the 5 basic steps to choosing and enrolling an online degree program, including things like financial aid and obtaining the books you'll need for your online education. 
 
24. 5 Steps to an Online Education
http://www.nmonlineeducation.com/steps-to-an-online-education.php
Basically the same as #3.
 
25. Five Steps to Choosing Accredited Courses Online
http://www.successdegrees.com/accreditedcoursesonline.html
This article focuses on the 5 essential steps to making sure the online education for which you're applying is accredited.
 
26. Surviving education online: key steps for student success (By: Karen Southall)
http://www.ecollege.com/Newsletter/EducatorsVoice/EducatorsVoice-Vol7Iss6.learn
This article speaks directly to teachers who are currently teaching online education programs, offering valuable steps on how to maximize the online education experience for their students.
 
27. Fast Online Degrees – Eight Simple Steps to Earning the Fastest Degree Online (By: John B Maxtead)
http://www.apakistannews.com/articles-2009/14396123/fast-online-degrees-eight-simple-steps-to-earning-the-fastest-degree-online.html
This author tells readers very concisely about the quickest and most effective ways to earn an online education.
 
28. The Four Steps to College
http://www.knowhow2go.org/main_4steps.php
The use of bullet points in this article is quite effective in terms of outlining these 4 simple steps, creating a quick-hitting and easy-to-read yet comprehensive feel.
 
29. The National Education Technology Plan Offers Action Steps for Success (By: Lorrie Jackson of Education World)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech210.shtml
This article focuses on the needs of today's students and how they are changing to become more dependent on technology, calling for new laws and improvements in technolgy.
 
30. Five Steps to Get Your College Education After Leaving the Military
http://degreedirectory.org/articles/Five_Steps_to_Get_Your_College_Education_After_Leaving_the_Military.html
This article addresses former US military members looking for a college education after leaving the military, providing 5 summarized steps on how to do so.  There are also links within the article which offer further information on the subject with things like tuition assistance for all the different factions of the military (i.e., Navy, Air Force, etc.)
 
31. Ways to get cheap online education
http://www.onlinedegree.pro/onlineeducationsmallbudget.php
This article focuses strictly on the ways you can obtain the cheapest online education.
 
32. Get the Career You Want Through Online Education
http://www.articlesbase.com/career-management-articles/get-the-career-you-want-through-online-education-673841.html
This article shows ways in which online education can get you into the career you need or advance your current career.
 
33. 7 Steps to Selecting a Continuing Education Class (By: Deanna Mascle)
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/7-steps-to-selecting-continuing-education-class.html
The author here provides 7 steps you should consider when choosing your online education class as well as questions you should pose to yourself when making your decision.
 
34. Five Steps to Select an Online Degree Program
http://www.tcstcxh.com/58-five-steps-to-select-an-online-degree-program
This article walks you through the basic steps in getting started in your online education.
 
35. Five Steps in Choosing a College That's Right For You
http://articles.webraydian.com/article13163-Five_Steps_in_Choosing_a_College_Thats_Right_For_You.html
 
36. Degrees - 12 Steps Toward Your College Degree (By: Deb Peterson)
http://adulted.about.com/od/gettingyourdegree/tp/collegedegreehub.htm
No matter what your age or situation, this author tells you it's not too late to get your college degree.  She provides 12 steps on how to get your degree in today's day in age regarding things like financial aid and technology.
 
37. Taking Your First Steps Towards Choosing an Online College
http://www.valueofadegree.com/resources/getting-started/choosing-a-distance-learning-program/choosing-an-online-college/
 
38. Steps to Getting Started In Distance Learning
http://www.gpc.edu/online/faculty_getting_started_in_dl.htm
 
39. Four Important Steps in Choosing an Online Bachelor Degree
http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/62468/phoenix_university/4_important_steps_in_choosing_an_online_bachelor_degree.html
 
40. Learning - Important Steps in Choosing an Online Degree
http://www.slideshare.net/akashaggarwal/online-learning-important-steps-in-choosing-an-online-degree