With 28 posts in 2011, this blog is quickly becoming a content-rich source of information for online learners. My first post began with a “toolkit” for online learners and I am excited about continuing to share, create, teach, and engage with everyone.

Here is my recap of some of my favorite posts for the year:

Community is Vital

One of the most important aspects of higher education is the creation of community. Finding, building, nurturing, and sustaining community has always been a major aspect of higher education. For online learners, community can be formed through the web and conversations occur on a global scale. Additionally, social media can be used as platform for community building.

10 Questions To Ask Before You Enroll

A central theme for a lot of my posts has been about asking questions as part of the online learning process. This post provides a list of questions that can assist any online learner in their higher education journey.

The Inquisitive Journey

Continuing on the “questions are okay AND necessary” theme, I share some potential queries for online students as they enter into an online degree program.

Work harder AND smarter

A digital homage to my late grandfather, this post was inspired by his wisdom. Completing a higher education degree program requires a lot of work to be successful. Conveniently, experience compounds each year as you make your way through a program. Your ability to work harder AND smarter will increase with each assignment, group project, and term paper.

Spinning Tunes While Studying

Some students love to study in silence. For some, music paves the way for learning and reflection. In this post, I list several different sites and services for spinning some of your favorite tunes. I loved Elaine’s comment on this post. She reminds us the perspective is important. Silence is golden for some, while some folks love to rock out!

Are You Using LinkedIn?

This was perhaps one of the most popular posts that I wrote this year, most-likely due to the amazing benefits that LinkedIn can provide. Online learners should start using LinkedIn for networking and career development opportunities as soon as possible. If you are not using LinkedIn yet, I highly encourage you to start using it in 2012.

Conflicting Commentary About Procrastination

I approached procrastination from two separate angles this year. In my first procrastination post, I wrote about how students could overcome procrastination. For some, procrastination can have a negative impact. However, some students have found procrastination to be a core part of their academic success. So, to put it bluntly, procrastination exists in sort of a gray area. It is good or bad — depending on your situation.

Higher Education is not the next Bubble

It seems like everyone is talking about higher education as being the next “bubble.” I wholeheartedly disagree, provide a counter argument and take Peter Thiel and company to task for their polarizing commentary.

Hoping to Hear From You in 2012

Encouraging commentary from online learners / online school representatives is an important component of 2012. This blog will be better served by having as much commentary as possible from actual online learners. Think of these posts as paying it forward for the community. I will edit and ask questions, you will provide insight and wisdom.

Thanks for a great year of blogging. As always, please feel free to comment on any of my posts. I will do my best to answer any/all questions and engage with your thoughts/commentary. Have a happy New Year, see you in 2012!

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With the start of a new year coming soon, an inventory of sorts seems apropos. For the online learner, having certain items (and a particular service), while not necessarily mandatory, can optimize several aspects of their web-based experience. Here are 5 things that I would highly recommend investing in for 2012. The caveat being of course that there are alternatives, but this is my list, so it has my particular bent to it.

Apple makes lovely / reliable computers

I was not always a Mac user. In fact, most of my time spent on a computer has been with a Windows-based machine. In 2006, seemingly on a whim, I went in to a Mac Store and purchased a 15 inch MacBook Pro (MBP). I have been using that same laptop ever since. The hardware is aesthetically appealing and the operating system is almost flawless. I will never go back to using anything that is Windows-based. If you are looking for a workhorse of a computer, then I would recommend a MacBook Pro. The 15 inch version gives you a large screen and the processing power is magnificent. If you are looking for an almost lighter than “air” machine, look no further than the MacBook Air. The Air is ridiculously thin and it is fantastically portable. For the online learner, I highly recommend a laptop. Being portable, a laptop will allow you to move your learning location from place to place. All you need is a power outlet and a stable wifi connection. Add a Mac laptop to the equation and you can practically guarantee that your hardware will be ready when and wherever you need it!

Timbuk2 backpacks are indestructible

My Timbuk2 backpack is 5 years old. It looks like it is brand new. Having served as my laptop bag since the aforementioned purchase of my MBP, my Timbuk2 backup shows no signs of deterioration. Made from the same materials as their classic messenger bags, Timbuk2 backpacks combine amazing reliability with superior comfort. Carrying around a 15 inch laptop can be a little tedious without the right type of bag. A backpack is a great option for laptop-carrying online learners. My bag even features a corduroy liner for my computer. My MBP rides in style while the larger interior of the backpack provides ample space for a myriad of items. A great backpack is a necessity.

Dropbox saves your work

Having a backup copy of your work is crucial. A fantastic service for file backup, syncing and access is Dropbox. A free account on Dropbox lets you save, sync, and backup 2 GBs of information. Use Dropbox as a digital security blanket or as storage for accessing files on any web-enabled device. Digital assets are the lifeblood of the online learner. Your digital documents represent your hard work and higher education journey. It is better to save them via Dropbox then to lose critical file information.

Moleskines are great creative companions

While I have carried a laptop with me for several years, one item that has always accompanied my laptop is a Moleskine notebook. Advertised as the notebooks that Hemingway used, Moleskines are durable, well-made, and offered in a variety of sizes. My Moleskines serve as creation spaces when I need to write, doodle, brainstorm, sketch, or take notes. When I fill one up, I place it on my bookshelves as a record of my work. They serve as a collection of creative moments. Even online learners need to write things down on paper. Moleskines provide the perfect canvas for pencils and pens.

Signo 207s make your writing flow

Speaking of pens, I have found the Uni-Ball Signo Gel 207 Retractable Roller Ball Medium Point pen to be one of the most reliable and easiest to use writing instruments on the planet. While the Signo 207 may have a long name, the quality is fantastic. In fact, when I was an academic advisor, I used the Signo 207 exclusively. Combine a Signo 207 with a Moleskine (something that I do frequently!) and you will have an amazing paper and pen combination.

Creativity, organization, peace of mind, efficiency, storage – attributes that assist and propel…these 5 items that I have listed can greatly assist you in your journey as online learners.

**Stay tuned for my 2011 recap post where I shared items from my favorite posts of the year and look ahead to 2012.**

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In 2009, the Chronicle of Higher Education featured an op-ed that asked if higher education would be the next “bubble” to burst. The concept being that (similar to the housing market collapse or the dotcom disaster) higher education was going to implode (or pop) due to high tuition rates and a lack of innovation. Some have even started labeling higher education as a scam. Well, the world loves polarization and rhetoric that exists in a bubble of absolutes. However, reality is far more nuanced and from what I’ve seen, higher education is hardly the next bubble.

Cost

First off, the cost of higher education is relative to the type of institution that you are attending. Sure, it is going to be expensive to attend Harvard University, Yale University, or any other Ivy league institution . Fortunately, we are not all going to be attending schools that leave us with a potential 6-figure debt load after we graduate. Online programs are offered via both for-profit and not-for-profit that are much more affordable than the rates that are often quoted in “higher education bubble” editorials. If all students had to attend an Ivy school, than perhaps the bubble idea would have more credibility. However, higher education is evolving at a rapid rate. Online programs, blended learning, flexible scheduling, learning analytics, and an ethos of innovation are everywhere in the higher education sphere. It just is not as popular to talk about what we are doing right versus throwing stones at arguments that have been seemingly trumped up to validate claims that the bubble is about to pop.

Stop listening to Thiel

If I was an online learner in 2011, I would focus on getting my degree. Completing a degree from an accredited institution is still (in 2011!) a valuable endeavor. When the Thiel Foundation, an enterprise from high-profile billionaire Peter Thiel, states that new college bound grads should not attend college, Thiel and his foundation are blatantly polarizing the conversation about higher education. Thiel’s 20 Under 20 Fellowship program is a minuscule program – in size and in scope. As a proponent of the “higher education is the next bubble” rhetoric, Thiel is basing his arguments on inflated tuition figures, an extremely narrow age range, and a highly selective profile of program members. In short, Thiel’s program does a great job of countering the impacts of the most expensive higher education programs for a tiny sliver of people.

Higher education continues to thrive, innovate, create, and expand.

Evolution

Brick-and-mortar institutions and online-based programs are going to change. Learning outcomes, delivery models, teaching efficacy, and out-of-the-box thinking are where and what we need to be focusing our energies upon. Bubble rhetoric criticizes and tears down without acknowledging all of the benefits that higher education provides.

Online learners, for whom this blog is written, should continue to view higher education as a pathway to improvement, fulfillment, and success. Feel free to evaluate and question the entire process, but never forget that higher education is always innovating and improving.

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Writing a blog for online learners represents an exciting task. Having worked in higher education for more than 10 years, most of my experience is in working with students on a physical campus. However, there are multitudes of similarities and differences that provide ample material for this site. One of my goals for 2012 is to feature stories from online learners. That is right. I want to share your story with our readers. Students love hearing from other students. If you are an online learner or if you represent an online degree program, I would love to hear from you.

What are you studying and why?

What are the “hot” new majors? Is your degree program the only one like it in the universe? I want to share your stories and experiences so that others can benefit from your wisdom. Think of this as “paying it forward.” Students sharing with other students can be one of the most powerful and transformative methods of inspiring others. When I was an academic advisor, I would encourage prospective students to chat with our peer advisors. Students who were taking classes could give first hand accounts of what it was like to be in a course. Online learners are dispersed throughout the globe. Instead of having a physical campus where every student is located, online degree programs generate a community of learners that may never meet in-person. Therefore, having spaces on the web where online students can share their experiences is a necessary step in supporting online learners.

Sharing why you are pursuing your chosen major, why you picked a certain subject as an elective, and/or why you chose a particular institution are all components to your educational experience. My motives are fairly simple and transparent: I want to give you a space to share so that your words can inspire others. Sound like a good idea? I thought so too!

Institutional Representatives

If you work for a school that has students who are willing to participate in story sharing, please let me know. I plan on serving as a filter so that honest and authentic stories get published and marketing plays a small role. If you have amazing students, in amazing majors, with amazing stories, let me know. I would love to post their tales of triumph on this site. Why did they pick your school? I want to know their rationale. Students need to know that there are large numbers of students who have stories just like theirs. Online students do not exist in a vacuum…and neither do their stories.

Comment and Leave your contact information

If you have a story (and let’s leave complaints and negativity out of the equation), please feel free to post it as a comment on this post. Sharing your contact information will allow me to be able to follow-up with you. Being able to contact you will allow for a richer conversation and a more detailed blog post. That’s right, your stories will be posts. I will serve as your editor, but in the end, your words will be shared for all to see. Go ahead, pay it forward in 2012!

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An interesting article about 6 steps to online success was published at Campus Technology. The article was written specifically for online teaching faculty. However, I think it contains a lot of useful insights for online learners. Taking the original post and flipping it upside down and sideways, here are some things to consider for your online success.

Cleaning up your act

In the original article‘s list of 6, the first item has some interesting parallels for online students. When I first read the header, my first thought was that they were talking about personal branding. However, the central point of this section was that there are so many amazing tools that you can use to really amplify your online work. Online coursework is often about presentation. If you use the tools that are available to you then you might just have a prettier act than you did when you began.

Answers in 24 hours

As an online learner, it is crucial that you recognize this about your instructors: If you email them, please be patient. There are more students than teachers and email can pile up. Being patient with your instructors and writing cogent messages (please include your real name!) can make email exchanges go smoothly. And, it is okay to thank your teacher for responding in a timely fashion. Let them know that you appreciate their hard work. Sometimes they will be responsible for teaching hundreds of students at the same time. That is why the 24 hour rule may not always apply…and that is okay.

Plenty of structure

The best online instructors are those that create a sense of structure for their classes. Seek these people out. Having a sense of place (and time) even in online spaces can make for a vibrant learning experience. Sometimes, an academic program will even set up their curricula so that each course runs in a similar way. This makes it so much easier for you, the online learner, to navigate, learn, and achieve.

Formal phone conferences

This one baffled me a bit when I first read it. “Phone conferences”? Really? In 2011, I would have expected Skype or Google+ Hangouts to replace the phone as a method for formal check-ins. Being able to see your students and chat with them pseudo-face-to-face is such an asset if the technology is available. The best part of this point is the commitment to meeting with each student in a class. I have not seen this practice at a lot of schools, but I bet it would make a difference for students. How great would it be to be able to actually “see” your teacher and have a brief conversation.

Do online what online does best

Here’s where I disagree with the original article. Face-to-face is great, but so is online. Some students create amazing connections with one another and with their professors all in the online learning environment. The point about using videos to allow students the opportunity to learn at their own pace is a good one. being able to watch an educational video on your terms is a hallmark of the online learning experience. It is all about flexibility and convenience.

The perpetual best in show contest

This is my favorite section in the “6 steps” article. When we create content in online spaces, we create opportunities for sharing, learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Sharing your work with others is a great way to build an even better idea. One of the critiques of online learning is that it does not allow for community generation. I think that there is tremendous community in online spaces…especially when we engage with one another and showcase our own “best in show.”

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It is a simple question about a dynamic website. LinkedIn is a professional social networking site. If you are not using it yet, you should be. LinkedIn offers a degree of utility that other social sites cannot offer. It’s the go-to site for up-and-coming professionals. For the online learner, LinkedIn is a great place for networking, recommendations, intelligence gathering, and building your personal brand.

Networking

One of the social networking aspects of LinkedIn is that it is all about professional connections. Connect with your faculty members, academic advisors, mentors, former bosses, professional association members, current bosses, etc. and watch as your network expands (and along with it, your access to a greater level of folks who may be ready to assist you). I am consistently amazed by LinkedIn’s recommendation engine. I have found several people on LinkedIn who have been extremely helpful when I have had a question or needed an introduction to someone else.

The InMaps function provides a really nifty view of all of your LinkedIn connections. InMaps display “an interactive visual representation of your professional universe, based on the relationships between your connections.” You can map out your professional connections. Sometimes visualizing your network can be a really productive exercise. For example, on my InMap, I can see distinct areas where I have tremendous amounts of connections: Oregon State University, Higher Education Professionals, Social Justice Bloggers, Academic Advisors and Higher Education Marketing/Communications Practitioners. Visualizing my connections allows me to see how my entire network is woven together.

Recommendations

What is better than an impersonal reference list? LinkedIn recommendations allow your professional connections to write about your work and share their thoughts about what is like to be your boss, mentor, advisor, colleague or professor. Recommendations make your profile much more complete. Having professional commentary about your work and the value that you provide is a priceless aspect of LinkedIn. Make sure that you write recommendations for your connections. However, do not worry if it is not reciprocated. The larger the network, the greater the possibility of quality recommendation opportunities.

Intelligence Gathering

LinkedIn provides an immense amount of data about companies. Most companies are represented on LinkedIn. For example, there are more than 37,000 Google employees on LinkedIn and more than half of them have a bachelors degree. A companies profile on LinkedIn can tell you all about their employees and their job opportunities. LinkedIn groups are also a wonderful way to connect with like-minded people around a topic, an association, course group, academic program, etc. Groups are fairly active and contain a wealth of useful information.

Building Your Personal Brand

What happens when someone Googles your name? If you are on LinkedIn, the odds are pretty good that your profile will be the first entry in a search. That is supremely helpful when it comes to building and managing your personal brand. LinkedIn is a professional site. If people find your profile and it is fully fleshed out, then they will get to see a snapshot of your professional history and expertise. LinkedIn is a terrific site for those who are looking ahead for a future career as well as for those who are currently conducting a job search.

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When a traditionally-aged student starts a degree program at a brick-and-mortar institution, there is an accepted norm that impacts a large number of new students: they change their major. It is not uncommon to change your major. Sometimes a major change can be due to a single course, advice from an academic advisor, or from the realization that the current degree just does not seem to fit. On-campus students change their majors for a variety of reasons, but I for one think that a major change can be exceptionally beneficial for a student. However, what happens for online learners? Does the “major change is acceptable” practice translate to the web?

With online learning, as with on-campus experiences, the nuance of inquiry plays a major part in the journey of major selection and completion. Students may think that taking a course that is outside of their major does not have enough tactical importance. Fortunately, classes that are outside of our focus can oftentimes lead us to a greater sense of discovery and purpose. Treat your academics like a buffet that you are sampling. If you get to a place where you are a year or so into a degree program, have no fear. Speak with your academic advisor about alternate pathways on your academic journey. Your questions are okay. Dissonance throughout the process can be quite cathartic in that it can show you major pathways that were not visible before.

There are several factors that play into the scenario that I described above. Financial pressures, career goals, life events, and perhaps most important — Time. Time seemingly resides as a luxury for on-campus students. Online learners should adopt this concept from their on-campus peers. Taking time now to choose your path via questions and experience can greatly enhance your life as a member of the higher education community. It is okay to experiment. It is even better to experiment with a sense of inquiry. Why are you taking this course? Why are you in this major? Does your academic program resonate with your professional or personal passions? Basically, it is about discovery.

If you are concerned that asking too many questions will result in spending too much money, that is okay. Balancing the realities of your life with a sense of curiosity will benefit you in so many areas in higher education. Academic Advisors / Student Services Representatives / Financial Aid Counselors for online learners are guides along the journey. They can help you with many facets of your education. Stay connected with them from the very beginning and you will have access to many of the most important answers that you will need to make a confident decision about your academic program.

While the circumstances that surround an online learner are not identical to the on-campus learner, one thing is certain, questions will arise. How you handle inquiry, dissonance, and uncertainty will all factor into your future successes as a student and as a professional. Be curious. Be bold. Enjoy the experience!

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Living in 3 different states this year has taught me one thing: Relying on a gym for exercise can be challenging, expensive, and inconvenient. So one day, about a year ago, I started running. Not that far and definitely not that fast. It took me a while to get running. Literally and metaphorically. In many ways, I’m very similar to an online learner. We live all over the country (or world) and we may or may not have access to a recreation facility (or have funds to afford a membership). Running can be a viable option for staying healthy. I’ve also found it to be a great space for creative thinking.

Keeping a schedule and Beginning your day

We all procrastinate and a lot of us struggle to maintain our schedule. At the core of this is our focus to be disciplined enough to craft a reality that fits the needs of our lives. Running can spark a more solidified schedule. You can plan to run in the morning or perhaps you like to hit the pavement in the afternoon. No matter what, it’s far easier to run with a sense of consistency. If you run in the early morning, that becomes your routine. Routines can be amazingly effective for online learners. Get up in the morning for a run. And then, after your run, build in some time for studying or class participation. Running can propel your day. The feeling that you get from accomplishing a new distance or a faster time follows you throughout your day.

Motivation from the community

After I started running, I realized that a lot of my friends around the country were really enthusiastic about running. Several of them were members of a site called: dailymile. As I’ve mentioned before, community is a necessary component for academic success. The same rule holds true for running. Dailymile is basically a social network for runners. You can post your run distance, time, how it felt, and then share it with your community. It is incredibly motivating to have your friends commenting on your dailymile updates. That motivation parallels the online learner community that students interact with on a daily basis. According to the dailymile site, “dailymile is a social experience for active people. We’re a community of people just off the couch to ultramarathoners alike, who encourage and inspire one another as we achieve our goals. Together we’ve shared over 5 million workouts. Each of them tells a story. Share yours.” Encouragement and inspiration. Sounds to me like the perfect place for the online learner to create, engage, and find community around a shared activity.

If you are looking for an easy way to calculate your distances, check out MapMyRun. Using Google Maps, MapMyRun lets you create your running routes with ease. Map your route, determine the distance, time your runs, and then let dailymile calculate your per mile pace.

Data feeds the soul

For those online learners who like to look at data. Have no fear, dailymile has amazing statistics available on your profile. Seeing your running stats can be very enriching. It is rewarding to see literally how far you have progressed.

While running is certainly not for everyone, it can be a wonderful way to get some exercise, clear your head, and generate some wonderful ideas for your online coursework.

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“Work harder AND smarter.” These words of advice were frequently shared with me by my late grandfather. He loved education. While he had only completed less than a high school degree, he always encouraged his grandchildren to go to college and to “stay in school for as long as possible.” Grandpa realized that education was the key that opened a multitude of doors along the journey of life. His mantra is applicable to so many of the challenges / opportunities that face today’s online learner.

So how can you work smarter?

It depends on how you define “smarter.” For some, it could be trying to eat healthier or perhaps taking breaks to get some exercise. Being more efficient may be the way that you work smarter. The ironic aspect of online learning is that we are always engaging with our computers to access our classes and classmates, but we might not be as familiar with how to incorporate certain “smart” strategies.

For example, there are so many great applications that are available for either Mac or Windows-based machines. If you need an app for video, audio, graphic, or text editing. They are readily available..for free! Enjoy the variety of applications that can enhance your productivity.

How do I _______?

What happens when you have a question? Do you get frustrated? Does it act like a mental roadblock? Here’s my advice for whenever you have a question that is stumping you: Go to Google. I know what you’re thinking…this isn’t rocket science. However, so many people forget how powerful Google can be when they are stuck on something. The odds are that someone has already had the same question as you. Type in verbatim in to the Google search box and press enter. Somewhere within the mix of results will most likely be the answer that you need to continue progressing through your work.

In addition to Google’s well-known search page, another fantastic set of tools/resources exists at Google’s Product page. Translation tools, Google Docs, Calendar, Scholar, Music, Images, Picnik (for photo-editing), and a host of exciting tools exist on this page. One of my favorite Google features are Google Alerts. Google Alerts are “email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.” A truly wonderful resource for scholarly work and professional development. And, if you want to see what the majority of people are searching for at this very moment, check out Google Trends. Looks like everyone is excited about Thanksgiving right now!

What’s your mantra?

A strong work ethic will greatly enhance any online learner. Combining the ability to work hard while simultaneously implementing a “work smarter” attitude will lead to pathways to success. Sometimes you may work so hard that you can’t fully realize that a “smarter” solution can be found. That’s okay. Finding time to create efficiencies and wholeness through technology, wellness, and balance takes time.

In fact, allocating your time may be the smartest and hardest thing that you do.

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Music can be a powerful element to the successful studying efforts of an online learner. Listening to “tunes” while working on class projects can lead to great levels of inspiration and enhanced focus. Here are 5 different sites/services that can assist you in spinning tunes while studying.

iTunes

Apple’s iTunes application is probably the most popular application for listening and purchasing music. You can import your CD collection to your iTunes library. Purchasing music via the iTunes store is a simple matter of just a couple of clicks. Podcast assignments from professors can be accessed through iTunes too. And, the oft-forgotten Radio section of iTunes adds another music listening option. My music collection on iTunes began almost 10 years ago. With a collection of more than 5,000 songs, it’s my go-to music application when I want to listen to songs that I’ve specifically curated.

Google Music

Google’s solution to having your music wherever and whenever you want it, regardless of device, is to place all of your tunes on the cloud in their new beta service: Google Music. It will be interesting to see if longtime iTunes aficionados like myself make the leap from self-stored music to a Google-secured cloud-based solution. Google’s pitch is pretty promising though as they offer users the ability to “upload up to 20,000 songs from your personal music collection
to listen from any computer or on your phone, even offline. All for free.” If you have an Android-based phone, Google Music just might become your go-to music application for easy access to your favorite songs while you study.

Pandora Radio

Part of the Music Genome Project, Pandora has long been a popular web-based source of music. Users can create “stations” using their favorite artists or songs and then Pandora creates a tailor-made playlist of music for your listening pleasure. Users can purchase songs that they like and even share their stations with their friends. Pandora has a mobile-ready application for most phones. This can be really convenient for those times when you’re studying in a coffee shop. The Pandora One service, a fee-based option, allows for commercial free listening and enhanced audio quality. Sometimes it’s nice to listen to a random playlist of tunes while you let your mind focus on your coursework.

Spotify

Spotify emerged on the web music scene this year and has become a solid option for your study-time musical needs. With a downloadable app and social sharing functionality, Spotify is a popular tune spinning app for early adopters. Spotify has millions of songs in its music library. Search for your favorite songs and they will most-likely appear in Spotify. Spotify, unlike Pandora, lets you select specific songs for listening. And, since Spotify is web-based, you don’t have to worry about storage issues. Additionally, with an impressive integration with Facebook, listeners can now see what their friends are listening to. You can literally study to the same music as your classmates…if you like.

Turntable.fm

I need to present a major caveat with Turntable.fm. The site is a lot of fun. Listening to music via its social interface is amazingly enjoyable. However, as with any social web activity, it is important to balance your Turntable.fm social interactions with just using the site to listen to music. Turntable.fm songs are selected by members of “rooms” who act as virtual musical djs. The exciting aspect of Turntable.fm is that they are truly “bringing the social value of music to the the digital music experience by letting people experience and discover music together — live — online.”

Shhhh

Note that for some students, music will give them an extra boost. Their study skills actually increase by spinning tunes…However, for others, it’s okay to turn off the music and enjoy the silence of learning without any sounds.

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