“What are you waiting for?” Frequently, when I was an academic advisor, I would ask my students this question. My advisees were attending a quarter school. Instead of 2 semesters, we had 3 terms. For seniors who were graduating, the beginning of the spring term was generally their last term. Many students would wait until they were seniors in the spring term before they would begin their job search. That was, and is, too late. For readers of this blog who are currently participating in an online program or for those who are contemplating the journey, here is my advice: Your job search starts now.

I know it seems extreme to think about your job search before you have finished your program or even before you have begun. However, the nature of how we progress toward a career has shifted as of late. Competition for positions in an interconnected world means that there are steps to be taken far earlier in your academic journey.

As you already know, I am a big proponent of asking “why.” Questions lead to answers which lead to information that can be used to build the structures necessary to find the job that you want. It is never easy to pick a major and then say that this will be the field from which your career will progress. Think of it as going up to a buffet and selecting a single item for the rest of your working life. The likelihood of that happening is quite slim. Interests come and go. Experience provides new insights and further deliberation. Searching for the “perfect job” means that you will progress through a series of positions.

So how do you begin your job search right now. Well, I always like to point students toward the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook website. The BLS is a fantastic resource for finding out about the future of jobs in the United States. Included in a BLS occupation profile are the following:

• Nature of the Work – Looking for information about a particular job and what most practitioners in that field do on a regular basis? This section is for you!
• Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement – What does it take to be qualified for the job that you are interested in? Do you need a bachelors, masters, additional credentialing? This area lets you know what you need to qualify.
• Employment – How many people are currently employed in this career? It is nice to see the total number.
• Job Outlook – Picking a job is sometimes dictated by the availability of positions. Will your area of study / career interest continue to grow? Are there enough positions for everyone? This information is crucial as you conduct your job search.
• Projections – Similar to the Job Outlook section, “Projections” shows you the raw data on where a particular career is going in terms of growth.
• Earnings – How much money will you earn? Median data is presented in this section. A helpful benchmark for sure!
• Wages – Similar to earnings. This section contains raw wages data.
• Related Occupations – Are there jobs that are similar to the one you are researching? Perhaps your search will lead you to something unexpected that will eventually turn out to be just the right fit for you.
• Sources of Additional Information – This section contains links to sets of information that resides off of the BLS website. Oftentimes, the additional information sources contain links to sites that have job postings for the job that you are researching.

It is never too soon to begin a job search. For online learners, timing is almost more critical than for their brick and mortar counterparts. The student services units at your school will either directly support you in your job search efforts and/or they will link you up with those at the institution who are dedicated to your career success.

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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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One of my favorite t-shirts states that “Procrastinators [are] leaders of tomorrow.” The play on words makes you think as you realize that those that wait, have to wait to be a leader too. Academically speaking, procrastination is not always a bad thing. In fact, procrastination can be incredibly helpful. Let me explain…

Procrastination comes from procrastinate which is defined as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” Generally labeled as a negative behavior, from an educational standpoint, procrastination takes a lot of skill to pull of successfully without incurring dire consequences. As defined, procrastination is anything but accidental. As a student, you have to be quite intentional about the why, how, and when you put something off. It is not by chance I would argue, but by skillful manipulation of your life circumstances. Some of the most successful students that I have had the pleasure of advising academically have been habitual procrastinators. Their habit, putting things off until later, is often seen by many as been irresponsible or without careful measure. However, these successful students were being methodical with their procrastinating. They knew how much time that they had to complete an assignment and how much time it would require them to complete it. While I’m not arguing the merit of “an all nighter,” I was always pleased with their grades. They knew what many students know…procrastination can be a catalyst for amazing work and concentrated levels of productivity.

It reminds me of when I used to work in higher education health promotion. We knew that students were going to engage in underage drinking. We also knew that we could not get students to stop drinking altogether, but that encouraging moderation and safe behaviors were more realistic for programmatic goals and outcomes. Procrastination is going to happen. Saying to students that they should not procrastinate is not going to keep them from procrastinating. As a student, I bet if you were told to “procrastinate smarter,” that that would be much more approachable.

People oftentimes tend to connect someone’s work ethic with their levels of procrastination. The idea that the more you procrastinate, the less likely you are to be a hard worker. I would posit that someone’s work ethic and procrastination behaviors are not necessarily connected. Not procrastinating works really well for some students. For others, strategically placing certain tasks near the end of a term allows them to work on other things and/or to engage in actions that are necessary to their overall success.

You know your schedule. You know what works well for you in terms of studying, paper writing, and time management. Procrastination is okay as long as it does not negatively impact the quality of your academic work. If you write better in the evenings, schedule your employment hours during the day so that you can write at night. Perhaps your organizational system differs from your peers. That is okay. Learning is a highly individualist thing and so is doing, creating, and producing. Procrastinators can truly be leaders of today and tomorrow…especially when you factor in their high levels of intentionality and consistency.

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The scholarship was developed to help economically disadvantaged students who are at risk of dropping out of school due to a lack of financial support. Single parents taking online classes face many responsibilities that may require them to drop out of school such as earning money, raising children and managing a household. Sometimes, it proves too much of a financial burden and education suffers.

“I’ve thought about dropping out of school due to financial stress and not owning a computer,” said Nadeau. “Ten thousand dollars to me, means millions of dollars. I’ll be able to buy a computer instead of having to go to the library to complete assignments. I’ll have more time with my boys, and less time worrying about where the money will come from.” She added that after graduating from Remington, she’s considering obtaining her bachelor’s degree or starting her career in criminal justice.

Nadeau will be awarded $10,000 towards non-tuition related living expenses for the 2012 academic year such as:

• Rent
• Childcare
• Books and School Supplies
• Utilities – Gas and Electric
• Utilities – Internet Connection
• Groceries

Online Colleges.org is thrilled to be helping a student fulfill her educational goals. “We preach that it’s our mission to help people further their education and career goals, so it’s nice to be able to give back with this scholarship,” said a representative from Online Colleges.org. “We received a lot of positive feedback, both from students and from schools who recognize the need for this type of aid for online learners. It’s a growing format, and right now, there aren’t a lot of scholarships available exclusively to students attending online classes. We’re looking to change that.”

About Online Colleges.org

Online Colleges.org, http://www.onlinecolleges.org is dedicated to helping people further their education and career goals. The company connects prospective students to accredited colleges and universities across the United States. Home to the web’s most comprehensive database of accredited online institutions in the country, they provide useful information to visitors, while simultaneously generating highly-qualified leads for online universities.

Visit Online Colleges.org Media Center for more information about this scholarship.

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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