Ready for Online Distance Education? Read these 10 Rules first

By Mary Jackson

Check to ensure the college is accredited by a legitimate accrediting agency. Accreditation means the college and its programs meet certain set educational quality and standards. This also means courses and credits acquired can be easily transferred to another accredited institution, whether online or brick and mortar college. You will stand a better chance of securing employment or promotion at work if you have an accredited degree.

Be aware of degree mills - there are many questionable accrediting agencies out on the internet that are outright fraud and are willing to give fake "accreditation" to any institution willing to pay a certain fee. Some of the degree mills are even owned by these same fake accrediting agencies. Make sure you do your homework and thoroughly investigate the accreditation that the college of your choice claims to have. While many online colleges are legitimately accredited, be aware that there are many that are not. Check out your prospective college to see if the accrediting body is approved by the United States Department of Education or CHEA.

To ensure that the degree program your are considering is aligned with your long-term educational goals, especially if you think you'll need to advance your degree (for example from bachelors to MBA), it'll benefit you to check if the online distance education institution you'd want to attend for your MBA accepts transfer credits from another online institution.

Class size is as important in online education as it is in a traditional college classroom. Do your research on the average class sizes at the online distance education institution you are considering. Small classes make it easier to interact and voice your opinion.

It good to know more about the instructors of the programs you are interested in. Are they qualified to teach that class? Do they have experience in their field or specialization? Have they taught online classes before? How long have they been teaching? Get the answers to these questions. It is more reassuring if more instructors hold degrees from the college that you're planning to enroll.

Are the administrators, technical staff and faculty responsive if you need help or have questions with your courses? Since every college offers a different form and level of support, make sure you find one that is aligned with your needs and expectations. This will alleviate frustration when you need help during your classes.

Most colleges have their online classes rolling out all the time. This is a great thing and makes learning flexible. As such you should not feel pressured by the admission office or anyone else to start your program right away. You should start only when you feel your mind is set to it. This will ensure you stay motivated and put the effort you need to succeed with your classes.

Verify whether during the course of your program, there are classes that will require residency or if you will be able to complete the entire program online. This will help you prepare in advance.

Many online colleges have some form of financial aid or tuition assistance, loans, grants, scholarships available to their online students. You will be surprised at what you can qualify for. Many online schools offer tuition payment plans and employee reimbursement programs. Make sure you ask what tuition programs are available to you.

Take your time to research your best degree option and college out there. Don't settle for less than you deserve. Unlike there before when online programs were limited, now there are enormous options and colleges to choose from as most traditional colleges are already offering some programs online.

About the Author:

Mary Jackson is a web contributor for distance learning colleges and offers tips and online distance education resources to help you succeed with your distance learning.

The Different SAP Modules & Solutions For SMEs

By Joe Long

An ERP system is a real-time business support system that caters to the information demands of the whole corporation using a single deposit of data points (a database) and a very sophisticated set of highly-customizable software modules which, together, help decision-making and the activities established on these decisions. This invariably consequences in extremely effective procedures and a resultant competitive reward. SAP, prepared by SAP AG, situated in Walldorf, Germany, is 1 such branded ERP system.

The SAP system is organised into some sets of 'solutions' (essentially, modules) that comprehend the info wants of limited areas of any corporation's processes. Sitting on top of these already-integrated individual modules is the Cross-Application layer, components of which farther ensure that these various solution 'talk' to each other in a cohesive style.

There is a saying, "If you fail to plan, you are actually planning to fail". Thus, a right start aim for understanding SAP is it's Project System which deals each action within the company as part of numerous project. Settled on actual orders (or perceived demand), this module is applied define projects that will meet these orders and begin tracking them from then on. A normal project would include a mix of different manufacturing actions as well as whatever affiliated procurement (raw materials as well as bought-out items). Chasing After every such project right from inception, through to its completion and beyond (post-project analysis) is competently managed by this module.

For project actions that concern to manufacturing, the Production Planning module treats the specifics of capacity planning, production scheduling down to the personalized tasks on the shop floor. This takes on handling data on the accessibility and deployment of human resources, machinery, tools and fixtures, consumables and energy requirements to name a few.

With streamlined production occurs Plant Maintenance which deals preventive maintenance, breakdown maintenance along with the associated down-time of equipment and lost hrs of the work-force as well as the time, material and labor necessary for such maintenance.

The Materials Management module interfaces with Production Planning and Plant Maintenance to see a) Timely delivery of materials and b) Reduced price of inventory. It's range starts with material requisitions (based on Bills of Material emanating from production programs as well as for unintentional purchases) and tracks them from placing orders to receipt of goods, their receiving inspection (quality control), their being taken into stock and being subsequently published for production. This module also treats finished-goods inventory.

The Costing module interfaces with each entity that has a cash value linked with it. It takes into thoughtfulness the several cost-centers and all the linked prices : equipment, material, labor and services. The identical makes true for the profit centers. This costing module has a provision for product-based costing (which could fail to comprehend certain set costs accurately ) as well as activity-based costing which is considered more scientific and supplies for cross-functional apportioning of all the drivers of these costs.

The Sales and Distribution module tracks all transactions from inquiries, requests for proposals/ quotations and pricing to interfacing with the finished-goods inventory (in factory and warehouses) to picking, packing, shipping and delivery.

The Financial Accounting module logs financial transactions in the electronic equivalent of primary books of accounts, keeps the General Ledger and every last defined sub-ledgers, consolidates all this into the ultimate books of accounts (essentially, Profit & Loss account and the Balance Sheet), deals tax-related transactions/adjustments and interfaces with book closure. Accidentally, most of this is of a statutory nature and gets applied with the country-specific choices of SAP.

Asset Management is used for going after assets from the time they are bought, right through their lives with regard to their depreciation (and, thus their current valuation) to the point they are either traded or wrote off.

The Quality Management module, along with the Project System, in reality overlaps all other functions and interfaces with every 1 of them throughout the lifetime of the company. Quality, they say is never by accident; it's always by innovation. That is why this module is applied to facilitate all activities that construct quality into the company's products/services (preventing defects/errors taking place in the 1st place). This is done by preparation (essentially, incorporating preventive steps in the enterprise's work-flow), playing these quality plans and carrying periodic inspections to determine deviations, if several. Important to the company's image and credibility in the outside universe, are activities that lead to the varied applicable certifications obtaining which is as well managed effectively by this module

This was a simplex view of a very extensive application called SAP.

About the Author:

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How the Handheld Anemometer Works

By Ryan Hale

A handheld anemometer is basically a portable anemometer. It is a very reliable device that can easily help any weather watcher. Anemometers were first developed during the 15th century and have continuously been improvised ever since. The word "anemometer" is derived from the Greek word "anemos", meaning wind.

The History of Anemometers

The first anemometers appeared in Italy and in Northern Europe before spreading to the Americas. They were very simple and ingeniously designed. It composed of a single flat disc which would shake in accordance to the winds motion. By looking at the inclination of the disc, the people could determine the degree of the wind pressure. By mid 19th century, more sophisticated anemometers were being used as cups were attached to the ends of a wind vane. When wind rose it would be caught by the cups making the vane turn. The number revolutions of the vane were recorded for readings. This kind of anemometer is still being used today. A similar version of this type spins like a wind mill (vertically) instead of the traditional vertical spinning.

Modern anemometers are very impressive devices that can give you accurate wind readings on an LCD display. They use not only the wind to make the readings but also the movement of sound waves, the detection of particles through laser beams, and the measurement of thermal energy.

What can an anemometer do?

An anemometer is a device to measure the speed of wind. It is used for meteorological purposes in weather stations. It can also measure the winds temperature, humidity and pressure.The five types of anemometers are:

-Cup Anemometer - Windmill Anemometer - Hot Wire Anemometer - Laser Doppler Anemometer - Sonic Anemometer

The Handheld Anemometer

Also known as a personal anemometer, the handheld anemometer is not a large device measuring only a few inches in length and width. It is able to measure wind accurately, usually within 5% of the exact reading. Almost all handheld anemometers are able to do three things:

- Measures wind speed (measures up to 100mph easily) in mph, km/h, m/s or Knots - Read wind chill and temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius - Easily display wind readings - Not easily affected by strong wind and sudden change of direction

Some personal anemometers have additional features to make the device more appealing. Some brands sell anemometers with a waterproof casing and are able to float on water. Others have included the Beufort Scale for the readings while others are even drop tested to make sure that the product will not easily break. Most handheld anemometers are built to not be affected by the changing directions of strong gusts of wind.

The Uses of a Handheld Anemometer

People who need to be knowledgeable about the weather to be able to perform better, whether in their job or in their hobbies, can benefit from using a personal anemometer. Examples of these people are: kite flyers, engineers, climbers and wind surfers.

Both professionals and amateurs can benefit from using a handheld anemometer. Since it is handy weather watchers can easily make their own weather forecasts confidently.

About the Author:

Know what to look for in handheld anemometers. See if La Crosse handheld anemometer is the right choice for you.

Livescribe Pen - What You Never Know About Note Taking

By Harley Hamilton

No matter what field you are in, or what kind of classes you are taking, you can bet that at least some of your academic success is going come from your ability to take notes! Taking good notes will enable you to review the material completely and the connection between hearing the speaker and writing it down will cement it in your ear. When you are looking at something that is as vital as note taking, it is important to figure out how to do it well. Check out these great tips for note-taking below, and you'll see your results go up dramatically!

You will be behind It is important to realize that when you take notes, there is a delay between hearing the words and writing them down. Some people get frustrated because they cannot write everything down as it is being said. To get the best notes out of the class session, remember that you are going to be a little bit behind. You'll find that your short term memory will help you bridge the gap and that by falling a little behind, you'll get a clearer picture.

Choosing the right tools. When you want to take the best notes ever, make sure that you are checking out the best new tools. For example, look into Livescribe Pen. Essentially, this is a pen that holds a computer and a recorder. Using the headphones that come with the pen, you can instantly play back the lecture no matter where you are. With 100 hours of audio storage available, you'll find that this can help you get a crystal-clear picture of the lecture you were just in!

Constructive listening With a bit of careful listening, you'll find that you can tell when something important and notable is going to be said. For instance, listen for phrases like, Three things that..., Most importantly... and Due to... These are phrases that will help you pinpoint when a main concept is going to be coming at you. It will help you organize your notes and it will help you study later on.

Organization helps! Keep all of your notes together. It will make referring to them a lot easier when you need them, and it will also help you keep things in perspective. Have separate notebooks or folders for different subjects, and try to keep your notes in chronological order. This can make an enormous difference when you want to get the big picture.

Draw pictures Have you ever heard that a picture is worth a thousand words? Some people find that if they can draw pictures that graphically display what is going on that their notes become much more useful. These pictures don't need to be great art, but using diagrams and arrows to keep track of things can help you out a lot!

Take some time to think about how you are taking your notes, and make sure that you are getting everything that you need out of them!

About the Author:

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Fake Online Bachelor Degrees - what should you check for?

By Mary Jackson

Along with the growing popularity of obtaining an online Bachelor degrees, many bogus schools have cropped up to cash in, taking advantage of potential students seeking a genuine education to maintain their current level of employment, or achieve specific career goals. Unfortunately, the sales pitch attracts many students who do not possess the time, or the finances, to gain a college education. The main selling points may include easy graduation, no tests or end of semester exams, credit for life experiences, and lower tuition fees. Some diploma mills even have the audacity to make money through bulk emails offering to sell university degrees.

Therefore, with all the confusion generated, how can students sieve out the genuine from the bogus? This may be especially difficult for distance learning programs when students practically make their choices based on what is shown on a website. In many cases, especially for international students, it may not be feasible to visit the physical site of a college before enrolling. With this, making choices will really depend on the appearance and content of a website, which sometimes may not be an accurate judge of the creditability of a college.

One of the qualifying factors that can be utilized by students to make correct enrolment decisions is by determining the type of college accreditation that has been received by their college of consideration. If the college vaguely states itself as having "nationwide or worldwide accreditation" without stating specifically which regional accreditation body it is accredited with, then most likely this college does not possess legitimate accreditation.

Six accreditation agencies have been given the authority to award college accreditation. The agencies are divided by geographic location, so it is possible to contact the appropriate office to determine whether a college or university has legitimate standing and been registered in that district. The agencies are all appointed by the National Board of Education and include: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU).

Another important clue to illegitimacy is mass-emails or mail offering degrees for sale. There are cases of online Bachelor degrees, Masters, or even online Doctorate degrees being obtained by a fixed tuition rate. Some bogus colleges even have the audacity to promise a degree in the mail within 7 days. These unethical businesses take advantage of people who must have a degree in order to get a decent job, or keep the one they have in the first place. However, others take big steps to appear above board and genuine. Displaying evidence of accreditation from a bogus website makes the "school" look real. But, unless one of the 6 authorized agencies is mentioned, it may not be an accredited school. In addition, the only way to earn a college degree is by honest hard work and dedication. If a site offers credit for life experiences, travel, work experience, educational background, or even the amount of books read in the past, rest assured it may not be an institute dedicated to qiality, legitimate and excellent learning.

In conclusion, as the awareness on bogus degrees increases amongst prospective employers, degrees obtained through a legitimate avenue of education can sometimes be mistaken for bogus online bachelor degrees too. Therefore, the best approach to select a college would ideally be based on legitimate college accreditation awarded by the appointed authorities to the respective colleges.

About the Author:

Mary Jackson writes about accredited distance learning colleges including online bachelor degrees courses.

After School Lessons Can Boost Your Child's Confidence To Achieve

By Clarissa Kyriakos

Many parents have to work hours that extend past the school day due to the pressures of modern day living. This requires some careful organisation and the need to arrange some type of after school care for their children. This may include some sort of after school club, an extra curricular activity, some sort of activity club, going home with a friend or child care arrangements. Some parents feel that their children need extra help with lessons to prevent them falling behind their peers with their learning and will find out about after school lessons from a private tutor. These after school lessons should not be confused with child care as they are specific to the learning and progress their child makes in specific areas of learning.

Very often parents are not made fully aware of the progress their child is making in specific areas of learning. The annual report is one way of finding out information but this is just once a year and often at the end of a school year. Parent evenings are another way of finding out about progress and it is often at these meetings that parents are first made aware that their child may be having difficulties. This is the time when parents might then consider some extra lessons after school to help their child with their learning.

Children who have been recognised by the school as having special educational needs may require after school lessons. The child will have specific targets in the form of an individual education plan and if the progress is slow then after school lessons will help stimulate progress.

Many tutors that offer after school lessons will make a consultation and discuss with the parent and often the child as to what the specific problems are. The problems may be across several subjects but it is often best to concentrate on just one subject during the after school lessons as too many different subject objectives can be confusing. Children that require after school lessons need to have consistent teaching with consolidation and repetition of key learning skills to make good progress.

The most popular request for after school lessons are from parents of primary age children. Children that are finding writing and reading skills difficult to grasp or finding maths concepts difficult to understand will benefit from early intervention. The earlier these needs are identified then the child is less likely to fall behind in their learning. Parents will need to do some research in finding the best tutor suitable for teaching the after school lessons. There are many ways to find a good tutor for after school lessons. Parents may know someone else that has used a tutor and they may recommend them, a search on the internet will find many types of tutoring agencies. You may be lucky enough to find a tutor for after school lessons that you can go to directly and be able to discuss your child's needs on a more personal level than through an agency.

A good tutor will ensure that the after school lessons are exactly what is required by the parents and also the student themselves. For successful progress to be made in after school lessons good communication is vital. The child must feel comfortable with the tutor and understand the need for their after school lessons. The tutor and the student need to be open and honest and be able to express themselves if they are confused or need concepts explained in a different way. Good relationships are important and keeping to clear learning objectives with praise and rewards will help ensure that after school lessons are making a real difference to the students learning.

Some tutors prefer to visit their pupils at their own home for the after school lessons and many parents also prefer this as they do not need to transport their child elsewhere which is also time consuming and tiring for the child after a day at school. Some tutors may find it more cost-effective, one the other hand, to have pupils come to them, thereby saving on time and travel costs and making it possible to schedule back-to-back after school lessons.

Interestingly, research shows that by far the most popular subject request for after school lessons is for mathematics teaching. Secondly is English with science and then other National Curriculum subjects having hardly any requests.

About the Author:

Clarissa Kyriakos writes for Chichester Primary Tutors where you can find out everything you need to know about organising after school lessons and Specific Learning Difficulties for your primary school aged child. Arrange private lessons and have your 10th lesson free. Introduce new customers for special offers!

Secular Home schooling: Should you Home School Your Child?

By Miranda Concagh

More and more parents are opting for educating their children at home. Should you home school your children? There are many options open to you, but there are also factors that need to be considered before you make a decision. First off, many parents home school for religious reasons, and that is fine. But if your reasons are not religious, then you can still consider secular home schooling.

Is your child slipping through the cracks at a big public school? Do you sense that your daughter is not being given special attention or getting her needs filled? Would your son prosper if he were allowed to spend more time on subjects that are particularly meaningful to him and do so at his own pace? These are some reasons people have reportedly asked: Should you homeschool your children?

Some turn to secular homeschooling because they're concerned about bullies or other negative influences in the classroom, or because of the violence prevalent in schools. Some just want to enjoy the additional opportunities it affords them to bond with their children.

Now when you start a secular homeschool, you will be giving your kids homework assignments. But first, here's an assignment for you.

Secular home schooling is a big responsibility no matter what your reasons. But you are really to be commended for seeking information and finding out what is involved before you make a commitment. Does the word commitment scare you? If it does, then homeschooling is probably not a good option for you. Just remember, however, with the responsibility comes a great deal of satisfaction and joy.

You will have so much more time with your children. This is time that you will always cherish and will never regret. Use your imagination. Plan outings, educational games, physical exercise. You will find it is a wonderful adventure and a lifetime experience.

I hope this information helps you answer if you should home school your son or daughter (or both). You know that parenting takes much time and commitment. If you are ready to take that commitment up to a new level, then secular home schooling is probably for you!

About the Author:

Does each morning scare you when you send your daughter off to public school? Do you worry about gang violence and drugs? Are you concerned your child has become lost and no one cares? Public Schools are not your only choice. Visit The Secular Home School Blog and put your mind at ease. Does math scare you? You can turn math into a game your kids will love. Look at the games in Make Math More Fun!