How to choose an accredited online school

How to Choose an Accredited Online School

Online education has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade or so. Gone are the days when people looked at this form of learning with disdain; today, it’s safe to say that these courses have gained in both popularity and respectability. They offer many advantages – they help you save on tuition, commuting and boarding costs, they allow you to learn and earn simultaneously so you don’t have to quit your job, and they make you dedicated learners and good managers of time because you must schedule your day properly if you want to taste success.

Online education provides you with the opportunity to further your education and boost your academic credentials no matter where you are and how old you are. However, all your efforts are bound to go down the drain if you don’t take care to ensure that the school you choose is accredited by the proper agency. When it’s online, it’s always wise to check the reputation of the school before you sign up. Here’s what you need to do to make sure that you choose an accredited online school to earn your degree:

Decide what you want to study – choose your major first before you choose your college. If you’re not too particular about your degree, then opt for one from the best online college.

Check out the options available for the degree of your choice; make a list of all the colleges that offer them.

Run a search of these names and pick out the top ten.

Choose the best option from this list based on convenience (if you need to attend practical sessions, it’s best to choose a college close to where you live so you don’t mess up your schedule) and cost (check to see if you can afford tuition and other costs).

Check to see if your choice is accredited by the right agency, one that is recognized by the US Department of Education. The best known and widely accepted accrediting agencies are the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSCHE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

If none of the above are listed as the accrediting agency, check with the Department of Education to see if they approve of the agency that has approved of the online school.

Check to see if the school is capable of issuing federally funded financial aid – if so, it is accredited by a credible agency.

And finally, before you choose to study online, check if the credits you’ll earn are transferable and accepted by other schools or employers. If the world at large (or your small world in particular) does not accept your credit, your efforts are in vain and your money is wasted.


By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Carrie Oakley, who writes on the topic of online college . Carrie welcomes your comments at her email id: carrie.oakley1983(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

How Good is Online Education in Photography

How Good is Online Education in Photography?

It’s not a discipline that demands a formal education, however, more and more people prefer to earn a degree in photography because it gives them an edge when it comes to finding suitable employment. Some people take the traditional route – they choose an arts degree that allows them to specialize in photography or visual communication straight out of high school and prepare for a career as a photographer during the four years they spend in college.

Others become photographers because they’re passionate about their craft – they see their cameras as an extension of their hands and as instruments to bring their creativity to life; and because of this, they choose to turn their passion into their profession. They gain employment through their expertise and experience and don’t accord much importance to formal education. However, there may come a time when a degree could come in handy, especially if it means a promotion or a change to a better job. The question that needs answering then is if an online degree will suffice or if you have to go back to school to study photography from an academic point of view.

While the choice is personal and depends on factors that vary according to each individual, most people find that they prefer to take the online route if:

· They don’t want to give up their regular job in exchange for a degree

· They cannot afford to take time off work and go back to school full-time

· They don’t have the money to finance a regular degree at a private art school

· They are able to find a good online school and degree that meets their needs and is affordable

Some people do go back to a full-time degree even though they have a good job and are well set in their profession if they gain admission to prestigious institutions and popular courses. They know that their degree, once completed, will open more professional doors to them than ever before. Also, the schools they join offer golden opportunities to work with masters in photography and learn firsthand from them techniques and skills that cannot be learned or picked up elsewhere.

Any education in photography, online or traditional, is worth it only when augmented with skills in and a passion for photography. A degree only adds to what you already know; it cannot teach you to be a photographer if you don’t have creativity running through your veins. And the only way to boost your creative instincts and perfect your skill is through practice – when you continue to hone your craft and practice even though you’re at the top of your profession, you grow and become a better photographer and artist.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Becky Patterson, who writes on the topic of Become a Photographer . She can be reached at beckypatterson89[@]gmail[.]com.

Second Life Hunts

There are a lot of fun Second Life hunts going on right now that provide the participant with the opportunity to get to know Second Life and get some fabulous merchandise for free.  Rumor is that as of September 1st there were over 100 hunts going on ..why so many?  Well this popular activity is one way of marketing your store and a way for Second Life residents to get free merchandise from their favorite merchants and  get acquainted with new ones.
It’s also a way to meet up with new friends and get reacquainted with with old ones.  Because most hunts are themed this is a good way to connect with others who have similar interests.  So how do you get started on the hunt? Well one way is to find a blog, website or information on the Second Life website to get started.
One of the most popular hunts right now is the Steam Hunt which bills itself as: STEAM:  Steampunk Travelers' Event, Adventure & Megahunt.   This is the third time for this popular hunt which takes place September 1-30th, 2010.  The trick is with this hunt as with any is to find all 135 of the Steampunk-themed gifts which are hidden in the participating vendors parcel or store.   The participants generally start the hunt at one point receiving the landmark for the next site when they find the prize.  Steam the Hunt maintains a blog with updates and hunt information to keep the participant informed and updated.  Steampunk Adventures store is participating in the STEAM hunt as well as the Mushroom hunt. Since starting in this hunt we have seen our traffic increase 3 to 4 times as many visitors prior to the hunts.   We hope that hunters are taking this opportunity to landmark our store for a return visit as well as making a note of our participating vendors in order to visit them.
Here are some pictures of me at the launch point in Mieville for the STEAM hunt.
Me with another hunter at the launch site for the Steam hunt
The hunt board at the second site for the Steam hunt:

Information on hunts and other events at  Avatar Bizarre a stop on the STEAM hunt:

The MadPea Mushroom Hunt started September 1st and bills itself as: 100 locations, 100 mushrooms, 100 prizes and 100L$ for everyone to complete the hunt - starting on September 1st at the MadPea Circus.  There is a website for the MadPea Mushroom Hunt with information on participants, prices, locations and other information.
The MadPea Mushroom Hunt provides much more than just a simple hunt according to the website participants can:
1. STORY
- Write an original story about your adventures as a mushroom hunter. English only, please.
Your style can be anything you wish. Let your mind go wild and your imagination bloom.
There is NO limitation on the length of your piece.
2. COMIC STRIP:
- Create a short story with the aid of photos.
Use the images to tell us your favourite/most horrible encounters during your hunt.
Maximum of 20 image per one comic.
3. VIDEO:
- Create a video about the best parts of your hunt. Show locations. Show people.
Show us the emotions and the feeling of being a mushroom hunter.
Make it fun, make it crazy, challenge your imagination.
NO limitation on the length of the piece.
I have participated in a few hunts.  I have visited at least 15 stores on the current Steam Hunt, completed The Thrifty Gother hunt, Pot of Gold Hunt, and last spring’s Steam Hunt.  On a regular hunt though the question may be asked regarding what you expect to get as prizes.l.this could be anything from furniture, clothing, airships, buildings, to shoes.  Here are some examples of things I have gotten:
Fashions from LnL Design in last spring’s Steam Hunt:

A beautiful Victorian gown from Papillon:

A hot tub in the Pot of Gold Hunt:

Another example of the gifts I received on the hunts I have been on.  A biplane from the Shiny Shop! and another outfit from The Traveler:

Another fashion shot:

I have received a lot of great things so far on this fall’s STEAM Hunt, photos below:
Tophat: Destiny Designs:
Steampunk Wings from Avatar Bizarre:

Fabulous Steampunk Skybox from Gianfor Peaks (interior):

Exterior of the Steampunk Skybox from Gianfor Peaks:

A fabulous fashion selection from Steam Bound:
Is your interest piqued?  Are hunts worthwhile? Well I think so!  As I mentioned previously there are over 100 hunts going on right now in Second Life. What are these hunts and what are the themes?
The Back to School Hunt:  Which started September 1st-30th.  The theme of this hunt is , students , anything and everything about going back to school.  There are only 30 stores participating in this hunt.
The Birthday Blitz Hunt, no real theme noted runs from September 1-30th and is sponsored by Sour Pickles Group.  
Hunt for (role players)  RP! Runs from September 1-30th, information can be found on the Hunt for RP blog.   The theme or intent of the hunt is as follows:  With the growing number of RP's on Second Life, we have attempted to combine RP needs, shopping, and advertisement into one package.
The details of the  Zombie Raid Hunt are noted on a blog.  This hunt started August 20th and lasts to October 1st.   
Websites with information on Second Life hunts:
The most popular via google search SLHUNTS
‘Second Life 24H
From the events listings at the Second Life Website I found the following:
Twisted Hunt:  The Twisted Hunt returns with new prizes and new challenges. The theme for this round is "spooky," so you'll seek and find dark, creepy and scary items across Second Life. Event held through Sept. 30.  
For fun, fabulous prizes, and if you are new to Second Life hunts provide the participant with an opportunity to get high quality merchandise, fashion, and to make connections with others.  Take advantage of all of these hunts today!  (Now that I am done with this article guess what I am going to do!!)