Hanging out takes a whole new dimension with Google Plus while retaining its punch and good vibes. All online students still sitting on the fence trying to decide whether they should ditch Facebook yet or not, should read on to discover more about Google’s mojo: Hangouts on Google Plus!
How is Google Hangout so Unique?
So if you’re still living in 2011 and don’t know what Hangouts are, Google Plus has come up with this awesome utility that allows up to 10 people to video conference with each other at a time. Did I just hear a yawn? It’s not just any other video conferencing tool but as someone puts it, “it combines your workspace with other workspaces”. Now that Google Plus is integrated with Gmail, anyone with a Gmail account can access Google Plus. All you have to do, once you log on to Google Plus (through your Gmail account) is to click on the bottom of your stream and invite your friends (as well as others) to join you. To make use of extra features, click on Hangouts with Extras.
Special Features offered by Google Hangouts
Hangout with Extras is loaded with goodies that make online collaboration fun and easy. It has built in notepad as the default ‘whiteboard’. Other features include file sharing, which allows users to share files, and screen sharing which lets them share a part of or the whole screen with someone else. Google Plus is integrated with Google docs and SketchUp and lets participants see, work on and edit documents, drawings, surveys and spread sheets in real time. That is, it provides multichannel interaction. Now a person sitting in Alabama can collaborate, view and edit documents in real time with a person in California, which is exciting news for online tutors as well as online students.
What is there in Google Hangouts for Online Students?
I do not exaggerate when I say that Hangouts is to online learning what the computer was to education in general. A recent study conducted of online students by Swanson (2011) shows that online students want “more collaboration, regular feedback that uses multimedia and tools to aid metacognition.” Unbelievably Hangouts provides a solution to all of these needs. It allows greater collaboration and regular feedback between students and teachers, and the collaboration between peers can aid in metacognition as well. Since Hangouts is still in its initial stage, users are still figuring out and experimenting to find novel uses but people have already started conducting online classes, planning online group study sessions, doing research collaboration and providing remote tech support!
If you are ready to take your online learning experience to an entirely new level, start Hanging out on Google Plus, you won’t regret it, I promise!
If you are working and want to go back to school, by pursuing an online degree you need to take the help of technology. There are various tools available online to help you to manage your studies. Firefox offers many add-ons which can help you to tackle assignments, lectures and manage your life more effectively.
Firefox Add-ons for People Going Back to School
Firefox is considered to be the number two web browser in the world. It is a stable browser for students as it offers a host of useful features ranging from tabs, private browsing, and session restore through its extensions. Here are 20 awesome Firefox add-ons for people going back to school:
1. Tab Candy/Tab Set sis only available in Firefox 4 Beta and makes academic multi-tasking much easier. You can create Tab Sets for Facebook, Twitter and Gmail and then create another Tab Set for the academic portals you are associated with.
2. After the Deadline or ATD can help you tremendously if you are pursuing an online degree and can help you if you are writing an essay or report in Microsoft Word or Open Office. It can help you rectify spelling errors.
3. ReminderFox helps in keeping a track of your schedule and manages your appointments and deadlines online so that you are not late for your submissions.
4. Wired-Marker is an effective add-on which looks simple yet has many functions. You just have to select text, right click and give it a color; this can help you to mark your content.
5. Quick Wiki can help you search information quickly and easily. You have to pressShift+right click a word and access the Wiktionary definition; with the help of Ctrl+right click, you get the Wikipedia entry. When the pop-ups appear, you can just click it and get the necessary information without navigating away from your current page.
6. Taboo can be helpful if you need to open a lot of tabs while doing research. It is an extension for Firefox which can help you save tabs for later stage. After saving a tab, you can close it and get back to it whenever you feel like at a later stage.
7. Firefox Environment Backup Extension helps you in automatically getting a back up of all your work.
8. LeechBlock can help you block out sites to avoid distraction and wastage of time.
9. Trailfire can help you to comment on web pages and link pages to develop topic trails.
10. Del.icio.us is a bookmarking site which can help you to search and organize your bookmarks and tags.
11. Juice can take any text on a page and automatically provide additional research information about that text with the help of Wikipedia, IMDB, YouTube, Yahoo! Local, and many other sites.
12. Zotero is a bibliographic plugin which can help you collect, manage and cite all the research you are conducting on the web.
13. FireCal caters to the needs of students pursuing a math major as it is a comprehensive calculator extension for Firefox. It is also useful for medical, nutrition, finance, science, and meteorology students.
14. Bibliomania helps in searching for references from classic English literature.
15. Merriam-Webster is a popular add-on dictionary.
16. Project Gutenberg is a search engine for an online library of material in the public domain which anybody can read for free.
17. Google Books enables you to read whole books or sections of new releases.
18. SmarterFox: Browse Faster helps in completing certain tasks faster.
19. Diigo: Web Higlighter and Sticky Notes can help you organize your web notes and highlights
20. MyStickies can help you place notes on any web site.
People pursuing online degree programs should make use of FireFox Add-ons to enjoy the convenience offered by the internet. These add-ons can enhance the distance learning process and can make your online education experience a more productive one.
One of the requirements for distance learning education is that you have a reliable computer and unlimited internet access. Laptops are great for online learning because you can take them anywhere with you and still have access to your online classroom wherever there is internet connection. You can simply log in to your class and complete your work from anywhere and at anytime. Laptops are the most convenient for distance learning students.
Laptops for Online Learning
There are a lot of laptops to choose from and prices to fit any budget. These laptops range from the big screen desktop replacements to the extra light ultra portables. They all have many features in common. Choosing which laptop is best for you is a difficult task because there are so many to choose from. The list of laptops below will help you narrow your choices and make a decision that will fit your requirements to learn online.
The Top 8 Laptops for Distance Learning Students are:
1. Dell XPS 15
2. Dell Studio 1537
3. HP Pavilion dv7-4183cl
4. Gateway ID49C13u
5. Acer Aspire AS5745-7247
6. Sony VAIO VPC-Z1390X
7. Toshiba Satellite T235-S1350
8. Apple MacBook Notebook
Computer Requirements for Online Learning
As a distance learning student, it is probably best to have your own computer so that you can have access to your online classroom at anytime. Make sure the computer you decide to get have the minimum requirements for web-based learning. Computer requirements for online learning may vary so check with the online school you plan to attend to see what their requirements are. Some of the basic computer hardware and software requirements for web-based education are as follow:
1GB of RAM or above
Monitor Resolution of 1024 X 768
Keyboard and mouse
Speaker
Sound card
Cable modem/DSL
DVD Rom drive
Microsoft Office XP
Windows XP Operating System
Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, Safari or Internet Explorer
Choose Your Laptop Wisely
The 8 laptops listed will help you narrow down your choice so that you can get started with your online learning effectively. Take your time to research each one before making a decision. Keep in mind that the laptop you choose will have to last for the duration of your online education, so do not make a short-term plan — think longevity!
iPhones are very popular amongst the college students today. If you own one of these devices, make sure you have easy access to these ten unbeatable apps for e-learners, which come handy at all times. Most of you would probably be familiar with the popular ones that the college students use more often and you might have a few favorites of your own. However, the ten apps listed here are, so far, the best for online learners pursuing an online degree.
1. iHomework
iHomework is an indispensable iPhone application for students pursuing an online education. This app helps you keep track of class work and assignments, due dates, test scores, and helps you stay organized.
2. Netters Anatomy
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If you are a medical student seeking an online degree, then this iPhone app is a must have. This app helps you memorize anatomy by using full color flash cards.
3. Voice Memos
Yet another absolutely great iPhone app for online college students. It records lectures, makes notes and allows you to transfer them to your computer for future use.
4. The Chemical Touch
This is another great iPhone app for e-learners because it allows you to explore the standard amino acids and the properties of elements. It also has a Wikipedia page for instant information.
5. Blackboard
A must have app to use at school. This is an online educational service that helps students collaborate online. Students can also view their grades, assignments and tests online with the help of this application.
6. eTextbooks for iPhone
Electronic textbooks are available at your fingertips via this application. Not only will you be saving a lot of money with this great app, you‘ll also never be without your textbook.
7. Wikipedia Mobile
Wikipedia is an extremely useful app. It comes handy when you are not familiar with a certain subject or if you do not completely understand something. With this app available on your iPhone, you can get the answer to your queries instantly.
8. Google Mobile
This iPhone app is almost like Wikipedia. It offers information on the spot just by keying in the word.
Teens earning college credits before graduating from high school is becoming a new trend in the US. These teens are taking advanced courses that are relevant to their postsecondary field of study. In most cases college credits earned before high school graduation reduces the time it takes to earn a degree and also increases the chances of students graduating from college. Students also tend to do better academically when participating in such programs.
Consult the School Guidance Counselor and Admissions Office
During the last year of high school, career planning is essential and teens are encouraged to talk to college advisors. They can get accurate information on accelerated programs that can be simultaneously taken while in high school, earning credits for high school completion and credits towards earning a certificate or degree.
Benefits of taking College Courses while in High School
Fast tract to earning a degree
Increased academic performance
Accelerated education opportunities
Money saved with free tuition and textbooks
Challenging coursework
Educational attainment
Motivates students to pursue a college education
Help students make a better transition to college
College Classes much Different than High School Classes
Students must meet college readiness by showing a high GPA and a high score on their college placement test. However, before enrolling in college classes, students need to understand that enrolling in both high school and college courses is challenging and requires much more than in high school courses. All courses taken during college will be placed on student’s permanent college transcript and goes towards student’s permanent postsecondary grade point average (GPA), so it is important for student to keep up with academic performance so that their GPA will not be affected. It is also important to check with the college student plans to attend to make sure that credits earned in college while in high school are transferable and will count towards the specific requirements of your major.
Sample Courses students should take in High School to prepare for College
Mathematics- Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-calculus, Geometry and Calculus
English- Composition, English Literature and American Literature
History and Geography – Geography, U. S History, U. S. Government, World History, World Cultures and Civics
Laboratory Science – Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Science
Foreign language, Visual and Performing Arts and one to tree electives like Computer Science, Communications or Economics among others.
Be prepared for your College Degree!
US teens preparing for college with online classes seem to be beneficial especially for the high-achieving students and even for students who may not see themselves as college bound. This gives students a chance to see what lies ahead after graduating from high school. It prepares them to do well academically and also an opportunity to complete their degree much faster.
If you are an instructor teaching online classes, your success lies with the success of your students. Teaching students in an online setting can be very challenging. However, with much advancement in technology and with your knowledge, you can make online learning a wonderful experience. To achieve success however, there are some dos and don’ts you will need to take into consideration and they are listed below.
Do’s:
1. Provide a course syllabus at the first class meeting
Students need to know what to expect from their online classes right from day one. Starting off a class without giving students a course syllabus is not the best way to begin a new class. The syllabus for online students should include some of the following:
Instructor’s name, e-mail address and other contact information
Instructor’s working hours
Title and number of course
Start date and length of course
Materials needed for the course, including text books
An evaluation plan
Schedule of, projects, quizzes and exam
Student participation and instructor expectations regarding participation
2. Treat each student with individualized care and attention
Because this is an online format, instructor should pay special attention to each and every student and make sure that all their online classroom needs are being met.
3. Make sure students know what is expected of them
Just as any classroom, whether online or on-campus, there has to be rules and discipline in the classroom. Without adequate discipline in the online course, students will procrastinate; others will just lose interest and drop the course all together.
4. Make sure everyone is on the same ‘page’ before moving on
Students who are more disciplined and can go at a quicker pace may start discussions with the class material that most of the students may have not yet gotten too or they may get bored. The best online classroom is when the class as a whole is roughly together in the course.
5. Keep the classroom fun and interesting
Avoid too much text without a break, vary activities up a bit; include video clips, animations and interesting anecdotes.
Don’ts:
1. Forget to present an introduction to the course on the first day of class
All students should be able to access an overview of the introduction to the online course on the first day of class or even before enrolling; this way students can communicate with you if something is unclear such as, course content, computer skills requirements, prerequisites and so on.
2. Neglect the classroom
Because this is an online degree, you will need to make sure all students have his or her contact information, including; email address or other form of emergency contact information, should student need assistance. Not being available when in need is not the best way to teach an online class and can be very frustrating for students.
3. Incorporate different teaching techniques
Course materials are not easy to understand and may not be compatible with a number of learning styles of each student. In a classroom there can be a variety of learning styles such as visual learners, auditory learners and tactile learners. When designing a course material for online students all three learning styles need to be taken into consideration.
It is easy to see that online education can be just as rewarding as offline learning. With just a little bit of adjustments and a few minor don’ts will make all the difference in the world.
How is Google Hangout so Unique? 
