Is Instructional Design Important? By John Araiza

I've known many eLearning developers who scoff at the idea of instructional design. They claim that their courses are just fine as is because there are plenty of instances in which the learner is given the opportunity to "do something" on the screen; this may be in the form of clicking a hotspot or answering a simple true/false question. I am here to tell you that simple interactivity is not enough. Just because a learner is "engaged" in a course does not mean that they are learning or retaining information.

Now, it's not always the eLearning developer's fault; many times, this idea of "engagement" is passed down by their manager. Many managers are under the pressure to produce online courses quickly and, in the process, they forget to address the issue of instructional design. Other eLearning managers are simply not aware of the idea. Regardless of the excuses, we must try and make the shift from simply transferring a paper course into an online course to making the course effective and relevant to the learner.

So what is instructional design and why is it so important to eLearning? Instructional design is the process of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and creating some "intervention" to assist in the transition. In simpler terms, it is a learning blueprint. This blueprint is used to guide the learner and help them focus on the relevant course material. It is used to keep the learner interested in the course by explaining why the material is important and how it will help them perform their job more effectively. I won't get into the specifics of instructional design; there are hundreds of methodologies. I will just say the instructional design, in any form, is better than none at all.

Don't get me wrong; design alone does not make an effective online course. The eLearning developer is crucial in creating a user friendly look and feel and implementing scenarios and quizzes. I'm just suggesting that the two should work hand in hand to create the most effective learning possible.

Copyright 2009 The eLearning Authority

The eLearning Authority is a consulting firm focused on rapid eLearning development.

Ecourse Training - How Often Should You Send Out Your Ecourse By Drew Poletto

Sending out your ecourse is more than just wait a couple of days and send out a module. Oh, I'll send out another episode this week. Nope, there should always be a reason to send out an episode.

The speed of sending out an ecourse depends on what the ecourse actually is all about. If you're talking about a training or teaching ecourse, then one module a week could be a great way to send it. Give the receiver exercises to do to get ready for the next episode of the course. Once they do the exercises, they'll be ready for the next episode.

Make sure you outline this at the beginning of the course.

Now, if you're talking about a motivational ecourse, it depends on the motivation you're giving. If it's some sort of "motivation of the week" type of thing, then of course you want to send it once a week, but I would believe you would should have about 6 to 12 months of weekly motivational episodes to send out. Just something to think about.

If you're talking about doing an informational ecourse, then maybe one episode a week isn't enough. Again, depending on the information you're providing, you may need more than one a week to keep a new subscriber interested in what you're providing.

Keep this in mind, my philosophy is you are providing an ecourse with the mindset to eventually turn a profit with a product or service you are providing. If you're doing it for other reasons, then you may want to alter the information I just provided.

There is no right or wrong way to give out information. Sure, there are ways that are better then others, but if you keep in mind what you want your end results to be, then you have a road map to your final destination.

And now I would like to offer you free access to tips, techniques and strategies to develop or expand your E-Course. Whether you're experienced with E-Courses or not, http://www.TheEcourseGuru.com will give you what you need to "kick it up a notch."

Why Online Nursing Degree Programs Are in Demand By Tannie Lewis

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the proportion of the population aged 65 and older will rise from 13% to 20% between 2010 and 2030 -- an increase of about 30 million people.

Plus, it has also been projected that the United States will have at least 400,000 fewer nurses practicing in 2020 than today due to the increasing vacancy rate. To put it simply, the demand for nursing staff continues to grow at a tremendous pace, and the shortage of nurses is evident everywhere. This is especially acute in the critical care, emergency, and operating room departments.

This is why nurses have been in such high demand, and it's now a very good opportunity for you to become a nurse if you want a career that's not only rewarding, but which offers good job security in the current economic environment.

A good way to get started is to get a degree from one of the many good online nursing degree programs.

This is a path preferred by many others who have gone before you, because there are many benefits to pursuing an online degree instead of in a physical classroom.

For starters, it allows you greater flexibility in terms on controlling your own schedule. You can choose how fast or slow you want the pace to be as you will be choosing your course modules semester by semester.

If you are working, this is a good way to pursue your degree while keeping your day job. You will be able to continue to earn a salary to help pay for the course fees, and if you need to spend more time on your work or family life, you can always scale back the number of courses you take in that semester.

On top of that, you will also save a lot of time and money since there is no need for you to report to campus for lessons. And not only do you save on transport, you will also not be charged any out-of-state tuition in most cases.

And since you will be doing nearly everything online, you are not limited to choosing from only the local universities near you. Distance is not a problem anymore, and now you can choose from any institution that offers a degree program that suits your specific requirements, including those from the Ivy League schools.

Yet another reason why the online nursing degree courses are in such hot demand is because of the good return on investment they offer.

It's reported that compared to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Registered Nurses earn approximately 15 thousand dollars more annually. So if you are a LPN, for a relatively small investment of time and money into pursuing the nursing degree, you will be able to earn a few hundred thousand dollars more over the rest of your nursing career.

So these are just a few reasons why online nursing degree programs are so popular.

For more practical advice to help you decide if an online nursing degree program is right for you, please check out: online nursing degree programs

How to Choose the Right Online Nursing Degree Programs By Tannie Lewis

Now that you've decided to become a nurse, what's the next step?

A little homework will reveal that there are so many different options out there. Contrary to popular belief, not all nurses are the same. It's a real profession with a lot of varied career paths possible.

So as a person just starting out, how do you decide which online nursing degree program to pursue?

One common entry-level choice is to become a Registered Nurse (RN). This is in very high demand right now because of the global increase in healthcase demand, coupled with a severe shortage of qualified nurses.

To become a RN, you have a choice of getting a Diploma, an Associates Degree (ADN), or a Bachelor of Science (BSN).

Each offers a different path to become a RN, so which one is right for you?

If you are serious in becoming a professional nurse, you will probably want to pursue the BSN. It's a 4-year course and it offers some of the best job opportunities in the market today. With a BSN, you'll be well-placed to pursue even more specialized qualifications after that to enhance your job prospects and nursing career.

However, if you want to become a RN faster, you can opt for the Associates Degree. This takes about half the time of the BSN to complete, and will thus allow you to get a nursing job faster. This is more focused on technical skills as compared to the BSN, but is often used as a first step towards getting an eventual BSN.

And even though we are talking about degree programs, you may want to know that you have the option of getting a Diploma instead. This is not very popular nowadays, as many people think it will limit their career advancement options. So depending on your exact needs, this may or may not be suitable for you.

As you can see, you have many different ways of getting qualified to take the Registered Nurse exam. However, do note that each of the above mentioned paths ultimately leads you down different jobs and career paths too. Think carefully before you make any decisions and you will be fine.

What do you want to achieve at the end of the day? Where do you see yourself 3 years down the road? 5 years? 10 years? How specialized do you want to be?

Do you need to start earning income as a nurse quickly? Or do you already have an existing job that can pay your bills and school fees?

Will you be able to juggle work, family commitments, and part-time studies all at the same time?

These are just some of the factors to take into consideration when deciding which online nursing degree program to pursue.

If you want to get more insider tips on how to make the right choice for your specific situation, you must go read the experts' advice at: online nursing degree programs

Things to Note About Online Nursing Degree Programs By Tannie Lewis

If you are thinking about pursuing a degree from one of those online nursing degree programs, you will probably have a lot of questions about exactly what you can expect if you were to sign on the dotted line.

Hopefully, we can shed some light on some of these commonly asked questions for you now.

One of the first questions many people have is whether one can become a Registered Nurse (RN) by pursuing an online degree?

Well, you'll be pleased to know that the answer is a resounding "Yes." Many online programs enable you to pursue an Associate's degree, and this qualifies you for the RN licensure.

As expected, you will need to do both clinical and non-clinical work during the course of your study. The non-clinical lessons are usually done totally online, including the submission of any homework and tests. But obviously, you cannot do the clinical portion online, so this portion of the course is usually done at a conveniently located medical facility.

For the non-clinical portion of the course, your lecturer will typically upload the course notes and class assignments to a password-protected Web site, and this is where you can also interact with the rest of your fellow students through some sort of online forum. This forum is where you will post questions for the lecturer, and it's also how you can discuss lesson-related problems with your course-mates.

All your assignments are sent back to the lecturer online, and many tests and exams are also conducted via the same way.

That's why a lot of online nursing degree programs have no requirements for you to attend lessons on a campus physically.

In terms of the costs involved, online degree programs typically cost less than their full-time offline counterparts. Of course, the total costs are different depending on what program you want to enroll in, as well as from which school they are from. But thankfully, there are many financial aids still available to you even though you are pursuing an online degree.

If you academically-inclined, you can also make full use of the many scholarships offered to students. Again, online students are also eligible for these scholarships as well, unlike what many people think.

And if you have some work experience under your belt, you may also be able to receive credit for your hard-earned work experience. Depending on the school you are enrolling in, you can either sit through a proficiency exam in lieu of the usual course work, or the school may ask you to submit a report of your work experience for them to review and allocate credit if it meets their relevancy requirements.

For answers to even more frequently asked questions, see what the experts have to say at: online nursing degree programs

Online Nursing Degree Programs For Men? By Tannie Lewis

Quick... what do you think of whenever someone mentions about nurses?

For most people, they will think of a caring and nurturing person all dressed in white.

And in almost all cases, that person is a woman, correct? Yes, it's a stereotype, but nursing is often thought of as a job for women. Very few will picture a male nurse, and that's the unfortunate reality.

Although nursing is primarily associated with women, in today's world nursing is already a very good career opportunity for both men and women.

As it stands, less than 10% of nurses are men, but that number is increasing as we speak. More and more men are making the choice to join the nursing profession. And as the medical field becomes even more advanced and challenging, so to are the challenges faced by nurses. As a result, nursing provides a really challenging and rewarding career path for anyone who wants to become a nurse.

The prospects for career advancement are also there for anyone who is good and hardworking enough to want to climb up the rungs.

And as far as job security goes, you'll be pleased to note that there are very jobs that can come close to the security offered by the nursing profession. This sector is facing severe shortages, and hospitals all around the country and across the world are scrambling to find qualified nurses to help them cope with the increased demand for healthcare.

There just aren't enough nurses to go around, so this is a really good time for you to become a nurse if you are concerned about job security.

And with so few men currently in nursing positions, there is a tremendous shortage of male nurses in the supervisory and administrative positions. So for male nurses, you will stand a very good chance of advancing to these leadership roles quickly if you meet the grades.

Another good piece of news to all aspiring male nurses is that the take-home pay has been increasing through the years. As mentioned earlier, the shortfall in nurses coupled with the increased demand for healthcare means that salaries have been going up steadily. So if you had the impression that salaries are bad, you'll need to take a new look at what's in store for you if you become a nurse today.

The salaries are definitely nothing to scoff at anymore.

At the end of the day, nursing is a very profitable and rewarding career opportunity for both women and for men. Men are a highly-regarded and valued part of the nursing profession, and online nursing degree programs definitely cater to both genders.

If you want to find online nursing degree programs for men, you must see all the choices available to you at: online nursing degree programs

Why You Must Find the Best Online University For Your Online Degree Program By Ewechi Fred

Technological improvement has led to the emergence of the Internet and online education. Do you know that there is a great increase in online degree programs? As Internet education is becoming acceptable many universities are offering various degree programs online. There are also wholly virtual education portals for online education.

However, choosing an online college can be difficult, because of information overload and the multitude of choices of online Universities available on the internet. So before you make up your mind to acquire an online degree, how do you go about choosing the best university for your Internet degree program?

Well, to ensure that you obtain a quality online degree you must go for a renowned and highly regarded online university. This is important, because the quality of your degree determines your chances of getting a good job. Employers are aware of quality online colleges and universities and will readily give employment to graduates of such schools for existing vacancies.

For instance, employers value graduates from Phoenix Online University, because of the quality education they received from the University. Another outstanding online institution is DeVry University. DeVry is one of the oldest and most widely recognized online colleges. It is duly accredited by relevant authorities and offers sound online training as attested to by the very many people who have graduated from the college. DeVry graduates are also known to have no problems securing employment with their degrees.

Academic Environment

A decent academic interface is necessary to ensure quality online teaching, lecturers and students should be able to communicate through instant messages, email, web cams and chat-rooms . DeVry University has maintained an excellent track record in lectures employing all of the above facilities. Wide arrays of subjects and majors are taught in DeVry Online University.

In conclusion, the essence of acquiring an online university degree is to find employment or advance your career. Therefore, locating the best Online University degree program for upgrading your education is very important. That is why great care must be taken in choosing your online school.

To learn more on Why You Must Find The Best Online University For Your Online Degree Program please visit Accredited Online Diploma Courses.