With some prestigious peer-reviewed professional journals charging universities in excess of $10,000 a year for subscriptions, my institutions are seeking ways to share research in a more cost-effective way.  The Obama Administration has expressed its commitment to fund university-based research, but they want to be certain the results are shared.

In addition to the fact articles found at the scitable website are free; they are also presented in a clear and concise format when compared with many peer-reviewed journals.  Science is an intimidating subject already, so students will appreciate this simplified format and style.  Too many scholarly journals are written primarily for academics and researchers, when they should be more concerned about furthering learning and education among students.

Earlier this year, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warned school districts in Tennessee that the blocking software they were using was inappropriately denying students online information about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues.  The ACLU warned that if this practice contuse, they would take appropriate legal action.

On May 19, the ACLU sued Metro Nashville and Knox County schools in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The group filed its lawsuit on behalf of two high school students in Nashville, one student in Knoxville, and a high school librarian in Knoxville who is the advisor of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).

This may become a landmark case that could have a dramatic impact on what online material public school students can see.  An ACLU spokesperson expressed hope this issue can be resolved, at least in Tennessee, in time for the 2009-2010 school year.

Online accredited degrees are now more popular than ever before for working adults who want to continue their education, but have a job and family obligations to maintain. Accredited online degree programs are good for people with busy schedules or those who can’t attend a traditional college due to geographic considerations. These distance learning programs are fast becoming the preferred method of study among many people all over the world because of the convenience and cost savings.

Online learning has come of age, in no time. A few of the benefits of online accredited degree programs include:

1. Tend to be less costly than traditional on campus programs.

2. Are available in nearly every subject you could imagine, including nursing, business, psychology, healthcare, and law.

3. Available to anyone who has access to a computer with an Internet connection.

4. May be finished quicker than traditional on campus degrees because most programs are self-paced, offer accelerated programs, or offer credit for life and work experience.

5. Offered by some of the best accredited universities and colleges. These schools generally utilize the same curricula for online courses as they do for classroom courses, so the quality of education is the same.

Obviously, the benefits of distance learning have expanded exponentially. Getting an online degree is convenient for students who cannot attend formal classes for various reasons including work, family, travel, geographic location, or ill health. Getting a degree online is equally as good as earning one in person, but only if it comes from an accredited university.

Online degrees are wonderful for anyone who wants to either jump-start or change their careers, and that’s no surprise.

I think there is little doubt that online professors work harder and are paid less than faculty who are members of the AAUP.  One has to wonder, however, if we can conclude from this that online professors are underpaid or AAUP members overpaid?  While I have never been a member of the AAUP, I have taught at both traditional and online universities.  Based on my experience, I think the both statements are true – online professors are generally underpaid while AAUP professors are generally overpaid.

As distance learning continues to expand, online universities will find it more and more difficult to recruit qualified faculty without paying higher salaries.  Traditional universities, on the other hand, must find ways to reduce their tuitions or watch larger proportions of students choose to pursue their degrees online. The business model for traditional universities has a much larger fixed-cost component, so they must find ways to reduce their faculty expenses.

Pursuing an online degree is faster and easier than it has ever been before. Technology has afforded many benefits to online education. The innovation of PCs and the advances of Web 2.0 allow an amazing amount of convenience in getting a higher education degree.

Sometimes it is very hard for people to obtain higher education degrees because of time and money, especially in the current economic crisis which is set to continue for years to come. In the past those two elements made getting a college education virtually impossible for some people. Today getting a degree is obtainable by everyone no matter where they come from or their current situation.

Getting an online education can make a huge difference in your life. It opens up doors that wouldn’t necessarily have opened before. And, the choices you have are vast and varied. Unlike traditional degree programs where to get a certain degree you may have to relocate and uproot your whole life, online course allow you to enroll in any college anywhere and do the work right from your own home. All you need is a PC and an internet connection as well as a desire to succeed.

In fact, even if you don’t have a PC or internet connection you can always use a public one like at your local library. There are no excuses when it comes to online degrees. online degree programs are typically more reasonably priced than regular college degrees. And, if you need to get financial aid you can do that right online too.

Everything that you could possibly need in a college education is right there online. You can work with classmates and professors, set up study groups, and participate in discussions, just like you would at a traditional college. You can even find career counselors and advisors that can help you find the right path for your education and career goals. There are really no disadvantages to online education.

All it takes is a little time to find the right program and then a commitment by you to make that program work. Usually, you can get set up in an online degree program right away. Unlike regular colleges online schools have a lot of flexibility in how their classes run and there are no set enrollment dates or class start dates. You could start school today.

While many traditional colleges are struggling to attract students in a stagnant economy, most online colleges are experiencing significant enrollment growth. In fact, one online college has now become the largest private university in the United States.

Does that come as a suprise to you? It probably doesn’t if you remember that online college programs are generally far less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And, they are far more flexible and convenient. But, despite their advantages, online colleges are not the best option for everyone.

So, before you decide to pursue anonline degree, ask yourself these questions.

1. Will an online degree help you achieve the career and/or financial goals you have set for yourself?

2. Can you reserve at least six or seven hours a week for your studies?

3. Are you willing to undertake the expense of a degree program?

4. Do you have the determination and focus that earning an online degree requires?

5. Do you have easy access to a computer and suitable study area? A suitable study area, which can be in a library, an office, or at home, requires a comfortable chair, a writing surface, a quiet environment, and Internet access.

If you answered all five questions positively, you’re fully prepared to get started on an online degree. All that is left for you to do is investigate your options until you find the college or university which best meets your individual needs. Good luck.

So you’ve decided to pursue your bachelors degree online. Thats great, you’ve taken the first step towards improving your future, and with a little work and commitment, the world can be yours! There are a host of options available for completing your degree, as there are numerous online degree programs offered by both independent, and highly reputable universities, as well as community colleges, and many of them offering online courses at reasonable rates.

The only catch is that it’s not easy to complete these courses. In fact, many people have a lot of trouble with it because when studying at home, there are many more distractions, such as children, television, games, and food.

This may make classroom work much more preferable to those who need to be able to concentrate and get their work done. There may be other problems such as your access to a computer or the Internet. The ability to pay the bill is one such problem.

But if this works for you it will be a great opportunity and quite rewarding. The path is in front of you for the taking. The tips listed will be a big help to get you on that path.

Find a Respectable School

Check into which programs have the Counsel by Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) because many do not. If not, be leery of these programs. Schools that are out of the country, schools that do not supply contact information or those that are willing to sell you a diploma are considered suspicious. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has information on most schools. When searching online and you think you have found a good choice, do your investigating and make sure before deciding.

Getting Your Academic Records Together

A reputable school will want to see any certificates or diplomas you have (especially high school) to make a determination of what, if anything for which you may qualify. These records should be gotten in order first thing.

Check Out the Campus

If there is actually a physical school that you will be considering you should make a visit and see what impression you get of the institution. If not and it is an online college, do a little research and see what you can find. One way is by contacting former students of this program and ask them if they had any problems. By doing a fair amount of research this should tell you if the school is going to be a school you want to attend.

Financial Help is Available

Just because you’re struggling financially doesn’t mean that you can’t obtain a higher education through an online bachelors degree and enrich your life. Most schools offer some sort of financial aid through reputable banks, and they have a program for just about anyone provided your credit is decent, and even if it isn’t you may just have to pay a little more out of pocket than you’d like, however you’ll still be able to attend school.

Is This the Right Time?

When you decide to go to school make sure this is the right time for you. You must be at your best in order to pass the courses required for a bachelor’s degree. Dropping out should not be an option. Make sure there is no major stress in your life and that you are going to be all right with studying and the cost of the course.

Make your Final Arrangements

Check with a financial adviser, fill out the online applications, and pay the tuition fees, if you’re sure this is what you really want, and if you’re prepared for it. If you can finish an online bachelors degree program, then you’ll have opened the doorway to the rest of your life, paving the way for success and happiness.

Of course these are challenging economic times and state governments are looking for ways to find new sources of revenues, but adding sales tax to online education makes little sense. A tax consultant who is familiar with this case believes there was insufficient human interaction in this online course to justify the purchase of this course as being a non-taxable educational expense. One has to wonder exactly how much interaction between students and teacher is sufficient to deem online education an educational experience or the constructive possession of software.

When asked for a comment, Michael Lambert of the Distance Education and Learning Council (DETC) indicated his belief that this opinion of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance will not survive legal challenge.  Still, this is a quite disturbing development. We need to be finding more cost/effective ways to deliver education, not looking for new ways to make it more expensive.

One of the reasons why netbooks are so popular these days then the bigger, more functional laptops is because of their relative cheapness to said laptops. The cheapest ones cost about $300-$500 per unit, and a student can buy it with a few weeks of allowance money. On the other hand, notebook computers are priced at least $1000; and the price discrepancy is clearly defined.

A student’s life is becoming increasingly dependent on their Internet connection. They need to stay connected as frequently as they can. Professors these days even accept written requirements via e-mail and will give assignments on text from an online website, assuming that the student has Internet access. Without a laptop, the student will most definitely find himself at a big disadvantage.

So these are two reasons right there; it is necessary for a student’s life, and affordable as well. But then, if it’s so important to be online these days, you might as well look good while you’re on it, right? That is the third factor that makes these small laptops desirable; for on the world of gadgets, small is sexy. There’s nothing geeky about them, so students can be proud of their fashionable netbooks.

With that, people who are in the market to buy these cheap and affordable netbooks should know what they want. With the number of preconceptions about these computers is the notion that they are just miniaturized laptops. Their main difference is the functionality. If all you need out of a laptop is quick Internet access, Instant Messaging and to check your e-mail, then this machine is perfect for you.

But if your needs as a student extend to intensive applications like Photoshop or if you’d like to be able to do some gaming adequately, then you should look for a full-pledged notebook instead. They will deliver you what you need better; it just won’t be as affordable, and it’ll be harder to bring it around.