Use e-Learning to Enhance Your Skills

By Barbara Weltman July 2, 2004
Barbara Weltman This tip is a little long and a little deep but an important one, I think.

You don’t have to waste precious time commuting to a college campus to study the things you want to know or need to learn for your business. You can now take courses from the comfort of your home or office on a 24-7 basis, using your computer and Internet access.

e-learning advantages
Whether you call it online learning, distance education, Web-based training or technology-based training, the meaning is the same – obtaining instruction through the Internet virtually from anywhere at anytime. Advantages include:

  • Comfort and convenience – learn at your own pace. For example, you can obtain an MBA in 18 months or less with a fast-track online program. Use your own facilities as your classroom (your home or office or both).

  • Cost – in some cases the tuition fees per credit are lower for online learning than for comparable classroom learning; in some cases they are on a par, but no higher. Example: At the University of Phoenix Online, courses are $440 per credit hour for undergraduate and $545 for graduate, while on-campus classes at many comparable schools cost more. Cost may vary with your location (e.g., you may opt for a course and be directed to register at a school within your state so that you pay the cost for your state).

  • Customized assistance – you usually have ample access to your teacher (via e-mail) and, in some cases, may be assigned an advisor to help you with any problem that arises.

    • e-learning opportunities
    Use e-learning to obtain a degree or certification, including MBA programs, computer, IT and Web training or business courses to improve your skills. There are a growing number of widely-recognized schools offering just about any type of course you may desire.

    The University of Phoenix is the nation’s largest private university, with over 130 campuses and learning centers across the country through which more than 200,000 students are now pursing bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. All of these programs can be completed solely on the Internet (http://welcome.phoenix.edu/online/default.asp). Other large institutions supporting online education include:

  • Baker College (www.baker.edu).

  • University of Maryland University College is the largest online institution, offering more than 80 certificate and degree programs (www.umuc.edu/gen/virtuniz.html).

  • Walden University, self-proclaimed as “America’s premier online university” offers degree programs from bachelor’s to doctoral (www.waldenu.edu/prospect/distance_learning).

    • Maybe a degree is unimportant to you now. You don’t have to take a degree or certificate program; instead just opt for a tutorial or course to enhance a skill you’d like to develop or improve. For example, at Learn2 (www.learn2.com), you can choose from nearly 100 courses on business skills, from active listening to virtual business communication. The cost of these tutorials is modest (most are under $100). In some cases, the cost depends on the length of your subscription – six months or one year, during which time you have unlimited access to the tutorial.

    Other e-learning resources
    To see if e-learning is for you, use a demo at www.rootlearning.com/elearning.

    For a directory of many online schools offering degree programs, go to www.directoryofonlineschools.com. Alternatively, you can search for a course you want to take (e.g., creating a successful business plan or business marketing writing) and then find an accredited school in your state from which to take the course online (go to www.ed2go.com).

    Caution: Beware of e-mail scams that purport to offer online degrees. Don’t respond to any solicitation for programs in which “no one is turned down” and there are no tests, books, interviews or studying!

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