How to Connect Students to Advanced Online Courses
Online education, or "e-learning," continues to expand, offering numerous opportunities for ongoing learning. Whether students are interested in taking a course or two, or pursuing degrees, an abundance of institutions offer courses and degree programs in nearly any area of interest students may seek to develop. In addition to certificate and undergraduate courses and degree programs, students may also access graduate level advanced courses and degree programs on the master's and doctorate levels.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with Internet access
- List of schools offering advanced online courses
- Speaking or publication privileges with local university system
- Social networking accounts
- Access to blogs and forums
Instructions
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Compile a list of schools that offer advanced online courses and degree programs by conducting your own research. Compare and contrast course offerings, cost, accreditation and other important details about the schools. Include the top two or three dozen schools that offer the best variation of advanced courses, according to your research at reputable sites.
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Contact your local university system. Request time to speak to undergraduate students or seek permission to distribute newsletters detailing the opportunities you have previously researched in your compiled list of advanced online courses. Inform administration and students of your "disclaimer" that your list is not exhaustive, but represents a decent representation, based on your research. Include Web site names and URLs to enable students to visit sites on their own.
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Join or use social networking accounts (for example, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Ning) to spread the word about advanced learning opportunities. Discuss the research you have conducted and share your compiled list of schools that offer advanced online courses, along with your disclaimer. Set up a page specifically dedicated to e-learning opportunities. For instance, on Facebook you can set up a "Fan Page" and invite interested students to become "fans" of e-learning.
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Set up a blog or inquire about a guest blogger position on other people's blogs. Again, share your list of schools and advanced online courses, with your disclaimer. Emphasize the value of ongoing education. Encourage people to do additional research on their own, in their areas of interest.
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Set up a forum or request your own thread or category dedicated to online education. Introduce yourself, your research and your disclaimer. Then list the names of schools that offer advanced online courses, based on your research. Encourage readers to ask questions and share information that they have discovered on their own. Facilitate an ongoing discussion about lifelong learning.
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Tips & Warnings
Conduct thorough research before compiling your list.
Include your own credentials and interest in advanced learning.
Keep your lists updated to reflect changes in course offerings, costs and other details.
Market your blogs actively and request referrals through "word of mouth" advertising.
Ensure that the colleges offering advanced online courses are accredited.
Include a disclaimer that your list is not exhaustive.
