Top Tools To Help E-learners Succeed

Top Tools To Help E-learners Succeed

It’s not easy being an e-learner. There are many reasons why people choose to go in for e-learning over conventional education programs, and perhaps convenience and
finances form just one part of it. However, to succeed in your e-learning
program, you will obviously need help. This help can come to you in the form of
many things, but we are going to discuss the top tools you can incorporate in
your e-learning process to help you move ahead with your education. The major change in the way tools are being used has come about in the past five years, and has largely been concentrated around tools used for presenting and getting information, and a host of software that are basically used for communications.

Here are some examples of tools which make a difference to e-learners. These learning support tools have been mentioned along with the different ways that they have changed practices and why they have proven to be so effective. Here, we will give you a brief description of a few specific tools and the way they are used.

These tools are given with regards to how effective they are, and not how
technically advanced they are, or how innovative they are. The idea is to
implement tools which give you the best results – as that’s what your aim should be.

The different types of tools along with some ideas about how they can be used are given here.

• There are many aids for creating and managing presentations such as the web based
  image manipulators, and other online tools to create slides and multimedia
  files that work similar to PowerPoint and Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat.
  Nowadays, sites like Google provide you with online presentation preparation
  tools which incorporate an entire suite of office and presentation
  applications so that everything you need is online. If you are on a budget,
  you can consider getting a complete office suite like star office for free
  depending on your computers operating system. Of course, if you are well
  financed, you can go in for a industry leader like MS Office Suite software.
  It’s essentially up to you, but you will surely need one or the other to help you with your e-learning program!


• Analysis software tools like SPSS, NVIVO and Stella, which are used for extensive processing of data can also be used depending on your projects. Similarly, search engines, portals and gateways can be great tools for information seeking and handling.


• Databases and journals with calendars for storing and managing information form an important part of the arsenal of tools available at your disposal, whereas diaries and to do lists can be used for personal time management. There are many free online personal journals that you may use for such needs. As your online learning goes into full gear, you definitely will need some form of time management aid to organize yourself and your work.


• Project management tools like Microsoft Project and many new online free project
  management sites can prove to be very useful in case you handle more than one
  project and need to keep track of the many activities within each.


• One of the most important tools you will need for communication will obviously be
  email, chat and bulletin boards. Take it from me – you will feel like you are
  in the stone age if you don’t have online skills to help you with your
  e-learning (the ‘e’ says it all!). Email is a must, but even forums and
  bulletin boards will go a long way in helping you find others who can help you
  with rare and specific problems, and solve many of your issues as well as help
  you research a certain topic. And remember that with VOIP becoming popular,
  online communication tools now include capability for voice, enabling you to
  enjoy an even easier time of collaborating and discussing with others over the internet.


• Mindmaps and visual tools are useful for visualisation and brainstorming, and further collaboration with teams. This type of software can help make your online team meetings a lot easier by allowing you to conceptualize thoughts and ideas in a way that goes beyond email and writing documents.
• The whole world wide web itself is a tool, as research is now easily facilitated
  by search engines and portals that cater to practically any and all your
  research needs. Explore as much as you can of what’s out there, including more
  resources to aid your online learning. Portals and directories that cater
  exclusively to elearning, such as http://www.elearningyellowpages.com/
  have a lot of materials that deal directly with learning online.

Perhaps the wonderful thing about technology these days is how it does help facilitate work
and make life a whole lot easier for learners. Take advantage of all the tools available out there and make your learning as fun and smooth as it can be. With all these available online for free, or for a small fee, you will be doing yourself a favour by getting a few of these and learning to use them to your benefit. If you’ve heard of any new tool out there, and had some experience
using them, let us know how it has worked out for you.

Tag: Top Tools To Help E-learners Succeed

Nursing Continuing Education Online

Nursing Continuing Education Online

If you’re in a nursing career, you’re probably aware that there’s no better time than the present to continue your education. The retirement wave is hitting the medical community like a tsunami, and new positions are opening up almost daily as people retire. Nursing continuing education online classes are available that will give you the training and education you need to position yourself for advancement, without sacrificing the work you’ve already done .

Nurses are in high demand right now and that demand is only expected to get worse. Registered Nurses, CNAs, x-ray technicians, physician’s assistants. . . there isn’t a position in the health sciences or medical community that will have too many people. So where do you want to go?

Online courses are available in literally hundreds of programs. But do some research before you sign up. Who is the provider? Does that institution offer courses, or a complete program? Is the course or program accredited? It should be. By whom is it accredited? Get information from your employer about what they’re looking for from ce, or continuing education courses. Make sure the classes you’re planning to take will be accepted.

Your employer or other knowledgeable sources can give you some information about the quality of the classes or course. Look at job placement percentages, too, especially if you’re planning on changing jobs or careers. A high percentage of successful job placements can indicate a quality program, and employers may be looking for graduates from that program.

The beauty of online classes is they can be taken at any time. Your shifts may vary and the hours you work per week may go down or (more usually) up, but whenever you get home, your class is waiting for you. If you’re already an RN, you may want to specialize in a new area, like neonatal care or geriatrics. If you’re a CNA, you might want to study for the RN license. In either case, you can continue your education online.

Some employers even offer online courses on site. Many require you to take the classes during non-shift times, but talk to your employer about what other possibilities. Most employers are overjoyed to learn that an employee is working for further his or her education. Your employer may even have a tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement program.

Nursing continuing education classes are definitely worth a look. It’s a proven method to start or advance a career, and the time has never been better. Take a look at the offerings today!

Tag: Nursing Continuing Education Online