Why Webcast-Learning.com?
By Jim Flores, Founder
In the last few years, online learning has exploded.
While I knew a little about online learning even back in the 1980s, I first became serious about its powerful benefits in 2001. At that time, I was working for USAA, a Fortune 500 company catering to military personnel and their dependents. At that time, USAA offered an enviable tuition reimbursement program that paid for both an undergraduate and graduate degree. However, I had one big problem: I had absolutely no time left over at the end of the day to attend a traditional college. I am sure that many of you are in the same boat.
 Wanting to take advantage of the tuition benefit, I scheduled a meeting with the company’s Employee Education department. I am not sure if that is what they called the office, but you get the point. While waiting in the lobby for the advisor to call me in for our appointment, I began to browse the literature, which included marketing materials from both onground (that is what we call the traditional brick-and-mortar schools) and online colleges. Prior to that day, perhaps like some of you, I felt that online schools were the diploma-mill type; that is, those that give you credit for work experience and send you a degree that is not worth anything. However, I was about to make a discovery that completely changed my life both academically and professionally.
During the meeting with the HR advisor, I inquired more about online colleges. She informed that many employees were taking advantage of the flexibility offered by virtual colleges. After the 30-minute session, I raced back to my L-shaped cubicle and keyed-in “online colleges” in my search engine. I was mostly interested in determining whether the online colleges were regionally accredited. I found out that many of them had full accreditation; in essence, they were not any different from the colleges that I had previously attended. I remember calling one of the universities and learning more about their M.S. in Computer Information Technology program. I confirmed with USAA that it qualified for tuition reimbursement, and enrolled immediately. USAA is a highly-respected organization, and if they supported online learning, I was sure that the degree would be accepted by any future employer. I was not disappointed!
I mentioned earlier that my life changed after I discovered online learning, and let me tell you how. Since 2001, I have earned five graduate degrees online, including a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems, M.S. in Computer Information Technology, M.A. in Human and Organizational Systems, M.S. in Management, and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management. As of today, I have completed more than 250 hours as an online student, and that number grows all the time. Outside of my online degrees, I have a B.B.A. in Finance and M.B.A. in Finance from onground universities. I am not sharing this with you to impress you; rather, I would like to impress upon you the unbelievable opportunity available to you if you desire to earn an online degree.
What have the online degrees done for me? Outside of the tremendous pride and confidence they have given me, these degrees have also opened many employment opportunities. Today, for example, I operate a successful online business, and much of the knowledge that I apply to that business comes from what I have learned in my online courses. I am also fortunate to teach online courses, and this has created a totally unexpected revenue stream. The more I taught online courses, I noticed that many of my new students were experiencing anxiety and asking similar questions. It was only natural, therefore, that I write a book on online learning – How to Become a Proficient Online Learner: Powerful and Practical Strategies Designed to Help You Earn a 4.0 GPA. That book has made a tremendous difference for many individuals desiring to make a smooth transition to the virtual learning world.
And Podcasting? How Does that Fit In?
Good question! Several years ago, I bought my first iPOD, and I absolutely love it! I use my iPOD mainly for self-development audio programs and books-on-tape. In the past, I carried hundreds of CDs with me and it was tedious having to change the CD, especially when my programs and books came with multiple CDs. I no longer carry my CDs because I have a software program that rips the content from a CD into MP3 format. With iTunes, I transfer and organize the MP3 files to my iPOD in no time. Now that I have the files on both an external hard disk and my iPOD, I no longer need the CDs.
Don’t let the technology part overwhelm you. When you have a question regarding MP3 technology, look no further than your kids. They have grown up with that technology, and MP3 to them is like remote controls are to our generation.
As my business grew and I discovered new opportunities to make money, I was having less and less time to read magazines, newspapers, and so on. In fact, I cancelled my subscription to the local newspaper and most of the publications that I had received over the past decade. I turned my driving time into learning time. I am usually in my car about 90 minutes per day, and I spend that entire time listening to the self-development programs and audio books on my iPOD. Not only is that a great time management technique, it also provides me with a wealth of knowledge that I could not possibly get elsewhere.
The Advantages of Webcast-Learning.com!
When at social or business gatherings, I am often asked what I do for a living. First, I respond by saying that I own an internet business, and then I mention that I teach college classes online. In most cases, the conversation focuses on how someone can learn online. A common question is the following: “So, how do you teach over the internet?” Invariably, others are a bit amused and somewhat confused as to how a person can earn a degree online. While online learning has made great progress in recent years, there are still many who question its credibility. At a recent gathering at my house, an acquaintance of mine made assumptions about online learning that were erroneous. He assumed that because classes are taken online, that they are automatically easier. He also mentioned that it is easy to cheat when taking online courses. From those two comments, I quickly learned that he had no idea regarding online learning works.
The Advantages of Webcast-Learning.com
Webcast-Learning.com is unique in that it provides proven and practical resources you can use throughout your entire online learning career. As an online learner myself, I have encountered many obstacles along the way, such as those related to time management and overcoming anxiety. The podcasts posted on this tremendous resource will make a huge difference in your understanding of online learning, and you will learn tips from both students and facilitators that will make your journey toward an accredited online degree much smoother.
We urge that you share Webcast-Learning.com with your family, friends, and colleagues. If they are interested in earning an online degree, this website will prove to be an invaluable resource.
We are glad you found us!
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