New Year Story Pitch eLearners.com

Going back to school remains in the list of the Top 10 New Year resolutions. As with most resolutions, staying committed for an entire year can be tough, especially with work schedules, family commitments and other barriers leading some people to online learning. Online programs see increased traffic this time year, but staying on track can be tough without the structure of a classroom. Below is a news release about how to stay on track. To speak with an online learning expert who can offer tips about what to look for in online degree programs and how to succeed when heading back to school, contact Charlynn Duecy at (804) 788-1414.

Hoboken, NJ (PRWEB) December 23, 2006

Diet plans, exercise and other strategies aimed at self improvement are typical New Year's resolutions, but a growing number of adults are turning to online learning as a way to turn over a new leaf.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, within the next three years more than 20 million adults ages 25 years and older will be enrolling in a continuing education course. And more than likely, they will be doing it online. According to a Sloan Consortium report just released, more than 3.2 million students took an online course in 2005.

To help students stick to it and be successful, eLearners.com®, a search engine connecting students to educational opportunities, has created the first comprehensive "Guide to Online Education."

"Just like signing up for a gym membership, more people turn to online learning around the New Year as a means of improving their lives," says Andrew Gansler, CEO of eLearners.com. "Typically, we see a 15-20 percent increase in Web traffic, but no matter what time of year they enroll, we want them to be successful."

The Guide to Online Education offers eStudents and potential eStudents a series of practical "how-to" guides that provide tips, resources and advice for studying online. In designing the Guide, eLearners.com worked closely with dozens of online graduates, adult students , professors and online learning experts.

"As experienced distance learners, we knew we needed to collect the practical experience and knowledge from real online learners in order to create a true e-student perspective," said Helen MacDermott, one of the guide's authors, and an online student herself. "It was a hands-on approach from successful online students to help others become just as successful."

The Guide to Online Education offers these five tips for an adult considering going back-to-school, online:

  • Involve key people early on in the decision-making process of returning to school
Having the support of your spouse and children is crucial to your success, especially when you will need their help to take over household chores or be mindful of allowing quiet time for your study.

  • Enhance your written communication skills
To succeed as an online student, a crucial skill is the ability to explain your ideas in a clear and straightforward manner. A great resource for students to begin preparing themselves is the American Library Association's "Outstanding Books for the College Bound and Lifelong Learners."

  • Schedule between ten and twelve hours per week for one (1) three-credit course.
Adult students often underestimate the total amount of time needed to devote to school.

  • Be confident in online learning

According to a new Sloan Consortium report, the proportion of academic leaders who believe online learning outcomes are superior to those for face-to-face has grown by 40 percent since 2003.

  • Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Federal financial aid is not restricted by age - adult students may be eligible for grants and loans by logging onto http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

These five tips, the complete Guide to Online Education, and the eLearners Advisor®, a unique tool to assess whether a student is ready for online learning, are available at http://www.eLearners.com.

About eLearners.com

Since 1999, eLearners.com® - "Where Learning Begins" - has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including degree and certificate programs, specialized training and a variety of courses. For prospective students, eLearners.com® provides a powerful search engine of online offerings as well as extensive educational resources, available at no cost. eLearners.com® lists more than 2,000 distance and online degree and certificate programs and more than 6,600 courses in over 150 subject areas, as well as a directory of more than 5,900 post-secondary campus-based institutions. This year, eLearners.com® will connect more than 5 million prospective students to appropriate educational programs. For colleges and universities, eLearners.com® performance-based marketing services offer a low-cost, high quality method to increase enrollment and exposure to their learning programs. For more information on eLearners.com® LLC, visit http://www.elearners.com.

Contact: Charlynn Duecy

(804) 788-1414

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Contact

  • Charlynn Duecy

    (804) 788-1414
    Email