Apps and Online Education Resources for Students
Education has become more essential to a modern adult than almost anything else. While education by itself is not a hurdle, the act of clumping vast amounts of data in a timed lecture is a problem. This has turned into a juggling act that can potentially harm both the passions of the professor and the students' interest levels. Online education is the need of the hour, and fortunately enough there are multiple initiatives popping up on the World Wide Web that recognize this fact. Peer reviews about online courses at sites like OnlineDegreeReviews.org are perfect tools to figure out whether an online college/course is the right one for you. Classroom walls and boundaries have blurred, and a globalized treasure trove of education is about to open for any student who requires it.
Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC)
MOOC were the natal ideas in trying to achieve a global classroom. MOOC is a collective term defining sites where universities or their professors have agreed to put up all of their course matter online. This provides students with a unique opportunity to work on their selected topics of interest, in tandem with institutions or credible individuals.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT-OCW) and Harvard University first founded the venture, and since then it has blossomed into a field of course matter, recorded lectures, etc. 'edX' is one of the most well-known sites for accessing MOOC. MIT and Harvard have uploaded virtually every class conducted, and this allows for a student from any part of the globe to look through previously inaccessible knowledge. Other partner universities are also teaming up for the venture, bringing with themselves their respective think-tanks for every student's benefit.
Another mammoth MOOC endeavor is 'Udacity'. Supplementing course matter with related videos has helped Udacity appeal to a wide audience from every age group. The courses are interactive and students have the option to join specific comment threads to learn from each other.
Real Time Education
Real time education has developed rapidly since the start of the 21st Century. Education in real time implies that an electronic connect exists between the student/s and the instructor/s. It provides for a more 'real' experience and is relatively closer to a classroom environment than a MOOC.
Adobe's experiments in online education has given birth to Adobe Connect. Adobe Connect provides a platform for teachers and students to have an immediate connect over the internet. Projects, online quizzes, course work and presentations can not only be created online but instructors can also modify and accredit the students' work.
Along with Adobe, Microsoft's Skype is also turning into an easy way for students and teachers to connect regardless of distance. The real time factor plays an important card here as Skype also allows for multiple people to join one video conversation. This allows students to not only interact with teachers who might be a mile away but also interact with other students tuning-in from different continents.
Others
Other online initiatives for students to gain an education from include, the interactive site 'Blackboard', Apple's Facetime, Google+ Hangout, Coursera, etc. Education has never been so easily accessible!
Author Bio
Stephanie Colaco is a freelance writer, editor and former HR professional. An Honors college graduate, she spends her free time helping students/professionals achieve their academic goals by publishing articles and creating blog posts that answer their many questions on sites like CollegesandUniversities.org.