Alternative Learning

 This site is a search engine for courses from the UK, you can select your specifications (make sure to include "Online and Distance if you planning to be studying online). It includes only recognized institutions. It might save some time searching through multiple sites.

http://www.hotcourses.com/
Most may already be aware of this, but the English system and levels of education are different than the American system. You'll want to know what qualifications the course you're interested in is offering you.

I wasn't accustomed to the English system prior to looking at these courses. This article clearly explains the "US/international equivalency" for the English levels of qualification.

As a personal opinion, I wouldn't pay for any course that offers a diploma under level 3.

A friend of mine saw this and sent it to me. I checked it out and it looked good. If you're interested in other colleges and courses like the one offered below see my previous post Get Certified!

From: Nyra
Hi there budding students and learners!

I was researching online colleges and universities some time back, looking for good diploma courses, etc. After a lot of hunting I found a UK based online college, that those of you interested in studying online may find appealing. They have all kinds of courses ranging from aromatherapy to electronics, very self paced and the materials very satisfactory, I have been learning a lot! Plus the cost is not very much! Anyway, take a look and it might be what you're looking for
www.Stonebridge.uk.com
Hope it's a help, Enjoy!

Introducing...

Academic Earth, a site which offers the most complete video courses I've seen on the net. Most of the courses are series of lectures from universities like Princeton, Yale and Berkeley.

Youtube Edu, a educational section of youtube which also contains lectures and other various educational videos. I'm not as fond of this one in comparison to the site above.

Watching video lectures will not give you a complete education in a certain subject, but they're definitely helpful as supplement material for your studies and learning more about your subject of interest. For an example see: Learning Through Multiple Avenues


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When studying an online course, I find it helpful to study a topic from a few sources, or supplement a course I'm taking with additional material. For example, I'm currently studying to be a Certified Professional Trainer in a free course offered by ACT.  ACT's certification is quite revolutionary as they offer it free of charge as long as you complete their 300 page textbook and pass their online exam (see previous post: Get Certified).

However, as a suplement to what I'm learning in Physical Training I'm watching lectures on General Human Anatomy from Academic Earth, a website that offers sets of lectures from various universities on a host of different subjects.

I think this is one great way to get a well rounded and (in this case) free education, find your desired course ( I prefer those that offer a diploma or certification at the end), and then supplement your studies with university courses on that subject, you'll be sure to get a well rounded education in that field.

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Universities offering Open Course Ware

There are a host of courses available from universities online. I found some of it led to a lot of time spent looking at lecture notes, parts of classes, courses that do not offer any university credit, and in many cases not getting anything that would bring me from A-Z as far as "real life" goes.

For example, if I wanted a career as a musician, I would look for music courses. However when you find music courses under university open course ware, you'll often find the course to be something like, "Universe of Music, investigating the role of instruments, culture, myth and science in the evolution of music." (real example used) Which is something I don't have the time or desire to delve into.

However, others may find these helpful in their development so I'm posting some of the main universities offering open course ware online, remember that these courses will not earn you university credit, it's purely for learning.

Carnagie Melon University - Open Learning Initiative. You'll find courses on topics like Chemistry, Statistics, Modern Biology, Logic & Proofs and Physics to name a few.

University of California - Irving I liked this site and the open course ware it offers. Seems quite complete and on topics like Social Sciences, Engineering, Biological Sciences, Education, Business Management, etc.

UC Berkeley’s OpenCourseWare webcasts can be found on three websites: Webcast.Berkeley, Berkeley on YouTube, and Berkeley on iTunes University.

Weber State University Available Departments in open course ware are: Automotive Technology, Criminal Justice, English, Health Promotion and Human Performance, Information Systems & Technology

Capilano University offers open course ware in Anthropology, Art History, Business, Chemistry, Computing Science, English, Geography, Mathematics & Statistic, Philosophy and Studio Art.

University of Utah. You have to create an account to access their courses. Categories of learning are: Art & Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Educational Psychology, English, History, Math, Pharmacotherapy, Physics, Teaching & Learning, Computer Science.

The Universities with open course ware that I wouldn't bother perusing

University of Notre Dame. This site had topics that I found interesting such as Africana Studies, Peace Studies, Latino Studies, etc. They had alot of the material as "reading assignments' and only provided the references. This would mean time spent looking for the material, which for me isn't worth it.

Michigan State University offering courses on: Food Safety, Horse Management, International Business, Planning and Zoning. Somehow - except for International Business - those topics don't seem relevant to me.

Tufts University this is a list of all open course warethey have to offer, I looked  at a few subjects and some didn't seem comprehensive, but they do have a very wide array of subjects so it might be worth a try if you're interested in something as random as epidemiology and biostatics.

John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health this university course ware is health; from infectious diseases to mental health. I'm sure that will appeal to some people.

MIT University - Open Course Ware. This university turned up alot whenever I searched for courses, however in looking at their courses I wasn't able to find anything very straight forward and conclusive.

University of Massachusetts Boston This site seemed to mainly offer lecture notes for its courses.

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If you're going to pay big bucks to study university online, it's worth getting the best. I haven't checked these out in detail, as that is not the route I'm going with my education, but I've done quite a bit of research and this list summed it up pretty well.

Top 10 Ranked Online Universities & Colleges – Degrees

Marcy Lane

1. Devry University- Request FREE info packet


First established in Chicago in 1931, DeVry University has a long and prestigious history as one of the United States’ top professional training institutions. DeVry offers a multitude of career-oriented degrees, ranging from information technology to business and medical administration, and often at an accelerated pace for students who want to power through their degree and move on to bigger and better things. Meanwhile, on the convenience front, the option of studying online or at one of the schools numerous campuses makes it easy to find a program and schedule that will fit your life. As if that weren’t enough, DeVry boasts an unprecedented 90% job placement success rate. Sounds like a winner, from where we stand!

2. University of Phoenix Online- Request FREE info packet


University of Phoenix is not your parents’ correspondence college. Well, it was, when it was founded in 1976 on the idea that quality higher education should be affordable and accessible to everyone, even working students. Three decades later that foundation hasn’t changed: between flexible scheduling and its highly-qualified professors, the university still dedicates itself to providing opportunities to students with full plates. That said, University of Phoenix has since blossomed into a thoroughly modern institution. With an eBook library, a commitment to environmental sustainability practices, and a presence on every social network imaginable (check out the talented Kate Voegele’s online college experience on MySpace!), University of Phoenix knows what its 21st-century students demand, and what’s more, it delivers in full.

3. Walden University- Request FREE info packet


When business magazine Fast Company reviewed and graded five online colleges, they only handed out one straight-A. That coveted glowing review went to graduate degree haven Walden University, the same school that was singled out by U.S. News and World Report as a “respected virtual institution.” Why such praise? It may have something to do with its affordable classes and its multimedia approach to learning. Or maybe it’s the sense of community it strives to foster among its students, with forums and an online student union. One thing’s for certain: as an online college contender, Walden University has made its mark.

4. Westwood College Online – Request FREE info packet


Westwood College, originally based in Denver, CO, only entered the online college scene in 2002, but already it has had a major impact with its unique interpretation of the online college experience. Placing value on a real classroom atmosphere, Westwood utilizes audio/video technology to capture the feel of a real lecture; students are also provided with real hard-copy books, allowing them time to study away from the computer screen. Westwood also seems to realize that education doesn’t just stop once you’ve received your diploma — the school offers an Alumni Retaining program, where former students can continue to stay on top of new developments and practice updates in their field, for no tuition. Though new to the game, don’t expect Westwood Online to leave any time soon.

5. Capella University – Request FREE info packet


Though not quite as new as Westwood, Capella University is still a fairly recent addition to the correspondence college family, with fifteen years of service under its belt. Within that time, Capella has risen to become one of the most prestigious institutions in its class. Specializing in graduate degrees, the university nonetheless offers a multitude of degree programs at every level, and encourages student discourse and participation in the form of class discussions, assignment postings, and faculty and peer reviews. Although Capella is strictly an online school, representatives and faculty often travel the country to hold seminars and conferences, making connections with students of its past, present, and future.

6. Colorado Technical University Online- Request FREE info packet


Though Colorado Technical University can only lend its services to those within state lines, students from all over the world can benefit from an education at Colorado Technical University Online. Understanding that different students have different wants and needs in learning, CTU offers options in the classroom: you can choose to “show up” for live classes and chat online with your professors and classmates, or watch prerecorded lectures. One thing that doesn’t change, however, is being taught by knowledgeable professors who are respected and active in their fields. In addition, not only can you earn a valuable degree, but also resume-enhancing academic certificates as you gain important skills along the way. It all adds up to a college that consistently ranks among the top online universities in the nation.

7. AIU Online- Request FREE info packet


There are plenty of universities out there, but how many of them are truly global institutions? With campuses from Los Angeles to London, and now reaching farther than ever via the power of the internet, American InterContinental University certainly fits the bill. AIU is on a mission to cultivate a geographically and culturally diverse student population, and provide their students with quality education in a choice of many subjects to help them advance in their careers. A bustling virtual campus, interactive learning labs, crackerjack career services center, and growing global community of students and alumni all come together to make AIU an excellent choice for an online education.

8. Argosy University Online

When the powers of three recently merged colleges combine, the outcome is Argosy University, one of today’s hottest online learning institutions. Specializing in business, education, and health care, Argosy’s goal is to encourage a good sense of ethics and social skills within the professional fields to which it caters. On a related note, Argosy has an excellent relationship with all branches of the U.S. military and its veterans, offering everything from honoring of the G.I. Bill and loan repayment programs to tutorial assistance and tuition supplements for dependents.

9. Kaplan University- Request FREE info packet


If you’ve ever taken the SAT, ACT, or an advanced placement test, then you must be familiar by now with Kaplan, Incorporated — but did you know that the popular college prep institution is also a college in and of itself? If you live outside of Iowa or Nebraska, you might be unfamiliar with their campuses, but luckily Kaplan has gone online and is up there with the best of them. Kaplan knows a thing or two about enhancing your success in education, and their online university is no exception. Along with active peer forums, a commitment to professor/student communication and innovative practices like web-based “field trips” and interactive seminars, Kaplan grants students access to knowledgeable advisors and an immense resource library. It can be a comforting thought to know that a place so dedicated to helping you in your academic accomplishments doesn’t quit once you graduate high school.

10. Baker College Online- Request FREE info packet


Rounding out the top ten is Michigan-based Baker College Online. Baker is a no-frills kind of college, but it knows one thing — it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg to get a quality education. Instead, the college offers a multitude of career-oriented graduate and undergraduate programs in the business and science fields. As far as the application process, Baker College boasts a “right-to-try” procedure: no one is turned away for an errant test score or mistakes or gaps in or after high school. If you are ready to make a commitment to education, then Baker is ready to make a commitment to you.

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