Environment guide

Mobile phone hire – International calls at local rates

You go to a foreign country and you have to make calls to your customers in that country, what do you do? Calls from your mobile will be routed from your present residence in your host country to your country of residence and back into the present residence. You will thus have to pay for an international call, even when you are making a local call. Solution? Have a mobile phone on hire from the local provider and start using it for all your local calls. That way mobile phone hire will pay for itself in just 3 or 4 local calls depending on the hire charges for your mobile and the local call rates.

Mobile phone hire – Things to do and not to do with mobile phone hire

There are some precautions you should take when you hire a mobile phone for your use in a foreign country.

Use your own phone and with mobile phone, hire only a SIM card. That way your directories will be useful to you in a foreign country too.
Store your local numbers in the SIM card of telephone and use them frequently so your mobile phone hire pays for itself
Do not store your important numbers in the SIM card of your phone. This way when you return your hired mobile phone you will not loose the data. Remember that data will be lost when you return the mobile phone and you will not be able to retrieve it anytime.
As far as possible use your mobile phone hire for local calls only.
Before you return the hired mobile phone, make sure that all the important persons contacting you know that you are not using the hired mobile phone any longer, so they will not try to contact you on your hired mobile phone. Sometimes your hired phone may be used by your competitor and a caller on your hired mobile phone may let out the secrets before he/she realizes that you are not the person he/she wants to talk to you.
Make sure that the SIM card phone numbers on your hired mobile phone do not contain your important numbers. If you have stored them on hired mobile phone, delete them before you return the hired mobile phone. This way you will make sure that the next person using the hired mobile phone does not get the numbers you feel are important
To keep your costs down get a quote from a mobile phone hire company before hand so you know what you are paying for your mobile phone hire.
Normal rent for mobile phone hire: While the rent for mobile phone hire may vary from place to place, it is never more than the unit local currency. For example, when you hire a mobile phone in UK it is generally £1 and for European community it may be €1. In Japan you may have to pay ¥100 as your hire charge for mobile phone since the Japanese Yen is a smaller currency.

Procedure for Mobile phone hiring: For hiring a mobile phone, the procedures are very simple. You contact a hiring company, give them an address for picking up a hired mobile phone put up a deposit and get the hired phone delivered to you. For returning also give a pick up point and that is the end of your mobile phone hire. Your call charges for hired phone cease after that moment.
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But while the technology used for online classes is so simple just about anyone can become an online student, you should ask yourself the following 5 questions first – and save yourself a lot of stress!

1) Do you have the time?
Many people think – mistakenly – that online courses are “easier” than traditional campus classes. But most online classes require regular participation. So, you must have the time to “log on” to your course several times each week, complete the assignments and do your homework, and interact with the other students.

All of this takes time…and, you have to account for the time you would normally have spent in the classroom. If you have the time, you will find taking an online class to be very convenient!

2) Do you have the discipline?
Sure, most online classes don’t require you to be on the computer at a specific time (although some do). So it is up to you to make sure you check in on your class several times each week. With a busy work schedule, sports, hobbies, housework, kids, it’s easy to put your class low on your priority list. And that could mean big trouble when it comes time to get your grade.

It’s not the teacher’s job to remind you to keep up with your work – that’s your responsibility. A simple way to make this work is to create your own schedule, so each week you know exactly when it’s time to “go to class”!

3) Do you have the money?
While there are many free or low-cost online “self help” courses available, college courses almost always cost the same whether you take them on-campus, or online. Colleges have to buy the software, train their faculty, and offer student services after hours – so expecting online courses to be less expensive is not reasonable.

On the other hand, the same financial aid is often available for online classes, just as with campus classes. So, money should not stop any student from furthering their education!

4) Do you have the right technical skills?
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a computer “genius” to take an online class. The technology has become very simple for students and teachers to use, so that students who can “surf the Internet” and use email usually have the necessary technical skills.

Before getting started, the school offering the course should have a sample course, tutorial, or other training to help you determine if there are any skills you need to learn, so you can become a successful online student!

5) Do you have the right computer equipment?
Since most online classes are taught through the Internet, students usually don’t need any special computer equipment. However, most online classes require students to have reliable access to the Internet, an email account (and the knowledge to use it), a word processor (such as Microsoft Word), and antivirus software. Check with your school to see if there are any other requirements.

A high speed internet connection is usually not required, but if instructors use graphics, videos, audio lectures, or other big files, a high speed connection (such as DSL or cable) will help you open the files, and do you work, more efficiently!

Are you ready now to take your first online class? Then it’s time to contact your local college, or search the internet for an online class directory, and see what online courses you can take!]]>

Selecting the right distance learning school.

The first element for success is to choose the right distance learning school. There are many unscrupulous “degree mills” around in the market that are only keen to sell their degrees without providing good education and ample student support. As a result, the degrees offered by these institutions may not be recognized, or may sometimes even be regarded as bogus degrees. In order to prevent this, do the proper background check on the institution you are considering with the relevant authorities to verify on their accreditation and authenticity before registering.

Cost-benefit analysis
Some students enroll in an online distance learning course without doing a cost benefit analysis of taking the course in the first place. It is a known fact that obtaining an education requires a hefty sum of investment. However, this should be compared with the potential additional income that can be generated from the degree that is earned. Only then can the full rewards be reaped from gaining an online degree.

Degree positioning to employers.

There have been many cases where employers were wary of the validity of online degrees. With so many online institutions selling degrees, it is justified for employers to exercise caution. Although a distance learning degree may be 100% legitimate, it would help if you provide adequate explanation on the accreditation of the degree in order to avoid misunderstanding. By stressing that the accreditation body which accredited your institution or your program is recognized by the US Department of Education as well as CHEA, you can then eliminate any doubts that employers about the validity of your degree.

Exercise discipline, determination and time management.

In the actual course of study, many students lack discipline and focus and therefore are unable to keep up with online lessons and assignments. It is very important for distance learning students to have great determination to succeed, as it is very easy to get de-motivated and distracted when you are alone with no peers. Good time management along with communication with other students would make excellent measures for success.

Make full use of facilities provided.

Many distance learning online courses offer online lectures and email correspondence to facilitate communication with lecturers, tutors and other students. These facilities should be utilized as much as possible as it provides a link back to the education institution. Furthermore, this would be a great source of motivation in order to keep progressing through the course of study.

Utilize credit transfers.

Most distance learning institutions allow students to transfer their credits from other courses that they had taken from other universities or colleges. This way, students will not have to repeat what they have already learnt. In order to do this, it is important for distance learning students to obtain transcripts and results from their previous schools and send them to their distance learning online university to obtain credit transfers.

Good utilization of technology for education.

The final element for distance learning success it the ability to make full use of the conveniences that technology has to offer. Many online universities provide students with online research resources that are valuable for completing assignments or producing research papers. The cost of facilities such as virtual libraries and online books has probably been factored into the fees paid and therefore it makes good sense to utilize these facilities to the fullest.]]>

While there are many courses of study available online, a few really stand out as popular choices for people seeking career advancement and personal fulfillment.

Accounting Degree – Accounting degrees are widely sought these days. Corporations especially need good accountants to avoid Enron type scandals.

MBA Degree – The prestige and pure earning power of an MBA degree will never go out of style.

Psychology Degree – Despite Tom Cruise’s dislike for psychology, there are plenty of people who wish to study and practice psychology. Online study is particularly convenient to earn advanced psychology degrees.

Nursing Degree – With millions of Baby Boomers hitting their golden years, nurses will continue to be sorely needed to fill all kinds of health care vacancies.

Health Administration Degree – Health Administration is another growing field. Management professionals are needed in hospitals, clinics, and health related agencies to work in our often challenging health care environment.

Paralegal Degree – Paralegals or Legal Assistants are always in demand by corporations and law firms. While Paralegals don’t practice law, they are the backbone of any law office or legal department.

Biblical Studies/Seminary Degree – While others take care of the body, some are called to tend to the soul. An accredited degree in religious studies is highly valued amongst faith based communities and congregations.

Graphic Design Degree – For people who love to draw and paint for fun, a Graphic Design degree is the perfect career move. Graphic design can mean designing simple ad layouts to creating sophisticated multimedia presentations.

Don’t sweat it if your career choice isn’t on this list. Most likely, you’ll still be able to take courses online to meet your desired career goals. There is a large variety of choice when it comes to online courses. Take a few moments to investigate the possibilities for professional career advancement now available to you. You really can study from the cozy comfort of your living room. How nice.]]>

DIRECTV - The Early Years

Satellite as we know it today actually started back in 1984, when Hughes Electronics gained FCC approval to build and operate a direct broadcast satellite system, or DBS. The satellite DIRECTV-1 was launched on December 17, 1993 and in 1994, Hughes Electronics founded DIRECTV and premiered the first North American offering of DBS service. Often called the “minidish”, this new satellite dish was considerably smaller than what consumers were used to - approximately 18 inches in diameter - and much more manageable than those large, cumbersome TVRO satellite dishes from our past.

Along with its sleek and compact look, the minidish brought consumers a new way of receiving satellite television transmissions. Older TVRO dish systems were analog only and based on open standards equipment. Minidish systems on the other hand, were digital, offering clearer video and audio, and were operated on a closed system that required special reception equipment. TVRO systems were also mobile, a necessary feature to allow them to pick up transmissions from multiple satellite systems, while minidish systems are stationary and received all of their programming from one specific satellite. In August of 1994, DIRECTV launched its second satellite, DIRECTV-2 and boasted one million subscribers at the end of the year.

DIRECTV - Full Steam Ahead

In 1995, DIRECTV authorized Toshiba and Uniden to begin manufacturing DBS systems. Committing to $170 million in advertising, DIRECTV prepared for the expected subscriber growth and launched their third satellite, DIRECTV-3 in July.

In 1997, DIRECTV launched DIRECTV-6 and in 1998, with over 4 million subscribers, DIRECTV Satellite entered into an agreement to purchase its partner, US Satellite Broadcasting for over $1.3 billion in stocks and cash. The merger provided DIRECTV customers with access to USSB’s premier movie broadcasting, increasing channel selection from 185 to 210. In July, DIRECTV invested $250 million in XM satellite radio.

1999 brought even more growth when DIRECTV acquired Primestar, Inc. and their 2.3 million subscribers. As part of the transaction, DIRECTV inherited Primestar’s satellite assets - specifically, 11 transponders and two satellites - giving them high-powered DBS frequencies to provide full coverage of the continental United States. In addition to the Primestar acquisition, DIRECTV launched a new satellite of their own, DIRECTV-1R on October 10th.

By 2001, DIRECTV Satellite had gained over 10 million subscribers and in October, announced it’s intention to merge with it’s prime competitor, EchoStar Communications, the parent company of DISH Network. In November, DIRECTV joined with Music Choice and Wink Communications to announce a new interactive music commerce service that would allow consumers to purchase a CD of the song they were listening to directly through their remote control. This 24/7 feature was launched in September of 2002.

The merger with EchoStar’s DISH Network fell through in 2003 and later that same year, General Motors sold their controlling interest of Hughes Electronics to News Corporation. 2003 also saw the introduction of a new high-definition video recorder from DIRECTV and TiVo as well as a second-generation model through a partnership with Philips. This was also the second year in a row that DIRECTV was named #1 in customer service by JD Powers & Associates.

On November 11, 2003, DIRECTV enjoyed its 12 millionth customer milestone.

DIRECTV - Today

Today, DIRECTV offers service to more than 14 million subscribers in the continental US as well as the one million plus subscribers in Latin America. It remains the top ranking consumer satellite provider and continues to expand its offerings through high-definition and special interest packages such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET and TOTAL CHOICE® Mobile programming.

What does the future hold for DIRECTV?

With four new satellites expected by the end of 2007 and exclusive DVR sneak previews of high-ranking premium broadcasting, DIRECTV continues to push the envelope and expand the definition of satellite television entertainment. What will be next for DIRECTV?

If history offers any clue, it’s sure to be big!]]>

Knowing the notes on your guitar fretboard is an essential skill. Here are a FEW of
the benefits that you’ll gain if you have fantastic guitar fretboard knowledge…

1. You’ll learn how to apply music theory to the guitar much more quickly. In my
opinion there’s no point learning music theory if you can’t PLAY it!

2. Your creativity will increase. You’ll be able to think of new and unique ways of
playing chords and scales. If you don’t know the notes on the guitar fretboard, you’ll be stuck playing the same chord and scale fingerings that everyone uses.

3. You’ll become a better musician. Great musicians don’t just think in terms of chord shapes or scale fingerings. They think in terms of NOTES.

4. You’ll save yourself hundreds (if not thousands!) of hours of frustration. By
knowing the notes on the fretboard you’ll be able to understand, learn and memorize
things faster.

Pretty powerful benefits right?

So…how do we know if our note knowledge is good enough? Here’s a great way of
finding out…

Note Knowledge Test:

Step 1:
Please turn on your metronome and set it to 120 beats-per-minute.

Step 2:
Decide on a note that you will work on.

Step 3:
Find that note on the thickest string in all possible locations. (One note location per click of the metronome).

Step 4:
Without pausing, repeat the process on all the other strings.

Step 5:
Repeat steps 2-4 for all the other notes.

How did you go? Did you find it hard or easy?

If you couldn’t do it easily, then you have some work to do. I would recommend
setting aside 10 minutes a day to work on memorizing the notes of the fretboard.
Within a few short weeks, you should have it nailed. Good luck!]]>

In the winter of 1436-1437, Vlad(Dracul) became prince of Wallachia and took up residence at the palace of Tirgoviste, the princely capital. In 1442, he and his younger brother Radu were taken hostage by the Turkish Sultan Murad II. Dracul was held in Turkey until 1448, while his brother Radu decided to stay there until 1462.

At 17 years old, Vlad, supported by troops lent to him by pasha Mustafa Hassan, tried to seize the Wallachian throne but was defeated by Vladislav II (who had earlier assassinated his father and oldest brother ) after two months or armed conflict. Vlad had to wait until 1456, when he was able to seek retribution against his father’s assassin.

Vlad’s first act of vengeance was aimed at the boyars of Tirgoviste for the killing of his father and older brother Mircea. Around Easter of 1459, Vlad had all the boyar families arrested and impaled the elder members on stakes while forcing the others to march from the capital to the town of Poenari. He then ordered them to build him a fortress on the ruins of an older outpost overlooking the Arges River. Many nobles died in the construction of this castle, the ruins of which can still be seen today.

Vlad became known for his brutal punishment techniques; often ordering people to be skinned, decapitated, blinded, roasted, hacked, buried alive, stabbed and blinded to name a few. He also liked to cut off his victim noses, ears and sexual organs. But his favourite form of torture was impalement on stakes, hence the surname “Tepes” which means “The Impaler” in the Romanian language. It was this form of punishment that he used against Transylvanian merchants who ignored his trade laws.

There are many tales about the psyche of Vlad Tepes. He was known throughout the country for his fierce adherence to honesty and order. Almost any crime, from lying and stealing to killing, could be punished by impalement. Being so confident in the efficiency of his law, Dracula placed a golden cup on display in the central square of Tirgoviste. The cup could be used by thirsty travellers, but had to remain on the square. It was never stolen and remained entirely untouched throughout Vlad’s reign. He looked upon the poor, vagrants and beggars as thieves. Consequently, he invited all the poor and sick of Wallachia to his court in Tirgoviste for a magnificent feast. After his guests had eaten and drunk their fill, Dracula ordered the hall boarded up and set on fire. There were no survivors.

At the beginning of 1462, Vlad launched a campaign against the Turks along the Danube River which was very successful, managing several victories. In retaliation for these losses, the Sultan decided to launch a full-scale invasion of Wallachia with an army three times larger than Dracula’s. Vlad was forced to withdraw towards Tirgoviste, burning villages and poisoning wells along the way.

These acts were designed to hinder the Turkish army in their search for food and water. When the Sultan’s armies finally reached the capital city, exhausted and hungry, they were confronted by a horrific sight: thousands of stakes held the bodies of some 20,000 Turkish captives, which came to be known as “Forest of the Impaled.” The scene which was laid out before them had an immediate effect; the Sultan hungry and worn out retreated. The Sultan Mehmed left the next phase of the battle to Vlad’s younger brother Radu who pursued his brother and wife to Poenari castle on the Arges River.

Dracula’s wife, in order to escape Turkish capture, committed suicide by hurling herself from the upper walls, her body falling down the cliff face into the river below. Vlad managed to escape the siege and made his way to hungry with the help of local peasants. Upon his arrival the Hungarian king Matthias arrested Dracula and imprisoned him at the Hungarian capital of Visegrad.

In 1475, Vlad Tepes again became prince of Wallachia where he enjoyed a very short third reign. He was assassinated towards the end of 1476.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about Vlad Tepes or as he was better known-Dracula.

In my next article will learn about the life of(Mad)King George III.

Unitl then,

Best wishes and have a great day

Stuart Bazga

Guide to Castles of Europe]]>

These members of royalty have included tyrants, the mentally insane, drunks and the psychotic, who have murdered for pleasure and raped for enjoyment. Imposed terrible taxes on already poor citizens. They married for financial power and traded in lives. Kinfolk were murdered so a favorable son could rise through the ranks. As their power increased so did the atrocities, bringing with it the hatred of a nation and it’s people.

Join me as we take a trip back in time, discovering which Monarchs were tyrants, mentally unstable, drunks and psychotic, as well as those who were loved by their people.

This series of articels will highlight the lives of Vlad Tepes(Dracula), King Ludwig II and King George III to name a few.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria, named after his grandfather, was born in Nymphenburg Castle outside Munich on August 25, 1845 and was the eldest son of King Maximillian II and Queen Marie. As a boy, Ludwig’s favourite time of the year were the summer holidays spent at the Royal Castle Hohenschwangau which his father restored between 1832 and 1836.

In 1858, at the age of thirteen, Ludwig was introduced to Wagner’s opera - Lohengrin, the story of which centres around the heroic medieval Swan-knight Lohengrin, by his governess. The young Ludwig instantly fell in love with its concept and it was the begining of a life long love with all of Wagner’s works. It was not long before he was acquiring and reading every book written by Wagner. On February 2nd, 1861, Ludwig attended his first Wagner opera - Lohengrin, the Knight of the Swan which left a lasting impression on the young Prince.

In March of 1864, his father died at the age of 53 and Ludwig, at the age of eighteen, became King Ludwig II. With in days of coming to the throne a young and impressionable King ordered his officials to seek out Wagner and bring him back to Munich, taking it upon himself to become Wagner’s patron. He settled his debts, and set him up comfortably in an Italianate-style villa.

Munich society began to grow weary of Wagner’s arrogance and were also increasingly jealous of his hold over their young King. Eighteen months after his arrival, Wagner left Munich for Switzerland and Ludwig fled to Hohenschwangau. The one person that brought joy into his life had been taken from him.

In 1866 war broke out between Austria and Prussia in what became known as the Seven Weeks War. Because of her strong links with Austria, Bavaria was drawn into the conflict on the Austrian side. In a secret treaty King Ludwig II placed the Bavarian army at the disposal of the Prussian General Staff.

Ludwig was to marry in August of 1867 but he was unhappy with the relationship so changed the date to October 12th, which incidentally was the date that both his grandfather and father married. Ludwig was very unsettled at the prospect of marrying and as such voiced his apprehension to his Court Secretary, confessing that he would rather drown himself than marry. He wrote to Wagner “Oh, if only I could be carried on a magic carpet to you . . . at dear, peaceful Tribschen (Lucerne, Switzerland.) - Even for an hour or two.

In November, King Ludwig II broke of his engagement fleeing to his beloved Alps. He wrote to Wagner from Hohenschwangau on 21 November, 1867; “I write these lines sitting in my cosy gothic bow-window, by the light of my lonely lamp, while outside the blizzard rages. It is so peaceful here; this silence is stimulating, whereas in the clamour of the world I feel absolutely miserable. “Thank God I am alone at last. My mother is far away, as is my former bride, who would have made me unspeakably unhappy. Before me stands a bust of the one, true Friend whom I shall love until death. . . If only I had the opportunity to die for you.”

It was at this point that Ludwig began to plan and build his castles. The task of being king was becoming a heavy burden. He had at the age of only 20, sent thousands of his countrymen to fight in the Seven Weeks War. Two years after his failed romance, Ludwig again had to send his countries men into battle. This time it was against the French in what became the Franco-Prussian War. From then on Ludwig withdrew into himself and into a world of make-believe. The plans for both Neuschwanstein and Linderhof originated from this time in his life (1869).

Ludwig was a changed person. He went from a slender youth to a huge man in just a few years, spending all his time in the mountains at Hohenschwangau and Linderhof as well as his small mock-Gothic castle at Berg, beside Lake Starnberg. He refused any contact with his ministerial staff and sought only the companionship of the mountain people. The only time King Ludwig II ventured out of the mountains and into Munich was at the annual investiture and banquet given in the Residenz for the Knights of the Order of St. George, Bavaria’s highest Order of Chivalry which Ludwig was the Grand Master.

Shortly after Prussia’s victory in the Franco-Prussian War, Bismark sought Ludwig’s approval for Bavaria to enter a unified German Empire with Prussia as leader. After several days, Ludwig succumbed and wrote a letter inviting Wilhelm II to become Emperor of a united Germany. King Ludwig II handed over his beloved Bavaria, becoming a lonely figurehead in a constitutional monarchy. Life had dealt Ludwig blow after blow and it was these events that were the root of his seclusion and alleged “madness”. With his world falling apart around him King Ludwig II withdrew from it into a world of his own making.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about King Ludwig II.

In my next article will learn about the life of Queen mary I of England or as she was nicknamed “Bloody Mary”. Until then,

Best wishes and have a great day

Stuart Bazga

www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com]]>

These members of royalty have included tyrants, the mentally insane, drunks and the psychotic, who have murdered for pleasure and raped for enjoyment. They have imposed terrible taxes on already poor citizens. They married for financial power and traded in lives. Kinfolk were murdered so a favorable son could rise through the ranks. As their power increased so did the atrocities, bringing with it the hatred of a nation and its people.

Join me as we take a final trip back in time, discovering which Monarchs were tyrants, mentally unstable, drunks and psychotic, as well as those who were loved by their people.

We bring this series of articles to a close by taking a look at the life and times of Philip II of France.

Philip II, born 1165, was the son of King Louis VII and became King of France in 1180 when his father died.

In 1190, Philip along with Richard I of England and the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I Barbarossa, embarked on the Third crusade as comrades in arms but at some point during the journey they quarreled. Philip returned to France a year later whilst the French army remained in Outremer under the command of Hugues III, duke of Burgundy.

Allying himself with the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI and Richard’s brother, John, he set about claiming Richard’s territories in France as his own. In 1194, after returning from the crusades, Richard set off on a new campaign retaking all the territories that had been seized by Philip during his absence. By the time of Richard’s death in 1199, most of his territory had been regained.

When John became king of England after his brother’s death, Philip began a campaign to retake all the land that Richard had won back. Between 1201 and 1205, Normandy, Maine, Brittany, Anjou, Touraine, and Poitou fell to Philip.

An alliance of European powers, including that of England, became concerned at the growing power of France and her armies and in 1214 went to war with King Philip II. At the Battle of Bouvines, Philip II’s forces inflicted a heavy defeat upon the coalition forces which included those of Otto IV of Germany. The consequence of the defeat was that Philip became one of the most powerful men in Europe.

Philip immediately set about reorganizing his government, bringing with it financial stability. This allowed the country to grow and prosper. His court officials had the majority of their powers removed and he replaced them with a council made up of middle class citizens, bestowing upon them, some of the powers removed form his nobles. During this time of upheaval and reorganization, towns grew, trade flourished and Paris was established as the capital of France.

With Paris firmly established as France’s new capital, Philip II undertook a major rebuilding program, the likes of which had never been seen. He had all the main thoroughfares paved, built Les Halles (a central market) and continued with the construction of Notre-Dame Cathedral which was begun in 1163 by his father Louis VII.
Philip II also gave the world the Louver, which at the time was built as a fortress, as well as giving a charter to the University of Paris in 1200.

With the act of relieving his nobles of their powers and the new prosperity he brought to the country, Philip was seen as a peoples King who became very popular amongst his subjects.

Philip II died July 14, 1223 at Mantes.

Our journey has come to an end. I hope you have enjoyed these brief insights into the life and times of some of Europe’s most loved and hated monarchs.

So until my next article

Best wishes and have a great day

Stuart Bazga

www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com]]>

Attend the orientation and any study sessions offered by the university, if at all possible. Instructors offer valuable information in these sessions. Utilize on campus resources such as the college library and computer lab. Many schools offer online resources, such as online libraries and tutoring for distance learning students. Take advantage of all resources your school has to offer to get the most out of your education.

Create a schedule with regular times for studying and stick to your schedule. If you are taking more than one class, get a large calendar. Listing all exam and assignment due dates on this calendar makes a great visual aid to help with time management. You can schedule how much time you will spend on each class based on this information. If you have a large paper due this week in one class and an exam next week in another, you can schedule your study time accordingly.

Jump right in and get started on the material. Many successful students get the books early and read the first few chapters before the class starts. If you can get a copy of the class syllabus early, do the first week’s work before the class starts. You will be a week ahead of the game when class starts. Try to stay at least a week ahead, whenever possible. Being ahead gives you flexibility if something comes up during the semester to take you away from your work for a few days. If you can’t get the syllabus, read a few chapters to familiarize yourself with the material.

Interact often with your instructor to get the most from the course. You can request that the instructor look at your schedule and give you feedback on your progress in the class. Schedule time to participate in online discussions or group projects your program offers. Some instructors require you to post replies on a message board as part of the course. You will be given points for this participation.

As you work your way through the course, follow the syllabus and study guide carefully. Complete all reading assignments and take complete notes on the material you read. Read each chapter when it is assigned. Don’t skip the reading and try to catch up before the exam. Reading six chapters two days before the test will result in a lower grade. The same goes for studying. Don’t try to study the night before an exam. Study and read a little bit each day for the best retention.

To do well in distance education courses, you must complete all assignments on time. If you have a hectic schedule, try to complete all papers and assignments early. You won’t have to worry about something coming up the night before an assignment is due. Working late or having a sick child can throw you off schedule and cause your assignments to be late. Some instructors will give partial credit for late work, while others will give no credit. No instructors give full credit for late work in college.]]>