For mothers and fathers who must work and take care of kids, going
to school can seem impossible. Sometimes, there just aren’t
enough hours in the day to do everything, even the things you know
are important. But online associate degree programs are changing
the way education is delivered to busy people, and here’s
how working parents are benefitting from the latest in educational
technology.
Asynchronous Classes
Online associate degree programs offer what’s called asynchronous
classes to accommodate the needs of working parents and other busy
folks. What the “asynchronous” part means is that you
can attend classes at any time.
Asynchronous classes mirror traditional classroom learning in that
there will be assigned reading, homework, tests, and classroom discussions.
Everything will have a due date, just like in regular school. The
difference is that students can choose when to participate in discussions,
as long as they meet their required number of posts and responses
to other students. The homework must be turned in and the tests
may be taken by the due date, but the student may choose to submit
assignments or take the tests at 4:00 a.m. if that’s the most
convenient time for them.
For people who work and care for children, setting aside several
hours a day to attend class may not be possible, but asynchronous
classes are completely flexible in when you log on. For some parents,
the only time they may have to go to school is after the kids are
asleep and when on-campus colleges are closing down for the night.
Asynchronous education makes it possible.
Technical Support
For many working parents, the idea of earning an online associate
degree is a little intimidation. While online classes are designed
to be user-friendly, the technology can take some getting used to.
That’s why online colleges all have technical support staff
to guide folks through the learning process. Working parents who
haven’t had a lot of experience with computers are finding
it easier than ever to earn online associate degrees, because these
online colleges provide help to talk students through questions
about the software.
Accelerated Programs
One of the best things about online education is that working parents
don’t have to put aside years of their lives to get necessary
credentials. Online associate degree programs offer classes year
round, so it’s possible for working parents to earn what’s
traditionally a two-year degree in twelve to eighteen months. Graduating
sooner means less time in school and being that much closer to achieving
career goals.
Earning Potential
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with associate
degrees earned an average of $139 a week more than people with high
school diplomas in 2008. That comes out to an average earning difference
of $7228 per year. In addition, 5.7% of high school graduates were
unemployed in 2008 versus 3.7% for associate degree holders. Put
simply, more education translates to more money for working parents.
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