We have to understand that being a DE student requires certain qualities for our educational goals to be met, that of integrating the concepts learned and eventually finishing the degree.

The distant learner should be an independent or autonomous learner. Remember that a distant learner is away from the teacher. There is only periodic interaction with the teacher. Most of the time you will only be dealing with your learning materials (printed modules, journal articles, etc). Reading voluminous modules will take your time. As much as possible, make it a routine everyday to read your modules. Mapping your reading schedules will guide you. Remember you are on your own, so “self management” and self-discipline is a plus factor.

The modules are often thick to carry around. Here’s a tip for you: I tore my printed modules apart so that I can carry them whenever I am. You can also do the same. Really, one has to reinvent learning strategies to cope with the demands of the distance education course one is taking. Your office, home, any coffee shop or any corner for that matter can serve as your classroom.

Another activity to occupy your time is answering assignments, online forums and discussions. Having your own computer and an efficient Internet connection are resources that you cannot do without. Learn how to be tech savvy and make it a bit that once a day go online to check on news or reminders the teacher or your fellow learners might have posted.

Do not procrastinate. Don’t delay any of your scheduled readings or assignments. It is better if you read in advance. From the readings, I for one take down notes or sometimes do diagrams of the concepts I have encountered for easy recall.

For quite some time now, I’ve been thinking of this question because of the impending doom of climate change and whatnot. I’ve been on the look out for ways on how to reduce my carbon footprint—walking more instead of riding jeeps or tricycle, saving water, and electricity, using both sides of a paper and others.

I firmly believe that, yes, it is possible to go “paperless” in a distance education setting or a university setting, if people would want to. In fact, Bicol University have taken steps to go paperless. However, the decision of going “paperless” in a distance education setting doesn’t only lie to the student but also to the professors and university officials.

I’m not advocating for people to go entirely paperless. As what Karen Unger wrote in her TechNewsWorld article, “It’s unlikely that we will ever fully rid ourselves of dependence on paper.“ Instead, what I want is to reduce my dependence on paper.

Students do use a lot of papers throughout their academic life and will even use more paper once they join the workforce.

5 Simple Ways to Reduce Paper Use in a distance education setting

1. Use your phone’s organizer / calendar function instead of desktop calendars or planners – For the past three semesters, I’ve been using printout calendars to keep track of deadlines for assignments or other school activities. Since my cellphone is open 24 hours and 7 days a week, I decided to fully maximize its organizer / calendar function.
2. Submit assignments / projects electronically as much as possible – The sad truth is that in this age of technology not all professors / instructors would allow you to submit your assignments and projects electronically. I’ve encountered a lot of professors at UPOU who would only accept “hard copy” submissions. Well, maybe they’re not always in front of their computers to check submissions sent via e-mail or Moodle. However, I’m fortunate that there is still quite a small number of professors who prefer submission via e-mail or Moodle. Sending via e-mail and the Internet means saving even more money because you don’t have to pay for the printing and the sending of the document.
3. Communicate via E-mail - The great thing about UP Open University is that everyone is an e-mail away—from the university officials, to the professors/instructors, and to the students! So, the fastest way to communicate with each other in a distance education setting is via e-mail unless if you need to send hard copy documents like True Copy of Grades, Transcript of Records, etc. For example, if you want to have a personal copy your grades on the course you’ve taken last semester, you could just ask for your Student’s Checklist from the Office of the University Registrar via e-mail and they’ll furnish you a PDF file of your records.
4. Writing an essay? Type it on your computer right away – Typing your assignments or projects on your computer right away won’t only save time; it would also reduce your use of paper. I’m not a fan of writing essays or assignments using pen and paper and then encoding them on my laptop later on. I prefer encoding them on my laptop right away because it’s easier to edit and correct mistakes.
5. Have a pile of readings and handouts? Make them into scratch papers – Every semester, professors would give handouts or readings. After reading them (usually at the end of the semester), I cut them into small pieces (size: approximately 1/4 of a bond paper) and use them as scratch paper.

Any more ideas on how to go paperless in a distance education setting? Share them below.

An online bachelor’s degree program can open doors to advanced employment opportunities and an exciting new career. Many of today’s job openings require a four-year degree; even for entry-level jobs, a bachelor’s degree can give applicants the edge in the competitive job market. Traditional education programs can require a lengthy leave of absence from current employment, and generally require set times of attendance that may not fit with existing schedules and obligations. Online courses allow students the flexibility to take classes on their own timetables while continuing to hold down a full-time job; financial aid is available for most online degree programs as well. Before selecting an online bachelor’s degree program, however, students should ensure that it meets certain basic standards for educational excellence.

Accreditation

Ensuring that the degree program you select is accredited by a recognized U.S. agency is vital in order to ensure the value of your degree. The Council for Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education are the governing bodies for educational accreditation; programs that meet their requirements are listed in “Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education” published by the American Council on Education. Any online program can advertise itself as accredited; this does not indicate, however, that they have been reviewed and approved by a recognized accrediting body. Students should investigate the degree program thoroughly. Watch for warning signs that an institution may not be legitimate. While it is easy to determine that online schools offering a degree for $300 and requiring no class work are diploma mills, other signs include a lack of accreditation information, scanty contact information, and little or no documentation of the university’s existence outside their internet presence. Accreditation is the value behind an online degree, so making sure that the institution chosen is properly accredited is essential in order to avoid wasted time and money.

Flexibility

The best online degree programs offer flexibility to their students, not only in class times and requirements, but also in terms of what career options are available to graduates. Avoid overspecialized degrees and programs; these can limit your employment options and make it difficult to find employment in your chosen field. A well-rounded educational background can open doors to opportunities in a variety of fields, making you more employable and providing a solid foundation for the future. By choosing a degree that offers a number of career paths, you will maximize your employment potential and ensure that you get the most from your online degree.

Today’s students have more educational options than ever before. Online degree programs offer real, marketable skills and credentials that can provide opportunities for advancement, promotion, or an entirely new career; by ensuring that the program selected is accredited and offers broad employment potential, graduates can be certain that their online program truly confers a degree of excellence.

AT UP DILIMAN

1. Go to the Office of the University Registrar-Diliman. Approach the “Records Management and Appraisal Section” of the UPD-OUR and tell them that you’re a cross-registrant from UPOU and that you wish to obtain a TCG or True Copy of Grades.
2. The personnel will give you a clearance form which you need to fill out. Be sure to indicate all the subjects you’ve cross-registered at UPOU including the semester and academic year. When done, approach the window and give your clearance form. Take a seat and wait for the personnel to call you.
3. When you are called, approach the window and the personnel will give you an application form for TCG. The form includes the amount you need to pay. Fill out the application form and pay the fee at the UP Cashier. The TCG costs P20.00 / page.
4. When you are done paying, approach the Records Management and Appraisal window and present your application form and receipt. Upon receiving your TCG, you need to sign the logbook located beside the window.

AT YOUR LEARNING CENTER

1. Submit the original copy of your TCG to your learning center coordinator.

The Law of Attraction—A photo of the UP Oblation wearing the Sablay (UP Graduation Garb) with the text "May 8, 2010," the date of UPOU's Commencement Exercises.

Honestly, I don’t know anymore what to post here. So, my dear readers, I urge you to comment or e-mail me on what topics regarding distance education are you interested about. I need your inputs! I’ll try my best respond to them through a blog post.

What’s happening on my part of the world? Well, the first semester has just ended and I’m a bit worried about some of the courses I took this semester. I’m not that confident about my grades, especially in Humanities 1. I really don’t care about the numerical grade. What I want is to pass every course I take/taking/took. But, I’m really happy that my grade in Mathematics 11 (College Algebra) is actually good. No, I’m not a Math Genius. My grades in other courses I took during the previous semesters weren’t that bad, either.

I’m actually aiming to finish my Associate in Arts (AA) degree next semester. Actually, I lack only 12 units of General Education courses, 2 units of Physical Education and 3 units of National Training Service Program. Hopefully, I get to finish and pass all my courses. I’m nervous and worried because I really want to finish my degree on time. I’ve been doing my best to excel in each course that I take. But, I can only do so much. For the past semesters, I’ve been exceeding the allowable number of units per semester just so I can finish my degree on time. I really exerted a lot of my time, effort, energy, and even money so I can graduate soon—it even killed my social life.

However, there are things in life that one can’t really control.

But, as I’ve said, I can only do so much. I believe that I’ve done my best to fulfill my responsibilities and obligations as a student. I’ve been going the extra mile. If I will graduate on May 8, 2010, then, so be it.