The concept of distant learning which is a term applied to online career training is not really new. Learn at home courses have been around for a long time. The original ones were mail orientated. You would sign up for the course, and receive your books and manuals via mail. Mail was also used to send in your completed work, and to take tests. The internet has changed all of this. Instant communication has caused the number of online home courses to skyrocket in recent years.
How do you sort through the many options available and pick the one that is best for your individual needs? The short answer is research. When you visit an online training site, it is exactly the same as visiting a campus. You need to take a virtual tour and ask yourself some important questions.
* Is this site user friendly? The online website is your classroom and your desk, and even often the campus library. You are going to be spending a lot of time there and it is going to help if it is easy to get around on it.
* What is the complete cost? This would be a major concern if you were visiting a campus offline. You need to make sure you understand the complete cost and this would include any extra hidden costs that might be contained in the fine print.
* What is the Institutes reputation? It is a good idea to try to get some outside references when evaluating the reputation of an online training institute. Do not rely on what they say about their own services. More than likely, they are going to say they are the best, but they might be a bit biased.
If your interest is in online computer training, it is always a good idea to evaluate if the training offered is of a practical nature. Computer theory and the history of the internet are all very interesting, but employers are looking for those particular hands on skills in such things as Microsoft Word or Quicken. If you are thinking of online IT training, you must also evaluate the trainer’s certification programs to determine if the course of study is going to look good on a resume sitting on the desk of a Computer Human Resources Manager. Also, look for the extra things that make home based study a bit more palatable. Video-based training as become popular lately as a companion to online computer training. In many ways, video-based training has taken place of the classroom instructor and the lab that made learning so easy in a traditional offline setting.
Natalie Aranda writes about careers and training. The concept of distant learning which is a term applied to online career training is not really new. Learn at home courses have been around for a long time. The original ones were mail orientated. You would sign up for the course, and receive your books and manuals via mail. Mail was also used to send in your completed work, and to take tests. The internet has changed all of this. Instant communication has caused the number of online home courses to skyrocket in recent years. If your interest is in online computer training, it is always a good idea to evaluate if the training offered is of a practical nature. Computer theory and the history of the internet are all very interesting, but employers are looking for those particular hands on skills in such things as Microsoft Word or Quicken.
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