I am a huge fan of eBooks and hardly go anywhere without my Nook Color since I never know when I might get a spare moment to read. There is quite a difference, though, between reading a book on a computer screen or eBook reader and reading one in print. I have learned to increase the font size, change the font style, and adjust the backlight to make it easier on the eyes. I also read books directly on the Internet.

Since online courses require reading on the Internet, and often provide eBooks as alternatives to print textbooks, these web sites may provide some ideas for making your online reading experiences better. Let us know what you have found that makes reading online a more pleasant experience for you!

• An App for Better Reading, Online and Off
• Browser Tips for Happier Reading Online
• Tools and Tips for Better Online Reading
• Top Ten Tools for Better Reading, Online and Off

 

Eighteen years ago I graduated from a law school in Spain, my mother country. Those were years of routine drives to the campus for attending class, taking notes, and physically interacting with other students and instructors. At that time my “only” occupation was being a student, which helped me attending classes on campus without the hindrance of other obligations.

Near the coast in my town of Sa Ràpita.

With the passage of years my life has become progressively more complex. Despite this I have always felt that the learning process should be dynamic, not static. What I mean is that, in my opinion, life is a continuous learning process and it is never too late to gain new and enriching knowledge. When I applied to Penn State through its virtual campus, the World Campus, I did it keeping in mind that online learning might be the only solution that allowed me to find the proper balance between my professional and family duties on the one hand and my academic aims on the other.

In my particular case, the fact that English was not my native language contributed to make things even a bit more complicated and overwhelming prima facie. After several semesters and on the verge of graduation, I look back with pride for the academic goals achieved during this period in an educational environment that was completely unknown to me until the time of my admission to Penn State. Out of my experience as an international learner studying at a college located in a different country, I would suggest the following tips I deem useful for other students who might eventually be in the same or a similar situation:

Your adviser: A multipurpose tool in your academic path.

If you do not understand some aspect regarding the University methodology do not hesitate to get in touch with your adviser as often as necessary. Your adviser is a highly committed professional who will try to ensure at all times that your adaptation to the University dynamics and mechanisms is as fitting as possible, taking into consideration the many challenges students in a virtual environment have to face. My adviser has saved me countless times from a vast array of problems with her tireless and invaluable help throughout the semesters (thanks Jane Ireland and Beth Brown for your support and dedication!).

Instructor: The importance of a fluent communication.

Your instructors obviously play key roles in your college experience. As previously noted, one the most challenging things for me has been the proper use of a foreign language. I was deeply concerned that some of my ideas were not properly understood, that I was unable to get a good grasp of the materials due to those language shortcommings, or that the fact of making grammatical errors might hinder my performance and eventually my grade. I have tried to make each of my instructors aware of those concerns from the very first lesson. I think it is very important that the instructor can address those concerns at an early stage by creating and fostering a friendly environment that helps the foreign student to feel less pressure placed upon his or her shoulders.

Due to the fact that in an online environment the interaction between instructor and student is basically virtual, I deem it very necessary that both actors inspire confidence mutually to the other. For that purpose constant communication is pivotal especially during the first weeks. For example, when the first submitted assignments are graded the student should pay much atention to the reasons and comments provided by the instructor for determining the grade. Those usually suggest the course of action the student should further implement for improving his or her academic performance in later assignments.

Fellow students: Fostering Collaborative Efforts

The fact that some of the students live in foreign countries might make interaction very challenging, especially when it comes to group or team assignments. Again, I think that communication and collaborative efforts can help overcome those difficulties by letting team members adjust their schedules accordingly. If this is not possible the instructor would have the final word trying to harmonize the different sensibilities and needs.

Other issues: Dealing with imponderable factors

There are particular circumstances that a student living overseas must face, which rarely will be experienced by the rest of the class. Thus, I have suffered some issues with my textbooks, which due to problems with their shipping, or even with the Spanish national customs, arrived very late to my despair and frustration. On one of those awful occasions my instructor decided to scan some of the materials sending them to me by email so I could be able to submit my homework in a timely manner. That was a good example of the flexibility that ultimately has made my student experience as a Penn Stater much easier and valuable.

Whoa, Whoa, slow down.

OK. What is gone?

Your courses are missing from ANGEL?

Your current courses are missing? Did you pay your bill?

Oh, some of your previous courses are missing. Got it.

So you were reviewing some of your older courses to refresh your memory for some courses that you’re taking this summer? When you logged in today they were gone? OK. Let me take a look.

Ahhhhh, I see what happened; your courses were archived. Courses on the ANGEL servers are archived one year after the end of the semester they were offered in. They are moved to what is called long-term storage for two years and then permanently deleted. Once that happens, they are gone for good.

While in storage, though, an instructor can request what is called a “course restore.” This is a way to get the course back in the event of academic dispute. This process is not an easy task and is time consuming. It can take up to two weeks to restore a course from archives.

The same thing happens to ANGEL groups that have what’s called “low activity.” This means that the group was accessed fewer than 12 times in the past six months.

Just so you are aware, there is another archiving scheduled for Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 4:00 a.m.  Eastern Time, during the ANGEL maintenance window. All courses from spring 2011 and before, and all low activity groups, will be archived at that time. So if there is anything you want to save or access before then you better hurry. Learn more about the archiving policy.

Nikki's desk of photos!

Multimedia specialist, Nikki Kauffman, has some very special people at her desk.

Photos of her children including her son, Jude, who has an auditory processing problem, fill her work space. Learning about his challenges has enabled her to apply new techniques to online learning such as designing course videos, interactive components, and other features that appeal to multiple learning styles.

Having his photos at her desk reminds her of the various types of learners there are and how to help with all types of challenges students face.

[contact-form]

This was my first semester taking five courses (15 credits), and I have to admit that I was a bit nervous at the beginning on how I was going to handle the caseload.  In the past, I would normally take four courses, so I guess I was gradually building myself up. Since this was my sixth semester with the World Campus, I thought it would be time to see if I could do it. The one thing that I did not factor in was the fact that I was in training for a new position at my work, but in the end, since the new position had better hours (no more late night shifts!!!), I was able to get through it.

What I was not prepared for was HPA 101 (Introduction to Health Services Organization), which was taught by Dr. Mike. It was a survey course, and I had no clue what a survey course was. I looked through the textbook before the semester started, and since it was a health policy class, a lot of the terminology from the textbook was familiar. I say that because of my background in trying to get the cochlear implants, as I had to deal with health insurances, and things of that nature. However, the course was more than that.  It was an eye opening experience for me.

In a survey course, you are required to do a lot of research, reading, and writing. Dr. Mike wanted us to use sources that had great reputations, and he introduced me to one of the greatest things that we as World Campus students have at our disposal…The online library (AKA…THE CAT).

In the beginning, I was worried that I was not going to be successful in this course, as I do struggle with writing papers “the college way.” Through constant communication with Dr. Mike, I was able to build up my confidence, and in the end, one of my papers got selected for what Dr. Mike calls the “HPA Hall of Fame.” From that point on, I knew I could succeed in the course.

Dr. Mike gave me confidence in my writing (even though I have four books published, my writing confidence still wavers). He gave me the tools to be able to look ahead to my PSYCH 400-level courses, and the confidence to say, “I can do it.” Dr. Mike instilled in me the skills that I needed to become a critical thinker, and perhaps a much better “college-style” paper writer.

My horizons expanded this spring semester also with my EGEE (Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering) course. This class probably opened up my eyes a little bit more to the environmental aspects of what goes on when we use electricity, energy, and how much we could really save, money-wise, and environmentally. Some of the statistics that I have read in this course really made me think. I was kind of wondering when I was reading the textbook, “How does this apply to my psychology major?” That was easy to determine after I took the final: “I was becoming a more rounded person, and not just being limited to studying psychology.”

That was what I got out of my spring 2012 semester. Penn State World Campus offers so much more than just what your major or degree is. It opens up more doors to your education by offering courses such as EGEE and HPA 101. I did think, back in the summer of 2010, that when I started I was going to have to take nothing but psychology classes, but as the semesters flew by, I know now that is not the case. Penn State wants you to become a well-rounded individual, and equip you with the tools and skills needed to succeed in all your courses.

I just want to say thanks to Dr. Mike for opening me up a little bit more and installing more confidence in my education. Now I know that I’m better prepared for the “back-stretch” of my journey to achieve my B.S. in Psychology, and that is what I learned from this semester. That is why I love Penn State World Campus.

WE ARE…

In just four months, the Fall semester will commence and, though many have already registered for courses, there is still plenty of time to decide what classes to take. In pursuit of our degrees, we are required to take several ‘general ed’ courses. Many times, we do not take such classes seriously—we just take whatever sounds most interesting and try to get the credit. I’d like to suggest, however, that we spend more time on such classes.

Some of us begin college with a goal in mind—to become a teacher, business-person, counselor, lawyer, or doctor. Some, however, are not as clear—we may like the idea of being a teacher, but we are not sure if it’s what we want to do the rest of our life. This is where those general ed. courses come in. Let me explain.

Last year, I took a Forensic Science course—a class that has very little to do with (I thought) my Psychology major. This class, however, introduced me to a field I had no idea I’d be interested in. By the end of the semester, I was considering a change in majors or at least incorporating forensics into my psychology career. I spent weeks researching careers that integrate both psychology and criminology/forensics; and, while I chose to stick with my Psychology major, my new found interest in forensics and criminology stays fresh in my mind when I consider the future.

If you are at all like me, there are subjects that you have yet to learn about. And, although it may not sound ‘up your alley,’ it may in fact open your eyes to a field that you are interested in that, otherwise, you would never have considered. In this light, I would encourage you to not just take classes that you know you’d enjoy or that you are familiar with; challenge yourself and see just how complex and unique our interests really can be.

If you live near State College (or would like to), we encourage you to join us for the Central Pennsylvania Regional Career Fair. This event will include employers representing organizations in the central Pennsylvania region looking to fill full-time and internship opportunities. Meet employers face-to-face and discuss your skills and qualifications!

When: Monday, May 21, 2012

Time: 2:00–5:00 p.m.

Where: The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus

What: Employers from the region will be looking to fill positions

Be sure to review the list of participating employers, and check back often, as more will continue to register throughout May. In addition, don’t forget to bring your résumés to hand out. For more tips about preparation and information about the day, visit the Central Pennsylvania Regional Career Fair website.

To make sure that you’re prepared for the fair, check out our Career Services page. You can find additional resources about résumés, interviewing, and the general job search.

New federal laws have changed how U.S. federal student aid is handled. Because of these changes, the earliest your aid will be disbursed is July 1, with refunds being generated towards the middle of July.

When will I get my disbursement?

Summer disbursement is always different than fall and spring semesters. For your loans to originate and then disburse you must:

• have started your latest-starting-date of class (because of the staggered start dates) and
• must be in “registered” status for all classes with at least 6 credits (or 5 graduate credits)

We encourage you to review your “Student Aid Summary” found on the left-hand bar in your eLion account, and complete any necessary steps outlined in your “Student Aid Checklist,” which can be found after clicking “Student Aid Summary.”

What about purchasing my books?

We recognize that many students rely on their refunds to purchase books, but we recommend you to purchase books using out-of-pocket money. Please remember that World Campus does not participate in a book voucher program.

What about my bill due date?

You may be concerned with your bill due date, but as long as you’re in “registered” status and have made the arrangements for the pending aid to pay towards the balance, regardless of actual deposits of money, you shouldn’t be concerned.

Please remember that change in enrollment can affect your loans just like any other semester. Aid reacts to your academic decisions, so please be mindful of that while preparing for the summer session.

Who do I contact with questions?

Please contact the Student Aid Office with any additional questions at studentaid@outreach.psu.edu or call at 814-867-4244.

Remember when recess was the favorite part of your day? For the couple hours that seemed like forever, that big clock on the classroom wall would grind out the school day one tick at a time punctuated by those few amazing moments—that free-for-all called recess.

Getting my "runners high."

As spring semester draws to a close, some will break for the summer. Some will break for just a couple weeks before the next semester. The important thing is that we all will have a break.  If there is one thing I have learned in the quest for my degree it is that everyone needs “recess.”

Call it a release, an outlet, or liberation, a catharsis, cleansing, or emancipation, or simply call it blowing off some steam. For children it burns pent-up energy allowing better mental focus upon returning to the classroom. Oddly enough this is one thing that doesn’t change all that much with age. The psychological value of recess is indispensable. Finding an activity you enjoy as periodic distraction from the gravity of grades, work, and life in general can effectively “reset” you for an upcoming commitment whether it is the next semester or a lengthy work project.

If you’ve got a hobby that is your pressure release valve—awesome.  If not, may I make a suggestion or two?

• Do something physically demanding. Ever heard of a “runners high?” It comes from the release of endorphins that enhance your physical capability and sharpen your mind.  Whether you might like rock climbing, hiking, running or racquetball, play and play hard.
• Do something outside. How many hours are you cooped up at the office or the study desk? Get some sun—once again it’s those endorphins recharging the batteries that were finally sucked dry by that week of finals.
• Build something or fix something. The sense of accomplishment from the physical presence of something you’ve built or fixed is a gratifying way of (a) making yourself useful and (b) feeling good about yourself. Too often the grind of work and school can seem fruitless—particularly mid-semester. The act of creating or fixing something is a quick way to find satisfaction from effort.
• Try something new. Not only will a trip outside your comfort zone do you some good in becoming a more balanced, confident, achieving person it may open up a new world of interest that will enrich your life.
• Do any of these things with the people closest to you. Often we get caught up in work and school, resulting in relationships that suffer from inattention. Recess can be an effective way to rekindle relations and besides many of the things we do are more fun to do together.

If there were space for it in an article we could discuss how the physical and psychological benefits are scientifically proven but you’ll just have to take my word for it and take a recess. Get out. Go do something.

“So long as a person is capable of self-renewal, they are a living being.” – Henri Frederic Amiel

Would you like to help other students and earn academic  credit at the same time? Then consider applying to be an Economic teaching  assistant.

Who Can Apply?

Current Penn State undergraduate students who are in at least their third semester and have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have already completed the assigned course in a previous semester with a grade of A- or better.

What are the Duties?

All teaching assistant work is done on a Facebook group which the instructor will set up for the class. Students enrolled in the course can post questions on that Facebook group, and the teaching assistant would answer the questions.

What Credit Can I Earn?

By serving as a teaching assistant, you would earn 1.5 credits per semester, for a maximum of six credits in total.

How Do I Apply?

Contact your Economics instructor or Dr. G. Dirk Mateer at dmateer@psu.edu

The Nittany Lion mascot. Image courtesy of Penn State Live.

In the second episode of the World Campus podcast series, PawCast, we are joined by Penn State alum and former Nittany Lion mascot, Chuck Kimble. The man behind the Lion mask from 2000 to 2002, Chuck shares some of his personal experiences from his time as Penn State’s proud mascot.

This can’t-miss episode will give you an inside look at what life as the Nittany Lion is truly like. Chuck shares what some of his favorite events to attend as the Lion were, how he managed to balance his schoolwork and the Lion’s duties, and the relationships he formed during his time in the suit.

Former Nittany Lion Mascot, Chuck Kimble.

You will also get a chance to hear some of the most interesting tidbits and secrets about being the beloved mascot. Learn the tricks of how to stay cool and comfortable in the Lion costume, the number of babies the Lion is asked to hold on football weekends, signing autographs in the suit, and the challenges of remaining silent while in character. Listen to a clip from Chuck’s interview now.

Listen to PawCast

You can listen to, or download all PawCast episodes through the World Campus website or you can subscribe to the series through iTunes U or your preferred RSS feed reader to get continued updates about new episodes.

Get Involved with PawCast

You can participate in the PawCast series in a variety of ways. You can ask questions in advance for our upcoming guests, share your ideas for future podcast episodes, and submit your own tips for academic success. Visit our website now to contribute to PawCast.

Old Main in the spring. Photo by Michael Gage.

You made it to the end of the semester, and summer is just around the corner! This month is full of activities, including a graduation celebration, the Coaches Caravan, deadlines, and the announcement of a photo competition. Stay up to date on this exciting news!

 May 1–16

Coaches Caravan
Get a chance to meet the new Nittany Lion football coach Bill O’Brien and other Penn State athletic head coaches as they embark on a bus tour to 18 locations in seven states, brought to you by the Alumni Association. Along the way, Penn State coaches will stop to discuss their athletic programs at a breakfast, lunch, or evening event.

To find out more and register for one of the events, visit the alumni website.

May 4–6

Spring Commencement Weekend and World Campus Graduation Celebration
On May 5, World Campus will hold a graduation celebration at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel from noon to 2:00 p.m. on the weekend of commencement. Graduating students will have the opportunity to meet their advisers and peers during the celebration and hear from Wayne Smutz, executive director of Penn State World Campus and vice president of Academic Outreach, during the ceremony.

For more information on commencement, visit the Penn State commencement website.

May 14–19

Summer Schedule and Deadlines

• May 14: First summer session courses begin; Drop/add period begins
• May 17: First six-week summer session drop period ends
• May 18: First six-week summer session late drop begins and add period ends
• May 19: First six-week summer session late registration begins

May 27

Eighth Anniversary of the Jane Ireland Student Fund
On this day in 2004, World Campus staff members established the Jane Ireland Student Fund. This fund provides scholarships for qualified students to assist them with tuition costs for the spring or summer semester. Jane Ireland, a now-retired World Campus academic adviser, was the driving force behind the staff-administered scholarship.

For more information on the Jane Ireland Student Fund, check out this post.

May 28

Memorial Day
Memorial Day holiday (Please note: you may have course work due.)

May 29

Career Webinar—Interviewing
Be fully prepared for your career interview. This webinar will help you understand the expectations for before, during, and after an interview. Topics that will be covered include:

• What is the purpose of an interview?
• How do I prepare for an interview?
• What can I expect and what is expected of me during an interview?
• How many types of interviews are there?
• What is appropriate follow-up?

To register for a webinar, visit the World Campus website.

Be a Part of “A Piece of My World (Campus)” Photo Competition
We’re excited to announce our summer photo competition! Over a two-week span in June we will accept photos as a part of the competition and post them on Facebook. The winner will be the person whose photo receives the most “likes” on our page. Each winner’s photo will be featured as our Facebook “profile” photo for one week, and winners will also receive a Penn State-themed item. We will accept photos for the following categories:

• Summer Fun: Send us a photo that shows how you’re enjoying the summer!
• Family and Pets: Family and pet photos show us a little bit about you. Send us your best one!
• Landmarks: Do you have an awesome photo of a landmark in your town or have you recently visited a place that has a cool one? Send us that photo!
• Blue and White Interpretation: We want to see your Penn State spirit! Show us your most unique, artistic, or fun photo of your rendition of blue and white

Complete instructions will soon be provided, so keep an eye out!

Want to add old television video footage to your presentations? Check out NBC Learn: Television Video Archive. NBC News, NBC Sports, and The Today Show are making thousands of newsreels, videos, photographs, and more available to you.

NBC Learn provides students with a variety of useful media resources. Photo Courtesy of University Libraries.

Material is organized into collections by subject matter for easy browsing. Collections include: Current Events, Business Administration, Ethics, Technology and Engineering, and many more! We’ve even provided a Quick Start Guide and FAQ to help you navigate the resources.

Once you view the guide and frequently asked questions, you are ready to get started!

For more information, please contact Debora Cheney, Head Library Services to the World Campus/Penn State Online, at dcheyney@psu.edu or 814-863-1345.

Brian's shrine to oddity.

Multimedia specialist Brian Strauss has a little shrine to oddity on his desk.

It includes his emergency Mountain Dew cache, a 2006 Webby Award for his efforts at National Geographic, an all-powerful Polycom remote, and Penn State mug.

Also in the shrine are Barbie as Tippi Hedren from The Birds and Admiral Akbar from Star Wars, who reminds us that when in doubt “it’s a trap.”

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I have a question for you! What kind of learner are you, and when do you do your best studying? There are many types of learners, and I want to know when you do your best studying. What (and when) works best for you? Watch and let me know!

In our new World Campus podcast series, PawCast, you get to participate in a game that tests your knowledge on the different sounds you may hear while out and about on the Penn State campus. We like to call this fun game “Guess the Penn State Sound.”

Listen to the clip below and see if you can figure out what the Penn State sound is, then check out the first PawCast episode to find out if you guessed correct. Visit the Penn State World Campus website to listen to and download the complete episode or you can subscribe to the entire podcast series via iTunes U.

Think you have an idea of what the sound is? Leave your guess in the comments section below.

In 1994 I got my J.D. degree from the law school in Spain, my mother country. Since 1997, I have been running my own office in Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands. During all these years I’ve gradually moved toward specializing in civil and business law, which is my focus today. Recently, I was appointed as judicial bankruptcy trustee of the commercial courts of the Balearic Islands. My experience has mainly been positive, but being a lawyer can be difficult or frustrating at times. If you are interested in the legal profession, you might find the following suggestions helpful.

At my office in Palma de Mallorca.

Remember that the lawyer is not a stereotype.

Historically, the public has had very negative sentiments concerning lawyers and even classical philosophers like Plato or Aristotle condemned advocates because they considered they had a harmful ability to twist reality. Nowadays, TV series and films offer too often a distorted vision of what it means in reality to be a legal practitioner. In my opinion, one of the best virtues of a lawyer is his/her ability to be a realist.

Act as an adviser.

As a lawyer, you should avoid acting merely as a “hired gun.” I personally prefer to foster my roles as an adviser, arbitrator, and negotiator, and only when it is absolutely necessary to act as a litigator. Again, the public is probably more familiar with the image of the attorney as a litigator who aggressively defends his/her client’s interests.  In my experience, those less notorious advising roles can be more effective to fulfill your client’s expectations.

An attorney should tell the client the pros, cons, and practical implications of their position and the possible better alternatives. As any person does, I have my own ideals of justice and sense of morality, which can eventually conflict with those of the people I represent. Instead of acting amorally, I suggest that you strictly adhere to the code of ethics that bar associations have established to shape the legal profession according to some legal standards. If you keep that in mind, you will avoid many undesirable situations, like being disbarred due to misconduct.

Change is inevitable.

Lawyers usually must endure very complicated working conditions.  My feeling is that when you gain experience your clients become more friendly and loyal. A legal professional must be ready to adapt to the very evolving and changing nature of the legal system. As the legal philosopher Von Kirchmann noted, “a partial revision of the law turns law libraries into collections of waste paper.” Legislatures are constantly passing laws and a lawyer needs to stay up-to-date if he or she wants to provide an effective counsel.

Expand your reach.

As a business lawyer I’m deeply interested in other legal systems. That interest in comparative law made me study for instance the Argentinian and the Danish legal systems in order to offer a better service to my potential customers.

Out of that interest I decided to pursue an undergraduate degree (a B.A. in Law and Society) through a reputed educational institution like Penn State, to get a grasp of the underlying basic principles of the American legal system.

Hopefully I will be graduating this year, but my experience thus far has been extremely positive. In fact, after getting my B.A. I would like to pursue a LLM program through the Dickinson School of Law. All the knowledge I have gained during these past semesters has not only contributed to enrich my understanding of a very influential legal system, but also has enhanced my CV and the quality of the legal counsel I can provide to my clients. In fact my degree has helped me to be designated by my bar association as a specialist in the American legal system.

The legal profession can be very fulfilling and lucrative, but it needs to be combined with a deep sense of honesty and commitment to society in general and to clients in particular. Constant learning and personal development will ultimately improve your professional skills.

The tragic times we have recently faced as a university had seemed to foreshadow a lot of our pride, honor and unity. But as time has passed, we have not wavered in our mutual respect and care for our fellow Penn Staters. Friendships have actually gotten stronger as strangers before now stop, and through conversation and love for our University, new friends are found.

A woman seeing my Penn State jacket stopped me in front of our apartment and asked, “If I went to Penn State.” I told her I was attending now and thoroughly enjoying my experience. Her daughter has been offered admission, and this common theme led to a 20-minute discussion as to why we both felt that Penn State should be her school of choice. I offered to have her and her daughter meet me for lunch to discuss the value of a Penn State education.

And it is such a small world. My mentor and someone I deeply admire, Professor R. Thomas Berner, was my teacher for two of my courses. Since he retired, we have stayed in constant communication and yet, we have never met face to face (I will see you soon, Prof!!). Our friendship led me to another one of his former students, Rennie Dyball, who works for People magazine. We have become friends through Professor Berner.

Rennie wrote an article in People on Coach Paterno’s passing. She reached out to me for a quote to be published in the magazine. I was honored, flattered, and proud to represent my school in such a popular, well-read magazine.

People are now seeing us here in the city with our Penn State gear and chanting “We Are” once again as they walk by. It makes us proud when we all, as a family, chant “Penn State!” in response. You see the smiles returning to strangers’ faces, knowing that they have shared a moment with someone else that understands our perseverance and returning pride.

It also has not effected future enrollment. As it pertains to applications, there was a 3 percent increase compared to last year for those seeking admission to our school.

More importantly, I would send my remaining two daughters who live at home, ages 10 and 2, to Penn State in a heartbeat if they were of age now. My hope is that they attend like my oldest two daughters did.

We Are, and Will Always Be, Penn State.

In the heat of the paper writing battle where do you get your references? Do you spend much time in the local library? The clock is ticking on that deadline and with as much information as can be found at your fingertips you may be wasting your time.

Many of you have lives that often interfere with the time you’ve allotted to do your schoolwork.  Occasionally, the schoolwork we all fight with is that animal called the essay. Research papers, opinion papers, analytical papers, real life application papers, papers, papers, papers! Welcome to school.

Though they may be contrary to the scale of most enjoyable ways to spend your time, essay papers are an indispensable learning and teaching tool for several reasons. Primarily they are a way to show you understand the material and can intelligently represent that knowledge.  Additionally, learning how to properly write a paper translates to the real world as many jobs require reports, proposals and other forms of formal writing.

Standing outside my local library in Huntington, Utah.

Perhaps one of the most valuable fringe benefits of essay writing comes from finding legitimate references. One blog post is not sufficient to explain the individual and social values of basing opinions and actions on sound reasoning so you’ll just have to trust that if you do the legwork for a legitimate footnote not only will you sound smarter—you’ll be smarter. In my case the local library has a couple thousand titles and closes at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and is closed all weekend—not exactly the mecca for research. So where to go?

Here are a few tips:

• Wikipedia is not a resource for your essay. Much like my local library it carries some interesting facts mixed with the town gossip. (Don’t get me wrong—I love my local library. The amazing librarian even offered to proctor my exams before or after normal business hours so I could test in peace.  Try getting that kind of help in a big city library.)
• You are a student at The Penn State University — use the online access to the University Library system. It has millions of volumes, and what is not immediately available online can be shipped to you. Last summer I was fortunate enough to plan ahead and use this resource having several books shipped to me for a large research paper. I routinely use the exclusive access that Penn State Libraries have to various professional research articles and journals and highly recommend it.
• Search from major periodicals. New York Times is my personal favorite, but all major “papers” have an internet presence that is searchable by topic.
• Look for opposing positions on the issue. Not only will this add a dimension to your paper but you will be better educated on the issue.
• Did I mention that Wikipedia is not a resource for essay writing? Two guys on the corner paraphrasing old copies of the encyclopedia they found at grandma’s house is almost as good. (Ok, maybe not quite. I actually frequent Wikipedia for all kinds of quick interests and have found it fairly reliable. I just haven’t met a professor yet that will approve it to reference your paper with.)
• Reference your sources properly — in text and post text. Many of the professional journals you find through Penn State Libraries will have a built in function to properly cite the article. Citation help can also be found under the “Research” tab at the University Libraries home page.
• It is also handy to have some software assistance for sources found outside University Libraries. I use Zotero which conveniently compiles my sources in a folder and properly cites them for referencing. It is user friendly and free.

Good luck on your next paper. I wish you the best in sorting through the sea of resource possibilities and hope these few tips will be of benefit.

“I keep bumping into that silly quotation attributed to me that says 640K of memory is enough. There’s never a citation; the quotation just floats like a rumor, repeated again and again.” –Bill Gates

Earlier this semester, I was asked by a representative of Penn State to be interviewed by Lori Johnston, a writer for myeducation.com. The article was going to focus on how online students can attend college anywhere in the world, the obstacles that online education pose and the benefits it provides. I thought this would be a great opportunity to showcase the World Campus to prospective students. My particular situation of attending Penn State’s World Campus from Afghanistan might inspire others who are deployed or stationed overseas. It does provide challenges, but it also gives me a great sense of pride.

Here is the portion of the article that was based on my submission:

I work in Afghanistan six to nine months a year. Working in the middle of a war zone does not allow me the opportunity to attend a college campus to sit in lectures or participate in classes in the traditional setting. Learning outside of the traditional classroom has allowed me to work seven days a week, 12-16 hours a day and still be able to complete my assignments on my own time. While my employer encourages advancing my value to the workforce by advancing my education, this would be impossible without online courses.

You can read the rest of the submissions from students at other online institutions here. Check it out; even a Harlem Globetrotter was interviewed about his experience with online education.

Anyone who has served in the military, or has worked for the military, will vouch that the phrases, “Hurry up and wait,” and “Standby to standby,” are very true in this field. During downtime between tasks, there is an opportunity to read, study and research. While some people serve their country, and then make use of their G.I. Bill money after their enlistment, it is very possible to start your education while serving. Why wait until you serve in the military for possibly 4 years, to then start a 4-year college degree, when you can very easily start while enlisted, get a head start on your college courses, and then be ready to enter the job field of your choice that much sooner?

As I said before, there are challenges to online education while deployed. Bad internet connection, hectic schedules, noisy study environments, and the fact that you are in a war zone all provide challenges. Overcoming these challenges to gain the same credits as a student sitting in a relatively safe classroom environment should make your degree more valuable to you and to future employers. This alone should make your online degree just as hard, if not harder than a traditional degree obtained in the classroom setting, and nothing to take lightly.

If you are currently in the military and considering online education, I highly recommend it. You will succeed if you give your studies the attention they deserve and you take your classes seriously. If you are not in the military or overseas, but you are still employed full time or part time and can’t attend a traditional classroom, you really should consider online education. If the people who are overseas protecting your freedom can find time to take classes with everything going on around them, anyone can find the time and resources to succeed.