Accelerated Distance Learning Preview

PART I : BLAZING A NEW TRAIL
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     You've been planning for the start of this trip for many years. But now, right in front of you, the trailhead marker gives startling information. The words 'Graduation Point' are carved and painted on the sign, but there is something here that is unexpected.
     What has captured your attention is the number of miles the sign indicates (239) and the fact that it is pointing to a trail that takes off to the south. Something must be wrong. You have studied a map, and you know that Graduation Point is only 53 miles away and lies to the west. Clearly there has been a mistake.
     You look around, surprised that you seem to be the only one of many hikers near the trailhead to find the sign odd. Seeing your bewildered look, another hiker walks over.
     "What's the problem?" He asks with a chuckle. "Haven't you seen a trailhead marker before? Oh, by the way, my name is Nick."
     "Oh, hi," you reply, introducing yourself. "Oh, Nick, this is a mistake, right? I mean, surely these hikers aren't following this marker to 'Graduation Point'?"
     Nick looks in the direction of the trailhead where several groups of hikers, weighted down with brightly colored backpacks, were disappearing around a bend in the trail.
     "Well, yes," he replies, "that is the general idea. In fact, that is where I am headed right now. If you are worried about making the long journey alone, don't worry. You can travel with my group."
     "Well, thanks for the offer, but I am not planning to take this trail at all. You see, hiking has been an interest of mine for quite some time, and hiking to 'Graduation Point' and beyond has been a dream of mine for years. I have found a Guide Book that gives me the most up-to-date methods in fast travel, and I have studied topographical maps to know the most direct route. I plan to get to 'Graduation Point' - but not by Trail Normal."
      As you speak, you can see that Nick isn't convinced. His friendly smile turns into a smirk.
     "Well, I hate to throw cold water on your enthusiasm, but I doubt you'll make it. These trails have been here for years, and many hikers have made it to the top. I happen to know there are several sheer cliffs which these trails circumvent. Also, there are no side tours, campsites, or cleared paths. If you travel as the crow flies, you'll be on your own." Nick chuckles and adds, "half the fun is who you walk with!"
     "This isn't about fun," you say to yourself.
     By this time, Nick is at the trailhead. Turning around he shouts, "Hope you change your mind and catch up with the rest of us!" as he hurries out of sight.
     Change my mind? Choose to take longer paths, pay tour guides for directions I can get myself, and travel with slow hikers? I'd be crazy to take Trail Normal!
     With new resolve you set out on your journey, heading directly west. The fresh air in your lungs has filled you with a sense of adventure as you begin hiking. Every step brings you closer to 'Graduation Point'.

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If you are making plans for college, you have arrived at a critical juncture in your trail. The decisions you make now will dramatically influence the rest of your life. If you really want the best and are not content to simply follow the crowd and do what is expected, this is the Guide Book for you. Most students never even stop to consider that there is a shorter trail leading to their destination, but in this book you will find proven methods for earning the credentials you need in a fraction of the time. By choosing this route you will be pioneering a new way and setting the course for other twenty-first century students to follow.
In this section we will examine the current changes within our world and how they affect your educational choices, the principles that should guide your educational pursuits, and the traps that will keep you from reaching your destination. I will also share my own story with you of how I came to learn and apply the methods of Accelerated Distance Learning.

MOTIVATING CHAPTERS

Accelerated Distance Learning

CHAPTER 1: The Paradigm Shift
Why Accelerated Distance Learning Is THE Educational Strategy for the Information Age

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Considering that one of the goals of education is to effectively communicate new truth, it is ironic that there is such a strong tendency to cling to the old system.

"The world hates change, yet it is the only thing
that has brought progress." — Charles Kettering

     Our world is changing at an unprecedented pace. We have left the industrial age that brought electricity and automobiles and have entered the information age of microcomputers and satellites. While the changes resulting from the industrial era were great, the advances currently resulting from our society’s entrance into the information age are far more spectacular.

     Have you ever considered the incredible magnitude of the changes that are taking place in the world of business? Even small companies have become "international" as they purchase and sell products around the world; more and more, employees are able to "telecommute" to work through the Internet; and E-commerce already generates over $132 billion in revenues worldwide and is expanding rapidly.

     But what about the field of education? Has the availability and methodology of education also been affected by the arrival of the information age? Definitely! At its core, education parallels the foundational principles of information technology: the transmission of information and ideas. Considering that one of the goals of education is to effectively communicate new truth, it is ironic that there is such a strong tendency to cling to the old system.

     In order to understand these technological changes, let’s consider the basic facts about information technology and the implications for the world of higher education.

1. Information technology requires minimal capital investment. While most industries rely on expensive buildings, factories, and equipment, information technology does not require great resources.

2. Information technology operates with greater efficiency. Traditional colleges that must maintain large physical structures are unable to compete with the new distance-learning programs.

3. Information technology favors smaller, specialized enterprises. In the past, large, internationally-recognized schools were able to attract students because they provided "one-stop shopping." Myriads of courses and intellectual talent could be found in one place. Today, students can shop at schools from around the globe for high-quality online courses that fit in with their degree pro offering a certain course, can potentially reach a huge audience. Once the course is completed, the student simply transfers the credit to the school from which he plans to graduate. With this resulting new competition for students, the scales are tipped in favor of smaller colleges and programs that are flexible and highly-specialized.

4. Information technology makes up-to-date information readily accessible. With today’s technology it is possible to transfer knowledge gleaned through research directly to the people who need it most almost simultaneously with its discovery. For the farmer in South Africa facing crop devastation from a mysteri surgical techniques. Students don’t need to study outdated textbooks—the latest research is available online!

5. Information technology promotes remote collaboration. Unlike the assembly lines of the industrial era that brought huge num bring thousands and even millions of people together quickly. While these projects may involve only a few hours of work or several weeks—the amazing thing is that people no longer have to be in one location to work together effectively and efficiently. The implication of all this for education is that classrooms located in expensive campus settings are becoming obsolete. Learners can congregate online.

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Do these developments seem incredible? These are not predictions of the future—they are actually happening today! It is only a matter of time, very little time, before these trends become widespread and commonplace. The market for online education is projected to reach $11.5 billion by 2003.

"Creative thinking may mean simply the realization
that there’s no particular virtue in doing things the
way they always have been done." — Rudolph Flesch

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THE TEN PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING

"Responsibility for learning belongs to the student, regardless of age."— Robert Martin

These changes are happening all around us. The big question is, "What does it mean to me, and how do I prepare?" It is generally true that during a time of radical change, those who are prepared and anticipating the new order are the ones who become the leaders of the next generation. Perhaps the greatest way to prepare for the changes that are underway is to gain a firm handle on the ten underlying principles of learning. These ten principles of learning hold true, no matter what the future will bring. These ten principles will be referred to at various points throughout the book. For now, let’s look at an overview of the "Ten Principles of Learning."

1. RESPONSIBILITY. You, and you alone, are responsible for your education. Most students believe that if they just place themselves in the hands of a good school with qualified teachers and faithfully attend class, after four years they will have a good education. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is not the job of a teacher or school to make you learn. It’s up to you; it’s your responsibility. That’s why I show in this book how to take control over the many educational choices available to you. You ’ll learn how to make a detailed Accelerated Distance Learning plan that allows you to reach your educational goals.

2. THOROUGHNESS. You must examine the accuracy of everything you learn. Too many times, students tend to unquestioningly receive and believe whatever they read from the printed page. A true learner will develop the art of considering whether what is being presented is indeed accurate. This quality of discernment is readily developed in accelerated distance learners because they are exposed to a variety of texts and perspectives.

3. EFFICIENCY. Accelerated learning takes energy expended in the learning process and makes you more productive. Accelerated learning techniques will form a foundation for all of your studies and enable you to learn faster and more effectively than you thought possible. We ’ll take a detailed look at these methods in Part III.

4. EXPERIENCE. Life experience is the best teacher. The more you can structure your learning around life experiences, the more successful you’ll be in preparing for your future work. Every accelerated distance learner should take advantage of the internships, apprenticeships, and work opportunities available in their area of interest. The timesaving techniques in this book will enable you to spend much less time doing "school" and free you up to concentrate on the learning that takes place through life experiences. This is the beauty of earning credits through portfolio assessment. Many colleges are now willing to grant credit in recognition of the valuable education that is gained through the experiences of life. We’ll be looking more closely at portfolio assessment in Chapter 4.

5. LIFELONG LEARNING. The amount of information in man’s store of knowledge is exploding at an increasing rate of growth —you must keep up. Because of this proliferation of knowledge, even keeping up with one’s own area of expertise is becoming increasingly difficult. Add to this the desire that we all have to learn more in other areas, and we are quickly faced with an impossible situation. Our only hope is to develop the essential skills required to become an efficient and successful, lifelong learner. Few people develop this skill. As you succeed in this and view all of life as a learning experience, you will stand apart from the crowd.

6. GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE. The revolution that has taken place in the world’s information and communication systems requires that we develop a global perspective on life. The information revolution is shrinking the world. Increasingly, people of other languages and cultures cross our path, and we must develop the skills that are necessary to understand and appreciate them. Accelerated Distance Learning will connect you with fascinating students, teachers, and experts from around the globe in what has become a virtual classroom. I addition to online cross- cultural interaction, the time and money that is saved through Accelerated Distance Learning will enable you to travel the world and broaden your understanding of other cultures.

"Education is not received. It is achieved." — Anonymous

7. UNDERSTANDING. The goal of education is to reach a higher level of understanding. True education is not proven by being able to recite a set of facts and figures; it is demonstrated when one understands how those facts relate to each other. There is no virtue, and certainly no education, in simply listening to a lecture or reading a book, and then regurgitating it all for an exam. A true learner will not just memorize facts. They will mull them over, analyze them, and look at them from different perspectives. You must develop the foundational skill of asking questions about whatever it is that you ’re studying. This will result in better retention and comprehension of the information. Developing this skill will result in quality understanding which is vital for any leader.

8. CUSTOMIZED LEARNING. Education should be customized to your learning style and needs. Faced with the limitations of budgets, facilities, and staff, traditional institutions of higher learning have not been able to provide "custom made" education for individual learners. Technology now allows accelerated distance learners to select the teachers who will provide the best instruction and guidance for their individual goals, interests, and learning style. Students are no longer limited to the teachers in the college from which their degree will be granted!

9. INFLUENCE. One life can make an impact in the world. Information technology places the potential for worldwide influence in the hands of individuals. As an accelerated distance learner, it is likely that your potential for influence will be even greater. Your education will uniquely prepare you to think independently and serve as a leader in society.

10. MOTIVATION. The true success of any achievement will be proven by the presence or absence of proper motivation. As an accelerated distance learner you will master accelerated learning techniques, use distance-learning methods, and ultimately get your degree. These are noble goals to pursue, however, you will never experience the full potential of these achievements without the proper motivation for your pursuit. We’ll examine this important topic of life purpose and motivation in Chapter 2.

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These ten vital principles should guide every academic choice. Throughout life we will each face decisions to either follow principles and achieve success, or ignore them and experience regret. There is a story that wonderfully illustrates the importance of basing decisions on principles. One cold, winter night the captain of an oceangoing vessel saw what he thought were the lights of another ship directly in his path. The captain radioed to the ship, "This is the captain speaking. You are in great danger. Change your course immediately." The reply came back, "This is the lighthouse speaking. Change course yourself —you’re the one in danger!" Principles are like lighthouses. They are always there to give us direction and they never move or change. Recognize these ten principles; embrace them, and you will not only survive, but thrive during this day of dramatic change in higher education.

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EXPERT ADVICE

Accelerated Distance Learning

CHAPTER 10 - Breaking Through the 400 Barrier
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FROM THE EXPERT : Accelerated Learning —The Key to Distance Learning Success

NAME: Howard Stephen Berg

POSITION: President of Mega Learning Corporation and the world ’s fastest reader.

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Why is it that when you read a book for work or school, you can’t even remember the title or author’s name just fifteen minutes after putting it down? Yet you can remember silly songs, word for word, without even trying. Why does this happen? When I first asked myself this question, I had no idea it would lead me to become the world’s fastest reader. I simply wanted to know why the brain retains so much useless information and often deletes more important data. The solution to this problem drove me to discover a more effective way to read, comprehend, and retain information. Your brain is designed to retain information that frequently repeats, is emotionally intense, is associated with a specific rhythm, or has powerful contextual clues. When listening to a song played on the radio, the music’s rhythm automatically helps install it into your permanent memory. Understanding how these four brain stimulants can ignite your memory is the first step towards becoming a better learner —an essential skill for surviving in today’s world. It’s been said that every ninety days the world’s information content doubles. It's also been said that more information has been generated in the past century than all previous history combined. Without strategies for reading faster, improving comprehension, and retaining information, how do you expect to avoid making costly mistakes from poor decisions based on inadequate knowledge?

Distance learning is one solution to this problem. Offering you the opportunity to download new information directly to your computer at a convenient learning time frees you from having to learn at a specific time and place that might not fit into your schedule. I believe that linking accelerated learning tools to the information provided by distance-learning providers will fuse the learning benefits of accelerated learning with the convenience of distance learning. We are on the threshold of a new learning revolution as great as the invention of the printing press. For the first time, anyone can instantly access the information they need to succeed in today’s information-rich world. Linked to accelerated learning, they will also be able to store and retrieve it when needed. For those prepared to take full advantage of this learning revolution will come opportunities for success unheard of by those who have lived in the past. Invest a little time in a good learning program like Mega Speed Reading and plunge into a new world of distance-learning opportunities with the skills and confidence you need for success in today’s fast-paced world.

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