Thursday, September 17, 2009

Do students cheat more in online classes?

A recent article by Marc Perry with The Chronicle of Higher Education writes that contrary to popular belief, face-to-face peers cheat more than online students.

Studies were performed on a small group of students from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas- a private Christian based college. Only undergraduate students were surveyed according to seven types of academic misconduct including, plagarism, cheating on exams and letting classmates copy papers.

Perry also shared that "older students tend to cheat less frequently than other students"-Stuber-McEwen (professor of pyschology).

While the article was interesting, this goes to show that opinions are sometimes posed as factual because there is "research" behind it. In this situation, there wasn't enough research compiled to say either way which group of students cheats more or less. Do you really think that many students are going to confess to their typical cheating activities? Plus, what age is considered an "older student"?

I find both subjects, face-to-face students and online students, probably equally guilty in the cheating department. Just because online students aren't in front of their professor doesn't mean they aren't Gooling information during an exam, or they are plagarizing an article they found online. Equally as likely to cheat, Face-to-Face students can just as easily download a paper online and pawn it off as their own.

Unfortunately, with all of the access and capabilties that technology provides to students through the web and cell phones, cheating will forever be a constant dilema. Another study with students by age, undergraduate vs. graduate and a variety of college participants would give a more comprehensive idea of which group of individuals cheats and by what means. Bottom line-cheating should not be tolerated by anyone, in any form, ever.

For more information on this article, visit http://chronicle.com

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

10 questions to ask before enrolling for school online

Congratulations! You've made the decision to attend an accredited online college and begin a new chapter in your academic career. There's just one problem- you have no idea what an accredited school is, let alone how to apply for admission to start class. No worries. Here the 10 questions you need to ask an academic representative or admissions counselor before you enroll:

1. Are they regionally or nationally accredited?
You want a regionally accredited school because credits earned will transfer to other schools.

2. Are they not-for-profit?
Not-for-profit degrees are more reputable than degrees from for-profit institutions because the standards are different.

3. What is the tuition cost?
The classes are going to be different for every institution. Receive this information up front before signing any paperwork.

4. Do courses run on a semester basis or a quarterly basis?
This is important for cost purposes.

5. What is the refund policy?
You want to be aware of the refund policy before your classes start just in case something happens and you need to drop your courses.

6. What type of hardware/software is required for class?
A word processing program is imparative, along with a personal computer and consistent internet access. Your school needs to be able to explain which software you will need.

7. What are the requirements for admission?
This will be individually based, however most will require an application, application fee and completion of FAFSA if financial aid is being used.

8. Is financial aid or student assistance available?
Most regionally accredited schools will offer federal financial aid. It is up to the school whether or not they offer Title IV funding. For nationally accredited schools, it is up to the school.

9. How long will the program take to complete?
It's important to know the length of the program because there are so many different formats available.

10. Who can I contact for additional help should I need it?
Every online school should offer the assistance of an admissions counselor, finance counselor and student services.

Each of these questions will help to prepare you when speaking to an admissions representative about starting your courses. For more information or to speak with an Admissions Counselor today, contact 888.501.2378 and ask for Katie

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Tell me what you're looking for..

I am a Christian. With so many schools to chose from, is it strange that I would soley want to attend a Christian-based university? Definitely not. If a Christian school is what you're looking for, there are many avenues to find your perfect match. Don't know where to begin? Try this school-Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a not-for-profit, regionally accredited institution. They offer an array of programs at an affordable price AND they offer courses online. Check them out: www.okwu.edu

You missed us "BEST of Phoenix 2008".....

I am declaring now to the BEST of Phoenix 2009 that Barker Education should definitely be on the list of best small businesses to work for. This may seem a bit cocky, but I prefer to look at it as a sheer sign of confidence in the business I work for. For those, who don't know BEST, Kristen Grose sure does. Here's what she had to say....

Kristen Grose
Accounting and Administration Supervisor/HR Liason
BEST employee since 2007

1. Why BEST?
Definitely the family atmosphere. Since our staff is small, we are able to maintain a comfortable work environment that is focused on team work and positive energy. Not to mention, Bob (President and CEO) is amazing; a great person to work for.

2. What sets BEST apart from other companies you've worked for?
Three specific details come to mind. One, we have an incredibly diverse group of people working together, so each person brings something different to the table. Two, our main focus is on our clientele-meaning our students. We aren't concerned about enrolling a student into an online program just to receive a paycheck. We understand that it is costly and time consuming to attend school, so we want to make sure the student is enrolled into a program that they love and that they are going to complete successfully. Three, BEST works with not-for -profit schools which means that the students needs are always going to be met first and foremost.

3. Where do you see BEST going in the next few years and why do you want to be a part of it?
Our growth in the past three years has been tremendous and I only see us continuing down the same path. We have managed to satisfy our clients and help grow our client schools online enrollment base, while maintaining a small staff of under 40. I think that we will continue to work with not-for-profit schools and slowly build our staff over the next few years. I like working for a company that can maintain client/student success with such a small group of people. That goes to show that everyone we have on staff is important and is contributing. I want to continue being involved in helping students earn their degree and this is the place to do it.

For more information contact Katie at katie@barkereducation.com

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Top 5 reasons you should know who's "BEST"

Happy Tuesday and thanks for checking us out. This is the first blog created for Barker Educational Services Team (BEST) and here's why you should be interested; BEST works with regionally-accredited, not-for-profit universities across the country. We help working adults, juggling families and work, get enrolled into the school of their choice and into the program they most desire. With so many schools to choose from, potential students get overwhelmed with the enrollment process. We are here to help make that process easy. Here are the top 5 reasons that BEST

1. Experience: Before founding BEST in 2006, Bob Barker was the Senior Executive VP for UOP and a SR VP for UOPs holding company Apollo Group Inc. Over the course of the past two decades, Bob has spearheaded some of the most innovative enrollment initiatives in higher education. Under Bob's guidance, BEST Enrollment Counselors have the knowledge and experience to provide the best customer service to students.

2. Client Relations: BEST is lucky enough to work with 3 not-for-profit, regionally accredited institutions. Each school offers an array of degree programs, ranging from an Associates level to Masters level. All programs are offered online too. What's more convenient than that?

3. Tradition: The BEST tradition is simple; student's needs come first.

4. Military presence: Barker's Educational Development Specialists (EDS) travel across the country to provide collegiate information to our servicemen. We have students across the globe who are able to take online courses, while simultaneously participating in active military duty. As long as you have an internet connection, we can help you earn your degree anywhere.

5. You'll have to contact us to find out. 888.501.2378

www.barkereducation.com