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Bogus Online Bachelor Degrees – How Can You Tell?

| Posted in Jobs and Careers |

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Along with the growing popularity of obtaining an online Bachelor degrees, many bogus schools have cropped up to cash in, taking advantage of potential students seeking a genuine education to maintain their current level of employment, or achieve specific career goals. Unfortunately, the sales pitch attracts many students who do not possess the time, or the finances, to gain a college education. The main selling points may include easy graduation, no tests or end of semester exams, credit for life experiences, and lower tuition fees. Some diploma mills even have the audacity to make money through bulk emails offering to sell university degrees.

Therefore, with all the confusion generated, how can students sieve out the genuine from the bogus? This may be especially difficult for distance learning programs when students practically make their choices based on what is shown on a website. In many cases, especially for international students, it may not be feasible to visit the physical site of a college before enrolling. With this, making choices will really depend on the appearance and content of a website, which sometimes may not be an accurate judge of the creditability of a college.

One of the best ways to determine credibility is to pay close attention to how the credentials are stated. For example, if an educational institution claims to have nationwide or worldwide accreditation, without revealing which government agency provided the accreditation, it\’s possible the college or university probably does not possess the necessary seal of approval to provide legitimate online Bachelor degrees.

In the U.S., college accreditation is awarded by one of the following six accreditation agencies which are all appointed by the National Board of Education – New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU). Each agency has been allocated responsibility for providing accreditation for schools in specific states. Therefore, it would be best to run checks on a particular online degree institution with the agency offering college accreditation for the state in which the college is registered in.

If a university sends out mass e-mailings offering on online Bachelor degrees, Master\’s Degree, and even Doctorate degrees for a fixed rate, it is a sure sign the result will be a bogus degree. Course credits for such a degree may include such strange elements as: credit for life experiences, work experience, previous educational background, workshops, community services, travel, and books read in the past. To further confuse the issue, fake accrediting URLS are set up to prove accreditation, but unless it is from one of the 6 agencies endorsed by the Department of Education, the award is most likely phony. The unscrupulous institutions depend on the desperation of people who do not have the time, or the money, to earn a valid degree. Nevertheless, without that all-important diploma, good jobs are impossible to find.

In short, with the plethora of bogus degrees already causing employers to question online education, make sure your online Bachelor degree is earned from a college or university accredited by one of the six agencies endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education.

New and Old Electronics

| Posted in Random |

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The first thing for consumers to remember is that there is no reason for the electronic age to be thrown away, or sit in a drawer will go unused. When consumers upgrade the electronics, one must remember that there are a number of people in financial situations that require their technological improvements come in the form of electronics used. Recycling programs cell phone, laptops for the exchange of cash and electronic recycling programs are great ways for consumers to spend their old electronics to others who can use them while recovering some of the money originally spent on these products.

In addition to selling laptops for cash and other electronics recycling, consumers should consider buying laptops and electronic devices used during the upgrade. The fact of the matter is that most consumers do not have the latest computer, smartphone or LCD television, making the purchase of electronics uses a cost-effective and encourages the recycling of them, which reduces harmful electronic waste. At a time when consumers want to upgrade to the technology available the latest and the best deals, the sale of its electronic devices or laptops for money will not only reduce the cost of upgrading This will increase the possibility that other consumers can invest in the technology used, thereby supporting electronics recycling and new waste reduction.

Do Potential Employers Value Distance Learning Degrees?

| Posted in Jobs and Careers |

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Distance learning degrees and online degree programs have become popular since the internet became a household name. This has opened doors to a great opportunity for those wishing to pursue further education. But just as it is with everything new, the internet has also presented challenges and created room for sale of unscrupulous degrees and diplomas. The figures released by USA Today indicate that in 2003, over 400 diploma mills were in operation and the number was on the increase. Surprisingly, this dubious operation of degree mills seems to be thriving in an industry currently estimated at $500 million per year.

However, despite all of the negative talk about the value of distance learning degrees, many such colleges and universities offer valid online learning degrees and diplomas. The students and instructors are held to the same standard of educational excellence as those in the traditional classroom. The method is simply an alternative for the individuals who may otherwise not have an opportunity to earn a degree. Online courses, online video lectures, test examinations, and even online library facilities ensure the students truly earn their degree in higher education. Unfortunately, many potential employers have heard about the bogus degrees and tend to assume an online degree is of lesser value.

In an effort to change the negative perception, the U.S. National Education Board has established 6 accreditation agencies to evaluate and provide accreditation to the higher learning institutions meeting the minimum criteria for a quality education, thus differentiating between the bogus degree programs. For example, the Distance education and training council provides accreditation for those institutes solely dedicated to online degree programs. The agency is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

In addition, specific programs in specialized areas can obtain accreditation through the agencies associated with the subject matter. For example, the American Health Information Management Association provides accreditation for qualifying health programs; accounting programs are assessed by the International Association for Management Education. However, it only counts if the agencies are endorsed by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

So, to verify the educational quality of any institution, students, parents, and potential employers should be concerned about accreditation status. If any college or university has that coveted seal of approval, it means distance learning degrees have met the same basic standards of excellence with the support and facilities necessary to adequately offer online degree programs. Conversely, specialized accreditation concentrates on evaluating the course curriculum based upon the established standards of the university or college.

Accreditation ensures students have received quality and adequate training in their perspective areas of study and definitely earned their distance learning degrees. Parents and potential employers can believe these students are prepared to become a productive member of society. By the same token, employees who have taken accredited courses have met the requirements of their specialize area of study. Alternatively, it also mean that institutions denied accreditation have not met the minimum standards of excellence.

Nevertheless, in the end, it all comes down to the discretion of the employer. He or she must decide whether potential employees have satisfactorily completed an online degree program. Hopefully, with accreditation through a well recognized agency, the confusion can be eliminated, and a valid resume will make it to the short list of excellent candidates with their distance learning degrees as an impressive symbol of fortitude and dedication to personal achievement.

Why Purchase Lithium Polymer Batteries

| Posted in Technology and Gadgets |

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Batteries are a big part of everyday life making it important to have good reliable batteries for use. It can be hard determining which the better battery is if you do not understand the differences among them. The lithium batteries have become very popular batteries especially for use with electronic devices and toys. There are several lithium batteries on the market today but the most reliable and lightweight of them all is the lithium polymer batteries.

The lithium polymer battery was introduced in 1996. It quickly gained the approval of many due to its lightweight construction and the fact that it was rechargeable. These batteries are now being used in many electronic devices such as portable video players, portable computers and many rechargeable electronic devices.

The energy density is one of the important components of a good battery and lithium has the highest energy density of any battery being sold. The life cycles are also longer and the degradation of the battery is much slower than many. These batteries do have some disadvantages such as exploding if they become overcharged, faster capacity loss and a longer recharge time.

The lithium polymer battery is much safer than its counter part the lithium ion. A lithium polymer battery has the lithium suspended in a polymer gel where as lithium ion has the lithium suspended in an organic solvent. The polymer gel is a lot less flammable than the organic solvent. The lithium ion also carries the possibility of bursting into flames if there is a short or if the battery is crushed.

An ion battery contains metal casing to house the suspended lithium whereas the polymer battery does not need them because the lithium is housed in the gel in which it is suspended. This in turn makes the polymer a more lightweight and flexible battery due to the elimination of the cylindrical metal casings. With the polymer being lightweight and flexible this appeals to the electronics developers and designers.

The polymer batteries are also referred to as LiPo or LiPoly batteries. These lightweight flexible batteries quickly replaced the nickel cadmium (NiCad) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. The lightest of all metals and offering the highest energy per unit the LiPo battery has definitely surpassed the old NiCad and NiMH batteries.

When purchasing batteries you will find that the lithium brands are more expensive than the nickel brands. In this case the greater expense signifies the better quality product. Lithium polymer is more expensive than lithium ion because it is the better lithium battery. You get what you pay for when it comes to buying batteries.

Based on the information and known facts, it is evident that a lithium polymer battery is currently a top of the line battery. These batteries are great for electronics because of their lightweight flexible design. They are more expensive but well worth the money you pay for them. Lithium polymer batteries are the way to go for a reliable high energy battery.

Office Air Conditioning Units

| Posted in Business and Management |

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Installing the right sorts of air conditioning office units in any business can ensure that the working environment for those in the room will be a pleasant one for them to work in. Also if a business installs the right sorts of units in their offices they are preventing moisture building up which can have an adverse affect on their staffs productivity levels.

When it comes to buying any air conditioning system for an office you need to take certain factors into consideration before you purchase. Not only is the size of the room going to affect what units you buy but also how many windows the office has and how many people will be working in the area throughout the day.

But along with these things that you need to consider before you make your purchase there are other things that you need to be aware of relating to office air conditioning units. The more you know about them and how they work then the more informed decision you will make with regards to which system is right for your office. Below we take a look at some of the things you should know in relation to air conditioning units for the office.

1. What BTU Rating Does The Unit Have? \” The BTU (British Thermal Unit) rating is what tells you how much heat can be effectively removed from any room by the unit you are considering purchasing. So the higher the rating the unit has the more heat it will be able to remove from the room in which it is placed. It is important that the unit that you select for your office is one that has a BTU rating that can cope easily with the rooms size otherwise the atmosphere wont be pleasant for those working in the office.

2. What Is The Units EER Number? – This another thing that businesses need to look at closely when buying air conditioning units for an office as it tells them how much energy is needed to power the unit in order that it works at its optimum levels. Ideally the ones to purchase are those with the highest EER number on them as these don\’t need to use so much energy to power them but will still be very effective. However, you need to be aware that the higher the EER number on the unit the much more it will cost, but for any business where these units are to be situated in an office space they should have a number that sits between 8 and 11.5.

3. In What Way Can You Control The Units Temperature? – Most air conditioning units today are fitted with a heat sensor thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature in the room through either a manual or programmable control system. The units that should be installed in an office should also come with variable speed fans as these further help to cool the air more efficiently not only when entering but exiting the unit. Plus to further enhance the units capabilities it is worth purchasing ones that come with remote controls, timers and digital temperature readouts.

4. Is The Unit Easy To Maintain? – One way for any business to reduce costs after installing air conditioning units in to offices is to purchase those where the filters inside come be removed easily so if they need cleaning or replacing this can happen without too many problems. Also going for these types of air conditioning units a business will find that they spend less on maintaining them and it ensures that they continue to work at their optimum levels for far longer.

5. How Does The Unit Expel Air? \” Not only do you want office air conditioning units that remove air quickly but also with very little noise. Again the best types of units to select for an office are those which come with variable speed fans and which work along with an adjustable thermostat unit. Also ensure that the louvers on the unit move not only from side to side but also up and down.

As you can see there are a range of things you need to think about when looking to purchase air conditioning for the office over the summer.