Ed4Career Blog

E-books vs. Hard Copy - Pros and Cons of Each

By Kris Powers | March 8th 2022

Image of a bookshelf on a laptop

Whether you take remote or in-person courses you may have the choice between a hard copy book or an electronic “e-book”. If you have the choice, it might be best to select the book format based on the type of learner you are (visual, reading/writing, kinesthetic, etc.). Below we weigh the positives and negatives on hard copy and electronic books.

Hard copy books are excellent for all types of learners. When you are a Kinesthetic or Reading/Writing learner you may be more drawn to having a hard copy to touch and make notes inside. It is much easier to flip back and forth between pages, and for these types of learners it is a better way to remember where you may have read the material and found information. The downside to hard copy books is that the cost is usually more, and they are not easily transportable as they are heavy to carry around and lug from place to place. If you can find used hard copy books or rent them, it can help defray the costs.


The Power of Personal Enrichment

By Kris Powers | February 27th 2022

Keep learning written on a chalkboard

As jobs are constantly evolving, we as life-long learners should evolve with them. A personal enrichment course is designed to enlighten you on topics you may already know a little about, or expose you to something you’ve always wanted to learn. These courses can cover diverse areas of learning such as computer applications, communication skills, hobbies and crafts. Ed4Career offers many different topics of classes to help you keep your lifelong learning skills sharp.

Maybe you have decided you want to learn about different topics such as finance or law. We’ve got the courses you need!

Are you interested in starting a business as a photographer? Take the photography course to learn how to take those unique photos and help develop your photography style.


How to Properly Cite Sources in a Written Assignment

By Kris Powers | February 16th 2022

Man holding magnifying glass looking at paper

When completing your courses, in all areas of study, you will most likely be given writing assignments. Information you research will come from outside sources. Unless you are speaking your own opinion or experiences, you will need to cite and reference where your material comes from. Why does credit need to be given from these sources? Because otherwise it is stealing someone else’s work and efforts. Many universities, colleges, and certification programs will suspend or penalize you for not citing your work properly! Your professor will specify which format you will need to use, and the formatting specifics required. Here, we will go over just the citations, references and work cited page,

 

1. Citation- A quote from an article or book. A way to let readers know this specific information came from another source.


Proctored Exams - Don't Panic!

By Kris Powers | February 1st 2022

Female student at home doing online coursework

While registering for remote classes, have you noticed that certain class selections list “online/proctored exams”?  When taking online courses or certification exams there are instances when you will need to take proctored tests. A proctored exam is monitored to ensure you have no outside help while trying to pass your test. A proctored exam can be intimidating if you have never taken one before. Read on to learn more about proctored exams and push the worry aside.


Best Apps for Remote Learning

By Kris Powers | January 19th 2022

Zoom, Canva, Grammarly, Evernote, Google and EasyBib

When taking online courses, there are meetings to keep up with, lectures, group projects as well as short and long-term tasks to remember. Luckily, there are apps for remote learning that can make scheduling so much easier on you! Browse through some of the following options to become familiar with the different options available for use. You might find some of them will be useful for your upcoming semester.  And, if you have a favorite app that isn’t listed below, we’d love to hear about it!

Zoom: A free app that is extremely easy to use and compatible with all phones, iPad, laptop or desktops. This is a great tool for easily communicating with classmates, instructors or mentors.


Life Hacks While Studying Remotely

By Kris Powers | January 6th 2022

The ability to take courses online and study from home now-a-days is a huge benefit when you’re trying to better your future. This is a time in your life when you’re growing as an individual – both for yourself and for your family! While taking personal enrichment courses, career training or working on a degree, your time is precious.

Let’s delve into some life hacks that will help you while you’re juggling both schoolwork and your personal life.


Study Hacks While Learning Remotely

By Kris Powers | December 28th 2021

If you’re jumping back into a program for school or personal development you may recognize that there are a vast majority of degrees, classes, and certification programs available remotely, now more than ever before.  These study hacks for remote learning are going to change your study life dramatically in the best way possible (maybe your everyday life too). 

Find a study space 


Organize Your Workspace for Optimal Focus

By Kris Powers | December 18th 2021

Optimal focus comes with no distractions, right? While we might imagine that it is the key for focus, we don’t live in a perfect world. We have co-workers, family, kids and animals that are usually around us while we try to get things done. For example, my cat is currently walking across my keyboard. Our phones are constantly lighting up, someone is talking too loudly, or the television is playing in the background.

While we can’t control outside factors, we can control the workspace around us and what it looks like! A disorganized workspace can cause negative energy and stress. Knowing where your things are (notes, calendars, your green highlighter, the hole punch, etc.) can save time, help you get more work done and relieve anxiety. Let’s get into some organization tips/ideas for our workspace that can help us attain as much optimal focus as we can.


Earn College Credit with Prior-Learning Assessments

By Kris Powers | August 23rd 2021

Young Man pointing up to the phrase "PLA's"

What are prior-learning assessments? Prior-learning assessments (PLAs) are methods that colleges, universities and other education and training providers use to evaluate a student's non-academic experiences and training. PLAs award college credit, certification or advanced standing for learning that has occurred outside of the more traditional learning environment. Students that participate in PLA testing can use these credits as a shortcut to graduation. Other common terms for these types of assessments include Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and Recognition of Learning.


In-Demand Jobs of 2021

By Kris Powers | August 6th 2021

Female professional standing in front of the word "job"

As the economy continues to shift during the pandemic, some careers are becoming obsolete, while others are seeing a rise in demand. Essential industries, such as healthcare, need more workers than ever. Careers in online sales, shipping and delivery are also seeing substantial growth because of consumer habit change.

This shift is enabling a career change for many – from sales to social media, research to medical writing, and entrepreneur to life coach.