Online Degree Programs Can Keep Students Abreast Of Emerging Technology Trends
As the business landscape continues to become reliant on technology, recent graduates of college degree programs who are familiar with such innovations in their respective fields could prove especially valuable to employers. Fortunately, a great deal of campus-based and online schools are beginning to integrate these technical tools into their curricula. This can better prepare graduates to enter the modern workforce.
Some students might also pursue studies that can lead to technology occupations that a Georgetown University study suggests are among the fastest growing in the country and that a College Board article based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics information calls some of the hottest jobs of the coming decade. Technology graduates might find themselves developing anything from 3-D home entertainment systems and motion seating to electric vehicle charging stations and power and weight monitoring systems. These are among the emerging technologies expected to be showcased at a September Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association show.
To help progressive schools empower their students, online learning software providers such as Blackboard have announced the availability of an application designed to allow users of the device coursework access in any location, The Journal reports. The application, which is called Mobile Learn, is based on an internet-based management system of the same name. Individuals who download the program onto their iPads can communicate with their professors and classmates, check their grades, access blogs and discussion boards, and use their school-based e-mail.
Those who move into technology occupations might expect to earn anywhere from $47,850 as computer support specialists to $106,230 as computer and information scientists, according to mean annual salaries listed in a May 2009 US Bureau of Labor Statistics report. In December, a US News & World Report article counted science and technology careers among the 50 jobs with the best opportunities for workers. Individual jobs listed included everything from network architects and computer software engineers to environmental science technicians. For tuition assistance, students interested in technology studies might look toward organizations such as Xeros, the Siemens Foundation and Vanguard investment management.
At least one university in Pennsylvania is said to be focusing on entrepreneur programming as part of its studies. This can translate to technological innovations as well. Over the past few decades, 300 "technology incubators" were launched in the United States alone, according to a recent Forbes magazine article on the web. They include companies that have created technological means for everything from tracking private funding trends to monitoring asthma patients. Many of these companies are attached to universities, Forbes reported.
Campus and online college and university programs in the technology area cover everything from network and technology management to web development and graphics and multimedia. Students who participate in online college studies particularly might find themselves enhancing their technology skills in the process. Those who work full-time might find it easier to fit online college studies into their schedules. They might also find college or university programs that combine online learning with classroom-based instruction.
Several campus-based and online schools have already reported positive results from the web-based version of Mobile Learn. For example, Walden University, which introduced the platform to students last summer, revealed that those who took advantage of the tool said they were more likely to complete their programs and gain a more thorough understanding of their coursework. Although the web-based version is accessible via some smartphones and other mobile devices, Blackboard plans to release an application that is intended for use on iPods, iPhones, Androids and BlackBerry devices this June.
The job market these days is highly competitive. As a result, some applicants may find that higher education is necessary for success in today's business world and that it can become more valuable when it is supplemented with certain capabilities, such as technical skills. Individuals who participate in online classes may be able to teach themselves valuable computer skills while they work toward an associate, bachelors or masters online college degree. Enrolling in free online classes may be a great way for these individuals to get their degree in technology and to boost their careers and prove their worth to their employers.
- Article Word Count: 579
- |
- Total Views: 18
- |
- permalink