Military Education Online

Today, the U.S. military has a number of programs in place to help active duty servicemembers, veterans and their families complete postsecondary education and vocational training. One of the benefits of being a member of the U.S. military is the wide ranging educational benefits available to help you transition to civilian life.
Programs such as the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Veterans Assistance Program (VEAP) and the Yellow Ribbon Program are designed to help veterans and their families finish their education.
Montgomery GI Bill versus the Post-9/11 GI Bill
Two of the most common–and popular programs–are the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Montgomery GI Bill. Active duty servicemembers qualify for 36 months of education benefits through the Montgomery GI Bill program. Benefits are payable for up to 10 years following discharge from service.

The program pays for the following:
Degree and certificate programs
Flight training
Apprenticeship training
Technical or vocational courses
Correspondence courses
Post-9/11 GI Bill. The newest revision to the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill went into effect on August 1, 2009. Designed to enhance the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides additional benefits, including:
A living allowance called the housing stipend
Benefits transfers to eligible dependents
Additional educational expense coverage in the form of book stipends and the Yellow Ribbon Program
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides educational benefits for both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Unlike its predecessors, the Post-9/11 GI Bill calculates benefits based upon the highest in-state tuition rates from a public institution located in the state where you plan to study.
Benefits from the Post-9/11 GI Bill are traditionally payable for up to 15 years following discharge from service.
Military Education Benefits: VEAP and the Yellow Ribbon Program
Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). Servicemembers who make monthly contributions from their military pay qualify for this education benefit. The Federal government matches contributions on a to basis. Benefits last from 1 to 36 months–depending on your number of monthly contributions.
VEAP can be used for:
Vocational flight training programs
Degree programs
Certificate programs
Correspondence programs
Apprenticeship programs
Benefits can be used for up to 10 years after discharge from the military and any unused benefits are refunded after that time.
The Yellow Ribbon Program. Part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program helps servicemembers secure a cost-free education. Over 1,100 colleges and universities have entered into voluntary agreements with the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover a portion–or the entire difference–in tuition and fees that are not covered by Post-9/11 GI Bill rates for that state.
Servicemembers who qualify for maximum Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are eligible for Yellow Ribbon funding.
Military Education Benefits: Other Programs
In addition to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill, other education benefits are available. Leading programs include:
Tuition Assistance Top-Up Program
Veterans Upward Bound Program (VUB)
Student Loan Repayment (LRP)
Completing Your Military Education Online
Returning to the classroom is a logical step to remaining competitive in today’s job market. Online education has expanded educational opportunities for students across the country–including active duty servicemembers, veterans and their families.
Many people choose online education because of its convenience and relative affordability. You can take courses online without having to leave your job or relocate, making online learning an affordable option for those who need to work.
Depending on your goals, various online certificate and degree programs exist to help you succeed in your chose career field. You can complete an online degree program at the following levels:
Associate’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
PhD
You can also complete certificate programs or take a single course online.
According to the Sloan Consortium, the vast majority of students enrolled in online courses complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program. And, the number of students enrolled in online education courses continues to grow. The most recent statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics reveal that 12.2 million students annually enroll in some form of online education programs.
Finishing an Education Is Important
With the various military education benefits available, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal government place an emphasis on helping servicemembers and veterans to complete their education.
In today’s world, completing an education is vital. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, completing an education pays off for your future:
4 out of 5 (84%) Americans have high school diplomas, but only 1 in 4 (27%) have a bachelor’s degree
On average, workers with bachelor’s degrees earn ,000 more annually than those with only a high school diploma
Over the course of a 30-year career, bachelor’s degree holders earn twice as much as workers with just a high school diploma
Some military jobs naturally transfer into the civilian world, have great growth potential and pay well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, five career fields showing good growth potential between 2008 and 2018 include:
Network and computer management
Human resources
Health care
Education and training
Law enforcement
With programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and VEAP in place, a military education–online or on-campus–is not far from reach.

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Sound Arts Schools - Education Program Options

The sound heard in movies, music videos, and video games are created by the individuals of the sound arts industry. Students are able to learn every required process to create sound by entering sound arts schools that offers educational program options. Working with the audio of different entertainment aspects is available at several schooling levels.

Education is comprised of many hours of hands-on training that prepares students to understand the entire process of sound production. Students can expect to learn about every aspect of the field like music production, film sound, mixing procedure, and much more. Vocational schools provide students with the option to complete a certificate or associate's degree program. Students should pick a program based on the amount of time they can give and their career goals. A certificate takes approximately ten months to one year and an associate's degree program takes around two-years to complete.

Inside the profession students fare better if they have an associate's degree because more job opportunities are available to them.

Students that don't have a lot of time to dedicate to earning an education should consider completing a certificate program. Schooling typically requires students to complete 950 to 1,000 hours of education. Students learn sound production through its various forms by working through foundational courses. Students can expect to take courses that could include:

Digital Sound Basics
Sound Design
Music Production
Band Recording

The processes are learned through importing, editing, mixing, recording, exporting, and production courses, which are the main subjects covered through education.

Hands-on training gives students the chance to create their own sound designs. Each course covers a different aspect of the field and has students learning the physics of sound and converting it to digital. Through core courses students are able to step into a career as audio specialists and more.

An associate's degree program gives students a wide educational base to understand every aspect of the field at its basic and advanced levels. Students should expect to take courses that may include:

Music Theory
Post-Production Sound
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)

Education centers on training in computer technology and music and how they work together in today's electronic industry. With everything being done electronically students learn how to record, arrange, and compose music. All curriculum areas are learned at the basic level and then at an advanced level to prepare students to not only use MIDI systems but design them as well. Education wraps up by teaching students to integrate the creation and management aspects of sound arts. Many careers are available, which can include becoming recording studio engineers or video game music specialists. Further education is available for students at the bachelor's degree level.

Vocational colleges for sound arts across the United States offer training in this industry. Start learning how to master the world of digital sound by enrolling in a program that carries accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training or other approved agency.

 

2010 graduation ceremony largest ever, plus two Teacher of the Year awards

Photos above: Graduates gather in the common area prior to the ceremony.


Photo above: Graduates line up on the stairs just before the processional.

Pine Technical College held its 43rd spring commencement ceremony last Friday, and with 141 graduates participating, the event was the most-attended in the college’s history.

"This year’s graduating class topped out at 175, and we were so proud to see a full house at the ceremony," says Joan Bloemendaal-Gruett, Pine Technical College Dean of Academic Affairs. "Graduation is an exciting time for our students, staff and faculty. We all are very proud of them as they take the next step to serve the community in their fields of choice," Gruett adds.

PTC’s Teacher of the Year award, an annual honor presented at the commencement ceremony, was special this year since the student-nominated award resulted in a tie. The two winners – Alexis Grinde and Wayne Helmbrecht, graciously accepted their awards Friday. Grinde teaches BIOL 1255, Microbiology, and BIOL 1260, Human Anatomy and Physiology. Helmbrecht, a Lab Assistant, supports manufacturing/machining and gunsmithing students in the Machine Technology lab.

Grinde, a repeat winner, first won the honor in 2007. Writes one student of Grinde on the nomination form, "Alexis goes out of her way to make sure we understand the information. Also, she has a way to put it all in laymen’s terms. She makes it fun, and it shows that she puts a lot of hard work into the material."

A student writes of Helmbrecht, "Wayne is full of wisdom and real world experience, and he shares it with anyone who needs help – super nice guy!" Another student wrote of Helmbrecht, "Wayne is approachable and very knowledgeable in the machine shop. He always goes the extra mile to help any student."

James Koppen, CEO of Pine Medical Center, gave the ceremony’s commencement address. Previously, Koppen worked as the Director of Pharmacy for the hospital for nearly 15 years and owned a retail drug store in Pine City for 22 years, and in 2009, Koppen was appointed to the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Koppen also is the CEO of His Way Ministries, a tax-exempt organization which works with men and women in addiction. Koppen recently traveled for his tenth consecutive year to Guatemala with HELPS International on the organization’s annual surgical mission trip. Koppen has written two novels and is working to master watercolor painting, a theme he wove into his inspiring speech, "Life as a Journey." In his address, Koppen encouraged graduates to "...paint your canvasses with color and zest."

PTC continues to grow each year in terms of enrollment and programs offered. 142 students comprised the graduating class of 2009, and 125 students rounded out the class of 2008.


Photo above: Pine Technical College President Robert Musgrove addresses the graduates.


Photo above: Commencement ceremony speaker James Koppen addresses the graduates.

PTC and LSC partner to offer two degree programs

Pine Technical College and Lake Superior College make a great pair! Together, the colleges are offering two degree programs -- an Associate of Arts degree and an Associate of Applied Science degree -- and each program is entirely available at the PTC campus and via online courses.

The A.A. degree is designed and offered for students planning to transfer to a university or four-year degree granting institution to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree with emphasis on a major concentration. The program enables graduates to seamlessly transfer into a B.A. and/or B.S. programs within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system and beyond. The program covers the core materials and courses needed to fulfill the goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and is rich in general education courses such as Social Science, Math, Computers, English, Humanities and more.

The new Medical Laboratory Technician A.A.S. degree is designed as a three-year program, and graduates will work with physicians and other health care professionals as they communicate test results and work to resolve diagnostic/testing discrepancies. Medical laboratory technicians conduct tests using samples of body fluids, cells or tissues to help detect, diagnose and treat diseases. Lab Technicians test a variety of specimens as they check for abnormalities or diseases, and work in four main medical lab departments: hematology, chemistry, microbiology and/or transfusion services.

While students in both programs will call PTC their "home campus," graduates will have earned a degree awarded by Lake Superior College.

"We are proud to partner with LSC to offer these programs," says Nancy Mach, Pine Technical College Dean of Student Affairs. "Designed especially for students in our area, these unique partnerships bring all program courses to our campus and are delivered in a convenient and flexible format," Mach adds.

To apply to either program, call 320-629-5100 or apply online.

Online Program Improves School District

As online higher education gains popularity, online education programs are being designed for younger students and are helping to increase high school graduation rates and prepare students for college—even students who once considered dropping out of high school.

Teenage students are often unable to achieve their full potential and fall behind in school due to distraction from other classmates and social pressures, or family and job related reasons. Schools across the country are developing programs that allow their students to take a few online courses, or even earn their diploma solely online.

Northwest School district in Jackson, MI. has created two different online education programs that give high school students options. The district aims to deter its students from dropping out of school "by offering several different instruction delivery methods" to meet the needs of a greater number of students.

The graduation rate for Northwest High School was 76.4 percent last year, more than 2 percent lower than the county average. Carrie Bushinski, director of curriculum and instruction, said that the district has an obligation to perform above average and should do so because "technology has taken us [Northwest School District] to another level."

Northwest runs two online programs that aim to suit the needs of students and both programs present students with the same material that is taught in a traditional classroom. The Second Shift program is held in a school computer lab from 3 to 7 p.m. to complement online courses that students take. The organized computer lab time allows students enrolled in online courses to receive in-person instruction, though teachers say they act more as technology experts.

The second program, Seat Time Waiver, allows students to bypass laws set by the Michigan Department of Education stating that high school students may only take a maximum of two online courses. Students who complete their education entirely online are regularly contacted via email by mentors, and their coursework and exam scores are monitored by school district officials.

Principal Paul Scholz said that with the introduction of online education programs, Northwest's mission to educate students, help them graduate and prepare them for college has not changed, but rather, evolved.

Get the all-new 2010 issue of THE LINK!

Did you know Pine Technical College publishes an annual magazine, THE LINK? Grab your copy, available in the Student Affairs office. The 2010 issue highlights several outstanding PTC students, and it features articles showcasing PTC's excellent services and departments. Read all about it!

Online Education Offers Opportunity

Findings of a recent research conducted by the United States Education Department has found that on average, students are performing better during online courses than during traditional instructional classes. This is a welcome note for many educational institutions that are now pursuing measures to go online. The findings of the study could very well serve as a proof and a further driving force that education should now be taught in non-conventional ways.
Today's students truly do have more options available to them than ever before if they are willing to invest the time and effort into their studies, there are few limits to the level of education you can receive, even if it has been years since you last attended a university or community college. Even those colleges and universities that do not offer full fledged degree programs exclusively through online learning mediums are beginning to offer many courses online for students with busy schedules and lifestyles. This means that you now have the opportunity to combine distance or online learning with a few night or weekend courses in order to complete your degree even if you have a full time day job and family that needs to see you at home on occasion.
In fact, other researches found that students are very much excited and enthusiastic about online classes. They tend to pay more attention and be more participative in class activities during online or virtual sessions. This could be because students are very much free and are able to relax at the comfort of home. They also enjoy the fact that learning is not confined to the classrooms. When they are online, they tend to multitask and do many other interesting activities like social networking and Internet surfing. This, however, is seen as a potential threat as there are too many distracting sites across the Web.
The findings of the study adhere to many colleges assertions that blended types of instructions in classes are more effective. According to numerous colleges and universities, those classes are gaining more popularity and are gaining fastest rates of growth in enrollment. Positive results of all studies are consistent all throughout different levels of higher education, whether graduate or undergraduate. Many academic subjects are also gearing towards blended classes, if not full online instructions.
Thus, it is just logical that online education is currently providing numerous opportunities. It is able to give people more opportunities and chances for experiential learning and flexibility, according to experts. This is important because most students are now aware that the best subjects and lessons are to be learned not within the confines of the classrooms. Internet classes help students make use of practical applications of lessons learned. This assertion should be a strong reason for colleges and universities to consider further utilizing of online education methods.
Individual attention. Online students often have more one on one interaction with their professors than students in a classroom. The online classroom is virtual and correspondence through email is essential in this particular learning environment. For this reason it is quite possible that your professors will know more about you and your learning patterns and needs than they will know about most of the students they see two or three times a week in their classrooms.
With online classes it doesn't matter if you are in your pajamas or in a suit and tie you can still do the work you need to do online and no one will be the wiser. You also might find that you can squeeze your education into your lunch hour, particularly if you can type and chew at the same time. The truth is that online classes offer superior flexibility to those hoping to further their education. Whether you are hoping to earn a degree or simply wish to broaden your horizons by taking a few online classes, you just might find that the possibilities are limitless once you begin taking these courses from home.