Distance Learning

With the 2012 changes to federal student loan legislation, taking out a loan is an even better deal for students. Online students can recieve government-backed loans at a discounted interest rate to use towards their tuition, as long as they're in a federally-recognized program. Take a look at the 5 types of student loans to see if there's a match for you.

Online teaching can be an smart way to make extra money and guide classes from the comfort of home. But, it can be difficult for new teachers to get a foot in the door. Take a look at this article to see how online teachers found their virtual jobs. If you have a story of your own, please take a minute to share it and help other potential online teachers.

Research shows that sites like Facebook may, in fact, bring down your GPA. It's easy for anyone to get sucked into distracting, but it's particularly challenging for online students that have to complete their coursework just a click away from puppy videos and what-I-at-this-morning updates. What are the most distracting websites? Find out in this new list of the Top 10 Time Wasters That Are Ruining Your Grades.

Every year thousands of students are forced to withdraw from their online classes due to hardships, financial difficulties, work conflicts, and other problems. At the start of the semester, students are able to withdraw easily. But, starting about this time, it becomes more difficult to withdraw without ruining your GPA and facing academic consequences. If you must quit college, learn how to protect yourself from the painful consequences many surprised drop-outs encounter.

National regulations on federal student loans changed in several big ways this year. Beginning this month, students may be able to consolidate loans to lower interest rates, reduce their payments to a percentage of their income, or get loan forgiveness in as few as 10 years. Learn how these changes affect your wallet here: 4 Big Changes to Federal Student Loans in 2012.

Online charter schools let elementary, junior high, and high school students learn through the internet for free. Like brick-and-mortar charter programs, online charter schools are government funded. However, they have a lot more leeway to design their own curriculum and method of instruction than traditional public schools. Learn more here: What You Need to Know About Distance Learning Charter Schools.

The summer blockbuster Bad Teacher featured a careless junior high instructor that simply didn't care about doing her job. While it's rare, online students sometimes encounter professors that behave similarly (without all the theatrics, of course). What options do you have if you find yourself enrolled in a class where the teacher doesn't show up to scheduled chats, is rude to students, or doesn't respond to emails? Find out what to do if you have a bad professor in this article written just for struggling students.

If you want to go to college or get a good paying job without a high school diploma, you'll probably need to get your GED. There's no way to take the GED online; it must be taken under supervision from a testing proctor. However, the web provides and abundance of free GED preparation materials to help you ace the test. Learn more in this article: Online GED Preparation.

If your online class is holding a live chat session, it's important to be prepared. Knowing what to study and how to contribute your ideas can help you make the discussion more meaningful (and, perhaps, earn extra points with your professor). Take a look at this article to learn how to stand out in class chat room discussions.

With more high schools offering advanced, remedial, and summer classes over the internet, now is a smart time to look for an online high school teaching job. Online high school teachers hold message board discussions, grade papers, and teach students all from home. Generally, online high school teachers follow a set curriculum rather than creating their own. Think this might be the right job for you? See how these online high school teachers found their jobs.