Will universities ever become obsolete? One professor thinks so. Dr. David Wiley, a professor of psychology and instructional technology at Brigham Young University, believes that some universities will become irrelevant by 2020 because they wont adapt to the ‘open’ course method of teaching.

This ‘open’ course teaching method revolves around taking advantage of technological advances such as the internet, iTunes, podcasting, wikis and different forum and chat application to share and discuss published information, including textbooks, papers and lectures. Wiley thinks that the schools that don’t adapt will eventually lose students to the ones that do embrace this new way of higher education. In addition to this free flow of information and education, Wiley wants it to be presented to everyone for the same low price: for free.

Institutions can still charge tuition if students want to earn college credits for their diplomas or degrees. However, if anyone wants to learn more about an anthropology class, under this new movement of education, they can simply go online and enroll without paying for the class.

Will we see more universities succumb to this new movement? So far, Utah is the only state in the union to provide state-level funding for this type of open courseware. Although, when the bill came to vote for the funding in 2009, the legislature didn’t choose to renew the project.

What are your thoughts on opening educational doors and sharing information to the public?

In today’s competitive world, having an education is more important than ever. But how do single or working mothers balance earning their degree with their hectic schedules? There is a solution: Scholarships4Moms.net is a website designed to help women both achieve their higher education goals and maintain their families.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 80% of single working moms lack the education they need to get ahead. Gaining additional skills leads to better job opportunities – and can be very beneficial for your family. The U.S. Department of Labor also crunched the numbers and people who have an Associate’s degree earn an extra $6,500 a year, and with a Bachelor’s degree, you can earn an extra $19,000 a year.

Going back to school can be difficult for people, especially working moms for whom money is tight.  But if you’re having trouble figuring out how to afford to extra costs of a babysitter or the tuition itself, don’t lose hope!

Scholarships4moms.net is offering $10,000 scholarship for working mothers for the upcoming Fall semester. You can use the money for tuition, babysitters or even save some it for your children’s future educational costs.

The deadline to apply is April 30th and this scholarship is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18.

If you’re a working single mom wanting to go back to school and make a better life for yourself and your family, don’t put it off – take the next step to a better future.

Is my career solid? Are my plans attainable? Lately many people have been asking some pretty serious and difficult questions about their professional lives.

Often times, recessions and layoffs surprise people and remove many comforts they have relied on for years and take for granted. Change can hurt, but it can also clarify things that matter to you. Sometimes being cut loose from a profession that was simply “comfortable” can lead you to one that fills your life with passion and purpose. people with the right outlook are able to assess their lives and work out a way

So let’s clarify: This isn’t an online visit to an academic advisor – this is an exercise that should make you officially take note of what you love to do and whether now is the time to move in that direction. If you follow the three-step process below, you won’t just be sitting back hoping a new job just appears. You’ll be doing something much more important; you’ll be working toward discovering what makes you happy and building some faith in yourself to pursue it.

A leap of faith always has to start with one step…

Step One - Ask yourself: What makes me happy?
What do I do well?
What do I enjoy reading and talking about?
How do my talents figure into my interests?

Start by thinking of times when you’ve enjoyed and excelled at a job, class or hobby. How did you develop your strengths in those occupations? The next stage of the exercise could be taking any aptitude tests a local career college or employment center might offer. If you haven’t yet chosen a service, make sure the one you choose has a diverse set of lists of training centers, schools or groups who will help you discover your true talents.

Step Two - Research your potential career options.
Public job centers are over-run. Fortunately, you can do a lot of legwork wherever there’s a computer online. Research how your talents are represented in the professional world, and what requirements are needed to get hired in those positions. Sites such as Career Explorer.net, Monster.com, Search4CareerColleges.com and Salary.com have volumes of information about job requirements, the educational certifications to get them, where these jobs are, and more.

Once you have enough information and questions about these new career areas, make an attempt to speak with people through informational interviews at these companies. Try out careers by shadowing professionals and signing up for open internships or part-time jobs.

Step Three - Make a list of your priorities.
After you’ve spent time on steps one and two, you may notice some strong preferences emerging. You might learn you don’t want to work behind a desk. That rules out jobs like accounting, banking, insurance and computer administration. You may be more suited to something physical or something that deals with meeting people in different locations, like marketing, transportation, construction or interior design. Keep your mind focused on making important discoveries that will help you choose a good career when the time comes.

The most important thing, however, is to keep it all in perspective: Just like the previous portion of your life, the career decision you make now doesn’t have to be forever. There’s a growing trend that most people change careers several times during their lives. This means that it’s normal to change from the job you choose right after graduating from high school or college, because it probably won’t be your career 40 or 50 years from now. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, but always keep your eyes open.

Looking for a little extra spending cash each month? Need help with that car or mortgage payment? How about getting started on the retirement fund you’ve been putting off? Whatever your reason for wanting additional income, career colleges across the United States provide training for flexible careers that can boost your cash flow while working around your schedule.

1.       Massage Therapy - As a massage therapist, you can choose where you want to work, when you want to work, and how much you want to charge. The flexibility this career offers has many people joining the massage therapy workforce to supplement their income. Use this career to up your cash flow if you enjoy helping others and are a good communicator.

2.       Medical Billing and Coding - Are you detail oriented, organized and methodical? Then medical billing and coding could be the perfect way to boost your income. This career can be a full time job but there are also opportunities to work part-time at home.

3.       Personal Trainer - A personal training career allows you to share your passion for health and fitness with others and gain extra cash. You can arrange your schedule around what works best for you and your clients.

4.       Nail technologist - Salons and spas are open days, nights and weekends allowing beauty industry careers to remain flexible. Working as a nail technologist a couple nights a week or a weekend day can greatly supplement your income.

5.       Catering - Find a culinary school in your area and learn quality catering skills. In this career you can pick and choose when you want to work and how many people you are willing to serve. Even catering a party one night a week can bring you the extra income you’re looking for.

Career Explorer can help you find schools in your area that can turn your interest into additional income. Search Career Explorer today!