Planet eCampus

Have you wondered what it might be like to be an Emergency Nurse? How about a Computer Programmer?  If you are gleaning all of your knowledge of what a Crime Scene Investigator actually does from watching reruns of CSI, you may encounter a rude awakening when you go for your education and actually land yourself in that job. Informational interviewing is a  foundational  step within career exploration. While you are in your own investigative place as a student you would be wise to conduct informational interviews of people within the potential careers/jobs that you think you might enjoy.   The informational interview communicates the first-hand experiences and impressions of someone in the occupation, and is directed by your questions.  Steps to conducting an interview of this type consist of: 1. Identifying a person who is currently employed within the field. 2. Calling to request a visit with them while they are on the job.   The amoun...

What is your home institution and major? Currently, I attend Valdosta State University, and I am pursuing a degree in Organizational Leadership. How many eMajor courses have you taken? To date, I've taken 7 courses with eMajor. Why is completing your college degree important to you?  I think a college degree is a necessity in today's society. The job market is extremely competitive, and so many of my peers are seeking top notch positions. When I look back on my life, I want to know I finished everything I started; I want to check the box on paperwork that asks if I graduated. If I do not finish, that box will haunt me with any application I submit: Mortgage, jobs, insurance, etc. When is your expected graduation date? My expected graduation date is June of 2015,  however, I am completing a concentration in Public Administration. This will be complete in December of 2015. Go big or go home. What are your career goals? Currently, I work ...

Are you stuck in the crossroads of switching your major?    Are you finding yourself enrolled in classes but having no clear direction of where you might be heading after graduation?   Has a significant other inquired with the dreaded question: “What are you going to do with your life?” If you had a head nod to any of these questions then I hope to offer some quick advice on career planning to get you stepping in the right direction.   For 6 years I worked as an Assistant Director of Career Services at another Georgia institution.  I have many memories of students who would come to my office the Monday after graduation and remark “Hey, Mrs. Karen, I need a job!”   Some of those students had never taken advantage of the fine services we offered previously.  At the conclusion of many an appointment I can recall that most, if not all, of the visitors emphatically declared, “Man – why did I not come here SOONER?” ...

Dr. Sanjeev Arora Dr. Sanjeev Arora is a physics instructor for USG eCore, and was recently recognized by Affordable Learning Georgia for Innovation and Early Success in Textbook Transformation for his work in transforming textbooks to no-cost Open Educational Resources. Dr. Arora's work in this area contributed to $14,000 in savings to college students in 2014. More information on the ALG awards is available at www.affordablelearninggeorgia.org.  Let's take a minute to learn a little more about Dr. Arora! What is your title and what is your current non-eCore job? I am a professor of physics and have been teaching as a full-time faculty member at Fort Valley State University since 1993. What are the two main reasons you teach through eCore? When I first came aboard in fall 2011, I was pretty much sitting on the fence as far as comparing the benefits (and pitfalls) of “face-to-face” vs. “online” teaching were concerned. I needed to first learn, and hopefu...

Kelley Christopher is an instructor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of West Georgia, and an eCore Instructor.  In her experience teaching Intro to Criminology classes, Kelley found that hugely relevant issues within the criminal justice system such as female offenders, corrections, capital punishment, and race, were not adequately covered in many introductory books. In an effort to fulfill that need, she recently co-edited a textbook titled "Filling in the Gaps" to cover those specific topics. Please take a minute to learn a little more about Professor Kelley Christopher! Where did you complete your degree(s)?   New Mexico State University and Troy University for graduate work. I completed my undergrad work at Southern Oregon University. What drew you to your field of expertise?   My fascination with human behavior; particularly deviant and criminally deviant behavi...

Most of us are already pining for the days of the long holiday break to sleep late, gorge ourselves on sweet treats and cheese ball, spend hours in front of the television watching reruns of King of Queens or perhaps head to the movies.  No doubt, we are in need of rest and relaxation and enjoying time with our families.  It is important to clear your mind of algebraic equations, sociological theory, or the Georgia Constitution, and fill your head with dancing sugar plums for a while! I want to suggest that during the many days away from school and the computer that you keep yourself motivated so that you can return in January with tenacity and a fresh perspective. Here are a few tips to help you recharge over the break. Keep reading .   Finding things you love to read over the break will keep your mind stimulated and your vocabulary sharp. (Please don’t rely o n Facebook for ALL of your intellectual perusing  J ).   Maintain “to-d...

Professor Billy Morris Billy Morris is an Associate Professor of Geology at Georgia Highlands College, and has been an instructor with eCore since the very early days of 2001/2002. We talked to Professor Morris about his appreciation for online teaching, how he came to be a geologist, and his life outside of the virtual classroom. (He has a pretty INSANE cookie-baking record!) He's also got some really great advice for online students. Where did you complete your degree(s)? Georgia Southern University and Emory University. What drew you to the field of Geology? My parents are responsible. They took me camping and hiking for as long as I can remember, and they liked to collect things, rocks, fossils, plants, stray animals. It was fun and I haven’t stopped since. I would not do well in a city or an office, would much rather be outside. Geology is a way to do that. Why did you choose to become a college instructor? My mom taught college for 40 years and my dad...