Other than for the self-proclaimed "experts," a Google search is not exactly the most comprehensive method for researching college programs. But a useful article as a starting point. Read the comments for more programs.

Quote:Distance Education Master's Programs Are Rare, but Important
By Tanya Roscorla
on October 24, 2012

Only a handful of master's programs focus on training distance education leaders and instructional technologists, despite a rising need for these positions.

A Google search reveals only three U.S. master's programs that include distance education in their title. Canada's Athabasca University does have a Master of Education in Distance Education.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville started an online Master of Science in Distance Education Leadership this fall. The University of Maryland University College has had an online Master of Distance Education and E-Learning program for 12 years. And Nova Southeastern University in Florida has offered an online Master of Science in Instructional Technology and Distance Education since 1996.

"I'm a little amazed that there is reluctance on some universities' part to enter into the field," said Michael Simonson, professor of instructional technology and distance education at Nova Southeastern University.

Distance education skills

After conducting a needs assessment, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville discovered that there was a tremendous gap in distance education training, said Candace Croft, coordinator of the university's Master of Science in Distance Education Leadership. Distance education leaders require slightly different management and administration skill sets than they do on physical campuses.

"We really did not find that there was a critical mass of programs out there that would provide that knowledge and skill set for a virtual education leader or administrator," Croft said.

The skill sets that distance education leaders need include managing a team of faculty from afar, understanding how to evaluate faculty in online classrooms and how to track operations in a virtual environment, Croft said.

"This is really looking at an entirely new scenario and preparing leaders and administrators in that virtual education environment with a complete skill set," Croft said.

The leadership skills required for other jobs are the same in distance education, said Stella Porto, director and professor in the Master of Distance Education and E-Learning program at the University of Maryland University College. They will have to balance quality of education, access for students and cost. And vision is especially important.

"We want these fundamentals to be solid, but they really have to have their eyes on what's happening in the future," Porto said. "A lot of them will be working in scenarios that we can't foresee right now."

Community colleges in particular will require distance learning leaders to manage distance learning units and support faculty who teach online.

"Mostly when faculty come to teach online, what the institutions are looking for is their expertise in their subject matter; they don't need expertise in distance education," Porto said. "So what you need in that sense is people that will provide the support to these people that will teach online."

Even though only a few master's programs exist, distance education certificate programs have been increasing to meet those needs, Porto said. Many of these smaller programs focus on specific areas such as teaching at a distance or how to design instruction in distance education.

Instructional designers wanted

Instructional designers who can work with distance education environments are in high demand, said Simonson from Nova Southeastern University. The university created a master's program as a bridge to its doctoral program on instructional design in distance education. And the 350 doctoral students and 30 to 35 master's students it graduates each year all have jobs.

"Interestingly enough, the master's degree instructional designer who has skills in instructional design, has skills in digital media, has skills in assessment — they're as rare as hen's teeth, as my dad used to say," Simonson said.

These designers learn how to build a program around a conceptual framework that will be effective and relevant, no matter what software or hardware tools change. They start with Dick and Carey's instructional design model and look at other models as well. In the online environment, graduates divide the instructional content of a course into units and sub-topics called modules. Then they identify critical topics and look at what technology they need

This concept is part of a general move away from technology-based delivery systems to design-based systems that don't depend on a platform such as a learning management system.

"Instead of designing everything to fit into Angel or fit into Blackboard, the trend is: Let's design a course that can fit into any delivery mechanism," Simonson said.

There is a huge need for people with e-learning training, and there's not enough awareness about it, Porto said. Especially with the popularity of massively open online courses this year, people are developing courses by recording one-hour video lectures. They think their method will work. But anyone who has studied distance education knows that's not a part of best practices, Porto said.

"For those who have been doing this and who have learned the theories and the fundamentals of the field, it's almost laughable to hear some of the statements that are going on," Porto said.

That's why training about online learning is so important. Graduates of the Maryland program are valued because they know which theories work based on research.

As distance education continues to mushroom, at least three U.S. universities are training educators through master's programs in the field, others are providing certificates in increasing numbers, and the field continues to move toward technology-agnostic instructional design.

Will we ever know how many rapes and murders have been inspired by pervert Thomas "Chip" White and his pedophile-pandering pornography enterprises?

If, as stated in the article, the porn industry is directly responsible for the increase in sexual violence against children, shouldn't Degreeinfo.com's Thomas "Chip" White also be held directly responsible?

Aren't the people who post and moderate at Degreeinfo.com also responsible for contributing to harming children?

Quote:posted on October 27, 2012
Pornography Kills Again

By David Outten

The body of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway of Colorado was found dismembered October 10. On October 23, [17-year old] Austin Sigg’s mother turned him over to the police as the killer. Sigg had been receiving treatment over the last two years for a pornography addiction.

The case of Jessica Ridgeway is far from unusual. In 2009, there were 65,964 cases of child sexual abuse reported in the United States.

German research found that 60 percent of men and 10 percent of women watch porn at least weekly (most daily). A study by IconKids & Youth found that 30 percent of girls and boys see porn before the age of 11. By age 17, 93 percent of boys and 80 percent of girls have seen porn.

Therapist Tabea Fretag, a specialist in media addition issues, says, “I have treated several traumatized women who were sexually abused by brothers who had been watching a lot of porn, among them many women who came from homes where the parenting was good.” She recounts one story where a mother found 30 porn site addresses listed in her computer’s browser, including one about horror sex. Her 9-year-old son had been logging on to the sites when she was out shopping. She and her husband tried to deal with it empathetically but later found him sexually abusing his little sister.

The danger is not just a few corrupted boys. A 1989 study of undergraduate males by John Briere and M. Runtz found that 21 percent reported some sexual attraction to small children and nine percent had fantasized about having sex with them. A study by 2004 Study by Michael C. Seto found that of 100 men convicted for child pornography offenses, 43 had also been charged with actual sex offenses.

According to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Report, 32 million American women and 13 million American men have received unwanted sexual contact. Of these, 21 million women and 1.5 million men have been raped. Girls under 10 years old account for 12.3 percent, or 2.6 million, rapes. The report concludes:

“The promotion of respectful, nonviolent relationships is not just the responsibility of individuals and partners, but also of the communities and society in which they live. It is important to continue addressing the beliefs, attitudes and messages that are deeply embedded in our social structures and that create a social climate that condones sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence.”

While the politically-correct CDC study was unwilling to mention pornography, it’s obvious to any sensible human being that pornography not only condones sexual violence, it promotes it. It drives boys like Austin Sigg to become killers capable of dismembering another human being. While the number of children dismembered may be small, 2.6 million rapes of girls under 10-years-old is not a small number! ...

Quote:Did Pornography Contribute to Jessica Ridgeway's Murder?
1:09PM EDT 10/26/2012 Charisma News Staff

Reports this week indicate that the accused killer of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway of Colorado, who disappeared on Oct. 5 and whose dismembered body was found several days later, was a [17-year old] boy who was addicted to pornography.

“News that the boy accused of killing Jessica Ridgeway is addicted to pornography will come as no surprise to law enforcement agents with experience in sexual crimes,” says Patrick A. Trueman, president of Morality in Media and former chief of the U. S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in Washington, D.C.

“Pornography consumption causes addiction and leads many, children included, to sexual violence. It’s high time the U.S. government took the issue of pornography seriously again and began vigorously prosecuting the major producers and distributors of hardcore pornography.”

The connection between pornography and sexual violence among minors has been clearly established. Several peer-reviewed studies regarding this link are available on PornHarmsResearch.com.

The mother of the boy accused of this monstrous crime called police to say that her son, 17-year-old Austin Sigg, may have been the killer. News reports indicate that he has been treated for pornography addiction since he was just 15, so the question must be asked: Did pornography contribute to Jessica Ridgeway’s killing?

Sigg is the main suspect in another violent crime, an attempted rape on an adult jogger. “We do not know and may never know exactly how much influence pornography played in these two crimes, but sexual crimes by minors do not happen in a vacuum; porn is almost always a significant contributing factor,” Trueman said.

“When the U.S. Department of Justice gave up enforcing federal pornography laws, it gave up on our children. Now addiction, sexual experimentation mirroring scenes from violent porn videos, as well as sexual violence are all too common among children. Child-on-child sexual crimes, once unheard of, are also on the rise,” says Trueman.

“The porn industry is directly responsible for these trends and the harm to our nation’s children. But law enforcement officials, such as U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who refuse to enforce anti-pornography laws, designed to protect children and society from sexual predators, bear much responsibility also,” he continued.

Eric Holder is the first U.S. Attorney General in nearly 30 years to refuse to enforce federal pornography laws, which were passed by Congress over many years by wide bi-partisan margins. Federal laws prohibit distribution of obscene (hardcore) adult pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite TV, on hotel/motel TV, in retail shops and by common carrier, such as UPS.

Common sense in higher education? Could this be the start of a new trend?

"Use of government to stifle innovation"??? Isn't that pretty much the definition of accreditation?

Quote:In Victory for Common Sense, Minnesota Will Allow Free Online Courses After All
By Will Oremus
Posted Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, at 7:03 PM ET

For one day, Minnesota's Office of Higher Education felt the Internet's indignation as word spread that it was cracking down on free online college courses offered through Coursera and other websites. The bizarre bureaucratic decision was first reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education on Thursday morning, and it became Internet-wide news after my blog post about it Thursday evening went viral, thanks in part to the user-generated news board Reddit.

I've just gotten word that the state has reconsidered its stance. Here's the new statement from Larry Pogemiller, director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education:



Obviously, our office encourages lifelong learning and wants Minnesotans to take advantage of educational materials available on the Internet, particularly if they’re free. No Minnesotan should hesitate to take advantage of free, online offerings from Coursera.


He added that the 20-year-old statute in question clearly didn't envision free online classes from accredited universities:


When the legislature convenes in January, my intent is to work with the Governor and Legislature to appropriately update the statute to meet modern-day circumstances. Until that time, I see no reason for our office to require registration of free, not-for-credit offerings.


In my original post, I wrote that Minnesota should win a grand prize for "most creative use of government to stifle innovation." It's only fair now that I also give it, if not a grand prize, at least an honorable mention for government responsiveness in the face of a backlash.

Yup, she's a Dimocrat, so for some reason none of the inquiring minds who like to stick their big noses in other people's business in Spokane noticed. If she had been operating an unaccredited school, well, I'm sure we would have heard something before now.

Quote:Candidate Caught Stripping For Playboy
October 19, 2012 By NewsEditor



Running for office as a devoted wife and mother of two sons besides Sunday school teacher, Amy Biviano’s campaign has been rocked by the revelation of her appearance in Playboy.

The dictionary definition of hypocritical is the “pretense of having virtues, beliefs, principles, etc.” Many politicians are well described by this adjective; but in 2012, none deserves it more than Amy Biviano.

Biviano has worked hard to transform her image from a [regionally accredited] Yale educated anthropologist and self-avowed feminist into a suburban mom with an adoring husband.

This is how she describes herself on her own website:

“I am a long-time Spokane Valley resident, a mother, and small business owner… I grew up in a small, close-knit town in Oklahoma, the daughter of a farmer and a public school teacher. I met my husband Andrew in 1993, on our first day of freshman year at Yale University, and we married two months after graduation. We moved to Andrew’s hometown of Spokane Valley in 2001, deciding that it is the ideal place to raise our family. We have now been married almost 15 years and have two incredible sons: Alex, age 13, and Aidan, age 11…I am an active member of Bethany Presbyterian Church, where I teach Sunday school and serve on the finance committee.”

What she doesn’t share in her bio is her work as a model for Playboy. She appeared in the October 1995 issue of the Men’s soft porno magazine as part of a special spread on “The Women of the Ivy League.”



Amy Biviano until now has been a darling of the Democratic Party in Washington State. After serving as the Chairman of the Democrats in Spokane County, she is now locked in a race to unseat conservative favorite Representative Matt Shea in the 4th Legislative District which stretches across the Spokane Valley.

Usually a conservative stronghold, this year, liberals on the state redistricting committee have redrawn the 4th district lines to make it competitive for Amy Biviano.

Ironically, a central theme of her campaign has been repeated demands that Representative Shea tell all about his past. She is referring to Shea’s divorce from first wife Lisa. This is well-trod turf with Democrats and the local liberal media bringing up his divorce in every one of his earlier campaigns. They claim that the breakdown of his first marriage is fair game because Representative Shea is the Legislature’s biggest opponent of gay marriage.

It is appropriate since she is demanding answers from Shea’s past that she fully disclose her own. She tells Playboy in the interview that accompanies the photo spread that she is a feminist, saying, “I wanted to pose for Playboy to show that we’re not asexual man-haters.” She also told Playboy that her future plans as an Anthropologist included a desire to study sex in other cultures around the globe.

None of her high profile work as a Playboy model is in her currently-posted biography. Her attempts to hide this episode in her life from voters’ view until now have come to an end.

CHEA has dumped George Gollin as a member of its 2012-2013 Board of Directors.

  Board Contact List 2012-2013 rev.4 - 9.26.2012.pdf (Size: 81.36 KB / Downloads: 2,634)

Why did CHEA dump the reprobate Gollin?

Did it have anything to do with his getting sued multiple times in federal court for stalking, defamation, extortion, computer hacking, and civil rights violations?

Or was it the death threats and impersonations?

Perhaps the 1,280 posts on a website operated by a gay boy pornographer?

The 16-person dissertation "collaboration" he palmed off as his independent work?

His wife being cited by the FDA for selling 386 mutant lab pigs for food?

Or was it just his Marxist political rhetoric, anti-Christian bigotry, effeminate mannerisms and public exhibitions of poor personal hygiene?


Violence-prone extremist George Gollin has been dumped by CHEA.

All this time I thought it was that butt-scratching bald guy who got 15 pals to write his dissertation for him, then proclaimed himself an accreditation expert.

Turns out it's some clown in Pakistan named Salem Kureshi who is clearing $70 million/year selling fake degrees. The Googasian law firm (perhaps best known for class action suits against Belford and CCNH) appears to have him in their sights.

Quote:Biggest Diploma Mill Scam in World History

The massive Karachi-based Organization for Global Learning Education has perpetrated a scam on the American public that continues to contravene domestic and international laws. They have lied to and ignored our government investigators -- and it appears they are going to get away with it. They get your money through a number of fake universities and launder the money through an organization known as Education Services Provider (in California) that in turn deposits your money to a bank in Pakistan.

These fake college websites are just a few of the known schools to be part of the scam known as The Organization for Global Learning Education

• Ashbery University
  
• Ashwood University
  
• Belford University
  
• Belford High School
  
• Cambell University
  
• Campile university
  
• Corllins University
  
• Grendal University
  
• Headway University
  
  
• Hill University
  
• Lorenz University
  
• Lydon State University
  
• McFord University
  
• McGraw University
  
• Must University
  
• Northern Port University
  
• Panworld University
  
• Rochville University
  
  
• Rise University
  
• Rochville High School
  
• Walford University
  
• Western Advanced Central University
  
• Western Valley Central University
  
• Wilson State University
  
• Woodfield University
  
• Woodfield High School

If you've been scammed by any of these within the last six months, read this page. If it's been more than six months, or if you've been unsuccessful with your charge-back, please contact The Googasian Firm, P.C., by calling 1-877-540-8333, or send an email to the Googasian Firm.

Quote:By the end of 2003 Kureshi began making more money than he had ever imagined possible. Orders for college degrees and high school degrees were coming in by the thousands. Soon Kureshi hired his friend from the United Arab Emirates to print and ship the diplomas to unsuspecting students in the United States.

With more money coming in then [sic] ability to handle alumni, Belford/Rochville completely stopped providing any follow up service beyond issuing the fake diploma. Once a student received his or her diploma, they were ignored by Belford/Rochville.

By 2005, the Better Business Bureau had recorded over 200 complaints about these two fake universities.

Complaints to the Better Business Bureau went unanswered. Most of the complaints were about lack of service after the sale and refusing to offer refunds even though their website clearly stated that refunds were available.

It is currently estimated that Kureshi and his group of co-conspirators from Pakistan earn approximately $55 million per year from Americans and another $15 million per year from Europeans, Australians, and residents of all other countries combined. In 2004 – 2007 when the USA economy was at its strongest, it is estimated that Kureshi and his Pakistani co-conspirators earned between $150 million and $200 million each of those years.

Regionally accredited Ohio State QB lets it slip...the Gold Standard ain't about school. The coach values integrity.....it's being honest he don't like so much.

When is someone going to notice that big time NCAA football ain't wearing no clothes? When you're just a minor league development program for the NFL, classes really are pointless.

Quote:Ohio State Suspends QB Cardale Jones for Tweeting Classes Are Pointless
By Mike Hoag Jr. on October 6, 2012

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones has been suspended for Saturday night''s contest against the Nebraska Cornhuskers after tweeting that classes were pointless.

Jones, the team's third-string quarterback, voiced his opinion that classes are pointless and that he only came to Ohio State to play football on Friday morning via Twitter.

That tweet, shown below, earned him a night off as the No. 12-ranked Buckeyes take on the No. 21-ranked Cornhuskers in prime time Saturday night.



As a result of the national recognition of the remarks, the freshman Buckeye's Twitter account has been taken down.

While it may have been a childish and harmless act, players must understand the level of scrutiny they are under. The Ohio State football program is represented by the comments its players make through social media.

That's why the school took action.

Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch contacted the school after noticing Jones was absent from warm-ups on Saturday night.

Ohio State confirmed to Rabinowitz that Jones was suspended for the game. ...

As a freshman, Jones' playing time has been nonexistent, as he is third on the depth chart and still learning head coach Urban Meyer's system. Meyer values integrity, and he's sure to remember this incident when making decisions about Jones' playing time in the future.

Junior second-string quarterback Kenny Guiton has looked sharp in backing up starter Braxton Miller. His job looks secure from the athletic, 6'5" freshman Jones for the immediate future due to these recent developments.

Want to get your kid out of self-serving union goon and libtard infested government high schools? A good starting point might be to check Tom Nixon's recently updated version of his book on online high schools.

Complete Guide to Online High Schools: Distance learning options for teens & adults

Absolutely no truth to the report that Thomas "Chip" White signed the kid to star in 20 videos. At least not yet.

Quote:Second-Graders Accused Of ‘Horrific Sexual Abuse’ Of Classmate At School
October 2, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS (CBS Cleveland/AP) — The parents of a central Indiana boy are suing [regionally accredited] Ball State University, alleging their son was subjected to “horrific sexual abuse” by three second-grade classmates at a university-run school.

The lawsuit filed Friday in Delaware Circuit Court alleges the students’ teacher and officials at Burris Laboratory School in Muncie failed to act to halt the alleged abuse at the K-12 school. It also contends the four 8-year-old boys had “unfettered access” to pornographic videos they downloaded on school computers and iPads.

According to the Indianapolis Star, the lawsuit states the boy “was forced, on multiple occasions, to engage in explicit sex acts with other children and forced to perform oral sex on children his own age.”

The Star reports that the alleged incidents took place in the library, the school bathroom and in the second-grade classroom.

Ball State spokesman Tony Proudfoot says the school will “vigorously defend these unwarranted allegations.”

He says Ball State learned in December 2011 of alleged inappropriate behavior among four second-graders at the school. Proudfoot says the suit’s allegations “bear no resemblance to the evidence” in the case.