Thursday, 12 May 2016
ms in educational technology
A Master in Educational Technology degree program shows students how to apply technology to improve education. The programs provide education professionals with the expertise needed to enhance teaching and learning. Our “wired world” is continually changing, and this requires educators to stay current with the latest educational technology.
This masters degree attracts education professionals interested in Internet-based teaching, improving traditional classroom learning, managing distance education programs, designing instructional modules, corporate training and more.
Graduates may teach in public and private schools (both secondary and colleges). Graduates may also assume an administrative or consulting role, becoming school or district educational technology leaders, technology coordinators, educational technology consultants, and professional trainers in educational technology, working in the corporate world or for government agencies.
Master in Educational Technology degree programs teach education professionals how to use the latest technologies to improve student learning, manage records, do research, and manage educational technology resources. Some students focus on designing and developing multimedia training for the business world (especially in continuing education for employees).
The programs teach education professionals how to leverage the latest technology to develop engaging, optimal learning opportunities.
Master in Educational Technology degree program ranking guidelines:
We selected the degree programs based on academic excellence, range of available classes, faculty strength, rankings and reputation.
best information technology degrees
What better place to earn a Bachelor of Information Technology (IT) degree than online, using state-of-the-art technology to learn about state-of-the-art technology.
With jobs in the field of information technology expected to increase 45% in the next decade, many students are doing just that—going online to earn a bachelor’s degree in information technology, and at top institutions too!
Individuals can use their Information Technology Bachelor’s degree across countless industries and occupations. Information schools—or “i-Schools”—are rapidly emerging within the world of higher education, and offer students a great option to complete a Bachelor of Information Technology degree from anywhere in the world.
Online Bachelor IT degree programs ranking guidelines:
We selected the top online IT Bachelor degree programs based on courses offered, program quality, awards, rankings, faculty, academic standing, reputation, including the school’s reputation 
for effectively providing online degree study. Ranging from world-class institutions like Penn State and University of Minnesota, to programs specifically designed for busy, working adults like Capella University and Excelsior College, the schools on this list are the leaders among new IT schools.
for effectively providing online degree study. Ranging from world-class institutions like Penn State and University of Minnesota, to programs specifically designed for busy, working adults like Capella University and Excelsior College, the schools on this list are the leaders among new IT schools.
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The 10 Best Online IT Bachelor Programs
1. Penn State World Campus
Online Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology
Penn State’s online IT bachelor’s degree is uniquely suitable for people experienced in IT and new to the field. Made up of a core curriculum and supporting classes, Penn State’s degree focuses on developing the skills and foundations needed to incorporate information technology into a variety of other systems.
The school’s online students can expect a curriculum consistent with the school’s reputation—that is, “academically rigorous, yet career-focused.” The program has a minimum of 125 credits, including 45 general education credits, 33 prescribed credits, and a number of elective and supporting credits.
The highly respected faculty members who teach the on-campus courses also teach the online courses. Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, online students receive the same diploma as the on-site students.
Penn State has offered distance learning for over a century and online learning for more than a decade.
Credits required: At least 125
Tuition Costs: $518/$559 per credit, plus a per-semester Info Technology Fee ranging from $84 to $248
Tuition Costs: $518/$559 per credit, plus a per-semester Info Technology Fee ranging from $84 to $248
2. UMass Online
Online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
UMass aims to provide students in the Bachelor’s in Information Technology online degree program a “solid foundation in the discipline and the broad expertise” needed to succeed in the field of technology.
Students can choose between four different concentrations for their IT Bachelor’s degree: Computer Science, Computing, Information Technology, and Operation and Information Technology.
Students can choose to depart from the basic curriculum. The curriculum includes general education courses, information technology electives, and a minimum of six concentration electives. Students can take seven additional business-related electives to earn a Business Minor.
Conveniently, the school offers the Bachelor in Information Technology program entirely online, or as a hybrid of online and on-campus courses.
Credits required: 120
Tuition Costs: $365 per credit, or $1125 per course (includes $30 registration fee per semester)
Tuition Costs: $365 per credit, or $1125 per course (includes $30 registration fee per semester)
3. ASU Online
Online Bachelor of Information Technology
The program at Arizona State University (ASU) Online focuses on preparing students for careers in IT departments and related fields such as web design and interactive media. Students take a range of classes to obtain the technical skills to create effective solutions to today’s technological problems.
Students choose one of three options for concentration: design and construction of web applications, security administration of computer and network systems or video game design and construction.
Each semester, students work on relevant hands-on projects such as working with an external customer or working on an actual IT-related problem before completing their degree.
All students, regardless of the concentration learn to create network architectures, configure database systems, create websites, and design interactive media. Additionally, students have the option of minoring in any of ASU’s offered undergraduate minors.
Credits Required: Varies
Tuition Costs: $485 per credit, with no additional program fees
Tuition Costs: $485 per credit, with no additional program fees
4. Drexel University Online
Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology
The university designed the program specifically for students who have an average of five years working in the IT industry and have an associate’s degree in any subject. The major focus of the program is on IT infrastructure and services, networking technology, server technology, and systems analysis.
Students need one hundred and eighty-eight credits to complete the degree, but since an associate’s degree is required for admission into the program, students do not have to complete all 188 credits at Drexel University.
In addition to the various information technology classes, students need to take classes in database management, server and network technology, behavioral science, and mathematics.
Students can complete the Bachelor’s in Information Technology program entirely online.
Credits required: 188 credits
Tuition Costs: $707 per credit
Tuition Costs: $707 per credit
5. University of Denver
Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology
The university designed the online Bachelor’s in Information Technology program for busy adults. Students in this program will learn practical skills in networking, web design and programming, systems analysis, and systems design.
Businesses, government, and community leaders all contributed to the development of Denver’s bachelor’s curriculum, and every required class seeks to instill in students the qualities sought by employers in IT.
In addition to IT classes such as Systems Analysis and Design, Database Fundamentals, and Integrative Project Design, students complete core classes on leadership, writing, and creativity and innovation. Students further tailor the degree with the selection of electives ranging from Transportation Modes and Nodes, to Global Politics and Human Geography.
Students can complete the IT degree entirely online, entirely on campus, or as a hybrid of online and on-campus classes.
Credits required: 45–180, depending upon number of transfer credits
Tuition Costs: $525 per online credit
Tuition Costs: $525 per online credit
6. Colorado State University-Global Campus
Online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
The online Bachelor IT degree program aligns the knowledge of hardware and software with the knowledge of business and innovation.
The 120-credit curriculum prepares students for IT jobs and all necessary certification exams. Students take the core courses in order. The general education and elective requirements give students the opportunity to apply the knowledge to various sub-fields in information technology.
Students learn to choose and service software/hardware systems which meet a company’s unique information technology requirements. The program provides practical knowledge in all areas of information technology.
Students can enhance their information technology online degree with a specialization in a career-relevant field.
Credits required: 120
Tuition Costs: $350 per credit
Tuition Costs: $350 per credit
7. Northeastern University
Online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Consistent with Northeastern University’s highly respected reputation, the university’s rigorous online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology strives to provide students with the knowledge to apply IT to a variety of fields. The program prepares students for a number of technological careers, including web and multimedia design, system and network administration, networking, and security.
The Bachelor IT online degree program follows a general curriculum which begins with classes on quantitative methods, computer programming, and technology, before exploring database management, operating systems, networks, and the Internet. In total, students complete 33 credits of core curriculum, nine credits of foundation courses such as algebra or statistics, and 72 credits of major-specific courses.
The school’s online program operates on the quarter system. Full-time students can complete the program in four years and part-time students can complete the program in seven years. Students can complete the entire degree program online.
Credits required: 160
Tuition Costs: $56,160
Tuition Costs: $56,160
8. Oregon Tech
Online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Oregon Tech’s online Bachelor in Information Technology program is ideal for students both new to and experienced in the field of information technology who have already completed a foundation of credits at another school. Students pursuing this IT degree choose to concentrate in either Applications Development, Business/Systems Analysis, or Health Informatics.
To complete the online information technology degree, students take a variety of integrated courses in information technology, business, and general education. Regardless of the concentration, students take classes in Communications, Humanities, Math and Science, and Information Technology.
The school offers the Business/Systems Analysis and Health Informatics concentrations 100 percent online.
Credits required: 180–183, depending upon concentration
Tuition Costs: $214 per credit, plus a $60 distance delivery fee for each class
Tuition Costs: $214 per credit, plus a $60 distance delivery fee for each class
9. Walden University
Online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Walden University’s Bachelor’s in Information Technology degree combines classes from both information technology and business fields to prepare students for long-term careers in IT and IT management.
Walden’s flexible online program runs through the university’s MobileLearn, which enables students to choose not only when and where they learn, but how they learn. The program consists of hands-on lab activities. The program encourages students to collaborate in teams and with real-world companies.
The IT students can choose from seven concentrations, including Security and Forensics, Application Development and Testing, and Healthcare Informatics. Students can also obtain an undergraduate minor.
The Walden University Bachelor in Information Technology program is one of the few online programs to receive accreditation from ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), the internationally recognized computing accreditation commission.
Credits required: 181
Tuition Costs: $310 per quarter credit, plus a $120 Technology Fee per quarter
Tuition Costs: $310 per quarter credit, plus a $120 Technology Fee per quarter
10. King University
Online Bachelor of Information Technology
King University (formerly King College) has several campuses located in the state of Tennessee. The school designed the online Bachelor of Information Technology program specifically for the working professional who already completed a minimum of 45 credits. Students can finish their bachelor’s degree while enhancing their industry knowledge and preparing for various technical career paths.
Students choose from available concentrations in Business, Database Management, Health Informatics, Network Management, Programming, Cyber Security, and Web Design. Each concentration includes classes or units on fundamental managerial topics such as project management, policy consultation, and problem solving. The IT degree program prepares students to further their careers within the IT field.
In addition to the core, elective, and IT classes necessary to complete the degree, King University students prepare a portfolio of work to take to potential employers.
Students can complete the entire Bachelor of Information Technology degree program in an accelerated schedule of 16 months.
Credits required: 124 total (including the 45 credits required to enroll)
Tuition Costs: $300 per credit
Tuition Costs: $300 per credit
virtual call center technology
A virtual call center is a call center in which the organization's representatives are geographically dispersed, rather than being situated at work stations in a building operated by the organization. Virtual call center employees may be situated in groups in a number of smaller centers, but most often they work from their own homes. This is an attractive arrangement for many employees: the hours are often flexible, and there's no dress code or commute. For the organization, the virtual call center model saves housing and equipment costs and can lead to lower employee turnover rates, which tend to be high for physical call centers.
Switching to a virtual call center model can be very beneficial. One example: My Twinn (a high-end doll manufacturer) went to a virtual model in 2000. That year, 30% more inquiry calls were converted to orders, employee turnover decreased 88%, and 90% fewer calls had to be escalated (transferred to a higher-level employee), compared to 1999. For companies whose business is highly seasonal, the virtual model also means that they don't have to maintain large facilities year-round. My Twinn, for example, requires over 400 customer support employees in their busy Christmas season, but only about 25 the rest of the year.
To appear professional and increase customer confidence, even bricks and mortar call centers attempt to present customers with a virtual representation of an organization's offices. The customer, dialing a customer service or technical support number, is given the impression that their call reaches a physical department within the organization, when in fact, it is likely to reach a company that outsources support for several different organizations. In the case of the virtual call center the customer's impression is even more illusory, as the number is quite likely to reach the kitchen of a stay-at-home parent, or the dorm room of a university student.
private cloud technology
Private cloud is a type of cloud computing that delivers similar advantages to public cloud, including scalability and self-service, but through a proprietary architecture. Unlike public clouds, which deliver services to multiple organizations, a private cloud is dedicated to a single organization.
As a result, private cloud is best for businesses with dynamic or unpredictable computing needs that require direct control over their environments.
Public and private cloud deployment models differ. Public clouds, such as those fromAmazon Web Services or Google Compute Engine, share a computing infrastructure across different users, business units or businesses. However, these shared computing environments aren't suitable for all businesses, such as those with mission-critical workloads, security concerns, uptime requirements or management demands. Instead, these businesses can provision a portion of their existing data center as an on-premises -- or private -- cloud.
A private cloud provides the same basic benefits of public cloud. These include self-service and scalability; multi-tenancy; the ability to provision machines; changing computing resources on-demand; and creating multiple machines for complex computing jobs, such as big data. Chargeback tools track computing usage, and business units pay only for the resources they use.
In addition, private cloud offers hosted services to a limited number of people behind a firewall, so it minimizes the security concerns some organizations have around cloud. Private cloud also gives companies direct control over their data.
But private clouds have some disadvantages. For example, on-premises IT -- rather than a third-party cloud provider -- is responsible for managing the private cloud. As a result, private cloud deployments carry the same staffing, management, maintenance and capital expenses as traditional data center ownership. Additional private cloud expenses include virtualization, cloud software and cloud management tools.
However, to reduce an organization's on-premises IT footprint, cloud providers, such asRackspace and VMware, can deploy private cloud infrastructures.
A business can also use a mix of a private and public cloud services with hybrid clouddeployment. This allows users to scale computing requirements beyond the private cloud and into the public cloud -- a capability called cloud bursting.
web based tech support
Freshservice
Freshservice is an online IT Helpdesk with a fresh twist. The tool puts a refreshing user experience on top of powerful ticketing and asset management capabilities like auto-discovery of new resources, powerful configuration management and enhanced impact analysis. Incident, Problem, Change, Release & Knowledge Management are amongst the other features that make Freshservice, a perfect fit for your organization's IT management needs.
Freshdesk is a cloud based helpdesk solution that offers everything a business needs to deliver exceptional support. Unlike competing products with steep pricing tiers and hidden strings, Freshdesk is priced affordably, and is free forever for the first three agents. Built with an emphasis on usability, Freshdesk offers all the tools a company needs to wow its customers - robust multichannel capability, integrated game mechanics to supercharge agent productivity, smart automations & a lot more!
Kaseya VSA is an integrated IT systems management platform that can be leveraged seamlessly across IT disciplines to streamline and automate your IT services. Kaseya VSA integrates key management capabilities into a single platform. Kaseya VSA makes your IT staff more productive, your services more reliable, your systems more secure, and your value easier to show. VSA capabilities include: Remote Monitoring, Remote Control, Patch Management, Monitoring, AV/AM, Process Automation, and more
Vision Helpdesk offers Customer Service Software Tools - 1) Help Desk Software (Multi Channel Help Desk) 2) Satellite Help Desk (Multi Brand Help Desk) 3) Service Desk (ITIL / ITSM Help Desk) Vision Helpdesk is ALL IN ONE customer support help desk allows you to manage various channels like E-MAIL, WEB-FORMS, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, CALLS everything under single roof. Vision Helpdesk is trusted by 8000 plus companies across the globe.
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is a completely web-based Help Desk and Asset Management Software. It offers an integrated package with Incident management(Trouble Ticketing), Asset Tracking, Purchasing, Contract Management, Self-Service Portal, and Knowledge Base at an affordable price point. ServiceDesk Plus provides all that you need to have a full-fledged IT Help Desk and a productive Help Desk staff. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is available in both normal edition and also ITIL edition.
wireless technology in business
Business value is a complicated equation. Saving money is one important component, but value can also be measured in terms of productivity, efficiency, job satisfaction and customer service. Wireless technologies have become a crucial component for small businesses of all kinds. A 2010 study by AT&T found that 65 percent of small businesses feel that it would be very difficult to survive without wireless technology and that few small businesses have cut back on wireless despite economic pressures.
In the Office
Wired networks are old hat. Wi-Fi wireless technology saves businesses a considerable amount of money on installation costs. Companies no longer have to physically run wires throughout an office building, warehouse or store. This is especially handy for businesses that have workers that move throughout the location, but still need to stay connected to inventory or sales software through portable devices. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology that acts as a complement to Wi-Fi. It is often used to transfer data between a computer and a cellphone or connect a wireless headset. Workers gain flexibility while businesses reduce investment costs.
Mobilizing Workers
Cell phones, laptops and netbooks combined with GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technologies have created the potential for a powerful mobile workforce. Small businesses are often in competition with larger companies and need to maximize the efficiency of workers. They can't afford to have employees out of touch. Owners often wear many hats and have to keep track of multiple facets of a business, even during nights, weekends and vacations. Wireless technologies ensure that businesses aren't tied down to a single location.
GPS
GPS devices have gone from expensive premium items to common business accessories. GPS technology has been a boon to the transportation industry when it comes to finding efficient routes and tracking vehicles, but it makes sense for any business with a mobile component. Traveling employees can use GPS devices to get to their destinations on time, find the best gas prices and avoid traffic tangles. On-time customer service translates into happy customers. Outfitting company cars with GPS can take a lot of the stress out of business travel.
Smartphones
A survey by research group Gartner found that smartphone sales rose 24 percent between 2008 and 2009. That is a trend that businesses are getting in on. Smartphones have all the same business benefits of regular cell phones--such as keeping mobile employees in touch--and adds in features like powerful business applications and easy Internet access. Mobile invoicing software, calendars and email mean that employees and owners are always up-to-date on business happenings and can respond quickly to customer requests.
Wireless Computers
Once upon a time, business road warriors had to hook into wired Ethernet connections to get online from the road. Wi-Fi is now built into new laptops and gives workers the opportunity to connect easily from hotels, coffee shops, home offices, book stores and client sites. It is a big boost to business efficiency when research, invoicing, email and project development can be handled without having to return to a desktop computer at the main office. This approach helps to keep small businesses nimble and competitive.
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