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Classes, courses, and groups may be used in many different ways to organize, manage, and track your training depending upon the internal organization and design of your Learning Management System (LMS). In some systems, creating an online class may be separate from a course. It all really depends on how the Learning Management System treats each of these distinctions. For example, a course may contain the content of an online-learning module that could include one or more lessons and possibly (but not necessarily) a test, to gauge knowledge gained and show mastery of the course material. Classes can be used to deliver the content to specific students at specific times according to the Learning Management System’s internal organization and constraints.

In some systems, classes may be used to group individuals for many other business purposes, like enrollment. For example, a company may enroll all of its new hires in a New Hire class for the month of August. Groups may then be assigned to the class, to allow its members to communicate with each other, and with the assigned “instructor” who will manage their new-hire orientation. New hires may have various types of course material that are used in their training. Some of those elements may be:

- Workplace safety and security.

- The company time clock or timesheet.

- The company purpose and goals.

- Company products.

- Personnel policies.

- Intellectual-property and non-disclosure agreements.

- Emergency-response procedures.

- Benefit documents.

Two special enrollment methods deserve mention: e-Commerce and self-registration. E-Commerce functionality is normally used when you want class members (who are approved to take a course) to pay for its content. Self-registration functionality allows class members to sign up for course material at their discretion, and may or may not be used in concert with e-Commerce.

These enrollment methods are normally used to admit students to traditional online classes (or to physical instructor-led classes), and to collect payments for taking them. However, e-Commerce and self-registration functionality also may be used in other creative ways, such as, to automatically run and administer an online Company Store that sells useful materials and training to:

Company employees – for example, to collect payments for in-house materials and training, in organizations where all divisions and groups operate as cost/profit centers

Customers – often, to sell them additional copies of a company’s product documentation

Association members – to help raise a company’s visibility in its field

Professional practitioners in the company’s industry—which can also raise a company’s visibility in its field

I have only briefly described a few ways that you can use classes, courses, and groups to further your company’s business objectives. Hopefully, these ideas will inspire you to find other creative applications of the Learning Management System you use in your own organization!

Online Administrative Courses: The Benefits of Distance Learning

If you’re new to the online learning game, you’ll quickly discover that it’s not your parents’ college experience. No maddening campus commute. Online course registration. The absence of traditional campus-based fees. Completing class requirements from the comfort of your own home and at hours that fit your daily schedule. The distance learning model features varied modes of delivery that include digital textbooks, video conferencing, class blogs and chat sessions, and online tests. So if the thought of stopping your life to go back to school is keeping you from advancing your career, there’s really no excuse any more.

Online Administrative Degree: Program FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about online administrative courses that you’ll want to know before you register:

Will I ever have to go to a physical campus? Most online administrative degree programs operate in an entirely virtual environment. However, some programs require a simple “meet and greet” class session at the beginning of each semester How long do I have before I have to declare a major? Most administrative degree programs allow one to two years before you are required to commit to a specific major track How important is it that I know computers? Administrative careers are inherently technical across the board–business and finance in particular. The best part of the distance learning model is that it forces you to improve your computing skills, which translate well to the contemporary working world What professional certifications should I consider? Earning the title of Certified Manager (CM) from the Institute of Certified Professional Managers can improve your marketability

From Classroom to Career: What to Expect

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are three primary career options for graduates with an online administrative degree. Consider these options and what you can expect should you decide to pursue one:

Administrative Services Managers. Employment is expected to increase by 12 percent from 2006 through 2016–that’s about as fast as the national average for all occupations. Potential salary projections as of May 2008 point to a median hourly wage of $35.35 and a median annual wage of $79,500 Administrative Support Supervisors and Managers. Employment is expected to increase by 6 percent from 2006 through 2016, with an additional 82,000 new jobs to be added. Potential salary projections as of May 2008 point to a median hourly wage of $22.02 and a median annual wage of $45,790 Other Management Operations Occupations. Graduate with an online administrative degree and you have the option of entering such burgeoning industries as production, education, engineering, and finance

The bottom line is that an online administrative degree is your ticket to professional diversity and leadership opportunities. Plus, the advantages of online courses means you can complete your degree with compromising your current personal and professional obligations.

AAAAAAAAARGH!!!
They’re not full either
*rips hair out* this is ridiculous!!