With the rise in demand for online bachelor degrees, many bogus learning institutions have mushroomed over the internet with the sole intention of taking advantage of innocent students seeking for a genuine degree. These so-called “Colleges” often attract applicants with their attractive degree programs which are boasts of easy graduation, low tuition fees, no examinations and credit given for life experience, all of which just sound too good to be true. Some of them even go to the extent of prospecting for customers by sending out bulk email citing university degrees for sale.

Therefore, with all the confusion generated, how can students sieve out the genuine from the bogus? This may be especially difficult for distance learning programs when students practically make their choices based on what is shown on a website. In many cases, especially for international students, it may not be feasible to visit the physical site of a college before enrolling. With this, making choices will really depend on the appearance and content of a website, which sometimes may not be an accurate judge of the creditability of a college.

One of the best ways to determine credibility is to pay close attention to how the credentials are stated. For example, if an educational institution claims to have nationwide or worldwide accreditation, without revealing which government agency provided the accreditation, it’s possible the college or university probably does not possess the necessary seal of approval to provide legitimate online Bachelor degrees.

Six accreditation agencies have been given the authority to award college accreditation. The agencies are divided by geographic location, so it is possible to contact the appropriate office to determine whether a college or university has legitimate standing and been registered in that district. The agencies are all appointed by the National Board of Education and include: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU).

If a university sends out mass e-mailings offering on online Bachelor degrees, Master’s Degree, and even Doctorate degrees for a fixed rate, it is a sure sign the result will be a bogus degree. Course credits for such a degree may include such strange elements as: credit for life experiences, work experience, previous educational background, workshops, community services, travel, and books read in the past. To further confuse the issue, fake accrediting URLS are set up to prove accreditation, but unless it is from one of the 6 agencies endorsed by the Department of Education, the award is most likely phony. The unscrupulous institutions depend on the desperation of people who do not have the time, or the money, to earn a valid degree. Nevertheless, without that all-important diploma, good jobs are impossible to find.

In conclusion, as the awareness on bogus degrees increases amongst prospective employers, degrees obtained through a legitimate avenue of education can sometimes be mistaken for bogus online bachelor degrees too. Therefore, the best approach to select a college would ideally be based on legitimate college accreditation awarded by the appointed authorities to the respective colleges.

The author writes about accredited distance learning colleges and various online bachelor degrees and courses

If a survey by the National Center For Education Statistics is to be believed, roughly 1.1 million children took home schooling in 2005 alone. That’s a great deal of children. Once upon a time, homeschooling used to be a radical statement – something like a declaration of independence.

It was the (right-wing|conservative Christians who advocated homeschooling in the 1980’s and legalized it in every State. But the average homeschooler of today is not religiously motivated.

Later surveys indicate that parents are quite fed up with the public school system where a lot of the learning is superficial and compulsory. They are also concerned about the negative environment in school, ranging from drugs and abuse to negative peer pressure.

Because of this, we have a surprising mix of people who form the homeschooling world of today. They cut across all religious creeds and all regional borders. Their main aim is providing meaningful and productive education through a method that strengthens the bond between the various members of the family.

These families all have one main thing in common – a long enduring commitment to the sanctity of childhood. The children of these families are accorded a primary position. Many believe, and, I think, rightly so, that home schooling allows parents to bring up their kids in a more natural and caring environment.

Public schools can make a child nervous, diffident and downright mean. Children who get their education at home are protected from these damaging, negative influences until they attain an age where they can withstand them.

Home-schooling draws the whole family into the almost religious task of teaching. Everyone is put to work. Both the parents together form a bond with the children. Any experience can be turned into an educational experience. Both the parents are aware of exactly what is going into their child’s education.

Parents also have a greater control over the type of religious and moral values that the child is taught. Even watching a movie together can become an educational experience. Visits to the libraries, zoos, museums and other places become educational as well as recreational.

A home-schooling family is primarily dependent on the income of one earning member. That means that often spending has to be curtailed and proper planning of expenditure is necessary. This helps to bring the family members together and everybody gets involved in the task of saving money.

Merely having a parent at home to supervise, to nurture and to care for the children brings with it a lot of love and caring. Even the husband chips in and there is just no room for complacency.

Yes OK, problems still do sometimes occur, and there will be a lot of misgivings in your mind, but when you know that your children can always count on you, and your kids know it too, then homeschooling becomes a very rewarding experience.

What makes the internet dangerous for children is often their natural curiosity to learn. These dangers can arise from many different circumstances and varied responses.

The ways that children are at risk, from child predators and a life of enslavement to porn, are endless.

Because of the pornography industry’s ever increasing income that can produce more than the Detroit’s big three, they are not going away anytime soon.

Since the internet can be a faceless, nameless entity, it is vital that parents be involved to ensure that strangers don’t lure young people into giving out information, or even worse meeting up with them. Every parent should be active in the activities their children are involved in, the internet is no exception.

Some Social sites encourage meeting other people and need to be monitored closely. Parents have to have control over who their kids freinds are as well as making sure their child’s profile is private.

Monitoring is the greatest form of protection a parent could deliver. An added tool would be an online filter.

A good filter will give the parent peace of mind knowing their is a safeguard in place for when they can’t be there.

A filter should be fast as well as tamper proof and only changed by a third party. Having the third party eliminates the chance of it being removed by someone or allowing unwanted sites accessed.

Software that store the computer’s online activity such as searches and findings will help the parent.

A good filter will let you monitor as well as filter. Some software will let you take screenshots and monitor time limits and more. A good search will help you choose the right filter for you.

Parenting has serious responsibilties, of those is protecting your children. Monitoring your child’s online activity as well as keeping the computer in a general living area are good measures to take to protect them.

Filtering and monitoring software provide parents the tools they need to protect their family.

Advanced Internet Filtering: Keeping Your Computer Safe

The internet is the world’s largest source of information. Some of the material the internet contains is very useful, but a large portion is offensive and inappropriate for viewing. Because this material can be grouped into various categories, sometimes it takes an internet filter that utilizes different techniques to effectively filter out objectionable content.

What is an Internet Filter?

Software programs, that are used to prevent some internet users from accessing unwanted content online, are called filters. They normally block out this undesired content by one of two ways: through using a predetermined list of keywords that are considered unacceptable, or using a filter based on URLs or website addresses that contain unwanted material.

While these are the most common techniques, some internet filters use other methods to keep children and families safe from the dangers lurking online. In this article, learn about the advanced features and capabilities found in filtering software.

Dynamic Categorization

Dynamic categorization picks up where a keyword filter fails. Algorithms are used to determine the appropriateness of material presented on web sites. It is better than a keyword filter because it not only blocks more, but it also allows access into more sites that are harmless which are normally blocked because they possess questionable words.

Image Recognition

A very advanced filter is called the image recognition filter. It has the ability to block unwanted images that contain pornography. The problem is that it is complex and it takes too much time to work for which people do not have the time causing it to be missing from most computers.

Newsgroup Filtering

At one time newsgroups were the new danger on the web, however, they still due possess the capability to produce loads of unwanted filth. Due to the fact that many are poorly if at all supervised feature lots of inappropriate material. foul and vulgar language, sexually explicit images and extremist groups promoting racism and hatred exists inside conversational groups on these forums.

Without being monitored, kids could accidentally view this unacceptable material and then even download it. The good not is that many filter can be set to restrict all or just some newsgroups.

Program Blocking

Another advanced feature of internet filtering software is the ability to specify what programs can and cannot gain access to the internet. This feature is very similar to the basic functionality of a two-wall firewall. For instance, you can configure the program to prevent a peer-to-peer application such as Kazaa or LimeWire from accessing the internet, but allow access to your mail client.

Such a filter also makes it possible to limit certain users to a select few programs that require access to the internet.

Advanced Features for Enhanced Protection

The internet’s helpful information has given new windows for which potential dangers can sneek through. Because of the awareness of this threat, many companies have been created to offer protection to many situations by designing special internet filters. Thankfully we can and need to possess such programs that allow us to monitor and keep porn off of our families computers.

Porn sites open everyday adding to the already millions due to the fact that the Porn industry is equal to big business. It is widespread, because it has never been so cheap, fast, and anonymous to watch as it is on the internet.

Porn sites can cost money or be absolutely free. Because so many people have accidentally stumbled upon this content online porn remains a pressing issue.

From Past to Present: Prevalence of Porn

Porn was hard to get at the beginning ot the web, unfortunetly however, today it could never be easier. By simply typing in your request and waiting adult web sites will flood to your screen.

Even if you’re not looking for porn, it will sometimes come to you via e-mail or advertisement. This is a huge problem to those who have no desire of the filth or who have kids that use the internet.

Linking Porn with Pedophiles

Worst of all pedophiles prey upon children on the internet. As a wolf in sheep’s clothing they hide behind fake profiles as other children seeking new freinds.

Pedophiles even send pornographic pictures to kids along with soliciting themselves to the child.

Out of children the ages of 10-17, 1in5 were sexually solicited while 1in4 were exposed to naked people or people engaged in sexual activity, according to the Nation Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

This search proves the need for families to have internet filtering software.

How Internet Filters Block Out Porn

There are many filters available but most have the same techniques. Below are two of the most common:

* Keyword filtering: This strategy allows you to restrict access to websites that contain vulgar words or phrases. Most programs provide the ability to make adjustments at any given time at your own discretion. A reliable filter will include a predefined list of keywords and allow you to create your own as well.

* URL Filtering: The URL and website address is used to block access to sites. This method usually blocks thousands.

Internet Filtering is a Must

The National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families recommends that parents educate themselves on the dangers of the internet and devise ways to keep their families safe. Along with continuous education and parental involvement, internet filters can play a huge role in monitoring online activity and blocking pornographic content. With all the questionable content that can be accessed online these days, a reliable filtering program should be included in the software package of every home-based computer.