EXPERIENCE AT AIU
In 2007, I was graduated as a software engineer from the National Engineering school of Sfax, Tunisia. In 2008, I got my master diploma as Information System Architecture from EPITA (France). Because of my work as a software engineer in Empreinte.com, I haven’t enough time to realize my dream to have the doctorate in computer science. During last years, the number of virtual learning environments is increasing. Many reports stress that virtual learning philosophy and technology is more effective than classical learning methodology. E-learning technologies have played an important role in the development and even expansion of on-line education systems. It is worth pointing out, that thousands of e-learning universities have been in progress, while they differ in their outcomes and technology exploitation. Moreover, there is a lack of a standardized way of planning, comparing and evaluating e-learning projects, their outcomes, and their effectiveness. So indicators and factors that could be used in evaluating the different e-learning universities, projects, strategies and platforms, are only my own choice. The best choice for me is of course Atlantic International University.
First, in AIU, I have known the real meaning of self-education. The AIU program gave me the opportunity to educate myself without help or support from others. ¶In fact, when we learn the art of self-education we will find, if not create, opportunity to find success beyond our wildest dreams. ¶Self-educated people are not dependent on others for knowledge. ¶If they need a specialized skill, they know how to acquire it without dependence on authority. ¶Unknowingly, people are promoted by their ability to learn new skills fast. ¶Bosses may not recognize how people learn, but they do recognize the results. ¶People, who know how to educate themselves have choices, they have the ability to advance in any endeavor. As Bob Webb thinks that: «Through the power of self-education you can be anything you want to be or do anything you want to do. Self-education power does not require money, fixed time or fixed life style. Options are extremely flexible. Rewards are unlimited. You can control your destiny».
Second, I have understood the meaning of Time Management and the need to arrange a time within my weekly schedule to dedicate to the online courses.
Third, I found AIU’s paradigm tends to have clear discipline and well organization. The Distance Learning program will be a custom-made program, designed just for me by me and my advisor. This flexibility to meet my needs is seldom found in other distance learning programs. This program does not require every student to study the same subjects and use the same books and other learning materials as every other student. Instead this online Doctoral programs are designed just for me. They are individually designed to meet my needs and help me to reach my professional and personal goals. And really it’s the most important experience I have gotten from AIU.
Fourth, I learned from my AIU experience: how to determine what I need to know (learning needs analysis), how to develop learning outcomes and how to plan assessment at the end of my chosen course as well as during the course.
Fifth, AIU eLearning fosters interaction among me and instructors. Interaction stimulates my understanding and the recall of information, accommodates different learning styles and fosters learning through a variety of activities that apply to different learning styles, fosters my self-paced learning. Indeed, through AIU I learnt at the rate I prefer, it’s convenient for me to access any time, any place, reduces travel time and travel costs, encourages me to browse information through hyperlinks to sites on the worldwide Web and thereby find information relevant to my personal situations, allows me to select learning ma