As we might have covered in the past, one of the greatest benefits of attending an online college is being able to go to class at your leisure. However, with that freedom comes challenges, such as staying awake and on top of things when you decide to start class at 11 o’clock at night. You might need help staying awake though your online nursing school lecture, for example. Here are ten tried-and-true pieces of advice you can employ the next time you’re attending class by moonlight.

Eat and Drink. Stimulation of any kind helps to keep your brain awake and focused, and not daydreaming about butterflies and bunny-filled fields. Protein-rich foods (meats, cheese, soy) are known for promoting brain function, fruits like blueberries and bananas give you antioxidants and happy, wakeful nutrients, and anything spicy will give your mouth something to think about other than your pillow. To be avoided: milk, turkey, sugary stuff and excessive caffeine, since those either contain the food-coma inducing tryptophan or cause catastrophic brain crashes further down the road. EduBook has a few other ideas you might use.
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Online movie rental pioneer Netflix is shifting its focus more and more to streaming video online through your computer, video game system or other streaming device. But did you know that among the thousands of movies and TV shows available on Netflix are scores of educational options on virtually all of the most popular college majors? Here are some examples. Now, if anyone busts you for “goofing off” on Netflix, you can tell ‘em you’re trying to earn your degree… (more…)

No, it’s not a cerebral rapper. Einzstein is a new service that aims to become a preeminent “e-campus” of sorts, a central access point for free online courses from around the Web. (more…)

Here’s an interesting infographic comparison of the current state of online vs. traditional college degrees — courtesy of realonlinedegrees.com — that combines pros and cons of online learning with an overview of the impact of the current economic climate, plus a profile of the typical online student and a brief history of online education. All with pretty pictures! Enjoy! (more…)

It’s Black History Month, and it’s never been easier to discover the richness of African-American history. (Those of you old enough to remember having to comb through 20-plus volumes of encyclopedias in the school library know what I’m talking about.) Whether you’re researching a project for class or are just trying to broaden your horizons, these 20 fantastic websites cataloging a wealth of information on black history are available with just a few taps of your fingers. (more…)