I was with a group of college students this week recently who brought their planners with them to schedule events throughout the semester. I was surprised at how most of the dozen students brought paper calendars and planners, instead of plugging the dates into calendars on their phones or computers.

I understand the reluctance to put all assignments in a calendar or file on the computer or to use the calendar and to-do apps on an iPhone or Blackberry. There’s always the concern, especially with students who aren’t that tech-savvy, that something could happen with the phone or computer and all of that crucial information for a college student seeking to ace a class would be lost. Talk about a stressful situation.

Maybe it’s easier to contemplate going virtual with assignments and calendars when you’re taking an online class. All the class information is online, so why shouldn’t your planning and time management for assignments be on the computer, too?

Diane Hamilton, author of “The Online Student’s User Manual,” says she’s a fan of the free iGoogle service because it allows students to keep track of and access their calendars and course information from anywhere. That’s helpful, even in the worst-case scenario.

Hamilton, who teaches for six online universities, says that even if your computer crashes, your schedules and assignments will be accessible through any computer.

Have you tried using iGoogle or other sites to manage your college coursework and other activities, and what have you found are the pros? Or what should students know if they’re trying to use more web tools to manage their assignments?

-Lori Johnston

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Some people say college doesn’t prepare you for real life: You probably won’t get to live with all your best friends, nor will you be able to rely on mom and dad to send cash for incidentals. But there are plenty of lessons learned in college — inside the classroom and out – that can be extremely useful on the job.

Some of these examples came to light during last week’s #CollegeBound Twitter chat — thanks to everyone for inspiring this post! On that note, be sure to get in on the fun every Monday at 4 p.m. EST!

See if you can apply these college lessons to the workplace…

College Lesson: Participate in class to get to know your prof and boost your grades.

On the Job: As important as “class participation” was in college, it’s even more critical in the workplace. It can be easier to stay in your cube and keep your head buried in your computer, but the higher-ups won’t see your face. And without face time, you can get passed over for important projects and promotions.

College Lesson: Know your subject weaknesses and get a tutor.

On the Job: Just like some college courses posed more of a challenge than others, some aspects of your job will be tough to ace. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If your boss is unapproachable, consult with your co-workers. You can also take courses to add to your knowledge base and turn your weaknesses into strengths.

College Lesson: Think critically and challenge assumptions.

On the Job: Memorizing facts didn’t cut it in college; maintaining status quo won’t be rewarded at work, either. Employers value creativity and problem-solving because innovation fuels success. Who would have thought that all those late-night philosophical discussions and classroom debates would actually be an asset on the job?

College Lesson: Figure out which profs will grade on a curve and give extensions.

On the Job: Just like professors, every boss is different. Get to know your superiors and determine who will look the other way when you can’t get a babysitter and who will be unsympathetic. Then tailor your requests accordingly.

College Lesson: Learn to deal with the lack of privacy intrinsic to dorm life.

On the Job: After living in a dorm fishbowl, you’ll be much better equipped to handle life in a cubicle. It’s small, cramped, and it can be much too loud for your liking, and it may be a while before you get your own office (if ever). So make friends and learn to enjoy the constant companionship of your fellow cube dwellers.

College Lesson: Work hard and build a good reputation with professors.

On the Job: Profs are more apt to give stellar students the benefit of the doubt in a jam. In the same way, your strong work ethic and credibility on the job are an investment that can be drawn from if you ever need a deadline extension, time off, etc.

College Lesson: Embrace group projects and assume a leadership role.

On the Job: The very words “group project” can be enough to strike fear into the heart of any college student. But team players are sought by employers in every industry – so if you’ve already learned to play nice with others and even take the lead, you’ll be in a much better position to succeed on the job.

What school lessons do you bring with you to work?

-Robyn Tellefsen

If you think about what it takes to excel in the workplace, sure, there often are power struggles, long hours, and the pressure to stand out among your peers. Otherwise, you may get passed over for a promotion or be unemployed during tough times for your company.

But it’s great to see how some of the 10 career success strategies in consultant Donna Dunning’s “10 Career Essentials” are wrapped around education and the desire for lifelong learning.

Here are a few of her “essentials” that you can put into practice now, steering your career in a positive direction.

Cultivate Your Curiosity
Dunning makes a good point, that if others at work see your ability to learn new skills and apply new information, your name will be in their mind when challenges or opportunities arise. Obviously there’s a wealth of industry information, reports and career development tools online, but you can also prove you are a lifelong learner and want to stay current in your field by pursuing certificate and degree programs, too.

Learn from Everyone
This can be applied in your existing workplace, but also in your willingness to think about your career field and determine if there is additional training that could be of benefit to you. Maybe the professors or peers you meet in a college program could put you on the path to a new employer or type of job in your existing field.

Exceed Expectations
It takes prioritizing and planning, as well as organizing your time and persisting, to reach high standards that make you shine in the workplace, the book notes. But also look at the degrees held by your co-workers and ask yourself whether additional education would show employers that you take initiative and want to exceed their expectations. Maybe you could be in line for a pay raise or a promotion because of your willingness to continue your college education or pursue a degree for the first time.

Have you benefited from pay increases or new job assignments due to steps you’ve taken in education? If so, we want to hear about your career success stories!

-Lori Johnston

If you’ve ever lost weight before, it’s probably not been an easy task. But the rewards are so great, as I’ve recently lost 10 pounds by exercising more and eating less (two things that sound simple, but are difficult). I feel so much better and am proud of my accomplishments.

The amazing thing is that the steps people take to successfully lose weight can also be applied to being a successful student, too.

Keep Track
Everything that I eat, every day, is recorded online so I can make sure my calorie consumption is low enough to shed pounds. It allows me to see when I’ve been extra good – so I can splurge, too.

Keeping details of calories and exercise can be time-consuming, but like keeping track of progress of assignments, exam preparation, and projects, it is so worthwhile. It can help you avoid waiting until the last minute or falling so far behind that an all-nighter won’t even help you feel confident during a test.

The Idiot’s Complete Guide to Study Skills recommends getting started by writing down everything you do, hour by hour, to get a feel for how you are spending your time. The book, by Randall S. Hansen and Katharine Hansen, says you may find things that are time-wasters.

Also, check out this assignment calculator, which lets you input your due date, when you’ve started the assignment, and the subject area to calculate a schedule for getting the work done.

Schedule It Out
I’ve had to plan when I’m going to exercise so I don’t run out of time during the day or push it off for another day. Every week, I’m looking at my schedule, the class schedule at the gym, and what type of workouts I want to have during the week. Then I put in my Blackberry calendar when I’m going to be at the gym.

It’s the same strategy when you’re in school – take a look at what big tests and assignments are happening each week and block out time on your calendar, whether on your computer, phone, desk, or wall, to prepare.

You may need to use a color-coded system in your calendar so you can quickly see when you are planning to study, spend time with family and friends, work, attend events, and do other tasks. Most professors suggest spending two to three hours out of class on studying for every hour of class time a week.

Get Some Support
My husband and friends are encouraging me – nicely – to lay off the chocolate and fried foods, and some of them are losing weight along with me. Especially if you are going to college for the first time, you’ll need people who can support you when the assignments pile up and tests seem daunting. Those people also could include a study partner in your class who can make sure you don’t go through it alone. Sure, you’re the only one who will be taking the test but you can have an entire group of people supporting you and celebrating in your successes.

-Lori Johnston

My 4-year-old son headed to his first day of a state-funded pre-K this week with his new Buzz Lightyear backpack, bought in the Target school supplies aisle and packed with items from the teacher’s recommended list of supplies.

Shopping for supplies and preparing Ty for school brought a bit of nostalgia for many reasons.

We had a small list of school supplies to buy (fortunately, for the budget), but I loved the look on his face when he saw the “Toy Story 3” backpack and immediately made his choice from the rows of backpacks boasting cartoon characters and other pop culture icons.

It was my first time shopping for school supplies since I earned my college degree 15 years ago. Then (and even now) I enjoyed getting set with notebooks, planners (in the pre-BlackBerry age), pens and pencils and other items that could get me prepared as a student.

You might have already waded through the school supply aisles, like me, or are preparing to do it while also keeping an eye on your budget.

But as your kids get ready to head back to school, are you starting to think about doing the same? Maybe the nostalgia you’re feeling while back-to-school shopping isn’t just about the smell of new notebooks and picking out the cool backpack.

With the CollegeBound Network’s #CollegeBound chat on Twitter – every Monday at 4 p.m. EST – you’ll find other people who have taken the step or are thinking of pursuing a college degree as well.

Maybe it’s time to look again at the roadblocks that have kept you from pursuing a college degree or certificate program in the past. As the kids go back to school and you may have a little more free time during the day, there’s an opportunity for you to consider what type of subject area and education program could assist you in your career goals.

Funnel the nostalgia you’re feeling into researching programs and schools. This time next year, maybe you will be picking out a new backpack and supplies, too.

-Lori Johnston

If you didn’t already know it, we’re getting old. It’s not just you and me, either – the overall population is aging, and the U.S. Census Bureau projects that in the next few decades, the fastest growing segment of the population will be older adults.

A significant byproduct of the aging population is that the number of workers over age 55 is increasing at a higher rate than any other age group. And our economy and workforce demands lifelong learners who continually update and upgrade their skills. That’s where continuing education comes in.

So here’s the interesting part: Adults over age 50 are increasingly pursuing higher ed online.

Survey Says…
Researchers at the Center for Research on Learning at the University in Kansas studied the characteristics, performance, and satisfaction of 136 high school special education teachers who took a four-week graduate course online. The course was content-specific, with direct applications to the teachers’ job requirements.

Results of the study indicate that not only are late-career adults (ages 50 to 65) satisfied with online learning, they actually find the experience more rewarding than their early-career (ages 21 to 35) and mid-career (ages 36 to 49) peers – despite the differences in technical abilities between the age groups. In fact, 94 percent of the late-career participants chose to enroll in the second online course in the series.

Digital Natives and Immigrants
Late-career adults in the course reported high satisfaction with a case-based learning experience that required them to read research-based content and apply the information to case study examples. The case-based learning was not as successful in keeping the attention of early-career participants, however.

Maybe that’s because “digital immigrants” (older adults) have a greater appreciation for content that’s directly applicable to their jobs. This squares with prior studies revealing that older adults prefer highly specific, short-term learning opportunities based on their interests and job requirements. “Digital natives” (younger adults), on the other hand, may expect more active interfaces such as game-like atmospheres in the online environment.

Just Do It!
Even though late-career adults became proficient in the technology requirements by the end of the course, the researchers believe that many students – late-career students in particular – can benefit from an introductory course that exposes them to the online learning environment and subject-area content prior to participating in advanced online courses. In this study, previous online course-taking of late-career participants was significantly lower than the online course-taking of early-career participants – no surprise there.

Of course, you don’t have to be a late-career adult to reap the benefits of online ed. If you’re a digital native who’s accustomed to all the bells and whistles of Web 2.0 and beyond, look for courses that employ those technologies. Mid-careerists, pursue online education that capitalizes on your career experience and growth potential. Online courses come in all shapes and sizes, and with the explosion of online education, there’s a program out there for everyone, at any age.