January 05, 2010 
By Janet Farley
Time to make that illustrious list of New Year’s resolutions for 2010. In case you are low on ideas, here’s a professionally enhancing one for you to consider adding to your lofty list. Why not resolve to brush up on your basic academic skills so you stand a better chance at landing that long-awaited promotion at work or passing that upcoming test you’ve been dreading?
Now you can do so easily and in the comfort of your own home thanks to
Peterson's Online Academic Skills Course (OASC), a new resource available to military members and their families.
Here are the details you need to know:
What is OASC?
OASC, as its name implies, is an on-line skills assessment and builder that can help you improve your math, reading comprehension and vocabulary skills so you can advance professionally and/or academically. OASC is available free of charge to you, making this resource even more attractive and accessible.
How Does it Work?
Getting registered to begin the coursework is easy. Simply go to OASC and follow the on screen instructions for signing up. Once you have accessed the content (whether or not you have started or completed any work) you have one year to use it. How long it takes you to actually complete it, however, is up to you. The program is self-paced and the timeline for completion can be lengthened or shortened depending upon your unique needs.
After you have registered for the program, you are prompted to take two pre-tests in order to establish a baseline. These tests, covering verbal and math comprehension, contain 50 questions apiece.
The pre-tests determine your existing strengths and weaknesses in the content areas. Once those are established, the OASC then develops a customized learning path for you to follow to improve the weak areas.
The verbal section of the course is designed to help you improve your vocabulary and reading abilities, useful skills to have in order to success in taking standardized tests. To help you improve your verbal prowess, basic, medium and challenge word flash cards are available.
The math section is constructed to help you brush up on the basic skills by reviewing those pesky arithmetic, algebra and geometry lessons that you may have mentally suppressed after a certain amount of time.
As you go through the lessons that have been customized for you, you will have the additionally ability to take practice test sets and quizzes to test your growing comprehension of the material.
Once you are finished with the lessons, practices tests and quizzes, you then conclude the program by taking a post test to see how much your understanding has improved since the pre-test.
Why You Should Use It
There are at least four glaring good reasons to do so.
Reason #1: The job market is currently flooded with wannabe, highly skilled employees. If your basic skills are lacking in any shape or form, you will not have the edge over the other guys. Having the edge today counts and sometimes that means you have to begin with or return to the basics in order to move up the proverbial ladder.
There isn’t a better way to increase your earning potential on the job and advance your career than by getting better at what you do or can do. And let’s face it. With a lingering high unemployment rate and the continued availability of MyCAA dollars, there just isn’t a better time to enhance your career marketability.
Reason #2: If you’re more interested in the classroom than the boardroom, listen up. Going back to the classroom, virtually or otherwise however, can be a bit intimidating if it has been a while since you were last there. As you research, plot and plan your academic career for the upcoming year, OASC can help.
OASC not only offers you the skills building lessons, quizzes and tests (oh my), but it also earns high marks for its helpful articles covering such topics as “How to Beat Test Stress” and “Last-Minute Study Tips.” Furthermore, the service offers you detailed tips and strategies for doing well on the ASVAB, GED and CLEP tests.
Reasons #3: It is, as mentioned above, a cost-effective tool you can use. The program costs nearly $199 to the un-ID carded individual. Look it up. Because you, however, are an ID-card carrying member of the active duty military family, it is free to you. Yes, you heard correctly. Free, as in no cost to you.
Reason #4: OASC is user-friendly and easy on the eyes. It offers you at-a-glance summaries of your unique learning path, the tests you need to take and their results. It also offers the bonus resources section, as noted above. This makes that whole learning process seamless!
Because the course is self-paced and on-line, you access it 24/7 from the comfort of your own home or foxhole, in your favorite pair of bunny slippers. All you need is an Internet connection and the desire to get started!
For More Information
DANTES Homepage
Military OneSource
Army Continuing Education
Marine Corps Lifelong Learning
Navy College Program
Air Force Virtual Education Center (requires log-in)