Page 2 - Adult Education Courses | Granite State College

Another empowering weekend away...

Thursday, April 28, 2011 by Deidre Romeo

Have you ever had the option of weekend college classes? There is no academic experience like it. I try to attend at least one intensive weekend college course every year. This year my weekend course included a white-knuckled drive up North due to the unexpected snow storm we experienced on April 1st! The drive was worth every tense moment for what I gained through the weekend. One of the unique advantages of attending school in an adult education program environment is the diverse and eclectic group of students sitting alongside you.

My fellow students ranged from seasoned professionals, some of whom had already earned a master's degree, to 22-year-old recent graduates yet to enter the workforce. The learning outcome in the weekend course environment is enhanced greatly by the personal, professional and academic experiences of those in attendance. This is something that is not attainable at a traditional weekday college course.

Of course the competence, enthusiasm, knowledge and experience of the faculty of any education and career advancement class is of equal importance. Most of the professors of adult college classes have spent many years working outside of the college environment in their fields of expertise. During my most recent weekend college class we had professors who are published authors, current and former business owners and valuable community leaders in attendance.

Our weekend experience ended with our professor belting out Sinatra's "I did it my way!"

Online Education

Thursday, April 28, 2011 by Beth McKenna

What are your thoughts about online adult education classes at Granite State College? Have you taken online classes for early childhood, or online classes for criminal justice, or maybe online college english classes?
What did you think? Were the class materials easy to negotiate online? Were the assignments clear and enjoyable? Did you feel that you were learning as much, or more than you do in a face to face class at Granite State?

I am asking because as a faculty member at Granite State College, I am taking a course on creating online courses. I am interacting with a number of faculty members who teach english courses and science courses and education courses. Our discussions focus on using the best online experiences for the students enrolled in online classes.

If you have thoughts about online classes for college or personal online education experiences at Granite State College, or want to get involved in the online courses, I would love to hear your ideas.

Practice What We Preach

Monday, April 18, 2011 by Beth McKenna

Teachers are always encouraged to practice what they preach. Granite State College faculty are no exception. Teachers need to know what they are asking students to do.

In this case, faculty at Granite State College are encouraged to take an online course about teaching online college courses. The course is conducted in Blackboard (the online course format). The course is set up just as an online college English class, or other online class, might be conducted at Granite State. All of the adult education resources are the same as those for any course. Faculty take the course while creating an online course for future use.

So far the experience is an interesting one. Faculty are having a change to get to know each other through the online discussion boards. There are tests, readings and assignments. I think we will all be better prepared to create exciting online courses because we have practiced as students, what we will be asking students to do in future courses.

High School VS College

Saturday, April 2, 2011 by Maria Bauer

A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend from high school. A few days after that encounter, I ran into another friend from high school. It's always amazing how you feel when you run into old friends. There are some people you get very excited to see, and others you get this feeling in the pit of your stomach and in all honesty, you may try to dodge them from seeing you. For most people that I have met (post high school) it's a time in their life they want to forget. And seeing someone from your past can bring up some uneasy feelings that you thought you had buried.

The reason I bring this up is because seeing two of these people (one from each 'category'), I began to run through in my head what high school was like for me. I tried to remember my teachers, how they taught, the environment, etc. A lot of my high school teachers were very strict about assignments and due dates and making sure they made NO exceptions, because they were trying to prepare us for the "real world" and for college.

Because of how we were being "prepared", I didn't want to go to college anymore. Of course I had ambitions and I DID want to go to college, but I was expecting that it would not be the experience I had always dreamed it would be. Not after those experiences...

I may not be where I thought I would be when I was 16, but I'm happy to see where I am today. I'm in college, and in a short number of years I will have obtained two adult education diplomas. The exact same outcome as if I had gone off to college right after graduation.

The differences between high school and Granite State College are numerous! In high school you can become invisible. Very few people know your name, interests, etc. At this Concord, NH college campus, you walk in the front door and you are greeted by your first name! (Side note: I mention Granite State College's Concord, NH college campus because it's my "home base." I go there a great deal, even though I take classes sometimes at the Manchester, NH college campus).

In high school, no exceptions were made; here at GSC, teachers will work with you and they understand that life happens. Many students who I have taken classes with have demanding jobs and/or children.

These adult accelerated degree programs are very different from high school. Of course there are always exceptions, but my guess is that these programs work because everyone there has the same goal: to make life better for us. That includes fellow students, and it also includes the faculty. Hazing and bullying don't go on at college (or at least this one). This is the one place you will always look back on as a positive experience. It's a second chance for people (or third, or fourth...).

In many years down the road you run into someone who you went to college with, there will be no uneasy feelings; you'll finally have an educational experience you are more than happy to revisit.

The moral of this story: don't let your past experiences hold you back from really living your life. It's always the time to create some new experiences, and you know you'll be better off for it.

Goals

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 by Maria Bauer

AH SPRING IS HERE! Although, those snowflakes the size of golf balls was weird way of welcoming us to spring.

The beginning of spring is my favorite time, especially after a long winter like this one! There's that feeling (spring fever?) that you feel when spring is on its way. There's this sense of relief and feeling like you are waiting to bust out and grab life by the horns. Storm windows are taken down, windows are opening, people are outside a lot more... It's like a cleansing, figuratively and literally from the dark and dreary winter.

Spring cleaning is here, and even though my house is a MESS from pulling out dusty boxes from the storage areas and going through them, I feel myself releasing all this negative energy from my body and home. Spring is *my* new years. It's the time where I reset my goals that I want to see accomplished; it's my starting over point.

The beginning of 2011 was not the best. I've been going through some nerve-wracking, serious stuff, and I am ready to put all that behind me. I have this really comfortable chair that I put outside in my little patio and do homework on, (or play on the computer) and I can feel how the rest of the year is going to be for me. I'm ready to reinvent myself. And one of the things that I really loved about all of these revelations, is that my adult accelerated degree program was my #1 priority. I always knew somewhere that I had a lot of pride in my schooling efforts, but this was such a great reminder.

All of you that are either going through, or are considering going through any type of adult education service should take a second and pat yourself on the back for taking control of your life. School is not easy! It's not just something that you can "do" you have to work at it! YOU are the one that is in charge of your adult financial aid, YOU are the one who goes to the adult education courses, YOU are the one that does the work, YOU are the one that gets the adult education certificate. No one else does that, but you!

So to all of you: welcome to spring! Really take the time to embrace it! Restate your goals for the year. Spring and summer are the times (for me at least) that I am more inclined to go out and do whatever it is I am focused on. Whether it's weight loss related, school related, or honestly whatever category(ies) your goals may fit in: make this spring *your* chance for a do-over. Spring clean your house, and put your best foot forward.

Hope to see you in class :)

These are a few of my favorite things

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 by Marta Smith

I thought I would share a few of my favorite adult education courses and classes with you. I have had so much fun in many of the classes I have taken at Granite State College, which is an adult education school focused on delivering flexible and affordable education.

I have taken so many writing classes with many different instructors and enjoyed them all, some more than others. Creative fiction was my favorite. Of course the class I took on the Isle of Shoals was awesome. Writing outside on the porch of an old hotel on an island in the middle of the ocean - what could be better!

I also really enjoyed the Astronomy class I took at the Pomfret observatory, it was a little cold that spring, but we still enjoyed it. The Sustainable Gardening class I have mentioned many times, but it bears repeating, was amazing, and we were outside for almost every class and the field trips were amazing.

I took a photography class during one amazing summer and I saw and learned so much - it was my first visit to St, Gauden's and I took some really great pictures there. I have an album that tells the story of that class. One of the best things about it is how it got me to be more observant; everywhere I went that summer I was looking for a new and interesting subject to photograph.

Another really good class was the History of New England which taught me a lot about the ecology of New England and introduced me to several excellent nature writers.

I just thought I would mention some of these because I have seen a few of them listed in the spring catalog. They are offered in different locations. Another class that sounds really good is the Field Botany of the White Mountains - which mentions field trips, I would guess that this will be a fantastic class with many really enjoyable hikes in Northern New England. You might want to check it out!

TOP 10 REASONS TO TAKE AN ONLINE CLASS

Monday, March 21, 2011 by Chuck Bagley

Learning online at Granite State College is practical and functional for many adult learners taking adult college courses. It lends itself well to how adult learners learn best, under the unique conditions they often find themselves. Online learning is appealing from a practical lifestyle perspective but also from a theoretical and neuro-scientific perspective. Here are the top ten reasons to take online classes for college:

Easy to get started - You can get started learning online with a computer and Internet access. Computers are becoming more powerful, less expensive and more user-friendly. Internet service is widely available in many places. If owning your own computer or accessing the Internet from home is a problem, many public libraries offer free computer and Internet access. Be sure to check your school’s technical requirements for your computer before taking an online class.

Economical - No travel costs, no commuting, and no dormitory fees - just tuition and occasionally materials fees.

Accessible – As long as you have an Internet connection, you can access your online course. This is particularly appealing to parents of young children or students who travel often for their work.

Flexible –Unable to make a 9:00 AM Economics lecture on a college campus? Online classes are available 24 hours a day. You can learn online from your own home at a time that is convenient for you.

Effective – When you take online classes for adults, you can expect to learn important career building skills and abilities equal to, or better than, a traditional classroom setting. According to a 2010 evaluation of online learning conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, “Students in online conditions performed modestly better, on average, than those learning the same material through traditional face-to-face instruction.”

It gets better - Thanks to advances in technology, learning online continues to improve at an unprecedented rate. New technologies facilitate active engagement that allow adult learners to apply, integrate, implement, differentiate, and formulate new learning into experience generating activities. Technological advances also enhance learner connectedness, interaction and mutual support. Immersive learning environments and serious games are no longer distant concepts but rapidly becoming more common in online learning.

Challenging – Though there are deadlines and due dates, there are no class meeting times (although some online classes may require mandatory synchronous session), you are constantly working on your own resourcefulness and initiative to complete the coursework.

Time for Reflection – Unlike a face-to-face class where immediate responses are often required in class discussions, online discussion boards allow time for thoughtful reflection and critical thinking when interacting and responding on an online discussion board. This reflection time can facilitate metacognition – thinking about one’s own thinking or “the ability to monitor one’s current level of understanding and decide when it is not adequate” (How People Learn, 2000).

Your experience counts – Online learning facilitates the connection to past experience (cognitive activation) critical to the adult learning process. Raymond Wlodkowski author of “Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn” explains it this way; “adults have had more time and seen the benefits and outcomes of a greater variety of experiences. Neurologically, their brains are more developed and capable of judging, planning, and making decisions about their experiences in a manner that is more integrated, stable, reflective, and future oriented.” Online learning interactive activities such as discussion boards, blogs and journals provide the opportunities to employ an adult’s “rich mosaic of experience” at deeper levels of learning as part of the learning experience.

Meaningful - You determine the meaning of the learning. “Most experts who have studied or participated in online learning communities share an approach to adult learners described as ‘constructivism.’ It is based on the premise that knowledge is constructed by adult learners as they filter new information through the prism of their own experience. It is quite different from the more traditional ‘objectivist’ idea of knowledge as a preexisting reality that teachers simply transmit by means of effective communication, and reinforce through practice and repetition. Constructivists expect adult learners to be active, reflective, and creative: managing their own learning process and often collaborating with each other to test new ideas and information by applying them to real problems and circumstances. Therefore, constructivists often describe their approach as student-centered rather than teacher-centered. Instructors facilitate learners’ progress rather than operating primarily as podium-based sages.” – Dr. Burgess Smith, Granite State College.

Like any other endeavor, learning online is what you make of it. Organization, discipline and hard work are all successful components to a positive online learning experience. As Judy Willis, MD, M.Ed. puts it: “The person who does the work LEARNS.”

Citations

Means, B, Toyama, Y, Murphy, R, Bakia, M, & Jones, K. (2010). Evaluation of Evidence-based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies . U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development Policy and Program Studies Service.

How People Learn. (2000). Washington, D.C. National Research Council.

Wlodkowski , R. (2008). Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Smith, B. (2011, February). How We Learn Online [Web log message]. Retrieved from https://blackboard.granite.edu/

Where Do You Find The Time?

Friday, March 18, 2011 by Joe Grabowski

As a father, husband, uncle, caregiver, pastor, blogger, AND a full-time student of Granite State College, one of the questions that I sometimes encounter is "where do you find the time?"

Honestly, that's really a loaded question. If time were something to be found, I would never find it at all. When I stop to think of the sheer amount of relationships, roles, and responsibilities that I have to juggle on any given day, I find myself bordering on hyperventilating, especially when I factor in all that I have yet to do in a given week, or at least by the term's end of any of my adult online classes.

The true answer to "where do you find the time?" is simply "I don't."

I have to MAKE the time. But how is this done?

I recently watched a video by motivational time management speaker, Stephen Covey, on this very subject. Given a challenge to fill a bucket with a certain amount of pebbles and rocks, people will often put the pebbles in first, before attempting the big rocks, which, to their frustration, will not fit neatly in the bucket, no matter what they do. This problem is solved by putting the big rocks in FIRST, and then pouring the pebbles in around the rocks, which then all fits neatly together.

In life, we are given a certain amount of responsibilities, and it is up to us to determine the priorities we give to each. Like in the big rock illustration, what may appear to be overwhelming when approached from one perspective, becomes manageable when approached from a different mindset.

Of course, I can't answer for you just what constitute your own pebbles and rocks, but I can tell you, from personal experience, that you CAN do it! You will never find the time to pursue your education, but you can make the time. It's a small distinction, but it's an important one. Granite State College is a lifelong learning college, one that recognizes the unique challenges faced by nontraditional adults, and accommodates for them through night college classes, weekend college classes, and, the option that best suits my busy life, online classes for adults.

Don't wait to FIND the time, MAKE the time! It's your turn!

3 weeks left!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by Maria Bauer

The end of the term is approaching fast. I have taken my first 5 week intensive online class. This (of course) is held the last 5 weeks of the term: which is the same time I have major research papers due in my other classes. It's a different type of experience. What's great is that adult education classes have the correct forum to try new things. Everything you do, every class you take will help you in your future endeavors. And everyone is traveling down the same road you are.

I am currently in this place where even though there are only 3 more weeks of classes, I know that time is going to fly by, however it feels like the days are never ending. This is the time when papers are due, quizzes are there to finish, etc. Outside of school, things have seemed to pile up and everything has now been officially moved to "#1 priority" which need to be done yesterday.

Life does this to you. These moments help define who you are as a person. I cannot even begin to tell you how many strong people I have met that will repeatedly stand up to the challenge. It's at these home stretches where you either "break" or walk against the wind "fight or flight."

I am a person who reflects...a lot! I was thinking about my first weekend intensive class I had at the Concord NH college campus here at Granite State College; not so much about the class itself but the atmosphere of it all. It was a very comfortable place for me. Not only was the class itself filled with information, but what was happening around us. Our class was constantly laughing - so much we had to shut the doors. The best part about it: we weren't the only ones! There were Foster Parent Classes right down the hall. Whatever you were there for, everyone seemed to have a glowing aura.

Career College Training is a resource that has become more easily accessible. From 4 year colleges, to strictly online classes, to adult accelerated degree programs (or even adult education certificates) which can be completed during day and/or night classes: there is something for you out there!

How does this relate with this being the end of the term for me? It's because I have been put in a position where I need to pick myself up off the ground, dust myself off, and get ready to fight for the next 3 weeks. These 3 weeks will be a test and I can guarantee you I will learn more about who I am as a person. Every experience, new or repeated, will help push us to where we would like to see ourselves. Hard work pays off: although I wouldn't mind having a personal genie at times :)

No Age Limit on Learning

Thursday, March 10, 2011 by Marta Smith

I lost a friend today; she passed away this morning from cancer. I have been thinking about her a lot this afternoon. She had many wonderful qualities. She was smart and funny and stubborn and very independent and very strong as well.

She took the news about her cancer pretty well, but she wasn't one to complain about things. She grew up in a time when complaining was not allowed. She was a member of the "Greatest Generation" and had the strength of character to show it.

I thought of her as a mentor in many ways, not the least being her addiction to using her brain and keeping it young. She was 85 years old and still as sharp as ever. She read incessantly and took classes whenever possible. She was still driving to Dartmouth and Colby Sawyer to take enrichment courses and she had recently become involved in the OLLI program that is starting up in Claremont this spring. In fact, her illness is why she had to give up working on the committee.

One of the most amazing things about her is how much she cared about education and the impact it could have on the community. She was so proud when Granite State College opened up on Pleasant Street in Claremont. She was a former English teacher and she taught back when a teacher's salary was even more pitiful than it is today, but she never complained about it. She taught me many things, but the most important was that no matter how old you were you could still learn something new. I think the older you are the more you appreciate the importance of education.

Every time I sign up for adult college classes or take advantage of an educational opportunity I will think of my friend and her philosophy about education.

Crazy Month

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 by Gail Gifford

OMG, what a crazy month so far. With my daughter's wedding coming up and job interviews, what will this year bring?

Yes, it has been crazy in my world. My daughter's wedding is coming up in just a few days and every thing that needs to get done is flying through my head. From hair appointments, getting chocolates, flowers, pressing the dress, finding shoes and the list goes on and on. The showers are done and we all had a blast. The Bacholrette party was something I will never forget. Every bride needs one of these and the group that was enjoying it with her was the best, fun, exciting, res-cay etc..it was fun. We stayed in a cabin up in the Georgia mountains and it rained the whole time. It had a metal roof so the noise of the rain was quite soothing after a few drinks the night before. My daughter had fun and I had a new experience under my belt. I had only wished my friend from Granite State College in NH, could have been there with us to celebrate. But, miles away and her fear of flying kept her in New Hampshire.

The wedding will be here before I know it so I have to get my act together this week. I have sewing to do this week, doctors appointments and lets not forget the next interview for the job in Michigan. Yes, I may be moving again just like I did four years ago when I moved from New Hampshire to South Carolina. It will all work out, time management is a skill I learned while I was attending my adult education courses a few years ago. I can do this and I will.

Winter, winter and more winter

Friday, March 4, 2011 by Beth McKenna

Ok, winter is fun for awhile. Some nice white snow in December. Skiing in January, and maybe into February. Snow for school vacation week, but then, isn't that enough? I am beginning to think about spring.

Spring weather, spring flowers, spring break and what about Spring term at Granite State College?

Just think, with all that nice weather coming you can get out again. The nights aren't so cold that you need to hide under a blanket and shiver, so what about registering for an adult education program?

Granite State College offers affordable college study at night. Earn an Adult Education certificate, or just take a course.

Winter will end soon and it is time to believe that the nights will stay above freezing and on those warm spring nights you could be moving your career in a direction as refreshing as that spring breeze. Come on, be brave. I am excited to be teaching a spring course on special needs children and I am also excited that by the time the term starts, it will be spring for real. Hooray!

Together we'll go far

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 by Mary Clouter

"If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." --African proverb.

I recently saw the above quote from my Granite State College Social Psychology textbook, "Social Psychology" by David G. Myers. There is something about this quote that really seems to resonate with me.

For many years, I believed that working hard would alone get me to the goals and ambitions that I had hoped for in my life. In many ways that is true, because without hard work, I probably wouldn't have gotten far. My choices were very much "I" choices and what "I" would do by my own steam. How much more fulfilling it has been to expand and be active in my community, being a volunteer in several organizations, and to continue my education. I find that college life has expanded my knowledge in many areas, has helped me to "think outside of the box," and has that advantage of being surrounded by many like-minded people who enjoy their degree choices. For me, that degree choice is a bachelor's in Behavioral Science. Granite State College's online adult learning courses has been my primary method of "attending" classes and has really proven to be much more fulfilling than I could have imagined. I'm on class discussion boards almost as much I'm on Facebook! :)

I also find that being in a course at Granite State College doesn't mean that I "go it alone," since there are so many helpful people that I meet up with as I pursue my educational ambitions. I will be continuing on to graduate studies after I complete my bachelor's in Behavioral Science in June. I've put in a lot of individual work that will help me to go quickly, but the quality of the journey is from working with others at Granite State College that has made all of the difference as to how far I will go.

Trying checking out some of the courses that are available at Granite State College and you'll see that together we'll go far!

Snow, Snow, Everwhere Snow

Friday, February 25, 2011 by Marta Smith

I was so happy the other day when my Burpees seed catalog came in the mail. Aha! Spring is almost here - it must be since I got the catalog. Imagine my disappointment when I went outside this morning to go to work. As I stood there in about 6 inches of snow, I saw my dreams of an early spring drifting away like a snowflake on the wind.

I slogged through the snow and cleaned about a foot of snow off the roof and windshield and back of the car, started it up and waited for the ice to melt. My hair was dripping frozen ice down my back and my feet were already wet and I hadn't even left the driveway.When I got to work I had to trudge through another 6 inches of snow because of course we hadn't been plowed out yet.

Finally, I was at my desk, a little warmer and dryer and I was doing my favorite thing - checking in new books. One of the first books I opened up was a new gardening book. It had bright colorful pictures, lots of flowers and vegetables in containers and raised beds and neatly tilled garden beds. I daydreamed about the vegetables and flowers I might grow this year, if spring ever comes!

I remembered last year when I planted a garden for the first time in about 20 years, I was inspired to take the Sustainable Gardening class offered as part of the adult continuing education programs at Granite State College. It was taught by Henry Homeyer from Cornish and I learned so much. I noticed that he will be teaching it again this spring, at the Lebanon NH college campus, this time - I think.

If you like to garden, or want to know more about sustainable gardening or just want to get closer to spring check out his class. It was great, we visited several vegetable and fruit farms in the early spring, planned our garden plots and started seeds inside - it gave us something green to watch as the last of the snow disappeared. And, if the snow is depressing you as much as it is me, I recommend stopping into your local library and checking out a few gardening books and start planning your own garden, or dreaming about it anyway, maybe you could sign up for the Sustainable Gardening class if it's been a while and you need a few pointers.

Keep the faith - spring is just around the corner - I think.

It's A New Semester, Are You Ready?

Thursday, February 17, 2011 by Ellen Gagnon

     We all have our issues, and life has a way of making sure we keep on our toes too but that doesn't mean my issues need to be my obstacles. Even if your college legs are not yet under you and you are still a little unsure, you can make a difference in your outcomes by creating your own road map to help ensure your success.

     Talk to your Advisor; you are not re-inventing the wheel here. You are an adult going back to school, pursuing adult higher education. It's been done before so there are things you need to know. That's why Granite State College makes your first appointment with an Advisor.

     Listen to what your Advisor tells you. Then do what they tell you.

     Balance the ugly with the pretty -- this is something you don't realize at first blush. Part of my thinking went like this, "I'm 40+ years old and I haven't got time for basket weaving, so I am piling up my courses, because I'm older and wiser." The reality is that I needed time for the learning to sink in. Maybe you have to power through to get your degree, but at least remember that learning is not just a task to cross off a list. It is an experience in and of itself.

     Breathe--'nough said.

     Bite the bullet -- how ever you need to do it, role your sleeves up and get the job done. Have I told you to call your advisor yet? I will not lie to you, because that will waste my time and yours. Sometimes they are going to tell you to "put your big girl pants on and get it done", though not as succinctly as that. You're in college now you'll recognize it when you hear it.

     Get ready early -- Get your books. Make sure your computer is in good shape. Sharpen the pencils and buy new pens. Try not to leave registering for classes until the last day of the Add/Drop deadline. Know your professor's contact information.   Plan your snacks, (seriously, if your blood sugar is low after a long day at work and the professor turns the lights out to start a video at 8PM, you will miss the video because you are fighting to stay awake.)

     Make connections - get together with other students before class or over the weekend. This helps me keep my "Negative Nancy-speak" at bay. When I can share with other students in adult education courses, the learning is more enduring. Check out the GSC Online Library Make sure you connect with your professor too, let them know where you might need help. Check in with your center's Academic Resource Center to help you brush up your skills.

     Know what the end result should look like. I like pictures, so I picture myself crossing off assignments on my syllabus as they are completed, or handing in my final assignments. But the most important picture I keep is the one with me in my cap and gown on graduation day.

Myths about College Students

Monday, February 7, 2011 by Marta Smith

There are many myths about adult education colleges that keep people from applying:

1. College is only for the young. Wrong! In fact, the average college student is 27 years old. Actually many college students are more than 27 years old - age doesn't have much to do with the ability to learn, and many older students are more focused and ready to learn.

2. College is only for very smart people. Actually, many college students are of average intelligence. Why would you go to college if you already knew everything there was to know?

3. College is only for rich people. Not true. There are many ways to pay for college, including scholarships, student loans and grants. Most of the money has to be repaid, but some of it does not.

4. College is only for people who know what they want to be. Actually, college is the perfect place to figure out what you want to be when you grow up. You will find plenty of opportunities to explore.

5. College professors are less patient and understanding of older students. Not True! Many of them actually prefer older students because they are often more focused on learning and more prepared. But, professors are also understanding of the fact that many of the older students have families and jobs to juggle with the school schedule.

6. College is only for people who have a lot of free time. Actually many colleges, including Granite State College, are so flexible with their schedule that students can work around jobs, families and other commitments.

There are many other fallacies about adult college classes and many reasons you can come up with not to enroll, but any reason you might have for thinking you can't fit college into your life is easily overcome. Granite State College offers evening classes, online adult education classes and Hybrid classes which combine online and face-to-face classes. Just two classes a semester makes you a full-time student and it doesn't take long to complete your degree.

I have never found any of the professors to be impatient or condescending to the older student, in fact they are all very supportive. The advisors are very helpful in creating a game plan for you to attain your goal and in some cases you can even take the CLEP test to get the credit you need in certain classes. Of course, that takes the fun out of it for me. I prefer to actually take the classes, but it is a way to save on tuition and attain your goal that much sooner.

I have to say that most of my classes were a diverse mix of students, but more of them were over 30 than under 30, and the younger students were also very supportive and added a different viewpoint to the classes. When I recently took a class in Issues in Women's Health, it was a very mixed group - one man, three women in their early twenties, three middle-aged women and one who was over 60. It was great we had women at every stage of life, from childbearing age through menopause and beyond, plus the male take on all of the stages. It made for an interesting class.

Most of the classes I have taken at Granite State College have offered that kind of interaction. I have participated in some enlightening and valuable discussions throughout the years at GSC. The diverse ages and backgrounds of the students offer a unique opportunity for learning.

How many inches of White Stuff??

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 by Gail Gifford

OMG!! I can hardly believe that the north east is getting hit with all that snow. It was sixty-nine degrees here on Sunday. Of course this is South Carolina but I am only 14 hours away from my old home in Manchester, New Hampshire and Granite State College. I have a son that lives in Chicago and the weather lady just said that they are going to get more snow in the next couple days than they have had in forty years. Wow, I hope he stays warm and safe going to and from work each day. Each day is a new day in all of our lives. Some may be out of work, some so frustrated looking for a new job or some just praying that they don't get cut from their current job. Many stresses we face during this economy. It is a rough time we are facing but, we can face it head on if we continually think of our possibilities. It may be the time for you to start thinking about an adult education degree. Getting that education you have longed for after many years of raising children or doing other things. So, why not step it up and do it? It is just like going for a run; put on your tennis shoes, tie them up and open the door, then go. School is just the same. Call Granite State College, talk about your plans, desires aspirations and plan, organize and do it. It is that first step that can change your life. Sure, you will have stresses with school but you will also be doing something for YOU. So, maybe this snowy day is your day to do it. YOU CAN YOU KNOW!! I did, and so happy I did.

Part Time Classes

Monday, January 31, 2011 by Beth McKenna

Are you a busy person? Most people would say yes! Are you an ambitious person? Again, most people would say yes! Are you an adult who thinks college is something kids do after high school because they don't want to go to work, or they don't know what they want? To that, I hope you answered no.

What if I were to tell you that many of the people who come to classes at Granite State College are a lot like you? They are adults interested in adult education courses. They may have found a program they are interested in but most are not going to school full time. They are taking part time classes or even online adult education classes to further their education. That is pretty ambitious because they are working during the day and coming to class at night.

But classes only meet one night a week. So, just think, one night a week you could come over after work to a campus in Portsmouth, or Rochester, or Concord, or Manchester, or Berlin or Littleton and take a class instead of crashing in front of TV.

Right now I am teaching a child development course. Two people are taking the course for their Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood, one is taking it for a degree in Behavioral Science, another for an associates degree, and one person is taking it because he thought it would be interesting to know about the theories of child development.

There are so many reasons to come to Granite State College. I hope you will find a reason and I will see you in a class next semester.

Ignorance is NOT bliss!

Saturday, January 22, 2011 by Deidre Romeo

Being ignorant on a topic of conversation is not bliss. Asking questions and learning about a new topic is much closer! Before I started my journey on participating in adult education courses I would simply smile and nod or walk away when I did not understand the topic of conversation at work, a party, or any social gathering I found myself in. I used to believe if I pretended to know what people were talking about I would appear to be more intelligent than I actually was.

In my adult college courses at Granite State College I learned that asking questions was a sign of intelligence. I was never berated or looked down upon for not knowing something. I was only praised for asking questions in my quest to learn and understand. I have been able to successfully incorporate my inquisitive mind into both my personal and professional lives. I do not even hesitate to ask for clarification or an explanation during a business meeting if I do not understand a term or strategic model being discussed. If I am on a date with someone in a profession I have little knowledge or experience with, I am completely comfortable asking them to explain what it is they actually do.

Thanks to the confidence and experience Granite State College has instilled upon me I have learned that asking questions in most all circumstances is a true sign of intellect. Ignorance is weakness; ignorance is the result of a lack of knowledge, not the lack of intelligence.

Ask me anything!

Writing in Pencil

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 by Mary Gaetz

In life, there are the good times and the not-so-good times. I'm sure this is not news to any of our students here at Granite State College. Things in my life are on the upswing. You'd think would be a good thing, but it makes me nervous. I've started checking over my shoulder. I mean, what goes up must come down, right? I have even started using a pencil.

I never write in pencil. Never. Not even to do crossword puzzles. I love writing in pen, making a permanent and confident mark, the ink soaking into the paper. Pencil implies weakness and wariness, not to mention math class. My sudden need for a pencil reinforces inability to enjoy the good times, and my anticipation of failure. Why make anything permanent when it's all going to get messed up anyway?! I'm looking at the pencil right now. I think it's laughing at me. Stupid pencil.

Why do I have such a problem enjoying the good times while they're here? There are several answers to that semi-rhetorical question that I won't go into here, but what I want to do right now is take a deep breath, relax, and attempt to embrace the pencil.

I am a work in progress and, like the pencil, I can try things out on a temporary basis, employing the eraser to make changes as needed. The changes won't always be clean on the page, but that's acceptable by most people--it's how pencils work. I like the idea of stopping every so often to sharpen the pencil to a nice, clean point, one that will inevitably snap, scare the crap out of me, and tear the paper. Hey, that's life. You just go sharpen your pencil again and try not press so hard the next time.

As our adult education courses begin this week in Claremont and Lebanon, I think maybe I'll keep using my pencil. So things aren't permanent, so things aren't perfect. Things are still good, and the pencil reminds me that, yes, I will stumble and I will smudge, but I am still moving forward and I should celebrate that. I can roll with the sucker punches life gives, and if I have a nice, sharp pencil with me, maybe I can even fight back.