Career Advancement Programs

The thing about lifelong learning is, even after you've acquired the formal education you might need for your career, as an inquisitive human being your brain continuously craves more information. That's why the Internet is so powerful, right? It's driven by information. How do things work? What events in history led to where you are? How do you accomplish certain things? Who else has written about, discovered, or invented the subject matter that you find fascinating?

There's a reason that Granite State College used to be called the College for Lifelong Learning. And that former title was one of the major factors that drew me to the school. I am a lifelong learner. Ever since high school when I first became able to pick my own classes, I've always gotten so excited over the new course schedules. So many amazing choices with so many possibilities to learn something new!

Now, since Granite State College's website has become more advanced, it's easy for me to explore the new class offerings online. And it doesn't matter that I've already graduated because you don't have to be enrolled in a degree program to take a class here or there.

Here are some Concord, NH classes that look promising for the Spring term in 2012:

"Modern America and the Movies"

"Society and the Individual"

"Nutrition Concepts and Controversies"

"Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective"

And if I wanted to take college classes online in July and August, these look really interesting:

"Interpersonal Communication"

"American Popular Culture"

"History of New England"

"Survey of World Architecture"

Here's the link to the full summer course schedule:

http://www.granite.edu/courseschedule/summer2012.html

Have you ever wondered if a college education was a good idea? Have you debated with yourself about going back to school, spending all that money to find out things you already know? Have friends told you there is no purpose in going to college?

Well, think for a minute about what you want to be doing 5, 10 even 20 years from now. Do you want to be doing the same thing you are doing now? Are you up to date with the latest technology for your field? Well a college education can help you to change careers or get up to date with the technological advances in your field. Recently I spoke to someone who started college right out of high school but then stopped. He works in the landscaping field. He wishes he knew something about running a business so he could work for himself. I suggested college courses and he said no way was he going to sit around in a classroom. Then I suggested on line courses. You can take them when your schedule allows it. You can take the courses you need for your career, or you can put together a program of classes for a particular degree. He is considering the idea and maybe you should too!

Did you know that Granite State College offers many different kinds of degree programs? They have on line and face to face  courses to meet your needs. Maybe you want Special Education Teacher certification after being a paraprofessional for many years.  Maybe you are thinking of an undergraduate psychology degree, or a health care management program. Consider the options and consider that things are changing so fast in our society, that without training, it will be hard for anyone to be prepared for a career, even 5 years from now. Don't be left behind. Think about your reason for a college education.

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/  

As many of you may know, Adult Financial Aid has been a hot topic in recent federal and state budget debates. These debates have left many of us wondering, “What is financial aid going to look like in the future?” I can’t speak for other schools, and I certainly do not profess to know exactly what is going to happen, but here are my thoughts and opinions on how Granite State College students may be affected.

With regard to State Financial aid, I believe we will see a cut to many of the grant and scholarship programs for New Hampshire. Governor Lynch proposed the elimination of the Post-Secondary Education Commission as a stand-alone agency. They are currently the ones administering the NH Incentive Grant. With the proposed elimination, it is unclear who, if anyone will be administering this program. There have been mentions of each state school receiving an allotment of funding to be used at the school level, but we have not received any official word as of yet.

We have been notified; however, that we will no longer have funding for the Unique Allocation Scholarship or the Unique Endowment fund. These funds will be re-directed to support public institutions of higher learning in New Hampshire.

In addition, Congress is still debating the proposed cuts to its budget as well. There have been talks of decreasing the annual Pell Grant allotment from $5550 (maximum annual award) to $4705 (maximum annual award). Senate is planning to vote on these proposed cuts this week, and if they are not passed, they will return to the drawing board until they can come to an agreement.

That being said, Granite State College is still able to fund the majority of our students using the Federal Aid Programs available to us. Because we are mainly an Adult and Continuing Education college and do not have the high costs of residential campuses, we will not be as heavily affected by these proposed cuts as some of the more traditional colleges in the area. We are confident that no matter what happens, we will have proper funding to assist our students.

There are, however, things students can do on their own to help supplement their educational expenses. Because we may have to use more Stafford loan money to cover the portion of charges typically covered by the State Grant Programs, Students should take a good, hard look at what they are borrowing. Students should keep a close eye on their outstanding loan debt by checking the National Student Loan Data System on a regular basis. This will allow them to track how much they have already borrowed and reconsider their borrowing habits. Another good tool to use is the financial aid loan payment calculator. This will give them an idea of what their monthly payment will look like once they have finished their program. These tools allow students to make informed choices as to how they want to spend their money and more importantly, what they can really afford.

Another option students should be aggressively pursuing is scholarships. It takes a little more leg work since most have an application and essay requirement, but with the cuts to many grant programs, this is another very feasible way to get free money for education.

Students can create a profile on a scholarship search engine which will then send them different scholarships that may be applicable to them. Another excellent scholarship resource for New Hampshire residents is the New Hampshire Charitable Fund. Specifically, the adult student aid program is designed for adults returning to school to upgrade skills for employment or career advancement. In addition, the statewide student aid program is designed for the traditional student in a four year baccalaureate program.  

Keep in mind that not all scholarship opportunities are legit. Take a look at these Scholarship Tips to avoid being caught in the middle of a scam.

So as we move forward into the 2011-2012 financial aid award year, things are still very uncertain. Rest assured though, Granite State College will have aid to cover our students regardless of what happens with both the State and Federal governments.

It was my birthday on Monday and with no one around, I thought I would treat myself to some Chocolate up at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Ashville, NC.  Ashville is about an hour away from Greenville and a beautiful drive through the mountains. So, I grabbed my coffee and headed up the road. I stopped and browsed a bit in Hendersonville. It is a wee town just south of Ashville, and is just the nicest town to walk around in. Lovely shops line the streets and like Ashville, it is a very Artsy town.  Hendersonville kind of reminds me of Concord, NH where the Concord New Hampshire College is located just short of being downtown. There is no college in Hendersonville but the quaintness embraces the small shop lined streets.  After browsing through stores, I headed north. It was about lunch time when I got there and really didn't feel like lunch but I did feel like Chocolate Cream Brulee..yum. OMG, it is the best. I bought a few truffles to take to my daughter to taste. She is getting married in April and wants truffles on the tables. So, hey, we needed to try them first!!  Chocolate is my weakness, love it, just love it.  I have a few more Chocolate shops to check out before the wedding but I am going to take notes along the journey. We all have journeys in life. Some are for family matters, some are for ourselves and yet, some are for career advancement programs. Whatever the journey may be, I would suggest to give it your all. It is worth it in the end result.

With this time of year comes family and celebration and a quiet reflection of the year gone by.  It is important to be aware of the things we would have done differently to avoid mistakes of the past.  But above all, this is a time to give thanks for the blessings in our lives.  As adult college students, it is easy to be bogged down in the extra time we spend reading, studying and writing at our Lebanon NH college.  Here is what I am thankful for. 

I am thankful for my family.  Everyday I think about what wonderful people I have closest to me.  My son makes me smile everyday and brings me the most satisfaction I have ever felt.  His sister Ashlee makes me so thankful for new beginnings.  Parents of teenagers can be as difficult to get along with as teenagers themselves.  Our relationship has improved so much in the last year, and the feeling is so sweet.  His sister Emilee still seems to be the human embodiment of the famous theater symbol of the comedy/tragedy mask.  She can be so good one minute and so...so...Emilee the next.  But a great kid nonetheless.

I am thankful for the company I work for.  Hypertherm is a wonderful company, and not just because they are paying for me to go to college.  We consistently rank as one of the top companies to work for in NH, are employee owned and have great benefits and a lucrative profit sharing program.  I have been there for nearly 13 years and expect at least that many more.

I am thankful to Granite State College for providing the opportunity to finally attain the most important goal of my life: to earn my bachelor's degree.  This adult accelerated degree program makes my experience so worthwhile and fulfilling.  I cannot believe I waited this long to start my journey again, but what is important is that I am here, chipping away.  My life has improved dramatically because of my time spent here with my career advancement education.

1. To encourage those adults who are currently contemplating returning to, or even beginning, college.  For years, I had given much thought to finishing what I had started all those years ago, but was held back by fear.  When I finally took those steps at 40 years old, I was encouraged by a couple of blogs I'd discovered written by other non-traditional students.  Had Granite State College offered this blogging program earlier, I may have decided to take those steps even sooner.  Over the past several months, I've enjoyed reading the various blogs written by faculty and students, and consequently have felt more personally connected to the college, even though I live in a remote location.
    
2. To share some of my experiences over the past couple of years with others who have found themselves in a similar life situation.  When I first started, I wasn't entirely sure if I would prefer taking evening college classes, where I would have face-to-face interaction with my professor and classmates, or online classes for college, in a format that would afford me a much broader range of educational choices and greater flexibility with my already busy life schedule.  I'll be writing more about those experiences in coming days.

 
Art and artisans at the Santa Fe Indian Market

Michelle and I recently returned from a trip to New Mexico and the Santa Fe Indian Market, one of the oldest and largest gatherings of Native American art in the United States.  Over 1100 painters, sculptors, jewelers, weavers and potters from a broad cross section of Indian nations, tribes and pueblos participated, displaying their craft and offering much of it for sale to the crowds that flocked to this annual, two-day event. Some of the work displayed with truly breathtaking, showcasing the considerable skill of the artisans.  Over the last several years I’ve developed an affinity for the Two Grey Hills style of Din’e (Navajo) weavings and southwestern, hand-coiled pottery crafted by artists from many of the pueblos that dot northern New Mexico.  When visiting the area I always look to pick up a piece that will then adorn my living room.  But when attending an event that draws artists with a considerable range of skills it’s important to know a little bit about the work that you’re looking at. While purchasing art is usually a matter of aesthetic interest rather than an investment it is beneficial to recognize a hand-crafted piece from those that may contain commercially constructed elements.  Making a purchase without doing your homework can lead to disappointment, especially when the sale involves hundreds or thousands of dollars.

With this in mind I am often surprised at the lack of research and due diligence exercised by older, non-traditional students when looking at adult college programs. For far too many the selection of an institution that claims to specialize in adult higher education is an impulse choice, guided only by the commercials seen on television, glossy advertisements and vague promises pitched by high pressure “admissions reps." If you haven’t noticed, continuing education degree programs and career advancement programs have become big business, populated by a number of for-profit institutions, some of which offer a questionable education carrying a hefty price tag. For those that are considering returning to college to complete their degree or attend college for the first time seeking education and career advancement, it is critical to be a conscientious consumer. Prospective buyers should ask questions such as: Is your college regionally accredited?  Exactly how much is the tuition rate per credit and what fees do you charge? What does your accelerated adult degree program actually entail?  A college education is one of the most important purchases anyone will make. It means far more than a diploma in a frame or piece of pottery on a shelf. Make sure that you become knowledgeable about the higher education system, ask questions, compare costs and don’t be rushed into making a decision.  Find someone that you can trust to discuss your options with and take your time. In this case the decision is not an emotional or aesthetic one, it’s a life long investment.

Part of my self-imposed responsibility of blogging for Granite State College is sharing my individual experience with readers.  I believe I have many of the same concerns and fears that other current and prospective GSC students may have regarding aspects of college life as an adult, so as I share mine, you may find you relate, or the gumption to try something new. 

I recently blogged about alternative course delivery options that my Lebanon NH college has, and in the spring term that I just completed, I took a five week intensive class.  I had lots of questions going into this class, such as...where would I find time to take a class in five weeks that required the same amount of material be learned as a 12 week class? 

In all honesty, this was a bit of a challenge.  Each week of class required reading a chapter in our text book (not out of the ordinary for any class, regardless of intensity), but we also had to take two quizzes per week, write an essay paper each week, write a longer paper for the end of term, as well as the standard discussion board participation required when you take college classes online.  As I learned in the economics class I took a year ago, every decision we make requires a trade off: if I get out if bed in the morning, I will miss sleep.  But I will also lose my job, so I make the decision to get out of bed.  Sure, taking a class with this much work did create some pain in my life, but it also allowed me to shorten the length of time I spent studying, which ultimately was the big payoff.  I am taking two classes per term until I earn my Bachelor's Degree, so for the first seven weeks of the term, I only was taking one class, which allowed me to focus more time on other important parts in my life, like spending time with my son and working out.

The class I took was called Comparative Religions.  This was a great opportunity to learn about the major religions of the world, as well as how locally spirituality is experienced.  New England consistently rates in the bottom of the country when surveyed about church attendance, so when a requirement of this class had me visiting a house of worship, it will be no surprise to you that this was my first visit to a church in over eight years.  It has been said that college is not only a great avenue for career advancement programs, but also has the distinction of giving people a different view of the world through giving them a well-rounded education.  In this case, my view has taken a dramatic turn because I found a church to visit that spoke to my heart so much that I have become a regular member.  That was not the intention of the class, and my grade was not impacted by my decision, but if not for college, I never would've considered attending, much less joining a church. 

Whether trying something new for you means taking a five week intensive class or challenging yourself to try something frightening and different, the experience is what makes the journey so valuable.  Live life.