Page 2 - College for Lifelong Learning

Teaching and Thinking

Thursday, August 19, 2010 by Beth McKenna

I am fortunate enough this summer to be working as a mentor for a student interested in teacher education at Granite State College. She has been thinking about teaching and learning. She recently wrote a paper on critical thinking. Hmm.. you are saying.. so what? What is that and why would it be something on a blog about adult college education?

Well, it is important because it is all about how you learn. Do you think when you have to read text books for an evening college course or you read the books late at night when you are hurrying to get to bed so you just highlight everything without really thinking about it? If you do, you may have just missed out on a great lifelong learning college experience. When we think about what we are reading and apply it to what we already know, then we remember the new information and can use it in the future.

So while you are planning on taking courses at Granite State College this fall, also plan on really thinking about what you are reading and hearing in each course. The experience will be so much more meaningful for your career goals.

Communication

Sunday, August 15, 2010 by Deidre Romeo

We have all been communicating since we were toddlers, what more can we possibly learn about communication after forty plus years of practical experience? A lot! One of the core courses required for an adult college degree is a Communication class. I decided to take the Small Group Communication course which was being offered as one of the weekend college classes at Granite State College during the summer semester of my freshman year. My plan was to get all of my core classes out of the way as soon as possible so that I could concentrate on the business and elective classes I was actually passionate about. I had no idea communication would become one of my passions. I had been running PTO meetings during the previous academic year for my daughter’s charter high school. I thought I was doing fine as the facilitator of these meetings but after taking the small group communications class at GSC I realized I had been less than effective in this role.

When our PTO meetings resumed in the fall I utilized the use of “ice breakers” to help create a sense of comfort, ease and familiarity between the group members. I was also able to identify and draw out participation from the members that were less than enthusiastic in playing an active role in the group. Through my learning and understanding of the group dynamics of our PTO I was able to become a more effective leader in this group and therefore elicit more active participation and positive results from our meetings.

After I found the real life advantages achieved through the knowledge attained from my first communication course I immediately decided to take another as an elective in my adult college program. The next available Concord NH Classes offered included Presentational Communication. I had hoped to gain the knowledge and expertise to adequately present power point reports in my other adult college classes. Much to my surprise the course was really more about public speaking without the aid of visual presentations but instead being able to simply speak to an audience without the distraction of any other medium. This course made me the most uncomfortable of any course I took over my undergraduate career but I gained the most useful knowledge, experience and confidence than I did any other class. Since completing this course I have spoken at press conferences, to the House of Representatives, to the University New Hampshire System Board of Trustees and to the audience of the GSC 2010 commencement ceremony.

The next and most relevant communication course I enrolled in at GSC was Interpersonal Communications. In this class I learned about many aspects of communication which I was not currently utilizing in my daily interactions with others. I learned how to identify and communicate with different personality types. I learned how my own personal communication style was perceived by others. Most importantly, I learned how to LISTEN, not just hear what others were communicating to me. During the difficult years of trying to communicate with my teenage daughters I had read numerous books and attended countless workshops to assist me in this impossible task.

It was not until this Granite State College communication course that I actually understood what the authors and social workers were trying to explain to me during those years. This was a huge breakthrough in my life, both personally and professionally. I now understand how to “hear” what others are trying to tell me and how to assure that others “hear” what I am saying. My relationships, learning and daily life have all been enhanced by this new-found understanding of effective communication and its positive effect on my life.

The most profound lesson I learned from my Communications Professor, Dr. Stenho, is that I am lifelong learner. I knew I would learn about new business strategies and concepts, I had hoped to learn to become a better writer and understand the science behind today’s environmental crisis by attending adult college courses but I never thought I would learn anything new or useful about communication. The knowledge and experience I have attained from the numerous communication classes I took at GSC has prompted me to attain my MBA in Organizational Communication. The lack of an effective communication channel by many of my past employers has always been a concern of mine and I now believe I can make a difference in this respect at any organization I may become involved with.

Are you a lifelong learner? Do you enjoy attaining knowledge which enriches both your professional and personal life? If so, stop hesitating and contact an academic advisor at Granite State College today. This is the first step in the rest of your life. After all, it is your turn!

Learning in every aspect of life

Sunday, August 8, 2010 by Danielle Dodd

Having my first child at age 22, I learned really quickly that there is no manual for child rearing. No matter how great my intentions were, no matter how many books I read, nothing prepared me for the lifelong teaching I was going to be doing when my little man arrived.

A friend of mine helped me get my life back on track. She helped me set up goals, and one of them was to go back to school and get my degree. She even drove me to Granite State College so that I could get the ball rolling on my journey through on-line classes for college. I think the fact that I decided to go with behavioral science classes has helped me gain the knowledge to better my son's life.

People are correct when they tell you that their is no manual on how to raise kids. But, what I am learning through all of my courses is helping me piece together great concepts in how to raise my son he becomes a well-rounded individual. As an adolescent once myself, I know you cannot force your children into getting good grades and volunteering to help the community. I have, however, learned in my adolescent psychology course that there are ways to raise a child to want to do those things, to strive to be a upstanding student and citizen. There are ways you can protect your children from the temptations of sex and drugs without being by your child's side all the time.

The knowledge I am gaining from my classes is not only helping me earn my degree, but also helping me in specific areas of my life. You can sit and talk to me until you are blue in the face about how you raised your child and how it worked for you. Every person and every child is different. I think that studying this information has helped me better appreciate the knowledge that I have gained and helped me understand how I can put these concepts into practice and help my son to be a strong, intelligent, proud and independent individual.

Life Happens

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Heather Carter

Life happens. And as a young adult recently out of high school, life happened to me fast-- way faster than I expected.

I was an idealistic 18-year-old with grand schemes of living the traditional 4-year college experience, relishing the excitement of living in a dorm with my peers, inspired by the prospect of exploring fascinating subjects accessible only through higher education, and looking forward to a shiny new degree with a shiny new career that was sure to follow.

Well, "best laid plans," right? Life happened. I found myself thrown into the nose-to-the-grindstone working world, taking whatever job or two that I could get so that I could pay the rent on my tiny apartment and keep the electricity on. But I didn't completely tuck away those college schemes. The idea was to keep on keeping on, and "someday" I'd be able to bring the schemes out into the light, unroll them and lovingly lay them back across the drawing board, dust them off, and build the life I had envisioned. Someday.

Out of necessity, "someday" kept being put off. That plateau that would serve as a resting place in life where I could stop, breathe, think for a while, gather my resources, and put my schemes into action just never seemed to come. Months whirled by, then they blurred together and spun into years. Suddenly, I was 24 years old. No degree, no prospects, no direction, no ideas how to get unstuck. I was surviving, not living--and certainly not anywhere close to the life that I'd seen for myself years before.

I was working in retail at the time. One day, a woman who was temporarily working in the store for a few days, idly initiated a conversation with me. For some reason, the topic of college came up and I only happened to mention how much I wished I could go. This woman-- a random, complete stranger to me-- said I should consider the College for Lifelong Learning (the former name of Granite State College), and explained how it's a school that offers affordable college study and continuing education degree programs. My life has never been the same.

Read my new blog post to find out what happened next!

Change and education opportunities

Sunday, July 25, 2010 by John Ford

Recently I've had a few opportunities to talk with some recent high school graduates about their plans for the summer and beyond....including continuing education. I found it rather interesting listening to them talk about the pressures of attaining good grades to get into good schools to try and get good jobs (the typical parental mantra to motivate kids through the high school years - it didn't work on us when we were kids yet we try it on our kids and they will try it on theirs as well - maybe some things are genetically coded.....).

Anyway what struck me is the attitude of some of these young people. They are not "buying in" to the college right after high school tradition. As a matter of fact many of them are looking at ways to get involved in the global community for a year or two before going "back to school" to earn a degree.

Some are looking at AmericaCorp, Habitat for Humanity, and other global service opportunities. They are seeking ways to expand their experiences as a world citizen, gain a better understanding of how the world works, meet some people with similar values and aspirations and concerns, and share their passion for giving back. Some want to be able to use this time to get to know themselves better. Many are considering smaller, less well known colleges or universities. Some are pursuing their own interests distance learning universities and online classes. And yes, the truth be told, some just don't know what they want to do, but they know that the traditional path just isn't the right thing for them now.

Some are looking at the experiences that their parents have had both in academics and in the business world. Many think about deferring college to enlist in the military. Some are considering adult education certificate programs or getting into an adult education diploma program that allows them to go to school while pursuing a job or their passion. They've seen their parents working while getting their degrees (undergrad as well as post grad work). They've seen their parents go back to get a second degree or certificate and start a new career. They have learned that education is the key to their future, but it doesn't have to be down the traditional path.

For all of the caterwauling about today's generation (every generation past has complained about the one they created), there are a lot of bright kids (okay, parents, you can acknowledge that you did a great job with your kids....there, feel better?). I came away from this conversation feeling pretty good about the next generation of learners. They are taking charge of their own education. They have challenged the system, the teachers, the parent, and even the business world. They have options that we never heard about, they are courageous, they are afraid of the future, but not paralyzed by their fear. It feeds their desire to get outside of their comfort zone. They know that you can hit the reset button and recover if you make a mistake. They are not afraid of doing something they haven't done before. They create opportunities, they create their future, they create our future.

They will change the way education will be delivered in the years to come and they will complain and be overly concerned about the next generation.....and somewhere down the road, some one will have a conversation with a group of the next generation and find out that this new generation, like the ones before it, will create a world of new knowledge and opportunities for living, for working and even for learning.......

They are using online courses, accelerated undergraduate programs, and distance learning in ways that create opportunities for those in academics to create the future of colleges and universities. They are creating new careers and new technologies that are creating opportunities for colleges and universities to grow and evolve faster than ever before.

The adult learning community is listening and responding! Never before has there been so many options for today's learning community to access education. Never before has there been so many options and academic programs to purse so many unique and innovative degrees. Never before has the academic world been more ready to serve and support the adult learning community.

So, graduates (high school, tech school, community college, college and university grad, and even you post-grad learners) when you get ready to turn to the college and university community to continue and support your education and career advancement goals, we will be there, ready to give you the education you need to continue your journey as a lifelong learner......

See you in class......

Embrace the fear!

Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Marta Smith

I was 49 went I went back to school. I was excited, but a little apprehensive as well. I wanted to take as many writing courses as possible, and I did. Of course I also chose history, astronomy and art classes. In fact, I took a little bit of everything, except math.

I have to admit that I was a bit math phobic. I didn't have any good memories of math class after about 6th grade. Give me addition, subtraction and multiplication and I'm good to go -- even fractions, no worries --but algebra and geometry, not so good, and considering how long ago I had taken those classes I was terrified about passing the math class I would need to take to get my degree. Needless to say, I put it off as long as I could.

I took the Accuplacer and sailed through the reading comprehension part, but I didn't score high enough on the math portion to go directly into the regular college math class. I wasn't too enthused about taking the remedial math as I called it, but it turned out to be the best thing I ever did. I barely made it through my high school math classes and even repeated algebra to try to improve my grade, without success. However, my Granite State College experience was very different.

The Math teacher I had at Granite State College was wonderful; she didn't treat us like we were dense if we didn't get it right away and she explained everything in an a clear, understandable manner. Even though many of my classmates were fresh out of high school and I was a late learner, I discovered that I had one skill that would make up for my years away from school -- I still knew my times tables! Who knew that all of that memorization would stick with me for so long and apparently it applies to all the other forms of math. I not only passed the basic math course, I also went on to the Intro to College Math class and passed it with flying colors.

My fear of math is not unusual in a student returning to school after years away from formal learning. One thing you should know is that even though you may have been out of school, chances are you have still been learning -- at your job, raising your kids, traveling, whatever your life has been will translate into life skills that will be useful in your return to school. There is even a class you can take to help you determine what life skills you have that may translate into credits. Any fear you have about returning to college life is exactly the same fear we have all had; you are not alone.

One of the amazing things about Granite State College is that they really want you to succeed and they provide you with all of the tools you need to do just that. They have supportive teachers and staff, tutors if you need extra help and even students who will help classmates when needed, if you are serious about putting in the work the support system won't let you down. The staff and advisors at the college will help through the process from financial aid to selecting the classes you need to reminding you when it's time to prepare for graduation.

One of the best things about Granite State College is the variety of offerings. I have enjoyed everything from creative writing to Astronomy to Sustainable Gardening, which was my last science class, and more fun than learning in the classroom from a textbook and I learned so much that I can actually use every year when I have a successful garden.

I once spent an amazing four days on the Isles of Shoals taking a creative writing course with a great group of writers. We all just clicked and ended up sharing stories with each other that we would never have shared under any other circumstances-that group, at that time in that place opened up all of the creative flow and it poured out. Even the reluctant writers produced the most amazing work, much to their surprise. But then, how could anyone not be moved to write while sitting in a porch rocker on the deck of an old hotel on an island frozen in time? If you ever get the chance to take a class or participate in a retreat on the Isle of Shoals, Star Island -- go for it. You will never forget it, believe me.

Another non-traditional aspect of the Granite State College experience is the availability of online and Hybrid (half online, half face to face) courses which many people choose because it works around their job and family obligations. Just imagine a class that is available at 3 in the am or 11 pm and anytime in between! I personally prefer face to face or hybrid classes because I like the real time interaction and the instant response aspect, but that may just be my age-I'm more used to the traditional classroom. While I see the benefits of online, I hope the traditional classroom never goes away.

The most important thing I have learned since going back to school is that the learning process never ends. Whether a student is 18 or 80 Granite State has much to offer, they really are the perfect place for the lifelong student.

1990: My first Try at College

Sunday, July 18, 2010 by Chris Perley

In 1990 I decided to enroll in College. I was 30 years old, had two children, a mortgage and a full time job at a busy police department. Even though I knew I needed to obtain a degree, I was really dreading it. The only brick and mortar school in my area was the Berlin NH college, or as we called it, "The Vo-Tech". This really wasn't a realistic option as the drive was too far, and the time commitment to large. A friend of mine was involved in adult education services at our local high school and mentioned the night school they held there for adult learners. Back then it was known as the College For Lifelong Learning. My first thought was "how would they fit that title on a diploma?"  It didn't sound very enriching but it was the only real option if I wanted to get any level of career college training in my area.

I reluctantly went down to the local C.L.L. office and met some wonderful people. I am guessing that Gail Paine and Beth Beyerle had met the likes of me before as they quickly stripped away all the preconceived obstacles I felt stood between me and a degree. I was left with only one real option, jump in with both feet! I can still remember how helpful they were in taking me from looking in from the outside to actually being a real college student.

Back in 1990 our college offered a much more limited plate of degree choices and options. Although a police officer, the school had no criminal justice classes to offer.  As far as delivery method you had the choice of face to face or face to face! That's right Gen-xer's the Internet hadn't yet been applied to commercial use for distance learning universities. I picked a degree that I though would help me in the higher ranks of police work. It was a business offering called a Business and Professional Studies Degree, only offered at the Bachelor's level. So here I was, signed up with the School For Lifelong Learning in a Business and Professional Studies Degree Program (like I said, imagine the size of the diploma!), and starring down the barrel of at least 6 years of school ahead of me.  So with great trepidation I walked into my first college classroom, at 6:00pm, in my old high school, with my old English teacher. I thought to myself "was this really going to work?"

Next blog I'll discuss how GSC made the impossible possible for me!

Great time to go back to school at Granite State College

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 by Betsy Gemmecke

What a busy and excitng time this spring has been! So much so that I have not taken time to blog. Our Conway NH College has been busy with lots of new inquires about our online programs and affordable bachelor degree programs.

I continued to offer our "Who are You" career opportunities education workshops and many participants have realized it IS time to go back to school! One woman in the North Country who had been looking for a job for a long time took this workshop, then changed the way she wrote a resume and approached her interview and GOT a job in the teaching field! Now she knows she is ready to take the next step to enroll in our Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certificate Program. ( I would love to know if we should do more such workshops for the college...Let me know!)

This weekend, hardy souls attended the Littleton Home Show and a number of people didn't realize that there was a Littleton NH College that offered Bachelor degrees. One woman decided to try out a summer class, after she learned that there were adult college classes in her area.

Yesterday I spoke to about 100 real estate agents and support people about Granite State College. Several told me that when people come to the North Country to explore housing, they ask about lifelong learning college opportunities. It felt great to let them know all about what is right here in the North Country!

Spring 2010 Term/Alternative Course Delivery Options

Sunday, April 25, 2010 by Wayne Churchill

This spring term is a significant one for me for a couple reasons. I am on track to earn my Associates Degree in June, and I am continuing on with my plan of taking two classes per term (the significance of this can not be overlooked). An explanation will follow...

When I chose to leave Keene State in June 1997, I told myself I would return to school, that I was just leaving for a break. Of course I attempted to keep that pledge true. I took a class with the College Of Lifelong Learning in 2002, but did not continue. Again, I enrolled in the adult education program and took one more class in 2005 but the reality of having a new baby son again had me reconsidering my idea. In the summer of 2008, I returned to Granite State College, this time for good. What was different? I was in the middle of interviewing for a newly created position at my company, and two things were quite clear to me: 1-I was being seriously considered for this position of high visibility and responsibility and 2-my lack of degree completion was a major concern. At this point I decided there was no more room for excuses, and it was time to set my sights and accomplish this goal I had set for myself so long ago. In hindsight, I am thankful for this commitment I made, because my current position is being moved to a new region of the world at the end of the calendar year, and without a degree, I would most likely be moved into a position with a lower pay grade and fewer opportunities to advance up the ranks.

Why is the fact that I am taking two classes this term again a significant milestone? When I found out a year ago in the summer of 2009 that my current position would be leaving our US based office, my leader made it very clear that it would be a tough sell to get me a position with the same level of responsibility and pay without a degree. He encouraged me to double up on classes to ensure the attainment of my Associate's Degree by the end of 2010. Around this same time, a significant change in my life forced me to pick up a part time job. From late August to the end of the winter term in March, I cursed the decision. I had zero time to do things I really WANTED to do, but I recognized the important message I was sending to my leader, as well as the great friends I have made at my part time job. Alas, I seriously considered not taking two classes per term anymore, until I realized the myriad course delivery options available at Granite State College. This term I am taking (along with my normal 12 week class) a 5 week intensive class (delivered through online classes for college). This class will begin later this term so I look forward to blogging about my experience. Now I can finish school sooner and still have time in my life for friends and activities that make me happy and fulfilled.

It is important to begin school at the right time in your life, but consider that there is never a "perfect" time. It is a real commitment, and beginning sooner rather than later can only benefit you. Also, for people concerned about the intrusion in their life that this comittment will engender, realize that you can take 5 week classes or even weekend intensive classes that deliver accelerated studies, yet allow you to minimize the time requirement.

Success Stories!

Thursday, April 1, 2010 by Nicole MacMillan

We love the success stories when we can congratulate a recent GSC graduate who has just received a promotion as a result of finishing their degree. MaryJane Lavoie, our lead Rochester advisor, passed on this wonderful story about one of our students.

Lisa Merrill first came to meet with an advisor at “College for Lifelong Learning” in the summer of 2004. She was working at the State of NH as a Family Service Specialist II, and she had already earned an Associate’s degree from McIntosh College many years earlier. But she wanted to pursue her Bachelor’s degree to be able to advance within her department at the State. She took one course per term starting in the fall of 2004, and although her progress at times seemed a bit slow (at one point dealing with a back injury and the serious illness of a family member), she steadily completed more of her requirements each year, primarily taking her courses at the Rochester Center.

She did well in her courses and made the Dean’s List for 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09. By the end of the summer 2009, she had finished the last of her degree requirements, and was conferred her Bachelor of Science with a major in Management, with an Option in Leadership and Strategic Management,

at the end of December. She graduated Cum Laude and plans to attend the

Commencement ceremony in June.

Lisa has recently been promoted to a position with the State of NH Health and Human Services offices in Concord. She will be starting 4/9/10 as the Administrator I for Q/C in the Department of Improvement, Integrity and Information. This position is federally mandated as part of reviewing Food Stamp and Medical Assistance cases to make sure the guidelines and required percentages are met.

Lisa indicates that “This move would not have happened if I had not returned to school to obtain my degree.”

The Rochester GSC staff congratulates Lisa on her promotion and we all wish her much success in her new position!

What I want to be when I grow up....

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 by Jeanne Lester

I didn't wake up one morning and shout "I want to be an insurance clerk!" Nor did I dress as a customer service rep for career day in elementary school. It was not my lifelong dream to become a property manager. Yet, I have held all of these jobs, among others. No, when I was 10 years old, my usual response to the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" was "a writer," or sometimes, "a pilot." Ok, yeah....I had my time when I wanted to be a celebrity too.....

So what happened? How did I get here, and what happened to the dream? Well, life happened, bills needed to be paid, and somehow in my "younger years" I got distracted from the goal of finishing my degree. Of course, it hasn't been all drudgery...life can be as fulfilling as we choose to make it, but I found myself wondering just when I gave up on what I wanted for a career.

I find it liberating to be able to still ask myself what I want to do for the next several years, and realize that it's not too late to achieve my goals---namely completing an affordable bachelor degree, and pursuing a career that incorporates writing. That desire to finish what had begun as an idea so many years ago, combined with practical considerations like......life won't "stop" while I am a student....are some of the things which brought me to Granite State College.  I love that we are part of the University of New Hampshire System, and that I can enjoy the benefit of studying alongside other adults with complex lives as well. Here I am able to learn, and at the same time still keep up with my life as a mother, wife, and employee.

Not only am I looking forward to the choices that will open up to me once I have my degree in journalism/marketing, but I cannot wait to fill out one of those annoying employment applications and be able to put something down in the degree section. I confess that each time I have to bypass that section on the form I wince. I am 42 years old, and I am really tired of wincing! (Plus, not great for the "crow's feet" lines around my eyes!)

So, that's the rest of my school story...my reasons for finishing.  How about you? What do you want to be?

Teaching from Experience

Thursday, February 18, 2010 by John Cook

Twins!

With a colleague from our Portsmouth NH College, we visited with one of our Faculty members that gave birth to twins this past fall. Dr. Angele Fauchier teaches behavioral science classes for Granite State College in Portsmouth and at our Rochester NH College. As Angele commented to me, being the parent of twins is her Human Development course come to life! Angele is also keeping a fantastic blog that is incredibly educational. I was thrilled to hear Angele discuss incorporating her experiences as a parent of twins into her future teaching.

Aside from marveling at what it takes to care for twins, and of couse sleep patterns, we also discussed online classes for adults, and part time classes, and being a lifelong learning college.  Yet what struck me about this visit, apart from holding Angele's wonderful children, and comparing parenting stories, was the very direct connection to adult college education. Dr. Fauchier is an excellent example of what our New Hampshire State College provides: it is quite valuable to learn in small classes, with accomplished faculty teaching from experience.

I just have to say it again - twins!

Classmates: Friends or Foes?

Thursday, February 11, 2010 by Deidre Romeo

I was 40 years old when I finally began my Adult Education Courses in pursuit of my Education and Career Advancement by enrolling at Granite State College. I chose GSC for two reasons; it was convenient as they offered Evening College Classes, Online Adult Degrees and Weekend College Classes, as well as the fact that their student demographics at the time showed their enrollment to include a large number of middle aged students. I could not picture myself sitting in a classroom surrounded by 19 and 20 year olds. Much to my surprise and benefit I have found myself sitting in very diverse classrooms. I have learned so much from the 19 and 20 years olds sitting next to me, not to mention what I have learned from the 40, 50 and 60 year olds. My classmates have included recent high school graduates, grandparents, firefighters, police officers, IT professionals, Bank VP’s, Town Managers, career Military personnel, para educators, business owners, nurses and the list goes on. The professional and personal experiences of my classmates have tremendously added to my education.

Aside from the professional and educational insights and advances my classmates have offered me, I have found lifelong friends in the classrooms and offices of Granite State College. I have discovered Professors who have mentored me, staff and faculty who have befriended me and students who have become important to my life, have shared family moments with me and have encouraged and supported me in all of my life pursuits.

There is one classmate in particular who has influenced my life in so many positive ways. Her name is Barbara and she is an amazing woman.

She raised three beautiful daughters, one of whom lives close to me and has become my friend as well. This wonderful woman has attended school events to support my daughter, has welcomed me to her family celebrations, invited me to the VIP section of the Christmas Boston Pops Concert and reads, proofs and edits any school, professional or personal writings I may be struggling with. In my three years as an adult student I have yet to find a classmate I would consider a foe but I have found many who I now call my friend.

Are you looking to change your life?
Are you looking to enhance your life?
Are you looking to start your life?
If so, Granite State College is the place to start!

G is for Granite (State College)

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 by John Cook

An event this week captures the essence of adult higher education here at GSC. At our Rochester NH College, our ENG 555, Children's Literature class hosted well known New Hampshire author and poet, Marie Harris. For those of us highly invested in adult college classes, the energy and enthusiasm from the the interaction between students and Marie was incredible.

I have a great appreciation for all New Hampshire colleges and universities, but when you combine small seminar-style classes, the ability to meet and talk with former NH Poet Laureates, all through evening college classes, it adds up to a unique teaching and learning environment. We of course have adult online degrees, and yes, affordable Bachelors degrees, but there is something particular about this NH State College. I observed a particular dynamic between this noted children's book author and the students in Children's Literature. The questions, the intent look on each face, and the transformation of something abstract to something alive is why Granite State College is the college for lifelong learning, and the center of adult education.

G is for Granite (State College):

L - R:
John B. Cook, GSC Faculty Coordinator; Poet and Author Marie Harris; GSC Faculty Member Heidi Zollman

It's never too late . . .

Friday, January 29, 2010 by Alison Cohen

Have you always dreamed of being a teacher but worry that it's too late to for you to change careers? We hear that frequently. Harriet Richardson Ames is proof that there are no limits to lifelong learning. She realized her goal of earning a bachelor's degree at one of our sister institutions just three weeks after celebrating her 100th birthday.

Regardless of your age or educational attainment, the teacher training education programs at Granite State College offer the perfect pathway to a career in education from an entry-level para-educator through an advanced endorsement. Somewhere there's a blackboard waiting for you.

If you don't have a bachelor's degree, Granite State offers affordable college study at locations all around New Hampshire. Our adult online degrees make it possible to get a college education without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Isn't it time for you to pursue your dreams and goals? Our post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs will help you make a difference in the life of a child. The question is "what are you waiting for?" So call or write -- it's YOUR turn to realize your dreams.

Applying psychology to real life

Friday, January 29, 2010 by Beth Benoit

After each of my psychology courses at Granite State College end, I love to continue relationships with students who express extra interest in continuing a correspondence. This is one of the best parts of adult education courses because these students seem to "get" the concept of what we used to call "the college of lifelong learning." They often send me interesting tidbits, or just keep me up-to-date on their lives.

One of the students in one of my recent adult online classes, Sue Farris, sent this story, knowing that I'd love it. She was so right! It's about how one group of subjects was given a two-digit number to remember, while the second was given a seven-digit number to remember. Anyone who has taken an Introduction to Psychology course - whether in adult online classes or a regular college classroom - will probably remember that seven digits is the max for remembering a number. (HINT: Telephone numbers have seven numbers - the maximum amount of numbers most people can remember!) But, what if you're asked to remember the number but are then interrupted by an offer of something healthy or something "bad" like chocolate cake? Will you choose a "bad" thing like chocolate cake when you had to remember only two numbers or if you had to remember seven numbers? Check out this story. It's a great example of the critical thinking you can learn to do in college classes:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122781981&sc=emaf

See what you think!

Your learning is yours to apply

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 by John Ford

Consider how many people return to college each semester. They are using Adult Education Services, accelerated studies, evening college classes, adult online classes, enrolling in continuing education degree programs and career training education programs. Some take classes from their home or office, some still walk into the classroom with other students and an instructor.

Now, think about all the reasons they are doing this. Some are there to finish something they started before work, family, life took them down other paths. Some are there to start their educational journey now that some other responsibilities have changed or gone away and they have the time. Some are there for the enjoyment of contuning to be a life-long learner. The vast majority however, are there to gain new knowledge in their efforts to become more valuable in their current positions, prepare for a promotion or in some cases, a complete career change. Either way the expectation is that whatever you learn will be something that you will be, and should be, able to apply in your daily set of personal and professional circumstances.

One of the key differences in educational experiences between students who enter college right out of high school and the adult learner seeking education and career advancement hinges on two elements:

Experience - the student coming directly out of high school really is limited
                          in the level of experiences they bring to the classroom. Most of
                          their learning has to be more directed and often includes the use
                          of case studies. Case studies allow all students to share a common
                          set of experiences, usually with a known outcome, where the
                          proverbial "what ifs" can be explored through a guided lecture or
                          or assignment. In the case of the adult learner, often coming to the
                          the class with years of work/life experience, they ARE their own
                          case studies. They bring a unique set of circumstances, good and
                          bad, successful and not so successful, to the classroom. They can
                          and should use these experiences as a tool in their educational
journey.
Focus - while the typical college student just entering college from high school
                   may have desires and aspirations that they firmly believe their pursuit of
                   an education will help them achieve, the adult learner, returning for
                   their education and career advancement desires tend to be very focused
                   and will willingly share their experiences with one another as part of their
                   overall classroom experiences. They are very focused on what they are
                   learning and how they can apply that knowledge immediately, not at
                   some time in the future. There is a sense of immediacy.

Keep in mind that every student, regardless of age or reason for being in class, has their own set of expectations. Some take courses that are required simply because they are required, others zoom in on what are the lessons that will help them achieve very specific career goals. In either case, the student and teach form a relationship that should result in the student knowing exactly how the lessons learned in that particular class can be used in their current situation.

When you participate in adult continuing education programs, for whatever reasons, remember that you have an obligation to apply your learning each and every day. The best way to keep your knowledge current and viable is to use it.

Remember to flex your knowledge muscles each and every day.....they are yours to apply and hone so the next set of learnings have a strong foundation to build upon.

The Magic (Continued)

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 by Barbara Grant

"Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it."   German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goeth

I thought I could earn a college degree and the action of applying to Granite State College, intermingled with wonderfully helpful people I met at the college, brought the magic of so many learning experiences. These experiences, in turn, graced me with the power to reach for even higher goals.

As an adult learner enrolling in adult school programs, especially at Granite State College (once known as College for Lifelong Learning), you have a bit of an edge over the traditional college student.  You come with more "life experience" which is a huge advantage because college, after all, is more than just book learning - it is life learning and functions as a window into the way the world outside college works.  Adult learners of a certain age more than likely have years of workplace experience, not to mention parental experience.  They know how to multitask, and have been exposed to a wider variety of social situations. Basically, the older adult learner comes with a bit of a foundation. All that the adult learner needs is a healthy dose of self confidence.

On that foundation, the "magic of the possible" blossoms, opening up unlimited opportunities for life-enriching experiences. At Granite State College where there is considerable latitude regarding independent learning contracts, taking courses from other University of New Hampshire System institutions as well as earning credits for one's life experiences, I found myself enjoying a wide variety of experiences.

Through an independent learning contract, I worked as an intern at NHPR's The Exchange hosted by Laura Knoy, immersing myself in the behind-the-scenes mechanics of how a radio program is crafted.  The capstone of this experience was assisting with the production of a segment on children's poet Shel Silverstein, author of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light In the Attic, who died shortly before my intership ended. My meager contribution to the production of that segment earned me a brief mention at the end of the program. No "A" could match the feeling of accomplishment I experienced listening to that segment of the show.

Through my years of study, the magic continued. The professor of a UNH-M film class I took encouraged me to submit one of my papers, The Simpsons: A Fairy Tale,  to DePauw University's undergraduate Honors Conference for consideration.   The delight, the thrill of finding the fat acceptance envelope in the mailbox one February afternoon was like nothing like I had felt before.

Attending the DePauw conference introduced me to another world - that of academics from the teacher's side of the educational equation. Mentors were assigned to shepherd us through the weekend's activities.   Well known guest speakers - Tony Kushner, author of the play Angels in America and Dr. George Gerbner, professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, lectured.  Best of all was meeting like minded students who shared similar hopes and dreams for their futures.  As if I needed a sign that I was headed in the right direction, I came upon this street sign while wandering around DePauw's campus -

The magic, apparently, wasn't going to stop.

A Kind of Magic

Saturday, January 16, 2010 by Barbara Grant

"It’s a kind of magic...
One dream one soul, one prize
One goal...
One golden glance of what should be...
One shaft of light that shows the way...
The bell that rings inside your mind, challenging the doors of time."
Queen - It's A Kind of Magic

What was the "bell" that went off in your mind that caused you to reflect on where you were in your life and where you wanted to be?

For me, it was the birth of my third child. I loved my role of wife and mother. I had always wanted and looked forward to raising a family. But one day, as I sat feeding the youngest baby, I thought "Is this all there is? Isn't there something more?"

In high school, the St. Joseph nuns offered me a golden glance of what could be, encouraging me to consider college, but they were ahead of their time. The thinking back then (the pre Ms Magazine era) ran something like this: sending a girl to college was a waste of money because she was only going to get married and have babies. And, in my family, there was also the issue of money or rather the lack of it. I'm sure there must have been financial aid back then, or at least something similar to it, but I knew nothing about such things. In any case, it wouldn't have mattered - my paycheck was needed at home.

So, graduating from high school, I worked on Wall Street for two years, eventually marrying and moving to New Hampshire. Three children and seven years passed before the "bell rang inside my mind" as the dream of a college education reawakened. And so, the door to my future was challenged, opening just a crack. Researching adult college courses in New Hampshire, I found the School for Lifelong Learning, as Granite State College was known back then (by the time I graduated, the name had morphed into the College for Lifelong Learning).

I met with an adviser at the Manchester NH college office who shed a shaft of light that pointed the way to achieving my goal. She mapped out a plan for my Associates Degree (because, at the time, working towards a bachelor's degree seemed such a huge, insurmountable challenge) and I got to work - one part time class at a time. Over the years, the magic continued.

Meeting kindred souls, people in my adult college courses who were dealing with the same day-to-day issues as I and aspired to goals similar to mine; befriending faculty who nurtured the flame of inquisitiveness burning inside of me and who helped me to discover the wonderful world of adult learning - all of this, and more, caused a seismic shift in my perception of what the future could hold for me.

The process of "challenging the doors of time" took thirteen years but I finally earned the prize - my Bachelor's Degree. The act of achieving my goal was so intoxicating, the magic so necessary to my being, that I decided to move on to the next "door" - a master's degree. All these years later, the magic continues to happen, doors keep opening.