World Issues

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 by Beth McKenna
Tonight, in my child development class at Granite State College's Portsmouth NH college campus, we were talking about cognitive development of high school students. We discussed how during the high school years, children are transitioning to adulthood, not only in their size, but also in their thinking. Students in high school begin to analyze things from a variety of perspectives. They start to think of themselves as part of a larger world and they start to make moral judgments based on an understanding of right and wrong. You might not think that education classes at Granite State College would touch on world issues, but as we discussed thinking and reasoning, we also talked about issues facing not only today's teens, but also issues facing our country and our world. Should we be concerned about the fate of people half way around the world in Japan? Should we care about how the United States is responding to the crisis in Libya? There are many classes at Granite State College that will allow you to think more deeply about world issues. Think about registering for online classes or face to face classes. These might be behavioral science classes or critical thinking or an online class for criminal justice. Try registering for an adult education class. Many of the classes will encourage you to think and offer you a chance to discuss your ideas with other people who are also interested in world issues.

First Day of Spring

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 by Beth McKenna
Today is the first day of spring and, as I write this blog, I am watching the snowflakes swirl around outside my window. I ask myself how can this really be the first day of Spring? And then I think about all the important dates in our lives: Holidays, birthdays, vacations... fun days that we look forward to. But what about for college students? There are exam days and papers due days and beginning and ending of the semester days. These are special days too but not always those fun days, unless you consider them as milestones in getting you closer to where you want to be in life.

So have you considered where you want to be by next spring or next winter or next birthday? How about enrolling in classes at Granite State College. Did you know that there are online classes for almost every subject? There are also face to face classes in Portsmouth, and Rochester and Lebanon and Manchester and Littleton and Berlin. That pretty much covers the state. You can find yourself in a different place by that next special date in your life. You could be halfway through an Adult Accelerated Degree Program, or finishing an adult education certificate, or taking classes in Early Childhood Education, or any number of degree programs at Granite State College. So don't wait for Spring to arrive. Register now and be ready when that special date, the first day of spring classes arrives in April.

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
Time ManagementAs 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 :) 

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!

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.



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.


FAFSA Filing Tips

Friday, January 28, 2011 by Cortney Henry

It’s that time of year again! It’s time to start thinking about filing the 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For many, this can be an overwhelming process, so here are a few tips to help make your FAFSA filing experience less stressful.

  • Many traditional schools require the FAFSA to be filed no later than March 1st. Granite State College, however, does not have a filing deadline since our institution provides Adult and Continuing Education classes with rolling admissions. This means that our students can apply for Financial Aid at any point during the year. We do strongly encourage our students to apply by May 1st if possible so they will be considered for any State Grants available. However, if students file after the priority filing date, they will still be considered for the federal aid programs including the Federal Pell Grant and the Stafford Loan Programs.
  • Students must be enrolled at least Part Time to be eligible to receive federal financial aid. Each school determines what they consider to be Part Time Classes and for Granite State College, students are required to take at least four credits to be eligible for aid. This means that our students who want to Take College Classes Online or in one of our centers, but can only do one class per term are still eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid.
  • For those students who recently got married, please be very careful when filing your new FAFSA. If you have not received confirmation from Social Security that your name has been updated in their system, you do not want to file your FAFSA using your married name. This will cause the FAFSA to reject. Always file your FAFSA using your legal name; this means the name that is listed on your Social Security card. Do not use abbreviations or nicknames either as this will cause the FAFSA to reject as well.
  • If at the time you filed your previous year’s tax return you were married, but you are now separated or divorced, still use the joint income listed on the tax return when filing your FAFSA. The Office of Financial Aid can separate out your income to reflect a more accurate financial picture, but will need additional documentation to do so. You will be required to complete a Special Circumstance form. Once your documents are received, the Office of Financial Aid will review them and make any adjustments possible to the information listed on the FAFSA. It is required that the Office of Financial Aid makes these adjustments since any change to a student’s income must be fully documented for audit purposes.
  • To be considered a veteran, you must have served on Active duty and must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If your service was only for training purposes such as the National Guard or Reserves, you are not considered a veteran for federal financial aid purposes.
  • The number one mistake students make is leaving a field blank. All income questions must be completed. If the answer is zero or the questions do not apply to you, write in a zero. Do not use dashes or leave the question blank.
  • If you have an unborn child who will be born before or during the award year (July 1 through June 30th) and that child will receive more than half of his or her support from you, you can count that child as a member of your household when answering the household and dependents questions on the FAFSA.
  • Always remember to electronically sing your FAFSA with your PIN. The FAFSA will not be considered valid until your signature is applied.

 

For more tips and instructions, check out this FAFSA Video.





As always, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at Granite State College at 603-513-1392 with any questions or concerns. Happy Filing!

When the going gets tough...

Friday, January 28, 2011 by Maria Bauer
College life can be hard sometimes, maybe harder for others at times. When you find yourself trying to dig yourself out of a hole (or trying to keep yourself out of one, which is just as much work!) it can be discouraging. One of the toughest lessons is knowing there are no easy answers.

This is the second term that I have taken online classes for college. One thing you should know about me, is that I was intimidated by taking online adult education classes, mostly because there was a lot of uncertainty. It was one of the smartest things I've done! Instead of ignoring them altogether (my original plan) I started talking to other students at Granite State College who had taken online classes and they got me excited about it. One student even opened up his laptop to show me the layout of his class.

The reason I bring this up is because recently I have been taking a lot of time looking back at where I was a year ago. A year ago, I was just getting my life put back together, and I was just starting to think about going back to school - I had quit after only having 9 credits (3 classes) from another school. Now I'm a sophomore and I'd like to think I've done a pretty darn good job piecing my life together.

I was having a conversation with an old friend (who goes to another college), and she was telling me that school can get in the way of life. I felt sad for her, because she honestly doesn't know what school is supposed to be like. I didn't start out at Granite State, and I know that if I didn't get that push to go in and talk to somebody here, I wouldn't have gone back to college at all.

An adult college program, for me, is a way for me to grow; every time I'm in a class or even writing a paper, I feel stronger. (Corny I know...but hear me out) When you find yourself in that tough spot, this is the place where you can reach out to people and they are there for you with welcome arms. You are the one that has/is putting in all that work, and every result that you get back is from your hard work. College, and classes, are something that we have control over. Granted, there may be a few things that may not be in our favor, but we still have the chance to affect our outcome.


Let it snow!

Thursday, January 13, 2011 by Mary Clouter
What a snow storm we've had here in southern New Hampshire today.  Lots of snow... unfortunately, lots of shoveling too!  But I wouldn't trade living here for anything!

What's nice about my online Behavioral Science classes in this weather is that I don't have to miss any class time because of all of this snow.  I went out, shoveled a bit, came back in, had a coffee, and did some homework.  I have a whole week to complete that week's assignments and the flexibility of an online class is that I can work on my studies throughout the week.  No traveling needed and my study hours are based more on the times I have available during the week.

And online classes for adults work out great for stay-at-home moms and those who work outside of the home.  You just can't beat the flexibility of online learning.

So if you think you may not have time, contact one of the GSC advisors and see what might be possible!  The only regret would be to have never have tried at all.  What have you got to lose? 

Hope to "see" you at one of the online adult education classes!

Stay warm everyone!

mary


One Year Ago...

Monday, January 10, 2011 by Maria Bauer
Online Classes: It's that time again. Instead of being stressed out about it, I'm actually very relieved. The holidays are over, and now it's time to settle down into a routine, and taking either the accelerated college classes and/or regular 12 week online classes, you have the peace of mind that you are working towards that well deserved degree.

Each first day of a new term is always a day I look forward to: It's a first day of school for adults. Granted, I have a lot of first days, but that spills over into the other parts of my life. It reminds me that I won't always have the same job forever, and that there really are a lot of "tomorrows." However, this specific day was even more symbolic. It was not only the first day of school, but it was the first day of class in the New Year.

Last week I was taking a look at where I was at this point last year. I wasn't even enrolled in school last year. I was living in Texas recovering from an severe illness. Now, because of my hard work, I am now working part time and taking 3-4 classes a semester and now a sophomore ... In less than a year. It's always amazing to see how far one person can go in the "short" amount of time of one year.

I challenge you, whoever may be reading this blog right now, to look into taking a class (or 2) and see where it takes you. Either online classes, weekend intensive classes, adult education certificate classes, etc.. Take a look at where you are right now, and then think about where you can you be in a year from now. If there is one thing that I can be brutally honest about, it's that I never thought I would have come this far this fast. You won't know where you will be a year from now unless you bite the bullet and sign up for classes and do it. Don't give yourself any excuses either - there is financial aid available. No more excuses! It might be the scariest thing you do, but you will NOT regret it!

See you next time! :) 



Ant farms, students and curiosity

Sunday, January 9, 2011 by Beth Benoit
Although the purpose of this blog isn't to promote products - even if they ARE educational toys! - I can't resist writing about the ant farm we got for two of our grandchildren that may go down in history as the first thing to distract them from video games!  It actually lights up and has a gel that the ants appear to eat and dig their tunnels in as well.  Our daughter loves it so much she goes into the room where the farm is lit up, to read.  And she talked me into getting one for my office too.

Here it is, though this doesn't show how it lights up, which is especially cool!
ant farm

What got my brain going was thinking how we've always compared hard workers to ants.  Remember the Aesop fable when you were a kid about "The Grasshopper and the Ant"?  The grasshopper has a "what, me worry?" attitude toward life (which Walt Disney made into a wonderful song in the 1934 cartoon that goes like this:  "Oh, the world owes me a living...").  He's disdainful of the ant who just keeps plodding along and works hard to get the job done of preparing for winter.  The climax of the story, of course, is that winter comes, and the grasshopper is in trouble because he's not prepared, so he learns a lesson from the ant.  (In the Disney version, the ant kindly helps the grasshopper.  I'll bet in Aesop's version though, that the grasshopper froze to death!)

Some of my students have told me that when they were in high school, they couldn't wait to graduate and "get out into the real world."  Alas, after a few years (or even decades) in the real world, they realized that a high school diploma wasn't going to get them where they wanted to go.  Sometimes they just wanted to feel more educated.  Sometimes they realized they needed further training to achieve a goal they'd decided was worthwhile.  But always, the lure of a diploma got them started.  Many of them sign up for regular classes at Granite State College, and some sign up for adult online courses.  We even have accelerated undergraduate courses, so you can complete some courses in as little as five weeks.  (This is hardly the easy way out, though, because you're taking a full college course in that short time!  But for some, it's a blessing to be able to squeeze in a course in less time than a regular college course.)

So I can't resist trying to make my readers decide whether they want to be a grasshopper or an ant...at least, metaphorically!

Meanwhile, I'll write again when my ants arrive in their heated package.  (I kid you not - that's how they can mail them in the winter!)  Now wouldn't the grasshopper have loved that?

Franklin, NH Partnership with Granite State College

Thursday, January 6, 2011 by Betsy Gemmecke
I am really excited about the expanding partnership that the City of Franklin has with Granite State College. A very energetic committee of Franklin agencies and citizens have partnered with us to increase the visibility and access of our college to its residents.

The second Tuesday of the every month I will be at the second floor of the Franklin Public Library to encourage people to consider further education and career advancement.  Many people  do not realize that affordable college study is within their reach. Students can take college evening classes in Concord and elsewhere in the state; and also can benefit from online adult degrees.

On Tuesday January 11, I will be running a free workshop for anyone unsure of their future direction. We will discuss non-traditional paths of learning and strategies to move ahead. Many people I have met don't believe they have the skills to go to college and feel "rusty" since they have been out of school for a while. Actually they will find the process is easier than they think and there is extensive adult financial aid available for people returning to school. The first step is really to take a risk and meet with someone to begin to explore future options.  I will be in Franklin once a month and I hope people will feel comfortable to meet me at the Library for an informal chat when I am there, perhaps over coffee.

"Make life happen for you instead of letting it happen to you!"

How important is memory?

Sunday, January 2, 2011 by Beth Benoit
I watched a "60 Minutes" episode recently, where a half dozen people who have "superior autobiographical memory" were interviewed.  (The group included Marilu Henner, whom I remember fondly from a sitcom called "Taxi.")  The segment was called "The Gift of Endless Memory," and Leslie Stahl interviewed five people who didn't have just "great" memories.  They could remember everything that had ever happened to them, and when.  Given any date, each could remember tiny details of the day, and of course, the interviewers made certain to verify these memories.   

The researcher involved,  Dr. James McGaugh, is a professor of neurobiology at the University of California Irvine, and he's a well-known expert on memory.  He would ask these subjects (there are six known in the world), what would ordinarily be difficult or impossible for an ordinary person to recall, but could be verified by records, such as which days of a month twenty years ago, that it rained.  When they showed one subject being questioned about the weather twenty years ago, she not only recalled which days it rained, but the weather for the days before!

Psychology courses often delve into how memory works.  At Granite State College we have a lot of psychology courses and behavioral science classes, both online and classroom courses (the classroom courses take place in one of our nine NH state college campuses), including some we call "five-week intensives," that are accelerated courses.  You'll read a lot, and become immersed in your subject, but at the end of five weeks, you'll be impressed with yourself, to realize that you've completed a whole college course!  And the only shortcut is the length of time it took to finish the course.  You'll still be learning the same things you'd learn in a full-length course!  (But we can't promise that, like the people I've described, you'll remember everything for as long as you live!!!)

At Granite State College, we find ourselves emphasizing "adult learning," but once you finish high school, it's true that all college learning is "adult learning."  And our learners range from just out of high school to senior citizens!  (The oldest student I've had so far was 71 years "young" and the youngest was 17!)

Oh, and back to that fascinating segment on "60 Minutes":  I loved when Marilu Henner said, "You know what I love? I love when people get so flattered, Like they go, 'Wow, I must've really made an impression on you.' And I go, 'No, no, believe me - I remember everything' '"  And the fact that these people seem to have just a little bit of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder):  they like to keep things in order and to collect things.

But the thing that's also stuck in my mind over the last week is that of the five subjects on the show, only one - Marilu Henner - had ever been married.  (And she'd been married three times.)  Is it possible that being able to remember everything (including arguments and hurt feelings) might make a long-term relationship more tenuous?  Maybe it's important for our social "grease" to be able to actually forget details.  (Ah, that's something that I should bring up in Social Psychology course, one of the online adult education classes that's coming up!)

So, I'm wondering if maybe that not-so-great memory of mine may have contributed to the longevity of my marriage.  (We just celebrated our 42nd anniversary.)  Well, there certainly aren't any proven "magic pills," but you never know...

Here's a link if you want to watch the "60 Minutes" segment.



Life on Caribbean time

Monday, December 27, 2010 by Tom Oetinger
Caribbean down time


In a hammock on a beach in Cozumel.  Yes, this is the life. If only I could have made it last. 

Unfortunately, most of us can't stay perpetually on "Caribbean time."  We have obligations, responsibilities and goals, most of which cannot be accomplished in the reclining mode.  There is snow to be shoveled and bills to be paid.  If you are looking to improve your financial situation so that down the road you can fit in a little hammock time, quite possibly finishing your college degree will provide the necessary element that will give your career a boost.

Granite State College is New Hampshire's common sense choice for adult college education. With an affordable tuition and online, evening and weekend classes, Granite State College makes it easier than ever to achieve your academic goals.

It's only natural to daydream about stress free tropical vacations.  Sadly, daydreams won't get you any closer to the beach.

Fall Term Winding Down

Thursday, December 9, 2010 by Joe Grabowski
Another twelve weeks has come and gone at Granite State College, and I am emerging on the other side of this term changed once again.  Perhaps 'changed' isn't the right word, as each class has enhanced or refined who I am as a person.  I don't believe that one can actively engage one's mind and learn new concepts without being impacted.  A truth, once learned, becomes a part of who we are.  Once our eyes are opened, it would be utter foolishness to close them again to what we have seen.

Learning doesn't stop at the classroom door.  Some people consider their educational career to have been completed upon receiving their high school diploma; others equate learning with adult continuing education programs, and "pause" between courses.  What I've found from taking my behavioral science classes, as well as the core and elective classes, is that the readings, discussions, and assignments throughout the terms have stirred my hunger for knowledge.  

I've often filled the between-times trying to learn more about the subjects I've already learned, or trying to satisfy my curiosity about thoughts and ideas yet to be explored.  A simple search for "behavioral science" on YouTube results in many videos illustrating the psychological concepts discussed in textbooks and classes.  Another favorite site of mine is http://www.sciencedaily.com, which I've used extensively both in my classes and for my own interest.

One of the many benefits of being a recipient of adult higher education at Granite State College is that it has prepare my mind to be a lifelong learner, not only in the classroom or through the online adult programs, but in the great classroom of life.

There is knowledge waiting to be discovered everywhere.  Whet your appetite and prime the pump at Granite State College.

The semester countdown has started!

Thursday, December 9, 2010 by Mary Clouter
Hi all.

Only a few more days until I finish these three courses of the fall semester.  I really enjoyed my Human Development class with Beth Benoit (Hi Beth!).  Beth is my instructor as well as a fellow Granite State College blogger. 

I'm finding my degree specific classes for the bachelor's in Behavioral Science to be so interesting.  I want more of it!  This may later prove to fall under the category of "be careful of what you wish for," but I don't think so.  Beth will also be teaching my online course for Social Psychology, one of the behavioral science classes, and I imagine I will enjoy that just as much as I've enjoyed this one.

It's so nice to get to this stage of my life and really know what I want to focus on and that is to help others.  Not that I regret the past, but now I feel more focused and ready to stretch myself to new experiences.  When I was in my 30s, going back to school wasn't even a blip on the screen for me, but now... I can't believe how many cool things I've gotten a chance to do in my 40s!  A few weeks ago, I received my GSC reminder to submit my "Intent to Graduate" form.  How exciting!  Two more semesters and I'll have my bachelor's from GSC, the center of adult education.  I can hardly believe it.

We're  capable of accomplishing so much and life can be so rewarding.  I have my ups and downs too, but, wow, life is good!

If I don't write again until after the holidays.  I hope your holidays are everything you hoped for and that you have a wonderful new year!

One Crazy Day!!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 by Gail Gifford
Today was a crazy day. First off, was work and I had to be there at 8am. I usually go in earlier, around 6am to work out, but I have been sick and until I get back up to snuff, the workout ritual is going to have to wait for a few more days. We were busy at work and I was given the task to write my own review today and have to have it complete by the end of the week.  I have done this before previous years with the company but since I got my degree from Granite State College, I really didn't understand how important it was. How the words you use can make or break your review and how you are viewed by your manager. Learning how to write well and how to put your sentence structure together well, can make all the difference.

So much of our review is all statistics, hence my Business Statistic class came in handy, when I had to figure out percentages and what the variables are and how to calculate the average of a performance objective metric.  Getting my adult education degree has improved my writing of these reviews so much. I have excelled in my rating as well as my confidence has improved on this skill. The day is past and now I sit and write for the college.  I love to blog and give others my thoughts about adult on-line education, accelerated studies, Granite State College and adult college classes. My education is Priceless......that pretty much sums it up.