About Continuing Education

Test Your Listening Skills Over the Weekend

2009-07-03T05:00:09Z

Listening is harder than we tend to think. How well do you listen? Test yourself over the weekend. Start with a listening test. Notice how well you do at the 4th of July activities you attend, and then test yourself again. Just for fun.

Awareness can do wonders to increase your ability to listen well. And listening well makes you a better student. You'll hear the important information you need to make studying easier.

Meaningful Conversations Can Be Fun Too

2009-07-02T05:00:46Z

People have a tendency to raise one eyebrow when I talk about meaningful conversations. Some even ask me what I mean. That always makes me smile.

Don't you get tired of superficial chatter? If you're an adult student this summer, and you'll be at a holiday party this weekend, I'm curious about how many of you will have a chance to have a meaningful conversation about the subjects you're studying. I hope you'll come back and share with us how it went. It doesn't have to be a serious conversation, although it can. Conversations can be meaningful and fun.

Good luck, and have a happy Fourth. Be safe.

Couple Earns Diplomas After 20 Years

2009-07-01T22:47:33Z

Twenty years after Jeffrey and Lisa Keenan dropped out of high school, they finally earned their diplomas. Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer wrote about them for The Virginian-Pilot.

This is a wonderful example of how easy it is for high school to fall by the wayside, how that one choice can affect your life for decades. But it doesn't have to be forever.

(Lisa) and Jeffrey have signed up for classes at Tidewater Community College in the fall. They want to train to be paramedics.
"In three years, we'll have a totally different life," Lisa said. "Totally different! I don't know why it took so long."

Going back to school can be easier if you have a buddy to accompany you. If you're not that lucky, make a friend in class. Form a study group. Maybe create a carpool. Relationships can make all the difference in your commitment to see it through.

GED Help:

How Do You Balance School, Work, Life?

2009-06-30T08:51:04Z

When life is already full, how do fit school in? Balance school, work, and life with some fairly simple time management practices. Start with learning to say no. Most of us are terrible at it and end up overloaded.

I've got a few tips on the site already:

Now I'd like to hear how you balance school, work, and life. Share your tips.

EducationBug

2009-06-28T18:01:25Z

Erica contacted me about a new education directory her company has started on the web: EducationBug. It's focused primarily on school-age kids and their parents, but she does have a page labeled Over 18 that includes some helpful articles for non-traditional students. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Applicants Up, Scholarships Down

2009-06-28T11:36:18Z

An article in the New York Times Friday examines the change in scholarships since the economy has tanked. Jonathan Glater checked in with many of the organizations that offer scholarships and reports his findings.

The recession has led foundations, corporations, state governments and colleges themselves to reduce their support of providers of scholarships, and in recent months programs have been reduced or canceled outright. The cuts come as economic conditions make it harder for families to pay for college and as more unemployed people look for financing for retraining.

Glater suggests that students will most likely need to depend more on federal loans like FAFSA.

Did you receive a scholarship this year? Is it for less than you had hoped? Talk to us about your experience.

Thinking About Going Back to School?

2009-06-27T09:09:16Z

Summer is the perfect time to think about going back to school. What do you dream about while you're walking the dog, sitting around the pool, sipping lemonade in the shade of a big ol' tree?

More education can often make those dreams come true.

But school creates some concerns too. Know what you're getting into. It takes time, understanding from the other people in your life, and, of course, money. Should you go back to school?

How Do You Engage in Service Learning?

2009-06-26T08:43:14Z

Service learning is one of those things in life that has been around since the beginning of time and only recently got a shiny new name. How can you not learn while you're serving?

Nevertheless, service learning is a new buzzword in education. How do you engage in service learning? Where do you serve? What have you learned? Share your experiences with us. Inspire others.

Obama to Announce FAFSA Simplifications Today

2009-06-24T07:49:54Z

President Obama is scheduled to announce today efforts to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA.

This is good news! I have written recently about the choice students have to fill out the application themselves for free or hire a service to help them. I like free stuff. Who doesn't? But the FAFSA is so complicated it's worth the hundred bucks to not worry about it, especially if you consider the value of your own time.

It'll be interesting to see how much the process changes with today's announcement. Stay tuned!

Barbara Bush Supports Family Literacy

2009-06-23T08:11:00Z

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy awarded a total of $634,070 to 10 nonprofit organizations, public school districts, and other agencies across the United States this spring to improve the literacy skills of parents and their children.

"A literate society is important to keeping our country strong and safe," Bush said in a press release about the grants. One of her goals is to equip parents and their children with the literacy tools they need for success.

If you know an adult who can't read, there is literacy help in almost every community. Ask. Look in the phone book. Be part of the solution.

I'd love to hear your literacy success stories. Share yours right here or in the forum.