Pam Sissons's Blog

Posted by Pam Sissons

Computer literacy is an issue that crops up for many adult students, and one that can be pretty easily addressed. If you have assessed your computer skills and feel you need instruction, or even a refresher course, summer is usually a good time to upgrade your technology skills.

If you're really new to the computer, training begins with the basics which includes learning how to navigabe the Windows environment, personalize your desktop, or learning how to use Internet Explorer or other browsers. Some of the programs that are most readily available include:

• Keyboarding
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Using the Internet
• Using Powerpoint
• Microsoft Access

There are many other programs that you can learn once you have the basics. Summer is a good time to participate in these courses. They usually run form one to a few sessions each, and progress in sequence from the beginning to the advanced. There are usually books or some type of instructional materials that you will take away with you as well.

Once you have mastered the basics, you're on your own. You may wish to advance to the next level of instruction! Typically, computer courses can be found at your local community college, university, or even community centers,

Posted by Pam Sissons

If you’re in the beginning stages of continuing your education, earning a degree, or thinking about a trade school certification, you’re hearing a lot about degrees. There are so many types…what’s the difference between the degree titles?

• Certification
: A certification is granted for students demonstrating proficiency in a particular vocational program. A certificate requires 30 credits, which can usually be applied toward an associate’s degree.

• Associates Degree
: An Associates degree requires completion of approximately 60 credit hours, and takes approximately two years to earn if you attend full-time at a community or junior college. Degrees can include technological and vocational specialties such as nursing, computer technology, or criminal justice that prepare a student for entry-level positions.

• Undergraduate/Bachelor Degree
: An undergraduate degree is a professional degree that includes 120 credits consisting of a study of basic core instruction as well as theory and specialized study. Students must complete a significant number of their credits in their major study area, such as psychology, education, communications, or business.

• Graduate/Masters degree
: This is a postgraduate degree that requires another 60 credits beyond the undergraduate level. This degree is granted for mastery in a particular area of professional study and the ability to demonstrate advanced critical thinking skills and analysis

• Doctorate
: This is the highest academic degree, one in which the recipient has proven intellectual superiority in a chosen field and has shown significant promise toward continued scholarly pursuits.

For each of these, there are degree abbreviations. Hope you find this helpful!

Posted by Pam Sissons

Nola Ochs is a continuing education student at the Fort Hays State College in Kansas. Nola has her own apartment on campus where she attends classes, and when she's able to get home for the weekend, she drives 100 miles home her family farm. She is scheduled to graduate with a bachelors degree this spring. Nola turned 95 in November.

As Ochs tells her tale, when she turned 16 she passed an exam that certified her to teach. After four years, she married her husband Vernon and had to give up her teaching position because "That was a condition of getting the job - you had to stop when you got married because they didn't want the teacher to be pregnant in the school." (Click on the quote to view the entire article) After many years of marriage and raising children, Nola went back to school. When she receives her diploma, she will be the oldest college graduate in the United States!

As many recent scientific studies have shown, continued learning increases brain activity . Just as physical exercise maintains healthy bodies, regular mental calisthenics in combination with a healthy lifestyle can result in keeping you mentally sharp.

Adult students come from all backgrounds, with many varying situations and motivations. Whether you are a full or part-time student, taking enrichment classes or are just starting to think about it, the positive results are clear. A sincere desire to grow along with a genuine love of learning and the desire to interact with others is a large component in taking on any new project.

Do you know any other elderly people who have enrolled in a continuing education course? If so, I'd love to hear from you! What a great role model!

Posted by Pam Sissons

Are you an adult student preparing to graduate this spring? If so, CONGRATULATIONS on your incredible accomplishment! You have successfully navigated the difficult world of work, family, home and education. You are emerging successful and stronger for your commitment, hard work, and dedication. Soon your university or college will be contacting you regarding preparation for the graduation ceremony and presentation of your degree.

How do you feel about that? Are you going to participate in the ceremony? The answer is different for everyone. When my 26-year old daughter graduated with her bachelors last year, everyone was on hand to view the wonderful event - including her husband and two children! One of her biggest reasons for attending was so that she would have the photos to show her little girls when they get older, proving first-hand that you can always reach your dreams no matter what.

My 23-year old son will be graduating this year having earned an Associates Degree in machining and having completed a full apprenticeship program. He, on the other hand, has absolutely no desire to participate in a cap and gown ceremony with his peers. (Much to the chagrin of his mother!)

I too will be completing my bachelors degree requirements in May. It’s been a long road over several years. My experience has encompassed a variety of environments, both in the brick-and-mortar world of college as well as a significant degree of experience with distance learning. The university that I will graduate from is several hours away, and though I have been invited to participate, work and family take precedence at this time.

The college I attend and the coursework I have completed has been highly rigorous and demanding, as well as valuable to me in my professional life. In short, I’v worked my butt off! Although young minds right out of school are still like knowledge sponges, adult students who opt for continuing education make some of the best students, the best employees, and the very best role models!

Earning a degree as an adult student is a life-changing experience and a marvelous accomplishment. Rewarding and difficult at the same time, it is an achievement worth far more than the significant effort it required. I hope that you have had the same experience, and want to wish you all the very best in moving forward to the next level in your professional and personal lives.

Best wishes for your continued success!

(Now that you've completed your degree, you'll have time for enrichment classes!)

Posted by Pam Sissons

There is one topic I am anxious to talk about, and that is the use of electronic communication for adult students.

If you are a distance learning student, then most if not all of your relationships with your professors are based on e-mail and electronic submissions of some type. If you have been doing it for some time, no doubt you’ve experienced a lot of different situations and probably have some interesting stories you could share! If you’re new to the world of online education, then you may have more questions than answers.

Academic communication on the whole is a bit different than most types of interactions we typically experience. The relationship between professor and student can be a warm one, where you build an easy banter back and forth and you feel comfortable presenting ideas or asking questions, and they are prompt and considerate in their replies. Just like in life, not all relationships are that simple. Have you ever had an experience where for whatever reason, you just can’t seem to relate to a person? When every time you say or write something to them that you think sounds one way, they take it another and it just continually gets worse until you can barely communicate at all?

We have all had that experience at one time or another, but when it happens between professor and student, particularly in a distance learning environment, it can be unpleasant. Not only can you end up feeling frustrated, but there is a certain amount of fear mixed in there as well because it’s so difficult to reach out to them personally. The same type of situation can arise with classmates also. We are often required to critique each other’s work as part of our online assignment. It’s one thing to do so when you’re sitting in a classroom: you have a face that goes with the name, you probably have met, maybe even worked on a project together already or become friendly in class. Its another thing entirely to critique the work of someone you have never spoken to and probably have never communicated with until now. Consideration is key here!

Tune in to the next few articles as we explore this ever-interesting topic in greater detail!

Posted by Pam Sissons

When it comes to fighting the blahs while attending college classes or participating in continuing education of any kind, age has no preference! Here in the Northeast, we are in that long stretch of "post winter" or "pre-spring", whatever you want to call it! Not quite warm, not really cold, the gray days are a toss-up between the last hurrah of stubborn winter snow squalls and the cold rain of March.

This is the time when staying on task with coursework can be difficult. You've applied yourself pretty hard since the fall - some of us have attended right through the holidays - and now you just seem to be running out of gas.

Take heart! You're in the home stretch, and for many adult students, the end is only several weeks away. Whether you will be graduating, taking time off for summer break, or continuing on through the summer months, you'll have a fresh perspective and a lot more energy. It may take a little more effort to stay focused right now, but it will really help to think ahead. Here are a few things to think about when you feel discouraged:

• You are one more giant leap closer to your goals! Just remember where you were at this time last year, a few months ago, last month. Progress!!!
• Take some time to think about how others have been with you along the way. Do you have a supportive spouse? Parent? Kids? Maybe now is a good time to thank them.
• Remember that very time you complete a class, a course or a semester, your knowledge and life experience is increasing in direct proportion to the time and effort you invest., and you're that much closer to where you want to be.
• Relax! You're really in the home stretch, you'll be done before you know it.

Keep up the good work!

Posted by Pam Sissons

Recently I was speaking with a good friend of mine, and we were discussing the fact that both my 23-year old son and myself will be graduating from college at the same time. I am earning my degree through an online university, and my son is earning his through an apprenticeship program that provides him with on the job training and a great vocational degree program. During the course of our conversation, my friend brought up a story about his great-aunt. As a young woman, she had dropped out of school and gone to work for the same company where she had been for more than 30 years. Laid off at the age of 50, she found herself suddenly back in the workforce with no high school diploma. She decided to take the coursework, and went back to earn her GED. It was an extremely difficult undertaking for her but she did it. She received her diploma and was able to find a good job.

Not only did that story impress me by the sheer determination of it, but it really got me thinking about continuing education and what it really means. No matter what our age or background, we are learning all the time. Opportunities abound for us to make changes in our life, from simply trying to improve our career environment through some sort of professional development, or by changing gears completely and following an entirely new career path. What matters is that we "keep on truckin' ", so to speak!

One of the most basic skills required for adult students returning to a college level environment is writing. Fortunately, it is a skill that can be taught and improved upon simply by doing it. In my last article I discussed the general requirements for writing, and will continue to touch upon it for the next few articles as well. Just like my friends aunt showed a tremendous example of determination in earning her degree, many of us return to some sort of continuing education with the determination and focus to succeed. Writing can be a big part of that, but don't be put off by it! Like anything else, it's a learned skill that only improves with practice.

Do you have any similar stories to share? If you do, contact me, I'd love to hear them!

Posted by Pam Sissons

Writing can be a challenge for many adult students. Continuing education programs of all types, from technical and trade schools to a traditional undergraduate program will expect and require some level of expertise in writing. It’s also a necessary skill for many types of careers.

How do you feel about your own writing skills? Do you cringe when you have to write a letter, or feel like something isn’t quite right when you’ve completed a report or any type of writing at work? Are you confident and sure that you are getting your point across? Are you a lousy speller? Whether or not you like it, writing is one of those necessary evils for students, and for returning adult students can be a particular challenge. Good writing takes practice and like any other skill can get rusty without use. You may want to take some time and assess what your ability level is.

What type of writing can the adult continuing education student expect to be required to produce? Essay writing will be among the most common type of writing you may be required to produce. Fortunately, writing an essay isn’t as difficult as it may seem, and by practicing a simple formula you will be able to create essays with ease. The same goes for research and term papers. Although they are longer and involve more research, knowing the right format to use and using it every time will be a huge help in getting it underway. Outlines and analyses of readings are also commonly required writing assignments.

The next few articles upcoming will deal with the different types of writing that may be expected from the returning student. Check back to find ideas, tips, and suggestions on how to meet and exceed your writing requirements!

Posted by Pam Sissons

Since I’m finally preparing to complete my undergraduate degree in May, I have been thinking a lot about how I got to this point. Like many people, college after high school wasn’t in my plans. I got married, had kids, jobs, etc. It wasn’t until my mid-30’s that I decided to start back and earn my degree.

The very first class I took was on a college campus in Maine. It was Freshman Seminar, and I remember feeling incredibly fearful before my first class! With three young children at home and a husband who traveled much of the time – what on earth did I think I was doing? Would I have anything in common with these young people? I hadn’t been in a classroom in forever, and had no idea what to expect. I went fully prepared to feel like a fish out of water.

Sitting in my first class, it was with great relief that I noted that I was definitely not the youngest or the oldest starting out. There were kids right out of high school, a couple of 20-somethings, one or two around my age, and two much older. It became apparent as we began to share a bit about ourselves that all of us had been pensive about coming. As that class period wore on, and each one after that, a bond began to grow in the classroom. We found that the young people had much to offer the older ones, but the adults were able to provide a breadth of knowledge and balance to the class that made it a wonderful experience.

There were many more successful classrooms after that. Even as an Honors English student in a small-group setting, I never felt out of place or awkward. I quickly came to realize that education is something that requires dimension and shared experience to be rewarding. If you're feeling strange about starting out, read my article Am I Too Old for College?

So…if you’re just starting to think about beginning college, enrichment courses, or any type of professional development as an adult, take heart! It’s a wonderfully rich and rewarding journey.

Posted by Pam Sissons

Recently I purchased a particular text for an online class that was an easily procured textbook. I purchased it from the college bookstore because it indicated that the first two chapters of the book were online. Assuming that it was important to have these online components (for who-knew-what reason!) I purchased the text as required, although I could have saved some money getting it elsewhere. I was annoyed to find that not only did we not use those chapters, they were never referred to again, and when I inquired of the professor as to why it was required, she had no idea! To make matters worse, I had to pay extra shipping costs to get it on time for the class. Needless to say, I was a bit annoyed. Since then I have made a concentrated effort to acquire some of these books from my local library.

I’m a book lover. I love to read - I love the tactile experience of reading, of opening a new book or a well-loved one, for the very first time. I love the smell of books and how it feels when I put my bookmark in and shut the cover. I will never be someone who could read a novel online, or substitute a movie for a classic book. So, when it comes to buying textbooks, I’m fairly OK with it. I don’t mind having textbooks as part of my library, and always feel I will need them again at some point. However, I’m also realistic about the value of a dollar, and if I can pay $50 for a book that is essentially the same as an $80 book, I’m there! I also don’t want to purchase a slightly different edition of a book by Mary Shelly or Edgar Allen Poe when I already have three on my shelf! So…to make a long story short, I’ve made it a point to provide my local library with a list of the books I need a few weeks prior to my course. I’ve had very good luck getting almost everything I’ve asked for. (Of course, being an English major, it’s a little easier to get my books than it might be for a physics major, for instance) The librarians are incredibly helpful and extremely knowledgeable. I have saved a lot of money with just a little bit of organization up front. Try it – you may be pleasantly surprised!

Posted by Pam Sissons

So...you finally get home from work, get dinner on, put the laundry in, take the laundry out, serve dinner, clean up and spend some quality time with the ones you love the most. You make sure the kids' homework is done and get them all tucked in! Now it's time to do your homework. You sit down at the computer, all set to go and...let's see... a) Your mother calls to tell you about her day at the hair salon, b) The dog throws up all over the livingroom carpet and/or c) your oldest son has to have his most recent physical form for his coach tomorrow, and you just don't know where it might be...

Sound familiar? Obviously, life doesn't always appreciate our extraordinary efforts to excel! Interruptions and distractions are part of life no matter what, but if you are an adult student, time is usually of the essence and extremely hard to come by.

If you are the type of person who can redirect your thoughts and take up where you left off, you may not have a great deal of difficulty with minor interruptions. If you are like me, however, and your mind shoots off in some other direction whenever the cat sneezes, you might need to be a bit more aware of your need for focus!

How do you cope with time constraints and constant demands on your time? Do you have a strategy for organizing your day in such a way as to minimize them? If so, I'd like to hear from you. E-mail me and share your thoughts - I'd love to hear them!