Anyone gone back to school?
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Dirt Bomb
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Anyone gone back to school?
I'm in the process of retiring. My interests included gardening, and fishing, mushroom hunting, generally rooting around out in the woods. I signed up for a botany class at the local junior college. If you're over 65 in Illinois you get free tuition. I'm just wondering if anyone else has taken a class and if so, how did it go. I hope this is the right place to post this. Thanks.
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#2
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I've taken a few free Harvard online courses. Yes, that Harvard. And self-pace. https://online-learning.harvard.edu/catalog/free
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With an encore career in academia, I go "back to school" every September, although I usually teach summer school, as well. I teach upper division and graduate students, as well as my favorites, working professionals going back to earn advanced degrees or certificates.
I also promote and engage in lifelong learning, myself. Keep Hercule Poirot's "little gray cells" active!
I also promote and engage in lifelong learning, myself. Keep Hercule Poirot's "little gray cells" active!
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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I was going to go to seminary and do 2 years of formation to be a priest as I am a widowed permanent deacon. Well then I got thinking about more and it would sort of take away my freedoms so decided not to do it. If I could just go back locally and live a home it would probably have worked. I wish I could be nothing local.
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I had to spend a few years in an unfortunate NC backwater. Most semesters I would take a night class so that my wife and I could use the aquatic center (pool.) I enjoyed it, took whatever was available at a suitable time. School is much easier now than it was BITD if you are concerned about that.
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I had to spend a few years in an unfortunate NC backwater. Most semesters I would take a night class so that my wife and I could use the aquatic center (pool.) I enjoyed it, took whatever was available at a suitable time. School is much easier now than it was BITD if you are concerned about that.
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Since you love the outdoors, consider:
Volunteering USFS or a State or Regional equivalent. Trails Associations need volunteers. Mountain Bike Associations often have a commitment to maintaining infrastructure. Or hike more.
imho,… beats birdwatching or cornholing if you can Just Do It. At least the people will be more active and interesting.
Or cycle more. Take a lunch and a smell th roses, or go somewhere new.
I’m an experiential learner these days. But I pursued 3 business related certifications after a Masters, so maybe a bit of classroom burnout.
Volunteering USFS or a State or Regional equivalent. Trails Associations need volunteers. Mountain Bike Associations often have a commitment to maintaining infrastructure. Or hike more.
imho,… beats birdwatching or cornholing if you can Just Do It. At least the people will be more active and interesting.
Or cycle more. Take a lunch and a smell th roses, or go somewhere new.
I’m an experiential learner these days. But I pursued 3 business related certifications after a Masters, so maybe a bit of classroom burnout.
Last edited by Wildwood; 08-21-21 at 11:20 PM.
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#8
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Yep, I have spent entirely too much time in classrooms along the way. In tech certs are necessary as technology evolves new certifications are needed. Most of it is online, thankfully! Was an elementary teacher at an earlier time and also have an advanced degree in business. When I quit working for good, I will play most of the time, do chores when needed, and relight the passion for b&w photography.
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Ten years before I retired, started an RN-to-BSN program which I finished when I was 60. Three years, one class at a time, one day a week, most of the classes at hospital I worked at but did attend a few at the local college. Classmates were all system nurses with either diploma or associate degrees like me. Hospital system paid for everything except books. Very interesting for an older fella who had flunked out of college at age 20. Had not taken a traditional in-person college level class since then. Had never heard of APA Style rules for writing but was able to come to grips with that. Not feeling the urge to take any classes at this point in time.
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My wife and I belong to the academy for lifelong learning here in Colorado. They have several thousand senior members with a whole variety of courses taught by qualified people, who volunteer. From movies to science to music to philosophy. I'm going to add a new dimension this year as I am teaching a course called "all you never wanted to know about bicycling"
It is aimed at the non-bicyclist or the very beginner, and we'll cover a vast array of topics from bicycle frames to nutrition to types of bicycles to cultural bicycling to bicycle advocacy to accessories, electronics, safety, maintenance and much more. It is not designed to teach anyone how to ride, and we will have three guest speakers. I have prepared over 50 PowerPoints, each one having a video further explaining what I am talking about and giving different viewpoints. It's been fun doing this preparation and the course will be taught in March and April of 2022
It is aimed at the non-bicyclist or the very beginner, and we'll cover a vast array of topics from bicycle frames to nutrition to types of bicycles to cultural bicycling to bicycle advocacy to accessories, electronics, safety, maintenance and much more. It is not designed to teach anyone how to ride, and we will have three guest speakers. I have prepared over 50 PowerPoints, each one having a video further explaining what I am talking about and giving different viewpoints. It's been fun doing this preparation and the course will be taught in March and April of 2022
Last edited by gobicycling; 08-23-21 at 06:44 PM.
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I haven't, but my Dad had that option in New Orleans. He took classes on A/C repair and body repair. Turned that into a post-retirement glorified hobby/small biz.
scott s.
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scott s.
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I knew I guy who did something similar. He retired from a mechanical engineering job and opened his own automotive repair shop, which grew by word of mouth into a rather successful enterprise.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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I’ve been a graphic designer for my whole career but I have no passion for it. So at 50 I enrolled in a residential electrical class because I wanted to get into construction. Anyhow COVID derailed it for a bit but we resumed last fall and I’m 6 months away from completing the residential and commercial program. I really have enjoyed the classes, more than I ever expected and look forward to spending less time glued to a computer monitor. And if nothing else it’s good to keep the mind active.
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If you mean seriously, no. OTOH I've been taking classes at the community colleges off and on since the late 80s. Many work related, mostly IT, which I enjoy. But also hiking, camping, art, etc, just for fun.
The advantage of taking an in-person class is meeting new people, learning how they do.. stuff and figuring out how to do something. The advantage of online classes is setting your own schedule and working at your own pace.
The advantage of taking an in-person class is meeting new people, learning how they do.. stuff and figuring out how to do something. The advantage of online classes is setting your own schedule and working at your own pace.
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I have 'audited' a class in order to see/hear what I was hearing from my son about a specific teacher. Prior to COVID you could do such things.
Not to get political about it here, but be prepared for the wildly Liberal slant to what they teach and present.
Not to get political about it here, but be prepared for the wildly Liberal slant to what they teach and present.
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#16
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I've taken the odd class or two at the local CC. That's actually most of their business, offering continuing ed classes to adults. When you're taking a class on something you're truly interested in rather than something you have to take to meet a curriculum, you tend to take the class more seriously and learn more.
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I've taken acting & bartending classes. they were fun. you get challenged & you meet ppl. who knows you might get lucky too wink wink
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I’ve been a graphic designer for my whole career but I have no passion for it. So at 50 I enrolled in a residential electrical class because I wanted to get into construction. Anyhow COVID derailed it for a bit but we resumed last fall and I’m 6 months away from completing the residential and commercial program. I really have enjoyed the classes, more than I ever expected and look forward to spending less time glued to a computer monitor. And if nothing else it’s good to keep the mind active.
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Made it to 84 WHOOPIE
Well you did get political about it. This post doesn't belong here.
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Somewhat similar to what I'm doing. I worked for a neighbor (electrical contractor) back in my college days during the peak summer building periods, but ended up getting a college degree. After buying an old house and doing the electrical repairs on it I got re-interested in electrical. I went back to the local CC and signed up for the construction program's electrical certificate to get familiar with panels and larger circuits in prep for the contractor's license exam (passed it! ) . Currently doing small repair jobs for folks on the weekends, but will be retiring from my full-time job in a year and want to keep doing electrical on a part-time basis to make a few extra $$$.
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I’d love to take Spanish classes. Espaniol es muy importante en mi trabejo.
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Well, it's impossible to mention that aspect without mentioning that aspect. I think anyone whom has been to University 'recently' could easily relate to the fact of it. OP asked and it's a part of the telling.
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It’s part of the “History” of the thread…it can’t be erased…like it was never there…real time, life observation…thoughts have been provoked…a thread participant’s contribution…the contributor is probably not the only person who has had this or a similar experience…there is empirical evidence to support this statement…it is a conversation that needs to be had…respected from all directions…people need to know what to expect…
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It’s part of the “History” of the thread…it can’t be erased…like it was never there…real time, life observation…thoughts have been provoked…a thread participant’s contribution…the contributor is probably not the only person who has had this or a similar experience…there is empirical evidence to support this statement…it is a conversation that needs to be had…respected from all directions…people need to know what to expect…
In this case it was a 'cultural' class that he needed for his Psychology degree. He came home with some seriously outrageous stories about things said by this professor specifically in reference to color and what certain ones could and could not infer by saying certain things. I was absolutely thinking he was making it up just for it's impact (to us), but it was true. The rabbit hole went even deeper.
As an individual auditing you have no say and are asked NOT to participate. I just listened in for a few sessions, scratched my head with a "huh!" and went on about it.