Career Renew!

In mid-May, I proudly graduated from Buffalo State College with my new degree, a Masters of Science in Education (Adult Education)! I could not be happier! The ceremony was fantastic and beautifully organized, and the mantel (or hood) was placed over my head by two of my favorite professors. Actually, I loved all my professors, and was so pleased to meet many of them at the ceremonies. I also got to chat at length with many fellow learners. Some are on their way to doctorate programs, others are seeking to move ahead in their current jobs, and some like me are looking for a new job or getting started in a new career.

It was a 5-hour drive to the campus, so I attended alone with friends and family watching via streaming video. As a single mid-life learner, many of my accomplishments are experienced alone, though with helpers and well-wishers, and I have learned to find great joy in them. I have found the field of education to be one where I meet wonderful people and am propelled into a fascinating world of discovery ... great for those of us who are single.

Flush with a sense of accomplishment, now comes the time to "hit the pavement" and get that new job. Student loans are looming! But so well worth it, as now I have my portfolio of research, papers, projects, and new skills in education delivery under my arm.

I quickly learn that there are many jobs out there for those with Education degrees. Many have training and professional development components which I seek. Yet, I also learn that competition is stiff out there with many new graduates also job seeking. I wondered if I would encounter any bias concerning mid-life learners and job seekers, but so far, have experienced none. I am learning that, after all, there is a great need for education professionals to address pressing issues: accessibility and equal opportunity for all learners; integrating new technology in education; meeting rigorous evaluation and reporting standards; achieving student enrollment and instructor recruitment goals; and ongoing professional development for instructors and staff.

Happily I am off to another interview today. I cherish each of these opportunities to learn about educational organizations, their goals, and the great people working in them. Finding the right match for me, seems like a wonderful adventure right now!

It's Exam Time!

As learners in a higher education setting know, springtime is exam time! For my coursework, exams are less usual, and papers and projects tend to be the norm. I am completing my masters in adult education through Buffalo State College and the University at Albany. For my course requirements for this semester which commenced in January and will end in mid-May, I wrote 13 papers and participated in 7 team projects. I am completing four courses: Leadership in Organizations, Training Employees, Foundations of Adult Education, and Telecommunication Design and Production. All of these were terrific, well designed and lots of fun to take.

So what about the papers that are assigned? I find that my professors appreciate creativity and will be lenient with my writing style as long as I have successfully integrated content from my studies. I do however have to use correct APA (American Psychology Association) style for my references and citations. As I have progressed through my studies, I pride myself on becoming a better writer. This will certainly assist me in my professional work. Sometimes, becoming a better writer is just a matter of getting organized! A first step is collecting resources. An indispensable resource for writing, research and styles is the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

If you are planning a return to school in the autumn, here are some great ideas to help you get organized from Resource Room for older learners: http://www.resourceroom.net/older/ida_studyskills.asp

Enjoy exploring my blog for more ideas to help you succeed! Please share your own 'best practices' by responding with a comment or e-mail.

Welcoming you to my blog. An audio message.

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The Joy of Lifelong Learning

One definition for lifelong learning is: You're never too old to learn!

Welcome to my blog that invites you to join me in my journey as a midlife learner, and to discover how age is no barrier to learning ... ever! In fact, age is IN!

As a returning older adult student, I will share some of the highs and challenges of getting started (again!) as a student in higher education. Life is full of challenges, and learning is a great way to get connected to find and share new resources for achieving life goals.

This blog will take a look at what's out there for prospective older adult learners. I will post new ideas, experiences and information. I hope you will visit here often!

To help you get started, check out this helpful article which examines myths about returning adult students:

http://www.distance-education.org/Articles/Seniors-Returning-to-School--Six-Myths-About-Older-Adult-Education-44.html

Here is an article about Baby Boomers returning to school:

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/back_to_college.html

Am I Too Old to Learn?

Never!

Experts say that the brain stays in nearly tip top condition for learning well into our seventies. In may ways, we learn and retain information just like younger adults. As we age, we may find ourselves slowing down just a bit, but not enough to discourage active learning!

We're endowed with intelligence that is crystallized and fluid. Crystallized means we're good at recalling specific information we have been taught, for example, performing well on tests, or absorbing information from lectures and texts. Fluid intelligence has to do with more abstract learning and problem solving, for example, seeing the pattern in things or creating order out of chaos. Our fluid and crystallized intelligence change as we age, but in no defined pattern. You should never let anyone tell you that your intelligence has waned. You simply experience change.

So the answer is, we are never too old to learn.

To help keep your brain in good trim, check out this website with brain teasers: http://www.brainconnection.com/teasers/