Jenny in Florida Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 In my family, we often say that we have "itchy fingers" when we're feeling like doing some kind of craft or making something with our hands. For the last few months (basically, since I settled into my new job), I've had "itchy brain." I really, really want to do something school-like for myself. Some quick background: I have a 30-year-old B.A., in English. Graduate school is not an option, for a variety of reasons. (Please just take my word for this one?) I've done a bunch of Coursera classes and similar MOOCs and enjoyed them, but really want something a little more formal and rigorous. I would like to come out the other side with some kind of recognizable credential that might be of some use to me in developing my "encore" career. Although I would like there to be some potential career-related value to this project, it's also doing something interesting and rewarding for myself. It needs to be done on the relative cheap. At the moment, my leading idea is to complete a technical certificate in instructional design from a local community college. My professional background (pre-kids) is mostly in technical writing and editing, and I currently work as a technology trainer in our county library system. One aspect of my job as a trainer is to propose and help develop new classes. So, while such a credential isn't necessary to getting or doing the job, there is a tie-in there. The certificate requires five or six courses, one of which I could CLEP. All of the work is done online, and the tuition at community college rates is reasonable. So, that's an option. The stumbling block is that I'm still working on getting my student loans out of default. I'm making payments, and the rehabilitation is in progress, but I won't be able to pry my transcripts out of the university from which I earned my B.A. in time to start in the fall semester. I'd really like to get started on something soon. I've also looked at some non-college based courses and certifcation programs for professional trainers, some of which look interesting. However, they are about as expensive as doing the entire technical certificate and last no more than a few weeks. Because I do hope to stay with the library until retirement, I'd like to focus on education and credentials that are related to training, adult education, technology and/or libraries. So, thoughts? Inspirations? Rabbit trails I can research? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Write a book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Are you sure that the community college will require your transcript? I would call and talk to an admissions counselor if you haven't. CCs are supposed to be all about removing obstacles. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Write a book. Good one! Depending in the book, a lot of time and energy can be used up on research for the book and "itchy brain" will be scratched in the research process. Bonus - income from book sales vs. paying for classes/loans at the end. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysticmomma Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Unless you owe the university money they should not be holding your transcripts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Unless there is a requirement of an undergraduate degree for the CC program, they won't need trascripts, afaik. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Something that is hot around here is instructional technology. I wonder if you can do something with that. A class on that would be great for teachers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 Unless you owe the university money they should not be holding your transcripts. Actually, there is a federal law that permits universities to withhold transcripts when graduates are in default on student loans. My university has opted to do so. Unless there is a requirement of an undergraduate degree for the CC program, they won't need trascripts, afaik. Are you sure that the community college will require your transcript? I would call and talk to an admissions counselor if you haven't. CCs are supposed to be all about removing obstacles. Yes, they require me to submit transcripts from every college I have attended. I checked. Are you sure that the community college will require your transcript? I would call and talk to an admissions counselor if you haven't. CCs are supposed to be all about removing obstacles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 Write a book. Good one! Depending in the book, a lot of time and energy can be used up on research for the book and "itchy brain" will be scratched in the research process. Bonus - income from book sales vs. paying for classes/loans at the end. Interesting thought, but not what I'm "itching" for at the moment. I really miss the academic experience. I get a dopamine hit from a good grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 Something that is hot around here is instructional technology. I wonder if you can do something with that. A class on that would be great for teachers. Thanks for this. Off to do some searching . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 School like... would tutoring or volunteering count? Or only something where you get that grade you're itching for? Because I wonder if you'd be interested in helping with a literacy program or such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 School like... would tutoring or volunteering count? Or only something where you get that grade you're itching for? Because I wonder if you'd be interested in helping with a literacy program or such. My other job is tutoring. I'm looking to recharge my own academic batteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyS Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Become a certified Wilson tutor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Jenny, how far up the decisionmaker food chain have you gone with both the transcript-holding university and the transcript-requiring CC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 While you are freeing up your transcript, could you take a few of the classes required for the certificate as an occasional student (not matriculated, no major or program), and then sign up for the certificate program and transfer in your classes later? Could you trade tutoring with someone? You teach them something and they teach you something? Could you research something and get a paper published? Could you find an apprenticeship of some sort? Nan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 While you are freeing up your transcript, could you take a few of the classes required for the certificate as an occasional student (not matriculated, no major or program), and then sign up for the certificate program and transfer in your classes later? Could you trade tutoring with someone? You teach them something and they teach you something? Could you research something and get a paper published? Could you find an apprenticeship of some sort? Nan The community college requires that I be admitted to the school in order to take classes, and they will not admit me without transcripts unless I lie and say I have never attended college at all. I am not willing to do that. So, no, even as a transient/occasional/non-matriculated student, I can't enroll without the transcripts. As I said, that is in progress. I should have access within a few months, but not in time to enroll for the fall. I could possibly do any of those other things, but I'm looking for something more formal, structured and academic. (Plus, I honestly don't want to add any more tutoring to my schedule. As an introvert, the amount of time I already spend teaching other people is about as much as I can take on a regular basis.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meena Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Since many instructional design programs have strong elements of technology, could you take a programming or coding course of some sorts? You should be able to find such classes available online through places that wouldn't require transcripts. If that isn't in your interest or budget, are there any relevant adult Ed classes in your area, possibly offered through the public school district or library? You wouldn't get college credit, but usually those types of classes are inexpensive. Such a class might be good on a resume or in job interviews down the road, as many ID jobs are dealing with adult learners. It would be great to have that experience on the other side, as a student in a non-college adult learning environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Orton gillingham certified training- takes 1 week or two if you want to go to higher levels. OG certified tutors can easily charge $50-100 per hour. Idk if you're wanting to get out of tutoring, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Can you audit some courses without enrolling/applying to be a student? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Also, as far as something that might help satisfy your itchy brain while you're waiting to get the loan issue sorted through, could you start a self-study of a new language that might be helpful for someone in your field to be able to speak/read? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Are you within reach of a different community college or other university? Or can you take an online class elsewhere? I have taken a few classes at my cc without showing any transcripts so not everywhere has this policy. Nan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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