Noncredit community continuing education for adults is designed to provide enrichment activities for individuals who are lifelong learners. These courses and classes are especially organized in a manner to promote, improve, and expand community resources. The idea behind this concept is to encourage greater cooperation among agencies and institutions within the community.
Advantages of Community Education
In most cases, community education programs rely on area experts to provide continuing education for residents. This is accomplished using a twofold approach for these noncredit courses, which is to:
- Integrate community experts in teaching adults who want to learn new information on a wide range of topics.
- Build a collaborative network of professionals and residents who come together to become involved in community issues.
Community Education Centers
Community education courses and classes are typically held in local government facilities; however they are also taught in local high schools and community colleges. The advantage of these facilities is that they are designed for adults and education, which allows easy presentation of courses and classes.
The advantage of community education courses is they are tailored to meet the needs and desires of local residents. Community education leaders take polls, listen to residents’ requests, and review course feedback forms to decide what courses to offer. The best way for any resident to have a noncredit course offered they are interested in taking, is to contact the local coordinator or even better enroll in a course or two.
Course booklets are mailed to local residents typically three times a year – spring, summer, and fall listing courses being offered. If you have not received a copy, a call or visit to local government offices is typically all that is needed to obtain a copy. Enrollment forms are normally included course booklets.
NonCredit Continuing Education Course Topics
Community education courses are typically offered as noncredit courses and charge a nominal fee to cover costs. Courses offered are normally offered for those in high demand by local area residents, such as:
- Food Handler Certificates
- Supervision and Management
- Making Home Movies with Camcorders
- Taking Pictures with Digital Cameras Strategies and Techniques
- Hands-on Makeup
- Basic Computer Skills
- Use and Safety of the Internet
- Healthy Practices, such as: Fitness, Aerobics, and Meditation
- Consumer Protection and Information on a wide range of topics, such as: Understanding Effects of Medications, Health Insurance, Credit Card Scams, Identity Theft Protection, Medicaid Prescription Options, and more
- Genealogy Search Strategies
- Retirement Plans, such as: ERAs, 401Ks, Social Security, and more
- Nutritional Options, such as: Dietetic Meals, Menu Planning, and more
- How to Topics, such as: Pottery, Scrap Booking, Ballroom Dancing, Write Fiction Stories, Live on a Budget, and many more
- Travel to Foreign Countries
- Tours of Local and Regional Attractions
This is just a partial list of noncredit courses which are offered through community education programs. Communities have their favorites and are always looking for new topics to offer.
Community education programs are a great way to get involved, learn something new, and develop a better understanding of difficult topics. Also, everyone has become an expert at something during his life. These programs provide an opportunity to share these skills with others who want to learn about what you know. The opportunities are unlimited in becoming involved in community education programs.
David R. Wetzel - Dr. David Wetzel's experience includes more than 25 years in continuing, adult, and teacher education.
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