I like this photo of Megan Abbott looking retro

It was my husband that brought me back to crime fiction after childhood dabblings in Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes, and our mutual interest has spurred some unusual holiday choices. When his research took us to the US in 2009 to meet James Ellroy in LA, we included a day of visiting famous murder scenes (my father’s SAT NAV and Ellroy’s My Dark Places came in handy here). But this year, in the spirit of austerity, our ‘staycation’ will also involve crime fiction. Most notably, we’re on our way to Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Festival in Harrogate from July 19-22nd. We’ve booked tickets to see my favourite Crime Fiction author (and fellow former suburban Detroiter) Megan Abbott, whose novel Die a Little will be part of the reading list on my Women in Crime Fiction course next year. If you can’t make it to the festival, but are looking for a great summer read, Abbott’s intense, almost poetic prose can’t be beat. Here are some reviews I’ve done on her novels: Die a Little, The End of Everything and The Song is You. Although the courses for 2012-2013 Continuing Education at the University of Liverpool aren’t listed yet, you can keep an eye on what’s coming through this link.

Cross-posted from The Prevailing Westerlies.

The demand for qualified nurses grows everyday, even though there are already over 2.5 million certified nurses currently working in the US. If you are already working in the health care industry you have probably considered furthering your education level by completing nursing continuing education courses. There are many benefits to nurses who complete continuing education courses, like expanding your medical skill set, staying current on advanced technologies and practices or obtaining a specialized certification. No matter the overall goal for taking the courses, they can open up many new opportunities to you and also provide career advancement within the nursing field.

Expand Your Skill Set

There are many offered courses that can expand your medical skill set both in and out of the practice setting. Depending on your current education level, taking a course could put you in a whole new category of nursing or make you more qualified in your current job. In taking continuing education courses you can learn how to operate new equipment and perform new tasks in areas like cardiac nursing, neuro nursing and nursing management.

Change Your Career Path

Some nurses that have been doing the same job for too long find that they would love a change but aren’t sure which direction to go. Although just becoming more specialized in an area often seems like the only option, you can also learn how to take your medical career out of the hospital and take courses in case management and or even become a legal nurse.

Certification

There are more than 100 courses that can give you instant certification once you have completed them. There are a wide variety of courses that are available including pediatrics, emergency care, women’s and behavioral health, gerontology, acute care and neonatal care. It’s a well know fact that certain positions are only available to qualified candidates and having and advanced certification in one way to achieve this.

Stay Current

Often taking courses is not about wanting to change what you do within the health care industry as a nurse, but staying current on the newest technologies and practices. The medical field is continuously coming out with new information based on ongoing studies that can change how nurses are expected to deal with certain things like professional development, attention deficit and stress management.

Nursing continuing education courses can help nurses who want to become more specialized in a specific area stay up to date at their current job or nurses wanting to change career focus. Often, continuing education courses can lead to salary increases as your experience level grows. It’s easy to take courses, as they are offered at a variety of places like nursing and vocational school, colleges and even online. The world of nursing in the US can be quite competitive, if you want to make yourself stand out above others that might be going for the same advanced position, having more continuing education hours or certificates can make you a more desirable candidate.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world’s MOST POPULAR website advertising companies on the web.

Learn more about Nursing Continuing Education.

The demand for qualified nurses grows everyday, even though there are already over 2.5 million certified nurses currently working in the US. If you are already working in the health care industry you have probably considered furthering your education level by completing nursing continuing education courses. There are many benefits to nurses who complete continuing education courses, like expanding your medical skill set, staying current on advanced technologies and practices or obtaining a specialized certification. No matter the overall goal for taking the courses, they can open up many new opportunities to you and also provide career advancement within the nursing field.

Expand Your Skill Set

There are many offered courses that can expand your medical skill set both in and out of the practice setting. Depending on your current education level, taking a course could put you in a whole new category of nursing or make you more qualified in your current job. In taking continuing education courses you can learn how to operate new equipment and perform new tasks in areas like cardiac nursing, neuro nursing and nursing management.

Change Your Career Path

Some nurses that have been doing the same job for too long find that they would love a change but aren’t sure which direction to go. Although just becoming more specialized in an area often seems like the only option, you can also learn how to take your medical career out of the hospital and take courses in case management and or even become a legal nurse.

Certification

There are more than 100 courses that can give you instant certification once you have completed them. There are a wide variety of courses that are available including pediatrics, emergency care, women’s and behavioral health, gerontology, acute care and neonatal care. It’s a well know fact that certain positions are only available to qualified candidates and having and advanced certification in one way to achieve this.

Stay Current

Often taking courses is not about wanting to change what you do within the health care industry as a nurse, but staying current on the newest technologies and practices. The medical field is continuously coming out with new information based on ongoing studies that can change how nurses are expected to deal with certain things like professional development, attention deficit and stress management.

Nursing continuing education courses can help nurses who want to become more specialized in a specific area stay up to date at their current job or nurses wanting to change career focus. Often, continuing education courses can lead to salary increases as your experience level grows. It’s easy to take courses, as they are offered at a variety of places like nursing and vocational school, colleges and even online. The world of nursing in the US can be quite competitive, if you want to make yourself stand out above others that might be going for the same advanced position, having more continuing education hours or certificates can make you a more desirable candidate.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world’s MOST POPULAR website advertising companies on the web.

Learn more about Nursing Continuing Education.

Yes, We Can Have Free College Education–Here’s How

By Bernard Starr

The outrageous cost of higher education and the crippling burden of student loans that are now approaching a trillion dollars are generating a frightening college dropout rate that will harm our economy well into the future. The answer to the crisis in higher education is free college. We had it during the great depression and we can have it now.

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Lecture Hall by realitybyrach.com

In a recent article I made a bold proposal: Bring our nation’s workers up to competitive speed by offering a free college education to all qualified applicants. The crippling cost of higher education is fueling a frightening college dropout rate in the U.S. while China and other countries are vaulting ahead in preparing a 21st century ready workforce.

I was gratified to see the strong positive response to my proposition — clearly readers are concerned about the costs and challenges of higher education. Several people dared me to demonstrate how such aprogram could work. Here’s my answer. It’s based on an existing program that I helped found that has been consistently successful in delivering minimal cost education.

The Center for Learning and Living (CL&L) at Marymount Manhattan College began in 1992 with a proposal for a low-cost program of college level continuing education courses for adults over age 55. To keep costs down and still maintain high quality the goal was to recruit only volunteer instructors — retired college professors, other teachers, and professionals from various fields. The proposal raised eyebrows. Skeptics asked, “Why would anyone teach for no pay?” Who indeed! What a surprise when a few advertisements in local publications, postings on bulletin boards — as well as a vigorous word-of-mouth and networkingcampaign – promptly produced a faculty that any educational institution would be proud to have. In fact, it turned out that an impressive number of highly qualified people were not just willing to teach for no pay, they clamored for the job – college professors, business executives, artists, judges and high level government officials in foreign relations, international affairs, economics, and much more.

Charles Carshon was an early faculty member. For 35 years he was Chairman of the Arts Division and Head of the Studio Theater at Sarah Lawrence College. He was also an acting coach at The Stella Adler Theater Studio, where his students included Robert De Niro, Jane Alexander, and Warren Beatty. His drama, poetry, and literature courses at CL&L were student favorites. Rita Satz, an Emmy award-winning producer at WNBC News for 22 years, teaches the popular “Inside TV News.” Ina Schlesinger, Professor Emerita of political science at the State University of New York, has given exciting courses like “The Great Illusion: Russia in the 20th Century.”

The list goes on and includes world-class retired teachers from Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and other leading institutions. Even younger volunteer teachers have joined us. Jasmin Cowen, aprofessional harpist with a doctorate in music education has taught courses on opera. Her most recent offering was “Love, Sex and Other Vital Operatic Themes.” Jasmin is a charismatic teacher who always attracts a full house.

At its height, CL&L served 200 students and offered 18 courses per semester. The program was only limited by the two classrooms that were available. Then two years ago, Marymount announced that they needed our space in order to expand its undergraduate programs. We set out to look for a new home for our program. After an intense search we lucked out with a wonderful space in a new high-rise building connected to St. Catherine of Sienna Church on East 68th Street in Manhattan. Fr Jordan Kelly resonated with our program and its philosophy. The classroom he offered us accommodates a hundred students and can be divided into two rooms. This setting was perfect for the new independent launch. With Fr Jordan’s generous low-rental and the use of the church’s computer, projector, and an LCD TV for DVD presentations, we are able to run the program with minimal cost to students. In fact, the cost is lower than at Marymount, since the program is now administered by talented volunteers led by Richard Frankel who formerly organized medical symposiums and worldwide medical congresses for major pharmaceutical companies.

For $230 a student can enroll in all 11 courses. That bare bones price covers the rental fee and necessary supplies for the program. And now that we are running at a profit — even from the low tuition — we will turn the surplus back into the program to pay for scholarships, equipment, and social events, which will help promote a collegial atmosphere. Although the program is not entirely free, $230 for 11 courses is a far cry from the $1,314 per credit at colleges like NYU, where one three-credit college course costs $3,942.

The CL&L experience — and similar programs throughout the country – offers convincing evidence that it is possible to recruit dedicated, enthusiastic, and talented volunteer teachers. But how does this translate into a program of free — or nearly free — college education for undergraduate students?

The free college, which I’ve given the working title TAFWU (Third Age Free Wisdom University), would deliver all its courses to students anywhere in the country using interactive technologies like Skype. And just as the students can be located anywhere, so can the faculty. That mobility opens an exciting opportunity for recruiting vast numbers of faculty.

This proposal is not pie in the sky or science fiction. In fact, more and more colleges are relying on the internet and interactive technologies to deliver courses, even to resident students. And distance learning that uses technology is proliferating. Some education experts predict that within a decade cyber world technology will be the standard in college teaching. And why not? The traditional medieval teaching model, which dates back to the first universities in the 11th (University of Bologna) and 12th (University of Paris and Oxford) centuries is long due for an overhaul.

How will TAFWU teachers access the technology for delivering their courses? They can use personal computers in their homes, retirement communities, and/or locations that can be established near where they live. Space can be donated by local businesses or public schools, which are accessible in every community. Not much room is needed for a Skype type communication. Many companies and businesses — including Crown America Corporation, Boscov’s Department Stores, and Wachovia Bank — are already donating free space for public use. Others can be persuaded to do the same for the compelling cause of making higher education widely available.

How will TAFWU handle the one-on-one relationships that colleges offer, with teaching assistants (TAs) and fellows (TFs) who lead individual and group discussions? TAFWU can duplicate that, and possibly do it even more effectively. Given the large potential corps of teachers available in every community, TAFWU could supply mentoring and personal interactions using teachers even more qualified than the graduate students that universities provide. These mentors could meet with local students in the same rooms donated for course deliveries in store fronts, banks, department stores, local schools, senior centers and other such locations.

Will TAFWU take jobs away from teachers? Not from those who aren’t employed because students have dropped out. And if TAFWU teachers are serving dropouts and others who can’t afford college, that’s not taking, it’s giving a lot for America’s future. Perhaps TAFWU will pose a threat to traditional colleges and universities. That could be good. The competition may help impose President Obama’s “lid” on higher education costs and even bring tuitions down.

The education crisis has dramatically underscored our pressing economic challenges. Standing still is not an option. But are we ready to step out of our ideologies — left and right — to confront reality on its own terms? If free college education is a potential solution, in a skimpy field of meaningful solutions a national debate is in order.

Not heeding this call means we will remain mired in lame rhetoric. We have only to be reminded of Desmond Tutu, who remarked, “When the missionaries came to Africa, they had the Bible and we had the land. They said ‘let us close our eyes and pray.’ When we opened them, we had the Bible, and they had the land.”

When we open our eyes after chanting the mantras of our politicians, will we own the 20th century and China the 21st?

I have no illusions that this initiative will be easy to put in place. What will move TAFWU from wish to reality is a chancellor with the prestige, skills and pulling power to assemble support and the right leadership. Will that person step forward?

Submitters Bio:

Bernard Starr, Ph.D. is professor emeritus at the City University of New York (Brooklyn College) where he taught developmental and educational psychology and directed a graduate gerontology program. He is founder, and for 25 years the managing editor, of the Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Springer Publishing Co.); also editor of the Springer Series, Adulthood and Aging and Lifestyles and Issues in Aging. For seven years he was writer, producer and host of an award winning radio commentary, The Longevity Report, on WEVD-AM Radio in NYC. He currently produces and hosts television documentaries on meaningful, active and productive living in the third age of life for Phoenix Rising Television Productions. His numerous op-ed and commentary articles for the Scripps Howard News Service have appeared in newspapers throughout the United States. He is currently president of the Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy and is the main United Nations representative for the Institute of Global Education that founded the Mucherla Global School in Mucherla, India. His latest book, Escape Your Own Prison: Why We Need Spirituality and Psychology to be Truly Free, is published by Rowman and Littlefield

Basco Shower Enclosures, Mason, Ohio, in conjunction with the Interior Design Continuing Education Council, announced the availability of the “Demystifying Shower Door Selection” continuing education course. The course, provided by Basco Shower Enclosures, helps designers choose the right shower enclosure product for their customer’s application. It reinforces design concepts and the benefits of shower doors; identifies common configurations and considerations for sliding and swing enclosures; provides characteristics of framed, frameless and heavy glass enclosures; and recognizes and applies steps for selecting a successful shower enclosure solution. (Read More)

There will be three bridge classes, one for beginners, a refresher for current players and an intermediate-level course.

For individuals interested in developing or expanding their creative skills, there are courses on art and picture framing, calligraphy, crocheting a prayer shawl, hot glass bead making, using digital technology to record life experiences and moviemaking.

Introduction to computers is among the several computer classes on the spring schedule that also includes courses on computer service and repair, spreadsheet applications of Microsoft Excel and online photo galleries.

Among the communications courses are beginning sign language, introductory Russian, conversational Spanish and Spanish medical terminology.

There will be instruction in basic and intermediate ballroom dance, fundamentals of golf and tennis for beginners and intermediate-level players.

Other courses include children�s literature; the history of Hollywood; rocks, minerals and fossils; blogging; genealogy; Gospel portraits; and instruction for high school students to prepare them to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

Beginning in March, professional development specialist Toni Sample will lead a series of training seminars on effective leadership. She will offer sessions on interpersonal communications, time management, reducing stress and more.

A series of nine free lectures commemorating the150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War will be held on Friday evenings at Lander beginning Feb. 11.

Continuing Education coordinator Shelley Grund said excursions have been arranged for a daylong visit to Diamond Hill in Antreville, and a three-day, two-night trip to Charleston. Grund said there will be an English gardens tour in June, a separate trip to England to visit Oxford and Cambridge and a Christmas holiday spectacular in Prague and Vienna.

For information on dates, times and fees for continuing education courses, the professional development seminars, the Civil War lecture series and excursions, contact Lander’s Continuing Education Department at 864-388-8426. Information is also available on Lander’s website at http://www.lander.edu/continuinged.

Article Source

Very often, the on-the-job demands of a profession outweigh the time available to devote to learning. Professionals striving to remain current with both their daily duties and professional concerns are looking for methods of acquiring Continuing Education without the inconvenience of leaving the work area and incurring travel expenses.

There are some highly accomplished training providers in Texas that offer the benefits of being in a classroom environment with the convenience and cost savings of online training. They offer continuing education (CE) training courses to professionals like Electricians, Air conditioning & Refrigeration contractors, Cosmetologists, and Tow truck operators.  Their company is certified to offer these courses in specific US States like Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Montana, Alaska, Delaware and Oregon. There are several benefits offered by these course providers. Some of them include:

· The students who complete their TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) approved courses like Electrician CE, Cosmetology CE, Air Condition CE and Tow CE, are able to get their respective professional licenses renewed.

· All courses are only offered online; individuals can take the course from any computer that has Internet access.

· Their website keeps track of every course an individual takes, the answers that they select, and the scores for each exam.  It also gives performance benchmarks and lets them know instantly how they are doing in all areas.

· The course can be paused at any time for later use.  In addition, users are able to log-in and log-out as many times as they like.

· Users can obtain help by using the support link or by sending a request to the company via email.

· These training providers also offer Corporate Accounts, which is a great way for companies and individuals to purchase courses in bulk at discounted pricing.

Online continuing professional education is much like a self-directed professional education. With the expert assistance of AbbaTraining.com, individuals can easily undergo the desired career advancement, comfortably and cost-effectively.

Click here to start your online course: www.rightaccordhealth.com and click CONTINUING EDUCATION.

We are your one stop shop for all your continuing education courses needs. It is fast, convenient, and easy to understand courses approved by the Florida Board of Nursing.

Worry free. When completed, you may print your certificate. We will send the report of your continuing education credit to the  professional board.

For approved courses, visit us at: www.rightaccordhealth.com and follow link to CONTINUING EDUCATION.

Geeks bearing gifts, presented by Max Anderson, introduced us to blogs, wikis, Facebook, Twitter, and podcasting.

Measuring your impact, with instructors Jacqueline Lescovec and Ruth Holst,  familiarized participants with evaluation process and planning, creating logic models, and working with data.

We’ve added a new widget to the MHSLA blog that links to Flickr photos of the events; find it in the right menu panel. Or visit the conference blog, http://mhslaconference09.wordpress.com, to see the images and our on-the-spot reporting of the conference.

Workshop attendees tweet some  Twitter, examine Facebook’s security features, write and edit sample wiki pages, and create podcasts.

Thursday, September 24, 2009
2:30 – 4:00 pm
Doubletree Hotel, Holland, Michigan
1.5 MLA CEUs
No separate registration fee; this course is included in Full Conference, Two-day, and Thursday-only registration.

Abstract:

For training NN/LM network members in emergency preparedness, NN/LM has chosen to focus on continuation of patron service during and after an incident rather than on the traditional focus of disaster planning, which was preservation and salvage of library collections.  This course will assist participants in the planning process, from risk assessment, to protecting staff and patrons, to identifying core collections and services, to obtaining outside help when needed.

For additional information about this course, please see the NN/LM website: http://nnlm.gov/ep/10-stepsservice-continuity/

Instructor:

Barb Platts, MLIS, AHIP, Manager, Department of Library Services, Munson Medical Center; Michigan GMR Rep – Emergency Preparedness Working Group Regional Coordinator

Updated 6/12/2009

Friday, September 25, 2009
9:00 am — Noon
Holland Hospital Computer Lab, Holland, Michigan
3 CE hours
No separate registration fee; this course is included in Full Conference registration, Two-day registration, and Friday-only registration.

Abstract:

Designed as an advanced class for experienced MEDLINE searchers. This hands-on class will highlight advanced PubMed techniques that can be used to conduct comprehensive searches. Attendees are encouraged to contribute past and present difficult searches to discuss with the class.

For more information about this course including agenda and handouts, please visit the NNLM page:  http://nnlm.gov/training/pubmedexpert/

Instructors:

		Deborah Lauseng, AMLS InfoPoint Services Coordinator, Health Sciences Libraries Nursing Liaison Librarian, Taubman Medical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
		Merle Rosenzweig, M.L.S. InfoPoint and Liaison Librarian, Taubman Medical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
9:00 am — 4:00 pm
Doubletree Hotel, Holland, Michigan
6 CE hours
Registration fee (before Aug. 21): $100 members, $125 nonmembers, $50 students. After Aug. 21 add $50.  Includes 2 meals & evening reception. For even more savings, select our Full Conference bundle!

This class is intended to provide a fun, fast-paced, and informative introduction to and update on today’s hottest technology trends. Program participants will be able to identify technology trends and they will understand how these trends will impact or can be integrated into traditional library services. Content will be presented in with a “can-do” focus intended to encourage participants to investigate at least one technology for implementation in their institution. Course structure will include brief vignettes and demonstrations of a wide variety of technologies.  Bring your wifi-enabled laptop for hands-on exercises, or just sit back and enjoy the program!

Instructor:

Max Anderson, MLIS,  Technology Coordinator, NN/LM

Updated 6/12/09

For additional information about the course, including handouts, please see the GMR website: http://nnlm.gov/training/geekgifts/

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
9:00 am — 4:00 pm
Doubletree Hotel, Holland, Michigan
6 CE hours
Registration Fees (before Aug. 21): $100 member, $125 nonmember, student $50. (After Aug. 21 add $50.) Includes 2 meals & evening reception. For even more savings, select the Full Conference bundle!

In today’s bottom-line-focused environment, it is vital that library users and stakeholders  recognize and value the importance of their library’s services and of the librarian to the organization.   Participants in this workshop will become familiar with an evaluation process and will use and take away methods and tools for assessment, evaluation planning, creating logic models, data collection, data analysis and reporting. The workshop will feature group exercises that move participants through the steps of an evaluation process.

Instructors:

	Ruth Holst, AHIP, FMLA, is the Associate Director, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region, Library of the Health Sciences, University of Chicago.  Ruth is President-elect of the Medical Library Association.
	Jacqueline Leskovec, MLIS, MA, RN, is the Outreach and Evaluation Coordinator, NN/LM Greater Midwest Region.

For more information, including copies of handouts and course materials, see the GMR website: http://nnlm.gov/evaluation/workshops/measuring_your_impact/

Updated 6/12/2009