Thursday, September 13, 2007

Life Long Learning


On September 6th, the students from the Internet and the Job Search class at the South Statesville Skills Center graduated. This was the second of two classes teaching computer skills for employment.

I know the individuals in this class are extraordinary. Each of them made a commitment to be in class, twice a week for 10 weeks—BUT to be in my second class, they had already been through 10 weeks of my first introductory class! I’d been teaching them since last March.

As a computer professional, there are so many skills that I use every day that I take for granted. Touch typing, email, and using a search engine to look up web sites on topics that interest me. Sharing the magic of technology with my class and then watching them make it their own was a joy.

Each student used the information learned in a different way on projects that held importance for him or her. Whether it was looking for mustard greens and kale seeds to plant this Fall or gathering more information on a potential employer, each project was new and interesting for me—but more importantly, a pathway to additional learning for the student.

From left to right in the photograph above:
Ellen Wass Beckerman (Instructor—me), Seifullah El-Amin, Darlene E. Moore, William M. Jones, Jr., Susan M. Pinkerton, Amonda Daniels, Betty Christie, Jerry W. Settlemyre, William H. Maxwell.

I commend each and every one of you for your commitment to learning and to improving your skills. Congratulations!

Thanks for sharing your time with me.
Ellen

Ellen Wass Beckerman
Writer/Photographer/Graphic Designer
Photography portfolio: www.istockphoto.com/zmacgal
www.gardentextures.com