What topic or new skill is on your wish list? Find a course and start today. Here are 11 places to learn something new, fun, or different.
Five reasons to expand your knowledge
A few years ago I enrolled in an eight-week course on magazine publishing offered through New York University. I’ve always wondered what it takes for publishers to combine content and advertising into a newsstand publication. Now I know, and even though I’m not sure how I’ll use the insight, I’m pleased to have learned the details.
There are commitments you make when enrolling in a course whether it’s one session or multiple lessons. This is true whether you learn online or in person. Best of all, taking action to enroll and show up is worth every bit of your time. You:
- Learn from a qualified instructor
- Meet like-minded students whether in person or online
- Expand your opportunities and qualifications
- Enter a new profession (if that’s your goal)
- Acquire education to do something you want to do
Worth the time and effort
Attending in-person classes from my location is no easy task. Courses of interest to me are not available locally, but I refuse to make excuses about why I can’t do this or that. Here’s what I did to attend the publishing course every night for eight weeks:
- Board the 4:00 pm bus headed for New York City (90 minutes, always in heavy traffic)
- Walk from Port Authority Bus Terminal to school (30 minutes)
- Attend school from 6:45 pm to 9:15 pm
- Walk from school to Port Authority (30 minutes)
- Wait for and ride bus home, arriving between 10:35 pm and 11:00 pm
What I want to learn is always located in New York City, and I’m giddy every time I read about a course and have time on my schedule to attend.
How about you? Your travel to school is probably less extensive than mine. What do you want to learn, and why are you putting it off especially if your preferred course is online?
It’s time to stop procrastinating and start planning a grand future by expanding your knowledge.
11 places to learn something new, fun, or different
Online
You’ll find an expanded assortment of subjects through these sites, from technology to cooking and much more. 
- Udemy.com
- Ed2Go.com
- Coursera.com
- Lynda.com
- GCFLearnFree.org
- KhanAcademy.org (a helpful site for students of all ages)
I teach the Start Your Own Gift Basket Business, Start Your Own Arts and Crafts Business, and Learn to Buy and Sell on eBay online courses at Ed2Go.com. I am not affiliated with the other sources but consider each one as reputable according to general, online consensus. Be sure to research each one to ensure reputations are intact.
In Person
- Cooking stores and supermarkets
- Libraries
- College continuing education programs
- YMCA / YWCA / YMHA
- Business and creative conferences (this page is one place to find events)
YouTube videos are also a great place to learn from people who want to share their skills.
Look for local places in your neighborhood for in-person courses, some of which are listed in newspapers, magazines, and weekly shopper papers. I’ve not only attended events through each of these resources but have also been an instructor at several.
I realize that some things I want to learn must come from outside sources even if it’s an online program. The same is probably true for you. Try not to let your mind convince you to stay in the comfort zone you’re in now. Commit today to learn something new.
Which course is the first one for you to find and attend?
