Would you like to take a college class?

[Kirby ★]

The discussion in @MoseySusan's thread, as well as a discussion at work yesterday, got me thinking about going back to school after not being a student for decades.  The work discussion wasn't about getting any sort of degree, just taking classes that might be of interest to you.  So the questions to the forum are:

1.  Would you be interested in taking a college level class at this stage of your life? 

2,  If yes, what topic would interest you most?

3.  If no, is it a question of time and something you'd consider after retirement or some other later time?

4.  Does your answer change depending on whether you can just audit the lectures or whether you'd have to do the /assignments/papers and take the tests?

5.  Does your answer change depending on whether you attend the classes in person or you could do them remotely by computer?

[12string]

1. Yes, but not if it required answering a lot of questions.

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

I have no class, and I think it's too late for me to try to get any, college class or otherwise.

[BR46]

My SIL who is a retired surgical nurse has taken several welding classes at the technical college. 

[bikeman564™]

Somethings would be a good refresher, but I would not want to take another class. Definitely not for something unrelated to my career. There are some youtube videos of college physics lectures & such I sometimes watch.  I've learned / relearned things Walter Lewin from MIT is fun to watch.

 

[Razors Edge ★]

7 minutes ago, Kirby said:

The discussion in @MoseySusan's thread, as well as a discussion at work yesterday, got me thinking about going back to school after not being a student for decades.  The work discussion wasn't about getting any sort of degree, just taking classes that might be of interest to you.  So the questions to the forum are:

1.  Would you be interested in taking a college level class at this stage of your life? 

2,  If yes, what topic would interest you most?

3.  If no, is it a question of time and something you'd consider after retirement or some other later time?

4.  Does your answer change depending on whether you can just audit the lectures or whether you'd have to do the /assignments/papers and take the tests?

5.  Does your answer change depending on whether you attend the classes in person or you could do them remotely by computer?

1. Just a class? Sure.  Easy peasy.

2. Any liberal arts class is always fun and full of good stuff to think about. 

3. Time - for one class - would be bearable. If retired, super easy.  My co-worker is dong his MBA and we went from riding together semi-regularly to rarely due to the course requirements.  He's burning out.

4. A little skin in the game never hurts.

5. I'd prefer in person as remote lacks the "full" experience (probably?). I've never done a remote class, so I really don't know.

[ChrisL]

Earlier in my career I was chasing CEU’s for my professional certification and took a criminal justice course that was geared to private security & public sector coordination.  The class was taught by a LASO Deputy and really wasn’t geared towards the private sector at all.  

We got to talking after the class and I explained to him the options available and the coordination needed between the private & public sector. I let him know my industry was filled with prior LE guys & gals and cooperation was vital. 

He actually gave me a session to discuss the private sector security industry & realized he was coming at the class like a snobbish dickhead (his words not mine).   He invited me back to speak a few times but ultimately the class was dropped. 

I’d likely not take a course now, maybe if I was retired.  

[MickinMD ★]

6 minutes ago, Kirby said:

The discussion in @MoseySusan's thread, as well as a discussion at work yesterday, got me thinking about going back to school after not being a student for decades.  The work discussion wasn't about getting any sort of degree, just taking classes that might be of interest to you.  So the questions to the forum are:

1.  Would you be interested in taking a college level class at this stage of your life? 

2,  If yes, what topic would interest you most?

3.  If no, is it a question of time and something you'd consider after retirement or some other later time?

4.  Does your answer change depending on whether you can just audit the lectures or whether you'd have to do the /assignments/papers and take the tests?

5.  Does your answer change depending on whether you attend the classes in person or you could do them remotely by computer?

I took refresher college classes into the early 2000's to get my teaching certificate renewed.

Up until about 2010, I took college classes at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins Univ in Music History, Music Theory and Composition, and Improvisation.  Those were required of piano students studying in the Adult Program under the late virtuosa Frances Cheng-Koors.

I'm thinking about doing more piano classes there, now that COVID is dying down.  Maybe this year's Fall Semester.

I was thinking about doing some creative writing classes - it's something I've never done, don't know a lot about and would be a learning challenge. I've thought about writing short stories for sci-fi magazines and maybe something longer even if it's just for fun.

My undergrad alma mater, University of Maryland Baltimore County, is a 25 min. drive from my house and I get free tuition if the class isn't filled-up by paying students.

[donkpow]

If I could answer all those questions, I would already be enrolled.

[Dirtyhip]

Yes.  I plan to do this starting in Fall, Accounting, in class lectures.

Maybe when I retire, more classes would be fun.  

[bikeman564™]

6 minutes ago, Dirtyhip said:

Yes.  I plan to do this starting in Fall, Accounting, in class lectures.

Maybe when I retire, more classes would be fun.  

for a degree, or just for learnin'?

[BuffJim]

My alma mater lets you attend classes free on a non credit basis once you reach age 62. Subject to space and other fine print. If I did, it would be history, literature or creative writing. 

[Dirtyhip]

Just now, bikeman564™ said:

for a degree, or just for learnin'?

I am not sure.  Expanding knowledge for now.  

[bikeman564™]

2 minutes ago, Dirtyhip said:

I am not sure.  Expanding knowledge for now.  

👍 hope it work oot for ya

[shootingstar]

When working full-time, I did take some work-related evening courses which included assignments and tests. 

For personal interest, I've taken several evening art courses approx. 8-12 wks. in length, each session 3 hrs. long.  Over the years I've taken 10 different courses:  Western calligraphy (2), Chinese watercolour painting, stained glass artmaking (2), oil and acrylic painting (3) and mixed media painting.  They were not for audit and include fees, with requirement to buy art supplies to use for assigned projects.  

I don't think even auditing an art history course interests me.  I generally know the key art periods for Western cultures and characteristics...which bleed over into Western music and literature.

It's more hands-on art courses. 

For auditing an interest course in other subjects, I'm not certain since I don't know what is in-person vs. just zoom.   In Vancouver, there have been large public lectures on urban planning as it related to sustainability, active transportation that I've gone. Panel of speakers, some very good for about 1.5 hrs., several times / yr.  We don't have that type of public engagement from the local university in prairie city. I think our university here, is still more ivory tower oriented. 

[maddmaxx ★]

37 minutes ago, BuffJim said:

My alma mater lets you attend classes free on a non credit basis once you reach age 62. Subject to space and other fine print. If I did, it would be history, literature or creative writing. 

This I would be interested in.  Paying for "just for fun" classes falls to a distant second to paying for books and having a good library card.

[sheep_herder ★]

NO!

[Dottleshead]

5 hours ago, 12string said:

1. Yes, but not if it required answering a lot of questions.

This.

[JerrySTL ★]

No. I attained two associate degees, a BS in Education, and a dual major masters degree mostly taking one or two classes a semester for years. Then I taught night classes for 16 years. I've spent enough time in college classes.

[MoseySusan ★]

5 hours ago, Kirby said:

3.  If no, is it a question of time

My time is not my own, not fully. 

[Ralphie ★]

Nope. 

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

In September 2019 I began a second Masters Certificate program, this time in Risk Management and Business Continuity. First was MBA at Marymount. The online classes were through Boston University. BU has a very good online program. The certificate was four classes. The Masters degree was ten classes. I took the easier and cheaper route. Finished in May 2021. A lot of reading, writing, and coordination for group work. FTS. 

[Square Wheels]

Nope, too old, formal schooling is done for me.

[BR46]

At one time I thought about taking the Ed Bargy racing school 

https://www.edbargy.net/ 

but I should start listening to my son. 

At one time I was teaching my son on motorcycle racing and how to go fast. Now he's faster than me. 

 

 

 

[Scrapr ★]

Hmmmmm...I might be interested in auditing a course or 3. I just looked up  the local University. As a Senior I can audit if >62 & room in the course. I'd like to learn more about European history. It's like $25 for a term. You can take 8 credit hours. But I would only do one course at a time. And have to fit it around my time off travelling. So maybe a remote hybrid thing.

[Bikeguy]

7 hours ago, Kirby said:

If no, is it a question of time and something you'd consider after retirement

   After retirement.. I'll be dead.

Before the virus...  WoBG and I took Swing Dancing classes that were affiliated with the local jr college.  

We took an estate planning class too.  

Academic classes...   not doing that.   

[shootingstar]

So kirby what turns your crank?

[shootingstar]

16 minutes ago, Bikeguy said:

   After retirement.. I'll be dead.

Before the virus...  WoBG and I took Swing Dancing classes that were affiliated with the local jr college.  

We took an estate planning class too.  

Academic classes...   not doing that.   

One of my close friends for past 4 decades, completed her 2nd masters about 6 years ago. I think her employer paid for part of her courses. It was 2 yr. degree and she did the courses in evenings plus required research papers.

I couldn't study to that level of intensity at this stage in life after working full-time each day. I'm just grateful nearly all of my jobs have required to learn and master something new at least once every month or so. Not only master it, but teach other people as well. 

[Kirby ★]

28 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

So kirby what turns your crank?

I can't imagine taking a class while working, although I do know some coworkers who've gone for an advanced degree or certifications while working.  I could imagine taking a class after retirement as long as I was auditing and not doing the assignments and tests.  I'd want to go to class in person, rather than online. Part of what got me thinking about this thread was a discussion about various citation methods and tools for research papers, and it was making my head spin. I'm not sure what topics I would want, probably something about literature or history.

[Further]

I would take con ed type classes, woodworking & photography interest me, and never know what might pique my interest, but a formal academic type class, a solid nope.

[Airehead ★]

Yes, I would love to, but for now I satisfy myself by teaching a course each semester.