Professionals needing career development, senior citizens wanting to get online, or adults looking for leisure-time activities can hone their skills during the fall 2012 semester at Penn State New Kensington.
The Continuing Education Office sponsors a series of noncredit courses throughout October and November that includes courses on project management, internet safety, social networking, and Word software. The courses feature certificate programs, seminars and workshops, and short courses. The courses do not carry college credit and are often part of a certificate program or are designed to meet the needs of specific skill development.
Although a majority of the classes are held at the New Kensington campus in Upper Burrell, some classes may be taken at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry, Pa. The alliance is a cooperative venture that offers education and training programs in the greater Pittsburgh region.
The professional development series opens with "Introduction to Project Management" from 6 to 8:15 p.m. on nine consecutive Mondays, Oct. 22 to Dec. 17, at the Regional Learning Alliance. The course discusses the role of the project manager and how to plan a project using a Work Breakdown Structure, a system that defines and groups a project's discrete work elements in a way that helps organize and define the total work scope of the project. The cost is $450 and includes text and materials. To register, contact Beth Nury, at 724-334-6011 or [email protected] via email.
The next software program class, “Word II,” runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on two Thursdays, Nov. 8 and 15. Participants can learn to develop complex documents by adding components such as tables, charts, and graphics. The course is designed for experienced Word users who want advanced training. The cost of the course is $95.
Offerings concerned with internet acumen include “How to Keep Yourself and Your Family Safe While Using the Internet,” from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 18, and “Social Networking 101,” from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 and 15. Both classes are held in the Conference Center.
The internet safety course focuses on the areas of the internet that pose real dangers such as. illegal and improper use, addiction, con artists, and inaccurate information. The program coordinator will demonstrate the hazards of the internet. The cost is $20.The social networking class is a hands-on workshop that is designed to help participants learn about the Facebook, MySpace and Twitter tools. The cost is $95. To register for either class, call 724-334-6010.
Additional classes will be offered in the spring. For more on continuing education at the campus, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/CE/cesched.htm online.
