Finding the time to pursue continuing education opportunities in today's work environment is no easy task. Having to fund such pursuits yourself if your employer does not only adds to the difficulty. Despite facing obstacles such as these, it is no less important, if not imperative, to supplement your traditional education background with a somewhat regular participation in continuing education programs, especially within your field. Furthermore, depending on the state in which you reside and or the particular profession you are in, earning credits of this kind within certain set time frames could be compulsory or may soon be mandated as such.
Wouldn't it be convenient and cost effective if there existed some way to earn revelant and fully certified continuing education credits without having to take time off of work, without spending a dime, and without even having to leave your desk? Such an option is in fact currently available at www.gcflearnfree.org and let me repeat, this is completely free of charge to its users. All you need to do is create an account and then do the work. Likewise, you can feel confident in the fact that the learning credits issued by this online institution are legitimate considering that gcflearnfree.org has been authorized by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to do so.
Although GCF does not offer courses directly related to librarianship, their online classes for credit include highly revelant training in Excel 2003/2007, Powerpoint 2003/2007, Word 2003/2007, and Math Basics. Each course is structured to be completed over roughly a one month period and is broken up into three sections that include a series of lessons and complimetnary exercises, which are then followed by a short quiz and a comprehensive assignment designed to test and apply the basic principles that are hopefully learned. If you have any questions or concerns, instructors will respond to your queries within 24 hours. At the courses end, a final exam is given, as well as a class survey. Upon completion of a course, you can click on the link, "My Learning History", to view your CEU transcript or view the specific class certificate in pdf format, either of which you can easily print and submit as official documentation of your completed work.
As of the writing of this review, I have succesfully taken two online classes with www.gcflearnfree.org, Word 2003 and Excel 2003. Even though I was already quite familiar with both Microsoft programs, there was still much to be learned or at least, reviewed, not to mention the benefit of earning credits for taking these courses. I also intend to take more of them as time permits.
Besides just the free online classes for credit, similarly designed tutorials and workshops pertaining to basic computing, math and money, work and career, and aspects of everyday life are also offered, all of which can be completed at your own pace and to the extend that you determine.
Having done some research into GCF's competition, I have not yet found anything of value that is really comparable to this institution, especially when considering the continuing education credits it offers without charging a single penny. Hopefully, this institution will continue to receive donations and expand to provide additional courses for credit in the near future.
The official link:
http://www.gcflearnfree.org
