Email Communication

Hello Instructors!  With all the recent class cancellations due to the weather, emailing your students can be a great way to stay in touch with them. While reading William A. Draves' How to Teach Adults he mentions how emailing students is an easy way to briefly and quickly communicate. Here are three ways in which email can be used.

Class notice. Send out emails a couple days before class with a short overview of material that will be covered in class or words of encouragement. Use email to send our emergency announcements of a class cancellation.

Personal communication. A great tool to use if a student has a personal matter they would like to discuss privately with you.

Answer questions. Use email to answer questions from students in between class meetings. Just remember, only the initial student will receive that additional information. If all parties agree, consider sending the email response to the rest of the students.

Hopefully, these tips can help conquer the classroom. Feel free to contact us if you have any marketing needs, advice, or questions. Let's work together to better CTC Continuing Education.

Instructor of the Month! March 2014

Roger Blackwell has been a member of the Continuing Education family for over ten years and is a wonderful asset to the team! He teaches Microsoft Office courses! 

We asked Roger a few quick questions to get to know him better:

What's your favorite part about teaching? Interacting with the students and being able to witness their accomplishments. To see the excitement on a student's face when he or she have created a finished product is a remarkable event.     

What is your favorite form of exercise? Walking

What’s your current favorite TV show/Movie? 60 Minutes

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? I would spend that time reading, catching up on the currently events, or diving into a new book.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Superman

What advice do you have for new instructors of Continuing Education? To take care of the students and to always put them first.

To see Roger Blackwell’s classes and more, visit  http://www.ctcd.edu/students/continuing-education/pdf/ce-catalog/ to register or get additional information. Give us a call at 254-526-1586.

March 2014 Class Schedule!

Haven't had a chance to see what Personal Enrichment, Career Development, LifeLong Learning, and Kid classes start this month? No problem! All March classes are listed below and will be updated as changes are made.

Professional Development

• Professional Truck Driving, Mar 3-28, M-F, 7 am - 4 pm, $4,195
• Dealing with Difficult People, Mar 4, TUE, 8 am-Noon, $25
• Goal Setting that Brings Results, Mar 4, TUE, 1-5 pm, $45
• Water Aerobics, Mar 7-Apr 18, FRI, 9-10 am
• Photovoltaic Systems Foundations, Mar 8-15, SAT, 8 am-6:30 pm, $725
• Car Maintenance, Mar 8, SAT, 9-11 am, $19
• Beginning Linux, Mar 17-Apr 9, M/W, 7-9 pm, $75
• Professional Truck Driving, Mar 17-Apr 11, M-F, 7 am - 4 pm, $4,195
• Certified Nursing Aid, Mar 17-Apr 30, M-TH, $995
• Microsoft Office 2010 Basics, Mar 18-Apr 10, T/TH, 6-8 pm, $75
• Fundamentals of Supervision and Management, Mar 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• Managing Customer Service, Mar 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• Non-profit Fundraising Essentials, Mar 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• Introduction to Flash CS5, Mar 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• CPR for Healthcare Providers, Mar 20, THU, 5-9pm, $25
• Anger Resolution, Mar 21, FRI, 8 am-Noon, $45
• Effective Time Management and Organizational Skills, Mar 21, FRI, 1-5 pm, $25
• Facebook 101 for Small Business, Mar 22, SAT, 9 am-1 pm, $25
• PMP® Exam Boot Camp, Mar 22-Apr 19, SAT, 8 am-5 pm, $649
• Resiliency Training, Mar 22, SAT, 8 am-Noon, $75
• Positive Self-Talk, Mar 22, SAT, 10 am-2 pm, $25
• Making Stress Work for You, Mar 22, SAT, 1-5 pm, $25
• QuickBooks 2013, Mar 22-29, SAT, 9-1 pm, $45
• Dog and Cat First Aid, Mar 24-25, M/T, 6-8 pm, $75
• Pharmacy Technician, Mar 25-Oct 7, T/TH, 1-4:30 pm, $1,795
• Adobe Illustrator, Mar 25-Apr 17, T/TH, 6-8pm, $85
• Coupon and Budgeting, Mar 25-Apr 3, T/TH, 10 am-Noon, $29
• CPR for Healthcare Providers, Mar 29, THU, 5-9pm, $25
• Webpage Design, Mar 29-Apr 26, SAT, 9am-Noon, $75
• Essential Leadership and Life Skills for Business, Mar 29, SAT, 9:30 am-12:30 pm, $39
• Macros for Microsoft Office, Mar 31-Apr 23, M/W, 6-8pm, $75

Personal Enrichment

• Jazzercise, Mar 4-27, T/TH, 9:15-10:15 am, $29
• Jazzercise, Mar 4-27, T/TH, 5:35-6:35 am, $29
• Swim Lessons (Age 3-4), Mar 7-Apr 4, FRI, 4-4:30 pm, $29
• Group Piano (Age 5-Adult), Mar 17-Apr 21, MON, 6:30-7:30 pm, $89
• Introduction to Electronic Music NEW!, Mar 18-Apr 17, T/TH, 4:30-6 pm, $149
• Introduction to Song Writing NEW!, Mar 18-Apr 17, T/TH, 6-7:30 pm, $149
• Acrylic Painting, Mar 18-Apr 10, T/TH, 6-8 pm, $55
• So You Want To Be A Scientist?, Mar 18-Apr 3, T/TH, 6-8 pm, $39
• Hula for Health, Mar 18-Apr 10, T/TH, 6-7 pm, $35
• RELAX!!!  It’s “Only” a Ghost, Mar 18-Apr 10, T/TH, 7-9 pm, $75
• SAT/ACT Preparation Part I, Mar 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• SAT/ACT Preparation Part II, Mar 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners, March 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• Beginner's Guide to Getting Published, Mar 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• Growing Plants for Fun and Profit, Mar 19-Apr 30, online, $99
• Zumba, Mar 20-Apr 15, T/TH, 6-7 pm, $29
• Tennis for Beginners, Mar 20-Apr 10, THU, 5:45-6:45 pm, $35
• Core Strength and Conditioning, Mar 21-May 9, FRI, 11:45 am-1 pm, $29
• Adult Swim Lessons, Mar 21-Apr 11, FRI, 8-9 pm, $49
• Zumba Toning, Mar 22-Apr 19, SAT, 10-11 am, $19
• Handmade Greeting Cards, Mar 22, SAT, 10 am-Noon, $19
• Basic Food Preparation IV, Mar 22, SAT, 11 am-4 pm, $45
• Swim Lessons (Age 3-4), Mar 22-Apr 12, SAT, 12:15-12:45 pm, $29
• Common Sense Parenting, Mar 22, SAT, 8 am-Noon, $45
• Adult Swim Lessons, Mar 24-27, M-TH, 1-2 pm, $49
• Belly/Oriental Dance, Mar 24-Apr 16, M/W, 6-7 pm, $35
• Exploring Tribal Bellydance, Mar 24-Apr 16, M/W, 7-8 pm, $35
• Writing in Arabic, Mar 24-Apr 2, M/W, 6-9 pm, $39
• Hatha Yoga, Mar 24-Apr 16, M/W, 12-1 pm, $29
• Math for College Success, Mar 24-Apr 16, M/W, 6-8 pm, $45
• Natural Homemade Spa Products NEW!, Mar 28, FRI, 12-2 pm, $25
• Traditional Italian Cuisine, Mar 29, SAT, 11 am-4 pm, $45
• Water Fitness Training, Mar 31-Apr 23, M/W, 6-7 pm, $29
• Aqua Zumba, Mar 31-Apr 23, M/W, 12-1 pm, $29

See something you like? You can always check out our current catalog at http://www.ctcd.edu/students/continuing-education/pdf/ce-catalog/. To register for classes, call us at 254-526-1586 or visit our office on the Central Texas College campus in building 136 (located on the corner of Clear Creek Rd and Central Texas College Drive) in room 139.  

                                              

NEW! Healthcare Career Training

Hello Instructors! A great way to create student involvement in the classroom is with small group activities. While reading William A Draves’ How to Teach Adults he mentioned how activities give students a diverse perspective on the topic, leading to greater learning. Here are some ways to enhance your small group actives:

1.  Brainstorming – Students generate a wide variety of ideas, suggestions and possibilities on a topic. No one should be allowed to criticize or evaluate an idea suggestion.
2. Role playing – Have students act out a real or hypothetical situation, taking roles not normally connected to that person. The object is to see the situation from another’s perspective.
3. Case incidents – Analyzing a real-life situation or case incident and discuss the pros and cons.
4. Committee – Break the students into committees to decide on policy, study or formulate ideas on a given topic.
5. Sensitivity group – Have the students engage in various sensitivity exercises designed to bring out feeling and share experiences with each other.
6. Task force – A group is given a specific mission with an end goal. Once they have finished the task the group reports back to the rest of the back on the progress or achievement.
7. Panel – Students are chosen to discuss a topic in front of the rest of the class with a student moderator. The purpose is to showcase different viewpoints and encourage discussion without taking sides
8. Debate – Is similar to a panel but with a debate the students take sides and bring out opposite viewpoints.
9. Interview – When inviting a guess speaker, designate a couple of students to interview the speaker.
10. Listening team – Divide the students into groups of three: a speaker, listener and observer. The speaker relaters his or her experience on a topic the other two. The listener will question, repeat and restate key phrase for clarification from the speaker. The observer will observe and report to the other two on what he witnessed.
11. Network group – Students meet from time to time to talk about a specific topic or to simply share problems.
12. Reaction panel – Break the class up into small groups where they react or reflect on a talk, film, or presentation. The goal is to get critical reviews and class input.

I hope you find this tip to be helpful as you plan your class! Feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions, questions about teaching, or marketing needs. 

Instructor of the Month! February 2014

Sabine Fundling has been a member of the Continuing Education family since 2009 and an amazing asset to the team! She teaches Beginning Belly/Oriental Dance!

We asked Sabine Fundling a few quick questions to get to know her better:

What's your favorite part about teaching? The best part is to see a student’s joy and excitement, when they are able to do a move or step they thought they would never be able to master. To see the gradual change in many of my students, as they become more comfortable with their own bodies. 

What would you name the autobiography of your life? When life gives you lemons, learn how to make lemonade!

What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod? No specific song or artist, but I generally prefer World Music.

What is your favorite form of exercise? Dance of any kind, but of course, belly dance is my favorite.

What’s your current favorite TV show/Movie? Bomb Girls, it is a series about women who worked in bomb factories during World War II.

What is something you learned in the last week? Christmas can come more than once a year.

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? If I am not dancing, I am reading, knitting or playing a puzzle game.

What advice do you have for new instructors of Continuing Education? Pay close attention to your students. The expression on their face will tell you how you are doing as an instructor. If something doesn't work, I will look for a different way to approach the subject. I will keep trying, until I find something that works. No matter what skill level I am working with, my goal is to not leave anybody behind.

To see Sabine Fundling’s classes and more, visit http://www.ctcd.edu/ce/schedule.pdf to register or get additional information. Give us a call at 254-526-1586.

February 2014 Classes!

Haven't had a chance to see what Personal Enrichment, Career Development, LifeLong Learning, and Kid classes start this month? No problem! All February classes are listed below and will be updated as changes are made.

Professional Development and Career Training

• Photovoltaic Systems Foundations, 2/8-2/9, SA/SU, 8am-6:30pm, $725
• CPR for Healthcare Providers, 2/8, SAT, 9 am-1 pm, $25
• Asthma Inhaler & Auto-Injector Training, 2/10, MON, 6-8 pm, $25
• Macros for Microsoft Office, 2/11-3/6, T/TH, 6-8 pm, $75
• Blood Borne Pathogens, 2/18, TUE, 6-8 pm, $25
• Leadership for the New Supervisor, 2/18-2/20, T/TH, 2:30-5 pm $85
• Professional Truck Driving, 2/17-3/14, M-F, 7am-4pm, $4,295
• Nonprofit Fundraising Essentials, 2/19, online, $99
• Essential Leadership and Life Skills for Business, 2/19-2/26, M/W, 6:30-8:30 pm,  $39
• Fundamentals of Supervision & Management, 2/19, online, $99
• Managing Customer Service, 2/19, online, $99
• Introduction to Flash CS5, 2/19, online, $99
• CPR for Healthcare Providers, 2/20, THU, 5-9 pm, $25
• Intro to Social Media for Small Business, 2/22, SAT 9am-1pm, $25

Personal Enrichment

• Death by Chocolate, 2/8, SAT, 11am-4pm, $45
• Babysitter Training (Age 10+), 2/8-2/15, SAT, 9 am-1 pm, $95
• Invention Convention (Age 5-12), SAT, 1-4pm, $35
• So You Want To Be A Scientist?, 2/11-27, T/TH, 6-8 pm
• Zumba, 2/11-3/6, T/TH, 6-7 pm, $29
• Introduction to Tae Kwon Do, 2/11-3/6, T/TH, 11 am-1 pm, $39
• Hula for Health, 2/11-3/6, T/TH, 6-7pm, $35
• American Sign Language, 2/11-2/27, T/TH, 6-8pm, $39
• Exploring Tribal Belly Dance, 2/12-3/19, M/W, 7-8pm, $35
• Hatha Yoga, 2/12-3/19, M/W, Noon-1 pm, $29
• Belly/Oriental Dance, 2/12-3/19, M/W, 6-7pm, $35
• Tennis for Beginners, 2/13-3/6, THU, 5:45-6:45 pm, $35
• Beginning Sketching & Drawing, 2/18-3/6, T/TH, 6-8pm, $39
• Active Parenting, 2/18, TUE, 9 am-noon, $15          
• Advanced German, 2/18-3/6, T/TH, 6-8pm, $39
• SAT/ACT Preparation Part I, 2/19, online, $99
• SAT/ACT Preparation Part II, 2/19, online, $99
• Growing Plants for Fun and Profit, 2/19, online, $99
• Discover Digital Photography, 2/19, online, $99
• Beginner's Guide to Getting Published, 2/19, online, $99
• Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners, 2/19, online, $99
• Water Fitness Training, 2/19-3/24, FRI, 11:45 am-12:45 pm, $29        
• Aqua Zumba, 2/19-3/24, M/W, Noon-1pm, $29                 
• Basic Food Preparation II, 2/22, SAT, 11am-4pm, $45 
• Gardening for Beginners, 2/22-3/1, SAT, 10am-2pm, $25    
• Adult Swim Lessons, 2/24-2/27, M-TH, 1-2pm, $49   
• What is Esperanto and Who Uses It?, 2/24-3/5, M/W, 6-8pm, $29
• Coupon & Budgeting, 2/25-3/6, T/TH, 10 am-noon, $29     
• Group Guitar (Age 7-12), 2/26-4/9, WED, 6-7pm, $89
• Group Guitar (Age 13-Adult), 2/26-4/9, WED, 7-8pm, $89
• Water Aerobics, 2/27-4/15, T/TH, 9-10 am, $35
• Water Fitness Training, 2/28-3/28, SAT, 10-11am, $15                            
• Water Spin, 2/28-3/28, FRI, 5:30-6:30 pm, $15
• Egyptian Bellydance INT, 2/28-3/28, FRI, 6-7:30pm, $39
• Egyptian Bellydance ADV, 2/28-3/28, FRI, 7:30-9pm, $39