Great Places to Learn for Free - Offline
January 6, 2008 by Deborah Ng
Filed under Doing it Yourself, Easy Entertainment, General, Simple Pleasures, Simpler Thinking, free stuff
Thanks to my sister Diana for suggesting this post.
The Internet is a wonderful and exciting educational tool. There are instructions online for how to do just about anything. Don’t let that stop you from going out and exploring some wonderful free options around your neighborhood.
Home Depot: On the first Saturday of each month, Home Depot has children’s workshops. Each child gets to wear an adorable red Home Depot apron plus materials are all free. These aren’t silly little projects, either. Kids make stools, cars, bookshelves and more. Home Depot also offers workshops for grownups. Older folks can learn painting techniques, how to tile or hang wallpaper and more.
The Library: Can you tell the library is my favorite place in the whole world? I just signed my son up for free after school science classes. For a couple of hours each month he’ll be learning about things that fly or planets or volcanoes. The library has crafting sessions for both kids and adults too. Plus my local library teaches blogging, fitness and they even had a filmmaking clinic!
Schools: Many schools offer continuing education at a discount. Some schools even offer knitting or writing courses. Some of these courses are free but you have to pay for your own materials.
Craft Stores: Crafts stores such as Michael’s and JoAnne’s also offer clinics. Call your local crafting center to learn how to knit or crochet, learn stamping and scrapbooking techniques and more.
LRN
I think high school and vocational school courses are great. Especially basic computer courses for those with little computer experience and who are fearful of doing the wrong thing. Some places even offer classes specifically for senior citizens. New sessions will be starting for the winter soon.
The knowledge and education skills in the business administration field is important for people who work in business world. I think this is the ideal way to enter the corporate world and step over the ladder of success.
I too love libraries; I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Don’t forget your local hardware store! If you have a good one, you’re very lucky indeed. People at my local store are both knowledgable and helpful. They don’t run classes, but they help me plan projects and give me advice every step of the way. I even take in my digital camera with photos of the current problem, and they help with the solution! They’re just plain great.
One time I asked them to reproduce a wooden niddy-noddy in PVC pipe, and they never even blinked. They laughed when I explained what my lovely new waterproof tool was for, though!
Great ideas!
Thanks