Further your Education with the Flexibility of Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning #TRUOpen
Prior to blogging, I worked full time from home in IT. I am proud to have an honours diploma in Network Engineering and Security Analysis. I was the only female to graduate, one of only 3 to be on the Dean’s honour list and one of only 11 students to graduate despite the large class size in our program. We had started with over 150 students during first semester. Our program was hard and it was a 4 year course path, so getting that paper at the end felt like a sweet and well deserved victory.
I didn’t count on IT being so hard to break into. Despite being dominated by older men, I thought with my experience through co-op and my high grades I would be a shoe in. It took a while, but I found my place with a really wonderful manager and things were good. I had Keira, and started blogging for fun while on leave, knowing it would go on the back-burner once I went back to work. Things don’t always go as planned though and a few months after returning to work, I found out I was pregnant again. I was further surprised when I was laid off at the 3 month mark during my pregnancy. I decided then and there that I could make my blog into a business so I could manage staying home with my girls and still have income to help support us.
IT is a fast moving field though, and even a couple years taken off can mean a pretty severe gap in knowledge. This means that in order for me to eventually re-enter the work force I will need to update my skills or face extreme difficulty finding an employer.
How do you juggle family and traditional education? I can’t even begin to comprehend the difficulty of caring for my young children and still somehow getting on campus everyday for classes. This is a dilemma many stay at home parents face with upgrading their skills prior to re-entering the workforce after an extended leave to care for their children.
I was excited to be asked to enroll in an online Open Learning course through Thompson Rivers University. I appreciate the opportunity to further my education in a way that allows me to learn without creating any conflicts with my busy schedule and that allows me plenty of time to spend time with my children. This freedom is priceless.
Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning goes beyond what you would expect with a traditional university. Its programs, learning options and opportunities make higher education more accessible to people through all phases of their lives. Yes, including young parents. With over 57 programs and 590 courses offered in print-based and web-based formats, from trades to traditional academics, you are sure to find something that appeals to you and your goals. Plus the courses and programs offered at Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning are fully accredited and recognized by other post-secondary institutions, so any credits you earn can be transferred to another institution if needed.
I love that although you learn at your own pace you are not actually studying alone as you still have the full support of your Open Learning Faculty Member. With online courses you are also encouraged to collaborate with other students in your course in the discussion area. The online course area is also easy to navigate, it uses online learning software that I am already familiar with and is easy for even the least technologically-able to work with.
Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning is perfect for anyone interested in furthering their education, whether you are interested in a single course for personal knowledge or interested in attaining a full degree. The enrolment process is incredibly easy. Simply pick a course, enter your info and make your payment. With extremely flexible course options, you can even start right now. There’s no need to wait for the next semester to start learning.
I was impressed to find out that everyone is eligible for open admission with Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning, which means that you don’t have to supply high school transcripts or even hold a particular GPA. You can receive academic credit for past learning and accelerate your completion time, not to mention, save money.
During my post secondary career I really benefited from my co-op experiences, it really allowed me to get hands on and gave me the confidence that I was fully capable of working in the field. I love that Thompson Rivers University proactively supports students by offering co-op, service learning, and undergraduate research to enrich the learning experience of their students.
It’s nice to know with Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning I can further my education with the flexibility that comes from a non-traditional university, without making sacrifices when it comes to my family. I can upgrade my skills while still taking care of my family so that I will be able to re-enter the workforce with the skills and knowledge that I need to be successful.
Visit the Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning website to find a course that will interest you and to read about the success stories of past students!
#TRUOpen Twitter Party and Contest
When: October 9, 2014 at 7-7:30p.m. EST
Who: Follow @sheblogsmedia
What: Join the conversation about goals, aspirations, careers and education for a chance to win cash prizes and a $500 credit towards an Open Learning course.
Click here for more details!
Also be sure to follow @sheblogsmedia on Twitter to enter the Retweet to Win contest from October 9, 2014 – October 16, 2014 for your chance to win a $500 credit towards an Open Learning course of your choice at Thompson Rivers University!
Disclosure: Although this post has been generously sponsored by Thompson Rivers University, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect Thompson Rivers University.
Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!
I took some online classes and I liked the flexibility of being able to do the work when it was convenient for me.
Sounds like a great program. Online courses seem to help those of us who need more flexibility in our schedules.
I think if I decide to get a Bachelor’s degree, I will do it online. There is just so much flexibility with online learning that it’s a no-brainer for a mom with two busy boys!
Sounds like a great program. If not for online classes from the college here in my state I would not have been able to go back to school. It took me 5 years but I was able to do a BA and MBA!
I’m super impressed already with your education! I enjoy online classes to keep up with the latest in my field (web development.) I’m no longer in programming full-time, so it’s so important to keep my skills up!
I took several classes online for my MBA and loved it. It was still the traditional semester with scheduled tests and deadlines but it offered the flexibility to listen to lectures and work on my own schedule.
I love online learning. I have taken my courses that way and found it a fantastic way to learn.
How exciting for you! I love that this has so much flexibility!
Taking courses online would make it a lot easier and less expensive for single parents to go to school. My niece in law has done some online coursework and she was really happy with it!
Online learning offers such flexibility. I work full time and take online classes at night and find it so helpful to work at my own pace.
Online classes are the BEST! I did my entire master’s degree online!
If I was going to go back to school I would want to do it online. Thanks for the great information it sounds like a great school.
I’d love to take a few online classes. Thanks for sharing this info on Thompson Rivers. I’ll definitely have to check it out.
I would love to go back to school for business. Thompson Rivers has some great online options!
I have never taken classes online before. It seems like it could be really convenient.
590 courses is a nice selection. I think this is my first time hearing of them, thank you for the intro.!
That’s a nice selection of classes. Taking classes online it’s much easier.!
Completing my education online would be perfect. With four kids and a job, that doesn’t leave much time to finish now.
I would like to take a class online for learning sake but I fear I wouldn’t be able to keep up and would get distracted. I already have an advanced degree so I’m not sure I’d need anymore education or would spend more money for something I don’t need.
I’ve been thinking about going back to school, but it would have to be online classes. This place sounds like a great school.
This is great. Higher education is so important. It’s also important to keep our skills up once we leave the workforce to stay home. If we ever plan to return it’s a competitive world out there.
This is the first I have heard about Open Learning, but it sounds like a great program. Being older, I would rather learn online than in a class with a lot of really, really young kids.
Online classes sound like a great way to get an education if you are unable to travel.
Oh – this sounds like a wonderful program!! I would love to further my education! )
I worked full time and went to school full time online. That’s how I got my degree. It was the only option for me at the time.
I took some online classes after my second child was born because I just could not fathom going back to school and having to actually be on-site. It was good, I enjoyed it. I think distance learning can be beneficial if a person is willing to put the time and effort in
Depending on what my daughter decides, I will need to share this with her. You never know what direction she will go so it can’t hurt.
It’s not easy juggling a family and traditional education. I’ve done it and it nearly killed me because it was so much work.
I’m actually looking into online classes right now, thanks for this indo!
That sounds like a really good option for furthering your education. I like that it will work around your schedule
I have 3 degrees… two traditional and one online. I prefer the online learning because it can be done when you have time but it certainly takes a level of dedication I wouldn’t have had as a teen/young 20s person.
Thanks for the info on the Twitter party! I will try to attend!
I’ve taken online classes and I find them to be interactive. When I was in traditional college, I spent a lot of time sleeping in class or skipping. WIthonline you can’t do that.
This sounds great. Online courses are a great option for people who don’t have the time to get to classes.
My daughter has been bombarded with letters and emails from colleges and has even contemplated online courses. When I went back to school, I did a little of both, some online, some satellite and some in class, it worked best for me being able to have the flexibility. Easier classes I did online, the ones i needed the most help with I took in class and the middle line via satellite!! Good luck with your new endeavor!
I think with technology more and more people are going to want their education this way. I would who has time to sit in a classroom all day. I get more done at night time and I have alot going on. Web schools just make the most sense time wise but I am sure also financially especially for busy moms!
This sure does sound like a great program. This might be exactly what I need to continue working on my degree.
Before I got ill I was doing Uni from home, I wish I had managed to finish my degree (perhaps one day) I think it is a wonderful way to learn. x
This sounds like such a great school to check out. I love that most schools offer online learning.
To be able to learn at your own pace is just the perfect thing for me
My husband is currently taking online IT classes. It has been great to work around our own schedule so he can still get his education.
They will accept anyone? I love that!!
This would be a great opportunity for my partner to pick up something new!