Blog

40 Best Adult Education Blogs

August 15th, 2010

By Alvina Lopez

From on-the-job training programs to GED courses to going back to school to earn a higher degree, adults are deciding to continue their education for fun or to improve their career prospects after years in the workforce. Thanks to part-time programs, cooperative bosses, and/or online colleges that allow for more flexibility and independent study, it’s easier for adults to juggle work, family and school commitments, but if you’re still a little trepidatious about what to expect and how you’ll benefit from continuing ed, check out these adult education blogs.

Lifelong Education

These lifelong education blogs explain what you can learn from different types of courses or seminars.

1. Deb’s Continuing Education Blog: Deb Peterson’s blog is a great resource for adults just curiuos about the educational opportunities available to their unique needs. Recommended posts: Improve Your Business Writing and Who Are Non-Traditional Students?
2. Continuing Education Blog: Visit this blog to find out about open and online universities, learning for fun, and evening classes, and to learn about adult education in Great Britain in general. Recommended posts: Love Learning and Evening University

Personal Stories

Get first-hand testimonials from adults who are going back to school, even as they work part- or full-time, raise children, and continue to work, too.

3. Older Non-Trad Student: This mom of three is taking classes full-time at the University of Tennessee. Recommended posts: Going to School With Your Children and Create Your Own Niche
4. College Campus Mama: This mama is headed back to college as she works from home, too. Recommended posts: I’m Very Proud of Myself and New Year, New Semester
5. Back 2 School Moms: Read posts from moms who have chosen to go back to school, on topics relevant for all non-traditional students. Recommended posts: Online College Courses For Military Dependents and Create A Personal Study Space For Success
6. Wired Pursuits: Lee Erickson left the business world to pursue a Ph.D. in Information, Science, and Technology from Penn State. Recommended posts: In pursuit of a PhD: Year 1 – lessons learned and Holy crap. What’s going on in education today?
7. The Secret Life of an Unknown Housewife: This woman dropped out of university after two years but is now pursuing a B.A. at Open University. Recommended posts: Am I weird – I loved my exam??!! and Exam Results are in & Secret Housewife is smiling!!!
8. My Life as a Mature Age Student: This wife and mom is also a student, and she catalogs her experiences here. Recommended posts: Under Pressure and Mama’s brand new plan
9. Reaching Lifelong Goals as a Nontraditional Student: Mike Dicianna is a fifty-something student at Oregon State pursuing a history degree.Recommended posts: Non Trad on Campus Summer Term and Why Returning to College After Age 30 (Age 40, 50, Etc.) Might Be Just The Right Choice For You
10. Ramblings of a Middle-Aged College Student: If you think it’s impossible to work full-time, go to school full-time, and still have time for hobbies and fun, read this blog. Recommended posts: Dead Day Party and Initiation and Friday, July 16, 2010
11. Memoirs of a Non-Traditional Student: This Maine resident "of advanced age" is working on a bachelor’s degree with two minors and has ambitions to be a freelance writer. Recommended posts: Academic Success Skills for Non-Traditional Students: Critical Thinking and Non-traditional students and financial aid scams
12. Student Mum: This literature student and blogger from the UK also has teen and pre-teen kids. Recommended posts: Books, and keeping track of them and Timing and Some Tips
13. A Good (Enough) Woman: This blogger juggles work as a community college professor and as a PhD student. Recommended posts: Nose to the Grindstone and Comp Tailz
14. College Mummy: This 29-year-old mom from England is going back to school to become a teacher, something she’s always wanted to do. Recommended posts: Paperwork Mountain and Here We Go

News

Follow adult ed news here.

15. Support Adult Basic Ed Arizona: Learn about the fight to promote GEDs, funding and basic education for adults in Arizona. Recommended posts: To students of Adult Basic Education: "What’s happening with the proposal to eliminate funding for Adult Education in Arizona?" and GED Achievement Campaign Q & As
16. Rick Osborn’s Continuing Education Blog: This past president of the Association for Continuing Higher Education blogs about continuing higher education, distance learning and adult education. Recommended posts: More on for-profits and More pressures on community colleges

Back-to-School and Higher Degrees

If you already have a bachelor’s degree but are considering a graduate degree to improve your career prospects, look here.

17. Colorado State University ContinuingEducation: CSU’s blog explains the different ways you can pursue a higher degree even after you’ve been in the workforce for a long time. Recommended posts: One Course After Another – Until She Reaches Her Goal and Back to School While Working for One
18. Corporate and Community Education @ Spartanburg Community College: Even if you’re not planning on attending this school in South Caroline, you can learn about business sponsorship, training fairs, and more. Recommended posts: The Future’s 15 Most Wanted Workers and 10 Jobs That Will Get a Raise in 2010
19. Linfield College Online Education Blog: This school’s website has great information about adults going back to school, and visit the blog to get tips on career development and educational opportunities. Recommended posts: How to Gain College Credit for Work and Other Life Experience and How to Approach Your Employer about Going Back to School
20. Continuing Education: David R. Wetzel’s blog covers all sorts of continuing ed and adult ed topics, but has a particularly valuable archive for adults curious about what it will be like to go back to school. Recommended posts: Ice Breakers in Adult Education and 6 Sources of Free Money for Continuing Education.

Business, Training and Career Development

Find out what options are there for you in terms of on-the-job training or career development education.

21. Education 3.0: Nontraditional and traditional students can read about career advancement through education, student demographics, and the changing face of education. Recommended posts: What We Don’t Know Is a Lot and Graduation Rates, Getting to the Finish
22. Association for Career and Technical Education Policy Watch Blog: Find news stories related to vocational studies and more. Recommended posts: CTE Policy Watch Blog $10 Billion for Education Jobs Passes Congress and New Economy Needs More Specialized Skills

Tips and Advice

Find suggestions for starting your adult ed journey here.

23. The Non-Traditional Student Blog: All adult students who are returning to school after a break are welcome on this site. Recommended posts: Fear and the Nontraditional Student and Must-have supplies for the adult college student
24. University of Winnipeg Division of Continuing Education Blog: Get tips and insight into what it’s like to be a continuing ed-pursing adult. Recommended posts: A course in gaming? Are you serious? and Looking for a Job? A Career?

Discipline Specific

These blogs cover continuing education in certain disciplines.

25. Psych Continuing Ed Public Blog: Find out what’s going on in the world of continuing ed psychology. Recommended posts: OPA Review Article about home study courses and The APA ethics code and continuing education
26. Insurance Continuing Education: Get tools, program information and more about professional development and continuing ed in insurance, real estate and financial services. Recommended posts: Online Continuing Education on the Rise and Learning Opportunities: What Do You Want to Learn?
27. AccountingWeb: The Continuing Education blog for AccountingWeb features training, program development news, and more. Recommended posts: Educators Develop Tool to Help Fellow Auditors and Be an Expert: Your Time to Shine

Literacy and GED Blogs

Become a better reader or earn your GED with the support of these blogs.

28. Gear Up for National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010: Learn about the public campaign to support adult literacy. Recommended posts: Raising Awareness of Adult ESL and Gear Up for National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010
29. Race to GED: Though this blog is location and school specific, you can still read up on what it might be like to attend GED or ESL classes. Recommended posts: GED Success Story and New Year’s Resolutions
30. D.C. LEARNs: This is a D.C.-area literacy and advocacy blog. Recommended posts: Our Adult Education Students Should Not Be Abandoned and How Many DC Residents are Illiterate?: A Simple Question with a Complex Answer
31. AlphaPlus Blog: Read about "learning outside the lines," or literacy, job training and distance education for adults. Recommended posts: The Apprentice and Two great new resources about adult literacyÉ
32. National Center for Family Literacy: Get news and information about literacy at all levels. Recommended posts: New PSA Campaign Encourages High School Dropouts to Pursue Their GED and Professional Development Survey

Online Education and Technology

Find out what it’s like to take online courses, which could save you time and money, from these blogs.

33. Adult Education and Technology: Learn about the latest updates for the adult education classroom. Recommended posts: ABC’s of Investing in Adult Literacy Education and Three Funding Opportunities.
34. Online Learning Update: Editor Ray Schroeder blogs from the University of Illinois, Springfield, and welcomes posts about quality online learning, research, and more. Recommended posts: Adoption to Institutionalization of Online Learning in Universities: Needs for Further Research and How do Students Measure Service Quality in Online Learning? A Case Study Regarding an Internet-based University
35. Stamats Higher Education Marketing Blog: Read posts about adult education, online education trends, and more. Recommended posts: Reinventing Your Adult School Programs and Online Engagement is Not About Technology
36. OnlineColleges.net: This blog also features an entire library of open education courses that you can try out, just for personal enrichment or to help you decide if you’re ready to go back to school. Recommended posts: Signs You Need to Take Your Education Online and How to Maintain a Social Life While Attending an Online College
37. Online Education Blog: While this blog carries some K-12 posts, it’s also a great site for researching the types of career-oriented online programs in healthcare, for military-friendly individuals, and more. Recommended posts: UC: The Next Online Degree Program? and So You Want to Get Your Degree Online? How to Choose the Best Fit!

Open Education Blog

Here you’ll find information about what it’s like to take online classes.

38. iterating toward openness: Read up on open ed research, culture and higher education here. Recommended posts: Openness, Radicalism, and Tolerance and Educational and Cost Effectiveness: OER vs Traditional Textbooks
39. Cathy Anderson on Education, Technology and Open Education: Find out what may be ahead for you if you go back to school or pursue continuing education. Recommended posts: Using Mobile/handheld devices for learning and Open Courseware, social networking, thoughts on the future of education
40. Open Education: This blog promotes free education for all, even non-traditional students. Recommended posts: Taped Lectures: Better Than the Real Thing? and Personalizing Learning – The Important Role of Technology