Online B.S. in HDFS: Adult Development and Aging option

Distance and Continuing Education at North Dakota State University now offers an online option in adult development and aging under its online B.S. in Human Development and Family Science degree program.  Students interested in studying the field of gerontology will find this degree provides an excellent educational background.

Adult development and aging is a field that is rapidly expanding. Statistics from the Census Bureau indicate that in 2030, when all of the baby boomers will be 65 and older, nearly one in five U.S. residents is expected to be 65 and older. This age group is projected to increase to 88.5 million in 2050, more than doubling the number in 2008 (38.7 million). An increased aging population will require additional services for those individuals.

Coursework in the online B.S. in Human Development and Family Science: Adult Development & Aging degree program focuses on typical developmental stages of adults in later life with a particular emphasis on contextual influences.  The adult development and aging undergraduate option also includes a field experience component. All students are given the opportunity to work in a professional placement during their undergraduate program. This requirement enables students to apply their coursework to a professional position as they prepare to move into important careers with adults and aging individuals.

For more information regarding the online B.S. in Human Development and Family Science: Adult Development & Aging degree program contact NDSU Distance and Continuing Education at 1-800-726-1724 or by email at ndsu.dce@ndsu.edu.

What this means: During this time you will be unable to access your Blackboard account.  If you plan to work on your classes during this outage be sure you have reviewed and or downloaded your assignments in Blackboard prior to the start of the outage.

North Dakota State University Distance and Continuing Education will hold a series of four Summer Kids Camp sessions beginning June 10, 2013 on the NDSU Campus. Summer STEM Kids Camps are designed for students in grades three through five and six through eight. Fuel your child’s passion for science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) by registering them for one of our hands-on, interactive camps.

The following camps are offered through the 2013 Summer STEM Kids Camps.  Many of these camps are offered several dates throughout the summer. 

Astronomy, Stars, Planets, and Extrasolar Planets

Spend time in a digital planetarium and learn about the solar system, our Earth, Moon, Sun, and planets. Explore other worlds and extrasolar systems along with constellations and other galaxies. IPads will be used during this camp.

Construction Materials

After an overview of the construction process and materials used in the industry, students design a house plan, select materials they would use to build their house, build models of their houses, and spend a day in the lab mixing concrete and running material tests. Register your child for this class and give them free reign to design a dream home for your family. 

Computing and Games

Let your child’s imagination come alive in this class when they learn to create interactive stories, a web page, games, music and art using Scratch, RPG maker and other software.

Prehistoric Creatures, Glowing Minerals, and Rocks that Tell Stories

Get a sneak peek into the NDSU Geology Laboratory and investigate a variety of Earth materials.  Learn to identify minerals and rocks using common tools.  Look for fossils with microscopes, go on a dig for “fossils”, and make a fossil to take home.

Robot Rumble

Using the Lego Mindstorms platform, your child will learn the basic engineering concepts of design and programming while working in teams to build a robot.  Students will engineer a robot to perform tasks, overcome challenges, and maneuver through obstacles culminating in an exciting competition! 

The Great Health Care Adventure

If your child has taken an interest in caring for people and animals, let them discover science with a purpose.  Students will learn about science in health careers through fun, hands-on activities with real health care providers.

Gear Heads

Come build and explore engineering through basic machines and mechanisms. Using Lego Education kits, students will learn about gears, pulleys, levers, linkages, and pneumatics. Students work in teams to build simple and motorized mechanisms to demonstrate concepts.

Engineering Adventures 

Is your child interested in exploring the vast world of engineering? Students in this camp will learn how to apply math and science principles to solve real-world problems. Students will engage in a variety of hands-on activities to illustrate engineering concepts. 

STEM Explorers

Students will participate in a project-based environment where they will use a problem solving strategy to investigate STEM-related topics. They will use a 21^st century approach.

Crime Scene Science

Has your child wondered how crimes are solved? Well, it’s time to be the detective. Join us for a week full of activities that span the different scientific fields while we do experiments in fingerprint and bite mark identification, study splatter patterns, powder analysis, chromatography, and even DNA extraction.  Grab your detective gear and your magnifying glasses and join in the fun! 

The 2013 Summer STEM Kids Camps are open to all area students entering grades three through five and six through eight this fall. Each camp is $89 but discounts are offered for students taking more than one camp or if more than one child from a family attends a camp.  Scholarships are also offered through FM Metro Youth Partnership. To apply for a scholarship go to http://ndsu.me/mypscholarship2013. To view more information or to register for the 2013 Summer STEM Kids Camps go to http://ndsu.me/dcem1304.

But what makes the online HDFS program at NDSU so appealing? For Dr. Jim Deal, HDFS department head, there are three major reasons the program is growing: great faculty and advisors, a variety of quality classes, and opportunities for continuing education. According to Deal, the instructors in the HDFS program are eager and willing to work with students to make the classes fit into their schedule. Additionally, while some students are hesitant to take online courses because they fear that quality of the class will be sacrificed, Deal says with the HDFS program, this is not the case. According to Deal, one thing that is truly unique about the HDFS program is the fact that online classes are incredibly comparable to face-to-face classes. “We try to make sure that the instructor teaching the in-person class is the same instructor that teaches the online class,” states Deal. “This assures students are getting a quality class with a knowledgeable instructor.”

While the majority of DCE students in the HDFS program are working towards either their undergraduate degree in family science and child development, or their master’s degree in family financial planning, gerontology, or youth development, Deal says the department is looking into offering continuing education courses. According to Deal, continuing education courses will help professionals like teachers and social workers take specific classes towards career advancement rather than working towards a degree.

Whether you want to work in social services, community services, or youth development, the online HDFS program through NDSU offers something for everyone.  

View our online undergraduate degree list for more information about online HDFS degree options.

View news clip at http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/78057/

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - NDSU's continuing education says now is the time to sell your house but it's the process they say can be hard.

Tonight, people looking to sell learned how to stage their homes, and why inspections are important. They also learned how to regulate the price of their home and how to choose the right realtor.

Cheryl Thompson, Consumer Educator: "The rates on the home loans are good right now. So, people are probably more anxious to buy so I think it's a good time."

There is one remaining seminar, next Friday.

NDSU Distance and Continuing Education has recently added an online Construction Management Graduate Certificate program as well as opened its online Master of Construction Management program to new applicants.  Both programs are available to individuals nationwide and are ideal for individuals who want to become a leader in the field of construction management.

Individuals working in all types of construction including residential, commercial, industrial, highway and heavy construction may benefit from the new online Construction Management Graduate Certificate or the reopened Master of Construction Management degree.  With the construction season fast approaching, now is the perfect time for students to plan ahead for fall semester.

The online Construction Management Graduate Certificate provides a learning experience with a distinct knowledge base and a specific set of associated skills within the areas of estimating, scheduling, and project management at the graduate-level. These three areas constitute a body of knowledge that represents the fundamental core of construction management.  The graduate certificate is ideal for individuals who want to experience graduate-level coursework prior to completing a full master’s program.

Students in the online Master of Construction Management receive advanced education in new and expanding areas of construction programming, cost control and project management.  This program also prepares student to sit for the Associate Constructor Exam or the Certified Professional Constructor Exam.

Students interested in this program are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible to be admitted for Fall Semester 2013.  For more information about either of these programs contact NDSU Distance and Continuing Education at 1-800-726-1724 or 701-231-9738 or by email at ndsu.dce@ndsu.edu.

NDSU Seminar Teaches You How to Sell Your House
By Steven Strom

Spring has finally begun to tease North Dakota natives with warm days amidst snowy streets. Alongside the prospect of melting slush and green trees comes the inevitable arrival of the homes sales season.  However, even as the sky starts to brighten, future homeowners will begin to feel the stress and trepidation that follows. For most people, selling and buying a house is a momentous and incredibly rare occasion. Pick up your copy of the High Plains Reader to read the full story or go to their website at www.hpr1.com.

NDSU employees recently won several awards at the 2012 American Advertising Federation of North Dakota’s ADDY Awards. Advertising professionals from across the state submitted 423 entries in 102 categories, which were evaluated by a panel of out-of-state judges.

Winning entries from the Publications Services office:

Gold ADDY Awards
• NDSU Archives brochure, done for NDSU Archives
• Theatre season campaign, done for NDSU Theatre department
• Land Grant Summit materials, done for NDSU Land Grant Summit
• Herd Hankie, done for the NDSU Alumni Association
• Bison Arts Gala invitation, done for NDSU Fine Arts Silver ADDY Awards
• Take Back the Night invitation, done for NDSU Student Life
• Music Summer Symposium brochure, done for NDSU Fine Arts
• NDSU Viewbook, done for the Office of Admission
• Governor’s School campaign, done for North Dakota Governor’s School
• Bison Football Season Ticket mailer, done for NDSU Athletics

Staff honored for their work included Brad Clemenson, Janelle Kistner, Rebekka DeVries, Beth Hagemeister, Katie Elenberger, Morgan Davy, Dan Koeck, Kathy Laid and Anne Robinson-Paul.

Winning entries from the Distance and Continuing Education office:

Gold ADDY Awards
• Non-Credit Classes Catalog, for NDSU DCE
• Annual Report 2013, for NDSU DCE
• Reimagine Postcards, for NDSU DCE
• USB Information and Freebies Package, for NDSU DCE Silver ADDY Awards
• App Microsite, for NDSU DCE
• Holiday Greeting, for NDSU DCE
• RSVP+ Academic Achievement Cards, for NDSU DCE

DCE staff honored included Ludvik Herrera, Jason Gunkel, Theresa Kjelgaard, Connie Jadrny, Saumya Singh and Jeff Knight.

The ADDY Awards are a national creative awards competition and a program of the American Advertising Federation. Each year, AAF members from around the country enter more than 60,000 samples of their best work, making the ADDYs the world’s largest advertising competition. Gold winners from the North Dakota contest advance to the District 8 competition, which includes all local winners from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Gold winners at this level advance to the national competition.
Entries are judged in diverse categories such as sales promotion, interactive media, print, radio and television advertising, as well as categories for work completed by area college students.

If the design staff from NDSU Distance and Continuing Education were mining for gold or silver this would be considered a gold rush year with them taking home four Gold ADDY awards and three Silver ADDY awards.  In all, they submitted ten entries with seven of them being selected for awards.  When discussing the significance of these awards creative lead, Ludvik Herrera stated, “I am very happy we have won the awards we received, more so we have won in categories where we bested top regional marketing and advertising agencies.  I think that speaks to the quality of work we produce at NDSU Distance and Continuing Education.”

The following awards were presented to NDSU Distance and Continuing Education staff at the American Advertising Federation of North Dakota (AAF-ND) ADDY Awards ceremony held Friday, February 22, 2013.

Gold ADDY in the Sales Promotion category
NDSU DCE - Noncredit Classes Catalog

Gold ADDY in the Collateral Material category
NDSU DCE Annual Report 2010-2011

Gold ADDY in the Direct Marketing category
NDSU DCE Reimagine Postcards

Gold ADDY in the Non-Traditional Advertising category
NDSU DCE – USB Information and Freebies Package

Silver ADDY in the Digital Advertising category
NDSU DCE App Microsite

Silver ADDY in the Digital Advertising category
NDSU DCE Holiday Greeting

Silver ADDY in the Public Service category
RSVP+ Academic Achievement Cards

AAF-ND Gold ADDY winners will advance to the 8^th District competition. To view a list of all award winners at the American Advertising Federation of North Dakota ADDY Awards ceremony go to http://www.aaf-nd.org/pdf/2012ADDYWinners.pdf .

NDSU Distance and Continuing Education is sponsoring an Administrative Professionals Day educational event, scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. in the SGC room D104.

“The Truth about Food Waste in America,” presented by Abby Gold, assistant professor and Extension nutrition wellness specialist, is set for 10:30 a.m. Gold will discuss the impact of food waste on the nation and the environment. Attendees will learn ways to reduce food waste in their daily lives.

“The Success Mindset,” by mindset coach, speaker and facilitator Teresa Lewis of Get Inspired, Fargo, is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Lewis will present critical mindsets that keep a person on the right track. Participants will learn about a framework for their life plan, what success means to them and values to live by.

“Meditation and Mindfulness,” by Ronni Arensberg, counselor at the NDSU Counseling Center, is set for 1:25 p.m. Arensberg will describe practical steps to help focus on what really matters and how to produce better results. Attendees will be energized as they learn to align their actions with priorities and identify pitfalls.

Cost of the program is $30, including lunch. Register at http://ndsu.me/dcem1303a.

While some high school students spend their summers working a part-time job, going on vacation, or hanging out with friends, Martin McNichols decided to use his summer break to start working towards a college degree. While McNichols still is managing to find time to work thirty hours a week, hang out with friends, go on vacation, and become an Eagle Scout, he decided beginning college coursework would be a good way to spend his “free time”.  

While McNichols has been taking dual credits through his Minnesota high school for a few years, this summer 2012 was the first class he has taken through NDSU Distance and Continuing Education (DCE). When asked why not just wait to start taking classes until he is a college freshman, McNichols replied, “Well, it saves you a lot of money to do it online, which is great. But also it’s helping me prepare for the more rigorous classes I will take once I’m a full-time college student.”

McNichols might be on to something. According to US News and World Report (2009), 30% of students end up leaving their undergraduate program after only the first year. Many freshmen enter college straight from high school unprepared for the differences in course load and expectations between college-level and high school classes. The challenging courses coupled with the new found sense of independence that college places on students often leaves them struggling to keep up. To assure success during his freshman year, McNichols decided taking a summer class would help ease the difficult transition from high school to college.

“It’s helping me prepare for the more rigorous classes I will take once I’m a full-time college student.”
-Martin McNichols

Although McNichols still has a year before heading off to college, he already has his sights on NDSU and the pharmacy program. “I really enjoy science and technology and with my part-time job working at a pharmacy, I realized I could see myself doing it as a career,” he states.

When asked how he finds time to take a college course while managing all his other responsibilities, McNichols says, “It helps that with online classes I can work at my own pace, which I love! I also like getting instant feedback from instructors so I know exactly where I stand.”

McNichols is currently taking ECON 201, which is one class that can be used towards general education requirements. However, DCE offers a wide array of other online classes that he considered taking this summer. “I thought about taking the public speaking course (COMM 110), but I think I will leave that one for when I get to NDSU next year,” he says.

For more information about online classes offered through NDSU Distance and Continuing Education, including courses that fulfill college general education requirements, please visit the DCE website at www.ndsu.edu/dce/.

When Hunter Bultema graduated from high school and was trying to figure out what he wanted to be when he “grew up”, nursing was definitely not at the top of his list. While his family and friends encouraged him to go into a health profession, he was hesitant as to whether nursing was really the right fit for him. Taking their advice, Bultema ultimately decided to begin his associate’s degree in nursing in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Bultema figured the program was only two years and if he decided to go into another occupation after the two years, he would still have plenty of time. When he graduated with his Licensed Practicing Nurse (LPN) license, Bultema realized he had actually enjoyed himself and wanted to continue on towards his bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Moving to Fargo a few years ago, Bultema enrolled at North Dakota State University in the LPN to Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) program. The LPN to BSN program is specifically designed for LPNs who want to complete their baccalaureate degree in nursing and become eligible for licensure as a registered nurse. While Bultema was excited to begin work towards his four-year degree, he was not ready to stop working fulltime. Luckily, Bultema was able to take classes through the Distance and Continuing Education (DCE) online program.

The program was a perfect fit for Bultema who was working full-time at BioLife Plasma Services in Moorhead, Minnesota. “Everything is online so I am able to manage work and school,” notes Bultema. “Instead of having to go sit in class after a long ten hour shift, I can work my homework schedule around what works for me.”

While Bultema was concerned about not being face-to-face with his instructors and other students, he was impressed by how “life-like” the online classes actually felt. “I’ve had courses where you can meet online at a specific time, like 9:00 a.m. on a Tuesday,” says Bultema. “The instructor will go through lecture material just like they would in class and you can chime in with questions or comments to the entire class.”

Bultema notes that if you are unable to “attend” the class at the designated time, instructors record entire lectures and let you listen to them during your own free time. Additionally, since instructors in the LPN to BSN program are registered nurses with advanced degrees, the real-world experiences they bring really add to the impact of the class. “It is one thing to read all the symptoms for a disease out of a textbook,” says Bultema, “but to have an instructor give you their firsthand knowledge and experience of what to look for and recognize makes it so much more beneficial.”

Bultema graduated in December 2012 with his BSN degree and hopes to get a position in Emergency Room (ER) of a hospital. He is also enthusiastic about the additional career opportunities that will come along with receiving his degree. For Bultema, receiving his BSN allows for more opportunities within the hospital such as managerial or administrative positions, while also having the available options for nursing jobs outside of the hospital and away from the “bed side”. “That’s the great thing about the LPN to BSN program,” reflects Bultema, “I will now have the ability to find a job outside the hospital. It would have been a lot more challenging to do that if I had not made the decision to advance my degree through this program.” 

For more information about the online LPN to BSN program through DCE, visit www.ndsu.edu/dce/degrees/undergraduate/lpn_to_bsn_option or call 701-231-7015.

For Salina Berg, deciding to pursue a degree in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) came after discovering her passion. After moving from North Dakota to Kansas City, Missouri with her husband and daughter, Berg began working in the field of special education. Through her work with children diagnosed with severe behavior disorders, autism, and similar conditions, Berg realized she wanted to make her interest into a career in order to continue working closely with these children and making a difference in their lives. This decision directed her to the HDFS program with an emphasis on Child Development through Distance and Continuing Education (DCE) at North Dakota State University (NDSU).

According to Berg, completing her degree online fit perfectly with her busy schedule and best of all, allowed to her keep working fulltime with the children she loves working with so much. “What I have found to be the most beneficial of taking online classes is that it allows me to tend to my school work when I can and it’s easier to juggle my family schedule and working full-time,” states Berg.

One requirement for the HDFS degree is having a final field experience in a student’s area of interest. This gives students real world experience applied to their degree. Berg was able to complete some of her field experience at her work place because she works at a school for kids with autism and severe behavior disorders, which aligns with her focus in child development.

Once she completes her degree, Berg will have the opportunity to work in a range of fields with children in special education as well as at-risk youth. “It’s such a rewarding experience to teach kids the appropriate ways to communicate new skills, and see their behavior change in a positive way,” says Berg.

Visit the child development program webpage for more information about the online HDFS degree.

While we offer a variety of online classes for credit, noncredit, and professional development, we also offer many face-to-face classes and presentations in Fargo, ND.  January is shaping to be a very busy month for us and we wanted to let you know of all the opportunities available!

ALCOPOPS, AMEDS, SLIDS: What you don’t know CAN hurt you!

January 15, 2013
6:30 – 8:00pm
NDSU Beckwith Hall
(12^th Ave & Boley Dr. N)

This free presentation covers important topics related to drug use and abuse. The emerging trend for young adults include Bath Salts- not the kind you use in your bath tub, synthetic marijuana, and the dangers of combining alcohol and energy drinks. He will cover the various street names, signs and symptoms of usage, risk factors and side effects, legal concerns, and current marketing strategies directed at adolescents and young adults. Read More

Getting Out of Junior High: A Lifetimes Work

January 16, 2013
9:00am – 4:00pm
1919 N University Dr. D104

Living a healthy and disciplined life requires changing a variety of thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior tactics. This seminar focuses on a variety of mental factors that bring frustration, agitation, conflict, and distress into adult life, much of which results from failure to bring control to one’s own mind. Gain a better understanding of how grown-ups, who are expected to be adults, continue to act as if they are in junior high. Read More

Money Management Series

February 19-April 23, 2013
Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00pm
1919 N University Dr. D104

Join Todd Olson for his Money Management Series and explore strategies for saving and investing that prepare you for your golden years.  Four sessions will cover topics including Investment Basics, College Planning, Retirement Income Planning, and Long Term Care Planning. Read More

Make sure to check our Calendar of Events for regular updates throughout the year!

View Brochure

This program is intended for community, hospital, and consultant pharmacists. It is also appropriate for pharmacy technicians, physicians, mid-level practitioners, and nurses with an interest in the subject area.

Heart disease and stroke are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States.  Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 1 out of 3 deaths in the country, affecting more women than men.   Million Hearts™ is a national initiative that has set an ambitious goal to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. 

The American Heart Association and the ND Department of Health Heart Disease and Stroke prevention program along with numerous partners are actively participating in the Million Hearts™ Initiative to prevent heart disease and stroke by:

• Improving quality care for the ABCS.
• Focusing clinical attention on the prevention of heart attack and stroke.
• Activating the public to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Pharmacists can play a key role in Million Hearts™ through improving the prescription and adherence to appropriate medications for the ABCS.   Learn about the free resources available.

Certificate of Attendance

A statement of credit will be mailed to those participating in these programs within 6 weeks. Attendance at the sessions and completion of an evaluation form will be required to receive continuing education credit. The College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences is awarding Continuing Pharmacy Education credit for the programs as follows:

Poster Presentation – 1 hour for every 5 posters evaluated.


Lecture Seminar – 3 hours
 

Program Goals

The Saturday morning session will consist of poster presentations by NDSU P3 pharmacy students on public health issues. Pharmacists will receive
continuing education credit for the poster presentations, by reviewing five posters for 1 hour of continuing education credit. Those receiving continuing education units (CEUs) must actively engage in discussion with the students, and identify at least three objectives from each poster.

Objectives

1. Discuss the million Hearts™ Initiative key components.
2. Describe the incidence and effects of hypertension on the health of Americans and North Dakotans.
3. Utilize the tools of the Team Up. Pressure Down. Program to lower blood pressure and prevent hypertension through patient-pharmacist engagement.
4. Describe the A.B.C.S. (Aspirin, Blood pressure control, cholesterol management & smoking cessation) of clinical indicators heart health and stroke prevention.  National and state current levels and goals.
5. Describe how MediQhome is lowering chronic diseases by improving hypertension control.  Role of the pharmacist. 
6. Identify opportunities of the pharmacy or pharmacist to make a positive impact on the prevention of heart attacks and stroke.
7. Understand the effectiveness based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women including indication and evidence for use of preventive drug interventions. 

Program Schedule

9:00 am — 12:00 pm   Poster Presentation

12:00 pm — 12:30 pm Lunch (optional)

12:30 pm — 1:20 pm    Million Hearts™ Be One in a Million   Joan Enderle, LRD, CDE American Heart Association

Overview of the national initiativeTeam Up.  Pressure Down – nationwide program to lower blood pressure and prevent hypertension through patient-pharmacist engagement.

1:20 pm — 1:30 pm      Stretch Break            

1:30 pm — 2:45 pm      The ABCs – Improving quality care of North Dakota  Susan Mormann, ND Department of Health Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention Program

ABCS (Aspirin, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation) of heart health and stroke prevention MediQhome blood pressure project results in North Dakota. Role of the pharmacist and resources available.

2:45 pm — 3:00 pm       Break

3:00 pm —4:15 pm       ABCs of Heart Disease in Women  Sanford Health Cardiologist

Effectiveness based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women – 2011 guidelines of the American Heart Association.

4:15 pm — 4:30 pm       Evaluation and Wrap up

Registration & Location:

Saturday February 2, 2013
9:00 am —4:30 pm
NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo

Register online at:

https://epayment.ndus.nodak.edu/C22800_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=3743&SINGLESTORE=true

Please join us for an inspirational presentation about a Cardiologist who survived heart disease.

A few years ago, Dr. Tom Isern, Professor of History & University Distinguished Professor at North Dakota State University, put together lectures and course material to make the History 104 course available online. Dr. Isern recorded lectures and Powerpoint slides to CDs and created the class so that after watching the lectures, students could take online quizzes and participate in online discussions, most recently through discussion board applications using Facebook. Students “Like” the course page and are then able to post freely and ask questions that other classmates and the instructor can respond to. Bill Cummings, a doctoral candidate in the History department at NDSU, is the instructor of History 104 and is teaching the course for its 15th consecutive semester. Cummings has also taught traditional courses at Armstrong Atlantic State University and Savannah State University, both in Savannah, Georgia. Cummings is responsible for all of the administration of the course and the one that works with the students to guide discussion and grade the students’ work.

Cummings said, “The discussions are the fun part, for me.  As our text we use Alexis de Tocqueville's (TQ) classic work, Democracy in America.  This is, perhaps, the most quoted work on our government and was written nearly 170 years ago.  Students are often amazed at how close TQ was at predicting how we would develop.  While some students do not like the discussion, I find it the most interesting part of my responsibilities.  Tocqueville can be somewhat ‘opaque’ in his writing...after all...it is 170-year-old French translated into 170-year-old English.”  When moderating the discussions, Cummings likes to play the "Devil's Advocate" to get interest up a bit. “I do this to challenge students to clarify or strengthen their points, and to draw others into the conversation.  In addition to analyzing what TQ wrote, we also weave Dr. Isern's lectures into the discussion as well as comment on how the material applies today.”

The course is freshman-level, and focuses on outcomes, not memorizing facts and dates and students who are fully engaged in the course get the most out of the information. Also, students can complete the work when it fits their schedule, but the course requires full-semester participation and follows a calendar. If your schedule prevents you from attending a regularly scheduled face-to-face classroom course, but you do have time to work on the assignments on a weekly basis, this may be what you are looking for. 

If you have any questions about this or any other course offered by Distance and Continuing Education at NDSU, feel free to contact us by phone at 231-7015 or email at ndsu.dce@ndsu.edu.  You can even check out the History 104 course Facebook page or the NDSU Distance and Continuing Education page.
 

Each semester DCE offers a billiards class (HNES 115) and a bowling class (HNES 116). These one-credit courses help students understand the basic rules of each sport, including how to keep score, as well as improving their skill by teaching proper techniques and forms. According to Jake Waldner, Coordinator of Recreation Center and Leisure Programs for NDSU’s Memorial Union and instructor for both courses, it does not matter if you consider yourself a professional in these sports or have never picked up a bowling ball or played a game of pool in your life. Waldner promises you will still learn something. “What we do at the beginning of each class is figure out your skill level,” explains Waldner. “If you have played before, I can teach you techniques. If you are beginner, we can start from scratch.”

If you find yourself enjoying the sports, there are opportunities outside of class for extra practice. The bowling alley and billiards area are open from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. during the week and are open until 1:00 a.m. on the weekends. An hour of bowling or billiards is only $3.25 for NDSU students, faculty, and staff, and only $5.25 for those not affiliated with NDSU. Additionally, Waldner helps manage a bowling league that students can join throughout the school year.

So if you want to take a break from your heavy course load and shoot some pool or knock down a few bowling pins, sign up for the billiards or bowling classes offered through DCE this semester and have a ball!

• Is graduate school right for me?
• How do I pay for graduate school?
• How do I write a statement of purpose?
• Graduate student panel discussion

NDSU DCE staff took away the following tips from each of these presentations to assist you with your search for online graduate degrees at NDSU. 

Tip 1: If you find yourself asking "Why is a graduate degree important for me?"  Then you might be interested to know that with the increasing popularity of earning a bachelor's degree, you may no longer stand out from everyone else who is applying for the same jobs.  When you earn a master's degree you set yourself apart from everyone else and set yourself up for possible leadership roles.

Tip 2: Funding graduate school.  Did you know that you may be able to go to graduate school without increasing your student loan debt? If you are interested in an on-campus graduate degree there may be tuition assistance programs like graduate assistantships or other grant funding your can apply for.  If you are looking at an online graduate degree program, check with your employer, they may have tuition assistance programs you can take advantage of.

Tip 3: When writing a statement of purpose to accompany your graduate degree application, tell a personal story to make your application stand out.  This is especially important when applying to highly competitive programs.

Tip 4: Direct from NDSU graduate students, "Be prepared to be self-reliant, graduate school is a good place to learn about your independence and strength."

Do you have other tips about graduate school you would like us to share? Post your tips on Twitter using the hash tag #ndsuonline, we'll share them in future posts.

While interviewing Minnesota’s top athletes on a daily basis might be the life goal of many, for one TV reporter there was still one more goal that needed to be completed: a master’s degree. If you are a sports fan living in North Dakota and Minnesota, you have probably heard the name Marney Gellner before. Since 2002, Gellner has worked as a TV reporter with Fox Sports North based out of the Twin Cities. Her job has allowed her the opportunity to have front row seats while covering a variety of sports teams including the Vikings, the Twins, and the Timberwolves.

While life in front of the camera had offered her many amazing opportunities, Gellner always had the off camera goal of earning a graduate degree.  “My job requires me to work a lot of odd hours and I wanted options for the future if I ever decide to live a ‘normal’ life,” states Gellner. “Getting my master’s would help me do that.”

When Gellner decided to go back to school she looked for programs that not only offered graduate degrees in communication, but also a degree program that could be taken online. “As a TV reporter, my work schedule is all over the board. Sometimes I’m working mornings, sometimes evenings or weekends depending on the season. An online master’s program was perfect for me because I could go at my own pace and on my own time,” Gellner notes.

While she knew there were program options throughout the country, NDSU’s online Master’s in Mass Communication degree through the Distance and Continuing Education (DCE) office was where Gellner enrolled. Growing up in Minot, North Dakota and having family that currently lives in Fargo, North Dakota, she felt like NDSU was the right choice because she could identify with the people in the area. “NDSU felt more comfortable to me than doing a program somewhere else across the country because I’m familiar with Fargo. It was the perfect fit.”

While it has been challenging balancing a busy career, family, and school, Gellner has been able to steadily take one class per semester, only taking off two semesters to have each of her two children. “That is part of the beauty of taking classes online,” reflects Gellner, “I’ve been able to go at my own pace and be flexible.”

One of the biggest initial challenges for Gellner was the amount of time she had been out of school before deciding to complete a master’s degree. “PowerPoint did not exist when I was in college,” she says, “school has changed dramatically.”

However, Gellner notes she never felt like she was alone in the process. Even though she was taking online courses through distance learning, Gellner is always able to get emails answered and phone calls returned by professors in a timely manner. “I don’t feel like I am nameless and faceless,” she states. “The instructors have been very willing to walk me through things and give me pointers and advice when I need it.”

 Gellner is projected to graduate in December 2012 and could not be more thrilled. “It has been challenging and busy,” she says, “but most of all, it has been rewarding.”

For more information about online degree programs offered through NDSU Distance and Continuing Education, please visit the NDSU DCE online degrees webpage.

We offer a variety of professional development classes on bullying for K-12 educators. These distance-based classes are self-paced and can be taken at any time throughout the year. Below you will find a list of all the classes we offer on bullying.

How Teachers Can Break the Cycle of Bullying 3 Credits

Starting with a bottom-line assumption that "bullying is a learned behavior,” this course  explains not only the ways that the bully, the bullied, and the bystander are "three characters in a tragic play" but also how "the scripts can be rewritten, new roles created, and the plot changed. This course also provides excellent insights into behaviors related to but not always recognized as bullying, such as cliques, hazing, taunting and sexual bullying. Particularly, this course focuses on the "bystander," the person whose behavior is too often overlooked or excused within the bullying cycle.

Safe School Ambassadors: Harnessing Student Power to Stop Bullying and Violence 1-3 Credits

Most bullying prevention programs are created from the “outside-in”, focusing on how teachers and staff can prevent bullying behaviors. However, what would an “inside-out” bullying program look like? The Safe School Ambassadors program is currently used in more than 550 schools in the United States. The program empowers students and gives them the tools to stop mistreatment among their peers. This student-driven bullying prevention program shows students how to build positive relationships with peers, provides specific training in preventing and interrupting mistreatment and creates an empathic environment where incidences of bullying rapidly decrease.

Harassment, Bullying & Cyber-Intimidation in Schools 2 Credits

A clear understanding of what constitutes harassment and the harmful effects of harassment on people and institutions is essential to providing a safe and inclusive school environment for all. Harassment, Bullying & Cyber-Intimidation in Schools will discuss definitions and the personal, social, and legal ramifications associated with sexual harassment, bullying, and cyber-intimidation. The course will address what we know about these troubling areas. We will then explore preventative strategies as well as how school staff can address these issues when they occur.

Bullying Prevention 3 Credits

Bullying prevention is a topic that every teacher must eventually deal with in their career. Students in this course will explore how bullying is a result of the relationships between the individual, family, peer group, community and culture.  Teachers will learn how to prevent bullying from happening in their classrooms, as well as how to help bullied children cultivate the resources needed to heal. 

Bullying and Harassment: A Legal Guide for Educators 1 Credit

“Incidents of bullying, harassment, and threats in schools are growing, but the line between students’ rights to expression and the school s rights to protect children and faculty is increasingly blurred.”  This course will examine the legal ramifications relating to bullying and harassment issues that educators are exposed to in school environments. Educators in the elementary, middle-school, and high-school settings will gain a better understanding of these complex issues and their own authority and/or limitations. Other social, educational, behavioral, and legal dynamics regarding these issues will be directly addressed. Educators will also review numerous recommendations and action plans for understanding these issues.

As educators, what have you done in your classroom to combat and prevent bullying? What are your school districts focusing on? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter @ndsudce #Bullying, #ndsuonline