The internet isn’t just for younger people!

Online Learning Opportunities for Your Golden Years

Written by Karen Weeks for Kamloops Property For Sale.

Your senior years are a time not only for savoring your accomplishments but also for embracing new challenges. Thanks to technology, options for personal growth and learning are just a mouse click away.

 Opportunities abound.

The internet isn’t just for younger people, and thanks to the ever-expanding number of resources available your options for what you can discover are nearly unlimited. Your need to grow, connect and learn continues throughout life, and now you are free from the requirement of learning to satisfy a job or to earn grades. If you think you aren’t qualified or are intimidated by using the internet for learning, don’t be. As experts point out, internet learning opportunities are for “people who never went to college and people with PhD’s who taught college. It's people whose minds are still working, who want to learn new things and who don't want to live in isolation.”

Covering the basics.

If you live far from a learning institution or are mobility-impaired, the internet broadens your choices by bringing learning into your home. If you need help getting more comfortable with computers or the internet, you can take advantage of online classes through local senior centers or resources such as SeniorNet. SeniorNet offers a variety of free classes designed especially for seniors. You can even gather some friends and participate together, adding to the fun of exploring new territory!

Classes for your interests.

Taking courses helps keep your mind sharp, helps you learn new skills, and can even improve your opportunities for employment if you plan to continue working, even part-time. Many colleges and universities in the United States offer free or reduced-cost learning to seniors. If you would like to connect through one of these establishments, there are options available in all fifty states. Institutions such as MIT offer a variety of online subjects through Open Course Ware, based on their policy of publishing all course materials online to make them available to whoever wants them. For culturally-oriented choices, explore Open Culture, which sprung from educators at Stanford University.

New career options.

Many seniors take on a new challenge in their golden years. Even if you have no intention of giving up retirement for a full-time position, adding a flexible and interesting part-time job can enliven your lifestyle, not to mention providing you with more spending money. For instance, you might consider becoming certified to sell real estate. You probably already own many abilities that would make this a feasible but interesting challenge. As pointed out by the experts at Redfin, while “becoming a real estate agent requires a license and some training, seniors have been in the workforce for years and can utilize many of the skills they may have from personal and career experience. If you have any business experience, your skill sets in negotiation, marketing and client acquisition will allow you to get the first jump on making money from your new career. Any senior with experience in customer service or working with people will have an edge in real estate because once you acquire clients, convincing them to buy a home with you is where you will make your money. Most seniors also have the personal life experience of purchasing their own home, allowing insight into the customer perspective.”

 Certification.

Realtor certification varies somewhat by location, so be sure to explore your area requirements. You will have coursework and an exam to complete where ever you want to work. For instance, in the United States licensing and fees vary by state. In Canada, professionals explain that you will take courses and apply in accordance with provincial requirements and will need to include sponsorship information with your application.

Golden years, golden opportunities.

Thanks to the many resources available through the internet, seniors can explore a broad variety of options for learning. Reach out to area institutions or explore online resources to expand your knowledge and skills, or even follow a new career path. With so many opportunities available, your golden years can be the best years of your life!

© http://elderwellness.net/ - Written by Karen Weeks for Kamloops Property For Sale