www.ed2go.com

One of the best ways to supplement your education is by taking online courses, and one of the best sites that offers a myriad of diverse, continuing education courses is http://www.ed2go.com/. I have taken five courses from the site and enjoyed them, learned what I set out to learn and had a wonderful time completing them--and it's on a time schedule I set for myself.

I started with Introduction to Photoshop, moved to Power Point, then Quicken, Intermediate Word and finally Romance Writing Secrets. The format for each course is the same: 12 lessons over six weeks with lessons available on Wednesdays and Fridays. Each lesson includes a quiz, which can be taken as many times as you like. You are given two weeks to complete the final exam at the end of the course; however, it can only be taken once. A certificate of completion used to be mailed to your home, but after I submitted the final exam for Romance Writing Secrets, which ended Nov. 26, I was able to print out the Certificate of Completion immediately. You do not earn college credits for the courses, but some employers may accept the Certificate of Completion as proof of continuing your education.

Ed2go.com divides its courses into four categories: Career and Professional; Computers and Technology; Writing and Publishing; and Personal Development. Within each category are dozens of courses. Want Accounting? Criminal Law? GED Preparation? French, Italian or Spanish? A host of Microsoft Suite courses are offered. Take a look at the selections, and you'll want to sign up right away. Cost of courses varies, but I don't think they are deal breakers.

Ed2go.com is associated with 1,800 colleges and universities across the country. When you sign up, you find the college closest to you that is a participating school. Brunswick Community College in Supply, N.C., the only higher education school in Brunswick County, participates.
Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, N.C., Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C. and University of North Carolina at Wilmington are also participating schools. I'm from Joliet, IL, and Joliet Junior College participates. It won't be hard to find a school near you.

Ed2go.com is a way to enrich your life and learning. Just writing this blog inspired me to sign up for at least three more courses: Introduction to Excel, Photography Secrets and Get Funny, which would have me in writing humor.

Ed2go truly makes learning fun.