Personal Enrichment

Kevin Newton

Kevin Newton joined Baird in January, before that he owned and operated an insurance agency where he assisted with auto, home, life, and commercial insurance. He also assisted his clients with retirement and brokerage services. Kevin was an Intelligence Officer in the Marine Corps completing two tours in Afghanistan. He left as a Captain in 2013. He is an alumni of the University of Wisconsin - Madison and enjoys reading and spending time with his wife and son. His hobbies include cooking, hiking, and visiting area museums and restaurants.

Baird has partnered with UW-Parkside since 2014 and presented this class to hundreds of retirees. Each attendee completes the course workbook documenting individual information such as retirement income sources, retirement expenses, investment assets, and potential withdrawal plans. Finally, each attendee with have the ability to attend an individual lab session to address questions unique to their circumstances.

Outline:

1. Retirement Income Concerns
2. How Long Will My Money Last?
3. Investments
4. Retirement Income Sources
5. Healthcare Planning
6. Estate Planning

"There was very much that was discussed. That is good! Thank you." - July 2023 participant

"Retired, so some information was review. However, laws do change and new policies have been implemented in most categories. Enjoyed the class very much and the workbooks are a great tool. Thank you." - July 2023 participant

Individual Lab time with the instructor will be available on the following dates and times.

• Wed, Sep 25, 2024 | 9 am-3 pm
• Thu, Sep 26, 2024 | 12 pm-3:30 pm
• Fri, Sep 27, 2024 | 9 am-3 pm

Kevin Newton

Kevin Newton joined Baird in January, before that he owned and operated an insurance agency where he assisted with auto, home, life, and commercial insurance. He also assisted his clients with retirement and brokerage services. Kevin was an Intelligence Officer in the Marine Corps completing two tours in Afghanistan. He left as a Captain in 2013. He is an alumni of the University of Wisconsin - Madison and enjoys reading and spending time with his wife and son. His hobbies include cooking, hiking, and visiting area museums and restaurants.

Baird has partnered with UW-Parkside since 2014 and presented this class to hundreds of retirees. Each attendee completes the course workbook documenting individual information such as retirement income sources, retirement expenses, investment assets, and potential withdrawal plans. Finally, each attendee with have the ability to attend an individual lab session to address questions unique to their circumstances.

Outline:

1. Retirement Income Concerns
2. How Long Will My Money Last?
3. Investments
4. Retirement Income Sources
5. Healthcare Planning
6. Estate Planning

"There was very much that was discussed. that is good! Thank you." - July 2023 participant

"Retired, so some information was review. However, laws do change and new policies have been implemented in most categories. Enjoyed the class very much and the workbooks are a great tool. Thank you." - July 2023 participant

Individual Lab time with the instructor will be available on the following dates and times.

• Wed, Sep 25, 2024 | 9 am-3 pm
• Thu, Sep 26, 2024 | 12 pm-3:30 pm
• Fri, Sep 27, 2024 | 9 am-3 pm

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe mindfulness meditation, including the health benefits of mindfulness meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and the techniques and practices for mindfulness meditation.

Syllabus

1. Introduction
2. What is Mindfulness Meditation?
3. Seven Key Factors of the Practice of Mindfulness Meditation
4. Seven Characteristics of "Doing" and "Being"
5. Dispelling Mindfulness Meditation Myths
6. The Health Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation
7. Summary

Conflicts of Interest and Relevant Financial Relationships: The authors/planning committee members have no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships to declare relevant to this activity.

Non-endorsement of Products: Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing nursing education only and does not imply ALLEGRA approval or endorsement of any commercial product.

Accreditation:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
• Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing nursing education only and does not imply ALLEGRA Learning Solutions or Commission on Accreditation approval or endorsement of any commercial product(s).
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions courses are acceptable for continuing education in all states.
• American Board of Managed Care Nursing
• The American Board of Managed Care Nursing recognizes all of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions' ANCC accredited courses for continuing education credit for Certified Managed Care Nurses (CMCNs).
• National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions is an approved provider with the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) (Provider #107194).
• National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. To satisfy the requirement for renewal of certification by continuing education for the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE), continuing education activities must be applicable to diabetes and approved by a provider on the NCBDE List of Recognized Providers (www.ncbde.org). NCBDE does not approve continuing education.
• National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider (Provider Number 451562-11).

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Cyndie Koopsen

Cyndie Koopsen, RN, BSN, MBA, HNB-BC, RN-BC, HWNC-BC is a nurse who has cared for patients in acute care settings, community clinics, and the home. Her professional nursing career has involved nursing executive leadership and administration, accreditation consultation, staff development and education, community education and wellness, and holistic care. She has designed, developed, and presented numerous educational programs for audiences covering integrative health, promotion and wellness, and chronic disease management and prevention. She is the co-author (with Caroline Young) of two health care textbooks. She is the co-CEO and co-founder of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC and has designed and developed over 300 online professional continuing education courses.

Caroline Young

Caroline Young, M.P.H., has an extensive public health background that includes experience in research, workshop presentations in various areas of health care, and online and onsite teaching. She has expertise in holistic community health and wellness program design, development, marketing, implementation, and evaluation. She has also designed, developed, and presented integrative health programs for culturally diverse populations, senior populations, and faith communities. She is the co-author (with Cyndie Koopsen) of two health care textbooks. She is the co-CEO and co-founder of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC and has designed and developed over 300 online professional continuing education courses.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

The outcome of this certificate is for the learner to describe a holistic overview of current food and nutrition issues and their impact on physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and planetary health.

Syllabus

• Lesson 1 - Nutrition and Health—What's the Connection? -  What we eat profoundly affects our health and well-being. Obesity is at epidemic proportions in the United States and throughout the world. Many of us eat more than we require. We eat when we are rushed. We don't understand how various food elements interact; and we are not as knowledgeable as we could be about various diet types and their effects on our health.
• Lesson 2 - Nutrition, Stress, and Immune Function - Most individuals enjoy sitting down and eating a delicious meal. Food provides an opportunity to socialize and, if the food is nutritious, it also supports a healthy body and mind. However, if individuals are stressed before, during, or after a meal, the nutrients they eat are not utilized as effectively as when people are relaxed. If stress also causes an individual to eat food that is not nutritious, health issues can result. Nutrition, stress, and the immune system are closely related.
• Lesson 3 - Obesity in America—A Public Health Epidemic - Two-thirds of adults and one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese. Left unchecked, the effects of this crisis on the nation's health, health care costs, and productivity could be catastrophic. As a nation, we're getting more obese every day, many of our children are obese, and our life expectancies are much shorter because of it, despite trying many types of diets, eating less, and moving more.
• Lesson 4 - Current Issues in Nutrition - Our diet has a profound impact on our health and well-being as well as the health of the environment, yet many of us are not aware of where our food originated or how it was produced. We eat toxic, irradiated, or genetically altered foods, and we eat more than we need. How can we change our eating habits and become more conscious of what we eat, why we eat it, and how it is prepared?
• Lesson 5 - Spiritual Nutrition—The Global Consequences of Food Choices - Food is a dynamic force that interacts with our bodies on multiple levels: the physical level, the mental-emotional level, and the energetic or spiritual level. Conscious eating involves an awareness of the eating process from beginning to end, and it includes thinking about how dietary choices affect others. Any food choice that is truly good for an individual's physical health and well-being will also be good for his/her spiritual well-being. Today's food landscape is dominated by factory farms and food industry practices that violate spiritual principles, as well as human and animal rights, and damage the health of the planet.
• Lesson 6 - Food Labels—Deciphering the Mysteries - An important element of health is the ability to understand what is in the food we eat. Knowing how to read and understand food labels can help individuals make healthier food choices. Many consumers do not fully understand what the labels on their food means in terms of nutritional value or the way the food was produced, raised, and manufactured. With this knowledge, understanding the labels becomes easier and making healthy choices are the result.
• Lesson 7 - Botanicals, Herbs, and Herbalism - While modern medicine has produced many scientific advances, one of the most important "advances" in health and medicine has been the recognition of the value of botanicals, herbs, and herbalism. After all, nature and plants have been an essential part of everyday life since the beginning of recorded history. Used for medicines, clothing, food, and in religious ceremonies, in many health belief systems, plants are considered a gift of nature and valued for their healing effects.
• Lesson 8 - Natural Sweeteners—Healthy Options for Your Sweet Tooth - Most Americans consume far more sugar than they require, and this contributes to obesity as well as many types of diseases. The role of sugar in the American diet is an important one, and understanding its effect on the body and its role in inflammation and disease can significantly affect one's health. Alternatives to refined sugar are numerous, but are they safe and effective? Not all sweeteners are created equal and it is important to understand which ones are generally accepted as safe and which ones may threaten one's health.
• Lesson 9 - Probiotics—Silent Partners in Health - Probiotics are live microbes (bacteria) believed to be beneficial for the host organism. They are the same or very similar to bacteria already in the body. The lower digestive track is filled with a complex and diverse community comprised of millions of these microbes. They are used globally to improve the health and well-being of animals and humans. Sales of probiotic supplements have soared in recent years on the basis of intriguing research that demonstrates potential benefits for many chronic conditions, including cancer. With the rise in interest in integrative health as well as complementary and alternative therapies, this trend is likely to continue.

Conflicts of Interest and Relevant Financial Relationships: The authors/planning committee members have no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships to declare relevant to this activity.

Non-endorsement of Products: Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing nursing education only and does not imply ALLEGRA approval or endorsement of any commercial product.

Accreditation:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
• Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing nursing education only and does not imply ALLEGRA Learning Solutions or Commission on Accreditation approval or endorsement of any commercial product(s).
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions courses are acceptable for continuing education in all states.
• Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 14693, for the stated number of contact hours.
• American Board of Managed Care Nursing
• The American Board of Managed Care Nursing recognizes all of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions' ANCC accredited courses for continuing education credit for Certified Managed Care Nurses (CMCNs).
• DIABETES EDUCATORS
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. To satisfy the requirement for renewal of certification by continuing education for the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE), continuing education activities must be applicable to diabetes and approved by a provider on the NCBDE List of Recognized Providers (www.ncbde.org). NCBDE does not approve continuing education.
• NAADAC (National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors)
• ALLEGRA Learning Solutions is an approved provider with the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) (Provider #107194).

Prerequisites:

• There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

• Hardware Requirements:
  • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
• Software Requirements:
• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Completion Requirements:

You must complete all lessons to receive your certificate. You must pass the final exam in all lessons with a score of 80% or higher AND complete the Evaluation Form in order to receive your Certificate of Completion. Finals are graded as Pass or No Pass. Receipt of your certificate indicates successful completion of the course and that you have passed all final exams with a score of 80% or greater. You may retake final exams as many times as necessary within the duration of the course at no additional charge.

Dan Mikels

Dan Mikels is a college instructor who has been teaching Spanish for more than 20 years. He holds a master's degree and has authored and co-authored more than 20 educational products, including Speed Spanish, Fast French, and a variety of reading programs.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Speed Spanish

Imagine yourself speaking, reading, and writing Spanish. Now you can with Speed Spanish! This course is designed for anyone who wants to learn Spanish pronto. You'll learn six easy recipes for gluing Spanish words together to form sentences. In no time at all, you'll be able to go into any Spanish-speaking situation and converse in Spanish. ¡Qué Bueno!

Speed Spanish II

Have you ever seen a non-native speaking Spanish fluently? Were you impressed? Would you like to become more conversational and more comfortable in Spanish-speaking situations? Now you can. Our Speed Spanish courses are unlike any other Spanish classes you may have ever taken. You'll see words, hear them pronounced properly, and be granted plenty of opportunities to practice your pronunciation. Then, you'll learn several clever recipes that you can use to glue the words together into sentences. Enroll in Speed Spanish II, and you'll see an immediate improvement in your Spanish fluency from the very first lesson.

Speed Spanish III

Master your ability to speak, understand, and read Spanish by taking the final installment in our unique three-part Speed Spanish learning series. In this advanced-level course, you'll learn the final six recipes that will serve as templates to help you create any Spanish sentence you want. The goal of this course is not just learning the recipes—it's also to help you use them spontaneously so that you'll never be at a loss for words!

Series bundles are not eligible for partial drops or refunds. 

I have been trying to learn Spanish for about 20 years...this is the first course I have taken in Spanish that made complete sense to me! Thank you!

I have tried other books and tapes to try to learn Spanish, but this course was the most helpful. Very simple and very informative. The recipes were simply brilliant.

Fit my time period. Met my needs. Feel more comfortable with the language.

Great class! Great tips on the easy way to speak Spanish. I wonder why high school Spanish teachers make it so hard.

I am a nurse at the hospital interacting with a lot of Hispanic patients weekly. Although I do speak enough Spanish to get by, I was interested in increasing my grammatical skills as well as my vocabulary. I was pleased to find each lesson added to my base as well as improved what I have been trying to do. The lessons were very easy to follow. Being able to work online at my own pace and schedule was perfect. Thank you.

I liked the course and appreciated not having to get bored over conjugating verbs, etc. It was useful from the beginning lesson. Thanks.

I love the teaching style and the recipes. I took two years of Spanish in high school and didn't learn half as much! If there is going to be a Speed Spanish II, I can't wait to enroll.

I much prefer this conversational/usable type of instruction to the customary sit in the class and memorize words that have no use at that particular time

I took one year of Spanish at a large university and learned more from this online course than in the entire year of that course! The formulas the instructor presents in this class make it easier to understand Spanish than a traditional university course.

I thoroughly enjoyed this course. It was very practical and held my interest for each lesson. My son will be studying Spanish next year in eighth grade and I have exposed him to some of these lessons. I hope his teacher next year can make it as interesting for him as you did for me.

Class Schedule

Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You will have access to all the released lessons until the course ends.

You do not have to be present when lessons are released. An interactive discussion area accompanies each lesson and automatically closes two weeks after the lesson is released.

The final exam is released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you have two weeks to complete all coursework, including the final exam. A 10-day extension is available if you fall behind.

Instructor Interaction:

The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
• You must have working headphones or speakers.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Erin Trimble

Erin Trimble holds a Bachelor of Science in American Sign Language/English Interpreting from William Woods University and a Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies degree from Western Oregon University. Since 2003, Trimble has been professionally interpreting across a variety of settings including education, community, and medical. She has been both a staff interpreter and a freelance interpreter.

Week One

Lesson 01 - Getting Started - Wednesday

What is sign language? Is it a real language? How did it develop? In this lesson, you will discover what sign language is and who uses it. This lesson introduces American Sign Language and a basic approach to learning it—signing the numbers 0 to 15.

Lesson 02 - Fingerspelling - Friday

Master your ABCs as you learn how to fingerspell the alphabet. You will discover how double letters are made when they're inside a word and how they're signed when they fall at the beginning and end of words. You will also learn tips on how to read fingerspelling.

Week Two

Lesson 03 - Introducing Yourself - Wednesday

How do you do? In this lesson, you will take the first steps toward having a conversation as you learn how to introduce yourself. In addition to learning the basic signs for this kind of interaction, you will also gain some more strategies for learning and understanding new signs, including the four aspects that make up each sign. While you add these skills to your signing arsenal, you will also learn more about the Deaf community, including what Deaf people expect to learn about you when you meet for the first time, and the role facial expression plays in sign language.

Lesson 04 - Getting to Know You - Friday

Next, you will build on the introduction you learned in the last lesson and see how to keep the conversation going. You will explore the different customs of conversation in the Deaf community, such as how to know when one person is finished talking and how to take turns. In addition, you will continue to navigate your introduction by adding more information about yourself. Finally, you will gain some additional vocabulary as you learn the signs for colors and numbers 16 to 30.

Week Three

Lesson 05 - Continuing the Conversation - Wednesday

In this lesson, you will learn more signs to help you continue the conversation you started in the two previous lessons. You will learn about the cherished custom Deaf people have of giving name signs, so you will understand what to call yourself, your city, and your state. You will also gain more vocabulary about objects in your living environment. You will learn to sign the types of dwellings people live in and modes of transportation. In addition, you will add to your knowledge of numbers by mastering the signs for numbers 31 to 66. This lesson closes with a discussion about an important issue in the Deaf community: whether deafness is considered a disability.

Lesson 06 - Talking About Family - Friday

Signing becomes a family affair as you learn signs for family members. You will understand how sign language categorizes the signs for each gender and communication in families with a Deaf person. This includes lip reading and other communication strategies. This lesson closes with the signs for numbers 67 to 100.

Week Four

Lesson 07 - Extended Family and Beyond - Wednesday

This lesson focuses on signs for extended family members. You will also learn signs to describe how you're related to them. Start to put together longer sentences to practice using your new vocabulary. You will be introduced to number systems beginning with age and telling how old family members are.

Lesson 08 - A Sign for the Times - Friday

What time is it? In this lesson, you will discover how to tell time as well as sign the days of the week and other time periods such as minutes and hours. You'll learn how spoken languages handle past, present, and future tenses and then examine how sign language does it. Finally, you will discover the impact of the "Deaf President Now" movement had on the lives of Deaf people.

Week Five

Lesson 09 - More Time on Your Hands - Wednesday

This lesson teaches signs for additional time frames such as yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You will learn signs for indoor and outdoor activities. Then, you will learn signs for your opinion, so you can explain which activities you like and don't like. You will also learn about CODAs—a group of hearing people unique to the Deaf community.

Lesson 10 - Feelings and Traits - Friday

Now it's time to learn the signs for feelings and personality traits, and you will combine these signs with signs learned in previous lessons. You will see how to communicate how you're doing, how to ask how others are doing, and how to describe different personal attributes. You will also learn more about Deaf culture—this time, about physical contact and getting the attention of a Deaf person both nearby and across the room. Finally, you will gain tips for practicing your signs.

Week Six

Lesson 11 - Clothing and Hairstyle - Wednesday

In the final lesson, you will learn signs for clothing and hairstyles, such as jacket and long hair. You will learn about classifiers and how to use them with the patterns such as stripes. Then you will learn signs for descriptions such as mustache and beard. You will also explore another important aspect of Deaf culture: teaching hearing babies to sign.

Lesson 12 - Food and Animals - Friday

The course concludes with a lesson that teaches you to wish a friend happy birthday, offer a birthday treat, and talk about your favorite animal. You will start by learning to sign the months of the year and how to say, "Happy birthday!" You will also learn some signs for food and animals. This lesson will cover how English is translated into sign language and the role of the professional sign language interpreter. You will even get some tips on using an interpreter with a Deaf person.

Such a great course for the relevant content needed to understand the basics of sign language! The instructor was fantastic and knowledgable in this area. She gave us variations to signs that we may see, which is super helpful. Overall, this was a great course.

What a wonderful course! Over eight short weeks, I've learned enough to have a basic conversation in American Sign Language. The teacher's writing and videos are fantastic and lead students through a logical progression of sign language skills acquisition.

As someone who has done an entire college diploma through distance education online, I have to say that this is one of the best online courses I have ever taken. It was fun and challenging. The instructor was great and always quick to respond. I learned more than I had even hoped I would. I will definitely recommend this course to friends and colleagues.

I appreciated the diversity of information provided, including insights into deaf culture and communities. I feel more confident in my ability to interact with someone who is deaf simply because I understand a bit more. This course is a great beginner course and I find myself wanting to learn more--preferably from the same instructor.

This course and its instructor is fabulous. I learned so much more than I thought I would. It is well constructed, and thoughtfully led. I would like to see more courses available along this line. A "next level" to build on the skills learned, and information. As a language course of study, this is the best taught I have encountered.

This was the best online training I have ever worked through!

This was a great class, I really learned a lot about the Deaf Community, and signing and I feel very comfortable signing simple conversations. I loved this class, thank you for making it interesting. I highly recommend this course.

Jennifer Carmean is an excellent teacher. I learned so much valuable information that will help me to communicate with the deaf students on my caseload. If she offered a follow-up class, I would definitely take it. The course material and the supplementary material that she provided was relevant and interesting.

I absolutely loved this course. I learned so much in so little time!

Class Schedule:

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Instructor Interaction:

The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Sara Hardin

Sara Hardin is an educator with a focus on special education and language studies. She has taught special education at the elementary level for over a decade. Sara holds a BA in French, and lived in France to study at the university level. In 2000, she earned her master's degree in special education.

Week One

Lesson 01 - French Pronunciation - Wednesday

In this first lesson, you will learn the basics of pronunciation. Good pronunciation will help you communicate with native speakers. First, you will learn how to pronounce vowels. French uses the same alphabet as English, and the vowels are the same. Then we will move on to the consonants. After that, you will learn about stressing syllables and linking words together.

Lesson 02 - Conversation Basics - Friday

In your second lesson, you finally get to use all that pronunciation in some real sentences. We will start with some basic information and a few rules. Then we will move quickly to frequently used words and some easy sentences. Finally, we will talk about essential phrases, and we will introduce numbers.

Week Two

Lesson 03 - Culture, Conversation and Conjugation - Wednesday

The third lesson explores French culture from museums to cathedrals while helping you build your sentence structure skills. The lesson provides the foundation for your conjugation knowledge combined with sightseeing highlights!

Lesson 04 - Numbers - Friday

In the fourth lesson, you will learn numbers. We will start off by reviewing what you have already learned. Then we will move on to the teens and twenties. We will keep going all the way to a billion! You will also learn the days and months. Calendars are a little different in France, and you will learn how to read them. You will learn words for today and tomorrow. Next, you will learn how to tell the time in French. Time is important to travelers. You do not want to be late for the opera!

Week Three

Lesson 05 - Travel Welcome to France! - Wednesday

We are finally getting to the exciting part! In this lesson, you will learn all about transportation. We will start out at the airport. Then you will learn words about taxis, buses, trains, and the subway. Knowing the weather is essential to travel, lesson 5 provides weather-related vocabulary and useful phrases, and a review of the metric system.

Lesson 06 - Accommodations - Friday

In this lesson, we are going to talk about lodging. You will learn vocabulary and dialogues for all sorts of lodging options, including hotels, youth hostels and even castles! You will also learn about requesting special items and information.

Week Four

Lesson 07 - Bon Appetit - Wednesday

We are going to talk about food. First, you will learn about several types of French restaurants. Then you will learn general vocabulary about food and eating out. You will also learn words for various beverages and how to discuss dietary preferences.

Lesson 08 - Currency and Communication - Friday

In the eighth lesson, you will learn about currency and several types of communication. First, you will learn about money in France. Then we will move on to telephones, the mail, and technology.

Week Five

Lesson 09 - Shopping - Wednesday

In this lesson, you are going to learn how to talk about shopping in French. First, you will learn words that are used in all stores. Then we will talk about souvenirs. You cannot go on a trip without buying souvenirs! Next, you will learn words for clothes and sizes. You will also learn names for colors and lots of various kinds of stores.

Lesson 10 - Entertainment - Friday

In Lesson 10, you are going to learn French for lots of different forms of entertainment. We will start with the movies and theatre. Then we will move on to music and sports. Then we will talk about sports from football to horseback riding. Finally, you will learn about beaches, gardens, and parks.

Week Six

Lesson 11 - In Case of Emergency - Wednesday

In this lesson, you are going to learn about emergencies. Hopefully, you will never need to use this lesson. Life is unpredictable, though. It is helpful to familiarize yourself with these words. Lastly, you will learn exclamations!

Lesson 12 - Putting It All Together - Friday

In your final lesson, we will start our review. We will go over a few key points, such as pronunciation and linking words. You will even get a little more practice on those cumbersome nasal vowels. Then, you will learn how to make your own sentences. Next, you will learn how to ask questions, and we will cover a little sentence structure. Finally, you will learn some useful expressions.

Amy is an amazing and understanding instructor. It was great to feel that no question was a stupid one in this class. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever considered learning the language!

I enjoyed taking this French conversational course and I would highly recommend it to anyone. It covered all the important basics and more! Ce cours de francais est excellent!

I feel empowered to speak my level of French on my trip to France this year, despite 35 years passing since my high school French classes, and all because of these wonderful lessons, discussions, and links! Thank you.

I had mixed feelings about the course at the beginning because I felt it was a lot of material at one time, but then I came to appreciate all of the information that was given to me. I never thought I would learn so much French in so little time. Amy has a great sense of humor. I like her teaching style. She responded to the discussion area with "lightning speed". I knew I would not have to wait long for a response. I really felt like she was giving me a one-on-one. She did a terrific job. Chouette!

I have learned an incredible amount of French from this beginning class. I think that is mostly due to the class format and teaching style of the instructor. Merci beaucoup!

I truly enjoyed Amy's friendly conversational teaching style. This was my first on-line classroom experience, and I found it a delight. The audio for French pronunciation is extremely useful and worked well for me. I can see that a lot of thought and preparation went into providing this excellent on-line course.

I was surprised and appreciative at how in-depth the lessons were. Much more information than I expected. This is my first time taking an online class.

The course covered all pertinent topics. I liked the structure of the course. The instructor clearly is an expert in teaching as well as in the French language and it's instruction.

This is my first online course and I am very impressed. I know a lot of effort was put into this course in a very systematic way and I appreciated it. Thank you.

Class Schedule:

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your coursework, including the final exam.

Instructor Interaction:

The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Robert Bertoldi

Robert Bertoldi has been mastering Italian for the past 35 years and has been teaching college-level Italian in the classroom since 1987. He holds a Master of Arts in Italian literature and has taught the language at several universities, colleges, and private language institutions. Bertoldi has dual citizenship in Italy and the U.S. and his proficiency in Italian has earned him university scholarships and a resident academic position in Italy.  His enthusiastic teaching style has earned him the praise of hundreds of students, including fellow language instructors.

Week One

Lesson 01 - Basic Greetings - Wednesday

In this first lesson, you'll discover that, despite the Italian peninsula's long and rich history, Italy is actually a relatively young nation—much younger than the United States, for example. You'll also learn that many Italian words have been adopted into English, including many that you might say or hear on a regular basis—and not just spaghetti, pizza, and biscotti. You'll also be pleased to learn that there are many cognates in Italian. Cognates are words that share the same origin with English words, which makes them very easy for you to recognize and master. By the time you finish this lesson, you'll also know how to greet others properly and introduce yourself in Italian.

Lesson 02 - Alphabet and Pronunciation - Friday

In the second lesson, you'll explore the Italian alphabet and phonetics. You'll learn all 21 letters of the Italian alphabet, along with the various sounds they make, whether alone or in combination with one or more other letters. In addition, you'll learn five letters that Italian borrows for writing and speaking words that originated in other languages. With the tools you'll gain in this lesson (and some practice), you'll be able to read and correctly pronounce virtually all words and phrases in Italian.

Week Two

Lesson 03 - Language Essentials - Wednesday

This lesson will discuss why, unlike in English, the names of places and things have genders in Italian. That's right, all nouns—even inanimate objects—are either masculine or feminine. You'll also learn that to pluralize nouns in Italian, you don't add "s" or "es" at the end of the word. Instead, you'll simply change the final vowel. For example, "one spaghetti noodle" is "spaghetti-o," while "spaghetti noodles" is "spaghetti-i." You'll also discover eight ways to say the word "the" in Italian. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a good grasp on some fundamental parts of speech, making it that much easier to put them together and use them.

Lesson 04 - Verb "To Be" in Everyday Use - Friday

In this lesson, you'll continue exploring some basic elements of the Italian language.

Week Three

Lesson 05 - Getting Around Town - Wednesday

While visiting Italy's many spectacular sites, you'll want to be able to ask for assistance. In this lesson, you'll learn to ask and give directions to places, making it easier for you to navigate the country's many historic cities and towns. By the time you reach the end of this lesson, you'll know how to say "to the right," "to the left," and "straight ahead." You will also know how to ask whether a location is nearby or far away. In addition to all the practical navigating skills you'll gain in this lesson, you'll also increase your understanding of Italian culture by learning several ways Italians greet one another.

Lesson 06 - Numbers 1 - 100 - Friday

Numbers are handy in many daily situations, and in this lesson, you'll learn the numbers 1 through 100. You'll explore ways you can put these numbers to practical use by asking and stating phone numbers, addresses, and bill totals. You'll even visit an Italian bar or caffè and learn to order breakfast. At the end of this lesson, you'll be able to discuss telephone numbers and addresses, ask and say how much things cost at the bar, and how and where to pay for them.

Week Four

Lesson 07 - Check the Calendar - Wednesday

In this lesson, you'll explore the calendar, learning to ask about and express days and dates. You'll learn some helpful techniques that make remembering the days of the week and the months of the year much easier. The lesson will also go over two key verbs—"avere" and "fare." Both verbs are especially helpful when discussing the weather. By the end of the lesson, you'll be able to talk about days and dates, and to ask about and describe the weather.

Lesson 08 - Telling Time, Schedules and Transportation - Friday

In this lesson, you'll apply the numbers knowledge you gained to the clock and schedules. You'll learn to ask and tell the time, and to ask and express key time-relate terms, such as "when," "early," and "late." You'll continue learning about Italian culture, and find out how important labor strikes are in Italy. Because strikes often impact travel, you'll learn how to ask when they'll begin and when they'll end. All of these things should help put you more at ease while traveling. By the end of the lesson, you'll know how to tell time and read business schedules in Italian.

Week Five

Lesson 09 - Navigating Italian Shops - Wednesday

Do you plan to make some purchases while in Italy, or take a train, boat, or bus? This lesson will go over how to handle these situations. You'll learn the vocabulary and phrases you need to discuss items such as transportation tickets and their prices. You'll learn to use the always-handy expression "vorrei", which means "I would like", to request information or items. By the end of this lesson, you'll know how ask about and purchase train, boat, or bus tickets, ask about prices and make purchases, and even rent a vehicle while in Italy.

Lesson 10 - Lodging and Accommodations - Friday

Even before you arrive in Italy, you'll probably need to discuss and book your accommodations, and you'll explore how to do just that in this lesson. You'll learn to describe the kind of room you're looking for and ask about availability. By combining new vocabulary with elements you've learned in previous lessons, you'll be able to ask very specific questions about your lodging. You'll know how to confirm whether your room has air conditioning and Internet service, and if the price includes breakfast. You'll practice making a phone call to a hotel to ensure you can book your accommodations long before you arrive at your destination.

Week Six

Lesson 11 - Emergency Situations and Health Concerns - Wednesday

This lesson will go over something really important: How to ask for help—"aiuto" [ah-YOO-toh]—in any situation. More specifically, you'll learn to describe health and medical concerns to a pharmacist or doctor. You'll practice an authentic dialogue with each to help put you at ease while you're in Italy. You'll also learn to ask others to help you by calling the police or an ambulance. By the time you finish this lesson, you'll be able to handle virtually any emergency situation in Italian.

Lesson 12 - Dining Out - Friday

Italy's world-renowned cuisine is as important as its many historical monuments (some might say it's even more important!). In the final lesson, you'll become well-versed in the various types of eateries in Italy, the types of meals you can expect to find in them, and how meals are typically served. You'll practice using all the vocabulary you'll need to order food, whether it's a snack in un bar or an entire four-course meal in una trattoria. You'll learn how to ask about typical regional or local specialties, and how to say that you'd like to try a particular wine or dish. When you reach the end of this lesson, you'll be fully prepared to order a meal at any Italian eatery.

This was a wonderful way to learn AND I was able to fit it into my schedule as time allowed. Thanks so much for offering this format for the class!

I am so glad I was signed up for this course as I hope to learn fluent Italian in the following year so I can go back to Italy and talk to my grandparents without using a translator.

This is a great intro to Italian for travelers to Italy. I would gladly take a next level course with this instructor if he offers one.

This course was extremely helpful in learning Italian. The lessons were appropriate and functional for basic learning of the language. The course was definitely worth it.

The Professor was pleasant and very knowledgeable and answered questions immediately. The course was well laid out and it was easy to follow and understand. Thank you Professor.

Very nicely presented. The material was subject-specific, that is, dining, shops, hotels, etc., which would make it easier to communicate in Italy. Option to download the material is also a big plus. Looking forward to advanced study of the language.

Enjoyable course; very interesting and well put together. The instructor made improving my Italian fun!

Professor Bertoldi is wonderful! I'm traveling to Italy and found this course ver.y helpful practical and useful. I'm planning to speak Italian when I go.

The instructor was very active in the discussion posts and helpful to the students in the class. I would take another course with him. I hope he offers another Italian course soon. I found the audio clips and phonetic spelling helpful for learning and practicing correct pronunciation. Would recommend that the discussion slides be fixed so that you can view the whole discussion when you print the lesson for review.

I loved this course! What a wonderful teacher, who goes above and beyond most to answer questions and help students understand the language and culture. The course layout itself was a great mix of interactive components, images, tables and texts to help keep one's attention throughout the lessons. Professor Bertoldi is excellent, the various mix and match and quizzes keep learning fun and I found the audio mix and match incredibly helpful, as I tend to rely on visual learning too much, which is very tricky for trying to apply a language in practicality. I really hope an Instant Italian 2 is coming! For Ed2Go...The maneuverability of ed2go new web design is nicer, but it is also much more glaringly white and hard on the eyes, please incorporate some more of the gently tonal differences of t

Loved this course. The content was basic, practical , and easliy understood. The instructor was quick to respond and most gracious. Being able to capture the study sheets and go over them post course is a great asset. Great value for the $ as well. Many thanks.

Great course! Perfect for my needs in learning and beginning to express myself in Italian. Super fun! The course material progressed in a manner that was useful with a myriad of opportunities to practice the learned material!

I thoroughly enjoyed this course, if someone did not know Italian they would know enough to be functionally literate at the end of this course.

So fun!! It was nice to be able to learn in a stress free environment on my own time and still be able to listen to the pronunciation of the words.

Professor Bertoldi was a wonderful instructor. Clearly passionate about all things Italian! He made the course fun, with creative dialogues and activities for us to practice our learning. I would highly recommend him to anyone wishing to learn the basics of this beautiful language! Thank you!

I thoroughly enjoyed this class and I learned a great deal. I had taken Italian in college and this was a great review. It gave me very practical information that I can use in everyday conversation. The grammar rules and tips were especially helpful. Also, the audio was excellent and really helped with my pronunciation.

Professor Bertoldi was great and very accessible, responding with good tone, enthusiasm and timely to all discussion questions. The course material was excellent and the interface of the program audio was perfect pronunciation not robotic. I am so glad I found you and enjoyed this class that I want to register for a different course through your program!!

I found the information in the class to be very useful and just the thing that I needed to be able to go to Italy and communicate in an understandable and basic way. Professor Bertoldi's explanations were very clear and the additional information available for each lesson was very helpful.

Professor Bertoldi was an excellent instructor, very responsive to questions, with thorough (and sometimes expanded) explanations. The course contained a lot of material, but it was presented in a practical and understandable way. I finished the course and immediately took it again (and may consider a third time!) to prepare for upcoming travel. I would be very happy to see a follow-on course with Professor Bertoldi offered by Ed2Go. Thank you.

The course was very well organized! Each lesson was divided into chapters chunking the material into manageable amounts of information that was closely related. The professor provided interesting introductory material as well as helpful formats and thorough explanations. This was a refresher course for me but I still learned new material and gained more understanding of the language and its usage. I loved the additional material and web site suggestions and will continue to use them.

I thought the course was great. The vocabulary and practical phrases are super relevant. It was totally worth my time. Grazie mille, Professore.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I thought it was interesting and very challenging. I learned a lot and had fun doing it.

The instructor was excellent. He was knowledgeable and friendly. The course material is relevant for travelers.

The course was an excellent introductory class. The content was thorough and it was prepared in a very easy-to-follow format. I hope there will be a "next level" course in Italian.

This was my first time taking a class online. Professor Bertoldi came across as a warm, kind, encouraging individual! I was so grateful! He gave me encouragement throughout his narration that kept me going...I could see myself repeating this class next year…just to hear it…and practice it just for fun! Thank you - buona fortuna!

This was a very good class for me. It filled in many of the holes that I've had in Italian, specifically with masculine vs. feminine verb and adjective forms. It also cleared up some questions that I had in pronunciation. I've been to Italy several times but I feel more confident in going again. Grazie Mille!

The fact that there is a hard eight week deadline was useful to me. Particularly with foreign language study many people, including myself, buy study material and then never get to it because there are too many other activities going on in life. The fact that there is a hard eight week deadline forced me to complete this course in a timely manner...If I bought a self-study package it would still be sitting unopened on my bookshelf.

Excellent course. It will make a trip to Italy much more enjoyable and fun! The professor's additional tips and the variety of resources are valuable to encourage the student to continue studying and perfecting their knowledge of Italian. Bravo!

Class Schedule: 

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your coursework, including the final exam.

Instructor Interaction:

The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Beverly Richards Schulz

Beverly Richards Schulz is an award-winning photographer and graduate of the New York Institute of Photography. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from UC Berkeley and a master's degree in Adult and Continuing Education. For the past 10 years, Schulz has taught at the University of San Francisco. With more than 15 years teaching experience, she has written over 30 digital photography and digital editing courses. She co-authored the book "Photoshop Elements 14—What's New?"

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Week One

Lesson 01 - What Is Digital Photography? - Wednesday

In your first lesson, you'll have a chance to become familiar with the online classroom and discover the many resources available to you, including the beginning of the Digital Dictionary. You will also learn how digital photography works and what's needed to get started with a digital workshop at home.

Lesson 02 - Learn About Cameras - Friday

In this lesson, you'll have an opportunity to understand the key features of a digital camera. This will be helpful as you learn about what to look for both inside and outside the camera and as you explore the different levels of equipment available.

Week Two

Lesson 03 - Shopping for Digital Equipment - Wednesday

When it's time to buy your own camera, you'll want to know how to make the right choice. This lesson covers more of the attributes and features of digital photography, so you're ready to go shopping!

Lesson 04 - Storing Digital Images - Friday

Digital storage is a big issue. In this lesson, you will learn the ways to address this aspect of digital photography. When it comes to digital images, you'll need storage space—not only on your camera, but also on your computer and somewhere offline for backup. This lesson also recommends how to get the most out of your storage space and the best backup option.

Week Three

Lesson 05 - Phone and Tablet Photography - Wednesday

Digital photography isn't limited to traditional cameras! You probably have your phone or tablet with you most of the time, and this lesson explores the option of using that camera to take pictures, display your images, or even do quick editing. If you've been a bit confused by all the new terminology connected with smartphones and tablets, here you'll find easy explanations and clear examples of how to make the most of this technology.

Lesson 06 - The Digital Darkroom - Friday

The ability to edit your digital images is one of the most compelling features of digital photography. This lesson will show you several of the software programs available to you and some of the many features you'll find in digital editing programs.

Week Four

Lesson 07 - Digital Photography Online - Wednesday

Using digital images online and on your computer are big parts of digital photography. In this lesson, you'll discover ways you can easily use digital images with email and on websites. You will also learn how to size images for use on the Internet. You'll love learning how simple it is to use your images as backgrounds and computer wallpaper. With digital photography, you can customize almost anything!

Lesson 08 - Digital Printing - Friday

Printing digital images can take many forms. This lesson explores the options for printing at home and the extensive network of retail printers available for digital work. You'll also learn how to prepare your images for the best quality prints, regardless of where you print them. If archival quality is important to you, or if you're scrapbooking, there are some things you'll want to know!

Week Five

Lesson 09 - A Changing Society - Wednesday

This lesson explores how new and how digital imaging is changing communication, business practices, and the way photographers protect their images.

Lesson 10 - Scanning and Restoring Photos - Friday

Scanning printed images is an important option for digital photography. This lesson focuses on restoring old and damaged photos, as well as using scanners to convert slides, negatives, and prints into digital images. You'll even learn how to capture an image of a 3D object with a scanner! A scanner is a terrific tool for digital photographers and does an excellent job of connecting traditional photography with the digital era. This is an especially important lesson for scrapbookers who are working on family histories with damaged images or printed documents.

Week Six

Lesson 11 - Traveling With Digital Equipment - Wednesday

Travel photography is always a favorite subject for photographers, whether you're shooting in your own backyard or around the world. Digital photography presents some different challenges and opportunities. This lesson focuses on how professionals in the field handle the challenges, as well as techniques and opportunities you can use when you travel, including file organization with Adobe's Lightroom.

Lesson 12 - Composing Digitally - Friday

Your final lesson will teach you how to compose your pictures with digital options in mind. There's a lot more to being a digital photographer than just owning a digital camera. In this lesson, you will see some great examples of difficult situations that you can remedy with digital solutions. The more you learn about your options, the more you'll want to experiment!

"I knew nothing, really, about digital photography or cameras when I started. My knowledge was so limited I couldn't even ask questions. Now I feel competent to choose a camera and discuss the subject intelligently with people already using the technology. With the lessons, links, recommended books and other resources gleaned from this course I will practice all of the methods and techniques at my leisure. Many thanks."

"At first, I was leery about taking an online course and even felt that I would have done better in a classroom; however, after two lessons I quickly changed my mind. I liked being able to print the lessons and study at my convenience. I really enjoyed the course."

"Awesome course! Helped me with the purchase of my new camera and the overall functionality of it from the start. Made the purchase exciting not overwhelming or frustrating. THANK YOU!"

"Beverly, I've enjoyed this course because it seemed that the lessons were written just for me and the questions of the other students supplemented the information. Also, no matter how trivial or complicated the students' questions were, you and Eric somehow managed to keep your answers simple and to the point. Thank you. "

"I can't remember when I have been so delighted with a class. The supplemental material alone could keep me busy for several lifetimes. It goes on and on - a wealth of information. Beverly kept it fascinating every inch of the way. This class is the school's best kept secret - and what a bargain! If Beverly teaches it, I'll sign up for it no matter the cost. I can't think of one suggestion to improve this class. How do you improve on perfection?"

"I had no knowledge of digital photography prior to taking this course, and feel I gained a good beginning foundation in this area. Beverly Schulz is extremely knowledgeable, displays warm interpersonal skills in her interaction with those taking this course, and presents the course material in an interesting and lively manner. I appreciate all of the great references she provided."

"I was already familiar with scanning, shooting digital, and editing with software. I learned more technical details in these areas. What I really needed to learn this course taught very well: printing, inks, paper and permanency of photos for the future. I was pleasantly surprised by the historical aspects of photography presented here, giving an excellent context for the extreme changes in photography we are experiencing today. Well worth the time and money. Thank you, Beverly and TA's!"

"Thanks Beverly....This course has helped me to expand my knowledge about photography and has stirred up my interest again in this art form........I'm very excited to have taken your course and to pick up my hobby again."

"This course far exceeded my expectations in information. I had stated many times that I would not change to digital photography. After this course I now am excited about entering the digital world. The course has helped me decide on the camera I want to purchase as well as other equipment I didn't realize I needed. It also gave me wonderful hints and suggestions for photography in general. I now also feel more confident in using the internet. Thank you so much."

"This course has given me the skills I need to continue exploring photography. I have enjoyed this experience completely. My job has hindered me from pursuing additional learning opportunities, but this class’s timeline allowed me to balance a very demanding job with my desire to continue my education. Thank you!"

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Beverly Richards Schulz

Beverly Richards Schulz is an award-winning photographer and graduate of the New York Institute of Photography. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from UC Berkeley and a master's degree in Adult and Continuing Education. For the past 10 years, Schulz has taught at the University of San Francisco. With more than 15 years teaching experience, she has written over 30 digital photography and digital editing courses. She co-authored the book "Photoshop Elements 14—What's New?"

Week One

Lesson 01 - Getting to Know Adobe Photoshop - Wednesday

Whether you're an aspiring graphic artist or a weekend photographer, Photoshop can play many roles in image creation. Even if you've never touched Photoshop before, you'll become familiar with Photoshop's interface and be able to open, edit, and save files before this lesson ends. You'll also find out how to download images, and you'll learn how to crop an image to its desired image area.

Lesson 02 - Understanding Resolution and Layers - Friday

In this lesson, you'll learn and apply the basics in setting image resolution by resizing and resampling graphics for both screen and print purposes. Then, explore the wonders of working with layers. Move and transform objects within a scene to recreate a new composition. You will learn how to add, delete, hide, merge, and group layers as well as to change the blending mode of a layer to reveal new visual effects.

Week Two

Lesson 03 - Working with Objects - Wednesday

What makes a good image composite? Find out in this lesson where you will discover the principles of image compositing and apply these by combining images to create your first image composites. Find out how linked layers work and see what Smart Objects can do. You will learn how to use guides to assist in placing and aligning objects. Then, you will use multiple images to create a realistic still-life image. Learn how to transform objects by scaling, rotating, distorting, and warping them.

Lesson 04 - Image Adjustments - Friday

Do you have an old image that has faded over the years? Are your vacation photos over-exposed or too dark? Use image adjustments to correct contrast and color! In this lesson, you will find out how to correct an image's contrast and make the colors pop using image adjustments. You can even remove color to make a black and white or toned image. Then, apply several image adjustments along with blending modes to create a surreal image! Finish this lesson by exploring the filters gallery to apply various artistic filters to a collage.

Week Three

Lesson 05 - Image Retouch and Restoration - Wednesday

Need to clear up a few blemishes on a headshot? Or remove unwanted telephone wires from a landscape? This lesson introduces you to the tools used in photo retouching and restoration. This lesson also covers sharpening an image, blurring areas of an image to create a depth of field, and adding a vignette to an image. You will learn how to easily clear up blemishes in portraits and restore old, damaged photographs. You will also learn how to remove or duplicate objects in a scene.

Lesson 06 - Colorizing Images - Friday

Learn how to combine colors and create color themes using Adobe Color. Sample colors from an existing image to create a new color scheme. Then, apply color to black and white photos using several techniques to color areas. Color a single object in a black and white image to create emphasis, or color the entire image, as if filling in a "digital" coloring book. This lesson also covers how to save and load swatches of color to use on other projects.

Week Four

Lesson 07 - Working with Brushes - Wednesday

Adobe Photoshop is one of the leading applications for digital painting. This lesson introduces you to brushes and teaches you to paint using different brush types to simulate real artists' materials, such as charcoal, pastels, oil paint, and watercolor. You do not have to have strong drawing skills to complete this lesson. You will sample color from existing images and use these as templates for your digital painting.

Lesson 08 - Working with Selections - Friday

One of the most basic skills you need in Photoshop is the ability to select areas of an image. Often, you'll want to make adjustments to or fine tune areas of a photograph. The act of editing an image, no matter the desired outcome, is based heavily on your ability to make good pixel selections. In this lesson, you will learn how to use the various selection tools and to use them to create convincing shadows to objects in a composition.

Week Five

Lesson 09 - Working with Masks - Wednesday

Masks can hide or reveal parts of a layer. Learn to use masks with images and adjustment layers to advance your image manipulation skills. Learn to use and modify masks to create complex selections around objects with thin strands of hair and clipping masks to add textures to objects.

Lesson 10 - Working with Vectors - Friday

Photoshop is able to create vector shapes and paths, which are used across many Adobe products, so learning these tools can put you ahead of the game when you are learning software such as Adobe Illustrator. This lesson is designed to guide you through the technical tools in a way that is easy to grasp.

Week Six

Lesson 11 - Type and Layer Effects - Wednesday

Want to create an invitation or promote an event? This lesson shows you how to apply typography with images to create effective design by utilizing Adobe Fonts, manipulating text using warping, typing on a path, or typing as a mask to place an image within the letterforms. Then, polish the look of your text with layer effects. This lesson will introduce you to a world of limitless type effects.

Lesson 12 - Preparing Files for Output - Friday

Understanding what file formats to use and when can be confusing. This final lesson covers file types and when to use them. Learn how to prepare files for both print and web output. You will also learn how to create a Behance portfolio page to showcase and promote your work!

I have completed all of the coursework and wanted to take a moment to thank you for offering this course and for your assistance along the way. I enjoyed the course and the many fun exercises we did.

Sherry, is a wonderful teacher and I will definitely be taking the Intermediate class. The practice assignments and videos within the lessons were extremely helpful. I’m so glad we weren’t left without directions for the main assignments – the step-by-step guidance was perfect! I really can’t think of anything I’d change about the format of this course. I learned so much more in this introduction class than I expected (and I know there's a TON still to learn).

I have really enjoyed this course. This is my first online course and I didn't know what to expect as far as quality of content. Sherry surpassed my expectations with her ability to introduce challenging material and present it in a way that I could use. Fantastic course and a great use of my time and money.

Class Schedule:

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your coursework, including the final exam.

Instructor Interaction:

The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
• You must have working headphones or speakers.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.