Self-Improvement Suite

Self-Improvement Suite

In this program you'll learn career-enhancing skills including goal setting, time management, personal organization, and creativity. You'll explore clear examples of verbal and nonverbal communication and gain practical strategies you can use today to improve communication at home, in social situations, and in the workplace. You'll also discover how to use journaling to ease the stress of unwanted change, improve your physical and emotional health, and achieve a greater level of professional success.

72 Course Hrs
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  • Syllabus
  • Requirements
  • Instructor
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$330.00
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72 Course Hrs
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Details

Individual Excellence

Develop career-enhancing skills in a single course that covers twelve popular one-day seminar topics, including goal setting, time management, and personal organization. You'll learn how to improve your creative abilities, gain confidence with financial matters, and how to minimize conflict in your life. Develop a fulfilling career plan and improve relationships with co-workers, friends, and family.

Introduction to Journaling

If you've ever wanted to try journaling, this course will provide answers to your every question. You'll discover the different types of journaling (including dream journaling), and sample a buffet of journaling techniques, exercises, tools, and resources.

We'll cover everything you need to know about journaling, including a seven-step process that will ease you into writing a journal, even if you've never journaled before. You'll get detailed instructions on developing, decorating, and customizing your journal, and you'll learn exciting new ways to express yourself and develop your creativity.

You'll find out how you can use your journal to explore your thoughts, feelings, and values, and you'll learn how to use your journal to support you as you develop true emotional well-being. You'll also understand how journaling can ease the stress of unwanted change throughout the course of your life. You'll even discover how journaling can help you choose the best career for you or advance in your current career.

Interpersonal Communication

Communicating successfully depends on effective use of communication strategies and behaviors. Words, facial and body movements, tone of voice, even clothing and situation, all form an intricate symbol system that must be quickly translated by those who want to communicate.

It has been said that there is no communication unless a mutual sharing of meaning takes place. It has also been said that one cannot NOT communicate. These two ideas seem to oppose one another, but they are two sides of the same coin. A smile can have many meanings. And so can silence.

This course will show you how to manage the conscious and unconscious codes of meaning we send to each other and to respond with appropriate codes in turn.

This course explains and explores concepts of verbal and nonverbal expression including personal style, listening, relationship dynamics, self-esteem, conflict management, and cultural and gender communication differences.

Examples, graphics, and theoretical models help clarify communication topics and simplify the process for effective communication in family, personal, and professional situations.

Communicating is necessary. Knowing how to do it well is personally satisfying and professionally wise.

Suite bundles are not eligible for partial drops or refunds. Transfers to other open sessions of the same course are available. Please refer to your school for additional details regarding drops, transfers, and refunds on Suite bundles.

Syllabus

  1. Individual Excellence
    1. Introduction; Your Career Plan
    2. Goal Setting and Creativity
    3. Interpersonal Communication (Getting People to Listen and Listening to People Speak)
    4. Written Communication
    5. Becoming and Staying Organized
    6. Problem Solving and Decision-Making
    7. Time Management (Taking Control)
    8. Stress Management (Is Stress Desirable?)
    9. Risk Management (How Much Should You Take?)
    10. Conflict Management (Should It Be Avoided?)
    11. Financial Skills (Part I)
    12. Financial Skills (Part II)
  2. Introduction to Journaling
    1. What Is Journaling?
    2. Journaling Tools, Aids, and Resources
    3. Beginning to Journal
    4. Filling Your Journaling Toolbox with Techniques
    5. Art and Journaling
    6. Journaling for Self-Discovery
    7. Journaling for Emotional Well-Being
    8. Journaling and Creativity
    9. Journaling Through Chaos, Crisis, and Change
    10. Journaling Your Dreams
    11. Journaling to Develop Your Career
    12. Evaluating Your Journaling Habit
  3. Interpersonal Communication
    1. Communication Basics
    2. Communication Misunderstandings
    3. The Personal Side of Communication
    4. Language and Logic
    5. Nonverbal Messages
    6. Intercultural Communication Differences
    7. Effective Listening
    8. Gender Communication Differences
    9. Relationship Dynamics
    10. Communication Rules
    11. Conversation Climate
    12. Interpersonal Conflict Resolution

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.


Requirements:

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 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.

Instructor

Becky Swaim

Becky Swaim has taught since 2000, focusing on Administrative Assistant Fundamentals, Administrative Assistant Applications, and Individual Excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from California State University, Long Beach. Her experience includes managing large staff in medical billing and collections and as a program manager to various medical practices.

Tony Swaim

Tony Swaim has helped many clients, colleagues, and students reach their professional and personal goals. He has been an online instructor since 1998 and has taught at colleges and universities across the United States since 1981. His focus areas are project management, Six Sigma, and supply chain management. Tony manages a successful consulting firm, and his industry experience includes 20 years of supply chain management. He earned a Doctorate in Business Administration from Kennesaw State University and holds professional certifications in six disciplines, including the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI)® and Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)® from the American Society for Quality (ASQ)®.

Cheryl Simpson

Cheryl Simpson, L.P.C., is a Career Coach and Ohio-licensed Career Counselor with more than 30 years of journaling experience. Simpson is the author of more than 30 articles for both print and Internet media. She also has developed more than 100 journaling exercises and leads journaling workshops and retreats on college campuses, at conferences, in schools, and for religious organizations.

Laurel Bragstad

Laurel Bragstad combines her understanding of communication theory and human relationships to design curriculum in interpersonal communication, public speaking, journalism, persuasion, and theory and research. With a Master of Arts degree in interpersonal communication and rhetoric, she has taught a wide range of courses to undergraduate and graduate students. Her publications include several articles in ETC: The Journal for the International Society of General Semantics, a chapter in Classroom Exercises for General Semantics (published by the International Society of General Semantics), and a novel entitled In the Comfort of Shadows.

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.

Related Courses

Course Slider Image Individual Excellence Course Hours
Course Slider Image Introduction to Journaling Course Hours
Course Slider Image Interpersonal Communication Course Hours
Instructor-Moderated Course Code: B8925
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