Set up complete with my Learning Library account and I am ready to read, review and test! But where to start? I'm not ashamed to tell you with pride that I rock standardized tests. Most likely this is less due to smarts, and more due to my love of filling in tiny bubbles. The bonus of online tests, of course, is the lack of paranoia over whether or not yours is really a number three pencil.
I thought about trying High School Math but that brought on immediate sweating and panic so I started with the 4th Grade Math Diagnostic 1: Algebraic Thinking & Patterns. A short 15 questions later and I had my raw score, score report and answer key. The score report is useful to identify areas of success or needed study because it breaks down the questions into subcategories, while it is also helpful to see the answers to each question to understand specific skills. The recommended courses based on individual test results feature helps direct testers to appropriate study resources.
I skipped through the rest of public schooling - ack SATs - and took the Culinary Arts Practice Exam for fun. I watch a lot of Food Network. I must have picked up some demonstrable skills? Not so much. I don't know a béchamel from a hollandaise. I couldn't chop a carrot into a julienne even if I knew the proper dimensions, and I'm guessing my souffle would come up short as apparently you need eggs for that? So I learn that taking an online test is also good for know nothings. By this I mean, sure the practice exam is applicable to future culinary school applicants - already having an interest or aptitude in the field - but it too can serve as a window into the culinary word for someone who has just a passing inkling of wonder about the field. Most likely I will never be a police officer but it might be interesting to see what they go through to pass their standards. Might also be a good ice breaker. Or bar bet winner.
I took a look at the Career Course: Creating a Great Resume as this seems to be a real life skill asked about weekly in the library. And a skill it's good to keep up to date on (you know, in case I do go postal and poke in the eye the next person looking for that elusive "blue book"). The Course Overview lays out the goal to be reached and skills to be learned. From there there is a brief self discovery survey geared to which kind of resume is most helpful to use. Each resume type is clearly broken down and easy to follow. Each page of format has a "print this template" feature that could be phenomenally helpful. The timeline-like checklist of course sections at the left of the page is great to know where you are in the learning process - what you have and will cover. I also like that you can skip around if desired. The Putting It Together section towards the end is a great space to work out an actual resume. Very practical. I will certainly herd patrons to this resume corral in the future. Probably the near future.
My only complaint about taking a course is that while taking it there was no link to get back to Learning Library home. It felt like I had left the site and was not able to get back to "My Center. Not the end of the world as I have a trusty back button in the browser. Wonder of wonders.
Sometimes I try to speak and it comes out in yeti so "communication" seemed like a good search term for skills improvement. Plenty of results in Tests, Courses and eBooks. The only thing out of place here among the eBooks Goof-Proof Grammar, Communication and Literary Skills, and Interview Techniques was the Air Traffic Control Test Prep. Though on second thought I am sure it does take excellent communication skills to land a jet on a strip of tar without taking out the surrounding buildings or small children.
Because it promised to provide "proven techniques for increasing your writing and communication skills" I added Visual Writing to My Center. I was not expecting a PDF file as the courses and tests had all been site based. That said the PD format has all the benefits of a...PDF document. Charts, pictures, activities and lessons abounded in this file. Truthilly, I skimmed most of it but did pick up a couple of tips. I don't want to completely lose my yetiness in case I run into the abominable snowman this winter. (I think I've completely made up several words in this paragraph. Pardon that please. I also at first wrote "abdominal" snowman if you want a funny visual.)
Hmm, when using a blank search bar to select eBooks only twenty results come up. Better to click on the link from the homepage to see the complete list of titles. This may have been user error.
The Skill Building for Adults category is full of fantastic review like eBooks. I have heard several times from parents wanting to brush up on what their kid is studying to be helpful at homework time. Learning Library would be a super place to direct these parents.
I think that about covers it. Now to learn how to land that plane. Or roast that goose.
Happy Reading & Cheers!
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