Improving organizational performance is a critical skill set for any leader. In this course, you will learn how to develop benchmarks, monitor performance and apply benchmark results to improve organizational efficiency and productivity.

Attention all writers! Learn how to efficiently and effectively conduct research for any writing project: fiction, nonfiction, business . . . even term papers and dissertations. Research has progressed far beyond a visit to the library. Today, myriad sources provide almost anything a writer might need to know on any subject. Learn how to identify and access every information source imaginable.

Research: The Foundation of Writing

In this introductory lesson, you'll learn why good research skills are necessary for effective writing. You'll unleash your creativity with the exciting "Mind Mapping" tool to identify your subject—in both a general and specific way—to help refine your research before you even begin. You'll also learn the importance of understanding jargon and technical terms specific to your subject, which will leave you much better prepared to begin your project.

Making a Plan

You probably already know that much time can be wasted if research is conducted in a disorganized manner. In this lesson, you'll learn how to organize a plan for your research and how to keep organized once your research is underway. You'll identify the first steps of research, including choosing between academic and anecdotal research, primary and secondary sources, and which resources will be the most productive for you in the early stages of research.

The Library: A Virtual Field Trip

The library is still the most all-inclusive resource for research, but many people aren't aware of the treasure trove of information residing within its walls. This lesson will take you on a virtual field trip through the many library sections and departments, introducing and reviewing the materials available, including periodicals, microfilm records, Lexis-Nexis, rare books, reverse directories, government reports, maps, old telephone books, and many others. You'll discover resources that you never knew existed.

The Personal Interview

One of the most productive resources for researches is the personal interview, but it can be intimidating. In this lesson, you'll learn how to find experts and how to prepare for an interview. You'll learn the keys to formulating questions designed to get the very best from your subject. By the time you finish this lesson, you'll feel confident and competent to approach your interview subjects with ease.

Getting the Most out of Reports and Studies

Perusing reports can seem about as much fun as a root canal, but it's worth it when you find nuggets of information essential to your research. This lesson will introduce you to numerous valuable reports, including census reports, public company reports and a multitude of government reports. You'll learn how to separate the wheat from the chaff, winnowing out the pertinent information, and how to assess a report not only for its content but also for the reliability of its source. As a bonus, you'll be given some guidelines for turning statistics into prose.

History: Fact or Fiction?

In this lesson, you'll learn how to incorporate history into your writing, whether it's fiction or nonfiction. You'll discover what you've probably suspected all along: the truth of history is often shaped by the perspective of the historian. This lesson will teach you how to evaluate different perspectives, how to spot "rewritten history," and how to zero in on fact versus mythology.

Public Records: A Treasure Trove of Information

This lesson will introduce you to the numerous public records that are waiting to reveal information about persons, places, and things. Real estate records, birth, marriage and death records, civil and criminal trial records, bankruptcy filings, construction records, and political campaign information are but a few of the many records available to the public. By the end of the lesson, you'll know what's out there and how to get to it.

The Internet: A Researcher's Best Friend

Conducting research on the Internet can be a valuable time-saver. It can also allow researchers to fall into the trap of believing everything they read. This lesson will discuss Internet reliability: what you can trust and what you should distrust. You'll also learn skills for effectively using search engines for your research, for both general and specific topics. You'll find many useful research links and learn about issues such as when you should and should not pay for your information. The Internet has as many pitfalls as benefits, and this lesson will show you how to avoid the pitfalls.

Creating Your Own Information

Some researchers can't resist the lure of using information that has never before existed. This lesson discusses the value of collecting your own data by way of surveys, studies, interviews, polls, and questionnaires. You'll learn how to effectively create these instruments of data-gathering, and you'll learn the difference between valid statistical sampling versus informal, nonscientific results, and when the use of each is appropriate.

Guerrilla Research

Have you ever had difficulty finding cooperative sources of information? This lesson will reveal the secrets of Guerilla Research; i.e., how to get answers when the questions are being evaded. You'll learn techniques for gaining the confidence of reluctant interview subjects, as well as methods for digging and snooping. In other words, you'll learn how to get what you want when the direct approach isn't working.

Attribution: Giving Credit When Credit Is Due

Once your research has been compiled, much of it will be quoted or paraphrased within your manuscript. This lesson will discuss the importance of proper attribution as well as the technical methods for crediting your sources. You'll learn how to painlessly create a bibliography, and you will also learn how to decide between citations, footnotes, and endnotes for your work. You can easily avoid copyright violations by gaining a basic understanding of copyright law, along with the fundamentals of fair use and permissions. Writers know how important it is to protect themselves, and in this lesson you'll learn how.

Pulling It All Together

Your research is complete, your facts are gathered; now what? In this final lesson, you'll learn what to do with all the research materials you have accumulated. You'll learn how to identify what is valuable and what should be discarded. You'll gain insight on both the writing and the editing process, and as a bonus, you'll learn how to avoid some of the most common word-usage mistakes. This lesson will give you the final skills you need to produce a well-researched, polished manuscript.

This is a self-paced class.  For more information or to register please click the link.

With more and more Spanish-speaking people living in the United States every year, learning the Spanish language is becoming ever more important. In the law enforcement field, mastering basic Spanish will give you more power to handle situations involving Spanish-speaking victims, witnesses, or criminals. It's also a smart career move, because adding Spanish skills to your resume can open doors to new job opportunities.

Whether you're new to the Spanish language or just want a refresher, this course will teach you the basic Spanish phrases you need for everything from making casual conversation to handling life-or-death situations. You'll start with simple vocabulary for everyday topics including colors, numbers, conversational phrases, family names, and words for asking questions. You will learn Spanish terminology you can use during arrests, traffic stops, medical emergencies, and many other common law enforcement situations. By the end of this course, you will be well on your way to being a Spanish speaker and communicating more effectively with the Spanish speakers all around you.

Self-Paced classes start anytime.

For more information or to register please click the link.

If you struggle to communicate with your Spanish-speaking students and their families, and you don't know your cabeza from your codo (that's your head from your elbow), don't worry—help is here!

Whether you took a Spanish class 20 years ago and just want to brush up a bit, or you have never taken a Spanish class, you will learn the essential Spanish for teachers and bridge the communication gap with your Spanish-speaking students and parents. Rest assured that this won't be anything like your typical high school Spanish course. You will learn new words in easy-to-digest bites, and each lesson will include Supplementary Material to help you keep expanding your vocabulary.

This course starts with the basics of Spanish pronunciation and then moves right into simple words for everyday things, such as colors, numbers, and question words. It then moves on to conversational phrases, family names, and directions. You will understand what it's like on the first day of school and words relating to enrolling new students, conversing in the classroom, talking about rules and behavior, and basic vocabulary for various academic subjects.

Finally, you will discover some survival phrases for the parent-teacher conference as you learn to describe how a child is doing, talk about academic or behavior problems, and discuss grades and homework. By the end of this course, you will be well on the path to becoming a Spanish speaker and communicating more effectively with the Spanish-speakers all around you.

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

Self-Paced classes start anytime.

For more information or to register please click the link.

Master your ability to speak, understand, and read Spanish by taking the final installment in the 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. Guided practice will include lots of new vocabulary, pronunciation, and speed drills, as well as in-depth study of Spanish parts of speech to help you speak and understand Spanish in a snap.

The goal of this course is not just to teach you the recipes, but also to help you use them spontaneously so that you'll never be at a loss for words!

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

Self-Paced classes start anytime.

For more information please click the link.

Have you ever thought about writing for magazines? Turn your dreams into bylines and help yourself to a bright future as a magazine writer. It is fun, easy, and a great source of extra income. If you are a determined new writer, or if you haven't written for magazines in years, this class will jump-start your career. You will learn plenty of powerful brainstorming techniques designed to get those creative juices flowing with articles that practically write themselves.

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

Self-Paced classes start anytime.

For more information or to register please click the link.

Ask any published writer and you will hear that a good editor is not just helpful, but essential. If you aspire to be an editor, this copyediting course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction. If you're already working as an editor, you will not only brush up on your skills, but will also learn about recent advances in your chosen profession. If you're a writer, you will learn essential self-editing tools to give your manuscripts the professional look that publishers like to see.

From the language of editing to grammar, punctuation, and syntax to the all-important relationships between editor, author, and publisher, every facet of editing will be explored in this copyeditor course. Online editing is gaining popularity; its complexities will be unraveled and its advantages and pitfalls explored. Can you make a living as an editor? Tips and resources for finding work will be addressed at length. When you finish with this course, you will feel confident enough to tackle even the most complex of manuscripts.

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

Self-Paced classes start anytime.

For more information or to register please click the link.

What's the single biggest difference between professional authors and novices? Professionals know how to structure novels and stories for maximum dramatic effect. This course helps you develop the same story structuring skills the pros use. You will understand how your passion, theme, premise, and characters help you create the structure of your story, and discover how viewpoint, dialogue, pacing, and many other techniques are used to build scenes and move your story from beginning to end.

Each assignment in this course helps you develop your own original novel or story. As you apply each technique, your story will take shape, with a clear path from beginning to end. Before you know it, you will be prepared to write fiction like a pro.

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

Self-Paced classes start anytime.

For more information or to register please click the link.