Conference in Your Cubicle

Something very exciting is happening this week in Chicago! The National Sexual Assault Conference (NSAC) [1] brings together professionals across disciplines for an intentional time of training, networking and development. In person gatherings like NSAC are wonderfully connecting and renewing, but it’s also a reality that these opportunities are limited and especially rare in lean economic times. For those of us who aren’t able to join the group in Chicago for NSAC 2012 [2], this doesn’t mean we can’t also celebrate the value of learning and connecting intentionally.

So let’s microwave some deep-dish style pizza [3] and stand in solidarity with strengthening the movement to end sexual violence, right at our computer screens. That’s right; my call to action is for a cubicle [insert relative workspace here] conference. Technology presents opportunities and tools that are easy on the budget and many adults find that self-directed study at their own pace to be a great benefit of online learning. In the spirit of NSAC, or should I say #NSAC2012 [4], I’d like to highlight free online learning opportunities, and I hope you add your own too!

NSVRC E-Campus

The NSVRC’s E-Learning page [5] collects online learning tools from around the web in a number of formats – from interactive online courses to podcasts and webinars - that we have reviewed and catalogued for easy use. Within this resource is the NSVRC E-campus [6] where you'll find NSVRC developed online learning tools on topics including disasters, trauma and engaging bystanders. Although a log-in account is required, tools from the NSVRC E-campus [7] are available for FREE and can be explored at your own pace.

Worth-a-look: Sexual Violence in Disasters: Understanding the Scope of the Problem [8] is our newest online course and addresses the connections between opression, sexual violence and disasters.

Learn. PreventConnect

Our awesome partners and the online aces at PreventConnect [9] have an exciting new online learning project that launched this summer. Learn.PreventConnect.org [10] offers prevention practitioners a hub of opportunities for learning and interaction. Courses are organized by topic under three learning levels for introductory, intermediate and advanced learning.

Worth- a-look: Building Blocks of Prevention [11] is an introductory-level course that provides a foundation in prevention principles and models.

Ted: Ideas Worth Spreading

Although this isn’t a traditional learning tool, Ted [12] is an online space where I’ve learned a lot. Ted talks bring inspiring and innovative voices on “Technology, Entertainment and Design” free to the world to spread ideas that can make an impact. Each talk is a maximum of 18 minutes, an easy time commitment, and the address is designed to engage.

Worth-a-look: Picking a favorite Ted talk is as difficult as choosing a flavor of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream [13], so let’s go for a sampling of big, bold ideas about women’s roles in the world organized by in the collection Women Reshaping the World [14].

Tag-your-it!

What are your go-to spots for learning and growing online? Leave a comment with the website/blog/podcast below.

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