NCS News September 2007

You may notice a few changes to our newsletter this month. For a start it is not called Cloisters. We are planning to upgrade the Cloisters newsletter into a bigger e-zine: Cloisters will become a quarterly publication with more detailed articles and features. In fact, if you think you can write an article that our readers would be interested in, we would like to hear from you as we are recruiting contributors as of now - see below.

However, we still want to keep you regularly updated with information about our courses and services and that’s where this new NCS News comes in. NCS News will be a little briefer and more focused than the old Cloisters with the lengthier articles and features staying in the new, enlarged Cloisters. We are very excited about these new developments in our publishing department and look forward to bringing out the new Cloisters, in 2008.

The new e-zine has not distracted us from our primary mission to foster education for its own sake. This month, we start into a new term and have some new courses to introduce to you. There are also some exciting courses in the latter stages of development that you can expect to see in the new year. We preview them in this NCS News.And don't forget our current crop of courses - we've listed them below for your convenience.

Finally, our treasure hunt still has another month to run. Start here and follow the clues around our site to win a valuable prize of an NCS course voucher.

Mark Toner

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The New Cloisters Quarterly

So what will the new Cloisters be about? It is going to be a quarterly e-zine with the goal of encouraging people to return to learning and education.  It will cover themes related to subjects in the NCS course catalogue, but it will also explore other ideas. We aim to provoke curiosity and raise as many questions as are answered. We want to point our readers into the areas where new answers are being sought and encourage an active involvment in learning rather than providing a spoon-fed consumerist version of the information.

Each issue will contain features, articles and reviews of books, websites and other media. We hope that the new Cloisters will build up into a resource for our students, guiding them to useful sources to help them on their way through their studies. We hope to entice readers into becoming learners, either at the New Curiosity Shop - or elsewhere!

However, it will not be all work and no play. The new Cloisters will still play host to Paul's Puzzles and other competitions as well as some new lighter-hearted items.

The first new Cloisters will appear in March 2008. We are gathering material now. We are interested to know what you think about this idea and what you would like to see in Cloisters. We would also like to hear from potential contributors. Please send any thoughts, suggestions or ideas to us at cloisters@newcurioshop.com, or use the Contact Us page on our website.

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Courses now available

There's a 10% discount for our maiing list subscribers if you enrol before Saturday 29th September 2007 - Just enter the discount code NCSnewsOct07 when you book your places.

Constellations of the North

Do you gaze up at the night sky and wonder about the stars? Do they have names? With three wishes at your disposal, you can learn to identify some of those stars for yourself. Constellations of the North is a taster course in practical astronomy. You will learn to recognise the constellations and find out how to identify stars in the night sky.

Astronomy for Beginners

This course is your chance to begin to understand a little more about the marvels of astronomy. You will use your computer, your own senses and the night sky to learn some of the basics about stars, the solar system and how to make observations.

Astronomy for Beginners - Practical

A follow-on course from Astronomy for Beginners. This course will develop recording skills such as note-taking, sketching and photography and the discipline of the observer. You should finish this course with confidence in your ability to tackle real astronomical observations and, perhaps, contribute to a regular observing programme.

Before we go to Paradise: the Development of the Garden Cemetery

In our hectic ‘24/7’ lifestyles our Victorian cemeteries remain a haven of peace. Our Victorian graveyards can shed light on our society, and tell us a lot about ourselves. This course aims to reveal what a positive contribution Victorian cemeteries can make to life in the early 21st century. It will tell the story of the garden cemetery from its cultural roots in classical antiquity and the ‘Graveyard Poets’ of the eighteenth century to its apotheosis in the seven great cemeteries which ringed London by 1850.

California Dreaming

When people hear about the California Dream, images of palm trees, beaches, movie stars and a sun-drenched landscape automatically come to mind. In this course, we’ll explore why people from all over the world have been lured by California’s seductive call to pursue their dreams. We’ll examine the contributions that specific groups have made to this state and we’ll also address the obstacles that these groups have faced to attain their dreams.

Coping with Change

Are you going through a process of change? A new job, moving house, setting up a family. Or maybe change is being forced upon you - divorce, redundancy, bereavement. This course is designed to help you understand (or remind you) of the normal processes of change in order to give you a framework for managing a change that you are going through.

Dreams: Theatre of the Soul

This is an intensive course in dreamwork from a largely Jungian perspective (although not exclusively so), and offers a balance of theory, methodology, as well as opportunities for dreamwork in depth.

Family History Begins at Home

Do you want to start looking into your family history but don’t know where to start? Researching your roots can be highly addictive and it’s easy to get carried away. But it doesn’t pay to be hasty when starting out in family history; you can make progress more quickly if you begin your research on a good foundation and put aside some time for planning what you want to achieve. This course will take you through step-by-step so that you can get the maximum information from these personal sources.

Herbal Remedies: The Science behind the Old Wives' Tales

Herbal remedies have been used for centuries - are they just "Old Wives' Tales" with no truth in them?, or is there objective science behind them? There has been a dramatic increase in the public use of herbal remedies. What was once seen as a ‘quack’ science in now viewed by an increasing number of consumers as a safe and effective alternative to conventional medicine. This course is designed to examine the wisdom behind this new popularity. We aim to help you to understand some of the science behind the old wives tales, and discuss some of the differences between modern and traditional medicine.

HIV/AIDS and Society

As HIV/AIDS becomes once again part of our consciousness, there is a need for individuals to know more about how the epidemic affects their society. At the end of the course, you will be able to talk about AIDS in an informed and sensitive manner, to critically assess media reports and government AIDS legislation, and be encouraged to act to make a positive difference in your society.

How to Learn Online

This brief course introduces you to the ideas and advantages of online learning. You will discover what type of learner you are and how you can benefit from taking part in an online course. By taking this course you will get a feel for what it is like to be an online learner.Set aside an evening or two and join us for a taste of online learning.

Introduction to Archaeology

This innovative and fascinating course will cover a wide spectrum of the methods and techniques used in modern archaeology, including the history and development of archaeology. You will have the opportunity to investigate a number of virtual sites worldwide, exploring ancient ruins and the re-creation of sites.

Introduction to Forensic Psychology

This introductory course covers a range of topics and activities designed to provide the student with an informed understanding of Forensic Psychology. Adapted from a series of lectures and group work sessions devised for undergraduate psychology students, this particular course assumes no previous knowledge and is, therefore, aimed at anyone with an interest in Forensic Psychology and a willingness to consider, discuss and debate the major issues raised.

Italian for the Tourist: I

You’ve booked a holiday in Italy but you don’t know any Italian. and you’re anxious about making yourself understood. Worry no more - you’ve come to the right place. In this fully supported online course you can learn enough basic Italian to get around easily, at the airport, hotel, restaurant, or visiting the sites. With the magic of technology you can have live conversations with your tutor, a native Italian speaker. You also work at your own pace practicing on your own, building your confidence all the time. Head for Italy with a suitcase full of new words!

It's a Long Way From Tipperary: Life in the Trenches (1914-1918)

This course will give you an insight into life in the trenches for the ordinary British infantryman during the First World War (1914-1918). By the end of the course, you will have some knowledge of the weapons, clothing, trench routine and other aspects of fighting on the Western Front. You will also learn how the individual soldier fitted into the structure of the British infantry division.

Making the Most of Moodle 1 - Getting Started

The Moodle virtual learning environment is a very powerful tool for the development and provision of eLearning, whether used for courses delivered completely online or to support classroom based learning. Making the Most of Moodle 1 is a short course aimed at new or beginner users of Moodle to enable them to explore ways in which they can use Moodle in their own teaching. The course is based heavily on practical activities using Moodle, with the aim of boosting your confidence in using Moodle.

Me, Myself and Others: An Introduction to the Philosophy of the Mind

This course introduces you to some of the fundamental and contemporary issues in Philosophy of Mind, and to some of the basic methods of Philosophical argument and analysis. You will learn to apply some basic terminology involved in critical thinking. You will look at questions of the self and personal identity: how do we think? how do we know we are the 'same' person that we were one year or ten years ago? What is a unity of consciousness? From awareness of self to awareness of other people you will explore how we know others exist or have the same feelings as we do.

Scotland in the 13th Century

This course takes you back to Scotland in the 13th century and looks at the places and people who were around at that time. It explores key events which shaped Scotland's history in the run up to the emergence on the scene of the well known figures of William Wallace and Robert Bruce. You will find the past coming to life as you think about these early medieval times. Also, you will develop some key skills in the study of history.

The Ecology of Your Garden

The Ecology of Your Garden covers aspects of ecology with particular reference to the garden setting. We will explore: Climate and weather; habitats and food chains; soil - its chemistry and living components; and plant communities. During the course you will be encouraged to use your own garden to help you explore some of the issues raised and to share insights with your tutor and fellow students.

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse: Urban and Rural Issues in the Scottish Short Story

This course will examine how a variety of writers have written about urban and rural issues in a selection of Scottish short stories. The set text, The Devil and the Giro, edited by Carl McDougall, contains stories relating to these themes from across two centuries, and so contrasts can be made as to how authors have dealt with them.

What Does it all Mean?

Have you ever wondered? Most people at some time wonder about the great questions in life:

What am I?
Why are we here?
Why is there something rather than nothing?
What can I know?

These questions have puzzled philosophers and others for thousands of years. Learn what they have to say about them and help yourself to unravel some of the problems. The truth is out there, but will we ever find it?

And don't forget your discount!