The Learning Enterprise (TLE) is trying to bring attention to the adult courses offered in Orangeville this winter for general interest, technology training and school credit courses.

“We’re targeting primarily adults,” says Betty Voigt, who administers TLE for the Upper Grand District School Board.

“There’s various classes, we run computer classes, MS Office applications, we run some graphic arts courses on computers using Illustrator and Photoshop and we run courses on digital imaging for people who want to buy a digital camera and don’t know anything about it, or have bought one and do not know how to properly use it and want to get familiar with all the different features.”

She says numbers for the classes aren’t up to where she thinks they could be and it makes her wonder if area residents don’t know The Learning Enterprise (TLE) is in Orangeville.

“Because we’re not-for-profit, because we’re the school board, we offer these courses at very minimum fees, primarily just to pay the teachers and cover the cost of the hand out materials,” said Ms. Voigt.

She says generally it is a one-time $25 material fee for the day courses – a low fee for a course that runs four hours a day, Monday to Friday for six weeks.

“You’re looking at 120 hours of training for a materials fee of $25,” she said. “Also these day courses that we offer are also credit courses, so the credit can be applied for anyone who is looking to get their grade 12 who may be some credits short, they can use that and apply it to getting their diploma.”

People who attend the TLE courses come from all areas of Dufferin and the surrounding area. Knowledge is the best thing the attendees are taking away from these classes.

“I think (knowledge) is really important these days because technology is changing so rapidly and in order to keep up with everything,” she says.

She says that for people who aren’t keeping up with fast changing technology are just one group of people who can really benefit form these courses.

“A lot of people who haven’t kept up with technology and they need to be re-trained,” she said. “They need that training. We offer the general interest courses strictly as a service to the community.”

She says a lot of people in the community with special skills put course proposals into TLE. The staff at TLE will then look over the proposals and decide what general interest courses the to offer the community.

“I think its important that people know we’re here, we want to make sure we get this message out,” says Ms. Voigt.

For more information contact The Learning Enterprise at (519) 941-2661 or to see what courses they offer go to www.ugdsb.on.ca and search under ‘continuing education’.