January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:07 pm

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Distance Education
PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:43 pm 
Offline
Established Member

Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:20 pm
Posts: 15
Location: San Francisco
I'm most of the way through the Distance Ed. program, and I have to say, it's been a mixed experience! I know GIA has a great reputation, but I've had some problems with the Admin. side of the school. Also, people told me how much "fun" I was going to have. Fun?



Suzanne


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:41 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
Hi Suzanne and welcome to the forum.
We have several GIA grads and students here.

I think the GIA had to tighten their belt a bit and cut back on their distance instructors. I've heard some complaints that it's hard to get adequate help.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:52 pm 
Offline
Gold Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:44 pm
Posts: 1079
Location: Washington State
I did the distance education with the GIA in the nineties and had a lot of fun learning basic gemology from them. I wish that they had a site like this, as GO has more information, points of view and qualified people to ask questions of than the GIA can spare at any given time. I think that the GIA should make a point of referring truly interested students here as this is the best resource on the 'net for gemology.

Just curious, why isn't it fun?

_________________
Michael E.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:57 pm 
Offline
Established Member

Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:20 pm
Posts: 15
Location: San Francisco
As to to not fun remark, I don't really enjoy things like testing for refractive index, or examining facet junctions. None of that is what I loved about gems and jewelry! I'm finally beginning to realize that some people actually like the science side of gems. Those parts are a little tedious for me.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:32 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
I'm one of those nerds. I love the ology in Gemology. That and jewelry history .
Lots of gem nerds around here..... :wink:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 5:01 am 
Offline
Active Member

Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 5:17 am
Posts: 65
Virgo, I had to chuckle a bit because I can sooo relate. I LOVE gems. I love to look at them and know the basics about them. I felt going for my GG would provide for me the education and reputation that may benefit me in the gem field one day. I had NO IDEA how scientific it would be. I didn't expect to learn as much as I have about atomic bonds, how light works, geology... One thing is I've gained a HUGE amount of respect for those who've completed the course because I know how much work goes into it.

_________________
GIA student, wife, and mom to 3.

Gemologist diploma (GIA)
Accredited Jewelry Professional diploma (GIA)

~Melissa


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:22 am 
Barbra Voltaire wrote:
I'm one of those nerds. I love the ology in Gemology. That and jewelry history .
Lots of gem nerds around here..... :wink:


Ditto. How else can one understand? And what else makes one's heart sing like like understanding? :wink:

Same for history too. If one does not know how things came to be as they are, how the h*ll can one best appreciate where they are going to?


Top
  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:55 pm 
Offline
Active Member

Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 5:17 am
Posts: 65
Kerensky wrote:

Same for history too. If one does not know how things came to be as they are, how the h*ll can one best appreciate where they are going to?


Great point!

_________________
GIA student, wife, and mom to 3.

Gemologist diploma (GIA)
Accredited Jewelry Professional diploma (GIA)

~Melissa


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:14 pm 
Offline
Established Member

Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:20 pm
Posts: 15
Location: San Francisco
I think that, when-and-if I actually start working in the industry, science will be just one part of the job. Whereas, now it's the whole thing!

I also had a very unpleasant experience when I took some Lab classes down in Carlsbad, but that's a complicated story, and probably should be its own topic.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:30 pm 
Offline
Established Member

Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:20 pm
Posts: 15
Location: San Francisco
What do yu do, if it says you've received a PM on this topic, but then tells you you're not "authorized" to read it?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:03 pm 
Virgo wrote:
I think that, when-and-if I actually start working in the industry, science will be just one part of the job. Whereas, now it's the whole thing!

I also had a very unpleasant experience when I took some Lab classes down in Carlsbad, but that's a complicated story, and probably should be its own topic.


Understanding is a bit like breathing. When you can't do it, you have to work hard at it. Once you can do it, just like breathing, you don't even think about it :lol:

What keeps life interesting is that there is always more to learn. There's a great saying that the first day one learns nothing is the day one starts to die.

Re. unpleasant experience etc.... Get over it. The world is blessed with a bounty of twits in all walks of life. From time to time one of them is bound to come your way. Just smile sweetly, tell him your star sign and ask him for his :lol:


Top
  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:45 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 11:24 am
Posts: 7523
Location: Rome, Italy
Virgo wrote:
What do yu do, if it says you've received a PM on this topic, but then tells you you're not "authorized" to read it?


only esablished members are allowed to exchange PM, and you need to write at least 10 post to became one of them..... :wink: ........it's a forum rule against trolls and spammers.....whatever, now you're an established member 8)
ciao
alberto

_________________
GemmoRaman-532 - GemmoFTIR - GemmoSphere - EXA


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:26 pm 
Offline
Established Member

Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:20 pm
Posts: 15
Location: San Francisco
"Re. unpleasant experience etc.... Get over it."

It's not that easy, since the problem still isn't resolved! I'll post under a new topic.

Suzanne


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:04 am 
Offline
Active Member

Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 5:17 am
Posts: 65
:wink: Virgo, I PM'd you privately asking what problem you had with GIA. You hadn't elaborated here so I thought maybe you didn't want to share publicly. I see you began a new thread and answered my questions anyway. :D

_________________
GIA student, wife, and mom to 3.

Gemologist diploma (GIA)
Accredited Jewelry Professional diploma (GIA)

~Melissa


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Distance Education
PostPosted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:17 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
A new member does not get full privileges (PMs) until they are established with minimally 10 posts. :)


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock