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Helium, what a wonderful way of educating yourself and some people even get paid for it. If your purpose for continuing education is simply to learn more and become a broader minded person, the Helium web site is a great place to begin. Allow me to explain how it can be used in this fashion.

1. I suggest you find some titles that you feel comfortable writing about. There are many titles that you have experience with and can share your knowledge. This is a good way to get your feet wet and break into the site. Many titles won't require too much research and starting with a couple of those makes sense. Others will rate or grade your writing. The rating system may not always reflect the worth of your article so Helium has given you some avenues where you can ask for help and advice with your writing. You can get a mentor to help you with a specific article. You can submit your article to a member's forum for feedback. This covers the writing and communication area of your education.

2. You rate other's writing. I find this to be a fascinating area in the site. As I am rating I often come upon articles where I know nothing about the subject matter. I can read them and see if they are clear and concise, but not correct. Many times I find myself leaving the site to go do some research. Curiosity gets the best of me. I learn new things. Then I can go back to the rating and do a much better job.

3. The debate questions are also often an oddity to me. During the rate process they ask you to pick a side on a current debate topic of interest. I know they must be talking about famous people or things. Some times I have not a clue. You can skip the question, but it will come back to haunt you if you rate enough. Eventually it gets stuck in your craw and you go read people's articles just to figure out what it's all about. That's what we call learning.

4. Give yourself reading and writing assignments on subject you know nothing about. This is where you can open doors you never dreamed of before. I am able to learn about science and technology one piece at a time. For example, let's say I am not entirely computer savvy. I would go to that category and find things I should learn about my computer. I would research that one item and write an article about what I learned. One chapter, subject or article at a time you can teach yourself to study learn and progress.

5. Often I find myself reading articles and I may not understand what the author means. Helium gives you a way to contact the author and ask questions or discuss the article. I used this option often.

6. But what about the social aspects of your education? They even have that covered. You can go to the boards and visit with other Helium members about almost anything. I admit, this isn't my scene. However, I occasionally drop in on some thread and leave an opinion. It just seems to me that my time is better spent on research, writing and rating. With that said, I may stop by the boards today and see what the rest of the world may be talking about.

Continue your education today. Join Helium.

Learn more about this author, Trenna Sue Hiler.
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