NEW Continuing Education Courses on Blogging Approved in Michigan!

Lola - This is good news.  I was thinking about this the other day, with Blogging being another avenue of marketing & providing information, it will become vital that it is taught so it can be proper implemented.  I'm just wondering when all the Mortgage Guys & Gals will catch on?

That is great for a board to be proactive like that, we are all tasked to do our required classes if more electives offered this type of subject matter more people would get something out of it beside the credit hours kudos to your board.Steve

Hi Jason, We're really excited about this New Opportunity. It's often difficult for real estate to access this type of training. It is our hope that this will help agents to gain an understanding of the technology if they have not been exposed to it and to provide helpful guidelines for those who are already using it so they conform to licensing and state guidelines and regulations.

Cool Lola. Are you teaching them?

I am trying to my Blogging workshop approved for CE in NH...wish me luck please.

Steve, Thanks for your comment.  This coursework is designed to help real estate professionals understand the way in which our profession is changing due to the impact of the Internet.  It also allows agents to understand their professional and ethical responsibility in online communications.  It's our hope that this type of relevant coursework will help to position real estate agents to serve their communities more effectively. It is a credit to our State and local association that such coursework is available in Michigan today.

Monika, Yes...I have been approved as an instuctor. It is certainly not an easy process, but I'm grateful to be able to share this information with my fellow agents.  I sincerely wish you all the best. :)

Sounds wonderful. I hope New York offers similar continuing education courses soon.

...and now for a testimonial.  I attended a blogging seminar that Lola did at GRAR.  It was wonderfully helpful.  Lola got on this bandwagon while the rest of us were saying "What's a blog?"

Her experience and expertise are priceless.

Rosario, We are grateful to have this course series in Michigan.  This is the type of information that agents need to know right now because many of our customers are well aware of the Internet and expect us to be able to serve them through online forums. You are always Welcome to visit us in Michigan...The Courses are open to All! :)

Karen...I wish I could hug you!  Thanks for the testimonial.  It seems like such a short time ago that I spoke with you & Eric about this & you attended the seminar.  It has been a special joy to watch how you have grasped the essence of this medium and are using it effectively.  I'm thankful that those early seminars have expanded to provide more information to more people.  Thanks for being there at the beginning...

Lola, I am very impressed but not surprised!  You are such a talented woman your students will be very lucky to learn from someone whose work is creative, inspirational and wise.  Props for Michigan too!  Are you the first state to have CE on Blogging?

I wish Florida would get a program like this. But I'm glad it's at least started somewhere. That's a good sign for the rest of us.

Hi Lola...When do the classes begin?  Maybe I'll take a sudden vacation to Grand Rapids, MI.

This is what we need in Virginia.

Congratulations to your upcoming students.  They are in for a treat!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Lola

Is the state going to make these classes available online anytime soon? 

Hi Lola, How wonderful is that. I am sure we will see more and more of these course and we might be some of those they need to teach it, at least to participate and give the anecdotal evidence that will make the difference. Blogging is one thing, community blogging is different and look what we have access to. Each other. So there is a lot to share.

Looks like a great class.  Thanks for sponsoring a new technology in our industry.

Diane, Thanks for stopping by.  We're very excited to be able to share this important knowledge and information with real estate professionals across the State of Michigan.  It is vital that we as professionals gain a working knowledge of this emerging dynamic within the context of what it means to do things properly and ethically as we serve the public. 

I am not aware of this type of coursework being offered for Continuing Education Credit...particularly the combination with the Ethics, but perhaps it is.  Nonetheless, it's a credit to our State that they are taking the lead role in offering this benefit to members of the business and real estate community.

Hi George, Thanks for your comment.  Blogging and Web 2.0 Technology is having an enormous impact on the business community. We need more qualified individuals to teach and train people to understand and communicate effectively.

Hi Lisa, It is very new information.  There are many real estate professionals who have no idea what this is or how it can be used in a professional forum.  A lot of education is needed.  Those of us who are blogging need to be talking to members of our associations and educating them about Web 2.0 technologies. 

We have several conferences last year in the Grand Rapids area and the State Association and local Board has also sponsored other events designed to bring this knowledge to the forefront.  That's how it starts! You're on the leading edge...

Kathleen, Thanks for your comment.  Grand Rapids, Michigan is a great place to take a 'sudden vacation' particularly when you can attend a Continuing Education Class. :) 

Terry...Great Question.  This was part of the discussion with the State regarding this coursework.  In the future, the online version may be a possibility.  But, we decided to do 'Live' training right now because we want to allow the opportunity for interaction.  The material is so new to so many individuals that we think that offering the coursework in this way is appropriate for the time being.

William...you make a great point. Community blogging has the added benefit of interaction and learning from others.  That is why it is so important that real estate professionals understand the legal and ethical implications of using Web 2.0 related technologies.  We can do much good if these tools are used appropriately.

Russ...Thank you for your comment.  This is a good Continuing Education Course for those who want to understand more about Web 2.0 and also provides some food for thought for those who are blogging and want to ensure that they are operating within the guidelines which govern our profession as real estate agents.  Thank you for your support.

Lola ~ This is great news!  If I had the time, I would fly to Michigan to take your courses.  You have contributed so much to Active Rain!  I know your course is going to be awesome.  What about a correspondence course??????

How forward thinking.    I'm so sorry that I've done my con ed for this year.

If I find myself with nothing on my plate on one of those dates I'll drive up for the course.

I'll be calling my WCR friends to see who can put me up for the night.

Gwen emailed me from Facebook and told me you worked hard to get this approved. Good job, I may pick your brain on how to get it approved in Ann Arbor or try to come so I can see how it works. Yea Lola  good job.

This is wonderful news, Lola, and I can't think of anyone I would rather see teach the class. ( Having attended one of Lola's blog classes last fall, I can hardily recommend it) I hope we see more local agents get into blogging soon.

And to think, I knew Lola back when.....

Seriously, congrats on getting this put in place.   It's going to be a good thing and another opportunity for the best (the best of the Realtors and the best of the lenders) to distinguish themselves from the crowd.....

Congats to you!  I would recommend you to anyone who needs a push to "get it".  Congrats on your class.

HI Lola,

I was very excited when you told me you have gotten this coursework approved and disappointed when I found I would be out of state during the seminar series. You put on a very dynamic presentation and I am certain that you will put your heart into this, as always, especially because this is for CE credits. Your first blogging seminar which I attended last year has made a profound difference in my life and career.

No doubt this current seminar will provide valuable information and new techniques for the professionals who attend. I highly recommend it! I give your course the "Ma" stamp of approval! LOL! I know you have worked hard not only to develop a high quality content but also to go through the daunting process of getting this approved for CE credits! What an accomplishment! Additionally, I am happy to hear you are providing a legal/moral/ethical section. Bless you for sharing your knowledge so freely!

Lola, is this course mainly for the Agents continuing ed, or would it work for the newbie's looking to learn the art of blogging?

Another great class.  Why did we only have 8 agents who attended? 

Duane, the course is suitable for anyone who wants to understand blogging and Web 2.0.  The fact that you can get Continuing Education Credit while learning this type of information is a remarkable opportunity for forward thinking individuals.

Ethan, It was a pleasant surprise to see you!  Your question was asked by several others in the class & it generated a lot of interesting discussion.  For those who attended, it was very clear that this information is vital to our ability to engage effectively in the real estate marketplace. 

Perhaps, one answer lies in the fact that this paradigm shift is NOT being driven by real estate agents and/or brokers. The public, media and web based entrepreuners are the main influencers right now. 

And, THEY are defining the conversation about real estate on a national scale in a way which has not happened historically. For our industry to remain focused and relevant this presents a real challenge.

 For the most part, we are scrambling to try to understand these concepts or thinking we can afford to ignore this whole revolution.

But like Mary W said during the seminar...this is a seed...a powerful seed.  I'm glad that your schedule permitted your participation.  It's good to be ahead of the curve...

Lola, sounds good, I sent an e-mail to a few people about your class. Is it a double class or two individual classes? I know one was this morning already.

Duane, The Blogging curriculum is 2 classes held one after the other ~ Blogging Basics for Real Estate Professionals K1061 and Blogging Ethics for Real Estate Professionals K1062.  These were taught today AND will be repeated on May 28th.

On May 28th, we will have 3 Classes as Gwyn Bessner of the Acme Institute will be teaching in the afternoon the Code of Ethics Class. #K299, K5047

This class will provide 3 hours of continuing education and also qualifies for 2 hours of the Core Curriculum/legal update segment that all agents in Michigan must take every year. Registration forms can be downloaded above and at Gwyns' website.