Learning Made Easier Through Online Demo Class

Education is the key for unlocking the true potential of a person. Our fast paced lifestyle has brought a perceptible change in the education scenario. With increasing workload and pressure, students today prefer up-to-the-minute, resourceful, practical and application based study supports. Online tutoring provides this help and facilitates uninterrupted study support for the students even after school hours.

Live Virtual Classroom is an interactive learning session over web where the students can study directly with teachers in real time. Its availability round the clock has made it a much sought after option for students around the world. They can resolve their queries and interact with the subject experts in real time. Students can avail free Online Demo Class, which offers an opportunity to get acquainted with the benefits of a virtual class. As the virtual class is very much in sync with the new age technology, students find them much more fascinating compared to private tuitions. Further, it gives students the freedom to select their own subject, topic on their preferred date and time. This gives them instant access to subject experts and one-on-one personalized attention to help them with their queries. The online subject experts explain the concepts in detail and thus help students in having a clarity on the topics. Non-physical location of the live virtual classrooms makes it flexible and adaptable to personal needs. Students can ask for teachers help anywhere, anytime on any topic or subject.

Concept based subjects like Math or Physics are well explained in online Math class and Physics class. Students can get personalized Math tutoring by joining the Live Virtual Class where a Math’s expert will clarify their doubts, and teach them how to apply theories to applications. They can schedule a free Math’s Demo Class to discus their doubts with a Math’s expert. Students can now also say goodbye to homework worries, as the online tutor will provide customized help to complete their homework.

Online demo basically aims at increasing the understanding of the subject through interaction with the online tutor. Students can avail this service by text or voice chat. They can ask without hesitation whenever they have trouble in understanding a particular topic. Through regular interaction, assessment, and feedback the students are made aware of their weak areas, which need to be worked upon. Moreover, the demo class tour is quite a fun-filled journey…far away from the routine lecture sessions given on an everyday basis in countless schools across the globe. Elearning websites target this very idea, which greatly influences the Gen Z. These are well implemented in a captivating way, thus, making the websites quite innovative and sought after.

Online classroom has brought a revolutionary change in the study patterns itself. If you have a computer and Internet connection, you can turn your personal space into a Live Virtual Classroom at the click of a button. Convenience, cost effectiveness and comfort are some of the benefits that have made online classroom a preferred learning option for students. So, transcend from routine learning and experience elearning with live virtual class.

Extramarks brings students, teachers and parents together on a single platform to ensure that a child excels academically. To know more about online education, e Learning, e-tutorial, school education support, CBSE, ICSE, and Rajasthan Board

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

E-Tutorial: A Learning Makeoer

E-tutorial, a term formulated to define the new-age learning technique, has taken the world with a storm. Giving contemporary education a razor-sharp connotation, e-tutorial has become a global phenomena where it is helping in imparting a multifaceted perspective to modern learning.

why e-tutorial?
With learning becoming quite customized and convenient in nature, e-tutorial or online learning has become a booming industry worldwide giving an impetus to both career and study. Easy to install technology and simple process expands the role of this learning medium quite obviously seen as a revolutionary innovation vital for knowledge liberation. The medium offer instant solutions when faced with imperative issues such as:
  
Ø    To acquire an additional edge important for excelling in schools and colleges
Ø    When facing an increasing competition
Ø    To acquire higher scores
Ø    To avoid travelling to coaching classes
Ø    To clear doubts of any specific subject by an expert
Ø    To get conceptual clarity as per one’s convenience

Moreover, e-tutorial has become a favourite among school students nowadays especially because of its exclusively designed study materials often used by experts. Elearning portals exclusively offer practice papers and board papers widely based on the NCERT curriculum, thus, giving enough reason to go for them. This often includes:

Ø    Practice Paper for CBSE
Ø    Practice Paper for ICSE
Ø    Solved Model Paper for CBSE
Ø    Solved Model Paper for ICSE
 
Salient features accentuating the enigma of E-tutorial
The magnetism of e-tutorial has enchanted every netizen with its quick exam preparation quality. Elearning website portals help in bringing forth a high quality, personalised coaching directly to a learner’s home irrespective of the fact wherever he is or whenever he needs it.

This particular advancement in the web world technology has actually become a blessing in disguise for millions of students who are now seeking personalised learning from this amazing educational medium. The varied advantageous features, however, boast of the following:

Ø    E-tutorial offers LIVE, online coaching, homework help and focused exam preparation
Ø    Render services incorporating the best tutors
Ø    Reaches students, irrespective of geographical location
Ø    Students avail online tuition from the comfort and safety of their homes
Ø    Promises higher marks and demonstrably better academic performance
Ø    Comparatively less stressful for both student and parent

Proven as a convenient and affordable tool for both career and study, the student is fortunate enough to have a personalised learning experience and individual interaction with a tutor. Using an audio and a shared whiteboard technology, online coaching is provided which further emphasizes the role of e-tutorial in the contemporary world. The tutoring is designed keeping in mind each student’s individual capability, which are further evaluated. Automated feedback and quality processes as well ensure a student’s fast achievement of the set goal.

Virtual learning has become a reality, which cannot be discarded. Come what may, whether it rains or shines, a student never loses touch with his online school which efficiently saves his precious time, money and energy. Becoming a fast-growing choice for both parents and students, e-tutorial is here to stay for a long time!

Extramarks brings students, teachers and parents together on a single platform to ensure that a child excels academically. To know more about online education, e Learning, e-tutorial, school education support, CBSE, ICSE, and Rajasthan Board,

 

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

E-Learning: Learning The Electronic Way

E learning is the most convenient way of learning, which amalgamates education and technology. It has caught the fancy of students and is increasingly becoming the buzz of the town because of its convenient and cost effective model. Not only students but also parents find it a convenient model of learning. Education always being given a priority has changed its silhouette from being conventional to more innovative and interesting.

Why e learning?
The role of e learning has manifolded in the last few years especially with the Internet becoming a global phenomena. People find learning online quite intriguing, simple and beneficial compared to conventional classroom teaching, since, it provides the learner with instant access to any subject material within seconds.

Offering solutions to several topics is actually the forte of e learning, which helps in the smooth lifelong learning procedure. It provides online tutoring to pupils across the world, and thus, makes learning quite convenient and flexible in nature. It gives control to student over when and where they study. Convenience is the key feature, which further helps in defining e learning effectively. A perfect ambiance is created which promotes an active approach towards learning. The medium even supports increased communication between the experts and students and aids in providing frequent and timely individual feedback.

E learning requires investment of time and effort for developing new skills, new approaches and new resources. For improving effectiveness and quality of student learning and making it more worthwhile, it is vital to replace the existing traditional modes of teaching with more active and engaging learning opportunities. This has been brilliantly achieved wherever appropriate by the e-learning medium.

How e learning is beneficial for students?
Students in the 21st century have got an innumerable option to hone their learning skills and this has been heightened with the advent of e learning. Getting hold on difficult topics has become plausible with e learning, which benefits students in their education sector.

In India, online experts make frequent use of exclusively designed study materials for teaching students online. These materials are based on the NCERT curriculum, which perfectly caters to the need of students across the country. They are provided with worthwhile study materials such as NCERT guides, CBSE notes, CBSE sample papers, notes on CBSE physics, maths to name a few. For students, all these functions as bonus features, which make them go for this innovative, less tiresome learning medium.

E learning helps in filling the educational void usually left after the school hours. Thus, no way a student’s education suffers. The study materials are prepared using the worldwide resources of the Web by qualified teachers having expertise in the education field. These are communicated in an intriguing fashion to the learners using the virtual reality technology. Functioning as a real time study support to students through subject experts via Virtual Classes, the queries of students are further solved eventually making them more proficient in the subject. Students prefer online learning also because of the fact that it is highly appreciated for its economic value as it eliminates the travel time and costs without compromising the quality and requirements.
   
As learning is a continuous, cultural process, so access and opportunities to learn should as well be available to students in real time after the school hours. And this is effectively done by e learning which fosters self paced learning whereby students access the study support round the clock at their pace and convenience.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

E Learning- Technology Blended with Education

In todays fast pace world when time is becoming a critical factor, the pattern of learning is also undergoing major transformation. Populace want and need to learn according to their schedule, anytime, anywhere, so learning must be available on a 24x7 clock, with just-in-time delivery to the office, home and holiday spots. In this context information technology has emerged as a revolutionary vehicle, giving rise to inventive mode of learning, e Learning. Any learning that utilizes a network (LAN, WAN or Internet) for delivery, interaction, or facilitation and the medium of instruction in computer is e Learning or Electronic Learning.

E Learning is an umbrella term that includes distributed learning, online education, Computer Based Training (CBT) delivered over a network, and Web Based Training (WBT). As e Learning is self-paced, hands-on learning, it endows with very rich learning experience that can even surpass the level of education one might experience in a crowded classroom. It can be synchronous, asynchronous, instructor-led or computer-based or a combination of both.

Coupled with the communicative powers of technology, today e Learning has influenced different facets of education & training. It is now used, as an option by companies for training, disseminating information and other information management needs for their employees. By using this mode of instruction, companies can save millions of dollars in education and training their employees.

Although used for various purposes, e Learning is one of the most promising innovations to improve classroom teaching and learning after the school hours. E Learning permits teachers to develop study materials using the worldwide resources of the Web and communicate information in a more engaging fashion. Availability of wide-range of texts, diagrams and images with video and sound, including virtual reality technology makes teaching an interesting and effective process that holds the interest of students in the classroom.

As learning is a continuous, cultural process, so access and opportunities to learn should be available to students in real time after the school hours. e Learning fosters self paced learning whereby students can access the study support round the clock at their pace and convenience. A real time study support to students through subject experts via Virtual Classes further solve the queries of students and make them more proficient in the subject. It is highly appreciated by the teachers and students for its economic value as it eliminates the travel time and costs without compromising the quality and requirements.

Amidst all such benefits, e Learning has a major pitfall, viz. lack of face-to-face interaction between the students and the professor. But the quality education at economic cost available as per the convenience and flexibility of learners conceal the snag in e Learning and makes it a foremost choice of today’s knowledge driven generation.

Extramarks brings students, teachers and parents together on a single platform to
ensure that a child excels academically. To know more about online education, e Learning, e-tutorial, school education support, CBSE, ICSE, and Rajasthan Board, log on to.

 

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Benefits of Online Education

Online Education  - Education and Technology Hand in Hand

Ballpoint pen manufactures are falling head over heels to advertise the latest technology they incorporate in their pens, as if a pen was some kind of rocket ship to the moon!

My point is simple: Technology is touching our lives in innumerable ways; from a humble ballpoint pen to the latest cars to education, it is everywhere.

Now imagine sitting in the comfort of your home & being able to earn your self a degree! Well, this is the latest gift of technology to us.

Online Education as it is called, is fast becoming an alternative to classroom education because of its inherent benefits of convenience, value for money & career advancement.

Here’s why online education is becoming a big hit:

1. Convenience:You can choose a course of your liking & pursue it from the comfort of your own house. You set your own pace by following whatever routine is comfortable for you. Since your course material is available online 24*7; you can access it anytime & study it anytime.

If you are a working professional & cannot set aside time for studies, then an online degree is the best bet for you. Not only will an online degree free you from the hassle of going to a regular college/ institute at the expense of your job; it will also help you upgrade your skills set & get faster promotions in your area of work.

2. Student centric teaching approach:In a typical online classroom, you have message boards, chat rooms, discussion forums etc where you can discuss assignments. Moreover, since the course curriculum is based on a do it yourself model; it is easier for students to follow the instructions. As a student you get both visual as well as textual aids to complement your studies. This ensures that you can pick & choose whatever suits your study style.
3. Increased participation:If in school you were the type who used to like to keep to yourself; you will definitely like the absence of the traditional setup in an online classroom scenario. You can interact with everyone without feeling unsettled by ‘Others’ presence

If you are the extrovert type, you will appreciate the fact that you can make online study groups where you can find like-minded people & exchange ideas. You can collaborate on assignments & in the process make friends as well.                                                                                                    

4. Get your degree from acclaimed universities from around the world:Since there are no geographical boundaries to deal with, you can pursue your degree from top universities from around the world- from the comfort of your living room. Most colleges in India & more from abroad are offering online courses; top online universities would be accrediting your education.
5. Instructors with a Global experience:You can learn from the global experience of the instructors, who might be from different parts of the world & also share their practical knowledge. Since you are in touch with your instructor through emails, you have a much wider scope for interaction than in a typical classroom.

Give it a thought

Classroom teaching is a must at the elementary level but the higher education, especially, skill enhancement and up gradation courses are better done online these days. So there you are! Put on that thinking cap & sit back & get cracking on that online course!


Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Online Teaching- What is it ?

Online Education for Kids – Teachers Initiative

Online education is an approach to teaching and learning using Internet wherein Internet is taken as a technology that supplements as well as compliments traditional teaching. Web based tools are used to enhance the learning and teaching experience.

Online education in India is mostly restricted to as a part of distance education with in-between face-to-face meets. As far as school education is concerned, it is limited to projects and assignments.

As in the western world here also teachers will have to and even have taken the initiative. Here are a few benefits that the students will get when they adopt online learning along with the teacher’s.

 Features of Online Education

•   Online learning is a self-learning experience where in the student can set a pace that suits him best

•   It gives the students a chance to explore the subject they are working on.

•   Students work in a more collaborative and interactive environment.

•   Online projects give students an opportunity to pursue their special interests

•   The student is not bound by time or regional boundaries. 

•   It costs less than appointing an individual tutor

•   Online guidance is usually available on education websites

•   This initiative enhances computer and Internet skills that is useful

•   Online discussions help expand the viewpoint

•   Online projects allow children to experiment with different approaches

It will be a positive step on behalf of the teachers to introduce online assignments and interaction platform for the students. To begin with you may just post the assignments for the class students online or start a discussion and invite students on it.You will see the difference. Students who don’t interact in class participate actively. 

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Online Education: Study Shows Social Networking a Boon for Education

Your teenage daughter is supposed to be doing homework, but you catch her chatting online. She tells you that she's talking about the math test tomorrow. Before your eyes start rolling, listen up: teens are using social networking sites for more than just gossip, according to a new study by the National School Boards Association.

The students who participated in the online survey, ages 9 to 17, say they spend almost as much time social networking online as they do watching television. And it's what these kids are talking about on-line that's causing such a cheer: Education. That's right. Of the students who participated in the study, 60 percent reported that some of the most popular social networking topics were college planning, learning outside of school, careers, and schoolwork. They also report posting writing and art projects that may have nothing to do with schoolwork.

This is exciting stuff to the National School Board Association, which has promoted the concept of online education long before google and wikipedia were household names.Ann Flynn, director of education technology for the National School Board Association, says incorporating social networking tools into educational curriculum is the way forward. “Learn it because I said so isn't effective right now. We need to use the Internet to involve students in project based assignments in the real world, taking place around the world,” she says.

Take a stodgy school classic: the book report. Flynn says a school in Cleveland, Ohio is posting student book reports on a blog for their peers, parents and other teachers to read and comment on. Think of a Sunday Book Review. “If someone is going to react other than the teacher, a child is much more likely to take an assignment seriously,” Flynn says. Other classes nationwide are gathering and displaying what they've learned on wikis, or collaborative web sites that can be edited by anyone with access to it. Students working on science projects can be steered towards blogs on global warming. During campaign season, political blogs give students the chance to feel the heat of debate first-hand.

Flynn says its not just about complementing the curriculum. She says collaboration, self-direction, and problem solving are all long-term academic and life skills that social networking helps students practice.

It's not just students benefiting. “It's terrific outreach for parents," Flynn says. "Sometimes asking, 'What homework do you have? What did you do today in school?' doesn't always elicit the best response. Now parents can go online and know what the class is doing."Keeping pace with technology while leveling the playing field for students who don't have Internet access at home is a delicate balance, says Flynn. The study shows that 70 percent of school districts report having web site programs and 96 percent say at least some of their teachers assign homework requiring Internet use.But many schools also block social networking sites, even though some of the sites they're blocking may be great resources. Flynn says she hopes the survey will spark conversation about the current school policies. “There are some really intelligent, topic specific blogs. We're not saying we should unblock all filters, but schools and parents should open up the conversation and figure out what to block and what to filter,” she says.So, next time your child says her blog is educational, get curious; sit down and check out the blog with her. You might just learn something new yourself.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Distance Learning MBA Basics

If you've ever tried to earn a degree, no matter where or how, you know what it takes to reach your goals. If you've already achieved an Associate or Bachelor's degree, why not take your
education, and your earning clout, to another level by earning your Master's degree? What? You don't have the time with your job and family commitments to attend a traditional campus any more? No worries! Earn a distance learning MBA degree from the comfort of your own home or office.

Master of Business Administration degrees will open doors that you thought might be permanently closed. Today, there's no reason for anyone not to be able to attain the education dreams they've always aspired to, with the wealth of distance learning colleges out there. More state university systems are also adding online or distance learning curriculum to their rosters,
because they understand the needs of today's students and adults who would like to pursue further education goals.

Because traditional campus learning requires a major portion of any person's time, and one must often perform feats of magic to blend school time with work, job and family responsibilities, the concept of distance learning has taken education to a new level in the 21st century. If you have a computer, you can attend online classes from anywhere in the world. No longer are you limited to state or community college systems that are within driving distance of your front door. Taking advantage of a distance learning college or university to pursue your Master of Business Administration can get your career on the fast track. Work is available within just about every job sector market when it comes to degrees in business administration.

You don't have to work in a bank or other financial institution to put a MBA degree to good use. Every industry in the world needs gifted and educated men and women in their ranks to take care of the finances, legalities and day to day running practices of their companies. The health industry is one of the largest growing fields around the world these days and is expected to
hire millions before the year 2014. No matter which sector you enter, there are positions open and waiting for business administration graduates in health care management, billing, recording, and administrative. The same goes for the law enforcement field, within both private and governmental sectors.

Distance learning colleges and universities or extension programs should be fully accredited, so make sure they are before you fill out applications. You may also want to check into student financing and student support services before you decide. A distance learning MBA is one of the degrees that can be used in the widest variety of job sectors. Distance learning opportunities offer the courses you need, fully accredited and ready for you to start. Finding the college or university that offers the MBA course you are looking for is your decision. Completing coursework can be done as quickly as you want, or you may take your time. That's the beauty of distance learning. It's your decision when to sit down and study, not the other way around. 

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Obstacles To Small Business Usage Of eLearning In Europe

I would like to start my article with a few economic facts which could lay a background for the message I want to get across.The political agenda of making Europe the most competitive global economy by 2010 has not been matched by developments over the past five years. Demographics show that Europe will continue to have a shrinking workforce between now and 2020with older workers forming the core of the European workforce.

Currently 80 million EU citizens are low-skilled. By 2010 it is estimated that half of all additional new jobs on the labour market will require tertiary education and almost 40% upper secondary level. Logically, the job prospects for the low skilled will decline. So we are currently confronted with the situation where half the EU workforce (some 100 people) require upskilling.This in my view cannot take place in the back to the classroom scenario, Learning and upskilling must be integrated in the workplace.

These unsettling prospects must also be seen in the current European economic structure. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the European Union. They account for 99% of all businesses;
they provide employment for 74 million people.

Elearning through the flexibility and facility of access it offers is seen - at least politically - as an important enabler of lifelong learning. However, while we can observe an increase use and impact of elearning in large European companies - up to 60% of the training needs of key players in the ICT sector is now provided by elearning) the uptake in SME's is at best slow and does not meet initial hopes and expectations.

A recent study carried out by Cedefop and the European Commission shows that elearning has had a limited impact on SME's in terms of those who use it and what it is used for, The use was almost always limited to managers and ICT based staff. The case studies carried out showed that in five European countries there were a number of factors decisive in influencing the development of ICT for learning in SME's. The most significant were:

- the total lack of training culture within the SME
- lack of appropriate learning materials
- the attitude of individual managers
- and lack of access to sufficient bandwidth to ensure high
 

quality training.
Broadly speaking and with few exceptions, despite spawning a number of new technology companies and numerous government and European sponsored programme's the uptake and efficacy of learning using ICT has been less than convincing. The development of learning in Europe has been dominated by the metaphor of the virtual classroom and the virtual university,
it has equally been dominated with an obsession with technology and very little attention has been paid to vocational and occupational learning or the development of elearning environments in less formal learning contexts.

Like it or not, research suggests today that most learning takes place in every and work social situations, In other words, most of our learning is informal and takes place in a variety of social contexts. Work is carried out in a social context - this is particularly the case in small and
medium-sized enterprises and plays a very important part in people's lives. If elearning is to make a contribution to changing the traditional learning paradigm - institution based- phase and stage related) it must become embedded in the workorganisation.

The use of ICT in the broad sense for learning is considered a major factor in implementing the paradigm of lifelong learning and in providing staff from SME's in particular with access to continuing vocational education and training.The main objectives of ICT supported learning should takeforward the following objectives:

- it should increase access to learning opportunities through increased flexibility of delivery modes and by overcominggeographical barriers to participation,
- it should enhance the quality of the learning experience interms of content and teaching
- ultimately it should increase the efficiency of the organisation by reducing costs and increasing productivity.

So what are the obstacles to making elearning happen in SME's Firstly I believe that people are ready to learn when they realise that they don't know something that they need to know in order to accomplish a goal they wanted to approach. Thus  there is little use in a philosophy of one size fits all, To date most elearning has been an attempt to put books on computers interrupted by a multiple choice test, The advocates of elearning have not spent time trying to understand how the new medium changes the educational experience. They are simply trying to replicate what is there now while leaving out some of the important parts such as the teacher. The value of a computer may seem at first to be its ability to deliver information anytime anywhere but its value in education is much more important. When the air flight simulator was invented what was
important was not the fact that it could be used in any remote location. It enabled pilots to learn to fly without risk and toaccumulate the experience but not be harmed by it

Today, to give another example, most university courses are lecture courses. Lectures are evidence of the inertia that exists in education and still reflects ancient educational considerations. ELearning needs to be about learning by doing, also using the computer to evoke simulated experience. One should learn to run a business by running it rather than reading or hearing about how to do it.

The emphasis in the elearning industry has changed somewhatover the past five years from a technological to a pedagogical perspective.So first and foremost there must be a broader understanding ofwhat elearning really is and that it impacts largely on how, where, what and how the learner progresses.

Secondly, I would return to the issue of the learning culture. What is the motivation of the learner in the SME. Are their incentives - tangible or intangible for improving his/her competences. ELearning cannot be removed from the whole debate of the learning organisation, of managing human capital and recognising the assets of the company are largely in the heads
of its employees. Workplaces need to be designed to facilitate learning and learning infrastructures. This requires examination of what forms of work organisation are needed to
support elearning in SME's and how skills gained from formal and informal learning activities can be applied in the workplace. In this domain current research is weak.

The third issue I would touch upon is the question of pedagogies and learning cultures. Work is still outstanding in defining and analysing the training and learning needs of SME's and of its managers and employees. In an elearning context there is a need to develop effective pedagogies, materials and eresources,

Fourthly the issue of elearning materials and infrastructures.We need a much broader understanding of how electronic media and applications can be used to support elearning. This should go hand in hand with an audit of what elearning materials are actually available to SME's, how does it fit their real learning needs. This would led me on to the issue of localisation of software but that I shall leave aside for the present.

Point number five. That elearning is a cheap learning solution is a myth. On average US estimates put costs of one hour elearning instructional material at 20 000 dollars - in some cases as high as 80 000 dollars. If materials can not be recycled, if learning materials cannot be adapted to specific learning environments, it learning materials have not complied with technical standards, then there use is limited and the return on investment non-existent.

And perhaps the last point I wish to make. What about the models and frameworks to support elearning in SME's. There are growing national and regional initiatives, and here I would
point to Scotland as one outstanding example for networking and support to the SME looking for elearning opportunities. For SME's I believe in terms of financial resources, the most convincing model is one based on learning regions and partnerships.

The issue of open standards is essential it elearning is to be a feasible investment = particularly for SME's. Similarly there is a need for a lifecycle model of learning content covering all aspects of content from creation to delivery storage and retrieval.

The issue of the changing role of the trainer or educator is equally important. They potentially play the key role as change agents. Their continuous professional development is essential and work we have carried out at Cedefop shows that there is major concern among teachers and trainers that they are not equipped to support technology in the learning environment

To conclude, I think I have tried to advocate the view that the issue of how a culture of lifelong learning should be developed and supported in SME's is a complex one. It is unsure to me if
present national and European policies promote access to continuing learning as a pubic right or. a private good, What is the balance between the responsibilities of the public and private sectors regarding elearning. And this raises the vital question of funding. Already there are substantial differences in access to lifelong learning and elearning for different occupational and social groups. This in turn raises the issue of social exclusion.

I am afraid that my article raises more questions that provides answers to the issues of elearning in SME's. But if such issues are not addressed at all levels - European, national and regional, the promise of elearning as a driver of economicgrowth and performance in Europe could easily turn into a myth.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

E-Learning & M-Learning In The Process Industries-Presenting The Business Case

Today's business depends heavily on employees who are trained in the right skills that they need to run the business. It is not for nothing that an ideal business organization is also called "The Learning Organization". With shortage of staff due to competitive pressures like downsizing and outsourcing, it is highly critical for any business to ensure that all of its employees are trained regularly. This is especially so, for businesses like the process industry (chemical processing, oil & gas production, refining, petrochemical manufacturing, etc) who are heavily involved in engineering and technology, because of the rapid changes and advancements (and equally rapid obsolescence) in technology today. Not just technology changes, but the employees of these businesses have to be regularly trained in safety aspects of plant operations, to ensure safety & environment compliance.Training employees and other stake-holders in your business regularly is a daunting task if attempted to do with the traditional instructor led training. In this White Paper, we examine the issues involved and see how e-learning can offer a better solution.The challenge of learning in the traditional way:In current times, in the process industries, there are several problems and issues related to learning in the traditional way. By traditional way, we mean attending a live class, or training workshop, or information seminar, where the expert teacher or instructor teaches a group of learners on the subject matter.

The problems and issues include the following

• Not all employees can be spared for such training at the same time. The employee has to travel away from the place of work for a full 2-3 days at the minimum.
• Costs of travel and stay, if learners are coming from different locations to study. These costs can be pretty significant if air travel is involved.
• Different employees may have different levels of grasping, hence even after undergoing the same course, each learner's level of understanding will be different.
• Pressure on Instructor to complete the course in shortest possible time.
• No scope for learners to revise the course concepts or re-take the course again and again, unless the company has a policy of regular refresher training. However, typically this is done only for essential training like mandatory safety training, fire-fighting, etc.
• Learning is a continuous process but instructor led training makes it a one shot event.

Let us see now how this situation can be improved.
The case for e-learning & m-learning:
As can be seen from above, process technology has come a long way but people are still caught up in 18th century techniques to teach 21st century technology. How is this so? The traditional classroom based training, is a product of the industrial revolution of the 18th century. At that time, this kind of teaching was the state of the art. Now with the advent of the internet, broadband connections & excellent software, is teaching using these old methods OK? Certainly not! 21st century training has to be imparted to learners in 21st century fashion! Not in an obsolete way. Hence all over the world businesses, big or small, local or global are turning to e-learning & m-learning as a means of imparting effective learning. What does one mean by e-learning & m-learning.? E-learning can be defined as using computer technology, internet, multimedia & other technology to impart learning. M-learning is similar to e-learning except that, it happens not with a computer or laptop, but with a mobile phone.
Advantages of e-learning & m-learning:
 

The advantages of e-learning are:

• No need to spare all employees at the same time. The employee can choose time and place of learning.
• It will be self paced and if need be can be run again and again till employee is confidently well versed in the subject.
• No time constraints. Learning can be in bite sized chunks or all at once-totally as per the learner's need-rather than the instructor's comfort.
• Large number of courses can be managed through suitable LMS (Learning Management Systems) by a very small number of training administrators. The LMS can also document and log number of courses taken, test scores, time taken, etc for each learner which can provide intelligent data for developing your employee's skills.
• It results in measurable learning. Due to score tracking, progress tracking and time tracking, the performance of each employee undergoing the training becomes measurable. In earlier days with traditional training, this was typically not done.
• Flexible course deployment---either through stand alone CD ROMs, Internet or a company wide Intranet. Hence no travel and stay expenses, which can be a substantial cost today.

Geography is history. Learning can be anywhere, anytime at your convenience. An e-learning solution can be either off the shelf courses, or a custom designed course. Off the shelf courses: You can find several excellently designed off-the-shelf courses in several topic areas .For process industries, these include e-learning courses on Hazardous Area Instrumentation, RFID technology and Gas Monitors from Abhisam Software. To know more about these please visit http://www.abhisam.com 

Custom Designed courses:
A custom designed course has to be designed keeping in mind the audience, goals of the course, time allotted to the course and testing requirements. You should ensure that a custom designed course provider can provide to you all these resources at competitive costs. Often custom designed courses tend to be very very expensive. For most standard topics you can safely assume that the standard off the shelf e-learning course is good enough.

Use the right teaching tools in the course:
Your off the shelf course provider should have produced the course not merely as a bunch of pages stuck together electronically but an integrated course consisting of text, flash based animations, graphics, photos, videos, exercises & simulations. It should also have a glossary & an assessment test. For example e-learning courses made by Abhisam Software have all of these features. Also the arrangement of the course material should have a logical progression, starting from basic concepts going to more advanced topics.

Going beyond traditional courses-Electronic Learning Manuals (Not just e-books):
One should think of going beyond just traditional courses and putting all of your company's user manuals, procedures, maintenance manuals and installation guides into e-learning modules. This is especially useful for companies who sell capital equipment and need to train their customers thoroughly. Instead of supplying a staid user manual (with perhaps a three day course thrown in for good measure) it would be a better option to convert all this knowledge into an e- learning module which can then be used teach everybody who needs to know it anytime. Say, your company makes an oil fired heater and needs to train the customers in its operation. What better way to train than do it through an e-learning course which through the right combination of text matter, graphics, animation and sound can create quite a lasting impact. This kind of audio-visual training has better retention amongst plant operators than going though a dull manual. (Please note that we are not talking here of e-books or e-manuals, which are nothing but soft copies of the same dull manuals!) These kind of modules can be hosted on the company's website and used to impart very effective training to even faraway customers in a cost effective manner. Does your e-learning service provider have this kind of service?

Deployment:
Ideally courses which are organization-specific should be able to be deployed immediately in a cost effective manner. The easiest way to do this is to buy the course from a service provider who does not ask you to install any specialized or expensive software. You should be able to take the course directly by using your PC or laptop & logging in to the course provider's site via a web browser like Internet Explorer. All of Abhisam Software's online courses are hosted online by Abhisam Software & its business partners and are available to you instantly by just visiting the course pages. No special software is needed. Thus you can get trained on subjects like Hazardous Area Instrumentation, Gas Monitors or RFID almost immediately. If you do have a Learning Management System (LMS for short) already installed in your company then your e-learning course provider must be able to give you courses that are compatible with your LMS. Most LMS these days conform to the SCORM or AICC standards and so the courses must also follow these standards. All of Abhisam Software's e-learning courses are also available in SCORM or AICC compatible formats.

Conclusion:
E-learning is a technology whose time has arrived and companies, especially those in the Process Industries now have compelling reasons to adopt it, which was not the case a few years back.
If you are not considering e-learning for your organization, then you are losing an excellent opportunity to sharpen skills, increase productivity and thus increase the general skill level of your organization, at a fraction of the cost of traditional learning. If you are unsure about how e-learning can help your company or organization, don't hesitate. Contact us now and get a free no obligation consultation.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Getting Ahead In Your Career With An Online Education

The path to get ahead, as many studies and surveys have brought out, is taking some online courses or getting an online degree. This opportunity that has rapidly evolved in the recent years allows many of us who do not have access to university or college campus due to various reasons to get ahead and obtain an education certification. Today, more and more institutions are offering a variety of classes online and you can choose between a certificate, a diploma or even a degree.

Online education opens vistas that were unavailable previously. It allows people to take courses in their own time while continuing to pursue their jobs. Study through online also allow people to upgrade their existing skills, or perhaps change their careers completely. Those who are unable to go back to school full time can still pursue their dreams while working and thus able to continue to pay the bills of everyday life. Not everyone can quit a job for school as student loans are not easy to obtain and they do not cover enough of the costs associated with a quality education program.

The individuals who need to to work can continue do so and yet at the same time, obtain an online education. They can get online and do their course work whenever they are able to spare
some time. To get ahead and quality education, sparing a few hours each evening and on the weekends is not much to ask for, especially when it places you on the fast track to a new career with better pay.

Online education may also be the perfect choice for you if you don't live in a metropolitan area. In the past, students would have had to move to a city that housed a college or university. This was just about impossible if your spouse had a great job and your kids were still in school. Unfortunately in these situations, the education had to be put on hold. This is no longer true as you can log on and work toward that degree without even leaving your house - beauty of technology.

With most online education classes, you sign up to whatever institution you would like to attend, no matter where it is, and they will send you all the material you will need almost immediately. Depending on the course layout, you may need to go to certain place to write the final exam, but the rest of the course work can be done at home at your own pace.

Before you consider taking any online classes, you should consider about how much time you will have to spend on your homework. Some people are under the wrong impression that online
courses are easier and take less time than classes taken in a traditional classroom setting. This is often not the case.

The time required for the course is generally discussed upfront with you. Most institutes indicate the normal duration and the minimum input required to meet that time schedule and commitment. Make sure that you can devote at least the minimum suggested required time. Often the time required is more than the recommended as the pupil is unable to lead a disciplined routine - common. It is very easy to get into the habit of putting things off to the next day. That is why it is important to set a deadlines that you adhere to strictly and do the daily work.

Online education is great for those who are discipline and can manage their time well. Many courses have advisers on call who can be contacted whenever you need clarifications. It is better to check your suitability for a course by taking on a few classes and shorter courses before signing up for a long duration degree course - you do not want to regret it only in the middle of the course program. If you can manage your time well, can lead a disciplined schedule, can finish the work in a timely manner, then the path of online education is meant just perfect for you. 

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Online Learning Authoring System for Creating E-Courses

I'll go back about a year and a half when I began researching an online learning system for two of my clients. What keywords to use - online learning. Well no, that brings up all sorts of colleges, universities, technical schools, software certification schools with hundreds of listings of classes. Okay, how about "writing courses online." No again, these words simply tell me where to go to find about writing courses online.

The subject is really rather obscure. This might be because authoring systems are generally for large companies who can afford to purchase customized software specifically written for their company. Okay, let's try "online authoring course." Good, a little closer, but now I'm coming up with software packages to purchase. And they are not inexpensive. What I was looking for was a tool on line where I could have my own account and do the following at an affordable price:

- Log in to my personal account

- Create courses that have
-- Reading material
-- Self check quizzes
-- Final test
-- The ability to print
-- The ability to use PDF files with the course
-- Learners can start a class, leave class and come back to work on their class with their own personal log in.
-- Do a final quiz
-- Have the quiz graded and if successful, receive a certificate of successful completion

- Track the results of Learners
- Edit the course content on demand
- Have several different courses within one account
- Not have to worry about downloading software and publishing programs to my web site and creating login screens

And I needed a Pay as You Go price for a small start up online course business where I can increase the service as I increase business.

When I didn't find this solution a year and a half ago, I created my courses as E-books and sent them out to Learners who ordered them and wanted the ability to do their classes from the
convenience of their homes. Although easier than printing and mailing booklets, it did cause new problems, like "I couldn't get my course to download," I didn't receive the email," I can't find the Enrollment Code," but at least they weren't telling me "the dog ate my course." However, those Internet gremlins do show up occasionally.

At last I stumbled upon my perfect solution and a free 30 day trial! This is a 100% web based e-Learning toolset. I've created my first course. It really is quite easy. You don't need programming skills - simply copy and paste your material. If you are a coach, consultant, tutor or teacher and have courses to share, you should really try this tool. It's easy to get started.Visit E-Course Management at http://www.ecoursemanagement.com to learn more about the system and to learn about the basics of writing online courses. Take a tour and then sign up for a free 30-day trial to try it out. Customer service has been terrific. It's a "virtual" blessing.

Copyright © 2005 Kathy Sparks

About the Author:

Kathy Sparks began building her successful Virtual Assistant practice after being certified with AssistU in 1998. She has partnered with clients worldwide in a multitude of professions and is editor and contributor for "The Virtual Advantage," an online newsletter for VAs and their clients. Web site: Your Virtual Resource at http://www.yourvirtualresource.com. "I feel so good - it's like having a "busy bee" working behind the scenes to help me. I'm loving it." ~ a client. 

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

E Learning: Why Choose Online Education

The Internet boom is far from over, although it has been taking a slightly different slant in the past few years; hardly surprising as technologies advance and trends change. The World Wide Web is the largest resource of information in the whole world and whatever your needs the Internet can provide. What started as a bubble has soon become a massive tidal wave and online education is one of the areas that is still increasing,probably more than ever before.

You can shop online, you can watch TV online, and you can even book your holidays online or work online and now you can complete perfectly legitimate and rec o g n i sed educational courses online. Far from being the alternative form of education used solely by working parents it is becoming just as popular with teenagers and professionals all around the world.There are no boundaries to learning when using the Internet.You can study a course that local colleges and educational institutions in your area don't offer and you can do so without having to quite your job and leave home.You don't need to take three years to complete a course; you can often work at your own pace, fitting in around your commitments and according to your spare time.

What courses are on offer?
As well as courses designed primarily for completion on the Internet, many educational institutions are now leaning towards offering the major courses to be completed in the comfort ofyour own home. College degrees and graduate degrees are available in almost any subject you could imagine with many benefits over the traditional 'classroom' approach.

E-learning offers a vast array of topics too, from American History to Zoology and everything in between. Perhaps you are n  full time employment and want a change in career. Not many of us can afford to just give up work and go back to college so Online education could be the perfect answer.

Maybe you are unemployed and can't find work suitable for you or the qualifications and experience you have. Online education can offer you the opportunity to gain more qualifications
without the expenses of travelling or accommodation.

Why should I choose an online education course?
There are many advantages to online education. The courses are usually tailored to meet the different demands that are entailed within an online learning community. You are usually free to study at your own time and pace, so you have the opportunity to complete your chosen course quickly or as slowly as you want.

There are no travel costs involved with online education and no travel time whatsoever. The only time you will need to dedicateto your learning will be the time you spend studying and any trips to the library or other institution you may need.Many jobs and careers demand a good working knowledge of the Internet, and by completing your course online you are already many steps closer to that end. You will have excellent knowledge on Internet research; always being able to find the information that is useful to you.

There are some factors you should consider when deciding whether to opt for online education or a more traditional classroom education. You will need a reasonably up to date PC,together with an Internet Connection. Fortunately, computer prices have dropped in recent years, so you can get a capable PC for little more than $300. If you consider using Ebay or uying a refurbished PC then you can reduce this price even more. Don't forget, you will need a printer, operating software, word processing software and an Internet connection but again the price of these has dropped dramatically.

If you don't have much working knowledge of a computer or the Internet you will need to find your way around at first and this can seem a daunting task for the beginner. Don't panic,just stick with it and buy yourself (or borrow from friends or the library) books on how to use the software you are going to need. Once online the Internet has all of this information at
hand, and the world becomes your playground.

A summary of online education
Online education can help all people from all walks of like gain the education they want to better themselves or to advance in the career they already have. Whether you are a working parent or an unemployed bachelor, there are courses available for you to complete through online education.Online education offers many benefits and few pitfalls when compared to the more traditional 'classroom' approach but you should carefully consider your options before jumping in.There are costs associated with virtually all online education courses but these are usually little more than the costs to study at a college and when you consider that there are no traelling expenses and no extra living costs, you may find online education to be a much more financially viable option.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Juggling Career, Family, Consider Online Education

Finding the time to do it all - career, family, continue education? Having trouble jugging? Some problems in this area that people face are very similar to those of the beginning juggler. According to The Instant Jugglers' Manual, (c)1993 Infinite Illusions/Lofty Pursuits, four common problems are handling two areas of focus at the same time, moving forward while you try to juggle instead of standing still, not being able to juggle in a third area of focus, and keeping all three areas from bumping into each other or overlapping. So let's take a look at some solutions to these problems.

Two at Once
To juggle two objects, you first toss one into the air to about eye level, then toss number two. The same with life. Pick any two areas of focus, and only try to tackle one at a time to establish goals and a system for it in your life. Then work in the second area. And just as juggling wouldn't work if the wrist puts too much or too little force into the toss, causing one or both objects to go too high or too low, the same can happen in life. If established goals are too high or low, not compatible with one another and your lifestyle, that juggling act doesn't stand much chance.

For instance, if fictitious person, John Wentworth, wants to complete a doctoral program, yet only earns minimum wage, he may need financial assistance with his continued education to balance the act. Otherwise, John could have to work over time and take on a second job to fill gaps and pay bills. He may miss out on valuable family time with his wife and young son and become stressed out and exhausted. Not to mention his grades could take a dive! Student loans, grants and work-study could be some possible solutions in this caseWhere is juggling help? Instead of The Instant Jugglers' Manual, there are many resources available to help with juggling career, family and education. Local colleges are a good place to start.

Not Being Able To Juggle In A Third
Ready to add a third factor into the equation? Concentrate on throwing ball number #3 and do not even try to catch ball #2, advises The Instant Jugglers' Manual. Or once you have two areas of focus pretty much underway, say your career and family, add the third - education.Get help planning your education into the mix with resources. Head to your local educational center or public libraries for help. Don't get left dropping - or not juggling - the ball!

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Kids Educational Craft Ideas - Alternatives to Using a Paint Brush

Painting opens up a world of colour and communication for children and is a wonderful way for them to create. There are many simple and exciting alternatives to using a paint brush.

String painting is easy and is a great way for children to pattern paint. You just wrap some string around a small wooden block (this could be a building block that your children play with). A square or rectangle shape is better, but make sure that it is big enough for the child to hold easily. To aid in your child's learning, it is best to have a variety of different sizes handy. Prepare some paint and pour it into some old polystyrene trays or any tray that you can afford to use for lots of painting activities. Dip the block into the paint and press on the paper and you're done!

Marble painting is another way for children to have fun and also learn hand eye coordination whilst creating different patterns. Prepare some paint and put it in a container that has deep sides, such as an old baking tray or a shallow cardboard box. The top of a shoe box is an excellent example providing that it is still strong and intact. Put some paper in the bottom of the tray with a small amount of paint (you can use two or three different colours at a time). Drop a marble in the tray and let the children move the marble backwards and forwards, sideways etc. to create their own work of art.

Finger painting develops the child's sensory skills as they feel and touch the paint. Put some paint on an old table and let the children put their hands in it and make their own designs. If you do not have an old table that you can use, then you can always put some plastic on the table and this will suffice.

Please bear in mind that most paints are easily washed off surfaces and hands with hot soapy water but please check the instructions to be certain! Once the children have finished their painting, put a piece of paper on top and peel it off. Put it somewhere to dry and then they have a print of their art work to show their family and friends.

Here are some other quick tips and alternatives that your children may enjoy that can also be used for printing...

* Cotton bud painting can encourage children to paint in a different way, which develops fine motor skills. * Cotton wool has a different feel and texture to it. * Paint rollers are fun to use on large rectangular areas. So this would be ideal for example, if you are planning on painting a red cardboard bus. * Cotton reels and corks can be used for pattern painting. * Sponges cut into different shapes can be a great way to recycle and you can use both their rough and smooth sides in painting. Some examples of shapes you can use are rectangles and circles and a diamond or star. You can also purchase sponge shapes from a good toy shop, or you can order them from educational supply magazines. * Other ideas include the cardboard rolls inside household foil and plastic wrap, plastic forks or jar lids.

Just remember to let those creative juices flow.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com 

Tally ho - abacus education for home-schools

by Dhaval Shrimankar

Enter a classroom in any abacus center in India and you will see children busy with something that looks like a toy -- tiny brown beads compiled neatly in columns. On the wall is propped a similar toy, though bigger with large, shiny yellow beads.

The teacher calls out a complex calculation, almost like an open challenge. A little boy, barely seven, comes forward and recites a seemingly funny rhyme. He also moves the yellow beads up and down and gets the answer down pat. No furious adding, counting or subtracting! Amazed?

Welcome to the world of abacus education, where rigid arithmetic takes a backseat and visuals and imagination gain center-stage. Here children learn to use the abacus, an ancient Chinese invention, to solve basic arithmetic sums with speed and accuracy. Institutes, which offer abacus education, claim that they use arithmetic as a tool to develop mind skills, memory and lateral thinking abilities.

Popular in Asian countries like Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand, abacus education is relatively new in India. But several entrepreneurs have been quick to tap the business potential of this non-formal education tool.

Scientific theories associate the left hemisphere of the brain with numerical and academic abilities, and the right hemisphere with creativity and intelligence. Proponents of abacus education claim that while formal education focuses merely on left-brain development, the abacus brings about "whole brain development".

"If the brain is not developed at an early age, one's mental abilities can start declining by 20 years of age. That's why we must tap them young," says Dhaval Shrimankar, CEO, NurtureMinds.com.

The brain gyms -- as these institutes are called -- are not stand-alone entities, but, instead, operate through a network of local franchises in urban and semi-urban areas. The reach and popularity of abacus education can be gauged from the burgeoning franchisee network.

Today, the same innovative education is available in the US and Canada. The system has taken the home-school communities by the storm. Private centers just like Score or Kumon are springing up from west coast to the east coast.

As an alternative to investment for a franchise, books are directly sold to the interested customers. Many of the patrons take up on roles of tutors as well as franchise owners.

How does Abacus work?

The abacus consists of 13 vertical rods, separated into two sections by a horizontal bar. Each rod contains one bead in the upper section and four beads in the lower section.

When given a sum, the child recites a rhyme corresponding to the kind of calculation involved. This also makes learning fun and easy. Simultaneously, the child moves the required beads up and down. The position of each bead signifies a specific numerical value. At the end of the rhyme, the position of the beads touching the horizontal bar, gives the answer.

As the course advances, the abacus is taken away and the child is encouraged to picture the abacus mentally to come up with the answer. After sufficient training, the child becomes adept at moving the beads mentally and no longer needs to recite the rhyme aloud to arrive at the answer.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com
 

Learning the Multiplication Tables - Skip counting by two and three

If your child or student is learning to multiply, a good way to have them start out is learn skip counting. 

Skip counting is simply counting by a whole number other than one. It's counting by twos, threes, fours, etc. For example, skip counting by twos is the same thing as reciting the two-times tables. 

So what are the benefits of using playing cards to learn skip counting compared to staring at multiplication worksheets? 

*   Well, for one thing, it's not boring! 

*   For another, if you are actually counting objects, you have the tactile experience of feeling what you are counting. 

*   And there's the fact that you are saying the numbers (for a reason - after all you are actually counting something.)

*   So with skip counting, you get the trifecta of seeing, feeling and hearing. You experience the numbers in three ways. 

*    And it can be fun. If you teach your child to count, say, playing cards by twos, not only will s/he count the cards faster, but s/he will lock in the two-times tables in his/her headwithout having to stare at boring worksheets, watch or do any of those typical dumbing-down activities like watch cartoons teach them math, sing inane songs, or listen to baby-rhymes.

* One of the advantages of using normal playing cards (not flash-cards or cards from some contrived kiddie-math games) is that playing cards can remain life-long friends. They are objects          that exist in the adult world, so your child will not have that feeling in the back of his/her mind that they are being pandered to. 

Children can sense when their minds are being respected. When you teach them with methods that respect and foster their thinking abilities, instead of talking down to them, you are doing them one of the biggest favors you can do. You are also doing one for yourself, too. 

You can watch a free instruction video of how to use playing cards to skip count by two and three at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHSfXMYWPK4. It makes some interesting points.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com

Want to Make Language Learning Easier? Rhymes to the Rescue!

by Kathy Steinemann

Learning a foreign language can be enjoyable - but exasperating. Anything you can do to accelerate learning or make language acquisition more enjoyable is a valuable weapon in your learning arsenal. Kathy Steinemann shares a helpful and unique approach to this challenge.

Take a look at the following two sections of text:

*Version 1

The sky is blue today. I'm sitting on the beach. A bully kicks sand in my face. Too bad for him! Here come my bodyguards!

*Version 2

One, two, a sky so blue. Three, four, a sandy shore. Five, six, a bully kicks. Seven, eight, he's sealed his fate. Nine, ten, here come my gunmen!

Now go back and re-read the verses.

Did you notice that you have already started to anticipate what comes next in the second version?

Conclusion: It is easier to memorize rhyming poetry than to memorize prose.

So what implication does this have for learning a foreign language?

If you memorize well-written *modern* foreign language poetry, you can accelerate your learning curve. (Notice the keyword 'modern'.)

Poetry written in the 18th Century may have deep cultural and educational significance. However, words penned to page over 300 years ago will utilize obsolete vocabulary, spelling, and grammar formations.

As an example: consider the popular King James Version of the Bible. If you started using 'thee' and 'thou' in your daily speech, people would understand you - but they would treat you like an alien in a time warp.

You can search the internet for poetry written by contemporary authors. Try searches like:

parallel translation poetry

parallel translation poems

parallel translation poems German English

parallel translation poems French English

parallel translation poetry Italian English

parallel translation poetry Spanish English

Substitute search terms as necessary with the name of the specific language you are studying. Review the webpages you find with a tutor, professor, or knowledgeable person to determine grammar and vocabulary suitability.

Attempt to have the poetry dictated and recorded by a native language speaker. Softly recite the poetry while you listen to the recordings. This will improve your verbalization skills. With luck, you may find online audio for some of the poetry.

Are you a budding poet? Try creating foreign language poems yourself.

No poetic talent? Attempt the following simple approach. If you are learning German, for example, you might produce a 'poem' like this:

the dog - der Hund

the mouth - der Mund

the air - die Luft

the scent - der Duft

to buzz - summen

to growl - brummen

little - klein

clean - rein

to brood - gr?beln

to iron - b?geln

You don't have to worry about grammar - just definitions, pronunciations, gender, and spelling. Alcor (alcor.com.au) has several rhyming dictionaries that can assist you with this process.

If you have an audio dictionary on your computer, listen carefully to the pronunciation of each word. There are also excellent online dictionaries with audio.

Now produce your own poetry recording using audio capture software.

- First, dictate each English word or phrase and save as an individual file.

- Next, save foreign language audio clips from your dictionary or from the internet.

- Now load your audio capture software and play the files in the correct order. Try to create short productions of a minute or two in duration.

- Edit if necessary to eliminate excessive pauses or add definite articles.

- Finally, convert to MP3 or WMA. Now you can use your iPod or portable media player for something besides music.

The 21st Century is a wonderful time to be learning a foreign language

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com/
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com