Why Preschool Really Matters to Your Child

Going to preschool used to be an option. Not all kids had to do it. Now, it is clear that children who do enroll in this type of early education do better throughout their education and well beyond that. It is a key opportunity for children to come together and to learn while still very young. Some studies even indicate that the peak performance for what your child learns will happen before they are five years old. By taking full advantage of this opportunity, you can be sure your child has the best possible opportunity to succeed.

Developing Learning Skills

One of the ways that a preschool can help your child is to provide him or her with the ability to learn important skills. He or she will have an opportunity to develop learning skills including everything from listening and critical thinking. Some students will cherish this opportunity because it fosters an opportunity for them to grow to love to learn new things.

Developing Social Skills

Though there is a strong focus on teaching children educational foundations, it is also important for children to develop key social skills at this time. They need to learn how to interact with other students and teachers. They need to learn how to be away from mom and dad and to do well in an environment all their own.

Building a Base of Education

One of the key reasons to send a child to preschool is to begin their educational career. This is the time to learn the basics that go beyond just ABCs. Many of today's students are learning to read well before they enter kindergarten. That is because this is something they can do and do well if they are given the opportunity.

How To Pick An Elementary School

Choosing an elementary school for your child is a process that you want to dedicate time to. Though you may think that you do not have an option, most people do. Consider all of the schools local to you and those within a short drive. Then, ask yourself what it is that you want for your child when he or she begins formal education. What do you want the child to have access to and to be taught? It is always a good idea to invest in a facility that is going to wow you from day one.

Consider Academic Progress

One of the key features to look for in an elementary school is the amount of success it has had in developing children that have a strong academic ability. You can often see this from past testing scores and from where alumni go once they leave the school. In short, you need to know this school has the ability to create the academic curriculum your child needs to really succeed. It is understood that the education your child gets during these first years will mold them for years to come. You need to know the facility you are selecting has what it takes to help your child to perform well.

Confidence, Self Esteem and Motivation

What do you think about these elements when it comes to selecting a facility for your child? What steps does the school take to build up the self-esteem of a child or to create confidence? The curriculum needs to focus not just on the actual math and reading skills the child has but also on the ability of the child to be a team player, to have a strong work ethic and even to have the motivation to learn new things and to grow in his or her success.

The Extras

Children learn in many ways. Though the core curriculum of the school is an important place for you to focus when choosing a place for your child to attend, there is more to it than that. You also want to be sure the child has access to the technology necessary for him or her to do well in the real world. You also want to be sure things like field trips, excursions and opportunities to develop new skills are always available.

What Goes On In A Doctor's Mind?

Doctors are very composed regardless of the situation they're in. Because their patients always come first, you would rarely find a doctor who talks about himself or herself. But do you ever wonder what goes on inside a doctor's mind? Well apart from probably wanting to work using the best stethoscope for doctors (similar to how nurses want to work using the best stethoscope for nurses), doctors also have other concerns that they're just not vocal about.

In 2010, Reader's Digest conducted a random survey among physicians in Canada. The survey revealed a variety of concerns. These include the following:

1. "Be Honest If You're Taking it or Not"

Truth be told, about 20% never take their medication as prescribed. However when asked by their physician, they would always say they are diligently taking it. Now this is one major concern for medical professionals because it is a critical factor in their profession.

2. "My Time is Precious"

Medical professionals are always on the go because a lot of people need their help. Because of such, any physician would surely want their patients to respect their time -- e.g. arrive on time for appointments, notify them when you'll be late or you can't make it, etc.

3. "We Are Not Mind Readers"

They are surely not mind readers, so if you don't speak up, they won't be able to accurately diagnose and help you. Most people are actually hesitant to totally reveal what they are feeling because they fear to hear bad news. Medical professionals would surely want you to tell them everything because this will make it easier for them to help you out.

4. "Come Back When You're Asked"

Any doctor surely would want their patients to come back when they are asked to. Most of the time, people think they don't need to see the doctor again especially if they feel a lot better. However the reality is, they are asked to come back because physicians want to be absolutely sure that they are better.

5. "Please Do Not Question My Judgment"

There are really some individuals who think they know better. Because of such, they typically end up in an argument with medical professionals. One should keep in mind that these medical professionals are the experts and they obviously know what they are doing.

How to Balance Your Love Life With School

Yeah, I know, they're really cute. And you two feel really strongly for each other, and life is great, and blah blah blah. That's all fine and good, and a happy relationship is undeniably one of the best feelings and situations you can be in. But most good things come at a cost.

And the cost is usually a pretty significant imbalance in your life, where time is skewed toward your relationship, as opposed to other priorities.

There's a concept in economics called opportunity cost. For all you newbs out there who haven't taken your introductory economics course, I'll explain this lovely little concept. Opportunity cost is the value you give up by making the choice you did. Let's apply this to a relationship scenario to illustrate.

Let's say you have two big options you are deciding between tonight - studying for the test you have tomorrow, or watching a movie with your significant other. By the way, I really hate the term "significant other", but couldn't find another term that fit well there. Anyway, by choosing to watch a movie, you are giving up the information, learning, and points on the test you could potentially be gaining from reviewing. By choosing to study, you give up the opportunity to spend time with a loved one, affection, and potentially sex. Considering the next best options with your time IS opportunity cost. By the way, that last one is a tough one to say no to.

But less is more in relationships, and no one seems to realize that.

Consider that, if you are seeing your partner more two or three times a week, that is about all you need to maintain a healthy relationship. Any more than that isn't increasing the affection or loving feelings in that relationship. A lot of people follow a train of thought that you have to talk everyday with that person, and see each other so often.

Your opportunity cost is going to be skewed if you follow that train of thought, so follow these principles, and have a happier relationship, and higher grades.

· If you're an attractive human being, then your first priority is not your significant other. If your actions demonstrate they are, then your relationship WILL fail. Guaranteed.

-Your own success is your first priority. Start taking school, your job... etc. more seriously.

· Take ONLY a few times to hangout a week (3 hangouts at most). Make these memorable, not trivial.

-No movies, or other passive, uninteresting ideas.
-Your city probably has a magazine listing daily scheduled events. These are fun, unique experiences - do them!

· Limit your texting/calling: stop sending out 100 texts a day, especially to your significant other.

-Scarcity builds attraction and a lasting relationship. They don't need to hear from you daily.
-This also leads to less distractions while studying (heck, turn off your phone while you're studying altogether).

A word of caution on all of this is that you should communicate these ideas if they are changes to how your relationship currently works. Don't just start ignoring their texts and calls without a discussion about these changes. Just saying something like this:

Three Different Accounting Careers to Pursue After Graduation

Some people know exactly what career they are going to have after graduation. There could be many reasons for this: it could be a compulsive calling from childhood, the urge to follow a family legacy in a particular trade, or one may have discovered a great talent in a field and therefore know that they can have a successful career. Certain industries lend themselves to these kinds focused career goals more so than others. For example: working in the creative arts, or being a specialized kind of practitioner like a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.

When we think about accounting, it is not too often we see this as a kind of career that reaches out and compels us. While many people are enrolling in accounting school, it is more likely the case that it is because accounting is solid and respectable career rather than something one is passionate about. This is not to say that accounting is necessarily boring or not challenging, but it can feel like it lacks the enthusiastic dedication that we see in other high-rolling business types.

So what happens if someone successfully completes formal accounting training, and then decides that a life of crunching numbers and mulling over tax statements just isn't for them? Can a degree in accounting lend itself to other careers? The answer is yes, there are a few other professional options for which a background in accounting provides the right transferable skills.

Planning

If one enjoys the planning and problem-solving parts of business, there are several different types of planning jobs in the business world. Financial planning deals with new business models and projects to increase profit or eliminate debt. Insurance planning for individuals or businesses handles setting up plans for emergencies, dependents, and retirements. This is great for someone who does not like the compliance aspect of accounting which deals too much with records and statements.

Compliance

This is the opposite side of planning. Compliance is the area of business that ensures a correct and legal following of codes and regulations, as well as providing the necessary proof in documentation to regulatory boards. If one enjoys the research aspect of accounting, including the mastery of complex codes and regulatory procedures, then technical compliance is a great option.

Risk

This is one of the more exciting areas in accounting courses. It can be an extension of planning but also requires a good knowledge of compliance rules. If one has a mind for experimental models and theoretical projections, then risk management offers a challenging role in a wide variety of financial industries.

What Is Going to Be on the Test?

Studying for tests the right way.

How the heck am I supposed to study for this professor's tests?

I feel your pain. Test taking strategies are some of the most important skills to have in college, and most students think they have them. Coming back to multile choice questions you don't know, and eliminating the stupid answers aren't very good test taking skills. In fact, they're obvious idea that every student implements. If you want real test taking strategies, you need to take a step back and consider the overall context of the classes youre in.

Now, most professors give pretty clear expectations about what you're going to be tested on. But some professors keep you guessing, and it is usually because they aren't good at their job. These are the teachers who might even create interesting discussion about topics in class, but then, for some weird reason, test you on arbitrary, loosely related facts. This gets particularly annoying if you are the type to participate and get active in class, because your engaging yourself in the information you aren't texted on.

Here's a straightforward way of analyzing whether you are in a class that will throw you for a loop.

The best college study skill you can implement is taking time to reflect and ask yourself a few key questions after the first test of the semester:

- "Did the questions on the test correlate strongly with what we discussed in class?"
- "Did the teacher's test questions focus on information we only glossed over shortly in class?
- "Is this teacher probably using a "stock", textbook-created test, or did they hand-craft this?"
- "How can I approach my studying differently for the next test to approach it with more success?"

When the teacher has a divide between what is taught in class, and what is on the test, you have a big problem. Not only are you digging a deeper hole for yourself just by attending lecture, but the professor probably doesn't realize the incongruence. If you answered "no" to the first question, or "yes" to the third, then you are probably better off using the textbook as your aid than your professor. In fact, if the teacher is only glossing over (or worse, ignoring completely) information that ends up being on the test, then you are probably best off not even paying much attention during class.

Now Is the Time To Move Your Training Online

Today's workplace can be anywhere that has access to the Internet; the days of being chained to a desk in an office are gone thanks to gadgets like laptops, smartphones and tablets, not to mention the fact that almost every household now has online access.

More and more people are taking advantage of technology and working from home or even the local Starbucks (which I've been known to do on occasion). The freedom of connectivity allows us to never be far from vital information. That includes training.

It's hard for some companies to embrace online training, but the proof is in the pudding. Moving your training online provides an advantage not only to employees, but to the organization's bottom line. Instead of hiring expensive facilitators and spending huge amounts on travel and seminar fees, all that's required is a device and a connection.

Here are some scenarios we think you need to consider when it comes to giving your employees access to quality online training:

Online Accessibility Benefits Learners No Matter Where They Are
Online training offers unprecedented convenience and accessibility no matter how many employees you have, and no matter where in the world they are located. Finding online courses that suit your needs eliminates the worry of travel, and schedule constraints when it comes to booking a desired facilitator or instructor. Today, many well-known instructors have made seminars and lectures available online, as well as created specifically tailored courses that include quizzes and other materials that ensure learners are benefiting from those sessions. Online training offers content that is accessible by anyone from virtually anywhere.

A Quick Search Will Unearth Countless Options
No matter what type of training you're looking for, chances are, it's out there. Search engines like Google have become our best friends when it comes to finding just about anything - including online training courses. Both content creators and seekers of training benefit by going online because there are countless individuals out there looking for information about online training.

Online Training Is Less Expensive
In today's economy, sending employees to all-expenses paid training seminars (especially those that don't take place locally) can be a prohibitive expense. Online training, however, mitigates these costs by delivering learning content virtually. Trainers can offer content to employees without being constrained by geography and meeting room size, and employees can continuously learn from the convenience from their location, eliminating all the associated costs.

How Online Admission Enrollment Processes Are Facilitating Colleges and Universities?

Technological advancements have significantly revolutionized the admission process, especially in the recent times. Colleges and universities can now take help of the online admission enrollment process for registering new students for different courses and also promote their institute, worldwide. The online admission option, which comes embedded with the cloud-based class management solution, will help in dealing with the different managerial and administrative tasks such as conducting registration, collecting payments, maintaining student database, generating reports and other promotional activities, which was never so easy earlier. Taking up your admission process online will not only streamline your managerial activities but will also help in increasing your ROI, as more students opt for the online services to take admissions in premium colleges and universities.

Conduct multiple activities single-handedly:

The online solution, which offers varied features and functionalities, helps you in planning and implementing the registration process in a faster and strategic way within few minutes. Details about the different courses, programs and even the pricing structure for enrollment can be easily added to your registration page along with logos, graphics and photos of the institute. This will give a professional look to your page and will draw the attention of more students. While you are taking your admission process online, you must consider the accessibility of the services. As the online solution offers access to the admission services 24x7, your potential students can register for their chosen course or program, anytime, sitting at a comfortable place. Thus, the online process can offer a rewarding experience to your students as they will no more have to stand in long queues for filling up the forms manually and making the payments.

Most colleges and universities often find it very difficult to deal with the post registration activities, which include sending confirmation mails after registration and payment completion, tracking the database, preparing reports, etc. The online solution offers e-mail notification facility which helps in sending automated confirmation e-mails to each registrant after successfully completing the admission and payment process. Payments can be accepted via credit cards; PayPal and other such gateways and the entire database of transaction and registration can also be maintained and recorded online. As the transaction process is fully secured, students can comfortably share their card details for paying the admission fee.

Ten Ways to Ensure Effective Online Learning

Online learning has become a panacea for all of us who find ourselves without enough hours in the day to accomplish what we need to do. The last thing you want is an online training course that is not clear-cut and leaves a lot of questions for the learner. Both content creators and learners want easy-to-use, effective courses that will provide the necessary training without a lot of confusion.

Here are some design tips for content creators that will ensure effective training courses:

• Always include a navigation screen at the start, even if you think the learners have participated in online learning before. The navigation screen should have clear and simple instructions so any learner can easily progress through the course. By making navigation easy, learners can focus on the course content.

• Free up navigation. Make sure learners can easily go back to previous screens if they need to review any material for a better understanding.

• Pay attention to the layout of each and every screen. Avoid cluttering screens with too much information. The screen should be pleasing to the eye and designed to draw the learner's eye to the most important information.

• Include a glossary. Never assume that the learners will understand jargon, technical terms or acronyms. The glossary should be comprehensive and explain key terms in plain language.

• Include regular quizzes to check the learners' understanding of the content. Instead of having one huge test at the end of a course, it is better to have shorter tests at regular intervals throughout the course. Regular tests and quizzes are a good way for learners to measure their own understanding and build their confidence.

• Give learners the option of finding out more information if they need to. You could include a box on some screens saying "Want to know more? Click on this link to learn more about..."

• Provide a contact person for questions. If the learners do have questions, is there someone they can contact?

• Ask another person to check the course to see if it makes sense. If you have access to proofreaders, they can point out any content that is unclear. Alternatively you can ask a pilot group of learners to go through the course. Ask them to offer feedback on points they thought worked, or didn't work.

• Engage in continuous improvement. Even when you have published and released your course to learners, there is still the opportunity to gather feedback and make improvements to the course. You could include a survey asking learners if there was anything they found unclear. This is a great way for you to keep learning about the learners' perspective and to remind yourself that you are designing courses for real people.

• Distribute your course effectively.

Fitting Education In a Busy Work Schedule

A sound education is of utmost importance in order to productively participate in the workings of the corporate world. This is the prime reason why executives everywhere are waking up to the need of brushing up their education and skills in order to rise higher in their work environment. This need is being met by a number of online courses that have been set up by various prestigious institutes. More and more professionals from different domains and walks of life are joining in for these courses and aiding their skill set with fresh knowledge.

It is vital to keep supplementing one's knowledge with fresh perspectives. The industry is dynamic and ever evolving. Things and scenarios change at the drop of a hat. A well versed skill set goes a long way in helping out with the technicalities of the problems faced by the professionals in their day to day corporate life. All these factors contribute to the importance of enhancing one's qualifications. The format and features that are offered by different executive programs available online vary, while they are all same in essence. They provide professional learning at reduced costs and time investments and are the most convenient modes of earning a viable professional degree.

Regardless of all the plus points that an executive education brings to your career, people shy away from going in for such a course because they face the difficulty of somehow adjusting a class in their busy schedule. It is often seen that professionals, despite wanting to resume further studies, grapple with the problem of time management, and cannot fit education in their tight schedules. Also, another hurdle is the family responsibility that one needs to assume at some point of time or the other. All this is taken care of by online education programs. With more and more esteemed colleges joining the league and providing solutions for professionals so that they are able to pursue education without leaving the comfort of their jobs. Since the participants of the program are from a working environment, special care is taken to schedule the classes in a manner such that they fit in everyone's routine and not be a hassle for any participant.