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Participants in this engaging, hands-on session will play, learn, and experience the innovative methodology of LEGO® Serious Play™. 'If you have not seen this excellent process in action, make sure to catch this opportunity.  We will be letting everyone know how you can add this process to your toolkit,' said Jacquie. 'This will be an exciting time as members from the Australian team will also be available to answer questions on their work in organizations and businesses, located in Oceania and Africa.' 

The Strategic Play session will take place on February 13 at 12:45 p.m. Jacquie is a lead trainer of facilitators with Strategic Play, based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In addition to offering training in LEGO® Serious Play™, Strategic Play also offers sessions based in visual problem solving, creative services, and other tools that enable organizations to improve their performance. 

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With the average family electricity bill rising $300 in the last five years and the consumer price index growing 3% in 2011, students are certainly feeling the pinch. Campus fees for living space is rising, tuition fees are rising; so why the continuous growth in enrolment?

One theory would be that during a recession period, unemployment levels typically hit all time highs and many people seek to improve their potential job security by pursuing further education. In 2010 10% of the US workforce was unemployed. Although this number has dropped to 8.5% in December 2011, that's still above the
pre-recession level of 5% in 2007.

Lindsey Hawkins from technicalschool.org tells us about her experiences in the sector:

'Generally speaking, when people can't find work then they tend to think about ways they can improve themselves and increase the likelihood of finding work. This often means more education and in some case means taking job specific training courses to obtain necessary certifications and degrees. By doing so, people believe they will not only stand out amongst stiff competition, but be better prepared for the next time the economy takes a turn for the worse.'

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This home study programme has been developed to enable those working, or hoping to work, in a Child Care or Teaching setting the role of 'Higher Level teaching assistant' (HLTA), to acquire and develop a level of understanding and skills that will help them to work effectively in the role of a 'Higher Level Teaching Assistant' (HLTA).

The job role of a Higher Level Teaching Assistant is both fascinating and rewarding.  Higher Level Teaching Assistants work closely alongside fully qualified teachers and provide valuable support for learning activities. HLTAs can work right across the curriculum, from acting as specialist assistants for specific subjects or departments, to helping to develop lesson plans and support materials.

The course modules within the Higher Level Teaching Assistant Diploma are based around the professional standards for HLTA status outlined by the TDA.
Learners can now study the fully accredited Higher Level Teaching Assistant course with a deposit from as little as £59.99 plus with this course, NCC Home Learning's students will receive 12 months full, personalised tutor support.

The Higher Level Teaching Assistant is the newest addition to NCC Home Learning's highly popular Child Care and Teaching Assistant faculty.  Related home study courses in this area include Teaching Assistant Diploma, Child Care Diploma and the Autism Awareness Certificate.

Mrs T Goodwin who recently completed the Teaching Assistant Diploma said… 'I would certainly recommend NCC Home learning to anyone wanting to further their education.  Being a mum and holding down a job I found that working at your own pace was very beneficial to me…the NCC team helped me gain the qualification I wanted to obtain.

NCC Home Learning, established for over 14years, has a catalogue of over 350 distance learning courses to choose from in a range of subjects from Criminology and life coaching courses to Wedding and Event Planning. 

Plus, with discounts of up to 20% throughout January now is the ideal time to enrol on a distance learning course!

ENDS.

If you would like further information on the courses NCC Home Learning provides
call us on 0800 970 2522
email enquiries@ncchomelearning.co.uk
visit: http://www.ncchomelearning.co.uk
 

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A Threat to U.S. Innovation

The annual Lemelson-MIT Invention Index, which gauges Americans' perceptions about invention and innovation, surveyed Americans ages 16 – 25. When asked about how new technology like smartphones and tablets influences and impacts their personal lives, 40 percent of respondents said they couldn't imagine their life without it. Americans also have a clear understanding of the role invention and innovation play in the health of the nation with nearly half (47 percent) saying that a lack of invention will hurt the U.S. economy. Those surveyed, however, may not be the ones to take-on the challenge; 60 percent say there are factors that could keep them from pursuing an education or career in science, technology, engineering or math - fields that yield invention and lead to innovation.

Thomas Edison Chosen over Steve Jobs as Greatest Innovator

Though part of the 'Apple Generation,' many young Americans surprisingly chose Thomas Edison (54 percent) over Steve Jobs (24 percent) as the greatest innovator of all time, demonstrating that education around the history of invention exists in today's curriculum. However, it may not be strong enough to inspire young Americans to make the leap into innovative fields themselves. When asked what other factors would stop them from pursuing innovation-driving fields, nearly half (45 percent) said that invention is not given enough attention in their school.
Additionally, 28 percent said their education left them unprepared to enter these fields.

'Hands-on invention activities are critical, but few too many students have opportunities to learn and develop their inventive skills,' said Leigh Estabrooks, the Lemelson-MIT Program's invention education officer. 'This year's survey revealed that less than half of respondents have done things like used a drill or hand-held power tool, or made something out of raw materials in the past year. We must engage students in these types of invention experiences as well as provide a strong STEM education to drive future innovators.'

Driving Future Innovators

American youth feel that education is most in need of a new, inventive solution, more than other fields like healthcare, energy and finance. They also believe there are several ways to generate aspiring inventors by reforming learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Fifty-four percent said including invention projects during school, or a creative field trip could be a solution; while 52 percent said simply giving students a place to develop an invention could do the trick.

Outside of the classroom, a majority (80 percent) expressed interest in education training courses to help them become more inventive and creative. Fifty-eight percent said an opportunity to participate in an invention-related national service co-op, such as a training program where aspiring inventors can 'shadow' working professionals in science, technology, engineering and math would encourage aspiring inventors in the U.S.

Joshua Schuler, executive director of the Lemelson-MIT Program, supports such ideas. 'These encouraging statistics show that young Americans have an interest in learning more about invention. At the Lemelson-MIT Program our mission is to celebrate and inspire invention. We invite communities to join us by giving youth access to role models and hands-on programs like InvenTeams to help them become more inventive in their personal and professional lives.'

Now in its ninth year, the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Initiative inspires and empowers youth to invent by engaging students in creative thinking, problem-solving and hands-on learning. Granted up to $10,000 each, InvenTeams create and pursue a yearlong invention project addressing real-world problems such as energy efficiency and disaster relief.

About the Lemelson-MIT Program

celebrating innovation, inspiring youth

The Lemelson-MIT Program celebrates outstanding innovators and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention.

Jerome H. Lemelson, one of U.S. history's most prolific inventors, and his wife Dorothy founded the Lemelson-MIT Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. It is funded by The Lemelson Foundation and administered by the School of Engineering. The Foundation sparks, sustains and celebrates innovation and the inventive spirit. It supports projects in the U.S. and developing countries that nurture innovators and unleash invention to advance economic, social and environmentally sustainable development. To date The Lemelson Foundation has donated or committed more than U.S. $150 million in support of its mission. http://web.mit.edu/invent.

1 The 2012 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index survey was conducted by Kelton Research December 9-15, 2011, using an internet-based, multiple-choice format. The sample size of 1,000 respondents, ages 16-25, at the 95 percent confidence level would equate to + or – 3.1 percent margin of error had this been a random sample.*Please refer to the survey as the Lemelson-MIT Invention Index.

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13 years of new Labour has taken its toll on education in the UK. Standards have fallen to the extent that in core subjects like GCSE Maths it requires a mere 20% to pass. Teachers are under ever increasing pressure to meet deadlines and fill in mountains of meaningless paper work to satisfy the bureaucrats. This coupled with the increasing levels of violence directed towards teachers, politically correct minefields to traverse; it is little wonder why anybody would want to become a teacher in modern Britain today. Alarmingly the pay that teachers get is less than that of a bin man, hardly reflective of the hard work and hardships that teachers in the UK have to endure. According to recent statistics, 900 pupils per day are suspended for violence against teachers that include assaulted and verbal abuse. The figures from the department of education, include racist abuse, threatening behaviour and racist abuse. In total they show school children were suspended on 166,900 occasions for assault or abuse. Pupils were expelled on 2,460 occasions. Tackling bad behaviour remains a priority for the new coalition government.

Maths revision expert and CEO of Top Grade Tutoring Steven Britton believe that the situation is getting worse with regards the shortage of teachers, particularly in subjects such as Maths. 'Maths graduates are more likely to pursue jobs in the private sector where pay and working conditions are far better'. According to Mr Britton if more graduates are not found as a matter of urgency to go into teaching then the consequences for a whole generation of 11 to 16 year olds will be devastating.  The CBI raised concerns too over basic skills, the annual education and skills survey suggests that many employers (around 44%) have to invest on remedial training for school and college leavers. Some 69% of businesses complained also about inadequate business and customer awareness and 55% highlighted poor self management skills.

For more information about maths please visit http://www.topmathsdvd.co.uk 

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'If any local schools or academies would like any further advice on how to manage their risks to guard against unexpected costs over the coming year, we'd be happy to help' adds Ms Eckersley
 
 
 
 
 
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About aba Group:
aba Group has been operating in Bolton for years, headed by Managing Director Graham Webster and fellow Director Lynne Eckersley, they have 70 years' experience in the industry between them. Their specialist coverage spans Academy School Insurance, directors, officers, contractors, engineers, landlords and a whole host of other professional roles and activities; which has seen them become the go-to business insurance brokers locally.
 
For further information contact:
Email: insure@abagroup.co.uk
Website: www.abagroup.co.uk

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President of the Undergraduate Business Council (UBC), Minhaj Amin is excited about the fit between CampusCurrent and the UBC's content.  'Jumping on the app bandwagon was not something we wanted to do until we found the right fit. Something visually appealing and loaded with information. And this app has it all.'  Meerah Azhar, Marketing Director, UBC is looking forward to the social networking aspect of the mobile platform.  'Social media has never been more popular - so a customized campus app is exactly what we were looking for to stay ahead of the game.'

From September to November 2011, 3 scheduled enhancements will be made to the UBC's college mobile platform.  September brings real-time smartphone access to important dates, events, profiles directories and maps, and by November this content will be interactive and socially enabled.

'CGA Ontario is proud to sponsor this innovative mobile application,' said James King, vice-president, business development, Certified General Accountants of Ontario. 'We believe in equipping students with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to DO MORE with their education and careers. By supporting this smart phone initiative the Association can help students best manage their busy schedules through the delivery of mobile optimized campus information whenever needed, through a means of communications preferred by students.'

About the Certified General Accountants of Ontario:
CGA Ontario is a self-governing body that grants the exclusive rights to the CGA designation and controls the professional standards, conduct and discipline of its 20,000 certified general accountants (CGAs) and 8,000 students in the CGA program of professional studies in the province of Ontario. www.cga-ontario.org / www.cga-more.org

About CampusCurrent:
CampusCurrent (www.mycampuscurrent.com) '100% Compatible with Student Life' is a customizable mobile application platform designed for higher education and built custom for each universities and college that deploys it. CampusCurrent seamlessly integrates data from popular  higher education systems and makes it beautifully accessible and interactive on mobile devices powered by Android, Apple and BlackBerry platforms.

CampusCurrent is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Contact Information:
CampusCurrent
23 Prince Andrew Place
Toronto, ON.
M3C 2H2
1-888-688-8567
mycampuscurrent.com

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Canada is one of the top countries in the world in virtually every category measuring the quality and virtues of life. Canada is also a large, regionally diverse, culturally eclectic, and geographically massive country, And so are the education options in Canada. The www.InstitutesInCanada.com site is a fresh new information website designed by Canadians for Canadian students and international students looking to study in Canada.

Institutes In Canada aims to make sense of the choices facing young students and mature students with respect to Canada's community colleges, universities, private career colleges, vocational trade schools and Quebec CEGEPS. From a convenient, searchable and complete database with up-to-date mini-profiles of Canada's educational institutions to detailed articles, links, and other resources, Institutes In Canada wants to be the leading Canadian post-secondary education website.

CEO Andrew Kicak (http://www.institutesincanada.com) is the Canadian founder of Institutes In Canada. "Canadian education opportunities are limitless. Students who study here are well armed to enter the domestic and global workforce as leaders in their fields. Our system of education is among the world's best. And I say that from a qualitative, accessible, technological, geographical, experiential, and industry-connected perspective.'

Kicak further states, "I'm excited about the evolution of education in Canada. We are seeing more private schools being given degree-granting capabilities. Their influence is raising the game, so to speak, for traditional education. That's why we call our site institutes in Canada - it reflects the larger reality of schools beyond traditional community colleges and universities - which means more choice"

In spite of challenging economic times, Canadian post-secondary school enrollment continues to grow year after year. As the bar continues to be set higher on what employers are looking for in new hires, formal and career-focused education is not only becoming more relevant, but is widely accepted as a necessity in achieving career employment. However, as the options for education become more numerous, so too does the difficulty in deciding just where to enroll.

Kicak explains, "There are over 300 accredited institutions in Canada. If you factor in all education and training programs at the post-secondary level, you're probably looking at well over 500. That's a lot of choice. And Canada is a big place. You can enroll in a French institution located in a 95% French-speaking region of Quebec, or a Native language program near the Arctic Circle or online courses in Canada from the comfort of your own living room. It's easy to be overwhelmed.'

Institutes In Canada is designed to guide students helping them make the right choice for college, vocational, or accredited universities in Canada by exposing them to helpful information, tips, and articles in addition to an elegant searchable directory linked to whatever school a website visitor wishes to investigate further.

Institutes In Canada is a brand new Canadian-built information resource site helping post-secondary students in Canada and international students from abroad find the right college, university, online school, or private career college of their choice to study in canada.

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Sydney Theatre School Managing Director and Course Director Mark Matthews shares his story, 'I started Sydney Theatre School in February 2005 in response to my dissatisfaction with traditional actor training methods that spend too much time on classroom work and theoretical techniques such as Stanislavki/Meisner and fail to acknowledge the importance of practical experience performing in front of audiences.

'The concept of production-based training was developed in the UK as a way of addressing this problem and I became aware of it while I was working there in 2003. No other institution in Australia was or still is offering this form of training so I decided to open the school with this model.' www.sydneytheatreschool.com/

Successful Sydney Theatre School students share their milestones with the world:

Lyndal Judges
'I have learnt so much this year and my confidence has grown. As someone coming back into theatre it was a great course for polishing old skills but also learning new ones and taking things to the next level.'

Ingrid Hu
'The course was good... very good. It has certainly changed me as a person, and for that I am eternally grateful. The production-based aspect of the course was what drew me to it, and it has made me into a more experienced performer. This wouldn't have happened if all we'd focused on was technique.'
www.sydneytheatreschool.com/
 

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Last week, Consumers Digest published information about a recall of a night cream.  According to reports, the cream was found to be contaminated with the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and a type of fungus.  An investigation has identified the source of the microbial contamination as coming from a supplier of the cream's bottle pump component.

No injuries or illnesses have so far been reported in the United States and Canada where the product had been distributed.  Reports indicate that future third party pump components will be tested for contamination in light of the current recall.

Staphylococcus aureus is believed to be found as part of the normal skin flora on the skin and nasal passages of many people.  In fact, it has been estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of the bacteria.  According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) website, 'S. aureus is a spherical bacterium (coccus) which on microscopic examination appears in pairs, short chains, or bunched, grape-like clusters. These organisms are Gram-positive.  Some strains are capable of producing a highly heat-stable protein toxin that causes illness in humans.'  Staphylococcus aureus also has a strain known as Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, or MRSA, that is highly resistant to antibiotics.
S. aureus may be transmitted person to person by fomites, air, or unwashed hands, in this case from the supplier's source.  Staphylococcus infections may remain relatively localized, but production of potent toxins can cause systemic or widespread effects and is often the culprit of skin infections.

One of the leading consumer products testing laboratories that have been on the forefront of helping companies test components and raw ingredients to identify contaminants before they reach the public is EMSL Analytical, Inc.  The company has been providing laboratory testing services since 1981 and has laboratories located across the U.S. and Canada. 

'Being able to identify microbial and chemical contaminants before an issue arises can save manufactures considerable resources and prevent costly bad publicity,' reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical.  To help educate the public about Staphylococcus aureus, EMSL has sponsored an online video that can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkGPOoIJCoc
To learn more about consumer product testing services please visit www.ConsumerProductTesting.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The laboratory is FDA registered, ISO 17025 and GMP compliant.

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Through the eyes of college admissions officers the world of social media offers a new window into the life of a prospective student. Because social media is dominated by users 18-35, there is a plethora of information that can be gathered by college admission officers. Researching prospective students through social media channels is growing and it shows no signs of slowing down. In this infographic you will get a glimpse of how college admissions officers are using social media to research prospective students.

A search for this content will reveal a couple of sources that are current about the topics of social media and college admissions. One of these resources was created by cappex.com and it is called Establishing a Benchmark for Social Media Use in College Admissions. In this study, they interviewed 170 college admissions officers from different public and private colleges. These interviews provide a baseline for how social media affects an admission officer's perspective of a student's life.

Another study referred to in the graphic is Kaplan test prep and admissions 2008 and 2011. Kaplan study surveyed 359 college admission officers from 500 universities. From this survey a few key elements of data that refer especially to social media and college admissions are discovered. Not only do college admissions officers search social media, they also use Google. When surveyed, 20% of college admissions officers reported performing a search on Google of a prospective student.

Students need to be aware of how their actions online can hinder their chances of getting into college. If a student is irresponsible online they run the risk that the college they apply to will place some of their metrics on that profile. Roughly 24% of admissions officers say that they do look at prospective students' social media profiles. While 24% may not seem like a very high percentage considering that in 2008 only 10% of admissions officers used social media, it is easy to see that the number is rising.

The question remains, do students' social media profiles affect their chances of getting into college? Of the 359 college admissions officers' survey, 12% of them said that prospective students' social media profiles negatively affected their college applications. Some of the things that admissions officers reported were images of students drinking underage, vulgarities and plagiarism. When students apply to colleges, they need to understand that they are not invulnerable to research and scrutiny from a web savvy college admission officer.

Coggno Learning Management System enables all types of organizations to use technology to provide educational services through high-quality online curricula that are universally accessible. Coggno's executive team and advisors deliver content and relevant training through state-of-the art technology that allows participants to interact with the educational vehicle. For more information, please visit Coggno's web site http://www.coggno.com.

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First off, ClepStudyGuides.com has been helping high school and college students pass their CLEP tests since 2003 with a success rate of 98%.  They believe in providing immense value to each student by providing the very best Clep Study Guides.

Their special will allow students to receive 10 CLEP Study Guides for Free with the purchase of one study guide.

The real benefit of taking CLEP tests is that a student is able to pass out of a class just by passing the test.  The student also will receive college credit for that class as well.  This is a great way for a student to accelerate their way through their college courses while saving a lot of money in the process.

There are many different CLEP tests available including things like English Composition to American Government.

To get a full list go to ClepStudyGuides.com. 

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What:  Technology Mash-Up: Using Technology as a Learning Tool

When:  Thursday, January 19, 2012, 10:45 am - noon

Description: A variety of healthcare convention industry professionals will present a series of brief case studies to discuss how they used technology to further their organizations' learning goals during this interactive course. Survey data will be presented to help illustrate the power of today's technologies in a healthcare conference and exhibit hall setting.Potential learning takeaways include:

• Effective implementations of new and enhanced learning in a healthcare exhibition environment.
• Effective implementation of technologies for an association registration process
.• A running dialogue with industry experts on what has worked for them.

Presenters: Joe Federbush, vice president, sales and marketing, Exhibit Surveys Inc.,  Laine Mann, senior manager, Pfizer US Commercial Operations; Tim Naegelin, CME, senior trade show associate, Abbott Vascular; Mike Ryan, global sales manager, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Where:  HCEA 2012 Health Care Convention Marketing Summit
Hyatt Harborside at Boston's Logan International Airport
Boston, MA

For More Information:  http://www.hcea.org/meetings_summit.asp

About Exhibit Surveys, Inc.
Established in 1963, Exhibit Surveys, Inc. specializes exclusively in conducting research, measurement and strategic consulting for the exhibition and event marketing industry.  The company has conducted primary research on more than 5,000 exhibitions and events and over 10,000 individual exhibits in all major segments of commerce on six continents.  Its clients represent all segments of the event industry, including exhibition organizers, exhibitors, private event organizers, suppliers, CVBs and convention facilities. For more information, follow Exhibit Surveys on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and visit www.exhibitsurveys.com or call 1.732.741.3170.

Exhibit Surveys, Inc. and the Exhibit Surveys logo are trademarks and Be a Knowbody is a registered trademark of Exhibit Surveys, Inc. in the United States and other counties.  All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.

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