Technotip.org

As technology advances, more people now have access to technology than ever before. The invention of smart phone technology has increased the usage of touch screen technology and wireless availability, and technology is constantly being innovated to fulfill a demand for convenient and fast technology. As the Internet takes a more active role in our daily lives, concurrently technology has also taken a large role in managing our lives. Education is one instance where technology has altered teaching styles and learning platforms, which has created a more inclusive environment for all types of learners.

While it may seem difficult to integrate technology into your current curriculum, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Technology is just the catalyst for your lesson plan, but educators should not feel the need to make the technology the focus of the lesson. Overloaded curriculum and amount of material that an educator must cover does not allow room for these types of lessons. Therefore, any technology that is used should be simple, and complimentary to your unique lesson plan. Here are two options to update your classroom by integrating technology into the curriculum.

Interactive Whiteboards
These tools are useful for multimedia lesson plans, since it’s connected to a computer system and will display anything that can be shown on a desktop. interactive whiteboards can be used in place of whiteboards and flip charts, so even if your lesson only involved a lecture the screen can display PowerPoint. This lesson can be saved for absent students and for future classes.

iPad
Some schools have already started using these for students, including an elementary school in Kentucky. There are grants available, funded by the government and educational organizations, to increase the usage of technology in the classroom and effective learning options. Programs available through Apple allow users to accomplice project, write, access the Internet, and download books through the tablet. While the addition of the iPad to a classroom is an expensive option, there are many avenue to make it an affordable choice. This option would also be helpful for student who are visual learners or need to see the information systematically to retain it.

Technology is one way to engage a youth culture that multitasks with many forms of media at home, and also has a greater understanding of computer technology than the generation before. Using tools that they equate with fun activities will increase there interest, especially since the curriculum will be allowed to diverge from the straight lecture format.

The internet is simply just one huge glob of free information. Learning how to design the atomic bomb used to be privileged know-how. The idea that anybody pays anything more than the few bucks a month for internet service in the pursuit of learning anything is kind of ridiculous when you consider just how much information is accessible simply by getting online and looking. While I can’t tell you the secrets of getting the equivalent of MD certification through the World Wide Web, I can certainly open your mind up to some simple ways to take advantage of all the free stuff out there that can help you in whatever pursuit you may be undertaking.

1. Online Encyclopedias
As demonstrated in the last paragraph, you can’t put a price on sites like Wikipedia. I know you’ve used it to look up the starting lineup for the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers and other novelty knowledge, but put it to use for the bettering of your venture. You can learn the whole history and science behind search engine optimization, direct marketing, or anything else to do with business strategy. But don’t stop there. If you plan on making gains in a specific region or would like to, read up on it! Seriously, anything in your life you aren’t sure about, especially things to do with your livelihood, just search for on Wikipedia. I bet you’ll always find an article on it. Still not satisfied? Scroll down to the article’s citations, which are typically accessible themselves online and branch off into specific facets of what was summarized.

2. Video Sharing
Our global means of reaching each other means we ought to think globally when considering our marketing. The multitudes of language in the world can be a problem. Luckily we have videos, and if you know where to look you can not only find thousands that can assist you in learning anything from cooking to calculus, you can find many that can help you start to understand the fledgling rules of other languages. I’m not saying listening to Futbol announcers talk for a few games in a row is going to heighten your Spanish speaking, but finding interactive content that introduces you to new cultures will often help you become more global without you even trying.

3. Social Media
A no-brainer. Using social networks to expand your market is not only easy it’s almost universally free. Not only are social networks by their nature viral in the way they allow the word to get out, participating in the spread of viral information can help you establish your own name even if the content in question has nothing to do with you.

Skip the pricey seminars and expensive language learning software. Don’t waste your time spending money for information and entertainment that the Internet gives you for free.

In today’s mobile society, it’s not uncommon for business owners and professionals to travel extensively. While away from the office, however, it’s still necessary to keep business processes flowing smoothly. There are many ways you can effectively run your business when you travel.

1. Make the most of your mobile devices and applications. Not only is wireless network adapters handy, but when coupled with a wireless hotspot, they allow you to connect to the Internet virtually anywhere. These can be used with your mobile phone, iPod, laptop and more to keep you connected.

2. Use your digital camera to share photos that will help clarify instructions to support staff and co-workers. This is an ideal way to verify model numbers, give a clear example of a broken part, and send needed data to the home office and more.

3. Track deliveries and packages while away from the office via the Internet. By knowing your tracking number, you can easily access delivery information online and reassure a customer regarding an order, or verify a shipment’s proposed arrival time before calling the vendor to inquire.

4. Hire a virtual assistant to handle some of the routine tasks you need to do every day. This could include answering email, publishing a company newsletter, placing supply orders and more. The costs are reasonable and the assistance can be invaluable.

5. Take advantage of sites like Google Docs or DropBox to share files and documents, or store them for easy access wherever you are.

6. Use an online or iPhone app like RightSignature that allows you to digitally sign documents via your cell phone or Internet connection. This eliminates the need for faxing or printing and speeds up the process as well.

7. Set up QR Codes, two-dimensional codes that allow someone to use a QR scanner app to access additional information you supply. This is ideal when you want to provide additional product data, discount codes or even more detailed contact information.

8. Offer online versions of your product catalogs and brochures so customers can access the information without you needing to carry a briefcase full of printed materials.

9. Use your iPad or laptop for sales presentations. You can even provide the information on a CD or via email if your customer is computer savvy enough to access the information easily. This eliminates the need for carrying printed materials and lessens the chance of them being damaged by a spill or other mishap.

10. Use an online backup service such as iDrive to keep a backup of all your files and documents online. If needed, you can access the online version via Restore and know that you’ll always have the information you need on hand.

These are only a few of the many ways you can manage your business while traveling. Make use of those that work well for you and eliminate some of the stress associated with being away from the office when there is work to be done and projects to oversee.

With the announcement of lesser and more relevant ads in Gmail, Google is trying to make those ads as appealing as possible. In this regard, they might have started showing image ads in Gmail.

Screen Shot: [Click To Enlarge]

Have you seen image ads in Gmail? How relevant do you find them with the content of the email ?