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Tech Support Services for Business Graduates and the Employers that Hire Them

Guest Blogger — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:49:34 +0000

Whether business graduates prefer working with IBM or Apple computer technology more frequently, both businesses and business graduates can depend and profit from relying on IBM’s Technical Support Services. Subscribing to technical support services enables business, business-partners, and employers to rest assured that there is a proactive approach to lessen unexpected downtime, reduce operating costs, maximize office resources, and maintain a positive working environment that heightens company morale. There are so many great companies out there that offer technical support services depending on the company size, locale, and whether the company’s needs for IT support are for the short or long-term.

Besides businesses trusting experienced technicians, exhaustive parts network, and a superior service network, many companies have several divisions of its technical support services. Like-minded IT service companies recognize the economics of business is a global environment. With IBM, technical support members can search service, agreements, terms, and conditions by country. However, there are smaller companies out there that focus on smaller businesses and service specific regions of the country. They’re just one of many, Technical Resource Providers that prides themselves in servicing businesses comprised of 10-15 to 25-75 with in-house IT staff.

Rather than have to face a negative trickle-down-effect between businesses, their employers, clients, business partners, and vendors and because of hardware and software problems on the surface, businesses can better focus on optimizing IT resources and maybe even begin to expand their IT departments through the right investments.

Businesses and their employees turn a specific technical support service company to reduce and solve costly hardware problems. Being able to rely on a service that solely takes care of hardware issues minimizes downtime, protects against complete outages, and will help to increase job productivity. The value in IBM technical support services is their commitment to servicing most computer products, while smaller companies deliver a more personal approach delivering a neighborly-customer experience.

These smaller IT companies offer client-based emergency service, promising quick response times and credits when service people cannot commit to arriving to a business under the time-frame. While places like these might not be able to breakdown their service into components, they don’t have to. Unfortunately, for larger corporations, software problems can hinder the correct flow of IT and hurt employees. Using companies that have a software support division assures businesses know they are reducing operating costs, maximizing their office resources, and keeping a happy work environment.

So depending on the size, locale, employee base, and IT needs of a company, companies need to source out the right type of technical support company they need. Business graduates will surely need to have the skills to choose the right type of IT servicing company.

When businesses and employees entrust their confidence, time, and energy into subscribing to the appropriate technical support service, everyone is prepared to face the global business climate with a competitive edge.

This post is a guest contribution from Nicolas Gallego.

Tech Support Services for Business Graduates and the Employers that Hire Them is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Best of 2010: Most Popular Posts

Jorge Goncalves — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:19:11 +0000

Here are the most popular posts published in 2010 on Learning Online Info:

The EduSites page is also becoming increasingly popular. Contains now more than 100 excellent educational sites and the list is growing.

Best of 2010: Most Popular Posts is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

LearnCast Mobile Learning Grant

Jorge Goncalves — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:29:46 +0000

LearnCast to Award Educational Technology Grants to 50 Schools: Achieve Labs Inc., creator of LearnCast®, will supply their web-based mobile learning software to 50 schools for the purpose of creating mobile learning courses.

Achieve Labs™, the creator of LearnCast®, a mobile learning and technology company, has announced a nationwide academic technology grant for K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Achieve Labs is supplying its web-based mobile learning software to 50 schools for the purpose of creating quality mobile content, to improve student engagement and better test scores.

The LearnCast® Mobile Learning Grant provides a single author license to 50 schools who meet the qualifications of the grant. Teachers will use the LearnCast publishing tools to create mobile content including lessons, topics, quizzes, exams, chat and polling along with online tools for measurement, performance, and reporting.

Once published, mobile content is delivered via the Apple® app store and other popular mobile app stores. Content is accessible by students via free downloads from the app stores as well as through SMS and email. Mobile devices, laptops, net-books, and desktop computers can all view the mobile content.

All public and private schools who are interested in applying for the LearnCast® Mobile Grant are invited to apply online at the company’s web site: www.LearnCast.com/grant. Schools who have met the basic qualifications of the grant will be notified by email and have instant access to the LearnCast® tools as defined by the program.

“LearnCast is a powerful educational tool geared toward today’s learner. Now, they can learn in the same manner in which they play,” says Jackie K, National Board Certified Biology Teacher.

Teachers are looking to inspire their students by using mobile technology, something most students use every day in and out of class. “Instead of fighting the natural adoption of student preferred technology such as mobile phones and mobile devices, we should be doing everything in our power to encourage learning, regardless of the delivery medium”, states Clemons.

Continue reading the full press release.

LearnCast Mobile Learning Grant is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Assessment of Students Web 2.0 Authoring

Jorge Goncalves — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:42:17 +0000

Students as Web 2.0 authors: Implications for assessment design and conduct by Kathleen Gray, Celia Thompson, Judithe Sheard, Rosemary Clerehan, Margaret Hamilton, Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 26, 105-122 (2010). Abstract: Students now have at their disposal a range of Web 2.0 authoring forms such as audio and video podcasting, blogging, social bookmarking, social networking, virtual world activities and wiki writing. Many university educators are interested in enabling students to demonstrate their learning by creating content in these forms. However, the design and conduct of assessment for such student-created content is not straightforward. Based upon a review of current literature and examples in the public domain, this paper identifies key challenges for academic assessment that arise from students’ use of Web 2.0 authoring forms. We describe and analyse selected cases where academics have set assessable student Web 2.0 activities in a range of fields of study, noting especially the inter-relationship of learning objectives, assessment tasks and marking criteria. We make recommendations for practice, research and understanding to strengthen educational quality and academic integrity in the use of Web 2.0 authoring forms for assessable student learning.

From the conclusion: Advancing the assessment of student Web 2.0 authoring requires a degree of collegial consensus and a level of academic peer review that are not yet in place. Attempts at assessing student Web 2.0 authoring in higher education may founder if they merely replicate existing practices in new forms. Suggestions for using specific Web 2.0 authoring forms innovatively for assessment purposes are scattered too widely across refereed and ephemeral literature, and may be tied too closely to an individual educator’s style or experience, to be helpful to an academic community or institution trying to achieve system-wide improvements. A project currently in progress aims to address this situation by sharing academics’ approaches to educational effectiveness and principled conduct in this area of assessment. Continue reading this interesting article.

Assessment of Students Web 2.0 Authoring is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Why e-Learning Businesses are Becoming Popular These Days?

Guest Blogger — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:41:59 +0000

Online learning has been around since quite some time now. Ever since the birth of the internet, the number of websites is growing day by day. Internet has proved to be a great platform for information sharing. Using internet as a mechanism to transfer knowledge is a natural development.

There are many contributing factors that have facilitated the high growth of e-learning businesses.

First is the infrastructure of the internet. Web is one of the fastest and the largest growing trend on this planet. The high usage and penetration rate of internet are the main factors behind the exponential growth of e learning businesses. With internet users population doubling every five years, countries are trying their best to build a solid infrastructure so that they are able to catch up with a changing pace of technology.
The advancement of hardware and software technology has made information sharing extremely convenient and effective. Also, it has reduced cost considerably. The sharing of audios and videos online has ensured that there is a high level of interactivity. This is one of the major reasons why more and more people are opting for e learning businesses.
Globalization is another major reason behind soaring popularity of e-learning business. It has changed the work nature and lifestyle of mankind. Workforce is moving from one country to another. Also, the demand for more creative ideas and knowledge is there by companies since e learning business gives you access to plenty of information and allows you to work from anywhere, it is considered as the best.
Workers worldwide need to continually upgrade their knowledge and skills. E learning business score high in these areas and ensures that you get access to net most of the times.
You will find a gigantic range of e learning businesses thronging the net. If you want to earn some big money online then make sure that you have got the right kind of e learning business. You should research on various e learning businesses to find out what make them the best. Read articles, e books, journals to acquire more knowledge on this subject.
When it comes to e learning businesses then you must adopt the policy of earn while you learn.

Due to wide reach and easy accessibility, e-learning businesses are here to stay. These have turned into highly popular and profitable ventures and you should seriously consider opting for these businesses.

This is a guest post by John Michals. John is from Selftest Engine which is an Online Exam Preparation Tool for IT Certifications such as A+ Certification.

Why e-Learning Businesses are Becoming Popular These Days? is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Interesting Find – Interaction in Online Courses: More is NOT Always Better

Jorge Goncalves — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:27:30 +0000

Interaction in Online Courses: More is NOT Always Better, Christian Grandzol and John Grandzol, Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, Volume XIII, Number II, Summer 2010.

Abstract: Cognitive theory suggests more interaction in learning environments leads to improved learning outcomes and increased student satisfaction, two indicators of success useful to program administrators. Using a sample of 359 lower-level online, undergraduate business courses, we investigated course enrollments, student and faculty time spent in interaction, and course completion rates, all drivers of resource consumption. Our key findings indicate that increased levels of interaction, as measured by time spent, actually decrease course completion rates. This result is counter to prevailing curriculum design theory and suggests increased interaction may actually diminish desired program reputation and growth. Continue reading the full article.

Interesting Find – Interaction in Online Courses: More is NOT Always Better is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

How to Become an Apple Certified Trainer

Guest Blogger — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:57:37 +0000

One of the recent technical news that had taken the world by surprise is that of the technological giant apple taking over Microsoft as the biggest electronic company in the whole world. This may have surprised many but not many business and technical pros because the rate at which the company was introducing its new products and services was just amazing. They were releasing a product almost every month with a lot of innovations.

The enthusiasm and eagerness shown by people to get these apple products was unprecedented, may be the harry potter books were better at generating the hypes. The company has gone in the way of the other IT companies and has started providing certifications to candidates in various fields which can help their career to prosper. The company allows you to get certification in various fields. One can first choose the type of certification that he wants to have and for this he needs to identify his actual interest and the type of profession that he wants to take up. The company provides certification in creative, business, IT and education professions. The certification is highly rated by many organizations around the globe due to the sheer respect that they hold for the company.

Once a person decides his passion he could he could choose the various subparts of his profession and when he does so apple itself suggests the various certifications that he could take up. A good description of each certification is also given in a brief manner to the candidates. One can also become a trainer for the certification courses. The candidate can then pay for the certification that he wants to get and take up the certification examination. He could look at the course contents and also make use of the various books and online resources available for obtaining knowledge about the course and then could attempt the exam.

This is a guest post by John Michals. Author Recommends SelfTestEngine for SelfExam Preparation for IT Certification Exams Preparation such as HP2-B22 and HP2-T13.

How to Become an Apple Certified Trainer is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Innovate: Virtual Worlds, Simulations and Games for Education

Jorge Goncalves — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:48:22 +0000

The Innovate – Journal of Online Education, June/July 2009 issue is dedicated to virtual worlds, simulation and games in Education. Editors’ note excerpt: Virtual worlds and simulations are a source of both excitement and anxiety for educators. Alongside the seemingly limitless opportunities for enhancing learning, educators must also grapple with the challenges that arise with novel ways of communicating, connecting, sharing, and knowing. This special issue of Innovate presents a collection of frameworks, design experiences, research results, and informed opinions that seek to bridge this divide and advance our understanding of effective teaching and learning in these new environments.

Highlights:

Virtual Worlds, Simulations, and Games for Education: A Unifying View. Synopsis: While there is some overlap in the uses and structures of virtual worlds, games, and simulations and the three often look similar, their differences are profound. Clark Aldrich presents a taxonomy of virtual environments that recognizes both the distinctions and the similarities among virtual environments for learning. All three, he suggests, are points along a continuum, all instances of highly interactive virtual environments (HIVEs). The HIVE framework recognizes the various relationships among virtual worlds, games, and simulations that can help educators, researchers, and builders of virtual environments think more clearly about the usefulness of virtual environments.

MUVEs and Experiential Learning: Some Examples. Synopsis: Multiuser virtual environments (MUVEs) like Second Life present unparalleled opportunities to help students connect knowledge by description to knowledge by experience; in a MUVE, students can experience phenomena rather than only reading about them. Baba Kofi Weusijana, Vanessa Svihla, Drue Gawel, and John Bransford describe their use of a maze constructed in Second Life to help students experience firsthand the phenomena described in their educational psychology course. Their use of Second Life is particularly notable in its use of MUVE-based movies and other strategies to leverage Second Life’s interactive powers for exploration despite restricted access to technology.

Innovate: Virtual Worlds, Simulations and Games for Education is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Study: Good Teaching can be Enhanced with New Technology

Jorge Goncalves — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:25:30 +0000

U.S. Department of Education Study Finds that Good Teaching can be Enhanced with New Technology – Analysis of Controlled Studies Shows Online Learning Enhances Classroom Instruction.

Press Release: Providing further evidence of the tremendous opportunity to use technology to improve teaching and learning, the U.S. Department of Education today released an analysis of controlled studies comparing online and face-to-face instruction.

A systematic search of the research literature from 1996 through July 2008 identified over 1,000 empirical studies of online learning. Of these, 46 met the high bar for quality that was required for the studies to be included in the analysis. The meta analysis showed that “blended” instruction – combining elements of online and face-to-face instruction – had a larger advantage relative to purely face to face instruction or instruction conducted wholly online. The analysis also showed that the instruction conducted wholly on line was more effective in improving student achievement than the purely face to face instruction. In addition, the report noted that the blended conditions often included additional learning time and instructional elements not received by students in control conditions.

“This new report reinforces that effective teachers need to incorporate digital content into everyday classes and consider open-source learning management systems, which have proven cost effective in school districts and colleges nationwide,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “We must take advantage of this historic opportunity to use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to bring broadband access and online learning to more communities.

“To avoid being caught short when stimulus money runs out, school officials should use the short-term federal funding to make immediate upgrades to technology to enhance classroom instruction and to improve the tracking of student data,” Duncan added. “Technology presents a huge opportunity that can be leveraged in rural communities and inner-city urban settings, particularly in subjects where there is a shortage of highly qualified teachers. At the same time, good teachers can utilize new technology to accelerate learning and provide extended learning opportunities for students.”

The study was conducted by the Center for Technology in Learning – SRI International, under contract to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Policy and Program Studies Service, which commissioned the study.

Download PDF version of the final report: Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies.

Study: Good Teaching can be Enhanced with New Technology is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.

Writing Contest: SPENDonLIFE Blogging Scholarship

Jorge Goncalves — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:14:15 +0000

If you are a full or part-time student (at least 18 years old) of an accredited college or university and have a legitimate blog (no spam) then you qualify for the SPENDonLIFE $2000 Credit Blogging Scholarship. SPENDonLIFE is promoting a writing contest in which the students must blog about the importance of credit and how it affects their lives or the dangers of identity theft. The post content has only two requirements: the size (it should be no longer than 400 words) and must provide instructions about how students can participate in this writing contest.

I am not a student, so I do not qualify for this contest. However, I think this is a brilliant idea. Of course, with this blogging scholarship SPENDonLIFE is trying to attract attention to their site. But in a legitimate way. The contest site has no ads or a commercial purpose. SPENDonLIFE states on the site that they have a college scholarship program to those with problems in obtaining a student loan. Their goal is to award up to 10 college scholarships a year, ranging from $500 to $5000 a year. So, this blogging scholarship is only one more.

The bloggers must submit the blog entry URL until December 1st by filling a contact form. The winner will be announced on January 1st.

Writing Contest: SPENDonLIFE Blogging Scholarship is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and new learning technologies.