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by mikebaird

A Quick Guide for Outlook Synchronizing Folders and PST Mail Merging

If you have been using Outlook for a long time and there is a presence of multiple PST files in your hard drive then you must have start facing slow Outlook performance due multiple PST files. Once there is multiple numbers of small PST files in Outlook then it becomes time consuming and difficult for you to manage your emails. These multiple PST files are difficult to manage because if you need to search some info, you need to open each and every file which is a hassle task. It is very important to merge multiple PST files into one single PST files for easy management.

Now to get rid of this difficulty, all you need to do combine multiple small sized PST files into one so Outlook will start performing well. Once you combine Outlook folders and synchronize Outlook contacts then it becomes easier for you to search any email very quickly.

The benefit of a single file containing multiple PST files will be a lot easier to handle and quicker to perform your day to day email tasks. If you have to look for any information, you will have to open one file that contains many small PST files. This will not only save your time but will also save your energy. Software to merge Outlook data files will do the needful for you as it will merge multiple PST file into a single file. Besides the mail messages, there are many other data items inside Microsoft Outlook like contacts, calendars, journals, to-do list, tasks and more. Too many PST files containing mail messages and all these data items will be very cumbersome to deal with. A Outlook synchronizing folders software will truly be useful to you if you have loads of small sized PST files within Outlook.

Now, for this purpose third-party tool is necessary to have. One outside tool for this purpose is SysTools PST Merge software. SysTools PST Merge software will be a smart choice as it will ensure better PST management by merging PST files into one single file.

The first video in a series of 3 videos explaining how to use the Exchange Management Shell to import PST files into Exchange 2010 mailboxes. In the first video we look at identifying the machine names of the computers on your network for use in a subsequent search for PST files.

Related PST Management Articles

Army Romance Increases With The Progression Of Web Dating

The males and ladies, who’re within the army, are like anyone else who is trying to find love. For obvious reasons, there are huge differences between singles within the military trying to discover adore and romance, and those who are civilians simply because within the army community there are not as many resources or opportunities to find love. So what do individuals do who’re single and searching to date within the military? Thanks to the invention of dating internet sites, and Internet dating, it’s now possible for people to find army romance in their own army community.

For many years, army singles were not capable to get the opportunities to date until the Internet brought them together. Like most dating websites, Army Romance, can assist bring together army singles that are searching for love and romance. The ability for the soldiers to go online and search for individuals who have the same kinds of interests and desires, has allowed army dating to be a part of active army life. This dating site allows soldiers and those who are active within the military to do a free people search to find other singles that they can connect with.

You can find a lot of possibilities for creating long-lasting relationships and romances out of this type of dating setting because the individuals who use it, usually already have a lot in frequent, and are both away from their homes, and in a different type of situation. Getting able to connect on that type of level creates endless possibilities for individuals to have other things in common, and find people that they truly can connect with. Military singles that are looking for love and romance, now have the option to use the Army Romance internet website to search for other singles that they can get to know.

There are many research options obtainable on this internet website, and people who are interested in checking it out, can certainly discover what they’re searching for and much a lot more. Army singles can base their research on numerous characteristics like age, location, personalities and views. The searches can then produce results of feasible matches that the individuals can choose from if they want to get to them much better. Even if they are not able to meet and date initially, they are capable to start an on the internet relationship and chat or email together all the exact same.

No doubt, web dating isn’t only for individuals outside the military. Today it has become an excellent opportunity for males and ladies who’re in active support, are without most from the modern conveniences that everyone else has access to but are searching to find adore and romance. With internet access, connecting with people, and discover your one true match who is also a component from the military and whom you have a great deal a lot more in common with is now possible. Army dating and romance can be a excellent experience for military singles which are searching to meet somebody and fall in adore. If enthusiastic about learning more about military dating and related sites to make use of for dating merely go on the internet and see what is available.

They now have a location to chat to admirers, new friends and adore interests online. If you’ve an interest in Military singles it simple to get started, and begin chatting to some of them. There are plenty of reviews for you to read on the internet to help you choose the correct Military online dating support. Very first thing you?ll need to do is create your profile. This really is straight forward sufficient, and once completed you are able to start using a free trial at your chosen dating internet website. Make your profile as interesting as feasible with an excellent clear photo. This will give you a better chance of being contacted first. Knowing what you want in your potential date will save you a lot of time when searching through the Army profiles. Seeing as a military lifestyle can put servicemen and women anywhere the area of your research will be greater than a usual on the internet dating support. Make certain they explain what they want in a civilian single. This also saves your time e-mailing a army single who wouldn?t be enthusiastic about you.

Army singles will also look for fellow servicemen and ladies to start a relationship with. So this is an additional advantage of Army on the internet dating services. It will be tough for them to meet other males and women of honour outside of their location of work and training. Military dating web sites are also an excellent way to find pen pals. Military pen pals have often been popular for years. And now the web has done away with the postal service to keep in touch with somebody within the support.

Good for all sorts air rifle shotgun falconry
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Shoes have to be extremely comfortable as one need to walk a lot while wearing them. It is important for you to look for the most comfortable ladies dress shoes. It is often seen that the designers of the ladies shoes mainly focus on the looks; however a lot of emphasis has to be laid on the comfort factor because shoes that are not comfortable cannot be worn for a long time. The ladies dress shoes have to be a mixture of comfort, style and looks and the ignorance anyone of these will not make that pair a worth buy.

Most of the women look for shoes that are both fashionable and comfortable. When you need to walk, comfort has to be the most important thing and with shoes, it is the essential aspect to be considered. If you want to buy comfortable ladies dress shoes, then search for some reviews which can guide you in the right direction. Ideally, shoes should protect our feet and if they are not comfortable, they are surely going to harm them, hence making difficult for us to walk. So, always look for the comfortable shoes.

Surefire Ways to Find the Right Recruitment Agency

The most time-saving, energy-saving and smart way to look for a new job is to go to a recruitment agency, and a lot of Australians who are searching for work are using this option. There should be no cost to you, the client, and it should make you aware of possibilities of various job openings without you having to do too much (except write your resume). When you enlist a recruitment agency, there is no need to look through job advertisements. Also, there are good employment offers which aren’t printed in the newspapers at all, but are passed to recruitment agencies to find the perfect person to fill the vacancy.

It should be free to you, the client, and will hopefully offer you choices of many great employment opportunities without much work on your part (beyond assembling a resume).

If you sign on with a recruitment agency you can save time by not having to search advertisements for a job. Plus, a lot of very attractive job offers aren’t listed in the newspapers at all, but are given to recruitment agencies to find the right person to fill the position.

If you’re an independent contractor, a recruitment agency can be beneficial in not only finding you work, but also by covering your insurance, which can be costly. The agency works the insurance and other fees needed to be covered into their fee that’s paid by the client—a big plus for you!

Another advantage is the agency can and will look for your next contracted job whilst you’re working on this one. You can stop worrying about where the money is coming from next month and get on with the work.

With over 3,000 recruitment agencies in Australia, there are plenty to choose from—which means there’s plenty of opportunity for you to pick one that’s not right for you. How do you find the best recruitment agency for your requirements?

Know What You Want.

Recruitment agencies come in all shapes and sizes, which can work to your advantage if you know what sort of job you’re looking for, and which would suit better.

A smaller recruitment agency will have a smaller number of consultants that tend to specialise. These consultants will deal with your paperwork more hands-on but may have less job opportunities to present to you because they don’t have the volume. If you’re looking for a job in a speciality field you might want to go with a smaller agency.

A larger recruitment agency will usually have more diversity in job opportunities but you will get less attention from a consultant. On the other hand, they also have a larger client-base, meaning more jobs listed as well. If you’re desperate and want a job to get food on the table go with the larger firm to get faster results.

Now with the popularity of the internet, recruitment agencies are doing more and more on the web. Employers are going online to look for people to fill positions, as are people that want the jobs to begin with. It’s a win-win situation, and recruitment agencies are there to help.

If you’re comfortable conducting business online and want an agency that deals online, you might want to inquire if that is an available service before choosing a particular agency. Agencies that deal with clients online could increase your success in the job market as they’d have leads to international positions as well as local.

Can You Shop Around?

Absolutely, look at different recruitment agencies to see which fit your needs best. However, keep track of which ones you send your resume to and in what capacity. An employer doesn’t like to see your name come in for a job six or seven times. Knowing which agencies have what information on you will help keep your profile out there, without flooding someone’s desk.

Look For Experience.

A recruitment agency can help you find temporary or permanent work for the positions you desire, as long as they deal with finding work in that field to begin with. Usually, recruitment agencies deal with the same companies over and over, especially if they’re good at finding employees and the company is satisfied.

You’ll want to ask what companies they deal with and if they’re experienced in finding positions in your field. If the recruitment agency deals mainly with technology-based jobs and you’re a looking for construction work, then the recruitment agency may not be right for you.

Visit a Consultant.

When you’ve located various agencies, contact them to book an appointment with a member of staff in each agency to find out more about them. After all, they’re handling your career and their company will be the first contact a company has with you. You are entitled to know if you are going to get on with their company or should you look elsewhere.

Ask About the Details.

Most recruitment agencies take care of important aspects of hiring, such as payroll tax and superannuation, liability insurance and workman’s compensation insurance. Ensure that these issues are looked after if you are hiring on with a recruitment company. You don’t want to be involved in an accident and discover you’re not insured by the employer or the agency!

Ask About Career Counselling.

A great plus in a recruitment agency is the ability to have them act as a career counsellor. A lot of recruitment companies will offer their clients services to help them further themselves and make their job search more successful. Programmes such as further training, counselling and re-training for new careers can put you back on the right track to finding a job.

Ask About Privacy.

You know you’re probably going to be researched before being put into the database or in the queue for a job, but do you know if the company is discreet and confidential in their processes?

Ensure that your personal details are going to be held securely because of the increase in identity theft and other crimes. It is sensible to ask the agency how they intend to keep your identity and you protected.

Payment.

You should know how your recruitment agency is getting paid before you sign on with them. Your employer (the client) is charged a fee by the agency for finding you. The fee is a percentage of your hourly or yearly salary. This fee should not come from your cheque but be charged directly to the employer. Make sure before signing on with a recruitment agency that their client (your future employer) is paying them—not you!

Look for Affiliation.

Does the agency have any affiliations, like with the Recruiting and Consultancy Services Association? These affiliations set a higher standard for the agencies associated with them.

In Closing.

If you’re in need of new employment, want to test the waters for a potential change or you’re looking for any old job, a recruitment agency can be the perfect way to go. Just make sure you ask the correct questions to make sure you’re signing with an agency that will work the best for you and help you get the job of your dreams.

by isafmedia

Why Engineered Wood Flooring is Best

Wooden floors have been a common preference for many homeowners and interior designers over the years because it presents a warm, beautiful, and sophisticated look to any house that laminate and vinyl are unable to match. Nevertheless, wood flooring is now getting to be much more widely used for the reason that engineered wood flooring has created the choice both more effective and a lot less expensive so that it is an excellent option for every household. Entirely eco-friendly and with several finishes and colours available, engineered wood flooring is one of the top purchases that you could make for your home.

In brief, engineered wood flooring is flooring that are developed by layering solid wood and MDF together and then gluing and pushing the layers to produce a stable fit. Each of the layers is very carefully placed to make sure that a cross grain construction is produced which lends to its durability and good tolerance to water and dampness. This also helps prevent the wood flooring from warping over a period of time, which can be one of the major issues which home owners encounter with real wood floors. In fact, given the distinct characteristics of engineered wood flooring there’s been an influx in creative designs such as edging and radiator roses.

In addition there are a wide selection of widths and thickness to select from, though more often than not 3 and 5 ply flooring is bought with regards to engineered wood flooring. As stated before, its ability to deal with moisture which makes it the most appropriate flooring for many rooms where commonly you wouldn’t consider wood flooring to be a possibility such as cellars, and bath rooms. Mainly because as opposed to its solid wood counterpart, engineered wood is able to bear up to high volumes of traffic in addition to any differences (irrespective of exactly how dramatic) in temperature and moisture.

Engineered wood flooring is usually more favourable as a flooring option in many cases because it comes in pre-finished and finished styles, enabling the individual to easily install the floor in one step and it is instantly functional. In addition, since engineered wood floors are normally only about three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch thick, it makes it possible for them to be fitted on top of already present floor surfaces which makes installation a truly straightforward procedure. Therefore, rather than worrying about finishing, sanding, or removing the existing floor before an area is ready for use, engineered wood flooring could be installed in only one day.

As soon as it is the time to actually install engineered wood flooring into a house there is the selection between lengthier panels for installs that are ‘floating’ in style, or simply opt for the effortless tongue and groove boards, which can make it more realistic to think about installing the flooring without the need of any specialist assistance.

Lastly, there is a demand to take a close look at the veneer of the wood flooring that is being thought about considering that the thickness of the layers will denote how eye-catching the end product comes out to be.

The alternate options to engineered wood flooring are laminate and real wood. Each of which have their pros and cons.

Laminate floors appear to be similar in looks to real wood floors but are normally more cost effective and in some ways being more robust, and with distinctive finishes and beveling options available this kind of flooring can certainly still provide a real wood look at a portion of the cost . Because the laminate is not affixed to the sub floor, leveling is vital to ensuring a top quality finish. If the sub floor is bumpy the laminate floors may have a bouncy feel to it. Because some laminates simply click together without the need of adhesive it is quick to fit. Solid wood floors, as the name suggests, are a type of wood flooring that is solid wood all the way through. With its natural beauty as its principal focus, its drawback is that it might be susceptible to scrapes and dents though this isn’t essentially a serious problem in the long term due to the fact that real wood floors can be sanded down on many occasions.

More Engineered Wood Flooring Articles

by Luciole.

Iva Company to Solve Iva Problems

A borrower who is finding it difficult to clear the debts can benefit from an IVA. It is a good option for those who wish to avoid bankruptcy. It can also be a good option to all parties including the creditors. Bankruptcy has larger and long term implications. An IVA can help avoid this.

Basically, an IVA is a contractual arrangement with creditors and can be as flexible as an individual’s own circumstances. It is a formal agreement between someone who owes money (the debtor) and the people he or she owes money to (creditors). An IVA proposal sets out how the debtor is going to repay the creditors, usually over a period of 60 months.

An IVA should be set up by a licensed insolvency practitioner such as one of our many approved and licensed practices as it is formal in nature. A borrower can avail the services of an IVA company to solve IVA problems. These companies have in depth experience in handling IVA cases.

These companies consist of a team of experts who do not charge any upfront fees for putting together a client’s proposals for an IVA. This is how an IVA process functions.

An IVA helps:

•  All interest and charged on the account to be frozen.
•  Homeowners may have to release the equity in the home.
•  The account of the borrower is administered by a fully qualified, licensed insolvency practitioner, who takes responsibility for liasing with the creditors and distributing funds on behalf of the borrower.

IVA Company also provides the following services:

•  Debt Management IVA
•  IVA application
•  IVA Solution
•  IVA Advice
•  IVA Debt Help
•  IVA Bankruptcy
•  IVA info In UK
•  Credit Card IVA
•  Debt Management IVA

Before opting for any IVA company, one must do a careful research. The company must have had a reputation of helping people. It should also be able to advise on the course of action that one needs to undertake.

The success of the IVA depends upon the final decision of the creditors. An experienced Insolvency Practitioner can efficiently assess each new case before starting the IVA process. This will help save unnecessary time, effort and cost.

How Does the IVA Work?

A person who is opting for an IVA, will be questioned regarding your current financial situation once it is decided that an IVA is suitable for the person. Based on the information provided, a repayment amount will be agreed upon. Followed by this, an application will be made to the court for an Interim Order. Once this comes into existence, creditors cannot take legal action against the person.

by bradlauster

Home Espresso Machines 101

Home espresso machines have become more popular than ever in the past few years. With the cost of stopping for an espresso skyrocketing, more and more families are opting for buying a home espresso machine.

Home espresso machines are scaled back versions of the commercial ones used in coffee shops. How scaled back is up to you. You can spend a lot of money and have a top of the line, do it all machine or buy a lower end machine and still make wonderful espressos.

The basic premise is that the machine will force hot water over finely ground coffee under pressure, creating an espresso with a beautiful crema. How the machine goes about creating your espresso depends on the type of machine.

Types of Machines

Pump espresso machines are typically the most expensive of the espresso machines. Although they do create the most excellent espressos, they are typically the largest and noisiest of the machines.  Commercial machines are usually pump espresso machines although there are home espresso machines that are pump also. Pump espresso machines also require more maintenance as they can become clogged with mineral deposits.

Manual espresso machines use a manual lever and piston to create pressure. If used often they can be strenuous on the arm. These machines do not create a consistent espresso as the pressure varies based on amount of arm strength. Lever/piston machines are very quiet with few parts and low maintenance.

Steam powered espresso machines are the most common machines found in homes. They are quick and easy to use. They are small enough to fit in home kitchens. These espresso machines use steam from the heated water to create pressure. The pressure in these machines isn’t always sufficient to make a great espresso.

Another basic simple espresso machine is the moka pot or percolator. These use a pressurized bottom half to send the steam though the coffee into the top half where the espresso is collected. The main advantages are that they are very simple to use and are the least expensive of all the models.  However, they have no frothing tools or method for frothing, have less pressure than mechanical versions, which means less flavor is extracted from the coffee.

Determine Your Needs

Buying an espresso machine for your home should be considered an investment. You need to evaluate how often you plan to use the machine, if it’s an occasional use, you can probably go with a less expensive machine. If, however, you are a daily espresso drinker, you will probably want to go with a more expensive machine that can stand up to more use. You should also look for one with a good warranty.

When determining your needs you should also consider how much space you have for the machine. For occasional use you might consider a smaller machine that you can put away. Or perhaps even a coffee maker/espresso maker combo machine.

Cost

It’s a good idea to decide how much you want to spend on an espresso machine before you start hunting one. One good way to get an idea is to consider how often you purchase an espresso or espresso based drinks and figure how much you spend monthly. This will help you decide how much you can spend on a machine and have it pay for itself.

With all your information gathered you are ready to go find yourself an espresso machine made for home use. There are many reputable companies that have home espresso machines. Some are also commercial espresso makers and probably make the best espresso machines. Whatever your decision you will be delighted with your hot, fresh espresso made while still in your pajamas.

by Studios de Boos

Online Master of Accounting with a Concentration in Forensic Accounting

The Forensic Accounting Masters Degree provides one of the fastest tickets to career success. Forensic Accounting was recently listed by Yahoo as one of the highest-paid professions, and numerous publications have listed Forenic Acounting as a hot carrer opportunity. It’s surely the hottest area in Accounting.

One great thing about Forensic Accounting is that it involves exciting work. It’s not the old-school boring accounting that focuses on debit and credits, but rather it involves exciting areas such as fraud investigation, litigation support, business and divorce valuations, dispute resolution, and expert testimony.

The great secret about Forensic Accounting is that it as a relatively easy field to get into. All it takes to start is a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university. With such a degree, students can enter into an online forensic accounting masters program that offers a concentration in Forensic Accounting. Such a program can be completed within a mere two years. In all cases, it’s best to take such a degree program in a business school that is accredited by the AACSB, the the organization most widely known for business school accreditation. See, for example the Masters of Accounting Degree: Online Forensic Accounting Program at Florida Atlantic University. The usual degree title for such a graduate degree program may be something similar to Masters of Accounting, or Masters in Accounting, with a major in forensic accounting. Even though the program might be offered online, the title of the degree generally won’t include the word “online.” therefore, you won’t find any degrees with a title that says Online Masters of Accounting or Online Masters in Accounting. However, you will find degree titles that don’t include the “s” in Masters. For example, Master of Accounting and Master in Accounting are titles typically used in practice.

Forensic accounting involves the application of investigative techniques help resolve financial issues in a manner that meets standards applicable to courts of law. Forensic Accounting is not limited to the use of financial investigations that result in criminal and civi prosecution; the investigation and its results must always, however, satisfy the requirements of the civil or criminal court that has jurisdiction.

Fraud investigations are an important part of the routine work for many forensic accountatnts. Fraud is the consequence of misleading, intentional actions or inaction (including misleading statements and the omission of relevant information) to gain an over an individual, group of individuals, or an entity. Forensic Accounting is much broader than fraud investigation; it also includes services related to business acquisitions, dispute resolution, asset and liability valuation, and the determination of lost profits.

Defining the words forensic and accounting can facilitate a deeper understanding of forensic accounting. The word forensic suggests applicability to courts of law. The word Accounting suggests the recording, classifying, and summarizing of economic events in a logical manner for the purpose of providing financial information for decision making. But when these two words are combined, a strong unified concept emerges – the use of both accounting and non-accounting information to to support arguments made in court.

How does forensic accounting differ from traditional accounting? Traditional accounting involves acquiring and organizing financial data for decision makers. Accounting involves at least seven areas, including financial accounting, management accounting, information systems and technology, taxation, consulting, internal and external auditing, and forensic accounting. Each has its own distinct purpose. For example, financial accounting provides information to external users, such as investors, creditors, and government regulators about the status of a company and the results of its operations. {One the other hand|In a different vein, the purpose of managerial accounting is to provide relevant information to users inside the company so that the profitability of operations can be monitored and enhanced.

Of all the areas of accounting mentioned above, perhaps auditing most closely resembles forensic accounting, particularly in the area of fraud examination. Auditing can be further divided into two categories: internal and external. Internal auditing is the process by which a company’s operations are verified by employees of the company known as internal auditors. Conversely, external auditors are not employees of the company; rather they are independent Certified Public Accountants, and their principal task is to certifiy that the financial statements of the company fairly present, in all material respects, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The leading organization of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) – the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) – classifies Forensic Accounting into two categories:

1. Investigative services that may or may not lead to courtroom testimony, and 2. Litigation services that recognize the role of the accountant as an expert, consultant, or other role.

The first of these services encompasses those of the fraud examiner. Fraud examination involves the detection, prevention, and control of fraud, defalcation, and misrepresentation. The second of these services encompases testimony of a fraud examiner as well as forensic accounting services offered to resolve valuation issues, such as those experienced in divorce cases.

by krusty

Card Making Crafts-Transform a Standard Greeting Card in to Classic Memorabilia

With a little bit of creativity and just a few simple steps, you can easily convert any card with a special meaning to you in to an unforgettable card making craft and keepsake for you or your loved ones.  Here is how you do it. 

Recently, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with all the fanfare and memories that should be afforded a couple that make it to that point in their loving relationship.  They also loved what I was able to do with the announcement I kept from the happy event when I transformed it in to a crafty keepsake and a marvelous card making craft.  

You will need the following supplies:  Please keep in mind that you will need extra rub-on lettering in case you make a mistake and have to redo any of the lettering.  You will also want to pick colors that coordinate with your greeting card as noted below.

 Greeting card:  For this project I used my parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary announcement. 1 clear acetate sheet:  Must be durable enough that when folded, it can stand up on its own. 1 sheet of decorative scrapbooking paper:  We chose a sheer background with a cream colored floral design. 1 package of letter rub-ons (190 count):  We chose brown to coordinate with the gold anniversary card and cream colored scrapbooking paper. Satin ribbon ½ yard:  We chose a brownish gold color. 1 package of decorative jewelry used for jewelry making:  We chose a gold colored heart shaped pendant with a rhinestone.  The pendant has two openings, which will make it easier to insert the ribbon. Gold cording 1/8  yard Glue adhesive stick 1 package of crafters adhesive foam stickers Scissors Hole puncher 1 card envelope or gift box to protect your card design

Step 1:  Fold plastic acetate sheet in half creating a card base.  Next, center greeting card under your plastic sheet to determine how much of the plastic you want seen once the greeting card is secured in place.  Be sure to leave enough space at the top so that a hole can be punched through the plastic without touching the card underneath.  Remove greeting card and set aside.

Step 2:  Measure and cut scrapbooking paper to cover one side of the plastic.  Next, apply glue adhesive to the back of your decorative scrapbooking paper and position on to the clear plastic acetate in the bottom inside half only.

Step 3:  Apply clear foam stickers to the back of your greeting card, attaching one to each corner of the card.  Once adhesive stickers are secure, carefully insert and attach greeting card to the center of your decorative paper, leaving enough space for a punched hole to be made at the top of the plastic.

Step 4:  Remove and apply rub-on lettering according to package instructions to the top outside area of the clear plastic acetate.  Note: Having your greeting card underneath will help to guide you in placing your rub-on letters.

Step 5:  Using your hole puncher, punch out one hole at the top middle of your clear plastic. Punch a second hole right next to the first one.  Next, fold ribbon in half and loop through the back side of each hole pulling the ribbon up until both ends are even.  Secure with a loose knot.

Step 6:  Thread cording through the heart pendant openings and secure around the ribbon knot.  You are now ready to make a decorative bow, tying the ribbon and allowing the heart pendant to hang loosely as a focal point.  Once your card making project is completed, place your decorative keepsake in a pretty gift box or envelope.  Another idea would be to display your design on a wooden or metal easel.

Find More Card Making Supplies Articles

by Huro Kitty

THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

1   INTRODUCTION

“We don’t need no education”, sang pop-star Pink Floyd way back in the 70’s in the famous super hit album, “The Wall”. While this may sound all right for idealistic rebels, it certainly does not apply to the current education scenario. According to the estimation, the combined market capitalization of listed private education companies in India is about US$ 40 bn market with a potential of 16% five-year CAGR. Other meaningful and fast-growing areas include vocational training at US$ 1.4 bn.

Statistics as a discipline is an offshoot of Mathematics and has existed for many centuries. In B-schools it continues to be one of the subjects which are often considered to be difficult by students who try to avoid it. But the way statistics is learnt and taught has undergone a paradigm shift since the advent of computers. In a seminal piece on the topic, Heidingsfield suggested there are two types of researchers. The first implies the training of a research technician, whose training is similar to that of a statistician. A research technician would make little contribution except for his techniques of measurement – collecting and tabulating data, and summarising the findings (Heidingsfield 1947). The second type of training Heidingsfield discusses is that of a research economist, who will also use techniques of statistical measurement, but will further possess an understanding of the fields of business. This type of training tends to produce researchers who can make “constructive recommendations based upon the results of his research” (Heidingsfield 1947). Unfortunately, the pedagogical approach to teaching statistics in business schools often conflicts with the way statistics are used in decision making in business environments and has left students without the skills needed to apply the methods effectively (Maleyeff and Kaminsky 2002).

2   IMPACT ON PEDAGOGY

In this fast-changing world, the prevalence of the Internet is increasing at rapid speed. Knowledge transmission is fast and boundless, and large economic benefits have been indirectly produced. Almost every nation in the world is well-prepared for this global trend (Zhao, 2001). Besides, the emergence of the Internet has intensified global competition, making business environments constantly vary. To retain business competitiveness, enterprises around the world are making efforts to create a human-based, knowledge-centered, and continuously innovative business structure, to cope with the challenges of the new era (Liu, Lai, Wang, & Chang, 2001). Therefore, appropriately applying the Internet to our education system is an important topic. Over the last few decades, talents cultivated under today’s educational system have made a great contribution to worldwide economic development. However, students have long been affected by the exams and enrollment systems, so inspiration or creativity has been overlooked (Ma, 2002). Advantages of using computers in teaching and learning Statistics definitely outweigh the disadvantages. One of the few disadvantages that come to mind is that more and more students are getting over dependent on computers even for the simplest of the computations. What once seemed logical has now been replaced by sophistication. This dependence leads to a student not grasping the technique(s) employed in reaching a particular solution. In my opinion the beauty does not lie in the correct solution but it lies in the process which leads to that solution. Computer oriented solutions more often than not ignore the process part of the solution. This is because the process is carried out in the CPU (central processing unit) of the computers. That is why it becomes imperative for teachers to give hands on experience to students on calculating problems manually as well, even if it takes more pain and time to do the same. This will also help in understanding on how the formulas are derived and how they differ from one situation to another and also on how the formulas can be adapted in unique situations. In the next sub-section I explain the recent changes and developments in the computer related technology that has affected the teaching and learning pedagogy of statistics.

2.1 Text Books

In recent years Statistics text books come with a CD ROM full of exercises, their solutions, and data files. These data files can be used by the students to play around with and this aids learning by doing. Advent of computers has not only helped students but also teachers as it has become a lot simpler to teach and a lot more practical. The CD ROMs which come with the text books often have MS PowerPoint slides with them and one can easily adapt those slides to suit his or her own teaching requirement. They are also appended with sufficient number of files full of data which could be easily used to play around with by students and teachers alike. This helps save a lot of teachers’ and students’ time in search of real life examples for analyses purposes.

2.2 Statistical Packages

Many applications have hit the market since the advent of computers. Their use in the classrooms gives students an opportunity to play with the real data. Fortran, Lotus 123 et al were some applications which were very popular during nineteen eighties and early nineties but with the introduction of MS Office (MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access) in 1995 provided the user with a very friendly software. MS Excel in particular has proved to be the friendliest of all the applications available in the market for statistical purposes. SPSS, Minitab, Systat, Stataquest etc are some other packages that are used for statistical computations. All these software have their own positive and negatives and have different degree of ease with which they could be used. MS Excel and SPSS are widely used packages used in the universities and colleges. They are user friendly and cost-effective at the same time. Apart from this it is much easier to explain many concepts with the help of computers which otherwise need a very elaborate manual solution. Solving a Linear Programming Problem (LPP) is a good example. It would take a long time to solve a LPP by way of Graphical Method or by Simplex Method. But MS Excel-Solver solves the same in a matter of seconds once the problem is correctly formulated.

2.3 Research

Advent of computers and related technology has helped researchers and their research work by manifolds. What used to take months and years in the early twentieth century and ever before could now be achieved in a matter of a few days and weeks. As Statistics is the study of collecting, editing, analyzing, compiling, and presenting data. Use of computer has improved the quality of each one of these steps significantly. Using internet one can send questionnaires and collect responses from potential respondents spread across the world (Prabhakar 2005 & Walker & Prabhakar 2006). The ease with which questionnaires can be filled-in and sent back using computers has undoubtedly improved the response rate. This has collection and comparison of data from different parts of the world much easier. Computer helps in analyses of data too. With a click of mouse one can create beautiful charts and pictorial presentation of data. Examples are many including regression analysis, correlation, pie chart, bar charts etc. Business management students in particular stand to gain from these features as they would need these skills to function effectively once they join a management position at the completion of their studies.

2.4 Statistics online and interactive programs

It is commonly believed that customary methods of teaching statistics to students are not very effective (Yilmaz 1996). There are numerous websites dedicated to interactive learning of statistics. Some of these websites have a solution engine that does the analysis part once you put some data in the boxes provided. Therefore in effect those are real time data crunchers and are instant solvers. There are many paid websites which help students to learn in a tutorial mode using a username and a password. Also there are downloadable interactive statistical programs which generally need to be paid for. Interactive Statistical Programs is a comprehensive system for learning and teaching purposes (Maridakis and Winkler 1984). ‘Statistics for the terrified’ is an example. These programs have simpler explanations of otherwise complex issues with a lot of examples and pictures and exercises with detailed explanations.

2.5 Off shoring and online Tuitions

Many professional organizations have sprung up in recent times understanding the fact that that students at all levels are terrified with statistics and math. These organizations are normally run by a team of teachers who provide online support to registered students and charge fees in return. The best thing about these arrangements is that they are not limited by boundaries. Teachers may be based in one part of the world and students in another. They may never see each other but are connected through e-mails or common platforms like Groove or Blackboard which allow access and saving and modifications to files to the authorized participants. Students can ask or send questions to their tutors and tutors can respond to the questions by solving them or suggesting on how the solution can be achieved. This concept is no different than that of off shoring the services, for example, opening call canters abroad. Similarly some countries have historical and natural expertise over others in the field of Statistics. India and China in particular have individuals with comparatively better skills in statistics due high importance given to math in the primary and secondary school stages. India in particular has an English speaking population with statistical expertise and many students in the USA and in UK are opting for online tuitions from India. Also, the online tuition costs are merely a fraction to that of what one would spend on a tutor located in the western world.

2.6 Assessment & Evaluation

Assessment & evaluation are often very time consuming and tedious processes. It takes a big chunk of teachers’ time to set assignment or examination questions and then check the examination sheets. As discussed above computer programs and internet has also changed the face of assessment and evaluation as there are many real time tests available online which gives the score of an individual with the click of mouse. Many international online aptitude tests use this method to assess students; examples include GMAT, GRE, and SAT etc. These tests are not primarily statistical tests and are administered worldwide for entrance into specific courses. They include multiple choice questions from a host of disciplines like English, Maths (including Statistics), logic & reasoning etc. The computer program ensures that each student taking the test gets a different set of questions of similar level of difficulty. This ensures that test takers’ scores are comparable. Similar methods are employed by some universities. But online statistical tests are more common where multiple choice questions are considered to be an appropriate form of assessment.

3  CONCLUSIONS

Computers and its associated technology is perhaps the most researched field in this era. High volume of research, interest of corporate houses and potential of huge profits ensures that much more is to come and the present state of advancement is nothing but only a phase of development and will be overtaken by faster, broader, and better technology. These changes would definitely affect the discipline of statistics in many ways some of which could be foreseen now and many others can’t be. Teachers and students alike need to be adaptive to the changes in the environment by way of continuously updating their skills for good.

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