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All public schools currently use standardized tests to gauge where their students are at. Should a school have low scores, they often get reprimanded by their state department of education. Since there are so many different curriculums, it definitely makes it hard to evaluate correctly though.

For example, students may be learning, but not learning what is on that test. That doesn’t mean they didn’t learn. It just means they didn’t learn the right things that the state is testing them for. It is like comparing apples to oranges and expecting to come up with something that is the same. It simply won’t work!

With the common core, there will be standards in place for learning of each subject area for each grade level. Those learning objectives will be consistent with what is on the standardized tests. So it is comparing apples to apples, and students either know the information and do well on the tests or they don’t. If they don’t, then the state department of education can contact that school and work with them to revamp what they are teaching.

Admin & Educators

Happy staff is going to be a great way to evaluate the quality of the common core. Many teachers complain that they work too hard and too many hours. They are stressed about standardized tests and about coming up with lesson plans. With the common core, they know what they have to teach and there isn’t any guessing involved.

Many educators can feel relaxed and they can plan their lessons accordingly based on those standards that are in place. Admin won’t be looking over their shoulder as much to make sure they are teaching what they should be. This makes for happier teachers and to also frees up time of admin to focus on other tasks.

School Environment

The overall school environment can improve with the common core implemented. The school may have a terrible reputation now due to the programs they teach or the methods. It is time for a clean slate to get things moving forward. With common goals of everyone, there isn’t the push and pull tug of war taking place.

Instead, it is a collective effort for all to engage in. Arguments about what to teach will no longer be an issue. There will be a checklist of what should be covered in each subject in each grade. There won’t be any more comparing this school against that school. There won’t be any more issues with students that are behind when they move to another school district.

Student Happiness

Students that are enjoying what they learn are going to show up for class. They are going to be prepared, they will have good self-esteem, and they will be building on what they have learned and apply it. Students are far less likely to slip through the cracks with the common core curriculum in place.

There will still be lEPs (Individual Education Plans) for students that need them. They will be evaluated along with the common core curriculum to see what can be done realistically to help the child to learn and to get to the point where they should be. The process may not be easy but it can be done with the encouragement of educators and parents.

Parent Feedback

Happy kids at school make for happy parents too. They want to know their child is safe and that they are in a good learning environment. They love seeing their child come home excited about what they learned and feeling good about the new concepts. They also enjoy the meetings with parents that show their child is meeting the standards in place.

Parents also like to be able to see that if their child is behind, what exactly they are behind on. The standards in place give the teachers and parents a checklist to go through and to evaluate. If a child is behind on something, then the parent and the teacher can come up with a plan of action to get resources or one on one help in place.

Everyone gets a Voice

The fact that educators, admin, parents, and even students all play a role in creating the common core curriculum means that it can be evaluated on many different levels. There is clear communication in place about what is expected to be taught, what is expected to be learned, and the standardized tests that will conform what was learned.

Everyone knows exactly what needs to be taught, how to help kids learn, and parents know what they should be studying in a given grade. It takes the guesswork out of the equation and makes education a collaborate effort with everyone involved on the same page. Anyone who has had an issue with a public school about curriculum or the difference between what is taught and standardized testing will really appreciate this.

Focusing on the core concepts, understanding, and processes involved needs to start in the very early grades of students. This helps them to build on it and to grow from it. Students need the encouragement and they shouldn’t be set up to fail. Graduating from high school isn’t enough Students need to graduate with real world stills that they can count on.

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Chapter 5 Recipes

It is a good idea to add the following items to your shopping list and to keep them on hand in your kitchen. They are commonly called for in gluten free recipes. You can also use them when you run low on food items for your menu to make something.

Gluten free baking mix

Gluten free crackers

Gluten free bread crumbs

Gluten free flour

Gluten free snacks

Guar Gum

Quinoa

Rice (brown or white depending on your preference)

Xantham Gum

With these items you can also use some of your favorite recipes but with a gluten free value to them. It can be both fun and productive to get creative with those recipes. Here are some great tips for starting with such replacements:

Binders - Use Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, or gelatin.

Breading - Wheat or gluten free bread crumbs or crushed potato chips.

Flour - Use gluten free flour mix or cornstarch. There are plenty of options to consider including amaranth and sorghum.

Thickening - Use cornstarch or gluten free baking mix. For a sweet recipe, use dry pudding mix.

The internet is a wonderful resource for finding various gluten free recipes to try. You will enjoy the new tastes and you will gain more confidence in this lifestyle choice as you are able to create meals you and your family love. You can also buy gluten free cookbooks, magazines, or exchange recipes with others that are also eating gluten free.

Here are some great ideas to get you started. Try some new recipes and create a file for those that you really like. As your file grows you can ensure lots of variety in your diet so you don’t feel restricted or bored by eating the same thing over and over again.

Breakfast Ideas

Yogurt is a great option but make sure it is gluten free as many varieties aren’t. Both Stonyfield and Chobani are certified by the Gluten Intolerant

Group. You can use the yogurt as a basis for a delicious tasting smoothie too.

There are various brands of gluten free cereal by General Mills and Nature’s Path. If you like hot cereal consider Cream of Buckwheat. There are also oats that are certified to be gluten free. Eggs that are fried or scrambled are a great way to start the day due to the amount of protein they offer.

Lunch Ideas

Lunch meat is a great choice for a convenient and gluten free option, but make sure it isn’t processed. A salad can be a choice that works for you due to all of the vegetables. You have to be careful though as some of the cheese items and various dressings can have gluten in them.

Nachos consisting of tortilla chips and some melted cheese that is gluten free is a change from your basic lunch and very appetizing. Peanut butter on gluten free bread is another great consideration.

Dinner Ideas

Lean cuts of meat including beef, pork, and poultry are great choices. You can also consume fresh fish or other seafood. Adding fresh vegetables and your choice of potatoes offers you a wonderful meal without gluten in no time at all. You can also replace the potatoes with your choice of gluten free rice.

Snack Ideas

Gluten free snacks you can enjoy between meals will keep you on track. Cut up fresh fruit and vegetables so you can grab them and go. You can pack them to take in the car or to have at your desk while working.

There are plenty of types of cheese that don’t contain gluten, and they are wonderful for snacking. They also help you to get your calcium. With certain flavors of cheese you need to be careful as they can have some gluten in them so always read the packaging. Kids seem to really enjoy those individually wrapped cheese sticks.

While you should only consume chips in moderation, they are also gluten free when it comes to many varieties including most of those offered by Frito Lay. For a lower calorie snack consider popcorn. Make some hardboiled eggs and consume them when you need a snack. They will give you lots of energy.

Dessert Ideas

Both children and adults enjoy dessert, and you don’t have to eliminate it due to a gluten free diet. Various brands of pudding are free of gluten and you will have a variety of flavors to pick from. Ice cream can also be a wonderful treat but you need to pay attention to the labels. So many ice cream varieties these days are packed with goodies so you need to pay attention to what is in there.

Cross Contamination

It is very important that you think about the risk of cross contamination in your own kitchen as well as those of others that prepare gluten free meals for you or your family. If the same tools are used to prepare such items as those that do have gluten then there can be some contamination.

Even a small amount of gluten can be dangerous to certain individuals so care has to be taken to prevent this. It is one more reason why changing the entire family to a gluten free diet may be the best option to consider.

Holidays

For many people, the holidays can be tough due to the restrictions of the diet. There can be parties to attend and various events where you have to be very careful about what you eat.

You may decide to make dinner at your own home and offer a gluten free meal for all. It is certainly an option to consider. Prepare yourself for the holidays and have a few items you can take along for snacks with you in case an event isn’t gluten free friendly.

Chapter 6 Support

Your decision to be gluten free is one you should feel proud of no matter why you have made that decision. It is a good idea to get a support system in place as soon as you can about it. Share with your family, friends, and co-workers about your lifestyle change and what it entails. You will be pleasantly surprised at the many people that support you and even think about making the change for their own household.

Tell your healthcare providers about such changes too if they haven’t mandated it due to a medical necessity. You will find that most medical professionals are very supportive of this type of dietary change.

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Chapter 9 Creating a Long Term Business

it is possible to create a long term business if you can get a concept generated that works. You can demonstrate that there is a need for what you offer in the market. If you have a product or service that the general crowd of consumers out there is willing to back, then you may have a real winner on your hands.

You can use the money that is generated through crowdfunding to help you get the business off the ground. Maybe you need money for advertising. Perhaps you need funding to help you with creating the product or getting inventory in place. It could be the packaging and shipping.

The bottom line is that many businesses lack the startup funds. You may have a really good idea on your hands, but no way to promote it. The lack of investors out there willing to give you a chance can be frustrating. Many lenders fail to give loans even if you have a great business plan. They simply don’t want to take the risk of not getting the money back.

You can even pre-sell the concept of a service or the product to help you generate the income you need to get started. You can use that product or service as a reward which we covered in a previous chapter. By getting a cash flow in place that you don’t have to pay back, it can be the foundation for a very profitable long term business.

As your business gets off the ground, let people know about it. They are going to love to see the history in the making for that business. They aren’t going to just donate money and then it gets forgotten. Help them to see the true value of what the business got out of it.

Likewise, the business should be willing to give back. Set a good example by also donating to other crownfunding requests as your business makes profits. The fact that you were successful in making money can encourage people to continue donating to other requests. This is the way to help boost the economy so that it is getting back off the grown and climbing.

If getting the money in place is what is holding you back, consider crowdfunding. It can make the difference between your product or service getting out there or not. It can also help you survive that very crucial first year where more than half of new businesses fail. It isn’t due to a lack of dedication or the quality but lack of cash flow. This concept can change all of that, boosting the overall economy around the world!

Chapter 10 Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Up to this point, we have been talking about all of the right things to do regarding crowdfunding. However, it is important to point out some of the common pitfalls that people get caught up in. Being aware of them means you can take action to prevent them instead of succumbing to them.

Not Reading Details

You have to take the time to read the details for a site platform. It is as simple and as difficult as that. The reading can be dry and boring, but you need to take note of what you are agreeing to. Once you click that you agree, you are legally bound by those terms.

Not Offering Rewards

When possible, offer rewards. They will generate more donors for you than if you don’t give them anything in return. However, you also have to make sure you don’t spend so much money on the rewards that you aren’t generating the amount of money when all is said and done that you need for the campaign to be successful.

Not Enough Time

A crowdfunding campaign has to have a timeframe, and if you don’t allow enough of it, then you can fall short of your goal. This can be hard to gauge though because too long of a timeframe can cause people to lose interest. They won’t have that desire to hurry and donate money and you need that so that your campaign generates traction.

Too Much Money

Don’t ask for more money than you really need! With crowdfunding, the less you need the more realistic it is that people will be able to contribute enough. If you need $10,000 don’t ask for $15,000! If you need $800 don’t ask for $1,000. On the flip side of that, don’t ask for too little.

If you don’t ask for enough money to complete funding for the idea or project, you are closer, but still not able to move forward with it. Keep in mind that rewards can cost money and that there are fees associated with the site platform you use. Crunch numbers to make sure you calculate all of that in and then you set your dollar figure to ask for with that campaign.

Limited Marketing

Spreading out your marketing through all branches of social media, emails, and reaching out to your contacts is very important. You can’t get your campaign to go viral if you don’t have enough contacts at your core to work from.

Wrong Platform

In the next chapter, we will go over the right platform selection. It is really a large piece of the puzzle for you to fit together. Don’t rush when it comes to selecting the platform to work with for a given campaign. Look around, ask questions, and really pay attention to what is being offered as well as to what isn’t.

Spending a few hours on research can really make the difference between your campaign generating the funds you asked for and it falling flat. Ask yourself what would result in you giving your money for a given idea or project. You also have to think from their point of view. Did you give them enough information in the right format to make it worth it in their eyes?

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Chapter 7: Managing your network with network monitoring tools

When it comes to managing a network, the user would ideally have to consider several connecting issues and this would include methods, processes, procedures and toll that would ideally assist in maintaining and provisioning the system in place.

Elements such as operation deals with keeping the network functioning smoothly and efficiently would require the monitoring of the network to spot problems before they create dire consequences and address them accordingly.

The administration deals with keeping a firm hold on the resources within the network and how the assignment processes are decided would ensure the network is kept under control and manageable.

The issues of maintenance is also another common concern with the need to perform repairs and upgrades being the main focus most of the time. This could take on many forms and there should ideally be a good support system in place to ensure these are done in an efficient and quick manner.

The support for the network to be able to provide optimal service platforms is also something that is important enough to be a concern for the user. Provisioning elements are concerned with configuration of resources within the network as the support given would have to include the setting up of the network to ensure new customers are kept in the loop always.

The FCAPS also depicted to represent fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security are all functions that are performed as part of the network management coordination. This exercise would entails other works such as controlling, planning, allocating, deploying, coordinating and monitoring of the resources that pass through the network simultaneously as any given time.

Data management is often collected through several mechanism where there are agents installed within the infrastructure, synthetic monitoring that simulate transactions, log activity and real user monitoring.

Chapter 8: Computer network maintenance and repair

Computer network maintenance and repair are elements that should ideally be factored in very early on within the exercise of acquiring any system to be used by the individual or business entity.

Today computer networks often function as the primary communicating, research and sourcing for information tool, thus it needs the attention of good maintenance and repair allocations, to ensure this is not disrupted in any way for longer than necessary.

This maintenance would include issues such as security measure within the networks. Competitors are often engaged in accessing delicate information that can be used against businesses for their own obvious gain and this is quite prevalent online. Identity theft is fairly common as hackers usually make a living by extending such services to interested parties, thus the need to step up the maintenance and repair levels to ensure consistent monitoring of this.

The general malfunctioning of the system being used can cause a lot of damage to the user’s business or personal usage, thus the need to have some recourse action plans in place.

The following are some areas that could be monitored to minimalize any unwanted hiccups in the system being used:

The user should make it a habit to block any unwanted junk form getting to the network in use, with tools such as Gateway

Appliance. In place within the system and the incoming information, this tool is able to control the number of unwanted material form getting into the system.

Ensuring the antivirus system is use is always kept current and updated is important. There are a lot of choices which include AVAST and AVG which are relatively cheap to acquire. Generally the user should be keen to avoid any form of problems that could contribute to the need to acquire the sendees of a computer network repair team.

Chapter 9: Troubleshooting computer network

There are many possible reasons when a computer is unable to connect to a network or see other computers on the network. Understanding some of the possible reasons will allow the user to conduct some troubleshooting exercises to try and rectify the situation.

Some of the reasons that can be handled by the right troubleshooting measures would include the network card not being connected properly, bad network card drivers or software settings, firewall preventing computers from seeing other computers on the same network and also connections related to users and bad network hardware.

Accompanying these are some possible solutions that can be addressed using the troubleshooting exercise mainly due to the fact that a large variety of network configurations, operation systems, setups and other connecting services may not always be something to do with the network operating system in current use.

The user should ideally be able to be connected to a company or large network to facilitate administration of the said network and resolving such issues would require some recommendations done through the troubleshooting exercise.

Some of these troubleshooting exercises would include the verifying of connections and LEDs where the network cable is checked to ensure it is properly connected to the back of the computer. In addition to this there would also be a need to ensure the LEDs on the network is properly illuminated in solid green.

Adapter resources are also something to look into through the troubleshooting exercise when a new network card is being installed into the computer system.

The card’s resources should be properly set and should not be conflicting with any hardware in the computer. Adapter functionality is also an exercise to conduct where the network card should be capable of pinging or seeing itself by using the ping command.

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Chapter 6: Understanding Control Panel

The control panel in any operating system is critical as it enables the user to do settings on how the computer will perform. It is a key application that helps in all types of different settings.

It allows users to view and edit system settings that manages the operating system. It helps in installing and uninstalling applications not found in Windows, settings for printers, audio sounds, font size, maintenance of computer, performance of computer and many more features to asist the user.

To access the control panel is made easy. Look for the Start button on the right hand side and click on it. The control panel window will open. You can either use classic view or standard view.

Later editions of Windows uses category, small icons or big icons. If you prefer to view on a larger scale then click on big icons. For small viewing click on small icons.

You will also be able to see which software was installed, when it was installed, installed in which location, what version was installed and other information regarding the software.

To customize your folders, click on the Folder Option icon. It lets you customize your folder settings like hide some of the folders which you would not like others to see. You can set the program to open folders or files with a single click or double click.

You can change how your computer starts with the control panel. You can also set how your computer looks with the personalization button found in control panel.

This setting will affect the font size displayed as well as graphics and sound. You can use Windows background pictures or even one of your own personal photographs. You can also set the different tones for different actions performed by your computer.

Chapter 7: Recover your windows from a crash

With any operating system, there will always be glitches in the system that causes it to crash after sometime if the cause is not resolved with updates. There are many reasons why the operating system crashes. One of the common causes is the installation of bad or incorrect driver installations.

The two main reasons why Windows operating system crashes are hardware and software. On the hardware side, any error occuring in the hard disk drive or memory (RAM) will cause Windows to not load. On the software side, any damages or changes made to system files can have the same effect on Windows.

Viruses are primary causes for software to malfunction. Change of computer motherboard as well as removing or changing hard drive configurations will also cause malfunction. Other symptoms where Windows does not load could also be attributed to a faulty motherboard or power supply.

To recover Windows after it crashes, you have to either use Windows Vista safe mode if you are using Vista or Windows XP safe mode if you are using XP.

There are three safe mode options in Vista. They are safe mode, safe mode with command prompt only and safe mode with networking.

The default option which is safe mode is the best where a minimal set of hardware drivers are loaded on boot up. This mode uses physical devices like hard drive, video card, mouse, CD ROM devices and keyboard. Then use system restore to revert your system to an earlier working state.

After this run an antivirus program like AVG, Avast or Norton. These programs will run best in safe mode and you should delete any viruses found. After completion of this exercise you have to run System File Checker which can examine and repair all your essential operating system files..

Chapter 8: Computer networking in windows 7

With networking, you can share, surf the web, chat, make a conference call and others from practically anywhere.

For home users, Homegroup is the best way to stay connected on your home network to share printers, files, libraries with other people in your home.

For work, you need to connect to a domain which is a collection of computers on a network.

The top 10 Windows 7 networking features are:

Libraries - personal documents, personal downloads, personal photos, personal videos and personal music. These are folders created by the system. You also have public folders with the same names. Public folders can be viewed by everyone on the network while personal folders are exclusive to that one user.

Network and sharing center - this has been simplified in Windows 7

View available network - this feature allows you to view all available networks and connect to them directly.

Fast wake up and boot, smart network power, wake on LAN for wireless.

Branchcache - contents are cached on a remote branch to enable faster downloading the second time around. Access is much faster and easier.

Virtualization enhancements - when you run this feature, you will enjoy a higher quality experience. This new feature comprises of:

Windows Aero Interface

Viewing videos in Windows Media Player n

Multiple monitors

Microphone

Easy print. Use a local printer without installing a printer driver.

Common tools to manipulate virtual desktop images.

Fix a network problem - this easy and simple feature will help you fix your network problem.

QoS enhancements - quality of service enhancements in Windows 7 is URL based QoS. This feature enables Admin to prioritize their mission critical web applications over general web surfing.

Direct Access - help mobile users get more done. Help Admin manage remote machines more effectively.

Homegroup - the best feature on Windows 7. Link computers on your home network together to share files and folders.

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Chapter 7: Rolling the game with your stroke

Being able to roll the ball efficiently into the hole once it reaches the green is important, as it will determine the final score for the particular hole played, and this will eventually effect the overall score for the entire game.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to master the art of playing the ball once it reaches the green which would be called putting.

Standardizing the length of the putting back stroke to the roll would give the player a better chance to create more precision in the distance and strike, therefore ensuring a more accurate putt. The player should be able to read all the contributing factors before deciding on the length of the back stroke to be taken and the impact it will create when in contact with the ball.

This distance and the impact in the backstroke the putter takes, can also effect the direction the ball follows and this is especially so, if the putter is not properly squared when actual contact is made.

Other contributing factor that should be factored in, are such as the gradient of the putting green’s surface, the consistency of the green surface, the angle the blades of grass naturally takes, the speed of the green and the type of grassy material that is used to create the surface area. Being able to read all these different factoring elements will

enable the player to make better and more accurate judgments on the putting stroke to apply so that the ball find its mark. While taking into account all of the above factors, the player would then have to learn how to successfully gauge the distance the drawback stroke should make to ensure there is enough momentum on the roll of the ball to sink it into the hole.

Chapter 8: What you need to know about chipping and pitching

Chipping and pitching are two essential parts of the game especially when the ball did not make it to the putting green with the original intended stroke. Therefore in order to have a more complete game, the player would have to be able to handle chipping and pitching strokes adequately and accurately.

The first thing to understand is that in most cases the chipping or pitching are done using specifically designed clubs. These clubs would be the pitching club, the sand and the lobb wedge. These clubs are specifically designed with a sharper angle to enable the stroke to bring forth a sharper angel when coming in contact with the ball.

When trying to use anyone of these clubs, the idea would be to ensure the hands leas the swing and the ball should be placed far back in the stance.

This will allow the descending contact made on the ball, to be more accurate and in a rather scooping motion. The touch or the stroke here should also be softer and gentler when creating the impact on the ball.

This is usually possible to achieve as the ball is already closer to the putting hole, thus needing less force in its trajectory. Ideally the ball should be played in a manner that allows it to roll along smoothly as soon as it makes contact with the surface of the green.

However most players are too controlled in the downward stroke, that they often miss hit the ball rendering its movement to either a few feet short of the hole or way past the hole.

Generally the swing motion is about the same, which would be a well formed pendulum motion that is much shorter in comparison to an actual full out swing, however the stance would be different as the player would have to adopt a more open stance.

Chapter 9: Gaming with your smartphone.

There are quite a few common mistakes that are usually prevalent in most players’ game, and with a little guidance and understanding it is possible to successfully address these faults and make the necessary adjustments to ensure better quality of play.

The following are some of the more common pitfalls of the golf game and how they can be addressed:

An exaggerated twist - this does not in any way contribute positively to the eventual outcome of the swing made. Over twisting will only create the possibility of creating an off balanced swing which will change the direction of the swing thus causing a slice or a pull. It would be better to focus on better posture that will create the ideal pendulum for the perfect execution of a swing.

Missing the putt line - being able to visualize the putting line and making all the necessary adjustment to ensure the line estimated is followed as closely as possible is very important to eventually sinking the putt successfully.

Lack of acceleration - the importance of acceleration of the club through the eventual ball contact cannot be emphasized enough. Most players seem to hesitate on the down swing thus causing the decelerating percentage to be apparent and this eventually affects the overall results of the ball and club contact. This usually creates the scenario where the ball is scooped up high, instead to making a fairly straight trajectory movement. The key to gaining distance would be at the finish of the swing and not on the backswing.

Leg movements - this is another common pitfall of many golfers, as they seem unable to keep a firm and balanced stance position when attempting a backward swing. Once the body moves, the downward swing angle is changed, thus also effectively changing the course of the ball direction.

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Chapter 6: Using the smartphone as a learning tool.

Smartphones are amazing tools, not toys and so many kids are carrying them around on a daily basis. What makes the smart phone such a powerful learning tool is mobility and it allows the parents to encourage anywhere, anytime learning.

Teachers have found creative ways to use smart phones as educational tools. Students can:

Use the camera to take pictures or videos. They could take videos of their lab experiments. This gives students the opportunity to review their experiment and to improve it.

Use the built-in microphone to record interviews. The voice recorder can help the student to remember homework assignments, memorize terms and practice foreign language pronunciation.

Use the browser to perform research. The smartphone provides so much information, which includes science textbooks, which are online. If they have a question they can easily look up the answer by using the internet.

Use the keyboard to jot down their notes anytime, anywhere.

Use Google information to add to class discussions. Google is also accessible by text message. Students could send a message to Google to define a word and receive a list of definitions.

Use it in chemistry classes as it helps out with the periodic table when looking at atomic mass.

Use the smartphone as a calculator in Algebra, Algebra 2 and Geometry, or watch math videos.

Use the phones to do their homework on- the-go and to communicate with teachers.

Use the built in contacts/address function as a vocabulary study list. Students enter the words, in the “notes” section of the contact and enter the definition of the word. They then create a “group” for each separate list, which makes it easy to keep them organized. Students can quiz themselves on the meaning and then tap the word to find the definition.

According to the Campus technology article, smartphones today “have the computing power of a mid-1990’s computer “For such a tiny device, it is a lot of power. As a learning tool the smart phone could be utilized more, because they are here to stay.

Chapter 7: Social media goes mobile with smartphone.

Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are determining new forms of social interaction, dialogue, exchange and collaboration. These sites enable users to swap ideas, to post updates and comments. Social media are helping people to follow breaking news and keep up with friends.

A new report from comScore shows that both Facebook and Twitter users spend more time using these networks on mobile devices than they do on traditional computers or laptops, which leaves no doubt that the future of social networking is mobile. Analysis done by comScore indicates

Facebook and Twitter are among the largest social networks and both brands have developed a growing mobile audience. As more and more people can afford smartphones and mobile broadband, due to lower costs the popularity of social media, particularly Twitter and Facebook has shot up dramatically.

This sets the path for changing the way we live, how we work and how we communicate. The success of a networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter, or even Google + is easily determined by its accessibility. If users can’t access a social network via mobile with a half decent experience is doomed for failure.

Increased accessibility to social networks on smart phones could however bring about more stress. A study by a psychologist Richard Balding demonstrated a link between compulsive behaviors and increased smart phone use. According to Balding it is very likely to see an associated increase in stress from social networking, as smartphone use is increasing. He encourages people to take a break from being connected all the time. There could be a risk that stress and tension that builds up from being engaged all the time, could have a negative impact on relationships.

Another side of using the smartphone to access social media is the storing of every personal detail on a single device. With some basic social engineering skills peoples’ dependence on social media can be exploited.

Smartphones are designed for sharing, but be selective with what you choose to share.

Chapter 8: Free Calls with VoIP smartphone apps.

VoIP is an acronym that stands for Voice over-Internet Protocol. This form of technology allows someone to make free or cheap calls using their smartphones, but instead of using the mobile operator network, they place the call over the internet.

The advantage of VoIP technology is that it is cheaper to transmit any calls or text messages via the internet, since transmitting data via the internet is cheaper than to use satellite services or normal phone lines.

This allows VoIP providers to offer previously expensive services at a much cheaper rate than traditional phone operators.

To use VoIP on your smartphone you should have access to internet either by connecting to Wi-Fi network or the data network of the mobile operator. You would need at least a monthly data plan of around 4-5GB, since VoIP technology uses a lot of traffic.

You would also be required to have a mobile VoIP app installed on your phone. There are several specialist companies that have developed software and technology that allows it to be used without expensive hardware. Some of the most popular are:

Skype allows free conversations and texts between users via handsets and personal computers.

Vonage offer VoIP calls to their customers via existing broadband connections, through PC or smartphones.

Rebtel also offer a complete range of VoIP services and in addition they offer a range of apps freely downloadable from their site for Android, Blackberry and iPhone.

To make VoIP calls you would have to register with one of the companies above. After adding your friends or family to your contact list, they would have to install the same provider as you on their phones.

As soon as they are registered you are able to make calls in the same way as you would be using traditional means.

Mobile VoIP technology is one of the most useful smartphone features that allows users to make free or at least cheap calls.

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Chapter 7: Receiving is not as easy as you thought

An important part of being able to play the soccer game well and ensuring a comfortable win, lies in the art of mastering the receiving techniques that is a dominant factor of the game. Being able to receive the ball comfortable and then work it to accommodate accurate passes will help the team to have better ball possession percentages throughout the game.

One way of being able to do this is to carefully watch how the professionals go about keeping control of the ball upon gaining possession. Watching how they position themselves to receive the passes will help create a better understanding of the fundamentals of the ball receiving art.

Observing visual displays of these techniques are more impactful, than simply sitting in a room listening to techniques being shown or explained on a board. Studying the more experienced player and how they move is a better option to exercise.

Another way to master the art of receiving the ball is to practice constantly, especially if this area of the game is presenting a challenge to the player. Learning to use different drills that focus mainly on the receiving and handling of the bah would be beneficial.

With a little research, it is possible to find a whole host of drills that will help the player to master the skill of ball receiving adequately and accurately.

One popular way of practicing this, which is often recommended, is by kicking the ball against a wall. This is considered a good drill to use to master the art of receiving, as the trajectory is almost always unreadable. Because of this, the player would have to be more alert and ready, to be able to successfully receive the ball and handle it accordingly.

Chapter 8: Using your head to your advantage

Besides using the feet as the dominant feature in the soccer game, there are some moves that call for the use of the head to create successful goals. The player can master the skill of using the head to direct the ball accurately and consistently into the goal net, thereby successfully scoring a higher number of goals for the team.

The following are some of the formats that can be successfully utilized by the head action in contributing to scoring goals:

When high balls are seen to be approaching, the player can use the head to make contact with the ball in mid flight to redirect in to a specified position where the team mate would be on alert and waiting to receive it. If the header is stuck correctly, it will usually be able to find its target without much obstruction, mainly due to the height its trajectory forms.

Any soccer player who can master the art of using the head to direct the ball in flight into the goal post area would be an asset to the team. This action would take a lot of hours to master as the accuracy levels needed are considered extremely high, yet using this technique most time allows the goals to be scored without much obstruction from the goal keeper. This is especially advantages as the players would limit the time the ball is on the ground, where it’s easier for the opponent to gain control of the ball.

Being able to capitalize on using headers will also help the player gain possession of the ball and redirect it in mid flight. This is also advantageous as the direction of the ball can then be changed in favor of the team. This can turn the pace and direction the game is taking, and is certainly makes for a more exciting outcome.

Chapter 9: A goalkeeper’s role in soccer

The goalkeeper is the one player that has the very difficult role that is solely dedicated to keeping the opposing team from successfully scoring any goals. Being on guard at the goal area, the goal keeper is allowed to use both hands and legs to stop any balls from entering the goal area and thus scoring a point for the opposing team.

Ideally goalkeepers should be well built and agile in movements. Being alert and able to read the body movements of the players is also something goalkeepers are directed to master.

Most goalkeepers stay close to the goal area and depend on the defenders to help is keeping the ball maneuvered by the opposing team from successfully reaching the scoring area.

Ideally the more experienced the goalkeeper the better the skills portrayed, and this usually means they are older than the other members of the team.

Most goalkeepers have a set stance and body position that they adopt when focusing on stopping the ball from getting into the goal post area.

This stance would ideally be, standing with hands at the side with palms facing the anticipated direction the incoming ball is going to take, the feet would be placed as firmly as possible without actually being wider than the width of the shoulders and finally the low positioning of the body in a semi crouched position with the centre of gravity providing a stable stance and weight distribution, the goalkeeper would be ready to stop the ball from finding its target.

Some of the catches the goalkeeper should be trained in executing would be such as the diamond or W catch, the chest catch, the scoop catch, the full extension dive, the cross catch and the high cross catch. With regular practice and experience the talented goalkeeper would have no problems exercising a high level of competency.