Rule Real Estate Technology Or It Will Rule You

Do you ever feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the technology stuff that is out there
to help you grow your real estate business?

Websites, GPS, PDAs, laptops, desktops, bluetooth, automated 800 numbers,
contact management software... The list is endless.

Ever feel like technology actually keeps you from getting things done?

In my travels helping real estate professionals use technology to make more money,
I have found that there are basically two types of people: those who rule technology
and those who are ruled by technology.

The difference doesn't have so much to do with what a person knows about
gadgets, gizmos, websites and the like. That is a difference of knowledge, and
knowledge is something everyone has access to. The important distinction here is
intention - the deliberate decision that you must make about how technology fits
into your business.

Just like a business has no value without a customer, technology is worthless until it
is used for a specific purpose - to reach some goal.

Using technology for a specific, well thought out purpose will help get you to your
goal more quickly and with less effort.

Now I know (as I am sure you do) real estate pros who have built multimillion dollar
businesses without even turning on a computer, but I am not writing for them.

Using technology to boost your real estate business is smart business. So here are
some guidelines to help you make sure that YOU are the one that is stays in control.

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#1 Set your goals FIRST. Then use the tools you need to reach those goals and
forget the rest. Who cares what everyone else is doing?

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Take for example the cell phone. Everyone needs one right? No. Do you want to be
accessible to your clients at a moment's notice?

Maybe, maybe not. There are plenty of successful real estate professionals on both
sides of that argument.

Set your business goals FIRST, before you let your mind go onto finding the tools
(technology) you will need to reach those goals.

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#2 Don't jump in the deep end

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If you've never turned on a computer or have little interest in them for your
business, then don't run out and buy the latest one with every bell and whistle
under the sun.

The goal isn't to be tech savvy. The goal is to be productive and make more money
in less time.

Start slow and take small steps. And make sure that your productivity is increasing
with each technology "step" you take.

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#3 Learn... and keep learning

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Do you read books about real estate? About business? About marketing? Throw
one in every now and then about technology. Or better yet, dedicate some time
each month to get on the internet and read some articles that will teach you how to
use technology in your business.

Never stop learning. Learning is one of your greatest strategic assets.

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#4 Get a schedule and stick to it

====================

Do you check your email or voicemail 20 times a day? 10 times a day? Do you need
to? Does it make you more productive or just busier?

Make a schedule for how you relate to technology. For example, you could return
voice messages before lunch and check your email 2 times a day.

The details of the schedule don't matter. Make it however you want. The important
thing is that you have a schedule and stick to it. Your schedule will keep technology
from spilling over into the time you want to be productive.

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#5 Understand that most technology is far less than perfect

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I really mean this. The next time your computer freezes or your email goes haywire,
don't blame yourself. There is a 95% chance it wasn't anything you did.

For the most part, technology is mediocre. It has bugs, quirks and other problems
that appear at the worst times.

Just accept the good along with the bad and learn as you go.

Stop blaming yourself. You're a whole lot more intelligent than the pile of wire and
plastic that is your computer.

Jason Leister, the Real Estate Technology Guru (tm), is owner of Computer Super Guy, LLC, a Chicago-based technology firm that helps real estate professionals profit with technology.

Visit the Real Estate Technology Guru [http://www.computersuperguy.com] to subscribe to our free monthly eZine, ProfIT, and receive a FREE copy of our special report "The Truth About Real Estate Websites and Search Engine Optimization."

Technology in the Second Language Classroom

It goes without saying that technology is all around us and it is almost inevitable to get in contact with it in every single action of our lives: CD-ROMs, E-mails, The Internet, ATMs, the World Wide Web seem to be so integrated into our everyday vocabulary that most people would not even ask what we are talking about.
They would know for certain what we mean, even those who are not technology-minded.

We all know that technology is always evolving and when we think we have figured out how it works, we have an invasion of new developments, gadgets and tools that make us wonder if we are not still in square one. And we are not. We are just in the middle of a never-ending quest for knowledge. Isn't this what education is all about? The words mentioned above are part of our daily life now, and we may even feel that they never were complex in the first place. But they were! Just as at present it may sound to us to hear about blogs, ipods, poscasting, streaming, RSS, and so on and so forth. In turn, this will be so that we will feel at ease both to hear about them as well as to talk about them. The learning quest is on.... For good!

However, the aim of this article is not to tell you that technology is always evolving_ something that you already know for certain_ but to share with you some of the reasons why I personally love to teach using technology in the classroom and why I think that every teacher should use it as much as possible whenever possible.

I have been teaching English as a Second Language and Spanish as a Second Language for over 14 years now and in my career I have always noticed how fascinated students feel when they deal with technology.
You can see it in their eyes, that glint of emotion they irradiate every time they get in contact with it.

However, the same does not apply to teachers. I have noticed that many teachers feel either scared of or overwhelmed by the new technological advances, as if, in a way, they have to place themselves in a long-forgotten position, that is, as students. And it is true that with the new technologies we are all learners. But also in life we are learners!!! Who could afford to say, "I know everything"? I definitely couldn't! To narrow it down a little bit, who could afford to say "I know everything there is to know about my field of expertise?" I could not say that either. I have to accept there is a world of knowledge out there that asks or even begs for exploration and it is up to us to engage in this quest for discovering more and more every day. Will we ever be able to know everything? I think it would be like asking if we could ever be able to bottle all the water in the ocean. We may not be able to do so, but what a good time we could have while trying to do so!

It is pretty understandable that we as teachers are not always up-to-date with the new trends but if we just try to relax and lose the fear of them we will notice that they are not our enemies but our allies. It is true that if I wanted to stand in front of my students with an aura of omnipotent power and knowledge, this may not be the best approach, but I wonder, is it ever good to have that attitude in front of our students? Is it good for our personal development and growth to have that kind of attitude? "I know everything and if there is something I don't, I will do like an ostrich and put my head under the ground." Is this what we really want to do? With or without technology, this attitude more often than not will be our main cause of frustration and rejection both from peers and students alike, actually with everyone we come in contact with.

Sadly enough, this is what is happening in most classrooms nowadays. Many teachers simply do not approach technology, either for fear of the unknown, or even for having to yield some sort of authority to the students,. After all, isn't it true that teachers teach and students learn? Well, yes.... but let's not forget and always bear in mind that we are all learning. The more I teach and see how my students react, the more I learn about them, about myself, about how to reach them, about my teaching practices. It is all part of the teaching experience. There is not such a clear-cut distinction any more.

Undoubtedly, young people feel more attracted to the new technologies than adults do. They spend lots of time dealing with it that they become self-taught experts. Actually, they do know a lot! Maybe MUCH more than we do! So what? Where some teachers may seem trouble or fear, I see a possibility!

Think of the terrific opportunity of engaging those students in sharing part of the knowledge they have acquired after hours and hours in front of a computer, for instance. They could share so many things with the rest of the class so that everyone and YOU yourself can learn from their experience. Do not see them as threats but as allies in your quest for knowledge. You may know nothing, a little or maybe a lot about their favorite subjects! It doesn't matter. You can start to use the new technologies straight away! How? Very easily. With a couple of tips and instructions, any teacher can start to use them straight away! Just think of this:

How much more effective would your lessons be if you could create your own website with exactly the materials you need to use with your students? Think of the advantages of just this in the classroom, if you have never done anything like this.

"Yeah, right.," many will say. "I have just learned to check my e-mail and now you are expecting me to create a website! Sounds good but too optimistic and unrealistic!"

My answer would be: "Do you know how to use a word processor?"

If your reply is "YES," then I will tell you that if you know how to use a word processor, learning how to make a website will take you 10 more minutes.

If your reply is "NO," then it may take you between 15 and 20 minutes to create your first website.

Yes, you heard me right! Ten to twenty more minutes and you will have your very own website up and running! How about the software? Do you need some special software?

Well, if you have a word processor such as WORD, you do NOT need any other special software. That will do!

It is not our aim in this article to explain how to create a website but I promise I will in another installment of these mini-articles. What I want to highlight here is that technology does not need to be difficult for us to implement. Actually the opposite is true. We have to lose the fear of it and we can accomplish tasks unthinkable for us just one year ago! Losing the fear of technology is everything! Once you decide to implement the new technologies in your classroom you are well on your way towards that end. It is your decision what matters most. Set your mind to it and the rest will be plain sailing.

Why do students love "technology" so much? Simply put, technology has a magical component. It is the thrill of exploring something new, an untravelled path begging for exploration. I call it "the Matrix syndrome." If you have seen the movie called "The Matrix," you may know what I mean, that little something that drives you to find out more, that does not let go off you until you have answered all the questions, and you get a clue at a time. Once you unravel one, another one closely related appears, and sets your mind in motion to try to figure out what may happen next. You cannot keep you mind off it and actually crave for more and more, like an addiction begging to be fed. The good thing is, this is an addiction for knowledge.

If you are not very technology oriented, think about how much your students may be missing, not because your lessons are not good enough. They may be excellent lessons. But just imagine how much you could empower your lessons by embracing the new technologies and capitalizing from those students with some expertise in the field. Not only will you be taking your lessons to the next level, but you will also be taking a great porting of magic into your classroom. And when you see that glint in your students' eyes, you will know for certain you have made the right decision.

Julio Foppoli is a teacher of English as a Second Language, teacher of Spanish as a Second Language. He is also the creator and owner of http://www.esaudio.net/Spanish/online_classes.html , an online educational website with a technological edge, specialized in the teaching of Spanish as second language via audio-conference to native speakers of English from all over the world.

The website offers free listening comprehension activities with Spanish from all of the Spanish speaking world.

Throw a Delightful Kid's Science Theme Party!

Science Parties are great fun... there are a lot of exciting experiments that you can try!

(We have all the science experiments in another article - From Elephant Toothpaste to Oobleck!)

Send Science Invitations with a Poem:

"Have you ever wondered How and Why?

Volcanoes blow and birds can fly?

Come test a theory, experiment!

Attend a Science Birthday event!"

RSVP to the ____________lab to the Head Scientists

Style of Science Party

Science is such a huge subject that you may want to focus on a specific type of science:

Biology (Bugs and Plants)

Chemistry

Electricity

Magnetism

Geology (Rocks/Minerals)

Weather Science

There are lots of Popular "Science Guys and Gals" out there (Bill Nye, Steve Spangler) with loads of experiments.

Science Party Decorations

• Tasty decorations can be "Molecules" made from gum drops and toothpicks.
• The periodic table is colourful and fun (and can be educational to put together)
• Bio-Hazard signs everywhere (use cheap ticket board/construction paper)
• If you have a microscope put that out too!
• Test-tubes or glasses full of brightly dyed water or koolaid
• Have an area leading into the party room set up with lots of streamers set up "car wash" style with a bio-hazard sign above as if they are entering a serious scientific area.

Science Party Costumes

• For a costume you can buy disposable lab coats or you can make your own by splitting a plain white t-shirt down the middle front and taping under the raw edges/selvages and taping a "collar" around the neck, (if you are ambitious you can even sew the edges).
• If your Science party is a "Mad Scientist" theme then you can spike the kids' hair with some cheap hair gel as they arrive.
• Also if the party is going to be a messy one... you might want to warn the parents on the invites for the child to "dress for a mess".
• Have the children bring their large swim goggles (as "eye protection")
• For a craft activity decorate foam "bow ties", or decorate lab coats/aprons

Science Party Food

• Tasty decorations can be "Molecules" made from gumdrops and mini marshmallows and toothpicks... or for more healthful snacking... berries or cut up fruit.
• Petri dishes full of jello (or something that resembles a petri dish)
• Have a few drops of food dye (done beforehand so that they are dried up) in the bottom of clear glasses so that when the clear soda (like Sprite) is added the drinks will change colour!

We have loads of birthday party supplies, birthday plans, and free printables! Not only for Science parties but other themes too! Check us out at

An Introduction to Science

Science is one of the main topics that we study as children and young adults when in school. It is a subject that is all around us everyday, just like Mathematics and English, making these three topics key subjects at school. Just like most school subjects and topics, there are many sub topics and categories that we have to learn about while studying it. This article will briefly outline all the science topics so that you can be more informed about studying science if you are new to the subject. Most people like science but some do not understand it. I hope you find this article useful.

There are three main types of core scientific subjects. These are Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Of course, there are many more topics, however everything to do with science and the study of anything science related falls under these three categories. When choosing to take this subject as a further field of study, most individuals pick one of these three as a main study and it tends to be the one that they think is more interesting, so this may help you make a decision if you are thinking of becoming a scientist.

Biology

Biology is a natural science and it is the study of life focuses on the growth, structure and evolution of living organisms and looks at how they are formed. The basic focuses of biology are cell structures, the study of genes, new species and evolution, organisms and how they maintain life in certain environments/living conditions and how living things transform and consume energy. Biology is studies using the following methods and sub topics and it involves biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, ecology, evolutionary biology and the study of the environment. Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882), born in England was a famous biologist who was famous for publishing his theory of evolution. His interest in nature made him give up his study of medicine and concentrate on nature instead.

Chemistry

Chemistry involves the study of matter. It examines the behaviours, properties, and interactions of atoms and groups of atoms. When studying chemistry is heavily involves experimenting with different substances and is used in most other scientific subjects like physics, biology and geology. This sub topic of science has been around since the beginning of history, when it was known as alchemy. Chemistry involves the study of elements, matter and experimentation. Dimitri Mendeleev (1834 - 1907) was a Russian chemist who developed the periodic table of elements, and used it to predict the properties of other elements still to be discovered.

Physics

Physics involves the study of natural science and natural philosophy. It studies the nature of matter and motion through time and space and also looks at astronomy and examines how the universe behaves and how it was created or made. The concepts of study includes and branches into chemistry, biophysics, quantum physics and mathematics. When studying physics things such as gravity, energy, motion, heat, waves and maths are looked at, as well as electricity and magnetism. Well known physicists include Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) who was famous for his theories about gravity and motion, Steven Hawking born in 1942 (and still alive today) who studies black holes and his theory relativity and quantum mechanics. Albert Eisntens' (1879 - 1955) theory of general relativity changed the way we think about and our understanding of the universe and gravity.

Science is a very wide topic with lots to talk about. I hope that you found this article useful and interesting to read and it was informative. There are many other famous scientists that are not listed here above as I have only mentioned a few, but these individuals have definitely contributed to our understanding of the world.

If you have questions about science, need help with your science homework or generally like to know more about this subject, you can ask science questions [http://scienceqa.net/ask] at ScienceQA. You can also answer science questions that have been asked. Become part of the science community and earn points/badges.

Importance of Early Childhood Education

Early childhood generally encompasses the first eight years in the life of an individual. The education given during these years of a child's life plays a very important role and helps in proper development of children. Early childhood education can be fundamentally termed as "Learning through play". Recent research have shown that early eight years in any children life are crucial time because during this phase their brain develops and much of its 'wiring' is laid down. The education experiences and relationships a child has along with nutrition can actually affect child mental growth enormously. While good early childhood education helps the brain to develop in healthy ways, improper education or study without play on other hand may affect brain development in different manner. So the experiences and the learning of a child in early years can support them in their entire life.

Recent studies of early childhood education have even shown some remarkable success. It resulting effects on child motivation and learning power last for a long time. Today where education has become very important role to play in a society, it is not right to postpone investing in children education until they become adults, nor wait till they reach school age. In fact early childhood is a vital phase of life in terms of a child's intellectual, emotional and social development. Besides this, the most important point to know is that the growth of mental abilities is at an astounding rate and high proportion of learning takes place during this period.

It is very important for every parent to understand that a child spends first eight years in realization of his or her own identity. These are very crucial years when children gain a sense of self and learn to associate themselves with the people around them. They develop an understanding and behavior to a certain extent. For this reason it is suggested that early childhood education during these years should be more focused on teaching children about the world around them through play and establish the links. Moreover, many child development experts also agree that play is very important in the learning and emotional development of children. A play can be multi-facet and often helps in educating different skills in children. In addition to this, education through play also helps them learn social skills, and develop values and ethics.

Certainly, today it won't be wrong to say that early childhood education is the key element that helps in building a god foundation for child's educational success. Every child learns habit and form patterns that are not easily changed in later years. If parents and educators can develop productive early education patterns for the children in their charge, those children will be on their way to achieving great educational success. The lack of parental interaction during early childhood can negatively impact a child's development. Ultimately it is the equal responsibility of the parents and tutors to assure the children have a good early childhood education that can further help them develop their personalities.

Looking for career options in early childhood education [http://www.educationmajorsu.com/program.php?discipline=early-childhood-education&id=227]? Find the list of top education schools or universities for courses or programs in early childhood education in United States or Canada. Also find top education schools [http://www.educationmajorsu.com/] and teaching degrees for start career in teaching.

Online Education Makes College Education More Affordable

The rising of education cost makes college education become more and more expensive; especially in today's bad economy situation where students are hardly get a loan to finance their study. It may stop some of students from pursuing a higher education due to unaffordable education cost. Thanks to the available of online education that makes college education more affordable and becomes a better option for students to earn a degree online.

According to college education & funding survey reports found, the results show that college tuition fees have increased by over 400 percent from year 1982 to 2007 while households' income rose below 150%. Situation may become worse following the bad economy that leads to a recession, which may put higher education out of the reach for most students. An alternative education option is needed and online education is the solution, it makes college education more affordable.

Online education has been around for years providing an alternative option for students for earning their degree. Online degrees have been wisely accepted in job market, most online students have no problem to use their online degree to start their career or find a job. During economy up-time, online education is an alternative; students can choose to pursue their degree either online or at a brick-and-mortar university. However, when comes to a recession, the education cost is the key consideration factor for many students, online education become a great option for students to pursue a degree at an affordable cost.

Online education saves cost in a variety of ways. Most of learning materials are in downloadable format, helping students to reduce the cost needed in purchasing printed books and references. Students don't need to travel back and forth the campus by attending classes online through internet connection, saving them time and money on transportation. For students who take the traditional path to earn their degree at the brick-and-mortar university, they may need to relocate to the area near the school if they leave far away. The relocation cost can be saved if they choose the alternative education option and earning their degree online. With online education, distance does not matter, any school that offers online degree programs can be reached at a mouse click.

Generally, the tuition fee for online degree is cheaper than the same degree cost in campus-based school. Since most of teaching materials are in online format and the classes are done through the online learning system which does not require physical classroom setting, most schools are afforded to offer the online degree in cheaper way without scarifying the teaching quality. Online education provides a more affordable channel for students to pursue a degree from their computer through internet connection.

Summary

The education cost has risen 3 times faster that the household's income, stopping more students from pursuing higher education due to unaffordable education cost. The online education helps to reduce the total cost in the ways of reducing some major expenses, making it a more affordable education option, meeting the tight budget for many students in the time of recession.

Amelia Turner, an educational article writer focusing on online education. Visit Amelia at [http://www.your-online-degree.info] to find out more details information and free resources about the Best Online Degree Programs [http://www.your-online-degree.info], financial aids and other accredited online education options that can help you to make decision to earn your degree online.

15

Leadership Education - Can Your Children Possibly Become the Movers and the Shakers of the Future?

I don't only believe they can, I believe it's their destiny.

Every time I watch little children I am stunned over and over again by their incredible capacity to soak in this new experience called life. They seem to assimilate huge amounts of information in so little time, growing exponentially and without prejudice in any direction life challenges them to go.

Truly, children are born geniuses. All of them. As a matter of fact, every person you have ever met is a genius. We live in a world of geniuses. It is what we are here for.

Our call in this world goes beyond surviving the odds as good as we can. We are called to develop ourselves adequately and to leave a legacy, to reach out into a hurting world and make it a better place to live in.

Each little child is fashioned for greatness. And each one of them is called to impact this world for good and to become an effective leader for tomorrow's generation.

Yes, greatness is not beyond the reach of any child. And depending on the education they'll receive, they will develop their genius to a higher or lesser degree.

That makes the goal of any educational method very simple. The word education comes from the Latin word educare, which means "to draw out." True education will draw out a child's genius. Period.

But what does that type of effective education look like? Throughout the history mankind this question has been answered in a myriad of different ways.

I personally believe that education cannot be put into a box. A good education allows the individual greatness of each child to emerge and develop. Therefore it looks very different from one child to the other.

Each one of them is a unique little person endued with a distinctive combination of God-given skills and talents that were placed there to fulfill the task they were called to accomplish here on earth.

And each one needs a tailor-made education to grow into what they were born to become.

We as parents have the responsibility to equip them with an education that will effectively prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of their generation.

Each generation faces its own share of crisis. And each crisis will instantly demand effective leadership. We as parents have to ask ourselves, "Will our children be ready to adopt the position of leadership they were destined for?"

So, how can we settle for anything less but the best education?

Discover why a healthy self-directed learning process is already a natural part of your child's very essence, and find out how you can protect and nurture it successfully in my free ebook "The Power of Self-Directed Learning."

You also gain immediate access to my free e-course "Seven Steps to Consistently Change Your Life." [http://www.Self-DirectedLearningForSuccess.com]

From Bettina Langerfeldt, who teaches people how to pursue their God-given gifts and talents by designing their own education with self-directed learning.