So Are You Taking the Ps of the PMP Course Seriously?
October 29, 2008
A PMP Course focuses on Project Management at a professional level recognized and this course is prized worldwide. If you have taken and passed the course, you have the credential to show for it, but how professional are you when it comes to project management?
What It Means To be a Project Management Professional
People in professional careers are expected to observe professional ethics at work, including their interaction with other professionals; project managers are always put to the test because they manage people, resources, and projects, and always professionally. The PMP Course they have taken should guide them towards the right direction.
A professional does his job well and is never content with “making do.” This is the gist of the PMP Course. No wonder having a PMP certificate does wonders to your resume and to your career. The course places emphasis on Project Management and Professional, hence as a holder of a PMP certificate, you are expected to stand above the herd.
To be a professional managing a project, you are expected to put to test the relationships of the PM processes in a given situation, exactly like the test questions you hurdled during the PMP Exam after taking the PMP Course. You handle the project from the planning to implementation with that confidence backed up with a Bachelors Degree and 4,500 hours of project management and your PMP certificate.
Taking the Ps Seriously
After taking the PMP Course and passing the test, you are ready to take on challenging projects. But are you ready to live up to the PMP standard, think NASA. You have to demonstrate to your present bosses or to potential employers that you have a rock-solid foundation of both education and experience in managing projects and get the expected results. Consistently doing a remarkable job entitles you to raises, promotions or bonuses.
With each new assignment you strive to excel, that makes you a professional worthy of your PMP qualifications. You have the skills, knowledge, technique and tools at your disposal to meet the expectations of your bosses. You always have to prove that as a PM Professional, credentialed by the non-profit Project Management Institute you have met the rigorous standards of the International Standard Organization better known as ISO.
Whatever your capability, whether you are a sales professional, engineer, procurement specialist, or events manager, you are responsible for quality projects no matter how limited your resources or the time given to the project schedule. Although you cannot be perfect, or your project may be saddled with problems, you can hurdle all these, guided by what you have learned from the PMP Course.
Are You a Professional?
Prior to the PMP Course, you had to plan projects carefully, make decisions, lead a team, and do your job as expected of you. These shaped you into a professional worthy of the name.
The course enhanced your job related skills and strengthened your leadership role. You can do things right even in problematic situations without getting personal about it and blaming your team. Instead, you look for ways to solve the problems to complete the project on schedule.
If you have been doing this, you have been minding the Ps of your PMP Course. You deserve to be a professional in your field.
Ready for a PMP course or PMI exam? If you need more information about project management training, visit Threeo.ca today.
Not a College Graduate? You Can Still Take the PMP Exam
October 29, 2008
Go For It!
You are not employed in a big corporation but you are working for restaurant’s kitchen operations. Should you take a PMP Exam to improve your lot? Why not? Take this scenario - your boss inks a deal to prepare lunch for 1,000 wedding guests. This will require a manager to keep things going smoothly, and that is you. You have to handle problems and solve these fast. That is a big reason for taking that exam.
Since you can take the PMP course at home on your own time, it would be easy to fit this in your busy schedule. Or you may choose to go through the course on weekends. All you have to do is get a relevant PMP course and have your lessons at home anytime you are free. You only take the PMP Exam after you have completed the mandatory 35 contact sessions.
Still you have another option, take the course and learn from it without taking the PMP Exam. But if you want a promotion or a better paying job, take the exam and pass it. It will earn you a certification that would boost your chances with prospective employers or prompt your boss to give you a fat raise after five years of slaving in the kitchen and doing the procuring for the boss.
Before the PMP Exam
You admit you’re lazy and going onsite for everyday lessons can drain your brain and your time. Who can still have the energy with all that stressful kitchen marathons everyday? Forget about going to brick and mortar sites, go the way of the internet! There are several online sites offering PMP courses and you get all the help you need to pass the PMP Exam. You don’t have to go to hotels to attend the training
After paying for the course, you can start your training by downloading the training tool. This done, forget the internet. You can do all your studying without needing the internet. You also have the option of combining your self-study with a classroom course partnered with the website where you signed up. Online support is available should you have any problems.
After the course, you are given a certificate of completion and you use this to apply for the exam. Applying for the exam can be done online. After paying for the exam, you will soon receive notice that you can take the exam in any of the accredited testing centers. You can check out the location of these testing centers in the PMI website.
The PMP Exam
The exam is computer based and there will be 200 multiple choice questions and you are allowed four hours to finish the exam. As a non-PMI member, a $555.00 fee for the exam is charged, quite a hefty sum but worth it once you have your certificate certified by PMI.
Passing the PMP exam is to understand the PMI version of project management and memorizing the relevant terminology. Do not be fooled that you do not need to memorize anything. You do. College graduate you are not, but you have a chance at a PMP certification.
Need help for your PMP Exam Preparation and PMP Certification Exam or PMP Exam? Visit Threeo.ca today.
What You Must Know Before Learning Chinese
October 29, 2008
Is Chinese really difficult?
Although Chinese is gaining importance, many are still hesitant to learn it. They are kept away because of the unfamiliarity. The wield-looking characters and the elusive tones and sounds — they are daunting!
So if this is what you think, you are not alone.
The solace is that there are 1.4 billion people in this world who can speak the language without any problem. This does not mean that the language has to be easy to learn because of this. It does, however, show that whatever difficulties that you are facing need not be insurmountable.
As a matter of fact, Chinese is easier than languages like English in several aspects. I’m going to talk about one of the most interesting ones: the ways to build vocabulary.
You may be surprised. But you don’t have to learn many words in order to read and write Chinese.
“But Chinese characters are so complicated!” you may wonder.
In the first place, you may skip the Chinese characters at the beginning, by using the Chinese phonetic system to learn to speak. Of course, you will have to learn the characters in the process, but don’t be intimidated by them — especially at the beginning.
Second, you must understand how the Chinese words are structured.
You don’t have to learn many words in order to speak and write Chinese because Chinese words are like building blocks, a character you learn will help you to multiply your vocabulary.
Every word in Chinese is made up of characters. So if you have masted a freqently-used one, you will get to see it appear again and again, although not always in the same contexts, and could be in combination with other characters. In most cases, the meanings of the words are somehow related to the character’s.
As a result, although a Chinese character may be more difficult to learn than an English word, which is made up of alphabet, the moment you master one, you can multiply the vocabulary by learning the related ones quickly.
The character can be an anchor to form words with other characters. So the modifying effect can be far bigger than an English word.
Let me use an example to illustrate.
When the character ren is used independently, it is a single-syllable word that could mean people.
It can also be used in conjunction with other characters to form dual or multiple-syllable words. daren would mean adult; gongren would mean worker, bieren would mean others; and renren that means everybody, and so on and so forth. When you learn one character, you learn the seed for many other words. Even if you don’t know what exactly the new words mean, you would know that it usually somehow has to do with the original character.
As a result, if you can have working knowledge of the right key characters, you would be able to become conversant in the language pretty fast.
Over the years, many studies have been conducted to find out the frequency of the words used. It has been found that the most frequently-used Chinese character, ‘de’, for example, is being used in 4% of the text. In other words, in every 100 Chinese words you read, chances are that you would see the word ‘de’ appears four times.
It could sound astounding to you, but the 10 most frequently used Chinese characters appears in about 15% of the texts you read. In other words, in every 100 words you read, one or more of these characters would appear 15 times.
You may be delighted to know that by knowing the most frequently-used 500 Chinese characters, you get to see them appear in 75% of the text. You may not know exactly the meaning, because the combination of characters may have the meaning changed when used together with other characters, but you would be able to guess the meaning is somehow.
Learning 500 characters does not sound that difficult, right?
It is important to know the peculiarity of Chinese when you learn it. It would help you to find a better strategy to learn the language, and make the process less painful and more rewarding.
What we say here about vocabulary building is definitely one that you cannot afford to overlook.
Tekson Teo, writer and speaker specializes in Chinese language and culture, also a highly regarded business consultant. He was a Chinese broadcaster, bilingual journalist, translator and interpreter. He graduated from University of London with BSc (Econ) Hon and MBA, and DIC from Imperial College London. Visit http://www.ChineseOnTheGo.com!
Christmas Gift Baskets: Making Your Own Gift Baskets
October 29, 2008
Christmas gift baskets have now become one of the most famous gifts people get to give and receive. Because of its flexibility, it is the easiest gift one could wrap up and give to their family, friends, relatives, co-workers, business contacts, clients, and just about anybody. The gift baskets which are packed with goodies suitable for the celebrated season are usually customized and fitted to the recipient they are intended for.
Origin of Christmas Gift Baskets
Christmas gift baskets were originally food gift baskets which were already a popular presentation of food and other presents packed in an elegant basket usually made of wicker. Christmas was traditionally the time of the year that people handed out these food gift baskets, so it was later termed as Christmas gift baskets being the time anticipated for the gift giving tradition. It has now become a well-liked gift for all-year round. A selection of Christmas gift baskets may come in the form of:
Fruits
Books
Wine
Pictures or Posters
CDs, VCDs, or DVDs
Gourmet Foods packed with snack items like candies and nuts
Chocolates
Tips in Making Your Very Own Christmas Gift Baskets
A Christmas gift basket is more intimate when personalized or customized. Planning ahead on the items to be included in your gift basket would help. Here are some helpful tips that may be useful in making the ideal Christmas gift baskets:
Think of a theme. Find out the recipient’s interests. If unsure, choose neutral items but adding a touch of femininity or masculinity to add a bit of intimacy to the recipient.
It is best to consider the recipient’s hobbies. You can choose items that are helpful to what interests him/her.
Mix and match items so you can save. Buying them in bulk may minimize your costs for the items you put in your gift basket. You may split those items for different recipients. And you may also pair expensive items with those that are least costly and mix and match them, too.
You can also minimize costs if you can be resourceful on some of the items you use in your gift basket, such as the basket. You may just redecorate them and voila, it is as good as new. Or you may get them from garage sales or thrift stores.
It is important to make your Christmas gift baskets simple and personal. You don’t have to overdo the decorations. When it is all done, although elegantly made, you will find out that they are even less expensive than the other gifts. And if you run short of time, you may find a variety of these Christmas gift baskets online.
For your ultimate needs in Christmas gift baskets, rush to Tanner’s Pecan and Candies. You have a selection of a wide array of items you can pack your gift baskets. Or you can do them online. All you have to do is choose the items you want in them and have them delivered, too.
This instructional article about making your own Christmas Food Gift Baskets was sponsored by Tanners Pecan. Visit us online at http://www.tannerspecan.com
10 Tips to Help You Select an Online Distance Education College
October 29, 2008
Check to ensure the college is accredited by a legitimate accrediting agency. Accreditation means the college and its programs meet certain set educational quality and standards. This also means courses and credits acquired can be easily transferred to another accredited institution, whether online or brick and mortar college. You will stand a better chance of securing employment or promotion at work if you have an accredited degree.
Be aware of degree mills - there are many questionable accrediting agencies out on the internet that are outright fraud and are willing to give fake “accreditation” to any institution willing to pay a certain fee. Some of the degree mills are even owned by these same fake accrediting agencies. Make sure you do your homework and thoroughly investigate the accreditation that the college of your choice claims to have. While many online colleges are legitimately accredited, be aware that there are many that are not. Check out your prospective college to see if the accrediting body is approved by the United States Department of Education or CHEA.
Does the college and degree program you wish to pursue fit with your long-term goals and career? if you are thinking let’s say, enrolling in an online associate degree program and later hope to earn a bachelors degree (online or campus), find out how likely it is that your associate degree coursework will transfer by looking for a list of colleges which have accept transfer credits.
Just like in a traditional classroom, class size is important. You want to be in a class where your voice can be heard. So check the class size of the college you’re considering.
It good to know more about the instructors of the programs you are interested in. Are they qualified to teach that class? Do they have experience in their field or specialization? Have they taught online classes before? How long have they been teaching? Get the answers to these questions. It is more reassuring if more instructors hold degrees from the college that you’re planning to enroll.
Are the administrators, technical staff and faculty responsive if you need help or have questions with your courses? Since every college offers a different form and level of support, make sure you find one that is aligned with your needs and expectations. This will alleviate frustration when you need help during your classes.
Since most colleges begin their online distance education programs anytime and all the time, don’t feel pressured to begin your program right away if you’re not psychologically ready. Online education calls for motivation, thus you should only begin when you feel emotionally set and ready to put the effort to get through with your learning.
Be sure you understand whether a certificate or degree can be completed entirely online or whether on site projects, class meetings, or residency periods will be required.
Most online colleges offer financial aid and tuition assistance. You’ll be pleased to discover how much financial help you have available inform of loans, scholarships, financial aid and other federal loans. Some institutions even have tuition payment plans and employer-reimbursement programs. Find out if your college of interest offers such programs.
Take your time to research your best degree option and college out there. Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Unlike there before when online programs were limited, now there are enormous options and colleges to choose from as most traditional colleges are already offering some programs online.
Mary Jackson is an editor for online distance education colleges and programs where you can begin your search for accredited programs and degrees. Find more distance learning resources and tips for success with distance education.
7 Ways to Ensure Success With an Online Education Degree
October 29, 2008
Attaining an online education degree has opened opportunities for many students, especially those who find paying for traditional full-time courses outside their reach. But as much as acquiring an online education degree has many benefits over traditional learning, many factors play a role in order to make it successful for online students. Because of the differences in the way that online education is disseminated and acquired, some amendments in approaching this mode of learning need be put in place to make it a success.
1. Choosing the right accredited online college or university - The first step is to select the right institution to provide for your online education degree. Do your homework before starting school, and make sure the school has been accredited by the appropriate accrediting agencies. Unfortunately, without that educational stamp of approval, the degree will not be worth the paper on which it is printed. In fact, “diploma mills” offer substandard, or no education with the promise of a quick (but worthless) degree.
2. Analyze cost vs. benefit - Some students enroll in a distance learning program without considering the cost. Generally, the cost per credit hour is fairly expensive. However, decide whether the education will translate into better income opportunities down the road. Only after assessing the true benefits can students appreciate the rewards of obtaining an education online degree.
3. Degree validation by employers - No wonder many employers are wary of online degrees. With bogus institutions literally selling degrees, employers have good reason to be doubtful and cautious. Therefore, immediately alleviate any potential misgivings by your prospective employer by offering verification of accreditation through an agency sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA.
4. Practice discipline, time management and be determined to succeed - During the course of learning, many students simply lack discipline and are unable to focus. This makes it difficult to keep up with their online lessons and coursework, it is thus crucial for students in pursuit of online education degree to have a great determination to succeed. It is very easy to lose focus and motivation when studying alone. Exercising good time management and keeping in constant touch with classmates would increase the morale to succeed.
5. Utilize all the facilities provided by your college - Many education degree online courses provide online lectures and email access to facilitate communication among students, lecturers and administration staff. It’s important to take full advantage of these services as they keep you “connected” with your accredited online college. It helps further your motivation in your studies when you make use of these facilities to stay in touch.
6. Make use of credit transfers - Many online education degree colleges allow students to transfer their credits from courses they took in previous colleges, whether online or traditional. By doing this, it means students don’t have to repeat courses they learnt before. For this to be effected, it’s important for a student who intends to pursue an education online to make sure they get transcripts and results from their previous universities or colleges and make them available to their accredited online college so they can be passed as transfer credits.
7. Using Educational technology is essential - The only way to facilitate an excellent online education degree is to take full advantage of all the educational technology available. Virtual libraries generally have all the information necessary to complete research projects and other assignments. The online materials have been factored into the cost of the course. The convenience is another reason for using this benefit to the fullest.
Mary J. writes articles about online education degree programs and a guide on distance learning colleges that are legitimate and accredited.
Do Potential Employers Value Distance Learning Degrees?
October 29, 2008
With the ability to keep working, take care of a family, and receive a quality education without relocating, distance learning degrees have continued to increase in popularity. Unfortunately, the Internet also provides a venue for bogus diploma mills sprouting up to make money on the sale of fake degrees. In a report published in 2003, USA Today says 400 such businesses are currently in operation, and the numbers are increasing as these dubious businesses continue to make approximately $500 million annually.
Nevertheless, many colleges and universities are now offering legitimate degrees and diplomas. Unlike the mills, institutions of higher learning are doing everything possible to provide the same quality of education offered to students in the traditional learning environment. With access to video lectures, online courses, innovative online testing methods, and virtual library facilities, those seeking distance learning degrees can rest assured their diplomas have been justly earned. Unfortunately, many employers’ views have been tainted because of the influx of fake degrees.
In an effort to change the negative perception, the U.S. National Education Board has established 6 accreditation agencies to evaluate and provide accreditation to the higher learning institutions meeting the minimum criteria for a quality education, thus differentiating between the bogus degree programs. For example, the Distance education and training council provides accreditation for those institutes solely dedicated to online degree programs. The agency is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Other distinguished specialized accreditation agencies exists that are designed to accredit specific course programs. Programs that meet the set standards of excellence are given accreditation by these specialized accredit ting agencies based on area of specialization. A good example of such an accrediting agency is International Association for Management Education (AACSB) which accredits accounting related programs. Also American Health Information Management Association is tasked with accrediting health programs in different colleges. It is worthy to note that all these accreditation agencies have to be recognized by CHEA for them to be considered as legit agencies.
So, to verify the educational quality of any institution, students, parents, and potential employers should be concerned about accreditation status. If any college or university has that coveted seal of approval, it means distance learning degrees have met the same basic standards of excellence with the support and facilities necessary to adequately offer online degree programs. Conversely, specialized accreditation concentrates on evaluating the course curriculum based upon the established standards of the university or college.
Distance learning degrees from accredited institutions assure graduates, parents and prospective employers any degree earned is well deserved. The work completed has met the standards of adequately preparing people in their major area of study. Conversely, it also means colleges and universities not granted accreditation do not meet the standards of excellence required. Nevertheless, for the student who is only taking classes necessary to an area of specialization, only the courses need that all important stamp of approval.
In the end, it is totally up to potential employers to decide whether to hire an individual with a distance learning degree. With skepticism influenced by all the bogus diploma mills, no wonder they are being more cautious. Therefore, if the accreditation is supplied by a trusted and recognized source, the application for a job is less likely to be set aside. Instead, it has a better chance to be found in the stack for a second interview or final selection for a job position.
Mary Jackson writes articles on legit distance learning degrees and programs and campus-based colleges and universities for your educational goals.
Top 10 Disadvantages Of Distance Learning
October 29, 2008
Although distance learning offers more people an opportunity to attain higher education, it is not all advantages and benefits. Distance learning has costs, requires compromises and self-motivation is essential for success. However, when you acknowledge and understand these disadvantages of distance learning, they are easy to overcome.
1. Distance learning requires self-motivation. Because distance learning is flexible, you need good organization, planning and work to make it happen. Academic leaders cited in Growing by Degrees, Online Education in the United States, 2006 , stated, “Students need more discipline to succeed in online courses.” Though the instructor is not seated in front of you, you still need to complete your assignments on time. Like all other forms of learning, there are deadlines to be met, “fixed-time” exams to be taken and assignments to be completed before the “Drop Box” closes. There are no compromises and you can easily get a zero! Distance learning is best suited for mature motivated learners who cannot afford the time to participate in a traditional classroom
2. Distance learning does not give you direct access to your instructor. Some students fear the loss of the personal touch with an instructor, such as asking questions after class. However, distance learning often gives you an opportunity to email your instructor any time or chat online. It is normal to fear the loss of human contact offered in a traditional classroom until you commit yourself to this mode of learning and communication.
3. Distance learning is isolated. Although you are in a virtual classroom full of students, the dynamics of interaction change with online education. You may feel detached or lonely when you pursue a distance learning program but there are opportunities to send emails, post to message boards and engage in online group discussions. At first you might miss face-to-face contact with your instructor and other learners, but web collaboration can fill this void for many students
4. Distance learning requires you to have constant, reliable access to technology. Students need total access to the equipment necessary to fulfill course requirements. For example, online courses require a computer with Internet access. For a course with material on CD or DVD, you need to have a multimedia player. Technical requirement may be difficult to meet for some students who may feel overwhelmed and challenged if they are not completely computer literate. Technical glitches and dealing with an unfamiliar learning environment can cause stress and frustration, but there are many ways to overcome these barriers.
5. Distance learning does not offer immediate feedback. In a traditional classroom setting, a student’s performance can be immediately assessed through questions and informal testing. With distance learning, a student has to wait for feedback until the instructor has reviewed their work and responded to it.
6. Distance learning does not always offer all the necessary courses online. Students pursuing a specific certificate or degree program may not have all the necessary courses available through distance learning so it is not suited for all subjects. For example, you can study a history lesson completely online but you cannot perform nursing clinicals online. For some courses, physical classroom attendance will be mandatory to complete the course.
7. Distance learning may not be acknowledged by a specific employer. Although most employers do acknowledge distance learning, certain employers do not. Students who want to work for a specific employer upon graduation should be sure of that employer’s perspective about online education.
8. Hidden costs. If you work for the military and you are on the ship, learning material may need to be mailed in advance thus incurring extra shipping and handling costs.
9. Distance learning must be accredited. You take a serious risk when you pursue distance learning programs that are not accredited because they may be issuing fraudulent, invalid degrees. Not all distance learning is legitimate - there are many “degree mills” colleges that are not accredited. This is probably the most important factor to check before you enroll in a distance learning institution.
10. Distance learning does not give students the opportunity to work on oral communication skills. Students in distance learning courses do not get the practice of verbal interaction with professors and other students.
Numerous studies have found distance learning courses as effective as traditional classroom training - or better. Almost a third of academic leaders recently surveyed felt online education outcomes were superior to those in traditional learning environments. However, there are challenges to be overcome for anyone who opts to learn through distance learning.
Mary Jackson provides information and distance learning resources to this web guide about distance learning colleges and degrees.
Roasted Pecans: Your Healthy Study Partner
October 29, 2008
The week of final exams is coming, and your professors have given you all the pointers you will need to study and review to get high scores. And everyone else is feeling the pressure. All of you are graduating, and you can’t afford to drop the chance of graduating this year by failing in the final examination. Going through your notes and the pointers that the professors gave you, you realize that you need to exert greater efforts to pass the exams.
After your classes, your classmates organized a group study so you can have brainstorming on how to go about answering the questions. The group study will also help you recall those things being discussed that you weren’t getting clearly. And the more ideas there will be, the higher possibility that you will get high scores during the exams. Your class has been divided by geographical location, with 6 members per group. A group of six is quite a good number for a group study.
In your group, one classmate offered her place where you can study, because the house has lesser noise. And her room is spacious that all of you who are joining the group study will be accommodated well. And everyone started to call their parents to inform their group study activity. Before proceeding to their place, someone suggested that you drop by a convenience store and buy some food for snacks while you study. And so everyone grabbed each of their favorites snacks: chocolate chip cookies, potato chips, raw pecans, and someone added roasted pecans. And off you go for your group study.
Every night, you go meet together and study for the whole week. It’s a good sign that you are working together to reach your goal of getting high scores. All of your parents are supportive of what you are doing, and they suggested that you eat more nuts and less of potato chips and cookies. There are also times when your host classmate prepares something for your snacks, but you still don’t give up your roasted pecans habit.
Even if you attend regularly to the group study, you also need to study alone to review more. To avoid into falling asleep, try to eat roasted pecans and further increase your concentration. Try also the raw pecans. Nuts are good food for the brain. So it is better to chew more nuts when you study, and make it roasted pecans.
And the final exams week has come. All of you have prepared for the examination. The results were positive; most of you got high scores. Surely, you didn’t owe it to roasted pecans. It was your dedication and hard work that made you succeed in your endeavor as students.
After your success, you can indulge more of roasted pecan, by organizing a pajama party. Surely, your hospitable classmate won’t be selfish of her room again for the celebration. You share your success stories over a pack of roasted pecans and cold drinks.
Try more of the delicious and healthy pecans snack from Tanner’s Pecan and Candies.
You didn’t know that Roasted Pecans could be a heart-healthy treat, did you? Tanners Pecan has sponsored this educational article about the benefits of Home Made Roasted Pecans.
Carhartt Pants - Where Can They be Worn
October 29, 2008
