WHY DISTANCE LEARNING IS FUN?

Do You Know These Reasons Why Distance Learning Is Fun ?"
by: John Tipton

Distance learning and elearning are usually linked with furthering an education. The technology of distance learning, along with the opportunities provided by elearning and online courses, are making it easier for thousands of people to learn something new.

Busy adults can advance their careers by finishing a degree or gaining some special skills, and young students can earn college credit well before they graduate high school, often through distance learning or elearning opportunities.

But do you realize that distance learning and elearning can be just for fun? Maybe it's always been a dream - to learn to paint with watercolors. But there's no class offered nearby. Or maybe you've had a desire to learn to master a foreign language, not because of any requirements to do so, but simply because you want to know how.

Perhaps it's even more basic than that - your lawnmower continually breaks down and you just want to be able to impress your friends by fixing it yourself.

Technology often advances in response to specific needs. People needed a way to finish a degree online so businesses, universities and colleges stepped in to create that opportunity.

But as is often the case, the technology exists in a basic format and users have some control over what happens next. That's probably the reason that some very basic skills, trades and lessons can be learned online - "elearned."

The idea of lifelong learning is not new, though some of the terms generally associated with lifelong learning are constantly being updated. Distance learning, elearning and other such words signify the ability for a person to gain knowledge without sitting in a classroom.

Most adults continue to long for knowledge long after their days in a classroom are over. Different people set about gaining that knowledge in different ways. Some choose topics and just start reading, gathering whatever books and materials they can find.

Others seek out the professionals and sign up for lessons or classes. Many people are putting technology to work for them, seeking out online courses for elearning about a myriad of topics.

It's easy to find colleges, universities and businesses that offer degrees or specific classes as either distance learning or online courses. Finding those "fun" things might be a little more difficult, but you can start by talking to family and friends.

You might find that some of them have even taken some online courses. Check with local schools, colleges, universities, community centers and libraries. While these aren't clearing houses of information about online classes, there may be listings of specific classes available.

INTEGRATE FUN AND LEARNING WITH GAMES

Integrate Fun and Learning with Games
by: Steve Hall

Children are always up for a good game. Well, who isn't? Pretend that you are back in school. For the rest of the class period you have two choices as to how you can spend your time.

• Option #1 is to struggle through endless arithmetic and English worksheets without any feedback except for a stamp that says "Great Job!"
• 'Option #2 is to work on the same arithmetic and English content, but on a computer. Yes, you can play a computer game to learn your numbers and verbs. Which option would you choose? Which option would children most likely choose? Option #2 of course!

Using computer software in education is not a new concept. Computer games have been used as a learning tool for the past two decades because they help students with basic skills, logic, problem solving, and various other academic skills. The Oregon Trail was a popular computer game in the 1980's. This game helped students to work on their planning and problem solving skills. If you have ever played that game you might have realized that it was difficult to complete the trail. Everyone in my wagon always died of Cholera.

Parents and educators that are unfamiliar with computer game technology may automatically dismiss the use of computer games for learning. They view computer games as nothing but "shoot 'em up" and mind numbing entertainment. As avid computer gamers we all know that they are way off base. Just think of all the problem solving, logic, and planning that goes into working on a team in a computer game, playing a puzzle, or figuring out a code.

There are computer games that are specifically based around educational learning standards. These games explicitly include counting, grammar, etc. They range from learning software that has a battery of tests to mimic standardized testing to fun, interactive learning games such as Caillou Magic Playhouse. This game allows a child to learn about numbers, patterns, spelling, phonics, and many other skills.

One advantage of using computer games in education is that the student is learning whether they realize it or not. Many children sigh when it is time to work on multiplication, but if you bring out a computer game - poof! They suddenly want to go through their multiplication tables. The computer game presents the same academic material, but makes it fun by integrating colorful animations and cool sounds. Plus, computer games allow for instant feedback and gratification. We have become a society that runs on instant gratification. A computer game can provide this feedback and it can also provide a means of competition. You will be stretched to find a student that wants to "beat" their worksheet, but a child who wants to beat a computer game? You will find them everywhere you look.

Computer games are advertised as forms of entertainment, which they most certainly are, but they are learning avenues as well. Gamers of all ages are learning every time they play a game. For example, there are games that work on your business skills. Games like Lemonade Tycoon and Mall Tycoon are prime examples. You are learning the skills to succeed in a business through simulation. Simulation is how many professionals acquire the skills for their occupation. Even though you are in a computerized environment, you can still come across many different business situations.

Computer software is here to stay. Email will one day override handwritten communication and perhaps games will take over traditional education. Granted games most likely will not take over traditional education, but they should become part of the educational experience. A child is learning while playing a computer game. Their memory and reaction time increases. They are sharpening various parts of their brain. The key is to play a mixture of games that range from pure entertainment to ones that are specifically designed for educational skill sets.

If your child or student is having trouble with math, English or any academic subject, set them up with a computer game. Their interest in learning will soar. Computer games can bring any student that is hesitant about school to learning whether they realize it or not. Computer games make learning fun.

HELPING YOUR CHILD LEARN TO READ (part 3)

FAMILY READING TIME

A quiet time for family members to read on their own may be the only chance a busy parent gets to read the paper.
What you'll need :-
Your own reading materials
Reading materials for your children
What to do :-

1. Both you and your child should pick out something to read.
2. Don't be concerned if your beginning readers pick materials that are easier than their school reading books. Practice with easy books (and the comics) will improve their fluency.
3. If you subscribe to a children's magazine, this is a good time to get it out. There are many good children's magazines, and youngsters often get a special thrill out of receiving their own mail.
4. Relax and enjoy while you each read your own selections.
   

A family reading time shows that you like to read. Because you value reading, your children will too.

STORY TALK
Talking about what you read is another way to help children develop language and thinking skills. You don't need to plan the talk, discuss every story, or expect an answer.
What you'll need :-
Reading materials
What to do :-

1. Read slowly and pause occasionally to think out loud about a story. You can speculate: "I wonder what's going to happen next!" Or ask a question: "Do you know what a palace is?" Or point out: "Look where the little mouse is now."
2. Answer your children's questions, and if you think they don't understand something, stop and ask them. Don't worry if you break into the flow of a story to make something clear.
3. Read the name of the book's author and illustrator and make sure your children understand what they do.
   

Talking about stories they read helps children develop their vocabularies, link stories to everyday life, and use what they know about the world to make sense out of stories.

WRITE AND TALK, TOO
While reading with your child is most important, there are other activities that help to get children ready to read. With a solid foundation, your child will not only read, but will read with enthusiasm.

Learning to read is part of learning language. It's like leaning to catch a ball. The child must learn to watch the ball when it is thrown, to step into it, and to place their hands to make the catch. It's a single event made up of three acts. After a while they learn to do all three at once.
The same is true of learning language. When we use language, we speak words out loud, we read words on paper, and we write. This section has activities that encourage your child to

• speak
• read
• write
• listen
  

Begin long before you expect your child actually to read, and continue long after your child is an independent reader. Now, turn the page and start enjoying language.

TOT TALK
What's "old hat" to you can be new and exciting to preschoolers. When you talk about everyday experiences, you help children connect their world to language and enable them to go beyond that world to new ideas.
What to do :-

1. As you get dinner ready, talk to your child about things that are happening. When your 2- or 3-year-old "helps" by taking out all the pots and pans, talk about them. Which one is the biggest? Can you find a lid for that one? What colour is this one?
2. When walking down the street and your toddler stops to collect leaves, stop and ask questions that require more than a "yes" or "no" answer. Which leaves are the same? Which are different? What else grows on trees?
3. Ask "what if" questions. What would happen if we didn't shovel the snow? What if that butterfly lands on your nose?
4. Answer your children's endless "why" questions patiently. When you say, "I don't know, let's look it up," you show how important books are as resources for answering questions.
5. After your preschooler tells you a story, ask questions so you can understand better. That way children learn how to tell complete stories and know you are interested in what they have to say.
6. Expose your children to varied experiences -- trips to the library, museum, or zoo; walks in the park; or visits with friends and relatives. Surround these events with lots of comments, questions, and answers.
   

Talking enables children to expand their vocabulary and understanding of the world. The ability to carry on a conversation is important for reading development. Remember, it is better to talk too much than too little with a small child.

FAMILY STORIES
Family stories enrich the relationship between parent and child.
What to do :-

1. Tell your child stories about your parents and grandparents. You might even put these stories in a book and add old family photographs.
2. Have your child tell you stories about what happened on special days, such as holidays, birthdays, and family vacations.
3. Reminisce about when you were little. Describe things that happened at school involving teachers and subjects you were studying. Talk about your brothers, sisters, or friends.
4. Write a trip journal with your child to create a new family story. Recording the day's special event and pasting the photograph into the journal ties the family story to a written record. You can also include everyday trips like going to the market or the park.
   

It helps for children to know that stories come from real people and are about real events. When children listen to stories, they hear the voice of the storyteller. This helps them hear the words when they learn to read aloud or read silently.

NOW HEAR THIS
Children are great mimics. When you tell stories, your child will begin to tell stories, too.
What to do :-

1. Have your child tell stories like those you have told. Ask: "And then what happened?" to urge the story along.
2. Listen closely when your child speaks. Be enthusiastic and responsive.
3. If you don't understand some part of the story, take the time to get your child to explain. This will help your child understand the relationship between a speaker and a listener and an author and a reader.
4. Encourage your child to express himself or herself. This will help your child develop a wide vocabulary. It can also help with pronouncing words clearly.
   

Having a good audience is very helpful for a child to improve language skills, as well as poise in speaking. Parents can be the best audience a child will ever have.

PARENTS AND THE SCHOOLS
Success in school depends, in large part, on your child's ability to read, and your role in helping your child become a reader extends into the classroom. The kind of support you provide will, of course, change as your child grows older. Your involvement and monitoring your child's progress in school can help your child become a better reader.

Involvement in school programs can take many forms, from attending PTA meetings to volunteering in school activities. Through action, not just words, you demonstrate to your child that school is important.

In monitoring your child's progress in learning to read, you need to look at both the programs offered at school and your child's performance.

FINAL: EVALUATING YOUR CHILD'S PROGRESS
It is important to monitor your child's progress through reports from the teacher. Also, it is important to attend school open evenings or similar events where teachers are available to explain the program and discuss children's progress with their parents.

If you think your child should be doing better, consider meeting privately with the teacher. In most cases, the teacher and principal will be able to shed light on your child's progress and
what you might do to help. Your school system may have access to special resources such as a reading specialist and guidance counselor or to materials to address your child's needs.
You may want additional help for your child.

A good starting point is the nearest college or university. Most have reading tutorial services that are available on a sliding-fee scale. If not, there may be faculty or graduate students interested in tutoring. Then monitor your child's progress the same way you would his progress in school. If you do not see a difference in performance in 6 to 8 weeks, discuss the program with your child's tutor.

Can the tutor explain the goals of the program and document your child's progress? If not, you may wish to consider another course of action. Some children struggle with reading problems where the cause is readily identifiable. Some of the more widely recognized causes of reading problems are vision and hearing impairments and poor speech and language development. But there are other schoolchildren who have problems reading because of a learning
disability.

Whatever the cause or nature of a child's reading problem, the earlier the difficulty is discovered and additional help provided, the better the child's chances are of becoming a successful reader. The good news is that no matter how long it takes, with few exceptions, children can learn to read. One of the most important roles you can play in relation to your children's schoolwork is
that of 'cheerleader'. Applaud their efforts and their successes. Help them have the courage to keep trying.

HELPING YOUR CHILD LEARN TO READ (part 2)

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD!!

It is important to keep fun in your parent-child reading and to let joy set the tone and pace. Here is a story to keep in mind. Shamu is a performing whale, to the delight of many. However,
she sometimes gets distracted and refuses to do her tricks. When that happens, her trainers stand around in dripping wetsuits and wait for her stubbornness to pass. They know that when a 5,000- pound whale decides she doesn't want to flip her tail on cue, there is very little anyone can do about it.

But whales like to play, and sooner or later Shamu returns to the game of performing for her audience. Shamu's trainers know this so they're always patient, they're always confident, and they always make performing fun. While helping your child become a reader is certainly different from training a whale, the same qualities of patience, confidence, and playfulness in your approach will get results. If, from time to time, your child gets distracted and loses interest, take a break. Children love to learn. Give them a little breathing room, and their interest will always be renewed.

ONE MORE TIME
You may go through a period when your child favors one book and wants it read night after night. It is not unusual for children to favor a particular story, and this can be boring for parents. Keep in mind, however, that a favorite story may speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and eventually they will be ready for more stories.

TALKING ABOUT STORIES
It's often a good idea to talk about a story you are reading, but you need not feel compelled to talk about every story. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or without conversation. And sometimes children need time to think about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be surprised if your child mentions something from a story you've read together.

THE MORE THE MERRIER
From time to time, invite other adults or older children to listen in or join in reading aloud. The message is: Reading is for everybody.

READ ALONG
The following is intended to help you become a parent who is great at reading with your child. You'll find ideas and activities to enrich this precious time together. Children become readers when their parents read to them. It really is as simple as that. And here's the good news: It's easy to do and it's great fun. With a little practice you will be making the memories of a lifetime, memories both you and your child will cherish.

It is best to read to your child early and often. But it's never too late to begin. Start today. Although the activities in this section are designed to enhance reading aloud with preschoolers and beginning readers, a child is never too old to be read to.

With youngsters, remember that reading is a physical act, as well as a mental one. It involves hand-eye coordination. So, when you read, involve your child by:

• pointing out objects in the pictures;
• following the words with your finger (so your child develops a sense that the words go from left to fight on the page); and
• having your child help turn the pages (to lean that the pages turn from fight to left).
  

LOOK FOR BOOKS
The main thing is to find books you both love. They will shape your child's first impression of the world of reading.
What to do :-

1. Ask friends, neighbors, and teachers to share the names of their favorite books.
2. Visit your local public library, and as early as possible, get your child a library card. Ask the librarian for help in selecting books. (Also see the resources section at the end of this book.)
3. Look for award-winning books. Each year their are a number of associations and organizations which select children's books of merit.
4. Check the book review sections of newspapers and magazines for recommended new children's books.
5. As soon as they're old enough, have your children join you in browsing for books and making selections.
6. If you and your child don't enjoy reading a particular book, put it aside and pick up another one.
   

Keep in mind your child's reading level and listening level are different. When you read easy books, beginning readers will soon be reading along with you. When you read more advanced books, you instill a love of stories, and you build motivation that transforms children into lifelong readers.

BOOKS AND BABIES
Babies love to listen to the human voice. What better way than through reading!
What you'll need , Some baby books (books made of cardboard or cloth with flaps to lift and holes to peek through)
What to do :-

1. Start out by singing lullabies and folk songs to your baby. At around 6 months, look for books with brightly colored, simple pictures and lots of rhythm. ('Mother Goose' is perfect.) At around 9 months, include books that feature pictures and names of familiar objects.
2. As you read, point out objects in the pictures and make sure your baby sees all the things that are fun to do with books. ('Pat the Bunny' by Dorothy Kunhardt is a classic touch-and-feel book for babies.)
3. Vary the tone of your voice, sing nursery rhymes, bounce your knee, make funny faces, do whatever special effects you can to stimulate your baby's interest.
4. Allow your child to touch and hold cloth and sturdy cardboard books.
5. When reading to a baby, be brief but read often.
   

As you read to your baby, your child is forming an association between books and what is most loved -- your voice and closeness. Allowing babies to handle books deepens their attachment even more.

R AND R: REPETITION AND RHYME
Repetition makes books predictable, and young readers love knowing what comes next.
What you'll need:-
Books with repeated phrases*
Short rhyming poems
* A few favourites are: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible. No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.; Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss; and The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. There are many good book lists that highlight those books with repetitive refrains.
What to do :-

1. Pick a story with repeated phrases or a poem you and your child like.
2. For example, read: Wolf Voice: Little pig, little pig, Let me come in. Little Pig: Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin. Wolf Voice: Then I'll huff and I'll puff, And I'll blow your house in! After the wolf has blown down the first pig's house, your child will soon join in with the refrain.
3. Read slowly, and with a smile or a nod, let your children know you appreciate their participation.
4. As children grow more familiar with the story, pause and give them the chance to "fill in the blanks".
5. Encourage your children to pretend to read, especially books that contain repetition and rhyme. Most children who enjoy reading will eventually memorize all or parts of a book and imitate your reading.
   

When youngsters anticipate what's coming next in a story or poem, they have a sense of mastery over books. When children feel power, they have the courage to try. Pretending to read is an important step in the process of learning to read.

POETRY IN MOTION
When children act out a good poem, they love its rhyme, rhythm, and the pictures it paints with a few well-chosen words. They grow as readers by connecting emotion with the written word.
What you'll need:-
Poems that rhyme, tell a story, and are written from a child's point of view
What to do :-

1. Read a poem slowly to your child, and bring all your dramatic talents to the reading. (In other words, ham it up.)
2. If there is a poem your child is particularly fond of, suggest acting out a favorite line. Be sure to award such efforts with delighted enthusiasm.
3. Then suggest acting out a verse, a stanza, or the entire poem. Ask your child to make a face of the way the character in the poem is feeling. Remember that facial expressions bring emotion into the performer's voice.
4. Again, be an enthusiastic audience for your child. Applause is always nice.
5. If your child is comfortable with the idea, look for a larger setting with an attentive, appreciative audience. Perhaps an after-dinner "recital" for family members would appeal to your child.
6. Mistakes are a fact of life, so ignore them.
   

Poems are often short with lots of white space on the page. This makes them manageable for new readers and helps to build their confidence.

READ TO ME

It's important to read to your children, but equally important to listen to them read to you. Children thrive on having someone appreciate their developing skills.
What you'll need:-
Books at your child's reading level
What to do:-

1. Listen attentively as your child reads.
2. Take turns. You read a paragraph and have your child read the next one. As your child becomes more at ease with reading aloud, take turns reading a full page. Keep in mind that your child may be focusing on how to read, and your reading helps to keep the story alive.
   
3. If your children have trouble reading words, you can help in several ways.

• Tell them to skip over the word, read the rest of the sentence, and ask what word would make sense in the story.
  
• Help them use what they know about letters and sounds.
  
• Supply the correct word.
  
• Tell children how proud you are of their efforts and skills.
• Listening to your children read aloud provides opportunities for you to express appreciation of their new skills and for them to practice their reading. Most importantly, it's another way to enjoy reading together.
  
  

HELPING YOUR CHILD LEARN TO READ (part 1)

HELPING YOUR CHILD TO LEARN TO READ WITH ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN FROM INFANCY THROUGH AGE 10

"Why?"
This is the question we parents are always trying to answer. It's good that children ask questions: that's the best way to learn. All children have two wonderful resources for learning -- imagination and curiosity. As a parent, you can awaken your children to the joy of learning by encouraging their imagination and curiosity.

'Helping Your Child to Learn to Read' is one of education topics intended to help you make the most of your child's natural curiosity. Teaching and learning are not mysteries that can only happen in school. They also happen when parents and children do simple things together.

For instance, you and your child can: sort the socks on laundry day-sorting is a major function in math and science; cook a meal together-cooking involves not only math and science but good
health as well; tell and read each other stories -- storytelling is the basis for reading and writing (and a story about the past is also history); or play a game of hopscotch together playing physical games will help your child learn to count and start on a road to lifelong fitness. By doing things together, you will show that learning is fun and important. You will be encouraging your child to study, learn, and stay in school.

This article is a way for you to help meet these goals. It will give you a short rundown on facts, but the biggest part is made up of simple, fun activities for you and your child to do together. Your child may even beg you to do them.

When parents help their children learn to read, they help open the door to a new world. As a parent, you can begin an endless learning chain: You read to your children, they develop a love of stories and poems, they want to read on their own, they practice reading, and finally they read for their own information or pleasure. They become readers, and their world is forever expanded and enriched.

This article focuses primarily on what you can do to help children up to 10 years of age. During these years you can lay the foundation for your child to become a lifelong reader. In the first section, you will find some basic information about reading to your child. This is followed by suggestions that guide you to

* read with your child and make this all-important time together enjoyable;
* stimulate your child's interest in reading and language; and
* learn about your child's school reading programs and find ways to help.


THE BASICS
There is no more important activity for preparing your child to succeed as a reader than reading aloud together. Fill your story times with a variety of books. Be consistent, be patient, and watch the magic work.

START YOUNG AND STAY WITH IT
At just a few months of age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to your voice, and point to objects on cardboard pages. Guide your child by pointing to the pictures, and say the names of the various objects. By drawing attention to pictures and associating the words with both pictures and the real-world objects, your child will learn the importance of language. Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page.

Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child's life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.


ADVERTISE THE JOY OF READING!
Our goal is to motivate children to want to read so they will practice reading independently and, thus, become fluent readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. We parents can do for
reading what fast food chains do for hamburgers... ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading great stories and poems to children. We can help our children find the tools they need to succeed in life.

Having access to information through the printed word is an absolute necessity. Knowledge is power, and books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical tool. Through books we can enrich our minds; we can also relax and enjoy some precious leisure moments. With your help, your children can begin a lifelong relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults who read easily and frequently whether for business, knowledge, or pleasure.

REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE VERY YOUNG
Between the ages of 4 and 7, many children begin to recognize words on a page. In our society this may begin with recognition of a logo for a fast food chain or the brand name of a favorite cereal. But, before long, that special moment when a child holds a book and starts to decode the mystery of written words is likely to occur.

You can help remove part of the mystery without worrying about a lot of theory. Just read the stories and poems and let them work their wonders. There is no better way to prepare your child for that moment when reading starts to "click," even if it's years down the road.

It will help, however, if we open our eyes to some things adult readers tend to take for granted. It's easier to be patient when we remember how much children do not know. Here are a few concepts we adults know so well we forget sometimes we ever learned them.

* There's a difference between words and pictures. Point to the print as you read aloud.
* Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to read.
* Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with your finger as you read.
* Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated by a space.
* Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital letters and one for small letters.

Imagine how you would feel if you were trying to interpret a book full of hieroglyphic symbols. That's how young readers feel. But, a little patience (maybe by turning it into a puzzle you can
solve together) is certain to build confidence.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
It's no secret that activities at home are an important supplement to the classroom, but there's more to it than that. There are things that parents can give children at home that the classrooms cannot give. Children who are read to grow to love books. Over the years, these children will have good memories to treasure. They remember stories that made them laugh and stories that made them cry.

They remember sharing these times with someone they love, and they anticipate with joy the time when they will be able to read for themselves. By reading aloud together, by being examples, and by doing other activities, parents are in a unique position to help children
enjoy reading and see the value of it.