Online H1N1 Self Exam

Think you might have the Swine Flu? You can find out online.
A new web site has been launched by Microsoft Corp. and Emory Univeristy providing users with a H1N1 Self-Assessment test.
The web site is the H1N1 Response Center. It is designed to help people decide what to do if they are worried that they or someone they love has symptoms of the flu, the site offers consumers a self-assessment tool licensed from Emory. The tool helps individuals determine whether the symptoms they have could be caused by the flu virus, whether their illness is severe enough to warrant immediate medical attention, and whether they are at increased risk for developing severe disease. The site also offers practical advice on what to do.With the current H1N1 flu pandemic underway, public health officials are concerned that critical health care resources could be stretched thin if everyone with the flu symptoms rushes to the nearest ER or doctor's office to determine what to do.
Visit www.h1n1responsecenter.com to find the H1N1 assessment tool

Rapid Intake to Award 200 Schools with $14,000 E-learning Software Grant that Enables Schools to Create Interactive Online Learning Courses

Rapid Intake to Award 200 Schools with $14,000 E-learning Software Grant that Enables Schools to Create Interactive Online Learning Courses Rapid Intake is supplying their award-winning, web-based e-learning software, Unison, to two hundred schools for the purpose of creating online learning courses


Rapid Intake, a collaborative rapid e-learning software company, based in Provo, Utah, has announced a nation-wide academic grant program for K-12 and higher-education institutions. Rapid Intake is supplying their award-winning, web-based e-learning software, Unison, to two hundred schools for the purpose of creating online learning courses.


The Rapid Intake E-learning Software Grant provides an unlimited campus license to successful grant applicants for a period of six months. During the grant period, schools can create Flash-based lessons, activities, quizzes, tests, learning games, and simulations, and collaborate during the course creation and review process with an unlimited number of instructors, staff,
and administrators.


Schools can get started immediately after being accepted into the program because there is no software to download or install. Teachers simply log in to their school's account online and build interactive e-learning lessons right within the web browser. Once finished, the lessons can be hosted right within their Rapid Intake e-learning software account, or they can download the
course and upload it to another web server or to a learning management system (LMS), such as Blackboard.


"Teachers don't need to know any programming in Flash to create games, quizzes, tests, and other online learning activities," says Garin Hess, Rapid Intake CEO.


For teachers who like to create presentations in PowerPoint, they can directly upload their PowerPoint file into Rapid Intake's online e-learning software, then add additional content based on a built-in library of interactive templates.


Making e-learning software available to teachers helps schools address the growing need to train non-traditional students remotely, present interactive and fun lessons, and also give traditional students meaningful homework assignments.


When the Rapid Intake E-learning Software Grant period is over, schools are able to keep all courses, lessons, quizzes, games, and interactions that they created with Unison. They are also able to use these items to train as many students as they wish.


"The future of effective education in the US is dependent on schools utilizing technology to teach students with interactive methods that promote mastery and retention," said Steve Hancock, Rapid Intake President.


Any teacher from the school can submit an application. All grant applications must be received by November 6. Schools interested in applying should go to http://www.rapidintake.com/academic/authoring-tools/rapid-intake-elearning-software-grant/


About Rapid Intake:
Rapid Intake is the leader in rapid eLearning development and review. Creating online and computer-based lessons saves schools vital dollars, and broadens access to learning for both traditional and adult students. The powerful, flexible Rapid Intake toolset helps instructional designers and instructors collaboratively create Flash-based interactive courses, quizzes, games, and simulations built on proven learning patterns. Rapid Intake's unmatched "UNLIMITED Program" backs its award-winning software with innovative licensing and its best-in-class customer support.


Hundreds of companies and schools rely on Rapid Intake's top-ranked technology and support to create more interactive and effective courses in less time. To learn more to go www.rapidintake.com.

An Online Programme -on teaching students with Specific Learning Disabilities

In an era when distance learning is gaining momentum the Ladies' College Department of Vocational Studies is offering a unique programme for individuals to develop professional skills through e-learning. The Diploma in Specific Learning Disabilities is one of the first Online Learning Programmes developed within Sri Lanka and fulfills a long felt need in the sphere of education. It has become a much sought after diploma qualification by individuals from a wide range of professions. E- Learning allows people to pursue higher education through alternative learning environments by meeting the demands of today's busy society. Delivered through new and innovative technologies, it is flexible and allows individuals to meet their educational goals outside a traditional classroom setting. You don't have to give up your job whilst you study. The Programme has been designed to exploit the communicative nature of web-based learning to the fullest. You don't need any special computer skills because the Programme is based on the latest e-learning internet technology which is really easy to use. For each Course/Module within the Programme, you will access to- study materials - multimedia presentations - library resources - conferencing facilities and - discussion areas You will be guided through practice based assignments by experienced and internationally qualified tutor mentors. Some comments given by those presently following the course are:" The course I have been following online has been excellent. Being a Special Needs teacher I have learnt so much and have been able to change certain teaching methods I used so as to enable the children I teach learn better" "There are very few programmes of this kind anywhere in the world. I have a school with children from different nationalities, countries and ages. To get more in depth knowledge about learning disability and to do justice to these children I have chosen to follow this online programme"(first overseas student)

Fishing lake and floating cafe plan for learning centre

A COUNCIL looks set to pump over £1m into a proposed fishing lake and "floating cafe" next to a popular off-road cycle route.

The Green Business Network, which was formed by Kirklees and Calderdale councils in 1995, has been working on plans for a fish farm and outdoor learning centre on the site of former rail sidings in Walkley Lane, Heckmondwike.

Training and education for children excluded from school, those in mainstream education and offenders on community punishment orders.

Today Kirklees Council's cabinet is expected to approve spending £1.25m towards the total cost. The Environment Agency has allocated £60,000 towards the construction of the fishing lake, which will be accessible to all. It is intended to use the lake to teach schoolchildren to fish. The site will include a community cafe, the lake, picnic tables, and footpaths as well as a food production area consisting of an indoor fish farm and fruit and veg growing areas.

An innovative element of the project is the cafe on the site to serve those using the fishing ponds, picnic areas and paths.

It will be the only one on the adjoining greenway route which runs between Huddersfield and Bradford, currently used by more than 202,000 cyclists a year.

The cafe will be on a wetland, on a floating pontoon and will not be at risk from flooding.

The fish farm is expected to produce about 5,000kg of fish per annum, but only from the third year of the project.

A feasibility study of the fish hatchery proposals highlighted the need to establish to satisfy local demand for fish. A report on the plans before Kirklees Council says that producing sturgeon, tilapia, catfish and carp are the best options for meeting local demand.

The main outlet for the food produced at the site will be the cafe, the report says. The site could also produce fish pate, fish pies, soups, jams and chutneys.

It is also proposed that redundant rail coaches will be used on the site for public displays of fish. However, the use of rail coaches is dependent on the construction of a new road via Smithies Lane as it is not possible for a rail coach heavy lifter to access Spen Vale Street.

Members of the cabinet committee are discussing the offer of £1.25m funding at a meeting today from 4pm at Huddersfield Town Hall.

A council report on the Heckmondwike project describes it as a "catalyst for an alternative form of educational provision for young people, either disengaged or excluded from mainstream education", as well as offenders on community work.

A similar scheme, also set up by the Green Business Network, already exists in Wakefield.

Kirklees Council asked that the scheme be copied in Heckmondwike and allocated the 10-acre disused site for the project. The Heckmondwike project is known as Able2.