Creative child awards ‘Wizarday- when our stuff went away’ 2011 game of the year

Over 100 moms, educators and child psychologists reviewed new products, on behalf of Creative Child Magazine, to judge one product to be the best product of the year. They chose Wizarday to be the best product of 2011 at the“kid`s board game & social skills/self discovery” category.

This award comes after a prestige book review by Jim Cox of Midwest Book Review: ‘‘Scheduled around a ghostly holiday (Halloween), the events of Wizarday lead to fun-filled games and routine -related deals that somehow lead to smooth operations of daily routines and increased family harmony. How does all this work? It really is best to read the book, besides, it‘s more fun that way!……Parents of preadolescents will love Wizarday but they may have to wait their turn to read it‘‘.

Filled with fun characters and silly names, Wizarday consists of a hilarious fiction storybook with 3 corresponding board and card games. Game 1 follows the story as players race around the board in search of their lost routine. In game 2 each player finds a proper room for his opinion. And game 3? A quick card game to play on the go.

Reading and playing helps families facilitate their understanding of routines, preparing tweens for responsible adolescence. Old family values with 21st century skills – communication, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving.
Age 8+ ● $37.5

Since its debut, Wizarday was awarded “The Toy Man Editor Choice Award” and “The Toy Man Seal of Approval”, for high value of potential cognitive/critical skill growth and overall improvement in an individual or group. In addition, Wizarday book received a 5 star rating in the “American Chronicle” children book review by Rhonda Fischer.

Toys N Tayls was founded by Dr. Sarah Itzhaki and Steven Tobias, Psyc. Its goal is to bring health awareness to the home through fun experiences. Each product has a book and corresponding game or toy, which targets a different kind of personal challenge. Through humorous stories and games, children ages 5 and up learn how to face daily challenges and discover ways than can conquer their fears, doubts and problems.

Visit the award-winning ToysNTayls at toysntayls.com for more information.

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The Market Development Training Program hosted by the Headquarters of the MLDEX, was held in Melbourne, Australia in the week of 12-19 June 2011

The Market Development Training Program hosted by the Headquarters of the MLDEX, was held in Melbourne, Australia in the week of 12-19 June 2011.

This program was designed as a forum for the exchange of best practices in the development and regulation of capital markets presented through a series of lectures, roundtables and case studies.

Senior experts from different International Regulatory Agencies and the Capital Markets Board (CMB), as well as speakers from the region shared their insights on capital market development, enforcement, and examination of market participants. The Program also explored responses to crises and market abuses, provided observations comparing and contrasting approaches by regulatory systems around the world, and highlighted international best practices.

The presenters used real-world examples of market abuse and inefficiencies to explore the regulatory, statutory, and other tools that capital market regulators need to address.

Besides CMB representatives, many international exchange representatives and market professionals attended the event that was also sponsored by MLDEX.

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Advances in Technology See Breakthroughs in English Learning Tools

Modern technologies in internet applications usher in a new age in learning development tools particularly in ESL training and teaching.

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Teachers and students alike are being given new opportunities in mastering the English language. What once began as a real-life and hands-on learning experience can now be accessed through a computer and an internet connection. While the traditional methods of teaching English as second language to students in a classroom still has its advantages, alternative learning packages are being introduced and explored to address certain limitations in learning.

One such example of technological advancement is the “English Interactive” ESL program. It is a full tutorial course being offered online and at the convenience of the teacher and student. Coming in with more than 100 hours of complete immersion in contemporary everyday situations, this online tool offers a virtual version of an English course. English skills are targeted and developed accordingly with separate sections for grammar, vocabulary, writing, reading, speaking and final tests. Every skill level is carefully prepared by leading ESL teachers and experts so that each student is given a full comprehensive learning package according to his capabilities.

One of the advantages of the online tutorial course is the role playing options a student may engage in. He is able to choose a role that he would like to fulfill and then begins to perform a dialogue with a video head. The student can record their conversations as many times as he would like to, until the correct pronunciation is nailed. The online tutorial course serves to build up the confidence of the student as unlike in a classroom; he is able to go through lessons as many times as he needs to. There is no pressure or competition from other students in a class.

For a teacher, the online course offers maximum efficiency and practicality. Lesson guides are detailed and tracked down accordingly. Grades are recorded and computed electronically so there is little room for mistake. A teacher is also given the option to enroll in classes to sharpen their mastery of the English language further. Dubbed as Teacher Development Courses, they can enroll and log in at their most convenient time to advance their studies in teaching English. The program has been met with positive reviews by teachers and students alike.

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Distance learning providers to benefit from university fees controversy

Distance learning providers could be well placed to capitalise on the furore surrounding many universities plans to increase course fees to the maximum level. Established distance learning companies such as the Interactive Design Institute have remained unaffected by the scrabble to establish record levels of tuition fees across the UK’s higher education sector. “The cost of providing higher education courses need not be prohibitive” according to Michael Stewart, director at IDI, “Distance learning providers are able to deliver the same courses with the same high levels of student support but at a fraction of the cost”.

Currently, universities in Wales are desperately revising their proposals to charge student tuition fees of up to £9,000 per annum after their original applications were rejected by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. The HEFCW stated that the universities would be required to allocate a proportion of the new fee to the promotion of higher education and the encouragement of equality of opportunity.

The cost of the new scheme could result in long term financial difficulties for university level education in Wales. In England, the fees will be paid directly to the university as a government loan. The university then recoups this loan from students following graduation. However, in Wales the government are planning to cover the increase by providing a grant to fund the difference between the current course fee and the proposed higher fee. Consequently, 75% of Welsh students will be unaffected by the increase as they will be in receipt of this government grant. The cost to the Welsh Assembly will be in the region of £1.5 billion and this explains why the Welsh Assembly is anxious to ensure the maximum return on this investment.

The Welsh universities have until the end of June to submit their revised plans and a final decision from Higher Education Funding Council for Wales is expected on July 11th. Some commentators feel that the delivery of higher education requires a major overhaul. Issues of affordability, flexibility and inclusion can be tackled quickly by re-evaluating the way in which education is delivered. Face to face interaction at an attendance based university is a resource heavy, inflexible and expensive model that requires the provision of an extensive infrastructure.

The physical classroom is no longer the centre of the educational universe, fact recognised by the collaborative partnership between The University of Hertfordshire’s and the Interactive Design Institute.

Distance learning providers such as the Interactive Design Institute deliver their courses to students through an online learning environment where each student has their own studio and can communicate with their tutors and fellow students in a series of dedicated forums.

And IDI is subject to the same rigorous quality assurance procedures as any institution. “All our courses have been especially developed for online delivery”, states Stewart, “But we are still reviewed annually and our students receive the same qualification as those attending the University of Hertfordshire”.

“What we provide is choice” says Michael Stewart, “We offer our students the opportunity to choose what, when, where and how they study and their learning experience is tailored to meet their needs – online study enables us to be flexible”.

This flexibility means that online study is inclusive; “We pride ourselves in providing the opportunity for everyone to study toward gaining a university degree. If you fulfil the entry requirements, you can study with IDI” says Stewart.

“Because we don’t have to support a massive infrastructure, IDI is able to maintain its course fees at the same level as last year, fees that are already well below those charged by other universities”, says Stewart, “and students who study with us are able to apply for course and fee grants to help with funding”.

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