Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, stating that his personal views on the Athirapally project or the Western Ghats had not changed, said the report submitted by the Madhav Gadgil-led Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel was balanced and detailed as well.

Talking to the media here on Monday, Mr. Ramesh said though he had nothing to do with Athirapally now since the Environment and Forests portfolio was not anymore with him, his views on the issue had not changed and that he believed the Gadgil panel to have done an outstanding job.

When pointed out that Kerala and other States had opposed the proposals in the report of the panel, with Kerala having already written to the Centre rejecting the proposals, Mr. Ramesh said he knew many States were not happy with the report and that he did not know why they were opposing it.

The Union Minister said Madhav Gadgil was appointed deliberately to lead the panel after a lot of thought, because he was a sensible person. State governments would have their own views, these would be discussed and the choices would be made.

One has to take a call. It is for the States and the Centre to sit and talk it out. The report should not go into the dustbin. Once again, let me repeat that these are my personal views that are expressed publicly, he said.

I hope the Government will listen to the people on Athirapally, because there are many from the public too who are against the project, he added.

Go here to see the original:
Gadgil report balanced, says Jairam Ramesh

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qb4X5PWTt4

24-06-2012 14:18 Click link on left to visit "ABC Mouse" abc mouse|math activity for preschool|online preschool|pre school children activities|education games for kids|educational activity for kids|abc preschool games|abc preschool games online ABC Mouse -- Pre-School at Home ABCMouse is an educational website designed for preschool through kindergarten kids that costs $7.95 per month. Parents set up an account for themselves and up to three kids. The site collects personally identifiable information during registration, but does not share it with third parties for marketing purposes. Kids can learn the fundamentals of math and reading and are introduced to art, music, science, and social studies. The content ranges from recognition of letters, shapes, colors, and numbers for preschoolers to reading comprehension and measurement for kindergarteners. Kids can visit the farm or the zoo areas to learn fun facts about animals. ABCMouse also includes printable items for kids to practice tracing letters, identifying patterns, and more. Engaging and customizable activities get young kids excited about learning and prepared for school. After completing each activity, kids are rewarded with tickets that can be used to buy virtual items like pets or avatar upgrades. A combination of voice-overs, images, and text guides kids through the site, as they make their way through "learning paths" of varying difficulty. Parents can track their child's progress and review how many games in each ...

Read more:
"ABC Mouse" -- Online Pre-School Learning - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W553SJVgzwA

25-06-2012 02:27 The topic for this discussion is TVET teacher education. The UNEVOC moderator-driven discussions seek to promote focused discussions on crucial themes in TVET development and aim to gather valuable input from the e-Forum community. The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training acts as part of the United Nations' mandate to promote peace, justice, equity, poverty alleviation and greater social cohesion. The Centre assists UNESCO Member States develop policies and practices concerning education for the world of work and skills development for employability and citizenship, to achieve - access for all - high quality, relevant and effective programmes - learning opportunities throughout life. UNEVOC contributes to increased opportunities for productive work, sustainable livelihoods, personal empowerment and socio-economic development, especially for youth, women and the disadvantaged. Its emphasis is on helping to meet the needs of developing countries, countries in transition and those in a post-conflict situation. For more information, please visit

Here is the original post:
Introduction by Prof Masriam Bukit: UNEVOC online conference on TVET teacher education - Video

SAN DIEGO, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- American College of Education,one of the world's leading providers of online advanced degree programs for educators, today announced it is offering a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a Concentration in Digital Learning & Teaching.

The research-based Concentration helps American College of Education students gain new ways of thinking about technology, student learning, classroom structure, and educator and student roles. At the completion of the sequence, educators will be better able to use technology to captivate students' interest and build on their curiosity, regardless of the subject.

American College of Education made the announcement at 2012 ISTE in San Diego, where it is showcasing its online courses and programs in booth #2310 through June 27. Visit http://www.ace.edu.

"Digital technology is making a tremendous impact on learning, and American College of Education is committed to providing educators with the information, tools and techniques to maximize those resources in the classroom," said Sandra J. Doran, President, American College of Education. "The Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a Concentration in Digital Learning & Teaching is a fast, affordable and convenient way to improve educators' skills and their students' learning capabilities."

The four courses that comprise the Concentration in Digital Learning and Teaching are:

The Concentration is one of several ways American College of Education is striving to narrow the digital learning knowledge gap in the classroom. The online institution provides a number of other technology-oriented courses and programs for its graduate-level students, who are teachers and other educators in the United States and several foreign countries.

American College of Education at ISTETechnology is a primary theme of American College of Education's involvement at ISTE. On June 26, at 10:30 a.m. Gayle Owens, Ed.D., Assistant Chair, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, for American College of Education, will deliver a presentation titled "It's Not Your Old Lesson Plan: Creating Effective Digital Lessons", as part of the Virtual Schooling/E-learning program track.

More information is available at http://www.isteconference.org

About American College of EducationThe mission of American College of Education is to provide quality instruction for all educators to elevate the standard of education in our communities and our country. At ACE, students don't just earn a degree they receive immediate and tangible instruction on how to improve their classrooms and their schools. American College of Education is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA). For more information, visit http://www.ace.edu.

Media Contact: Elizabeth Watters Ketchum for American College of Education 214.259.3423 Elizabeth.Watters@Ketchum.com

Read more from the original source:
American College of Education Offering Concentration in Digital Learning and Teaching

To view our videos, you need to enable JavaScript. Learn how. install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now. Then come back here and refresh the page.

RALEIGH -- School choice advocates squared off against the N.C. Board of Education Monday, continuing the debate on whether an online charter school program should be allowed in the state.

Back in May an Administrative Law Judge ruled the online school could begin operation in August after the Board of Education declined to act on the matter. They say that ruling wasn't proper procedure and now it's up to a Wake County Superior Court judge to decide.

They're already in a few dozen states across the country and if a prior judge's ruling stands.. an online charter school could be an option for parents and students in the Tar Heel state.

Last year, the Cabarrus County Board of Education approved the school but when the matter came to the North Carolina Board of Education they never responded. It's a move supporters of the online charter school say allows them to move forward.

"The administrative law judge supported this argument, agreed with this argument, and said you know what, state Board of Education you waived your right, you're stopped from raising the issue," said Anna Baird Choi from PublicSchoolOptions.org. "So it's more than dropping the ball, they chose not to act."

But the Board of Education and 90 state school districts opposing the ruling say the school set to open in Cabarrus County would accept students from across the state, which means they need to be a part in the process.

"It's their role and the state board's authority and responsibility to the state of North Carolina to make sure that this system runs as smoothly and as well and everything else as traditional public schools," said Laura Crumpler from the N.C. Department of Justice.

For each registered child, the virtual charter center could receive more than $6,000 in public money, paid for by the state and local school districts. Which is why the state board of education says they need to be involved.

"I think it's critical that the state Board of Education have a decision on this," said Eddie Speas from the N.C. School Board Association. "At this point they did not have the opportunity."

Read more:
School choice advocates spar with Board of Education over online charter school

SAN ANTONIO, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Game-based learning has forged its way to the forefront of 21st century education practices.* PCI Education, the premier provider of resources for students with specialized instructional needs, announces Algebra City Interactive Activities. The new online module constructs an online space in which students choose their own adventures to practice key algebra concepts.

A web-based component of the blended intervention program Algebra City, Algebra City Interactive Activities provides fun and motivating practice to correct the 28 most common algebraic misconceptions. Students engage in an online story completing activities and solving specifically targeted algebra problems, earning stars along the way.

"Upwards of 60 to 70 percent of students struggle with algebra. It's imperative these students receive the intervention they need before repeated failures escalate to frustration and lack of motivation," said Lee Wilson, president and CEO of PCI Education. "Often students need a fresh approach to get back on track. Algebra City Interactive Activities engages students in a way that makes algebra an adventure."

Algebra City, the print companion to the Interactive Activities, aims to keep students on target by using pinpoint assessment to identify where a student is struggling conceptually and providing multiple approaches to correcting the misconception. The blended intervention may be used with any core Algebra I curriculum. The Student Edition uses graphic novel-style characters to encourage students to re-engage with algebra in novel and exciting ways, making the new online component a natural fit for Algebra City's contemporary style.

"Students often fail to see the relevance of algebra, and this disconnect from classroom instruction to the real world reduces students' interest in learning," said Wilson. "Algebra City Interactive Activities is specifically designed to infuse relevance and fun into algebra instruction and prepare students for future school and career success."

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards, Algebra City is a four-part program: Algebra Essentials, Equations & Inequalities, Graphing, and Polynomials & Factoring. Each book covers seven algebraic misconceptions. The ExamView Assessment Suite included in Algebra City provides ready-made pretests and posttests at the program, book and unit levels, an item bank and test generator, and robust reporting.

About PCI EducationPCI Education offers more than 7,500 educational materials for a wide range of students with specialized instructional needs. The company's products are used to help students performing below grade level, students with learning differences, and students with significant or developmental disabilities such as autism. In addition, PCI programs are used in English language learner and adult literacy classes. Based in San Antonio, PCI Education has been helping educators lead students to success in school, at home and in the community since 1991. For more information, visit http://www.pcieducation.com.

*Reference: 2012 Horizon Project Short List published by the New Media Consortium

For more information: Emily Embury, C. Blohm & Associates, 608-216-7300, ext. 19, emily@cblohm.com, http://www.cblohm.com Denise Jacks, PCI Education, 800-594-4263, ext. 123, djacks@pcieducation.com

Read more here:
PCI Education Unveils Online Adventure for Algebra Intervention

HERNDON, Va., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --K12 Inc., the nation's leading provider of proprietary curricula and online education programs for students in kindergarten through high school, today announced that it has expanded its course catalog available to school districts for the school year 2012-2013. The company's catalog, the most extensive in the K-12 industry with more than 550 unique online courses and titles, includes over 85 new or enhanced courses and titles, including world languages and expanded electives.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110113/PH29436LOGO )

More than 2,000 school districts in all 50 states have chosen K12 to provide curricula, services and support for online and blended learning programs. Over the past decade, the company has delivered over 4 million online course enrollments from its award-winning portfolio, including full-time online programs, credit recovery, core K-12 courses, world languages, AP, and high school electives. New courses for the 2012-2013 school year include:

"Successful online learning begins with world-class curricula, developed by curriculum experts, cognitive scientists, and instructional designers who create courses that are highly effective and engaging to students of all ages and skill levels," said John Olsen, Executive Vice President of Operations for K12. "We are pleased to offer our newly expanded catalog to school districts as they continue to broaden their use of online solutions to provide their students highly individualized educational experiences in any learning environment from full-time virtual, to blended, to traditional classrooms."

K12 provides the industry's most complete continuum of online learning solutions, including award-winning curricula and education support services for full-time online learning, online courses, world languages, credit recovery, remediation, assessment, and test readiness. MDR's market research service EdNET Insight recently reported that K12 is the leading provider of online curriculum to school districts across the United States.

For comparison purposes, K12 counts each full, year-long course as a single, unique course; these courses, which are available over two semesters, are not counted as two, unique courses. In addition, any course that is available in more than one curriculum in the K12 family of brands is only counted as a single, unique course. When counted using methodologies commonly seen within the industry, the K12 catalog has over 850 courses.

About K12 Inc.K12 Inc. (LRN), a technology-based education company, is the nation's largest provider of proprietary curricula and online education programs for students in kindergarten through high school. Using 21st century tools to prepare 21st century students, K12 provides the broadest array of options for students to learn in a flexible and innovative way, at an individualized pace. K12 provides curricula and academic services to public and private schools and districts, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families. K12 is accredited through AdvancED, the world's largest education community. Additional information on K12 for schools and districts can be found at http://www.K12.com/educators.

2012 K12 Inc. K12 is a registered trademark, and the K12 logo is a trademark of K12 Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

See the original post here:
K12 Inc. Expands Online Course Catalog for School Districts

MIAMI (Reuters) - Alberto Perez started out as a street performer and then an aerobics teacher in Colombia, making extra cash on the side teaching the wives of businessmen how to dance in nightclubs in his hometown, Cali.

Today, he stands at the center of the Zumba exercise craze, having helped transform Zumba Fitness, a private company, into a rapidly growing fitness empire with heavyweight investor backing.

"I'm not a businessman, but I knew this had the potential to be something special," said Perez, who along with two Colombian associates founded the Miami-based company.

Zumba, a Latin dance-inspired aerobic workout, has exploded from a Miami gym phenomenon to infomercial and DVD smash hit into a global craze with some 12 million people taking classes every week in at least 125 countries. Zumba Fitness now boasts being the largest branded fitness program in the world.

Started on a shoestring budget in a Miami garage nearly 11 years ago, Zumba Fitness now has more than 200 employees, and a pair of New York investment firms are betting the craze has staying power.

What began as a company focused on fitness has evolved into a lifestyle and entertainment brand combining e-commerce, apparel and music, and a sought-after outlet for stars like hip-hop artists Pitbull and Wyclef Jean and reggaeton singer Don Omar who have turned to Zumba to promote their music.

THE ACCIDENTAL INSTRUCTOR

Zumba got its start by chance in the 1980s.

Perez, who is known as Beto, was eking out a living as a street performer and salsa and merengue nightclub dancer known for his boyish model looks and muscular physique.

One day the owner of a nearby gym called and asked if Perez could stand in for an injured aerobics teacher. He agreed - but didn't mention he had never done aerobics and rushed out and bought a copy of Jane Fonda's Workout Book.

See original here:
The big business of Zumba

The restored bronze elephant at the Saigon zoo and botanical garden in HCMC

A projectto restore the famous bronze elephant at the Saigon zoo and botanical garden in HCMC was completed on June 22.

The one-year project, carried out by the zoo, the office of theRoyal Thai Consulate General in the city, and the SCG Group, also worked on the landscape surrounding the statue, which is a gift given to the cityby Thai King Rama VII after his first visit to the city in 1930.

The statue, which weighs over one ton and is 1.5 meter tall, was transported and installed at the zoo in 1935.

The king also gifted two statues to Singapore and Indonesia the same year.

The restoration project in HCMC was conducted by Thai artists Arak Sunghitkul, former director of Thai Department of Fine Arts, and Songkran Kunarop of the Departments Traditional Fine Arts Office.

Ranked eighth among the oldest zoos in the world, the 133-year-old Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is located on 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Like us on Facebook and scroll down to share your comment

Read the original here:
City restores Thai King’s bronze elephan gift

Authors note: Im an adventurous soul. Ill try just about anything once. I blame my mother. She told me over and over again, You dont know if you like something until youve tried it. You cant be afraid to try. And although Ive regretted my propensity to agree first and consider later more than once, it does add interest to my life.

We were sitting in a newspaper planning meeting one day, and the idea of covering the non-ball sports came up. As in, all the sports that arent the major ones (football, basketball, volleyball and baseball). Before I could apply the correct filter to my mouth, it declared but you cant write about them unless you understand them. And to understand them, you have to play the game.

My editor looked at me, cocked his eyebrow and asked, Whos going to try them? and my subconscious must have thought my life was lacking in new experiences because before I could stop it, it held hostage my common sense and said, I will.

Youre going to do Cross-fit or rock-climbing?

It was at this point I realized what I had done, but as the saying goes, in for a penny, in for a pound.

I had agreed myself into a corner. So here it is, my attempt to broaden my recreational horizons and share my experiences with you, our readers. I hope you learn from my (inevitable) mistakes and also possibly get inspired to try something new, or at the very minimum get a laugh or two.

Red Hot Yoga

There is only one place I found in Casper that offers hot yoga. Lifetime Health and Fitness has a specially-equipped yoga studio thats heated with infrared lights. The lights heat all surfaces of the room, including your body. Each class is 75 minutes long and classes are taught by a variety of instructors.

The benefit of hot yoga is the heat. It not only loosens muscles and improves circulatory response, sweating flushes out toxins in your system. People with chronic issues such as arthritis and fibromyalgia have shown improvement in their systems after practicing hot yoga. Any skill level is welcome in the class. If its your first hot yoga class, or if you have any chronic issues, its advisable to tell the instructor so that they can keep an eye on you.

Ive attended several classes over the past few weeks. Initially, I was nervous that I would be out of place in the class. The Monday evening class I attended was full of a mixture of ages, gender and skill levels. Anyone would feel welcome and comfortable.

Go here to see the original:
yoga story II