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Pinterest for Business: A Best Practice Guide
Author: Matt Owen, Social Media Manager at Econsultancy
Pages: 60+
Features: Best practice information and advice for brands and organisations using Pinterest.
About this guide
This report is aimed at companies and individuals who are thinking of joining Pinterest and want to find out more about the social platform, as well as people who are currently using Pinterest and want a deeper understanding of best practice.
For companies thinking about joining Pinterest, the report helps you to understand the value of the platform, why it's useful, and how it can be used for business. And for those companies who already have a Pinterest presence, the guide helps you to optimise your activity, understand what works, and how you can measure and define success.
The 63-page document covers best practice tactics, including statistics and case studies, as well as practical tips for getting started with Pinterest and how to engage with your followers.
By reading our best practice guidelines, we'll help you to get the most value from the social platform by understanding how to create content for Pinterest, create an active community and avoiding common mistakes.
The following areas are covered in the guide:
- Pinterest statistics
- The business case for investing in Pinterest
- How to get started
- How to create content for Pinterest
- How to create an active community
- Measurement and ROI
- Pinterest case studies
- Resources and further reading
Table of contents
- Introduction
- About this report
- About Econsultancy
- About the author
- What is Pinterest?
- Pinterest statistics
- Pinterest usage
- Pinterest demographics
- The business case for investing in Pinterest
- Getting started
- Setting your goals
- Pinterest business accounts
- Creating a Pinterest account
- Creating your first board
- Adding new boards
- The Pin It button
- Creating content for Pinterest
- Optimising your pins
- Provide clear descriptions
- Use eye-catching images
- Creating a 'visual content hub'
- Sourcing and creating extra content
- YouTube and Vimeo videos
- SlideShare presentations
- 'About us' pages
- Press room
- Screenshots and text
- Creating an active community
- Add share buttons to your website
- Invite your existing followers to join your community
- Repinning, Liking and commenting
- Share and share alike
- Let others contribute
- Competitions on Pinterest
- Measurement and ROI
- Reachli
- Repinly
- Pinpuff
- Pinfluencer
- Identifying valuable metrics case study: The Daily Mail
- Case studies
- General Electric
- Getting noticed
- Diesel
- House of Fraser
- Zara
- Nike Football
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- Keeping pace with platform updates
- Images: the new search
- Optimise around your images
- More opportunity to sell
- Resources and further reading
- Econsultancy reports
- Econsultancy articles
- External articles
Download a copy of the report to learn more.
A free sample is available for those who want more detail about what is in the report.
- Pinterest for Business: A Best Practice Guide (4.52 MB PDF)
Related Reports
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Posts tagged with Widgets
The complete guide to setting up and running a WordPress site
Earlier this year I embarked on a series of in-depth articles detailing how you can set up your own WordPress blog, using my own relevant experience and expertise.
This turned into a three-month long 10-part epic with various digressions into other semi-related blogging matters. Imagine Lord of the Rings but slightly less wordy and definitely less ork-filled.
This compendium is as an attempt to condense my own sprawling epic into one handy guide.
Here you will learn: the differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com, how to set up your blog, advice for writing your first post, using the dashboard and content management system (CMS), essential widgets, themes, plugins and customisation tips, advice for SEO best practice, how to move your blog to a self-hosted WordPress.com site and lots more.
This guide should be used for a general overview, however links to all the original articles will be included with each relevant chapter, as they will be necessary to read for more in-depth detail.
Are you ready? Let's begin…
Site review: the new RoyalMail.com delivers on customer experience
E.M. Forster, great Victorian-born champion of the internet, sorry, humanism, once wrote this:
"Letters have to pass two tests before they can be classed as good: they must express the personality both of the writer and of the recipient".
The Royal Mail's revamped website is the latest in a string of big organisations meeting new and improved standards in customer experience.
The aesthetic of the site accounts largely for its improvements, and the site as it stands can be seen, excuse me Edward, to express more of the Royal Mail's personality as well as those of its various audiences.
First, I'll look at some interesting little here's and there's from around the site before panning out.
Users still hate slow sites: Nielsen
Users still have little tolerance for slow loading pages and websites, and these problems tend to be caused by server delays and widgets, rather than large images.
According to Jakob Nielsen, slow loading is a common complaint from users during testing sessions. Faster loading times can mean more conversions, so what can retailers do?
The top seven Facebook tools for publishers
Facebook may increasingly be on the receiving end of criticism related to its stance on privacy, but the world's largest social network is still one of the top places to reach consumers online.
With more than 400m registered users globally, Facebook is the world's largest social network, and publishers looking to stay connected with their users and acquire new users have plenty of Facebook tools at their disposal to do just that. Here are seven of them.
Facebook Fan Box and what it means for brands
Facebook has just launched Fan Box, a new widget. This is great news for brands wanting to grow a Facebook fan page. But it's probably going to drive traffic in the wrong direction for most brands.
Widgetize your website with Google Web Elements
Widgets have become pretty much ubiquitous on the web. Plenty of companies are using widgets as a low-cost distribution strategy: they offer their tools and services in a form that enables users to embed those tools and services into their own websites.
Now Google is getting into the act. It wants to widgetize your blog and website with its products and has launched Google Web Elements to do just that.
IAB bows social media metrics
Social media is marketing, not advertising, but it's got to live somewhere, and it's got to be measured. So it's only slightly ironic that the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) would introduce definitions of social media metrics, given social media is the marketing channel that's actual beginning to replace advertising.
In a hefty 12-page document, the IAB's "Social Media Ad Metrics Definitions" (PDF download) slices social media into three subsets, and outlines relevant metrics for each. The major categories are defined as:
Social media's metrics problem
Last week, I discussed the success story of Stephanie Meyer and her Twilight series of vampire romance novels. Meyer's use of social media played a role in the successful promotion of books that have sold over 25 million copies and that led to the blockbuster adaptation of her first book as a motion picture.
Social network advertising options
While it's widely accepted that advertising on social networks can be a mixed bag in terms of results; for certain types of campaigns, it may be worth giving a shot.
If you're interested in dipping your toes in social network advertising, here's a list of the ways you can reach users on social networks.
Yahoo Buzz launches mobile widget, plans to grow
Yahoo has launched a Buzz widget for mobile users, allowing them to browse and 'buzz up' top articles from the past 12 hours. Alternatively, iPhone users can do this here, via an optimised version of Buzz aimed specifically at the sexy Apple handset, though no dedicated iPhone app is yet available in the iTunes Store.
Yahoo says the mobile widget can be found by searching for 'Yahoo! Buzz' from within the widget gallery.
This is another sign that Yahoo is looking to drive up usage of Buzz, its social news play, although there is more work to be done if it really wants to usurp Digg as the number one social media website.
Site review: Popego
Popego is a startup which was announced at the TechCrunch 50 conference this week, aiming to help you to 'enjoy a more meaningful web'.
Popego plans to do this by joining up all the accounts and profiles you have created around web and using this information to bring you relevant content.
Web 2.0 tries to hide from reality
ReadWriteWeb's Sarah Perez believes that "today, if you're not staying current with Web 2.0 technologies' impact on business, then you're just not staying current."
In her post entitled "Businesses Can't Hide From 2.0: A Look At 2.0's Impact Across Industries," she states:

subset: commoncrawl


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You can now earn coupons to use at checkout on any The Tailoress® patterns by sharing products to your social media profiles, writing a review on a product you have purchased or by just buying another product! Each time you purchase a pattern you will get a coupon off your next order.
Coupons will appear here in your Account area. When you are ready to use one simply click it and it will be applied to your checkout.


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Here's to starting Monday morning off right as we bring you the Spanish-made Sbay Flying 1800 custom café racer from Sbay Motor Company. If cruisers from a certain American manufacturer could look like this, we imagine that talks of an aging demographic would cease to exist as the Flying 1800 has ample doses of eye-candy, sportiness, and innovation.
Between the 3.7 gallon carbon fiber tank that is hangs below the oil-holding frame and above the motor, the rear taillight that integrates into the tail section like a Ducati GP9/GP10, and the tasteful use of copper pipes that we liked so much on the Confederate Fighter, there's plenty to get you drooling on this bike as it borrows from some of the best ideas in motorcycle design.


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Raised Bed Gardening
Do you have all your garden plans ready for spring or are you still thinking about making some changes? You may want to consider building a raised-bed garden. Raised-bed gardens are enclosed by wood boards or some other kind of barrier, and filled with rich soil for plants to grow.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages to adding a raised-bed garden to your landscape:
- Soil can be controlled based on the plants you want to grow. Instead of adding chemicals to change your soil's composition, just fill the raised bed garden with the type of soil that's best for your crops.
- Raised bed soil can be less compacted, allowing roots to grow and oxygen to better reach plants.
- When building a raised-bed garden, you can add in a weed barrier, which can help reduce weed growth.
- Raised soil tends to dry and thaw sooner, so you can begin to garden sooner.
- While your plants are still at risk for weed growth and insect damage, the height and extra soil can help deter most pests.
- The shape and height of your raised bed garden can also make it easier to tend to plants.
- Starting a raised-bed garden can be expensive. Remember to plan ahead for the materials and soil you'll need.
- Building a raised-bed garden can be time consuming ' whether you buy a ready-made kit or make one yourself.
- In most instances, your soil will need to be replaced every season.
- Because raised-bed gardens can dry out more quickly, you may need to water your garden more often.


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5 Tools (and 1 Animal) for Quieter, Healthier Yard Work
Noise can be more than a nuisance. According to the EPA, high levels of noise pollution degrade quality of life by increasing irritability and interfering with concentration and sleep.
1. Rake
A gas-powered leaf blower produces noise to irritate the senses, and dust and particulate matter to irritate the respiratory system. And one gas-powered leaf blower produces more air pollution than a car, according to the California Air Resources Board.
Using a rake to gather leaves may provide some calming moments of quiet contemplation. More vigorous raking provides an upper-body workout. Rake in both a right-to-left and left-to-right motion to work the arm muscles equally, and balance the stress on the lower back.
Hush, ah hush, the Scythes are saying,
Hush, and heed not, and fall asleep;
Hush, they say to the grasses swaying;
Hush, they sing to the clover deep!
Hush—'tis the lullaby Time is singing—
Hush, and heed not, for all things pass;
Hush, ah hush! and the Scythes are swinging
Over the clover, over the grass!
—From Andrew Lang's 19th century "The Scythe Song"
2. Scythes
Why use a weed whacker when a well-made scythe is so effective at cutting a variety of crops and grasses? Scythers enjoy mastering this ancient, aesthetically pleasing skill. Scything is good exercise, too—it involves using the entire body to swing the scythe in a crescent-shaped motion.
3. Long-handled grubbing hoe
Rototillers, watch your backs. The long-handled grubbing hoe or "grub hoe" has a heavy head—the combination of weight and leverage produces a forceful downward impact that can break soil shovels can't touch. Use a grub hoe to create new gardens and raised beds, dig trenches for drainage, remove sod or till it in, or chop ice.
4. Rent a goat
Nannies, billies, and kids are known for their agility on steep inclines that would thwart a power mower. And their eagerness to chomp through tough, prickly plants like blackberry bushes, kudzu, and scotch broom makes goats an effective method of nearly carbon-neutral weed control. An increasing number of companies in the United States offer the ground-clearing services of rent-a-herds. They've been used to clear overgrowth on locations as varied as a U.S. Naval Base, the Vanderbilt Mansion, and Google Headquarters.
5. Push mower
Americans use about 800 million gallons of gas per year to mow their lawns. A well-maintained push mower with sharpened blades could be easier to use than you think. And then there's the solar-powered mower put together by engineering student Robert Smith—you can follow his instructions to make your own at robert-smith.net.
6. No Pressure
The average pressure washer uses about 1.5 gallons of water per minute—and can leave your patio looking like a scribbled mess. Save water and get a better-looking surface with a stiff-bristled broom. Start by sweeping, then mop or pour a mixture of non-toxic, powdered oxygen bleach and water onto the surface, and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Oxygen bleach is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. It's made of sodium percarbonate, which breaks down into soda ash and oxygen, and is not harmful to animals, plants or humans. Scrub with the broom and rinse for a clean finish.
Bats are mammals, shy creatures of the night, and fascinating to watch. They're also endangered by loss of habitat, disease, and pesticide poisoning. You can help by providing protection.
The appearance of "bloodsucking parasites" in one farm family's pond got them thinking: How could we be so comfortable with our natural world, yet paranoid about harmless—and helpful—creatures in it?
How to wear cotton without wearing out the planet.


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How Active is Butch Woolfolk in Recruiting?
Out of boredom this morning I began perusing the MGoBlue.com roster, like most mornings, and noticed that 3 of our 5 Texas players are from the same high school. It just so happens that one of these 3 players is Butch's son, Troy.
It appears to me that Butch is actively recruiting young men from the Sugar Land area and establishing a (currently small) pipeline. Does anyone know if this is true, or more about it?


text: Loyallists get double points in cosmetics and fragrances every day. Offer valid online and in store. Points are not earned in Nespresso shops, restaurants in Bloomingdale's stores, on store services, cash advances, sales tax or when redeeming Bloomingdale's Gift or Reward Cards. Qualifying purchases must all be within one order and one transaction. On December 31 of each year, 75% of all remaining points on your account will be forfeited. U.S. Bloomingdale's stores only. Not valid at Bloomingdale's The Outlet Stores. See bloomingdales.com/loyallist for complete details.


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Schedule anappointment »
Ask a question »
Request our expertopinion »
Phone Numbers:
412-647-3685(within the U.S.)
Chordomas are a type of primary bone cancer usually found in the skull or spine. These slow-growing tumors are rare, accounting for only 1 percent of central nervous system cancers.
Chordomas develop from remnants of notochord, which precedes the spinal column during embryonic development.
While chordomas may be found at any site along the axial skeleton, they are most frequently found at the base of the spine (sacrum), tailbone (coccyx), and base of the skull (clivus).
Chordoma cancers rarely spread (metastasize), but they are aggressive locally. They can affect adjacent organs, tissues, and bone.
Symptoms of chordomas can include back pain, numbness, headaches, and vision problems.
This type of tumor has a high recurrence rate. Chordomas are most commonly found in adults between the ages of 40 and 70.
Treatments for chordoma include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
At UPMC, the preferred surgical treatment for chordomas of the skull base is the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA). This innovative, minimally invasive technique uses the nose and nasal cavities as natural corridors to access hard-to-reach or previously inoperable tumors. Benefits of EEA include:
Early diagnosis of chordoma may prevent serious complications.
Your doctor will:
Skull base chordoma symptoms may include:
In addition to a physical exam, your doctor may request imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scans.
Three standard treatments for skull base chordoma are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
The neurosurgical team at UPMC may recommend one or a combination of these treatments. The high recurrence rate of these tumors requires frequent follow-up and monitoring.
Chordoma surgery is the main type of treatment for bone cancers. The type of surgical procedure depends on the size and location of the tumor.
Chordomas of the skull base may be approached directly using the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA).This state-of-the-art, minimally invasive treatment approach allows surgeons to access the tumor through the natural corridor of the nose, without making an open incision. Surgeons then remove the chordoma through the nose and nasal cavities.
EEA offers the benefits of no incisions to heal, no disfigurement, and a faster recovery time.
If you need complementary treatments, such as radiation, those therapies can begin soon after EEA surgery.
Your doctor may deliver radiation therapy:
The preferred type of radiation treatment for chordomas is proton beam radiation.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop cancer cells from growing.
Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, chemotherapy may be taken by mouth, injected, or placed directly into the tumor site.
Modern chemotherapy for chordomas is under investigation at UPMC.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
| Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com


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Tomorrow night at the Leo Kesting Gallery, we will fete the opening of Chalk Shoes to the High Line, a show documenting the April 16 performance led by artist Julia Mandle that featured 60 8th-graders from the Lab School in Chelsea. The students donned shoes made from green chalk and scuffed lines along the sidewalks of the Meatpacking District and Chelsea, ending at future High Line access points. The exhibition that opens tomorrow and runs through May 21 will feature rows of the used shoes, photographs taken by the kids, and a video of the performance by Matt Wolf.
Chalk Shoes to the High Line
Leo Kesting Gallery
812 Washington Street (near Gansevoort)
Opening: Thursday, May 15 6:00-8:00PM
Tomorrow's opening party also kicks off Meatpacking District Design Week, happening Thursday through Sunday in venues around the Meatpacking District. See you there!


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Manufacturer: Mares
Product Code: 414308
The Drak USB Interface is an Ultra-compact USB interface that utilizes illumination to indicate the connection status of the interface between the Nemo Wide and your PC. Utilizing the Nemo Wide Interface allows the transferring of data to a PC while allowing scuba divers to view and manage their dive data and supplement it with additional information for a complete logbook. The built in dive simulator is a useful diver training tool and analysis instrument.


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Flexion is an enterprise consulting firm changing the way organizations do business and achieve success.
We work with you to understand your specific strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and provide you with a roadmap to help you transform your business.
We fully embrace Lean IT principles and Agile development methodologies, and can quickly assemble teams to push your product forward through feature prioritization and iterative development.
We take a design thinking approach to integration challenges, exploring where we can "innovate at the edges" to improve processes and user experience, without wholesale changes to infrastructure.
Our team of experts works with you to understand your datacenter and IT investments, and break the cycle of capital expense by moving toward cloud-based platforms, infrastructure and software as a service business and financial systems.
Aerostich had internal organization and efficiency challenges due to their fragmented, antiquated or missing business systems. Flexion assisted with two system-based projects at Aerostich: The implementation of Google Enterprise Solutions, moving all data and information to a single, secure cloud storage solution, as well as business analysis and project management to assist in the accelerated implementation of NetSuite financial software.
Flexion worked closely with Boldt stakeholders to perform an assessment of Boldt's current information technology and financial systems and business processes. The team arrived at a phased, three-year roadmap with recommendations for process and technology updates designed to better meet the changing needs of Boldt's business, clients, partners and employees.
Flexion assembled and manages a remote team of technologists consisting of Flexion and DRC resources. The team is modernizing a computer-based educational assessment platform using contemporary open source technologies and platforms, while remaining backwards compatible and device agnostic. The team takes advantage of Lean principles, test-driven development and automated functional regression checks to achieve results within deadline and budget.
Flexion provides both Staffing and Enterprise Advising services to USGS. Flexion introduced Agile development methodologies to USGS while building a national BioData system that was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. These efforts proved Agile methodologies and created skilled internal practitioners now evangelizing these methods and project experiences nationwide. Flexion also provides IT leaders to work beside USGS staff in their data center to drive innovation and efficient operations.
As Chief Executive Officer and a partner, Ron is part of a senior management team that actively works to provide clients with the best information technology professionals to fulfill their staffing requirements and information technology solutions.
Under Mike's leadership, Flexion has transformed from a regional provider of information technology services to a national provider of information technology services and staffing, digital marketing and niche services, including Wisconsin's first Google Enterprise Partnership.
Aaron leads all of Flexion's sales and marketing efforts, as well as being a leader in IT and Systems consulting and software/SaaS development. As Chief Strategy Officer, Aaron is responsible for revenue generation, marketing and business development.
Scott is Flexion's Chief Technology Officer and one of Flexion's founding partners. Scott has a deep background in computer networking, systems administration and software development and is known for providing thoughtful feedback to clients struggling to transform their businesses.
Dave is Flexion's Google Practice Leader and one of Flexion's founding partners. Dave leads client and internal discussions around infrastructure efficiency and security, and promotes the understanding of the technology and ecosystem for Google products.
Brice Ruth is a Senior Advisor in Software Engineering and is currently the Technical Lead and Lead Architect of the Data Recognition Corp (DRC) Web-Based Test Engine project. Brice places an emphasis on injecting quality practices at every process level, from inception and requirements to delivery.


text: Placement Offered This course has a Placement Year option Available in Clearing Overview Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences at Brunel University London is currently in the top 10 in the UK and the top 100 in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017). You can apply to spend a year studying abroad at San Francisco State University. Brunel University London's impact on the future wages of its graduates is among the best in the country compared to other universities, according to a new analysis of government data by The Economist (2017). About the course The Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences programmes at Brunel University London are currently ranked among the best in London (The Complete University Guide 2017). As a Brunel student, you will enjoy research-led teaching of the highest quality; quality that will stand you in good stead in your future employment. Our great location in London, plus our strong links with sports personnel, organisations and institutions at local, regional, national and international levels, enables us to offer our students considerable opportunities for career progression. As a Human Performance pathway student, you will develop detailed knowledge and understanding of the scientific principles underpinning sport, health, and exercise sciences from a human performance perspective. The critical focus is on the areas of biomechanics, physiology, and psychology although the opportunity to pursue other complementary disciplines exists. You will learn how to monitor, evaluate and enhance sport and exercise performance in laboratory and field settings and how to design, and conduct experiments. Aims Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, our generic programme, is the most popular choice for prospective and current students, largely because of the flexibility that it affords: after a generic first year, you are free to choose from the diverse range of study blocks on offer in your second and third years, which means that you can play to both your strengths and your preferences – tailoring your degree programme to suit you. For example, if you were to see yourself embarking on a career as a specialist youth coach, working as part of a multidisciplinary team comprising biomechanists and psychologists, then you may consider selecting the following study blocks: Physical Literacy and Child Development, Applying Sport Sciences to Practice: Coaching and Teaching Effectiveness, Biomechanics of Human Movement, and Theory and Application in Sport Psychology – a very useful combination. Graduates from this programme have gone on to work in settings as diverse as professional sport (e.g. British Rowing) the NHS (e.g. as a Clinical Respiratory Physiologist), sport charities (e.g. Access Sport) and as management trainees in global companies (e.g. Enterprise Car Rental). Download the full course programme. Enquiries Contact our Enquiries team. Course Enquiries: +44 (0)1895 265599 (before you submit an application) Admissions Office: +44 (0)1895 265265 (after you submit an application) Back to top Course content All of our new undergraduate programmes comprise discrete study blocks, which enables students to draw on the knowledge and skills acquired from a combination of study blocks; such integrated learning is a proven cornerstone of effective learning. You only have to decide on your pathway at the start of your second year at Brunel. Level 1 Compulsory Fundamentals of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences Research and Learning Skills I Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy Introduction to the Social Sciences of Sport Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing Synoptic Study 1 Level 2 Compulsory Biomechanics of Human Movement Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Lifecourse Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology Theory and Application in Sport and Exercise Psychology Research and Learning Skills II Work Based Learning Synoptic study II Optional (choose one from): Applying Sport Sciences to Practice: Coaching and Teaching Effectiveness Physical Literacy and Child Development Delivery of Sports Development Young People, Sport and Identity Pedagogy and Policy: Individual Needs Sandwich Placement For all students selecting the sandwich option (40-week placement in third of four years), the following study block is compulsory: Work Placement Workshops Work Placement Level 3 Compulsory Major Project Biomechanical Analysis Techniques Issues in Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing Physiology of the High Performance Athlete Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology Employability and Professional Development Synoptic study III Optional (choose one with appropriate level 2 pre-requisites): Pedagogy and Policy: Critical Issues Physical Literacy and the Learning Environment Sport, Media and Communication Managing Sport Development Applying Sport Sciences to Practice: Training Principles Read more about the structure of undergraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course. Back to top Employability We work closely with our award-winning Professional Development Centre to offer a broad range of opportunities for students to enhance their employment prospects while studying with us. Such opportunities include Sandwich placements in industry study abroad at San Francisco State University Summer placements with members of teaching staff, as Research Assistants Internship opportunities (paid and unpaid) with local and national teams/organisations Local authority summer camp experience in coaching Links with professional bodies such as BASES and the BPS. Opportunities to gain coaching and personal trainer awards On completion of their studies, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the following skills: Communication – written and oral (through assignments, research projects, and group presentations) Ability to work as part of a team through collaborative activity (eg group projects and presentations across all three levels). Ability to network: being able to form relationships and get to know people Ability to interpret different forms of data and work across different disciplines Willingness to learn and act independently when required Adaptability when confronted with different – and sometimes challenging - situations Ability to conduct research, analyse and interpret findings, both quantitative and qualitative independently Ability to prioritise workloads and work to deadlines/targets We prepare you for a broad range of career opportunities in a wide range of sport-related jobs, in such areas as coaching, consultancy, fitness testing and training, higher education and research, sport development, sport management, teaching, and youth work. Graduates have found positions with, among others, the UK and regional Sports Councils, national governing bodies for sport, international organisations, sports clothing/footwear companies, professional clubs and local authorities, as well as in the leisure industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the armed forces. Careers We prepare you for a broad range of career opportunities in a wide range of sport-related jobs, in areas such as coaching, consultancy, fitness testing and training, higher education and research, sport development, sport management, teaching, and youth work.Graduates have found positions with, among others, the UK and regional Sports Councils, national governing bodies for sport, international organisations, sports clothing/footwear companies, professional clubs and local authorities, as well as in the leisure industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and the armed forces. Undergraduate study can prepare you for PGCert (Education) courses and Master's degrees. Work placements All Sport Sciences students can include a work placement year as part of their course. Our current students are working at many different companies in the UK and overseas including Queens Park Rangers Football Club, the London Sports Trust and Quiksilver. We encourage all students to undertake a placement as research shows that these students secure better grades in their final year and earn significantly more upon graduation. The main objective of the work placement is to give Sport Sciences undergraduates an opportunity to apply their knowledge of theory to practical problems in real-life situations. In this way the relevance of the theory becomes more apparent and often the application of knowledge leads to a deeper understanding of the theory itself. At Brunel we provide many opportunities and experiences within your degree programme and beyond – work-based learning, professional support services, volunteering, mentoring, sports, arts, clubs, societies, and much, much more – and we encourage you to make the most of them, so that you can make the most of yourself. » More about Employability Back to top Entry criteria 2018/19 GCE A-level BBC, including either Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science Maths, Physics, Human Biology, Psychology, Sport Science, Sport Studies, Sociology or PE. BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DDD in Applied Science, Sport, or Sport and Exercise Sciences. BTEC Level 3 Diploma DD Applied Science, Sport, Sport and Exercise Science, with an A-level at grade B in any subject. BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma D in any subject with two A-levels at grades BC, to include: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Maths, Physics, Human Biology, Psychology, Sport Science, Sociology or PE. International Baccalaureate Diploma 29 points including 5 at Higher Level in one of the following subjects; Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Human Biology, Psychology, Sport Science, Sociology or PE. Access to Higher Education Diploma Complete and pass am Access to Bioscience, Health, Forensic Science, Nutrition, Psychology, Science, or Sport course, with 45 credits at Level 3 with Merit in all units. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have substantial relevant work or life experience since leaving school or college. Five GCSEs at grade C or grade 4 or above are also required, including English Language and Maths. Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs. A commitment to sport or exercise is expected from all applicants. Entry criteria are subject to review and change each academic year. International and EU entry requirements Please select a country Albania Algeria Argentina Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Cameroon Canada Caribbean China Colombia Croatia Cyprus North Cyprus-South Czech Republic Denmark Ecuador Egypt Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Gambia Germany Ghana Greece Hong-Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordon Kazakhstan Kenya Korea Kosovo Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Moldova Montenegro Morocco Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Saudi Arabia Scotland Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Switzerland French Switzerland German Switzerland Italian Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey UAE Uganda Ukraine USA Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Wales Yeman Zambia Zimbabwe If your country or institution is not listed or if you are not sure whether your institution is eligible, please contact Admissions This information is for guidance only by Brunel University London and by meeting the academic requirements does not guarantee entry for our courses as applications are assessed on case-by-case basis. English language requirements IELTS: 6.5 (min 5.5 in all areas) Pearson: 58 (51 in all subscores) BrunELT: 65% (min 55% in all areas) You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page. If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made. Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English Test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options at the Brunel Language Centre. Back to top Teaching and learning How will we maximise your learning? At Brunel, we emphasise students' active involvement in learning – it is not a passive process, whereby you simply 'absorb' knowledge. You develop independent study skills through set reading tasks, student-led seminars, group work/presentations, laboratory work and self-testing, culminating in the writing of the final year dissertation. We regularly use formative assessment – the ongoing process whereby students reflect on their own learning – to foster a sense of confidence and independence. In order to maximise your learning opportunities, we are committed to providing you with access to high quality resources (including those designed for students with special needs) and the best possible learning environment. We will introduce you to the services provided by the Library and by the Computer Centre as part of your induction programme and give you a library card along with a username and password allowing you unlimited access throughout your period of study to the library resources, the University intranet, email and the web. How will we teach you? Teaching excellence is given a very high priority at Brunel. Our teaching is enhanced by staff scholarship, research and involvement in sport performance and with national/international agencies and organisations. We constantly review our teaching methods in response to students' mid-module and end-of-module feedback - continually developing innovative learning and teaching methods, including 'virtual laboratories' and online learning. Lectures – Lectures take place in a relatively formal setting. They aim to impart information and to provide you with a framework and the stimulation for independent study. Seminars – Seminars are an integral part of the teaching process in sport sciences. Lecture material is examined in more detail, or theoretical concepts and/or data are analysed and discussed in small groups. Seminars give you the opportunity to engage with members of staff and other students to a greater extent than is possible in a lecture setting. Tutorials – All our members of academic staff have published office hours during which time they are available to discuss academic matters relating to specific modules. Individual or small group tutorials are integral to the dissertation module. Practicals – Practical classes are designed to give you hands-on experience of some of the experimental techniques relevant to particular Sport Sciences disciplines. They often give you the opportunity to use laboratory and field equipment while working with people to collect, analyse, interpret, and present your results in an appropriate format. Importantly, there are also sport performance-based classes, where the emphasis is on linking theory with practice. Computer-assisted sessions – Computer-assisted sessions are used to teach quantitative data analysis methods, during which you will be given the chance to practise analytical methods in a computer laboratory, equipped with sufficient terminals to allow everyone hands-on experience. Many of the laboratory practical sessions in physiology and biomechanics also incorporate the use of information technology in data collection, analysis and computer simulation. How will we support and guide you? On entry to the University you will be allocated your own personal tutor who can advise you or refer you to colleagues with relevant knowledge - covering everything from health and medical matter to the extensive support services at Brunel. The tutor - student relationship normally lasts for the whole of the three-year period of your degree course, who can act as your academic and character referee after your graduation. Back to top Assessment and feedback In keeping with our passion for developing motivated and independent learners, we employ a broad range of assessment methods, including individual projects, oral presentations, group projects, essays, case studies, oral assessments, laboratory report writing, written examinations, computer-based tests and practical tasks (these include sports laboratory work and in-the-field performance). End-of-term formal written examinations frequently form at least part of the assessment of a module and may include a number of elements - for example multiple choice, written essays, short answers and data analysis questions. Back to top Special features Outstanding facilities We have some of the best sports facilities in the UK which include an indoor and outdoor sports and fitness complex. You'll get to study in our modern physiology and biomechanics laboratories as well as train on the same running track used by Olympic legend Usain Bolt. Facilities include: Indoor Athletics Centre: an extensive indoor athletics facility Sports Hall and Indoor Netball Hall: a bespoke netball training facility A multi-use sports centre equipped with squash courts, basketball and netball courts and a superb climbing wall A members-only fitness suite incorporating treadmills, cycles and rowing machines and a weight-training area with free and fixed weights Athletics track: an international standard 400m six-lane track with full field event facilities Grass and all-weather third generation (3G) and synthetic pitches Outdoor hard tennis courts Placement opportunities All Sport Sciences students can include a work placement year as part of their course. Current students are working at many different companies in the UK and overseas including Queens Park Rangers Football Club, the London Sports Trust and Quiksilver. We encourage all students to undertake a placement as research shows that these students secure better grades in their final year and earn significantly more upon graduation. Brunel Sport Scholarships The purpose of the scholarship programme is to support and develop talented sportsmen and women studying at Brunel. The Sport Scholar Gallery shows the successful students awarded the scholarship. American Exchange Programme San Francisco State University is the destination for two of our undergraduate students every year. All undergraduate Sport Science students can apply for the exchange. If selected, you would study for one year in America then return to Brunel for your last year of study. Staff Credentials Our staff have national and international reputations not only for their research and publications, but also their applied work. Many are accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which enables them to work with high performance athletes from a wide variety of sports – and many of them do so. Back to top Fees and funding Fees for 2018/19 entry UK/EU students: £9,250 full-time; £6,935 part-time; £1,000 placement year International students: £16,200 full-time Additional course related costs UK/EU students can opt to pay in six equal monthly instalments: the first instalment is payable on enrolment and the remaining five by Direct Debit or credit/debit card. Overseas students can opt to pay in two instalments: 60% on enrolment, and 40% in January for students who commence their course in September (or the remaining 40% in March for selected courses that start in January). Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home/EU undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,250 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy. International fees will increase annually in line with RPI, or 5%, whichever is the lesser. There is a range of financial support available to help you fund your studies. Find out about undergraduate student funding options. Back to top


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If all goes according to plan, Julie Weiss will cross two finish lines when she completes the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday.
The race will mark the end of a quest to run an average of one marathon a week for 52 weeks to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer, the disease that recently took her father's life, and to raise money for a cure via a donation button on her website, Marathon Goddess.
"It's going to be overwhelming, I know there's going to be exhaustion and tears, a lot of tears," said Weiss, 42. "I know I am going to be thinking of my father. He is going to be with me every step of the way; he is going to be the wind at my back."
About six years ago, Weiss was an overweight single mom relying on medication to help with depression. A friend gently encouraged her to try exercise. Weiss went for a run on the beach and noticed something: It felt great. So she went for another run, and then another. When someone suggested she try training for a triathlon, she signed up. It wasn't long before she'd shed 25 pounds and the antidepressants.


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National Election
Bored with opinion polls and fed up with party politics? Take revenge on Brown, Cameron & Co by playing our fun interactive games. Click on a game to get started!
- Friends star Matt LeBlanc to present new Top Gear
- Mike Wood holds Dudley South seat for the Tories
- Your chance to quiz Redditch election hopefuls
- Education a hot topic for debate
- Dramatic night at the polls leaves Worcester City Council in limbo
- Worcestershire elections 2014: Live
- European elections officially under way in South West
- House prices on the rise with £20,000 increase since start of year
- Four-fifths of new university and college students own smartphones
- £130m investment set to boost Black Country employment


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If there would be one Valentine's Day gift a woman could give to herself, it would be getting to know her numbers of the heart - numbers that indicate risks for coronary artery disease.
Look Good...Feel Better® makeover sessions are offered to women currently undergoing cancer treatment. The session is scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29, at the Heartland Cancer Center at 204 Cleveland in Great Bend. Attendees need to register with Vickie Jo Miller at (620)549-3602 or at the Heartland Cancer Center (620)792-5511.
The city of Great Bend is joining the local and national campaign to raise awareness about home health care and hospice services during November.
Dr. Bell Razafindrabe, MD is presenting a Fall Heath Event next week at the Spine Clinic, 925 Patton Road, Each evening, Monday through Friday, at 6 p.m.
In response to requests from the public, Central Kansas Medical Center has scheduled a series of free diabetes meal-planning classes that will be held in the evening. The hospital will kick off the new series Nov. 18, in observance of American Diabetes Month.
Obesity prevention may not be the first thing that comes to mind when the topic is "physical therapy." But the profession has a lot of information to offer on the subject, said Pam Perry, Rehab Services director at Central Kansas Medical Center.
(ARA) - Times have changed. When we consider our personal health, many now see the connection to the environment.
(ARA) - But the effects of cleanliness and good hygiene are significant. For example, each year, American children lose 22 million school days to the common cold, according to the School Network for Absenteeism Prevention.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's (KDHE) Bureau of Oral Health has recently been awarded more than $1.2 million in federal grants for this year.
September is Baby Safety Month, and Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents and caregivers to plan ahead to make safe spaces for babies "at home, at play and on the way."
(ARA) - Thick-lensed glasses with bifocal lines, dentures that look too perfect to be real and, of course, bulky, heavy hearing aids that just can't be overlooked - once, there was no mistaking the signs of age. Many people chose to endure the inconveniences of aging, rather than wear the overly obvious devices that might have eased vision and hearing losses.
(ARA) - School nutrition programs nationwide are serving more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, according to the Back to School Trends Survey released this fall by the School Nutrition Association (SNA). Findings also reveal nearly 70 percent of districts are reducing or limiting sodium and two-thirds reported reductions or limitations on added sugars in the foods available in school cafeterias.
Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents to take time out to teach and review safety guidelines with their kids to get them back to school safely. "Whether it's their first day of kindergarten, or they are returning after summer vacation, with this change in routine it's important to review safety tips together. Don't assume your child will intuitively know the right steps to take to be safe," says Cherie Sage, state director for Safe Kids Kansas.
(ARA) - Does the thought of a big bowl of pasta fill you with dread? Not because of the calories, but because of the digestive discomfort you might experience after eating it? If so, you may be one of the millions of Americans who unknowingly live with gluten intolerance.
(ARA) - Retirement is a great time to enjoy life - especially in your own home. But if you - or your parents - are starting to slow down, suffering from occasional imbalance or are having difficulty living safely in your home, it could limit your independence, and potentially cause you harm.
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We often think of You Tube as the site to go to for funny pet videos or celebrity clips. I have my own You Tube channel, filled with videos of Oscar the Cat and of my recent travels. It never occured to me to use You Tube as a genealogy source until a fellow research pointed me to a video clip of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. So, of course, that suggestion led to hours of searching through videos of Irish towns, Irish music, and Irish culture.
We can use You Tube as a genealogy vehicle in many ways:
1. as a way to display and share our own family videos (be mindful of the privacy concerns of your family members)
2. as a research tool, to find videos of the areas you are researching
3. as a learning tool, to obtain information about Irish genealogy
I will comment on making family history videos in another post, but for now I would like to note that it is far easier than you would think to create your own family history video and to upload it to You Tube. Putting your family history in video form is a wonderful way to reach other family members who are not interested at looking at charts and records. I love making my own family history videos and dvd's and sending them out as holiday treats. I don't post them on You Tube, but I do share them with family members on Facebook.
Have you searched You Tube for videos of your ancestors' place of origin? Try searching for the city or townland or county. More and more Irish people, and tourists, are making local history videos and sharing them on You Tube. You might even try a name or surname search. I have seen several videos dedicated to the memory of an ancestor.
You can even learn about Irish genealogy research on You Tube. I enjoy the videos that have been uploaded by "Teapot Genealogy," a group of Irish genealogists in Australia. The Teapot presenters inlcude Billie Jacobsen, Wendy Dzubiel, and Kaye Vernon. They began their discussions about making genealogy videos over a cup of tea, leading Kaye's daughter to suggest the name of "Teapot Genies."
Their videos are discussions of Irish family history, often made at places of historical significance in Ireland and Australia. Often, the Teapot Genies' videos include interviews with record-keepers and historians in Ireland. Sample video subjects include Skibbereen, Irish church records, and the Famine.
COFLUN'S CHANNEL (Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny videos)
DBFX1954 (my channel--sorry no genealogy videos YET)


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The 2014 Key Findings report gives you a quick overview of what happened in last years Black Friday week and what we might expect from Black Friday 2015.
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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
SPCA Serving Erie County volunteers to receive 30 percent discount at Erie County Dunkin' Donuts Restaurants as a thank you for community service
Dunkin' Donuts will honor volunteer members of the SPCA Serving Erie County with a special discount in recognition of their service to the community during National Volunteer Week.
Now through April 27, designated as National Volunteer Week, Dunkin' Donuts will offer a 30 percent discount at participating restaurants in Erie County to all SPCA Serving Erie County volunteers as a thank you for their community service.
SPCAServing Erie County volunteers are required to show their nametags to receive the discount. This discount is valid for all Dunkin' Donuts purchases. It cannot, however, be combined with any other discount or coupon offers.
"We are thrilled to participate in National Volunteer Week by honoring the dedicated volunteers of the SPCA Serving Erie County," said Dunkin' Donuts Field Marketing Manager Alisa LaPlante. "The SPCA is a valued partner of Dunkin' Donuts, and we are proud to stand by an organization that offers the highest quality of care to the animals of Western New York."
National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate people doing extraordinary things through service to improve communities across the nation. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week focuses national attention on the impact volunteers have all over the country.
The mission of the SPCA Serving Erie Country is to create a caring and kind community that encourages fair and humane treatment of all creatures. The organization's services include 24-hour animal rescue, animal cruelty investigations, emergency veterinary care, animal adoptions and admissions, and humane education for children and adults. For more information about the SPCA, visit www.YourSPCA.org.
To learn more about Dunkin' Donuts, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DunkinDonuts) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/DunkinDonuts).


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in gr. in grams. 37 ca. 37 ca. 3 cm 3 cm
leather imitation leather
|interior material
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in gr. in grams. 37 ca. 37 ca. 33 cm 33 cm
|Community dimension
With support from ROW's micro-loan fund, Jaime Zuñiga Leal and Maritza More Valverde bought 15 beehives. The business partners live in La Florida, Costa Rica, a small watershed village of about 360 residents.
Will Raap, left, and John Kimball, taking soil carbon samples to employ the TEP Soil Carbon Quantification Methodology in the Patagonia region of Chile.
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(TEP) is a consortium of ecologists and soil scientists working to restore degraded ecosystems around the world. We are demonstrating how millions of acres of degraded land can be put to work as highly productive cropland, forests and wetlands that will increase soil fertility and food security, clean our air, purify our water, and increase biodiversity while mitigating the impact of climate change. TEP has developed a methodology for measuring soil carbon that has been tested and refined at more than 20 sites in North and South America, Central America and Europe. This soil and ecosystem carbon quantification methodology has been independently validated and meets Verified Carbon Standard validation for the Carbon Marketplace. Research has been supported in part by a Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with initial application of the soil carbon quantification method in the Paulouse grasslands of Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Reforest Teak manufactures high quality, weather-resistant furniture using wood from sustainably managed tropical forest plantations. By restoring damaged and depleted lands to ecological productivity, Reforest Teak is providing innovative alternatives to the global environmental crisis. All profits from the sale of Reforest Teak products are invested in protecting and restoring tropical forests in Central America.
I am involved with three developments that are demonstrating new strategies for restoring degraded lands to ecological health and productive use.
A single-family home at South Village
In Vermont, South Village is a suburban conservation development on an abandoned 220 acre dairy farm. Houses have been clustered to create a walkable community, and 75 percent of the land has been left open for an onsite organic farm, a 1-acre solar array, walking trails and 100 acres of restored wetlands.
In Costa Rica, Pueblo Verde is converting a poorly executed reforestation plantation into a mixed-use forest of native trees, integrated with low cost housing. Nearby, Tierra Pacifica is restoring the degraded soils and watersheds on an old cattle farm. Soil erosion has been dramatically reduced by a series of catchment dams and basins that feed ponds and estuaries. Tierra Pacifica is also home to a 5-acre organic farm that serves local markets and helps support other local farms.
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Master your money and become financially free
The all-time most popular post by Mr. Everyday Dollar is how to use Ting and Talkatone for cell phone service. Many folksdrastically reduced their monthly phone bills by using this combination of low-cost wireless service provider and Voice over IP (VoIP) app.
Using the system myself, my monthly bill from Ting has never exceeded $11 a month (I was charged incorrectly in December, Ting gave me a credit):
Unfortunately, the party is soon ending!
Google has decided that VoIP apps like GrooVe IP and Talkatone – which use Google Voice to provide completely free texts and calls over data – violate their Terms of Service and are shutting them down on May 15, 2014 .
GrooVe IP has decided to shutter their service, which they announced on Facebook . Meanwhile, Talkatone announced plans to develop a new service.
With these recent developments, let's explore what the best new options are for keeping monthly phone bills to a minimum.
I can't say enough great things about Ting, and
I'm not the only one
. Awesome customer service, no contract, no overage penalties, credits on light months, and they even
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(did you hear that big carriers?). Below is Ting's current pricing model:
If you choose to use Ting by itself, you'll pay the most on a monthly basis because you'll be charged for all calls, texts, and data, but even so it's still cheap. The benefit is simplicity: you won't deal with VoIP apps and their additional configuration.
The VoIP app
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decided to create a new service rather than close its doors, which is awesome.
Their new service – currently available for Android users with iOS in active development – includes a free phone number, free texting, free inbound calls, and 10 free outbound call minutes per month.
You can receive up to 10 additional free outbound minutes per month by confirming your mobile phone number via text, and by linking your Facebook account in the app (although users have complained it imports all your friends making the app unwieldy).
If you go over the 10-20 free outbound minutes in a month, you can purchase 60 minutes for $0.99 (these purchased minutes rollover whereas the 10-20 do not).
I applaud Talkatone's effort to adapt their service, and they claim that 80% of users wouldn't pay anything for the new service based on historicusage patterns.
Unfortunately, they have not yet released the iOS app so I haven't been able to test it. Additionally, they are working on getting number porting for users that want to port their Google Voice number to Talkatone (Google
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to port out). In the meantime, you can forward Google Voice to Talkatone.
The new Talkatone service coupled with Ting is a good option to save money because you won't pay a cent for texts and inbound calls when your phone is on WiFi.
With Talkatone you'll pay for 1) the Ting data plan for calls and texts when you're out of WiFi range, and 2) the cost of outbound minutes after you exceed the free 10-20.
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offers some great features ( Mango Gestreiftes Hemdkleid
), but at the same those features can be a bit complex for new users.
Most folks use their Google Voice number as the number they give out, and then forward calls and texts to their Ting phone.
However, if you want outbound calls from your phone to originate from your Google Voice number, and not your Ting number, you need to use the Google Voice app (Android or iOS) which uses minutes and not data.
A useful calling feature is that you can make and receive domestic calls from a computer or tablet within Gmail or on the Google Voice website, for free!
To send and receive texts, you have the option of using Gmail (I this feature), the Google Voice website, or the Google Voice app, which uses data and not texts.
Confused? I created this chart that hopefully simplifies things:
The downfall ofGoogle Voice is that it does not support MMS, which means you won't be able to receive picture messages or group texts. However, Google product manager Nikhyl Singhal
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they are working to resolve this longstanding issue.
If you can forego MMS, combining Google Voice with Ting provides a lot ofcalling and texting flexibility that will help save you money.
With Google Voice you'll pay for 1) the Ting data plan for texts when you're out of WiFi range and 2) Ting minutes for calls made through your phone.
So when Google decided to make changes to Google Voice, they did so as part of unifying messaging under Google Hangouts . They've stated that Hangouts will be the future Google Voice , but at this point it's half-baked.
Today, Hangouts lets you have a conversation – through calls, texts, messages, video chats – with one or more people through Gmail, Google+, or the Hangouts app (Android or iOS). It's tightly integrated with Google+, which means you must create aGoogle+ account if you don't already have one.
In my testing of Hangouts on iOS, the Google Voice integration works and it's possible to send and receive calls over WiFi. The downside is that there's no integrated text messaging support yet.Surprisingly, it's even worse on Android: there's no fully integrated Google Voice support for either calls or texts.
It remains to be seen what features Hangouts will ultimately have, and how tightly it will integrate with Google Voice, but I expect we'll see a lot of changes over the next year.
The simple option for folks that want to reduce their monthly phone bill is to switch from their current carrier to Ting.
For those that have already done that, and have followed the instructions to use Google Voice through Talkatone , you've seen yourmonthly Ting bill become even cheaper andyou want to keep it that way.
Ultimately, choosing Google Voice + Ting is the most feature rich and flexible option that should also keep your monthly phone bill to a minimum.
Sign up now for email or text alerts. You know you want to. Plus you'll know when stuff goes on sale.
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The best way to learn about the newest products and offers
Jonesing for Warrior goods you can't find online? Head to the closest store.
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Update your resume, highlighting accomplishments and work experiences
Attend college fairs and financial aid nights if they are offered.
Talk to you counselor about your college plans.
Register for the SAT or ACT offered in the fall.
Finalize the list of colleges and universities to which you will apply.
Begin to fill out admissions applications and work on your application essays.
Research scholarship opportunities and request application materials.
Narrow your list of colleges. Get an application and financial aid form from each.
Visit as many campuses as possible.
Update your resume, highlighting accomplishments and work experiences.


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China: Aussie Woe Not Our Fault
Sep 25, 2012 - Craig Lord
A Chinese official has denied the link between China's Olympic swimming success and Australia's downfall in the sport - the report on which had Xinhua, the national agency, adding "despite the fact that Australian coaches were giving Australians black eyes all over London".
"China's success didn't lead to the downfall of Australian swimmers," said Xu Qi, who headed the Chinese national swimming team which swept five gold, two silver and three bronze medals at London 2012, the tally the biggest in the pool for China since the doping-soaked 1990s. Australia's matching tally of 10 included just one relay gold and six silvers.
A day after reports that Denis Cotterell is facing a federation ban on coaching Sun Yang and others, Xu said China will enhance its cooperation in swimming with Australia because the former swimming powerhouse has lots of world-class coaches.
Xinhua ran Chinese reports that quoted Sun Yang and suggested a split between the swimmer and Cotterell were false, while Swimming Australia denied that it had banned Cotterell from coaching Chinese swimmers. Legally, it would have a hard time doing do even if it had chosen such a course of action.
Cotterell charges have included Zhang Lin, Jiao Liuyang, Zhao Jing and Liu Zige, all Olympic or world champions and part of a winning team that is greater than the success rate that the Australian coach, mentor to Grant Hackett, has had in the hottest international waters with swimmers from his own country.
"We will continue to invite foreign coaches to China and at the same time send Chinese swimmers overseas to learn and train," he added.
Xu said that China will compete in an inaugural annual Australia-Brazil-China swimming meet, or ABC meet, in Melbourne in January 2013. Both China and Brazil have suffered two of the worst doping records in the sport's history in recent years.
Meanwhile, in Huangshan, Anhui Province, Olympic champion Ye Shiwen avoided her main events and raced the 50m free. The 16-year-old Olympic 200m and 400m medley champion who courted controversy in London with a closing speed that was well off-the-chart when compared to the average among her world-class peers and the progress seen in medley events over the past 20 years.
As she watched on, the 200m medley was won by Zhang Wenqing, from Shandong, in 2:13.24, about 6sec away from Ye at her best in London.
Ye, whose next big international will be the world short-course championships in Istanbul in December, placed fourth in the 50m freestyle in 25.74 seconds as Shanghai swimmers Yin Fan and Xu Wen finished 1-2 in 25.26 and 25.45 respectively. "Next month I'll head for the plateau training base in Yunnan province," said Ye. "Hopefully I can return to form in time for the short-course swimming championships at the end of the year."
Meanwhile, in the women's 50m backstroke, Liu Xiang of Guangdong touched the wall first in 28.19; Beijing's Liu Zhaochen topped the men's 100m freestyle in 50.09; Beijing teammate Wang Shuai clocked 27.91 in the 50m breaststroke; and Shanghai's Lu Ying swam 58.78 to win the 100m butterfly.
The session ended with women's 4x100m freestyle crown going to Beijing in 3:43.63.


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The Saugus Wings of the New England Elite Baseball League took on OOPT out of New Jersey in their first pool play game during the Sports at the Beach Tournament in Georgetown, Del. last weekend.
Saugus got out of the box quickly, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, when Anthony Aresco walked, stole second and third and scored on an errant throw.
In the home half, Jack Furey challenged the leadoff batter, and he harmlessly popped up to the mound on the first pitch, but after that things went downhill. The New Jersey players accounted for 10 unearned runs as a result of some uncharacteristic fielding issues by the Wings.
Mike Molina then pitched three scoreless innings for Saugus, but OOPT pushed another one across the plate in the fourth to secure the 11-1 win.
In game two, the Wings started out fast again, this time versus the Connecticut Clinton Huskies. Aresco walked, stole second and third and came home on a single by Victor DeMatteo.
Ryan Roche was on the hill for Saugus, and proceeded to retire the first nine batters to help maintain the lead.
Saugus maintained the advantage into the fourth, with Roche throwing a no-hitter, before Clinton broke it up with four runs. From there, they cruised to a 6-1 victory, while the Wings offense couldn�t get anything started. Bobby Roberto was solid in relief over two innings.
In game three on Saturday morning, Saugus took on a team from Philadelphia. Kyle Autilio got the start on the mound for Saugus.
In the top of the first, centerfielder Dan Cacciola ignited the offense with a single up the middle. Leftfielder Pedro Del Toro then lined a single to center. Third baseman Justin DiChiara ripped a single to right that scored Cacciola. A short time later, Del Toro ended up scoring on an errant throw on a double steal.
Saugus took a 2-1 lead into the third, when Aresco, Cacciola, Del Toro and DiChiara started another threat with four straight singles that produced two more runs and a 4-1 lead. DeMatteo, however, was robbed of extra bases by the leftfielder to end the inning.
Autilio was working around a tight strike zone, but still carried a no-hitter into the sixth, when a little dribbler went up the middle with one out. But Saugus was still able to hold on to the lead after six, 4-2.
In the seventh, Aresco singled, before Cacciola followed with a bomb to center that went for a standup triple. Cacciola then scored on a single by DiChiara, who eventually came home on an RBI by Joe Prince to give Saugus a sizeable 7-2 lead.
Philly was able to get one more in the seventh, but Autilio closed it out to record a complete game win. He finished with eight strikeouts, while allowing just three hits. Saugus pounded out 14 hits, with Cacciola going 4-4, DiChiara 3-4, Aresco 2-4 and Del Toro 2-4.
The Wings were supposed to play their fourth pool play game Saturday afternoon. With a win against 0-3 Altoona, Pa., Saugus would be the sixth seed in the winners bracket on Sunday. Unfortunately, a thunderstorm threw the tournament into turmoil, and games throughout the rest of the day were cancelled at 2 p.m. To decide the final six, the tournament organizers went with the current winning percentages, and Saugus fell to the ninth seed out of 16. Three teams, who had played two games, went ahead of Saugus into the top bracket. It was even more frustrating for Saugus, when the sun came out at 4:30 p.m., and it was beautiful for the rest of the day. The tournament director admitted that he called off the games too soon, but it was too late at that point to reschedule them.
On Sunday, the Wings had a bye as the top seed in the lower bracket, before taking on the Maryland Monsters out of Baltimore.
Roche got the start for Saugus again as a result of a low pitch count from Friday�s game. But Maryland scored five unearned runs in the second off Roche, and Saugus could only answer back with one for the rest of the game in a 5-1 loss.
Furey pitched three scoreless innings in relief, but the Wings were definitely a little sluggish after Saturday�s controversial postponements, and they played like it.
Off the field, the players and their dads had a fun-filled three days at Dewey and Rehoboth Beaches, while half the team also ventured down to Ocean City, Md. to go Jet Skiing.
The Wings have since come home to World Series Park for a game on July 30, and then also on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 4 and 5, before leaving for Myrtle Beach Aug. 9 for another one of their summer tournaments.
Saugus Baseball Wings face the nation again in another weekend tournament in Delaware
The Saugus Wings of the New England Elite Baseball League took on OOPT out of New Jersey in their first pool play game during the Sports at the Beach Tournament in Georgetown, Del. last weekend.


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The Lighthouse Preservation Society is the nonprofit organization that has made lighthouse preservation a national issue with Congressional hearings, conferences, the sponsorship of National Lighthouse Day and its celebrations, the nomination of 25 U.S. lighthouse stamps, and the raising of nearly $6 million for over 160 lighthouse projects. This prestigious group is also the recipient of a Presidential Achievement Award from the federal government for its efforts to preserve our lighthouse heritage.
Video introduction
Lighthouse Preservation video
Public announcement video
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Help Us Create a National Memorial, Commemorating the Birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard.
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You're invited to a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is offered no where else in the world!
A gourmet meal at the top of a lighthouse!
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Lighthouse Press Release
The Society Nominates Stamp Series to Promote Public Awareness of Lighthouses, and the Need to Rescue them from Government Neglect and Mismanagement
Lighthouse Newsletter
Society Helps Provide Documentation and Materials to Save One of America's Most Endangered Lighthouses


text:
QAR Cheat Sheet: Building Comprehension Through Question Analysis (Right Side)
Lesson 4 of 5
Objective: SWBAT to name, define and create questions of each QAR type.
Big Idea: Using QAR will be another tool in the toolbox to help students decide if and how they need to use the text to help them answer a question.
QAR Review Gameshow
As soon as students enter the classroom, they should see the Smartboard tuned in to the review game.
Using my dollar store microphone, I welcome them to the QAR Review Gameshow. Some very lucky students will be chosen today to participate in the wildly popular new gameshow that involves matching QAR facts to a spinning vortex. Get your answer wrong and it will come flying back at you, but get your answer correct and the knowledge stays in your head forever!!!
This can be played multiple times since all students will want a turn. I only play twice and promise that if students didn't get a turn, they will be first next time.
Resources (2)
Resources (2)
Right Side Activity
After the excitement of the game has died down and everyone has been congratulated on a great job, tell students they are going to complete a right side activity. Remind them that this is the day they'll get to be creative and make things their own.
Pass out the short text located in the resources for this section. Have students cut around the text and glue it onto the top half of their right side. Below the text, have students divide the bottom page into 4 equal sections using a giant plus sign. (easiest way to get four sections)
At this point, I want students to draw the four boxes to help commit the information to memory- to make it their own. If I were to give them another table, they would merely be filling in blanks, but making their own makes it their own.
In the top left and bottom left section, students should write "In the Book" and in the top right and bottom right sections, students should write "In My Head".
Explain to students that they are going to read the text and write their own questions. Display the cheat sheet (found in the resources) for students to begin writing their own questions.
See Video for differentiation ideas.
Walk around the room and monitor their question writing. When students finish up the question writing, it will be time to move to the next part- Mix Pair Share. (Kagan and Kagan, 2009) (See resources for explanation of Mix Pair Share)
This mix pair share should last four rounds so each student asks all of their questions and gets feedback on whether or not the questions were placed in the correct boxes.
After the four rounds, students should have four correct QAR questions based off a piece of text they read.
Resources (7)
Lesson Wrap Up
For this lesson wrap up, students should have returned to their seats with their notebooks out. Display your Interactive Student Notebook on the ELMO and call out questions you came up with for the same text. Have students vote (I love this strategy- as a formative assessment) to see which box your questions (included in resource section) should go in.
For voting, I use fingers- 1 for In the Book, 2 for In My Head
Randomly call on students to explain why they voted the way they did and then place your questions in your notebook in the correct boxes.


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Higher education institutions across Europe face today a demanding and complex financial context in which traditional modes of funding have been transformed and continue to evolve. Moreover, public sources are not as generous as they often were in the past and frequently become more demanding and competitive. The changes are particularly significant in Europe due to the traditional reliance on public funding. The current economic and financial crisis has exacerbated even further these problems, with growing pressures upon the sustainability of funding regimes of public higher education and the pressure mounting to explore new sources of income.
The efficiency of funding in terms of the capability to meet certain policy goals in a cost-effective way is becoming increasingly important.
The DEFINE project makes funding efficiency in higher education the main focus of research and activities, thereby providing data and recommendations which will support the development of strategies to increase the efficiency of funding. The project notably includes the setting up of international focus groups of university practitioners to determine good practice, challenges and pitfalls as well as the impact of funding efficiency measures such as performance-based mechanisms, institutional mergers and excellence schemes.
The project aims at contributing to the improved design and implementation of higher education funding policy and thereby to enhanced funding efficiency in the sector.
The project findings will feed into current and future higher education funding policy development at national and European level and support universities in responding to these changes. The project will therefore have a large impact on the European higher education area.
DEFINE is both a research project and a stock-taking exercise which will provide recommendations to policy-makers and universities in order to improve the design of funding efficiency measures in higher education.
In particular, DEFINE seeks to:
DEFINE notably explores the challenges related to performance-based funding mechanisms, merger processes and excellence schemes, and in particular their impact on university management.
The DEFINE project is run by EUA in collaboration with CIPES, the Centre for Research in Higher Education Policies (Portugal), and the Universities of Oxford (UK), Aalto (Finland) and Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany), and the Copenhagen Business School (Denmark).
The Steering Committee includes:
The DEFINE project runs from October 2012 until Spring 2015. This webpage will be updated with the latest information regarding the project milestones.
DEFINE is co-funded by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme (2012). This project webpage reflects the views only of the project consortium, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
For queries on the DEFINE project, please contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
At this final event, the project team will present an overview of the findings and conclusions of the research carried out in the DEFINE project. Particular emphasis will be given to recommendations to policy makers and universities regarding the set-up of performance-based funding mechanisms, merger processes, and so-called excellence schemes.
The work carried out in the project has been summarised in a final publication which will be released on that occasion. The team will also present a pilot online tool which maps, for the first time at European scale, the different mergers involving universities in the past fifteen years.
The event will be hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria, Rue Wiertz 77, from 17.00 onwards. To register your interest please send an email to email@example.com.
On 9 and 10 October 2014, EUA organised the second edition of the Universities' Funding Forum at the University of Bergamo, Italy. The Forum was set within the DEFINE project and addressed its main pillars: performance-based funding, mergers and concentration processes, funding for excellence and efficiency measures. For more information, please see the event page.
In the first half of 2014, three thematic focus groups will meet and discuss issues related to performance-based funding, merger processes and excellence schemes. Experts from higher education institutions across Europe, experienced in these areas, will be invited to discuss and identify good practice, challenges and pitfalls as well as the impact of the three measures on the management and the activities of higher education institutions.
The focus groups will give participants the opportunity to:
The results will feed into the final project publication and will also be discussed and presented at the second EUA Funding Forum in autumn 2014.
You can consult the call for interest here. Expressions of interest to participate in the groups can be submitted to EUA (email@example.com) via the application forms below:
Focus Group 1 on Performance-based Funding takes place on 19 and 20 February 2014 at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark and registration for this group is closed. A thematic report on the topic will be published after the event.
EUA and HUMANE, the Heads of University Management and Administration Network in Europe, co-organised on 22-23 November an open seminar at the University of Aveiro (Portugal) dedicated to the challenging question "how to fund universities efficiently".
Some 60 participants discussed the impact of a variety of measures aiming at enhancing funding efficiency in higher education on university management. Thomas Estermann presented the preliminary results of EUA's analysis on the topic, covering 22 European countries while case studies from six different countries illustrated the challenges associated with changing funding models, mergers and concentration processes.
It appeared from the discussions that there is a general trend towards making funding allocation more transparent and more competitive through redistributive funding formulae at least partly based on performance. Common challenges highlighted during the seminar included the risk of "game playing" induced by the selection of indicators, the difficulty for universities to generate the requested data on which the indicators are based, and the cost for universities and authorities of the whole process.
A number of participants confirmed that beyond a greater focus on accountability, universities are also increasingly called on to demonstrate the impact that their activities (and notably the research they conduct) have on their environment, which can raise a number of issues.
Case studies also shed a new light on the various challenges for universities triggered by mergers and other concentration processes, including the necessity to comply with different regulations, for instance regarding staff, the difficulties in integrating real estate and infrastructure management, as well as fostering a new common organisational culture. A key message was the importance of having good communication among partners as well as sufficient financial support to carry out the process.
Finally, participants from about 18 countries explained how their institutions sought to foster efficiency measures internally or through collaboration mechanisms with other stakeholders. Discussions showed how regulatory frameworks and organisational structures had a strong influence on what type of activities the central university management could develop in this regard. In decentralised structures, one priority is to foster synergies among the different units to promote common approaches, for example by organising common procurement processes. In certain countries, sector-level approaches had already been developed.
The seminar generated a lot of qualitative input that will now be fed into the DEFINE project.
All the DEFINE project publications reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
This third thematic report maps the use of performance elements in public funding for universities in 28 systems across Europe and focuses in particular on funding formulae with output indicators (such as numbers of graduates) and performance contracts. It combines system level data with case studies in a unique way and assesses the opportunities, risks and limits of performance-based funding. The analysis reveals that expectations towards performance-based funding are often too high. It further concludes that this funding mechanism should be used with caution and considered in the wider context. The report also outlines strategies for managing performance-based funding in order to reap its full benefits and mitigate the risks.
With this report EUA provides key recommendations to policy makers and public funders for the design and implementation of sustainable and efficient university funding systems. It also supports university leaders and managers in their strategic planning and internal funding allocation at institutional level and offers advice and good practice examples from across Europe. The complexity of funding systems and the diversity across Europe make comparisons challenging, but EUA hopes that the overview provided in the report will help structure the debate about funding reforms at European, national and institutional levels.
In this second thematic report, the focus is placed on university mergers and concentration processes. The report explores the rationale for universities to merge and reflects on the costs and gains associated with mergers. The analysis reveals a variety of different drivers but makes it also clear that cost-saving should not be the primary goal for mergers. The report includes a series of case studies which detail success factors and challenges of the different merging processes. The analysis shows that the success of any merger process is very much dependent on a solid pre-evaluation, good planning and implementation. The report also highlights the importance of inspired leadership fostering trust among, and the involvement of, the staff and wider community.
A common feature of the series, recommendations are included in the report with the view to support the strategic planning of a merger for university leaders and managers. Public authorities and policy makers will also find useful information, advice and transferable good practice as regards the question of system consolidation.
The first thematic report of the DEFINE project examines "excellence schemes", public funding schemes which have as their main objective the fostering of excellence in the university sector, and their impact on universities in Europe.The report includes a series of project recommendations for policy makers and higher education institutions which are based on data collection, case studies, site visits and focus groups which have been carried out/collected in the framework of the DEFINE project.
The report looks at the characteristics, rationale and objectives behind the development of the many schemes that have been introduced in Europe. Whilst the aims of excellence schemes may include for example enhancing international visibility or competitiveness, improving research and/or teaching quality, it notes that there is also often an ambition behind such schemes to enhance funding efficiency. The report highlights that excellence schemes should not be considered in isolation from the overall funding framework in a system, and should represent additional funding for universities, and not take away basic funding granted to universities.
The preliminary results of the project analysis, which are based on input from 24 European countries, are available in the DEFINE interim report published in December 2013. Some of the main observations highlighted in the report are:
• How public funding is delivered to universities: While this varies greatly between countries, the vast majority of higher education systems now use some type of performance-based elements in their funding. These include funding formulae (based on a series of indicators) and/or so-called performance contracts. For example, over 50% of the universities' overall public funding comes from formula-based block grants in at least eight European HE systems. The report looks at the relative importance of the different indicators used, considering input- indicators such as numbers of students, and those focusing on outputs such as the number of graduates. Teaching and research activities are often funded differently. While input indicators such as the numbers of Bachelor and Master students are the most important criteria for funding teaching activities, research activities tend to be funded mainly on the basis of output indicators such as doctoral degrees or the amount of external funding (see figure 2 of report). Meanwhile, performance contracts, whereby certain goals are agreed between public authorities and universities, are a common feature found in 15 of the HE systems considered in the study.
• How the higher education landscape is being restructured: In almost all countries studied, authorities and universities are either considering or taking steps towards merger processes, with a view – along with other objectives – to rationalise funding allocation. The nature of these merger processes varies across Europe, with the deepest restructuring taking place in Denmark, Estonia, Finland or Latvia. However, mergers are only one of the many different concentration and collaboration phenomena occurring in higher education. Examples include the creation of university consortia and strategic partnerships. Public authorities encourage these processes via setting up specific funding schemes, often with a focus on excellence. Large-scale initiatives such as in Germany and France, where additional funding has been made available to universities, remain an exception but have an important impact on the system as a whole.
• How universities seek to optimise the use of resources: Universities are actively seeking to improve efficiency both internally and by creating synergies within the sector, but regulatory frameworks strongly determine the capacity to implement different measures.
The interim report concludes with a series of key messages which have been drawn from the project consultations, analysis, and discussions at a recent seminar on the topic which brought together university representatives from across Europe. The messages highlight that universities have an important role to play in the funding efficiency area, and should be proactive in addressing this challenge to contribute to shaping this agenda. EUA and its partners will take this work forward with three focus groups in the spring of 2014 that will gather small groups of HE experts from across Europe to analyse the institutional impact of the three groups of efficiency measures (performance-based funding; excellence schemes; and concentration measures) in more detail.
Public Funding Observatory: The EUA Public Funding Observatory interactive online tool gives the user the opportunity to look at annual public funding data since 2008 in a customised way. It provides necessary context for understanding developments in public funding to universities across Europe.
University Merger Tool: This pilot tool maps mergers in the university sector since 2000, showing the extent of the phenomenon and providing useful information to analyse restructuring dynamics in the field.
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