Dear John

Book Description

When Savannah Lynn Curtis comes into his life, John Tyree knows he is ready to turn over a new leaf. An angry rebel, he had enlisted in the army after high school, not knowing what else to do. Then, during a furlough, he meets the girl of his dreams. Savannah Lynn Curtis is attending college in North Carolina, working for Habitat for Humanity, and totally unprepared for the passionate attraction she feels for John Tyree. The attraction is mutual and quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah vowing to wait for John while he finishes his tour of duty, and John realizing that he's ready to settle down with the young woman who has captured his heart. Neither can foresee that 9/11 is about to change the world and will force John to risk every hope and dream that he's ever had. Like so many proud men and women, John must choose between love and country. And like all those left behind, Savannah must decide to wait or move on. How do we choose wisely? How can we face loss-without giving up on love? Now, when he finally returns to North Carolina, John will discover that loving Savannah will force him to make the hardest decision of his life. An extraordinary, moving story, Dear John explores the complexities of love -- how it survives time and heartbreak, and how it transforms us forever.

Customer Reviews:

DO NOT READ REVIEWS.......2007-10-03

#1 I read reviews to see if people with similar taste in reading liked or disliked a book. I read the reviews of Dear John and realized that about every third review gives away an important plot detail. Kind of like people telling you parts of a movie before you see it. Please don't ruin the experience for others.

#2 Nicholas Sparks is an amazing author. He is the king of romance, however he is not a soldier. He does not know the military, and while I praise him for the dedication of the book, his lack of knowledge is painfully obvious to the 3 military guys who read his books. It isn't that bad, and if you aren't in the Army or haven't been to Iraq, his descriptions are just fine. Above all, the story is incredible. It's a heart wrenching, tear-inducing, smile provoking, unconditional love type romance that he is famous for and does so well. It does leave you wanting a part two. The end is bittersweet and you don't know weather to be happy, sad, or both.

Sparks does it again.......2007-10-01

In this book there is a love like no other. This love goes above and beyond The Notebook. This shows there is a such a thing as unconditional love no matter how unlikely it may be. Not many people at all can be so unselfish. I couldn't put this book down. The story is so well written and the characters kept you involved in the story. There were times you want to scream, laugh and of course i cried at the end. To anyone who is a Sparks fan you will not be disappointed.

I couldn't put it down! .......2007-10-01

I can honestly say this is one of my favorite books (and I don't say that about many). It made me laugh and cry but mostly cry. It makes you think about love and life and the choices me make. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's a beautifully told story!!

Dear John.......2007-09-20

The book was great I could not put it down. Nicholas Sparks did it again, another great love stories.

more the same.......2007-09-16

I title this "more the same", that's exactly what it is. If you've read Nicholas Spark's other novels chances are you found this one as predictable as I. don't get me wrong Sparks is my favorite author. I look forward to each new book he has out. He has a talent for really making charaters come alive. However, unfortunaely for those of uswho do read all his books his writing style is becoming a lttle too transparent. I knew Svannah would end up with Tim from chaper one when they intorduced his character. Still worth reading, especially if you haven't read many of his books yet!

Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL))

Average customer rating:

Good But Not Great
A must read for every online tutor
Worth the read
a useful guide for distance learning
Wonderful guide :)

Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL))
Rita-Marie Conrad , and J. Ana Donaldson
Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning: Theory, Practice and Assessment
Teaching Online: A Practical Guide, 2d Edition
Collaborating Online: Learning Together in Community (Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching and Learning)
Essential Elements: Prepare, Design, and Teach Your Online Course
147 Practical Tips for Teaching Online Groups : Essentials of Web-Based Education

ASIN: 0787966673

Book Description

Engaging the Online Learners includes an innovative framework—the Phases of Engagement—that helps instructors become more involved as knowledge generators and cofacilitators of a course. The book also provides specific ideas for tested activities (collected from experienced online instructors across the nation) that can go a long way to improving online learning. Engaging the Online Learner offers the tools and information needed to:

Convert classroom activities to an online environment and use online activities in a classroom-based course
Assess the learning that occurs as a result of collaborative activities
Phase-in activities that promote engagement among online learners
Help online learners use online tools
Build peer interaction through peer partnerships and team activities
Create authentic activities
Implement games and simulations

Customer Reviews:

Good But Not Great.......2007-05-30

I found the book to be very easy and fast to read with lots of concrete examples of activities for the online learner. Though I understand the importance of engaging the online learner, as an instructor in the allied health field I don't feel I have the time or interest in developing games and the types of alternative learning activities suggested in the book. In allied health/science courses we need to cover an extensive amount of material, perhaps if I were teaching a course in another discipline I would feel differently.

I feel that another book "Discussion Based Online Teaching To Enhance Student Learning" by Tisha Bender is a much better book for my situation and offered more helpful ideas (but less examples) to improve my online course.

A must read for every online tutor .......2006-11-11

This book is what I have been looking for: short, concise and full of practical examples of activities.

Worth the read.......2006-07-10

I found the book to be a good read and had a lot of interesting things to say and good examples of activities for online participants.

The book focuses solely on the online learner, which is good, but if you teach students in a classroom setting and are looking to extend their learning online in the evenings and between classes you need to 'read between the lines' to pull out the pieces that you need (which are many and included in this book).

a useful guide for distance learning.......2006-02-09

This book is ideal for the professor or instructor who is providing instruction through distance learning. For online instruction to be successful, students cannot just sit and absorb content passively. The online professor/instructor must encourage an engaged learning environment, which is described by the authors as an environment based on constructivist principles and problems-based learning.

One early challenge is to get the students to feel comfortable participating in discussions. The students' level of engagement can be measured partly by looking at the frequency and the quality of the students' interactions. Another challenge is to get students to feel comfortable with the online tools. The book provides at least a dozen 'ice breaker' activities to help students feel confident with discussions and tools. It also recommends that nongraded assignments be used during this initial orientation period.

Different categories of activities are described, including team and peer, reflective, authentic, and learner-led activities. Over a dozen examples of activities are provided for each category. (The authors define reflective activities as those that require the student to share a synthesis of the learning experience and they define authentic activities as those which stimulate an actual situation.) The section on learner-led activities explains how to help learners become successful in preparing and delivering instructional activities, especially with the tasks of defining objectives, defining the type of activity, and planning. Games and simulations are also addressed (but briefly).

Overall, it's a useful book for getting started when you suddenly find yourself having to teach a distance learning course. My only gripe is that I would've liked to have seen a larger section on assessments.

Wonderful guide :).......2005-08-16

This book is appropriate to me. I am relatively new to the online learning enviroment and at last I found individual and collaborative activities focused on constructivism and problem-base learning. This activities are a wonderful guide to move learners gradually from traditional rol until they become more self directed. Many books on the topic of online instruction offer innovation and they only present lecture-based approach.

Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning: Theory, Practice and Assessment

Average customer rating:

I only read it because I was required to.
tips for on-line teaching
Good read for Online Instructors
Best of it's subject
Getting Beyond the Technology to Constructivist Learning

Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning: Theory, Practice and Assessment
Tisha Bender
Manufacturer: Stylus Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL))
Essential Elements: Prepare, Design, and Teach Your Online Course
Teaching Online: A Practical Guide, 2d Edition
147 Practical Tips for Teaching Online Groups : Essentials of Web-Based Education
Collaborating Online: Learning Together in Community (Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching and Learning)

ASIN: 1579220657

Book Description

As online courses proliferate, teachers increasingly realize that they have to connect with their students as they would in face-to-face classes. They have to provide true opportunities for inspirational and meaningful learning, rather than a sterile experience of clicking within a labyrinth of links.

With the specific purpose of switching emphasis from the technical issues of online teaching to the human implications of teaching and learning through the Internet, Tisha Bender draws on her extensive research, her training of online faculty, and her own online teaching experience, to create a fresh vision of online pedagogy. Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning consists of three parts:

Theory
Practice
Assessment

The author shows how she applies learning theories to online discussion-based courses. She presents a wealth of suggestions and techniques, illustrated by real examples, for stimulating and managing online discussion effectively, and for improving teaching practices. The book concludes with methods for assessing the efficacy of online courses.

This accessible and comprehensive book offers an engaging and practical approach to online teaching that is rooted in the author's experience and enthusiasm for creating a virtual environment that engages students and fosters their deep learning. This is a book for all educators and administrators in higher education, in any discipline, engaged in, or contemplating offering, online classes that involve discussion or collaborative learning. It is relevant both to faculty teaching a hybrid and face-to-face classes, and courses conducted entirely online.

Customer Reviews:

I only read it because I was required to........2007-06-27

This was a required reading for an online course I needed in order to teach onlne courses. The buzz-word in the course and in the book is "asynchronous collaboration" which translated means "group work when the group is never in the same place at the same time." A lot of educationists are vested in distance learning; they want to prove it is at least as good as, if not better, than classroom teaching. This book certainly falls into this mold. Every time the author sites a person or study that is critical of distance learning, he refutes it by citing his own opinion.

tips for on-line teaching.......2007-05-16

This book is really helpful with the on-line course I am currently taking. It points out the pros and cons of on-line learning and teaching, and gives information on on-line etiquette. Very helpful.

Good read for Online Instructors.......2007-05-13

I felt that this book gave concise and clear meanings and was quite a good read. I particularly like the innovative online teaching techniques and the aspects of online communications.

Best of it's subject.......2005-10-20

I am an instructional designer of online learning and in an effort to implement discussions in the courses I create, I ordered four books on discussion-based online learning. This book was by far the most comprehensive, balanced, and useful book of the four. While reading the book, I was immediately able to implement the strategies outlined in the book, and justify my reasons for implementing groups/discussions to the college instructors teaching the courses I create. I think that this book is valuable to anyone creating and supporting online learning: instructors, professors, instructional designers, trainers, and training managers. I even copied several pages of the book that justify online learning as a whole for my director.

Getting Beyond the Technology to Constructivist Learning.......2004-03-17

Dr. Bender offers a well balanced view of online discussion as a teaching tool in asynchronous education. Clear, concise, practical and well documented concepts and applications fill this easily read textbook. The last section of the book provides a wonderful overview of the hot buttons on assessment in the online environment. Regardless of whether you are already implementing online discussion or if you are just considering online discussion as a new tool to add to your arsenal, you will find helpful insight in this book.

Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education (3rd Edition)

Average customer rating:

Solid foundation in distance learning
Review of Teaching and Learning at a Distance
A good introduction
Distance Education Fieldbook
Great introduction to Distance Education

Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education (3rd Edition)
Michael Simonson , Sharon E. Smaldino , Michael Albright , and Susan Zvacek
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Vocational Guidance | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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E-Learning Games: Interactive Strategies for Digital Delivery (Neteffect Series)
Teaching Online: A Practical Guide, 2d Edition
An Administrator's Guide to Online Education (PB) (USDLA Book Series on Distance Learning) (Usdla Book Series on Distance Learning)
Handbook of Distance Education
Learning to Solve Problems with Technology: A Constructivist Perspective (2nd Edition)

ASIN: 0131196308

Book Description

This book provides a research-based exploration of distance education which covers both foundations and applications. The third edition of Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education now emphasizes the importance of Internet-based instruction in providing you with the basics you need to become a knowledgeable distance educator, including theory and research that inform distance learning, practical skills and knowledge needed to function immediately in a distance learning environment, and managerial and administrative issues that arise in the distance learning environment. Inservice Teachers and Instructional Designers/Trainers.

Customer Reviews:

Solid foundation in distance learning.......2007-07-09

The book is very appropriate for a text in a distance learning class. It covers a wide range of topics - definitions, history, instructional design, student characteristics, student assessment, program evaluation, and copyright. Chapters include a summary and self-assessment questions. The book has an academic slant, which gives students a foundation in theory and research. This also means some do not find it an easy read. The book does not have much depth on the instructional technologies themselves.

Review of Teaching and Learning at a Distance.......2005-08-31

This is an excellent book. The authors know their business. The writing is clear and easy to follow. I particularly like the pratical information provided by the authors and their examples. There is also a chapter on copyright and applications. The book covers a brief history of Distance Ed which shows how this educational platform has grown.

I particularly like the fact that this book is both easy to read and interesting.

A good introduction.......2005-08-29

I use this book as my text in The Foundations of Distance Education and Training course I teach at the University of Phoenix. It has recently been updated and in the past 4 years of teaching this class, not a single student has complained about the book (somewhat unusual).

Distance Education Fieldbook.......2003-05-20

Of great value to students, educators, managers as well as developers of the technology and learning interaction channels.

Thorough, sparsely illustrated chapters span:
- foundations and history, including correspondence
- research & distance education
- technologies- taxonomy, live video, classrooms
- copyright
- instructional design- process, planning, issues, models
- student- leaner responsibilities
- teaching- role, policy
- handouts, study guides, visuals
- WWW
- assessment tools (of students)
- evaluating teaching success

Overall, a complete and vendor-neutral, balanced view of the field. Perhaps of greatest use to students contemplating signing up for a course and their future professors. Check analysts like Gartner, IDC and others for the business & market dynamic aspects surrounding the actual learning interaction.

Great introduction to Distance Education.......2000-04-20

This book is a great way to learn about the field of distance education, which is quickly becoming an important educational tool for schools today.

Average customer rating:

So far, not so good.
A valuable resource for all Moodle users
A Complete Introduction on Using and Managing Moodle.
An excellent introduction to Moodle

Moodle E-Learning Course Development
William Rice
Manufacturer: Packt Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Using Moodle (Community Press)
Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL))
Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms
Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning: Theory, Practice and Assessment
Make Money Teaching Online: How to Land Your First Academic Job, Build Credibility, and Earn a Six-Figure Salary

ASIN: 1904811299

Book Description

A complete guide to successful learning using Moodle, focused on course development and delivery and using the best educational practices. This unique book gives you more than just a guide to the Moodle software; it uses Moodle as a route to better teaching, more motivated students, and more successful courses. Moodle E-Learning Course Development shows you how to use Moodle as a tool to enhance your teaching. It will help you analyse your students' requirements, and come to an understanding of what Moodle can do for them. After that you'll see how to use every feature of Moodle to meet your course goals. The social constructionist learning philosophy is at the heart of Moodle: we all "construct" knowledge through interation with one another and with learning materials in a social way. Moodle E-Learning Course Develelopment will show you how to add static learning material, interactive activities, and social features to your courses so that students reach their learning potential. Whether you want to support traditional class teaching or lecturing, or provide complete online and distance learning courses, this book will prove a powerful resource throughout your use of Moodle.

Customer Reviews:

So far, not so good........2007-10-01

My first complaint is that the author abandoned their demo site only a year after publication, so you won't be able to refer to many of the examples in the book. Second complaint, the installation instructions aren't clear or helpful, except for the suggestion to refer to the moodle.org web site instructions. Maybe if I ever get moodle running, the rest of the book will be useful.

A valuable resource for all Moodle users.......2006-11-02

As a long-time Moodle user and trainer, I read Moodle E-Learning Course Development with a critical eye. I work with many Moodle users who are looking for manuals or printed resources and it is important to me that the options I offer are well-written and accurate. On a personal level, I also wondered if, as an experienced Moodler, the book could hold my interest.

Overall, I found that William Rice's Moodle book is a good addition to my collection of Moodle resources. The book held my attention and I found myself highlighting various passages as I picked up new ideas and information. Since reading the book, I have started offering it as a potential resource to my training participants.

Moodle E-Learning Course Development has a number of strengths that make it a worthwhile investment. It is generally easy to read and follow. Most of its sections had information and screenshots that allowed the reader to follow along, step-by-step. While there are some sections dedicated to the more technical aspects of Moodle, they are not overwhelming, rather their inclusion simply makes this book a more well-rounded resource for Moodle users.

The sections on the Lesson module and the Workshop module, two of the most complex Moodle modules are especially well-written. Each setting in these two modules is described in detail. Furthermore, the screenshots throughout the text to accompany instructions are an important component of any well-written technical resource.

The final positive I will highlight is that the examples used throughout the book are applicable to a wide range of Moodle implementations; K-12 schools, businesses, universities, and individuals will all find the examples are general enough to apply to their own situations. I especially liked some of the suggestions geared toward developing your site to promote and drive business; such as in those situations when a person is using Moodle to offer classes for a fee to the Internet community.

While the book has many strengths, there are several weaknesses as well. The first is one that challenges all print materials, especially in regard to technology, and that is the book is slightly out-of-date. Fortunately, many of the components of the book will still hold true despite the version changes. The second weakness is that the screenshots, while useful, lacked any graphics (arrows, etc.) to help the reader identify the parts of the screen being referenced. I also thought that a few of the transitions in the book were difficult to follow; I found myself wondering where the author was headed. Finally, there are a few places in the book where I disagreed with the author about the function of a particular setting or feature. Some of these disagreements may be the result of differences in the version of Moodle, but there are one or two places where the author didn't quite seem to completely grasp the feature being described.

User documentation is a generally acknowledged trouble spot for many open source projects like Moodle and William Rice has made a valuable contribution to the Moodle community. New and experienced Moodlers alike will benefit from William's efforts.

A Complete Introduction on Using and Managing Moodle........2006-10-14

A Complete Introduction on Using and Managing Moodle.

Moodle: E-Learning Course Development is a complete guide to using and managing Moodle. It introduces all aspects of Moodle from technical issues on how to install, backup, restore, where to edit PHP codes, to pedagogic issues on how to put in contents - resources and activities. Each chapter is independent for your reference, but is also developed from simple to advanced control of Moodle system. The book is well-organized with no difficult technical terms or complicated explanation for any teacher who want to use Moodle.

Although some teachers are afraid of the technical issues, such as MySQL database, installation, backup/restore, it is worthwhile to have the necessary technical ideas that will help you to design and manage your course. The book offers the minimal knowledge of server, Php, database for teachers to understand the Moodle system, and then to know how and when to use different tools provided by Moodle.

The book also gives its readers detailed instruction of how to create and mange a course. While there are many options in the Moodle system, the book tell you when and how to use different options. The book categorizes course materials into 3 categories: Static Course Material (text pages, web pages, links to web, file directories, label), Interactive Course Material (assignment, choice, journal, lesson, quiz, SCORM, survey), and Social Course Material (chat, forum, glossary, wiki, workshop). All these are tools to add Resource and Activity in Moodle system. Besides explaining how to add these materials, the book tells you in what occasion to apply the material. For some complicated materials, such as Lesson, Workshop and Wiki, the author gives a very good instruction on how to set up and when to use them. A fly in the ointment is without demonstrative examples. Thus, the readers should not just read, but have to experiment each adding tools by themselves.

The last three chapters are useful for teachers to manage a more inviting course in Moodle including 1) changing or editing theme, logo, header and footer; 2) analyzing students' logs and grades; 3) installing other modules and different ways of backuping Moodle system. These are powerful tools and safety of a Moodle system that teachers should know if they want to have complete control of Moodle.

Moodle is a free course management system which is especially good at social interaction. This system is even better than the commercial WebCT and Blackboard. Teachers should not wait for their institute to install a course management system for them, but begin to follow the instruction of this book to persuade your institute to set up a Moodle or even install a Moodle by yourself. It is a time of open source. Join open source club, and open your mind.

An excellent introduction to Moodle.......2006-09-29

Whether you are a teacher or a site administrator, you will find this book to be an indispensible companion during your first school year using Moodle -- and probably long afterward. I was fortunate to start teaching with Moodle around the time this book came out. When I scanned the table of contents, I was dismayed to discover that approximately half of the book seemed to have nothing to do with me. After all, teachers don't install, configure, or extend Moodle, and teachers (at least at my school) can't create new courses or course categories. As it turned out, I couldn't have been more wrong. As teachers, we are profoundly affected by the decisions made by our Moodle administrators during Moodle setup, as well as the procedures they use to administer the system. Inevitably, we come to realize that we cannot avoid knowing the information in chapters 2, 3, 7, and 9. Fortunately, the author's explanations are clear and do not require a technical background. He illustrates everything using an example site called "Wilderness Skills" which carries through the book.

The author devotes the middle section of the book to chapters covering static, interactive, and social course material. Here, teachers will find excellent introductions to each of Moodle's standard resource and activity types. Readers should not expect more than just enough information to whet their appetites and get them started. For example, the author devotes only ten pages to the single most complex activity in Moodle, the Workshop. While the material in those ten pages is valuable (I referred to it frequently when setting up my first Workshop), a full treatment of Workshops could easily fill fifty pages. In all fairness, the Workshop module is facing revision and any author who devotes too much space to it (or any other feature of open source software) risks obsolescence. Mr. Rice seems to have struck just the right balance here.

The book is remarkably free of error, has a good index, and has been extremely well edited. If you are looking for a book on Moodle, this is definitely the one to buy.

The Distance Manager: A Hands On Guide to Managing Off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams

Average customer rating:

Highly Recommended!
Ideas on Distance Management

The Distance Manager: A Hands On Guide to Managing Off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams
Kimball Fisher , and Mareen Fisher
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Virtual Leadership: Secrets From the Round Table for the Multi-Site Manager
Quick Guide to Interaction Styles and Working Remotely: Strategies for Leading and Working in Virtual Teams
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Working Virtually: Managing People for Successful Virtual Teams and Organizations
Virtual Leadership

ASIN: 0071360654

Book Description

Global business demands and new technologies have created a virtual workplace for many companies, with employees and teams routinely collaborating from distant geographical locations on the road, from home, at client sites—even on the other side of the globe. The Distance Manager provides practical information and tools to help managers bridge the communication gaps created by geographical separation, and get peak performance from employees they rarely see. This handbook is perfect for sales managers, project team leaders, senior managers, and anyone who manages people at more than one location. Key topics include:
• Using e-mail, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing for maximum effectiveness
• Mastering the people skills required to manage from a distance
• Virtual team building, and strategies for managing multiple locations

Download Description

The Distance Manager provides practical information and tools to help managers bridge the communication gaps created by geographical separation, and get peak performance from employees they rarely see.

Customer Reviews:

Highly Recommended!.......2001-09-18

Kimball Fisher and Mareen Duncan Fisher document the special skills needed for the new but increasingly common task of managing far-flung work groups. The approaches that they examine are becoming increasingly essential for all managers. Although they explore relevant technologies carefully, their human relations advice is probably more important. The Fishers emphasize the interpersonal and leadership skills that a manager needs to head a virtual team. If you read this book cover to cover, it can seem repetitive, since many of the rules and tips offered in one area overlap with those in other areas. However, the book is designed to allow you to review specific management challenges and technologies, and to ignore areas that are irrelevant to your situation. We [...] recommend this clear, practical work to anyone who leads virtual teams and to the telecommuters and freelance workers who report to them.

Ideas on Distance Management.......2001-07-18

This book presents a new approach to managing people from distance. It also gives clear examples and cases. This book is a must for managers who control their team from distance, either nationwide or global-wide.

The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling: Build the Strength, Skills, and Confidence to Ride as Far as You Want

Average customer rating:

So-so
Very slim on content
Good but not systematic
Calling All Cyclists
Love it!!

The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling: Build the Strength, Skills, and Confidence to Ride as Far as You Want
Edmund R. Burke , and Ed Pavelka
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Training | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Bicycling Magazine's Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills: Your Guide to Riding Faster, Stronger, Longer, and Safer (Bicyling Magazine)
Cycling Past 50 (Ageless Athlete Series)
The Cyclist's Training Bible
The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition)
The Lance Armstrong Performance Program: 7 Weeks to the Perfect Ride

Accessories:

Clif Bar Nutrition Bars, Variety Pack of Crunchy Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, and Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, 2.4-Ounce Bars (Pack of 24)

ASIN: 1579541992

Book Description

Ride Strong, Ride Long .... Whether Your Goal Is 30 Miles or 3,000From two of the country's top cycling experts the most comprehensive guide ever to achieving the strength, skills, and strategies you need for long-distance riding. Whether you're training for day rides, centuries, or cross-country trips, The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling helps you choose the right equipment, train step-by-step, and map out your riding strategy so that you can go the distance.Discover how to:* Make the most of every hour on your bike* Build your mileage base efficiently* Customize your training to suit your personality and physical capabilities* Build extra training time into your hectic schedule* Avoid injuries and the dangers of overtraining* Achieve the mental edge you need to ride farther and faster* Train for both road and off-road touring* Choose cycling gear that goes and goes* Eat for the long haul-- nutrtion before, during, and after your ridesTo help you achieve your riding goals, The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling gives you complete, step-by-step training programs for riding a half-century, century, double century, and beyond. You'll also find strategies and techniques for special situations, such as riding in bed weather and riding at night. Published by the world's leading authority on bicycling, this informative guide is a must-have for all cycling enthusiasts.

Customer Reviews:

So-so.......2007-09-10

Good basics but probably more for the new long-distance cyclist. I felt it a bit redundant and perhaps 1/2 of the book was actually helpful to read. Written in an easy-to-read fashion.

Very slim on content.......2007-08-02

I am a subscriber to Bicycling magazine. Every month I eagerly open the latest issue and almost without exception am disappointed in the lack of substantial content. Most articles are superficial at best, stating obvious facts and making suggestions of questionable value. If you have had a similar experience with the Bicycling the magazine then you already know what you will find in this book.

There is surprising little useful content here. Equipment tips and suggestions are generally useless. For instance much attention is given to the benefit of clipless pedals. Well duh!!! Important topics for long distance cycling such as working out a comfortable saddle system are given almost no useful coverage (usually something like "get a saddle which is comfortable"). Most of the chapters as they relate to equipment are quite dated and need to be revised.

Topics such as Lactic Threshold, heart rate monitoring, and training strategies are introduced but unless they are completely new to you the discussions of each are not likely to be useful.

I generally could not bring myself to completely read any of the suggestions and skimmed through most of the book. I did find a couple of pieces worth reading but to be honest I can not recall them at the moment.

My advice is to skip this book. Anything of value that could be found in it could also be easily found on any of a number of websites devoted to cycling and training. For an excellent alternative book covering a lot of useful training discussion see "Cycling Past 50" by Joel Friel. Despite the title, riders of all ages will find wonderful discussions of training physiology and strategies which will apply well to your long distance goals.

Now if someone would just would make a cycling magazine that is worth reading so I can relegate "Bicycling" to the bathroom stall with Mens Health and Outside..........

Good but not systematic.......2007-05-13

I was a bit disappointed with this book. The title implies that the authors present a systematic way of building skill and endurance for long distance cycling. Instead, it is more of a collection of tips. The content is still worthwhile.

Calling All Cyclists.......2007-04-09

Cyclists of all levels should check out these training tips. Even those not doing long distance can find a lot of useful information.

Love it!!.......2007-03-16

I absolutely think this book is terrific. You must read every word. It has much useable info on some very important subjects such as nutrition, prep, etc. Even if you are not doing long distance, this book is a must!!!!

Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer

Average customer rating:

Inspirational!
A Swimmer's Autobiography
Way more than Swimming tales. Helps The World
eww
Great Book

Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer
Lynne Cox
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0156031302

Amazon.com

Just about every other person in the world seems like an unfocused dilettante compared to long-distance swimming legend Lynne Cox. Soon At the age of 14, after several years of training hard in pools and the open sea, she was swimming the 26 mile stretch from Catalina Island to the coast of California. A year after that, she surpassed a lifelong goal by not only swimming the English Channel but setting a new men's and women's record in the process. Rather than be satisfied, Cox aimed still higher, conquering the Cook Strait in New Zealand, the Strait of Magellan and, the Cape of Good Hope, none of which had been swum before. Being the first to swim the Bering Sea from Alaska to what was then the Soviet Union is perhaps Cox's most impressive achievement, requiring a phenomenal amount of physical strength and endurance to withstand the chilly waters and diplomatic persistence to gain permission from Gorbachev during the Cold War. Swimming to Antarctica is Cox's remarkably detailed account of her major swims and all that went right and wrong with them. While there are plenty of highs, as one might expect in a memoir by so impressive an athlete, all is not sunshine and roses for Cox. She overcomes extreme physical hardship, predatory sharks, and a swim through a sewage-soaked Nile while suffering from dysentery. There is plenty in Swimming to Antarctica to encourage even non-swimmers to work hard to achieve the seemingly impossible, but Cox, a skilled and highly readable writer, sticks to the swimming, leading the reader by example. For thrills and inspiration, it's hard to find anyone better than Lynne Cox. --John Moe

Book Description

Now in paperback, with photos and maps added especially for this new edition, here is the acclaimed life story of a woman whose drive and determination inspire everyone she touches.

Lynne Cox started swimming almost as soon as she could walk. By age sixteen, she had broken all records for swimming the English Channel. Her daring eventually led her to the Bering Strait, where she swam five miles in thirty-eight-degree water in just a swimsuit, cap, and goggles. In between those accomplishments, she became the first to swim the Strait of Magellan, narrowly escaped a shark attack off the Cape of Good Hope, and was cheered across the twenty-mile Cook Strait of New Zealand by dolphins. She even swam a mile in the Antarctic.

Lynne writes the same way she swims, with indefatigable spirit and joy, and shares the beauty of her time in the water with a poet's eye for detail. She has accomplished yet another feat--writing a new classic of sports memoir.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational!.......2007-09-09

This is not the type of book that I would normally read, but my book club was reading it. It was incredibly inspirational-- Lynne Cox is really amazing. It is a quick read, very enjoyable.

A Swimmer's Autobiography.......2007-04-12

Celebrate your passion for whatever it is in life you hold most dear. This tale of one woman's quest to swim various natural obstacles will captivate and inspire you.

Way more than Swimming tales. Helps The World.......2007-01-21

I note a couple of negative reviews. Perhaps those should read again. Sure seems like a wonderful woman and wonderful story. I have bought 11 copies so far and given it to close friends. I then saw Lynne Cox on 60 minutes "swimming to Antarctcica" just this Christmas. It and this book and she was the best Christmas present I have ever had. Good Work Lynne, keep it up.

eww.......2006-12-07

This is a story of dangerous swimming and umm more swimming in fact all there is is pretty much swimming.
I found the book sort of interesting but when LYNNE COX has to swim in Egypt, well lets just say its not a good book for squeemish readers. In all, the book's ok. The swimmer has to swim through many obsticles including icebergs. So in all I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

P.S. For readers who do want to buy this book I would suggest that you borrow it from the library.

Great Book.......2006-03-05

Lynne Cox is very brave and her determination to succeed in every aspect of her life was very inspiring. She proves that when you have a passion for something and are willing to work for it, then nothing is out of reach. I really enjoyed this book not just because of that, but also because Lynn proves that she is just as skilled of a writer as she is a swimmer! She captures and holds your attention right to the end, describing in detail her life as a long-distance swimmer. The best way that I can explain it is that it was so good it was almost like reading fiction, if that makes sense.

I loved this book and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read. You definitely don't have to love swimming to love this book, that's for sure. But I actually do love swimming and it inspires me to try my best at that when summer rolls around.

My only problem with the book is that I wish she hadn't wrote an autobiography so soon! I'm dying to read more!

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime

Average customer rating:

Value of the Book
Perfect Crash Course on Web-Based Training
Long on tips. Weak on theory.
Excellent e-learning overview
Great, Great Book

Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime
William Horton
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 047135614X

Book Description

The surge in the number of online training sites has created an unprecedented demand for experts who know all aspects of Web-based training (WBT) site design. Written by bestselling author William Horton, this book provides the hands-on and practical guidance that trainers demand. Packed with over 100 examples, this well-illustrated guide walks you through every phase of designing WBT, from analyzing your course requirements and assessing the needs of potential students to designing a course for a global audience.

You'll find out how to combine elements into effective and interesting learning sequences, discover how to overcome any technical hurdle that may arise, how to offer materials that motivate learning, and how to use Web technologies to create 21st-century alternatives to traditional courses.

Praise for Designing Web-Based Training

"Horton has done it again! He's addressed the cutting-edge problem of Web-based training design with his pragmatic, research-based approach. His work is task-oriented and down-to-earth. He doesn't waste our time with excessive educational philosophy. In short-comprehensive overview, practical advice, engaging presentation."-Robert E. Horn, Author, Visual Language: Global Communication for the 21st Century

"As each new media wave is adopted for instructional pur-poses, there is a lag in effective exploitation of the unique features the medium brings for supporting learning. Designing Web-Based Training bridges the gap by providing a rich and detailed reference."-Ruth Clark, EdD, President, Clark Training & Consulting

"Designers have been seeking guidance on how to exploit the Web's distribution potential while combining it with powerful instructional programs. Horton provides structure, stimulation, and substance in this important book. Web-based training is definitely what is happening now. Designing Web-Based Training will be a de facto classic in the field." -Gloria Gery, Principal, Gery Associates, Author, Making CBT Happen

The companion Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/horton/ features:
* Design guidelines
* Live versions of many examples from the book
* A course shell and sample lessons
* Links to helpful references

Customer Reviews:

Value of the Book.......2007-03-08

I found the book to be very informative if you are a developer of web-based training. It gave a lot of good ideas that you can copy, especially about standards and best practice. It was certainly worth the money to me.

Perfect Crash Course on Web-Based Training.......2006-08-01

If you are new to web-based training, stepping into a new web-based instructional design position, have been teaching or developing web-based training but suspect that there is a better way to do it, or you simply want to establish a solid foundation in building engaging online learning envrionments, this book must be on your shelf. I am a higher education instructional design consultant and I find this book to be an excellent ongoing resource. Not only is it full of specific and practical tips, but the content is organized into dozens of useful tables and charts. Chapter 6, "Activate Learning" is an especially useful chapter, providing lists of potential learning activities and explaining some of the reasons to choose one learning activity over another.

This is a book that emaphsizes matters of pedagogy and instructional design rather than the technical side of things. Among books with a similiar empahsis I place it among the top 10%.

Long on tips. Weak on theory........2003-02-28

This book contains a collection of web design tips which are in the main useful but not earth shattering. Where the book fell down, for me at least, was in the area of theory. It is weak here, and that can be a major problem if you want to conduct a scientific evaluation of the work using the umpteen heuristics suggested by the author. I doubt that there is enough information in the text to adequately help one frame an evaluation of a course, let alone put one together.

The book really has very little to say on instructional design methodologies. The reader is told to bear X, Y and Z in mind and then thrown a few sample scenarios (with screen shots). In many ways this is the tenor of the whole book: a vast and never ending list of do's and don'ts and qualifications to those do's and don'ts. I have to demure from the consensus among the other reviewers and adopt a minority position because quite frankly compared to other eleraning books, I found this one almost unreadable. The book is fullof particularities that are never adequately situated within a theoretical framework. It just seems like bad science to base so many recommendations on induction.

To be fair, it's good stuff in places, and frequently relevant, but can you retain it? Who wants to read a several hundred page long list of tips?

In terms of theory, balance and scientific worth a far better book, for my money, is by Alessi and Trollip.

Excellent e-learning overview.......2003-01-21

I am a corporate trainer who seeks to convert much of his highly successful classroom-based training to the Web. This book was EXACTLY what I was looking for and met my very demanding criteria for a 'how-to' book.

It succeeds in that it:

1. Takes the reader step by step by step through all of the big-picture considerations (and several subtle but important nuances) one must undertake to create an e-learning program from scratch, or convert an existing training program to one that can work on the Web

2. Is written clearly, concisely and simply - - an absolute rarity in a world of technology handbooks that are muddled and/or require the reader to already have a Ph.D. in computer science to understand.

3. Introduced me to small and large ideas that I had not considered but that made perfectly common sense when I thought about them.

This book made me a disciple of William Horton, and gave me the confidence that if I wanted to, I could transform my classroom training to the Web yet avoid a lot of errors I would have committed had I not read this book.

Great, Great Book.......2002-03-26

Most of the book covering e-learning are too much based on northamerican politics and standards since that's the reality for authors but, Horton's ideas and guidelines can be applied virtually in any country. He english is very to understand, he does not use word taken from slangs, or any "strange" word.

Chapter Organization is very good, every chapter can be read as whole unit, without going backward and forward reading other chapters because ideas are completely developed within a chapter.

Horton, is my fav. author on e-learning topics.

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