By Ben Linford, contributing author of Labyrinth Learning’s Building a Foundation with Microsoft® Office 2016 Continue reading Exceptional Students & the Challenge of Equality in Education
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Multitasking Myth
By Jill Murphy, author of Labyrinth Learning’s Microsoft® Word 2016: Comprehensive Continue reading The Multitasking Myth
Career Opportunities in California Correctional Education
The California Office of Correctional Education (OCE) is seeking educators for a variety of positions. The OCE adult schools serve several thousand California state inmates each day by providing programming in Adult Basic Education, High School Equivalency, Voluntary Education Program, and Career Technical Education. Libraries offer materials to support inmate employment, community reentry and life skills. The libraries also provide legal resources and recreational and educational materials at each prison. OCE programming includes face to face college classes, distant education, recreation services, educational television programming and community transition planning.
Does this sound like something you might find rewarding? Learn more about available positions such as a Senior Librarian, Librarian, Library Technical Assistant, Academic Teacher, or Career Technical Education (CTE) Instructor. Details can be found at this link: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Rehabilitation/OCE/hiring.html
Brian Favro of Labyrinth Learning recently saw firsthand how the Office of Correctional Education is transforming the state prison system when he attended the inauguration ceremony of the San Quentin Machine Shop. This innovative program is one of several using education and job training to give inmates a greater chance of getting and retaining a job once outside the prison walls, thereby lowering their chances of returning to prison.
The San Quentin Machine Shop and the Last Mile (https://thelastmile.org/) are just two examples of the types of programs being delivered by the Office of Correctional Education.
Watch the videos below to be inspired by the difference these programs are making.
First Five Episodes of “Titans of CNC”
Episode 1 – https://vimeo.com/214059332/741094df84
Episode 2 – https://vimeo.com/214065569/f1edb6ed6d
Episode 3 – https://vimeo.com/214071002/45103f74a8
Episode 4 – https://vimeo.com/214091419/5bb0c84d44
Episode 5 – https://vimeo.com/214189327/4c18568b73
New! Computer Basics for Windows 10.
We are excited to announce the launch of our new title: Welcome to Computer Basics: Windows 10 and Office Online. It will be in-stock and ready for purchase on February, 22, 2016.
This book uses our effective instructional design and provides you 
with an easy way to teach students basic computer tasks in a Windows 10 and Office Online environment.
One great feature that is included is a unit on File Management. We all know the importance of keeping files organized in a logical manner. The exercises help students practice key elements that will help them be organized in the workplace, at school, and at home.
The book also provides beginner practice for using the Internet and Email, including creating the most common types of email accounts. The practice examples help students 
get up to speed quickly and ensure a solid foundation for school or on the job.
We have posted resources for you to preview the highlights as well as the table of contents and content.
If you are teaching a computer basics class in a Windows 10 environment, be sure to check it out and let us know what you think.
QuickBooks is changing – are you ready?
If you’re planning on teaching a QuickBooks course next year, we have news to share — and we’d like to hear from you in a survey.
Intuit recently announced that educational site licensing (Lab Packs) and 140-day QuickBooks student trial software will not be available for QuickBooks Pro
2016. If you upgrade every year, or you had planned to upgrade to the 2016 edition, this may leave you in a bind.
We have learned that Intuit will be making available, for the first time, educational site licensing and 140-day student trial licensing for QuickBooks Online, Intuit’s cloud-based version of QuickBooks. We also learned that educational site licensing and student trial software will still be available for QuickBooks 2015.
What am I going to do now? This is a question that many of the educators we have spoken to have asked themselves. I know many start offering the newest version of QuickBooks in summer classes, and the rest all switch to a new version in Fall (if they were planning to switch.)
I’m sure the last thing you need is yet another decision to make, so let me help with a few scenarios for you to consider:
- You buy retail QuickBooks 2016 licenses, one for each computer in your lab (and expect students to purchase this also if they want to work from home), or you teach only-online classes, and expect the students to purchase the software themselves. Estimated retail cost is $199.95.
- You feel that this is a push to try QuickBooks Online, and you’re up for it. You’ll write new curriculum that teaches only the QuickBooks Online features (which may have features different from QuickBooks Pro) and find exercises that work within the QuickBooks Online environment.
- You’ll stay with QuickBooks 2015, or upgrade to this if you were on a previous version, and see what Intuit does next year for 2017. You also explore QuickBooks Online, from both a feature standpoint as well as the publisher materials for curriculum.
Any way you look at it, you have to make a change. And most educators we spoke to had no idea that this was happening, and now don’t know quite what to do.
We want to ensure that Labyrinth Learning’s plans for QuickBooks materials align with the plans you have for your courses. We invite you take a brief survey about your QuickBooks course plans. Your input will help us make publishing decisions in this subject area.
Championing Study Abroad for the Future Workforce
Currently, 9.4% of college students study abroad. In an effort to increase this number, the Institute of International Education recently held a Generation Study Abroad Summit. The goals of this event were to promote the benefits of studying abroad and increase the number of students who study abroad, as well as diversify the types of students who have access to the opportunity through its Generation Study Abroad Initiative.
In an increasingly global economy, participation in a study abroad program is a valuable experience for one’s employability. Immersion in a different culture can aid in the development of important job skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, cultural awareness, intercultural skills, and fluency in a foreign language. The IIE wants to reach more students and encourage them to study abroad to gain intercultural competencies that will make them more competitive candidates in the workplace. They would especially like to reach more students who are historically underrepresented in study abroad, like racial minorities, first-generation college students, veterans, and students who have disabilities.
This year, over 350 colleges have signed on to the Generation Study Abroad Initiative, which aims to double the number of students who study abroad within the next decade. Through this initiative, colleges have committed to various goals like increasing financial support for underrepresented students, expanding their international program offerings, and expanding short-term programs, like internship and volunteer abroad programs.
Contact Labyrinth Learning today for more information about our textbook offerings and full solutions.
Office 2016 Now Available
Microsoft’s Office Suite is a mature and much-used product. According to the Verge, there are approximately 1.2 billion Office users worldwide. Being a mature set of programs, Office 2016 doesn’t have many new features, but there are a few key changes and additions.
The most visual change in Office is the new look and feel of the program, including some changes to the program menus, that closely resemble Windows 10. However, even with these changes you will still find most of the tools you use in the same locations as the previous version of Office.
The “cloud” is a major focus of Office 2016. You will still be able to purchase a boxed copy of the software, but Microsoft is really pushing users to the cloud. When you subscribe to Office 365, you get 1 terabyte of space on OneDrive for each user, and the integration between Windows 10, OneDrive (Microsoft’s cloud storage) and Office 2016 becomes very tight. Also, saving and opening documents to the cloud has gotten a lot more seamless. The new Outlook, for example, just sends a link to attached documents that are saved to OneDrive. This allows for faster emails, less used space due to saving multiple copies of the same attachment, and the ability to edit the document after the link has been sent.
Office 2016 will be available on a variety of devices and computers.
This version of Office will be available across eight or more platforms including Android, Windows, and Mac devices. Your settings and documents will be available on whichever device you use.
The most exciting new feature is the collaboration feature in Word. When a document is stored on OneDrive, multiple people can edit that document at the same time. Google Docs has had this feature for years, but Word 2016 is a much more powerful program with even more complex tools.
Skype is now integrated into Office, and the new Microsoft Sway makes its debut in this version. Sway is a new online-only program for creating webpages and presentations. Think of it as Word and PowerPoint mashed together with some great special effects. You can use Sway for free (without buying Office) at https://sway.com/.
More information about Microsoft Office 2016 is available at https://products.office.com.
President Obama Gets the Ball Rolling on Free Education
President Obama is working to gain support for his efforts to make community colleges free for qualifying students. At an event at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, Obama announced the creation of a national advisory board to promote the idea that education should be free for any student willing to work hard to achieve their goals. It was in January of this year when he first announced his plan to spend $60 billion over a period of ten years to make community colleges free for students who maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
In addition to free community college, Obama will announce a new round of federal grants meant to encourage a “learn as you earn” model where businesses hire apprentices who can learn skills on the job while earning a paycheck, rather than in a classroom. The administration will give $175 million in grants to partners, including colleges, private businesses, and labor organizations, for the purpose of hiring about 34,000 apprentices in various fields.
Give students the best education and job training for their dollar with our computer science and business and accounting solutions, which use the context of real-life business situations within lessons to emphasize the necessity of the skills being taught. To learn more, contact Labyrinth Learning today.
Enhancements to 529 Plan May Soon be Realized
The Senate Finance Committee has unanimously passed measures that enhance the 529 Plan, an educational savings plan that helps parents fund their children’s college education. The 529 Plan is operated by state agencies and organizations, and withdrawals for education expenses are exempt from federal taxes.
Among the improvements added to the bill are:
- Students can use 529 funds to purchase a computer – Under the current law, students can only use the funds to purchase a computer if the college they are attending requires them to have a computer. The new measure would allow students to purchase a computer with 529 funds whether or not their schools require it.
- Taxation and the tax penalty on higher education expenses have been eliminated – Currently, when students withdraw from college, their refunds are subject to taxation and a 10% tax penalty. Under the new measure, refunds received when a student withdraws from school can be redeposited into their 529 within 60 days without penalty, allowing parents to use the funds to pay for the student’s education should they return to school at a later date, or even use it for another family member.
Lawmakers hope the increased flexibility these enhancements provide will encourage more parents to utilize the 529 Plan. The bill has strong support in Congress, with the House of Representatives having passed a similar bill, and the full Senate expected to pass this bill as well.
Fall semester will be here before you know it, so check out our high-quality, low-cost Business and Accounting solutions for your students today. Our full solutions include resources for both students and instructors. Contact us at Labyrinth Learning for more information.
Instructors can Enjoy the Benefits of Microsoft Access 2013: Essentials
Microsoft provides a number of different software options that are incredibly helpful in accomplishing any number of tasks. Because much of their software is incredibly in-depth, we recommend learning the ins and outs in order to make the most out of it. For example, using the Microsoft Access 2013: Essentials textbook in order to better understand the Microsoft Access program.
The Microsoft Access 2013: Essentials textbook covers a huge range of information for beginners to experts. The first unit provides instruction on how to use the Ribbon interface, how to create tables in Datasheet view, how to create database objects, how to design databases, how to preview and print data, how to format your tables, and much more. The second unit includes instruction on creating relational databases, modifying reports, creating customizable input forms, and more.
In the last unit, you’ll be instructed on the use of complex forms, complex reports, calculated controls, customizing your databases, customizing your user interface and more. All of the text is accompanied by integration lessons. The textbook is available in print as well as an advanced ebook, which also includes direct links and embedded video.
The textbook includes 12 lessons using a step-by-step, skills based approach. You’ll learn real-world focus that will help you to develop skills that you’ll be able to use immediately.
For more information about our Microsoft Access 2013: Essentials and our other in-depth textbooks and eBooks, be sure to contact our team at Labrynth Learning today.