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Dan and Chip Heath, recently, wrote a column titled "Make Goals not Resolutions" which appeared in the February 2008 issue of Fast Company.

The Heaths note that we often make resolutions; like New Year's resolutions, like the resolution to eat more healthy food, to exercise more, as well as resolutions relating to our work. These resolutions make us feel good, but lack accountability. Even when there is a significant reward for being accountable, the failure rate for accomplishing these resolutions is very high. It's high because fulfilling resolutions requires a change in personal behavior which can begin by changing your mental environment.

So, instead of making resolutions, get in the practice of being concrete. Visualize what success looks like and the steps you need to take to get there. And, keep in mind that you decide what's normal behavior -- e.g., setting goals, holding yourself and your staff for reaching them, and actually reaching them -- by looking at what's going on around you. "Indifference is contagious!"

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Many people recognize that each person prefers different learning styles and techniques. Some people may find that they have a dominant style of learning. Others may find that they use different styles in different circumstances.

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Success in a face-to-face environment does not always transfer to the elements needed for success in an online course; however, teaching online can be as rewarding as teaching in person. By including a variety of interactive strategies and maintaining communication, instructors can create a learning environment that encourages students to learn and to explore.

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It is vitally important to ensure that technology is used effectively to create new opportunities for learning and to promote student achievement. Educational technology is not, and never will be, transformative on its own. It requires the assistance of educators who integrate technology into the curriculum, align it with student learning goals, and use it for engaged learning projects. Therefore, professional development for teachers becomes the key issue in using technology to improve the quality of learning in the classroom.

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