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Buzz Question: Is AWAI A Scam?

April 15, 2011 — Mrs. Mecomber

Honestly, I don’t know. I have never hear of AWAI until now. AWAI stands for American Writers & Artists, Inc. Apparently, AWAI offers online courses for writers, teaching them how to write better. When I did a little digging, I seemed to find a lot of positive input about AWAI. There IS a real writing course. The negatives were that the company does heavy marketing for various copywriting courses and that some of the courses are expensive. And then there are the usual folks who take the course, don’t complete it and then blame the company because they cannot find a job. Just a little warning here– anybody who says they can “get you a job” right after you pay them for an education is probably pulling your leg. That’s includes a lot of bona fide, accredited colleges, mind you, at least in my experience.

But is AWAI a scam? I am a freelance writer. I started out with blogging as a hobby, and it developed into a nice little career. I am always looking for ways to improve my writing. Sure, anybody can find that information elsewhere– try your local library, hello! But you have to be really self-motivated to teach yourself. A regimented course– especially one that you pay money for– is easier to maintain the discipline. With a paid-for course, you have a vested interest in getting it done and not wasting your money!

I’d like to hear from anyone who has tried AWAI. Lord knows, the Internet needs good writers. Have you seen some of the discordant slop out there? Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Posted in business services, Internet. Tags: education, writing. 2 Comments »

A Money Box for the Little Tech in the Family

April 22, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

Have you got a little tech tyke in the family? I’ve got some neat news for you: there’s a new product out to encourage your kids to save their money: the Ekomini interactive money box. This is really nifty! Ekomini is a unique little gadget that connects to your computer via USB. The child creates an account at the Ekomini website (registration is free, and the website directs the child to register with the assistance of the parent) where he can monitor his money that is placed into the Ekomini money box. It’s very, very cute, and incredibly useful! Here’s a video about the Ekomini money box:

The concept is extremely impressive. Through the cartoon characters at Ekominiville, your child learns how to save money, spend money wisely, invest, and give to charity. The website allows parents to follow and customize their child’s progress– it’s really a terrific tool for parents and children. Plus, Ekomini has special partnerships with various charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and the Children’s Miracle Network.

The Ekomini money box is being launched in North America, and is available at the Ekomini website. Cost is very affordable: $40 and it includes free shipping. This is a great way to teach children about saving, and since children love to play games on the computer, it’s enjoyable for the child, as well. Check out the website, there’s a lot to see about Ekomini and how it was developed. This is just perfect for homeschools, schools, and even as thoughtful gifts for the holiday. I hope this toy really takes off in the United States; I wish the company success for creating such a terrific and helpful tool. Great job!

This post is sponsored by the wonderful folks at Ekomini, who asked me to review their website and product. All opinions are completely mine! See my About Page for more information about my blog policy.

Posted in educational programs. Tags: children, education, finances. Comments Off »

Virtual Piano

April 1, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

This is adorable. It’s a Virtual Piano. Got a kid who likes to fool around with the organ, or do you need a quick instrument to piece together a song? This is just so cute! You can change the styles: pan pipes, flute, guitar, organ, etc. And there are drum beats and a chord mode. I like it! Of course, it’s no replacement for a *real* instrument, but this is nice when you want to toodle with a piano while at your computer, or teach your child musical notes (all the keys are labeled) or play a musical game.

Posted in educational programs, websites. Tags: education, music. Comments Off »

Get a Superior Education Online

March 31, 2010 — Mrs. Mecomber

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love the Internet, love it! Step back for a moment and think of all the amazing things we do on it: make and correspond with friends; share experiences, photos, and videos; work online (that’s what I do); and so much more. Did you realize that you can get a superior education online, too? Prestigious schools such as the University of Southern California– the USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC, specifically, offer some outstanding educational opportunities for aspiring educators and teachers. It’s very innovative! Here are just a few advantages of the MAT@USC online program:

Experience an interactive learning environment on the Internet, blended with field-based experiences.
Complete the program as soon as 12 months, if you wish.
Become part of the elite USC Trojan community.
Check out the excellent tuition reimbursement program and scholarships available.
Learn at home, on your own schedule, at your own convenience.
Earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from an accredited, renowned school.
Learn from distinguished USC faculty in a school that has been ranked #22 in the United States, and #9 among all private universities by US News and World Report.
Enjoy full USC student status and benefits
and more

This is terrific news for anyone wanting to work toward a superior education and obtaining a degree, all at the convenience and flexibility of learning at home. You can check out the program information page for more details.

Posted in educational programs, Internet, technology. Tags: education, online education. 1 Comment »

Outstanding Online Poetry

December 22, 2009 — Mrs. Mecomber

The Internet is a treasure-trove when it comes to literature and other writing works. My kids and I do a good deal of research– they for their schoolwork, and I for my history hobby and writing career– so we’re always looking for good works online. Moreover, the Internet is a great place to publish your own works; the Internet has made writing a do-it-yourself project, and I know of several people who have begun full-fledged careers with simple beginnings on the Internet.

Do you love reading classical narrative poetry? If so, definitely check out the works of Jonas Hyde. Beautiful! I’d first heard of him in the Helium circles (I write for Helium from time to time); his poem My Dragonfly ranked #1 for its category. It’s a lovely poem. Jonas has a website devoted to his poetry, including some of his previous works as well as newer works and teasers on soon-to-be released poems. He’s got a very nice style: the narrative is clean and stylish and it’s got an earthy classic cadence to it. Also at the website is a little biographical information about the poet. It’s a good website to peruse the poetry, perhaps use it for readings or homeschool lessons on classical narrative poetry style. I’m pleased to see this style coming back, and it’s certainly popular amongst the Helium readers and writers! See the Jonas Hyde website for more details.

Posted in blogs, Internet. Tags: education, writing. Comments Off »

Expand Your Knowledge with Learn.com

July 11, 2009 — Mrs. Mecomber

I have become a strong propopent of Elearning (online, electronic education). I have two late-teens children, with another on his way, and I am interested in expanding my horizons, too. I never attended college, and now that I am older with older children, I’m desiring more education for better employment.

One of the finest programs I’ve discovered is Learn.com. The website is outstanding! Learn.com offers accredited courses from some exclusive schools: Boston University, eCornell University, George Washington University, and others. You can obtain an online degree from these accredited courses! Most courses involve the fields of healthcare, secretarial services, financial services, legal services, insurance industry, and etc. And there are plenty of other courses, especially pertaining to data management and computing (my interests, obviously). Some courses are as low as $3.99 a month, while others are obviously much more.

What is especially significant is that Learn.com offers many free courses, too. Some of these are excellent! My local college charges large fees for such classes– Learn.com offers courses in such things as learning to use your computer (great for older people or people new to computers); how to mix cement; how to get by in French, Indonesian, or Spanish; even learn how to juggle! Some are cute, and some are extremely useful and practical, especially if you are looking to advance in your career or test the waters with a new one.

Learn.com has the largest library of training courses, all available at your fingertips. The site is best used with Internet Explorer 6.0 or better, but I used Firefox and the site worked very well for me. There’s a press release here for more information about Learn.com. I’m very impressed withe the website; I recommend that you take a look if you are open to online education opportunities. I know I will be having my children check it out, as well. (Also it’s an excellent resource for homeschoolers!).

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