The Best Free Training

Topic: SAT exam & test preparation
Format: Text descriptions, graphics, quizzes, sample questions w/feedback & solutions
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

This site bills itself as “…the most comprehensive collection of Free SAT study resources on the web offering practice exams, study guides, flashcards, quizzes, cram sheets, articles, links and tips to help you succeed on the SAT exam.” I examined much of what’s available (though I didn’t directly work with all items — there’s simply too much!) and it really is a great resource for preparing for SAT exams.

The ProProfs Online FREE SAT Exam Study Center is loaded with tools to help you prepare for the SAT exam! It includes comprehensive study guides for the Math, Reading, and Writing portions of the exam, as well as practice tests, SAT wiki, practice questions, articles, forum, test prep videos, flashcards, and much more.

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Topic: Landscaping sprinkler design
Format: Text descriptions, graphics, job aids (worksheets)
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

“Whether you’re a professional landscaper or simply landscaping your own yard, this free landscape sprinkler design tutorial is designed to take you step-by-step through the process of designing a professional-quality sprinkler irrigation system.” This comprehensive tutorial was written by Jess Stryker, “a professional landscape architect with over 20 years of irrigation design experience.“

Primarily print-driven, this comprehensive and step-by-step tutorial includes photos of key equipment, suggestions for diagrams, worksheets, and more to help you stay organized while you design your landscape sprinkler irrigation system. It’s divided into clear, logical steps:
Step #1 Collect Information (Includes how to measure your yard, determine water pressure requirements, etc.)
Step #2 Select Your Equipment (Determine pressure losses for your sprinkler irrigation system, then select appropriate equipment.)
Step #3 Place Sprinkler Heads (Spacing, drawings of placement, gallons per minute per each, etc.)
Step #4 Create Valve Zones and Draw in Pipes (Identify hydro-zones, create valve zones, route the sprinkler piping.
Step #5 Size Piping (Importance of calculating pressure loss, how to calculate lateral pipe size, etc.)

The tutorial is loaded with detailed, specific, no-nonsense guidance. We followed it to guide the installation of our own landscape sprinkler system. Companion tutorials include: installation, water filters, pump systems, irrigation scheduling, winterizing, and many more.

The main website, IrrigationTutorials.com, includes product reviews and irrigation FAQs. The list of tutorial titles include:
* How to design a Sprinkler Irrigation System.
* How to design a Drip Irrigation System.
* How to install an Irrigation System (sprinkler or drip).
* How to select the correct Filter for your Irrigation Water.
* How to select the right size and type of Irrigation Pump.
* How to Schedule Irrigation for healthy plants and water savings.
* How to prepare an irrigation system for the Winter.
* Water Hammer and Air in Pipes. Things that go Bump in the Night.

In the words of Jess Stryker, Irrigation Consultant, “You’ve just found the web’s mother lode of free irrigation information! In fact, from filters to sprinklers to pumps, if it’s irrigation related you’ll find at least some information on it here. Start with the irrigation tutorials! They’re all FREE! I don’t even want to sell you any irrigation equipment! … This website is not affiliated with any irrigation, sprinkler, or drip equipment manufacturer or supplier.”

URL:  http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/sprinkler00.htm

Topic: Time management, avoiding procrastination, delegation, job efficiency, organizing work, effective meetings
Format: Text descriptions, animations, interactive quizzes & practice, job aids (worksheets) [free registration required]
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

Are you overwhelmed by your “ToDo” list? This course provides strategies and tools to help you more efficiently handle your workload. It’s divided into seven lessons: Setting Priorities, Procrastination, Time efficiency, Job efficiency, Efficient meetings, Delegating, & Self-sufficiency. While the target audience is people in business organizations, with a little creativity you can make many of the tools and techniques work in your school, home, or home-based business. (Continued in Comment.)

Topic: Social bookmarking, sharing bookmarks & favorites
Format: Video
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

Learn how (and why) you can post your internet bookmarks (favorite sites) so your friends, colleagues, and students can share them. This simple, effective video tells the whole story in less than 5 minutes!

URL: http://www.commoncraft.com/bookmarking-plain-english

Open Yale Courses has made seven semester-long courses available in their entirety for anyone, anywhere to engage — absolutely free. Course titles include:

• Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics with Professor Charles Bailyn [24 lessons]
• Modern Poetry with Professor Langdon Hammer [25 lessons]
• Death with Professor Shelly Kagan [26 lessons]
• Fundamentals of Physics with Professor Ramamurti Shankar [24 lessons]
• Introduction to Political Philosophy with Professor Steven B. Smith [24 lessons]
• Introduction to Psychology with Professor Paul Bloom [20 lessons]
• Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) with Professor Christine Hayes [24 lessons]

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Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

Topic: Political philosophy through the works of Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Tocqueville, Kant
Format: 24 50-minute lessons; Video, audio, and printed lecture transcripts; eBook classics; assignments
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com
This is a journey through the minds and works of Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Tocqueville, and Kant with Professor Steven B. Smith as your guide. There are 24 50-minute sessions… an amazing amount of intellectual stimulation and challenge… and all of it free! (Continued in Comment.)

Topic: How to obtain, convert, and distribute digital music (mp3 files, etc.) throughout the home
Format: Printed lessons with graphics & opportunities for discussion [free registration required]
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

[NOTICE: On April 18, ‘08 CNET announced that it would end its free online courses May 1, 2008. The content of this training, however, may remain in CNET’s Tips & Tricks section. Click here for more information.]

Six lessons, from CNET, developed by expert Brian Fenton: 1. Digitize your music collection, 2. Organize your music and burn mixes, 3. Optimize your computer for music, 4. Digital music in the living room, 5. Digital radio, 6. Fun with audio editing. (Continued in Comment.)