Can you believe that 50% of first year businesses do not make it to the next year? Did you know that 95% of businesses fail within 5 years of being established? It is because of these percentages that lenders and other financial organizations consider many small businesses to be ‘high risk’.High risk businesses (and even some non-risk businesses) have an extremely difficult time finding and obtaining business credit. So, why are lenders so afraid to lend out funding to start-up and current businesses?Let’s take a look the real side of small business access to credit….Uncertain EconomyAn uncertain economy has a lot to do with the ability of a small business access to credit. During a recession, or even a falling economy, people are not spending money. Therefore, they are not going to small businesses for materials like they do when the economy is good.Small businesses are not getting near enough business to stay afloat and lenders are perfectly aware of it. Lenders are skeptical to lend out money in fear of never seeing repayment.Outstanding Loans And Credit Card BalancesThis goes hand in hand with the uncertain economy. More business owners default on a loan during a rough economy. Lenders have hundreds of thousands of dollars in back loans that they are unable to provide more opportunities for small business access to credit.If they are not paid for the capital they have lent out, they could risk going out of business themselves. This is especially true for private organizations that need the paid interest rates on loans and credit cards to keep them going.Lending Standards Restrict Small Business Access To CreditThe lending standards that the government places on small business loans and credit cards have a lot to do with small business access to credit. Tighter regulations for small business loans means less and less business owners will qualify for the credit they need to keep their businesses in business.Stricter regulations will help the lenders keep the money in house, but they will also increase the unemployment rates as small businesses will be going out of business. It is critical that small business access to credit be open or we could see a drastic decrease in the amount of business opportunities available to people.All of these factors contribute to why lenders are not offering business credit to businesses. Small business access to credit is becoming smaller and smaller and smaller. So, if you are considering starting your own business I want you to understand the ‘Why’ so you feel more confident when you begin your quest to obtain credit for your business.Hey! It’s not just me whining and crying. This attitude is out there regarding small business credit. I am just letting you know. Here is just one article in The Wall Street Journal – A Credit Crunch That Lingers.Keep in mind that this type of thinking and this flow of information will discourage a lot of people from seeking small business credit leaving more opportunity for those that do want to succeed and who also realize that it is just a matter of understanding how the credit game works when it comes to getting business creditKnow what to do and how to do it, and ideally before you start to do it, and your chances of success will be much higherAnd after all, how can we expect a business to flourish when there is very little small business access to credit? It almost seems as though businesses are being set up just to fail…. BUT!Remember the more people turned off by all the negative news on the economy is this ‘credit crunch’ the more room left for you to bear down and start or expand your business!

The age of modern day learning has arrived. It is no longer a matter of whether we want to integrate technology and education; it is a necessity. The reality poses an immense problem and threat to the longstanding educational institutions that have for the most part remained unchanged for nearly a century. Who would have imagined that the alphabet’s letter “E” would forever transform the face of education to E-Ducation?Technology in education has progressed from basic tools such as the abacus, pencil, ruler, paper and calculator to computers, laptops, iPads, tablets, software and apps. The technological advancements alone are forcing the manner in which teachers teach, how students learn, the ways schools are structured and breaking the barriers between home and school life. At its core, technology is impacting the very essence of the future of humanity.Digital Natives: A Generation Dedicated to Learning with TechnologyThe prominence and rise of technology in the world applies to all aspects of life including how we learn. It appears that the days of “open your textbook, read the following pages and answer the questions” will be for the most part a thing of the past.As educational institutions resist and make attempts to adapt, it is crucial to keep in mind the learning needs of today’s digital natives. The digital natives are those that were born during or thereafter the inception and introduction of digital technology.This generation is not only accustomed to technological advancements and devices they expect it. As such, drastic measures will have to be implemented to meet the student’s expectations for learning. The key will be to adapt to an uncertain, modern, changing and dynamic global world.Pivotal Technologies and Learning PortalsTechnological advancements will allow education to be universally accessible, customized, individualized and highly adaptive. In essence, learning with technology is propelling independent learning to the forefront.Now more than ever, students will have the opportunity to individualize and navigate the knowledge portals through pivotal technologies such as the Internet, Open Sources, Virtual Learning Environments and Mobile Learning Devices. Open Sources includes MOOCs and Web 2.0.Massive Open Online Courses will allow students the autonomy and flexibility to choose what they want to learn independently. The Web 2.0 is simply the way new web pages are designed and used. Students will have a multitude of options by virtue of using Open Sources through a variety of Mobile Learning Devices.Virtual Learning Environments will only enhance the learning experience by making it fun and interactive. Students will have a wide selection of learning mediums to complete assignments and receive feedback. Hence, the learning would be more interactive and engaging.Individualized Learning and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)The role of the teacher would alter to monitor and provide feedback at an unparalleled level. Technology would of course also help the teacher with the many independent learning assignments, projects, presentations etc. of the student’s through the use of Learning Analytics. Learning Analytics is the accumulated of created data to continually evaluate and precisely guide student learning.The digital natives are choosing their own devices to learn in a world that has cloud computing and the Internet. They are living in a digital information literacy online world. Their reality encompasses learning through educational games and virtual learning platforms. They are living in a world where the physical and virtual have amalgamated.Learning with Technology from Students’ PerspectivesAs such, what do kids think about technology and learning? How often do we really ask for their thoughts and opinions? Do we really take into consideration how and what they want to learn? Should what they have to say really matter how we as educators make decisions? Personally, I do believe that they do bring value to the decision-making table.My sister in law is an eighth grade social studies teacher at a middle school. In a conversation with her, she mentioned to me the various ways she integrates technology in the learning. What I found especially of import was her comment on how the students use technology as easily as breathing.She explained to me that now only do students expect it but that they demand it. She further informed me that it is a necessity and it brings lots of fun to the learning. As an educator, I firmly believe that learning should be continuous, fun, engaging, inquisitive, and ongoing.Students are Right at Home with TechnologyHumanity should be learning something new each and every day. It should be viewed from a window looking out into the horizon of each new day. It seems logical to catch a glimpse of learning through the eyes of children.I often reflect on how my 7 year old niece sees the world and how through her eyes I learn something new every day. As Digital Natives do, she carries an iPad with her and frequently shares videos, cartoons, games, songs, etc. with me. I can literally say that I am learning things that a 7 year old child is learning.Wow, the whole idea seems to put me in awe. What she has learned through the use of technology can be only termed as amazing. The ease, comfort and curiosity that impel her to learn independently without her parents or teachers imposing “because you have to” are truly remarkable.Learning with Technology: A NecessityNever in the history of our world has the trajectory of technology education been a certainty to create a better global society where one and all will have the opportunity and accessibility to be literate.A view from a student’s perspective about learning with technology as mentioned above is a 6 part series that will include technology and students, learning with technology, student’s and iPads, learning with games and virtual learning. Stay tuned to next week’s blog article on students learning with technology.