Global Educators Guide

Homework for Students: Debating the Pros and Cons

2019-02-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

Over the years, homework has been an integral part of students' assessment formation. Class works are not seemed to be enough, hence a lot of teachers feel that students needed to do more when they get home from school.

Today, a lot has changed! There is now opposing liberal voices debating that homework should be cut down drastically or be totally eliminated, while the more conservative group argue on the contrary.

Surprisingly, aside parents and students, teachers are also in the forefront of the campaign that schools must do away with homework

This is a debate you must lend your voice. In this post we are going to look at the pros and cons of dishing out homework for today's students. At the end of the day, we must find a balance.

The Pros

The first benefit of homework is that it allows students and teachers to work more closely together. They can discuss their assignments or any problems that they are having with parts of their textbooks, before or after classes.

The second benefit is that it can bring families closer together as students may ask their parents or siblings for help on their homework. Not only will this help the students get a better understanding of their work with any parts they are stuck on, it will also allow parents to get more involved in their child's educational life.

Thirdly, doing homework will prepare students for the big end tests. If a child does poorly on an assignment then they will learn what is necessary to do well on the next test without being punished. It also provides students with the opportunity to practice at what it takes to be successful in school. Like they say, practice makes perfect.

Doing homework is also a great way to develop responsibilities. By being assigned work one day and knowing that it has to be done by the next day, they will develop a sense of punctuality by turning their work in on time.

And finally it allows parents to see how their children are being educated and they can develop a better idea of how they can help their child.

However, in spite of the above mentioned benefits of homework, some parents, students and even some teachers feel that after 7-8 hours of lessons in school, it is unfair to expect students to come home and work for another three hours.

The Cons

The first reason that children should not be given homework is that they need time to relax and take their minds off work. The pressure of having to complete homework every night is quite daunting for most children and they need time to refresh their minds and bodies.

Secondly, it reduces the amount of time that children could be spending with their families. Family time is especially important to a growing child and without it social problems can crop up and a family unit can be compromised by a lack of time being spent together.

Thirdly, homework can cause conflict between children and parents. Children are expected to do one or two house chores after school, but sometimes it becomes very difficult for such children to cope with the two- house chores and overwhelming homework. This usually leads to clash of interest between parents and their children.

Too much homework can encourage cheating because children end up copying off one another in an attempt to finish all their assignments. They then end up being rewarded for cheating which doesn't benefit them at all.

And finally, a lot of teachers don't often have the time to grade papers properly as they are too busy with designing lesson plans and consulting teaching resources in order to just manage lessons. So by the time students are getting their papers back, the class has moved on to a new topic.

Striking a Balance

From every side of the argument, it's very clear we can't easily jettison homework as part of our teaching and learning process. We only need to strike a balance!

Schools should design a homework policy in such a way that homework wouldn't be an unnecessary burden for teachers and students. Homework should be given in bits, only to serve the purpose of flipped classroom and formative assessment model.

We have all the time in the world to assess our students while at school. School children should be given the breathing space to learn on their own without that undue pressure of pleasing one sledge master at school.

This is a continuous debate, and until we get it right, the debate continues.

Please add your voice in the comment box.

8 Guided Steps to Developing a Reading Culture among Students

2019-02-22T16:44:00.001-08:00

Developing Reading Culture among students is one of the key ingredients to effective teaching and learning. Students who have been helped to develop reading culture have a way to return the gesture to their teachers by being committed to learning.

While some students are naturally gifted in this area, majority of our students are still far from this culture of reading. This is one area the teacher is expected to prove his ability to carry every student along.

In this post, I show you 8 guided instructions you must give your students as well as help them implement it, if you must succeed in developing reading culture among them.

1. Relax First:

To study when you are stressed out is the beginning of casualty. Take time to rest and regain some level of energy before you stylishly go into another serious mental process. There is no way you can concentrate or study for long hours when you are tired. Rest is important. If you do not relax, you will collapse. Rest first!

2. Eat well:

A hungry man will definitely get angry. You need a simple diet before embarking on the journey of serious study.

In fact, hunger is a major factor that makes every course boring. Even the pen you are using becomes boring to you as well. Just try to eat something light before study. OK?

3. Create A Reading Map and stick to it:

Map out the areas you wish to cover for that day. Say to yourself, “I must finish this part before I stop”. Setting goals increase your study rate by ten fold (It is a rocket loader). Avoid setting bogus goals for yourself; keep it simple and achievable.

4. Encourage the subject:

When the subject or course is boring, there is chance that you cannot study it for long hours. But there are ways you can make the course interesting. There are ways you can actually make boring course interesting; some of the ways are:

Looking for the interesting part in the subject no matter how little it may be.
Taking short breaks and coming back to continue the topic fresh.
Using simple memory games (mnemonic devices) to remember difficult parts of the course.
Study the course with a friend.
Create a group chat to discuss the subject.

5. Be Totally Engaged:

Nothing makes you study for long hours like engagement. As much as you can, pay serious attention to what you are reading. Try to keep yourself engaged by jotting down points, explaining the subject to yourself, Solving problems and saying no to external distractions for a while.

6. Entertain Yourself:

When it seems you are about to sleep off or the course seems boring again, entertain yourself in any of the following ways:

Reply your messages.
Play your favorite song
Quickly play game.
Watch a short video/movie

Then, go back to work. This strategy works wonders.

7. Group Study:

Studying in group not only make you remember 80% of everything you read, but also makes you read for a longer time.

8. Switch Location:

Walking round even as you study can put distractions aside and make you study for a very long time. Try this and let me know if it works for you…

The Yale Young African Scholarship Program 2019 is now open! Apply Now

2019-02-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 2019 11:59pm EST

The Yale Young African Scholars Program (YYAS) is an intensive academic and enrichment program designed for African secondary school students planning to pursue tertiary education and who wish to make meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent.

Participants will enhance their academic skills, receive university admission and financial aid application guidance, and join a network of young leaders from across Africa. Following the eight-day program, students will be paired with mentors who will help advise them throughout the university application process. There are no tuition, meal, or lodging costs for students to participate in YYAS.

YYAS is an official program of Yale University.

The Yale Young African Scholars Program is designed for African secondary school students who wish to pursue tertiary education and make meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent.

A typical YYAS participant has:

Excellent academic records
Demonstrated leadership potential
Strong written and verbal communication skills
A desire and ability to work cooperatively with peers
Persistence and determination when facing challenges
High standards of personal and professional conduct
The ability to read, analyze, and reflect on large quantities of difficult material in English
Demonstrated maturity and interest in engaging in discussions about intellectual, moral, and political issues in Africa

The Yale Young African Scholars Program is in proud partnership with the Higherlife Foundation and is a member of the HALI Access Network, with additional support from The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale.

YYAS 2019 will be held in three locations:

1. Ghana July 25- August 1, 2019

2. Kenya August 7 - 14, 2019

3. Zimbabwe August 18- 25, 2019

Eligibility

In order to apply to YYAS, applicants must fulfill all of the following requirements:

Age: You must be at least 14 years old by application deadline (06 February 2019) in order to be considered. Please note that a typical YYAS student is between the ages of 15 and 18.
English: You must be able to participate in a rigorous academic curriculum conducted in English.
Citizenship: You must be a citizen or permanent resident of an African country. YYAS will also accept applications from refugees living in an African country.
School location: You must currently attend school in an African country.
Graduation date: If you attend school in the Northern Hemisphere, you must be graduating secondary school by earliest May/June 2020. If you attend school in the Southern Hemisphere, you must be graduating secondary school by earliest November/December 2019. Students who will graduate secondary school before August 2019 are NOT eligible to apply.

If you are currently in your final year or term of secondary school, have already graduated secondary school, or are a university student, then you are NOT eligible to apply.

If you are a YYAS or YYGS alumnus/a, you may NOT apply for YYAS. (*However, if you are a YYAS alumnus/a, you can apply to YYGS if eligible.)

Application Requirement

Deadline to submit all materials: 06 February 2019 at 11:59pm EST

Completed application form - The application can be found online and must be filled out by the applicant. Students will be asked to complete one 500-word essay and two short responses, and must provide information on their extracurricular activities and the school that they currently attend.

You may preview the application here.

Official transcript or grade report(s) - A student transcript is an official document provided by the school and includes the applicant’s list of courses and grades received. Students must upload their official transcript or grade report(s) for each year of secondary school. National exam scores, if available, should also be submitted but are not required. If a student has changed secondary schools at any point, they must include records both from their previous AND their current school. Please refrain from uploading certificates or transcripts from primary school.

One (1) teacher recommendation - The recommendation must be written and submitted by a teacher who knows the student well. They may do so through a link that will be provided by the applicant on the online portal. Alternatively, the teacher may email a letter of recommendation in PDF (.pdf) format to african.scholars@yale.edu and our staff will upload it to the student’s application. Letters must be placed on institutional letterhead with signature. Recommendations from parents/guardians, siblings, relatives, family friends, and/or paid private tutors/counselors will NOT be accepted.

We place great importance on these recommendations because we understand that students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and education contexts. We appreciate teachers taking the time to write recommendations for their student(s). To ensure sincerity, we ask that teachers please refrain from sharing their recommendations with students.

You must click the “SUBMIT” button on the last page for your application to be considered.

YYAS reviews all applications holistically, and there are no minimum grade or standardized exam score requirements. However, a high level of English proficiency will be expected.

Decision Notification: Applicants will be notified electronically of admissions decisions by late March or early April.

Apply Here

The 7 Laws of Concentration for an Effective Classroom Management

2019-01-24T08:18:00.001-08:00

Effective classroom management is very key to optimum classroom performance as a teacher. I am sure you know this as a teacher. However, no classroom is well-managed where there is lack of concentration among learners.

Whatever be the effort of the teacher, the quality of materials and teaching; as well as the methodology applied to reach out to the pupils; if the learners are not concentrated, the class becomes uncontrollably rowdy, resulting to the erosion of whatever that is being taught.

Every average teacher has this as one of his/her greatest challenge in managing his/her classroom- lack of concentration among pupils. And we all know too well that if this area is not settled, classroom management becomes a dream in futility.

Hence, every great teacher seeks a way to get learners achieve maximum concentration level while lesson is going on.

Remember, school children, especially those in the lower key stages, are prone to restiveness- concentration is totally not part of their natural instincts- so, you’ve got to train them and instill the skill and attitude of concentration in them.

How do you do it?

In this post, I share with you what is technically called ‘The 7 Laws of Classroom Concentration’- they are 7 guided instructions that must form part of your key classroom rules, and be made to be obeyed to the letter by your pupils. Frankly speaking, if you get it right here, you would have tackled more than half of your classroom challenges as a teacher.

#Law 1: Get your materials ready before lesson time

You must emphasize on this until it becomes a habit with your pupils. In a typical classroom situation where such rules are not applied, pupils spend close to 10 minutes, if not more looking for and arranging their lesson materials, which would also eat deep into the lesson period proper.

Moreover, you must have noticed as a teacher that at such a time when your pupils are busy looking for their lesson materials, the classroom becomes uncontrollably wild- you hear screaming and shouts of ‘give me my pen, where is my book?, I gave you my math set yesterday blab la blab!’And you’ll likely join the chorus: Stop making noise, keep quiet, settle down, Can’t you hear me? Please time is going blab la blab!

How long will you keep doing this? If the kids could be trained on how to make their materials ready before any lesson time, this problem will be eliminated or at worst be reduced to the barest minimum.

#Law 2: Have a good rest and recreation

You as a teacher will help to create this. You don’t eat deep into their recreation period and expect them to concentrate during lessons. If there is a time earmarked for pupils to rest, enforce it and never allow any child do any other thing else, no matter how important that may appear.

When pupils are not allowed to have their recreation during recreation time, it would then be futile expecting them to learn during lesson time. Great teachers don’t toy with the lesson time table. You have to make sure you don’t eat into the children’s recreation period for any reason. On the other hand, never tolerate this- any of your pupils doing any other thing when it’s time for recreation.

Let recreation time be recreation time; then the children will concentrate during lesson periods.

#Law 3: Be time-conscious

When pupils are trained to be time-conscious in meeting targets, they have less time to lose concentration, as they are bound to concentrate in order to meet up with given targets.

If you as a teacher, has taught your pupils on the power and essence of time consciousness through personal example and regular emphasis, the pupils will get to a point where they will treat time with every caution as not to waste it.

And the truth is that when people are mindful of time, they give no room for distraction- there is maximum concentration. You must have come across some school children who keep talking and distracting others unnecessarily during class work or during exams, even when they are behind schedule. They do that because there is this feeling that they can finish at any time and submit their works at any time, hence there is no regard for the prompt use of time.

But imagine when a child is very sure that he has say, only 30 minutes to finish up his work, and the teacher is very strict with that deadline, how on earth will he lose concentration from the real deal? Never!

#Law 4: Be attentive in the classroom

This cannot be over-emphasized. You have to enforce it. While we might have been advised to be lenient while dealing with school children, especially those in the lower key stages, there are certain areas of the classroom life that requires sternness- attentiveness in the classroom is one such area- you don’t take it lying low with any child that won’t be attentive while lesson is going on.

Read Also: 7 Ways to help your students obey class rules

When each child pays attention to the ongoing classroom activity, there is usually less room to have distraction that could lead to loss of concentration.

Meanwhile, as a teacher, you know too well that you have a big part to play in keeping your learners attentive during classroom engagement. Let your lesson be engaging enough as to engage all learners under your tutorship.

#Law 5: Maintain a good sitting posture and position

You don’t allow your pupils to sit in a haphazard way in the class. This might inconvenience them, thereby making it difficult for them to concentrate. Also consider the sitting position of each child based on their personality.

You can’t shout down on the kids when they complain of discomfort due to poor sitting arrangement. Hence as a teacher, you both emphasize and work towards ensuring that your pupils are seated in a way that each child finds convenience and also have a clear view of the board.

You also need to study the personality traits of your pupils as to know those who are easily distracted by light and movements and keep them away from such objects of distraction.

#Law 6: Keep away the trash

You also need to help out in this area. Every material or item that could form an object of distraction should be kept away from the pupils during lesson times. This includes materials on previous or upcoming lesson, water bottle and all what’s not.

Emphasize this to your pupils and ensure they adhere to it religiously. You don’t allow your pupils keep their lunch box or water bottle close to their desks while lesson is going on- if you do, you’ve given license to dull ones among them find a tool of distraction. It’s also wrong to allow kids keep notes of previous lessons or upcoming ones on their desks while a particular lesson is ongoing.

The rule is simple: Let every trash be kept away!

#Law 7: Share your inconvenience with your teacher

Emphasize on this- your pupils should find it easy to share with you things that affect their ability to concentrate in the classroom; and efforts must be made to proffer the appropriate solution.

Most times when you see pupils being distracted and losing concentration during lessons, it might be as a result of inner worries and inconveniences, some of which they crave for privacy to share with a more matured and caring mentor. When they are not sure they can share such fears and worry with you, the next they do is either share with their friends while lesson is going on or they keep it to themselves- but they must have lost every interest in the ongoing lesson.

As a teacher, you need to create such a room for your students to find in you a worthy mentor and reliable confidant, with whom they can easily share their fears and inconveniences and be sure of a solution.

Be that mother and mentor to them and let them know it.

Conclusion

Concentration of your pupils during lesson time helps you in more ways than one, to giving your best as well as getting the best result from your pupils. Let these 7 guided laws be part of your classroom today. By the time your pupils embrace it, you must have won the battle of classroom management in a very effective and efficient way.

Wishing you luck as you try these!

School Management: 8 Proven Ways to Motivate Your Teachers and Get them More Committed

2019-01-24T06:45:00.003-08:00

In school management, one sure and easy way to achieve the core goals of any school system is getting the teachers motivated so that they would be fully committed and loyal to the course of the organization.

Having been in the school management role for over 6 years of my near 20 years’ experience as a teacher, coupled with my intuition as a management theorist, I am talking about things that are both practical and proven. Experts in the field also concur with this.

When teachers fail to give their best for any reason whatsoever, it becomes difficult to meet up with the expectations of management, irrespective of the level of innovations and policies put together.

Recommended: 7 Reasons Why Teachers Fail at their Duty Post

As it is, smart school owners employ the simplest tool of motivation to get their teachers do their bidding without feeling the pressure and reluctance of doing it.

Of course, there are few insubordinate ones that would always want to rock the boat. I think the school disciplinary policies will take care of that.

Meanwhile, on a general note, I show you eight simple, but proven ways to win over your teachers, irrespective of their natural tendencies, and make them work for you.

#1. Share your visions with them

Sharing your vision with your teachers helps them appreciate that bigger picture with you. This has a way of motivating them work harder in order to see that big picture becomes a reality. At least everyone wants to be where things are happening. But make sure you’re vision is big enough to be enticing!

#2. Reward commitment appropriately

Simply set up a reward system in your school, and periodically reward teachers who are highly committed to duty. By the time others notice that there is a reward for commitment, they would give it all their best, at least to be in the ‘reward’ list. The resultant effect of this in form of optimum productivity will cover whatever you might have spent in rewarding their commitment.

The ultimate result of this is what in management studies is termed, ‘The workers work more; the non-workers start working’.

#3. Give them leadership

Every man takes pride in leadership! Even if it will take you to create units and sub-units in your school, to ensure that every one of your teachers is a ‘leader’, just do that.

Whenever people are given a leadership responsibility, they want to succeed at all cost and by every possible means. You must avoid the mistake of concentrating only on a selected few in your school leadership role. If as a school manager, you’ve never employed this tactics, just try it, and the result will shock you. It works like magic.

#4. Always give them surprise package

You don’t need to wait for the staff revolt before you increase salaries or improve on their working conditions. Go beyond giving them their due pay and always plan for a surprise mouth-watering package for them at intervals. Do this and your teachers would want to work their skins out in order to reciprocate your good gesture.

#5. Involve them in the organizational decision-making process

When teachers are made to be part of the organizational decision-making process, it helps to boost their morale. They feel important and relevant, and with such feeling comes the supposition that they are ‘co-owners’ of the school business, and would stop at nothing to see it succeed.

#6. Be the first to go the way

Here exemplary leadership is the issue. If you are not willing to risk your resources and every other thing that matters to you, for the growth of that organization, be sure none of your teachers would ever try to ‘die’ for another man’s business. But when you show example by giving it your best, they would gladly put in more than you even do to ensure that the school business goals are not jeopardized.

#7. Show genuine interest in their personal matters

How do you react or respond to the pressing needs and problems encountered by any or every one of your teaching staff?

It could be bereavement, health challenges, financial challenges, family crises or any other life-threatening and heart-breaking experiences. Be sure of this: if you show little or no interest in their personal challenges, they would go with the feeling that they’ve been only your slaves all the while; and no man would want to be a slave for too long. Show interest in their personal matters and they would commit themselves more to the organization beyond your wildest imagination.

#8. Feel free to share useful ideas with them

Offering counsels and sharing vital ideas and information is another way of telling your teachers how committed you are to their individual quest for personal growth and development. When you make that a habit, your teachers would want to reciprocate by expending themselves to work for you.

No man builds an organization alone successfully without the positive input of other team members. And the school business is not an exception.

You’ve got a great team of work force; all you need to do is encourage and motivate them to put in their best, otherwise they may end up being disgruntled, who are ready enemies within. And be sure, if that becomes their lot, they would collaborate to see to the death of that school.

Simply put: develop a team of loyal and highly committed teacher work force, and you’ve already built for the future! You can now go for your one year sabbatical in Paris.

A Must Read: The Law of 3:4:3 Team Formation in School Management.

Scholarship: Google PhD Fellowship Program for Graduate Students, 2019

2019-01-24T05:30:00.000-08:00

The new Google PhD Fellowship Program is now available on offer and directly supports graduate students as they pursue their PhD, as well as connect them to a Google Research Mentor. Google is currently offering Fellowships in Australia, China and East Asia, Europe, Africa, India, the United States and Canada.

The Google PhD Fellowship Program was created to recognize outstanding graduate students doing exceptional work in computer science and related research areas.

Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. AI is helping us do that in exciting new ways, solving problems for our users, our customers, and the world.

Scholarship Description

Applications Deadline: February 4, 2019
Course Level: Fellowship is available to pursue PhD programme.
Study Subject: The Fellowships are awarded to students who represent the future of research in the following fields:

Algorithms, Optimizations and Markets
Computational Neuroscience
Human-Computer Interaction
Machine Learning
Machine Perception, Speech Technology and Computer Vision
Mobile Computing
Natural Language Processing (including Information Retrieval and Extraction)
Privacy and Security
Programming Languages and Software Engineering
Quantum Computing
Structured Data and Database Management
Systems and Networking

Scholarship Award: Students receive named Fellowships which include a monetary award. The funds are given directly to the university to be distributed to cover the student’s expenses and stipend as appropriate. The funds are given as an unrestricted gift, and it is Google’s policy not to pay for overhead on unrestricted gifts. In addition, the student will be matched with a Google Research Mentor who we hope will become a valuable resource to the student. There is no employee relationship between the student and Google as a result of receiving the fellowship. Fellowship recipients are not subject to intellectual property restrictions unless they complete an internship at Google. Fellowship recipients serving an internship are subject to the same intellectual property and other contractual obligations as any other Google intern. If a Fellowship student is interested, an internship at Google is encouraged, but not guaranteed or required.

Africa

Up to 3 year Fellowship
US $30K to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel
Google Research Mentor

Australia

1 year Fellowship
AUD $10K to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel
Google Research Mentor

China and East Asia (Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan)

1 year Fellowship
US $10K to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel
Google Research Mentor

Europe

Up to 3 year Fellowship
Yearly bursary towards stipend / salary, health care, social benefits, tuition and fees, conference travel and personal computing equipment. The bursary varies by country.
Google Research Mentor

India

Up to 4 year Fellowship
US $50K to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel
Google Research Mentor

United States and Canada

2 year Fellowship with opportunity to extend to 3rd year
Full tuition and fees (enrollment fees, health insurance, books) plus a stipend to be used for living expenses, travel and personal equipment
Google Research Mentor

Nationality: Scholarships are awarded to students from North America and Europe, Australia, China and East Asia, Africa and India.

Number of Scholarships: Each eligible university may nominate up to two students from Computer Science or related fields. In India and Africa, applications are open and we do not have a limit to the number of students that can apply from a university.
Scholarship can be taken in Australia, China and East Asia, Europe, Africa, India, the United States and Canada.

Eligibility for the Scholarship

Eligible Countries: Scholarships are awarded to students from North America and Europe, Australia, China and East Asia, Africa and India.

Entrance Requirements: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Nominated students in North America and Europe

Universities should only nominate students that meet the following requirements:

Full-time graduate students pursuing a PhD.
US/Canadian students must be in at least their 3rd year of a PhD program by the fall semester or quarter of the year when the Fellowship begins. The nominating university will be asked to confirm the student’s PhD program start date.
European students must be in at least their 2nd year of a PhD program with the same rules above.
The recipient must remain an active, full-time student in a PhD program during at least two academic years of the award or forfeit award.
Google employees, and their spouses, children, and members of their household are not eligible.
Students that are already supported by a comparable industry award are not eligible.

Nominated students in Australia, China and East Asia

Universities should only nominate students that meet the following requirements:

Enrolled in a participating university and nominated by that university.
Full-time graduate students pursuing a PhD.
Completed graduate coursework by the Fall of the award year, when the Fellowship begins.
Google employees, and their spouses, children, and members of their household are not eligible.
Students that are already supported by a comparable industry award are not eligible.

Direct applicant students in Africa and India

Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time PhD program at a university in Africa or India. Applicants who are currently in their first year of a part-time PhD program and transferring to full-time positions are also welcome to apply.
If you are in a PhD program already, you should be an early-stage PhD student when submitting your application, i.e., you have completed one year or less of your PhD.
Students must remain enrolled in the PhD program for the duration of the Fellowship or forfeit the award.

Current undergraduate, master students and professionals may apply. The Google Fellowship award shall be contingent on the awardee registering for a full-time PhD program of an African or Indian university in Computer Science or related areas within the calendar year of the fellowship, or the award shall be forfeited.

- Applicants enrolled in an undergraduate or masters program must be current, full-time students at an African or Indian university.
- Professionals must be employed/affiliated with an organization registered in Africa or India, and receipt of the award is contingent on them joining a full-time PhD program at an African or Indian university within the calendar year of the award.
- Grant of the Google Fellowship does not mean admission to the PhD program of a university. The awardee must also complete the PhD admission process of the respective institute/university where he/she wishes to register for a PhD.
- Grant of the Google Fellowship will be subject to the rules and guidelines applicable in the institute/university where the awardee registers for the PhD program.

Google employees, and their spouses, children, and members of their household are not eligible.
Students that are already supported by a comparable industry award are not eligible.

English Language Requirements: Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University.

Application Procedure

How to Apply: Australia, China, East Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada

For each student nomination, the university will be asked to submit the following material in a single PDF file:

Student CV with links to website and publications (if available)
Transcript of current and previous academic records
Research/dissertation proposal (recommended length 4-5 pages, no longer than 8)
2-3 letters of recommendation from those familiar with the nominee’s work (at least one coming from the thesis advisor)
Short (1-page) CV of advisor

Africa

You’ll need the following documents in order to complete an application:

Applicant’s resume with links to publications (if available)
One-page resume of the student’s PhD program advisor
Available transcripts (mark sheets) starting from first year/semester of Bachelor’s degree to date
Research proposal (maximum two pages)
Three letters of recommendation from those familiar with the applicant’s work (at least one coming from the thesis adviser in case of current PhD students). If the recommendation writers want to send the letter separately, they can mail it directly to research-africa-at-google.com. Please use the subject line “Recommendation for [applicant-name]”

India

You’ll need the following documents in order to complete an application:

Applicant’s resume with links to publications (if available)
Available transcripts (mark sheets) starting from first year/semester of Bachelors degree till date
Research statement of purpose (maximum two pages)
Three letters of recommendation from those familiar with the applicant’s work (at least one coming from the thesis adviser in case of current PhD students). If the recommendation writers want to send the letter separately, they can mail it directly to research-in-at-google.com with the subject “Recommendation for [applicant-name]”

Visit this page and apply

10 Indisputable Mainstay of an Effective School Management

2019-01-23T05:29:00.003-08:00

“Organizations fail to meet targets not because processes and personnel fail, but because management is incompetent or at best fails to implement the core management principles in the right ways possible.”

The above quote underscores the place of sound and effective management system in meeting up with organizational goals and objectives. But then, effective management is not in theory but in practice, where certain factors must be put in place and religiously followed up to the letter.

In this post, I share with you 10 indisputable factors that guarantee an effective school management. What I’m going to share here also stands true for every kind of organization. Of course, almost all the factors have a lot to do with organizational workers- they are key to growing an organization.

I will just be brief with each point, as they are more self-explanatory.

#1. School Management Policy

When you see a school that is poorly-managed, watch out- they don’t have a policy statement, or at best, they don’t adhere to it religiously. Organizational policy statement is not the everyday instruction of an irritated boss. It is not also the sentimental red card thrown at perceived opposition at will.

Organizational policy statement is a written document that defines the core values of an organization, covering every vital facet of such an organization, while detailing the procedures for tackling each policy item when the need arises. This is as important as the organization itself, and failure to follow it up strictly means the management is not ready to work as it can’t really work.

#2. Staff Recruitment

Do you know that in every organization, staff management is key? Meanwhile, the real job of staff management starts from the recruitment process. As a school manager, what is the standard code of your school when it comes to recruitment in terms of academic qualification, religious inclination and personality trait; working experience, professional skills and general background of prospective employees? You must have these as criteria for hiring workers, otherwise you will have problem managing them at the long run.

In fact, staff recruitment criterion is one of the most important policy statement of schools that are serious with the business.

#3. Deployment of Staff

Deployment here simply means fixing the square pegs in square holes in order to build a formidable, workable team that can achieve organizational targets. It takes critical thinking management to be able to do this. That’s why many managers fail here.

Remember, in recruitment, you’re interested in their credentials; but in deployment, you must look out for their potentials- what a man can do better and more efficiently. The knowledge of the theory of comparative advantage in international trade can as well play a great part here in understanding your employees’ individual potentials as to be able to fix them right in a team.

You can as well request for our Potential Test Kit (PTK), a new Management tool for identifying the potentials of organizational workforce so that they can be rightly fixed in a team in a way that guarantees the attainment of desired result. This tool was developed by my humble self, Chima Ezuo S. You can also hire us to guide you on this. All we need is two weeks to interact with your workers and we tell you the best way to fix them in a team.

The place of proper deployment of staff to effective school management cannot be over-emphasized. You may need to hear this from a football coach- ask him what his team will look like as well as how they would perform if he puts the goal keeper in the midfield, a striker as a goal keeper and a defender to lead the attack line. You will now learn that players are only good when played at their possibly best positions not out of it. There is no difference when it comes to the workers in your school.

#4. Job Description

You can’t manage your staff effectively when there is no detailed job description handed out to them individually. As a manager, you’re only right to judge your employees based on what they are asked to do, not outside it. Funny enough, this might be too hard to be swallowed by a typical African manager.

African-styled management has no respect for decorum but demands same at will. It’s not proper. This is one thing we are working tirelessly to correct. You don’t hire a man without orientating him on how your organization does her thing in a unique way, as well as detailing your expectations from him.

All these ranting and shouting down on workers can’t solve the problem; let’s rather do the right thing.

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#5. Leadership

Hey! School manager, give leadership to your workers. If it takes you to create units in your organization just to make all your workers ‘leaders’, just do that. And in doing this, spread it.

It’s rather appalling that what we rather see today is the concentration of so much leadership roles on few workers, leaving the rest relegated. The problem here is that a section of your staff are overused, and they grumble; at the same time, the rest are under-utilized and they grumble too, with the wretched feeling that they’re not important to you- be sure they won’t give their all.

Do you know that every member of your staff has what it takes to run an organization like you? Why not tap from such potentials by giving them leadership roles to showcase what they have?

Please try this; it works.

#6. Line Management Functions

When you go to a typical African school, especially private schools, you will hear titles like Head Teacher, HOD, Dean of Studies, and Principal, mention them. They are all wonderful. But the problem is that many of those occupying such positions remain the proverbial ‘officer without portfolio’. Why? Because, they’re never allowed to carry out their functions freely without undue interference from school owners. How then can they work effectively?

In management studies, under the delegation theory, there is this principle called the principle of parity of authority. This principles propounds that for delegated subordinates to be accountable to their superiors, they must be given enough authority that is commensurate with their assigned duty or task in order for them to carry out such duties effectively without undue bottleneck.

School managers must embrace this principle if they want their line managers to work effectively.

#7. Remuneration

Barring any sudden financial and economic relapse your school might be facing at a particular point in time, as a school manager, do everything within your reach to give your workers a commendable fat check in return for their service. It’s very shameful that in Africa and some other insane climes of the world, managers feel it’s a sign of superiority to treat their workers like slaves by paying them peanuts at best, and at worst, owing them salaries even when the money is there.

We can’t make progress in Africa if we continue to treat our workers as slaves- remember slaves can only give a slave service.

And do not wait until they complain- learn to do things right especially in the area of staff remuneration.

#8. Staff Development

To meet up with current industry changes, your staff members need regular on-the-job training for both self and professional development. But make sure you tailor these trainings to the core objectives and vision statement of your school. You don’t leave the regular duties to engage in all these unending trainings going on here and there. Don’t be a jack of all trade and master of none.

Only train your workers in areas that work towards promoting the aspirations of the organization- be it short term or long term.

#9. Staff Monitoring

There is this popular saying that “in every twelve, there must be a Judas”, and you know, ‘Judas’ is not good for your school business. As a school manager, you need to set up structures and mechanisms that will help you monitor your staff performance. This could be through periodic appraisal, productivity feedback etc. However you can get it right, just do it; but try to avoid witch-hunting; we are all humans, so that you don’t end up killing a fly with a sledge hammer.

You need to monitor your staff objectively so as to be able to sift the tares from the wheat. One more thing, the essence of staff monitoring is not only for disengagement purposes. It could as well be for redeployment, promotion and sanctions.

#10. Official Discipline

The truth is that in every organization, there is bound to be some bad eggs who are incorrigibly out to spoil the show. What do you do with such fellows as a school manager? Use the big stick on them. But make sure, every disciplinary action taken against any erring member of staff is in line with the disciplinary policy of the school. Don’t allow sentiment to come in between.

Conclusion

School managers should not only be interested in the structural development and numerical increase of their schools. They have to understand that effective management system is key to organizational growth. As it is, the need to embrace effective management is becoming more critical in the 21^st century education environment. I tell you, a lot of schools might go down, which refuse to do things right in this regard.

Let your school rather go up. My best wishes!

Zambian Undergraduates get Scholarship Support

2019-01-23T04:34:00.000-08:00

Zambia’s government recently announced it plans to provide 1,000 scholarships to five additional public universities. The funds are the result of loan recoveries the ministry has been working on since September.

More Support for More Students

According to the Ministry of Higher Education's public relations officer, Chiselwa Kawanda, 40 percent of the scholarships will be merit-based. Additionally, 30 percent will be designated for women, while an additional 30 percent will benefit applicants from rural communities.

The Patriotic Front of the Copperbelt applauded the announcement for diverting from its traditional inclination to offer education loans to students from just two universities. PF Copperbelt vice-chairman and Kitwe mayor Christopher Kang’ombe said, “With this decision, more students, totalling 1000, coming from poor families will have equal opportunities to get educated and acquire the qualifications to compete for employment opportunities in the job market.”

Toward An Improved Education System

Kang’ombe also heralded the government’s decision for being in line with the Patriotic Fund’s education objectives, “We promised better education from primary to tertiary level and increasing number of students loans is a fulfillment of this pledge,” he said.

The PB Manifesto has the goal of an “industrious, prosperous, peaceful, stable, united, democratic, and inclusive Zambia under One Zambia, One Nation." Its priorities for higher education include giving colleges a “facelift” and expanding them to meet rising demand for teachers; increasing grants to colleges; ensuring that colleges are open to programs outside of teaching; ensuring colleges satisfy catchment area demands; and revising the National Education Policy and amending the 2011 Education Act.

The news adds to a wider push throughout Africa for universities to expand higher education in the continent.

Zambian Observer

7 Ways to Help Your Students Obey Class Rules

2019-01-22T07:24:00.000-08:00

What is there good about drafting rules if it won’t be kept?

A lot of teachers never think in this direction- they keep dishing out rules and regulation every new term and session, while the kids keep being their old selves. No question asked; no strategy developed. Some might even recommend for spiritual deliverance for the ‘possibly possessed’ students.

On the other hand, there are many teachers out there who are continuously worried about their students’ inability to keep and obey class rules. Such have no idea of what next to do as they must have come to their wits’ end.

To these I offer these 7 guided rules that can help you achieve that. It has worked for me as a classroom teacher over these years; I am very confident it will work for you if you follow it up judiciously.

#1: Get a copy of the class rules for your students and let them rehearse it daily

As a teacher, you have to work this out. For your pupils to comply with rules, they must have access to these rules- either by having a copy each or having the rules pasted in a conspicuous and strategic place in the classroom, where each child can always see it. In fact, it should be rehearsed each day.

#2: Teach your students they are bound to respect the teacher’s view

There is no room for teacher/pupil supremacy struggle if rules must be adhered to by the pupils. Emphasize that it is your own view as the teacher that must always stand amidst contrasting views. Don’t give any room for any child to dictate the tune of the class music.

#3. Emphasize and ensure that every member of the class respects your class prefects

While the class prefects must shun over-bearing attitude, they nonetheless need to be respected, otherwise their task of assisting in classroom management will be jeopardized. So, emphasize that due respect be given them.

#4: Create the room for your students to ask private questions if in doubt

You wouldn’t want to create problem for yourself by allowing children under you to challenge your opinions and views openly. Teach them that if they are in doubt of the appropriateness of a given instruction, they should meet you privately to discuss their concern and submission. Listen to them; be open and humble enough to buy into their own idea when need be.

#5: Let each child to know it’s their duty to remind others to keep to class rules

Each pupil should be out to help others to ensure that class rules are adhered to by constantly reminding those who are at the verge of defaulting. This also helps your students learn leadership and responsibility.

#6: Report offenders including over-bearing class monitors

No child has a right to fight another for breaking class rules; neither should they cover them up. They should be taught rather to report to the teacher. But make sure you investigate properly as many students can act so mischievously.

#7: Let Justice rule

Justice includes fairness, acceptability and compassion. Be sure no child will be ready to obey you or your class rules, if that child feels that he/she is not fairly treated or accepted like every other child in the class. And the practice of justice begins with you the teacher. If you fail in this, you’ve failed in all.

Laws are made to be complied with, so are class and general school rules. Hence, efforts must be made to teach and train the school children on how to imbibe the skill and culture of compliance with rules. If they can do this, they can do all others as well.

Conclusion

Managing your classroom is only possible when the kids in your class are managed to be the best they can be. And this is only possible when they master certain skills that guarantee a crisis-free classroom, and compliance to rules is key.

Of course, this is not a day’s job. It is what we as teachers must judiciously follow through until it becomes the sole definition of our class. And the result will be that students and pupils enjoy learning while the teacher is happy delivering contents.

It looks difficult though, but very possible and rewardable.

Just try it and you will be happy you did!

Classroom Management: 7 Ways to Inculcate the Value of Contentment in Your Students

2019-01-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

For every classroom teacher, classroom management is the key to effectively delivering contents to the school children. And classroom management becomes effective only when both the teacher and learners collaborate to make it work.

One sure way to get your students to be part of classroom management is by instilling the value of contentment in your students.

When children are contented with what they have, they are less likely to have a critical spirit and a posture of hate and jealousy against others. This helps you as a teacher to focus more on the real deal than settling issues each day.

Below are the 7 guided instructions to inculcate this skill in your pupils:

- Be satisfied with whatever your parents provided for you

Whether it is food, learning materials or any other essential item, you need to teach and train your pupils to make do with what they have.When school children are allowed to go on with the bad habit of depending on others’ belongings to live, they will as well be fashioned to depend on others for academic and life success. Such children never make personal effort to grow or do well as they falsely believe that in one way or the other, help will come from the moon.

- Remain original, you’re good to go

Every child has potentials; try to emphasize this daily to each of them. It is good to aspire for a better life, but not good to exchange one’s originality for another’s. Children who have been trained in this way are driven by an inner force to succeed and not by suppressing and intimidating force of external pressure to be and act like others

Always have a grateful attitude

Train them to be grateful to God, to their parents, teachers and every other person that is relevant to their good in life. Toxic children who are ungrateful remain the major source of headache to teachers. However, when children possess the grateful spirit, they appreciate every of your effort to teach them, and in reciprocation, will listen to you in every instruction and classroom delivery.

- Manage your items very well

Every act of contentment springs from the ability to safeguard the little one has. Teach your pupils this principle. This is another principle of positive self-interest. School children who possess this principle always try to be the best as they jealously guard their good and giftedness.

- Remain optimistic

Even when a child is down, remind him/her of the possibility of getting up and getting better.

- Be proud of your achievement

In whatever area- academic or extracurricular activity, each child should be taught to be proud of his/her achievement, no matter how insignificant it may appear.

- Share your worries with your teacher

Our pupils are not less humans- they have worries and concerns as we do. Train your children that it is not contentment to stifle such worry and concern- they should rather share it with their teacher, who is supposed to be a matured friend, mother and mentor.

When school children develop the skill of contentment, they have a positive and cheerful mindset that makes learning easy and enjoyable. At this point, the teacher can easily give out the best for the good of the children- classroom management effectively ensured.