Education And Technology

How to Choose a Career Counselor

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:36:00 +0000

The demand for career counselors has increased in the last few years. This is primarily because of the fact that there are numerous careers out there and deciding which one is suitable for your kind of skills may sometimes be a bit perplexing. Career counselors help students to find a career which will allow them to use their skills and abilities in the best possible way. It may open up new avenues for you and introduce you to certain careers you thought never existed. Career counselors also help an individual in introspection and do a self-evaluation. Career counselors are sought not only by students but by professionals also who want to advance in their respective professions. Job aspirants also take the help of career counselors to help them in getting recruited. So, if you have decided that you need a career counseling to guide you through, you should know a good deal about how to go about finding one for yourself. We will take a look at some factors which one should keep in mind while choosing a career counselor.

Choosing a Career Counselor

Before you set out to choose a career counselor, you should do a bit of introspection about why you need a career counselor. You should decide whether you want guidance on a particular career or you want him to completely decide the new career field for you. The key in choosing a career counselor lies in your requirements, some counselors may focus determining the overall strategy which would help you in your career, while as career coaches may help you to improve on a special skill.

You should start your search by getting referrals from your friends and relatives. It is highly likely that they would provide you with some valuable information that you might not get on 'Yellow pages' or in the advertisements. You can ask them about the method which is employed by a particular career counselor, along with knowing what they felt were the strengths and weaknesses of the counselor. A referral is one of the effective way of finding a quality career counselor as you get to know the first-hand information, which is impartial and unbiased.

If you are not able to find help through friends and relatives, then the next step for you would be to research about career counselors on the Internet. Although, the official websites of career counseling firms may not tell you the complete picture, there are several blogs where people put their feedback about their experiences with their career counselors. Select at least five to six names and contact them to inquire if you can have a free initial consultation.

The next step in the process of finding a career counselor is to attend the free initial consultation, and gauge whether the counselor is able to analyze you completely. If you feel that the career counselor has been impressive, do not pay up straightaway. It is better to look around a bit more and see if others are better suited for your requirements. Ideally, in the first meeting itself, you will get an idea whether the counselor would be able to help you or not. One important thing you should remember is that do not expect overnight results as it takes a sustained effort from both of you to make the whole counseling process a success. The counselor can only help you in developing certain skills, but the responsibility to put theory into action lies on you.

The average cost of an hour of career counseling is around $160, however, the fee depends on a large extent on the reputation of the counselor. While numerous people may advice you to choose a career counselor with the highest qualification, we would rather advise you to choose one who is effective and one you are comfortable with. This in no way means that you should not check the necessary credentials, like the counselor should be a member of the National Career Development Association or should be a Nationally Certified Career Development Professional.

In the end, we would like to add that a career counselor can be really beneficial in helping you get a clarity on what you want to do. So, if you are doubtful about what job role would be the most suitable for your skills and attributes, you should definitely take the help of a career counselor.

Tips on Applying for Doctorate Programs

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:36:00 +0000

"Whoa! I'll be addressed as a Dr. now onwards!" If this is what your dream is, and you are planning to apply to various universities, keep a few points in mind, so that you can be sure that your application for a Doctorate Program is going to fetch you an acceptance from your favorite university.

Considering that you still have another six months before you send in your applications, we'll try simplifying the application process, and gear you up with a plan structure to help you prepare your application well.

Things to Do in Your Pre-Application Stage

Under stated are things you should do before you start applying to the universities.

Communicate with Professors and Scholars: While you are planning to apply for a Ph.D. program, talk to your professors and other research professionals. They can help you solve your doubts and prove to be a valuable source of information. Eventually, their reference letters will count a lot too. Also discuss your plans with scholars in your field, learn from their experiences and use their help.
Start Reading: You will need to do a lot of reading on the research area you want to work on. This will definitely increase your knowledge, and will keep you updated with any recent occurrences and discoveries. It will also help you increase your vocabulary and bring clarity on the subject. Be thorough with whatever you have studied before. Eventually, this effort will bear fruits when you will prepare your application.
Research Experience: Try getting a research exposure in your undergrad or postgraduate days. Having a research experience will give you an edge over other applicants. It's a great thing for your application if you have had some prior research experience. This will teach you about different research methodologies, help you develop required skills for research, and will give you an opportunity to create a good network, which pays off in some way or the other. This will reflect your drive and interest towards your research, and your independence in your application.
Choose the Right Program: This happens to be one of the most important tasks to be performed before sending in your application, which is to choose the right program. With the increase in globalization, there are so many universities offering various modules and freedom of using independent ways of researching, giving you a wide range to choose from. Pick the program that suits you the best, and is in terms with your career goal too. You can choose your options based on the ranking of universities from authentic websites and education guides. After which, you should go through their websites and learn all about them, going through the alumni, faculty, culture, and their publications.

Things to Remember While Applying

Now, once you are sure of what your research area is, and you have shortlisted a few universities to apply to, you will have to put the following list in order.

Write to the Faculty of the University: You should write a personalized letter to the university indicating your interest in their doctoral program and your area of research. Attach your resume and give a clear note of your curriculum track, specifying scores for GRE and TOEFL. You should at least apply to 5 universities to be on a safer side. If you have enough time and money, you can also consider applying to 10 universities. This will increase your chances of receiving an offer letter from either one of them.
Transcripts: Keep your transcripts ready way in advance before you want to apply, to avoid last-minute hassles. Remember, irrespective of your GPA score, the course and the subjects selected by you plays an important role in deciding your admission.
Letters of Recommendation: Be very sure about who you ask for recommending you. Pick someone who is aware of your potentials and interest, and can recommend you without any reservations. A recommendation letter from a professor or head of the department will be preferred as a reliable source. However, if you have a prior work experience, an enthusiastic recommendation letter stating your capability and work performance from your manager will give a boost to your recommendation.
GRE Scores: Try to score the max you can in this test. As this is one common test whose scores count globally. Give this test even if it is not a prerequisite mentioned by the university you are targeting, and try crossing a score of 600 at least.
Statement of Purpose (SOP): This can actually be your ticket to the university you crave for. A well written SOP can actually convince the university to pick you before others whose scores are better than yours. This is your personal statement describing who you are, what your career path is, and what your final goal is. It does not have to be technical, but should show you very determined, explaining why you should be chosen and how much it means to you. This is going to show the unique side of you, and can actually get you a letter of acceptance. You will need sufficient time to write a statement of purpose. Plan it well in advance and ask your friends or professors to review it once.
Attach Writing Samples: Do attach a few samples or give a link to your writeup like your thesis and papers submitted. This will show your writing skills, knowledge, and presentation skills.
Make sure all the above mentioned documents are arranged for.
Financial Assistance: If this is one of your deciding factors in choosing your university, you will find all information on financial assistance from the university websites.

The best way to choose a doctoral program would be by applying to the best universities and institutes, based on their ranking and reputation related to your area of research. However, don't just go for a higher ranking university, but look how active research is in your area of interest in that particular university. The above tips on applying for a doctorate program should help you plan your path well. Remember! You are going to get paid for your research, make sure that your application justifies that worth.
Wish you all the best!

Useful Tips for Successful Career Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:36:00 +0000

After graduation, students look for various fields that are present, in which they can build a successful career. Parents, friends and relatives suggest career options which they find interesting and fulfilling. However, it is important for students to choose the best option among them so that they do not regret their decision later in life. To have a successful career, it is necessary that you plan for it, so that you know where you are currently standing and what you want to achieve after a particular time span. Planning will help you in presenting a clear idea about your goals and how you need to go about achieving them. Here are a few tips for people who have recently completed their formal education and are ready to step into the corporate world.

Useful Tips for Career Planning

Schedule Your Career Planning
Career planning is a serious issue and requires a lot of thinking. Hence, must not be done casually. Fix a time when you will be able to concentrate only on it and nothing else. Make sure there is no disruption around when you sit for planning. Treat your career planning schedule as you would treat a physician's appointment. It is not a one-time task and must be taken up from time to time, in order to review and revise the plan, if need be.

Take Up a Few Tests
Self assessment helps a person in identifying his strengths and weaknesses. Take up a few self assessment tests to find out the areas you are good in and the ones you need to work on. You can select a career option requiring skills you are good at. Doing so, you will be in a better position to perform the job and this will work in a positive way for your career growth.

Look Out for Interesting Options
A person can give his 100% to a job only if he is interested in it. A job you don't find interesting at all, will not motivate you to give in your best. This will hamper your career growth and you will tend to move slowly up the ladder of success. That is why, don't concentrate on one particular field. Widen your horizon and look for other available options. You can always find an interesting field you would love to make your career in.

Think of the Job Requisites
Before choosing a career, it is important to ask a few questions to yourself like, the kind of work culture you would like to work in, the kind of organization that will help you in achieving your goals, the kind of work schedule you would be comfortable with and whether you can commit to traveling or not. Answering these questions will give you a clear picture of what you can do and what you may not.

Research Thoroughly
Try to find out all the information about the career options you have selected for yourself. Proper research gives you the actual picture which will help you in choosing the best option for yourself.

Utilize the Facilities of Career Center
Colleges have career centers that provide guidance to students, for choosing the right career path and help them plan accordingly. Make use of resume development workshops, interview workshops and career development seminars arranged for the students. You can also get in touch with the college alumni to gain information about their fields and scope of career development in it.

Opt for Internships and Voluntary Work
Doing an internship in the industry will help you in gaining knowledge about how things actually work on the job floor. As you are on the job, you can experience it and decide if it is your cup of tea or not. Voluntary jobs help you build your network and display your capabilities to people. It will add on to your resume and may work in a positive way for your placement.

Ask Someone to be Your Mentor
A person having an established career in the field of your choice can help you in a great way. Find someone who can be your mentor and guide you in building a great career. A mentor can motivate you when you feel low and support you at every step.

Build a Network
Networking is one of the important aspects of building a great career. Make people aware that you are ready to enter into the industry. Meet people who are already working in the field you would like to enter. They can give you proper insights of the industry and clear your doubts. Joining professional associations can also help you in getting into the industry.

Study Job Trends
Studying job and career trends will tell you whether the job of your choice is having an uptrend or downtrend and will tell you the market status of the job you want to get in.

Set Career Goals
Once you have decide on your career, take the next step by enlisting your career goals. Set short-term and long-term career goals for yourself, so that, you know when and where to concentrate to reach your set target.

Take the help of these tips for career planning. Planning should be done at the right time to reap its benefits. It is not a one-time task. Even after you join an industry, make sure to review your career plan at pre-decided intervals, to check if you are on the right path or have deviated from the goal you had set for yourself. Reviewing your career plan will prepare you to build a successful and satisfying career.

Great Ways to Teach Math to Your Child

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:19:00 +0000

Mathematics is a subject which some children love and easily grasp, whereas others struggle with even the basic concepts. If presented to them in a fun and creative way, kids can learn simple math concepts easily. Children's brains are like sponges, they greedily absorb all that is shown and taught to them. How we best exploit this is up to us. You might be surprised to know that opportunities for learning and teaching math are found in plenty in our day-to-day lives.

Children can begin learning mathematics from a very young age, even when they are toddlers. Incorporating simple math problems in our daily activities at home is the first step to teach math and goes a long way in providing children with this essential life skill that will help them as adults. Don't think of this as a daunting task, all you need is a positive attitude and things found easily around the house!

Interesting Ways to Teach Math to Children

For Toddlers and Preschoolers
Make math a part of your everyday activities. When you play and sing with them, try to include counting as part of math activities for preschoolers. Learning can be fun if taught playfully, especially at such a young age. Count out loud, initially for them, then with them, several times a day, every day. Count out everything they come across, from trees, to fruits, to books, and their toys. Buy building blocks which will make this process fun and easy. If you are doing the laundry, ask them to count the clothes! Count when going up and down the steps.

Make Math Fun for Toddlers

Take cardboard cutouts and write numbers on them, and get them to identify and recognize them. Once they become familiar with them, ask them to recognize numbers, say a house number, license plates, grocery store aisles, etc.
Go a notch higher, and introduce the concept of greater than and less than. Draw various shapes like squares and circles on a piece of paper. Ask them to count the shapes, and ask them which are more in number. The concept of geometry can be introduced at this stage by getting them acquainted with the shapes as well, and ask them if they can make out the shapes of objects they come across every day.
You can even introduce addition and subtraction at this stage. Line up pieces of blocks, fruits or animal crackers on a table, and ask your kid to count them. Then add a few more pieces or take some away, and again ask him/her to count. This way, your kid can develop a liking for basic concepts of plus and minus from an early age.
Play math games. Each of you should solve math puzzles and keep a tally of who does it right and finishes faster. Give your kid a head start and allow him to win; the more he wins, the keener he will be on continuing the game and solving math problems!

For Older Children
It has been widely observed that children learn faster when visual teaching practices are used. The use of flashcards, playing cards, and even computer games to a certain extent can aid a child in learning new math concepts. There are enough interactive math learning games available, which can be a very helpful asset to make math fun and easy.

Make Math Fun for Older Children

Make it a point to recite multiplication tables. Knowing your tables is a great tool and minimizes the dependency on a calculator as the child grows. This need not be a boring activity they have to do sitting in one place. Say them out loud when you are driving them to school, or when you are gathered for a family meal. Ask them to write the tables on colored papers and stick them on the fridge, on their bedroom walls, or the study room.
Whenever you go shopping, ask your child to help you out with picking groceries. Ask him/her to count the exact amount of change at the cash counter. This type of learning process provides an exciting real world experience and will also introduce your child to the concept of nickels, dimes, quarters, and also know the value of money. Or a pretend shopping trip at home can teach children the basics of percentage, decimals, and fractions by utilizing concepts such as discounts and sales tax.
Play games which involve the use of dice. Every time they roll a pair of dice, ask them to perform all four arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) with the set of numbers that are face up.
The use of abacus as a learning tool is slowly gaining momentum. There are numerous books on the subject which parents can avail of. Get an abacus for your child, and teach simple calculations, the concept of tens and hundreds, and gradually advancing to more complex formulas. Learning to use the abacus will certainly aid the child in solving math problems faster and more easily.

There are countless math activities that can make learning math a fun activity. Whenever your kid finds it difficult to understand a new concept, encourage him/her, and explain whenever needed. The goal is not to memorize by rote, but understanding the basics and concepts. If he/she grasps quickly and answers questions correctly, appreciate the efforts. Heaping praise is crucial, it's the best incentive you can shower on a child to encourage him to learn new things. If you feel he/she is bored, stop. Change the subject and do not stress the child. Continuing even after they have lost interest will not work; it will turn the child away from developing a liking toward math.

Strong math skills will make your kid more successful and confident in school. All you really need is a positive attitude to inculcate a strong love for math in your kid. By using mathematical concepts on a regular basis in your daily life, you and your child will soon realize that math is not just a subject taught in school, it's a part of your way of life!

Creating a Good Study Environment for Students

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:18:00 +0000

A good study environment is as important as the studying itself. Imagine if you are a very clean and hygienic person who is made to live in a messy house. The effect is much the same when you sit with your best intentions to study, but you are sitting in a completely wrong place. Sure, you've meditated, focused, and given yourself a pep talk, but the moment you sit down to study, the fragrance of the cookies being baked in the kitchen seems to overpower you, or the sounds of the children playing in the park outside thwart your best efforts to resist temptation. Pretty soon, you are as distracted as you could possibly be, and your studying has gone for a toss! Sigh... What goes wrong every time, you wonder, when you are trying your best?!

Well, you are in the wrong place. Where you sit to study matters a lot, when you are planning to get some serious studying done. The logical question that follows then, is how to create a good study environment? So here are a few pointers that will help you in making a good study environment for yourself. Take care of these, and you will find that you are doing better by the day.

Useful Pointers for Creating a Good Study Environment

A Fresh Mind and Positive Attitude
Ahh... Starts off by sounding all preachy, huh? I'll try not to be. All I will say is that, OK, so you didn't manage your yesterday's quota of studying, and are now lagging behind by 2 chapters, or whatever it may be. You are frustrated, pissed off yet again at yourself or whoever, for not managing to stick to your timetable, and have decided that it is not going to work today either. But no! That's wrong. So wrong. Yesterday is over, done with, gone, and there is no point wallowing in what you did and didn't do. Forget all about it. Start afresh today, don't think about the timetable, or let it build pressure on you. Do as much as you can and forget the rest. Once you get in the groove, you'll pick up speed.

A Quiet Place
Imagine a wedding with lots of noise, or a crowded bus, or an emergency waiting room, and now place yourself bang in the middle of these scenarios with a book and pen. Ridiculous? Exactly. No point studying where you are going to be in the middle of some activity, or lots of noise and chaos, is there? You know as well as I do, that you will definitely not be able to study properly. A quiet place makes for an ideal study environment, so pick a suitably quiet place; not necessarily where you can hear a pin drop, but not where you have people screaming all around you either. At the same time, if too much quietness has you feeling all lonely, then you may try playing some soft music in the background to soothe and calm your nerves, and drown out other small noises that may distract you. A quiet place is very important in order to stay focused while studying.

Cheerful and Breezy
Would you possibly want to add to the gloom of studying, by sitting in a gloomy, suffocating place? Hell, no. As it is, if studying doesn't inspire much enthusiasm in you, it is a good thing if you help yourself instead of hindering yourself while studying. Choose a cool, airy place, with sufficient ventilation, maybe a little breeze even, to get a smile on your face once in a while. Make the place as cheerful as possible, so that you get past the initial stages of, "This is soo boring, this place sucks, I don't even feel like studying in this dingy place...", and so on. Place a small plant somewhere close to your study table to add to the cheer. Eliminate all possible causes of excuses, that you know you tend to make.

Light Bright, and All is Right
No, by this I obviously do not mean string fairy lights in your room, or hang up stunning chandeliers. Just a reasonable amount of lighting that will let you read properly, without putting stress on your eyes, or making them burn and water after a while. Try picking a place by the window during the daytime, and at night, make sure that you have a light that shines brightly on the book that you are reading. This is usually the best study environment. If you have to furrow your brows and hold the book very close to your eyes to try to read something, you need more lighting than you have right now. Unless you like wearing spectacles, you will want to get that extra light.

Comfortable, But Not So Much
What I used to do is, sit on my bed, leaning against the pillows (2 of them!), legs stretched out, and a blanket pulled over them, with the book placed on my thighs! More like preparing for a day of leisure in bed than some serious studying. Clearly, my parents took care of that habit, and showed me the chair. And an excellent thing called a 'study table'. Didn't like it much, but I have to admit, I got a lot more studying done, and my episodes of dozing off in the middle of a boring chapter reduced drastically. Get a nice, comfortable chair for yourself that will also help you maintain a good posture. Take it from me, you will surely be studying more than you did initially.

Getting All Your Stuff Together BEFORE You Start
This is essential, very much so. Small things can really stop you from concentrating and building a flow while studying, if, after every 15 minutes or so, you have to get up to get some notes, pencils, snacks, and what not. Plan out your 2 hours, think of all the related material that you may require, and assemble it beforehand. It's OK if you end up not using a few of the books. The one thing that amazes me is, how the moment you sit down to study, you start to feel hungry. Get a fruit or some light snack that will keep you comfortably full, without being too heavy on your tummy. Do everything possible to avoid distractions or frequent breaks while studying, and it'll pay off.

Knowing Your Limits and Setting Targets
Just because your friend got more studying done than you did, is a silly reason to get frustrated and stop studying altogether. Conversely, if your friend has completed less than you, do not relax and stop for the day, if you know you can easily do more. Seriously, this is not a competition to see who studies how much in a day. You are you, you are not your friend. He has his limits, and you have yours. Do not set unrealistic expectations for yourself. It'll only get you down. Stop asking your friend constantly how much they have finished, or telling them how much you have done. It's not helping anyone. Do what you can, and let others do the same. It's very annoying when you constantly get texts from friends that go, " Hw mch dne? M scrwd. Nly 6 chptrs dne so far. :'( U?" Seriously, keep that damn cell phone away! Set daily targets for yourself, that you are comfortable with, and do your best to achieve these targets.

Study Smart Instead of Studying Hard
Reading through the entire text like it's a storybook, is pointless. Read the important points, highlight important sentences, practice the diagrams and write the explanations for them in your own words instead of trying to learn the answer by rote, word to word from the text. Use techniques like mind mapping, logical linking of points, or short forms like the very simple VIBGYOR, to remember long lists and the like. Put up charts for various formulas, etc. This will increase the speed of your studying, and help you in getting more studying done in less time. Try it.

Studying can become quite bearable, if you do it right. I won't claim that you'll enjoy it, but the possibility cannot be denied! Now that you know how to create a good study environment, choose a place that is right for you, a time that suits you, wear comfortable clothes, and tackle those big intimidating blocks of books head on.

How to Motivate Your Child to Study

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:18:00 +0000

Parents want their children to succeed in life and they know that success comes with adequate knowledge. That is why, parents admit their children in good educational institutions to prepare them for life. The duty of parents is not just to get a good school for their child's education, but to encourage them from time to time so that their interest in learning stays on. Some children are self-motivated towards learning and are self-driven to take up challenging tasks with positive attitude. Once their goal is set, they strive hard to achieve it without having to be prodded.

On the other hand, there are children who show least interest towards learning. They are not self-motivated to learn new things in life and tend to stick to easy tasks which require less effort. They need a lot of prodding to begin with something and their negative attitude leads to disinterest in learning. Parents of such children need to take that extra effort to encourage their child to study. A systematic, strategic approach is required to inculcate interest in such children. If your child is also facing this problem, it's better to know how to motivate your child to study so that he/she can excel in every sphere of life.

Ways to Motivate Your Child to Study

Provide a Good Study Environment
A good study environment is very essential for proper learning. Disruptions and noise often disturb a child's concentration and create difficulty in studying. A quiet room with minimum disturbance and adequate lighting should be provided so that your child feels like studying in such an environment. Creating a good study environment is in the hands of parents and they must make sure to provide one to their child.

Help in Setting Achievable Goals
Helping the child set achievable goals will not only provide a clear picture to the child about what must be accomplished in a set time frame, but also help in measuring achievements. The realization of meeting the set targets will instill a sense of confidence in the child and indirectly motivate to strive for new ones.

Set Reasonable Expectations
Many parents have the habit of setting unreasonable expectations from the child, which creates undue pressure on the child's mind and results in depression when he/she fails to meet them. Therefore, parents should understand their child's ability of learning and set reasonable expectations, which can be achieved with little effort. On meeting the parent's expectations, the child will feel satisfied and work harder to perform better.

Teach the Importance of Learning
Students who lack interest in learning, usually do not know the importance of learning in their lives. That is why, they often consider it secondary and do not pay much attention to it. A child with such a mentality should be taught the importance of studies and made aware of why parents think studies are important.

Use Interesting Learning Techniques
Making learning an interesting activity can be of great help. Children usually get bored with routine study procedures, which makes them lose their interest in studies. Using techniques like fun activities and games can bring back the lost interest and motivate the child to study more often.

Concentrate on High Interest Areas
Every child has specific interest areas. Identify these areas and start with these subjects so that the child sits to study. Between the sessions of such interesting topics, include small sessions of less interesting topics so that the child gains knowledge about them as well.

Encourage the Child
Encouragement can work wonders for a person lagging behind. If a child is under depression or has failed to achieve set goals, do not complain, rather, encourage to instill a never-die-attitude in the child. Once this attitude develops, the child will work harder each time he fails and will be able to succeed.

Aid in Studying
Parents must accompany their child during studies to help them out wherever they are stuck. Many a time, children do not like to study simply because they don't understand the subject. If parents help them in solving their problems and make them understand the subject, they will definitely like to learn some more of it.

Encourage Competition
Competition can encourage a child to put in that extra effort. It is easy to encourage boys by this means because they like to stay ahead of their friends or classmates. Getting a better score can motivate the child to achieve good results.

Appreciate and Reward
A pat on the back works wonders for motivating a child. Even if the achievement is small, praise and say that you are proud. These positive words are great ways of encouragement for children. Sometimes, rewarding can also be used as a motivator. However, be sure to give reasonable rewards otherwise, they can turn heavy on the pocket.

Lack of motivation in students is a serious concern. Teachers and parents play a significant role in motivating a child to study. A little attention and encouragement can help a child to overcome reluctance towards studies and move ahead in the path of success.

Be the Best Teacher of Sources Reliability in History

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:17:00 +0000

Every history teacher knows that students complain about source questions. It's no wonder. No practicing historian would ever try to work with tiny extracts from scattered sources, taken out of context. It's a fake exercise and students sense its pointlessness. However, examiners love these exercises, so we've got to do the best we can. We can also use this exercise to get students to think creatively as historians.

Many teachers use general approaches to history sources. Analyze its content and analyze its context. Or ask a list of W's: who, why, when, where and so on. These are not bad, though in my experience they produce woolly answers and, much worse, woolly thinking. Because they are generalized, they also leave students with a sense of uncertainty. We want our history students to be precise practitioners and to enjoy history because they are confident.

I suggest we need to teach something much more precise, a system that feels more like a scientific method. The first point is that examiners question reliability separately from utility. It's a nonsense. The real question is 'what is this source reliable for?' Once you've cracked that, it is of course exactly the same as what it's useful for. Now our historians can ask a series of questions in a logical order.

Let's start with provenance. After each question add 'and what does that tell us about what it's reliable for?'

Who wrote it?
Who did they write it for?
When did they write it and what was going on at that time?
Why did they write it?
Ask the questions in this order and you have most of the information you need.

You have also got your students to think as historians about the relationship of the source and the time period to those who wrote it. Note that 'why?' comes last. You can only answer this question when you have thought about the others.

We can ask further questions about content. Again add the reliability question to each.

What tone does the writer use (e.g reasoned, overwritten)?
Does he/she say what you'd expect or not?
Does what this source says match other the evidence we have? (Often the most revealing question of all.)

These can also lead to deep discussion about the ideas that individuals used in the past. What does their use of language show? What would we expect to be in their minds?

Now you have all the information you need about what the source is reliable for. Notice that you can apply these questions both to so-called 'primary' and so-called 'secondary' sources. Surely it hardly needs saying that the two need to be treated with equal caution. They are reliable and unreliable for different things, that's all. Note also that you can't always answer all the questions. Lazy examiners often use extracts from modern history textbooks. Obviously you have to assume that any modern historian is truthful and has good research. In this case, usually only question 7 applies.

I create a diagram from these questions and make my students learn it. They use it not to answer questions (which need to be answered according to the format dictated by the examination board) but to get all the information they need before constructing their answer. The questions are a sources health check. You can create an additional, shorter one, for utility questions. We have created a method that will serve for examinations but also prompts healthy historical thinking in our students.

Once you know it, the routine only takes seconds and makes sure you don't miss any clues. It won't deliver perfect answers, but it takes the fear out of sources because you have a checklist to work through and know you won't miss anything.

Advice on Getting Into College With a Low GPA

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:16:00 +0000

Sometimes, we falter in our planning and fail to attain what we needed badly. Certain circumstances might have led you to a low GPA at the high school, and it is something you should stop brooding about now. You already have pondered enough over the issue and have understood what went wrong! I don't wish to sound negative or discouraging, but to get into the topmost and reputed college you need to have a very strong GPA; considering the rising competition and the stringent admission criteria these days. Though the GPA criterion for each college is different, it is generally higher for top educational institutes. But there is a way out and nothing is impossible even if it seems to be. So throw the negativity aside and don't let your low score give you nightmares. Be an optimist to the core and plan and hope for the best that is possible in your case. The path might be a little difficult to tread but put in all the effort you can. Read further for a piece of advice on your next academic move...

How to Get into a College with a Low GPA

There are Many Other Factors that Count
GPA is definitely the most important factor that is counted as an admission criterion by colleges. But there are many other factors through which you could improve your chances in the college application process. Try being a right candidate with the right attitude that the college authorities look for in a candidate. You can also score and improve your chances on the essay and interview front. The committee will look at you positively if you show good performance in the essay writing and interview section. Talk positive about the right skills in you and also about your past academic achievements and decisions. Even if you know you don't stand a chance, don't lose hope and give your best on all the fronts.

If there was a Valid Reason - Highlight it
If there is a valid reason you have for the low GPA score, feel free to mention it to the admission committee at the time of interview or at some other instance. Family or health issues or injury and reasons alike might have hampered your score at the high school exam. You can reason it with the admission committee by showing them your past performance. If your past performance is good they might consider your case and help you with the admission by lowering the admission criteria for you.

Score Well in the SAT Exam
Another option through which you can improve your chances in scoring well in the SAT exam, which is a standardized test for admissions to colleges in the USA. Colleges would definitely consider your case if you have low GPA score in the high school but a high SAT score.

Can You Still Improve Your Performance?
Are you in the last semester and have the opportunity to improve your GPA score for the last semester? If yes, work on it. A rise in the GPA from the previous exams will work in your favor and convey progress to the admission committee. So give your best in the last semester and brighten your chances to a certain extent.

Research on Other Options
If you have a poor and low GPA there are many other options you can consider. Joining community colleges is one good option that many students opt for. Community colleges have less fees and their admission criteria is also less stringent as compared to the colleges and universities. Performing well for the two years at community colleges paves way to get into colleges and universities. Just make sure that the college you wish to get into accepts and recognizes the score of the community college. Alternatively, you can take some other programs at the university that might help you get into the college.

Getting into a college with a low GPA is difficult but possible. Keep your confidence up and use the time to understand and find your interests. Use the low GPA as a lesson to improve your performance in the future exams. Stay positive and do not lose hope even if the circumstances are tough. All the best.

How to Memorize Formulas Quickly

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:15:00 +0000

Hazed out when you see those equations on paper? It is time to put your mind to test and solve those equations and math problems, but all that you remember is a floating palate of formulas. You just don't seem to get the exact equation. But this is normal (unless you are among those deliberately avoiding math!). For some, a sharp mind and concrete memory comes as a blessing. Some have to develop this capacity in them. With a little will power, concentration and tricks, memorizing formulas will be fun. So math, physics and other geeky subjects will no longer require nights of mugging topped with tension, fear and anxiety! Learning and understanding formulas may be tough in the beginning, as each individual has his/her own rate of grasping things. Irrespective of your IQ and memorizing capacities, you should first remove all the fear that is stored as a tag line to these formulas. Sure the many signs and numbers can scare your mind at first, but once you get rid of the fear about them, learning will be more easy. The following segment of the article has simple tips and techniques that can help you with memorizing formulas easily.

Easy Ways to Memorize Formulas Quickly

We have some simple tricks, and among these a few may sound silly to some of you. But irrespective of their stupidity, they work. So no harm in giving them a try. Here we go...

Point number one, which most of us ignore. Pay attention when these formulas are being taught and discussed. This is the basic. The human brain is curious about anything new, so it is most likely if you try to understand the formula when it is being newly taught, it is going to stay in the mind easily.
A traditional way of how to memorize formulas is to repeat and read the formula over and over again, till it gets fixed in your mind. Writing down the formula many times also helps to remember it. So read or write the formula till it is concrete in your brain.
Understand the formation of the units, equations or signs in the formula. If you observe and analyze by dividing it in sets as the formula progresses to the answer, you will be able to understand the formula deeply, and not just remember it by mugging.
Relate the formula with something that you can easily remember. For example even in complex and long formulas, where you have to parrot the formula, you can use this trick. Associate the numbers, operands, and variables to certain elements, that are non mathematical. Like the alphabets can stand as names of flowers, animals, food, and toys. In fact, anything that you can easily remember.
Then once you name each of the units in the formula, visualize a short story, the way the formula progresses. Once you segment the formula well in a story, put it back slowly understanding what came after which sign or alphabet. This may sound funny, but it works.
Mentally scribble the formula in your head. Close your eyes and visualize a blank platform. Keeping the eyes closed, try to visualize writing the formula in this blank space in your mind. As if you are writing with your memory.
A simple option is to see the formulas whenever and wherever possible. Make small notes, post it or write it down on paper and stick this on the fridge, the table, your room, next to anything that you are most likely to see the whole day.
Never memorize formulas at one glance and sleep at night, thinking it will seep into the brain. You cannot skip repeating the formula to learn it. Unless you have super powers or are a super genius, one look at the formula cannot help you remember it.
Pick up the key units or alphabets in the formula, and then start filling them in between. This may get confusing in the beginning. But once you locate the key, you can unlock the rest of the formula easily.
Learn the formula in a specific pattern. It can be a specific rhyme or tune that you can learn it in. This will help the brain collect it the way it is, as soon as you start recalling it in the same tune or rhyme. You can also learn it in the form of a game or math riddles and puzzles.
Always keep your tummy well fed before you sit down to study. Hunger and thirst is a big distraction to the brain. (**do not fill your tummy to the extent that you fall asleep**).
Keep a positive attitude and mindset. Relax yourself and take a deep breath. Convince yourself that this is not impossible and you can do it.

These were some simple and basic techniques to memorize formulas. Think of formulas as a smaller goal that needs to be achieved to reach bigger goals, like good grades, good career and the list goes on. Formulas are basic and the foundation of mathematics and similar. Once you get these right, no equation or problem will be difficult, even in the future. So get going and start memorizing your formulas, they sure look nasty, but they are the ones that give you your grades and eventually shape quality education for you. All the best!

Career Options for Dietitians

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:14:00 +0000

With rising nutritional awareness among people, the demand for dietitians has also increased manifold. Dietitians are required in many sectors, be it in sports to guide sportsmen or in the community health service sector. The work of a dietitian involves advising people to make the right food choices that are healthy for them. They motivate people to eat nutritious food and may also suggest dietary changes based on the individual's health condition and body requirements. If you are planning to become a dietitian, a look into the coming paragraphs will guide you through the multitude of options that are available.

Becoming a Dietitian:-

A bachelor's degree in nutritional science or any related field is the minimum requirement to become a dietitian. There are various degrees and diplomas ranging between two to four years duration. The candidate generally has to study biology, food science and mathematics at this level and gains all the knowledge of the food contents. To increase the job credibility a student may take specialized courses that are supported by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). The candidates who have passed from recognized universities and colleges can also take up a certificate course to become a registered dietitian. A candidate also goes through internship that trains him in the actual working style before he chooses a career.

Career as a Dietitian - The Various Options

1: Clinical Dietitian: Clinical dietitians are required in clinics or hospitals to cater to the needs of patients. They are also required in fitness and wellness centers to suggest a proper diet plan for the members. They devise a diet plan for each patient based on the health of the patient and requirements. A person with a heart ailment may require a different diet than a person with a kidney stone problem. Dietitians being nutritional experts make a diet plan for the patients that is suitable and may also help fast recovery. The established hospitals and clinics mostly hire registered dietitians.

2: Consulting Dietitian: Consulting dietitians have their own private clinics and individuals generally consult them for the right diet plan that best suits to solve their problem. Dietitians may suggest the diet plan for a person aiming for weight loss, or a person with diabetes or designing a nutritious diet for children. They consult the patients on a one to one basis to formulate the best diet plan.

3: Sports Dietitian: A nutritious diet is very important for a sports person and sports teams generally hire an expert dietitian to look after the needs of the players. Experience is a key factor to become a sports dietitian, and he generally travels world over with the team. There are some specialized programs you can take to become a sports dietitian.

4: Public Health Dietitian: A public health dietitian encourages healthy eating habits among the community by creating awareness about the significance of a balanced diet. They may even suggest diet modifications to people and motivate them to incorporate the changes in the diet. Public health dietitians generally work in the government health sector and organization.

5: Administrative Dietitian: An administrative dietitian works with big establishments like educational institutes, corporate houses, cafeterias, diet of army professionals, prisons etc., They are responsible for devising a healthy diet plan for the individuals in these organizations. They monitor overall health facilities, concerning food, at the place.

6: In Research: The research sector includes food and beverage companies that want to add quality to their products by making them nutritious. Dietitians have an important role to play in this sector. Research may also include dietitians working to improve the nutritional content of food.

Mentioned above were the various career options that are available for a dietitian. There is high potential for career growth in this sector as nutrition is a vast field with a bright future. Considering these factors the pay is also quite good, although a lot of factors can influence it. So, hone all your skills that also include communication and patient care skills and choose a career option that best suits you.

How to Make your Own Montessori Materials at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:14:00 +0000

Before we explore the domain of crafting Montessori materials at home, let us learn a little about what Montessori education is about. It will help you gain a better approach while designing materials and teaching aids to use in your Montessori nursery. The founder of Montessori theory, Maria Montessori, was a wise woman indeed. A physician and an educator, she devised an educational approach, a teaching philosophy that has since laid the foundation of many a schooling principles. Montessori education refers to a teaching technique that is based on human tendencies. When a baby is born, it has certain ways and channels through which it learns about the world around it. There are different abilities of the human brain that help the baby understand its surroundings. These include such techniques as exploration, communication, manipulation of the surroundings. Children learn by means of 'copying' actions, words, etc. This is called repetition. Finally as the baby grows up and becomes a young child, he/she learns about such things as order, imagination, abstraction, and they develop a mathematical ability as well.

All these are means by which a newborn 'learns' as it grows up. Education can and should support the development of these basic fundamental abilities of learning that almost every human being is born with. It should supply to and facilitate the development of these skills. In other words, it should fuel fluid intelligence. This is exactly what the principle of Montessori education is.

How To Make Montessori Materials?

The age period 0 to 6 years is most crucial in the child's development with respect to learning abilities and their strengthening. To encourage freedom, choice and independence, it is important to devise study material that will encourage the same qualities in the child, especially during preschool or kindergarten. Montessori philosophy applied in preschool can show amazing benefits. Here are some tips on various techniques, tips, tricks and teaching aids that you can adapt in your Montessori nursery school.

1. To Develop Language/Speaking
Tip: Audio Clips
When we say a dog barks, a cat meows, and a horse neighs, we know what sound is 'barking', what sound is 'meowing' and what is 'neighing'. But how would a child who has never seen a horse learn to recognize the sound? Hence teaching may be accompanied with audio clips. Audio clips are also a good way to teach students how to say new words, how to make different sounds with their mouths so that they can learn pronunciation as well.

2. To Develop Auditory Skills
Tip: Music and Dance
Appreciation of music can be a good way to develop auditory skills in children. Making them clap on beat, or dance in tandem with the music would help them to identify sound patterns. You can ask them to repeat a few lines of the song so they understand the difference between high and low pitches, or high and low volumes. Music and dance will also allow them to develop coordination skills, dexterity and other such traits.

3. To Develop Writing
Tip: Sand Tray, Letter block
A tray filled with sterilized sand may be used instead of a notebook and a pencil to teach the alphabet. This is going to be a fun way to learn, rather than writing in a book. As the kids learns the alphabet, they may be given books and pencils to start writing the proper way. Another way would be to use letter blocks to make words. You can encourage them to make different words out of the same set of alphabet blocks. It will improve their organization skills as well and will familiarize them with the technique of permutation and combination.

4. To Develop Mathematical Ability
Tip: Games and Tasks
Learning two plus two equals four on a blackboard may be boring. But if you bring in colorful balls and devise games that include passing the balls to each other, or putting all red colored balls together, such games would help children understand how mathematics actually works. When you say 'minus', make one of the children return a ball to you. When you say 'plus', give them a new ball. Games make concepts easy to understand.

5. To Develop Emotional Intelligence
Tip: Cartoons
Cartoons can be a fun way to learn about human expressions, emotions, sentiments and feelings. Encouraging emotional intelligence in children is probably one of the best things you can do! Children are able to pick up on expressions very well. That is why you do not need to verbally tell a child you are upset because he/she stole cookies from the cookie jar - they already know when their mischief has upset you! However, stories told through cartoons can teach children the importance of sharing, helping, etc.

6. To Develop Organization Skills
Tip: Grouping and Sorting Exercises
Organization skills can be learned through different games and exercises that involve grouping and segregation activities - sort out all apples and oranges, sort out all squares/blocks from balls, etc. Pattern recognition is an important aspect of learning, and this can be developed through such exercises. Another way would be to adopt a protocol wherein the children tidy the classroom before they leave, putting things back in their places and keeping them in neat order.

7. To Promote Social Behavior
Tip: Meals and Play
A school is the child's first exposure to any kind of a social atmosphere - where it is not just parents, nanny and the child. Encouraging and developing a social attitude is hence elementary of any school. The best way to do this is to encourage sharing - sharing food, sharing playthings, sharing toys, etc. Meals can be had by sitting at a common lunch table. There has to be at least one group activity everyday, which requires all the children in the class to come together and work as one.

Some Common Tips

The furniture in the classroom such as tables, chairs, beds, books, shelves, should be of such dimensions as to suit the children in the classroom so that they learn independently how to sit on a chair, how to use a table, how to pull things off a shelf, etc. Inculcating freedom and independence is a fundamental of Montessori education.
Do not have a set routine or schedule as to which activity is done at which time. Encourage the children to engage themselves in activities that appeal to them the most.
Do not assist a child unless the child asks for it. Encourage them to try doing things on their own. Show them the way to do it, and then let them understand, absorb and implement the technique on their own.

Montessori is not just a synonym for preschool, as you may have recognized by now. It is a teaching approach. It is not so difficult to make Montessori materials at home. The three important 'E's to remember are - easy, effective and encouraging. Design your Montessori materials along the above guidelines, and you are sure to be loved as a Montessori teacher!

Teaching History and Literature Together

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:13:00 +0000

Over the years, English teachers have often debated the merits of teaching history and literature together. Should students know the history that inspired the literature, or should students be left to make up their own minds about a piece of literature before knowing the historical context? Many schools now offer classes in literature and history that are to be taken during the same semester, or that are co-taught by an English and History teacher together. Either way, knowledge of historical context can bring a new perspective to a piece of literature, and important fiction can speak volumes about the way a specific period of time was viewed by its contemporaries. Teaching history with the aid of primary sources (i.e. fictional literature, nonfiction essays from the time period, etc.) can also broaden the perspective of history further than a textbook. Now, few would argue that each subject breathes new life into the other, but there are many ways to go about it.

Teaching History before Literature

Many English teachers, if not paired with a History teacher, like to start a unit by giving some historical context to their students. This can be as simple as explaining the censorship taking place during the Cold War before starting to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, a book about censorship in which books are burnt in order to keep the public from knowing certain things. In this way, the book can be seen as a social commentary within the historical period during which it was written. This also means that events in books, and in the history surrounding those books, can be compared to modern times, giving students a new perspective on events going on around them in the real world.

Teaching Literature before History

Some teachers want students to apply fiction to the real world before teaching them about the reason it was actually written. In the case of "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, for example, some teachers want their students to make up their own minds about why the female protagonist seemingly loses her sanity before they tell the students that the story was actually written at a time during which women had almost no rights and were totally controlled by their husbands. When students have certain assumptions about something, it can be very interesting to open their minds by suggesting something about the reason the book was written. This can also work very well if the teacher has access to an interview about the literature the author has given. After the students decide what the piece is about, have them listen to or read what the author thought the piece was about and see if they match up.

Banned Books

Understanding history can also help students understand why certain books have been banned through time. Huckleberry Finn, for example, is currently being challenged because of offensive words in the text. However, an understanding of history can teach students why those words were chosen in the first place, and open up unique discussions about the meanings of words and why we should or shouldn’t use them.

A Combination of Both

No matter what you teach, incorporating other subjects makes the learning experience richer for the student. It helps solidify information and makes them think more about what they’re reading aside from simply identifying characters and plot points.Teaching history and literature in any combination can help all students make connections between our time and times past, and help them learn how to not repeat the mistakes of our predecessors.

Pros and Cons of Single Sex Schools

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:34:00 +0000

I am sure that this article has been viewed by several young parents who are in the process of searching the best schools for their first child. Choosing an appropriate school might be a dilemma for some of you, but trust me, this problem is quite common all around the world. Parents generally choose co-ed schools or single gender schools based on the nature of their own schooling or their social upbringing. If you are looking for the pros and cons of single gender schools, then you have landed on just the perfect article.

Pros of Single Sex Schools

As a general observation, girls are seen to excel better in languages, arts and social sciences, while boys are more inclined towards mathematics and sciences. With a few exceptions, this observation is valid in majority of cases. This inclination to excellence in a particular field is on account of differences in brain development, ways of mental processing and responses to senses between the two sexes. Single gender schools can help children of a particular gender to excel in their key strong points.
It is observed that girl students from gender specific schools excel better in sports activities while boys excel in arts and dramatics if they learn in an environment without fear of ridicule from the opposite gender.
Single gender schools generally appoint teaching faculty of the same gender as that of students, viz. Girls schools usually have female teaching staff while boys schools usually have male teaching staff. This helps to enhance comfort level and increase interaction between students and teaching staff.
Single gender schools may help young students to look out for careers beyond the gender specific stereotypical professions. With exposure to different career options in a single gender education environment, students can freely choose their dream profession without any genetic bias.
There are certain soft skills and leadership skills that are generally associated with female students only. However, such skills can be equally developed by students of both genders in a single gender education system.
One really important advantage of single gender schools is that it allows the desired level of privacy and confidentiality that students crave for around the puberty stage of their lives.
It is easier for students to cope with pressures of studies, if classes are tailor-made to suit their gender.

Cons of Single Sex Schools

Drawing from the principles general child psychology, there is a general attraction between children of opposite sexes once they are at the onset of puberty. For girls, puberty generally starts by age 10 and ends by 17 while for boys, it starts by age 12 and ends by 18. Studies show that children enrolled in single gender schools, either tend to become more aggressive towards the opposite sex as adults or tend to be ignorant about the opposite gender, and are said to be poor social performers. These are the two extreme effects of single sex schooling but can be dealt if parents and teachers give due attention to the problem.
Single gender schools negate the chances of flow of ideas and studying technique between both the genders. During highereducation, students from single gender schools find it difficult to study in work groups designed to comprise both the genders. This is not on account of shyness but personal discomfort for free interaction with the opposite gender. In a way, single gender schools do not help the students to prepare for real life.
Such schools do not allow healthy academic competition between both the genders. Students may feel stressed with sudden academic competition from the opposite gender once they graduate from schools for higher education.
Single gender schools are capable of creating a gender disparity in minds of students from a young age.

As parents, you will need to understand your own preferences after you go through both the sides of this dilemma. I know, it will not be an easy choice as we tend to doubt our own decisions sometimes. If you do happen to enroll your child in single sex schools then all you need to do is ensure that you help your child in bridging the gap to help achieve what is lacking in his/her education system.

Creating a Multicultural Classroom Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

As the world is turning into a smaller place, diversity of culture becomes an integral part of today's society. Everyone is everywhere! You will find Americans, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Hispanics etc., all together under a single roof in schools, universities and work places.

Accepting a multicultural environment can be easily inculcated in today's youth through their classrooms. It is the best and most important place to teach about different cultures, as that's where you'll find kids from diverse cultures growing up and learning together. If children are exposed to a multicultural environment right from their academic years, it will be really easy for them to get along with children from other cultures. It will also cultivate in them the value of respecting other cultures and religions.

The responsibility of creating a multicultural environment in a classroom, lies mainly in the hands of the teachers and the management of the school. It is important that the school authorities and teachers themselves believe in a healthy multicultural environment which treats everyone as equals. There should be no sort of bias based on cast, creed, color, race, etc. It is easy to identify who comes from which culture, just by their appearance, though accepting them as they are is what needs to be taught to the young ones.

What A School Can Do

Language
A school should facilitate its students with an option of choosing a second language, which could be their native language. Children may not be well-versed with English but with other languages like Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, etc. Therefore, students should have an option of learning and studying in their own language too. It is certain, that if they were tested in their native language, they could do equally well.

Library
A library should have books and other study material for children from all cultures. Translation books and dictionaries should be made easily accessible in the library. It will certainly be difficult for a kid to read, write and speak in English, when he/she has used Spanish as his/her first language all his/her life.

Celebrate and Familiarize with Different Cultures
Every culture has some unique features and practices. Schools should celebrate the main festivals of students coming from different cultures in a small way. This can be done by asking students to describe their festivals to the class and to showcase the staple things that belong to their culture. In this way, children from different cultures will feel important, other children will get an opportunity to understand different cultures, and the overall interaction of the kids will increase.

Strict Action Against Racism
Racist comments are very common in schools, especially for children of different races. Strict action should be taken against anyone who is found making racist comments or acts. A racist act on anyone in the form of an action or words can be very hurtful and demoralizing for the victim. Giving punishments to the wrong-doer will bring a sense of security to the new students and will teach students to take responsibility of their own actions.

Academic Curriculum
The academic curriculum will have to be structured in a way, that it does not focus or brag about any one particular culture or community. To make a multicultural classroom environment, a little bit from every culture should be embedded in the academic curriculum. This way, a multicultural view and perspective will dwell in the minds of children.

Variety of Instructional Approaches
Children coming from different cultures will have different understanding levels and grasping capacities for different teaching methods. It is very important to improvise the way children are taught and instructed. Use of PPTs, movies, audio clips etc., should be made to describe and explain different concepts and things. For, if one has not seen or known one particular thing, then merely reading up on it will not make him/her understand it. Many times a visual or an audio clip helps in understanding a concept better.

Keep a Variety of Activities
There should be a variety in the activities performed in school because, children can be good at different activities. By adding a variety, kids are exposed to all sorts of activities which enhances their overall development. Therefore all sorts of activities like sports, drama, singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, etc., should be inculcated in the curriculum. Varied activities bring children together leaving behind their differences. In this way, children with similar interests will come together, creating a healthy multicultural environment.

What Teachers Can Do

To bring a multicultural environment into a classroom, it's not just the structure of the academic curriculum and the activities organized that need to be changed, but also the approach of the teachers toward the students. A teacher plays an important role in the upbringing of the children and in bridging the cultural gaps in them. It can also be difficult for the teacher to adjust with kids from different cultures, as they behave in a different way, and can be considered as rude or harsh. Here's what teachers can do to build a healthy multicultural environment in the classroom.

Learn About Different Cultures
As the first step to create a multicultural environment, teachers should first learn about different cultures. Once they have understood how people from different cultures behave, it will be easier for them to understand what a child is trying to communicate. Also after teachers know how children are, he/she will not get offended by their opinions and reactions.

Appreciate the Differences
As a teacher, they can learn to appreciate the differences that pertain in children coming from different regions. They can have a different tone and diction while talking, and expressing themselves. Also, how they perceive the term 'school' or 'a teacher' can also be different. Many students blindly believe their teachers, assuming that everything that they say is correct. A teacher should show gestures of appreciation and understanding in front of the class, so that other students can see it and learn the same.

Variety in Teaching Technique
There should be a variety in the techniques used by the teacher while teaching. This is because many children will not be able to understand everything taught through speech or reading. It is essential that video, audio clips, and other means of technology are used whenever possible. These methods increase the understanding of whatever children learn in class.

A Teacher Should Choose the Project Partner
It is obvious that a student will choose his/her friend when a project or a group assignment is assigned to him/her. But what a teacher can do is, instead of giving this option to the students, she/he can pair students coming from different backgrounds. Even if they initially refrain or look hesitant in communicating and approaching each other, soon they will get talking and will try to explain things to each other. This will definitely increase the interaction and the understanding between the kids. The teacher meanwhile should observe how children are behaving and reacting, and then make changes accordingly to help them out.

There are many benefits associated with creating a multicultural environment in a classroom. It encourages cooperative social skills in children, and creates the feeling and understanding of unity in diversity. It also helps the children coming from different walks of life to feel comfortable with other children and have a boosted self-esteem. All of this in turn only does good to the society on a whole, as tomorrow these children are going to be the citizens of the world.

How to Make a Grassland Ecosystem Diorama

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

A diorama is a three-dimensional model representation of a thing or an event. Dioramas can be as small as can fit in a shelf or as big as a room. Museums often employ artists to make life-size dioramas to depict important events or people. Dioramas as a school project can be a creative way to learn about different concepts of physics, different events in history, or different phenomena in biological and ecological sciences. One such concept that can be effectively explained using a diorama is an ecosystem, or a biome. A diorama can give the exact 3D representation of what a forest or grassland actually looks like. Here is a guideline to make your own grassland ecosystem diorama.

Things You Need

Shoe box or file box
Origami paper
Coloring material (poster colors, oil paints, watercolors, etc.)
Pens and pencils (including markers, ball pens, sketch pens, etc.)
Modeling clay
Specimens of grass and plants
Toy animals
Miscellaneous material (scissors, superglue, tape, etc.)

Steps to Make a Grassland Ecosystem Diorama

Dioramas that depict ecosystems can make good and easy science fair projects. Here are some simple steps to make a grassland ecosystem diorama.

Sketch a diagram of the kind of diorama you plan to make. It will work as a guideline. Make sure you include all elements of a grassland in it.
Use a shoe box, or a file box to make the diorama. You can throw the lid of the box away. Place the box on a table such that the broadest side rests on the table. Now cut off one of the walls of the box. So you will have a box with two walls on the sides, one wall at the back, and a broad flat bottom or base.
Stick sky blue colored Origami paper on the walls of the box to create the sky. Use white oil paint to paint clouds on it. You can even tease it with cotton to give it a 3D effect.
Take brown modeling clay and lay it on the surface of the box. Make a layer thick enough to hold inserted grass or twigs. Do not flatten the clay completely. (The earth's surface is never completely flat!) An option to this can be to use foam. An inch-thick sheet of foam can be pasted on the surface of the box. You can now apply a thin layer of modeling clay on top of the foam so that it looks more realistic.
Now paste the grass specimens you have collected on the clay. You can dig out the clay to expose the foam beneath and paste the grass to the foam (it might not stick to the clay). If the grass is hard enough you can simply stick it through the clay and into the foam.
Use modeling clay to make a trough or a pit. Line the trough or pit with blue modeling clay and pour some water into it. This will create a stream or a lake in your diorama.
Use toy animals in the diorama. These would include antelope, deer, wolves, hyenas, tigers, rabbits, and many more. If you want to get really creative, you can make papier-mâché animals and stick them in your grassland ecosystem diorama. Use sketch pens and markers to add details wherever required.

Some General Tips

Study the nature of grasslands found around your city or in your state. Try to read up as much as you can about them. If possible, collect grass specimens by visiting a nearby grassland. If you are allergic to pollen, take adequate care when you go to collect specimens.
Supplement your diorama with a small information leaflet. Stick it on a cardboard and stand the cardboard next to your diorama. You can supplement it with photographs that you clicked on your visit to a grassland to collect specimens. If the diorama is going to be a part of an exhibition, you can distribute copies of the leaflet to people who come to see your diorama. (Of course, first take your teacher's permission!)
Be responsible when you visit a grassland ecosystem to study it. See to it that your visit to the grassland has as little an impact on the ecosystem as possible. Make sure you do not pluck any rare specimens when you visit the grassland. Instead you may click pictures. Also, some grasses can be harmful to humans too. Make sure you can identify and avoid these.

So now you know how to make a grassland ecosystem diorama. It is not as difficult as it seems. Dioramas are a great way to develop your creative skills and to learn about new things at the same time. Hope you make a really good grassland ecosystem diorama!

Distance Learning Vs. Classroom Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:58:00 +0000

Education is an important aspect in a person's life. People acknowledge this fact, and hence spend a lot of time and thought about which school they want to put their children into, which college or university they would like to get their children admitted into, what kind of courses they think are going to prove beneficial to their children, etc. Along with the actual field or discipline one chooses to study, the method of learning is also important. Distance learning and classroom learning are two types of education systems that come with their own pros and cons. However, before we take a look at them, let us try to understand both these methods of learning.

Understanding the Concepts
Distance learning is defined as a form of education in which the source of information or knowledge and the students are separated by time and space. Hence online learning, e-learning, home learning, everything is included in distance learning.

As opposed to distance learning, classroom learning is the traditional method of teaching or education in which all the students of a course are united in a class, with a teacher. Classroom learning is something we are all familiar with, for we have all received a major chunk of our primary education by attending classes in a classroom.

Distance Learning vs. Classroom Learning - Advantages and Disadvantages
Distance education, it is claimed, was first offered by the University of London as early as the 1850s. Distance learning is hence quite old. However, it is a concept that is gaining popularity now. As people are becoming more receptive to new ways and methods of learning, distance learning is gaining more followers. However, some people still believe in the old school method of classroom learning. Here is an account of distance learning vs. classroom learning.

Distance Learning
Advantages	Disadvantages
Pace of Learning: Different students will find different concepts difficult. When you enroll in a distance learning program, you can study it at your own pace, spending more time on concepts you find difficult and less on those you find easy. The structure of the course is hence less rigid. Study Hours: You can choose your study hours when in a distance learning course. This leaves you enough time to pursue your other interests. Independent Learning: The information or knowledge you acquire will have greater scope in case of a distance learning course. Your knowledge will not remain confined to your course material or the teacher or professor. You can explore the domain that interests you, and you can choose the depth to which you want to study a subject. Time, Money and Comfort: Distance learning saves a lot of time and money with respect to traveling. Other expenses like stationary material, bags, books, etc. can also be saved on. Plus you can choose a study environment you are most comfortable with - your room, the terrace garden, or a local cafe.	No Teacher: This is the most significant disadvantage of distance learning. With no teacher around, you have to learn completely on your own. You do not have somebody who will explain things to you that you don't understand. Personality Development: Distance learning cannot add all those facets to your personality that a classroom learning course would. You may not develop such traits as confidence, assertiveness, ability to mix up with people, make friends, etc. Limits Social Interaction: One of the benefits of classroom learning is that it allows you to meet different kinds of people. It gives you the opportunity to learn about different cultures. This will not happen in a distance learning course. Periodic Evaluation: A teacher in a classroom sees to it that students fare well in all the subjects. Apart from the regular exams that are conducted a teacher may hold quizzes, or surprise tests to evaluate students. This doesn't happen in a distance learning program. You may not always be able to evaluate yourself properly.
Classroom Learning
Advantages	Disadvantages
Presence of a Teacher: A teacher is an indispensable catalyst in education, in my opinion. A teacher can guide the students well. He/she can help them understand difficult concepts, and thereby develop efficient studying techniques. This is the biggest advantage of classroom learning. Group Study: A classroom provides the perfect setting to fuel brainstorming and group study. Helping each other is one of the best ways to clear your concepts and strengthen them. You can learn how to prepare better for your exams by taking tips from each other. Presentations: Oral presentations and seminars give you the opportunity to get over stage fright and gain confidence too. This goes a long way in making you more able when you step into the professional world. Wider Exposure: In terms of subjects you study as well as people you meet, classroom education gives you a wider exposure. Through interaction with students from different disciplines, you can better evaluate your own interests and choose a career that is perfect for you. In the process, you may even make friends for life, who knows!	Rigid Structure: Classroom learning has a rather rigid structure with respect to the studying pattern, evaluation methods, strategy to tackle different topics, etc. Much of this depends on the teacher and how he/she approaches different concepts. This can itself become a limiting factor. Peer Pressure: Peer pressure is a significant and unavoidable aspect of classroom learning. An education should give you an opportunity to make a life you desire, irrespective of your family background. However, peer pressure can prove to be a negative influence to this. Pressure to have good friends, wear good clothes, use certain gadgets, do certain things can affect students rather deeply. Innovation: At times the rigid structure of learning can limit the growth and scope of a student's creativity and innovation. Classroom learning may not always provide an environment that is conducive to developing such traits as imagination, novelty, etc. An Expensive Affair: Classroom learning can be a lot more expensive in terms of course material, tuition fees, accommodation fees, commutation expenses and myriad other expenses.

So that was an account of distance learning vs. classroom learning. In my opinion, an education system that incorporates the benefits of both and tries to minimize the disadvantages of both would be the best for students. Already a lot of schools and universities are opting for blended learning - a method that incorporates mobile learning, classroom learning as well as online learning. The day isn't too far when everyone will adopt this method of learning.

A Qualitative Study - Memory Improvement

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:40:00 +0000

Memory, quantity and quality, is not constant amongst humans. A great chasm exists between the extremes of memory. David A. Sousa (2006) states, "Memories are formed when a group of neurons fires together when activated." Some memory is short. This is not a statement of value or preference. Not all memory is permanent. Useless data, or bits of knowledge, should be allowed to decay. This is beneficial.

The mind remains uncluttered with useless information. More engrams, or memory traces, (Sousa, 2006) are allowed to form providing more and better quality memory and easily retrievable memory. Even testing can be a tool for enhancing memory (Pashler, 2007). Memory volume and quality, consider to be a characteristic of intelligence, can be enhanced. A good memory is a desired personality trait.

Woolfolk (2010) provides a list of a suggested top ten list for improving memory. The list includes: 1) paying attention, 2) creating associations, 3) viewing pictures, 4) practicing, 5) listening, 6) use tools such as Post-It notes, Microsoft Outlook or electronic organizers, 7) when and where a fact was presented, 8) getting more sleep, 9) consider using a rhyme or jingle, and 10) relaxing.

The use of classroom tools - computers, calculators, visual aids, models, whiteboard illustrations, videos, some audio presentations, and the use of the Internet should benefit students in most age categories and grade levels. The teacher can administer all of these factors. One of the factors, getting more sleep, can only be suggested.

Sousa (2006), suggests factors which affect leaning (memory) retention. These factors include: firstly, rehearsal - the repetition and processing of information and secondly, hierarchical retention of new knowledge, during learning episodes indicating that what comes first is remembered the best, that which comes last is the 2nd best memory, and that which is in the middle is the least memorized. During learning episodes, other factors are present. The teaching of new material should precede any other teaching material. Length of the teaching episode is important. The longer the learning, the shorter the memory. Teaching methods are crucial to the retention of memory. Sousa (2006) has constructed a pyramid. The bottom of the pyramid suggests the most effect retention - doing. Verbal processing is at the top of the pyramid, suggesting that this is the least effective. Verbal/visual is in the middle of the pyramid.

Craik (1972) wrote that three factors exist to increase memory retention and recall. These factors are depth (depth of meaningfulness), elaboration (amount of processing or thinking harder), and distinctiveness (difference or uniqueness). Note that the concept of thinking harder is contrary to Sousa's belief that thinking harder is detrimental to the cause of memory. These suggestions are most applicable at the higher levels of public school education and the college level. Meaningful, in-depth, varied, and elaborate use of facts and new knowledge accompanied with demonstration and examples will promote memory retention and subsequent recall of facts, data, concepts, and ideas. Much of this will be easily transferable into the student's changing educational exposure and should provide a good basis for the utilization of these mental skills once the formal educational process is completed.

An additional tips and techniques list, provide by Jafee-Gill (2010), collaborate with the Woolfolk and Sousa lists, but includes new factors. The memory enhancing list includes: 1) paying attention, 2) Taylor's information to individual learning style, 3) involve as many senses as possible, 4) relate to previous knowledge, 5) organize information, 6) understand and interpret difficult material, 7) rehearse information, 8) be motivated and stay positive, and mnemonic clues ( visual images, first-letter-of-sentence structure, use acronyms, rhymes, jokes, information chunking, and landmark association). Jafee-Gills tips considerations can provide a better understanding into the workings of the memory. This list would be most useful at the high school level and college level. Involving as many senses as possible and raising the voice and the use of inflection of the voice would be helpful in keeping students awake and attentive. Frequent use of videos and Internet movies and vu-graphs will affect a higher level of memory.

The University of Alberta (2006) in providing their list supports many of the same findings. The University version of the list tips includes: 1) pay attention in class, 2) take effective notes, 3) remember the three R's - repeat, relevant, recent, 4) use mnemonics, 5) generate examples, 6) use visual imagery, 7) make associations, and 8) rehearsal. This list also has similarities with the Woolfolk, Sousa, and Jafee-Gill lists. This list would indicate that, at the lower grade level, especially, since young minds tend to wander, classroom teachers should make sure that students are paying attention and that many pictures and models are used. At the higher levels, the teacher might be well-versed in insuring that note taking, examples, and associations are utilized.

Many suggestions to helping memory become more permanent and more recallable are available. The tips and techniques offered are varied and; at the same time, they are similar in many respects. Which of the tips and techniques will work most efficiently in the teacher's classroom will depend on the age, personality, topic(s) presented, time allowed, financial resources, abilities of the teacher and teacher experience, and the generalized educational environment of the school. The teacher does not work alone. She/he performs teaching activities, which, to some extent, are controlled by school administrators and governmental policy makers. Nonetheless, the teacher has the greatest control of teaching styles and techniques. The teacher is influential in the effectiveness of student memory retention. Many of the techniques in this study can well apply to the teacher. The teacher is a student as well. Some of her education is formal (continuation credits at the university level, decision for working towards an advanced degree) and some is informal (school attendance at informative meetings of peers, off-site conventions, travel, and self-directed educational prowess).

List of Some Irregular Verbs

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:39:00 +0000

The very description of the verb, "irregular" tells you that these verbs do not adhere to the established rules like other verbs do. They do not have a set standard which they follow; they follow their own rules. Now, regular verbs have three basic forms, namely, the present, which is also referred to as the base form, past, and the past particle. While a verb travels from the base form to the past tense, one usually tends to end it by affixing -ed to the verb and that's exactly how it should be done. For example:

I always finish my work before time. (Base form)
He finished his work before time. (Past tense)
We have always finished our work before time. (Past participle)

On the other hand, irregular verbs do not end in -ed in either of the forms mentioned above. They are usually distinguished in three types.

Verbs in which all the three forms remain intact or rather the same. (Such as the verb cut)
Verbs in which two of the three forms are same. (Such as; sit -sat -sat)
Verbs in which all three forms are different. (Such as; ring -rang -rung)

This means the verbal conjugation is not fixed, so you need to memorize the specific conjugation for the respective irregular verb. Since there are no rules or pattern one has to follow in order to learn the conjugation of these irregular verbs, all you have to do is keep your ears open and learn, so that you don't misspeak. A firm grasp over these irregular verbs, displays your command over the language and as English speakers it is our responsibility to use these irregular verbs correctly. When you come across an irregular verb, note down all the possible conjugates and try to place them properly in all the three forms mentioned above while constructing a sentence. There are a little less than 200 verbs which are classified as irregular verbs, this article includes some of the most commonly used irregular verbs in English.

Irregular Verbs List
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

*Base Form*	*Past Tense*	*Past Participle*
A
Arise	Arose	Arisen
Awake	Awoke	Awoken
Top
B
Beat	Beat	Beaten
Become	Became	Become
Be	Was/were	Been
Begin	Began	Begun
Bend	Bent	Bent
Bet	Bet	Bet
Bite	Bit	Bitten
Bleed	Bled	Bled
Blow	Blew	Blown
Buy	Bought	Bought
Breed	Bred	Bred
Break	Broke	Broken
Bring	Brought	Brought
Build	Built	Built
Burn	Burnt/burned	Burnt/burned
Burst	Burst	Burst
Top
C
Catch	Caught	Caught
Choose	Chose	Chosen
Come	Came	Come
Cost	Cost	Cost
Creep	Crept	Crept
Cut	Cut	Cut
Top
D
Deal	Dealt	Dealt
Do	Did	Done
Draw	Drew	Drawn
Dream	Dreamt/dreamed	Dreamt/dreamed
Drive	Drove	Driven
Drink	Drank	Drunk
Dig	Dug	Dug
Top
E
Eat	Ate	Eaten
Top
F
Fall	Fell	Fallen
Feed	Fed	Fed
Feel	Felt	Felt
Fly	Flew	Flown
Forbid	Forbade	Forbidden
Forgive	Forgave	Forgiven
Forget	Forgot	Forgotten
Fight	Fought	Fought
Find	Found	Found
Freeze	Froze	Frozen
Top
G
Give	Gave	Given
Go	Went	Gone
Get	Got	Got
Grow	Grew	Grown
Top
H
Have	Had	Had
Hear	Heard	Heard
Hold	Held	Held
Hide	Hid	Hidden
Hit	Hit	Hit
Hang	Hung	Hung
Hurt	Hurt	Hurt
Top
I
Inbreed	Inbred	Inbred
Input	Input	Input
Interbreed	Interbred	Interbred
Interwind	Interwound	Interwound
Interweave	Interwove	Interwoven
Top
K
Keep	Kept	Kept
Know	Knew	Known
Top
L
Lay	Laid	Laid
Lie	Lay	Lain
Leap	Leapt/leaped	Leapt/leaped
Learn	Learnt/learned	Learnt/learned
Lead	Led	Led
Leave	Left	Left
Lend	Lent	Lent
Lean	Leant/leaned	Leant/leaned
Let	Let	Let
Light	Lit	Lit
Lose	Lost	Lost
Top
M
Make	Made	Made
Mean	Meant	Meant
Meet	Met	Met
Mistake	Mistook	Mistaken
Top
O
Overtake	Overtook	Overtaken
Top
P
Pay	Paid	Paid
Put	Put	Put
Top
Q
Quit	Quit	Quit
Top
R
Read	Read	Read
Ride	Rode	Ridden
Rise	Rose	Risen
Run	Ran	Run
Ring	Rang	Rung
Top
S
Say	Said	Said
See	Saw	Seen
Send	Sent	Sent
Set	Set	Set
Sew	Sewed	Sewn/sewed
Shake	Shook	Shaken
Shine	Shone	Shone
Shoot	Shot	Shot
Show	Showed	Shown
Shrink	Shrank	Shrunk
Shut	Shut	Shut
Sleep	Slept	Slept
Smell	Smelt/smelled	Smelt/smelled
Sell	Sold	Sold
Spit	Spat	Spat
Speed	Sped	Sped
Spell	Spelt	Spelt
Spend	Spent	Spent
Spill	Spilt/spilled	Spilt/spilled
Split	Split	Split
Spoil	Spoilt/spoiled	Spoilt/spoiled
Speak	Spoke	Spoken
Spread	Spread	Spread
Spring	Sprang	Sprung
Steal	Stole	Stolen
Stand	Stood	Stood
Strike	Struck	Struck
Stick	Stuck	Stuck
Sting	Stung	Stung
Stink	Stank	Stunk
Sit	Sat	Sat
Sink	Sank	Sunk
Sweep	Swept	Swept
Swear	Swore	Sworn
Swim	Swam	Swum
Swing	Swung	Swung
Top
T
Take	Took	Taken
Teach	Taught	Taught
Think	Thought	Thought
Throw	Threw	Thrown
Tell	Told	Told
Tear	Tore	Torn
Top
U
Understand	Understood	Understood
Top
W
Weep	Wept	Wept
Wake	Woke	Woken
Win	Won	Won
Wear	Wore	Worn
Wind	Wound	Wound
Write	Wrote	Written
Top

Well, to sum it all, English is the dominant language in global communication; hence, it is important for one to know the language well, it will take a bit of practice to master this language. Knowing the list of irregular verbs and using them correctly while talking or writing will display your mastery over the language.

Static Electricity Experiments for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:39:00 +0000

Science projects and experiments can be boring for kids if they do not include a little fun in them. Parents and teachers are usually on the constant lookout for interesting books on science to make scientific concepts easy for their kids to grasp. Fortunately, the concept of static electricity is simple, and the experiments even simpler. Moreover, they can easily be performed at home as well as in schools by the kids themselves. I have listed below a few fun-filled static electricity experiments.

Static Electricity Experiments
Here are some easy static electricity experiments that can be performed by parents, teachers, as well as kids. You might need to warn your children that they are likely to experience a slight tingling shock or 'zapping' during such experiments.

Experiment#1
Apparatus: A balloon and a woolen jacket

Procedure: Well, this happens to be the easiest of all the static electricity experiments. You can start by blowing air into a balloon. Tie a knot at the end of the balloon. Now start rubbing it gently against your woolen jacket. After rubbing it for at least 30 seconds, stand in front of a mirror and hold the balloon above your head. You will notice your hair standing up in the direction of the balloon.

Experiment#2
Apparatus: A ball-point pen or a plastic comb, woolen jacket, tiny bits of torn paper

Procedure: You might start by taking a piece of used paper and tearing it into tiny bits. Put the pieces on the floor. Now use a comb and run it through your hair 5 to 6 times. Alternately, use a plastic ball-point pen and rub it vigorously against your woolen jacket. Once done, the comb or the pen becomes charged with static electricity. Immediately hold the comb or pen above the bits of paper. You will see that the bits of paper get instantly attracted to the comb or pen.

Experiment#3
Apparatus: A clean plastic comb and a kitchen sink faucet.

Procedure: This experiment may be performed by standing near your kitchen sink. Turn on the faucet and let the water flow consistently at its minimum force. Take a plastic comb and run it through your hair 5 to 6 times. Immediately hold the comb close to the water, but take care to ensure that the comb does not get wet. You will notice that the static electricity stored in the comb attracts the water and as a result, the water-flow bends slightly towards the comb.

Experiment#4
Apparatus: Two equal sized threads, two balloons, one comb, adhesive tape

Procedure: The process is really easy. Start by blowing the balloons so that they look similar in size. Make a knot at their ends to prevent the balloons from deflating. Take two long threads of equal length. Tie one of their ends to the balloons. Then use an adhesive tape to stick the loose ends of the thread to the surface of a table. The balloons should be placed in such a way that both are parallel to each other. The balloons should neither touch the floor nor should they stick to one another. Now use a plastic comb and run it through your hair at least 5 to 6 times. At this point, the comb becomes charged with static electricity, while the balloons have no charge at all. Gently touch the comb to one of the balloons and you will notice that both the balloons get attracted to one another instantly. Now charge the comb once more by running it through your hair. This time touch the comb to both the balloons and you will notice that they repel each other.

Experiment#5
Apparatus: A fluorescent light bulb, a plastic comb, a woolen jacket.

Procedure: This experiment needs to be conducted within a darkened room. Start the experiment by rubbing the plastic comb vigorously against the woolen jacket. This experiment requires a little extra static electricity, so you might need to rub the comb vigorously for one whole minute. Now, hold the light bulb in your free hand and gently touch the comb to the metallic base of the bulb. As the static electricity transfers to the bulb, you will get to see sparks igniting within the bulb.

What Causes Static Electricity?
The above experiments are sure to be interesting while performing them. By now, you're probably wondering how the bulb sparkled, the water stream bent, or the bits of paper got attracted to the plastic comb. No, this is not magic but simple science. Take just about any element in nature. Each element is made of tiny atoms. An atom itself is made of three parts; protons, electrons, and neutrons. Now, protons carry a positive charge, while electrons carry a negative charge. Neutrons have no charge at all. Whenever, you rub a comb on a rough surface like your hair or woolen jacket, the resulting friction makes the comb statically charged. As you touch the bits of paper or balloon with the comb, the negatively charged electrons from the comb shift to the other objects, thereby attracting them towards the comb. These experiments prove that objects with opposite charges attract each other while those with similar charges (two negatives or two positives) repel.

There you go! Wasn't that easy and exciting? I enjoyed performing static electricity experiments on my own when I was a kid. However, I caution adults to be present for guidance and to ensure safety, in case the children are performing these experiments on their own. Encourage your child to prepare a scrapbook detailing the procedure and conclusions of these experiments for their future reference.

Teaching Students How to Write Thesis Statements

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:38:00 +0000

Whether you are a student or a teacher, writing thesis statements is the most difficult part of the writing process. Students especially have a difficult time crafting thesis statements that are not only concise, but convey an argument. However, writing thesis statements – and teaching how to write them – does not have to be difficult. If you follow a few simple steps, you’ll have students creating great thesis statements, and by extension, great papers in no time. The first time you do this, you’ll probably want to walk your students through the whole thing in class, but they’ll get the hang of it quickly and soon be able to do it on their own.

Active Reading
Many students like to read without doing much else. This will not help them write effective thesis statements. They need to engage in active reading, or reading with a purpose. It helps if they know before they start reading that they need to write a paper on this particular piece. You can also give them some examples of things to look for. Historical context, author’s message, style, and character development are all great ideas. Then, when they are reading, they should underline passages that they find interesting or take notes.

Brainstorming
Once the students have completed their active reading, they should look at the passages they underlined or the notes they took. They should be able to begin seeing a theme, or something that recurs throughout their notes. This is what they should think about writing their paper on. Have them brainstorm some other ideas about this topic. The best way to do this is to have them write down everything they can think of about their topic in relation to the piece they read for five minutes, even if they think the ideas are no good. Then, they’ll have something to work with.

Ask a Question
After they brainstorm, they should look at their notes. Have them write down a few questions about their notes. These should be questions that they can answer in a whole paper, not yes or no questions. Then, have them choose one question they would like to deal with for the entirety of their paper.

Answer a Question
Once they have chosen a question, they need to answer that question. Remind them that there is no one right answer to any question. Rather, as long as they can prove that their answer is correct, it is. Their answers should be in the form of a sentence, and it should be sufficiently detailed. This means that they should continue asking themselves "why?" and "so what?", until they cannot ask these questions anymore. This will help them craft a statement that is not only an argument, but is a complex one with many facets, which will help them write a better paper. The answer to the question is their thesis statement.

Collect Details
After they have crafted their thesis statements, they should go back through the piece they are writing about to collect details. Some of these may be in their notes, but another look through the passage with a focus can help them find details they had missed. Have them write these details down and then compose an outline or a graphic organizer of sorts to help them organize their paper. They should be able to cluster details into two or three main points, and these main points will eventually become their body paragraphs.

Write!
The final step in the process is for students to write their papers. However, this should be easy once they have done all of this pre-work. Have them write paragraphs and sentences based on the details they collect, and always be sure they are going back to proving their thesis throughout the whole paper.

Virtual Classrooms: A Combination of Technology, Fun and Enhanced Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:36:00 +0000

There have been innovative concepts introduced in the field of education so that learning becomes all the more fun and the learner has a sense of achievement. With the increased pace of World Wide Web, education is no more limited to a small classroom. The whole concept of education has observed a change of how learning was imparted. The confines of a classroom no more exists, education is now a global phenomenon wherein a person sitting in any part of the world can have access to educational institutes or colleges situated thousands of miles apart. The advent of Internet has surely revolutionized education and learning in a big way.

Are You Aware About Virtual Classroom/Virtual Education?

Education imparted through the means of Internet can be broadly referred to as virtual education. The characteristic feature of virtual education is that the teachers as well as the learners are separated by geographical constraints and lessons are imparted online or in a virtual classroom. In a virtual classroom, traditional classroom education is combined with technological advancements to give a product called e-learning or online learning.

Features of Virtual Classroom:

Virtual classrooms have certain important underlying features which makes it all the more unique. They are as follows:

Established on a virtual environment, World Wide Web, therefore rightly adjudged as ‘virtual’.
Education is not confined to the area of a classroom.
Omnipresence, as far as the Internet can reach.
Ease of learning.
Reach out to high number of people.
Blend of technology and traditional classroom.

In a virtual classroom the lecturer / teacher can deliver the lectures, conduct exams enter into an interactive question and answer session with the students undergoing a particular course. So, virtual classroom acts as a platform that brings together, teachers as well as students from different locations. So the learner has the benefit in a virtual classroom that he could choose the best teachers for a particular online course.

The virtual classrooms are conducted in the same manner as the traditional classrooms are carried out. In a virtual classroom, the student has the freedom to interact simultaneously to many students unlike the traditional classroom. So virtual classes are more interactive than their traditional counterparts. The graphics, animations of the lectures in the virtual classroom make it interesting and high on fun quotient. As a result of this, the effectiveness of the online education is more. It makes the complex topics very easy to comprehend and remember.

Real time learning is the keyword of virtual classrooms, although students can submit the routine tasks or assignments by mailing them to the concerned teacher. Virtual classrooms make usage of discussion forums, chat groups, social media and various blogs to enhance interaction between students and teachers. Virtual classrooms are best for those people who do not have the time to go and attend the regular courses or are working but have the intent to study further.

Virtual classrooms are beneficial for the students as well as the teachers in the sense that, all the lessons imparted, tests, discussions and course related documents are all recorded and stored. So it becomes easy for a student to refer to what was discussed or taught on a particular day. So accessing information becomes easy. Also, the student can refer to any course material any number of times. Virtual classrooms can include both synchronous learning and asynchronous learning.

Synchronous learning is when the teacher and the student are present real-time. Live lectures, online chat come under synchronous learning. While in asynchronous learning, interaction is not real-time but rather it is through e-mails.

Education through virtual classrooms has its own advantages. A student can at any point of time and anywhere have access to the course and content. In case of absenteeism, a student can refer to what was taught in the classroom session as all the sessions are recorded. Through a virtual classroom a teacher finds it easier to monitor the progress of the learner, so as to understand whether more training is required or not on a particular topic. Assignment submission has become all the easier with the advent of online learning.

Since, the virtual classroom lectures have graphics, visual effects so it is simple for a student to understand complex issues in a shorter span of time. This results in greater student and teacher efficacy, and saves time and energy. So, it is absolutely right to say that virtual classrooms imbibe technology, but at the same time result in higher learning effectiveness. Fun in learning is the new buzz and that is largely through virtual classrooms.

E-Three learning platform of Timeless learning Technologies helps companies engaged in online education by providing them an interface to conduct collaborative learning. It also assists the users by giving them technical support. For an effective e-learning session, institutes and organizations can rely on E-Three learning platform.

Educational Games for Students

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:09:00 +0000

Educational games have always been important additions to the classroom. From games that aid in spelling and vocabulary, such as Hangman and Scrabble to games that help students learn how to think critically, like Brain Teasers to some games that help improve memory like those in which you flip cards over and try to remember where the matching card was placed, games have been an integral part of every child's educational experience. As a teacher, it is important to play games with your students to spark their interest for learning and allow your students to have a little fun in the midst of classroom work. Some might say this is not a beneficial practice to engage in with your students, but if the games you play are educational and fun, everyone benefits. These games can also be used as rewards and positive reinforcement for good behavior and good work in class. Apples to Apples Apples to Apples is an awesome card game produced by Mattel. This game is deceptively simple and really fun to play with groups of people, whether in class or at a party. With this game, there are two sets of cards: red apple cards and green apple cards. The red apple cards have nouns (person, place, thing, or idea) on them. These nouns are often famous people (like "Mel Gibson"), concepts (like "Feminism"), or extraordinary events (like "My High School Prom"). The green apple cards have adjectives (words that describe a noun) on them. The goal of the game is to match your red apple cards with the green apple card that is drawn. In each round, each player gets five red apple cards and a judge is appointed. That judge draws a green apple card and announces the word. Each player (the judge does not play) puts a red apple card down-face down so the judge cannot see - that pairs well with the word on the green apple card. The judge then decides who put the best word in, and that person gets the green apple card. Whoever has the most green apple cards at the end, wins. This game can get students thinking about word choice in literature and in their own writing, as well as what makes certain pairings sad or funny. Students will also learn new words by being exposed to things they are not necessarily familiar with. Hink Pink Hink Pink is a great brainteaser game made by Discovery Bay Games. In this game, there are cards that have riddles on them, and students need to think about the answer to the riddles in order to receive points. The answers to the riddles are always two words, and they always rhyme. They also always fall into one of three categories: Hink Pinks are two one-syllable words that rhyme, Hinky Pinkys are two two-syllable words that rhyme, and Hinkity Pinkitys are two three-syllable words that rhyme. If the teacher is calling out the riddles, he or she will tell the students if it is a Hink Pink, Hinky Pinky, or Hinkity Pinkity, then read the riddle. For example, the teacher might say: "Hink Pink: A chocolate connoisseur." Then, the students would answer "Fudge Judge." There are many worksheets and educational activities online that a quick internet search will give you. However, if you buy the game, there is also a timer that can be used with smaller groups. Using the cards alone, though, is a great way to get students involved when you have a few extra minutes at the end of class.

A Quest through Literature in High School

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:09:00 +0000

It is definitely a struggle to get high school students to read and write about literature. They find this task boring, and most teachers don’t teach this skill now because it is something reserved for college courses for literature majors. However, having students personally react to a text can increase their interest and make them look at literature in a whole new way. When you ask them to write about a personal question they have in relation to the text they are reading, you are not only having them write about literature, but you are "tricking" them into analyzing literature and writing single-text analysis papers. Basic Format To begin this process, the students need a question. This will be their "quest." The question should be personal and about a moment when something didn’t feel right and they’ve always wondered why. This should be a question that pertains only to them, and that they can’t find the answer to with a simple Internet search. You can ask them to create a question that has to do with a particular theme with which you will be dealing during the school year. After that, the students need to write an introduction that gives the story behind their question. This introduction should end with their question. As they move forward, they should choose pieces of literature you read in class and write a section for each text that describes what it has to do with their question, and what answer it gives them. These sections will eventually become part of a larger paper that includes the introduction, textual analysis papers, and a conclusion. You can have this done in any format you choose, but if the students answer the same question with each text you read in class, they will end up delving deeper into their texts and their reading. This will help improve reading comprehension, and will keep students interested throughout the course. Grading Grading these papers is similar to grading any paper you might assign. Each section can have a separate grade, or you can give completion grades for each section and give them an overall, final grade when the whole paper is put together and turned in. However, as each section is submitted, it is vital that you give each student individual feedback so they can revise each section and include it in their final paper. Revisions Students need to be allowed to revise their papers and submit a final draft with all the sections included. These sections should also have transitions between each section to create a sense of flow throughout the entire paper. When you ask for revisions, have the students focus on more than just fixing grammar mistakes. Ask them to delve deeper into their topic and come up with more than just the obvious answers. Variations This assignment can be tailored to fit many other classes and can take many other forms. In a history class, for example, students can ask a broad question about the course of history and follow that question throughout the events you study in class. For a class with a focus on technology, students can follow a question through a series of webpages to create an entire website focused on their question. For specific literature courses, like American literature or world literature, you can have the questions focused on the specific place or time period you are studying. Finally, in an art class, the question and answer can take the form of drawings or other artistic creations with the same theme throughout the course.

Help Of Parents In Child Education

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:07:00 +0000

Parents can help the child realize the value of education through their love and support, and most importantly, through their encouragement, thus playing an important role in educational success. From being a child's moral support to being counselors, parents are capable of being a good resource not just for the child, but also for the schools and the teachers associated with their child's development. Involving parents in their child's educational program will help develop a positive and healthy homeschool environment, which is an essential factor when it comes to successfully implementing what you feel is best for the child's educational growth. What makes this a great idea is the fact that the parent will be more involved in the child's work, which will ensure a smooth sailing of classroom activities including completed assignments and projects. What's more, a relaxed class would mean, you would have to deal with lesser behavioral and adjustment problems (academic). Now if that's a sure shot way of getting rid of unwanted tension, then it makes perfect sense to make the most of the voluntary help for the educational concerns of their child. Using the Help of Parent Volunteers Among the foremost things that you can involve parent volunteers in are: keeping records, helping with activities, projects, organizing field trips; besides, their help can be taken to organize a number of classroom activities.

Teach Arts and Crafts

Parent volunteers are more or less equivalent to having someone assist you in your classroom activities. Ask them to help out with teaching arts and crafts to preschoolers and children in Grades 1-3. Asking parents to share their talents and impart knowledge on the subject they love, is a good way to involve the parents in their child's education. Having someone on call to help you with the cutting and gluing during a craft class will ensure a less daunting job for you.



Help with Assignments
Another good idea is to ask them to help the children assigned to them with their projects and assignments. Parents who are tech-geeks can assist children with online research and projects. You can even employ them to teach and train students to use technology effectively. The parent volunteers can even help in making handouts, make copies of worksheets and design or develop interesting models for the class. The volunteers can assist in completing the work of those lagging behind.

Organize Activities

Having parent volunteers around, especially when conducting activities and funfairs for children is definitely a boon. Your burden of organizing the event is relatively lessened; besides, taking their help will ensure the smooth flow of the event being organized. Having parents around to help with the makeup, especially during the annual day gathering works wonders for you and the impatient children. You can even ask them to cater to the needs of the children, especially where refreshments are concerned.

Assist in Community Service

Organizing field trips, outings, community service, expeditions, camps, etc., can be a daunting task when you are the sole member responsible to cater to the needs of a large group of children. At such times, asking parent volunteers to help out with the basic requirements makes perfect sense. You can even ask them to accompany the students on camping and field trips or even help out with community service. Activities that will allow them to mix freely with the children will help them understand the needs of the children better.

Maintain Records

Asking parent volunteers to keep records of classroom activities, the resources used and exhausted, etc., is a good way of making optimum use of them. Ask them to help out with restocking the resources/material needed for arts and crafts. You can even use their assistance to tune musical instruments, organize the library and the children's artwork. Make sure they are comfortable doing the work assigned to them though; you wouldn't want to offend their feelings.

Conduct Surveys

School is considered as a second home, and there is a constant need to conduct research and surveys to find out if the child is comfortable in his/her school. What's a better way than to do this by employing parent volunteers to the task. Ultimately, the goal of research and survey is to make the child's school environment-friendly and home-like; so, it makes sense to conduct research and survey with the help of parent volunteers.

Be a Friend

Along with all the work the teacher has to do, he/she has to cater to the mental and moral conditioning of the child too. Children in their preteens and teens need constant assurance and moreover, a friend to confide in. Owing to the hectic school schedule, organizing talks with counselors might be pretty taxing for teachers. Asking parent volunteers to organize such sessions will only aid them to get more involved with their child's development. Also, you can even ask them to be counselors to children of their child's age group; this will help them know what ails their child and why their child behaves the way he/she does. You will be helping them strengthen the parent-child bond.

It goes without saying that you ought to thank the parent volunteers for all the help that they give out to you. To conclude, I agree with Margaret Mead who says, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

AdsenseWala.com Reviews -AdsenseWala Earning Trick Fraud - Flop Trick Biggest Fraud - Fraud Trick

noreply@blogger.com (Blogs and Jobs for u) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:18:00 +0000

Today i am going to inform you about the biggest fraud in Pakistan. This fraud is relevant to those people who use to blog online or in short we say they show ads of Google Adsense on their sites to earn revenue. Now a days a man who tells his name as Kashif is making fool of people by telling them to maximize their earning through Adsense. This man lives in Karachi and is running a site name as adsensewala.com. The whole fraud procedure is also mentioned in his own site but one who get inspired by his way of earning will lose his Adsense account along with his money invested to get the trick... I am using this word Trick because this Bluff man Kashif also use this word for this idiot procedure.
First of all you have to visit adsensewala.com, then you will understand the correct cause of his site. He mentioned that he had a trick to earn more with Google adsense account and this trick really works with money back guarantee..... Hmmmmm....... Forget about money back once you paid to whom you will claim! don't forget these words as they are caution to you if you are going to deal with him. Now let's talk about the trick. He did not expose the trick on his site because he pretends that it will going to be leaked in market if mentioned.... Hahaha!!!!. Now the Trick is he will send you a Compact disk when you pay a amount of Rs.5000/- to him, in which 7 softwares designed on V.B are copied. Not only the softwares but also huge number of viruses are also copied in that cd. As you copy the cd in your disk drive your whole system will get corrupted and you will be messed up!!! Now you will involve your self in cleaning your machine. Any how you cleaned up your machine now the second part of the trick will be install the 7 softwares. You know what are Those 7 softwares in that cd. There are 7 I.P Hider softwares in that cd which you can also download from internet for free and that also are registered and cracked. The I.P hider softwares are like Auto hide ip, platinum hide, Hide i.p, Real hide I.p, Super hide ip etc.
Now you installed them on your machine and use them by opening your blog or site and clicking on the ad shown by adsense on your page. This software will hide your i.p e.g you are in Pakistan you can select any country of the world and click on the button in the software look like HIDE MY IP then your original ip of Pakistan will be replaced with the selected country's ip. Now on to the point where we left few lines before. You are think will this trick really work then the answer is yes this trick worked and Google paid you for this click. No no not over yet. Google will review your click is it valid or not. Now after 24 to 48 hours later you will receive an email from Google Adsense that your account is blocked due to invalid clicks and here the trick worked for Mr bluffer he had the honey and you lost the one you had along with that you earned in you account which was not been withdraw. Now in aggression you will call him and ask for the matter he will make you satisfy that we are also using this software on his wbsites but never been blocked, if you get blocked than this will be another reason not his softwares cause this..... HAHAHA.... Then you insist for the option MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!!! He will use abusive language and drop the call when ever you call him he never pick that again.
Google have very efficient check on what they is claiming. You never make illusions or tricks with Google. The biggest Flaw in this trick is that after running the ip hider software you will directly go to your own site and click but Google will also check the traffic of your site, where it came from. And When you do it directly with your own site although you are hiding your ip. It will make sense to Google and they start to investigate about that click. And after reviewing this your account.... BLOCKED!!!!