Author Archive
Wednesday, April 13th, 2016
Many students work hard and strive to get good grades and high marks on important exams. But effective learning and getting good marks in the exams is not an overnight affair. One has to study hard and be organized from the beginning of the academic year. Here are twelve things all students should do.
Necessary Skills
- 1. Plan you’re Goal: In order to be successful in any endeavor, the most important initial thing is to start with a goal. Go through the syllabus and plan how many pages you will study each day, for example.
- 2. Proper time management: For effective learning, it is very important to manage your time efficiently. You can make your own study plan. You can also make a do-list of the assignments or chapters that you have to study in a day. Keep striking off the tasks that you complete. This will give you a sense of accomplishment.
- 3. Find a good place to study: Once you have set your goals and have your schedule ready with you, you should find out a place to study. Always avoid studying in the bed or couch. It makes you feel sleepy and sluggish. You should find a place that is away from the hustle bustle and without any distraction. It is not necessary to have your study place in your home. You can also go to a library or a coffee house that has a quiet ambiance.
- 4. Make notes: What you write and learn, you would never forget. Make your own notes chapter wise and highlight the key points. You should be a good listener and a deep reader to make effective notes. Use colorful markers, pens, and sticky notes to make them more attractive and fun to study. You can also make a synopsis or summary at the end of the notes that you can review while revising the lesson.
- 5. Take out time for self-study: After school hours, you might be going to extra classes for certain subjects, but surely take out time for self-study.
- 6. Say no to procrastination: Procrastination is one of the biggest enemies of students. Make sure you study all the chapters that you had planned for the day before calling it off for the day. Don’t unnecessarily pile the chapters till the last day.
- 7. Be regular to your classes: It is essential to attend the classes regularly. It helps in better understanding of the subject. The open discussion in the class enhances learning.
- 8. Identify your time of the day: Different students prefer to study at different times of the day. Some prefer to get up early with a fresh mind and then study while some prefer to sit for late night studies.
- 9. Understanding the content: Don’t just try to cram up the lesson, but also understand it. If you simply try to memorize it, you might not be able to retain it for a longer period of time than if you really understand it.
- 10. Read thoroughly: The more you read, the more you remember. Read through your lessons, textbooks, and notes repeatedly.
- 11. Take quizzes with your friends: After completing a chapter, you can sit in groups and play a study quiz to refresh what you studied.
- 12. Consistent Practice: For subjects like math, physics or computer programming one must practice on a daily basis.
Zera John
- Zera is a senior freelance academic writing supervisor for an online
college writing service community of freelance academic writers from all over the world. Zera has in-depth knowledge and experience in the academic writing industry.
Tags: Study Skills, Zera John
Posted in Guest Posts | Comments Off on Twelve Effective Study Skills For Success In Learning and on Exams by Zera John
Tuesday, April 5th, 2016
The genesis of Matt’s DITCH model of teaching starts in 2007 when he was lecturing and teaching from a textbook. He knew the kids were bored and so was he. He was stuck in the old paradigm of using the textbook as the curriculum along with worksheets and multiple choice tests. While I’m always leery of words as acronyms as their authors usually have to stretch things a bit to make them work, the DITCH acronym really works. It stands for Different, Innovative, Tech-Laden, Creative, and Hands-On. These are the hallmarks of Matt’s model that he rolls out in this book. In addition to ditching your textbook, this model also requires you to ditch your curriculum and, perhaps more importantly, ditch your mindset.
Before and After
- Imagine it’s 1904 and you want to have a conversation with the legendary John Dewey who lives in Chicago? Unless you lived nearby, this would be essentially impossible. Today, however, it is possible to have conversations or at least listen to famous educators from all over the world thanks to the Internet.
- If you started teaching when I did, you were probably were much less efficient that connected teachers today who have electronic filing cabinets and many other time saving applications. Today you can take your students on electronic field trips at little or no cost. Things you write don’t rely on good penmanship. Finding information seldom take more than a few seconds. In short, going digital makes your life and your students’ lives much easier.
Posted in Book Summaries, Education Books, Leadership Books | Comments Off on Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Sunday, April 3rd, 2016
Introduction
- Collaborative learning involves people actively working together to solve a problem. It’s an exercise in teamwork and communication, and it’s imperative for educators to integrate collaborative edtech tools that are now available into their curriculums. Students need to learn interactively and to enthusiastically engage in their own educations. It’s a teacher’s duty to instill this in their students, and there are a large variety of easily accessible options that support the fundamental activities of collaborative learning. The search to find the right tool can be long and taxing. Don’t waste time and energy sorting through ineffective tools. Review the following tools now to begin enhancing your classroom experience.
- Finding the best tool for your classroom isn’t an exact science. However, there is always a resource available that can offer a more collaborative and interactive experience for students. Teachers should always be open to new ideas and encourage students to do the same. Educators must be able to connect with classrooms on a real and effective level. In a constantly connected world, they need to take advantage of the tech resources available. There are plenty of engaging educational communities waiting to be explored, you just have to know where to look.
- Google Drive is an excellent and free tool for a teacher that offers useful function like constructing tests, storing documents and sharing materials with classrooms. It’s also an efficient storage service that integrates with a variety of extensions (such as Google Calendar and Google Classroom).
- The author of this blog provides viewers with educational articles, study guides, essay samples and other helpful tools. Educators can use the material in the classroom and look to the blog for general student life tips that will help them better relate to their students.
- This brainstorming platform is intelligent and used by reputable sources such as Stanford University. The creatively applicable tool allows teachers to openly practice divergent thinking, mind mapping and flow chart creation with their students.
- Edmodo is a secure and simple way for teachers to connect with their students. It helps teachers create a more collaborative and interactive blended learning experience and to discover and share valuable resources from around the globe.
- This professional writing service is composed of highly qualified tutors and writers. If you’re struggling to grab the interest of your students, have them check out the blog full of inspiration. Or include the free writing guide or writing contests in your lesson plans.
- TitanPad lets multiple users work on a document simultaneously. Teachers can create (free) public pads and highlight each user to identify who is working on what. They should encourage students to use the platform when working on group assignments or study sessions.
- ThinkBinder lets students participate in live study sessions with their classmates (via text and video), directly share information and keep group schedules organized. It’s an effective and efficient edtech tool that will actively engage students during group learning processes.
- This self-dubbed “web-based meeting playground” is a useful source for teachers that acts as a mediator for co-browsing. Students and classrooms can actively search the web and research ideas together in real time. It’s also free of cost, and no sign-up required.
- The Bounce app is a fun way for students and teachers to share ideas and information. Examine any web page with the simple screen shot and note taking abilities, and easily share information with students or vice versa. The app also works with Notable to allow workgroup collaboration on any assignment.
- This free group platform provides meet-ups, list making, messaging capabilities, calendar customization and sharing. It’s one of the most comprehensive collaboration tools a teacher can utilize. Manage an entire classroom experience through one source and give students an insightful option for communication.
- Vyew is a digital whiteboard that educators can use to create using images or documents, and to make notes anywhere they like. The boards may be immediately shared and viewed by an entire class. Vyew nurtures better data visualizations and a more interactive learning experience.
- Yammer is like the Facebook for project management and teams. It’s a private social platform that brings together specific groups of people working on an assignment together. Teachers can use Yammer to offer students a single destination for all files, documents and any news.
- This web-based tool allows educators to create and share assignments or notes, or for students to create drafts before submittal. This offers a safe space for editing and feedback and is an effective way for teachers to communicate with their students in an unintimidating environment.
Julie Petersen
- Julie is a language tutor, a freelance writer and a content marketing specialist. She is running her own writing services reviews blog at the moment. Check one of her latest blog posts about Bid4Papers. You can also contact Julie on Linkedin.
Posted in Guest Posts | Comments Off on 13 Online Resources and Collaboration Tools To Engage Classrooms by Julie Petersen
Monday, March 28th, 2016
Introduction
- Online learning, also referred to as web-based learning, allows people to take credit-bearing course via the Internet on computers or even mobile devices. Increasingly, online courses are more available and popular, forcing many universities to invest in systems to offer them.
- One reason for this trend is the growing number of education seekers and their ever-increasing need to acquire additional or fresh academic qualifications. In the present business and professional world, it is necessary to keep on adding value to one’s existing qualifications to get a better job or to become more indispensable. Technology is bringing changes and innovations so fast that it has become essential for every professional to continue learning new techniques and update existing knowledge.
- Due to time constraints, many people do not find it convenient to attend face-to-face classes to fulfill these requirements so they look for non-traditional techniques that can offer options to learn online without having to quit their present job. Online learning is the best tool to help meet the demands of continuous learning.
- Online training can be of two types: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous learning has the advantage of real time or live access to the instructor with immediate and direct feedback. Asynchronous learning results in delayed feedback but is economical. The choice of learning depends upon the urgency and financial background of the learner.
1. Proper Understanding of the Topic
- Higher educational establishments should employ appropriate resources and well-trained, experienced and erudite professionals for teaching their courses. Students should receive value for the time and money they spend in order to improve themselves or the institution will eventually lose. Remember that a good teacher can help develop good scholars and together they contribute in building credibility for the organization.
2. Point-to-Point Interaction and Support
- It is a natural tendency of human beings to lose interest if there is no continuous motivation and monitoring. This is especially true in case of education. Therefore, a higher educational establishment, which provides online learning must provide enhanced interaction, which can be delivered through live streaming sessions, forums, live chats, and virtual classrooms with lecturers to keep the learners interest alive and burning.
3. Extra Tools and Resources
- Students should also have access to many options. For example, there should be a full package of written material. The package may include lecture notes, revision kits and access to online libraries. Also, a person should be able to use self-assessment tools for monitoring progress.
4. Benefits of the Course
- Benefits of courses should be considered from the learners’ point of view. Courses should be oriented in such way that they fulfill desired goals of the learners, like getting jobs, promotions, and career advancement.
5. New Technology and Accessibility Features
- With modern technology evolving continuously, online education should be more accessible. Also, the comprehension of the educational material should be continuously improved.
6. Availability with Accessible Document Formats
- Education material should be available in structured formats like Word, Excel or Notepad, for example. Avoid tools which use fancy formats and expensive require applications as they place onerous financial demands on the students.
7. Provide simple and consistent navigation
- Students are more favorable to websites or applications that have a simple and comfortable navigation menus that helps them easily access information. It is vital that you have a user interface that is intuitive so that students can focus on the course content rather than learning the system.
Ben Russel
- Ben teaches students how to write a contrast essay as well as other types of essays contributing to various educational platforms including SolidEssay.com. (Disclaimer: DrDougGreen.Com does not support the purchase of completed papers for the purpose of satisfying course requirements.)
Posted in Guest Posts | Comments Off on 7 Things to Consider Before Teaching an Online Course by Ben Russell
Friday, March 4th, 2016
1. Classroom Management Essentials
- Your attitude underpins everything you do. It determines the way you speak to students, the type of activities and tasks you offer them, the amount of time you allocate to building relationships with them, and everything else. Student behavior is more often a cry for help than a personal attack. I you can feel empathy, you will see a total change in the way you view young people and a total change in your attitude towards them. When teaching, be constantly on the move, teach from each corner of the room, and use a calm, matter-of-fact approach, which is far more effective than shrieking
- The law of least intervention states that we should always use the least intrusive or least disruptive method of dealing with a student so that we don’t disturb and/ or attract the attention of other students in the room. You have to be consistent in every aspect. You can’t use your system one day and not the next. You can’t apply them to one student and not his friend. Rather than talk to a student so others can hear, ask certain students to join you outside the room for a corridor meeting where you can address their concerns. Make regular positive contacts with parents to get them on your side.
2. Establishing routines
- Rob believes that routines are important for an orderly class. One way you can maximize participation in your routines is to involve the students in the creation of them. Spend a few minutes on a one-to-one basis with some of the ringleaders in the group and explain how important it is to you, and the rest of the group, to have their cooperation. This chapter also provides a list of things a teacher needs to do to avoid avoidable disruptions during class.
Posted in Book Summaries, Education Books, Leadership Books | Comments Off on Take Control of the Noisy Class: From Chaos to Calm in 15 Seconds by Rob Pelvin
