Benefits of Virtual Schooling

Many people are aware of virtual schooling as an educational alternative. However, they might wonder just what makes it worthy of consideration. As with other forms of education, cyber schooling offers unique benefits. Here are just a few of them to consider:

Individualized Education

Having educational options means families can make the best choices for their children. Each child has unique educational strengths, weakness, needs and preferences, and virtual schooling allows families and educators to address these differences. In many cases, virtual schools allow families and educators to evaluate a student and provide a customized education geared towards helping the student learn and develop. With education individualized to meet his or her needs, a student may be more willing to learn and more likely to excel.

Learning Pace

A student's learning pace can prove a concern in any type of learning environment. In traditional classrooms, it is often important for students to adopt a pace that suits the classroom, so that no one lags behind others and no one gets too far ahead. Adopting an average pace is often important, in such cases, to keeping the flow of learning consistent and preventing students from becoming bored and frustrated. In a cyber school, however, this is typically less of a concern or a non-issue altogether. Because virtual education programs can be adapted to meet student needs, they often allow students to work towards mastery at the pace that is comfortable for them.

Flexibility

Many students and their families appreciate the flexibility that cyber schooling can provide. Rather than requiring students to keep to traditional school schedules, many virtual schools allow students to create the learning schedules that best suit their lifestyles. Here, the point is not to learn at a particular hour but simply to learn. Scheduling flexibility can prove helpful for students who have other interests to pursue on a regular basis. For instance, it may help students who are heavily involved in art, music, dance, and athletic activities. It might also prove beneficial for students who volunteer, work, or participate in internships. Sometimes family dynamics or travel schedules also make flexible scheduling a plus.

Guidance and Support

Often, families consider virtual schooling because of the support and guidance they can expect versus traditional homeschooling. For example, with cyber schooling, parents can benefit from the guidance of instructors and the support of counselors and mentors. Many schools also offer technical support, academic advising and tutoring help for students on an as-needed basis.



Article Source: Nicole_Madison

E-Learning Solutions for Organizational Training

In today's highly-competitive business environment, no company wants to be left behind in the race to reach the top. Starting from a well-planned business model to a strong work flow process, an organization has to continuously maintain a high-level of commitment towards its business goals. One would agree that an organization's success largely depends on its workforce and a well-informed and technically sound workforce can be an asset to any organization. Therefore, one witnesses organizations willing to nurture its workforce through regular and advanced trainings, to enhance skills and expertise.

Organizations schedule regular employee trainings, on a weekly or on a monthly basis, depending on the requirement. Earlier, organizational trainings followed the classroom-based teaching method. Though successful, such trainings meant consumption of a large amount of printed material, thus increasing training costs. Another drawback of the classroom-based teaching was that the trainers had to evaluate trainees' assignments manually, which consumed a lot of time of the trainers. With the advent of e learning, the scenario is changing dramatically.

E-learning has several benefits, such as it being less expensive, flexible, self-paced, easily manageable, and consistent. There many companies in the market that provide e learning solutions to corporates. These companies also extend their support for implementing the learning management system (LMS) in the organization. Besides that they help organizations in, assessing the skill-gap analysis of their employees and selecting the apt training modules for their employees. With the help of these e-learning companies, organizations are able to manage all the training needs of their employees without having to increase their budget, meant for trainings. By implementing the learning management system, organizations are able to groom their employees in a better way.

Since every industry functions differently and their training needs vary, the LMS content can be customized, as per the needs of an industry. All that an organization needs to do, is to communicate the e-learning solution provider, with the requirements of the required training modules. These e learning solution providers, with help of their expert content developers, subject matter experts, and instructional designers, develop high-quality content.

Organizations that do not wish to take the burden of maintaining the LMS, have the option of outsourcing to an off-shoring company. By outsourcing, the organizations can reduce their associated training costs by 20-40 percent. However, it is recommended that organizations do a background check on the off-shoring company, prior to outsourcing any work to them. The past clientele, quality of the content, and turn-around-time could be a good indicator for considering any off-shoring company.



Article Source: Gireesh_K._Sharma

Eight Tips On How To Do Good In School

Below the average, average people and super genius mega minds...nah, it's not about that, well yeah, a part of success is about that but, one still has a long way to go before having the time of his life. And everything starts at home...after that it's school so let's get down to business. Here are eight tips on how to do good in school.

1. Jot 'Em Down

This step is somewhat a must. However, if you consider yourself a super computer robot, you can skip number one and get down to number two...you're still reading so you don't think that you're a mega mind. That's good because it's never great to be too confident with yourself.

Number one is writing them all down. It never hurts to write all of the things you need to do. Write them in a small notebook, a tickler or something, or jot them down in a piece of paper and post it on your refrigerator door or on your own bulletin if you have one. And don't forget to write when you need to do or accomplish these things or in other words, your deadlines.

2. Prioritize

Imagine that you're a juggler. Now, you're juggling balls. These balls are made of various materials. Rubber, plastic, glass, and crystals. The balls that you're juggling got too many and you can't handle them all. Some balls MUST fall or the whole act will be a disaster. And that's when the word "prioritize" comes in. You have to let the rubber balls fall. Why? Because if you don't do this, say you refuse to let a ball or two fall, they'll all slip out of your hands. If you let the wrong ball fall, well, you're a wreck. That's why you have to set your priorities. Which in your to-do list is the most important and which things can be left out or can be given little attention.

3. Get To Work

Don't just get stuck with listing and prioritizing. Do them of course. Sometimes people tend to get discouraged when they look at the things they need to do and find that they're just so many! Well, nothing's gonna happen if you just sit around, stare at the things you got to do and think how much energy you need to exert to finish all those. Get on your feet. You'll be done without even knowing it.

4. Study Habits

I'm pretty sure this is not new to you. Nevertheless, it's still very important, maybe the most important, so you can't just set this aside. Study your lessons everyday for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. This prevents cramming during exam weeks which you know isn't very helpful. And don't make your hectic schedule an excuse for not studying. Remember, if there's a will, there's a way.

5. Be A "Neat Freak"

I know this is hard but...you have to be organized. This may be the hardest part of being a student and at the same time of being a kid or a teenager. Because they're very restless and energetic and tend to just pile things up. But if you already did number one and number two, you're already started in being an organized person!

Give everything a proper place. Put your books and notebooks in one corner or a suitable place. Compile your test papers, certificates and other paper works from school. Place them in a folder, clear book, an envelope or a file case. You'll never know when you'll need them. Other materials which are reusable like envelopes, folders, colored papers and a lot more, keep them all together, may be in a case or a shoebox, it's up to you. Colors, pencils, paper clips and other materials of the same kind, separate them also, it's still up to you as long as it's organized. Educational materials, if you have, it's good to compile them too. Maybe you're asking, why do I need to do all these?

When your things and surroundings are organized, you tend to think clear. That's why organized people have organized minds. Lastly, the night before going to school, put everything you'll be needing for school inside your bag. Get your uniform or whatever it is that you're wearing for school ready. And don't forget to set your alarm clock.

6. Go For The Extra Mile

You don't just do things for compliance. You don't want to waste your efforts. Since you started to do things, give them your best shot. Do your best and that will be enough to go for the extra mile. You'll never know when an opportunity comes so always give it your all.

7. Be Humble

Now that you're a step ahead of your peers, don't be over confident, like the one stated at the first number. Don't be conceited because you didn't accomplish everything on your own. The higher you get, the harder you'll fall so always keep your feet on the ground. And being humble also gains you great friends.

8. Just Keep Going

You did it for the first time, you got to do it for the second, third, fourth, and so on...time. Be consistent for this will be the foundation of your success. Don't stop until you reach your goal. And when you reach your goal, reward yourself then look again for another goal. And when failure finds its way through your efforts, keep moving forward. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Just keep going.



Article Source: Alyanna_Tiamson_Publico

Choosing a Human Resources Masters Degree

Of all the academic disciplines, human resources is one of the newest. Yet for all its relative youth, it has already become established as a popular degree course that has real world value for thousands of students. It should therefore come as little surprise that the demand for an advanced level of study has been so strong. To this end, the human resources masters degree has become a much sought after qualification.

Seen by many as the best possible starting point for a career in the industry, the masters degree can offer its students cutting edge study, along with the level of advanced study that will give them the edge in their field of business.

Of course, as with all such courses, there can be a problem that affects a large proportion of prospective students. Many people are working or have childcare arrangements (or indeed both) and simply do not have the time to study full or even part time. Whereas once this would have been the end of any dream to study and enhance one's career prospects, there is now a solution that opens up the world of study to thousands of people.

Taking a human resources masters degree online allows prospective students to study in a course that they can fit in with their own personal circumstances and fit around their daily lives. To this end, it therefore makes sense that any such student should invest some time in making sure they choose the best establishment at which to study.

Just as not all full time courses in the same subject are of the same quality, so too is the situation with online courses. For this reason, the potential student of such a course should look for a university that can provide a number of key things that will make it stand out as one of the better establishments.

Perhaps the most important of these is that the university is highly ranked in independent assessments of the quality of its teaching and courses. This is easy to discover as any university that has been highly ranked will publicize the fact on their website, so it may well pay to avoid any where no mention of their standing can be seen.

The next thing to look for is the details of the course itself. Look for a commitment to equal the level of study offered by a conventional campus. The best universities will know that an online degree is the equal of a campus based one, so look for information that stresses this fact.

One of the best ways to ensure this is the case is to take a look at the members of faculty. Expect to see experts in their fields; however, on its own this is not enough. There is little point in having first class staff if the students cannot gain access to their knowledge. To this end, look for a pledge that these members of staff will be available for mentoring and coaching. After all, this can make all the difference in any program of study.

Once the quality of the staff has been ascertained, it will pay to have a close look at what can be expected from the course. Students should expect one of the better universities to offer a course that covers everything from managing collective bargaining negotiations to devising and implementing strategic game plans.

Following these points will mean that the choice for an online human resources masters degree is made easier as the best universities will be selected. From this point on the student will stand the best possible chance of choosing the course that will help set them on the road to a successful career.



Article Source: Andy_West

Educational Resources - Arts and Crafts to Kindle the Imagination

Today, there are many online education resources for nursery and primary school children. They offer the best quality of products and offer materials for interactive learning. Different subjects are covered such as numeracy, science and many other types of arts and crafts and so on. You can find such resources at many online sites where they offer products appropriate for children in the learning stage.

All kids love painting as it is fun and messy and they get to use bright colours to create whatever they imagine. From the age of two to twelve, children can develop their artistic skills. Most children at the age of two start putting crayons on paper and start drawing and scribbling. Young children are very proud when they paint a picture. Apart from this, there are science resources where children can learn more about science in a very interactive manner. Learning science through such sources can also make them learn many other linked subjects.

You can buy pens and markers or crayons of various types. Art projects can be helpful for children in several ways; it promotes the fine motor skills as well as coordination. Children can also make use of drums and other percussion instruments as part of their educational resources. They can learn to make out the difference between fast and slow and try out new instruments. This can be very useful in expanding their imagination.

Some educational resources involve materials that can be used for art projects. You can have an art corner with easels and crayons and children can have fun trying out different sorts of materials. This teaches them to have a greater imagination and gives rise to a lot of creativity. They will also discover to transform ordinary materials, such as egg boxes and plain pieces of cloth into different objects. The child can also develop his motor skills with art projects. They can improve his muscle control when he uses scissors to cut things, manipulates clay and uses crayons for colouring and painting. As the child keeps practicing these skills with such resources, they can get mastery over activities, such as cutting with a knife or fastening the buttons on a shirt.

When the child cultivates the habit of learning through educational resources, they improve their self esteem. They can then keep the finished project on display and feel proud about it. It is the entire process of learning rather than the final product that is most important in the case of such resources.

Writing about childrens educational resources, Zoe Robinson aims to provide readers with informative knowledge into her experience gained within this area and offer readers the chance to view a website she has experienced positively. View a range of early years resources today.

Article Source: Zoe_D_Robinson

Studying a Public Administration Masters Degree Online

It has often seemed strange to many that people in senior positions of responsibility, such as fire chiefs and city managers appear to have reached their level without any structured training. Of course, real world experience is important - and perhaps many years ago this was all that was required - but in today's world things have changed. There is a lot more to such roles and anyone with a public administration masters degree will find himself or herself in a very strong position the next time such a role has to be filled.

This is not to say real world experience should be in any way undervalued, but the simple fact is that such roles demand a greater breadth of knowledge than ever before and anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in the government and non-profit sector will be in a much stronger position, as well as being much better equipped, with such a qualification behind them.

One of the reasons this is so important is that public administrators have specific needs that only a tailored course can cater to and it is therefore essential that any course studied takes these needs into account.

For someone wanting to work (or improve their position) in areas as diverse as Homeland Security, fire service administration or criminal justice, a MPA degree (Master of Public Administration) can be the key to the door of career success.

Of course, there can be a real stumbling block. Many people interested in such a course may already be working full time and/or have childcare to arrange. Sadly, in the past this has been a Catch 22 for many people and they have had to miss out on what would have been a potentially life changing course. Fortunately, some of the better colleges understand this situation and have gone out of their way to introduce such courses that can be studied online.

The difference this can make to the student's life sometimes has to be seen to be believed. Online study for a public administration masters degree opens up a whole new vista of possibilities and enables the student to plan their study around their own circumstances. This could be while the children are at school, after a full time job or on weekends. The point is that the flexibility of such an arrangement enables the student to receive first class tuition and cutting edge materials without having to choose between paying the bills and doing the course.

It may even be possible to receive financial aid to help cover costs while studying. To this end, it makes sense to look for not just a college with a good reputation for its courses, but one that is happy to help students with their financial arrangelents and point them in the right direction.

This commitment to getting the best financial aid along with the flexibility of the online study model will really help separate the better colleges from the rest. It is important for students to realize that even if they do not need to take advantage of all these services, the very fact that they are offered provided a good indication of the college's commitment to its students.

The best advice for any potential student is to look online for a college that provides a public administration masters degree and to take a quick look around the college's website. If the college offers online study and financial assistance, it should be made clear without too much searching. If found, the student can rest assured that the college will be perfectly placed to help advance the student's career in public administration.



Article Source: Andy_West

Art Is A Great School Subject

Art is a fantastic subject. It is taught from children being of young age up until secondary school in Year 9 where they can then either choose to continue it on or drop it. No matter what age you are or level of skill possessed, anybody can create a piece of artwork. Having a creative mind is a great thing to build in a child as it grows and expands across various areas of the curriculum.

Children love to be messy so covering a bit of paper in bright coloured paints and using sponges and potatoes to do so must be a lot of fun, it is also great for their minds too. It is a known fact that children are stimulated by an array of bright colours so using these to create what is going on in their imagination is amazing for them to be expressive.

Some children are not naturally gifted at drawing or creating pictures however they will still enjoy using the different products such as paints, so it is a subject they can all participate in. It is also a great subject for quiet children who feel they cannot necessarily express themselves, although they may not realise this until a later age. Drawing and painting can be therapeutic for many as it is an enjoyable hobby. Starting to explore this subject at a young age will like all the rest taught within a school, can get their minds going and help to keep building their skills every year up. The younger a child starts a subject the more they will take in. It is known that young childrens minds are like sponges so teachers want them to soak up as much as they can!

Children of a very young age are much more receptive at being interested in a subject that uses more of their senses than just listening to a teacher talk. Being able to create something for themselves and feel the different materials with their hands will get their minds stimulated. Creating craft products is also a lot of fun and beneficial. These can include making birthday cards, purses, paper hats, a variety of things really. The difficulty of what they create will obviously develop as the children age, perhaps starting off decorating a hand puppet moving all the way up to the top end of primary school by creating their own cross stitch pictures. This allows them to explore further materials and also gain new skills. Encouraging a small amount of sewing will come in handy when they come to build upon this skill in secondary school. All in all, arts and craft are a wide subject area and there will be something any child can enjoy.

Writing about childrens educational resources, Zoe Robinson aims to provide readers with informative knowledge into her experience gained within this area and offer readers the chance to view a website she has experienced positively. Take a look at a range of arts and crafts for children today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zoe_D_Robinson

Algebra Homework: Become a Bad Dream for Student

Algebra homework becomes a bad dream for many students; not only about the difficult calculation and complicated question, but sometimes algebra homework make a bad mood or the student as the first time when they get homework today. In the real situation, many students delegate the algebra homework to their own parents and brother or sister. However, this is not the point to solve math problem. If you have some problems of math, try to get arithmetic sequences help from appropriate service, mathadepts.com is one of the related services.

Do not be afraid when you get your first elementary algebra assignment, if you still get some problems in this section, try to motivate yourself and then try to solve the math question by using your own logic mind. When you face the dead end, meet the math expertise will become the answer. There are so many algebra helpers that will help you to do the difficult thing become simple.

Now, you have to finish the elementary algebra homework and make any kind of solution works for you. Just for the real meaning, algebra homework is not always gives you a bad dream and gives you bad mood too. Sometimes, you have to make yourself calm down and accept the whole algebra question with a good analysis. This is the point for you that can help to answer the algebra question without something that you can call it as “difficult” term.

How Can Technology Help in the Classroom?

Teachers who strive to improve their classroom setting often wonder about the addition of technology and how it might help their students. While the debate about whether technology helps or harms students continues, parents and teachers must understand the potential benefits of using technology in the classroom.

Improving Technical Skills:

In this modern world that constantly produces new and improved technological advances, the skills that come with technology are vital to future success. Children need to learn skills like typing, research and communication via technological devices early. By learning the basic skills in school while they are young, students are able to improve their ability to keep up in this ever-changing world.

Increasing Motivation:

New technological devices are ideal when it comes to motivating students. Books, paper and pen are often boring and make it challenging to motivate the students. Bringing in a new gadget that has e-books or interesting learning tools helps draw in students and motivate them to try completing tasks because they are able to also try out the new device. By motivating the students to learn the technology, teachers are also helping them learn vital skills like reading, arithmetic and sciences.

Helping Special Needs:

Technology used in the classroom can also help students who have special needs keep up with their peers. For example, a student who has problems hearing can use a tablet with a record to written feature that allows him or her to record the lecture as the teacher speaks and then see the written form of the lecture. This helps him or her keep up with the activities in class. Technology is useful in a wide range of applications that helps students who have special needs of any type. Depending on the particular disability, students can apply advances in different measures.

Working Together:

Students who are striving to learn the use of a new technological device often end up working together and improving their communication skills through tutoring, discussion and simple inquisitiveness. As students discuss and try new ideas while learning the new technology or software, they are improving their ability to work out problems without the help of adults and become better at communicating. This ability to work together to solve problems carries forward into adulthood, when students will need the skills to succeed in future careers.

Technology is a useful tool that teachers can add to the classroom setting. It has a wide range of potential benefits that can improve student learning, motivate and help for better life skills. As teachers incorporate more devices and technological items to the classroom, the students will benefit from the improvements to the learning environment and ultimately will see improved success that increases self-confidence.

Lexi Davis is a writer who enjoys writing on a number of different verticals. For more on technology in the classroom, Edu Vel offers readers information on higher education technology clickers in the classroom.

College Textbooks Can Help Us Learn

 How Important?

The importance of books to college and university students cannot be overstated. Nor can a student's love of books. Perhaps this seems an obvious statement to all you book lovers out there, but we cannot forget that although a student's success at college or university might be found amongst many things, the use of educational media, books, and textbooks can play a big factor! Such a big responsibility for a book to carry, right? Well, although it's good to remember that a book is simply a book - something to read, something to learn from - it's how we use books that matters. When books are used for study, research, and learning, the amount of concentration and diligence during the reading process plays a big role in how well we learn the topic at hand. In fact, people use the term textbook instead of just using the word "book" because textbooks are books that have information relevant to our field of study. So the way we use textbooks may be instrumental in the successful assimilation and comprehension of whatever educational subject the textbook discusses. So although nowadays many college textbooks are bigger, broader, and certainly a lot heftier than some of the books used by our forefathers, students must remember that with all the knowledge contained in these books, it's up to them to immerse themselves in this available knowledge. Whether that means setting aside certain times a day to read, simply sitting down and reading entire chapters at a time, or a variation of those, learning everything an educational book has to teach is one of the ways lots of students better themselves. In this way, books are important. And treating important texts with respect leads me to some thoughts about taking good care of one's books.

Caring and Learning and Some Silly Rambling!

Many students remember that just as they need regular breaks and careful attention, their books need to be well taken care of, too. If books were people, here's some thoughts I would have: books should certainly not be left in school bags forever, as most do not like the dark (except for astronomy books), and botanical textbooks enjoy plenty of light, however, astronomy textbooks seem to prefer nighttime study sessions best. And even books on furniture making or textbooks on carpentry definitely do not like being used as coffee coasters or door-stops. Most books dislike being thrown about, although some physics books may contemplate this on a quantum level. Literary classics enjoy being read aloud, especially if one speaks with their best reading voice, while psychology books may curiously notice the expression on your face while reading. And, finally, accounting and economics books can be read anywhere, really, but they do enjoy using dollar bills (any denomination, really) used as bookmarks. Whatever the book, students should take care of them, as they would any best friend. They should be grateful for the information their books impart, thankful for the responsibility their books carry to help them succeed, and always make sure that they give their books breaks when they need them. By taking care of their books, students can ensure a long and lasting relationship with them, one that will lead to their ultimate academic success.

Seriously, though...

Really enjoying one's books, textbooks, and literature may bring a world of educational knowledge within one's grasp. Having respect for these great tools might simply be a matter of reading, learning, studying, and taking good care of one's new or used college textbooks.

Improving Higher Education Quality Program in Vietnam

The United States Agency for International Development, otherwise known as USAID, is a US federal government agency that's fundamentally accountable for administering civilian foreign aid to several countries around the globe.

The grants and programs of the USAID are all tailored to aid in the accomplishment of its general agency mission which is to"extend a helping hand to those people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or battling to live in a free and democratic country."

In line with this mission, the United States Agency for International Development Headquarters in Bangkok has recently established the Improving Higher Education Quality Program in Vietnam.

The program intends to fortify the human and institutional capacity of local Vietnamese higher education institutions, in an effort to create and administer quality education programs, training, and various research programs that support important economic expansion.

USAID has explained this programme resulted from the movement of Vietnam, turning into a middle-income country standing, instead of originally being a low-income country. Due to this speedily changing industrial landscape, the education system of the country is suffering from incredible pressure.

The Improving Higher Education Quality Program attempts to remedy that concern, by way of constituting programs and activities that can potentially leave behind academic legacies which are highly capable of providing effective human capital development.

Among all of the areas of concern are the educations system's institutional differentiation and autonomy, training, pay, and promotion of professors, reconstruction of instructional strategies, development of 21st century education managers and leaders, and eventually, the development and usage of relevant curriculum.

In its Higher Education Reform Agenda (HERA), the Vietnamese government has said that the education system will be critically improved through improving the standard of teaching and research, extending the autonomy of higher education institutions specifically in academic and administrative matters, with an end goal of improving responsiveness to the requirements of beneficiaries; and finally, increasing private sector investments.

The recipients of the grant award will be tasked to develop programs and initiatives that will address these concerns, and as a result, the USAID Headquarters in Bangkok is ready to administer a funding amount of $2,500,000 to help this initiative.

USAID has stipulated that the organizations and institutions who will be eligible to submit an application under this program are the following:

a) US or non-US non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

b) Non-profit or for-profit setups

c) Academic institutions

d) Private sector entities.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iola_Bonggay

How to Study and Developing Study Skills

Study skills refer to the ability to read, memorize and retain class portions, text book content and other study materials. Developing study skills depend on individual's capability, grasping power, interests, environment and self discipline. Here are some methods to develop study skills and hone them better with few useful techniques.

1. Visualization

This method refers to seeing imagery through the mind on what has been taught, including block diagrams, pictures, matching real world objects with the concepts read. It also develops your creativity, imagination and cognitive skills.

2. Group Study

Joining a study group on few topics lets members to share and collaborate among others. The study materials can be divided for individual preparations, which then can be delivered as a short session or flash cards to other members in the study group. This is one of the most common study methods.

3. Writing what you read

Writing whatever you have just read immediately helps to retain the fresh knowledge and also boost your confidence in the exam. Apart from that, you can train yourself to be patient to really absorb the knowledge through hard work and also improve written communication skills.

4. Learning by doing

This is one best form of developing a study skill - doing things practically based on what one read in the text book although it may not be possible to experiment or implement everything practically. One has to develop the habit of experiencing them practically if there any opportunity exists. For example, college lab exercises, applying them on real world situations.

5. Flash cards

This is the most common method of keeping tab of topics read. It is done through a small post card where key words are noted down for quick reference. Majority of the students keep them handy instead of keeping complete notes or text books. This helps in developing hints to the topics and improvising the whole content from the keywords.

6. Mind maps

It is the best technique to relate topics and associate links among them. Mind map is a powerful tool which follows a tree or hierarchical structure to a particular topic. It is also a great brainstorming method to generate more ideas for essay writing, comprehension, and critical thinking. It sharpens the thought process by looking at various perspectives to the subject.

7. Group discussion and quizzes

Revise the topics through a group discussion with friends to further improve your memory. It is better to allot 30 minutes of time for discussion and clarifications. To make it more interesting, conduct small quizzes through rapid fire rounds, puzzles and other form of investigative learning. This also builds communication and social skills.

8. Relaxation methods

It is vital to keep a healthy mind and body. Taking breaks and rests for 10-15 minutes between studies keeps the mind relaxed. It is recommended to have a minimum of seven hours sound sleep. It rejuvenates both body and mind. The mental pressure can be released by playing sports, doing work outs and spending quality time with family and friends. Practicing meditation, deep breathing exercises and yoga are great methods to improving concentration and focus.

In summary, study skills are both innate and acquired by nature. They may vary across individuals but several common and working practices can be derived and applied by all students to hone and improvise their existing skills.

Making First Grade Math Fun With Online Games

Kids who have completed kindergarten should enter first grade with a solid grasp of basic numerical concepts including counting, number recognition and identifying the difference between number values. First grade math builds on these concepts with the introduction of addition and subtraction as well as more advanced number relationships within base 10. Through integration of technology such as online math games, teachers can present these new ideas in a way that makes math fun and engaging for children of all skill levels.

Technology and Education

Incorporating technology into education isn't a new idea. Computers have been fixtures of schools and individual classrooms for many years, with students using them for everything from learning to type to doing research for reports. Young children are at a prime age for picking up on the skills necessary to properly utilize technology as part of their daily lives and can often adapt quickly to a virtual environment. This makes it both easy and practical for teachers to use first grade math games in the classroom. When kids engage in an online learning environment, they build skills in computer use as well as in the subject being presented, thereby gaining knowledge that they can use in both the classroom and out in the real world.

Individualized Learning Environments

One concept that keeps popping up in modern educational models is the idea of individualized instruction for students who are struggling. Advanced students also benefit from a learning environment where material is presented on their level rather than at a set pace. With a classroom full of students all approaching first grade math with slightly different skill levels and learning styles, it can be difficult for teachers to get all of the essential information across in a way that makes sense to every child. The adaptive nature of online programs and games makes them very useful when it comes to giving students an individual learning experience. Kids can play through games on their own time, progressing to the next level only when they've mastered the current one, ensuring a better understanding of each new concept.

Building Skills Through Interactive Play

It's said that kids don't get enough time to be kids any more, and with the growing demands on students of all ages, this is often the case. More and more frequently, playtime is edged out by homework and other school-related obligations. But kids need time to play and interact in settings outside of the classroom. First grade math games take this need for play into account while still providing the solid foundation necessary for kids to understand basic math concepts and build proficiency in core skills.

The concepts learned in first grade math are essential to developing a full understanding of mathematics as a whole. Combining online math games and other tools within a virtual learning environment helps kids to visualize new ideas as they engage with entertaining characters and settings. With these tools at their disposal, it's possible for teachers to keep math material fresh and interactive throughout the year, making it easier to present potentially difficult concepts to all students within a traditional classroom setting.


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Online Learning Courses and Beyond

The development of the World Wide Web has greatly influenced the way people live their lives, from doing daily errands like sending out mail to studying like going to the library for research. By using the World Wide Web, people can simply send mail or research about any topic they can imagine with just the click of a button in real-time.

Perhaps one of the industries significantly affected by the development of the World Wide Web is Education. In recent years, the Internet has provided us with online education courses offering a variety of programs. The arrival of online training courses on the education scene was inevitable. As people's lives have become active with so many things to do, the convenience of distance education courses has made it possible for home learners and adults busy at work to take up a class during their spare time. With the continued development of technology, we can certainly expect better things for online education classes.

What to Expect From Online Training Courses?

1. Better quality of course and content of online learning courses as the implementation of learning management systems for the assessment and evaluation of e-learners is expected. A learning management system can identify the best content for a particular student based on the student's measured abilities. The appropriate learning techniques are then employed thus propelling the student to success. Students can also look forward to additional course offerings.

2. Improved pedagogic strategies will lead to better and more effective instructional materials that are at par with the quality of those offered in higher education institutions.

3. More dynamic interaction between the instructor and the e-learner through the use of educational technology tools. The teacher can never be truly replaced by the online learning environment. However, with the aid of educational technology tools, students and teachers will be stimulated by real-time collaboration.

4. Flexible Learning Experience unlike in traditional classrooms and colleges online education classes are flexible in schedule handling. Having a fulltime day job is possible if enrolled in an online program. This method of learning gives students the power to choose their learning time according to preferred schedule.

A blended learning environment could conceivably be the next frontier in online learning. The use of web 2.0 collaborative tools like social networking sites, wikis and blogs as well as video conferencing would be used in conjunction with eBooks that offer multimedia content. The delivery of content in multiple modalities would provide students the opportunity to engage with others in a flexible learning environment.

Excellent, quality online education courses deliver top notch graduates. Distance education institutions provide online learning study equipping students with the best knowledge for better career opportunity and advancement.

Using Online Learning to Improve Your Education

Online education has made it easier to get a music degree or nursing degree. Learning online has enabled many people to get a better education. If you know how to surf the Internet, then you have knowledge at your fingertips.

It is no longer necessary to travel long distances and sacrifice work and family in order to expand your skill set and your knowledge. You can get a degree online or in a hybrid arrangement that allows you to do most of your studies on the Internet while you visit a campus for hands-on training. Consider these examples.

Online Paralegal Degree
A bachelor degree in paralegal studies can get you into the legal world without having to acquire training in law. Paralegals do most of the research and prepare cases for lawyers. The only thing that a paralegal cannot do is represent clients in court.

Thanks to the Internet, you can now do much of the class work and reading online. You do not have to lose time traveling to a campus and sitting in a classroom. The Internet can bring all the resources you need to study into your home or any where with access to the online world.

Online Music Degree
A music degree is a good example of a course of study that can benefit from a hybrid approach to distance learning. You will need to study theory. There is no need to take that class on a campus. Instead, you could easily listen to music samples and evaluate them online.

Other classes may require you to play instruments or participate with your instructor in musical performance. By allowing the flexibility which distance learning offers, instructors can adapt courses to meet the needs of students of all kinds. This is especially true for those beginning a second career or simply trying to get a degree that they always wished they had.

Nursing Degree
Some degrees, such as a nursing degree, require a lot of hands-on training. However, even a nursing degree has prerequisites which include a lot of reading and writing. These courses are ideal candidates for distance learning and online education.

Eventually, in a course of study that required hands on experience such as a nursing degree, you will need work on campus or at another specified location. That does not mean, though, that the online world has lost all use for you. No matter how much time is spent on campus, the Internet is always a valuable resource to have.

Even courses which require daily meetings in a classroom can profit from using the technology that makes distance learning possible. Students can save money by purchasing electronic textbooks and bringing them to their classes on laptop computers. Instructors now have access to any video or audio presentation that they think will be helpful to their classes.

Whether you want a paralegal degree, a music degree or a nursing degree, you will find the Internet to be helpful. It can offer mountains of valuable information. It can also make it possible for you to enhance your knowledge without having to give up your job.

Tips Online Students Need to Succeed

Pursuing a distance education, though convenient, will come with a few challenges. Before commencing any course, students should always ensure that they dive in with a disciplined mindset, otherwise it will be a waste of time and energy.

According to a study posted by the National Center for Education Statistics, only 54% of students who enrolled in college in the year 1997, graduated six years later. That's a staggering figure of non-graduates. New students will want to avoid being a part of this statistic. So, to avoid being on cruise control throughout a two-four year quest for higher education, we've listed a few tips below to help students succeed with online college degrees:

•     Practice Good Time Management - If there were thirty hours in one day, it still wouldn't be enough without a plan. To get the most productive 24 hour day, check off the time you currently work, then schedule designated times to focus solely on studies. Students that are working may prefer free times during the weekend to unload chunks of study, or others may prefer spacing it out over the week to finish course materials and assignments. One of the greatest benefits of an online college education is flexibility, so what really matters is a routine that students can fall into for completing weekly goals.
•     Do Not Procrastinate - Many of us, even non-students, fall for the ever-present trap of delay. It's up to online students to make study time a priority. Time scheduled should not be prolonged by a favorite show or game. Just get on with your studies, one page or one sentence at a time - pacing yourself as you go along.
•     Get Into Balance - Humans strive with balance. While work and school together will take up most of your time, you should also squeeze in time for relaxation too. A little me-time, even if it's a mere half an hour per day can let students recharge, which in turn increases focus.
•     Designate a Place to Study - Eliminate distractions like the television, radio and video games. When it's to study, try to do so in a designated space in your home, like at a work desk - just as how you would in a college campus. Creating a study environment will help increase the amount of work you accomplish.
•     Communication is Key - Even though you may not see your Professor face-to-face, it's important to get in touch with them if you aren't clear about an assignment. Many online colleges will have instant messaging or video conferencing systems implemented so that you are able to speak with other students and staff members. If not, a simple email message will suffice to clear up any issues.

These tips can also be applied to all areas of your life. Discipline, time management and organization are key skills that every adult should learn for their personal, professional and financial lives.

A Review of the Instructional Design Models

Before we discuss what instructional design models (IDM) are, it is important to first define itself. Its also referred to as Instructional Systems Design (ISD), is the process of creating instructional experiences that make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient and effective. The instructional design discipline grew out of World War II, when the U.S. military needed to quickly train large numbers of personnel to perform various tasks.

While the terms Instructional Technology and Educational Technology are frequently used interchangeably, they are not exactly the same. The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) defines Instructional technology as "the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning," while Educational Technology is defined as "study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources."

With the key definitions now out of the way, let us examine instructional design models. First, a model is a representation of a complex entity or phenomenon, whose purpose is to objective understanding of what it represents. Models help the designer to visualize the problem at hand, and to then to break it down into smaller, more manageable units.

It then follows that an instructional design model are frameworks for developing instruction that enhance learning outcomes and also encourages learners to gain a deeper level of understanding. In other words, IDM tells instructional designers how to organize pedagogical situations in order to achieve instructional goals. It is important to note that effective instructional models are based on learning and instructional theories.

Models are classified into prescriptive and descriptive. Prescriptive models provide guidelines to organize and structure instructional activities while descriptive models describe the learning environment and how it affects variables at play.

There are many instructional models that have been developed over the years, and most are based on the ADDIE model. ADDIE stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.

This systematic IDM consists of five generic phases, which have been refined over the years in other models like the Dick and Carey Design Model and the Rapid Prototyping Model.

Common examples of these instructional models include:

    Merrill's First Principles of Instruction
    Bloom's Learning Taxonomy
    Kirkpatrick's 4 Levels of Training Evaluation
    Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction
    Kemp's IDM
    Keller's ARCS Model of Motivational Design (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction)
    ASSURE Model (Analyze Learners, State Objectives, Select Methods, Media, and Materials, Utilize Media and Materials, Require Learner Participation, and Evaluate and Revise)
    Smith and Ragan IDM
    Rapid Prototyping Model.

This of course is a non-exhaustive list.

Of importance to note is that in all models, the learner is (or should be) central to instruction. The learning context is also of importance to positive instructional outcomes. This includes instruction at all levels, i.e. K-12 education, adult learning, and higher education. Thus instructional design models are applicable to teachers, designers, trainers, and college level instructors mention a few.


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Benefits of Educational Technology

Today, everything that we come across has some technological connotation to it. Be it at home, school or workplace, technology has found a comfortable niche and has become an integral part of life. With the use of technology, several arenas are seeing changes and education is also one of them. The birth of educational technology has proved to be a boon to students the world over. Not only in the regular setting, but also in educating students with special needs have known to be benefited with the introduction of this modern invention. Let us now discuss the uses and benefits of educational technology in this modern-day setting.

What is Educational Technology?
The term 'educational technology' has a broad perspective and is also referred to as instructional technology or learning technology. This method plays a vital role in enhancing the learning process of students and also assists teachers in communicating with the students in an easy way. Educational technology can be a classroom affair, or can be even taken out of the classroom. This technology has successfully transformed the stereotypical image of classrooms into a modern and more interesting one. Thanks to this modern development, classrooms are no longer a boring place and learning is actually a fun experience. With the use of computers and software programs, which provide learning materials, technology has changed education to a great extent.

Educational Technology Benefits
There are a number of benefits of introducing technology in the field of education. There has been a positive impact of technology on education. Virtual classrooms have made learning easier for the student community. With the potential use of technology, the learning speed and style have undergone a sea change and communication has become easier. Here are some of the benefits of educational technology.

    * One of the benefits of educational technology for students is that it helps them improve their learning capabilities. Since it is one field which is constantly changing, new updates can be easily introduced to the students and class plans can be prepared with the help of the software.

    * In the earlier days, education was considered to be mostly for the elite class and people under other strata were quite ignorant of it. With the introduction of educational technology, there is no discrimination and everyone is equally accessible to get educated.

    * The information can be portrayed in various ways with the help of study materials. Knowledge has become easily accessible to students in every part of the world with the implementation of technology in the field of education. Online classrooms help students to interact with other students belonging to the same stream, but located somewhere else in the world.

    * Since the Internet is the main medium and other things like handheld tablet PCs and smart boards have entered the arena, students do not have to carry heavy backpacks loaded with books. They can walk in comfortably to the classroom where these equipment are already placed.

    * With the birth of virtual classrooms, the instructor from any part of the world can teach the learner (or learners) who may be living at the other end. The reach of this technology is quite far and students living in the remote parts can also avail it with ease.

    * In special education, the educational technology has brought about a sea change where the needs of students are catered to in a different manner. With the introduction of the software which teaches students with special needs, the appropriate study materials are designed so that learning is comfortable.

With the inclusion of technology, the concept of education is undergoing a modification, for the betterment of the students as well as the teachers. Hence, the introduction of technology is important in education. Thanks to educational technology, now learning and teaching have become an enjoyable experience.
By Marlene Alphonse