SIMPLE STEPS TO BUY LIFE INSURANCE

            Buying life insurance has become much easier recently. There is no need to wait any longer to obtain or buy the insurance. More so, it is possible to reduce the tax bill of your heritance using life insurance. Therefore, you can follow these simple steps to buy insurance right away.

            The first step is you need to know what type of life insurance that is appropriate for you. You can start it by analyzing your current life and how you view your future. It can be in terms of how your life will be different in the next few years or how many children you will have. You can choose coverage from either whole life insurance or term life insurance. A life insurance agent may guide to you to choose the right one.

            The second step is comparing the insurance quotes. There can be many insurance companies offering their best service to you. You should be sure that you do not go to the wrong insurance company. In addition, you can try to cut cost or price from the insurance policy. You should not be careless buying a policy. Spending some time to get quotes and compare them in some insurance companies will be useful before making a decision to buy particular life insurance.

Get a cash loan in very quick time

It is actually the common case that many people just like you need the instant fund. However, finding the fund is not easy. It is also the fact. Even, you need to do several procedures to get the fund or loan. It means that you should find the other way to solve your quick fund solver. online payday loans is actually the solver. Payday loan is actually as the online lender. Of course, it is able to lend you the money in very quick time. Besides, this payday loan is also available for al people in this world. It means that it does not see that you are from certain credit types. Besides, you actually do not worry with your credit report because this payday loan will not take a long consideration about your credit report.

Then, this payday loan also tends to you by internet. It means that you will absolutely get quicker process to get the cash money as your loan. You can do the lending process by internet connection. Of course, it will safe a lot of your money and time. In short, payday loan is actually as the best choice to solve your funding problem. You do not need to worry that you will get unsolved funding problem because this payday loan will always ready to serve you whenever and wherever you are. 

Free at risk with car Insurance

It is fact that drivers have a higher risk to get bad possibilities, such as getting an accident. If you are as the automobile owner, it will be better for you to guarantee your safety. Then, where you will find your safety guarantee? Yes, here is the answer. Car insurance quotes is actually the center to find the safety guarantee for the automobile owners. By registering your account into the car insurance, you will absolutely get safe whatever risk you may get.

The drivers just like you will be able to take many advantages by having account in the car insurance. For instance, when you get an accident, the car insurance company will pay out for your safety. It means that you will not need to worry for paying out in the hospital for your medical care. Besides, you will also get the pay out from the car insurance company for your mobile’s dealership. In conclusion, this car insurance is actually as the best choice for those who are the automobile owner. You will absolutely get safe whatever risk you get. Then, this car insurance also gives you with a low price, so that you do not need to worry for your monthly payment into this car insurance company. 

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.


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

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.


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

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

The Classroom and How to Use NLP

In a majority of classrooms in educational institutions, it is quite rare to find a teacher or professor who employs NLP training methods and principles. But if used inside the classroom, NLP will doubtless improve many aspects of the learning environment and will lead to better teacher-student interactions. For this reason, more teachers need to be aware of NLP techniques and integrate them into their own teaching style.

The question is, how can neuro-linguistic programming be used in the classroom? There are myriad ways by which an educator can apply its principles. NLP is all about improving the way people perceive themselves, the world, and other people. Thus, by learning how to perceive things better and understand people deeper, an educator can improve in facilitating a more conducive atmosphere suitable for learning.

One of the core NLP concepts that an educator should be aware of is the principle of "mind mapping". A mind "map" in NLP is the way an individual perceives the world in general. Each person has a unique map, and it is influenced heavily by one's own beliefs, values and attitudes. To successfully lead an entire classroom to a positive learning experience, the educator should first influence the beliefs, values and attitudes of students towards learning. For example, a student in a math class may be getting low grades as a result of negative attitudes towards the subject. These negative attitudes are originating from his limiting beliefs. Perhaps he is constantly saying to himself that he is not smart enough to grasp mathematical concepts. The solution to this problem is not to give him more math lessons immediately. Rather, the teacher should first identify limiting beliefs and help transform them into empowering beliefs (the "I can" attitude). Once the beliefs are influenced in a positive way, the student's "map" changes for the better and he is able to perceive the world in a different light. Understanding internal states and knowing how to elicit them is a surefire way for a teacher to have high-impact classroom discussions.

An "internal state" is an attitude, impulse or feeling that a person can readily associate with his five senses. For example, being happy is an internal state that anyone can associate with feelings of fulfillment, and is often seen in outward manifestations such as laughing, smiling, or crying for joy. Some people associate being happy with feelings of physical pleasure. There are literally hundreds or thousands of internal states that a person is capable of having at different times. One can be happy, enthusiastic, excited, or energetic at different parts of the day. On the other hand, negative internal states include being depressed, confused, hesitant, fearful and many others.

An educator should be able to put the entire classroom into a particular internal state before proceeding with any lesson or discussion. For example, before starting with a math lesson, an educator can do a sequence of NLP processes that will help elicit internal states of excitement or curiosity among students. The idea is to get the students into a positive internal state before giving them the lesson.

How to Claim Car Donation Deduction

A used automobile donation to a certified charity may be used to cut back your taxes. However, it is important to the actual Internal Revenue Services guidelines for donating used cars so as to receive the right benefit to your donation.

Depending the particular amount of your claim, you might need special forms or records to be able to qualify to get a deduction. According for the IRS, when you claim a deduction of at least $250 not really in excess of $500 for the car or truck donation, a written receipt from the charity is needed. You should have received the receipt in the use of the donation. The receipt should range from the name of the non-profit organization, an account on the donated vehicle and an announcement confirming perhaps the non-profit organization gave any services or goods in exchange for any donated vehicle. This statement doesn't need to be attached to the return, however ought to be kept on your records.

For charity cars over $500, donors will require to provide the IRS with a copy B of Form 1098-C, section A of Form 8283 as well as the following information should be in order to the return: A written acknowledgment from the charity involves a message and taxpayer identification number, the vehicle identification number, the donation date, and a statement of whether or not the charity provided any goods or services in turn for the car and, if that's the case, a description and estimate from the fair market associated with the services or goods. Donors who donate automobile in Florida or some other state may even need to avoid wasting written evidence of the vehicle donation and also the fair market value of the auto.

For deductions in excess of than $5,000, donors need the things in the above list for deductions of more than $500 effectively as Section B of Form 8283 and an itemized statement by a qualified appraiser.

When you donate your automobile to charity, the charity must offer you an itemized acknowledgment of your respective contribution. The acknowledgment must are the name from the charity, an account of the car and a statement of one of the following:

* A statement that no services or goods were made available to you in return in your donation

* A description and value any kind of services or goods had been presented to you in turn in your donation

* A statement that this goods or services presented to you consisted entirely of intangible religious benefits

Further documentation and filing requirements may pertain to claiming a deduction to your car donation. If your contribution may be valued at in excess of $500, you might need to check along with your accountant to see the easiest way for you to contribute your car to charity.

Opt for Online Tutoring to Help Your Child Excel in Studies

Today's era is highly competitive. In order to create an identity, everyone has to win this tough struggle of competition. When it comes to teaching, Online Tutoring is evolving as a modern yet effortless way of learning. This revolutionary way of learning has already assisted a huge number of students across the globe in wide range of subjects. In contrast to physical tutoring, it provides the students with a new way to learn and explore by seeking individual attention.

We are all aware that talent needs nurturing. The students who are gifted can seek enormous help in studies by the help of Online Tutors. However, the students who are not able to perform well are the ones who benefit the most. Tutoring via online learning method offers interactive learning to students. The motivational techniques of online tutoring can greatly enhance students' ability to learn.

Many a times, students tend to give up when their hard word does not seem to get rewarded despite repeated efforts. Lack of motivations may also be behind many weak students for not being able to exploit their potential well. Individualized attention by online learning can help them devote needful attention to obtain better grades.

If you have been worried about not being able to devote time to your dear child for Homework Help, then online system of tutoring can help solve your problem in an efficient way. The deficiency in certain skills like presentation, writing, analysis, and numeric problems can be simplified in a resourceful way.

The job of Online Tutors is not just to help students learn the subjects but also to discover the interesting aspects of the subjects. The long term goal of self-motivation is achieved by developing interest in the subject. The interest instills the enthusiasm that prevents the boredom from kicking in. The process of online teaching emphasizes on the fact that learning is much more than just knowing the facts.

If you have been thinking about looking for an Unlimited Online Tutoring solution for your child, it is right time that you seek one. However it is very important to devote some time looking for the best option. It is important that you choose a tutoring system that offers:

• Live tutoring or one-on-one tutoring sessions.
• Coaching by experienced and highly qualified teachers.
• Flexibility in terms of making choice of teachers.
• Help with regular homework assignments.
• Criteria for quality check by frequent sessions of barging into the classes by quality team.
• Using interactive tools to make learning easy.
• Privacy in terms of information provided.

These days many providers offer Free Online Tutoring trials to the students. It is a good way to gauze the efficacy of the learning classes by the provider. Opting for tutoring via Internet will ensure that your child will save time in getting ready for tutoring classes, reaching to the class, and related hassles. Web-based tutoring offers new-age learning and comes packed with variety of benefits. The strategies and techniques used by online tutoring system can greatly help your child grow intellectually and obtain good grades.

5 Household Student Skills

So you're living away from home for the first time, and you think you're ready for your first independent living experience, right? Well take it from us, there are bound to be situations ahead when you're at a complete loss as to what to do. We have put together a guide to those basic household student skills that you've never thought to learn.

1 - Doing Laundry

Firstly, separate your colours, whites, and delicates (such as silks) into individual loads. Items like towels that could leave fluff over your clothes should also be separated. Go through your pockets and remove anything if not you'll be picking out bits of tissue for the next few months. Turn jeans inside out to retain the colour and pay attention to care labels. Make sure you wash items at the right temperature - too hot and they might shrink, too cold and it won't get clean! Finally, always follow the directions on your washing powder/liquid and you should be fine!

2 - Boiling an Egg

Should be simple, but even the best chefs get it wrong! Firstly, never use a refrigerated egg; you'll get much better results from those at room temperature. Set a small pan to boil on the stove, with just enough water to cover the egg. Prick the fat end of the egg with a pin to stop it cracking, and drop it carefully into the boiling water. Now, for the important part! For a soft boiled egg with a runny yolk and lightly cooked white, boil for no longer than 3 minutes. For a hard boiled egg with solid white and yolk, boil for 8 minutes.

3 - Changing a Light bulb

Switch off the light that you'll be changing, and allow the existing bulb to cool before touching it. Twist the bulb anticlockwise until it is free - if it is a bayonet bulb it will only take one twist; a screw bulb will take slightly longer. Fetch your replacement bulb, making sure it's the same wattage as the original. Don't touch the new bulb with your bare hands, as you could damage the filament inside. Screw the bulb back in clockwise

4 - Defrosting your freezer

Your first task should be emptying the freezer. Once your freezer is empty (remove the drawers/ice tray also), unplug and leave the door open, putting some old towels around the bottom to soak up the inevitable deluge of water. Boil the kettle and fill a bowl with the water. Place the bowl in the centre of the freezer and use a cloth to spread the warmth around. Remove any large chunks of ice by hand, and then refill the bowl with boiling water and let the steam go to work. Repeat until all the ice is gone, dry off with a towel and you're good to go.

5 - Dusting

Empty the room entirely. This requires moving furniture as well as smaller items in the room, and you may need a helping hand. Put on some good music or a movie to entertain yourself while dusting. Get a*dust rag or a feather duster and begin dusting at the highest points of the room such as ceiling fans or the tops of window frames.Scrub and sanitize the woodwork and floors in the room thoroughly to remove all dust which may have accumulated. After dusting, many people forget that the dust eventually settles somewhere. If the room is carpeted, then vacuum the room.

Studying Poetry in the Classroom

More often than not, if you ask literature teachers how they feel about poetry, they will tell you that they don’t like teaching it because the students don’t like learning about it. While it is true that many students balk at the mention of poetry, this is usually because the teachers try to teach it just like a book, without explaining things like word choice, form, or even what is going on in the poem. Adding some fun activities to a unit on poetry can really help students come up with their own understanding of poetry, and then they can bring that personal connection to the poems you read in class.

Teaching the Form

One of the most important things to teach when you are teaching poetry is about the form of the poem you are reading. Even free verse poems that seemingly lack a form have an art to them. Poetry is different from prose in that there are lines, and when the poet writes a poem, he or she pays careful attention to those lines. Very often, important phrases end at the line, or poets include important words at the end of the line. This can help draw attention to the words and phrases that are used in the poem, and can help illuminate the meaning of the poem.

Most Important Word

By asking students what they think the most important word in the poem is, you are asking them to think about the poet’s word choice. This is actually a very difficult question for students to answer because usually they want to choose a whole phrase. By asking them to pick one word, you are forcing them to look at the whole poem through a critical eye. If they are stuck and need help, you can always give them hints. Important words can be repeated over and over within the poem. Repetition is always a signal of an important word. Other important words can embody the entire theme or message of the poem, or can be a word that the students like the sound or meaning of. Most importantly, remind the students that, as long as they can explain their choice, there are no wrong answers.

Coffeehouse Readings

Always read poetry aloud in class. This can help students understand the poem better. Poetry was also meant to be read aloud. You can make this fun, too, by setting up your classroom like a coffeehouse poetry reading. Have the students snap their fingers after each reading, instead of clapping their hands. Add some lamps to create a coffeehouse feel when the lights are turned off, and put a fake microphone at the front of the room for students to stand up and read into. This will get the students listening and enjoying poetry just for the sound of it, which can lead to really great discussions about the content and how the poem was read.

Found Poems

Found poems are a great way to have students dive into writing their own poetry. For some students, writing a poem can be daunting if anything goes. With found poems, have the students "find" words and phrases in magazines and newspapers. Have them cut out what they find and glue it on a piece of paper in the form of a poem. By giving students something to start with - in this case, words already printed in a magazine - you’ve taken away the fear of creating and sharing something new and personal. By Buzzle Staff and Agencies

Educational Games for Students

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. By Buzzle Staff and Agencies

Importance of Education in Society

Education, if looked at beyond its conventional boundaries, forms the very essence of all our actions. What we do is what we know and have learned, either through instructions or through observation and assimilation. When we are not making an effort to learn, our mind is always processing new information or trying to analyze the similarities as well as the tiny nuances within the context which makes the topic stand out or seem different. If that is the case then the mind definitely holds the potential to learn more, however, it is us who stop ourselves from expanding the horizons of our knowledge with self-doubt or other social, emotional, or economic constraints.

While most feel that education is a necessity, they tend to use it as a tool for reaching a specific target or personal mark, after which there is no further need to seek greater education. Nonetheless, the importance of education in society is indispensable and cohering, which is why society and knowledge cannot be ever separated into two distinct entities. Let us find out more about the role of education in society and how it affects our lives.

Purpose of Education in Society

Education is Self Empowerment
Receiving a good education helps empower you, thus making you strong enough to look after yourself in any given situation. It keeps you aware of your given surrounding as well as the rules and regulations of the society you're living in. It's only through knowledge that you can be able to question authority for its negligence or discrepancies. It is only then that you can avail your rights as a citizen and seek improvement in the structural functioning of governance and economy. It's only when a citizen is aware about the policies of its government can he be able to support or protest the change. As a whole, people can bring about development only when they know where improvement is necessary for the greater good of mankind. Education helps you understand yourself better, it helps you realize your potential and qualities as a human being. It helps you to tap into latent talent, so that you may be able to sharpen your skills.

Financial Stability and Dignity of Life
Another importance of education is that it helps you gain sufficient academic qualification so that you are able to get suitable employment at a later stage. A decent employment would be combined with hard-earned remuneration or salary through which you can look after your personal expenses. While you earn for yourself, you gradually begin to realize the true worth of money and how hard it is to earn it. You realize the significance of saving for a rainy day and for unforeseeable contingencies. You feel empowered because there is a new sense of worth that develops within you, and you feel the need to be independent and free from any further financial support. You take pride in the fact that you are earning for yourself, and are not obligated to anyone.

Growth in Personal Aspiration
There also comes a phase when the amount you are earning presently will seem inadequate because your aspirations and expectations from yourself would have grown considerably. After this, you will want to change jobs so as to have a higher profile. However, here is when you need to be prepared. A promotion of this figure can occur in two given situations, which are, that either you have the necessary higher academic qualification or a college degree which allows you a safe passage, or that you have amassed enough practical experience which allows you to be a suitable candidate for the employment you seek.

On the Job Efficiency
This is why college education is very important after high school and must not be taken for granted. When faced with the option of choosing between a highly qualified candidate and a not so educated candidate, the employers will most probably go in for the qualified person. The reason being that, a qualified candidate will not require much investment of the employer's time and money. The organization need not teach him or her the tricks of the trade, or the various ways of functioning and performing the tasks of the workplace. On the contrary, a novice / amateur applicant would need to be taught everything from scratch, which many employer's are usually not willing to do. The same applies for people who seek higher education and get advanced diplomas while working. These people are continuously improving their profile and their knowledge base so as to go higher up on the competitive ladder.

Helps Plan Ahead
Those who have amassed enough education, steer the path of development and progress for their country. It is these individuals who go ahead and become teachers, scientists, inventors, welfare activists, soldiers, and politicians who work together to form the very backbone of the society. Without this pool of intellect, the economic and social framework would crumple and fall, paving its way for anarchy, degradation, and violence. While this intricate balance of growth is maintained, there will be a continuous rise in progress in all quarters of life, whether that be personal growth, or development of the nation as an entity. This progress has a very important role to play for the coming generations, which will reap the benefits of our hard work, as they develop it further. At the same time, the negative impact of our actions shall have its collateral damage on the coming generation as well. Which is why we must be exceptionally prudent about the decisions we make and the actions we take in the present.

Job Seeker vs. Job Provider
There will come a time, when you will no longer feel the need to be working as someone's mere employee. You would want to take charge and control over your own life and income. This is when you will decide to become a self-employed individual, who would like to watch his / her own ideas take realistic form. You would prefer being the one offering job opportunities to others and aid in providing income to them. At this stage of entrepreneurship, you may use your own expertise as well as that of other trained and skilled associates. As a team, you will find your business or venture expanding and yielding good results. You may even gain the confidence and insight, which will help you diversify and spread your expertise into other business arenas, which were previously unknown to you, or you were unsure about. This ability, comes with experience and knowledge amassed over the years.

An Idle Mind is The Devil's Workshop
Education and studying regularly, gives people of all age groups something substantial and challenging to do. It helps them think and use their idle hours, doing something productive and worthwhile. Education need not be purely academic and may include reading for leisure or as a passion for literature, philosophy, art, politics, economics, or even scientific research. There is no limit, to all that you can teach yourself, only if you take the interest to learn and grow as an individual. However, those who treat knowledge as trash, eventually find themselves getting absorbed with thoughts of violence, and jealously against those who are better off than themselves. It is people such as these who turn towards drug addiction, unnecessary rebellion, crime, and plain inactivity. Such people lack the self-esteem, that a good education often provides to its followers.

Education plays its continuous role in all spheres of life. The reason being, that if we are aware of the drawbacks of a decision and we know about the possible contingencies and the collateral damage, our consequent actions would be wiser, which would help us to keep danger at bay at all times.
By Rohini Mohan

Why is Education the Key to Success

Everyone of us is a bundle of unique gifts and talents. Our relative success in life depends on how much we believe in ourselves, trust our own private genius, nurture it and let it grow freely. What education does is that it provides us with the opportunity to unravel and realize our inborn talents, while providing us with the skills of thinking and solving problems on our own. Both education and success are relative concepts in the sense that there is a wide difference of opinion regarding what is real education and what is real success. In this Buzzle article, I present you with my argument about why is education the key to success, based on my own understanding of what real education and true success means.

What is Real Education?

Real education is the one which enables you to think for yourself and apply what you have learned. Purely knowing facts and being able to effectively remember and recall them isn't being educated. To be educated is being able to make your own decisions and form your own opinions about things. It is the imparting of skills that enable you to succeed in any field of human endeavor and make your original contribution. What good education requires is a one-to-one interaction between a good teacher and student.

There are two factors of education which must mold two different aspects of the human psyche - one is analytical intelligence and the other is emotional intelligence. The former deals with the ability to solve technical problems while the latter deals with the ability to empathize, communicate, connect with our fellow human beings. A wholesome education system must educate both these facets of the human psyche to mold a character with all the abilities required to live a happy and successful life.

Why is Education the Key to Success?

Man is what his thoughts make him. Education provides direction to these thoughts. Success is more than just accumulation of material wealth. I believe that success is not a destination but a never ending journey in self exploration. It is unlocking your true potential to make your life itself a work of art. Success has more than one dimensions to it. Acquiring material wealth is not the only one. To what degree have you conquered your self and achieved liberation from wanting and needing things is another indicator of success. Education plays a large role in determining our potential for achieving this success. Here are some of the prime arguments supporting the idea of education as the veritable key to success.

High Educational Qualifications Provide Better Job Opportunities
Specialized knowledge gained through higher education opens opportunities in the form of well paying jobs, with a challenging work profile. While higher education may not guarantee success, it certainly puts you in a position to work with the best in the field and gain valuable experience, which helps you in the long term pursuit of professional success. So graduation through college and working hard to get through graduate school has its benefits.

Provides the Requisite Skill Set to Succeed
Education that enables individuals to succeed is not just the formal kind. The direct education that one gains through hands-on experience and working with the masters in a field, that goes beyond purely bookish knowledge, prepares you for success. Real education begins when you start applying what you learned through formal education to solve real world problems. The discipline, perseverance and ability to apply oneself pave the path to success.

Provides Access to the Vast Store of Human Knowledge
Just being able to read and write, provides you access to the vast store of human knowledge in the form of books, which is the combined wisdom of ages. A man benefits from the path shown by the great masters of any field by accessing this knowledge store. Distilling knowledge to gain wisdom is the ultimate aim of education. Great minds like Newton have acknowledged the contributions of their predecessors which contributed to their success. Standing on the shoulders of the great giants of men who made magnanimous contributions to human knowledge, we can see further than they did.

Education Through Experience Provides the Real Edge
A college degree or any kind of formal education can provide you with the knowledge required to succeed in your field. It does not ensure success unless you learn to apply what you learned and apply it effectively to find innovative solutions. Education provides you with the means, but the application required to succeed must come from within you. The edge that winners gain over their competitors is through experience and out of the box thinking.

Ultimately Success Is All About Self Belief
No institution can provide better education than life itself. Besides conventional education, the lessons we learn through our day-to-day life, our ability to adapt and self introspect, adoption of a strong value system and most importantly, self belief are the keys to success. The importance of education lies in its ability to forge a man of character.

The real key to success is self belief, which can unlock your inner potential. Education which puts you on the path of self discovery, leading to self belief, adds meaning to your life and provides you with the means to achieve lasting success in life. As rightly put by W.B.Yeats, education lights the inner fire and provides us with the ability to think independently, making success only a matter of time.
By Gray Pilgrim

How to Get The Best Nursing Programs

Nursing is one of the most popular careers. This is because many people view it as a secure profession. Today, there are many institutions offering training in this field. However, not all of them are offering the best quality of education you may want for your loved one.

As such, you need to be cautious when choosing the institution where to study for your nursing programs. This is very important because nursing programs offered by an institution will determine the kind of education you or your loved one get. To ensure that you get the best, you need to consider the following:

• Specialties: You need to consider the specialty you want to choose. Find out if this specialty is available in the institution, you enroll in for your studies. This field of professionalism is more than just a profession. It requires people with passion for helping and caring for the sick. As such, you need to get a specialty that you are comfortable with. A field that you will not have any problem helping the sick.

• You also need to ensure that the institution you enroll in for your studies is accredited. This is very important since no institution can be accredited if it is offering poor quality education. As such, you need to do some research on the institution before enrolling for your studies.

• You also need to find out about the fee. Studying for this profession may be expensive for some people. As such, you need to ensure that you will afford the fee. If you cannot, find out if the institution has any means of helping needy students.

• Make sure that you also meet the required conditions for admission. Some institutions will have pre-admission exams or tests. This is very important as it will help you know if you qualify for the nursing programs that you or your loved one want to pursue.

• It is also important that you find out about clinical rotation. These are very important when completing your coursework. A school that provide enough time for clinical rotation is the best to enroll for your studies. Placement for these clinicals should also be varied properly and offer quality hands-on experience. Getting such information before enrolling for your studies is very important.

• Knowing the pass rate of exams offered by an institution is also very important. This will enable you find out what to expect when you enroll for the nursing programs offered by an institution.

Necessity of Online Education for Older Women

The system of linking students, teachers and learning resources when they are not in the same location is called "distance learning". Earlier, distance learning made effective use of communication technologies like the postal service, and then television programs. However, a huge shift occurred after the advent of the Internet and "online education" was born. This transformed not only the methods of education but also the development and propagation of knowledge and communications between students and teachers. But how did all this effect older women? Technology granted new opportunities for many older women to achieve educational goals and they successfully managed to balance home and education.

Universities now form partnerships with businesses and even each other to compete better, in a greatly expanded worldwide market for students. The growth of online education can be attributed primarily to these reasons -

• You get to choose the class hours according to your discretion.

• Instead of a typical classroom environment, you get to learn in the comfort of your home.

• Since the actual sessions are never crowded, more attention is focused on you.

• Zero conveyance cost. Also you get to choose a class which fits your personal style and budget.

• Since there is to-and-fro involved, you save a lot of time.

According to a survey, more than 2 million students enrolled in online education courses in 2002 alone. If a recent U.S. government document is to be believed, the average age of online students is 34 years old and they are mostly female.

So why do older women pursue continuing education? According to a survey, the main impetuses of women for returning to education are -

• Expansion of their current career

• Enhancement of current salary

• Changing or beginning careers

• Returning to staff position

• Pursuing personal advantages

Among the women surveyed, 20% belonged to the age group of 41 - 50.

The top online colleges offering scholarships in America are -

(i) Liberty University

(ii) Post University

(iii) Kaplan University

(iv) DeVry University

(v) American Inter Continental University

(vi) Grand Canyon University.

The number of older women currently working to complete courses and degrees online represents a social wonder. Awareness of women's problems and measures to help overcome the tribulations are required to raise the success of both older women and online programs.

Although women are the main users, they are grossly underrepresented in high-tech sectors and among university administrators who are currently influential to online learning. Many adult women returning to college classes have to tackle significant hurdles not usually experienced by men. Many women balance career, community and household tasks against their curricular work. They often have serious economic liabilities too. Customarily, they have grappled with these difficulties while also facing inflexible class schedules and educational policies, incompetent childcare, lack of appropriate lodging, and lack of dependable transportation. Online education seeks to solve all this and more.

Using Jigsaws to Teach Longer Works

We all know what a jigsaw puzzle is, right? It's a puzzle with a bunch of pieces that all fit together to make the whole picture. While the pieces alone might seem to look like nothing, they all seamlessly fit together to make a beautiful picture. Believe it or not, you can actually take the same concept and make it work in your classroom, which can save you and your students a lot of time; while also teaching them communication skills necessary to be successful outside your class.

What are Jigsaw Activities?

Jigsaw activities are exactly what they sound like. You break students into groups and have each group read a specific article or piece of text, and they are responsible for teaching the rest of the class their segment. This can also be done without groups, if you have enough pieces of the text for students to tackle a segment individually. Hopefully, when you're finished, the whole class then has the complete picture of what you wanted them to learn without having to read the entire text or all the articles in the unit.

How to Make it Work in the Classroom

If you grew up in the 90’s, you remember watching Uncle Jesse and Joey try to do this same thing with a book they were reading, only to have it fail miserably because each didn't understand the half the other was supposed to report back on. The lesson here is that trying to cheat by doing only part of the work will always result in failure. However, when you are facilitating a jigsaw activity in your classroom, you can make it successful by requiring each group to complete specific activities relating to their segment of the text. This can be a worksheet, answering several questions, completing a video project - the possibilities are endless and these are just a few. When the groups have completed their tasks, they must present their findings to the class. At this point, it is critical to have the students take notes. Since they did not read their own section of the text, they need to have something to reference in their notes.

End of Unit Activities

After all the groups have presented, it's a good idea to have an end of the unit activity ready to go to check the students' understanding of the topic. You can create a quiz based on the students' presentations and have the entire class take the quiz. You can also have students create their own quiz questions to test the students who have been listening to their presentation. It's also possible to have students complete a project that has one or more elements from each group's presentation. Again, the possibilities are endless, but it is a good idea to follow through with an end of the unit activity just to be sure the students were paying attention to all the presentations.

What does it Teach?

Jigsaw activities not only cover the required material of the classroom, but also teach much more than just reading comprehension and writing. Jigsaw activities require students to present information in such a way that the other students can understand what they are saying. This is much different than just giving a presentation or speech, because the students are not required to just talk at an audience, but rather teach the audience something and be sure they understand what has been taught. This is an important life skill, especially when you consider most jobs in the world require someone to teach something at some point in the workday.
By Buzzle Staff and Agencies

Tips for Formulating an E-Waste Recycling Routine

E-waste recycling is an important consideration for a wide array of business, from those that manufacture and sell electronic and electrical items to those that simply use it in the day-to-day running of their firm. Read our guide to find out how to fulfil your duty of care.

Establishing a routine to recycle and manage your e-waste is an essential step to ensure you comply with UK legislation.

Indeed, in 2007 the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Directive was passed, which gave any companies involved in producing, selling or using such products a duty of care.

The directive's aims include improving the environmental performance of businesses, as well as encouraging people to reuse, recycle and recover such devices as much as possible.

As there are multiple facets to complying with the WEEE Directive, it is a good idea to enlist the help of a recycling partner programme. A firm that offers this service can assess your needs to assist you in establishing a routine that will protect the environment.

What's more, they may be able to collect the waste directly from your company's location, while some firms also offer a data wiping service, ensuring no sensitive information remains on the machines prior to their disposal.

First of all, however, your business and its dedicated corporate recycling partner will need to look at how your WEEE is stored.

For example, you don't want your eco-friendly efforts wasted by poor storage that leads to environmental damage in the local area - so considering where WEEE is kept is essential.

What's more, you need to make sure it is not placed with standard waste and then accidentally disposed of as such.

Looking at it from another perspective, you'll also want to ensure it is situated in a secure place - or your defunct machines, along with the sensitive data they hold, may find their way into the wrong hands.

Next, you need to think about collection, data wiping and, of course, the disposal itself. If you choose a dedicated recycling partner, this becomes simple, as they can handle all these processes for you.

After collecting the items directly from your company, they can then ensure all machines are completely clear of data ahead of recycling.

The WEEE Directive dictates that recycling must be conducted by a licensed waste carrier, so check the company you select has this accreditation.

Alongside actually making sure all these processes are correctly carried out, you will need to produce paperwork to show your duty of care has been fulfilled. Another aspect your waste recycling partner can help you with, full reports of the steps taken are provided by some companies, leaving your business can concentrate on its core objectives.

So, what should you look for in a WEEE recycling partner? Among the key points to check are whether they can offer you full compliance with the WEEE Directive, authorised accreditations, authorised approved treatment facilities and a waste carrier license.

Firms that can provide you with full reporting services, collect your WEEE directly and furnish you with a dedicated account manager will help to make the process as smooth and simple as possible.