5 Ways to Keep Students Motivated to Learn with 3D Modelling

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June 4, 2021

effective-parent-teacher-communication-with-technology

A parent’s involvement in their child’s schooling always has a great impact on that child’s academic success.

In other words, clear and effective two way communications between both the parents and teachers are imperative not only to the academic excellence of the child but also their mental health.

However, with family life constantly evolving, parents often have multiple commitments on top of their full-time workload. This can make parent-teacher meetings less likely. But as imperative as it is for parents and teachers to meet, the new age of technology has found multiple ways for teachers and parents to communicate, without necessarily having to step into the same room.

The Importance of Parent Teacher Communication

Parents are some of the best teachers and role models that a child can have, which makes it vital for parents to take an active interest in their children’s academic life. There is also a lot of evidence and research that shows that children whose parents take an active interest in their academic life perform better than most students.

Other than their academic performance, positive relationships with teachers will also greatly improve the mental health and stability of their children, making it all the more important for you to keep positive relations with your children’s teachers.

What is Good Communication between Parents and Teachers?

From the start, both the student’s parents as well as the teachers should establish clear methods of communication, and communicate frequently. Every year teachers should decide along with parents how they will communicate with them as well as on what days they will communicate.

Throughout this decision-making process, both the teacher and the parent will also have to decide on the form of communication as well to streamline things. While most parents prefer the tried and true face-to-face meetings, many parents cannot often make the time to meet teachers. This is why schools and other institutions are leveraging various other forms of communication with the help of present day technology.

Forms Of Communication Most Institutions Use:

Radio or Podcasts:

Radios and podcasts are a great form of communication that only a handful of schools have developed to stay in contact with parents. It is also the simplest, yet most powerful medium that some schools in the United States are using to great effect.

These radio channels and podcasts discuss issues regarding the school or schooling system in general while conveying messages from specific schools to parents who are listening. The podcast doesn’t have to be a professional project, but a student driven podcast dedicated to spreading information to parents who take an active interest in their child’s life.

The biggest benefit is that parents can listen to the podcast on the go and learn more about the day to day process of the school. These podcasts can also be a virtual window into the classroom of your child, as the hosts explain the events at the school day.

Blogs:

Blogs have also been a very effective medium when it comes to connecting parent with teachers. Blogs give parents an inside view of the classroom and allow parents to receive information about the school day at their own pace.

While you might be thinking that blogs are incredibly one-sided, that isn’t the case with every blog. Some blogs encourage comments, which make the blog feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation. The blog can also be a great conversation starter for families and helps parents’ to keep track of their child’s academic progress.

Moreover, a class blog does not just help parents keep track of how well their child is doing; rather they can also see how their syllabus is coming along and if the general class is having trouble with a given subject, which is important.

Email Newsletters or Letters:

With so many people now relying on emails for essential information, schools are starting to take advantage of this and are connecting better with parents.

Although most schools still send applications and letters through students in the hopes that it reaches their parents, other schools are sending these letters directly to parents via email. Not only is this way of sending emails more reliable and much more instantaneous, but thanks to their format they can be a lot more personalized and private.

Using these letters will also allow parents to reply to the teachers and talk to them about the contents of the letter.

Social Media:

Unlike the other forms of communications, social media is a very good tool that most institutions are already using to their fullest.

Social media is one of the biggest advertising platforms for every type of business or institute, including schools. Schools continually update their social media to show how their curriculum is going as well as how their students are coping with the said curriculum.

Social media essentially helps schools advertise themselves as well as create a platform for parents to talk and place their complaints about the school actively. Social media applications, like Snapchat and Instagram, also allow parents to get an in-depth look at the school daily.

Parent Teacher Communication Is Faster And More Accessible Through Technology

Building strong relationships between teachers and parents has never been easier thanks to the technology readily available to both parties. With the help of these communication methods, parents are starting to place more trust in the school system, and the school is getting much better feedback from the parents, directly.

You can find out more information about related topics on our blog:

4 Top Benefits of Private Tutors working together with Teachers

3 Creative Ways for Teachers to use Google Forms for Google Forms Quizzes or Google Forms Surveys and more

Author Bio

Anne Baron is highly experienced educator, writer and copywriter specializing in academic research. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Administration with almost 25 years of experience in teaching and academic writing. She spent a dozen years managing a large college peer-tutoring program and another dozen years in the classroom teaching college students. She has since retired from teaching and devotes her time and efforts to freelance writing for institutions, businesses and colleges like Patrick Henry College.

How EdTech and the Internet has Made Education More Accessible

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June 1, 2021

The United Nations’ fourth Sustainable Development Goal recognizes education as a fundamental human right. Access to equitable education is the key to providing livelihoods and opportunities for sustainable development and advancement of societies worldwide. Thanks to technology and the internet, more people can explore educational opportunities.

Students can advance their skills from any location, a factor that has proven to be a significant advantage to female children, kids and adults with learning disabilities, and learners who wish to advance their qualifications.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (AV)

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality tools make learning fun with interactive features to make the materials interesting and easy to understand. Adding games and audio and visual graphics along with animation makes the courses more engaging. Kids with neurological and speech issues can choose methods and approaches that are suitable to their abilities.

A good example is online speech therapy, where children practice reciting poems, singing songs, reading words, and exercising their facial and vocal muscles to develop speech skills. Among the many benefits is that parents need not take time off from work and regular tasks to bring their kids to therapy. Expert Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) can connect with them using video chats and provide training at home.

Technologies and Sight in the Classroom

Technology has also brought major changes to learners who are visually impaired or blind. Textbooks with a large font or braille text have never been available in large numbers. Now, ebooks and screen readers make it easier to adapt any text.

There are countless additional tools and programs that make vision-dependant tasks accessible without sight, allowing the kids who need them to feel more confident and comfortable in any classroom. Small audio exam players can let a kid choose and listen to test questions through headphones alongside peers who are reading the same content of a paper.

Acquiring Certification Online

Technological advancements have made it possible for learners to train in courses that suit their innate talents and interests. Not only can they study at an individual pace, but they can also complete the required number of hours and take the online exams.

Certification is available both in digital form, and hard copies are mailed to the students. Students can also use online tools to help them study for the tests. These apps can be accessed using mobile phones and tablets to take mock exams, such as the ATI TEAS practice test, which is similar to the actual quizzes. Learners can evaluate their knowledge of the materials and identify the areas where they need to work harder.

Not only are these digital tools easily access and adaptable, they also remove barriers to mobility and transportation.

EdTech Is Accessible Using a Combination of Online and Offline Methods

Advanced Educational Technology (EdTech) tools are accessible to students even if they don’t have an active internet connection. Teachers can access the materials online, record them, and provide them to the students. Plug-in learning systems can support 40 or more laptops and tablets over Wi-Fi with a single device. Any person who wishes to study can take advantage of the available courses without the need for an active internet connection.

This feature can prove to be a huge positive for learners in rural and remote areas. The classes are interactive and adapt to the learning capabilities of the students accessing them. Best of all, the materials can be downloaded into devices that children can bring home.

Using the internet to impart education to students worldwide has opened up new avenues for advancing skills and acquiring accreditation for gainful employment. Educators now recognize the many benefits of technology and employ it to make learning accessible for more kids and adults in any location.

New Levels of Interest in Advancing Technology

From 2020 to 2021, many students spent a year or more in a completely virtual classroom. This sudden and dramatic rise in technological use has spurred the development of EdTech for all students.

Many video call platforms released or updated their live closed captioning abilities. For kids who had previously depended on the ability to read lips, the inconsistent quality and small size of streaming videos was otherwise a major concern.

In addition to live streaming improvements, recorded classes have some other benefits for students who are deaf or hearing impaired. Videos introduce the ability to stop and go back if a child doesn’t fully understand instructions or information on the first listen.

The Future of EdTech Accessibility

As technology continues to advance, EdTech accessibility will grow as well. The learners of the future will be able to benefit from a variety of technologies that already exist, are under development, or haven’t even been invented yet. From augmented reality to virtual reality and long-distance learning, the years to come will include many opportunities.

How to Prepare for your First Day as a University Fresher?

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May 26, 2021

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University is a new stage of life for a young person, which causes a lot of anxiety or uncertainty but also excitement. Most often it involves a university fresher to change location, meet new people, and start a completely different life and learning model.

However, the first day of university does not have to be as difficult as it may seem. If you prepare well, you will be able to fit right into your new environment.

What do you need to know before embarking on your university fresher adventure?

Familiarise yourself with University Schedules, Rooms, and Subjects

Familiarize yourself with University Schedule, Rooms, and Subjects Before starting your first day of university, it is a good idea to focus on learning a bit about organizational issues.

This will eliminate ambiguity, give you more courage and prevent you from getting lost due to information overload. Start by carefully examining your schedule and finding your halls or classrooms. Remember that you can only make a first impression once, and the better you start, the easier your next steps will be.

Study the schedules, familiarise yourself with the layout of the university building and read the profiles of your professors and the course outline.

Do not stop at reading course materials – go the extra mile and be informed about your subject of study. It is not about careful analysis of details but simply becoming more familiar with them. Looking at your professors is also a good idea – you can read about their work and achievements. Doing so will boost your self-confidence, since uncertainty breeds concern and fear.

Also, plan your route to university in advance and check out exactly where classes are held. Being late draws the attention of the professor and the group, which may cause unnecessary confusion.

Work out how to get Credits through Exams and Preparing for Classes

Work out how to get Credits through Exams and Preparing for Classes When you go to university, you must follow a new way of grading student work and getting credits, while the familiar rules you grew accustomed to at school no longer apply.

Universities assign different importance to subjects and divide them into several types, and their procedures may vary. Some courses end with an exam, while others simply require your attendance. How you get credit for classes most commonly depends on the guidelines of individual professors, who describe the rules in detail on the first day and in the course outline.

You will find out about the form of learning in each subject and what to do to prepare. The key subjects usually require you to pass a written or oral exam. Often, classes also require you to prepare a special project in the form of a presentation, essay, or other written work. You may be required to get credits through independent work or by collaborating with a larger group of students.

The novelty of the situation and abundance of information often makes it difficult to comprehend in full. Prepare a notepad and something to write with to take detailed notes – write down all the detailed terms and conditions, as well as instructions given by the professor. By doing so, you can always refer to your notes to address any doubts you may have. Also, do not be afraid to ask any questions that occur to you. It is better to find the courage and talk to the professor instead of making wrong assumptions.

And for the professors, it is also a good opportunity to get to know their students better and put a name to a face.

Be Open to Meeting New People as a University Fresher

Be Open to Meeting New People Student life is not just about studying, getting credits, and growing intellectually. Remember, it is also an opportunity to meet new friends, form real friendships, and even find a partner for the rest of your life or network for future work opportunities.

A change of environment is an opportunity to broaden your horizons and open a new chapter. Students taking their first steps in university life face many challenges and difficulties that are much easier to overcome in a larger group than on their own. It is good to have a circle of close friends with whom you can talk between classes, prepare for exams, or have a good time outside of the university.

Starting university is your first opportunity to meet new people who will accompany you throughout the next few years of studies and work. Arrive at the university early so you can take a good look at the situation and find friendly faces in the crowd. Do not forget to smile and be friendly – it makes networking much easier.

You may find that someone you just connected with will become your long-term friend. However, this is not the only form of making your first acquaintances – even before arriving at the university, you can find student groups associated with the given area of study or faculty on the Internet. This is a wonderful icebreaker and a way of entering this new reality. Also, do not miss freshers’ trips and parties, which are a great method of meeting new people.

Plan Your Way to University as a University Fresher

Plan Your Way to University as university fresher The decision to go to university is not just about submitting the required documents and starting your studies. Where you will live is also important, so it is best to decide as early as possible to find a perfect student accommodation close to the university. The closer to the start of the academic year, the more people are looking and the fewer options to choose from.

When looking for accommodation, you need to consider not only your budget but also how far you will need to go to get to your classes. If the university is very far away, long commutes will cost you a lot of time and money. Studying is not the only thing young people live for, so it is also important to check if there are any cafés, clubs, and cultural attractions in the area and whether it is safe.

Not only is the area you live in important, but also the type of accommodation and the facilities. You can rent a private apartment or choose to rent a room in halls of residence.

New models of co-living and co-working have also entered the rental market for students such as BaseCamp and if you are considering studying abroad in Poland’s third-largest city, for example, the BaseCamp private student dormitory in Łódź at ul. Rembielińskiego is an interesting alternative just a 5-minute walk from the Technical University of Lodz.

Apart from comfortable rooms equipped with kitchenettes, decorated with designer furniture, and a private bathroom you will also have access to a communal gym, cinema, and communal study areas where additional community events and parties are held. This makes BaseCamp a perfect place for students at an affordable rate.

The 10 Key Career Skills that are crucial for Success

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May 21, 2021

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In life, one of the biggest commitments we humans undertake is our work.

It is more than just a means of earning money, it’s our passion, our motivation and a successful career is what we strive to achieve in our lifetime.

Whichever field you may work in, if the work does not give you joy, pride and purpose then it is just a means of earning money.

Over the course of your career, you will be required to acquire a number of job skills that will help build your career and ultimately take you to the fulfilment of your hopes and dreams, especially when starting a new job.

What Skills must one acquire for successful Career Development?

Over the course of our lives, we will learn a variety of life and work skills. These skills can be categorized into 6 different skill types, each important for your career and its successful development.

Labour Skills – Skills required for practical and hands-on professions such as brewers, masons, electricians, carpenters, decorators etc. and these skills mostly require the use of physical labour.
Life Skills – Skills such as interpersonal skills, technical skills, and cognitive skills. These skills are usually required to execute life activities and tasks in our society like basic cooking, organization, dealing with money etc.
People Skills – Human beings are social. Throughout the course of our lives, we build relationships, place our trust in people, develop sympathies and empathies with others in different roles as a friend, partner, employee etc. People skills are key to working in team and being a good communicator.
Hard Skills – Commonly referred to as technical skills, hard skills are typically concentrated towards the achievement of a particular task or a situation. These skills will typically require you to be qualified either technically, academically or professionally.
Social Skills – Living in a society means adhering to its rules. To succeed working with and alongside others in a verbal/ non-verbal way while being respected and liked is important to build a career in many industries.
Soft Skills – Soft skills are a combination of a variety of skills such as your communication skills, interpersonal skills, and social skills for example.

While all of these skills are important for our careers and its growth, in this article we will cover the various soft skills that support job skills one requires to expand their career.

Which Soft Skills are essential for your Career Development?

Hard skills, technical skills and job skills are the skills which are required to land a job but what happens after?

You need a repertoire of soft and transferable skills such as a positive attitude and mindset, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and a decent work ethic. These soft skills also help you grow as a leader.

What most people often forget to consider is that these skills are an integral part of our society and our working environment. Our ability to converse with people, to empathize with them and to build good relationships are as important as hard skills, but sadly often undervalued.

It is often assumed by organizations that the people they hire will have a good work ethic, but it is difficult to know or check. Therefore, anybody should at least acquire some of the following soft skills that are detrimental to any career progression.

Top 10 crucial Soft Skills to master for the best Career Development

Communication – Being a good communicator is a requirement by almost every employer in any industry. Even introverts have their own group of people they talk to and communicate with. Verbal or written communication is one important skill for several jobs as it helps you with interacting with your colleagues, customers, traders, and it helps you build strong relationships, which is key for networking. Effective modern communication tools to master include video calls, phone calls, emails, and face to face communication, but also interacting on social media which requires one to consider netiquette. This has become even more prevalent with the rise of remote working job positions and online work.
Adaptability – We do not always get what we want, life often throws us a curveball and we’re left dealing with it, the good and the bad. Being able to adapt, accept and change when things go south is important not just when it comes to your career and its growth but also in life. Many modern companies specifically look for good problem-solving skills and creative thinking skills as these are key in the digital world in which things change very frequently.
Teamwork – When you work for an organization you are also working alongside others in your team. Success is a result of not one but many individuals working towards a common goal. Collaborating with your colleagues will only strengthen your work. Your quality of work will improve when other people use their skills and their strengths to work together and achieve better results.
Observational Skills – Pure data means nothing unless interpreted properly. Observing and studying your data, learning various patterns, monitoring them closely with the right project management tools and providing solutions will give you an edge over your fellow colleagues. Equally, observing social behaviours and inner social systems in a company can be beneficial for your career progression.
Problem Solving – When things go wrong, your plan of action will determine your position in the company. Noticing problems beforehand in combination with your observational skills will help you find solutions to any current problems as well as problems which are likely to arrive in the future and being able to tackle them beforehand is a key skill employers look for when hiring people in positions of power.
Conflict Resolution – When a group of individuals work together, sometimes they are going to disagree and have conflicts. Individuals in managerial positions or team leaders are required to solve such conflicts to keep a healthy working relationship and environment among colleagues and need to learn how to resolve conflicts, how to give constructive feedback, how to motivate staff etc.
Work Ethic – A strong work ethic will show your employers that your work is important to you. Adhering to the office hours, being punctual, meeting deadlines etc. all these constitute to be a part of your working ethic. It depicts that you can both give orders and receive them when necessary.
Time Management – Even though you may be able to multitask, some tasks require your undivided attention. Time management along with a combined work ethic make for a model employee. With effective time management skills it becomes easier for employees to also maintain a healthy work life balance which is equally important.
Empathy – Being empathetic is one’s ability to understand someone and put themselves into their shoes. In situations such as medical emergencies, mental health issues one is required to offer support, not just for them but their family members too. Your ability to understand someone’s problems and extend that deadline or extend a helping hand will make you more valuable to the team.
Leadership – Progress when it comes to working is being able to grand that promotion and take on new roles and responsibilities. Those in managerial positions are people that are in a position of power. Having a clear goal and the means to do it will show your co-workers and those above you that you are dedicated, hardworking and someone with great ideas. Leadership skills help you gain visibility in an organization thus helping your career and your team.

Career Skills support Career Progression

There is no one skill you need to acquire and master for your career. Many of the listed soft skills in the article are intertwined and work hand in hand for the betterment of your career and life. Some cannot be learned through a course, but in conjunction with training or during an internship for example. But the best preparation for any employment is to volunteer or build something of your own such as an online property or specialist portfolio through creating attractive websites that showcase your previous work and with that the skills you have acquired with your projects.

4 Top Benefits of Private Tutors working together with Teachers

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May 21, 2021

4 Top Benefits of Private Tutors working together with Teachers

A child’s school years should be some of the happiest of their lives. However, if your child is starting to find some subjects challenging, the experience can turn into a nightmare. The pressure that students put on themselves as well as that which they receive from their peers, teachers, or parents can also adversely affect their behaviour, having a further impact on their learning outcomes. In most cases, this problem can be addressed with some additional help such as parental meetings with specialists involved and perhaps some private tutors.

One of the top international schools in Hong Kong, Harrow School Hong Kong, pays close attention to their students, looking out for those who may fall behind. Through additional educational resources that give them the extra attention needed to get back up to speed, the school offers its pupils extra-curricular activities such as a so-called MUN program, which is an academic simulation of the United Nations, for pupils to act as delegates from different countries requiring to solve real-world global issues.

Such initiatives ensure that their confidence remains intact and that they never fall too far behind academically as well as pastorally.

Another factor is discussing private tutoring with parents if this will provide additional benefits to the student’s learning. This article will explain some of the benefits of private tutors working alongside teachers and how this collaboration can be maximised for the best learning outcomes.

What is the difference between a Private Tutor and a Teacher?

Although it may seem relatively straightforward, some parents are unfamiliar with the role that a private tutor can play compared to their child’s teacher.

Private tutors are usually focused on one student rather than a whole classroom like the class teacher. They will address specific learning needs to help the student better understand and grasp a subject or topic. Often they will concentrate on one area, although it is not uncommon for them to teach a range of related subjects such as maths and the sciences.

Tutors normally provide private lessons in the student’s or tutor’s home, where they may have access to more specialised equipment and resources. Compared to learning with a teacher in the classroom environment students often find the lessons are more relaxed and tailored to their interests, which benefits the overall learning process.

However, all tutors should understand that they are working in conjunction with the school, so they will need to follow the same syllabus and sometimes teaching methods to avoid confusing the student.

Why should Teachers and Private Tutors work together?

Teachers and tutors should be striving to achieve the best learning outcomes for their students, and private tuition is to supplement rather than replace classroom learning. As such, private tutors should follow the lead of the student’s school and provide the necessary support. This can only happen if they communicate about the individual learning goals and curriculum taught regularly.

Find out how this can happen below:

1. Lesson Continuation after School

Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that teachers suffer the same time constraints as anyone else. They will need to schedule the entire curriculum into class time and won’t have the time to recover some topics.

A private tutor can continue where the classroom learning finished, focusing on aspects that a student may be having difficulty understanding. The subject may need to be explained differently using different teaching methods or resources or covered in greater depth. Indeed, it may be a fundamental part of the lesson, and without a complete understanding, moving onto the next stage may be almost impossible.

Hence why the teacher will equally benefit from supporting a private tutor with offering their student an extended and more differentiated and tailored version of the school lesson. It is a win-win for everyone involved as the schoolteacher can focus on the whole class progression while the student progresses individually together with the tutor.

2. Personal Attention

It is impossible for a teacher to devout all their attention to one student, and, sadly, this may mean that some fall behind. On the other hand, a private tutor can focus all their attention on one person, addressing their individual needs. Often, struggling students are reluctant to ask questions in class, fearful of what their peers will think.

However, in private, they are often more prepared to ask these questions, giving them the additional information, they require to fully understand the topic. An experienced tutor with an excellent understanding of the subject can be invaluable and make a huge difference to student’s academic success merely by providing extra support and guidance together with the class teacher.

3. Shared Objectives

All international schools welcome a diverse range of students, often of different nationalities and different cultures. However, one thing that is common with all is that parents, teachers, and tutors all share the same objective, which helps a child achieve their potential.

To be successful, all groups must work in unison to achieve the goal, following the same path, so tutors must always liaise with the school and the parents as well. It will mean that the tutor can tailor lessons to address weaknesses and meet the child’s needs. Communication is essential throughout, and professional tutors will be extremely adept at this.

4. Private Tutors act in a Student’s Best Interests

No child enjoys struggling at school, and they will always feel a stigma attached to it. Tutors will often get to know students on a more personal level and, as such, be able to formulate teaching plans with the schoolteacher that suit particular students and support them with their school assignments better. This one-to-one attention can help immeasurably with a child’s confidence too.

It is quite common for the teacher to identify a weakness and then suggest extra tutoring. Most international schools will be happy to allow tutors to use their materials as required to further forward the student’s progression. The daily monitoring will undoubtedly reap the rewards in a relatively short period.

What to do if you feel your child may be falling behind

If you feel that your child is not doing as well as they could at school or have any concerns, you should always discuss them with the class teacher or school first. Students experience a range of different emotions and challenges, so it is vital that you get to the root cause of the problem. Most schools will have a list of private tutors who they are happy to recommend. However, you can choose your own tutors, but again care should be taken to ensure that their lessons follow those of the school and that they communicate well.

How long will my Child need a Tutor?

This question requires an individual answer, depending on the level of additional assistance that is required. Some students may only need additional tutoring for a few weeks, while for others, it may be ongoing. The school will be able to give you a clearer indication, and they will be familiar with the challenges that your child is experiencing. It is crucial to remember that everyone’s learning style is different and that you as a parent can equally support your child.

For more information about tutoring services please head to our Online Tutoring & Teaching section.

If you want to learn more about how you can support your child at home, go through these guides:

Free Online Games

15 Tips to Learn English Faster as a Primary School Student

Best Online Learning, Teaching & Tutoring Platforms to Close the Attainment Gap

6 Tips for Creating a Budget Plan for your Postgraduate Degree

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March 29, 2021

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Just the thought of creating a budget is enough to make most people anxious. However, a budget can be essential to understanding where your money goes, especially when you are considering applying for a postgraduate degree.

Creating a budget plan does not have to be unbearable. Whether it’s the first time you are giving it a try, or whether you’ve always been crunching the numbers, here are some tips to keep in mind…

What are you Budgeting for?

A postgraduate degree in the UK is usually a two-year experience. This is what should inspire you to create a budget plan. Consider your current situation and work from there.

Have you been overspending, or have you been able to save some money?

What other commitments do you have? Perhaps you have a family to support or loan repayments that you need to keep up with.

It’s easier to commit to a plan and feel good about it if you have a purpose for it.

1. Use Positive Language

The word “budget” can feel rather heavy.

A lot of people feel that it signifies something that is limiting. So, think of another name for your plan that will help you feel more positive and more motivated about it.

For example – the postgraduate adventure, MBA candidate plan, or the 2-year spending plan.

Remember this budget is “enabling” you to do make your aspirations a reality. Adding a timeline to it helps you to see the light at the end of the tunnel so you don’t feel that it’s something that will last forever.

Especially in the case of a postgraduate degree, there is a reward at the end and possibly an increase in salary.

But who knows… maybe you will enjoy following a budget after all and end up continuing it after you graduate!

2. Decide on a Budgeting Method and stick to it

There are countless ways to go about a creating a postgraduate budget.

Do a quick search and read up on them online to find the one that feels right for you. It is important to select the best one for your lifestyle so that you will be able to stick to it.

Some popular methods are the 50/30/20 budget or the cash-based envelope system.

Some people prefer to keep a manual check of their daily expenses. Others opt for an app.

As with everything, the beginning will be challenging. If you feel you’ve given it your best shot and it still isn’t working out for you, try something different.

3. Prioritize your Needs and schedule your Wants

Understanding the difference between needs and wants is for many the key to a happy life!

Focus on the essentials to begin with — things like groceries, rent, utilities and transportation costs.

Then move on to other expenses which are equally important, but perhaps not “essential” for you or your family’s survival. Your financial goals, such as loan repayments or retirement savings, should also receive attention.

The reason you should be tracking your spending is so that you can see over a significant amount of time, where your money is going.

Is there spending taking place that is not necessary? That is perhaps not making your life any easier or happier? Once you become aware of these, then you will be able to address them and see if changes can be made.

The 50/30/20 budget is a good guideline for covering the major spending categories. It suggests using 50% of your income toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and debt.

Your postgraduate student loan repayments should fall into this 20% bracket. Although with some private student loan providers, if you are studying full-time, your repayments may not begin until after you graduate.

If you are planning to study part-time though, it is important to include those repayments in your budget plan. The repayment amounts and dates should be outlined in your postgraduate loan agreement.

4. Leave Room for the Unexpected

Don’t expect your budget to be flawless. Life is full of surprises and some expenses may slip through without you noticing.

Be proactive and take precautions along the way. Have a small amount set aside every month to cover miscellaneous expenses or emergencies.

It is easy to be tempted to use a credit card or a small loan to cover the unexpected, but these are usually expensive solutions. If you want to stay on track with your budget plan and not take on any extra unnecessary debt by the end of your postgraduate degree, make sure you are prepared.

5. How techy are you?

Depending on how comfortable you are with technology, see what solutions could make the management of your budget plan easier for you to manage. For example, setting up an automatic transfer for bills or savings will not only save you time, but will take away the thought process around it so you can avoid the temptation to either spend the money otherwise or delay the transfer.

There are also some very handy mobile apps that you can use to track your daily spending and you should also follow some student finance blogs.

6. Revisit and Update regularly

Think of your budget plan as something living, a work in progress. Changes may happen any day, such as unexpected gifts, car or home repairs or fees. You might even have a change in income one month.

It’s best to review your postgraduate budget plan on a weekly or at least monthly basis in order to see where you stand. This will enable you to handle the ups and downs before they become an issue.

Why is Learning a Second Language harder for Adults than for Children?

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March 26, 2021

Why is Learning a Second Language harder for Adults than for Children

Have you been wondering why you are struggling to understand or learn a new language quickly? Then the fact that you are not the only adult finding it hard to learn a second language should console you.

Many adults have a hard time to learn a second language, and it is no myth. This is very much unlike children whose flexible brain development at the early stages allows them to form the necessary connections to learn a new language while naturally immersing in it. Meaning they do not have to study it, repeating vocabulary, grammar, etc. as they learn it by hearing and using it.

You can read more about the scientific background and tips for second language acquisition here:

How to best support children’s second language acquisition during their early child development stages at home?

The question of why adults find it challenging to learn a second language has multiple answers and explanations fuelled by numerous findings in research regarding this topic. The simple answer is related to brain function. In learning a new language, the brain must create new cognitive frameworks that are easier to accomplish in kids than in adults. This is the simplest way to put it.

There is also the issue of time and discipline. Learning a new language requires constant practice that the average adult will struggle with, especially if they lack motivation such as going on a holiday where that language is spoken. Ideally, a language should be learned in the environment where it is spoken so that constant language exposure is provided. However, various language learning apps can help with that.

This article looks at possible reasons why adults struggle to learn a second language.

The individual Capacity of the Brain

Most kids can learn new languages just as a native language. On the other hand, many adults struggle with learning a new language. However, some struggle more than others. If you have several adults study a new language within the same timeframe, some will learn faster than others. According to research, the way an individual’s brain is wired can predetermine their success with the language learning process.

This McGill University research had several participants undergo a 12-week intensive French course. The brains of the participant were scanned before and after the course. The results showed a stronger connection between the brain areas used for reading and speaking in participants who performed better.

This could indicate that some adults have a better cognitive ability to learn a new language than others, which could derive from genetics as well as environmental exposure. This shouldn’t, however, stop you from learning a new language if you want to.

The Memory Systems

While learning a second language has its advantages for our brain’s capacity and function, this fact doesn’t make it any easier to learn the language. One of the primary reasons children learn new languages more comfortably than adults is how they learn them, which is entirely different from adults.

There are two major memory systems influencing learning in humans: declarative memory and procedural memory.

Declarative memory deals with how we learn vocabulary, facts, and other basic knowledge. But the procedural memory learns new things effortlessly, without even trying. It helps us learn new skills, techniques, actions, and habits through doing. It mostly happens subconsciously like riding a bike.

The procedural memory develops very early in humans, so we often use it to learn both simple and complex contexts such as grammar rules. However, our declarative memory, which we use for learning words, requires a much longer time to remember them. As adults, we tend to use our declarative memory more as we must learn the things that we know consciously. Children in contrast mainly use their procedural memory to learn grammar (across different languages) easily and effortlessly without the declarative memory being a hindrance or distraction to them. This is why languages that we learn as kids are native to us, unlike when we learn them as adults.

As adults, we tend to use declarative memory much more. So we don’t pick up those new words, vocabulary, or grammar rules naturally anymore. Even when our procedural memory picks them up, we tend to overthink and overanalyse them without declarative memory, which complicates the learning process.

Unlike children, who don’t even have to consciously learn a language before they know it, we try very hard to learn the language. Most times, we try too hard, and it hinders the process. The need to be perfect and get things right as adults are why it’s harder for them to learn a second language.

Learning a Second Language as an Adult

The fact that it is harder to learn a new language as an adult shouldn’t stop you from trying. A major problem with learning a second language as an adult is cross translation. The need to always revert to your first language to express yourself better is a significant hindrance. It means that you have words in the second language that you can’t use to express yourself independently of the first language because these words are interconnected and referenced with your native language.

You can solve this problem and restore the brain’s ability to learn a second language with the multitasking brain.

You will need to constantly perform three actions simultaneously:

– speaking,

– reading,

– and listening

in the second language.

This vast workload allows the brain to stop cross translation automatically as a result. The brain will then form a new language centre for the second language, and all the symbols and words that were connected with the first language in its language centre will be rewired in the new language centre. It then becomes easier to learn the new language.

Thankfully, there are language apps and numerous online resources that can help with speaking, reading, and listening to a foreign language to help adults learn them faster and for learning English we have some expert recommendations:

15 ways to improve your English skills for PTE Academic

How to Effectively Plan Your IELTS Preparation

Author Bio:

Jessica Chapman is a writing editor from Chicago working for a cheap assignment writing service. She is into sport and politics, enjoys traveling. Find her on Twitter.

The Pros and Cons of an eLearning software to build your own Udemy

By

Kathy Alameda

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March 13, 2021

Online training takes 40-60% less time to complete compared to the same course being taught in the traditional classroom. Studies have found that eLearning increases employee engagement in the workplace by over 18%.

Many companies and educational establishments are still stuck in the old school approach, while more than 50% of North American establishments have already adopted online learning in most its forms. With the popularity of eLearning taking over, the reputation of software solutions for an easy online course creation has also increased significantly. Gone are the days when online learning platforms were just meant for corporate training and blended learning in educational establishments.

Today, there are online course platforms and websites like Udemy, Coursera, Khan Academy, Udacity, and Varsity. These eLearning platforms offer varied ways to adopt online learning for any scale. They do not only mean to sell online courses but also accommodate many learners and subject experts from all the spheres.

E-learning with virtual media has unbounded traditional education from countless dependencies and constraints. This review is about one such eLearning software that can build a platform like Udemy, Coursera, Khan Academy, and Udacity of your own. It’s PinLearn’s Udemy clone script – Smart School.

Smart School Overview

Smart School is an eLearning website builder script with ready-made features similar to the Udemy EdTech business model. That’s why the term “Udemy Clone Script” is used for it. It helps to instantly create an eLearning marketplace like Udemy without coding from scratch.

With most of the Udemy-like features already there, you can skip the coding complexities and use a GUI to set up and customize your eLearning platform as per your individual requirements.

Whom does it cater to?

The application of this Udemy clone is spread into multiple verticals. As you get a ready-made way to start your EdTech platform, you can use it:

For starting up an eLearning marketplace and earn from the business.
For integrating online corporate training in your enterprise or company.
For integrating digital just-in-time job assistance within your company.
For selling your online courses through your own eLearning site and app.

Which platforms does it support?

The overall script is built on three major scripts for three different platforms. With them, you can create:

A responsive web portal
An Android mobile app
An Apple iOS mobile app

Features and Pros of the script

Before going deeper into the review, let’s get an overview of the major highlights of this script.

· White-labelled

The script is white-labelled. That means it offers enough UI customizability to adapt the portal to your own brand. The vendor does not impose it’s branding on the script. This makes it easy to build your own brand identity or personalize it to your existing brand.

· Native Mobile Apps

Makes cross-platform compatibility seamless with native mobile apps besides the regular web-based portal.

· Social-Login Module

Integrated social media APIs let your user login/sign-up to your portal using their social media accounts’ credentials. This feature can help you get boosted sign-ups as it by-passes the manual user account registration process.

· Marketplace User Model

Allows three types of users. Admin, learners and the tutors. All of them have their respective access control.

· Dedicated Dashboards

Besides a dedicated admin panel at the back end, the platform gives front-end dedicated dashboards to the learners and tutors.

· Multi-Language Module

Supports multiple languages to expand your courses to a broader population of learners worldwide.

· Integrated Shopping Cart

Integrated virtual shopping cart manages the selling and buying of online courses like an eCommerce site. Full-fledge eCommerce features are present such as Add-to-cart, cart review page, checkout process, payment methods, billing and invoicing etc.

· Multiple Payment Gateways

Supports multiple payments gateways. Besides the integrated Stripe and PayPal payments, the script is customizable to add as many additional local/global payment gateways.

· Multiple Monetization Model

Like every online business, your eLearning marketplace business will too have multiple ways to make money. Commission and ads are a few of them.

· Extensive Course Management

Clean workflow for course creation, course upload, course description, course summary, and course listing.

· Coupon Management System

Integrated coupon management system lets the admin create unique coupon codes to offer discounts to the learners. An extensive interface is present for coupon management.

· Courses in multiple formats

The platform supports course-upload in multiple formats like PDF, audio, animation, HTML, and videos.

Monetization channels for Revenue Generation

If you are looking for an Udemy clone, you must know about Udemy’s EdTech business model. It offers a multitude of ways to make money online. Not only does it generate an online income for the site owner but also equal opportunities arise for tutors to earn virtually. You cannot run an eLearning marketplace without enticing the tutors to it. Hence, having some great monetization channels for all verticals is necessary.

The Smart School script offers 6 monetization channels in this regard:

· Course listing fee

A fixed charge from tutors to buy a space of the marketplace for listing their courses. More like the rent shop owners pay to the mall owners for space in the marketplace.

· Featured courses

Additional fee from tutors to the admin to promote specific courses in the featured listings on the home page.

· Commission on course sales

Fixed charges or percentage cuts from the tutors to the admin for each course sold on the eLearning marketplace.

· Commission via categories

Different percentage cuts from the tutors to the admin on each sale made under different categories on the marketplace.

· Commission on individual tutors

Different percentage cuts from different tutors to the admin on each sale made on the marketplace.

· Banner display ads

Ad-based revenue generation by showing different banner ads to the users on the portal.

Pricing Plans

The script comes with two pricing plans: Regular License & Premium License. With the regular license, they give you the script for the web-portal with all the web features. Whereas the Premium License gives you access to all the additional scripts including Android app, iOS app, and a Facebook Messenger AI chatbot.

Regular License– $699 (one-time cost)
Premium License– $1499 (One-time cost)

Software delivery model

PinLearn delivers the software as open-source code with a one-time payment. There is no recurring subscription cost. PS: It’s not SaaS (software as a service), it is a self-hosted script.

Software support

The company provides free installation and deployment support for both the plans. However, free technical support and warranties varies from package to package. With Regular license, you get 6-month free support and lifetime product update. While the Premium license gives 1-year support and lifetime product update.

Tech Stack

They develop the platform on the LAMP (generic software stack model) stack. It is backed by technologies like:

MySQL
Laravel 5.3 (for back-end design)
Angular JS 1
Redis cache
NGINX web server.
JQuery
Bootstrap

My Impressions

Looking at the features and after trying out the software I can conclude the following points about it:

It’s not an eLearning authoring.
It’s an eLearning website builder.
It is offering an open-source code.
It’s not a SaaS but a self-hosted script.
It has an easy to use UI for admin.
It offers smooth work-flow for course creation.
It offers an integrated virtual shopping cart.

Overall, the script can be a good choice if you have an Udemy-like eLearning marketplace in your mind.

With inbuilt course management and cloud sharing the script can also be used to create an eLearning platform within your corporate organization. The only con is the absence of integrated LMS (learning management system). The company offers the LMS as a separate product. However, it is understandable at this price point. Considering the cross-platform support for the website and mobile applications, an additional expense on the LMS is bearable.

How Vegan are Classrooms? The Truth Behind School Equipment

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March 11, 2021