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Top 20 Ed Tech Solutions for English Teachers

Manuela Willbold
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Enabling technology in the classroom has been one of the most significant changes witnessed in the education sector in recent years.

Technology does not only change the way students interact with their teachers but also how they learn and communicate with their peers. Preparing students for exams and the digital age by using educational technology can tick many boxes as an English teacher.

However, you must ensure you use the best-rated and resourceful online solutions and EdTech products out there to secure ideal learning outcomes for your students.

Some of these might require a monthly or annual subscription including fees for school access, but most schools will be happy to pay if they offer good value for their setting.

Therefore, we have compiled a list of the top-rated 20 Ed Tech products and solutions currently on the market for English teachers.

Disclaimer: All app details listed are based on the latest information available at the time this post was published. The apps have been listed according to the number of followers on social media. 

  1. BBC Learning English

Age range: All ages

Price: Free

BBC Learning English is a digital platform offering resources and activities to help English language learners. 

It lets users improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. And covers a variety of topics, including news, culture, and everyday life.

Key features:

  • A huge pool of resources including audio and video content, articles, quizzes, and interactive activities.
  • A wide variety of topics from everyday life make it relevant for users. 
  • Uses informative and engaging news broadcasts and interviews to help improve listening and speaking skills. 
  • Activities and quizzes provide instant feedback.
  • Helps improve overall language proficiency with a deep focus on pronunciation and grammar. 
  • Offers lesson plans and classroom activity ideas for teachers
  • A user-friendly interface that makes it easy to use for learners of all ages. 
  • The BBC Learning English newsletter provides weekly updates and new content.
  • It can be easily used in conjunction with other language-learning tools

Available On: Web

Social Presence: 

2. Google Apps for Education

Age Range: All ages

Price: Free 

Google Apps for Education is a suite of productivity and communication tools especially curated for schools and educational institutions. 

It includes all the general Google apps and platforms that English teachers can use to make their lessons more engaging and impactful.

Key Tools:

  • Gmail for safe and reliable email communication.
  • Google Drive for storing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on the cloud.
  • Google Calendar for scheduling classes and study sessions.
  • Google Classroom for conducting virtual classes, allotting and collecting assignments
  • Google Sites for building and publishing eLearning sites.
  • Google Forms for taking assessments, quizzes, tests, and conducting surveys.
  • Google Slides for multimedia presentations that can be created and accessed on the glow.
  • Google Drawings for making diagrams, charts, and graphics.
  • Google Jamboard for brainstorming with students.
  • Google Meet for virtual meetings.

Key Features

  • Ease of use as almost everyone is comfortable using the G-suite of services.
  • No data privacy concerns as information is transmitted and stored confidentially.
  • All features are available for free on any Internet-connected device. Institutions can contact support for quotes if they need premium services.

Available On: Web, Android & iOS

Social Presence:

3. Evernote

Age range: All ages

Price: The basic plan is available for free. To learn more about the paid plans with greater features, click here. 

Evernote serves as a robust tool for creating, editing, saving, sharing, and deleting notes. It aids English teachers in crafting notes on various topics for dissemination to students during instruction. 

Key features:

  • Teachers can review and assess notes generated by students, facilitating schedule planning, assignment management, to-do lists, and setting reminders. 
  • The platform enables the inclusion of pictures, images, photos, and audio to augment comprehension of note content, which proves beneficial during teaching and revision sessions. 
  • Evernote offers seamless accessibility across devices, ensuring work can be conducted anywhere. 
  • Its functionality extends to encompass text, images, audio, scans, PDFs, and documents within notes, making them more comprehensive. 
  • Integration of notes, tasks, and schedules streamlines productivity.
  • Robust search capabilities ensure swift retrieval of information when needed.
  • It Can be synced with Outlook Calendar for enjoying single-click access to event-specific notes. 

Available On: Web, Android & iOS

Social Presence:

4. Discovery Education

Age Range: K-12 students

Price: Subscription-based, click on this link to fill up a form requesting a price

Discovery Education is a digital learning platform with educational resources and tools for both teachers and students. It includes video content, interactive simulations, virtual field trips, and more, all designed to support and enhance classroom instruction.

Key Features:

  • Offers access to 200,000+ digital assets.
  • Virtual field trips, interactive simulations, and other vetted and curated content
  • Tools for creating and sharing custom lessons and activities with Quiz and Studio sections.
  • Aligned to national and international standards for curriculum design and instruction.
  • Offers options to customise and personalise the platform to unique institutional needs.
  • Available on multiple platforms, including desktops, laptops, and mobile devices.
  • Toolkits, on-demand sessions, and live events for teachers to attend.
  • Access to a global network of educators which serves as a source of inspiration and a platform to share best practices.

Available On: Microsoft Store 

Social Presence:

5. English Central

Age range: All ages

Price: Subscription-based platform, to learn more about the pricing plans, click here. 

English Central is an eLearning platform designed especially for English language instruction. 

It offers interactive video-based lessons, activities, and assessments for improving speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.

Key features:

  • Offers video-based lessons featuring authentic content which makes learning fun and entertaining.
  • Teachers can customise the lesson plans and assessments based on their class’s specific needs.
  • Students can track their progress in real-time progress tracking and also get immediate feedback.
  • English Central leverages adaptive technology which offers personalised learning.
  • English Central can be easily accessed from any Internet-connected device
  • Videos are recommended based on users’ interests and their language proficiency level.
  • Users can go live and have 1-on-1 conversations with tutors. 

Available On: Web, Android & iOS

Social Presence:

6. BrainPOP

Age Range: 3-18 years old

Price: Subscription-based. You need to fill out the access form by clicking here. 

BrainPop is an eLearning platform that offers animated content to support teaching and learning. 

It can be used by schools, homeschoolers, and educators globally. 

The best part of using BrainPop for your class is that it makes learning fun and interactive.

Key Features:

  • Offers animated, engaging videos on a wide range of topics that are sorted into units.
  • Comes with quizzes and interactive games to reinforce learning.
  • Teachers can get pre-made lesson plans and activities for their classes.
  • Has a vast library of resources that includes articles, movies, and quizzes.
  • Allows teachers to give customisable assessments and provides access to robust reporting tools.
  • Get access to a virtual community of teachers and educators from across the globe.
  • Offers comprehensive curriculum aligned with US state standards and also suitable for international coursework standards.
  • Teachers can get personalised recommendations based on student progress.
  • Available in multiple languages.
  • Also offers a set of parent resources and tools to support at-home learning.

Available On: Web, Android & iOS

Social Presence:

7. Flipgrid

Age range: All ages

Price: Free

Imagine a tool that allows educators to engage with students through both virtual reality and videos. Enter Flipgrid, a versatile platform enabling teachers to foster interaction via text-based forums and integrate video learning into their classes effortlessly. Teachers can start by creating a group and inviting students, maintaining full control over who joins and what they can access. Next, they will have to post topics—text or video instructions—to prompt student responses.

Key features:

  • With Flipgrid, teachers can create dedicated grids for specific topics and prompt students to record short videos on those subjects for upload. 
  • Tutors can record and share their thoughts using Flip’s built-in camera, adding effects and sharing as video, audio, or text easily via web browser or mobile app.
  • English teachers may connect with educators worldwide on Flip and discover innovative ways they incorporate Flip into their classrooms.
  • You can use Flip to assess student understanding at the beginning and end of teaching units, helping gauge retention and comprehension.
  • Flip’s Topic Copilot assists in creating engaging lessons aligned with curriculum standards.
  • Students benefit from Flip for presentations, refining ideas, practising speech, sharing screens for content focus, and reducing anxiety about public speaking. 

Available On: Web, Android & iOS

Social Presence:

8. iReady

Age Range: K-8 students

Price: To learn more about the pricing click here. 

i-Ready is a comprehensive online learning platform that is designed to support educators with resources, tools, and research. It focuses on two main subjects: English and Mathematics. 

Key Features:

  • Offers personalised instruction and assessments which help students build essential skills and reach their true potential.
  • Has two products – iReady Learning which offers instructional resources for educators and iReady Assessment which offers a collection of assessments for all grade levels.
  • Offers real-time, data-driven insights that help steer the direction of teaching to support student growth
  • Access to a comprehensive library of resources and tools
  • Integrates and works well with several LMS platforms
  • Collaboration tools for teacher-student and peer-to-peer interaction
  • Teachers can engage with a global community of educators online and share and learn about effective teaching methods.

Available On: Web, & iOS

Social Presence:

9. Quizlet

Age range: All ages

Price: Free trial for a month after which you need to subscribe to the paid plan.

Quizlet is a popular eLearning platform offering various study tools and games. These help students learn and memorise information about language learning, science, history, and more.

Key features:

  • Access to a huge library of study materials created by educators and the Quizlet.
  • Make studying fun and engaging with interactive games and activities.
  • Teachers can create custom study sets and share them with students or even other Quizlet users.
  • It Can be integrated with Google Classroom which aids in assigning tasks and tracking progress. 
  • Offers a text-to-speech feature for terms, definitions, and questions.
  • Performance statistics can be monitored for individuals as well as study sets.
  • Comes with an offline study mode that lets students access study materials without the Internet.
  • Study materials can be enhanced by adding images, audio, and videos. 
  • The Collaborative study mode lets students study with peers in real-time.
  • Quizlet can be accessed from any device including smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Available On: Web, Android & iOS

Social Presence:

10. Newsela

Age Range: K-12 students

Price: Free; Upgrade available for unique needs and you can contact support for the pricing by clicking here. 

Newsela is a digital learning platform that provides students with access to a vast library of non-fiction articles. But that’s not all. Newsela offers articles written at five different reading levels. 

Thus, it offers a personalised reading experience for students. And it further helps them improve their literacy skills and deepen their understanding of various subjects.

Key Features:

  • Features a vast library of freely accessible non-fiction articles written at five different reading levels.
  • Personalise the reading experience based on the student’s English reading proficiency.
  • Offers real-world context and articles based on current events.
  • Quizzes and assessments are embedded into the platform which helps teachers track progress.
  • It offers a unique set of instructional materials for teachers which can help leverage the platform in the best way. 
  • It Can be integrated with third-party tools and platforms like Google Classroom and other LMS platforms.
  • Has a robust search function and cross-curricular content.
  • Covers content in not just English language arts, but also in science, social studies, and even Spanish content.
  • Has annotation and discussion tools that can foster critical thinking skills in learners.

Available On: iOS

Social Presence:

11. Buncee

Age Range: Everyone

Price: 30-day free trial followed by paid plan.

Buncee is an online canvas of sorts created by Capstone. It is a platform for young children and teachers to create presentations and other types of digital content. It also offers a variety of educational games, videos, and fun activities. 

Key Features:

  • Contains several age-appropriate, educational games and activities
  • Offers engaging videos and storytelling which can help teachers capture young children’s attention
  • Offers a personalised learning experience that is based on one’s skill and capability.
  • Has fun and interactive virtual worlds which promote exploration and discovery.
  • Comes with a suite of reliable parental controls and monitoring tools
  • Integration with other popular children’s educational apps and services like Google Classroom and MS Office 365, 
  • Safe and secure platform for kids to learn and play
  • Available on multiple platforms, including iOS and Android devices.

Available On: Microsoft Store 

Social Presence:

12. Read&Write

Age range: All ages

Price: Subscription-based, starting at $9.99 per user per month. To learn more about pricing click here. 

Read&Write is a literacy support tool, which offers text-to-speech and dictation services, specially designed for those with dyslexia and literacy difficulties. It is also ideal for those who have English as a second language. 

Over 20 million people from across the globe use it for reading, writing, and studying.

Key features:

  • Text-to-speech functionality is available in over 40 languages. And it offers natural-sounding voices for reading aloud. 
  • Word predictions and spelling suggestions help improve writing and find the right vocabulary.
  • Also offers highlighting and annotation tools. It works on PDFs and webpages, allowing users to take notes and track important information.
  • It has an audio maker that converts written text to MP3 files. 
  • Visual learners are supported by its picture dictionary.
  • Organising information and creating mind maps is possible with the fact mapper feature.
  • Offers translation into over 100 languages, which is ideal for multilingual users.
  • Read&Write also offers an extension for Google Chrome extension and an add-in for Microsoft Office.

Available On: Chrome extension, Android & iOS

Social Presence:

13. Fast ForWord

Age Range: K-12 students (especially those with language-based learning challenges)

Price: Subscription-based, click here to learn about the pricing.

Fast ForWord is a series of online educational games and exercises for English learning. The games and exercises are designed to improve the student’s language and reading skills. 

It is backed by scientific research and evidence-based methods, which help students build the skills necessary for academic success.

Key Features:

  • It is based on an evidence-based language and reading improvement program.
  • The games are interactive and engaging, which makes learning fun.
  • Claims to deliver 1 to 2 years of gain 40 to 60 hours of use.
  • Especially useful for those struggling with reading, dyslexic learners, and students learning English as a second language.
  • Students receive real-time feedback from virtual reading tutors and can see the areas where they need the most improvement. 
  • Easy and on-demand onboarding videos and guides for teachers
  • Teachers can see reports and reading improvements for individual students as well as the entire class.

Available On: Purely a web-based tool.

Social Presence:

14. NoRedInk

Age Range: Grade 3 to 5

Price: Free to get started. 

You can request a quote for NoRedInk Premium by clicking here. 

NoR edInk is a steadfast tool that helps students (or anyone for that matter!) improve their writing and grammar skills. 

It offers personalised instructions and feedback through adaptive assessments and interactive lessons.

Key Features:

  • Offers personalised instructions based on students’ writing and grammar proficiency.
  • Has adaptive assessments for tracking student progress using growth reports and grade books. 
  • Has exercises and activities that align with various national and internal curricula and standards. 
  • Comes with interactive lessons and exercises to help learn faster and more.
  • Provides creative writing prompts and immersive activities that can be used for practising writing skills.
  • Gives real-time feedback based on grammar rules and writing conventions
  • Can be integrated with LMS platforms like Google Classroom, Schoology and Canvas (Available in the premium version).
  • Has a set of collaboration tools for peer review and teacher feedback.

Available On: Purely a web-based tool.

Social Presence:

15. ScreenPal

Age range: All ages

Price: Click here to learn about different price packages. 

ScreenPal is a platform designed for effortless video recording with just a simple click of the ‘Start Recording’ button. It proves invaluable for English teachers looking to capture lectures, offer feedback to students, or provide demonstrations. Additionally, ScreenPal empowers teachers with features such as adding comments, notes, and highlighting key points, enhancing the teaching process. 

Key features:

  • It enables simultaneous recording of webcam and screen during lectures, enriching the learning experience with audio-visual content. 
  • Built on a Java applet foundation, ScreenPal presents a user-friendly interface, fostering immersive audio-visual learning for students. 
  • Its intuitive tools facilitate the creation and sharing of videos and images, ensuring authentic and effective visual communication. 
  • English teachers can effortlessly record their screens and webcams, transforming expertise into engaging presentations. 
  • With advanced features like AI speech-to-text captions, ScreenPal ensures video accessibility. 
  • The platform simplifies image editing with tools for annotation and customisation.
  • ScreenPal also offers unlimited hosting for videos and images with robust privacy controls, enabling secure organisation and sharing. 
  • Its customisable video player and interactive features like quizzes and surveys engage students effectively.
  • Advanced analytics provide actionable insights for English tutors.

Available On: Web, Android & iOS

Social Presence:

16. Storybird

Age range: 3 to 14+

Price: The basic plan with minimum features is available for free. However, you can click here to learn more about the paid plans with advanced features.

Storybird stands out as a premier educational technology tool renowned for enriching students’ writing and language skills. Providing a dynamic platform where students can craft stories using a variety of creative tools and publish them online, Storybird enhances engagement and interactivity in language lessons for educators. Students can delve into creating storybooks, comic books, poems, cartoon strips, and long-form narratives, fostering a space for them to hone their literacy, writing, and literature abilities. 

Key features:

  • Boasting over 10,000 captivating illustrations sourced from artists worldwide, Storybird empowers young writers to weave unique narratives infused with stunning visuals. 
  • Its curated art gallery sparks creativity and imagination, creating an immersive experience for learners. 
  • Storybird offers a comprehensive curriculum comprising over 700 guides, lessons, and challenges, enabling students to enhance their writing skills, explore various writing techniques, and develop their distinct style. 
  • The platform also facilitates collaboration and feedback, allowing students to share their stories and receive expert input from educators, professional editors, and fellow authors. 
  • Storybird streamlines classroom management with features for assignment creation and class organisation, providing educators with the tools they need to inspire genuine and creative learning experiences for their students.

Available On: Web, & iOS

Social Presence:

17. Busy Things

Age Range: Children ages 3-11

Price: Subscription-based (free trial available). You can request a quote by clicking here. 

Busy Things is a one-stop digital platform for children, offering educational games, activities, and resources to support learning and development. 

It offers activities and games designed to be fun and engaging for kids along with resources that can be used by schools, teachers, and parents to make learning fun.

Key Features:

  • Engaging and interactive resources to capture children’s attention and interest.
  • Aligned to the UK national curriculum for primary schools. The content is also mapped for Australian and Scottish curricula
  • Teachers can monitor and manage student accounts.
  • Available on multiple platforms, including desktops, laptops, and mobiles.
  • Free and paid apps that gamify learning are available for iOS, Android, and desktops.
  • Offers downloadable PDFs and video guides for teachers for free.

Available On: Purely a web-based tool.

Social Presence:

18. Boclips

Age range: All ages

Price: Free

Boclips offers a vast array of enriching video and media resources tailored for educators. Designed to empower learning, it provides access to exclusive content, including educational podcasts, offering flexibility in learning schedules. Through Boclips, educators gain access to a diverse collection of educational videos sourced globally, facilitating visual learning in today’s digital classrooms. 

Key features:

  • Students benefit from the convenience of accessing educational podcasts at their preferred time and place. 
  • Boclips collaborates with leading educational content producers worldwide. This collaboration fuels imagination and breathes life into learning outcomes, enriching educational experiences. 
  • Catering to curriculum and instructional design teams, Boclips Library simplifies the process of discovering, licensing, and integrating top-tier educational videos seamlessly into courseware. 
  • With partnerships boasting over 550 esteemed educational brands, Boclips offers unparalleled content accessibility under one licence. 
  • Boclips ensures content relevance and accessibility by meticulously tagging resources based on age level, subject area, and pedagogical use. 
  • With Boclips, English tutors can create engaging and distraction-free learning experiences by seamlessly integrating content into courseware via API, LTI, or embed codes.

Available On: Web

Social Presence:

19. Quill

Age range: K-12 students

Price: Free

Quill is an EdTech platform offering writing activities and assessments for K-12 students. 

It helps improve students’ writing skills, primarily by providing instant feedback on grammar, style, and organisation.

Key features:

  • Offers a vast collection of writing activities for a wide range of topics and genres including persuasive writing, creative writing, and more.
  • Instant feedback that lets students learn right while they are writing.
  • Multiple writing modes, like multiple choice, short answer, and essay, challenge students while keeping them engaged.
  • Teachers can track student progress and growth in writing ability over time.
  • Can be integrated with Google Classroom, which lets teachers assign and grade writing activities.
  • Comes with a teacher dashboard for managing classes, assignments, and student progress.
  • The reporting system includes detailed individual performance reports as well as reports for the whole class.
  • Completed writing activities can be saved and shared, thus, promoting peer feedback and showcasing. 
  • Teachers can customise writing activities based on the unique needs of students or classes.

Available On: Web only

Social Presence:

20. PrepAI

Age range: All ages

Price: You can register for free to avail of the 15-day trial plan following which you can subscribe to any of the plans from here. 

PrepAI is an innovative AI-powered tool designed to transform education and training by enabling educators and trainers to effortlessly generate high-level questions from any content. This cutting-edge solution integrates Bloom’s Taxonomy concepts, categorising learning objectives to produce questions that promote critical thinking and reasoning skills. 

Key features:

  • With PrepAI, educators can create AI-generated quizzes with ease, saving time and resources.
  • Students can benefit from hassle-free mock tests featuring an AI-based auto-grading system. 
  • By offering multiple question formats and a user-friendly dashboard, PrepAI streamlines the test creation process and facilitates effective learning experiences. 
  • Its intuitive interface allows for seamless navigation and sharing of assessments.
  • The automated grading system simplifies evaluation. 

Available On: Web

Social Presence:

The Advantages of Ed Tech Products

  1. More Interactive Experiences

By using technology students and teachers can get into the subject which they are learning about. One can use simulations, videos, and games to ensure that the students are not just excited with what they are doing but also fully grasping new concepts.

  1. Source of Unlimited Resources

Answers to any query that one has can be found with the touch of a button using smartphones, tablets, computers, and the internet with e-safety procedures in place, monitored by the teachers.

  1. Required Future Skills

Technology is dominated by businesses and the whole workforce. If technology is not used or implemented in classrooms, then we will not have a prepared generation of students with adequate digital skills needed for employment and general life tasks.

  1. Saves Precious Resources

The most overlooked gain of the use of technology is the number of resources that can be saved. Assignments, books, and other things need materials like paper to be executed. The number of such resources will be greatly cut down when they are digitised.

  1. Instantly Updated Information

We are aware of items that need constant change and when this occurs, educational resources like textbooks will have to be updated. This is easy to do with technology and offers cheaper and faster ways of updating compared to all books and resources having to be replaced.

  1. No Heavy Backpacks

The higher in education that one gets, the more materials one is required to bring each day. However, now you can have it all online stored in a cloud or in your notebook.

The Disadvantages of Ed Tech Products

  1. It is a Distraction

Distraction is the largest problem that one has when using technology in education. There is access to great educational resources through useless and time-wasting information like videos and games can also be easily accessed. E-safety and limited access for students is a key factor here for every school to consider.

  1. Inappropriate Access

The Internet has a wealth of wonderful information which easily overshadows the number of harmful information. Hateful content, pornographic materials, and violence can potentially be seen by the student and the school has to prevent this from happening by establishing a clear e-safety policy that every teacher and student follows at all times.

  1. Very Expensive to be Up To Date

It is true that to be up to date and have the newest technology can be costly. Public schools might struggle with funding the latest ed-tech, but often government funds help here. Less affluent parents could find it difficult to provide their children with the technology they can access at school.

  1. Hinders Basic Skills

There is the automation of just about everything in technology. Instead of understanding and learning, one can use their phone to solve a problem. The students need to retain the ability to think for themselves and find their solutions.

  1. Fake information on the internet

Children can come across untrue or false information online. This can be a problem where education is concerned when students seek answers to their questions. Schools are responsible for monitoring students’ internet searches and providing them with a skillset to identify and filter false from justified information.

All the Ed Tech products mentioned here help to improve competency in reading, with literacy skills including vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Additionally, the students will learn how to use such applications safely and competently to enhance their own learning experience. Learn more about e-safety here.

And if you’re an English tutor or teacher looking for online jobs, head here:

Work Online In Education

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    iSpring Solutions Inc. launches Quiz Maker 11

    UK Education News Publisher
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    iSpring Solutions Inc. launches Quiz Maker 11

    iSpring Solutions Inc., a global leader in the eLearning software and services sector, launched iSpring Quiz Maker 11 – a convenient, functional, and easy-to-learn quiz creation tool with an intuitive interface. Interactive HTML5 and SCORM quizzes and surveys, and publish them to the web or an LMS.

    It’s possible to use templates with 14 question types and illustrate the content with graphics and animations.

    ispring-solutions-launches-quiz-maker-11Source

    Additional key features of iSpring QuizMaker 11:

    • Customizable Quiz Design. Slide View mode for designing quiz slides. Users can choose one of the pre-designed themes or create one by customizing the layout, color, background, and fonts.
    • Branching scenarios. Users can build interactive experiences for the examinees: take them to different questions or info slides depending on their answer choices.
    • Individual Feedback. Create custom feedback messages for each answer choice and enhance feedback with images, videos, or detailed instructions.
    • Audio-based questions. Educators can use audio-based questions in their quizzes.
    • Quizzes and tests with equations. With the built-in Equation Editor, users can create quizzes and tests with mathematical symbols and expressions: square root, power, integral, and many more.

    Educators can create new tests with iSpring Quiz Maker or import existing ones from the Excel tables.

    About iSpring Solutions

    iSpring Solution is a global leader in creating award-winning eLearning software. For over 20 years, the company has developed more than ten stand-alone eLearning tools, including iSpring QuizMaker, iSpring Converter Pro, and iSpring Cam Pro. These tools are highly anticipated among eLearning professionals both separately and together — in iSpring Suite, an all-in-one authoring toolkit. iSpring is recognized for its beautifully engineered products and exceptional customer service.

    Over 59,000 customers in more than 170 countries choose iSpring for its high level of performance and reliability. The customer list includes thousands of freelance Instructional Designers and teachers, almost 200 Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and educational institutions worldwide, some clients being Microsoft, SAP, Boeing, Dell, Adidas, Procter & Gamble, University of California at Berkeley, Harvard University, and Stanford University. For more information, visit the official website.

    For more news about educational technology head to ed tech | UK Education Blog (clickdo.co.uk).

    How to survive on £250 a Month? Tips For Family Claimants That Apply For Universal Credit

    Shirley Owen
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    How to survive on £250 a Month? Tips For Family Claimants That Apply For Universal Credit

    The cost of living in the UK is more expensive than in 80% of countries in the world with single person estimated monthly costs at £2,201.

    In these conditions, claiming Universal Credit to help with living costs is common with more than 5.8 million people claiming UC in England, Scotland, and Wales.

    We will tell you:

    • How much Universal Credit allowance you can get
    • Tips to cut down your essential costs to £250
    • Additional benefits of Universal Credit you can avail

    Universal Credit Allowance – What you can claim

    If you are out of work or low-income (lower than UK’s 60% median income), you can qualify for a standard allowance:

    1. The single claimant under 25: £265.31 per month
    2. Single claimant 25 or over: £334.91 per month
    3. Joint claimants both under 25: £416.45 per month
    4. Joint claimants either aged 25 or over: £525.72 per month
    5. Each child: £250 – £290.

    universal-creditSource

    Let’s take a household for instance with two adults and two children. Universal credit will give you an allowance of around £1000 – £1500. The average disposable income in the UK is £31,400. With Universal Credit, you are nowhere close to this number. If you have a couple outside Greater London, you have a £20,000 a year cap, and inside Greater London, you have a £23,000 a year cap.

    The solution is learning to live on the bare minimum in this time of crisis.

    In this article, we will help give you tips on how to cover your essential costs like food and water for under £250 a month. It does not include rent which can be anywhere from £800-£1200.

    how-to-survive-on-£250-a-monthSource

    This is how a UK household spends £585.60 per week. Let’s focus on where we can cut down.

    5 Tips on reducing Spending to keep Costs under £250

    1. Cut down Food Costs

    tips-from-family-claimantsHouseholds are spending £62/week on food and 51/week on restaurants. Eating in restaurants is not an option on your budget.

    One person can actually survive on £15-20/week when it comes to balanced food. This comes to £60-£80 a month.

    Cut down on restaurant costs by packing yourself lunch if you must go to work. You can also do weekly budget meal prep, cook in large batches, and freeze the leftovers.

    Prepare more raw food dishes to save on energy for cooking meals.

    Tip: View this video to learn how you can prepare a £6/week meal prep plan. You can find other videos and tips from chefs like Jamie Oliver as well that will help you prepare cheap nutritious snacks and meals.

    2. Find cheap Clothing

    One household spends £25/week on clothing. Locate good charity shops like Oxfam Shop and local thrift stores around you.

     

    You can find T-shirts for as cheap as £3. Alternatively, you can use secondhand shops or apps where you can buy used clothes in good condition for often half the price.

    3. Reduce your Household Bills

    how-much-universal-credit-can-i-getThe major household bills you need to pay are electricity, heat, and water, about £80/per week for an average household.

    Price comparison websites are your best friend. Find the cheapest resources by comparing prices.

    A four-bed house with an occupancy of four people can actually manage with £120-150 a month. This means £30-40/per person. And if you can use more sustainable energy sources like solar, you can make additional savings.

    4. Use more affordable Transport

    getting-a-universal-credit-budgeting-advanceAbandon your dreams of a car. There is no set figure of what you can cut your transport costs too because it depends on where you can commute. A household spends £80/week on commuting. Which means one person spends £80/month.

    Here is how you can save money on transport:

    • Railcards are £30 per year, and they could save you up to a third of the cost of your rail ticket.
    • Find carpool services online.
    • Use services like Trainsplit that split the tickets for you.
    • Bikes are your best friend. Use them for short-distance commutes.

    5. Learn from Students

    If we take transport to be £60/month, clothing £40/month, food £80/month, and bills £40/month, we are at £190/month.

    This gives you room to plan for entertainment. There is no doubt that you have a social life and need to go out with other people even when you are on a budget.

    Students have the best tips on saving money for entertainment activities.

    • Have healthier yet more filling meals such as potato or rice dishes before going out so that you don’t have to buy expensive takeaway food later.
    • Prepare food for yourself before you go out.
    • Use apps like Bigdish to find cheap food and discount offers.

     

    3 Additional Benefits of Universal Credit to be claimed

    1. Disabled Child Allowance

    You may get extra money if your dependent child is disabled. This amount is paid at a higher or lower rate based on your conditions.

    universal-creditSource

    2. Childcare Cover

    Regardless of the hours you work, you can apply for Universal Credit to help with the costs of childcare.

    You can claim up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit and meet some additional conditions. The amounts you can receive in childcare costs are:

    • A maximum of £646.35 per month for one child
    • A maximum of £1108.04 per month for 2 or more children

    how-to-survive-on-£250-a-monthSource

    3. Extra Support

    You can apply for Universal Credit and get non-monetary perks as well.

    • Help with health costs, including prescriptions and dental treatment
    • Additional help towards housing payments if your Universal Credit payment is not enough to pay your rent
    • Free school meals
    • Free early education for two-year-olds
    • SureStart maternity grants
    • Cold Weather Payments
    • Support with travel costs to attend job interviews or start work
    • Support with the provision of clothing to start work
    • Support with upfront childcare costs until you receive your first wage

    Read more about the additional benefits that you might qualify for.

    You can use these calculators for information on more benefits:

    1. Policy in Practice better off calculator
    2. entitledto benefits calculator
    3. Turn2us benefits calculator

    Gather your household information about your savings, income including your partner’s (from pay slips, for example), existing benefits and pensions (including anyone living with you), outgoings (such as rent, mortgage, childcare payments), council tax bill to see how much Universal Credit, you can qualify for.

    These tips should help all families that are likely to struggle during this recession and energy crisis and there are many things families can do to reduce their spending. If you have children that are students, you can check out these successful student finance blogs too for more inspiration.

    A Guide to writing Oxbridge Personal statements to apply to Oxford and Cambridge University

    Manuela Willbold
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    A Guide to writing Oxbridge Personal statements to apply to Oxford and Cambridge University

    If you want to get into a good college or university, you need a convincing personal statement. But if you want to get into prestigious universities like Eton, Oxford, or Cambridge you need an extraordinary personal statement.

    In this guide, we will provide tips on how to write your Oxbridge personal statements perfectly.

    oxbridge-personal-statement-help

    Source

    Cover the main areas the universities want you to focus on.

    1. Your reasons for applying

    your-reasons-for-applying-oxford-and-cambridge-university

    There are two things you must cover: your reason for applying to Oxford/Cambridge and the reason for applying to the specific course.

    To make a case for the specific university, don’t just talk about the reputation of the course. You need to show that you have done your research. Write about the specific courses you are excited about or the professors you want to work with. You should also mention any journals or any other special facilities the college will provide you with. You can also talk about the vision/motto of the university.

    But don’t just mention it. The key is to connect. Connect it with your personal academic vision. For example, the course in Islamic literature will give me an in-depth understanding of the culture in the 90s which will help me analyze the sentiments of the Islamic culture in my dissertation and help me make connections in the current political scenario.

    To make a case for the course, demonstrate your understanding of the course and why you want to study it. Your reasons should ideally be academic in nature.

    2. Your ability to present a coherent case in proficient English

    your-ability-to-present-a-coherent-case-in-proficient-english-in-oxford-and-cambridge-university

    This refers to the structuring of your personal statement. You can’t afford to have an ill-written Oxbridge personal statement.

    Divide your statement into paragraphs and each paragraph should address a different part of the personal statement. Make sure that your ideas have a flow, and that you don’t jump from one thing to another. The easiest way to achieve this is by outlining first and going through at least 2 drafts before submitting your final statement.

    Ask a professor, teacher, or peer to proofread your Oxbridge personal statement. This will remove any unnecessary fluff, typos, or incoherency.

    oxbridge-personal-statements

    Source

    3. Your commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course

    your-commitment-to-the-subject-beyond-the-requirements-of-the-degree-course-in-oxford-and-cambridge-university

    The course will require you to submit certain assignments, write a dissertation and attend a few conferences. But Oxford and Cambridge don’t have applicants who do the bare minimum.

    They want you to go beyond. Show them how you can do it.

    You can express the sentiment by mentioning events that you would like to attend outside the course, projects, or workshops that you are excited to take in the university and outside it.

    4. Your preliminary knowledge of the subject area and research techniques

    your-preliminary-knowledge-of-the-subject-area-and-research-techniques-with-oxford-and-cambridge-university

    In this section, you can provide an outline of a research idea. Almost all courses expect you to write a dissertation, especially at a graduate level.

    Having an outline of the dissertation will show that you know about the course and have the ability to come up with an original research idea.

    You should make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources, and method at this moment.

    5. Your capacity for sustained and intense work

    your-capacity-for-sustained-and-intense-work-with-oxford-and-cambridge-university

    Your Oxbridge personal statement needs to assure the committee that you are capable of an academically rigorous course.

    You can draw on your undergraduate/school experience. Write about a challenging semester and how you balanced college work with an internship or how you kept up your grades even in academically challenging times.

    You can also mention if you have taken extra projects, worked on any independent projects, or engaged in volunteering.

    6. Your reasoning ability

    your-reasoning-ability-for-oxford-and-cambridge-university

    To demonstrate your reasoning ability, you can draw on your undergraduate thesis/ school project.

    You don’t have to go into detail about your research. Focus on your paper’s objective, procedure, and the learning or outcome of it. You can also mention if you have participated in any conferences or published your paper.

    The most important thing to remember while writing an Oxbridge personal statement is to focus on your academic achievements and interests rather than personal achievements, interests, and aspirations unless mentioned otherwise. So, make the statement that will determine your future.

    How to write a Personal Statement for Master’s Applications at UK Elite Universities?

    Manuela Willbold
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    How to write a Personal Statement for Master’s Applications at UK Elite Universities?

    If you want to get into an elite university in the UK like Eton, Imperial, UCL, LSE or King’s, you must submit the perfect personal statement.

    You can’t slack off and get away with general statements like ‘I am a suitable candidate because I graduated at the top of my class.’ Specificity is key.

    how-to-write-personal-statement-for-uk-universities

    Source

    There are four different parts of making a successful application:

    1. Personal Statement – A necessary prerequisite for all applications.
    2. Letter of Recommendation – Some colleges may only ask for one LOR.
    3. CV – Optional in most cases.
    4. Academic writing sample – Optional in some cases.

    A good personal statement is what all the universities care about the most. In this article, we will provide you with personal statement help so that you can give universities what they are looking for.

    Personal Statement for Masters Applications – Focus Sections

    1. Why do you want to study the course at graduate level?

    Generally, there are two reasons why students apply for a Master’s, either they are switching fields, for example, going for an MA in Education after a BA Econ. or they want to specialize in an area for example choosing MA in Ancient History after a BA in Humanities.

    Mention the category you fall into and then specify why you want to switch fields or why you want to expand your knowledge.

    Unlike a bachelor’s SOP, for a graduate course colleges expect you to already know about the field. So, it would be helpful to draw on your undergraduate dissertation or existing research in the field to express sincere academic interest.

    personal-statement-help

    Source

    Take inspiration from Oxford’s ‘Why Study Further’ section?

    2. What you can bring to the programme

    what-you-can-bring-to-the-programme-at-uk-elite-universities

    You will enter the program with a very specific skill set. You need to tell the university how those skills align with its motto.

    For example, here are two  principal themes of UCL.

    • Academic leadership grounded in intellectual excellence.
    • Addressing global challenges through our disciplinary excellence and distinctive cross-disciplinary approach

    Tell UCL how you can contribute to these principles. Go into specifics of how your research can potentially address global challenges.

    3. What particularly attracts you to this programme?

    what-you-can-bring-to-the-programme-at-uk-elite-universities

    Source

    ‘This program’ doesn’t just refer to the course but also the course in the college. Write about how specific modules and courses you are interested in and how they contribute to your bigger goals.

    4. How does your academic or professional background meet the demands of this programme?

    how-does-your-academic-or-professional-background-meet-the-demands-of-this-programme-at-uk-elite-universities

    This is the section where you can prove to the academic committee that you can do well in the program.

    Look at the specific demands of the program. Most programs expect you to write essays, and reports, design, create practical projects, do group work, and presentations.

    Tell them how you have done the same during your undergraduate or in your professional capacity. If there are any prerequisites for the course, cover your proficiency in the area.

    5. What are your plans academically or professionally after this degree?

    what-are-your-plans-academically-or-professionally-after-this-degree-at-uk-elite-universities

    This question is very open-ended because let’s face it, most students only have a vague idea of what they want to do.

    If you want to go for a Ph.D., saying that isn’t enough. Write about what you want to do a Ph.D. in, any thesis ideas that you might have, and if you want to apply to the same college for a Ph.D., mention that as well.

    If you are planning to apply for a job, you can mention the designation and companies you want to apply to. Write about how getting your degree will open doors in the specific employment sector.

    6. An initial outline of an area that you may want to focus on for your dissertation

    initial-outline-of-an-area-that-you-may-want-to-focus-on-for-your-dissertation-at-uk-elite-universities

    Most graduate students are expected to write a dissertation and should outline this in their statement. This will set you apart from the other students and make the admission committee confident in your abilities.

    Focus on the methodology and sources for your dissertation if you don’t have a thesis.

    Hopefully, you have received the personal statement help that you needed. Keep these focus areas in mind while answering their questions and if you have the option, always upload a supplementary personal statement. The supplementary statement should be 1-2 pages of an A4 sheet paper in point 12 format. Happy writing!

    Top 5 GCSE Online Tutors in the UK

    Manuela Willbold
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    Top 5 GCSE Online Tutors in the UK

    GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) is a qualification exam for students at the age of 16 in the UK. There are almost 60 GCSE subjects that are available as options for students to select from with English and mathematics being compulsory subjects.

    Preparing for GCSE exams is made easier when a student uses the help of subject tutors. But it may be hard for students and parents to find suitable tutors in their neighborhood. That is why online GCSE tuition is a preferred mode of learning these days.

    But still, there are doubts regarding which of the many online tutoring platforms provide the best learning experience.

    To save you the worry, we have curated the top 5 GCSE Online tutors in the UK for you in no particular order. Read this article to know more about the best-rated GCSE online tutors and why they are the most preferred.

    Disclaimer: all cost quoted are subject to change. 

    Top 5 GCSE Online Tutors in the UK

    1. The Profs

    gcse-online-tutorsIt is safe to say that The Profs are the best GCSE online tutors. They offer both online and offline classes as per your liking. High-Quality classes with interactive online sessions are curated by The Profs for students to learn and benefit from.

    Best Features:

    Quality GCSE tutors are found on this platform. You can be assured of the quality because the tutors are made to go through a rigorous interview before being selected and admitted to this platform. Unqualified tutors are filtered out earlier and only professionals are let in to teach students. Around-the-clock support, quality professionals, and lively online classes are the specialty of The Profs.

    Subjects covered:

    A vast variety of subjects are covered by The Profs. For example,

    • Languages – English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish. Russian
    • Art and Design
    • Psychology
    • Sociology
    • Science
    • Mathematics etc.

    You can check out the full list of subjects covered on their official website.

    Pricing:

    The Profs need a small one-time registration fee of £50 for unlimited access to find tutors. Additionally, a matching fee of £20 is to be paid for each match.

    Other than the above charges,

    • School tutoring – £60 per hour
    • Undergraduate tutoring – £75 per hour
    • Post-graduate tutoring – £90 per hour
    • Professional Tutoring – £105 per hour
    • Specialist tutoring – £120 per hour

    They also provide application writing services for top universities in London at a charge of £150 per hour.

    Reviews and Ratings:

    The prof has gathered an excellent rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on the average from 1000+ reviews on the website Trustpilot.

    Awards and Accreditations:

    Not only are they great at tutoring, but they are also great at winning awards. Some of the awards that The Profs have gathered over the years are as follows.

    • The Guardian Start-up of the Year – 2016
    • FSB Awards – Highly recommended company of the year – 2016
    • FSB London Business Awards – Highly Commended Best Start-up – 2017
    • The Great British Entrepreneur Awards – Young Entrepreneur of the Year – 2017
    • Education Investor Awards – Best Private Tuition Provider – 2017
    • Department Of Education – Open Data Competition – 2018
    • The Telegraph Trade Awards – Most Innovative SME Exporter – 2018
    • Spear’s 500 – Top Recommended – 2019
    • Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe – Social Entrepreneurs – 2019
    • The Tutors Association – Best Tuition Business for Customer Support – 2022

    Contact:

    • Website: The Profs
    • Call: +44 208 004 7639
    • Mail: enquiries@theprofs.co.uk

    2. MyTutor

    mytutor-online-tutorsMyTutor is an online learning platform that provides completed online teaching for all subjects of GCSE. Being the most trusted website, MyTutor allows you to find a tutor of your choice from the list of options available.

    Best Features:

    The most attractive feature of MyTutor is that it does not ask for any fees until you have booked a tutor. They allow you to have a 15-minute free session with your desired tutor to find out if they meet your requirements. They have an effective filtering system through which you can filter out the tutors based on your liking. The filters let you find the exact tutor you are looking for. Along with GCSE tutoring, MyTutor also has online tutors for 11+, 13+, A level, IB, KS2, KS3, National 4 and 5, etc.

    Subjects covered:

    MyTutor teaches almost all the subjects covered in the syllabus of GCSE like

    • Art
    • Biology
    • Business studies
    • Chemistry
    • Economics
    • English
    • History and much more.

    Pricing:

    Prices are divided into three packages as per the teaching experience of the tutors. You can select your requirement from any of those three.

    • New tutors with great reviews: £20 – £29
    • Tutors who have been teaching for over 6 months – £30 – £37
    • Most accomplished tutors – £38 – £51

    Reviews and Ratings:

    Trustpilot is the most reliable website used by people to know reviews about companies. MyTutor has got a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on their reviews page. This speaks volumes about the reliability of MyTutor online platform.

    Contact:

    Website: MyTutor

    Call: +44 (0) 203 773 6024

    Mail: support@mytutor.co.uk

    3. My GCSE Tutors

    mygcse-online-tutors-in-ukSpecialising in tutoring just for GCSE students, this online tutoring platform is the first choice of all students. They provide an outstanding service in tutoring the students for GCSE.

    Best Features:

    All your tutoring needs are met on this single platform. Numerous tutors are available on this platform with different rates, timings, and reviews. The complete profile of the tutor is put in front of you to give you a clear understanding of the tutor. Along with that, reviews about the particular tutor are also available in their profile. This online platform lets you arrange a free meeting with your tutor to get to know more about them beforehand. The chosen tutor will be available for you to take classes as agreed once the payment is done. It is a simple and easy process to find your preferred tutor.

    Subjects covered:

    My GCSE tutors cover the following subjects related to the curriculum.

    • Languages – English, French, German, Spanish
    • Psychology
    • Science
    • Geography
    • Health & Social care
    • Hospitality and more

    Pricing:

    The price for tutors varies according to their experiences and teaching abilities. So the pricing will be based on the type of tutor you choose. It can range from £42 per hour to £100 per hour.

    Reviews and Ratings:

    You can find reviews of each tutor from other students on their website. Overall, My GCSE Tutors have got a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.

    Contact:

    • Website: My GCSE Tutor
    • Call: (+44) – 07838 373 004
    • Mail: admin@mygcsetutor.co.uk

    4. First Tutors

    firsttutors-gcse-tutorsFirst Tutors is a straightforward platform that is effortless to use. All you must do is go to the website, search for the tutors and you will find some amazing talents there.

    Best Features:

    Qualified tutors vetted with a thorough background check are only available on First Tutors. They are available in different price ranges. You can select them based on your affordability and timings. These tutors are professionals who will help you achieve your goals. Moreover, they also offer offline tuition if you prefer that. The learning experience is top-notch as told by the past students of First Tutors. This is the only learning platform that you may need for all your GCSE subject requirements.

    Subjects covered:

    • Mathematics
    • Languages – English, French, German, Spanish
    • Humanity subjects – History, Geography, Religious Studies
    • Arts – Art and design, drama, dance
    • Technical subjects – Astronomy, business, electronics, engineering, etc.

    Pricing:

    The prices are based on subject, level, and tutor experience. It can start as low as £30 and go up based on their experience.

    Reviews and Ratings:

    Among the 4165 reviews on the Trustpilot website, most of the users have given First Tutors more than 4.5 stars out of 5. It has got an average rating of 4.7 stars on the said website.

    Contact:

    • Website: First Tutors
    • Call: 0203 962 1468
    • Mail: enquiries@firsttutors.co.uk

    5. Tutorwiz

    tutorwiz-gcseTutorwiz is the best online platform that teaches Mathematics and English. They not only offer online tutoring for GCSE, but also for other exams like SATs, The 11+, IGCSE, etc.

    Best Features:

    We can say that the best feature is that they offer a free demo for all students. We can see the quality of the tutors for ourselves and decide if we want to be associated with them. The online classes of Tutorwiz are very interactive. The student can clear his doubts and get the right support that they need during those interactive sessions. Personalised learning is made possible with weekly lesson plans.

    Every Monday a new lesson plan is given for the entire week, specially curated for the student. Moreover, 24/7 tutor support is available whenever you are in need. Tutorwiz also provides you with real-life rewards like movie tickets as you learn as a motivation. They have streamlined their process which proves to be really efficient for the students.

    Subjects covered:

    The main subjects that are covered by Tutorwiz are

    • English
    • Mathematics

    Again, these subjects are categorized into two packages

    • Primary – Key Stage 1 and 2 (Years 1-6) for children aged 5-11
    • Secondary – Key Stages 3 and 4 (Years 7-11) for children aged 12-16

    Pricing:

    A combined package of Mathematics and English is offered at a price of £21. For individual classes, the prices vary depending on the tutor.

    Reviews and Ratings:

    Tutorwiz has got a rating of 5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot amongst hundreds of reviews.

    Contact:

    • Website: Tutorwiz
    • Call: 0800 181 4221
    • Mail: info@tutorwiz.uk

    Conclusion:

    These are some of the best tutors that are teaching GCSE online. Learning the syllabus for GCSE has been made easy with these platforms. They can understand all your queries regarding the subject and are providing great services to the students. Students can check each of these websites individually, meet the tutors online and find out if they are suitable for them.

    We hope this article provides you with satisfactory information regarding the top GCSE online tutors in the UK. For educators interested in becoming an online tutor, please head to our online tutoring jobs page.

    If you want to get in touch with us about this post or related queries, please use the form below:


      Why Should Adults Embrace eLearning Courses For Personal & Professional Development?

      Manuela Willbold
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      Why Should Adults Embrace eLearning Courses For Personal & Professional Development?

      Online learning provides many advantages and opportunities to those who enthusiastically embrace them. Like real-world learning, people get as much out of these circumstances as they put into them.

      Still, many adults can be skeptical and cautious of what they read online. After all, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. School pupils have also struggled with this mode of learning, dealing with other difficult circumstances where online learning has been framed as a last resort more than a golden opportunity.

      Whatever the context, adults should embrace online learning and take full advantage of their fortunate position. Here’s why.

      A Boost to Credibility

      elearning-coursesWorkers can sometimes view online training as a mandatory chore. The things that they learn may not truly be valued or even remembered.

      However, iHASCO provides over 150 eLearning courses that are fully approved and accredited. That means all their teachings around compliance, health, safety, and more can be fully trusted and have practical applications for a person’s business. The short-format courses can bring long-term benefits to the business environment, upskilling workers excitingly and credibly.

      The wrong provider of eLearning courses can simply bombard people with hastily put-together content. More promising competitors of theirs will meet regulatory standards, set benchmarks for quality, and ensure only practical and reliable information is given. If stiff upper lip regulators can embrace eLearning courses, any other adult can too.

      Constant Career Progression

      elearning-courses-for-personal-developmentWhile many people are content in their roles, others are hungry for further opportunities. The right eLearning course provider can be a gateway to those all-important prospects.

      Many eLearning course providers offer specialist insights into different topics and industries. Some are also open to suggestions on what future course content their customers would like to see them provide. It’s important not to underestimate the potential of this approach. As workers are constantly underutilised and undervalued, engaging with a responsive course provider can help people finally gain traction in their careers.

      After all, few things can be as demoralizing as stagnating in a dead-end position. Working adults can sense they are taking their future into their own hands here, even if their employer has orchestrated the opportunity. The courses can also be accessed via any device, so they have a constant connection to further learning opportunities that will help them thrive.

      Fostering a Broader Mindset

      elearning-courses-for-professional-developmenteLearning courses can come from anywhere. Engaging with them gives people a broader range of teachings and considerations to mull over.

      After all, some online courses may detail concerns that impact an international workforce. Health and safety eLearning courses might have been caringly curated by an expert in the field. Virtual collaboration components could also be included as well. If there’s a digital class, new connections might be made with fellow learners, expanding one’s professional network.

      While superiors in the workplace should teach their workers a great deal, it’s vital to engage with the thoughts and opinions of those outside the business too. More than the start of an eLearning course can be enjoyed, but potentially, a new lease on one’s life too. It can all lead to further interests and enrichment, starting a process of enlightenment that never ends. And we all know how valuable soft skills these days are.

      A Comprehensive Guide To The Pros & Cons Of Volunteering

      Shirley Owen
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      A Comprehensive Guide To The Pros & Cons Of Volunteering

      Volunteering, whether locally, domestically, or internationally, can be incredibly rewarding.

      Choosing to volunteer can help a person to achieve their aspirations to make a difference. It can also have practical applications by improving your CV and helping you to stand out when applying for job roles.

      There are a lot of worthy causes, charitable organisations, and non-profits to volunteer for.

      However, it is important to do your research on where to volunteer to ensure it’s a rewarding experience on both sides. Keep reading to learn more.

      Always Do Your Research

      pros--cons-of-volunteeringBefore you commit to any volunteer opportunities, it is paramount that you do your research, especially if you want to volunteer internationally. You need to take the time to investigate the issues at play that require the need for volunteers, as well as the expectations of the role, and the work carried out by the organisation and the community within which you will be volunteering. In addition, you need to understand the socio-economic and cultural factors at play in the community.

      When it comes to researching the organisation, there are several things that you need to be looking out for. First, what are the ethics and morals of the organisation? Do they align with your moral stance? What work does the organisation do? You should follow the money; where do the donations go? Is everything all above board?

      In some instances, you might be able to find reviews or testimonials from others that have volunteered. This can provide you with an insight into what it might be like to volunteer with that organisation.

      Lastly, you need to think about where you can personally make the most impact. What volunteer roles do your skill set, experience, and knowledge base suit you for? Some people take volunteering incredibly seriously, even making a career out of it and gaining certificates in things like public policy analysis from renowned institutions like the London School of Economics and Political Science, which can provide you with the knowledge you need to really affect change.

      This can help to make you a more effective volunteer as an international student. Still, it can also help to provide you with more opportunities should you want to work with the organisations in a professional capacity.

      Ethical Implications

      ethical-pros-and-cons-of-volunteering

      The ethical implications of your volunteering are also something that you might want to consider. Obviously, you will want to choose a volunteer position with an organisation, charity or non-profit that has the same ethical standpoint as you.

      This is where your research will prove important. Some volunteer organisations allege that they are sustainable or ethical, but this is not always true. These organisations tend to be more centred on making a profit regardless of whether that means that they continue to harm communities, habitats, people, or animals.

      You might also want to consider the ethical implications of your actions too. When volunteering overseas or with poor communities, your actions can come across as self-serving, patronising, and even damaging in some cases.

      Think about the white saviour complex and the ensuing conundrum. Your intentions might be innocuous enough, but that doesn’t mean that the resulting actions will be. This is something that you might want to bear in mind. This isn’t meant to put you off from volunteering, but it is important to consider your actions in a wider cultural context.

      Paying to Volunteer vs Paid Volunteers

      paid-or-unpaid-volunteeringWithin volunteering, there are a couple of different types of volunteer work. Depending on when and where you choose to volunteer, you might encounter paid volunteer positions, or you might be asked to pay to volunteer. The phrase ‘paid volunteer’ is an oxymoron, it is essentially a job, and therefore, you aren’t volunteering.

      Organisations that make you pay to volunteer should also be regarded with suspicion. If you want to volunteer overseas, then encountering fees is much more common, but it should still be approached with caution. Before you commit to paying anything, you should have already done some research into the organisation, but you need to look into how the money is used. Where do the donations go?

      Does it all go straight into the project and the goal? If so, this might be why you are asked to pay a fee to volunteer. Most of the time, organisations prioritise transparency, and therefore they will outline the practices and why you are being asked to pay and what it will be used for.

      Finding the Right Role

      volunteer-workWhen it comes to volunteering, the role that you choose to fulfil can make or break your experience. Obviously, the roles themselves will vary depending on the organisation, but you should remember to consider your own skills and experience. Is the volunteer role that you are considering going to utilise them? Does it make the best use of your specific skills?

      For example, if you have graphic design or photography experience, then would designing leaflets be the best fit for you? There are roles of all classifications available depending on the organisation, of course. If you can’t find a role that fits with what you had in mind, you can always get in touch with the organisation directly and outline what you would like to do to see if they can tailor a volunteer position to you.

      In addition to thinking about how well you are going to fit the role, you also need to consider how well the role is going to fit you. There are a few ways to find volunteer work depending on what you’re looking for. You will first have to consider some questions. What sort of time commitment is the organisation looking for? If you are volunteering locally, this might be a couple of hours a week. Some volunteering involves manual labour, which some people might find difficult.

      You need to think about what the role entails and whether that works with what you can give. Volunteer work is often unpaid, and so a lot of people must fit their volunteer work alongside their paying job and any other responsibilities that they might have. Some people also choose to volunteer on a more casual basis, there are roles out there that only need filling occasionally or when an event is on.

      The Bottom Line

      Volunteering is often incredibly rewarding and worthwhile for the volunteers. However, committing to a volunteer position or an organisation without doing your research beforehand can mean that the experience is not worth your time. The factors above should be taken into account and used when making your decisions regarding volunteering. A lot of people want to volunteer because, ultimately, they want to make a difference in the world, and volunteering can certainly help, but you need to manage your expectations. Remember that volunteering is about providing help in a meaningful way to create sustained changes in the world.

      13 Most Inspiring Gifts For Students From Teachers

      Manuela Willbold
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      0
      13 Most Inspiring Gifts For Students From Teachers

      Are you a teacher, tutor, instructor, or educator?

      Then you may be seeking suggestions for presents for your precious students throughout the academic year for various occasions.

      This is not always that easy and we all know that teachers and educators don’t have much time on their hands, so we have some unique student gift suggestions compiled for you right here. They can be used for end-of-year gifts, special rewards, or birthday pressies.

      We focused on two factors when choosing these gifts: cost and purpose.

      Educators want their presents to be thoughtful yet economical for their limited budgets (head to our teacher discounts post to discover savings).

      We want our student gift ideas to be as helpful as they can be, ideally something that will boost the pupils with their love of learning.

      Let’s dive right in.

      Disclaimer: All prices quoted are subject to change.

      1. Retractable Ballpoint Pens

      Affordable, vibrant ballpoint or gel pens with cutting-edge ink technology always come in handy for any student, especially the creative ones that love to scribble and draw. With little palm pressure, InkJoy consistently produces sharp, clear lines.

      This pen is incredibly comfortable to hold because of its expanded rubberized grip and comes in 8 different coloured pens per bundle. Given that its price is only $2.78, it is a great gift for numerous students.

      Find more here.

      2. Delicious Erasers

      Food-themed erasers are always popular with youngsters, and these are especially cute! While having fun is the focus of these, they will also be functional for homework.

      Creative Tip: Motivate students by including a “Mistakes Help Me Grow” postcard that is printable in several sizes in a bag with an eraser.

      Find a wide variety here. Each eraser costs approx. $1.

      3. Beachy Bookmarks

      Bookmarks are a wonderful gift for students and promote reading. They are also quite economical.

      These “Don’t forget to read this summer” printable gift tags include space for inspirational messages. Or print any of the many printable bookmarks available online on some lovely card stock. Total price: from $8 to $10 for each bookmark.

      Find it here

      4. Bubble Wands

      Bubble wands are a favourite among all students all year round. They are a terrific last-minute present and the ideal way to appreciate the magic of science.

      It’s wonderful to leave children with a motivational message. The attached gift tags will let them know that they “blew you away this year.”

      A pack of 5 costs you $20, find it here.

      5. Gift Bag with S’mores

      This is a fun and simple student-present idea, regardless of whether they’re taking a camping trip or just camped out over the kitchen stove. They’ll miss you, S’more. ** Just this printable template is included in this product.

      Buy chocolate, crackers, marshmallows or any other of your student’s favourite treats at the grocery store. If you don’t have access to a printer, just use the catchphrase on a homemade card. They will cost you $25 each.

      Find it here.

      6. Popsicles

       Want to keep costs low by keeping things straightforward? The student present every kid will love is a freezer pop! Kids, in all honesty, are so easily satisfied.

      Creative Tip: Add a gift tag to make them into a present. You may either write your own or use one of these “have a cool summer” printable tags.

      Find it here for $5 each.

      7. Decorative Succulents

      If you care for the environment and it is on your agenda, then these vibrant succulent pots are the ideal student gift. You can plant the succulents together and decorate the pots to make it a unique student-teacher experience.

      These bulk cuttings and some planting soil are available here at $10 each.

      8. Frisbees

      The young active crowd will go crazy over these fantastic frisbees that are perfect for any class party. You could even take them outdoors and play a team frisbee game.

      Attach a gift tag that is appropriate for a frisbee, such as these free printable “the year just flew by” tags.

      Price ranges from $23–$28 per pack, find it here.

      9. A Personalised Gift Tags

      These unique and personalised gift tags make a fantastic addition to mail-order presents for distance-learning students or handovers at the final day.

      Overall cost: $30, find it here.

      10. Customized Pencils

      You may buy branded pencils from a variety of sellers like eBay and Etsy. Every child’s stationery case must have a pencil, so receiving one with their name on it from their teacher would be memorable. Every pencil could say something like “Thank you for being excellent (student name). With love, Miss Smith.”

      You can also purchase them separately from some retailers, although the cost will probably be higher. One of the nicest farewell gifts from teachers to their kids might be this. Every time they use their unique pencil, they’ll think of you!

      Find it here for $2 each.

      11. Dough-lightful Activities

      Consider additional pursuits that might provide the parents with a brief period of tranquillity. They will enjoy doing some fun activities their teacher has provided them with play dough.

      They have pleasure in using their imagination. Put the things in a goodie bag and design a sticker or tag for added excitement.

      Find it here for $5 each.

      12. Customized Chocolate

      If you teach older students, they might be chocolate lovers who would appreciate bars of chocolate with custom wrappers. Sending them sweet goodies with a note showing your appreciation would be a great combination.

      Most sellers also let you select a vibrant background, so you may pick the one you like and add a little bit of your flair.

      Find it here for $10 per pack.

      13. Wildflower Seeds

       

      View this post on Instagram

       

      A post shared by Wildseed Farms (@wildseedfarms)

      Nothing compares to scattering wildflower seeds and seeing them sprout. Throughout the pandemic, many kids have drawn rainbows; this might provide the world with some more much-needed colour. It’s one of the ways they make rainbows appear everywhere.

      You can even add personalized stickers. Ask the students to keep you informed on their plant’s height growth!

      Find it here where a pack costs $5.

      Give a student a gift to remember

      The above student gift ideas should provide you with inspiration on personalised student gifts that are suitable for learners you work with in education and your budget. Many of these gifts can also be sent by mail to the kids at home where necessary and they are sure to leave a lasting memory of the time you had with them.

      If you want to get in touch with us about this post or related queries, please use the form below:


        14 Top Student Finance Blogs in the UK

        Manuela Willbold
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        0
        14 Top Student Finance Blogs in the UK

        When it comes to sorting out your finances, the best time to start is yesterday, or better yet today.

        And we’re not the only ones who believe in this mantra, which is why we have listed the best personal finance blogs in the UK in this article so that you can benefit too.

        The earlier you start saving money and sorting out your finances, the earlier you can stay out of debt or even invest your money. Therefore we encourage you to check out some of these frugal blogs partly run by students or by bloggers that offer advice for students in the UK.

        Learn how to be clever with your cash from the smart money blogs featured below.  Understand what steps you can take to ensure that in the next 5 years, you’re reaping the rewards of your financial knowledge from these prominent finance blogs in the UK.

        Disclaimer: all blogger details listed are based on the latest information available at the time this post was published

        Check out our list of the top 14 Finance Blogs in the UK by and for students to find ideas, techniques, and tools to help you look after your finances:

        1. Saving Scotts

        Saving Scotts is a great blog designed to offer practical, spot-on insights for students.

        Here you’ll find tips and articles about how to get out of debt, student job opportunities, how to run a profitable blog, and make money from your hobbies or interests.

        It has a clean layout, making it easy to find the information you seek. Other blog posts include £5 dinners, saving money hacks, and tips on how to invest your money now. If you’re studying in the UK and trying to make savings and start earning more online, you should certainly gain some knowledge from these clever Scotts.

        Website: http://www.savingscotts.com/

        2. Thrifty Londoner

        Jennifer, the thrifty London writer, targets millennials in her blog. She shares experiences and tips on how to live a thrifty life in London.

        She moved to London in 2016 and with the high cost of rental and living expenses, realized she would need to figure out how to manage her finances to avoid spiraling into debt.

        Her tips include how to earn an extra income, how to save money, and information about budgeting schemes she learned about to keep herself on track. She also gives handy student finance advice.

        Website: https://thriftylondoner.com/

        3. Bee Money Savvy

        The Bee Money Savvy blog, with its fun play on words, is the brainchild of Emma who writes for millennials just like herself.

        She posts tips on how to work from home to earn an extra income, how to improve at living on a budget, how to be a savvy shopper and more.

        She gives great updated student finance tips too. In addition to information and finance/savings-related topics, she gives you a chance to win freebies!

        Website: https://www.beemoneysavvy.com/

        4. The Frugal Cottage

        The frugal cottage is a blog that aims to inspire others with tips on how to save, budget, save more money, and how to choose investment options.

        The tips shared are practical, real-life experiences and students can benefit from this blog. This is one of the most highly rated British student finance blogs and should be your go-to blog for everything finance related.

        Website: https://www.thefrugalcottage.com/

        5. Be Clever with your Cash

        The award-winning Clever with your Cash student finance UK blog shares great tips, hacks, and deals for students and young working professionals.

        It offers tips and practical guides on how to make the most of your money. It also has a few topics on ways you can earn extra cash, however, if you keep spending and not saving, the vicious cycle continues, no matter how hard you work or how much money you make.

        It shows you how to be smart with your finances to guide you in making your money work for you.

        Website: https://becleverwithyourcash.com/

        6. The Money Whisperer

        The Money Whisperer is written by Emma and she shares tips on how to take full control of your finances to be able to make the most out of life and enjoy it to the fullest.

        Website: https://themoneywhisperer.co.uk/

        7. Looking After Your Pennies

        Charlotte from the Looking after your Pennies blog writes about ways to earn an additional income and she shares great tips on how to save money while adding a touch of eco-friendly living.

        Website: https://lookingafteryourpennies.com/

         8. Money shed

         

        The Money Shed began as a platform for students to exchange personal finance advice and strategies for earning money. Over time, it has evolved into a blog featuring various articles on topics, including ways to earn additional income from home, cost-saving measures, and examining different career options.

         

        View this post on Instagram

         

        A post shared by The money shed 💸 (@themoneyshed)

        It gives sound financial guidance, accountability, and encouragement regardless of where you are in your financial journey. 

        Website: https://blog.themoneyshed.co.uk/

        9. Mind over money matters

        The Mind Over Money Matters is a financial blog to assist young professionals and college students in beginning their financial lives.

        To maximise the benefit and fun of the money you spend each day, it focuses on teaching readers how to spend smarter and travel smarter.

        This blog assists you in managing your own financial decisions so you can get out of debt, make more money, know how to start investing, and much more.

        Website: https://mindovermoneymatters.co.uk/

        10. Money Bulldog

        Adam, the creator of Money Bulldog, aims to educate students on financial matters, including debt elimination, investment, and saving techniques. His expertise in finance motivates him to share the valuable knowledge and experience that he gained during the financial crisis.

        The blog covers a wide range of personal finance issues, from the major ones like investments, ISAs, pensions, and mortgages to simple strategies for students to save money each week.

        Every month, the blog will walk you through one step of the process and provide you with some helpful suggestions for putting it into action.

        Students can use this website as motivation to get a great start on making wise financial decisions ahead in life. It’s time to stop daydreaming about making profits on investments and start living it. 

        Website: https://moneybulldog.co.uk/

        11. Savvy In Somerset

        Fiona from Savvy In Somerset shares her expertise in “extreme cost-cutting methods” to provide advice on saving money. She tries to demonstrate areas where students and individuals can reduce their spending without giving up all the things they value and provides some ideas for extra income generation.

        The blog shows how everyday financial behaviours can add up to significant savings for students and individuals. Savvy in Somerset is an excellent resource for finding ideas on how to save money on things like food, household expenses, clothes, and accessories, as well as how to take advantage of loyalty cards and deals.

        Website: https://savvyinsomerset.com/

         12. Mouthy Money

        Mouthy Money is a financial website established in the UK that provides several resources for millennials wishing to improve their finances and invest their money. The website offers a variety of content, including articles that cover a wide range of financial topics.

         

        View this post on Instagram

         

        A post shared by Mouthy Money (@mouthymoney)

        The Mouthy Money provides advice and resources for students wishing to make investment plans, such as information on various investment accounts and methods for building a great portfolio.

        Website: https://www.mouthymoney.co.uk/

         13. This is Money

        This is Money is a personal finance website that provides tips, news, and advice on various financial topics. They are known for offering knowledgeable, in-depth research and practical advice, making them the perfect resource for students trying to get their financial condition under control.

        This is Money offers analysis and up-to-date news on various financial topics, including interest rates, government policies, and the stock market. The website offers online calculators to assist students and individuals in calculating their mortgage payments, determining how much they require to save for retirement, and more.

        Website: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/index.html

        14. Foxy Monkey

        Foxy Monkey offers a variety of personal finance subjects, with an emphasis on investments. Foxy Monkey’s founder, Michael, wants to demonstrate how people can manage their finances more wisely, particularly by using investments that generate passive income.

        The attainment of financial independence is a central topic on his blog, as the author aspires individuals to accumulate sufficient wealth to reach their goals. He shares his knowledge on several strategies that students and individuals can invest their money to increase their income. Foxy Monkey offers advice and knowledge he has learned along the way, including simple money-saving strategies and ways students can make extra money through investments.

        Website: https://www.foxymonkey.com/

        Ready to stash that cash?

        The internet can provide a lot of valuable information to students via amazing blogs as listed here, providing useful tips for saving, frugal living, making some extra cash, and starting to invest. Be sure to only read and follow bloggers that are established, like the ones mentioned here, as they truly provide valuable advice tested and approved by many of their readers and other bloggers.

        If you want to learn more about how to make or save money as a student then read some of our other guides on this topic:

        How to finance being a student in England

        And for the ultimate guide to earning money online check out the extensive reads listed here:

        Make Money Online ClickDo Guide

        How To Start A Blog In 2023 And Make Money Blogging (5 Step Guide)

        If you want to get in touch with us about this post or related queries, please use the form below:


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