Edtech – Page 7 – Fedena Blog

How can you look Forward to a Better GPA

February 12, 2015March 13, 2015

Clearing all exams with just a passing mark is not enough. One should look forward to a good GPA (Grade Point Average) and make others envy about it. Do not be a kind of student who ignores when his GPA is being asked by other people; instead work hard and make efforts to secure a upright GPA as this will add spark in your resume and achievements.

There a few things which you should look forward for scoring a better and respectable GPA.

Don’t skip classes:

Plan your friends’ hangout and other plans after the class. Don’t skip your classes as this will make you miss your lessons and you will be unable to write down your notes. Also, this will limit your absences and you will not be able to skip the class in case of any emergency. Exceeding the limit will down-level your GPA.

Sleep well and eat well:

Your body and mind need to be good to work and for that you need proper sleep and appropriate meals. Don’t neglect your body by overloading it with junk food. Try to take home-made food to college. Follow a proper sleep routine. Watching movies late night in week days and eating a burger every day is a big no-no.

Write down your notes:

Yes, I know taking notes through camera or writing them on phone or laptop looks cool but it is not practical. Make sure you write down your notes with hands for an easy revision as notes on screen may stress your eyes and brain.

Balance your social and academic life:

Do not be a nerdy or such a book worm that your friends or family are hesitant to meet you. Take breaks often and hangout with people you love. We all know that all work and no play make jack a dull boy. Balance your social life and studies as it won’t harm your GPA; instead you will do good if your mind is refreshed.

Author Bio

Stewart works as a writer for one of the best UK dissertation writing service on internet. Dissertation Globe helps students who are looking for services to write dissertation and do my dissertation for me.

Can Technological Reforms in Education Improve our Job Prospects?

February 5, 2015February 5, 2015

“If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.” – John Dewey

We use technology in every domain of our lives. Be it education or household chores, without our prized gadgets we feel incomplete. However, have you ever wondered whether this technology is actually improving our work or have we just become super habituated to this trend so as to ignore the direction of its impact? For example, is technology really improving the quality of education in the world or is it just a fad that every individual is running after?

The Answer…

Initially, education technology was a simple debatable topic in the society. It soon grew into a massive idea with Steve Jobs entering the fray and proclaiming his vision for education. All he wanted to achieve was to revolutionize teaching and learning, which he did, leaving behind a legacy of numerous technological and educational apps.

To elucidate more on the topic of this article, there is no doubt that technology has improved the quality and standard of education in the world, but has it done so for the betterment of our future? Can you expect to land a great job because of the learning achieved through superior methods of teaching? The answer is, yes. Technology allows students to construct their own knowledge base, which can be employed to enhance business practices at work. It is but the bridge that connects education and employment. Here is a glimpse of the greatness that education technology has brought to the domain of employment:

Sparking Innovation
Innovation has the tendency of killing jobs in order to construct some new ones. The society is progressing and its inhabitants are becoming richer by the moment, demanding more goods and services. 100 years ago, a majority of individuals across the globe were involved with farming. Now, a very less percentage of that number work in fields, but produce much more amounts of food. The millions freed from the land have not become jobless, but have found better-paying work with the evolution in economic and educational reforms.Needless to say, this universal change in tactics has its roots in educational restructurings. Exposure to technology at a young level has made individuals more aware of their surroundings and mental capabilities. Students can channel and package their creative genius in ways that were unknown in the past. Technology can give you wings. More so to the younger generation who can use this reform to spark innovation and think outside the box. A highly ingenious mind is always attractive to an employer, thereby improving employment opportunities.
Stimulating the grey matter
The best answer to the topic of this discussion – reforms in education can improve your job prospects because of how they stimulate and excite the grey matter. Apart from improving your analytical and problem solving skills, exposure to all that information in a short period of time improves relationships and has the ability to bridge cultural gaps.A student well-versed with the latest trends can approach an employer with greater confidence and a positive attitude. Such an individual has the correct knowledge base required for the smooth functioning of an organization. Maturing at a young age through the magic of education helps in adapting to diverse situations and work cultures. Ensure that this personality trait is visible to a hiring manager.
Global reforms
Digital revolution at a young age has unleashed an overwhelming amount of prosperity felt by both the low-skilled and high-skilled worker. The world has progressed and jobs in the IT, software, and programming sectors have become very popular with the masses. Online learning and virtual classrooms give a glimpse of technology that drives most business processes. Exposure to the same at an early age, before you start improvising at work, gives a better sense of what you are dealing with.Distance learning programs at school level foster national and international relations. Learning from educators from a foreign land helps in developing confidence and broadening your mind-set that can be put to use when sitting for a job interview. With the help of internet, students can share their experiences with thousands of individuals. This helps in accelerating the rate of knowledge acquisition. Social media websites aid in networking and establishing contacts all over the world. Be it Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, connections made on these portals can stay for life.
Universal opportunities
The modern methodologies of teaching are pretty much common all over the world. You could use a laptop to finish assignments in India and in America. Common teaching practises put every student on an equal platform. In another 10 years, children across the globe will have equivalent access to information for their subsequent growth and development. As such, it will also change the entire hierarchy of employment process. If every child is the same, how do you select the best?This is where “application” of the acquired education comes into play. Students with enhanced analytical and problem solving skills stand a better chance of being employed than their competitors. Talking about universal employment opportunities, gone are the days when jobs were listed only in the newspapers. With online job portals, several sites have emerged in India and abroad which provide a list of all the employment options available for a range of verticals. Honestly, there is no dearth of opportunities today.

Conclusion

Great innovators like Steve Jobs envisioned that if passionate teachers serve students in a meaningful way, they can definitely address their potential for success. He not only wanted the teachers to embolden the students, but also to equip them with faculties required to think outside the box. Revolution has just begun and it will surely impact our future generations, positively, in times to come.

The article is written by:

Tina Jindal. She is a professional writer who works on a variety of topics like employment, real estate and on job sites in India. She has been involved with renowned publications and has tried her hand at editing works on Cookery, Gardening, Pregnancy, and Healthcare.

Need a Career Lifeline? Explore the world of MOOCs

January 22, 2015January 22, 2015

These days everyone has something to say about online courses and websites. There is so much of buzz about how these courses are becoming the top choice of professionals around the world who are dealing with time crunch. Thus, there is no doubt regarding the fact that online courses are quite useful for the masses. How they can help your career?

According to an estimate, more than 4 million people from around the world have made 22 million registrations for free classes at Coursera.org, which happens to be the largest provider of Massively Open Online Courses. This goes on to show how popular e-learning has become in the current times. Besides, world’s top universities including Stanford, MIT are competing with each other to offer free Massive Open Online Courses to anybody who has internet access.

Here are some reasons why online courses are such a rage for working professionals:

Diversity of Topics:

There are courses for every possible topic that you can imagine. Whether it is a hobby like photography, or a singing, or something as serious and sophisticated as nanotechnology, you can find courses for all of these on various online platforms. And what more, many of these courses are accredited from top universities.

Flexibility of timings:

A professional is always running on tight deadlines. Ask any white collar professional and he would always want some extra time for completing a project. It will be too much to expect professionals in such cases to take time out for regular classes. This is where these online courses win their case. Almost every course and the site offering them provide this option of “time-travelling” i.e you can travel in time according to your wishes to learn your favorite topic. There is no strict time window to cover a particular topic.

Highly focused:

The biggest benefit of pursuing an online course for a professional is its conciseness. You can cut the crap and directly concentrate on the relevant parts. For example, if you are working in the analytics industry and all that you are concerned about is learning to use Google analytics, you can focus on courses that teach Google analytics instead of learning the entire history of digital marketing and web analytics. This will not only save a lot of time but also help you to remain focused.

So how exactly can you make the most of these online courses?

Set some definite goals

With the mind boggling number of courses at your disposal, the world of MOOC can leave a person totally dazed and confused. The best way to avoid getting lost is to define your end goal, which you want to achieve and determine which classes or courses will help you achieve them. Those of you think that MOOC are less tough and easy should double check their facts. You will be surprised to know that online courses are just as rigorous as their university counterparts. In fact, a University of Pennsylvania study reveals that only 4% of students who register for a MOOC actually goes on to complete it.

Search for the perfect course

There is endless number of resources where you can find a course for your requirement. However, always trust only the most reliable and which has a credible community following. The current dominating platforms include Coursera, Udacity and edX. These have the largest catalogue of courses which meet the most varied demands of professionals. Each platform has its own strengths and it is good to know which platform excels at what. Udacity is known for its best-in-class computer science and math courses. edX has a slight inclination towards science, technology and math. There are MOOC search engines such as MOOCSE and Class Central for your help as well.

Review what you have learnt and add to your resume

Once you complete your classes, it’s time to review whatever you have learnt. Figure out the ways in which you can add them to your CV to make the best impact. You can add these skills under a separate tab such as Professional Development or Extra Competencies. You can also add these newly learned skills to your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn also offers you the opportunity to automatically display badges from completed MOOCs on your profile.

Although the world of MOOCs is still evolving and many employers still don’t give them the attention they deserve, one should not doubt their efficacy. Pursuing an online course or e-learning is certainly one of the best and economic ways of keeping your skills updated and learning new skills.

This article is written by:

Saurabh Tyagi. Saurabh is a blogger with interests in various new media technologies. He made a radical shift from his core engineering degree to this world of internet. He provides advice on how to formulate a resume by providing resume samples as well.

5 Most Common Myths About Virtual Learning

January 15, 2015March 13, 2015

As computers become more commonplace, they are revolutionizing almost every aspect of human life. One aspect of life which computers are impacting is the way people learn. The penetration of computers into the learning sphere has led to a rise in something called “virtual learning”.

Virtual learning is basically the use of computers to deliver instruction to learners or students. Unlike traditional learning which involves physical interaction between students and teachers, virtual learning doesn’t involve physical instruction. It uses computer software or an internet connection to facilitate the interaction.

This type of learning can take the form of computer-based learning (where a student receives instruction from a computer installed software). It can involve remote online learning (where a student receives instruction from a teacher via the internet). It also involves interactions between learners through online communication platforms as they share experiences and collaborate on learning projects. Virtual learning is also referred to as digital learning or “e-learning”.

As virtual learning becomes increasingly popular, so do myths about it. Some of these myths are simple misperceptions. Debunking them is essential to enjoy the full benefits of virtual learning. Some of these common myths are the following:

Myth #1: Virtual Learning Primarily Involves Spending Time At A Computer

The fact that learning takes place through the computer doesn’t mean that students will necessarily spend all their time at a computer. Depending on the subject of the study, students can carry out activities like library research, drawing, lab experiments, social interactions and collaborative projects. Some virtual schools even organize periodic school trips for learning purposes.

The bottom line is that despite the fact that virtual learning mostly takes place through computers, it is not the only format through which actual learning can occur.

Myth #2: Virtual Learning Is Fundamentally Teacher-Less

The idea here is that virtual learning eliminates the need for teachers. This is a misconception for two reasons. First of all, virtual curricula are typically developed or adapted by certified teachers. As such, even automated learning software involve an input from teachers at a certain point.

Secondly, there are situations in which the physical presence of a teacher figure is inevitable. This is true, especially where young children are involved. They may need someone to offer guidance, demonstrations and supervision. This someone may be termed a Learning Coach or may even be a parent. However, the role they will play is that of a teacher. Therefore, claiming that virtual learning eliminates the need for physical teachers is quite erroneous.

Myth #3: Virtual Learning Is All About Technology

Most people imagine that virtual learning succeeds or fails on technology. The assumption is that once you have the right technology in place, everything will work out perfectly. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The fact is that technology is simply a conduit for learning. The most important aspect is the curriculum or material which is being learned. As such, the main focus should be in finding the best way of passing the material in a manner which is fun, effective and understandable for the learner. Unless this is considered, all the technology in the world will not make people better learners.

Myth #4: Virtual Learning Limits Social Interaction

Social interaction has always been a key component of the learning process. In the traditional classroom setting, interaction is guaranteed by the proximity that students have to each other. In a virtual learning environment, such proximity isn’t obvious. As such, there is a common assumption that social interaction tends to be limited for students who learn virtually. This isn’t at all true. In a virtual environment, social interaction occurs via IM, email, Skype and social media platforms. Besides that, there are opportunities which are created for face-to-face interactions between students and teachers. For instance, some virtual schools organize school trips, as well as collaborative programs in which students can meet and share their experiences.

Myth #5: Virtual Learning Is Best Suited For The Homeschooled

Virtual learning has always been considered something of an alternative for standard traditional learning. As such, most virtual schools tend to focus on recruiting those who are homeschooled. In doing this, they end up missing an opportunity of recruiting students who haven’t been home schooled.

The simple fact is that almost anyone can benefit from a virtual learning program. Those who are home schooled may be more likely to sign up for these programs. However, even non-homeschooled students can benefit from it. This is the reason why many educational institutions provide virtual learning programs for their students – even those who attend traditional classrooms.

In a nutshell, these are the 5 most common myths about virtual learning. These myths can form perceptual blockages which can limit the potential benefits of this type of learning. As such, debunking them is a critical step towards unleashing the full potential of this new type of learning.

The Smart Glasses the Education World Was Waiting for

January 8, 2015January 21, 2015

Google has introduced a new set of eyewear- a mass-market ubiquitous computer known as Google Glass. And no, this isn’t just any pair of cool-looking sunglasses a cool-looking actor can wear and make millions in sales from. It’s real. A computer disguised as an ordinary-looking pair of glasses. Well, sort of ordinary.

Awesome! So What Are the Features?

Google Glass features a sophisticated display with the help of lights, LED, and all sorts of reflection techniques (and of course plenty of sophisticated science) to display a screen-like image in front of the user’s eye. It also includes a touch-pad on the side of the glasses for physical navigation. A voice command is another option if the user’s hands are too busy or wearing any sort of fabric which doesn’t allow touch-control (gloves, mittens, etc). One of the most useful and coolest features is that of the 720p HD camera. Sure enough, this gives all Glass users the ability to capture images and record videos of high quality.

“Ok, Glass, tell me how you can make me a better student?”

Glass won’t answer that for you, but I can. With the help of several applications, Google Glass can make education and studying in the classroom easier. Other than Google’s own free and inbuilt applications such as Google Hangouts, Google Now, Google Plus, and Google Maps, third party developers pitched in to innovate new apps for Google Glass that further enhances its capabilities. How?

University Professors, with the help of video recording applications can capture videos during their lesson. Now, the students won’t only have PowerPoint material and textbooks as notes, they can view a video of the lesson from the teacher’s point of view. That way, they haven’t missed out a thing in the lecture!
Professors can open a Google Hangout conversation during the lecture and ask students who are shy or unwilling to disturb the class to send their questions in the form of a message right away. The Prof. can answer when the time is right and the method will persuade students to be better participants without any reluctance.
Locating the university if you are a new student in a completely foreign country won’t be problem anymore. Google Map through Glass while you’re riding your bicycle will help you reach your university campus on time.
During class, sending a note to a friend or asking, “Dude, what’s he sayin’?” won’t be easy, but an IM through Glass will allow the communication without a peep.
Forget about taking notes on your notepad now. The Evernote App will allow you to take notes easily during the lecture in your own words. Recording a video of the lecture will certainly help to remind you what you learned in the lecture you attended two months ago.
Word Lens is the latest translator app introduced in Nov, 2013. Foreign students, this is certainly good news for you! Translate your instructor’s foreign language to better understand the lectures pronto!
Extra classroom content can be viewed during the lecture.
A recent application developed by a student called Speech Helper allows you to send text documents and PowerPoint presentations to Glass. This will enable professors as well as students while presenting to read notes and help delivering their speech, presentation, debate, etc.
Teachers who are checking and marking assignment, exams, or reports can, after checking and grading the work, record a video of their feedback. They can provide detailed explanations of why their questions were wrong and how to improve them in future.
News alerts from CNN or The New York Times will keep students updated with current affairs and be able to participate better in class with the latest information.

The article is written by:

Anais John. She is a career consultant who loves to share her expertise on leadership program, career path. Presently, she’s working for an online service that helps learners who come their way asking, “can you help me do my essay?”

Guidelines to Improve Your Child’s Education

December 11, 2014March 13, 2015

Education is one of the key components in a child life. For your child to have the best education there has to be teamwork, cooperation and collaboration between parents, teachers, and the child. If one party in this triangle is absent, then the child’s education is likely to suffer. As a parent, you have a key role to play in your child’s overall life. In his education, you are not just there for homework assistance. It is your responsibility to help your child gain confidence; good self-image and motivation which will help him achieve academic excellence. Even though you are already helpful and supportive to your child, here are some few ways to help your child grow academically.

Reading

You are your child’s first teacher. No matter how busy you are, set aside some time to read to and with your child. Reading to your child encourages him to develop a reading culture. Take some time during the weekends to discuss books, stories and events with your child so that you can test his memory. Start with easier books or short stories until you see that his thinking capacity expanded and start introducing him to biographies and easy to read history texts. Make your reading sessions interesting to always keep the child engrossed.

Teach him through daily experiences

Although the child learned a lot from school, there are so many more ideas that he could gain from home through his everyday activities. If he sees something and asks questions, do not just answer and shun him away. Develop the answers with him and make him understand so that he gains the ability to reason and think. Learn what interests your child and always encourage him to ask questions. Through his, his brain will be active and he will find it easier to think in school.

Keep track of your child’s studies

The biggest mistake that most parents make is leaving school matters to the teachers. Most parents do not even know what their children are learning in school. According to them, their sole responsibility in school is fee payment. Ask your child what he learned in school and always be interested to listen. Visit his school and track his progress as well as his behavior in school. When you show interest and encouragement, your child will have the motivation to keep performing well or even much better. If you notice any problem, make inquiries and help your child to solve it.

Be understanding and encouraging

It is very good to always expect good grades from your child. However, the best way to encourage your child is to be understanding. Although you want him to be among the top students, try to understand his potential first. Just encourage, support and teach him to do his best.

Learn what he is good at and help him make that better. He might not be very good in mathematics, but he can be the best in arts. Help him learn and appreciate his talents. In case you notice any issues in school or at home, simply get your CSA contact to help you solve it and let your child grow physically and academically.

The article is written by:

Ruby Andrew lives in Bristol, UK and is an avid reader and blogger. Since her early years she’s had a passion for writing. Her articles have been published in leading UK newspapers. Her areas of interest are food, reviews (Book/Movie), Travel, Fashion, and Lifestyle.

4 Best Learning Gadgets for Your Kids

December 4, 2014March 13, 2015

In this modern era, kids no longer wish to have fun with old conventional toys. Nearly all children are absorbed in technology today. They are keen on using the various electronic gadgets and invest most of the time using them. Therefore, we can make their valuable time a lot more useful as well as education friendly with the help of the latest academic gadgets. Most of these gadgets allow your kid to gain an improved knowledge in a simple and playful way.

Let’s take a look at some of the best educational gadgets for your kids:

1. Interactive Book system

Enhance your kid’s love for reading with this interactive e-reading program. It is designed for children aged 3 to 7 years. In this it is possible to watch, hear and read stories, play reading games and look up for different preinstalled books. All these are set up with touchscreen features sensitive enough for your child’s finger. Additionally, you can increase collection of books by download options. This device truly brings books to life for your child.

2. Firefly mobile phone

It’s truly a most essential device for your child to connect at any time with you effortlessly. It is a compact handset for your kid with 5 button keypad together with speed dial keys. The gadget comes with limited contact number storage so that it can be easily managed by your kid and also rejects incoming calls from unidentified numbers. Other features include twelve ringtones, five animations as well as seven LCD backlight display screens. Moreover, it is packed with a variety of games and academic stuff.

3. Laugh and Learn Smilin’ Smart Phone

The Laugh and Learn Smilin’ Smart Phone is an upgraded look on familiar play with a glossy style and fantastic training content. With nine light-up control keys your baby can easily switch on music, songs, enjoyable phrases and audio effects. A real looking role play switch motivates your kid to say hello as well as bye-bye while every light-up button provides many unique content material such as ABC’s, colors, shapes, numbers, weather and more The flashing lights are excellent and the volume level is low enough so that it is not annoying, yet loud enough for children to listen to while messing around with it.

4. Fireman Sam Fun and Learn Tablet

Everyone’s favorite fireman is here to lighten up your Christmas season with this amazing tablet which works like a fun learning help for your kid. Fireman Sam will certainly teach everything regarding colors, numbers and objects, making for a wonderful time-pass as well as a beneficial learning device. This touch-screen tablet features five distinct game settings to select from which include Discovery, Which Character Says What?, Quiz, Let’s Call Different Characters and Find the Characters & Vehicles. It will also educate children about the automobiles they see on the Fireman Sam TV program. An obvious must for every Fireman Sam fan, it is ideal for kids aged 2 and above.

It is the primary duty of every parent to provide their kids with all the indispensable amenities that will eventually help him to become a successful person.

Ruby Andrew’s author bio

7 Tools to Make Research Paper Writing Easier

November 27, 2014March 13, 2015

Don’t you just love procrastinating the moment when you start writing an important research paper? You’ve already done a preliminary research, but haven’t moved from that point for weeks. When the deadline gets too close, you start getting anxious and desperate to find an easy way out. Don’t worry; there are great online tools that you can use at this point and still end up with a brilliant research paper by the deadline.

Colwiz – This reference manager will accelerate the research process and enable you to sort, cite and share the sources you intend to use. You can use Colwiz to locate relevant articles and manage the notes and references through cloud backup. The best part is that the tool enables you to automatically format the bibliography with over 6500 citation styles.

NinjaEssays – This essay writing service can be useful through all stages of research paper writing: from conceptualizing to researching to writing to editing. You can hire professionals with MA and PhD degrees in the relevant fields of study and rely on their knowledge for faster completion of your research paper. You can hire an expert to provide you with the right resources, edit your paper or help you throughout the writing process.

ReadCube – In order to write a successful research paper, you need to do a lot of reading, managing and citing. With the help of ReadCube, you can progress through the different stages of completion with ease. The tool enables you to import PDF files from your computer and make them searchable. You will also get daily article recommendations based on the library you collect. That’s the best way to get more material without even trying.

Qiqqa – This free reference manager and research manager is one of the most effective tools you could possibly use during research paper writing. It enables you to organize the PDFs you will use for the project, import them into separate libraries, search through them and detect duplicate sources. Quiqqa provides intuitive information about papers, as well as connections between different concepts. You can also use the tool to share library documents, notes and metadata with a selected group of people.

Mendeley – If you were looking for a free tool that helps you manage the writing, research and citation process with ease, then Mendeley will surely make you happy. Mendeley gives you 2GB space for online storage, which is enough to keep all your sources secure in one place. You can access the collected materials online or offline, and annotate on the go by highlighting and adding sticky notes throughout the text. Mendeley also enables you to generate the citations and bibliography in the style you choose.

Citavi – The most difficult part of the research paper writing process is finding your way around the pile of sources you managed to assemble. Thanks to Citavi, you can avoid chaos by saving the important quotations accompanied with proper citation information (including page numbers). Then you can use the tool to insert the quotations and thoughts you saved directly into the document.

EndNote – This powerful tool enables you to collect and manage different reference materials and manage the journals, research papers, essays or books you write. The ability to search through extensive online databases and access full-text articles will enable you to complete your research papers much faster. EndNote also has a collaborative feature that’s perfect for team projects.

Commitment is the most important tool

Now that you have the right apps and websites that will help you write that paper, it’s time to do the actual work. Research paper writing is a challenging task, but the tools we listed above can make it way more interesting. Explore your options and start working on the assignment today!

This article is written by:

Robert Morris is an educator from New York. He is developing new online course on writing for students. His goal is to spread the word that paper writing is an easy task and he shares valuable tips on this topic. Find Robert on Google+.

What are the Essential Components for Effective E-Learning

November 20, 2014August 24, 2017

E-learning is accessing education through educational technology, electronic media, information, and communication technologies. It includes a multiplicity of media, images, animation, video-streaming, satellite, CD-ROM, TV, computer-based learning, intranet/extranet, as well as web-based learning technologies. Both communication systems and information underlie the e-learning process – either on local networks or internet networking. Sometime institutes don’t prefer the e-learning because of the certain expertise skills requirement but with Uzity learning management system you don’t have to worry about any technical expertise. It is the easiest platform all you need just a basic knowledge of working a computer.

Institutions

The first thing you will need to take into consideration for effective e-learning is the institution you will be using for e-learning. There are many institutions that offer e-learning in different areas of study. However, not all of them are effective in providing this service. If you want to find the best in the industry, you should make use of the following e-learning tips:

Begin by looking at the reviews provided by previous students about the institution. Positive reviews will mean good performance and negative reviews mean a bad performance.

Make sure the institution is accredited by the necessary governing bodies. This will vary from one location to another.

Ensure the institution have the courses you want to purse and they are provided at times that are convenient for you. Once you have made sure everything is set, you will need to ensure you have the right hardware requirements.

Requirements

Basically there are two ways you can go about e-learning either by use of internet or compact disk. Both these methods are effective, but they will require different items for them to be effective.

When a compact disk (CD or DVD) is used as the mode of learning, one will require to have a few items. To start with, you will need to have an electronic medium that can be used to play the disk. Since current disks are audio visual, you will need a DVD player and a television set. Alternatively, you can use a desktop computer with speakers or a laptop. Quality speakers are recommended as they will ensure you get the information from the disk in a loud and clear fashion.

Once you have made sure you have the required electronic equipment, you should now search for a good learning environment. Take note that e-learning should be handled just as traditional learning. It is impossible to concentrate in a room where kids are around or in an area that has external noises. If it is hard for you to find a good place to study, you should consider getting a laptop and a pair of headphones. With these items, you can go to a library or a restaurant during your learning hours.

On the other hand, you may find that internet is the mode of e-learning you will be using. In this case, you will need to make sure you have a good computer. Generally, any Pentium four computer that has one gigabyte of memory or more should suffice. However, you will get the best performance from any computer that has a core processing (core 2 duo, core i3 and so forth) and four gigabytes of memory or more. Remember, the faster the computer, the higher the performance.

The next thing to consider is your internet connection. Depending on your location, you should make sure you have a fast and reliable internet connection. Before choosing an ISP (internet service provider), make sure they give you guarantees on their up-times and down-times. The provider with the highest up-time should be considered. Up-times are when the internet connection will be working while down-times are when the same connection will be down. Usually, they provide estimates and inform you when they are undergoing problems or doing maintenance of their system.

Make sure you have the required consultations before you choose to purchase any of the above equipment. You can consult a technician in your area about the computer you will need for your learning process. You may also look at forums on the internet where students talk about computers they use for effective and successful e-learning.

It would also be wise to consult the institution that you will be using for your e-learning. In most cases, they will provide you with the hardware requirements you will need. They will inform you of the best computer to use and what you need to have to make sure your learning process is efficient.

What Online Education Can Learn from MOOCs

November 6, 2014March 13, 2015

This month, millions of students will start new courses on campuses online. Some will take formal courses from traditional higher education institutions, and some will enroll in one of the hundreds of available MOOCs (there are more MOOCs starting this September than have been available in any previous month). For the most part, students won’t be doing both of the things at the same time—though a few colleges offer MOOCs for credit, not many students have chosen to take them.

But that doesn’t mean that MOOCs and traditional online education are two completely different beasts. In fact, online education can learn a lot from MOOCs, and in fact many online courses are already starting to implement ideas and practices derived from the research on MOOCs.

Here are a few examples of what online education can learn from MOOCs

Content delivery: Lectures and video

Online students have wanted video technology in their courses for years—in response to a 2010 Get Educated poll, 60% of respondents answered “video technology” to the question “Which technology would you like in online classes?” Despite that, many online courses have continued to rely mainly on text-based resources as substitutes for in-class lectures. Why? Perhaps because of a lack of production capabilities, limitations of learning management systems, or even instructors not realizing how valuable video can be in an online course. Or it could be a combination of all three. However, this is all changing because of MOOCs, in which video lectures and tutorials constitute the primary means of content delivery. Now, more online courses are using videos, produced either in-house or by a third-party vendor such as a textbook publisher.

Instructors interested in using video lectures in their courses would do well to consult the MOOC data on the types of videos that are most engaging for students. In particular, MOOC researchers have found that the ideal length of a video lecture is between 6 and 9 minutes, informal talking head–style videos are more engaging than PowerPoint slideshows or screencasts. Video lectures designed for online consumption are better than recorded live lectures, a fast speaking rate leads to higher engagement, which is in contrast to live lectures, in which pauses are often deliberately inserted, and students usually watch video lectures only once, but re-watch and jump around in video tutorials.These findings are just as applicable to preparing content for for-credit online courses as they are for massive open ones.

Assessments and activities: More is better

MOOCs in general have more activities and more assessments than are found in traditional in-person and online classes.Most MOOCs involve not only very short lectures, but also assessments within and between lectures. For example, in some MOOCs review questions are interspersed in the videos and every module segment ends with a short quiz. These assessments are not always graded, but they do serve to enhance student engagement and understanding, and this style is starting to be used more frequently in formal online education.

In addition, MOOCs have been innovative in supplying opportunities for students to exercise their problem-solving muscles. According to Columbia University’s Fiona Hollands, based on MOOC research instructors are incorporating more problem-solving activities into their traditional courses, which has resulted in improvements in student performance.

The value of instant feedback

Most MOOCs provide students with instant feedback on their activities and assessments. Automated grading systems are able to tell students immediately where they are going wrong and set them on the right track, not just for multiple choice questions, but also for things like coding and even (controversially) essays. EdX President Anant Agarwal sees this feedback as having “a huge value,” saying: “Students are telling us they learn much better with instant feedback.”

Agarwal’s words are proving more and more true as new data come available. Even in the controversial area of writing, there is evidence that instant machine-scoring feedback is beneficial. Since 2009, instructors at the New Jersey Institute of Technology have been using an automated essay grader, not as a final grading system, but as a sort of writing tutor. In doing this, they have found that students are much more willing to rewrite and revise their work in response to computer feedback than human feedback.

Instant feedback is nearly impossible in an on-campus course (at least one of any size), and it is not something that has typically been strived for in online courses either. However, with the improvements in machine grading systems, online instructors may soon be able to provide instant feedback as a matter of course.

MOOCs are not right for every course or every student, but they still have value, and that value is not limited to the classes themselves. MOOCs and the analytics that are being used in them have great potential to inform teachers about how students learn and what works best in classrooms, both online and off. Rather than dismissing or overlooking them, we should focus on what we can learn from them—a process that has only just begun.

The article is written by:

Sameer Bhatia, founder & CEO of ProProfs, a leading provider of online learning tools for building, testing, and applying knowledge. ProProfs Knowledge Base Software is used to create highly-searchable online FAQ’s to improve customer service and reduce tickets. Sameer has a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California (USC) and is an ed-tech industry veteran. You can find him on Google+ and Twitter.

Why is Flipped Classroom the Right Solution to Competent Higher Education

October 23, 2014January 21, 2015

In the last few months, many educational institutions and universities have been experimenting with a new concept called inverted or flipped classroom. This instructional model is gaining tremendous popularity among both students and teachers. The concept has been popularized by Salman Khan in a Ted Talk. The video has already received around 3 millions views.

According to this approach, video lectures developed by teachers can be posted on the university or college’s Learning Management System, YouTube or private intranet. This provides students with convenient access any time. Most importantly, the educational institution’s investment in infrastructure, i.e, instructional design devices, course authoring, servers etc., is minimal.

Besides the use of relatively cost effective technology, a flipped or inverted classroom offers other important benefits. With this approach, the faculty has free time to help students in a better learning environment. The model also promotes consistency in various teaching methods. Students can interact with their instructors and fellow students rather than just sitting in a basic lecture hall.

Key Benefits of a Flipped Classroom

Video lectures can be easily polished, edited and re-recorded. Students can even replay, pause and watch various lectures repeatedly as per their convenience. With editing, the faculty can make lectures to the point and concise.
Faculty can use different tools and resources to analyze where certain students falter, and how the coursework can be modified for better results. Some of these tools include trends in FAQs, performance in previous examinations, student course evaluations and more.
Faculty can devote more time to help students explore application and develop synthesis during class time. This can be accomplished through team projects, experiential exercises, problem sets and other activities that were previously handled by students as homework. Students can benefit from direct faculty input on particular segments of the study material. This makes sure the material isn’t ambiguous or difficult to comprehend.

A lot of faculty members spend a huge amount of out-of-class, unpaid time to help students make some sense of difficult study material. In fact, even this can only be achieved when students proactively seek help from the faculty members.

With a flipped classroom, instructors can help students during compensated, assigned class time without increasing their burden. They can engage with students, and guide them in the right direction. Students can receive help regarding a wide range of activities. In addition to this, the faculty also finds it easier to identify and rectify problems to learning.

According to most industry experts, the application and synthesis of knowledge also finds great favor with educational institutions who already lack a competency-based approach in education. This has been the primary reason for the increasing popularity of this concept.

When it comes to small educational institutions, and the ones facing budget constraints, a flipped classroom can promote activities that occur online. These activities are independent of the regular classroom environment.

Thus, the burden on the institution’s infrastructure is reduced, and allows the faculty to manage more students with an integrated approach. There’s no doubt that a flipped or inverted classroom is the best solution to offer competent higher education to an ever increasing number of students.

The Need to Blend Character Education in Daily Classroom Learning

October 16, 2014January 21, 2015

Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education” and true to every word in the quote, a child is expected to not just be well educated but mannered too; a dream of every parent to see their children grow up into educated and well-mannered individuals in the society. And that shows how necessary it is to introduce character education to children at school levels itself. Infact, education institutions have taken up the issue seriously and incorporating character education programs in regular teaching assignments.

So, does character education really play a good role in the academic life of a student? The answer is definitely, Yes! Character education focus on values like responsibility and the determination to perform a task. These values are surely the motivation required for students to do well in their studies. A better learning environment is created when students are helped with building up their character and they learn to communicate well with fellow students and teachers.

Character education, in addition, also develops the qualities of self management, particularly when it comes to managing their feelings. This quality, as believed by many experts, help children to deal with learning activities, mainly when these children come from troubled home environments. Management of their own feeling will help them cope up with learning at schools and colleges, despite their troubled personal life. Besides, adoption of character education at school level have proven to show greater results when it comes to suspensions, disciplinary actions against students and attendance issues. It brings about a positive environment, thus a sharp change in increased attendance among students and an improved academic graph as well.

Young people, nowadays, are so exposed to things which are negative in nature all around them- disrespect, various character flaws, irresponsibility creeping through daily life. Top of that, parents too, have very less time to spend with their children due to different career engagements. Children have to know how to cope up with life, minus the influence of negativities and this is where character education fills the gap.

Character develops the destiny of a child; and not just the individual, but the whole society as a whole. As the famous Roman philosopher and orator, Cicero puts it, “Within the character of the citizen lies the welfare of the nation”. Hence, incorporating values in the youth will bring out responsible citizens of the society, of the country. To let children of today to become the standing members of the society tomorrow, they must know the values of life and what better way than character education in the class!