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Modern Ways to Learn

July 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Scientific literature

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Learning strategies have dramatically changed over the past 20 years. The Internet and new technologies have allowed students new ways to learn old material (and new material as well). Here are some modern ways that students learn.

Internet

The number one modern way to learn is online learning. Instead of just referencing books in research papers, many students are now referencing websites and online journals. Students also have the ability to search for articles in distinguished academic journals just by searching online databases through their school’s library. Many of these articles are available online so the student doesn’t even need to leave home to find research materials.

E-Readers

More and more textbooks are being made available electronically. Some publishers are including an electronic copy when a student purchases the hardcopy of the book while others are selling the book electronically, reducing the cost of the book because it doesn’t need to be printed or shipped. It also allows the publisher to correct mistakes in the book easily without having to print a new edition.

Online Colleges

Another way modern students are learning is through online colleges and universities. Lectures and class materials are made available online and students are able to complete the course without having to relocate to an area with a college and are able to work around their job schedule, allowing students to earn a bachelor degree at EarnMyDegree.com or other education sites.

With all the new, convenient ways for students to learn, it’s no wonder that more and more are going back to school.

 

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The Benefits of Online Colleges

May 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Distance education 

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Though many high school seniors envision themselves packing up their belongs and heading to college someplace far from their home, that decision may not be the right decision for all students. Still, that doesn’t mean they’ll have to miss out on getting a great education. More than 4 million students have registered with online colleges, and these schools continue to gain in popularity among tech-savvy students. There are many benefits that online colleges offer that traditional colleges simply can’t.

You’ll earn a high-quality education. The rise in popularity of online schools has also boosted the education quality. Any online college must meet accreditation standards from accrediting agencies. State and community colleges and universities are now offering online options.

You’ll have access to your classes from anywhere, at any time. For students who travel regularly or who don’t want to be tied down to a particular region, this is a major benefit of online courses. The course material is available 24 hours a day, so if you’re working a job or have other commitments, you can easily make your class schedule fit around your life.

Online colleges can be more affordable than traditional colleges. Students will save thousands in commuting costs, housing fees and textbook costs. Scholarships, loans and grants are also available to online college students

Online colleges will offer a no-intimidation classroom for shy students. A study by the National Survey of Student Engagement revealed that online students are more likely to participate in discussions about their major. If you’re the type of students who dislikes answering professors’ questions or speaking in front of a group, an online college can be your best option. You’ll still have the opportunity to make contributions through chat rooms, instant messages or emails.

 

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Reducing Internet Distractions in Class

February 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The spread of Wi-Fi technology to the classroom has both benefited and limited learning.  While there are numerous advantages to internet and laptop use during class, internet distractions can be an unfortunately common occurrence in some classes.  Here are several tips for reducing internet distractions among students.

  • Don’t allow headphones
    Headphones during class will be used to listen to music or watch videos online.  Allowing them will almost definitely encourage students to cave into internet distractions.  Videos are some of the worst distractions, as they can distract other students sitting within view of the laptop screen.  By forbidding headphone use, instructors can help limit the likelihood of video distractions during class.
  • Require Wi-Fi to be turned off at times
    Another rule to reduce internet distractions is to require Wi-Fi technology to be turned off during class.  This will still allow students to use their laptops for note taking, but it will prevent them from logging into Facebook or surfing the net during class.
  • Engage student participation
    Walking around the classroom, soliciting student input during lectures, and posing questions to the class are all ways to encourage students to participate and pay attention in class.  If students are actively engaged, then they are much less likely to turn towards internet distractions to alleviate boredom.
  • Be clear about the rules
    On the first day of any class, instructors should be prepared to provide an overview of the course as well as clear expectations for student behavior during class.  Internet use should be covered during this time, and instructors should clearly communicate the rules for when the internet can and cannot be used.  This will reduce the temptation for students to use the internet for personal purposes during class.

These strategies can help ensure that the internet is used for educational purposes during class.  Students will be better able to focus with a decreased risk of distraction.

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Potential Problems with Digital Archiving

January 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Digital archiving is becoming a growing practice for data storage in universities and libraries across the country.  While promising, there are still several potential problems with digital archiving that could interfere with efforts to store information and streamline the storage process.  Here are a few problems that archivists have encountered that make digital archiving more problematic than many have anticipated.

  • No clear system
    Since digital archiving is a relatively new practice, there has not yet been an established system for it; instead, each library, school, and academic institution has a different method for digital storage.  The lack of clear protocol or direction could create problems, as digital information stored in one manner might not be readily available for an individual at a different institution that uses a different storage method.  This problem is being witnessed at various libraries, each of which uses a different method–or avoids digital storage altogether until enough funds are raised to devise an archiving system.
  • Mixed storage media
    Another recurring issue with digital archiving is the wide range of storage media being submitted.  While some information is stored on CDs, other information is being submitted in the form of DVDs, flash drives, floppy disks, or even computer hard drives themselves.  This makes it incredibly difficult to integrate all of the information on one storage system, especially because newer computers might not be able to read the older floppy disks.  Additionally, older computers might not have internet access or the same word processing programs, limiting the ability to translate the archives into another format.
  • Physical decay
    Physical storage media, such as floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs, actually decays at a much faster rate than paper archives.  This could create problems in later years if libraries and universities keep their digital records on these forms of storage. Given the current problems with integrating all of the different types of information storage, many educational institutions are, in fact, keeping the physical storage for the time being.

Although these problems might remain in existence for some time, progress is being made towards developing a clearer methodology for digital storage.

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Review of the IPad as an eReader and the iBook Library

December 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment

All book lovers those who own an Apple iPad can make a free download of the iBooks application from the iTunes application store.
ibooks Application
Users who have installed the ibooks eReader application can have the privilege of experiencing reading as well as shopping. Two icons are what users can see on the main menu. To do some shopping for ibooks , you can click on the left hand side button which takes you to the iBooks store. For reading, you can access your personal library by clicking on the icon that is visible on the right side.
The iBooks library is similar to that of a physical library. In the ibooks application, you can find the titles of the books. All you have to do is simply tap the book which you want.
The 9.7 inch screen of the iPad offers greater visibility. Apart from black and white texts in the iBooks application, even colorful images, photos, illustrations and graphs can be seen. Graphic novels, books on cooking and photography can easily be accessed.
The pages in the books can be viewed in two styles which include landscape and orientation. The previous and next pages can be turned by just tapping.
Purchasing and downloading of books
The iBooks store has a huge collection of free as well as paid books. It’s possible for you to find what you want easily by just narrowing down the search on the basis of author names, new releases, best sellers , publishers etc. since, iPad supports wireless downloads, shopping and purchasing of books can be easily done.
Different Options in terms of ereader applications
Apart from iBooks application, third party ebook reader applications can be used on an iPad. Having the iPad fully charged while using the ebook reader application is a must.

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Kindle Allows for Their Books to Be Read on Multiple Devices

December 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Kindle is the latest platform that Amazon is taking advantage of, to reach a wider range of audience. With the launch of Kindle Apps for Mac, iPhone, iPod, PC, Blackberry and iPad, Amazon is creating easier access to books.
Features
Offering unique shopping benefits among platforms, Kindle App provides access to paid content as well as books in the Kindle Store that are in the public domain. Amazon’s Whispersync technology, the app’s Kindle friendly reading devices are just some of the unique features.
Book reviews allowed entail sampling the opening chapter to help customers know whether to purchase or not. Amazon’s Whispernet technology allows for eBooks to download to one’s device wirelessly.
Readers can read at their own comfort level by changing the mode to either portrait or landscape, and editing font sizes.
Applications for your Device
If you do not have a Kindle eReader, Amazon offers you a Kindle reading app that would be compatible with your device:
iPhone -The application needs the device to be using iPhone 3.0 OS.
iPod -The same requirements as that of iPhone is required.
PC – A PC with 500MHz or AMD Processor or faster is required.
Blackberry – Blackberry Storm 9530, Storm 9550, Tour 9630, Bold 9000, Bold 9700, Curve 8520, and Curve 8900 are compatible models.
Mac -Mac OS X 10.5 or higher is required to run the app.
iPad -Read more than 750,000 Kindle books on the Kindle for iPad app.
The Pros and Cons of Kindle Reading App
In comparison with the Kindle eReader, the features related to reading are less in the Kindle App for iPhone, iPod, and other devices.
Due to the LCD screens, battery life is short and readability under sunlight reduced. The advantages include display of full color information in a book, and touch responsive screens, except in the case of Mac and PC.
Moreover, the Kindle Apps make possible access to Kindle books from many devices.

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Visual Instruction on Vocabulary Development Through Technology

December 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Image representing WordSteps as depicted in Cr...
Image via CrunchBase

Every academic institution realizes that direct instruction is an important component in developing students’ vocabulary. There are a host of online resources available for teachers to increase the effectiveness of imparting instruction on vocabulary development in a visual and interactive way.
Visual Instruction on Vocabulary Development
Visuwords is an online graphical dictionary that uses Princeton University’s open source database, WordNet. You can search words and find their meanings plus associated words in a diagrammatic manner. When you enter a word in the search bar, a network of nodes, comprising meaning, adjectives, and other connections, gets formed.
Wordle is an online Google App tool for creating word clouds from the text entered by a student. Wordle analyses the text and presents it in a visual manner, laying more emphasis on the words that occur more frequently in the provided text. Wordle allows students to modify the fonts, layout and color theme as they like.
Technical Instruction on Practicing Vocabulary
Easy access to online resources has allowed educators to take imparting instruction on vocabulary to the next level. WordSteps is a tool that provides vocabulary enrichment in eleven different languages. It offers to create a vocabulary list and generate a series of activities to practice the words. Vocabulix offers online vocabulary lessons in Spanish and German. The resource’s social networking option allows students to practice using the language in a real, social setting.
Vocab Sushi is the ideal tool for students looking to prepare for exams like SAT or GRE, in a fun and interactive manner. It is also apt for anyone wanting to enhance their vocabulary and communicate better. Conceived by an SAT tutor, Vocab Sushi provides learning by enabling deeper understanding of words rather than by memorizing them.
The easy availability of technological resources has made imparting instruction on vocabulary more interesting for educators, and learning more effective and fun for students, resulting in better quality education with the aid of technology.

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Tips to Make Your Classroom Interactive with Whiteboards

December 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment

With the increase in integration of technological aids in classrooms, the implementation of Smart Boards is also rising. The topmost reason for this is the interactivity of its applications that enables complete student involvement, thereby enriching the learning process. Hence, teachers find this kind of a latest educational technology really useful.
The Smart Board is part of an interactive whiteboard that also comprises an interactive board, computer with notebook program and a projector. Initially developed for businesses, these systems have entered the educational circle, helping learning advance with the progress in technology. Due to the undue advantages provided by the Smart Board, students can study in a more interactive way.
Benefits of Using a Whiteboard
A Whiteboard provides support for instruction to special students, as it can adapt to a variety of learning styles. It offers learning experiences through each of the senses to learners with various kinds of impairments.
A Smart Board is also useful in classrooms with a single computer. It becomes the tool for manifesting information, giving students an interactive learning atmosphere.
However, not all classrooms are able to take advantage of this system, often due to tight budgets.
Whiteboards as Tools of Professional Development
Following a basic level of assessment, teachers are required to chart the professional development plan of their students. Addressing the strengths and weaknesses of the students, this plan can be demonstrated very well through the use of whiteboards. Different from a formal, written document, a whiteboard representation of a professional development plan can be both comprehensive and constructive.
Smart Board and its Implementation
If well-implemented, the Smart Boards can certainly become a method of teaching that is educative, while it is exciting mainly for both teachers and students. Encompassing the wide range of Web 2.0 tools, this system makes use of the best online tools and technologies to give education a whole new outlook.

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