The Latest Online Education: Oktober 2014

Jumat, 17 Oktober 2014

Taking Online Horticulture Classes Will Encourage Your Green Thumb

Are you a house plant killer with a secret desire to have a garden? Many people think that if they can't keep an indoor plant alive there's no point in trying to garden. There is one big advantage to a garden: an automated watering system. You can't put a house plant on a timer, but you can put a garden on one. If you've always wanted to try your hand at gardening, but don't know where to start and have been intimidated by your lack of knowledge, online horticulture courses are available to help.

The Beginner

When looking for an online class, look for a beginner or hobbyist level course. This will ensure that the information is prepared for those who do not have a background or experience in gardening. The other students will also be beginners which will give you the benefit of learning not only from the teacher but from the questions asked by other students.

You'll also want to make sure that there is an open forum available where you can post questions and receive answers outside of the class. Because people from all over the country sign up for these classes, and no one has the same schedule, it's easier for you to post at your leisure and then check back when you have time. It's also nice to check in and see if you can help out a fellow gardener.
Types of Classes

There are many different areas of gardening to learn about. You can study up on growing a vegetable garden using heirloom seeds, lawn care, flower selection, garden design, tree house design, and so much more. All it takes is 1-2 hours a week.

Once you've gone beyond the beginner level courses, you can move on to some of the more specialized classes. Perhaps you want to know where fruits and vegetables came from, how they moved across continents and oceans, and how they helped shape world cultures.

Or, maybe you're more interested in how plants are pollinated and would like to try keeping a hive on your property. Before you order your bees, you can take a class on beekeeping. You don't have to be a professional gardener in order to keep bees. You just need to have some time and enough space for the bees to gather pollen.

If you've recently bought a home and want to redesign the yard, you can take a class in architectural rendering for landscape and garden designers. These classes are a little more in-depth and often require you to download software. But, having the freedom to design your yard and then watch it come together is priceless.

Making Time

One of the biggest benefits of taking on stream course is that you can take the classes when it's convenient for you. When you sign up for the class, you're given a log in and a password. You can use these to access the class videos, notes, and enter the online forums. If the only time you have is Thursday afternoon, then that is when you take the class. Online classes make it easy to succeed.

Education articles for teachers and other educators. ... are selected for inclusion. Choose one of our latest articles below or choose a category from the sidebar. Pages in category "Online education". The following 88 pages are in this category, out of 88 total. This list may not reflect recent changes (learn more).

How Online Photography Courses Can Enhance Your Life

Education is an amazing thing to have in life. It can open a lot of windows of opportunity and can lead you to new horizons of experience. Art is an amazing thing to have in life. It can open your eyes to new perspectives and can show you new things about yourself that you never would have imagined. The combination of these two things through online photography courses can truly enhance your life in some really beautiful ways. You will have a new skill, will have more opportunities presented to you, will see the world in a new and more appealing way, and will have the ability to take a hobby and turn it into something more serious.

You Will Have a New Skill

The more skills that you have, the happier you will be. A person who can handle anything because of their knowledge and skills is someone that can overcome many obstacles in life. Taking advantage of online photography courses is a great way to gain a new skill while still having the freedom to do so from wherever you have a chance.

Opportunities Will Open Up to You

When you can learn the complexities of photography, graphic design, photo alteration, and other such important skills, you will be qualifying yourself for some pretty good promotions and advancements. The business world will see you as a more well-rounded investment, and your family will be able to benefit from your newfound ability to capture a perfect moment. Between your new job opportunities and the family bonding that will result from this, you will be getting some really amazing opportunities to improve your life from all angles.

You Will Have a New Perspective on the World

Sometimes what you really need in life is simply a new way to look at the world. Putting yourself in a classroom setting and looking through a camera lens are two ways to accomplish this. While your schedule may not allow for an actual campus experience, the opportunity to utilize the Internet to gain the skills you need to build a new perspective can do some amazing things for you in your life. As you learn to see the world through new eyes, you will also be gaining helpful feedback and important certification.

Turn a Hobby into Something Serious

As you learn more about what your camera is capable of and how to use the different software programs out there, your skills will be sharpened and shaped in all the right ways. With a natural ability tempered by education and critique, you can end up taking your hobby and making it a serious moneymaker for you and your home. These are just a few of the many ways that these kinds of classes can shape your life into something new and amazing.

If you have always enjoyed tinkering with your camera, but are ready to really take the next step with it, then My Photo School http://www.my-photo-school.com/courses/ are the perfect way to do just that. As you enroll in online photography courses you will be able to see a bright perspective in life.

What Can Benefit You From Learning Online

Today's classroom is changing rapidly. In fact, today's classroom is not necessarily a room filled with students, or even a class held at a certain time. With technology advancing at a rapid rate, opportunities for nontraditional learning opportunities are ever present, and they are becoming more attractive and affordable all the time. So, what are the benefits of online learning, and how can online schooling work for you? The following article outlines the benefits, so if you are ready to get started with an online photo course, enroll today.

The Benefits of Online Learning

The stigma surrounding online learning has decreased significantly over the years. Most online learning programs have found ways to use technology and pedagogy in order to set high standards of learning and an academically rigorous courseload for their students. Learning through the internet is also much more interactive and supportive than in previous years. Online learning is more accepted and encouraged than ever before, and you too can take advantage of this opportunity. Here are some benefits of online learning:

On Stream learning is affordable: Not only is tuition for online classes typically more affordable but you will also save money in several other ways by going to school online. You will save money in textbook costs, parking passes and other commuting costs, and you will also be able to keep your job and go to school during the hours you choose. Higher education used to be only for a select few, now everyone with the motivation and determination to gain training and a degree can do so online.

Through Internet learning is convenient: Most type of this learning courses allow you to proceed through coursework at a pace that is acceptable to you. In addition, there is rarely a set time for class to take place, so you can do your coursework after work, or even after the kids have gone to bed. Those with busy and demanding schedules can now work on furthering their education from the comfort of their homes during hours of their choosing.

Learning on stream is gaining acceptance: This type of learning programs were once thought to be for those who could not get into a traditional university. This mindset is no longer prevalent in higher education, and students are now encouraged to sign up for online classes and even online programs in order to gain the education they need to be successful in their careers.

On Stream learning is evolving: Courses like this used to be sterile, isolating learning experiences that left students scrambling for the motivation and support to finish the course. This type of experience in an online learning course is very rare today. Technology has allowed for a revolution in this type of learning, and a typical online course is now interactive, stimulating, and rigorous in nature.

Pros and Cons of Online Photography Classes

Becoming a photographer is a great profession for those that are self-motivated, inspired by the beauty they find in the world, and passionate about photography and learning all that they can about the profession. If you think you would be a good photographer, you now have a few decisions to make regarding training. While there is no formal program or degree required in order to make a living as a camera-person, the more skilled and professional you are, the more successful you will be. In order to receive your training, you can take classes in person at a local college or through local seminars. You can also take courses online to receive your training. The following article outlines the pros and cons of online photography classes such as online portrait photography courses in order to help you determine which type of training is best for you.

Pros and Cons of Online Photography Classes

Photographers have an interesting, creative, and diverse career in which they are constantly learning and changing their technique. If you would like the become a photographer, the following list outlines the pros and cons of getting trained through online photography courses.

Pro: Online classes are more convenient. In most cases, an online photography class can be taken whenever you have time. If you have a strict schedule and can only work on the course at night, that is not a problem and will not affect your grade. Those that previously could not switch careers now have the flexibility they need through online schooling.

Con: On stream classes are less interactive. Learning an art form such as photography may be difficult to do online, as you are less connected and have less face time with professors and other students in the class. Those that learn best through interaction with their peers and one-on-one discussions with their professors will have a hard time learning with an online format.

Pro: Online classes are more affordable. The affordability of your photography training really depends upon your level of commitment. If you plan on simply taking a few classes through a community school, you will not have to pay much to get your basic training accomplished. If you want a degree through an accredited university, however, you will end up spending thousands for your education. For those that are looking for an education that falls somewhere in the middle, an online photography program is a much more affordable option.

Pro: On the internet learning meets the needs of diverse learners. Not all students learn well in a traditional classroom setting, conversely, not all students learn well in an online environment. Before you commit to an online program, you need to think carefully about several factors that are key to online learning: your commitment level, your time availability, and your motivation to complete the work with little or no support and encouragement from others.

Pro: Ability to access a wider selection. If your community does not offer a wide selection of photojournalist courses, an on stream selection will provide greater access to and the like.

My Photo School ( http://www.my-photo-school.com/courses/ ) offer online photography courses from some of the world's top photographers. Learn all about online portrait photography courses via our virtual classroom with inspirational video tutorials direct to you desktop.

Online Teaching and the Modern Educator: Student-Centered Instructional Strategies

There is little question that the field of distance learning is a viable option for students and there will be continued growth as a result of the number of traditional and non-traditional universities that offer online classes. However, questions concerning the quality of online courses will persist and what it means for the field is that there is a growing demand for someone who is more than a competent online instructor. This is a time when a highly proficient and highly skilled Modern Educator is needed, someone who is capable of communicating within a technologically enabled virtual environment. The initial appeal for instructors who wanted to teach online classes was the flexibility and convenience provided. Instructors were often hired because they were working in their subject field or they were subject matter experts. But this is no longer enough as the Modern Educator must be adept at digital communication and skilled in the art of developing student-centered instructional strategies.

Student Interactions in a Virtual Environment

Everything interaction that an online instructor is involved in is based upon their one-dimensional posts, which can include interactions in the discussion board and email exchanges. What is being communicated to the students is done without visual representation, verbal clarification, or support of nonverbal cues. Once the message is sent or posted it will be subject to interpretation and possibly misinterpretation. Digital communication relies on perceptual factors that include a perception of the meaning and tone of the message. What the instructor intends to state may not be the message students receive if it is interrupted by a negative tone, wording that lacks clarity, or poorly constructed and written sentences. The instructor's attitude and disposition about their students will always be evident in how they write what they intend to post. This does not mean that an instructor needs to be afraid of communicating in this environment and instead they should view communication as a collaborative process that requires follow-up and follow-through whenever there is a possibility of miscommunication.

Online Students and Learning

Students are always going to be working on their own and accountable for their performance in class - even if the instructor has created the most engaging classroom environment. An online student must be self-motivated to take control of their involvement in the learning process and responsible for completing all required activities. They must also possess the required academic skill sets and be academically prepared to function in class. Students are constantly challenged to be adaptive to changes in their classes, work with different instructors, learn new procedures, and develop new methods of studying and learning. Instructors cannot see their students to gauge how they are progressing in class, which means they must be on the lookout for virtual indicators as students are actively involved in the learning process. Instructors who are not monitoring the involvement level of their class may soon find students who have disengaged after it is too late to initiate a successful intervention.

Student-Centered Online Learning

Anyone who has taught an online course knows that it is challenging to balance the mandatory requirements, such as deadlines for feedback, while maintaining a focus on each student's individual developmental progress. For an adjunct this time challenge becomes even greater because they are likely working full-time and teaching on a part-time basis. No matter what conditions the online instructor is working within they must always develop and maintain a student-centered mindset and approach towards teaching. This is not just about putting every student first and foremost - is about considering their progress and development with every aspect of every learning activity or requirement. This requires an instructor to be monitoring class conditions, receptive to questions and concerns, and responsive to students when they interact with them. An online instructor who makes a commitment to meet the minimum instructional requirements will likely find that adequate work performance is not enough to produce a student-centered focus that encourages individualized learning and personalized feedback.

Student-Centered Strategies

#1. When you commit to teach an online class make it a priority in your daily and weekly schedule rather than something that is done at the end of the day when there is little time left to work with students. If you are feeling hurried or rushed that may be reflected in the perceived tone of your messages or online posts.

#2. As an educator you should never stop learning yourself. A degree is not the end of your own learning and you should always consider the necessity of ongoing professional development, whether it is done formally in a training workshop or informally through an online webinar. Most online universities offer classes and workshops, and there are also numerous associations that you can consider joining for additional options.

#3. Develop a mindset that you see the potential and value in everything that you do as an online teacher. You are not teaching just to provide instructions and point students to the syllabus. Every interaction that you have with your students has the potential to help them learn and/or work on the development of academic skills they need to succeed. Consider how you can add value to everything you post or communicate with your students.

#4. Hold your students to an expectation that promotes their academic growth and causes them to expand their capacity for learning and development. This does not mean you are making demands that are so far beyond what your students are capable of doing that they disengage from the class. It is an opportunity for you to expect that your students will do well, be involved in their own development, and develop or refine their academic skill sets. What is absolutely required for this strategy is your ongoing support and guidance.

#5. To be successful as an online instructor and Modern Educator you must teach by example. Students are aware of your involvement and this can assist or hinder their engagement in class. If you want students to be highly engaged and responsive in class discussions, then you must lead the way through your active and visible presence - with substantive contributions in everything you post. If you want students to improve how they write and develop their papers, you must provide them with tools and strategies they can use and then offer feedback that prompts their ongoing development.

Transformational Learning

There are many words to describe an online instructor and it may include a facilitator or adjunct; however, at the heart of an online class is the work of a teacher. This does not mean that you stand and lecture or you are a guide on the side. You have an ability to bring a one-dimensional virtual class to life through your instructional strategies and teaching methods. You are not just facilitating process as some online schools have told their instructors. I have been significantly involved in online faculty development and what I have observed as a faculty peer-reviewer and trainer is that every online instructor is teaching self-development, self-improvement, self-motivation, and personal self-empowerment. If your approach to online teaching is not student-centered it will become a generic class that will likely fail to connect with students on a personal level. And while they may finish the course with an adequate knowledge of the subject they studied they may not have gained the full advantage possible of an environment that has the potential to stimulate their growth. Always put students' needs first in every interaction and you will find that you are a Modern Educator who is capable of creating a transformational learning environment.

Dr. Bruce A. Johnson is an online college professor, faculty workshop facilitator, faculty mentor, faculty peer reviewer, career coach and professional writer. Dr. J authored four books, including Be Prepared to Teach Online: Strategies from an Online College Professor and APPRECIATIVE ANDRAGOGY: TAKING the Distance Out of Distance Learning.

The Top 10 Lies That We've Been Told - Lie 7 - America Needs to Pay for Its Past Sins

I have trouble believing that this lie has actually gained traction. However, in a determined effort to rewrite history, today's school students are being told how unfair America has been throughout its existence. As a result of this unfairness, we are also being told that America's rich need to redistribute their unfairly gotten wealth.

With regard to redistributing wealth, I recently asked my 12 year old grandson what he would do if he were to become a multi-millionaire. His response was that he would give almost all of it away. I wasn't too surprised by his answer because he had always been a very generous and giving boy. I then asked why he would do what he said. His answer was -- "So that everyone would have the same amount of money." As a result of this answer, I then asked him how much money would everyone have if all the richest people in the world redistributed their money? Since he was unable to answer the question, I gave him an example. The example was -- what if Bill Gates gave away all of his 50 billion dollars to today's population of 7 billion people -- how much would each person have? He quickly understood my point. The problem is, you can't enrich the impoverished by impoverishing the rich. In fact -- when you take away money from the rich you destroy the mechanism that can create wealth for everyone -- free market capitalism.

With that being said, let's begin by admitting that America has done some things in its past that we can't look back at with pride. However, from my perspective this dark segment of our past represents growing pains that have helped us mature as a nation. In the past we learned that slavery and discrimination were wrong, and women should vote and have equal rights. We learned that the cost of freedom comes at a high price, and we're now in the process learning -- the hard way -- the importance of free enterprise and how government can't spend its way to prosperity.

On the other hand, there's a bright side to our past that shouldn't be obscured by feelings of guilt. After all -- if we hadn't done our part to win World War II what do you think the world would look like now? How would you like to live under a dictator like Hitler, or bow to the emperor of Japan? If you like your freedom, thank the American's who died so that you can have it.

But, that's not the whole story. While our children are being taught to think the worst of America's past history, they aren't being taught the near miraculous events that have allowed America to come into being. If one were to examine each of these events in detail, it would be difficult to not come away with a feeling that there might have been some kind of divine intervention. And, I won't -- at this point -- rule out extraterrestrial intervention.

Since the maximum length of this commentary doesn't permit several pages that describe events that, in some ways, appear to be miraculous; I'll instead mention just one -- it's the life of George Washington. The miracle that impresses me the most is when Washington was shot at point blank range by Native Americans, early in his career, but still survived. The reason why I'm so impressed by this miracle is because of a recount of the story by the Indian Chief who led the attack and who travelled a long distance to visit Washington fifteen years after the event. The Chief said that during the battle, he commanded his warriors to shoot the officer in charge. After many shots were fired, the Chief noticed, that the officer in charge could not be killed. It was at this point that he told his warriors to stop firing at him, because he believed that the "Great Spirit" was protecting the officer for some greater purpose. In spite of four bullet holes in his coat and having two horses shot beneath him, Washington had no wounds on his body. The Indian Chief further recounted that one of his braves said "I fired seventeen clear shots and couldn't bring the officer to the ground."

I recommend that you read about Washington's life to fully understand how the "Great Spirit" had protected him and allowed America to come into existence. You will learn that British General Howe had assembled 32,000 troops against Washington's 8,000, yet Washington escaped because of a miraculous fog. You will learn that at the battle of Yorktown, British General Cornwallis was about to receive reinforcements, but a miraculous violent storm caused their ships to be blown down river and divide his forces. Later that day Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. And the list goes on from events that happened at Valley Forge to his crossing the Delaware River. The miracles surrounding George Washington's life are a strong indication of divine -- or extraterrestrial -- intervention. As mentioned there are many more miraculous events in our history -- like the Battle of New Orleans or the D-Day invasion of Normandy -- that you should check out if you're still a skeptic.

If you were to believe that there has been divine or extraterrestrial intervention behind America's existence, you should also be compelled to ask why. Since I've already mentioned our influence in winning World War II, is there something else that America has yet to accomplish? Are we being selected by outside forces to accomplish something as great or greater than winning World War II in the future. The fact that almost all of the great technological and medical advancements have occurred during the rise of America, makes me think that there is reason for this to be happening now. But, at this point, I'll leave it to you to guess why.

How to Prepare for CMAT Exam

The CMAT

The CMAT features questions, which are quite similar to those in other typical MBA Entrance Tests. The test is conducted in the online mode now without any change in its style or content. The CMAT is used by MBA institutes to shortlist candidates for Group Discussions and Personal Interviews before final selection. Like other MBA entrance tests, the CMAT also gauges one's acquired skills in four major areas I.e. Mathematical and Data Ability, Language Comprehension, Reasoning and General Knowledge.

1. The CMAT features 25 questions in the mathematical and data ability part. These are based on everyday mathematics e.g. profit and loss, simple interest, compound interest, discounts, time and calendar, and numbers. In this part, one can also find test items based on graphs and pie charts.

2. The CMAT Language Comprehension is designed to assess the candidate's language proficiency with test questions on Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Jumbled Paragraphs and Vocabulary. This part lays great emphasis on one's proficiency in reading.

3. The Reasoning part has questions based on assertion and reasoning, inferences, critical reasoning, true and false statements, linear arrangements, strong and weak arguments, statements and assumptions, series, coding and decoding and cause and effect.

4. The General Knowledge part covers History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Business, Science, Prizes, Global Affairs and Current Affairs etc.

PREPARING FOR THE CMAT

Successful preparation for the CMAT requires planning, focus and sufficient practice with Practice Tests. The preparation time varies in terms of previous preparation and one's proficiency in Reasoning, Mathematics, General Knowledge and English. The plan also varies with familiarity, time available and other constraints. Here are some general, time tested tips for test preparation:

PREPARING FOR LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION

To prepare for the Language Comprehension part, read good books, newspapers and periodicals daily. Never miss the editorial pages of your daily newspaper. Make efforts to expand your vocabulary by learning a minimum of 20 new words daily with help from a standard dictionary.

PREPARING FOR MATHEMATICS

To brush up your mathematical skills, revisit your school books for class 5 to class 10. Review the basics and try to solve the questions given in the book. Mental calculations can help you save time in the test. Work on tables, fraction to decimal conversions, squares and cubes to save time in the test.

PREPARING FOR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Read at least one national newspaper to keep abreast of the latest developments in politics, business, economy, sports etc. Use a reliable guide book to learn the basics of science, Indian history, geography, economy and constitution etc. Keep a watch on important developments by reading good magazines and watching TV news channels.

PREPARING FOR REASONING

You can improve your Logical Reasoning by working with popular puzzle books.

PREPARING FOR DATA INTERPRETATION

To hone your skills in this area, you should try to observe data carefully to derive relevant inferences. Work on approximations, decimal to fraction conversions and percentage to enhance your score here. As we rarely need to get an exact answer here, cultivating these skills can benefit you.

If you're preparing for CMAT, then you might find CMAT Preparation strategies very useful.
For free mock tests and their analysis, visit CMAT free Mock Tests.
We wish you all the best for your preparation.

How to Start and Run a Discussion Group

Group Discussion

A Group Discussion is an extremely popular group exercise used as a selection tool for college admissions, scholarships and job appointments. It can also be used as a screening tool to shortlist applicants for certain positions requiring public speaking skills. A group discussion is a time-efficient technique which offers the examiner a chance to evaluate several candidates at a time. By gauging their responses and performances in a group setting, he looks for many human traits which can be assessed only in a group setting. That explains why a group discussion is an excellent psychometric tool for a trained evaluator to sift the grain from the chaff.

Most organizations/ institutions have a clear idea of the skills and knowledge they are looking for in a prospective candidate. In line with this idea, they design a selection procedure to find out the best possible talent. In general, a Group Discussion aims to assess the following skills among the candidates being evaluated:

1. Logical and analytical abilities

2. Leadership abilities

3. Flexibility

4. Team work

5. Communication Skills

6. Situation handling

It would help to assess one's strengths in these areas listed above and put in the required efforts accordingly. All skills are required to become a successful professional in any field.

Group Discussion - The Process

A group discussion is a leaderless group exercise. Usually, a bunch of candidates (numbering 8 to 15) is given a topic or a situation to discuss. The group is normally given some time (I.e. a few minutes) to think about it, and thereafter, is supposed to discuss it for 20 to 40 minutes. The group discussion topics can be based on current events, social problems, business, sports or any general issue. In general, the more well-read and better-informed you are, the better prepared you will be for a group discussion.

Group Discussion - How To Get Ready For It?

To ready oneself for a group discussion, start reading good newspapers and current affairs magazines to update yourself on the world around you. A thorough awareness of hot, current issues points to a well-rounded personality. Make a habit of reading newspapers and magazines regularly and watching TV news channels to get wider perspectives on current issues of interest. While doing so, please remember that you need not think in a manner similar to the writer's or the speaker's. You are free to think in your manner and put forward new, innovative ideas. In reality, new ideas and creative solutions to existing problems make a group discussion more interesting and fruitful.

Group Discussion - Should I start it?

Yes, by all means, but if you decide to take the plunge first in a group discussion, you ought to know about the topic in good measure. Otherwise, you the great risk of treading on a landmine. If you are ill-informed or confused about the topic, wait awhile and let others speak on it. In fact, you may even ask for a clarification from others if you are totally clueless about the topic. It shows you in good light as you are keen to learn.

Listen to others carefully and once you have gathered some knowledge and can think of good ideas, you may start speaking. Remember, careful listening is an important part of a good speaker's art. You should think of your own examples to participate in the discussion. It shows your alertness and also how much importance you give to others. A major precaution, while quoting examples, is: Do not generalize one-off instances of something. Make sure that the data you quote are taken from reliable sources.

Sometimes in a group discussion, the proceedings can be a total mess but it does not pay to get irritated. You need to be calm and composed through the process despite the provocations. Many a time, in a messy discussion, only those candidates, who display calm, are selected.

Groups Discussions - Some Practical Suggestions

1. Understanding - Pry apart the topic into its components and grasp it fully before you start.

2. Initiative - Taking the initiative for something is always a good idea provided you are equipped to do so. By all means, grab the initiative to start the group discussion, if you can. You will get extra credit for this but taking initiative just for the heck of it is undesirable. If you take the first step, make sure to provide a roadmap to the group for further movement.

3. Entry - Try to enter in phases. Ideally, you should enter the discussion 2-3 times. Heated discussions are never the right time to make your point; instead, wait for a low phase to enter. Remember, if you speak calmly, everyone listens to you intently. At no point of time should you try to speak loudly just to make others listen to you.

4. Structure - List your points and arguments logically to support your viewpoint. It's always more effective if you speak in a point format.

5. Speaking - Try getting a chance to speak. If you do not, create it.

6. Involvement- Listen to others throughout the group discussion. Even a hmm.. or ya.. indicates that you are in the loop.

7. Assertiveness - In case someone tries to shoot you down, do not yell or shout. Instead, assert your rights as a team member in a polite yet firm manner.

8. Summary - At the end, summarize all the salient ideas in the discussion 9. Articulation- Try to speak slowly, loudly and clearly.

9. Emphasis - Use appropriate body gestures to emphasize your points.

10. Listening- Be generous with praise and appreciate others' points if you find them valuable.

11. Quality- Speaking for a long time to hog the limelight is not a good idea. What you say is always more important than how much you say.

Are You Preparing for Group Discussion. Find Latest Gd Topics. Know more about Group Interview at our site.

Students Are Ready to Crack Code

Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Snapchat, YouTube... The list of digital tools and interactions your students are accessing is ever growing. They are the 'digital native' generation. These kids might know how to use all of these different platforms, but do they know what goes on under the hood?

Digital literacy has gone beyond the user phase. Kids need to know how to write code to be truly effective digital citizens of the future. Already the job market is heavily based in the digital world, and to compete now, and in the future, understanding computer code is a major advantage.

The prospect of teaching kids how to code freaks teachers out. Particularly primary school teachers, many of whom have been working flat out to keep abreast of how to use the software and hardware that has been rapidly appearing in their classrooms. The new Australian national curriculum indicates that computer coding should now to be taught from age 5. It's time to take the plunge!

But coding? Don't you need to be an engineer or something to do that? Isn't that something you learn in a computer science degree?

It's time that coding is de-mystified for non-tech educators. Simple coding skills are now readily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Teachers, like with many subject areas they teach, no longer need to be an expert to teach coding. They can access online programs and tutorials and facilitate their students to learn from them, and guide them on how they might apply their new skills.

Codecademy is a great example of a free resource for students and teachers to learn coding. From basic HTML to CSS and JavaScript. Already professionals are using these tutorials to expand their own skills and broaden their career prospects. Jobs requiring coding skills and understanding pay well and are hard to staff. A computer science degree is no longer necessary, just practice and skill development.

Kids will love the problem solving element of coding. Get them building simple games, blogs and websites, harness their Minecraft obsession by coding add ons for the game. I dare say that teachers taking the plunge into this new world of technology teaching will find it stimulating, and the possibilities for extension and development are huge.

To be literate in the 21st century requires more than reading and writing. Digital literacy is the driver of industry, and the sooner kids learn, the more opportunities they will embrace.

Installed Vs Cloud Based Learning Management System

For the modern workplace, Training and Learning are very important. Employees need to acquire newer skills and knowledge on a continuous basis to be effective and continue to rise professionally. That is why most organizations take the process of training very seriously and Learning Management Systems are implemented to provide learners the opportunity to learn as per their own needs and pace. Even if the organization has a dedicated team to handle the change management that comes along the implementation of a LMS, most find it difficult to ensure widespread adoption and user satisfaction.

Compared to Installed legacy LMSs, there are many benefits of implementing a Cloud LMS - especially for smaller organizations who do not have the necessary support staff to manage or maintain the learning management system.

    Smaller organizations have limited budgets and with cloud LMS, you can make significant cost savings - especially at the initial investments level. Smaller organizations often do not have the necessary infrastructure or the in-house expertise to deploy and run an installed LMS. They do not have the freedom to carry heavy overheads in the changing market situation. For them the pay-as-you-go mode makes more sense as it allows them to reap the benefits training - without incurring overhead costs.

    Installed software have to be installed at each and every office premise that the organization has. However the technological infrastructure might not be appropriate across different offices, making it difficult to train employees in remote locations or who are on the move. With Cloud Learning Management System, the learners can connect with the internet through the device of their choice - be it a desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. The learners also need internet connection - which is again available even in remote locations. But if in any case the connection is inconsistent, the learners' progress can be saved and courses can be taken up from the section last read.

    Integrating a cloud system is also simpler than an installed LMS and can be done completely in a remote manner. This makes sure that the data is synched with data from other systems across the organization - especially with the HR database which controls and maintains user access of the learning system. Learners can be assigned courses easily and the administrators can chart their progress - all without logging in and out of different systems.

Cloud-based solutions are slowly being accepted by organizations across the world - owing to the scalability, flexibility and cost savings it provides. It truly makes sense - as it is easily deployed, easily implemented and easily maintained. Compared to install on-premise, Cloud LMS provide hassle-free learning.

Gireesh is an e-learning enthusiast and an avid follower of leading industry blogs related to topics related to online training software like Rapid Authoring, game based learning, learning management system elearning outsourcing, online learning courses, Mobile Learning, etc. and like to discuss leading trends of new-age corporate learning.

E-Learning for High School Students Through MOOCs

A few issues ago, we had done some extensive research and spoken to a number of experts to bring you an article on e-learning and how learning online is becoming very popular with college students. We had especially delved into MOOCs-Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)-that offer online education to anybody around the world. Some of the popular MOOCs offered today have been started by the best universities in world, offering courses from their institutes: platforms/initiatives such as Udacity and Coursera (Stanford University) and EdX (Harvard and MIT). These e-learning websites allow top universities and professors to share their knowledge with the world and give everybody a chance to study something they have a passion or interest for. And the best thing about these courses? They are usually free, although there is sometimes a charge to get certifications.

The time taken to complete a course depends on the subject and complexity, but generally last anywhere between four to 12 weeks. A course typically involves a professor and his team of teaching assistants (who are often students from the college itself). This team uploads around five teaching videos a week and registered students have to complete a weekly assignment based on these videos. The course also incorporates a discussion forum involving all the students who have enrolled, allowing everyone to discuss the subject, their assignments, and clarify their doubts. Generally, e-learning courses award students a Certificate of Mastery on successful completion of the course.

MOOCs are generally meant for college students so that they can supplement what they learn at college or take a course that they are not formally pursuing in college. But we had recommended that high-school students also consider enrolling in some of these MOOCs since they could offer a range of benefits to the motivated student who wants to get ahead in academics and learning.

And co-incidentally enough, EdX has just announced the launch of a high school initiative-a set of 27 new MOOCs in a wide variety of subjects, specifically geared to high school students around the world. The EdX high school MOOCs are developed by many of the best universities in the world, including UC Berkeley, Rice, MIT, Georgetown, and Davidson among others. The objective is to offer high quality, engaging, and interactive courses to prepare high school learners for postsecondary studies.

The 27 MOOCs cover subject areas ranging from mathematics to science, English and history, and even college advising and are intended at providing students around the world the opportunity to pursue challenging, advanced coursework. Learners will be able to enroll in all 27 EdX high school courses for free. EdX will also offer students a verified certificate option for a fee that will vary by course. Currently, 22 high school courses are open for registration and all 27 will launch within a few months. For more details, you can visit https://www.edx.org/school/high-school-initiative

I would like to reiterate some of the benefits that a student can look forward to from enrolling in a MOOC, either an EdX one, or any other:

You can supplement your high-school knowledge by taking college-level courses in your chosen subjects.

Students have the option of selecting courses that they are interested in and studying them in-depth, even if they are not studying these subjects in school. You may be studying science in high school, but can always take an online course in English Poetry from Wordsworth to Eliot!

These courses enable a person to study something they are passionate about but may not be pursuing in the future, so you 'can have your cake, and eat it too'!

The discussion board and group chats are beneficial - they lead to interactive learning and are also helpful for finding out more information on a particular aspect.

There is a variety of activities and assignments to complete within the courses that can enhance one's learning - so it's not just textbook learning.

You can test your competency and interest in a certain area to see if you want to take it up in college.

Most importantly, it prepares you for how college will be in terms of rigour and structure.

A Brief Introduction to Education Report Writing

For every student, writing a report is an everyday job. Students and scholars need to prepare reports for different subjects. While writing a report students need to communicate their knowledge and ideas about set of actions to the readers. Thus, the main focus while writing a report is given on communication. At the time of drafting any report, the writer is advised to "write to express, not impress". Writing academically means writing in such a way that your information sounds credible and authoritative. Writing report does not mean using long words or writing complicated and long sentences with lots of semi-colons and colons. Here are some of the suggestions that must be taken care of by the students while writing their academic report:

Be Objective: The student must report what he or she has found or what evidence tells even if it is not what the student or scholar has hoped to find. Personal opinions and unsupported views are a strict no-no for any report. Instead, one must take a balanced view.

Be Accurate: Next in the line is to be accurate. Students and scholars must give their clear and non-subjective description, for example light red looks better than blood red. In addition to this, one must use definite figures such as after half an hour or 55 percent of the participants. One must try to avoid vague or ambiguous terms like 'most of the participants' and 'a long period of time'.

Be Direct: While writing a report students and scholars must put emphasis on a stronger verb, so that readers can understand the important points. One must not leave the sentence in which the readers have to work out in understanding what the writer is trying to convey. For example 'the results were analyzed' looks good instead of 'an analysis was performed on the results'.

Be Critical: One has to be critical while writing a report. It is necessary to critically evaluate your own work as well as that of others. If the writer thinks that something could have been done in a better manner if it had been done differently, then the writer must have that much confidence in his or her report writing.

Be Appropriate: Finally, the writer needs to identify the purpose behind preparing and communicating the report and in addition to this; the writer must also identify the targeted audience. Make them understand your work by imparting as much knowledge and information as you can through your work.

Here are the seven must have in report writing format:

A title page and table of content: The first page of the report must be a title page having the title of the report pertaining to the subject. The Writer can put some good images and high quality pictures relevant to the topic on the cover page. After covering a page of table of content must be inserted. It should be computer generated and not the manually designed.

Abstract / Executive Summary: Although this section is written at the last, that is, after performing the entire study and writing conclusion and recommendations, but this page is added just after the title page and before table of content. This section includes succinct and accurate summary of the main features.

Introduction: Next in the sequence is one of the most important parts of the report, that is, introduction. This section gives a preliminary idea to the readers about the content discussed in the entire report. This chapter highlights summary of various chapters included in the report.

Literature Review: Once the writer has done with the introduction, next is the literature review. In this writer explain or expand on the purpose of the research. In includes what questions are you seeking to answer, how did they arise, why are they worth investigating? This helps in interpreting and analyzing the findings.

Discussion: Once all the research questions have been identified, the writer will see how the present work will contribute to the answers and what kind of answers they point to, this must be written in the early stages so that writer has ample of time in filling the gaps is any in the later stages of the process.

Conclusion and Recommendations: The penultimate point is writing a conclusion and recommendations. This should logically follow from the discussion. A Writer must write the conclusion and recommendations in clear and simple language so that anyone can understand them.

References and Appendix: The last but certainly not the least in the report format is References, Bibliography and Appendix. As writer needs to reference the entire work, the references are put at the last so that anybody can read them and can also refer to the same. In addition to this, some of the supportive content is included under the heading appendix so that readers can easily understand what the writer wants to deliver.

Make Your SBI PO Interview Experience Remarkable

Having passed the most difficult level - the written examination, now it is the time to prove your talent in Phase II. In the rounds like Written Examination and Group Discussion, you directly compete with others and sometimes struggle to attract the attention of the recruiter. But it is the 'Personal Interview' round that creates a platform to showcase your skills. However well you do in other rounds if the interviewer is not happy with your performance, there are high chances you may not be selected. This is the bitter truth. Also, there is huge competition for the limited 1800+ vacancies for the posts of PO. With the best talent of the country topping the merit list, everyone is out to win. But to break through them and reach the top position is possible only with proper planning and preparation. So, let us start by knowing the types of questions asked in the interview:

Types of Questions:

* Profile based HR questions - E.g.: Tell us about yourself
* Personality Test questions - Interviewers explain a situation and ask the candidate how they would react or approach if he/she is in that situation. Your answers would give an insight into your personality
* Banking Questions - Questions based on banking and latest news
* Current Affairs - Some interviewers focus on the latest happenings in the country and also in the world
* General Questions - These are the filler questions. The interviewers intend to know about you through these questions.
* SBI related questions - new initiatives, rural schemes and new rules become the most important part of this type of questions.

Now with the grip on questions, the next thing you should do is prepare your answers. Here are a few steps to follow to get your ticket to success:

- Keep all your educational and other important documents handy. Before attending the interview, the qualified candidates are required to carry a set of documents. The list of the documents to be carried is mentioned in the SBI website. In case, you fail to produce a document or two, you will be still allowed to appear for the interview. But it would obviously leave a negative impact on your profile. Under such circumstances you have to submit a letter stating you would produce those documents later.

- Get an idea about the interview pattern to turn your SBI PO interview experience into a memorable one.

* Collect the questions
* Prepare your answers
* Practice them in mock interviews
- Be updated in terms of latest news and Indian economics especially the financial sector. Take time to
* Read newspapers
* Watch informational news channels
* Research for important news online and read

Interviewers don't just look for knowledge in a candidate. They even consider your communication skills and soft skills. Keep an eye on your body language and try to keep it in the best form during the interview.

Those who had the SBI PO interview experience shared the following details about the interview. The duration of the interview will be approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The mark-winner is the body language - it is noticeable from the time you enter the interview room. And like it is always said 'First impression is the best impression', your answers to first two or three questions would create an impression in the interviewer's mind.

Always remember, the SBI PO interview experience is as stressful to interviewers as it is to you. Just like how you portray your skills to show you're worth the job, the interviewer also searches answers for 'Why should I hire him?' Hence, always carry a confident posture.

Your success in this interview would help hundreds of others. Share your SBI PO interview experience with us in the comments below.

10 Most Important Questions to Ask Yourself Before Taking the ITIL Foundation Course Certification

A decade ago all that mattered for a rookie was having the basic requisites to get picked in a campus placement. An offer letter would be followed by an appointment letter from the employer and a fresher would be all set to take on the corporate world. This scenario is often visualized by rookies taking up jobs in the IT or ITES industry. Gaining hands on experience, reaching a managerial post and financially growing used to be the in thing.

Today, the focus of IT professionals and aspirants has shifted to gain professional knowledge by getting trained and guided by experts who can help provide a shot in the arm. They are not looking for courses that'll help them get an appraisal at their work place but are looking beyond that. They aspire to envision themselves in key roles and responsibilities that transform them into an integral part of the organization.

The ITIL Foundation Course Certification is one such training course which has grown in demand considerably over last few years and has served as a stepping stone for many project managers and practitioners serving in the IT service management. Potential project managers, practitioners or equivalent level professionals with or without experience are helped by their employers who are ready to pay a premium to learn and get trained in the best ITIL Foundation practices.

Searching, identifying and zeroing-in on the best professional ITIL Foundation training and certification that will take your career to the next level can be a difficult task at times. What with umpteen training institutes available on the net offering lucrative discount packages with huge assurances to get you enrolled. A hush-hush job of identifying the best suited ITIL Foundation training course and trainer can lead you to disappointment.

So, a self-introspection or a reality check on yourself can really help you before you zero-in on an ITIL Foundation training course certification.

1. What is ITIL® Foundation Course Certification Training all about?

The ITIL Foundation Course is an ideal entry level certification for IT professionals seeking general awareness of ITIL Foundation fundamentals, frameworks, concepts and terminologies. The course lays the foundation to understand the significant elements involved in the ITIL Service Lifecycle process and its relationship between life cycle stages and contribution towards service management practices.

The course is designed specifically to understand the practical levels of IT service management fundamentals and how to plan, execute and deliver the best IT service management processes and practices efficiently within a service environment.

2. What should the course and training include?

The ITIL Foundation Course outline should involve learning and understanding of all the fundamental concepts and the best international processes and practice frameworks within an organization suited for working IT professionals and aspirants.

Upon successful completion of the ITIL Foundation Course the training institute or organization should conduct an exam and provide an ITIL® Foundation certificate internationally recognized. All this in just 3 days!

3. Do I really need to take up this course?

The decision of doing it or not totally lies with you. Often IT professionals or aspirants take up a course due to peer pressure so that they can boast of possessing it and be a part of the rat race which never takes place. Before getting started on the ITIL Foundation Course Certification you need to understand your position, role and responsibilities within the organization you are serving or intend to serve. The best way would be to analyze and assess your current and future skill sets and career graph dispassionately to help you enable make the right decision.

4. Do I have the requisites?

Though, the ITIL Foundation course doesn't demand any formal pre-requisites but it is assumed that course participants are working or have worked in an IT Service environment or equivalent. The course is best suited for IT professionals working at managerial levels or those who aspire to work in an IT service management setup to upgrade or sharpen their ITIL Foundation skills.

5. How the course is going to benefit me?

If you've decided to take up the ITIL Foundation course,one need to assess the benefits one is going to gain from it which you plan to put in practice at your work place or organization. Always be sure to read the course highlights, objectives and benefits thoroughly. Whether or not it is going to help you:

- Acquire all learning aspects of ITIL Foundation and evaluate critical risk and success factors

- Effectively implement and deliver ITIL Foundation processes and activities

- Enhance the overall quality of IT service within an organization

- Acquire higher and better job opportunities within an IT environment

- Identify roles and responsibilities to achieve maximum ITIL Foundation excellence

- Measure ITIL Foundation performance in a given IT environment

6. How to choose and identify the right service provider and trainer?

Choosing and identifying the right service provider to help you get value for money is not easy. An easy and safe way to find the best professional trainer is to ask any of your friends, colleagues or relatives who has done the ITIL Foundation course. You can ask his/her experience by getting an honest feedback. If not, the net can be a good source to identify a professional training organization. Take your time to ask relevant queries regarding the course to the concerned person.

Besides, acquiring a certificate successfully it's always advisable to aim at gaining a solid foundation and understanding of the ITIL Foundation course which is going to hold good for you in times to come.

Identifying a certified professional trainer and having real life experience is always beneficial. So, that you not only get to learn the theory but also learn good practical examples on how the key elements of the ITIL Foundation Service Lifecycle works and help you improve your IT Service Management Capability in your own organization.

7. Is this the right time to undertake the course?

Like anything, the more you put in the more you get out. So, a 3 day course may not call for extra hours of study or preparation but it's always better to be sure and prepared mentally to be focused on the course. Don't just follow what others have done but you've got to know what you need and where you're heading.

To undertake the course, it's always advisable to choose a weekend with minimal work pressure at home and office. Be serious to attend all learning sessions and allocate approx. 2 hours personnel study time throughout the first 2 days of the course.

8. Is classroom training better for me than online training?

Here again you need to assess what you'd be comfortable with. Classroom training has more advantages compared to online training. If you are placed at a remote location then online training is the only way without travelling far. Online training may be disturbing at times due to net disconnection issues, power failure and individual intervention at work place or home. Classroom training is always recommended as it provides the right ambience, interaction, attention and approach.

9. Do I inform my organizations reporting manager about it?

It depends on your professional relationship with your reporting manager or seniors in the organization. But, it's always recommended that you be open about it and make him/her aware of it and how it is going help the organization in the long run. This will always increase your chances of playing a key role with added responsibilities in the future.

10. How do I upgrade myself after the course?

On successful completion of the course and exam you can always keep in touch with your certified service provider and trainer and get back to upgrading newer course features in the future. You can always read and download the latest course materials from the net. You can also create or join a networking community to keep abreast of the latest developments in the ITIL Foundation Course.

Which Mode of Education Will You Choose? A Traditional or an Online Education System

With time and evolvement in the technology there is a change in the education system. Now we have different modes of education i.e. the traditional education, distance learning and the online courses. All have importance of their own and all will equally help us in providing us with great level of education and also in getting better employment opportunities. The traditional mode of education is still the most popular and the most expensive among all. Distance learning is not very popular as it doesn't give the best mode of education for the students and also lacks in the provision of knowledge. Online courses is however, getting more and more popular with each passing day and is also less expensive and, in some cases, even is free.

Neglecting distance learning for this post only, we can compare the traditional and the online mode of education. A student enrolled in an online mode of education can get education from short courses to degree programs, whereas a traditional mode of education, for sure will provide every type of education to every class of student. There are online universities, colleges and other institutes providing online courses and then there are regular institutes providing education to both the traditional and the online students. The choice of education is up to the student. The student can get education through any medium and that all depends on the availability of the student.

The case for a traditional mode of education

Traditional education is the oldest and the most common way of getting education and it's also the recommended way of study for the young students. We can look at the pros and cons of this mode of education to know it better:

Advantages

    A one-to-one interaction between the teacher and the student. It's easy to deliver things to the ones sitting in front of you and also easy to get for the students to understand in a better way.
    The most common way of providing education.
    Can choose from number of options.
    The more preferable by all i.e. the students, the teachers, parents and the government also.
    Education along with other facilities like: cafeterias, libraries, sport and other recreational activities.

Disadvantages

    Education is expensive, especially in institutes where the standards, quality and the system of education is on a much higher level.
    Students can have to travel long distances to reach to their educational institutes and sometimes even have to move to other locations in order to get a good standard of education. This will also increase their expenses.
    Not very suitable for students doing a full-time job.
    Not much flexible in terms of study hours.

The case of an online mode of education

Not very new, but as compare to the traditional education mode is new. This too has its own pros and cons and these must be kept into considerations before opting any online course:

Advantages

    Usually cheaper than the traditional education system, as the cost is minimized to the lowest level.
    A good but less effective mode of interaction between a teacher and a student.
    The option to get education from any online institute, no matter how far that institute is. This will minimize the cost of travelling and other expenses.
    Is more suitable for the people in full-time employment.
    A vast option for online courses is available for students, seeking education through the online mode.
    Flexibility in the study hours.

Disadvantages

    Students are unable to get the facility of any recreational and sports activities, a traditional student can get.
    As this mode requires an internet connection and a computer system, and these are meant to be effected by any natural or unnatural cause, their education can be affected badly.
    Not preferable by everyone and is not very effective as compared to the traditional mode of education.
    Although, vast online courses are available but still there is a limitation on this. You can't become a practicing surgeon or a doctor through getting education by this mode of education.

This is just a short review on the traditional and the online mode of education system, a much vast comparison can be made and then the conclusion can be made in choosing the best education system. Each of these systems have their own benefits and drawbacks and that too will differ for every type of education seeker.

Education is what we need to grow, succeed and become good citizens. but education is not available to everyone nor everyone can find time to get higher education, no matter how much eager they are, as there are many constraints. Find ease and comfort while getting education through online courses, as they are cheap, flexible and offers a vast field for everyone. QS Course Finder is an online source where one can easily find online and offline courses.

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