Schools Ban Outside Help

Schools Ban Outside Help Whether it be teachers and principals egocentrism, bitter sentiment of not having the Internet and other resources while they were in school or simply wanting students to spend more time on homework, some have banned their students from any and all outside sources on homework assignments, according to an article in the Washington Post. This means students cannot look to the Internet, other students, their parents, other textbooks, or even possibly a private tutor to complete homework assignments or seek further knowledge. At Westfield High School, in Virginia, three Advanced Placement World History teachers told their students, You are only allowed to use your OWN knowledge, your OWN class notes, class handouts, your OWN class homework, or The Earth and Its Peoples textbook to complete assignments and assessments UNLESS specifically informed otherwise by your instructor, according to the article. Students here cannot even use a private history tutor that they have been previously working with. Expectations of integrity, is the term these teachers and principals are hiding behind. But Jay Mathews from the Washington Post argues this is a failed attempt to prevent students from cheating, making learning more difficult for students. After all, the purpose of school is to help students learn, not limit them to specific textbooks or prevent cheating. Mathews further argues that, out of fear of cheating, they (certain teachers and principals) have outlawed curiosity. This notion takes away any additional information a student could stumble across on the Internet or any other books, only in hopes of preventing cheating or cutting research time in half by using the Internet. Mathews believes students should be encouraged to seek outside sources and find answers to questions unanswered by their textbook or class notes. This notion prohibits that. Not even the best textbooks contain all the information. However, students using every possible source, including what Google can find in less than a second, are creating extra connections between different forms of material, enhancing their overall learning experiences. Many parents do not view their helping with their childrens homework a hindrance to their learning. In fact, it was probably a combination of mom and dad that helped many students learn their early addition and subtraction tables. Some parents, depending on their expertise or knowledge in certain areas, can actually be the best teachers for the students. Private tutors can offer professional one-on-one time not found in the classroom, which can help a student better learn and grasp content. Yet, certain teachers want to deprive their students from tutors and all outside sources, for the sake of encouraging them to think independently and avoid cheating. But at what cost? A students education and overall learning? If a history teacher tries to ban you from asking your parents if they know anything about the Vietnam War, ask your parents, ask your grandparents, read your textbook, read other textbooks, seek tutoring and by all means type it into Google. For all your teacher knows, you very well could know someone who was actually involved in the Vietnam War.

Should I Go To Brown University

Should I Go To Brown University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jasmine is a Washington D.C. tutor specializing in Algebra tutoring, Biology tutoring, Literature tutoring, and much more. She graduated from Brown University in 2009 with a Bachelors degree in Human Biology Africana Studies. Check out her review of her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Jasmine: Brown University has a very unique campus setting due to it literally being a college on a hill. Tucked away in Providence away from the downtown life, Brown sits up on a hill with a suburban feel to the campus. You will find no true separation between the campus and the residents of the town, which can sometimes lead to safety issues, but the Brown police are very vigilant and will provide rides to students concerned about walking around at night. Brown also offers a SafeWalk program and SafeRide, which provide assistance after dark until 2am. Public transportation provides a means for getting off the hill and traveling downtown, but this can also be achieved within a 15 minute walk. Having a car can sometimes be beneficial, but usually becomes more of a hassle and expense given the limited availability of parking spaces to upperclassmen and the high cost of renting a space in town. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jasmine: The professors, advisers, and TAs at Brown University are amazing. Many of the professors live on or near campus and thus are available more than professors who may commute at other colleges. Brown is very big on email correspondence and many professors will respond to an email within the hour, if not sooner. Advisers and teaching assistants follow the same communication pattern and go above and beyond to be helpful with classes. Having been a TA myself, I know that I maintained a very open policy with my students and would help them at any time of the day, no matter the subject. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jasmine: My experience with Brown University dorm life was a somewhat positive one. I lived in the same dorm for the first three years of college and moved to a nicer dorm senior year. Typically, I think the dorms at Brown are pretty comparable to those of other private colleges. Freshmen are given dorms that can range from a double to a triple and in rare instances of overcrowding, a quad. Many of the dorms have some type of heating control, which can come in handy during those cold winter months. Dorms are situated all over campus, with the freshman dorms being spread out in three main places of campus. However, given that Brown tries to provide housing for all undergraduates, there are upperclassmen dispersed in all freshman dorms. There are two main dining halls, which are both pretty substantial in options and quality. The VDub and Ratty, as students call them, offer the typical cafeteria style eating, with the VDub being a bit more restaurant-style and serving less students. Th e VDub is closed during certain hours of the day, which can be a pain when you are on that side of campus and dont want to walk to the Ratty, but once you get used to the hours, it becomes simple to navigate. Socializing at Brown is simple: just walk around. There are always people outside, even in the cold months, waiting to talk about any and everything. There are tons of clubs, teams, and events that provide means for meeting new students and getting out of your room. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Jasmine: Honestly, I think all of the programs of study are represented and supported well. Given that Brown doesnt have majors and has an open curriculum, there is a lot of support put into all concentrations, even the few that historically have only a handful of students to graduate. I did a double concentration in Africana Studies and Human Biology. I knew going into college that I would be studying some type of biology, so human biology was just an extension of that plan, but what really surprised me as a freshman was my very first Africana Studies class. I was in love with the department from the very first day and could not imagine not taking as many classes as I could. I felt at home in my Africana Studies classes, so it just made sense that I would finish a concentration in both of my passions. At first, I met some resistance to completing a double concentration in two very different areas of study, but much like finding the right shoe, I had to find the right adviser who und erstood my passions and how they could intersect in an independent study completing both concentrations. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Jasmine: I am an introverted person, so I think given that simple fact, it would have been hard for me to meet people and make friends at any college. In addition to my introversion, I was also very homesick my first year at Brown, so I didnt take advantage of all the opportunities to meet new people and make friends. However, I think my experience was not the norm. Many of the friends I have now made a lot of their friendships as a freshman and found it very simple to make new connections coming in. Greek life plays a role at Brown in limited quantities. There is a sorority/fraternity for everyone and not a lot of exclusionary practices. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Jasmine: I honestly never used the Career Center at Brown. I have friends who have used it and found it helpful when trying to fix their resumes and cover letters, but I cannot give an accurate description of something I have not used. As far as recruitment on campus, that is also something else that I am not sure of and would not want to speak on without a true experience. I can attest to the greatness of the Writing Center support service. The students who help out in the Writing Center are amazing and can help with any type of assignment, from science to literature, with great pointers and tips on becoming a better writer. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Jasmine: As I was leaving Brown, there were more and more study areas and lounges being built and renovated. One of the biggest renovations was done in Faunce Hall, which was remodeled and cleaned up to become an amazing student center and focal point of campus. Lounges are available in some dorms, but not all, and can range from being stuck as a multipurpose room to a nice room with couches and a TV. It all depends on where you are and if upperclassmen primarily live there. Given the sporadic nature of the students at Brown, many of the libraries, lounges, and study areas become crowded at random times of the day. Of course during finals, there isnt much room anywhere for studying, but most of the time there is space available, even if only for one person. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Jasmine: As I described before, Brown is a college on the hill. The downtown of Providence is down the hill, literally, from campus and can sometimes seem like a world away if you get caught in the Brown bubble effect. The more adventurous you are, the easier it is to find Brown as a somewhere in between college in terms of fun level, but if you are a student coming from a big city, you will quickly realize that Providence is a town trying to be a city. Most people stay on campus most days and will go downtown to catch a movie or go to the mall. There are a couple of colleges within walking distance from Brown, RISD and JWU, which can provide for a change of scenery and new people if the mood strikes. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jasmine: There are about 5,000 students in the undergraduate student body, with about 1,500 being freshmen. As Brown tries to admit more students, this number is obviously changing, but it generally provided small class sizes for upper-level courses and bigger class sizes for entry-level courses. This trend also depends on what area of study you are in and whether the class is offered only one semester per year and so on and so forth. The difference in area of study plays a huge role between the Humanities and Sciences. In my Africana courses, the biggest class was approximately 30 across all levels, whereas in my Science courses, the biggest class was approximately 300 in the entry-level courses. Given I went to a small private high school, I was not a fan of the bigger classes and did not like feeling like a number rather than a person, but in using TAs and discussion groups, it is sometimes easier to feel connected. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jasmine: This is a hard question for me because I tend to think of many memorable experiences in reflecting on my Brown life. However, I think an experience I regret the most is not taking my Medical Anthropology class more seriously. I tried to coast through the class on the bare minimum because I was more focused on other classes and extra-curricular activities, and let a negative impression of the professor in the first week shade my view overall. I stopped attending class and just read the books to be able to speak in discussion; looking back on that experience, I wish I had put in more effort. I wish I had given the professor a second chance and tried to maintain my vivaciousness for learning. Check out Jasmines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Online Math Tutor - Smart Strategies For Error Free Math

Online Math Tutor - Smart Strategies For Error Free Math 0SHARESShare Math learners need not have inherent skills but need to follow certain strategies for avoidance of grievous pitfalls in their learning process. Math Tutor helps in finding the right problems and solving it easily. Following strategies help a student learn Math without error Attending each class Attending each class is essential since concepts are like a pack of cards built upon one another. If you miss one class, it will lead to missing threads in subject understanding and thus will lead to errors while solving problems. You have the classes supplement summarised and explained by the lecturer You can easily  ask the lecturer questions if you do not understand the ideas and concepts presented or covered in the readings If you Regularly attend and participate in class it will shows that you are a serious and genuine student Instant rectification of errors While solving problems, students commit lots of errors and they let them go just like that. Instead, students should explore the reason for the error, methods of rectification and right approaches so as not to commit these blunders in future. This is possible through an online Math tutor who points out their errors on whiteboard and suggests methods to correct them for error free Math. 100 Lesson Plans And Ideas For Teaching Math Strengthening basic skills Basic skills like multiplication tables are essential tools for easy Math without mistake. Many students may miss basic skills in Algebra or Geometry and they certainly need to brush up their skills in the relevant subject topics. Math online tutoring sites offer remedial classes and personalized tutoring sessions for revamping skills so as to enable students to keep track of current classes. Knowing how to use calculators Blindly using calculators will not give out right answers all the time. You should explore the uses of your calculator during leisure and know how it can work best for you. Will There Be Brick And Mortar #Classrooms In Future https://t.co/hvekDDcupd â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) February 11, 2016 Mastering Algebra 1 skills is essential Without Algebra 1 skills, mastering Calculus or advanced Math is difficult. Solving systems of equations, slope, simplification of radicals and graphing should be at the finger tips for successful later Math without error. Seeking help at once Once you find difficulty in doing Math or feel that something is going wrong, you need to approach tutors for instant help. Their exams tips for Math make your prep for tests easy and error free. [starbox id=admin]

Top Useful English Phrases connected with New Year Resolutions

Top Useful English Phrases connected with New Year Resolutions What is it about New Year’s Eve that persuades us to make promises we have great difficulty in  keeping? I have been making New Year Resolutions for more years now than I care to remember (I  would prefer to forget!). I can count on one hand  (there are not many) the number of resolutions  that I succeeded in keeping by accident or design  (by choice or simply by accident). We usually start with a list of things we would like to achieve such as: losing weight, going to the  gym more often, change jobs or some other life changing action (something very significant). To  stick to  (continue to try) or to give up  (stop trying) depends on our own personal motivation. Usually  the support of a partner (husband or wife or a family member) is really necessary to be  successful. Setting realistic goals  (targets) is also an essential requirement  (important factor) if you  are going to fulfil your dream.So many people quit  (give up) at a very early stage so if you can get over  (get past) those first few  weeks then you have a much greater chance of success. So whether you are cutting down  on (reducing) or cutting out  (giving something up completely) then set yourself many short term goals  measured in days or weeks and then it may not be such a struggle (so difficult). For example, if your  goal is to give up smoking for a year it might seem or appear a lo ng way off  (a long way away). Why  not give up for a month and then when you achieve that goal look for another month and so on until  you accumulate your overall goal (final goal). I tried this many years ago (one of the few resolutions I actually  achieved) when I decided to give up alcohol for 1 year. I measured it each month and did not think about the entire year until I got to September and then it was only another 3 months. It worked for  me!So if you have overindulged (eaten or drunk too much) over the Xmas and New Year, try shorter  term goals to get that resolution in the bag  (completed successfully).Good luck with what ever you set out to do  (what ever you attempt) and hopefully you have not  given up already!! Useful English Phrases connected with Resolutions life changing action   something very significantto stick to   to continue doing something that you have planned to do and not change your mindto give up   to stop doing somethinggoal   targetrequirement   important factorto quit   to give upto get over   to get past, to overcome (a difficulty)to cut down   to reduceto cut out   to give something up completelystruggle   forceful effort

Active Learners Part 2 - Private Tutoring

Active Learners Part 2 BobbiM Mar 25, 2014 Active learners accept much of the responsibility for learning. Active learners understand that the responsibility for learning must come from within, while passive learners often want to blame others for their lack of motivation, poor performance, time-management problems, and other difficulties that thy might experience. When active learners dont perform as well as theyd hoped, they evaluate why they didnt do well, and change those studying behaviors the next time. Passive learners, on the other hand, often approach every course in the same manner and then get angry with professors when their performance is poor. It is only when students accept the responsibility for their own learning that they can truly be called active learners. Active learners question information.   Active learners question information that they read and hear, while passive learners accept both the printed page and the words of their professors as truth. Active learners dont question everything, but they do evaluate what they read and hear. When new information fails to fit in with what they already know, they may differ in the conclusions they draw or in the inferences they make. Excerpt from College Success Strategies by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

5 tips for living in Japan Japanese cultural practices

5 tips for living in Japan Japanese cultural practices Before you embark on your overseas teaching adventure, it is important to have a good understanding of the cultural practices and traditions unique to your new home. Doing your cultural research will help ensure you enjoy your experience while making new friends and avoiding accidentally offending the locals in your country of choice. Japan is a country home to a distinct set of cultural practices. Here is a list of social rules foreign teachers in Japan will find very helpful for their time abroad.1. Slurp your foodMaking slurping noises while eating your dinner is perfectly acceptable. In fact, a slurp can be viewed as polite way to share that you are enjoying your meal. Slurping tends to accompany a meal of noodles, or ramen, served piping hot.2. Do not tipWhen travelling, whether or not to tip service people is always an important piece of information to have in your back pocket. This is vital when visiting Japan because not only is tipping an uncommon practice, it may also be vi ewed as rude or insulting.Refrain from tipping, the price is the price. (If your service is significantly noteworthy, a gift might be an appropriate replacement for a tip).3. Cheers!Drink etiquette is strict. You might be familiar with the concept of serving yourself last in Western culture, but in Japan this social rule goes a step further: never serve yourself.Once your glass has been filled by another guest, don’t forget to share a cheers with your group. In Japanese, “cheers” translates to “kanpai”.4. Footwear etiquetteDifferent spaces call for different footwear. When you arrive at the entryway to someone’s home, remember to remove your shoes and if available, put on a pair of guest slippers to wear indoors. Hosts may also provide another pair of guest slippers to be worn in the bathroom only.  5. Fear the number 4The Japanese word for “four” sounds a lot like the word for “death”. For this reason, it is commonplace in Japanese culture to avoid using the num ber 4. This fear is known as tetraphobia.When teaching in Japan, do your best to avoid giving or sharing things in groups of four or using it in day-to-day to speech. You’ll be reminded of tetraphobia when your elevator skips the fourth floor.  Click here for more info on teaching in Japan.

Online Courses to Take After Graduation

Online Courses to Take After Graduation via Pixabay Microsoft Excel While everyone knows about Microsoft Excel, not everyone knows how to use it to its full advantage. Excel offers a variety of ways to manipulate, predict, and analyze data for almost every industry. Whether it’s calculating the number of sales made in a year, how much paid time off someone has accrued, or simply presenting a set of data in a more comprehensive way, everyone should know how to use Microsoft Excel. Leadership and Management Hopefully, at some point in your career, you will be managing employees. While it’s easy to tell people what to do, it isn’t so easy to make sure it gets done in an efficient and effective manner. That is where leadership and management skills come in. These online courses will teach you how to work and delegate work to people effectively. A certification in these online courses will also make you stand out to hiring managers because they see that you are ambitious and have the leadership skills to one day move up in the company. Intro to Coding As mentioned before, we live in a technology-based world that requires us to learn and keep up with trends and new practices. While ten years ago, coding was considered a skill meant only for web developers, it’s a skill that everyone should learn now. Whether you are working on a blog, email marketing campaign, or need to modify a webpage for your company, a base knowledge of HTML or CSS will definitely come in handy. Even if you never have to use these coding skills, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of how coding works. Inbound Marketing If you are going into a field where marketing is involved, you should brush up on your inbound marketing. With the rise of social media and content-based marketing, inbound marketing has never been more beneficial to a business. These online courses will teach you how to effectively market a business or product with a strategic sales funnel and effectively convert leads. This practice doesn’t only apply to marketing, though. These skills can be used in other aspects of life and business. Negotiation Tactics No matter what career path you choose, you will inevitably be presented with a situation where you will have to negotiate something. Whether it be your salary, a business deal, or even when buying your first house, it’s important to know how to effectively and strategically negotiate with someone. While these online courses are great for putting you ahead in business, it will also put you ahead in life. If there’s a situation where you have the chance to negotiate something, you’ll be happy you took these online courses. Business Writing How annoying is it to receive an email with spelling mistakes, emojis, and an unclear message while at work? Very! Before making the mistake of sending an email to a colleague that isn’t necessarily appropriate for the workplace, take some online courses in business writing. You will learn how to craft the perfect email that effectively expresses what you are trying to stay. You’ll also learn how to professionally write reports, memos, and other business-related documents. Personal Finance Most college students graduate with thousands of dollars of student loan debt. It’s overwhelming and you may not know exactly how to handle this massive debt. After graduation, take some online courses in personal finance. You’ll learn how to manage money, effectively pay back your student loans and any other debt you may have, and build up your wealth for the future. While these skills may not directly affect your career, they will affect how you manage your money throughout your lifetime. Where to Take These Online Courses There are thousands of websites that offer online courses similar to the ones mentioned in this article. A simple Google search will bring you a variety of options. Some colleges offer free online courses with certificates as do private services such as lynda.com, HubSpot, and Coursera. Don’t be afraid to sink a little bit of cash into these courses either. They will definitely pay off in the long run.