Teaching Chinese to Americans - 4 Reasons Why Teaching at the University of Akron is an Excellent Choice

Teaching Chinese to Americans - 4 Reasons Why Teaching at the University of Akron is an Excellent ChoiceIf you're thinking about taking a Chinese class and are planning on teaching Chinese to Americans, Akron is a great choice. Here are a few reasons why.* University of Akron. Akron has a very good reputation when it comes to universities. It's been ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States for over thirty years. A good teaching university means that you will have quality courses, so you should find that teaching Chinese to Americans is no exception.* New Teachers Conference. The College for Teachers in Ohio is sponsoring a conference and a weekend workshop on September 18th through the 20th. Teachers will learn about teaching in China, how to communicate with Chinese learners, and more.* Tutoring Services. The International Parent Tutoring Service in Cleveland provides tutoring services to Chinese students, as well as tutoring services to adults with English as a second language. You can learn more about this organization by clicking on the link below.* Schools. Akron is home to a number of different schools for learners of all ages.* Education Agencies. The University of Akron is home to a number of education agencies, including the East Campus Learning Center, which provides education to students from across the country.* Tutoring. The International Parent Tutoring Service in Cleveland also offers some high-quality tutoring services, including language tutoring and math tutoring.As you can see, teaching Chinese to Americansdoesn't have to be difficult or expensive. Teaching is a lot of fun, and it can be a great way to help students and parents learn a new language.

French @ Italki Challenge halfway there!

French @ Italki Challenge halfway there! Siskia L. runs a popular language learning blog called The Polyglotist and is taking part in our New Years Language Challenge to learn French. We found this great post about her experiences with the language challenge and wanted to share this with other Challengers!  Reprinted with permission. Original post here. Incredibly, last Thursday I did my 12th hour of French for the italki Language Challenge (out of 20 required to complete it). More incredibly, I also got pretty sick this very week, so I didn’t actually do as many hours as I had expected to. Anyway, here’s… A QUICK UPDATE I think it’s the first time I’ve put such intensity into one language. I don’t mean to say I’m more interested in French than I’ve been in any of my other languages (both serious attemps and light dabbling), but since I started this language I’ve progressed in a very natural way. Putting in one hour of conversation and anywhere between 30 min and 3 hours of self-study into this project just feels right. This reminds me that as of late, I’ve been more conscious about my study hours than usual. This is not because I suddenly felt I should be more mathematical about my study methods, but rather because I am currently participating in the 6 Week Challenge, which requires its participants to log their study hours through a Twitter bot. In the beginning I thought this wouldn’t really influence me to study any more or any less than I was in the first place, but the effect of participating in what’s in essence a “race” has been quite interesting in the sense that knowing I’m in this with other people stimulates me to try harder. I’m not so interested in knowing in what place I am currently (although it’s fun to race other people learning my language as well, haha) rather than knowing how I’m distributing my study hours, doing what, and how. All these things one can keep track of through the challenge, so it’s good statistical data. Partly because of participating in this challenge, partly because I’ve realized structure and form lead to better results, I’ve been trying to improve the way in which I administer my time and agenda. (Not that I did a very good job at that this week, what with work and school and more work and feeling pretty damn under the weather, but anyhoo…) TALKING THE TALK! I’m actually talking in French for about 75-80% of my italki sessions, only going back into Spanish or English when I am absolutely at a loss for words: I’ve noticed that this isn’t when I try to use regular words: for the most part, it’s when my mind tries to translate a colloquial expression from English into French. Unless I’ve heard that expression before and know its French equivalent, my brain’s language monitoring center usually goes on full blown red alert and tells me not to use that expression. I have got to stop being so cautious and just dive in. I know better than anyone that making these particular mistakes is essential for the learning process, but old habits die hard. The funny part is, this doesn’t happen with regular words, only with expressions where I mean to imply something figuratively or where cultural references come into play. Speaking of words, I’ve noticed two interesting things about my French: my source for words I haven’t heard before tends to be English (knowing that a good deal of the English lexicon derived from French), while my reference for correct French grammar tends to be Italian. By this I mean that when I speak in French and try a new word I haven’t used before, my first impulse is to look for it in my mental English database, and only when I notice the word doesn’t sound French, do I look for it in a dictionary. While I’m hard pressed to say this always works, several English words have turned to be the same in French, so while I build a better lexicon in this language, this may not be a bad method to keep the conversation in French territory (instead of jumping back into English every so often) . My theory now is that as a language student, one will use whatever one’s got in the pantry to hold on to the language while at the same time creating a more accurate linguistic base through classes, study, tutoring, etc. Maybe that’s the reason why we tend to translate our thoughts literally? SO MANY RESOURCES, SO LITTLE TIME… After some hits and misses, I’ve run into incredibly good teachers that focus on monitoring both my vocabulary and pronunciation. Getting the pronunciation right has been a gruelling task, and I’m incredibly far from having it down pat, but at least I’m being pointed in the right direction all the time. Probably one of the things I’m enjoying the most about this language project is the HUGE resources gap between French and my last language, Nahuatl. After spending most of 2014 pretty much doing detective work, looking everywhere for hints of where to learn Nahuatl and how, finding self-study resources in French is turning out to be a walk in the park. Right now I’m enjoying several different listening-comprehension resources. I’m planning to summarize the best and most effective ones in a later post, but here’s just a little bite of what I would recommend to anybody wanting an ear-workout in French: Apprendre le français avec TV5MONDE and 7 jours sur la planète: level-graded videos, with transcripts, exercises and explanations of recent, up-to-date and useful vocabulary. 7 jours has an app (available for both iOS and Android), excellent for taking your comprehension exercises on the road. FluentU: although officially in beta right now, it’s an excellent video-based resource to listen to French (also available for Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish and English). It’s based on phrase-by-phrase video segments, using a type of “subtitle” technology that stops the video when you hover over a word you don’t know. It also has vocabulary exercises available, and when you use these, the system remembers what words you remember and what you don’t. Since these are saved in your account, your word database applies to all the videos in the system, meaning that the system is able to suggest videos perfect for your vocabulary level! Français Authentique: this is a very complete site and I honestly recommend Johan’s learning materials to ANYONE, but the part that I use the most is his podcasts. In these, he explains complex concepts and ideas in slow, easy-to-understand French, and they’re available completely free of charge in his website and in the Podcast section of Itunes. Well, that’s it for now. I have several very interesting ideas and projects lined up for The Polyglotist, and I’d love to share them with you… but not yet! ;D French @ Italki Challenge halfway there! Siskia L. runs a popular language learning blog called The Polyglotist and is taking part in our New Years Language Challenge to learn French. We found this great post about her experiences with the language challenge and wanted to share this with other Challengers!  Reprinted with permission. Original post here. Incredibly, last Thursday I did my 12th hour of French for the italki Language Challenge (out of 20 required to complete it). More incredibly, I also got pretty sick this very week, so I didn’t actually do as many hours as I had expected to. Anyway, here’s… A QUICK UPDATE I think it’s the first time I’ve put such intensity into one language. I don’t mean to say I’m more interested in French than I’ve been in any of my other languages (both serious attemps and light dabbling), but since I started this language I’ve progressed in a very natural way. Putting in one hour of conversation and anywhere between 30 min and 3 hours of self-study into this project just feels right. This reminds me that as of late, I’ve been more conscious about my study hours than usual. This is not because I suddenly felt I should be more mathematical about my study methods, but rather because I am currently participating in the 6 Week Challenge, which requires its participants to log their study hours through a Twitter bot. In the beginning I thought this wouldn’t really influence me to study any more or any less than I was in the first place, but the effect of participating in what’s in essence a “race” has been quite interesting in the sense that knowing I’m in this with other people stimulates me to try harder. I’m not so interested in knowing in what place I am currently (although it’s fun to race other people learning my language as well, haha) rather than knowing how I’m distributing my study hours, doing what, and how. All these things one can keep track of through the challenge, so it’s good statistical data. Partly because of participating in this challenge, partly because I’ve realized structure and form lead to better results, I’ve been trying to improve the way in which I administer my time and agenda. (Not that I did a very good job at that this week, what with work and school and more work and feeling pretty damn under the weather, but anyhoo…) TALKING THE TALK! I’m actually talking in French for about 75-80% of my italki sessions, only going back into Spanish or English when I am absolutely at a loss for words: I’ve noticed that this isn’t when I try to use regular words: for the most part, it’s when my mind tries to translate a colloquial expression from English into French. Unless I’ve heard that expression before and know its French equivalent, my brain’s language monitoring center usually goes on full blown red alert and tells me not to use that expression. I have got to stop being so cautious and just dive in. I know better than anyone that making these particular mistakes is essential for the learning process, but old habits die hard. The funny part is, this doesn’t happen with regular words, only with expressions where I mean to imply something figuratively or where cultural references come into play. Speaking of words, I’ve noticed two interesting things about my French: my source for words I haven’t heard before tends to be English (knowing that a good deal of the English lexicon derived from French), while my reference for correct French grammar tends to be Italian. By this I mean that when I speak in French and try a new word I haven’t used before, my first impulse is to look for it in my mental English database, and only when I notice the word doesn’t sound French, do I look for it in a dictionary. While I’m hard pressed to say this always works, several English words have turned to be the same in French, so while I build a better lexicon in this language, this may not be a bad method to keep the conversation in French territory (instead of jumping back into English every so often) . My theory now is that as a language student, one will use whatever one’s got in the pantry to hold on to the language while at the same time creating a more accurate linguistic base through classes, study, tutoring, etc. Maybe that’s the reason why we tend to translate our thoughts literally? SO MANY RESOURCES, SO LITTLE TIME… After some hits and misses, I’ve run into incredibly good teachers that focus on monitoring both my vocabulary and pronunciation. Getting the pronunciation right has been a gruelling task, and I’m incredibly far from having it down pat, but at least I’m being pointed in the right direction all the time. Probably one of the things I’m enjoying the most about this language project is the HUGE resources gap between French and my last language, Nahuatl. After spending most of 2014 pretty much doing detective work, looking everywhere for hints of where to learn Nahuatl and how, finding self-study resources in French is turning out to be a walk in the park. Right now I’m enjoying several different listening-comprehension resources. I’m planning to summarize the best and most effective ones in a later post, but here’s just a little bite of what I would recommend to anybody wanting an ear-workout in French: Apprendre le français avec TV5MONDE and 7 jours sur la planète: level-graded videos, with transcripts, exercises and explanations of recent, up-to-date and useful vocabulary. 7 jours has an app (available for both iOS and Android), excellent for taking your comprehension exercises on the road. FluentU: although officially in beta right now, it’s an excellent video-based resource to listen to French (also available for Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish and English). It’s based on phrase-by-phrase video segments, using a type of “subtitle” technology that stops the video when you hover over a word you don’t know. It also has vocabulary exercises available, and when you use these, the system remembers what words you remember and what you don’t. Since these are saved in your account, your word database applies to all the videos in the system, meaning that the system is able to suggest videos perfect for your vocabulary level! Français Authentique: this is a very complete site and I honestly recommend Johan’s learning materials to ANYONE, but the part that I use the most is his podcasts. In these, he explains complex concepts and ideas in slow, easy-to-understand French, and they’re available completely free of charge in his website and in the Podcast section of Itunes. Well, that’s it for now. I have several very interesting ideas and projects lined up for The Polyglotist, and I’d love to share them with you… but not yet! ;D

What Type of Science Is Chemistry?

What Type of Science Is Chemistry?Chemistry is a very interesting science that deals with the nature of atoms and molecules. It deals with the properties of all the atoms, molecules and a single nucleus in the matter. It also covers many other properties, which are not just limited to atoms, molecules and nuclei. And chemistry is the only branch of science, which is the basis of all other sciences.Chemistry is the subject that has been around for centuries. It is very popular as a subject, even today. It has existed since before recorded history. It is the oldest of all sciences in the modern sense of the word.A particular experiment might be performed to make the properties of a substance, to ascertain its chemical structure. Then this material is subjected to tests, in order to determine whether it is a gas or liquid. The process of testing can be of two types. They can be a chemical test, or radiometric test.It is necessary for the students to understand some common and similar qu estions in relation to the subject. There are other related questions, that you must answer, if you wish to study this subject at school. The type of chemistry that you learn at school will decide your future.It is very important to know that every science has many sub-types. Chemistry is one of them. Once you are into chemistry, you will never leave it, unless you join a graduate school.Another aspect that you must know is that science in general, is very essential, because it is responsible for producing a whole lot of things in the world. Chemists are the ones who discovered the principle of evolution. Some of the other scientists have discovered the origin of life, the atomic theory of matter, the formation of stars, life on earth and so on. The list can go on. If you want to become a chemist, the training provided by the school should be of great importance.You need to study the subject, if you want to qualify for a doctorate in the science. Many universities now offer training for various subjects, in order to provide high quality education to their students.

Algebra 2 Complete the Square - Tips To Help YouStudy For It

Algebra 2 Complete the Square - Tips To Help YouStudy For ItAlgebra 2 Complete the Square can be a tough challenge for a student. Here are a few tips and strategies to help you get through this tough math class.First, find a quiet place in the classroom. This helps your body relax, because in a stressful environment it can actually make you tense. If you feel stressed out during algebra, try to avoid going to class.Second, try to stay organized. When you are finding solutions to problems, consider giving yourself enough time to practice solving different directions.The best way to stay organized is to keep a notebook with you. Make sure that you have one at your desk or in your bag so that you will not forget to write down your solution in a safe place.One tip that helps when studying for difficult problems is to answer every easy questions that you can. This way, you will already be used to how to answer each type of question so that you won't have to learn too much on your own.Thir d, try to spend time in all areas of the class. If you are bored with the subjects you are studying, try to move to another topic. Some students find algebra very boring but if you take your time and get some things done, you may find algebra helpful at the end of the day.While studying for algebra can be a challenge, it's also important to know that you can't help but help yourself. Many students let a professor dictate their lives, but they can still make changes on their own. Follow these tips and strategies to help you study for algebra 2 complete the square.

What Is Biology? - Do I Have to Know This Before Writing an AP Biology Essay?

What Is Biology? - Do I Have to Know This Before Writing an AP Biology Essay?After studying AP Biology and Chemistry, students must understand the concepts of Biology. This includes the definition of a cell, the chemical structure of cells, and how cells interact with each other to form living organisms. Students should also be able to work with their teachers in the classroom on a daily basis in order to better understand the course material.There are many different definitions of Biology, some of which will be used throughout the course of the course. When writing an AP Biology essay, it is important to remember the scientific terminology that will be used. By using scientific terms, students will be able to understand what is being said more easily. Also, by utilizing scientific terms, the topic will be much easier to remember.Biology deals with the study of the structure and function of living organisms. A good example of this is that the study of living things can be used to cur e diseases and help people in ways we cannot even imagine. Animals have been designed for many different purposes, and have been able to overcome many obstacles in order to stay alive. The way they survive is due to their ability to adapt and to survive.Biology can be done in many different ways. Students may have to think about it as many different ways, and come up with several different answers for every question they can think of. Students should always take the time to determine the answers for all the questions that they can think of. It is important to give the best possible answer for each question, so that they will feel satisfied with their homework.It is always important to do some research before writing an AP Biology essay. This can include the most common questions that students might ask or need to know. Students should always know where to look for help when writing an AP Biology essay. It is also important to do some practice work before actually writing the essay. biology When students write their AP Biology essay, they must make sure that they explain why it was important for them to take the course. They should also make sure that they explain how the course helped them. After taking the course, they should also know what they learned during the course. By reviewing the material over again, students will become familiar with the subject matter and their own abilities. Most importantly, students should know how they can use the material to help them in their everyday lives.This can be done by reviewing the right journal articles and by writing short stories. They should also look for journals that are related to their topic of choice. By learning the right method for writing an AP Biology essay, students will be able to write an essay that is both logical and interesting.

10 Cool Sites to Learn French by Podcast, Video, or Blog

10 Cool Sites to Learn French by Podcast, Video, or Blog Megan L. When youre learning French, consistent linguistic exposure at and just above your level is vital.  It can help you reinforce your current level, and help you raise your level through context clues and direct introduction to new vocabulary. Podcasts and other online mediums are an excellent way to do this. Below are a few podcasts, YouTube channels, and blogs that can help you improve. While the focus and organization of these types of sites is sometimes a little bit different, they can also provide some similar types of linguistic support. YouTube Videos 1) TakeLessons French Playlist The TakeLessons French playlist offers a collection of videos for learning basic to intermediate skills. Videos include grammar points such as verbs and prepositions, vocabulary lists on topics such as colors and weekdays, and pronunciation tips to refine your accent. 2) French Possum French Possum features an abundance of videos about French culture and language, covering everything from history, traditions, and food. All videos are in French with English subtitles, which is a great way for students to hear and practice proper French pronunciation. As an added bonus, full bilingual transcripts in French and English can be found on the blog, French Possum.   Podcasts 3) Learn French by Podcast Learn French by Podcast on subjects such as superfoods, migrants, grammar points, expressions, and user questions. The podcasts provide interesting information in French, and a discussion about the language and grammar used in the course of the podcast. They also include a vocabulary list available before listening. 4) The French Podcast The French podcast includes beginning, intermediate, and advanced podcast conversations in French. It also contains motivational interviews with people who have lived in France. The creators focus on natural language conversations. Each podcast includes a pdf with a transcript and vocabulary. Both the transcript and vocabulary usually come out after the conversation. 5) DailyFrenchPod Daily French Pod offers daily podcasts in French with conversations by native speakers. The beginning introduces the podcast in French, and recommends the College de Paris. The daily conversation is then presented with an explanation. For intermediate to advanced podcasts, most new vocabulary is explained in French. The conversation is then repeated. Most are accompanied by a PDF Podcast. 6) French Blabla French teacher and native French speaker, Caroline, offers classes in French and, more recently, has begun to blog about French language. Her blog posts include audio, and website visitors can subscribe to receive her posts by email. Follow her on Twitter also at @French_Blabla. 7) French-Podcasts.com Podcasts illustrate various elements of life in France through contact with real-life situations and contact with French people and places. The listener can also download a transcript. Most were done between 2007 and 2008, but are still available online. Sometimes the recordings lag a little. 8) One Thing in French a Day Three days every week, Laeticia, a French woman, posts several minutes of commentary on her children, watching television, a museum exhibit, or whatever other interesting tidbits she might dig up in her day. The audio is available along with the beginning of the transcript every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday on her website. Listeners can subscribe to her newsletter for the full transcript. Blogs 9) Oui, c’est ça! Includes comics, francophone history, and music for French learners and francophiles. While the blog is more visually-oriented than some of the podcasts listed above, many of the articles contain recorded segments â€" isolated words and phrases, or recorded versions of the typed French or bilingual transcript. Posts are also classified as beginning, intermediate, or advanced, so you  can gauge whether or not it will be close to the right level. 10)  French Language Blog This blog contains the fewest auditory resources and includes the most English of all the resources listed in this article. Its articles are primarily in English, but include interesting passages, words, and phrases in French. They also present interesting tidbits about France, French-speaking places, French grammar, French culture, and the French perspective on the world. It also occasionally links in interesting videos (which contain audio), such as a humorous song about coffee posted earlier this month. So, if youre studying French on your own or you need additional practice reviewing, listening, and speaking, take heart! There are many French resources available (often for free) that can help you advance yourself. Have you found any great French podcasts or websites that you enjoy studying with? Share them with us in the comments below! Post Author:  Carol Beth L. Carol Beth L. teaches  viola  and violin  in San Francisco, CA. She currently plays viola in the San Francisco Civic Orchestra and has been teaching students since 2012. Learn more about Carol Beth here! Photo by The LEAF Project Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Importance of Education in Your Life

Importance of Education in Your Life 0SHARESShare Education is the process of learning that continues throughout our lives. It is not restricted to our school or college academics but the regular events and happenings that occur in our daily routine also educate us in one or other way. The human being is considered to be supreme of all living beings with the reason of having ability to learn and change things in the right direction. With education, the existence of human being is fruitless. Importance of education in our lives can be defined as follows: Forms Better Society: Education gives noteworthy contribution makes us responsible citizen leading to better society to live in.   It opens our mind and imbibes values and ethics by knowing our history and culture. We understand our rights and duties as an educated citizen and encouraged to follow them. Gives Secured Future: Education is ahead of times ensures secured future with skills and talents acquired through it. We become free from confined mindset and increase productivity of our mind enforces us to think and question.   It helps us to get in most competitive jobs. It has granted enough power to never enslave by thought or action. Makes Tolerant: Education gives ability to open new vistas for us by expanding our outlook to be tolerant towards other’s ideas. It widens our mental landscape and gives a way forward to enlighten which is the ultimate goal of our lives. Spread Awareness: Education brings awareness. Awareness teaches us to differentiate between right and wrong. In most of our lives, we stumble between right and wrong but right education gives us right answer. Awareness resulted from education helps us to make decisions which in itself very tough and challenging process. Boost Confidence: Educated individual is always confident. It builds positive outlook resulted in believing in ourselves. Self-belief and confidence are important traits of a human being which is only possible through right knowledge and education. Online tutoring is on the rise, currently in boom with a lot of demand with innovative model of imparting education market is! [starbox id=admin]

The Cost of An Economics Tutor

The Cost of An Economics Tutor How to Make Sure Your Economics Tuition Doesn’t Cost a Fortune ChaptersWhat to Look For in an A Level Economics TutorGet an Economics Teacher For The Best PriceWays to Find Budget-Friendly Economics TutorsGet the Most Out of Your Economics ClassesIt’s no secret that a tutor can really help boost your performance in class, especially if you’re struggling with A-level subjects such an economics.Tuition can provide you with so many benefits. For example, tutors can:give you the motivation you need to work on your grades;help you prepare for interviews at Oxford or Cambridge;help focus and perfect your exam technique; andprovide you with study tips that leave you satisfied.However, tuition often isn’t free, and the cost of an economics tutor can be a real barrier to getting one.However, economics tuition doesn’t have to be expensive. We outline what you should look for in an economics tutor, along with tips to ensure that you get the best tutor  at a price that won’t break the bank.It has a wide range of tutors to pick from; andIt is reput able, with high customer satisfaction.Superprof is just one example of a tutoring company that ticks all these boxes.Trustpilot is also a great website that pools together online customer reviews to give a website an overall rating. It’s a great starting point to see whether your proposed tutoring site has a good reputation as well as good tutors.Alternatively, if you prefer an offline approach to find an A-level economics tutor, then there are a few people you could ask for help. The first port of call when looking for an economics tutor should be your economics teacher.Your teacher may be able to tutor you personally, but if not they may know of a local tutor that will be able to help you. Alternatively, tutors may advertise in the local paper or job board, so it’s always good to check those out regularly when you begin your search for an economics tutor.Once you’ve found a prospective tutor, make sure to ask about  price as well before you agree to any home tuition. If you clarify your expectations regarding your budget, and what you expect to pay per hour, in advance then you can agree on a price with your tutor upfront.This will save any awkward conversations later down the line, and it also helps you to identify whether you can actually afford to engage your preferred tutor or online tutor in the first place.Some research in advance will help you to successfully find economics lessons.  (Source: CC0 1.0, Geralt, Pixabay)Get the Most Out of Your Economics ClassesIf you are thinking about getting an A-level economics tutor, then you likely know what areas you need help with. Perhaps:You’re looking to boost your academic success, including  your homework results;You want to apply to universities to study economics or accounting;You need to refine your exam, coursework or essay technique; orYou need help understanding specific parts of the curriculumWhatever the reason for looking for a tutor, you need to know that whatever tutor you select has your best interests at heart, and offers their services for a price within your budget.If you put in some advance preparation before selecting an economics tutor, you can make sure that you secure home tutoring for the best price. This means that you should consider things such as your budget, the expected length of tuition, and lesson format before you begin your search.You can also find tutors either online or offline. Whichever way you begin your search, there are lots of enthusiastic, flexible and  experienced tutors out there that are willing to help you succeed and get the best economics grades possible. Superprof, for example, has many A-level economics tutors that can work within a wide range of budgets, so there’s no reason not to start your search for a tutor today!

The Importance of Differentiated Instruction for Students

The Importance of Differentiated Instruction for Students Differentiated Instruction: Does it Matter to Students? ChaptersAs Things Stand NowConcern for Special Needs StudentsTechnology in the Classroom: Helpful or Not?Teaching and Learning with Differentiating InstructionPeople often reflect on their Glory Days â€" the Bruce Springsteen definition, not the Little Mix album.The term glory days can mean any time in their past that the speaker believes is better than now.Per the chart-smashing Springsteen song, most feel their glory days were during secondary school, usually playing some sport or generally being very popular.For this writer, the time spent in secondary school was anything but glorious.Trapped in a teaching model that did nothing for my optimal learning style â€" kinesthetic learning, mediocrity set the tone for every class’ mark and borderline failure was where my exam scores hovered.To make matters worse, for a lack of explanation of why I consistently performed so poorly, I was mostly thought of as a bad student.It was only later, in vocational training, when we got hands-on w ith the equipment and tools, that I discovered I learn best by doing rather than listening or seeing.In spite of hefty criticism levelled at the concept of individual learning styles, there is substantial evidence that students have a preference for how they receive information, giving overall validity to the concept.Among all of the educational initiatives being bandied about and all of the struggles the Department for Education is undergoing, trying to improve teaching methods and students’ scores...Could taking into consideration how a student learns be all it takes to optimise public education? Or is there more to this story?Come with Superprof now. Let’s explore some of the greatest concerns of crowded classrooms and how teachers can make the best use of time and resources to maximise their teaching strategy.teaching strategies to employ and no learning strategies to devise.Concern for Special Needs StudentsAmong all of the advances made in educational philosophy, the ackno wledgement of learning disabilities ranks as one of the most accepting, and one of the most divisive.Dyslexia is a prevalent learning disability in which students with an otherwise normal capacity and desire to learn are hindered by their brain’s inability to process language.Causes of dyslexia are thought to be both genetic and environmental. However, students all over the globe struggle to learn because of dyslexia; it affect between 3% and 7% of learners worldwide.A similar condition, dyscalculia, renders even simple maths learning a cause for frustration and anxiety.Although dyslexia was identified as a neurological impairment in 1881, through the subsequent century, failures of dyslexic students to master learning concepts was often  equally  attributed to poor educational practices and poor student motivation.Historically, students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were labelled naughty children when, in fact, their inability to sit still and pay attention was due to a developmental neurological disorder.This condition too is prevalent worldwide; between 5 and 7% of the global student population is thus afflicted.Here again, although awareness of ADHD as a medical condition dates back to 1902, it only became widely acknowledged and managed in mainstream education in 1981.Identifying special needs students and assessing what their needs actually are went a long way towards levelling the academic playing field.Unfortunately, special education initiatives did nothing for students without special needs who nevertheless struggle to learn.Some teachers assign homework online; otherwise, technology hasn't made much impact on learning Source: Pixabay Credit: FirmBeeTechnology in the Classroom: Helpful or Not?Visuals are a powerful teaching tool.In the early days of formal education, classroom visuals consisted of a blackboard and possibly a world map. Perhaps a frieze demonstrating the proper way to write letters in cursive script adorned th e space above the chalkboard.As technology advanced, so too did classrooms: overhead projectors (1930), video (1951) and... who could forget the Banda worksheets (1923), with their purple ink and smelling of alcohol?That mimeograph machine gave the teacher more latitude in curriculum development. No longer limited to textbook content, teachers were free to devise more varied content and even include diagrammes and charts.For learners who are more inclined to visual learning, all of these advances were giant leaps towards their learning preference.The wireless radio made its way into classroom in the 1920s. Shortly thereafter, stations started broadcasting on-air classes â€" the precursor to today’s online and distance learning.Astoundingly, for all of the technological advances in the last 100 years, using technology in the classroom pretty much stalled after the PC (personal computer) went mainstream.To be sure, curricular requirements have expanded to include coding and keyboard ing classes, but they still follow the traditional teaching model: the educator speaks and the learner does.So, while technological advances have helped students learn, essentially they are confronted with the same teaching methodology that has dominated educational philosophy for centuries.Find out what the best tutors know about differentiation in the classroom...Merely repairing a dam leak overlooks the possibility of its imminent failure GeorgeB2Teaching and Learning with Differentiating InstructionIn a sense, you might say that all of the instructional strategies devised to date are akin to plugging a cracking dam with bubble gum: they address the current emergency but do nothing to remedy the bigger problem.Improving the learning experience of those with special needs and outfitting the school classroom with a variety of learning implements are valiant efforts â€" nobody could fault the education professionals for that.However, they fail to take into consideration a few basic facts:1. Grouping students by age rather than by intellect or different learning styles inevitably leaves portions of the student body with their educational needs poorly met.2. The traditional teaching model feeds students information but does not teach them how to use that information, or even how to learn.3. Multiple intelligences are not considered in the traditional learning plan.4. Summative assessments â€" periodic exams do nothing to evaluate a student’s potential for learning, only for how well s/he retained recently taught material.Again: no one is faulting hard-working teachers or parents who do their best to support their children’s education program.Our thesis embraces student-centered learning â€" the very foundation of differentiated learning.Differentiation calls for students to work in small groups, arranged by aptitude and intellectual ability.Furthermore, the students’ learning preferences are taken into consideration:Primarily visual learners would be given lots of different material to look at and draw conclusions fromPrimarily auditory learners would benefit from listening to recordings of learning materialsPrimarily kinesthetic learners would be tasked to build or otherwise create materials that would support conclusions they’ve drawn from their studies.No matter which learning style any student prefers, assignments would be tailored to their interests.Teachers, no longer at the front of the class (and hoping that students are paying attention), circulate around the room, providing individualized guidance and contributing to group work, all while conducting a formative assessment on each pupil as the work progresses.For teachers, this might sound like a nightmare of classroom management. But for students...When teachers differentiate instruction, student learning soars!Through targeted learning activities, students discover their strengths and are afforded the learning process that suits them the best.In a learning environment th at fosters inclusion of gifted students as well as those with special learning needs, student achievement is all but assured.Finally...Contrary to the nightmare scenario envisioned above, when educators eschew direct instruction in favour of differentiation strategies, they find their rooms filled with responsive students ready to hone their thinking skills and comprehension of whatever topic Teacher would embrace that day.Briefly stated, differentiation of instruction is understanding by design â€" a concept every student could benefit from.Isn’t it about time to take the pressure off of the teachers? To let students set their learning goals and be permitted the necessary avenues and tools to reach them?That would be effective teaching indeed!Now read our full guide to differentiating learning!