Saturday, March 21, 2020

Tutoring Michigan Teachers

Tutoring Michigan TeachersTutoring Michigan teachers can be a major part of the educational process. There are many different ways you can help your fellow teachers and students. Many of the reasons will revolve around your ability to assist them in their lessons.Tutoring Michigan teachers can be extremely helpful in two major ways. The first is that it will make learning all the more enjoyable for the student. The student can usually get bored with classes at this point, but having someone to keep them occupied and to try new things is important. Also, giving feedback and hints to help with any of the subjects they have problems with is an added bonus.This type of tutoring also helps to develop the student's interest in the subject matter and get them more interested in the whole learning process. All too often students are often bored at first, but then spend the entire semester sitting on the couch and watching TV, while the only activity they are doing is watching TV. This is usu ally because they lack the time to do any kind of independent research and review of any kind. This type of teaching can help improve the students' interest in studying.Other ways of tutoring Michigan teachers includes in-class discussions. A lot of teachers will end up stopping talking as soon as they realize that there is some teacher coaching going on. This is where a conversation with the student happens. This will normally have a positive impact on the student and show that they are appreciated and cared about.It is also important to understand the techniques of teaching when doing tutoring in Michigan. Teachers do not just sit there and teach the students; they also communicate with them and give them feedback. They will have to have the patience and understanding of the students to do that and it is probably more than what the student is used to.One of the best times to tutor in Michigan is during the summer months. Teaching students can be much easier at this time. Plus, if you tutor in the summer, you can usually find a lot of extra free time.There are numerous online tutoring resources available and you should go through the reviews of them before deciding which one to use. With all the information that is available to you, it is easy to decide on a good provider. You can also choose to work with a teacher from out of state, if they are willing to come and work with you.

Friday, March 6, 2020

GRE Tips for Test Day

GRE Tips for Test Day Youve selected a date, youve registered for the GRE, and youre ready for your GRE test day! But waitwhat should you do to ensure you perform your best on test day? GRE tips for test day range from practicing Issue and Argument essays, to memorizing GRE vocabulary words for Verbal Reasoning, to determining probability and standard deviation for Quantitative Reasoning. Needless to say, there is plenty to keep track of. How can you make the process run as smoothly as possible? Here are five simple GRE tips for test day: GRE Test Day Tip #1: Thoroughly prepare beforehand This is an obvious one, but it must be saidstudy for the GRE! Do not go into this exam cold; the odds will not be in your favor. Take several GRE practice tests, and consider a GRE prep book if youd like an additional resource. The ETS website also provides a Math Review document that helps you prepare specifically for the material covered in the Quantitative Reasoning section. Learn the structure of the exam and the material covered in each section so you know what to expect on GRE test day. Additionally, visit the test center ahead of time. Prepare alternate routes to the location, and account for traffic. When you arrive, introduce yourself to the person in charge. Familiarize yourself with the resources, including parking if necessary, lockers, restrooms, and water fountains. Ask if there is any other information about the center that you should know before your GRE test day, so that you wont be thrown off on the day of the exam. GRE Test Day Tip #2: Save time to relax Get a good nights sleep the night before, and the night before thatthis means two nights of sleeping well so that you have the energy necessary to do your best on the GRE. Do not try to memorize a ton of new information the day before your exam. Cramming extra GRE vocabulary words or geometric formulas into your brain that you havent studied previously will be unlikely to help your performance, and it might actually fill you with anxiety. Instead, spend this time doing something you enjoy. For outdoorsy students, take a hike, ride your bike, or go for a jog. For students who prefer indoor pursuits, read a favorite novel, draw in a coloring book, or listen to music in a peaceful environment. Set up your mind and body for success the following day. GRE Test Day Tip #3: Know all the details of your testing center and time In many ways, this is the most important step: if youre not at the test center, then you cant take the GRE. Arrive early, at least 30 minutes before your scheduled test time. Wear comfortable layers incase the room is too hot or too cold for your liking. Bring your photo ID and your confirmation email. Know which graduate schools you would like to send your GRE scores to so you can submit that information at the end of the exam. Also, bring water and a snack to store in your locker to consume during your break. This can help provide you with energy to perform well on the second half of the exam. GRE Test Day Tip #4: Get comfortable When you sit at your assigned computer, get your bearings. This will be your GRE home base for the next four hours. Arrange your pencils and paper on the desk, raise or lower your seat, and adjust the monitor if needed. Then, start the test and take the tutorial section. This will help you acclimate to the environment, get accustomed to the computer, practice typing on a new keyboard, and relax for a few minutes. Finally, take a deep breath, and begin the GRE. GRE Test Day Tip #5: Focus on one question at a time During the test, pace yourself. Here is a breakdown of how the test is split up: Analytical Writing 30 minutes for the Analyze an Issue essay 30 minutes for the Analyze an Argument essay For each essay, consider spending five minutes brainstorming and outlining, 20 minutes writing, and five minutes editing. Verbal Reasoning Two sections Each section consists of 20 questions to answer in 30 minutes Quantitative Reasoning Two sections Each section consists of 20 questions to answer in 35 minutes Focus on the section and the question on the screen, one at a time. It is advised to select an answer for each question, even if you have to make an educated guess, since there is no penalty for wrong answers. Dont let yourself get stuck on any one question for too long; keep moving through the exam. After each section, ask for new pencils and new paper if you need them, and dont forget to take your breaks! This is a marathon, not a sprint. There are no bonuses for finishing early, so use all of the time available to you. [RELATED: How is the GRE Scored?] Remember, the way you practice for your GRE test day is likely the way youll perform, so incorporate these five tips into your study plan. If you prepare for all aspects of the GRE, relax the day before, and focus on what is in front of you, you will be on your way to a promising GRE test day. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

6 Steps to Choose Your First Elearning Company (The Easy Way)

6 Steps to Choose Your First Elearning Company (The Easy Way) Elearning Company Elearning company has crept into every sphere of learning with its scope for blended learning in classrooms. This has also improved working scenario in corporate and other sectors. Choosing a company that suits one’s needs has become a great job in today’s complex educational scenario. One has to invest time in picking up the best of the sort. Selecting the first elearning company through a step by step process is important-why? There can be a question- why should a great deal of consideration be rendered to the selection of a company that offers excellent online tutoring services for a student? It is because any student, in the present educational set up, needs the best set of skills. Also study habits to ace his subjects that he can come up among the competitors with superb scores and in-depth knowledge. Due to the complexity of the study schedules he has to pursue, a student may find self study daunting and inadequate. Classroom lectures may not provide a student with the type of education he desires for top scores and unique subject insights. In such a scenario, it is better for an ambitious student to approach e-tutoring centers that cater to his needs and propel him towards his targeted scores. Technology plays a major role in shaping the right educational environment for students today. There are basically six steps for a student to take up while involving himself in the process of choosing his first elearning company. Step1: Deciding the requirements Any student who wishes to seek some external study help in the form of virtual tutoring needs to make sure of his requirements like whether it is help for homework, assignment or test preparation in weak subjects. There are umpteen numbers of companies in existence. Student can choose the best one as per one’s needs is a tremendous work. It is also essential to choose the most suitable one for one’s needs: One thing is the first impression one gains out of it and the other thing is the right kind of help one accesses through it. Step 2: Searching on the net for the list of companies that suit the requirements Companies that provide educational assistance through virtual medium are many in number. Listing them out first and then short listing a few names based on one’s requirements makes the tutoring job easy and stress free. Choosing the best among the chosen few is not a very big matter. The following step will suggest the criterion on which one needs to choose the right one. Step 3 Checking the credibility of the shortlisted websites It is very much necessary to confirm the credibility of the shortlisted websites by checking the background of the companies. Student can also  look through feedback and reviews of other customers for the companies. There should definitely be one that has emerged victorious in all these spheres. And, such a one can be the best bet as the first learning company for a student. Step 4 Checking the terms, policies, cost of the selected company Despite its good worth, the company should offer rates that do not make a hole in one’s pocket. The terms and policies should protect one’s privacy and should be user friendly. So, it is good to go through the policies of the selected website and check whether the policies are feasible.  Student can proceed to register with the company when they  satisfied with all these things. Step 5 Sitting for a trial session with the tutor It is almost a few clicks required for a student to register with any such tutoring company and he can immediately go in for a trial session with the chosen online tutor. A trial session helps one understand the way the online classes are conducted and also the teaching style of the tutor in charge. If he does not feel comfortable with the tutoring methods of the tutor, he can go in for some other tutor and thus can have his choice as per his learning needs and attitudes. Step 6 Last but not the least-choosing packages that bear more benefits Some companies offer long term packages as their best deals with the intention of improving students’ study scenario in a gradual manner through their all comprehensive courses. They may offer a short term help also for fulfilling student needs in a limited time period with their homework help. After registering with the company, students can decide what deal benefits them most and how to choose their best deal in course of time. Reasons for the growing demand for elearning centers Today, virtual tutoring has taken an upper hand over in-person training due to its tech medium. Elearning  offers an individualized learning atmosphere. Students can learn at their pace and style with custom made solutions from online tutors. This is not available in classroom atmosphere where a teacher cannot afford to concentrate on each and every single student. Nor is it available in in-person training background which is outfaced by e -tutoring methods of the day. Needless to say that elearning can occupy the whole gamut of education in near future with its tech support. And, the productive methods of teaching and can uplift the standards of education to a different level.

Why You Should Network and What to do Even if you Hate it - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Why You Should Network and What to do â€" Even if you Hate it - Introvert Whisperer Why You Should Network and What to do â€" Even if you Hate it Let’s face it; very few people really like/love networking.   You’re probably one of them. Taking the time out of your busy schedule to go to an event with a bunch of people you barely know just so you can feel socially awkward isn’t fun. Is it really  that  important? And does it have to be  that  painful? Answer: YES and NO Why Networking is always important: Your network is and always will be your biggest source of personal and professional support. We need each other. 80%+ of all jobs were landed because of connections and network. Your network can supply you with important resources and information to do your job and innovate new ideas. Your BFF and other friends are part of your network. Your network is people you have relationships with no matter if it is personal or professional.   People come and go from your network due to changing circumstances throughout your life, which means if you don’t “replenish” your network it will shrink. If you are a contractor or own a business (or plan to) you will very dependent on your network to generate business. People who are well networked achieve more accelerated career growth, promotions, and opportunities. Let’s summarize:   Unless you have plans to make the same salary, do the same job and live in isolation you need to network. Now on to the real issue: You hate to network and it makes you uncomfortable. I get it.   Like many of you reading this, I too, am an introvert.   Socializing and being around people sucks the life out of you.   Then, there’s the problem of knowing what to say or how to approach people you don’t know.   Of course, if you break through that barrier, there’s the uncomfortable next step, which sometimes seems like stalking. Are we having fun yet? Here are the most pain-free things I know to build your network and nurture them. Network in place  â€" There are probably many people you interact with on a day-to-day basis that you are probably ignoring. It might be people in other departments, vendors or customers.   If you pay attention, you come across people every day but don’t pause to get to know them.   We all like to be noticed so start noticing!   A side note, getting to know these people saves you time as you don’t have to do anything different other than pay attention and be friendly. Backtrack  â€" Yes, you can go back to people you used to work with and go to school with. (I just reconnected with a man I used to go to grade school with)   You already have things in common which will make reconnecting easier and faster. Where you are a regular  â€" If you are a creature of any habit like most people, you probably frequent various businesses where you could easily get to know people. This could be the gym you work out in, the coffee shop, sports bar or Dr. office.   Time to take that extra couple of minutes to chat someone up and introduce you.   Bam!   Fast networking. Your hobby or past time  â€" Do you ride horses? Or snowboard? Maybe politically inclined?   There is a group out there just waiting for you to join in and have fun.   Commonality is a critical component to all relationships and this becomes a natural attractor and point of conversation.   It doesn’t matter if the relationship is professionally based or not, the foundation of every relationship is that you have something in common and this is a good place to start. In recent years, generic networking groups have sprung up all over the place making us all think we need to embrace them as THE model of networking.   They really aren’t because the basics for relationships are usually missing.   They miss the common thread that creates relationships with the ones I mentioned above.   This type of gathering is difficult to find your place in and rarely makes you feel comfortable. The key to networking is to make it easy to do, doesn’t take huge chunks of time and is an activity that you enjoy.   If it has those traits, you’re more likely to do it.   Your future-self will be glad you figured it out. This article was originally published on AFWA.org Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

English Literature to Encourage Reading

English Literature to Encourage Reading Classic English Literature is a Great Method of Teaching Reading ChaptersWhat Is 'Classic' English Literature?Some Classic Novels At A GlanceClassic Books of The FutureIf you are an English Literature graduate, or if you have attended higher education in the UK for that matter, the chances are that you will have come across a reasonably broad range of so-called  literary classics. Moreover, if you are an avid reader, you might have discovered even more significant works by a range of international authors that have helped shape the different genres of literature over the years.The Oxford Royale Academy has compiled a list of essential English novels that they say everybody should read in their lifetime. The list includes, but is not limited to, the following:'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte'Middlemarch' by George Elliott'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell'The Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Philip Pullman'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens'Far from the Madding Crowd' b y Thomas HardyAll of Jane Austen’s novelsWhile the list covers a good range of novels, many of which are indeed recognised as classics by the various English exam boards (including AQA, OCR and Edexcel), who decides which works are labelled classics of the world? Who is qualified enough within the field to have earned the authority to distinguish a classic from a basic piece of prose? Are lists ever reviewed as society moves forward  and the majority's opinions adapt to the times? This is something that will be explored below.In the meantime, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that all of the above featured writers were born in either the 19th century or in the very early 1900s, with the exception of Philip Pullman. Pullman, in fact, is the only 'current' author from the above list, and thus is the only individual who could possibly have drawn anything from modern society during his ongoing writing career.‘His Dark Materials’, is one of just a couple of collection s of works from the list that focuses on relatively modern fantasy elements like witches and mystical creatures, in addition to its scientific and philosophical themes.The other is J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series, with ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ being published in 1954. Looking back, this masterpiece was clearly ahead of its time and marks one of the first times that an author successfully experimented with fantasy fiction, at a time when this was purely imagination-driven.This trilogy was English tutor.The nature of New Zealand has been used to depict fantasy novels 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Game of Thrones'. Photo via VisualHunt.comWith hi-tech gadgets readily available and television programmes being digitally enhanced, sci-fi and fantasy themes seem less far-fetched than in previous decades. Perhaps readers' imaginations are so advanced in this modern technological era that they feel that they can relate to these types of stories, hence their continually growing popularity?Discover how poetry has helped shape the literary landscape!learn how to read faster!F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' gives us a great insight into the atmosphere of the roaring '20s. Photo credit: istolethetv via VisualHuntShakespeare's PlaysFocusing on yet another list compiled by literature enthusiasts, the website Interesting Literature suggests ten plays of Shakespeare that you must read. Top of the list is, by no surprise, the tragic ‘Romeo and Juliet', with its famous balcony scene that captured the hearts of readers from one century to the next.Next, is 'Macbeth', a slightly more sombre play with its themes covering monarchy, conspiracy and deceit. Then, the site suggests ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream' to finish bottom of the podium of Shakespeare greats.The remaining seven texts are 'King Lear', 'Hamlet', 'The Tempest', 'Richard III', 'Othello', 'Henry VIII' and, finally, 'Twelfth Night'. Most, if not all, of these texts are classed as classic tragedies or comedies and appear in secondary school syllabi as well as further education courses where literature is a prime focus.If reading ten plays seems like a bit too much of a challenge, I would encourage you to pick up an anthology of William Shakespeare’s plays and to read even just one of them. Seen as one of the greatest writers of all time, his interesting characters and his timeless themes are why his literary works are still so popular.You could introduce your child to Shakespeare through abridged texts!Jane Austen’s NovelsJane Austen has become world-famous thanks to her six published novels, which have spoken to readers across the globe for more than two centuries. Although they were set during her time, Austen’s characters still display traits that are visible in modern society while highlighting values and circumstances that are eternally in existence.Of the six novels, ‘Northanger Abbey’ is the one that stands out from the rest due to its gothic theme, yet Austen still hangs on to the crucial elements that make her writing so influential: her characters and their sentiments.Her two most famous novels, however, must be ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’, both of which have been adapted for TV many times with a great response from members of the public of all ages. The stories, meanwhile, vividly capture individuals in situations of social and romantic conflict and develop strong relationships between friends and lovers.Did you want to know how Jane Austin texts have been used in classrooms at college and university level?Jane Austen's six novels are ever-popular in today's society. Photo credit: Ben Sutherland via Visualhunt.comClassic Books of The FutureHaving considered some of the recognised literary greats, it begs the question of whether any popular works of our time will eventually enter the esteemed list, or indeed if any of them are already displaying signs of literary grandeur.Books that stand out a s having become inarguably popular amongst people of all ages and of all backgrounds during the 21st century are the 'Twilight' series, written by Stephanie Meyer, the collection of Harry Potter stories by J. K. Rowling and the somewhat controversial erotic 'Fifty Shades of Grey' trilogy by E. L. James.Check for an English tutor London here.Perhaps the question we should be asking ourselves is which novels are classic of their time, as opposed to which texts are examples of classic literature, seeing as what was typical in literature historically may not be as popular today or as we head into the future.Isn't it time you realised the advantages of daily reading?

Using PHP

Using PHP How Do You Use the PHP Programming Language? ChaptersWhat Is PHP?How Do You Display an Image in PHP?How to Open a PHP File in Your BrowserWhich Version of PHP Should You Use for WordPress?“PHP is a minor evil perpetrated and created by incompetent amateurs, whereas Perl is a great and insidious evil perpetrated by skilled but perverted professionals.” - Jon RibbensThere’s a passionate community of people who code in PHP. Millions of people use this programming language to create web sites or other web pages. Programming has never been so accessible.Like some other programming languages (HTML, CSS, Java, MySQL, etc.), PHP can be used in the creation of web sites.Managing databases, graphic interfaces, web servers, IT systems, you don’t need to be an IT engineer to start learning how to code with PHP.In this article, we'll look what PHP is, how you can use it to display images, how to open a PHP file in your web browser, and which version you should use with WordPress, the world's most popular content management system.he ader (“Content-type: image/jpeg”);$image = imagecreatefromjpeg(“myphoto.jpg”);imagejpg($image);?If you don’t want to display the image directly on the website, but keep it as it is in a file, the last line needs to be replaced by the filename of the photo plus the destination.imagejpg($image); (“myphotos/myphoto.jpg”);Your photo is ready!How to Open a PHP File in Your BrowserBefore you can start getting the most out of your dynamic website, there are a few steps you’ll need to follow. To put the code together, you’ll need to download a PHP engine for your site. You’ll need to download the engine onto your computer, install it, then install an editor specific to the programming language. You can use programmes like Notepad++, Dreamweaver, etc.In a word processor, you can write lines to make dynamic web pages.Once your sheet of code is ready, you’ll need to test your PHP file online. This step allows you to check for errors and see if elements are displaying as y ou intended.To read a PHP file online, there are a few options.  The best solution is to rent a server and put your code on it. A server is a computer that allows other users to access it on the internet via an IP address.Renting a server is very easy. There are many sites where you can rent a server with a monthly subscription.Servers allow you to store things online. (Source: heladodementa)Once you’re renting a server, you just need to download your PHP file to it, then type the appropriate address into your browser.The second option doesn’t include renting a server. If you’re not ready to publish your page, you can download the programme XAMPP. This allows you to imitate a server with a “localhost” address.Once the programme’s installed, you just have to integrate the PHP files into the app and the put address into your browser.Which Version of PHP Should You Use for WordPress?WordPress is a CMS (Content Management System) which allows a lot of people to create a webs ite without knowing about web programming. Be it a blog, website, portfolio, etc, there are plenty of themes allowing to personalise your content. Of course, these options aren’t always enough for users so you can modify the base code as well.PHP is used to code WordPress websites. (Source: pixelcreatures)WordPress uses the PHP language. You can introduce lines of PHP code into the site and add plugins.So which version of PHP should you use?There are plenty of versions of PHP and they continue to evolve. The latest version of PHP is 7 and improvements are regularly being made.It’s strongly recommended by WordPress that you use the latest version for both its functionality and security. To change your version, the SG Optimizer plugin can help.To do this, you need to update the theme and plugins in your site so that they’re compatible with the latest version of PHP to avoid bugs and errors.Updating to the latest version of PHP once a year is a good way to ensure that your websit e works well. Think about it!If you want to learn more about programming in PHP, consider getting in touch with a private tutor. There are three types of tutorials offered on Superprof: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials are your traditional private tutorials with one student and one tutor. These are usually the most costly but they're also the most cost-effective as the tutor can spend the whole time focusing on their only student.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials but the tutor delivers the class over webcam using video conferencing software like Skype. This tends to be cheaper since they don't have to travel.Group tutorials are cheaper per student since the cost is shared but you won't get as much individual attention from your tutor as they'll have other students to pay attention to during the tutorials.Don't forget that a lot of the tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of tutoring for free so you can see if they're right for you.

If You Have a Job Why do You Need to Use LinkedIn - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / If You Have a Job… Why do You Need to Use LinkedIn - Introvert Whisperer If You Have a Job… Why do You Need to Use LinkedIn? Most of the commentary about LinkedIn usually has to do to with job search, yet those with a job can also benefit from the use of LinkedIn, if they have any plans for career growth.   Four things you can accomplish with LinkedIn easier than ever before are: Nurture your existing network Expand your network Extend and reinforce your personal brand Entertain career opportunities = Get Recruited Do you know what your next career step is? I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" CLICK HERE! Let’s look at why these things are important to anyone with career growth goals. 1. Nurture your existing network. Your relationships with your co-workers can help you in countless ways. They can help you negotiate the political waters, educate you on multitudes of things and help you accomplish projects.   You can’t do it alone.   A key commodity we trade off as part of our relationships is information.   Your co-workers and others you know outside of work will always benefit by introducing them through LinkedIn to people you think they could benefit by knowing.   Additional advantages come through sharing valuable information about your profession or industry that you will get shared with you by your LI connections and groups you join. 2. Expand your network.  Who can’t use a few more relationships?   All of us can.   The people we know today will come in and out of our life (although keeping track of them or finding them again in LinkedIn is a great feature) making it important to constantly be meeting new people.   It’s all too easy to get in our jobs and ignore the outside world, but you can’t afford to do that anymore.   You need to make connections to your peers in other companies and perhaps even other industries.   You can more easily find these people in LinkedIn groups.   If you’re sitting there wondering what you would do if you met a peer at another company, I think the best action is to benchmark with each other.   It will expand your creative thoughts about your work when you can see other best practices.   The boss will think you’re brilliant. 3. Extend and reinforce your personal brand.  You can’t and shouldn’t hide your expertise.   Many people either think their work speaks for itself or that talking about their expertise is bragging.   First, you can’t count on who will observe your great accomplishments, so it is your job to help people know what you’ve accomplished.   Second, bragging has many characteristics to it, but mostly it is boastful, arrogant and excessive. You are smart enough to avoid doing that obnoxious behavior.   By extending your brand on LinkedIn, you help people to understand who you are in more depth rather than simply categorizing you based on your profession.   In LinkedIn, you can define your brand all over the place in your profile and you can weigh in on your industry and profession in LinkedIn groups, which will further allow people to see what you bring to the party.   This also gives you valuable visibility. 4. Entertain career opportunities and get recruited.    A well constructed LI profile and active group participation on LinkedIn can garner you ongoing recruiting inquiries.   Of course, this does great things for your ego, but it is also good to help you understand what’s out there that can help support your career direction.   You can easily become too enmeshed in the dynamics of your current company; and sometimes need a reminder of your worth.   Certainly, when the time comes for you to look for a job the effort to launch your job search will be greatly reduced if you already have a pipeline of interested companies. LinkedIn is a great, professional website that can support you in all facets of your career from job search to career growth and into business ownership. Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Storytelling in tutoring and teaching

Storytelling in tutoring and teaching Storytelling is a powerful teaching aid, allowing a student to learn emotionally and logically at the same time. Here is a blog written by Mark Maclaine which explains how to put storytelling in tutoring. David Baboulene explains in ‘The Story Book’ that human beings learn principally in one of two ways. Firstly, through experience: doing things and seeing what we get back from the world. This, he claims, is the most powerful learning tool, but at the same time it is also the most painful, because we are learning emotionally. The second is learning analytically. ‘We sit in retrospect, perhaps in a classroom or laboratory, strip out the emotion and understand events through clinical analysis of the facts over an appropriate time period.’ Baboulene states that, in normal circumstances, you cannot learn both emotionally and analytically at the same time. But storytelling allows us to engage with a narrative emotionally, while being removed enough from events that our brains can analyse the situation logically. Pupils learn through the hugely powerful delivery method of emotions, while having space to understand what is going on and what lessons they can take for themselves. Added to this, they are developing valuable listening skills, and may even be inspired to read more. So, how do we improve our storytelling? The greatest stories involve conflict on many levels. Generally, the greater the conflict, the more engrossed we are in the story, and thus the more capacity we have to learn from it. The best storytelling often comes in the form of internal conflicts that characters we care about are presented with. What if you found a loveable alien in your cupboard? Or you were out at sea in a lifeboat, with the power to save a drowning animal - only, that animal is a full-size tiger? The power of storytelling as a teaching skill comes in setting up a scene with an individual who has a need or desire, and then helping the students understand how the protagonist came to the conclusion. At this level, a teacher is not just teaching students about a topic, but also how to solve problems and overcome difficulties. Essentially you are teaching students how to learn. Let’s look at the topic of Galileo Galilei’s observations of the solar system. How can we explain this using a story? Here’s a basic outline: 1. Old World: a world in which people believe that the Earth is centre of the universe. 2. Need/desire: Galileo wants to prove that this is not true. 3. Problem: The powerful Catholic Church is not keen on anyone going against their interpretation of the The Bible. How can he prove this and also avoid getting in serious trouble with the Church? 4. Solution: he uses his telescope to make detailed observations of the night sky which he then publishes. He decides to defy the church in doing so. 5. New World: his publication is put on a banned book list and he eventually died under house arrest for “heresy”. However, the world eventually comes to accept these ideas as fact and he is later described by Einstein as the father of modern science. This is hardly Booker prize material, but it livens up a straight factual explanation. The main things to look out for are an original (imperfect) equilibrium, the conflict, the method for change and the new equilibrium. Of course, stories don’t have to use people at all. Even in describing the violent early solar system through to the formation of the planets, or displacement reactions in Chemistry, conflict can be used to add a little interest to the story. Storytelling comes in many different forms. I encourage anyone engaged in any form of tutoring or teaching (including parents) to take the time to explore its power. After all, storytelling is just an act of communicating in a creative way to bring subjects to life â€" something we all do naturally every day. So let’s share this power. If you have a story which you feel has helped your students or children to learn, then please write it in the comment box below.   Image from: www.mikekrass.com  CC-by