How Technology and Social Media are Changing Education

The education world is slowly experiencing a paradigm shift when it comes to using technology and social media to foster learning. What was once highly regarded as a hindrance to learning is now being used by schools to enhance the students’ learning experiences.  Many educational officials are discovering that instead of controlling the use of electronics during school hours, it is more beneficial, rather, to teach students how to use these devices responsibly.

One of the most effective ways to do this is through teaching by demonstrating. Principal Dave Meister, from the Paris Cooperative High School in Illinois, uses social media sites such as Twitter and blogs to not only communicate with students but also with other educators around the world. Through this, teachers are able to share ideas discoveries and knowledge. This has the potential to change both the way students learn and the way educators teach. more »

Essential Checklist for Choosing the Right University/College

Just as the academic school year is approaching an end, so too are the deadlines for accepting university or college offers. In addition to studying for finals, high school graduates must make the difficult decision of choosing a post-secondary institution. Although students pick schools for a wide variety of reasons, they are not always the right ones. Follow this checklist to help you make the right choice.

1. Evaluate Academic Goals

Consider your goals for getting a post-secondary degree or diploma as well as your academic aims. Determine if you’re looking for a career-oriented program such as pre-med or a liberal arts education. Research the courses offered and available for the various programs at the institution. Also remember to use the institution and program-specific rankings as a reference or guideline. more »

Summer Learning

Every child dreams of this time of year – summer vacation without school. After ten long, grueling months of homework, tests, assignments and studying, they can finally sit back and relax. Unfortunately, this free time can be a detriment to a student’s ability to do well the following school year.

Most students only retain a fraction of what they learn throughout the course of the academic year. After receiving their report cards, they take off on holidays forgetting most of the material from just months before. What’s the consequence? Well, students enter September without an active mind. Because of the lack of mental challenge, they tend to start the year off slow, which creates an uphill battle for the remainder of the academic year and can trickle into the rest of their lives. Not only do their grades suffer, but more importantly, this can have an extremely negative effect on their self esteem and confidence. more »

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