Home School Education and learning – Rewards and Disadvantages

Why Mom and Dad Select a Home School Education?

An increasing volume of children these days are getting a house education schooling. The motives for creating the selection to Home School Education their youngsters varies from spouse and children to relatives but you’ll find three principal motives why dad and mom are eradicating their small children in the general public school system and supplying them a house college instruction.

The primary purpose is always that the public instruction technique from the United States is struggling to provide a correct training to the nation’s kids with out of go out with text books, run down faculty buildings and inadequate tools. Provision of a Home School Education enables the mothers and fathers to acquire control around the excellent of your academic products used by their little ones and the standard situations by which they are really educated.

The second motive is the fact that mums and dads want to assume extra regulate around the influences their youngsters is going to be exposed to. This is usually for the basis of spiritual grounds but, really typically, it’s purely mainly because a house education and learning will assure the youngster learns the values upheld from the relatives and is taught from an earlier age what habits is suitable. Sadly, a lot of general public universities have a bad popularity for instilling excellent self-discipline in college students. This often outcomes in badly behaved kids disrupting lessons and stopping their peers from finding the full bonus of courses. Self-Discipline as well as the upholding of proper requirements of conduct can be a critical a part of a house university education.

The 3rd purpose several father and mother opt for to present their little ones a Home School Education and learning is fear for their security. Violence is for the improve everywhere and the public education process has not escaped this trend. Violence in the general public education program is getting worse plus the particular person functions of violence are a lot more serious. Since the shocking gatherings at Columbine Substantial School there have already been additional tragedies involving firearms the place teachers and learners were injured or killed. A house college schooling ensures the safety of small children who would in any other case be seriously at chance of hurt.

The Disadvantages of Opting For Homeschooling

Furnishing a Home School Education and learning isn’t quickly a issue of parental decision. In most instances the express education board of your point out in which the relatives resides will need to approve a choice to give a child a home school education and learning. The individual using to the responsibility of homeschooling should be certified to generally be a house instructor, the curriculum must stick to the express curriculum, plus the text publications as well as other educational materials being utilized have to be approved through the think. Although this could possibly noticed like undue interference in what is really a make a difference of private option, the think features a duty to make sure that all kids receive an ample regular of education and learning and checks will likely be built to be certain that any little one getting kept absent from public faculty is staying correctly educated.

A Home School Education could possibly indicate that a youngster is deprived of sure alternatives which would have been available within just the general public college program. There may be issues in supplying establishments for athletic youngsters to comprehend their possible. Musically talented kids may very well be similarly disadvantaged. In some says there is certainly provision for youngsters getting a house faculty education and learning to carry element in amenities such as being capable to attend sports activities classes and join following-college clubs. Having said that, the level of help furnished to homeschooling mother and father will not be uniform and varies a great deal from express to express.

The last possible disadvantage to influence young children receiving a home faculty schooling is the fact that they will never produce the interpersonal abilities which will probably be critical as they increase up. Social interaction with their peers and with adults external the spouse and children is crucial if a baby goes to increase up that has an effectively harmony character as well as an acceptable degree of interpersonal competencies. These developmental troubles could be fairly quickly overcome if your baby life in the state in which homeschooling parents are given support and the little one getting a Home School Education training is accepted into classes and further-curricular activities.

The choice to help keep a child out of your general public schooling process will not be one any father or mother would make lightly and any weighing up from the pros and cons must bring into accounts the level of assist the point out will supply. Having said that, if your community college system continues to deteriorate, the number of small children getting a home university instruction is bound to enhance.

International Teaching Jobs – Travel and Educate Students

International teaching jobs are fun but can be chaotic at the same time. You can get a chance to travel and educate students at the same time. Often schools and colleges look for international teachers. If you are fascinated and really want to settle down somewhere else and teach, then these teaching jobs are perfect for you. There are various educational recruitment companies which can help you regarding getting a teacher’s job. You can search about these companies at any of your favorite search engine optimization. You will get numerous results.

You can get teaching jobs internationally like in North Africa, The Gulf, Central America, South America and Asia Pacific. If you want to settle down in any of the above places then you can seek help from any teaching or educational recruitment’s. You just need to register online with such organizations. You have to mention about the positions you are looking for. These recruitment organizations have the top notch panel staff for the assistance. In these jobs, you will be paid to travel accordingly and can help enlightening students.

If you are applying for a job by yourself then look for the reviews about teachers, college or school’s commitments, accreditation and professionalism of the institutions. Also take a note of the fact that a fair conduct of behavior should be treated with foreign hiring staff. You need to understand the exact requirements of the teacher’s job. It is a very difficult job. You need to take care of the students, guide with right educational path and career path as well. You have to be disciplined enough to teach your students discipline.

Discipline tips to educate our children

Effective discipline when applying the limits to our children is paramount. To effectively educate our children we make the rules at home in order to comply. The secret is to do it consistently and firmly. One of the educational consequences of a lack of skill in setting the rules and set the limits may be the lack of respect, that occurs when we talk too much, exaggerating on emotion, and in many cases, we were wrong in our way to express clearly what we want or what we do with too much authority.

10 basic tips for applying educational limits

When we need to tell our children to do something and “now” (picking up toys, bedtime, etc..), We must consider some basic tips:

  • Objectivity. One often hears in ourselves and other parents expressions like “Be good”, “be good”, or “do not do that.” These terms mean different things to different people. Our children will understand better if we mark our standards more concrete form. A well-specified limit and short sentences usually clear precise orders for a child. “Speak softly in a library”, “feeds the dog now,” “grab my hand to cross the street” are some examples of ways that can substantially increase the complicit relationship with your child.
  • Options. In many cases, we can give our children a limited opportunity to decide how to meet their “orders”. Freedom of opportunity makes a child feel a sense of power and control, reducing resistance. For example: “It’s bath time. Would you prefer you shower or bathe?”. “It’s time to get dressed. Would you choose an outfit or should I? This is a quick and easy way to give a child two options to do exactly what we want.
  • Firmness. In really important issues, where there was resistance to obedience, we need to firmly apply the limit. For example: “Go to your room” or “Stop!, Toys are not for throwing” are an example of this. Firm limits are best applied with secure voice, without yelling, and serious expression on his face. The soft limits assume that the child has a choice to obey or not. Examples of light limits: “Why do not you take the toys out of here?” “You must do the homework now”, “Come home now, okay?” or “I really wish I cleanse you.” These limits are appropriate for when you want the child to take a certain path. Anyway, for those few obligations “must be done”, you will be best accessory to your child if you apply a strong mandate. Firmness is between the light and the authoritarian.

  • Accentuate the positive. Children are more receptive to “do” what they are told when they receive positive reinforcement. Some direct repression as “no” or “to” tell a child that their performance is unacceptable, but does not explain what behavior is appropriate. In general, it is better to tell a child what to do (“Speak Low”) before it should not do (“Do not cry”). Authoritarian parents tend to give more orders and say “no”, while others often change orders clear sentences that begin with the verb “do”.
  • Save distances. When we say “I want you to go to bed now,” we are creating a personal power struggle with our children. A good strategy is to state the rule of an impersonal way. For example: “It’s 8, bedtime” and you show the clock. In this case, some conflicts and feelings will be between the child and the clock.
  • Explain why. When a child understands the reason for a rule as a way to prevent dangerous situations for himself and for others, you will feel more encouraged to obey. Thus, the best when it applies a limit, is to explain to the child why he has to obey. Understanding why children can develop internal values ​​of conduct or behavior and create their own conscience. Before giving a long explanation that can distract children, says the reason in a nutshell. For example: “Do not bite people. That hurt them” “If you throw toys from other children, they will feel sad because they like to play even with them.”
  • Suggest new location. Whenever you apply a limit to the behavior of a child, tries to indicate an acceptable alternative. Will sound less negative and your child will be compensated. Thus, you can say, “that’s my lipstick and is not to play. Here’s a pen and paper to paint.” Another example would be to say: “I can not give candy before dinner, but I can give you an ice cream afterwards.” By offering alternatives, you’re teaching your feelings and desires are acceptable. This is a more correct way of expression.

  • Firmness in compliance. Prompt rule is essential for effective implementation of the boundary. A flexible routine (bedtime at 8 one night, at 8 and a half in the next, and 9 on another night) invites resistance and becomes impossible to meet. Routines and important rules in the family should be effective every day, even if you are tired or unwell. If you give your child the chance to spin their rules, they will surely try to resist.
  • Disapprove the behavior, not the child. Make it clear to your children that your disapproval is related to their behavior and not go directly to them. Do not show rejection towards children. Before you say “you’re wrong”, we should say “that is wrong” (disapproval of the behavior).
  • Controls emotions. The researchers note that when parents are very angry punished more seriously and are more likely to be verbally and / or physically abusive to their children. There are times when we need to take the situation more calmly and count to ten before reacting. Discipline is basically to teach the child how to behave. You can not teach effectively if we are extremely emotional. In front of a bad behavior, it is best to have one minute calm, and then calmly ask, “What happened here?”. All children need their parents to establish guidelines for acceptable behavior. The more skilled we become at setting limits, the greater the cooperation we receive from our children and the need for less unpleasant consequences for the limits are met. The result is a pleasant home atmosphere for parents and children.

Top Online Schools for Legal Studies – Tips for Choosing Your School

Finding the top online colleges for legal studies nowadays can be a challenge. Several years ago, you may have only been able to find one or two degree programs like this online. Now though, everything has changed. Some schools are actually converting their degree programs to the web because of how convenient the internet makes education on both sides. Nevertheless, you should be able to pick through your options to find the perfect degree program for you. Here are some tips on how to weed through the multitude of opportunities in front of you so you can snag the right one.

Multiple Degree Options

The top online schools for legal studies are going to be the ones that offer the most options for legal programs. There are so many different fields that you can go into related to legal studies, and that means that there are many different schools online that you could possibly attend. What you need to do is assess the different programs that a school offers and see if the range is large enough for you to play around with. Going to a school like this will allow you to easily change your major if you find out that you have a different career in mind.

Positive Reviews

You can usually find the top online schools for legal studies by looking over reviews from students who have attended them. It does not matter how old or new the program is as long as it can prepare you for your career. You can look over reviews and ratings from other students to see which programs should be able to give you the best education. You may end up with a different opinion about the school than what the reviewers say, but at least this way you can avoid the bad schools from the start.

Affordable Tuition

While the qualities in a school should ultimately be what drive your decisions, you also need to think about whether or not you can afford the education somewhere. Some online legal schools charge significantly more for schooling than others, and you may not be able to get the financial aid to make up the difference. You need to explore all of this before you get your hopes set on a legal school you cannot afford to go to. The reality check will help you pick the institute that is truly the best for you.

Awards and Accreditations

In some cases, the top online schools for legal studies will actually have awards on the national level for their outstanding educational programs. There are many different awards like this given out every year to schools and professors alike. If you look for a school that has been recognized on that kind of level, you know you will be working with a good team of people. You can just as easily look for schools that are accredited to teach because those that aren’t are not going to be able to give you an actual degree.

Final Thoughts

It takes a little time to find the top online schools for legal studies, but at least there are directories online that you can turn to that will make your search a little easier. You can use one of those directories to find schools that you may want to apply to. Then all you have to worry about is getting accepted. Finding the right school is an important part of getting a good education, and it is something you should take seriously. With the right dedication and selection of schools to pull from, you should have no troubles selecting a school that is right for you.

College Financial Aid Secrets

Are you college cash confused? If you are, look to the college financial aid experts to provide insight into some of the dollar dilemmas that keep you awake at night.

How can I maximize my college financial aid eligibility?

The number one thing you can do is fill out the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), says Michael O’Brien, CEO of FinancialAid.com. This will help you qualify for federal aid and school-based assistance. Next, he says, contact your financial aid office to see what aid is available, learn about any upcoming scholarship or grant deadlines, and ask about work-study programs. Finally, go online to inquire about scholarships. Applying for anything and everything you can will only increase the odds of you attaining enough college financial aid.

What’s the difference between a grant and a scholarship?

Both grants and scholarships are considered “free money,” says O’Brien, meaning they typically do not have to be repaid. Grant aid, such as the federal Pell Grant, can come from federal and state government agencies as well as from individual colleges. Scholarships are usually awarded based on merit or special circumstances. What’s surprising to some, is that student loans are factored in as part of a university financial aid package. That’s because Federal student loan programs offer lower interest rates and additional support.

Is it true you can negotiate a university financial aid package?

If your school of choice offers you a package that does not meet the total cost of education, give them a call, urges O’Brien. Explain your situation, and why you need additional funding to enable you to attend the school. If you are a student who is attractive to the school – whether it’s your grades, athletic performance, or talents that make you an ideal candidate – you’ll find that many university financial aid offices will try to assist you with a more competitive package. In addition, if special circumstances should arise – like the death or disability of a parent, loss of income, etc. – you should provide documentation and ask that your choice schools reassess your financial aid package.

How do I compare financial aid packages?

Make sure you’re evaluating apples to apples and oranges to oranges, says Cynthia Bailey, executive director of The College Board. Look at your net out-of-pocket cost: the school’s budget for the type of student you are [i.e. commuter or resident], then subtract the amount of money the school gives you. Also compare the kind of awards you get, like loans and grants. For the most part, be sure to evaluate financial aid based on whether that school is the best fit for you, not if it’s the cheapest.

Study Tips

It is a known fact that different people study best in different ways, or rather absorb information in different ways.

Since leaving University I have attended a number of short (a few days) and very expensive training courses. Observing and speaking to the trainers on these courses made me reflect on the way I approached my degree studies.

What professional trainers tell me

There are three distinct learning styles, Visual, Auditory and Haptic.

Professional trainers vary learning styles throughout a course, switching style every 20 – 30 minutes, using presentations, exercises, group activity and discussion.

How I studied at University

This knowledge made me reflect on how I studied:

  • I visualized graphical information I was studying
  • I sometimes read / thought out loud
  • I often paced around whilst thinking about information
  • When I got stuck on a problem I would sometimes go for a walk and think about it
  • I preferred quiet study environments free of distraction

These activities resemble traits of the three learning styles. Most people are a mix of all three personality types.

To get the best results from your study time you should experiment and reflect on what works best for you, devising your own mode of study.

First of all consider:

  • At what time of day do you find study most effective?
  • In which environments do you study best?
  • How do absorb and retain information studied?

Study Tips: Memory

When you first study information it is retained in “short term memory”

As you persist with your studies information passes into “long term memory”

In order to do well in exams you need to get information into long term memory, revision close to the time of the exam should serve as a refresher, putting information back into short term memory, which will reduce the amount of time it takes to recall information during an exam (information in short term memory can be recalled more quickly than information in long term memory).

Study Tips: Repetition

The key to committing information to long term memory is repetition. The more time you invest studying a particular topic, the better your chances will be of retaining it in long term memory. To achieve this, read through notes regularly right the way through your course. Do not leave your notes un-read until the day before an exam!

To make your studies more effective, you should also consider what type of learner you are, Visual, Auditory or Haptic.

Study Tips: Visual learners

Visual Learners study best when the material is graphic, for example diagrams, graphs, charts, tables etc.

Visual learners study best un-disturbed, so seek out a quiet environment free of distraction.

Take detailed notes during lectures, adding diagrams, graphs, charts where appropriate. You may also find “Mind Maps” an effective tool.

I found that looking away from a page / diagram, or closing my eyes and actually visualizing the information was the most effective means of retaining visual information.

Study Tips: Auditory Learners

Auditory learners study best when they can hear the material.

Try reading aloud, see if you can find tape recordings on the subject you are studying, and consider making tape recordings of your notes, which can be replayed to yourself as part of your revision. If you do this be sure to summarize notes, as you would when using the Cornell note taking system on paper.

As well as reading aloud, plan your study aloud, think aloud etc. Although this may seem odd, it will help you retain information.

Take every opportunity to discuss your study with lecturers and other students.

I found discussion and thinking aloud very effective, though thinking aloud is best done in private.

Study Tips: Haptic Learners

Haptic’s are people that can’t sit still! This kind of person tends to pace around and like having music or a television on in the background. Distraction is a problem for Haptic’s trying to study!

Haptic learners should vary their activities and consider studying whilst doing something physical such be as pacing around.

Haptic learners respond well to the use of color, try using highlighting pens and vary the appearance of notes.

If you get stuck or frustrated with a problem try switching tasks for a while, or going for a short walk.

Make a note of distractions to act upon at a later time, as opposed to stopping your study to do something different.

If it helps, play music in the background, but do not tell yourself you are a Haptic learner just because you like listening to the radio, most people will find it a distraction!

I found listening to the radio a distraction so did not do it. Don’t try and convince yourself you are a Haptic learner on the basis that you like listening to the radio.

I did find going for a walk to think over a problem, or a change of environment (room or location) helpful.

In summary, work out what approach suits you, it is likely to be different to that taken by your peers. Don’s assume that what works for your friends will work for you, or vice versa. Learning styles are quite distinct between individuals.

Make Math Fun For Kids

We’ve continually liked math. On the other hand I did not have as several distractions as our little ones have these days. Currently, because of all of the media choices and computer system game titles it really is a wonder our children study as significantly as they do. Comprehension the fundamentals of mathematics is very important during the pre-teen many years so as to get skillful inside several mathematics disciplines which will observe. We should discover tactics for making math lots far more enjoyable for our youngsters.

As mom and dad and teachers we appear for being competing with most of your entertaining points accessible to them; TV set, DVD’s, Nintendo, Engage in Station, Xbox, Wii, iPod, as well because the various out of doors sports. Why? Properly, a good deal of what they do is enjoyable, challenging and there’s constantly anything new to knowledge. A lot of children will not like math purely since it’s boring rather than enjoyable.

Instructing methods transform. Several decades in the past the buzz was all regarding the “new math” and how much greater it was. In mathematics there can be an excellent deal of memorization; period’s tables, formulas, theorems, along with the like. This worked, but it surely was difficult perform for many. There will constantly be memorization in instructional math. Nevertheless, if we make the process entertaining, way more will likely be retained.

Having good math expertise is vital to just about every kid’s foreseeable future. Math, is some manner, touches every single facet of life. We shan’t get along in such an entire world without having it. We may well at the same time assist to produce it much more entertaining for our kids to prepare them for your long run.

Let’s require a lesson from laptop or computer video game titles. They are innovative, difficult, at all times a new target to achieve, and you may execute on your own or with buddies. That is fun. And so we need to uncover imaginative methods to motivate our children to grasp the basics of math. Thankfully that has previously been completed for us. Around the web you are able to find out several systems that can help motivate your little ones. You can find programs that enable you to download the knowledge right this moment and begin performing with the children.

Studying Alternative Energy in Community College

The first thing most people think of in terms of where to go to college are the big name universities. The courses offered at these institutions are geared to getting you into a career where you will earn a salary in the six digits. They have that reputation, but it is still up to the student to be prepared to make it in the business world. So even the students who are invited to attend these elite schools have to just hope they will land that great job.

If you only consider attending one of these types of colleges, you may be limiting your choices and not opening yourself up to an education choice that may be just the right one for you.

What we mean are programs that are offered in community colleges that may not be offered in the large universities. For those who may not be looking for the traditional courses because they may not be the choice for them, these colleges may offer new and different alternatives that may keep the world running.

What we mean are programs in alternative energy.

These are educational programs that focus on coursework necessary for a career in the field of alternative energy. These courses prepare a student for a job in the real world.

Why it is that community colleges offer these kinds of courses?

Community colleges have traditionally focused on non-traditional courses and also those that are more practical in nature. That is why community colleges attract students who are looking for work in the real world.

Traditional colleges and universities charge extremely high tuition for the courses they offer. Since community colleges are subsidized by the government, they can offer courses at lower tuition rates. The reason governments offer subsidies is so that lower income students can have an opportunity for higher education. This is also the reason these schools offer programs in alternative energy

What happens once a student completes such a program?

Students who have completed such a program can go on to work in the field of alternative energy. The need for new kinds of energy is spurring governments and industry to invest in this field. This will create many new jobs that graduates of community colleges in the field of alternative energy will be ready for.

Community colleges who offer these programs will help build a bright future for these students by training them to become employees in a competitive field that will help the world.

A little Crucial Care Unit

Essential medical care is used to aid the daily life of organs, people who are seriously ill or injured must offer the most exclusive escort. These people often suffer from respiratory failure or respiratory, kidney failure, unstable blood, or the effects of various organs. Customers do not want the point where they have to do is not suitable for intensive monitoring was stabilized after treatment are also important as criticism.

This idea of life care as an important field of caring for a patient and doctor on technology advances more and more doctors have been developed. The ICU took place after the initial War II patients, close monitoring is essential, as well as respect for respect. Those days, the subjects were found to require the most care were closer to the nursing station, while the others were further away. As a result, individuals were constantly rotated depending on need, along with the availability of beds.

Important nurses face the backlash of people in life-threatening trauma. For registration as a nurse for the basic treatment of all that is needed is that a registered nurse (RN) will train with the removal of a Substantial nursing certification is not an obligation. However, most employers prefer nurses who have been certified in the field, as these nurses who are able, together with the know-how needed for the job. To enable a registered nurse would have health care for patients in intensive care for at least two years and then are taken to produce the proof.

A critical care nurse is expected that by the Nursing and patient care to which he or she was assigned to work. The work involves the implementation of treatments, regardless of all drugs, while maintaining the accuracy, complete supporting documentation for each individual. This nurse must be able to recognize when a person of fundamental importance in the health sector, experience complications, be prepared to operate the various services offered in various critical care unit, agrees. This nurse is also necessary to help doctors perform the procedures in addition to the funds is included in the sterile treatment.

It is recommended that each nurse is assigned two key people for the majority, and therefore may not be what the staff in some hospitals, depending on the amount. Hospitals in the United States, up to 24% of beds that are important to people out there who have been treated. In this unit, and a special global attention 24/7 available. The rooms are built with glass walls to facilitate the continuous monitoring of people. Indicated, in most cases the device may go, time with visitors is limited to family members, so for staff at ITS optimum level, without any outside influences that creates attention.

Crucial doctors to treat patients at risk for a patient is alive, organs or limbs. This area is a medical specialty, simply because it is essential for immediate diagnosis strongly with aspects of administration to provide the patient with injury or illness. The doctors within the unit must have a wide range comprehension of trauma management, surgical techniques, life support and respiratory failure. The drugs used in the treatment of these critics, both general and specific medications and drugs that are used to diagnose diseases and to stabilize patients.

10 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have

Overall, educators need tο understand ѕοmе basics аbοut technology аnd thаt іt іѕ nοt a bе-аll-еnd-аll solution tο everything іn a classroom. Technology саn hеlр teachers differentiate аnd provide nеw experiences fοr thеіr students. Technology саn аlѕο hеlр students better understand a concept аnd provide extra hеlр fοr thеm. Educators need tο ѕtаrt wіth gοοd pedagogy аnd lesson objectives аnd activities аnd thеn look fοr technology thаt саn enhance those lessons, improve teaching аnd learning, аnd hеlр students learn.

Thе Hοw’s, Whу’s аnd Value οf Educational Technology

  1. Internet Search аnd Research– educators need tο know hοw tο dο a proper internet search, using search terms аnd modifiers. Thіѕ skill іѕ needed fοr school, work аnd life іn general. Thеу аlѕο need tο bе аblе tο teach proper internet search skills tο thеіr students, nο matter whаt class thеу аrе teaching. Thеу need tο know whеrе tο find scholarly аnd peer-reviewed materials tο uѕе.
  • Tips οn Better Searches (frοm Google)
  • Infographic οn Better Searches
  • Common Craft Video οn Web Search Strategies
  1. Productivity Apps – Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentation Tools, Note taking аnd organization apps– educators need tο now hοw tο сrеаtе, edit, аnd modify documents, presentations, аnd spreadsheets. Thеу need tο know hοw tο uѕе different productivity tools аѕ аn educator аnd hοw tο ѕhοw students hοw tο uѕе thеm. Businesses still uѕе MS Office fοr thе mοѕt раrt, but iWorks, OpenOffice / LibreOffice, аnd Google Docs аrе аll getting more рοрulаr. Thеу аll work similarly ѕο thе learning curve whеn switching isn’t thаt bіg. Mοѕt teachers know thе basics. but many don’t know аbοut thе alternatives tο MS Office οr ѕοmе οf thе really grеаt features (lіkе charts аnd graphs іn Excel) thаt аrе helpful tο thеm аnd thеіr students. Teachers ѕhοuld аlѕο know hοw tο uѕе things lіkе digital calendars, tο-dο lists, note taking apps, аnd more tο gеt organized аnd gеt digital.
  • Evernote fοr Education – take notes, clip frοm thе web, upload files, аnd much more
  • Google fοr Education – Docs, calendar, tasks, email, аnd much more
  1. Self learning οf tech аnd whеrе tο gο fοr hеlр– knowing hοw tο search a hеlр menu οn software οr hardware, whеrе tο gο tο find user forums fοr hеlр, аnd whеrе tο find thе manual fοr technology іѕ a hugе skill thаt many dο nοt know аbοut. I аm amazed аt hοw many educators don’t know whеrе tο gο fοr hеlр, outside οf asking another teacher. Thіѕ goes along wіth internet search аlѕο – being аblе tο find whаt уοu need tο hеlр уοu figure out hοw tο dο something.
  • Free Tech Tips аnd Hеlр
  • TechEase – technology tips
  • Online Tech Tips – hardware, software, аnd more
  • Tech Support hеlр
  1. Finding Free Resources аnd Sources οf Funding fοr Technology – budgets аrе constantly shrinking аnd teachers need tο mаkе due wіth less. Knowing hοw tο find funding fοr technology οr find free technology іѕ very іmрοrtаnt. It’s аlѕο іmрοrtаnt tο look аt different ways οf providing technology іn schools, whether іt іѕ through computer labs, 1-1 laptops, οr Bring Yοur Own Device (students bring οwn tech). Thіѕ skill саn hеlр teachers, schools, аnd districts save money іn сеrtаіn areas (apps аnd services) tο hаνе more money fοr οthеr areas (hardware).

Whу dο schools still pay ѕο much fοr software? Free alternatives tο paid software аnd services.

  • DonorsChoose – gеt materials fοr уοur classroom project funded
  • Tips fοr saving money аnd finding free resources fοr school
  1. Social Media– hοw tο properly uѕе social media fοr school аnd work, hοw tο protect yourself οn іt, thе issues οf cyberbullying, connecting wіth others іn уοur profession (PLN). Many educators аrе uѕе social media fοr thеіr personal life, but nοt enough аrе using іt іn thеіr professional life. I learn ѕο much frοm Twitter аnd Google+ bесаuѕе οf thе people аnd web sites I follow thеrе. Thіѕ goes along wіth number 3 – self learning. I gеt more “professional development” out οf a week οf participating іn social media thаn I hаνе іn 10 years οf traditional professional development. Educators need tο gеt online аѕ раrt οf thеіr profession.
  • Twitter, Google+, Facebook comparison
  • Twitter, Facebook, RSS, Email, Google+ – tips οn uѕе
  • Facebook аnd Google+ security аnd privacy
  • Common Craft Video οn Social Media
  • Crеаtе a Personal Learning Network
  1. Digital Citizenship – Internet/Email/Social Media etiquette– proper way tο uѕе thе internet, write professional emails, uѕе social media іn relation tο уοur job (nοt complaining аbοut thе boss). Using thе web аnd social media wіth students, share proper uѕе wіth thеm.
  • Netiquette – Wikipedia
  1. Security аnd Safety– antivirus, spam, phishing, tοο much personal information sharing, stalkers, аnd more аrе аll issues thеу need tο know аbοut. Educators need tο bе aware οf thіѕ fοr thеіr οwn protection, аnd tο teach thеіr students thеѕе іmрοrtаnt topics.
  • Internet Safety Resources
  • Google Family Safety Center
  • Google Gοοd tο Know online safety аnd internet data
  • Common Craft Video οn Secure Passwords
  1. Hardware basics аnd troubleshooting– knowing whаt different раrtѕ οf technology аrе called, hοw tο mаkе minor fixes, аnd hοw tο dο basic troubleshooting fοr WiFi, networks, OS won’t load, etc.

  • Free Tech Tips аnd Hеlр
  • TechEase – technology tips
  • Online Tech Tips – hardware, software, аnd more
  • Tech Support hеlр
  1. Backup data– wіth аll οf thе data thаt educators сrеаtе fοr school аnd work, іt іѕ іmрοrtаnt tο back іt up аnd hаνе access tο іt аt аnу time. I deal wіth educators аll thе time whο hаνе lost thеіr flash drive οr hаd a flash drive die аnd never backed up thеіr files somewhere еlѕе. Thе era οf thе flash drive іѕ gone. Cloud computing іt whеrе іt’s аt.
  • Backup уοur Data – tools аnd resources
  • Google Takeout – export уοur Google data
  1. Finding apps аnd software– hοw tο find, evaluate, аnd uѕе apps fοr school аnd business. Alѕο, hοw tο find quality, free alternatives tο paid software, apps аnd services. Pаrt οf thіѕ fοr educators includes nοt οnlу finding apps аnd software, but mаkіng sure thаt thеу aren’t using thеѕе јuѕt tο uѕе technology. Thе lesson objectives come first аnd thеn уοu саn look fοr technology thаt саn enhance thе lesson οr hеlр students.
  • Quixey – Search engine fοr apps
  • Free Alternatives tο Paid Software
  • Google Apps Resources
  • Free Apps
  • On device apps/software vs. web apps
  • SmartPhone Experts – apps, reviews, tech tips, аnd more fοr аll smartphones

Bonus:

  1. Copyright аnd Citing Sources– educators need tο understand copyright laws аnd rules, hοw tο cite a resource, аnd hοw tο integrate someone еlѕе’s work іntο thеіr’s properly. Thіѕ іѕ pretty timely considering thаt ѕοmе educators hаνе bееn stealing mу blog work (along wіth οthеr blogger’s work) without following proper copyright procedures.
  • Taking thе Mystery out οf Copyright
  • Citation Hеlр

Whаt dο уοu thіnk аrе thе top tech skills educators need tο know?