How to Help Your Child with Virtual Learning

 

Typically a new school year can be stressful, and there are potential risks that parents have to think about.

For example, bus safety and pedestrian safety are big issues parents think about when it comes to the logistic of their child going to school. Now, heading into the 2020-21 year, many parents have a different concern—COVID-19.

States and school districts around the country have opted to take different approaches to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

For example, some states are having kids mostly go in-person. Other districts are doing a hybrid model to keep the number of kids in the building low at any given time. Then, some districts are for at least the first semester, going entirely virtual.

You may also be in a district where there’s a choice parents can make between in-person or virtual learning.

It’s leaving parents wondering how to make it work, not only with their job demands but also how to ensure their child gets a good education when they’re learning from home.

If you’re not an educator, the idea of facilitating your child’s learning can be scary and overwhelming, but the following are tips for parents to help their kids right now.

Get Familiar with the Content and the Technology

Your child’s teacher should be the one leading during remote learning, and you should allow them to do that freely in the way they see fit.

With that being said, it’s likely that your child is going to be doing some of their work independently throughout the day, and they aren’t going to have guided instructional time nonstop.

That’s where you might be needed.

To best help your child in these situations, before school starts, get familiar with the technology your child will be using.

You should also try and familiarize yourself at least a bit with the curriculum. You don’t have to be an expert, but it helps if you have some idea of what your child is learning or studying at any given time.

Knowing what’s happening with their education will also help you hold them accountable.

With all that being said, while you should be available if your child needs you, you shouldn’t be sitting in on their classes. You wouldn’t pop into their regular classes and sit and watch in most cases, so don’t do it with virtual learning. Instead, keep a hands-off approach during instructional time, and only step in when your child is asking for help.

If you want to communicate with the teacher or school staff, do so through email or a phone call and outside of class time.

Schedule and Encourage Intervals

If you’re working from home or you’re staying home from work during this time, you have the opportunity to help your child structure their day.

If you think about what it’s like for children at school, they aren’t engaged in instruction all day. They’re also doing other things, like socializing and going outside to play.

Breaking up learning into intervals and encouraging other activities throughout the day can help your child stay more focused when they are in learning time.

It can help reduce boredom and distractions.

Encouraging physical activity is really important for kids who are learning virtually. There are dedicated chunks of time at school for kids to be active, and they need something similar when learning at home.

Staying physically active is good for not only your child’s physical health but their mental health as well.

Enlist Help

If you’re working full-time, whether at home or not, that could be your biggest stress as far as your kids learning virtually.

Enlist help wherever you can.

Some parents are opting to create their own “pods.” The idea is basically that a group of kids come together for virtual learning, but the circle is still kept small and contained. It would be helpful for all the parents whose kids are in the pod to be likeminded as far as their thoughts on social distancing.

Then, the pod pools its resources to hire a tutor or someone to help guide the kids through their virtual learning.

Depending on the work schedules of parents, you could also have the parents swap off helping the kids throughout the week.

Another option is to turn to a family member to at least be with your child while they’re learning virtually and making sure everything is going smoothly.

Communicate with Your Child’s Teachers

While school may look different for many this year, teachers are still teachers. Your child may be interacting with them over a computer screen, but they are there for guidance and as a resource.

If you feel like your child is having difficulties, whether it’s with the virtual format or with the material itself, don’t be afraid to talk to their teacher.

They may have ideas and ways to help that you wouldn’t otherwise think about.

Create a Dedicated Learning Space

If at all possible, create a dedicated learning space for your child. If you have multiple kids at home doing virtual learning, try to keep them separate.

Choose areas out of the way of the main traffic flow in your house. While natural light can be good, don’t have your child facing a window because it can be distracting.

Make sure the learning space is only for school work, and at the end of the learning day when it’s time to sign off, have your child leave the space so they continue to see it as only for that.

If you can avoid having it where your child sleeps, that’s helpful.

You want an area that’s clean, quiet, and free of clutter.

Finally, don’t forget to take care of yourself during this time. You have a lot on your plate, too so you can help foster a better learning environment for your child by relaxing and reducing your own stress as much as you can as we navigate a new school year.

 

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How to Find the Right College

Image Credit: Pixabay

Searching for colleges is one of the scariest things a young adult has to face. The college you choose to attend will likely define the future opportunities available to you, putting an immense amount of pressure on you. Unfortunately, you have to shoulder this pressure at an extremely young age and at a time where you have little expertise. Thankfully there are some things you can do to help in your college search and allow you to find your perfect match. So how can you set yourself up to get into the best psychiatry residencies after an amazing undergraduate education? Here’s how to find the right college. 

Start Early

One of the most important parts of finding the right college is starting the search early. Looking for a college to attend can be a long process, so it’s important that you don’t start too late. Beginning your search late might result in you missing out on a few things like tours or special admissions events, and could only allow the time to research a small number of schools. The earlier you start looking into colleges, the more time you have to branch out and do your due diligence. In addition, many schools have incentives for considering them early, including early acceptances and extra scholarships. The old saying “the early bird gets the worm” applies to many scenarios, but it is especially true when it comes to finding the right college.

Make a List

Another thing that you can do to make finding the right college a little bit easier is to rank your potential schools in a list. Make a list containing all of the schools that you’re interested in, and rank them in terms of interest. What are each school’s pros and cons? What did you like about each campus? These are all important aspects that you need to consider. As time goes on and you gain more information, your list should become shorter and shorter. Eventually your list should be down to just a few schools, making your final decision that much easier. 

Put In Work

If you want to find the right college, then you’re going to need to put in the necessary work. If you slack off during your college search, then you can easily find yourself making a misinformed decision. Searching for the right college can involve lots of time, including conducting research, talking to representatives, going on college tours, applying for scholarships, and filling out applications. All of these events can take a considerable amount of time, especially if you have several schools on your list. Finding the right college is critical to your future, so it’s important that you put the necessary time and effort into the process.

Go With Your Gut

When it comes time to make a final decision on a school, you may struggle to make a choice. Multiple options may look attractive for you for different reasons, so choosing between them can be quite difficult. However, you should go with your gut and choose the option that feels best to you. Was there a school where you just felt at home the moment you walked on campus? Is there a school you have always dreamed of attending? You’re going to have to deal with your decision for four years or more, so making one that makes you happy is crucial. As a result, you should go with your gut and choose the school that makes you feel best and most comfortable.

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When is the Right Time to Update Your Education?

For some people, the right college education can last a lifetime. A degree in something like art, or literature can go a long way, particularly if you find yourself getting a career in your chosen niche. However, as the world continues to evolve and new jobs appear on the market, you may eventually find that your degree is a little outdated, or irrelevant. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s the right time to update both your skillset and your resume, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’re going to look at the things that you need to think about when deciding when to update your schooling. 

When You Can Afford the Extra Tuition

Education is an important part of getting to wherever you want to be in life. Unfortunately, it can also be quite expensive to earn a degree in your chosen field. Depending on how much of an update you need to invest in, you might need to apply for loans and grants all over again. If you’re concerned about the costs of going back to school, make sure you do some budgeting first. Start by seeing whether you can refinance your student loans from the last time you went to college. This will save you some much-needed cash off your monthly bills. After you’re done with that, look into other ways that you might be able to cut back in your budget. For instance, can you move to a smaller house, or drive a smaller, more efficient car?

When You’re Missing Out on Opportunities

Sometimes, you might feel as though you have the same skills as everyone else on your team, but you’re missing out on opportunities and promotions just because you don’t have the right words on your resume. If a lot of things in your industry have changed since you got your first degree, now is the perfect time to think about whether you can boost your chances of success with an update. Renewing your degree or accessing some extra training on the side could be all you need to do to grab the attention of your boss, and any future employers too. If you think that you’re getting overlooked because you just don’t have the right credentials anymore, think about how you can make your resume more impressive. 

When You’re Getting Lost

Finally, a big indicator that you may need to update your degree, is that you just don’t feel confident in your career anymore. Perhaps your team have started to use some new processes or strategies that are familiar for younger employees – but completely alien to you. In some cases, you’ll be able to catch up by signing up for a mentor program or taking some other training sessions. However, if you feel like the world is moving on without you, then you might feel more comfortable if you devote yourself to some extra education instead. Going back to school might be a time-consuming process, but it’s also a way to refine your skills and help you to regain any of the confidence that you’re missing.

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7 Best Colleges Who Produce The Most Academic Journals

Once a student enters college, a necessary part of their academic pursuit is to write papers and journals. Depending on your chosen institute and field of study, it can even be a requirement for graduation to come up with these papers. Of the variety of papers that you’ll be gaining exposure to during your academic journey, a common category that you’ll surely come across is academic journals.

This refers to scholarly documents published by experts. Before they make their way to the public, they would normally have already undergone a thorough peer-review process. In general, an academic journal is not published to earn money. Rather, its purpose is to share information with the public, so that knowledge can be passed on to benefit others.

That said, some universities have truly excelled in this pursuit. Some of the universities that rank the best in terms of number and quality of academic journals are the following.

  1. Harvard University

Of course, it would come as no surprise to anyone that Harvard has made it to this list. In fact, Harvard always makes its way to all listings of excellence, such as College Rank. When it comes to academic journals, Harvard tops the list, particularly when talking about nature and science.

Harvard is considered a top-notch university, not just in the United States, but in the rest of the world as well. It boasts quite a long list of notable alumni that have made a name for themselves as experts in their respective fields. Hence, the quality of academic journals that it produces is consistently high. 

Going beyond scholarly articles, Harvard has also produced a number of inventions that have changed the world. These include oral contraception and the vaccine for smallpox.

  1. University Of Toronto

The University Of Toronto is second on this list, because of its comprehensive scope of subjects and degrees offered. The overall performance of its alumni is also excellent, publishing not just academic and scholarly journals, but also achieving prominence in their respective fields. If you happen to be an international student who’s considering attending the University Of Toronto, it’s a great choice because of its high population of international students.

The University Of Toronto also consistently receives an A or the highest rating for the following:

  • Academic research
  • Quantity and quality of research publications
  • Top-cited publications
  1. Stanford University

If you’re interested in quality academic journals in different fields of science, Stanford University also produces quite an impressive number. It ranks well in terms of chemistry, physical sciences, and life sciences.

Stanford University has also produced notable authors as their alumni, one of which is bioengineer and neuroscientist, Karl Deisseroth.

There are several good reasons why Stanford stands out, and these include:

  • It has some of the best research facilities, in terms of technical capability and laboratories.
  • It allows students the freedom to be innovative in their research.
  • Its professors and research advisors are top-notch professionals who are prominent in their respective fields.

 

 

  1. John Hopkins University

John Hopkins University is one of those institutes that consistently features well in rankings, in terms of overall academic performance. This also includes its outstanding plethora of academic journals.

This university focuses on applied science and technology, so most of its academic journals are also centered on this field of study. The Whiting School of Engineering, in particular, is the one that excels notably, due in part to its commitment for outstanding research and academic standards.

Another great advantage of John Hopkins University is that it has quite a number of academic partnerships with international peer organizations, allowing their collaborative research for better academic journals to regularly materialize.

  1. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

MIT is often labeled as one of the world’s most prestigious higher education institutes. It has earned its spot on this list, as it has an impressive 150 years’ worth of background in research to boast of. More specifically, the emphasis of its academic journals lies in the field of entrepreneurship and applied science.

In 2018, MIT became very famous for one of its published research journals, which investigated which kind of news spread faster – true or false news. It was featured in over 360 news stories. The final verdict? Lies spread faster.

For all these reasons, MIT is a great choice for academic research and studies, including the following:

  • Its rigorous curriculum forms the basis of top-notch published journals and articles.
  • Its faculty are prominent names in the field of engineering and science.
  • It enables you to participate in the Undergraduate Research Program, which caters to all the academic journals that it has published, even before you make it to grad school.
  • It enables you to work alongside some of the best and most brilliant names in the industry for the completion of your research paper.
  1. University Of Michigan

Another college on this list from the United States is the University Of Michigan. When students make their way to the halls of this college, they are guaranteed endless opportunities, as evidenced by the scholarly and academic journals that graduates have produced.

The University Of Michigan boasts a wide breadth of educational opportunities, mainly due to its status as a public research institution. 

  1. Max Planck Society

The Max Planck Society is the most successful research institution in Germany. This puts it on equal footing with the rest of the prestigious research institutions in the world. Eighteen Nobel Laureates have passed through here, so you can rely on their academic journals to be wide-ranging and of excellent quality as well.

The Max Planck Society is so successful that it’s able to come up with over 15,000 publications each year consisting of renowned scientific and academic journals.

Not surprisingly, Max Planck is also the birthplace of many notable discoveries in the field of science. These include matters as complicated as antiretroviral treatment for HIV-Aids.

Takeaway

When you initially think of an academic journal, the first thing that comes to mind is that it is unlike any other publication. It’s not a simple commentary, nor is it written by journalists. The authors of these academic journals are experts that have excelled in their fields. Hence, this list comprises some of the best universities that have become known for publishing the most academic journals.

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Too Much Stress in College: Best Ways To Cope With It

Most students look forward to joining college because it comes with new experiences, social settings, and freedom to explore life as a young adult. As much as college life is exciting, it has its fair share of stressful situations. No doubt, the workload is higher than when you were in high school. Loads of assignments, assessments, research papers, group forums, and much more can take a toll, especially on first-year students. You may have taken a challenging course that requires long study hours to ace the units. With so much to accomplish, juggling between maintaining a social life and academics can be overwhelming. 

If you do not maintain a healthy balance, you might find yourself dealing with stress without any coping mechanism. The independent education structure in college allows students to practice self-discipline and to plan their study hours conveniently. Thus, most students end up spending too much time on books without engaging in other extra-curricular activities, which can lead to academic stress.

Today, numerous custom writing services are available online ready to help out stressed students with academic writing tasks. Feel free to order essay writing and delegate your assignments and research papers to professionals and get time to engage in other school events. 

You can also battle with social stress during your first months in college since you are in a new environment where you have to form new social circles. Getting a roommate, balancing relationships, and new friendships with academics on the side can be quite tricky. So, what do you do to cope with stress in college? Read on to find out more about the best ways to reduce stress as a student in college:

Plan Your Schedule 

With new-found freedom, it is tricky for most students to organize their study schedules. You need to practice self-discipline and ensure that you attend all the lectures and complete your assignments on time. You might be tempted to attend a weekend party while your term paper is due on Monday morning, causing late paper submissions. 

It is vital to be an organized student by prioritizing your to-do-list. Create a convenient space in your room where you can concentrate during your study hours. If you have a messy and noisy roommate, you can become a frequent visitor in your quiet college library. 

Also, create a timetable and follow it strictly so that you can train yourself to have a regular study schedule and personal time to carry out errands and participate in various social events. It helps you to maintain a balance and avoid stressful situations where you have to work all night to complete assignments. 

Exercise

Regular exercise is a coping mechanism for stress. It reduces feelings of frustration as well as prevents weight gain. A ten-minute work-out can do wonders for your well-being, especially in the morning before starting your day. It releases tension and puts your mind and body in a healthy balance. 

Even if you are not an early riser, you can incorporate simple exercises in your daily routines, such as walking around campus, to the mall, or a friend’s house. You can also take physical education or gym classes during your free time. Enroll in yoga, salsa dances, martial arts, or gymnastics. Find an option that suits your preference and have fun while keeping academic stress at bay. 

Healthy Living 

Most college students feed on junk and sodas since they find it cumbersome to prepare a healthy meal. Taking care of your mind, body, and soul is essential in living a healthy life. While fast foods are readily available and affordable, it may seem convenient to grab on the go, but it will take a toll on your health in the long run. Eat a balanced meal to get the energy to face the day with confidence. Stock up fresh-fruits and vegetables in your room and learn to cook simple and healthy meals.

With hectic schedules, most students find it hard to get adequate sleep. Tight deadlines, anxiety due to exams, and pulling all-nighters can drain your energy. So, plan your schedule and sleep early to get enough sleep. It is vital for your physical and mental health. 

Wise Budgeting

You need to budget your money wisely to avoid financial stress. Do not engage in impulse buying, or you will end up broke within no time. Have a budget in place to guide you in your daily expenses. Try to make meal plans if you love eating out by cooking a few times a week. If you leave outside the campus, set aside your commuter allowance per month to prevent missing lectures. If you have an entertainment allowance, stick by it and don’t take money from your meal budget when it is depleted. Practice self-discipline, and you will enjoy a fulfilling financial future even after college.

Finding Support

Starting a new life in college is always stressful since you leave a secure support system at home – family members and friends. On the other hand, developing a new circle of friends and learning people takes time and effort. You might end up feeling home-sick and lonely during the first few days, weeks, or even months. So, ensure that you keep in close contact with people who matter in your life – parents, guardians, or close friends at home. Call your mother, send an email, or organize a video conference with your family. It might boost your attitude and motivate you to push ahead with school.

Also, you can find social support by joining clubs and discussion groups with like-minded students. Be social and start making friends in your class. Form study groups and engage yourself in different activities in college. You will avoid stress and loneliness since college life will start making sense in the long run.  

Ultimately, stress management is different for all students. What works for you may not work for another individual. Thus, it is imperative to find a suitable coping mechanism that will help you to reduce stress. Have a positive attitude, talk to someone, and engage in relaxing activities. Take care of your mental health since it is valuable and impacts your academic success.

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Too Much Stress in College: Best Ways To Cope With It

Most students look forward to joining college because it comes with new experiences, social settings, and freedom to explore life as a young adult. As much as college life is exciting, it has its fair share of stressful situations. No doubt, the workload is higher than when you were in high school. Loads of assignments, assessments, research papers, group forums, and much more can take a toll, especially on first-year students. You may have taken a challenging course that requires long study hours to ace the units. With so much to accomplish, juggling between maintaining a social life and academics can be overwhelming. 

If you do not maintain a healthy balance, you might find yourself dealing with stress without any coping mechanism. The independent education structure in college allows students to practice self-discipline and to plan their study hours conveniently. Thus, most students end up spending too much time on books without engaging in other extra-curricular activities, which can lead to academic stress.

Today, numerous custom writing services are available online ready to help out stressed students with academic writing tasks. Feel free to order essay writing and delegate your assignments and research papers to professionals and get time to engage in other school events. 

You can also battle with social stress during your first months in college since you are in a new environment where you have to form new social circles. Getting a roommate, balancing relationships, and new friendships with academics on the side can be quite tricky. So, what do you do to cope with stress in college? Read on to find out more about the best ways to reduce stress as a student in college:

Plan Your Schedule 

With new-found freedom, it is tricky for most students to organize their study schedules. You need to practice self-discipline and ensure that you attend all the lectures and complete your assignments on time. You might be tempted to attend a weekend party while your term paper is due on Monday morning, causing late paper submissions. 

It is vital to be an organized student by prioritizing your to-do-list. Create a convenient space in your room where you can concentrate during your study hours. If you have a messy and noisy roommate, you can become a frequent visitor in your quiet college library. 

Also, create a timetable and follow it strictly so that you can train yourself to have a regular study schedule and personal time to carry out errands and participate in various social events. It helps you to maintain a balance and avoid stressful situations where you have to work all night to complete assignments. 

Exercise

Regular exercise is a coping mechanism for stress. It reduces feelings of frustration as well as prevents weight gain. A ten-minute work-out can do wonders for your well-being, especially in the morning before starting your day. It releases tension and puts your mind and body in a healthy balance. 

Even if you are not an early riser, you can incorporate simple exercises in your daily routines, such as walking around campus, to the mall, or a friend’s house. You can also take physical education or gym classes during your free time. Enroll in yoga, salsa dances, martial arts, or gymnastics. Find an option that suits your preference and have fun while keeping academic stress at bay. 

Healthy Living 

Most college students feed on junk and sodas since they find it cumbersome to prepare a healthy meal. Taking care of your mind, body, and soul is essential in living a healthy life. While fast foods are readily available and affordable, it may seem convenient to grab on the go, but it will take a toll on your health in the long run. Eat a balanced meal to get the energy to face the day with confidence. Stock up fresh-fruits and vegetables in your room and learn to cook simple and healthy meals.

With hectic schedules, most students find it hard to get adequate sleep. Tight deadlines, anxiety due to exams, and pulling all-nighters can drain your energy. So, plan your schedule and sleep early to get enough sleep. It is vital for your physical and mental health. 

Wise Budgeting

You need to budget your money wisely to avoid financial stress. Do not engage in impulse buying, or you will end up broke within no time. Have a budget in place to guide you in your daily expenses. Try to make meal plans if you love eating out by cooking a few times a week. If you leave outside the campus, set aside your commuter allowance per month to prevent missing lectures. If you have an entertainment allowance, stick by it and don’t take money from your meal budget when it is depleted. Practice self-discipline, and you will enjoy a fulfilling financial future even after college.

Finding Support

Starting a new life in college is always stressful since you leave a secure support system at home – family members and friends. On the other hand, developing a new circle of friends and learning people takes time and effort. You might end up feeling home-sick and lonely during the first few days, weeks, or even months. So, ensure that you keep in close contact with people who matter in your life – parents, guardians, or close friends at home. Call your mother, send an email, or organize a video conference with your family. It might boost your attitude and motivate you to push ahead with school.

Also, you can find social support by joining clubs and discussion groups with like-minded students. Be social and start making friends in your class. Form study groups and engage yourself in different activities in college. You will avoid stress and loneliness since college life will start making sense in the long run.  

Ultimately, stress management is different for all students. What works for you may not work for another individual. Thus, it is imperative to find a suitable coping mechanism that will help you to reduce stress. Have a positive attitude, talk to someone, and engage in relaxing activities. Take care of your mental health since it is valuable and impacts your academic success.

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Creating The New Face Of Commerce – Are You Ready?

Photo credit: ArtHouse Studio

There has never been a time in history that global commerce has been more impacted than now. Coronavirus has killed more than 480 thousand people, with many more sick and fighting for their lives. The experts have no cure yet and all we can do is clean everything with bacteria-killing cleaners. We have to stay 6-foot away from all people and we must wear a facial mask if we go out in public. Offices, restaurants, and government offices closed. Essential business took extreme caution and allowed people minimum service. 

First steps

Thousands of people began working remotely. Setting up home offices and using computers with special software, they were able to struggle along. Cell phones, video meetings, and email took the place of home offices. 

No one can predict when the virus will end. When it does, how many employers will want to go back to the expense of a fully staffed office? Employees had to recategorize responsibilities. Will big business want to return to paying two people to do the job one currently handles? 

An open market

When commerce begins to recover, businesses will struggle to get back on their feet. However, highly trained employees will be able to select where they want to work. But, those who are really smart are making sure they will be at the top of the list. If you are one of those people, you may be asking yourself how.

Your employer is not the bad guy

You cannot blame your employer for the economy. In many cases, the strain closed companies altogether. In most cases, it became a case of sacrificing the few to save the majority. The majority is often described as people who could do more than one job. People who had been promoted over time were often asked to do their job and many parts of the job they had been promoted from. For example, a person may work in accounts payable. He may have hired an assistant to enter the data into the computer and generate weekly and monthly reports. The assistant could be great at what she does, but the company cannot afford her during the upheaval of the pandemic. So, the accounts payable manager will have to do both jobs.

Getting the jump – Free college

The people who are sitting at home must face one fact. In their company, they are non-essential. So, how can they become essential? They head back to school and learn what they don’t know. If you are a few years out of college, young grads walking in the door know things you do not know. You have the experience and they have the updated knowledge. So, to beat that, you need to get the knowledge. With the combination, you are the only employee your company needs, whether you’re a small-time intern or you’re doing the social media for construction companies.

People often think their hands are tied. They are laid off or barely able to pay the bills. How can they get more education? There has never been a better time. You can take free online courses from Universities. You can learn something new, or advance your knowledge. Either way, you will improve your position in the workplace. 

Taking online courses means you can do these courses from home. If you are laid off or working remotely, you can work this into your day and it does not cost you a dime. 

These are probably classes that nobody wants, right?

No, actually these are courses that entrepreneurs usually take. They are top-drawer and quality courses that you will be proud to put on your resume.  These courses include:

 

And, if you just want to get started in your business get Shopify Compass. It too is free online. Check the information for each course. Some are accreted, others provide you with a certificate of learning.

Do not neglect the classes that include learning how you utilize social media platforms and email strategies. Email and social media will continue to climb in the world of marketing. With millions of viewers, you cannot afford not to know these platforms.

Share the knowledge

This can be a bit tricky. You want people in your company to know that you have been training and working since you’ve been gone. But, unless you are close friends with the CEO or President of the company, you would not make a great impression.  

By blowing your own horn. You can share this with co-workers who are on the job and let the word travel that way.

Volunteer?

You may consider volunteering to help out when you know the company is going through difficult days. Keep your face known and keep your skills up to date. This also gives the powers that be,   reason to remember you much faster than he will remember the name of the guy that calls upset every week demanding to know when he will be given his job back.

Free Online University Courses

You could not control the pandemic. You could not stop the dip in the stock market. You weren’t expecting a lay-off of this magnitude. But it is here and you have to deal with it. Turn this disaster into your opportunity. Don’t waste your time. Let this be the time your mind grows. You are the master of your university. So take the steps today to have a better tomorrow.

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5 Ways to Verify Your Sources

When you are writing for academia or research purposes, knowing your sources are legitimate is an important part of the process. You want to know that your stories and facts are accurate, and came from a reliable source. It is especially difficult on the internet to decide if something is true or not, as many things on the web can be faked or forged.

When you find a source you would like to use, take some time to verify the validity.

But how can you tell that your sources are always trustworthy? 

Here are five ways to background check your sources:

1 – Background Check of the Author

Academic or non-fiction works should always have an author listed, and a location – perhaps the university or lab where the research took place, or just where they happen to live. There are websites that are most often used by employers to screen potential employees, but if you are really dedicated, you can sometimes screen people to find out their education background.

For example, at ScoutLogic, they have an education screening that can indicate the highest degree completed. That way, you can find out if an author with the Master’s degree really has one, or if the “research” you’re reading is unverified.

2 – Primary, Secondary, Etc.

The next thing you should do is determine what type of source you’re looking at:

  • Primary sources are the best options – they are actual, first-hand account of events or research. They are considered the authority on the subject but can occasionally lack objectivity.
  • Secondary sources are a step beyond primary sources, and usually involve some kind of interpretation or analysis of a primary option.

Anything that doesn’t count as either of these two types should be suspicious. Try to only cite works that fall into one of these categories.

3 – Fact Checking

If you’re looking at an article or research report, it will cite other sources with similar (or even opposing) data. Don’t just look up one thing and take it at face value. Compare it against other research and information in the same field.

If there is numerical data involved, make sure to double check the numbers to see if they add up. Not all data findings will be the same, but you should have a collection to back up your points and not just pick one and assume it’s the best choice.

4 – Look at the Web Address

If you are using resources from the internet, check the web address of the writing. If it comes from a “.com” or “.org” website, it may not be the most reliable option.

Try to find sources from “.edu” and “.gov” websites, which are more likely to have legitimate research and information. Some other types of websites will use data from these, so just be sure to check where your data is coming from before you use it.

5 – Check the Dates

It’s a little different if you are looking for historical information, but checking for the most recently updated data can help the validity of your research.

We learn new things everyday, and all subjects are consistently evolving. Even historical data can be “updated” to some extent, as we learn more about translation and find more artifacts, for instance.

Be sure to always look at the dates on your sources. Anything older than 10 years is likely to be disproved!

Conclusion

Research can feel like a tedious process, but it’s important to know your sources are accurate and legitimate. Taking the extra time to verify things like the date, the source, and the author’s background can help support your own research, too. Follow these guidelines and you will find excellent resources.

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How To Use Peer Reviewed Research In Your Academic Paper

In this recurring and evolving age of information, one shouldn’t limit themselves to curiosity and exploration for knowledge. Everything starts with an idea and becomes the foundation of something new or better that contributes to society. If you’re seeking solutions to problems, the best way to find it is through evidence and research, thus you’re encouraged to write academically.

Academic writing is a piece of uniformly written work with brief, concise, truthful, and systematic evidence. This aims to find a solution to a problem and its results are either an invention or innovation.

The research process of academic writing doesn’t solely involve collecting preexisting information from different sources and combining them to label as your own. Instead, research involves a thorough investigation imbued with critical thinking. In order to write your academic paper, analytical thinking skills are paramount.

With that being said, when writing your academic paper, you should gather information only from reliable sources, such as peer reviewed research. These scholarly works are important pillars of science that should be utilized with full responsibilities by the researchers, while gaining its benefits as well.

 

What Is Peer Reviewed Research? 

Basically, peer reviewed research is a scholarly article, journal, research paper, or any written work that is reviewed by two or more experts in their designated field, along with suggestions and recommendations for revision, before being accepted for publication. There’s no researcher and research that produced a perfect work for the first time, thus the need for a larger room for improvement.

Peer reviewing matters greatly on the field of science. As a researcher, you should hold ethical responsibility for the sake of the quality and truthfulness in your work. You have to keep in mind that findings and results that you collect will contribute to the advancement of society. Thus, it’s only proper to put research, upon which researchers make claims about certain phenomena, under scrutiny by anyone accountable for it. 

There are numerous approaches to peer review, but generally, the two most common are: single-blind peer review and double-blind peer review. In a single-blind peer review, the reviewer knows who the author is but the reviewer’s name is hidden from the author. On the other hand, both parties are anonymous to one another in a double-blind peer review.

A peer review process is complex and strict, simply because of the importance it holds to the scientific community. If you’re interested more in discovering peer review and its manifestations, make sure to check out this post: What Is Peer Review In Science? A Complete Guide.

 

Importance of Using Peer-Reviewed Work On Your Paper

Now that the concept and importance of peer review is explained, let’s now go to the significance of incorporating it into another body of work. First of all, take note that not all journals and its enclosed articles are peer reviewed, especially free-to-access, online journals. So when you search for sources in your academic paper, and if you’re particular to peer reviewed research, you’ll have to dig in deeper. 

In terms of finding reliable and complete peer reviewed sources online, your university library account is essential to access those information. First, you can search for peer reviewed sources in your own university’s database and make sure to filter the ‘refereed’ from those that are not. 

In Google scholar, most peer reviewed journals only feature their abstract and a few short information about the research. Other peer reviewed journals that show their complete research might not have as good quality as those private ones, so take advantage of utilizing your university subscription. 

Generally, academic journals are categorized into ‘tiers’ which classifies their standing within the field and their selectiveness in accepting articles for their journal. The higher a journal sits on the ranking, the higher their reputation in providing top-of-the-line research, as well as their standards for accepting. Before papers are being submitted in their system, they always provide author guidelines that will be the basis of their acceptance or rejection. 

By definition, peer reviewed research are definitely reliable and credible sources to, not just add into your paper, but prioritize in doing so. They sit on a higher standard, quality, and authority in providing what information you need, as compared to non-peer reviewed ones. Basically, they’re not just ‘something’ to incorporate, but should ideally be on your work.

How To Incorporate Them Into Your Paper

Once you’ve found peer reviewed research to include on your paper, the next challenge now is how to incorporate them into your paper properly, with utmost critical and analytical thinking. Take note that peer reviewed research belongs under any scientific work, thus they’re cited as how all research would be, but we’ll get into the specifics later.

Before adding sources into your paper to prove your claims, you’ll have to find them first. But, it can be difficult to recognize peer reviewed research from non-peer reviewed ones, so you need to be creative in finding them. Most professors will require you to utilize peer reviewed research anyway. Peer reviewed works can also be referred to as “scholarly journals” or “refereed journals.”

To make your hunt a lot easier, here are some helpful tips:

  1. Limit your database, filtering only peer reviewed research. Whether you’re searching for sources in your university’s database or the online database, always narrow down your search through selecting that option or feature before clicking the search button. As mentioned earlier, some high quality peer reviewed research might only show a short summary, thus widen your exploration.
  2. Search in reliable websites and databases only. No matter how difficult finding sources can be, always make sure that you’re getting information only from legitimate and reliable websites. Some of the best and most reliable databases are listed here by the University of Michigan.
  3. Confirm that the publication is a peer reviewed research. Now comes to the most detailed part is to authenticate a peer reviewed research, especially if you weren’t able to identify if your source is really peer reviewed. Thus, you’ll have to look for journals physically. Although they’re not entirely successful with all resources, here are some suggested steps:
  • Look up for the masthead of the paper, usually enclosed in a box at the front or end of the whole publication. This contains necessary publication information. If you still haven’t identified it as peer reviewed, proceed to the next step.
  • See the masthead if there’s any information about methods for journal submission. Usually, there’s a written “…submit three copies…” if they’re peer reviewed, suggesting that the work has to be submitted to the reviewers first before being accepted for publication. However, this is not always the case.
  • Lastly, do your own judgment. Definitely, there are criteria to check if the work is professionally written. Check for technical terminologies, complete research parts (abstract, chapter 1 to 5, accessory parts), and most importantly, legitimate bibliographies and footnotes. 
  • If you have already conducted these steps but you’re still not sure if it’s peer reviewed, don’t be afraid to consult your instructor, colleagues, and even your institution. More sources from different minds means that you can have more diversity in your work.

Once you’ve compiled all your peer reviewed sources, it’s time to write your academic paper and incorporate these ideas in a unique and informative way. Now, onto the real process of putting these peer reviewed research into your academic paper, here are some tips that you can treat as a writing guide:

Start Early and Steer Clear From Procrastination

Everyone has probably gone through this at some point of their life: not starting a task immediately and finding themselves procrastinating right before the deadline. Writing an academic paper obviously takes time, and since your scholarly sources are written to be understood by mostly experts, it will take more time for you to incorporate them into your paper. 

To overcome this challenge, start your research early. Once you step into the process of incorporating and analyzing your scholarly sources, they’re more difficult to read and translate in your way. Most ideas will be new and unfamiliar to you. Thus, compile relevant peer reviewed research papers and start reading the abstracts and summaries first to identify if they’ll be helpful for your topic. 

Then, sort out all scholarly sources that are relevant to your topic, then start reading them thoroughly. The most time-consuming part of your research is definitely the second chapter which comprises the review of related literature and studies, which you will discuss the findings in scholarly journals that are related to your topic.

Conventionally, the second chapter always goes after the first, obviously. However, writing the second chapter first before the statement of the problem can give you a broader view of the topic.

 

Follow The Style Guide Of Journal Of Choice

Academic papers are always written systematically through following a specific format. Since journals and publication platforms sometimes vary in terms of formatting, always follow the style guide of your journal of choice. If your paper is a subject requirement, then use your professor’s provided style guide. 

Practicing this skill will be helpful when you continue to write during your academic and corporate future. Every journal has their own style and configuration so make sure that you follow them strictly, and set your personal preferences aside.

When incorporating your scholarly sources, never copy paste them as is, especially if they have a different style guide. These sources are meant to support and give evidence to your claims, so you need to explain them in a way that is connected to your topic. Make sure that you use these information while complying with the required style guide.

 

Make Use of Proper Citation

Peer reviewed or not, academic research has to be credited to its rightful authors. Failure to meet this ethical responsibility leads to a serious crime known as plagiarism. When mentioning ideas that are not originally yours, always make use of proper citation. 

Generally, sources and references are used not just to prove your claims, but it can also present facts and statistics, highlight relevant examples and illustrations, give authority to a certain idea, and so on. Before you add a source in your paper, it’s noteworthy to identify the purpose of utilizing it and how it will be presented in the best possible way. 

When utilizing your sources and writing them in your own words, always cite the source. Generally, there are three major citation style guides used in academic writing, depending on your field or topic:

  • American Psychological Association (APA): Education, engineering, social sciences
  • Modern Language Association (MLA): History, art, English, music, philosophy, linguistics, language, religion
  • Chicago Manual of Style: Supports two styles: (1) Chicago Notes and Bibliography, history and humanities, and (2) Chicago Author-Date, natural sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences

At the end of your paper, the list of all scholarly sources utilized in your research is always expected, and this is known as either the bibliography or reference list. 

 

Integrate Your Sources Seamlessly

If you’ve successfully compiled all your scholarly sources, determined the purpose of using them, and identified which citation style guide to use, it’s time to integrate them into your paper through three methods:

  • Paraphrasing: In paraphrasing, you put the relevant ideas from the source and translate them into your own words, while still giving credit to the original author. Paraphrased texts are almost the same length as the original text since you’ve put attention to details, but in your own words. It’s best to use this method when the original idea wasn’t clearly explained and you seem to have a better way of doing it.
  • Summarizing: As the word suggests, summarizing is creating a summary of an idea, thus highlighting only the key, concise points of a text. Summarizing is best to do when presenting all the main ideas in a paper briefly.
  • Quoting: When the ideas that you’ll incorporate into your paper are entirely important and specific, you have to quote them directly from the author. Always enclose these direct quotes in quotation marks and add proper citations. 

With overflowing resources, you might become too overwhelmed and overuse these information. Always keep in mind to be selective and concise. Include only relevant information that can contribute to your paper’s topic, since not everything in your scholarly journals will be directly relevant to your research. You’ll definitely encounter using two to three paragraphs, if you’re lucky enough, amidst a scholarly paper with multiple pages.

While filtering out only the essential information, also take note to stay focused on your topic. Your sources are only meant to support your claims, thus your paper shouldn’t be centered on these. Moreover, don’t overuse too many sources and quotations into a single paragraph.

 

Salient Points

Research is a mesmerizing endeavor that never stops – you think of a central idea to solve your problem, find relevant information to support them, and try to prove your claims. It’s a continuous learning process that encourages people to keep on pursuing their curiosities. While scholarly sources are abundant in different fields of science, you should be able to recognize, classify, find their purpose, and incorporate them into your research in a logical manner. 

 

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Making Friends in College: Tips that Work

There are many tips on making friends in college. What for? Why do you need these tips? Some people – we know this from life and numerous movies about college students – have only one or two best friends or maybe even just a sibling and are doing just fine. They completely devote their student life either to study or to some hobby. They have a goal, and they don’t need to hang out aimlessly. Mostly these guys and girls are introverts. They can make more friends, but they don’t need it. But such students are a minority. What about the rest?

So You Are in College…

Being alone in college, especially if you live on campus, is next to impossible. And quoting someone famous, “One cannot live in society and be free from society.” So even if you have the strongest desire to keep your distance, be ready to accept the fact that it’s not going to happen, always someone will keep you company, even if you do not want it: a teacher, a roommate in a dorm, a neighbor at a table in the dining room, and so on. 

But one thing is the society that is being imposed on you, and another thing entirely is the society that you want and seek. We are social beings and need to be surrounded by people. Just be sure to choose the right ones. 

So the question is, What to do? How to make friends with people who potentially may change your life for the better?

There are a lot of “classic” tips, whole instructions and guidelines, which contain various tips on how to make friends in college. Some of these tips are more like good wishes because, in practice, not all of them work.

On the other hand, some of the tips are quite suitable for their use, because they are taken from life and tested by real people. Below we will try to share only the tips that do work.

Become Interested in Others

If you want to make friends with someone, you must show genuine interest in a person. Ask about his or her hobbies, favorite movies, exciting experiences like traveling or backpacking, about their day and family, but not in a stalking way though – just a friendly interest. Let them ask you the same questions, and don’t be shy to answer. It may turn out you have lots in common, and the next thing you know, you are the best buddies.

Try to be open and friendly, but don’t overshare, or you might end up earning a reputation of a weirdo. Show only your positive sides, and leave your flaws for the next level of friendship.

Of course, for some, it may contradict the Be Yourself advice, but in this case, you need to take time and be sure it is the right person you are opening up to.

Remember not to impose your company on another person, especially if he or she gives you the cold shoulder repeatedly. Here it is best to politely “bow out” and leave.

It’s All About the Right Place

Let’s also think about where and how it’s easiest to make friends in college.

Where does a college student spend the most time? The answer is obvious: in the classroom, in the dorm, and in the cafeteria. It is easiest to try to make a friend in one of these places. You will have to get acquainted in any case cause you will not be able to remain incognito for all of your university years.

And one of the simplest ways to make a friend is to suggest a joint pastime: going out for a coffee or lunch before the classes start, walking together to the next class or back to the dorm, watching a movie in the nearest cinema, or going to a university event. Spending time together will let you learn more about the potential friend and whether you’d like to continue building a friendship. It is also an ideal moment to let the other person learn more about you. As mentioned above, try to show your best self. And most importantly, be positive: people tend to feel uncomfortable and confused around sad and or negative individuals!

Joint pastime is not limited to fun activities only. You can also be spending lots of time on a joint project or working together on complicated writing assignments, for which you can hire professional essay writers and spend the extra free time getting new knowledge on favorite subjects.

Sports events, social activities, music groups, theater performances, libraries, and any other type of student activity you can think about – all are great places to make friends, and at the same time, do what you enjoy. Just like you get interested in other people, they will get interested in you and will try to make friends with you. Just be sure not to get too nervous and give them a chance to know you. After all, not only you want to build friendships in college.

Final Thoughts

Having someone to have your back in college and share unforgettable moments of being a student is priceless. Often friendships built during the college years turn into lifetime friendships. Don’t rid yourself of a chance to find a new best friend by staying aside and distancing. We only live once!

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