Patrick Capriola

Education Industry Professional

Tech Professionals for Home School Education

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home-patrick capriolaTech professionals are taking their children away from standard schooling by committing them to a home school education. The homeschool trend is growing more connected to technology due in part to the do-it-yourself attitude that exists in both. Mark Zuckerberg is a familiar name among the tech community, especially when recalling how he was able to build a communication giant from his dorm room at Harvard University. When looking at his success, some feel that if he can do that on his own then children can be educated in their parent’s own way. One of the most popular TED Talks ever is called How Schools Kill Creativity. This speech by Sir Ken Robinson guides more viewers toward exploring the realm of techie homeschoolers.

Between the years of 1999 and 2012, the number of homeschoolers increased from 1.7 percent to 3.4. That is double what it was in 1999 and many of these students come from families rooted in technology. The mentality that guides techies into homeschooling is the desire to make something already existing better. Some tech people analyze the school system and feel that they could do better teaching out of their garage, so that is the route they take.

There is an element of technology that does not lend itself to socialization too well. Adolescence in particular can be a time of discomfort in the social scene. Meanwhile, the idea of home school or independent learning may be refreshing to these students. Caterina Fake, the co-founder of Flickr, refers to herself as one who did not watch much television. Instead, she read books and played classical music. She knew she was different but viewed it as a positive. As a result, she has homeschooled her three children with the help of her partner.

To learn much more about how the children of tech professionals are increasing homeschooler numbers, visit Wired online here.

3 Helpful Steps for Learning a New Language

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Learning a new language can be exciting and challenging. Some seem to be able to grasp many languages with ease while others can tend to struggle with using new linguistic tools. Matthew Youlden can speak nine languages and understand various others. He provides tips for people looking to expand their language skills.

Establish a purpose

Commitment is an important aspect of learning a new language. If you don’t have a firm reason for pursuing this new set of skills, it will be easy to become discouraged. Try to make sure that your reasoning has some depth of meaning. A shallow reason such as wanting to look cool will make this journey short lived. Alternatively, if you truly have a desire to connect on a deep level with new cultures, you’ll be more likely to make the long term commitment to using the language.

Explore learning tools and practice

It will be important to use your new language everyday. With each new thing learned, put it into practice immediately. Matthew mentions that he tries to think, write, and speak in the languages he learns. Immersion is imperative. Go the extra mile by listening to music in that language. When meeting someone new, aim to use your skills and have a native speak back to you in their language.

A learning support system

Grab a partner to help with practicing. Matthew enlisted the help of his brother in his quest to grasp new ways of speaking and understanding. Between them, they shared a competitive energy that motivated each of them to be more proficient. While this language partner does not need to be a sibling, any person that will help drive you in this journey can make a big difference. You may be more likely to commit to your learning process.

Want to learn more tips from Matthew? Visit Babble online here.

Education Companies for Modernization

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Several companies specializing in education are standing out for their approach to innovation. There goals include ongoing learning and giving teachers the encouragement they need to succeed. Find out which companies gained recognition from Fast Company in the list below.

General Assembly

The businesses of today need skills in areas such as digital marketing, data science, and more. General Assembly, a learning hub with locations in 13 cities, offers courses in these areas. Ninety percent of those who have finished these programs have found work in just three months of completion. Certifications are now be put in place to distribute to upcoming course graduates.

Revolution Foods

School lunch rooms are often a place filled with mixed food reviews. Revolution Foods provides school kids with healthy food that they want to eat. The chefs of this company even engage students in the food creation process to hear their feedback throughout each project. Revenue for Revolution Foods is steadily increasing with company plans to expand.

EDCAMP

Teachers are now instructing courses geared toward further professional development for other teachers. This program is special because each leading teacher will only instruct topics where they are passionate. The Edcamp method is a switch from the typical sequence where teachers professionally develop through studying under experts who don’t practice what they teach. This new setup will encourage further communication within an industry of practicing professionals. Some will refer to this as a grassroots teacher movement.

Google

Technology is increasingly becoming a valuable part of the classroom. To follow along with this trend while still acknowledging schools’ financial bottom line, Google’s offering of products came in handy. Teachers across the country use Chromebooks in their work day for class related duties. Google even offers applications that instructors can use to take attendance and manage assignments. YouTube Education is also a popular resource for schools.

To learn about more companies that are making changes in today’s education systems, visit Fast Company here.

Tips for Exam Preparation

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There are several ways to improve your study habits. In the old days, the process of memorizing a textbook was more common place. However, follow the suggestions below for a more modern and fun approach to learning.

Underline
Try reading a portion of a required text. Upon noting the most important aspects of the read, go back and underline these sections. An underline is proof that a portion of the text was particularly engaging. Since the brain can only retain so much, be sure to highlight no more than one sentence per paragraph or just a few key phrases.

Create Study Notes
After sitting through a lecture, try placing the ideas in your own words. As one gets better with the strategy, it will become faster to reiterate the lesson’s topics without forgetting anything. Compiling notes can be done by hand or by using an online tool.

Mind Mapping
This tool can be used to focus on valuable exam points. Other uses for a mind map may include brainstorming or outlining an essay to be written. There are several tools available via the internet that can be used to develop a mind map.

Use Flashcards
Flash cards are particularly helpful to help remember dates, formulas, or vocabulary. Therefore, this method is most appropriate for subjects such as physics, geography, history, or a language. Many find this a fun study method.

Develop Quizzes
Creating and taking a quiz developed for a review of upcoming exam materials can reveal the areas where you have greater strengths or weaknesses. After acquiring this knowledge, study efforts can become more targeted. Quizzes can also be shared with classmates who can help you remember items that you may have forgotten to include.

Mnemonic Rules
If you need to memorize a list or set of information, this method is particularly helpful. Mnemonics function by grouping concepts with other ideas that were already familiar. The structure of this strategy will vary from person to person.

To learn about more study tips, visit Exam Time online here.

 

Social Media Tools to Help the Parents of Students

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Teachers are often concerned with keeping their students engaged. Nevertheless, parent involvement in the classroom is vital as well. With the influx in technology, there are now applications that help parents be more involved with their children’s education.

Skype
Parents often want to be a part of classroom events such as story time and special presentations. Skype allows for parents to participate even if they can’t be there in person. Military parents and distant grandparents can now participate in these happenings through the app. Skype is available for computers, tablets, and even smart phones. For parents who work long hours, they can even attend their parent-teacher conference virtually.

Twitter
This application offers tools that help parents stay up to date with classroom updates. Teachers can use Twitter to post homework updates, school news, project deadlines and more. To take it one step further, there is then a free tool that allows parents to receive the updates via text. Known as Fast Follow by Twitter, this application makes it simple for parents to have access to a reliable alert system.

VolunteerSpot
Parents often volunteer to help with classroom festivities. This application streamlines the parent sign up process. Now, they can better coordinate how to send food supplies and see calendar events that come with automatic reminders. Setting up volunteers for performances, field trips, and class parties is more efficient with VolunteerSpot.

Pinterest
A great way for parents and teachers to share ideas is through creating virtual boards. Some helpful shared ideas include age specific and educational subjects for class. Other examples include fun books and science fair ideas. Students can even create their own boards for recess games or styles for prom. Parents may then be interested in healthy snacks for lunch or class party ideas.

For more suggestions, visit We Are Teachers here.

Students and the Need For A More Active Day

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Angela Hanscom is a pediatric occupational therapist. She spent time researching how students’ ability to focus in school is impacted by their inactivity throughout the day. She believes that students have even been inappropriately diagnosed of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Upon writing on this topic, Hanscom visited a local school to observe a middle school classroom first hand.

Over the course of 90 minutes, Hanscom noticed that she was very uncomfortable herself. She found herself contorting into strange positions just to pay attention. Her leg was even bouncing to stay alert. The keyword here was fidgeting. As she looked around, the children’s actions were much the same. Half of the class was slouched over their desks and other students would make routine trips to the bathroom and pencil sharpener. Angela Hanscom intended to observe for a full day, however she decided to leave right after lunch. She questioned how these students managed to tolerate such circumstances day after day.

The human body is not designed to remain still for long periods of time. Effects such as tight ligaments and underdeveloped sensory systems may occur. The overall idea is that the body becomes weaker when it is not being regularly active. Teachers are aware of the importance of their students moving around. However, they are faced with the challenges of covering more material in less time in order to produce higher test scores. Parents are reaching out to school officials to help encourage change. Hopefully school will become more aware of children’s need to move. To read more about Angela Hanscom’s research, visit the Washington Post here.

The Challenges of High School Students Without Homes

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Statistics show that homelessness is at a high for high school aged students. There are two forms of this epidemic that occur today. First, one can be homeless without a family or any support system. Alternatively, a situation where the parent is not present and the student is obliged to care for a younger sibling can also be considered homelessness. When it comes to schooling, public schools provide educational resources for these individuals. They are able to attend school and have access to transportation. However, housing is an ongoing struggle as schools are not able to fill this void.

Foster care is one housing option. Although, once students reach age 17, they are aging out of the system. Homeless education coordinators and school liaisons in Michigan, such as Beth McCullough, are working to lessen this problem. Now, the schools and communities in need are working together to place homeless children with other families. They are also striving to provide these students with the resources they did not have previously. Host families step up to be mentors to the students they allow to stay with them. They coach them in how to effectively transition into adulthood, where most of them realize higher education is the key to creating a better life.

87% of students who become homeless stop going to school. Here is where community organization step in since often public schools reach funding limits due to transportation expenses. Schools on Wheels is an example of an organization that steps in to assist homeless students. They help them prepare for the SATs, complete high school, and understand how financial aid works for attending college. After accepted and send to college, Schools on Wheels will even be there to help students move into dorm rooms. More than just an organization, this program becomes the family support that was missing for these young adults.

For more information on homeless students and education visit U.S. News here: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2014/09/29/homeless-high-schoolers-face-barriers-to-education

 

Companies Fund Higher Education for Employees

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MoneyBusinesses are taking note of their employees’ financial needs when it comes to higher education. Several programs have been implemented across companies to relieve the monetary burden of upper level education. Starbucks and United Technologies are leaders in this employee programming.

United Technologies is an aerospace and defense firm in Connecticut. It has a program known as the Employee Scholar Program. Over the nearly 20 year span of the program, 35,000 employees have earned degrees of various levels in the disciplines they chose. UTC made it clear that their aim was to have the most educated workforce in the world. Elizabeth Amato, a senior vice president from Human Resources, noted that this program also serves as an influential trait for the company. It helps gain plenty of interest from prospective employees and assists in the retention and development of these workers as well.

UTC is very generous in their offerings through the Scholar Program. Tuition, books, and fees are all taken care of for the company’s participants. Another great benefit is the student’s ability to choose any accredited university. Employees even receive paid hours off each week based on how many credits they are managing. Students taking 6 credits are allowed 3 paid hours off each week.

Starbucks offers a significant tuition relief program as well. A few changes exist between this program and the program at UTC. First, Starbucks waits until the student has finished 21 credits before they contribute any funds toward tuition. Also, students do not have a choice of the university they would like to attend. Employees must take courses through Arizona State University’s online offerings.

Overall, United Technologies offers a higher contribution. Starbucks negotiated with ASU to have the tuition rates discounted and therefore puts up a total of $17,000 to cover the difference over two years. The overall value of the program including the amount discounted is $36,700. UTC comes out ahead with an overall offering of $45,000 to students, which comes directly from the company.

Please visit the Forbes article here for more information:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2014/07/02/a-company-education-program-thats-better-than-starbucks/

 

Reading Comprehension

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Reading comprehension is one of the most important skills that those in high school can develop. Due to its vitality, it is also one of the most common weakness among students. This skill can not be perfected overnight, however with help from parents, it can be greatly improved.

With anything, practice makes perfect. help your student discover what he or she likes to read. Reading on a regular basis will help them fully understand the majority of the words and learn some new ones. Reading information above your child’s reading level will be too difficult and your child will not comprehend the reading. Material that introduces new words periodically is the best way to bulk up their vocabulary.

Another way to advance their reading comprehension is to learn about what your student is reading. Ask him or her about the content and look for a summary of what they’re reading. Ask questions about what happened in the material and what they think is going to happen next.

At some point, the reading material assigned to your child will become difficult. Help your child to reread portions of the text and learn how to break it down. Using context clues to figure out the meaning of foreign words is also a very useful skill. In essence, teach your reader to break passages into smaller, more manageable chunks to decode meaning.

In some cases, you may not be capable to handle your child’s new skills. Hiring a professional reading tutor can be successful in improving grades and teaching new skills.

For more information read on at http://huntingtonhelps.com/resource/article/Tips-for-Boosting-your-High-School-Students-Reading-Comprehension/#.U4Tgc_ldV8F

Cycling Benefits

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In addition to math and science, writing and reading, health education is also very important is well so that people can live happy, healthy lives. Here is some great information regarding why Cycling can be both fun, but also a very healthy way to get moving.

 

7 benefits of Cycling

Bicycling is one of the most efficient forms of human locomotion, but it is also one of the best activities you can do year round to improve your health.

Cycling is good for your heart:

Cycling is known to improve your cardiovascular endurance and fitness as well as decrease your risk of heart disease.

Cycling benefits your muscles:

Bike riding is fantastic for building and toning muscles, specifically in the lower portion of your body. Your calves, your thighs, and your glutes all benefit from the activity. It is also a great exercise for those who suffer from join conditions or pain in their legs of hips.

Cycling slims your waistline:

It is known to burn off unwanted calories, especially when cycling at a fast pace. It has been associated with ramping up metabolism and keeping weight gain down.

Riding is good for your lifespan:

Bicycling is accredited to helping you life a longer life as it has often been associated with increasing your lifespan.

Cycling is good for your coordination:

Keeping the bike upright while moving your feet and legs in continuous circles paired with steering with both of your hands is good practice for coordination skills.

Biking is beneficial to your mental health:

Cycling is linked to improving your mental health status.

Cycling is fantastic for your immune system:

Biking can strengthen your immune system and ward off numerous kinds of cancers.

For more information please read on at http://news.discovery.com/adventure/the-top-7-health-benefits-of-cycling.htm