A Beginners Guide to Online Education

A Beginner's Guide to Online EducationThe very first thing that you should do when you are trying to learn ASP online is to create a free Spss tutor account. This will allow you to set up your learning objectives, but also give you the ability to communicate with other members who are taking the same course. The world of computers and the Internet are a small place and a large number of people are creating their own websites to share knowledge with others. Even more so with the advent of the Web being available to everyone at any time.For people who are just starting out in this business, it can be a really good idea to join a forum where you will be able to make friends and interact with other members of the business and the ASP online community. If you would like to learn more about getting a Spss tutor account for free, the very first thing that you will want to do is to visit the ASP member forums and review what the other members have to say about the great training options that are out there for beginners. There are thousands of members who have different opinions on the subject and you will find that there are a lot of things that you need to consider when you are looking to learn more about ASP.For this reason, you will need to choose the ones that have the most positive comments about the Spss courses, because the ones that have negative comments and are not very helpful are likely to be deleted from the site. The key is to read through as many reviews as possible, but also to take into consideration which ones are the most helpful.If you are interested in using one of the good Spss tutor websites, you will need to register as an instructor, which will be totally free. Once you are on the site, you will be given a number of different courses that you can use to learn everything that you need to know about the way of the computer. Some of these courses can be found on the site and some you will have to pay for.If you are looking for some other resources to use, then there are lots of people who are just starting out in the business of Spss and may be able to help you find a good course. This is a great way to get the information that you need and in the time that you need to learn everything that you need to know about ASP. The one thing that you need to remember is that the more time that you take to learn about the basics, the faster you will get to learn the finer points.You will be able to find a lot of other people who are starting out in the ASP business and they are going to be able to provide you with some advice and guide you as you learn more about the industry. When you first start off in the business, you will not be as experienced as someone who has been doing it for a while, but you will have to learn and get experience as you go along.Because of the great offers that Scirra is offering for online education, many people are choosing to get their degrees online through this company. Some people are even finding that t hey are getting paid money to get their Masters Degree online with this company and it is something that you will want to make sure that you investigate.

The Introverts Guide to Enjoying Solo Travel - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / The Introverts Guide to Enjoying Solo Travel - Introvert Whisperer The Introverts Guide to Enjoying Solo Travel Solo travel is a remarkable thing to enjoy. It’ll allow you to explore the world freely without relying on the company of anyone else.   However, it can prove to be quite a challenge for introverts as you may be reluctant to meet other people and join in with group activities.   If that’s the case; here’s the introvert’s guide to enjoying solo travel.   Explore beyond your comfort zone One great way to enjoy solo travel as an introvert is to explore the areas beyond your comfort zone.   While this may seem like an entirely daunting prospect at first, you’ll soon see developments and improvements in your confidence levels and people skills.   Any activity that you wouldn’t usually participate in, such as kayaking, mountain climbing or bungy jumping for example, will really push you out of your comfort zone and help to build your confidence massively. It will also show you that you’re much more capable of things than you first thought, which will only aid you when it comes to future solo travel trips.   Immerse yourself in nature a lot Immersing yourself in nature is such an ideal way to enjoy solo travel as an introvert.   Spending time in nature in places such as the beautiful Scottish Highlands really allows you to reconnect with yourself and become one with your surroundings. Walking in the Scottish Highlands is the perfect place to do this as you can enjoy the peace and quiet and enjoy spending some quality time with yourself.   Even if you only go for a walk through the local park in the city that you’re visiting, you can really try to reconnect with yourself and enjoy the beautiful scenery and tranquillity that nature offers.     Pluck up the courage to ask someone to take your picture As a notorious introvert, you may be incredibly shy when it comes to asking people, especially strangers, for a favour but as a solo traveller, this is an incredibly effective way to ensure you’re enjoying yourself.     Something as simple as asking someone to take your picture can be a great way to embrace solo travel and ensure that you document all your experiences. While taking your own pictures of all the landscapes and cityscapes that you’ve seen is amazing, you also need to make sure you’ve got plenty of pictures of yourself too!   Most people will be more than happy to help you out and take your picture, especially if they recognise how much of a big deal it was for you to go out of your way to ask them.   Sit near the bar at restaurants Another great way to enjoy solo travel as an introvert is to sit at the bar at restaurants. While it may seem like an odd thing to suggest, it’s actually a great tip to bear in mind when you’re solo travelling as an introvert.   This is because a seat at a table in the middle of a busy restaurant can feel quite overwhelming and intimidating, especially when you’re eating alone.     However, by sitting at the bar, you’ll have a great view of the ambience and vibe of the restaurant, without being in the middle of all the hubbub. It’ll also mean that you won’t have to feel too awkward when ordering your food as you’ll be close to the staff and waiters who can easily and comfortably take your order.   Take advantage of group tours As an introvert, you’re much more likely to want to spend the majority of your time alone when travelling.   However, a great way to enjoy your solo travel trip even more is to join group tours. You’ll get the chance to meet lots of new people, see things you might not have otherwise seen and it’s also a great opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone.   There are so many amazing group tours to take advantage of. Whether you want to join a group tour of an entire country, city or just an excursion, they can be an incredible way to enhance your solo travel experience even more.   Conclusion Enjoying solo travel comes in many different forms and variations. Each individual experience of solo travel pertains to each person but by following the steps above, you’re much more likely to enjoy your time solo travelling as an introvert.   Ensure you push yourself out of your comfort zone when travelling and try to join group tours when you can to give yourself the chance to meet new people and gain new experiences.     Immersing yourself in nature as much as you can is also a great way to enjoy solo travel as you’ll be able to take yourself off for long walks and enjoy the beautiful views and scenery.   Author Bio: Rebecca is a translator by day, and a traveler mostly at night. She is an expert on living with jet lag â€" and packing in tiny suitcases. You can read more of her exploits at RoughDraft. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Cook to Impress Discover the Benefits of Home Cooking

Cook to Impress Discover the Benefits of Home Cooking Learn about the Benefits of Home Cooking ChaptersBenefits of Healthy Eating for ChildrenThe Social Side of Eating and CookingCooking Merges Food and CultureBecome more Eco-Responsible through CookingCooking will Stimulate your Creativity and Increase your Cognitive Development.Learning how to cook gives you the skills to play with flavours, take care of your health and get pleasure from your food!Today, the kitchen is becoming more and more a centerpiece of the house, a space where social life, well-being and relaxation go hand in hand with the pleasure of food and cooking.We all know that cooking is key to aging in good health. Want to learn how to cook well? Want to learn how to cook without oil, without sugar, or without salt? Want to make healthier food choices?Cooking is a fundamental skill that needs to practiced and perfected every day and Superprof has even more good reasons for you to get cooking and start living well on a daily basis.Make a list before you go to the supermarket, substitute unhealthy oils for Organ ic coconut oil for example or cut calories by stocking up on veggies and foods that pack in nutricious value. Do your research, see which spices you can use to add flavor, try different grains, swap out animal fats for nuts or vegan alternatives, the possibilities are endless!Here are some recipes to help you get cooking so you can start reaping the health benefits of your new skills and cooking techniques.What’s next? You’ve mastered the cooking now let’s try to master those skills to impress your loved one!

The 5 Best Electric Guitars for Beginners

The 5 Best Electric Guitars for Beginners Megan L. With so many electric guitars on the market, its easy to feel overwhelmed if youre a beginner picking out your first ax. We recommend trying out lots of guitars in the shop and asking your electric guitar teacher for tips as you shop around. To help you get started in your quest, take a look at five of our favorite picks to learn guitar with! Some of the main features youll want to pay attention to as you play each guitar include the style and shape of the body, the pickups, and the way the neck and strings feel under your fingers. Guitars come in different shapes and sizes, with different neck shapes as well, so pay attention to what feels right for you to hold and play. The pickups are the metal bars under the strings that conduct the sound from your strings to your amp. Well be looking at guitars with single coil pickups, which have a brighter sound, and humbuckers, which have a darker, fuller sound. As you test drive guitars, keep these features in mind and youre sure to find the perfect beginners electric guitar for you. Epiphone Les Paul Standard Photo by Matt Prince The Epiphone Les Paul has the quality build, features, and classic beauty of the Gibson Les Paul at a lower price, making this guitar an excellent choice for beginners. The Epiphone Les Paul has two humbucker pickups which give you a really full-sounding clean tone. You can switch between the pickups and there are pots for tone control on each pickup, so you can use this guitar to experiment and find the sound you like. Due to their versatility and durability, Epiphone Les Pauls are popular among rock, pop, country, punk, and funk players. Fender Stratocaster Photo by  Vintage Guitarz The Fender Stratocaster is one of the most famous and widely played electric guitars in the world. Stratocasters have three single coil pickups and a five way switch, so you can modulate between different combinations of the pickups. This gives the Strat a sound ranging from bright and jangly to mellow and twangy. The Stratocaster also has a nice cutaway in the body along the bottom side of the neck so you can more easily reach the higher frets. The Stratocaster was designed for country music, but has since been popular with rock, jazz, and even heavy metal guitarists. As you learn guitar, youll want to try out songs in different genres, so a versatile instrument like the Strat really comes in handy. Ibanez Artcore Photo by JazGaz See the f-shaped cut-out in the body of the Ibanez Artcore guitar pictured above? This guitar is whats known as a semi-hollow body guitar. Its lighter than the solid body electric guitars weve been looking at, and the cut-outs in the body give it a more acoustic-like, resonant sound. Hollow body guitars tend to generate a bit more feedback and noise than solid bodies, but the humbucker pickups on this guitar keep the noise and hum to a minimum. The Ibanez Artcore is an inexpensive option for beginners interested in playing blues, jazz, or pop music. Epiphone SG Photo by Chico Luz Modeled after the Gibson SG, this Epiphone guitar is another great value for beginners. The cutaways in the body give easy access to all the frets up to where the neck meets the body. The SG is a very popular guitar with metal and hard rock players due to its edgy look, playability, and loud set-up. Without adding any effects, the clean tone on this guitar already sounds aggressive and very metal. This model is a lighter guitar, which is great if you plan to play on your feet a lot. Additionally, it holds tune well and wont break the bank. Squier Telecaster Photo by SMII TonPair Squier guitars are essentially cheaper versions of the Fender brand, which can make them a great choice for beginning players who want a Fender but arent ready to make the investment. The Squier Telecaster is based on the original electric guitar that Fender introduced to the mass market in the 1950s. The Tele has two single coil pickups and a three-way switch so you can toggle between the two. The Telecasters sound tends to be a bit brighter and louder than the Stratocaster For a classic rock and roll, country, or surf guitar sound, the Squier Telecaster gives you great value and a classic look. Whats your dream electric guitar? Do any of these guitars stand out to you? Let us know in the comments below! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Why Education Reforms Are Needed

Why Education Reforms Are Needed 0SHARESShare It is an appropriate time as educational reform is getting the kind of attention that it deserves. It is being discussed and explored through several media agencies, however, lots of people are still not clear about why education reforms are needed. The programs like distance learning, online tutoring, e-learning are few initiatives to grow children of today to become intelligent professionals of tomorrow. The primary motive of education reform is to bring progress in young generation that leads to long-term positive results into society and the country. It is the duty of the government of every country to take initiatives and bring the appropriate changes in education. It is well said that the future of the country depends on the youth of the country. Betterment of Human Lives: An appropriate education reform enables youth to distinguish things that are right and wrong. It helps youngsters creating matured citizens to lead a happy life. It is right said that community constructing becomes stronger with education reforms. Encouraging new and innovative changes in education can help youngsters to discover their new self. When students participate in the education reform program, it will be easier for them to bring the revolution. Reform programs make them tolerant towards all cultures and religions and become matured enough to accept the modifications with far better understanding. Betterment of the Country: There is plethora of education reforms that could be excellent help and support in solving numerous troubles of any country. The creative solutions and requisite expertise makes youngsters more productive. It can be great benefits for solving national level difficulties. Bring Economic Stability: Education reforms bring economic stability, however it may take some time to attain it. Education change empowers children and youth of today to become more mature to handle finances to be in a better position to face the globe around them confidently. Today, lots of children pursuing higher education degrees are taking up online educational programs and access online tutors to seek professional guidance. Online tutor shares their real time experiences and case study to the students right at college degree level benefits a lot right from step one in their professional career. [starbox id=admin]

Metal Guitar

Metal Guitar How Much Do You Know About the Metal Guitar? ChaptersThe History of the Metal GuitarThe Different Types of Metal GuitarMetal Guitar’s Technical AspectsStrings for Electric GuitaristsFamous Metal GuitaristsMetal Guitar LessonsIf you’ve ever heard a Hendrix tune, rocked out to Metallica or pogoed to the Sex Pistols, you’ve at least heard a metal guitar.Sure, the acts listed above are old-timey references; music has gotten so much more diverse, hasn’t it? But would you believe that today’s music still draws on the influence of those big names and others?The metal guitar came about at a time of great social upheaval, when youths on both sides of the pond and all across Europe were rebelling against the niceness of their parents’ musical tastes.The loud, screeching â€" almost discordant sounds made by this guitar and amplified to over 100 decibels seemed, in many ways, to reflect the simmering anger of the times, giving it license to spill over in concert arenas and in the streets.They were exciting, invigorating times, fraught with danger and exploration, all done to the tune of a metal guitar.Come with us now as we explore this instrument of chaos, this weapon of liberation… this guitar that stands for all of the anger of a generation â€" and how it has changed its tune over time. Imagine soloing on this 1932 prototype electric guitar known as a frying pan! Source: Wikipedia Credit: Museum of Making MusicBy the time George Beauchamp, the pioneering manager of the National Guitar Corporation applied for a patent electrical stringed instrument, other manufacturers were designing their own electric guitars.His patent was issued in 1937, in case you were curious.While Gibson’s ES-150 1936 model electric guitar, featuring a single-coil, hexagon-shaped ‘bar’ pickup was quite successful, it wasn’t until Les Paul built his solid-body ‘log guitar’ that things really got cooking.The Gibson Les Paul was introduced in 1952 and music would never be the same again.The 50s and 60s saw a revolution in music; gone were the big bands, replaced by what became known as popular music.Cliff Richard and the Shadows’ hit, Move It, is credited as being the first British rock’n’roll hit, American style. If you watch the video closely, you’ll notice something about t he two guitars…We’ll give you a hint: how many strings do they have? And do you know how many strings a flamenco guitar usually has?The Different Types of Metal GuitarNaturally, when we say ‘metal guitar’ we mean guitars used for metal music â€" heavy metal, thrash, speed, grindcore, black, power, death and doom. Those names sound rather ominous but the music is really not so bad.All of these types of metal music and others not mentioned all rely on the electric guitar. The differences lie in how they are constructed, how many strings they have and the sound effects it can make.For instance, the solid-body guitar relies on electric pickups and an amplifier to transmit its sound. If you have such a guitar handy, try strumming it without plugging it in; the sound is flat and hollow.A chambered-body guitar helps achieve a quasi-acoustic tone while still retaining the essential characteristics and sound of an unchambered guitar. Another advantage is that it is often a bit lighte r than solid-body guitars.A semi-acoustic guitar has roughly the same depth as a solid-body guitar but its body is hollow and the electronic pickups are on the body rather than built-in.Like its fully acoustic counterpart, the semi-acoustic is made from thin sheets of wood. While its acoustic properties are not sufficient for a live concert performance, the guitar player may unplug it and strum it as they would a classical guitar.If you were playing at an ‘unplugged’ session, you would likely want a full hollow-body guitar. They are considered electric guitars because they have fitted pickups. And, like semi-acoustic guitars, they have f-shaped sound holes.An electric-acoustic guitar may be outfitted in several different ways: a piezoelectric pickup under the instrument’s bridge or on the bridge mounting plate, or they may have a condenser microphone inside their body.This type of electric guitar is considered more an acoustic instrument than an electric one because the pickup s transmit vibration from the guitar body rather than from the strings. A neck-through guitar does not necessarily call for any unusual guitar techniques to play it Source: Wikipedia Credit: Kirkwood123The reason for the seventh string is to increase the range of playing; it adds a lower B without sacrificing the treble notes. In some cases, the added string may add to the treble range, while keeping the bass range of a six-string.Tuning a metal guitar, whether it has six strings or seven, works much the same way as a regular guitar; the guitar player simply incorporates a lower B, resulting in B1-E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4. If yours is a six-string, simply omit the B1.Naturally, there are other ways to tune this guitar; for instance, a seven-string jazz guitarist might prefer dropped-A tuning (A1-E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4); metal musicians opt for this tuning because it makes it easier to play power chords.This final tidbit might be stating the obvious: you cannot buy a pack of six strings and a random seventh. If you have a seven-string guitar, you must shop for a 7-pa ck of strings. Long gone are the days when a lone guitarist picking a guitar could hold audiences in a thrall Image by Pexels from PixabayFamous Metal GuitaristsAs we mentioned at the start of this article, the electric guitar revolutionised music and gave birth to new types of music. Today, the typical metal band â€" no matter which type generally has not one but two guitarists: a rhythm and a lead.The lead guitarist is often the focus of the band. It is the lead who gets the guitar solos, plays the catchy riffs and comes up with the best licks.Some of the best metal guitarists of all time include (but are not limited to):Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Ozbourne)Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)Slash (Guns’n’Roses)Ace Frehley (Kiss)Yngwie MalmsteenDave Mustaine (Megadeth)Brian May (Queen)Jeff BeckVivian Campbell (Def Leppard)Of course, there are many, many other great guitarists out there who play all types of guitar; if we’ve missed your fav, won’t you let us know in th e comments below?Metal Guitar LessonsThe late 50s to the mid-90s was a great time to be in love with music.New genres were established seemingly every day; there probably wasn’t a teenager alive who didn’t at least flirt with the idea of forming or joining a band.That may even hold true today, in spite of electronic music now being the vogue.Still, there is substantial value in being more than a Guitar Hero; the feel and warmth of a genuine musical instrument, cradled close to the body drives guitar players to want to go beyond the latest software release.If indeed you intend to wow audiences with your guitar licks and fingerpicking, you’re going to have to learn how to play the guitar.You will have to learn the pentatonic scale and chord progressions, learn to play arpeggios and pick up on strumming patterns.While it is true that you could learn a lot from online guitar lessons â€" those video tutorials on YouTube, they would not necessarily serve you well because they cannot provide you with any feedback.How will you know what you’re doing right or wrong if you don’t have a guitar instructor to guide you?The best way to learn guitar playing and all of its aspects including how to read tablature is to find a qualified instructor and, if you were hoping for private guitar lessons, your search is already halfway done!Superprof has hundreds of guitar instructors all over the UK. Whether you need guitar lessons for beginners â€" gotta learn those fundamentals before any guitar tricks, or electric guitar lessons, Superprof has guitar instruction for you.There are even Superprof guitar tutors to learn the rock guitar...

Checklist for Rising Seniors

Checklist for Rising Seniors Junior year is certainly one of the busiest (if not the busiest) year for many students. Most students have gone through a full round of testing (SAT, PSAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests), survived two semesters of finals (and probably a round of AP exams), as well as kept up with all their extracurricular activities on their resumes. The transition from such a full, busy year to college application season can be a tough one.Many students and parents navigate this time all on their own.Here at AJ, we help students navigate the testing process intensively. We help them plan their testing timelines in order to best prepare them for, eventually, the application process. For many rising seniors, the late summer and fall of their senior years are the last chance to take any exams before sending in their applications. A common question I get from many of my rising seniors is “When is the latest test date that I can take the SAT/ACT?” My answer is always the same: “It depends.”There are a few things to research as a rising senior in preparation for the application process.1. What tests did I take that this college will accept? Did I take all the tests that may have been required for my major?Note that colleges typically do not discriminate between the SAT and ACT. Nearly every college accepts either one, but it’s always a good idea to check whether they’d like to see your SAT Subject Tests, your AP exams and if they require the essay. (We always recommend taking the essay portion of the SAT/ACT so that you always have that door open to add colleges that may require them!) Additionally, if you’re applying to a certain major, it’s helpful to check the notes on whether they “highly recommend” (which usually means you should do them) certain Subject Tests. Additionally, if you’re applying to some sort of specialized or accelerated program, there are typically additional or varying requirements. Be sure to check!2. When is the last test date they will accept ?Many colleges actually make this information easily accessible on their websites under their admissions requirements. If it’s unclear there, it’s never a bad idea to call the admissions office to simply ask. Most of the time, they will have an answer for you right away. Keep in mind that this likely varies for Early Action/Early Decision and Regular Decision.3. Will colleges require all of your scores to be sent?Some colleges allow for score choice, whereas some would like to see all of your attempts. Some colleges will also super score and take the best scores from all your attempts to evaluate your highest scores. Additionally, some schools have test-optional policies where it’s up to you whether you’d like to include it on your application.4. When are the SAT and ACT offered, just in case you need to take the test again or if you need to squeeze in some subject tests?SAT test dates: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlinesSAT is usually offe red in August, October, November, December, March, May, June. All months have subject test offerings except for March. Note that you cannot take the reasoning test and the subject test on the same day.ACT test dates: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.htmlACT is usually offered in September, October, December, February, April and June. (Note that California does not offer the July date).Remember to register early! Fall dates fill up quickly, so be sure to plan ahead.Keep in mind that things also vary between schools. Not all public or private schools have the same deadlines. See some examples below of information that colleges have provided on their admissions pages:UC Berkeley: https://admissions.berkeley.edu/freshmen-requirementsSelectionSince Berkeley is a competitive campus, satisfying the minimum requirements is often not enough to be competitive for selection. In addition to the basic admission requirements, the campus selects its fre shman class through an assessment that includes a holistic review of your academic performance as measured primarily by:Your weighted and unweighted UC grade point average (calculated using 10th and 11th grade UC-approved courses only)Your planned 12th grade coursesYour pattern of grades over timeThe number of college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors and transferable college courses you have completedYour level of achievement in those courses relative to other UC applicants at your schoolYour scores on AP or IB examsYour scores on the ACT Assessment Plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning TestIf youre applying for fall, be sure to complete these tests by December. SAT Subject Tests are no longer required. However, they are recommended for the College of Engineering and College of Chemistry: Math Level 2 and a science test (Biology E/M, Chemistry, or Physics) closely related to your intended major. Include the scores in your application. UC use s the highest scores from a single test administration. (Note: Our school code is 4833.) If you report your scores to one campus, they will be shared with every campus to which youve applied.Boston University: http://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/first-year/#TestsFor students attending secondary school in the USBU requires either the SAT or ACT. BU does not require the optional essay on the SAT test or the optional writing component for the ACT.For any student attending a secondary school outside of the US and who is enrolled in a full International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programSubmission of an SAT or ACT test score is not required to complete your application. While the SAT or ACT is no longer an application requirement, standardized test scores may be submitted with your application if you feel they are reflective of your academic ability. Please note that if you are applying for the Boston University Trustee Scholarship, the SAT or ACT is still required.If you are applying to the College of Fine Arts or the Accelerated Medical Program, please see the different requirements for these programs.BU superscores both the SAT and ACT. To take advantage of superscoring, we recommend submitting all your test scores if you take more than one test or take a test multiple times. For both the SAT and ACT, BU will use the highest score of each section, regardless of test date, to best represent you as an applicant.Boston University (Early Decision): http://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/early-decision/Early Decision Application InstructionsEarly Decision is a binding program available only for high school seniors applying for admission. If you are applying for Early Decision, you must take the ACT no later than the October test date or the SAT no later than November. If you are applying for Early Decision 2, you must take the ACT or SAT no later than the December test date.College counselors are incredibly helpful during this time. For recommendations on a college counse lor, feel free to visit our website here. Doing the research beforehand definitely helps to ease the process and allow for us to help you better plan any test dates or retakes come senior year.If you’d like to learn more about how we can help with academics and test prep, please give us a call today!

Tips for Staying Organized Part 1

Tips for Staying Organized Part 1 Improving Academic Performance Keeping abreast of school assignments, tests, and projects can be quite a hassle if you are not organized. Not only can good organizational skills help you complete tasks in an orderly and timely manner, good organizational skills can also help you stay focused and earn higher grades and better test scores. In this two-part article, we’ll talk about organizing your: a) things b) work space c) schoolwork and d) time. Organize your things: A first step in becoming more organized and thus effective at school (and everywhere else) could be to focus on organizing the physical things around you, like your binder, backpack, and laptop. Binder - To stay on top of all your classes, it is best to have a notebook and a binder with dividers for each class. Try to minimize losing or scattering your notes around by keeping all your notes for one class in the same notebook, preferably in chronological order. Having your notes all in one place, and organized chronologically and neatly will make locating specific notes easier. Store your notebook in a binder. Make sure to have dividers for assigned homework, documents your teacher handouts to you, completed tests, and completed homework. Having dividers for each of these sections will make it easier to review old tests and homework for test preparation, and will decrease the amount of time you spend shuffling in your backpack looking for your latest homework assignment. It is best to have a color-coded system wherein each notebook and binder for each class matches. Again, this will save you time in trying to find and identify which notebook is for what class. Label your binder and notebook with the subject of the class you are using it for. Backpack - You should never have any loose papers or documents in your backpack ever! All papers, notes, and documents should always be placed in the appropriate binder, or divider sleeve! Make sure to bring only binders, notebooks, and textbooks that you will need for your class, and store all other binders and textbooks in your locker or at home. Keep all of your pens and pencils together in a pencil bag. Also, make sure to store all of the necessary tools and implements (e.g. protractor, compass, calculator) in a case. Never have tools and pencils and pens floating around in a disorganized fashion in your backpack! By having all of your pens and pencils together in one case, and all of your tools and implements in another case, you save time having to dig and find these items that you will need in class. Having everything organized also promotes a sense of calm and minimizes stress, since you aren’t looking for necessary things, like a pencil, in a frantic frenzy. Locker - Try to keep your locker organized by creating a system of storing your notebooks, binders, and textbooks. If necessary, purchase a shelf to help you utilize the space in your locker more effectively. You can also invest in a whiteboard to hang in your locker in order to remind you of important events or upcoming due dates for tests, projects, and assignments. Also consider taping your class schedule in your locker, as well as hanging a calendar in your locker. Taking such steps will help you stay abreast of due dates for assignments, and will encourage you to prioritize tasks if you are able to see what important events are coming up every time that you open your locker. Additionally, keeping an organized locker will prevent you from losing important documents in your locker. Laptop - If you use a laptop to take notes or complete class assignments, make sure that you create a folder for each subject (color-coded of course!), and create subfolders for assignments, papers, presentations, etc. Take time to organize and clean out your folders at least once a week. If you really like taking notes on a laptop, consider a tool like Evernote for keeping virtual notes. Sometimes it may be difficult to keep or binders, notebooks, backpack, and laptop organized at all times. Try to schedule 5-10 minutes a day organizing all your notes, documents, pencils, and other implements. Another strategy is to spend 30 minutes every Friday after school organizing all of your binders, notebooks, backpack, and laptop. You can also use this time to cull and get rid of unnecessary documents, broken pencils, and leftover wrappers or junk that are in your backpack. It is very important to schedule time to clean and organize your things so that you don’t lose track of important documents or carry around unnecessary things/documents. Culling will minimize confusion and stress that may stem from losing assignments, or bringing in the wrong document/assignment to class. Organize your workspace: Many people find they are far more productive and better able to retain information and understand difficult concepts when they are working on a structured, clean environment. Try to have a designated workspace at home where you can work on completing homework assignments and studying for tests and quizzes. Always make sure that your workspace is clean and quiet. Keep your workspace stocked with note-taking paper, pencils, pens, and other school supplies that you may need to complete an assignment or project. Keep your backpack and textbooks close to your workspace. Having a clean and organized workspace will allow you to complete your assignments in a calm atmosphere and will minimize the chances of you losing assignments or important documents. Once you completed all of your homework, place your homework in the appropriate binders, and place everything you will need for the following day in your backpack. You should always take time to prepare and get everything you will need ready for tomorrow the night before.In our next article, we’ll discuss how to organize your work space, and perhaps most importantly, your time.

What Defines a Modern Library

What Defines a Modern Library If it was allowed to drink tea and wrap myself in a blanket in the library I would definitely live there! Do you like to visit libraries and get new ideas? I hope so, I definitely do! But do we know a lot about them? Is modern library the same as the first library in the world?   The first libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writingâ€"the clay tablets discovered in Sumer, some dating back to 2600 BC. Private or personal libraries consisted of written books appeared in classical Greece in the 5th century BC. It is obviously that today library is not the same thing as it was many years ago.  Today we can find there much more then just usual paper books. Modern libraries are  more than just a  quiet studying space  for students. Some of them offer us different workshops and courses outside of formal, graded coursework, research materials.  Today, libraries are incubators for innovation, the great forums of modern times, where great minds congregate to learn and discover. They help to find many interesting friends and start to think outside the box. Today, we have not just private libraries that are open just for kings and queens â€" now there are  public,  budgetary,  municipal, personal (family)  and  training  libraries. Can you believe it? What a great variety! My family, for example, has great personal library, it consist of many old and modern books. I have not read all of them yet, but I will. Also, I visit public library twice a week. How often do you visit your local public library? Jorge Luis Borges, famous   Argentine writer, once said: I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. There are many people in the world that like going to the libraries. Children, teenagers, adults and pensioners, poor and rich people, well-educated people and people without any education â€" different people enjoy using libraries!  Why? Well, its probably the best place to study or work in quiet and comfortable atmosphere, surf the internet, read unusual, uncommon and very old books, enjoy spending time on cool workshops and courses.  As  one famous  Russian historian and literary critic, teacher  and humanist Dmitry Likhachev said: If as a result of any disaster all centers of education and culture disappeared from the earth and the world had nothing but libraries  the world and people still would be able to revive. Library is a center of culture,  information and ideas. Modern libraries  mean a lot for humanity and even if they become more and more computerized and virtual, they are still unbelievably helpful, useful and important. And, of course,  we remember that libraries are very important and useful place  for tutors and their students. It is so comfortable for all of us to study in  neutral  place  that can offer us free wi-fi, computers, great diverse books and other services. If you are a student looking for a  tutor to help you with any subject â€" use TutorZ.com. And if you are a tutor, please, tell us if you like to have classes at libraries or not, why? If you are not in our team yet but you want to become a tutor here youll see how to become a TutorZ tutor.