education & tech

This post was contributed by Heather Johnson, who writes on the subject of teaching certificate programs in New Jersey. She invites your feedback at heatherjohnson2323 [at] gmail [dot] com.

Unless there are other worlds like the fictional one where Superman originated from, I’d like to think that we have reached a level of technological advancement that could not even have been dreamed of a decade or two ago. The advent of computers and the omnipresence of the Internet have made the world one big classroom (or playground depending on your point of view) that is free from the limitations of physical boundaries. E-learning, wikis, online courses from respectable institutions like MIT and the like, and the general proliferation of information on any topic under the sun on the World Wide Web have made learning much simpler and easier than it was a few years ago.

The classrooms I remember from my school days are long gone – every student is equipped with gadgets and gizmos that they hope will aid the studying process; notebook computers, iPods, smart cell phones and PDAs are the staple diet of every self-respecting college student. But now concerns and questions are being raised about these gadgets replacing teachers altogether.

E-learning initiatives do not require teachers; they offer students the advantage of learning anywhere and anytime according to their convenience rather than at set times that depend on teachers and institution authorities. The teacher in this scenario is reduced to just framing the syllabus or guiding the student as to what to learn. There is no classroom interaction and no actual teaching being done.

In spite of the newfound popularity of e-learning, teachers are still in demand around the globe. There’s something missing in the learning aspect when you have to play both the roles of the teacher and the student; maybe it’s the lack of motivation in the absence of an authority figure and classmates whom you can compete against - which is why live online classes are being held around the world.

These combine the advantages of both classroom teaching and e-learning – with teachers working from all parts of the globe, students are able to find one online at any time, thanks to the time differences between different parts of the world. They can learn at the convenience, with the help of a teacher, and with other students from different geographical locations.

The Internet has made this a reality, and no matter how advanced we become in terms of technology, as long as there is a demand for more knowledge of the highest standards, there will be a demand for teachers who are dedicated to their jobs.

The human brain is arguably God’s greatest creation – it has the ability to continue growing in intelligence and sponging up knowledge for as long as you live. All you need are the catalysts called enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Though we are inundated with phrases, nuances, pronunciations and words from one or more languages from the time we’re born, there’s no doubt that if we up and moved to a different country where a totally new tongue is spoken, we’d learn the local lingo in just a couple of months.

Being a linguist offers various advantages – at work, you can interact with people from other cultures more freely, on vacation you can fit right in if you speak the language of the locals, and of course, generally speaking, you can show off your multiple tongues in the presence of the opposite sex.

The best way to pick up a new language is to be surrounded by people who speak only in that tongue at all times – desperation and a sense of survival force you to learn the lingo or be left out. But there’s no need to move to Rome in order to be able to speak fluent Italian, not with Second Life around. The virtual world has made headlines for various things, one of them being the ease with which foreign languages are taught and picked up by interested students.

The advantages to learning a new tongue on Second Life are many:

- The courses are more cost-effective than those offered in the real world. Some of them are even free of cost.
- There are instructional videos which teach you the right pronunciation and diction, things you would find hard to pick up from a book of phrases.
- Voice chat options allow you to correct your pronunciation.
- You can interact with other students and probably set up a study group so you can practice what you’ve learned using other members.
- And best of all, there are virtual cities that communicate entirely in foreign languages. So if you’re learning French, hang around a French community and practice what you’ve learned. It’s the next best thing to (and much more economical than) moving to France!

That Second Life has 5,000 language students and 1,000 instructors, numbers which are growing by the day, is itself a testimonial to how this application which began life as a virtual game, morphed into one of the best online, interactive educational tools of our time.

(*)Sarah Scrafford is an industry critic, as well as a regular contributor on the subject of Capella University review. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

As a teacher you have the responsibility of making learning fun and interactive for your students. These days that means you have to take advantage of the technological advancements available to you. If you’re unsure of how to integrate computers or other technology into your classroom you’re not alone. The challenge is to make it a seamless addition to your lesson plan. This can be a daunting task, so here are a few tips to help you along the way:

1. Use technology to your advantage. Use an electronic grade book or a word processor to write your tests and handouts. You can use these programs to save time and that’s always the one thing teachers never have enough of.
2. Design your classroom into different stations. Position your classroom computers in an area away from the desks so that your students aren’t distracted when they’re not using them. Students will feel like it’s more special to use the computer if it’s in a section of the classroom that isn’t used that often. It will be more of a treat for them to use the computer if it’s something that isn’t in full view all the time.
3. Sign up for a course. If you’re not adept with computers then take a course so you can be on a par with your students. It seems that even the younger kids are pros with computers that you need to be able to be on their level. If you can’t find a course then talk to a colleague that you feel comfortable approaching and see if they can help you get up to speed.
4. Stay organized. If you have a computer in your classroom that the students use then be sure to keep the computer up to date. Erase files that aren’t necessary to avoid slowing down your system. Avoid letting your students clutter up the desktop. It can be detrimental to your lesson plan if you’re trying to use the computer to teach a lesson and it’s going slowly. You will lose your students’ attention and your message will be lost.
5. Experiment. On your own time explore the Internet for sites that you think will be useful in your lessons. Get to know them thoroughly before introducing them to your students so you can be prepared for any questions they may have for you. Be confident about the web site so that you don’t get rattled when you’re actually utilizing the site.


(*)This article was contributed by Heather Johnson, who is a regular writer on the subject of nursing college grants. She welcomes your questions, comments and writing job opportunities at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com.

Chances are, your children use the Internet to play online games and/or socialize with peers. While both of those activities have their time and place, you'd probably be relieved to find your child learning while they are having fun. There are many educational sites that are so entertaining they will almost trick your child into learning. Below are seven of the best:

1. Ask Dr. Universe – Does your child have a propensity for asking hard questions about the universe? Perhaps they should "Ask Dr. Universe," the world's most curious cat. This fun site allows children to write in with questions about anything and Dr. Universe answers with authority.
2. National Geographic Kids – All kids love to read about dinosaurs and the wild side of nature. This massive site is full of fun facts and educational games.
3. Discovery Kids – This is the children's online companion to the Discovery Channel. It is similar to National Geographic Kids in content, but is worth its own merit.
4. NASA Kids' Club – Space is the final frontier and is a topic that children find endlessly fascinating. From online flight simulators to amazing high-res pictures of space, this is a great place for your little science expert to visit.
5. How Stuff Works – While this site is targeted toward people of all ages, children should be interested in learning how everything we take for granted in this world really works.
6. Cool Science for Curious Kids – This site is produced by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Here, children will get up close and personal with nature under a microscope, not to mention other creepy crawly things.
7. The Atoms Family – Learn all about "mad" science with appearances by Universal Monsters. For example, "The Mummy's Tomb" covers topics about kinetic energy and energy conservation. This site was designed by the Miami Museum of Science.

Trust me when I say that your children are more interested in nature and science than their video game addiction might indicate. Once a child starts surfing around the above-mentioned sites, they won't look back. In fact, it may teach them a newfound respect for their daily school routine.

(*)Heather Johnson is a freelance writer, as well as a monthly contributor for OEDb, a site to help students select among accredited online schools. Heather invites your comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address email address.

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