Dispelling the Top 5 Myths about Online Education

 

Myth: Kids just stare at a computer screen all day.

Fact: In the exclusivepapers.com, only about 30% of lessons are online. Traditional materials are used the remainder of the time; things like textbooks and novels, art supplies, musical instruments, CDs, and science equipment.

In high school, the percentage of online work is higher. This shift to more online coursework gives students more interaction with teachers who are experts in their subject areas. It also sets the stage for college (whether brick and mortar or online), where many classes are moving all or partially online, and even offline classes typically include online work. We live in a connected, online world. In many industries, business is largely conducted online, and more are moving that way. The skills necessary to work and communicate in an online environment are important, and it doesn’t hurt to begin to develop them early.

Myth: Kids in online schools lack social skills because they never interact with anyone.

Fact: Just as it’s not true that kids stare at a computer all day, it’s not true that students don’t spend time with peers. In addition to online social engagement opportunities, including live classes and clubs, students have a number of offline opportunities. Many virtual schools regularly arrange outings, field trips, and in-person classes for students.

Then of course, there are extracurricular activities: play-dates, sports, clubs, classes, and groups. Basically, there’s no shortage of opportunities for peer socialization in an online school, and the vast majority (90%) of online school students participate in some sort of activity outside the home.

Still not convinced? An independent study of virtual academy students found that their social skills were the same or better than their brick and mortar peers, and that on average they had fewer problem behaviors. It was suggested this was due to the fact that students tended to socialize within a broader age-range, including those older and younger than themselves.

Myth: Online diplomas won’t be accepted by colleges and employers, or will have a stigma attached to them.

Fact: There are online schools out there that aren’t legitimate (so-called diploma mills). One good indicator is accreditation. An online school that is accredited means that the courses and diplomas are recognized as valid by other schools and universities. K12 is accredited, and many of our partner schools are further accredited by regional accreditation bodies. So, credits will transfer, and students have the same opportunities for college attendance as those who attended a brick and mortar high school. If you’d like to see proof, check out our website to see a list of the colleges and universities that 2011 K12 graduates are attending. The list is long, and includes well-respected institutions like Columbia, Juilliard, and Stanford.

It’s also not true that graduates of online schools can’t serve in the military. As of last year, online high school graduates have the same opportunities to serve as those who attended brick and mortar schools.

Myth: Kids in online schools don’t perform as well academically as kids in traditional schools.

Fact: Students often come to online education after they have struggled for years in a traditional public school. As such, they may start out already below their grade level and with low standardized test scores. However, while they may start out behind, students in online schools consistently outperform traditional school peers in terms of academic gains over time.

Myth: Online courses are easier than traditional courses.

Fact: Sorry, but this one isn’t true either. An online course may take less time than an in-class course, but it’s not less work, and it’s not a guaranteed easy A. Students may find that succeeding in an online course is easier, thanks to flexible pacing, fewer distractions and interruptions, and less busy work, but the course material is just as challenging. Online students have to be motivated and focused on their own, without a teacher in the room with them. But if a student is willing to work hard, online education can make all the difference.

The 10 Best Educational YouTube Channels for Kids

 

1. Smithsonian Channel

If you don’t live in or around Washington, D.C., you don’t have easy access to the highly educational exclusivepapers.com. But, you do have access to the Smithsonian Channel on YouTube. Your kids can learn about hammerhead sharks, monkeys, World War II, and 9/11, all on one channel, created by an unquestionably reliable source.

2. The Brain Scoop

Chicago’s Field Museum has created a YouTube channel called The Brain Scoop, which engages kids with such videos as “Why Did King Tut Have a Flat Head?” and “The Human Biology Collection.”

3. Houston Zoo

If your child has an affinity for animals, check out the Houston Zoo YouTube channel. YouTube often gives kids (and adults) access to many popular educational attractions that are too far away to visit in person.

4. WordWorldPBS

Another reputable source for quality, kid-friendly content is PBS. Your child can “watch words come alive” on the WordWorldPBS channel. Their animated and animal-themed content is great for younger kids!

5. Sesame Street

Similarly, Sesame Street has its own YouTube channel, featuring all of your child’s favorite characters! These videos really excel at making learning entertaining for young children.

6. TED-Ed

TED-Ed (from the nonprofit responsible for TED Talks) is committed to creating lessons worth sharing. On this channel, kids can be challenged by perplexing riddles, or they can investigate nature or ponder such subjects as “questions no one knows the answers to.”

7. Smart Girls

For older kids, check out Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls channel. It features the requisite DIYs that kids love, such as how to make fizzing bath bombs, for example, but also provides profiles of inspiring women, including astronauts and scientists, not to mention manners tutorials and videos designed to inspire girls to become involved in social issues such as climate change.

8. SoulPancake

The SoulPancake YouTube channel dishes out a menu of “brain batter” about art, culture, science, philosophy, and more. As the site proclaims, “We make stuff that matters.”

9. SciShow

Subscribe to SciShow and give your child the ability to “explore the unexpected.” What is gluten? Why do cats purr? What really killed the dinosaurs? Why can’t dogs eat chocolate? You and your kids can explore these fascinating questions and many more!

10. It’s Okay to Be Smart

In this case, the name really does say it all! This channel is “all about science, the amazing universe we live in, and the pleasure of finding things out.” Joe Hanson, PhD, explains how things work and why things are the way they are.

Top 3 Tech Fields Your Child Could Pursue a Career In

 When you google top careers in technology, much of what you find is related to data scientists, software engineering, and similar career listings. How do you get your student excited to explore career fields in technology when the job titles often sound dull and unexciting?

Does your student love video games? How much time do they spend on their phone? Would it pique their interest if they knew they could have a career in building mobile apps like the ones they love to spend time on, or create their own video games based on ideas and insights they have from their time playing? What if they knew they did not have to wait until after college to get started on these creative endeavors, and could instead jump headfirst into these potential career paths now?

There are several initiatives available to help students get involved in technology that will set them on different career paths. Enrichment programs are a great way to help students try out various activities to see what they are interested in exclusivepapers.com has several enrichment programs available for all students nationwide who have an interest in technology.

1. Video Game Design
2. Virtual Reality and Mobile App Development
3. Robotics, Drone Flight and Drone Certification
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In this 16-week program, students create a final video game, using JavaScript, they can showcase in their portfolio, on their resume or highlight on college and scholarship applications. With a better understanding of computer science and basic programming, students can get a feel for what it would be like to start working in one of the hottest global fields ever by designing their own video game worlds, game play, and interface technologies, which will catch the attention of every college or job recruiter around the world.

The exciting, leading-edge field of Mobile App Development is set to remain one of the hottest career areas for years to come, with an incredible projected growth rate of 19% over the next 10 years. In fact, a Mobile App Developer is already one of the highest paying jobs available with an average salary of $97,000. Students learn to build their own mobile app for Apple or Android devices in this Enrichment Program, starting them off on a well-paid career path, with an incredible projected income growth rate.

Students can build their very own virtual reality world including 360-degree images and animation using HTML and the A-Frame library in this program. They will learn about creating advanced shapes, animation and interaction, and 360-degree images through tutorials, programming exercises, and more. Those new skills will get brought together and applied in a final project of your own VR creation that they will be able to view on the computer, through phones, or through a VR device such as an Oculus.

Students can learn the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the robotics world while gaining skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, computational thinking, and problem-solving, by programming their own virtual robot through a series of gamified missions. This opportunity helps them explore their interest in career opportunities as a Robotics Engineer.

If you student is interested in career opportunities in the military, engineering, reality, or many other areas, they should explore drone flight and getting certified. In these programs, students work with DARTdrones, the nation’s leader in drone training, to learn how to fly a drone, from basic training to aerial mapping and photography, and even becoming an FAA Certified Commercial Drone Pilot!

Reflective Portfolio: Definition, Contents, and Writing Tips

Most of the students have never received a task to write a reflective portfolio. So for some of you, this assignment is weird and hard to complete. However, the tasks are not as difficult as it may seem.
The reflective portfolio is a portfolio where students need to explore and comprehend their own learning methods, personal opinions, and points of view. In this kind of writing assignments, students describe their objective view on the work they have completed and skills they have developed. To write reflective portfolio successfully, the one needs to show true engagement with the subject. Visiting classes and passing exams are not enough.

What Are Parts of the Reflective Portfolio?

Please keep in mind that content of your portfolio may vary according to instructions and discipline. However, there are some basic elements such as:

• Examples of your work: photos (if you are studying photography); artworks (for artists); lesson plans (teachers); etc. The main thing here is to add materials that will show your practical experience.
• Journals: usually, students are required to write an informal journal during their practical work. The content of journal should be the following: summary of completed tasks, results, and list of skills a student has developed during practical work. It is a good idea to add a few examples of challenging situations you have solved.
• Reports: write a short summary of the situation that improved the learning process. It can be both positive and negative experience with a strong possibility to enhance your professional skills.
• Achievements: describe everything you achieve during practical work and add some valid evidence.
• Personal Statement: in this part of the reflective portfolio, a student can summarize all conclusions and achievements, describe how this experience changes his/her professional skills.

How to Write a Great Reflective Portfolio?

In this part, we are going to give writing tips. Being one of the writing tasks, the reflective portfolio should be well-written, logically structured, and flawless. However, there are some other tips you should keep in mind:

• This portfolio is reflective, but you should not forget about the critical analysis of everything you describe.
• Add enough good examples of work you have completed during your practical experience. You may even outline one or two moments but they have to be connected to your overall experience.
• Don’t be afraid to describe problematic moments. Everyone makes mistakes, so show what lessons you have learned.
• Create a plan for the future development where you’ll describe your action plan.
• Make sure your portfolio looks professionally and well-organized. Also, keep in mind that reflective portfolio can be written in semi-formal writing style. However, this does not mean it can be poorly organized.

Remember, that buying a term paper is still academic assignment, so all normal rules and tips can be applied when writing portfolio.
Good luck with your writing! We are sure you will ace it!

Microsoft To-Do updates make it easier for business users to collaborate on tasks

Microsoft's To-Do list making app will get a new update in early June to help professionals and consumers become more organized and productive, according to a Microsoft Support post.
Microsoft To-Do was made available in public preview in April 2017, as reported by our sister site ZDNet. The successor to list-making app Wunderlist, To-Do is a smart app that integrates with Outlook and several Office 365 applications to create, as you might guess, pre-written essays for users.

The June update will include a feature called List Sharing, which offers users a share link to better coordinate and collaborate in small teams or one-on-one. Users can generate the link and share it with their co-worker or team via email, SMS, or an app. Once the project is complete, the user can turn off the share link and remain in control of the list, the post noted.

Microsoft To-Do helps users organize their to-do list by making suggestions based on information drawn from Outlook or Office 365, and allowing users to enter their own tasks, and check them off as they are completed. Users can also import their data from Wunderlist if they had an account there, as it will eventually be retired, ZDNet noted.
An April 2018 Microsoft To-Do update introduced Steps, a feature allowing users to break down an item on their list into smaller, more actionable tasks, and check those off as they go along.
To-Do is another feature that could make Microsoft more appealing to enterprise users. With Windows 10 adoption rates down, the tech giant may need to continue adding more mobile features like this to remain relevant for professionals.
The latest update—version 1.32—will begin rolling out to Microsoft To-Do for iOS, Android, Windows 10, and the web in early June, and most users will receive it by mid-June, according to the post.

The big takeaways for tech leaders:

• Microsoft's To-Do app will receive an update that adds List Sharing to help teams collaborate.
• The latest update will begin rolling out to Microsoft To-Do for iOS, Android, Windows 10, and the web in early June.

How to Find More Purpose in Your Career

Do you ever have those days where you just wonder what you’re working for? Whether your job is an 8-5 or you run your own  Compare and Contrast essay samples business, most of us are constantly searching for ways to bring more meaning to our work. No matter the industry you’re in, feeling like there’s some kind of greater purpose to it all can make it way easier to get up and go to work every day.
As I get older and delve deeper into my career, this is something I want to make sure I put some focus on. I just hate the idea of going on autopilot and forgetting about why I pursued this path to begin with and not using my position to give back.
If this piques your interest, here are a few things you can do to start finding a little more purpose in your career.
Find a work-life balance
As someone who started their own business—and works from home—it’s very hard to find an off switch. At times, this meant 12 hour days and essentially ignoring family and friends because I was “too busy.”
It’s not a bad thing to enjoy what you do and be dedicated to it, but giving the “life” part of work-life balance some attention can actually serve as a great reminder as to why you work to begin with. Whether that means providing for your family or providing value to clients, sometimes time away is when you gain the greatest perspective.
Here’s what’s really helped me over the last few months.
Donate to a cause
I had never thought of donating a percentage of my paycheck until listening to this podcast. As soon as I heard it, I loved how tying charity to your business would serve as more purpose. 5% of my income would greatly affect a local animal shelter (my personal charity of choice) and I’ll still be able to pay my bills without that 5%, so now that’s what I do.
If you’re feeling like you’re working to work and not feeling purpose, consider donating X amount of your income to a charity or cause.
Become a mentor
An old college professor once told me that living my dreams allows others to live theirs. This really stuck with me because it reminded me that I was once someone (and I still am) who needed guidance and a mentor to help me navigate the workforce. It can be a serious breath of fresh air to meet with college students or join some kind of program that aims to help young adults find their way and inspire them in their career. You’ll probably remember what you felt like at their age and how grateful you were when someone took the time to help you.
Continue your education
Continuing to evolve throughout your career is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself professionally, so always stay open to new learning opportunities. This can happen by attending conferences, workshops or even going back to school. And bringing new purpose to an old job through a little education is never a bad thing if you ask me.
How do you find purpose in your career? Always love hearing how those in different industries and positions go about making this a priority.

5 Languages Everyone Must Learn

Nowadays, more and more countries prefer to import the material from the overseas businesses than using the products from the domestic producers. Doing so allows the companies to make connections with the partners, suppliers and customers from around the world and also helps in growing their businesses to the full potential. Moreover, it also opens the doors of new opportunities for the markets that may otherwise remain out of the reach.

You might be thinking that money is the primary thing that one business must possess to make successful connections around the world, but for the large businesses, for which money is not the problem, the situation is different. As for these companies, there are times when their major customer base is situated in the countries where it is difficult to communicate because of the language barrier, hence, missing out on these customers. So, for such companies, retaining the employees with fluency in various other languages is a must if they truly want to grow their operations for these kinds of customers.

Moreover, learning new languages is not only beneficial at such bigger levels, but it is also profitable on the personal level. In various studies it has been found that learning new languages have numerous benefits, for example, it makes us smart, improves our brain productivity and many more. If you want to stand out in the competition, want great opportunities in your carrier or even if you are an avid traveller and want to explore new countries and culture, writing college term papers is one of the best options you can go for.

However, do you know how many languages are there in the world? You will be amazed to know that there are around 6,900 languages being spoken around the world, out of which around 2,000 languages have less than 1,000 speakers.

Now, out of these 6,900 languages, for what languages you should go for? Here is the list of five languages that you can learn not only for the better carrier opportunities, but also to make yourself smart.

Mandarin Chinese

The first in the list with having close to a billion people speaking the language only in the Mainland China is the Mandarin Chinese. Also, the Chinese sway has been stretched to the areas of Africa and beyond. Apart from this, Mandarin Chinese is being spoken in various other countries around the world. Some of these countries include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines and Mongolia. So, if you are visiting these countries as a traveller or even for the business purpose, knowing Mandarin Chinese can give an extra edge and also can get your work done without any hassle. Moreover, it will also help you in making more of the personal connections with the people residing there.

English

With around 365 million native speakers, English is one of the most prevailing languages all over the world. It has been spoken in many parts of the world, including The U.K., India, Australia and the United States. Statistics have shown that there are approximately 300 million people who have English as their second language, out of which over 100 million prefer usin

g English over any other language while communicating with someone. Primarily, for the businessmen having his business in some other country with the native language other than English will at least find one person who can speak English, making it easier for him to understand. Around the world, English is also a preferable language to provide education for the international students, especially who come for higher studies in the countries like France, Spain, etc. where English is not the native language.

Spanish

Third comes in the list is Spanish having approximately 400 million native speakers in its pocket. If you are planning to set up a business solely in the United States, Spanish is one language that you must have expertise in. Many of you may not know, but Spanish is the second most spoken language in America.

If you know Spanish, your horizon can broaden not only to America and Spain but also to countries like Paraguay, Ecuador South America and then there’s also Mexico. All and all, there are about 20 countries in the world, including Spain, whose official language is Spanish. Hence, knowing Spanish can be highly beneficial, if you are either looking to expand your business or any kind of career growth in your life.

Arabic

You will be surprised to know that Arabic is the official language of around 27 different countries, providing a promising destination of Middle East to expand your business. The only ticket you need to do so is to learn the right language.

 

With the growing awareness about the internet among the Middle Eastern countries, it has become easier to set up businesses now. The Middle East is also one of the largest export markets and makes approximately a quarter of businesses. Because of all these reasons, you may consider to learn a few lessons.

French

It is a very important language to learn if you want to succeed in your business, or even if you want a great career growth. Many of you might not know but French language has been considered as the International Lingua Franca– a common language through which all the people around the world can converse. There are about 335 million total speakers of French in the world of which 74 million are the native speakers.

So, after reading this, you can understand well that learning a few foreign languages can be too beneficial not only for the business purposes, but also for the great career growth so that you can get better opportunities.