Intelligent Tutoring Systems Will Improve Classroom Learning

Intelligent Tutoring Systems Will Improve Classroom LearningIntelligent tutoring systems can help teachers implement proven learning strategies that are proven to be effective. The first thing that a teacher must do is to develop an action plan that has a clearly defined purpose.Each time a student takes an action, such as clicking on a mouse or clicking on the mouse, the learner must be given the right lessons to do this. It should start with the learner's commitment to taking the action, and then follow it up with the skills or tools that will support that action. The system that is being used must be designed to improve learning for the entire class as well as for each individual learner.A comprehensive and superior educational program has to include all the students in the class, for no one can learn at the same pace as another. Every learner must be involved in the learning process, and the teacher must design learning programs that will keep every learner involved.If each of th e students is not engaged in the lessons, a misdirection will occur. The teacher will take the students out of the learning environment, and they will not focus on the actions that will provide the most benefit. This will result in each learner not learning what they need to know, and the entire program will suffer.Human nature changes over time. When the adults become adults, the behaviors that are natural will no longer be acceptable. When one of the adults is not attending a class on the basis of attendance, their behavior will change, and they will not be worth the paper they are printed on. Thus, the intelligent tutor system must be designed with adult learners in mind.In public school systems, there are so many distractions that cause students to drop out of school. When the children are not engaged in the learning environment, the kids will not learn how to be successful adults.Smart tutoring systems have been introduced into many classrooms. These systems encourage teachers to create an educational environment that is a real learning environment, not a work place where the worker is distracted from the job at hand. The systems have been highly successful because they have been adapted to suit each teacher's specific needs.

A New Perspective on Academic Success

A New Perspective on Academic Success Improving Academic Performance The average person probably believes that a critical key to success in life, particularly one’s academic life, is intrinsic intelligence as measured by IQ. Yes, most of would say, hard work matters a lot too, but at least in many academic situations, no amount of hard work can really make up for a lower level of raw intelligence or aptitude for certain types of academic or cognitive skills. Some of us are “math people” and some of us just aren’t, right? Not really. A large body of academic research has been developed over the past two decades which suggests that the above sentiment is fundamentally misguided; it’s much closer to wrong than right. And as Mark Twain once said, it’s not what we don’t know that gets us into trouble, “it’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” In this “Ted Talk,” the popular author Malcom Gladwell explains how the story of David and Goliath, where David, a small, unarmed underdog carrying a few rocks, slays Goliah, a giant-like, fully armed warrior, is one gargantuan misconception and mischaracterization of the facts. For literally thousands of years, people have used the David vs. Goliath analogy to describe situations where a smaller, weaker, opponent with very low odds of success somehow miraculously pulls off a victory. If you watch the video, it turns out David may have been a sharp shooting, battle trained member of the artillery, firing rocks out of a sling with the force of a modern day revolver. Goliath, on the other hand, may have been a giant with a medical disorder that made him move slowly and suffer from double vision. In other words, David was the favorite. He was more likely to win. But consider this. When people misuse the “David vs. Goliath” analogy, it doesn’t actually matter that the original story might not be true. There certainly are many cases of “underdogs” who are underestimated and thus able to pull off a victory, so the analogy is still useful in helping people understand and frame situations the encounter in their lives. But, when parents and students believe that success in general, or even in certain classes or areas, is in large part pre-determined by IQ or natural aptitude, that can be a huge, debilitating problem that prevents students from realizing their potential. It leads to lower levels of effort, higher stress, and poor academic outcomes that the student believes were pre-determined, but which actually were not. Academic success is actually a very complicated process to understand, and much more in every student’s control than many parents and student seem to believe. In fact, your raw intelligence is somewhat “malleable” â€" it can improve over time. Most cognitive or “pure” academic skills (i.e., mathematic, reading comprehension, etc.), like those tested on the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and LSAT, which seem to correlate with IQ, can clearly be developed with practice. Even performance on IQ tests themselves can change over time (i.e., there is evidence that simply having more education seems to lead to improved IQ scores). And in any case, non-cognitive skills unrelated to IQ, like the ability to pay attention, be curious, plan ahead, and persevere through initial failure and adversity, may be what really lead to success in high school, college, and beyond, anyway. The academic research that supports the above points is generally very strong. But, our society’s general understanding of why some people succeed in school while others don’t has not kept up. The emphasis is still on IQ and aptitude, when it should be on practice and perseverance. There have been a variety of entertaining, insightful, and award winning books based on this research with titles like “The Talent Code” and “Brain Rules” and “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.” We feature some of these books on our virtual bookshelf. Each of these books, in its own way, tells part of the “story of academic success.” A parent or student, after reading one of these books, walks away with a few new insights and more tools to increase the odds of success in school, at work, and in life in general. There is a problem, however. The problem is that success is not easy to understand. The true story of academic success is a complex one. Even though it may not be true, it’s easy to understand the idea that your IQ in large part determines how well you perform in your math class. In fact, it’s even an excuse, or at least an explanation, for any given student’s average or worse performance. In that sense, it’s a belief that some may want to hold on to on some level. Particularly when you are starting from the above point of view, the idea that how well you perform is actually a function of your mindset about intelligence in general, your ability to pay attention, how you approach homework, how well you plan ahead, and how you deal with obstacles, etc. just seems hard to digest. Based on my understanding of the current research, I’d like to introduce a framework for understanding what leads to academic success. In future blog articles, we’ll explore each element of this framework. From my perspective, academic success is a function of: Recognizing that cognitive (math, reading comprehension) and non-cognitive (grit, work ethic, etc.) skills are equally important and complementary PLUS Developing the right mindset about intelligence and cognitive skills PLUS Practicing deliberately to build your cognitive skills PLUS Building non-cognitive character skills, like curiosity, determination, and perseverance PLUS Developing non-cognitive executive functioning skills, like the ability to focus, plan ahead, and self-monitor PLUS Bringing it all together through longer term, strategic educational planning To learn more about these topics, you can continue to read future articles on this blog, check out our virtual bookshelf, or sign up for our book summary distribution list, where we’ll systematically and concisely summarize some of the most important recent research on what really explains academic success. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'bf23a065-a3c9-4ac9-bab1-42400c7da48e', {});

Free practice SAT and ACT tests

Free practice SAT and ACT tests As we head into the holidays, just a friendly reminder that AJ Tutoring offers free practice SAT and ACT tests for current clients at our San Jose, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park offices.   Practice tests are offered most Saturday mornings at 8:30 am, and the tests are concluded by 12:30 pm.   The tests are administered and timed by one of AJ Tutorings test proctors, and tutors provide detailed feedback on test results.Practice SAT and ACT tests are an integral part of AJ Tutorings SAT and ACT prep programs.   Students who complete at least three full practice tests show better score improvement and feel more comfortable on the actual test.   Just like training for a marathon you wouldnt run the race without training for months beforehand! its vitally important to practice for the SAT and ACT marathon.   Each test takes close to 4 hours, which requires no small amount of concentration.   Make sure you have the right preparation by taking AJ Tutorings practice tests!For AJ Tutorings curr ent practice SAT and ACT test schedule at the San Jose, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park offices, please consult  our website.   If you would like to sign up for a practice test, please email info@ajtutoring.com or call (650) 331-3251.   Were looking forward to seeing you on a Saturday morning sometime soon!

Teaching abroad with your pet What you need to know

Teaching abroad with your pet What you need to know So, you want to teach English abroad? Even if the idea has only just now crossed your mind (or you’ve been dreaming of this plan for years), in all seriousness, living and teaching abroad is a wonderful, eye-opening and mind-broadening experience. If you have pets, though, that adds a whole new level of complexity to your planning. How do you bring them? And should you bring them? After all, taking your pet abroad is a big decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Figure out whether moving abroad with your pet is a viable option. When making plans to teach abroad, even before you research pet entry requirements in your new country, it’s imperative that you consider every available option for your pet and carefully weigh up the pros and cons of each. Have a long and hard think about what’s really best for them. If the move is relatively short term (a year or two at, the most), you may want to consider leaving your pet at home, in trusted hands, if possible. Your pet’s health and well being should be considered above all else. The stress of flying can make pets ill. Conditions in the cargo hold of commercial jets are not always pet-friendly. Temperatures can fluctuate wildly, the noise can be terrifying to pets and the air pressure can drop at any time. There are also the practicalities to consider when you do make the move. In Asia, for example, pet-friendly accommodation can be difficult to find. In the UAE, dogs are banned from public areas and confined to designated dog parks. Some countries frown (or have an outright ban) on taking animals on public transportation. And depending on where you’re moving to (and from) an extreme climate can have a negative impact on your pet’s quality of life. Factors to consider when moving abroad with your pet. Most countries require some sort of entry permit for pets. The application process varies substantially from country to country. You’ll want to allow plenty of lead time in advance of the big move so you can be sure you’ve covered all your bases. If in doubt, then check whether your new country’s government website has a page detailing what you need to know about moving with your pet. Teaching in Europe with either a dog, cat or ferret, for example, is relatively straightforward. The days of drawn-out quarantines and indecipherable paperwork are long gone, thanks to something that sounds almost impossibly adorable - a pet passport! If your pet is another species, then national laws apply so you’ll need to do some more in-depth research into the pet regulations set by the country in Europe you’ll be teaching in. In Asia, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’re going to need your pet to be quarantined. You’ll also need to microchip and vaccinate your pet against rabies in Korea and Japan. While some countries ban snakes and birds altogether, others go one step further and impose bans of certain breeds of dogs. Check with the country’s consulate on whether they have laws in places restricting your dog’s breed. If you’ve decided to take your best friend with you, it’s also a good idea to research accessibility to pet services locally, like vets, animal hospitals, groomers and pet sitters. Is your pet’s food brand is readily available? Will your accommodation will come with a yard for your dog to roam in? Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Teaching overseas with your pet: A checklist of what to do. Because there are so many details to sort out and many different things to consider as you plan your move, you will want to be fully prepared every step of the way. Check out our tips below: Find a vet who specializes in pet relocation. Your current vet or state/government site might be able to point you in the right direction. If you’re based in the US, you’ll need an accredited vet to fill out an international health certificate for your pet. Get your documents in order. Pet Relocation has advice on transporting pets to different destinations overseas. If you’re coming from the US, you’ll need to get a health certificate from the US Department of Agriculture (USA). You’ll also want to bring a hard copy of your pet’s health records, to be on the safe side. Get your pet vaccinated and microchipped. Microchipping your pet is always recommended anyway, but many countries also require it. In Europe, for instance, you’ll need to get your pet decked out with an ISO microchip. You’ll need to redo your pet’s rabies vaccine at a specific time before you depart. Other immunizations you’ll need to for dogs include: Distemper Parvovirus Canine hepatitis Leptospirosis While cats will need the following vaccines ahead of time: Panleukopenia Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus Get a travel crate. Now’s the time to get your pet used to their travel crate. And check with the airline you’re flying with about whether to get a hard or soft-sided crate. Confirm any airline requirements. Every airline has their own set of policies in place when flying with pets. For instance, depending on the size of your dog and your destination, you might not be able to travel with your pet in the cabin. And as much as we hate to break it to you, some airlines don’t have the best track record when it comes to keeping pets safe. Oh, and no matter how tempted you are to sedate your dog for the flight, it’s really not advisable. Sedation can cause breathing difficulties. Set money aside for your pet ticket. Yes, air travel is now available to the furry masses. And some airlines even allow dogs to travel in the cabin, rather than the cargo hold. Either way, you will have to pay, although airlines do vary in their pricing structure for pets so you’ll need to check with them directly. If possible, try getting a direct, non-stop flight. And avoid holiday and weekend travel times like the plague. Also, have a think about the time of year you’re flying in. Is it extremely cold or hot? This can make conditions in the cargo hold harder on your pet. All set for you and your furry friend’s adventure teaching and traveling abroad? Be sure to check out these additional resources for new expat teachers: 5 teacher blogs to get you excited about teaching abroad How to avoid cold feet: The teach abroad edition Tax timeout: tax responsibilities for teachers heading overseas to teach

New Features My Home Page, Blackboard, Daylight Savings Time

New Features My Home Page, Blackboard, Daylight Savings Time Our product team has been working on a number of improvements on the website. Our latest improvement has been to reorganize the personal homepage. As soon as you login, you can see the new blackboard and layout. First, its easier to comment and ask questions on the new blackboard. In addition, now you will be able to see your blackboard posts combined with questions that you have asked. You can also reply in a thread, so your replies can stay linked together. Weve also added a side column that has updates from your italki friends. We hope this will make learning a language more social. Now you can see what your italki friends are doing. We hope youll spend a little time to answer questions from your friends, or help them with an language issue they are facing. Weve also made a change to timezones recently. Many of you may have noticed that you have been asked to reselect your timezone. This is important as many students are scheduling lessons on italki, and issues like daylight savings make it crucial to synchronize clocks. As always, please keep the feedback coming through our feedback link or through email (feedback at italki dot com). Your opinions really help us work on where we can improve the site. And keep checking out our blog. We have many more updates coming up soon, and well always let you know about them here. The italki team New Features My Home Page, Blackboard, Daylight Savings Time Our product team has been working on a number of improvements on the website. Our latest improvement has been to reorganize the personal homepage. As soon as you login, you can see the new blackboard and layout. First, its easier to comment and ask questions on the new blackboard. In addition, now you will be able to see your blackboard posts combined with questions that you have asked. You can also reply in a thread, so your replies can stay linked together. Weve also added a side column that has updates from your italki friends. We hope this will make learning a language more social. Now you can see what your italki friends are doing. We hope youll spend a little time to answer questions from your friends, or help them with an language issue they are facing. Weve also made a change to timezones recently. Many of you may have noticed that you have been asked to reselect your timezone. This is important as many students are scheduling lessons on italki, and issues like daylight savings make it crucial to synchronize clocks. As always, please keep the feedback coming through our feedback link or through email (feedback at italki dot com). Your opinions really help us work on where we can improve the site. And keep checking out our blog. We have many more updates coming up soon, and well always let you know about them here. The italki team

How to Navigate the Process of Finding and Accepting Student Loans

How to Navigate the Process of Finding and Accepting Student Loans Image via Isorepublic.com Fill out the FAFSA Filling out the FAFSA is a great way to start finding government, need-based loans that you qualify for. Yes, it’s time-consuming, but it will be worth the effort if you get a good loan out of it! Check your school’s financial aid website to see when the deadline is (usually, it’s April 1). You can also fill out the College Board CSS/Profile form to help you find even more loans. Actually pay them… You can get into a lot of trouble for not paying your student loans. Make sure you have monthly reminders in place so that you do not forget to make your payment. Also, be sure to budget a good amount for your student loan payments every month. And do it soon! It’s also important to pay off your student loans as soon as you can, especially if your loans have higher interest rates. The longer you wait to pay them off, the more interest you will accumulate, and you’ll have to pay way more than you originally thought. Don’t get yourself into this situation; just be sure to have a good payment plan. Do your research No two loans are the same. This is why it is crucial to know what you are getting yourself into before signing off on that loan. There are a few key things you should definitely know before agreeing to take on a loan: •Is the interest on the loan subsidized or unsubsidized? If it is subsidized, that means the federal government will pay the interest until you graduate. If it is unsubsidized, you are responsible for paying all the interest (all the more reason to pay it off faster!). Subsidized loans are usually available to undergraduate students who qualify for need-based aid. Unsubsidized loans are available to almost all students. •What can you use the money for? There are some monies that you can only use for certain things. For example, some things can only be used for room and board, or for books. Make sure you can use the money you’re getting for what you need. •Do you have to pay a “loan origination fee”? In some cases, you might be charged a fee when you first take out the loan. It’s usually around 1-4 percent of the loan, and it will be included in the loan. (Think of it as a down payment rather than an additional payment.) Don’t accept more than you can pay off A common mistake many students make when taking out loans is accepting more than they will be able to pay off. As a rule of thumb, don’t take out more than 25 percent of your expected entry level salary. If you’ve already taken out that much and still need more money to cover your tuition, try looking to other resources to meet your financial needs. Find other sources of income Remember how I said you should find other sources to meet your financial needs? Let’s talk about them. It’s best to look into these resources first to minimize your student loans. Here are other places that can help you pay your way through school: •Look for scholarships or grants on websites like fastweb.com (and check out these tips to make sure the scholarship you’re applying to is not a scam!) •If you have the time, get a part-time job. You can even look into work/study programs and paid internships. •Look for opportunities that may lower your tuition costs. Although this wont technically help you pay for your school, it’ll lower your bill and thus, you won’t have to take out even more loans. For example, usually, if you are a resident assistant (RA), the school will cover your room and board costs. Consider working in public service If you decide to work in certain public service fields, your student loans will be forgiven after you have made 120 monthly payments working full-time. Usually, government organizations and not for profit 501c3 corporation workers may be eligible for this forgiveness. Check out U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website to find out more about public service loan forgiveness. Paying for college is a tricky thing. Taking out student loans is definitely an option to help you pay your way through school. Just be sure to do your research and know what you’re getting into before you sign and click “accept.”

4 Things College Prep Students Should do This Fall

4 Things College Prep Students Should do This Fall Tips From an Irvine College Prep Tutor: 4 Things College Prep Students Should do Before Thanksgiving Break College prep students have adjusted back to classroom activities and are well on their way to completing important tasks that will help them successfully apply to college. Its good for students to have a list of things to complete each month, so they stay on track and dont miss any important deadlines. Although Thanksgiving break seems worlds away, its not that far and students who have goals to meet by that point in the year should start thinking about it now. Whether students are focused on prepping for college entrance exams or studying for AP classes, nows the time to be prepared our private Irvine college prep tutors are here to get you into college. 1. AP courses Students in 10th through 12th grade are probably taking advanced placement courses to help them apply to college and receive college credit before they even start their first day on campus. AP courses are tons of work and take up a lot of a student’s time, so its important that they feel comfortable they are on track to get a 3 or higher on their test the following May. If students aren’t doing as well as they could in any given AP course, theyre encouraged to join a study group or start working with a one-on-one tutor so they can study more efficiently and go over difficult concepts. 2. College entrance exams By Thanksgiving, many students will have already taken their SAT or ACT and may even have their overall scores. Students should compare their scores with the average accepted student at several universities they plan to apply to next fall to see if they qualify. Students who would like to gain a few extra points can arrange to retake their entrance exam in the spring and start working with an expert SAT or ACT tutor to work on any weak areas. Many students gain 100 or more points just by learning how to beat each section of the exam (READ: 8 Reasons Applicants Fail to Get Into the College of their Choice). 3. Organization Maintaining excellent organization is an essential key to success when it comes to the college prep years. Many students let their organization fall by the wayside during the first few weeks of school because their mind is still on summer break. However, if students are falling off track by Thanksgiving, they should take this as an opportunity to get back on top of things and take care of any details that need attention. This may include signing up for the SAT, improving grades in AP courses, arranging volunteer hours, scheduling a campus visit, or choosing a list of colleges to apply to. 4. Selecting colleges and universities Sophomore and junior year are excellent times to schedule campus visits and start thinking about the best options for applications. By the end of sophomore year, students will have an idea of what their GPA will be when it comes time to apply, and theyll have an idea of some subjects that might interest them as potential career fields but they probably wont know exactly what it is they want to major in or specific elements of colleges that will benefit them in the long run. The best way to get an idea of the best colleges is to visit the campus in person and meet some current students. Most colleges provide opportunities for students to take official tours or simply walk around the campus at their leisure. College visits are an essential part of the application process, and Thanksgiving break is a great time to start thinking about scheduling these tours and finding a good time to visit and do further research. Our Irvine college prep tutoring has a 97% success rate. Call us today to learn more. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.