Saturday 26 September 2015

How Does Classroom Apps Make Education Much Easier ?

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While browsing the internet , I recently came across an interview of a Biology teacher, Miss Heidi Bernasconi from Clarkstown High School North. In an exclusive interview with "The Journal" she describes how the introduction of Google Apps in her school, has modified the whole scenario of learning. I would love to share her experience.
Here are a few advantages she enlisted why every school should use online apps for the overall development of their students.

When asked what can the Classroom app do that the desktop version cannot ?

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On her reply, she first pointed out the mobility factor. That means the students now have 24x7 hours access to their learning programmes and assessments. So whenever they feel they can access it just at the click of a button. All they need is a phone and a stable internet connection. Even due to any reasons the school systems are not available, students should not lag behind in completing their assessments.

The modern apps give you the facilities to upload multimedia files. So if the students find it necessary to share any video or images of their current assignments , they are free to do that and even ask for feedback if required. In this way they can stay connected with their class mates as well as instructors and seek suggestions whenever required. Study not only becomes technology advanced but at the same time fun and interesting.

On a fun part she even mentioned , that gone are those snow days when you stay indoors with nothing to do constructive. She remains connected to her students even when she is held back at home.


Grading System :

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The apps are so simple and systematic to use . Grading the assessments are now easy and faster than the usual. Heidi completed a file of assessments just within an hour while waiting for her doctor's appointment.

Notification of the educational app :



As per her experience, the app has amazing notification system. The App is so developed that as soon as the teacher completes grading the assignments, a notification is triggered to every student and he/she has to reply or give a feedback on those assignments. Same goes for the teachers when a new task is assigned and the student completes it and submit the file, a notification is triggered for the teachers. Push notification feature even add a whole new dimension and makes the app unique.


Students' Performance :

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Quote unquote , it was too early to decide whether the implication of the apps into the education system has truely been imperative. But three thing scan be concluded from it. Here are they listed below :
1. The app has made life much easier and simple.

2. Instead of searching the roster of the students and tallying who has submitted their assignments, a single feature tells you who all are present in the classroom and have submitted their tasks. Its just a matter of few seconds.

3. The Google apps or the desktop version provides 24x7 hours of internet at your pocket. So whenever the students or the teachers want can access the assignments . This add an extra advantage to those who might not be able to attend school due to medical issues or, are on vacations.


Future improvements :

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The app is in itself a life saviour for both the students and the teachers. But here are few suggestion that might go along well with this app :

1. The reminder feature should be added . Any particular test or project submission will get a constant reminder to the students. This will make the students more conscious and serious to complete their tasks in a given period of time amidst their other activities.

2. The networking should not remain within the boundaries of the school. The app should able to connect different schools of the cities , thereby increasing the boundary of reach.



Heidi loves the fast grading system on her phone and the simplifies access, but that been said , the ease of using a big screen and expandable writing space on the keyword to minimise errors cannot be neglected.



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Thursday 24 September 2015

Is Turning Your Hobby To A Business A Good Idea ?

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Are you passionate about a particular activity? Do you want to turn your hobby in to a long term career? Well, it can be certainly an amazing idea to start your dream career by transforming your passion in to a lucrative business.


Turning hobby into business


Many of us dream of taking something we are good at doing in our leisure time and converting in to our main business focus. However, it can be easier said than done. Although there are numerous entrepreneurs who have achieved success by turning their passion in to business, the fact remains there are many more who will regret the decision throughout their life. So if you are planning to start a business from your hobby, then you need to think it through, else might not only lose your current job, but it may adversely affect your entire career and life.


Arthur Lucas, owner of Charleston Freehouse Brewery based in South Carolina, said he does not regret the decision of becoming a professional after years of being a home brewer.

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The former management consultant said “It's more a vocation. I don't really feel like it's a job. It's an over-expanded, all-encompassing hobby now. Everything has challenges—and I prefer these challenges. I'm allowed to do my own thing, even if it's hard, as opposed to being what someone else is looking for. That takes a huge weight off my shoulders.”


Making money from your passion


Want to convert your passion project into a lucrative career? Then you should be ready to face a lot of challenges. Most new entrepreneurs soon realise that running a business on a daily basis can be much more difficult than they had planned. Jay Adan, co-owner of Greenfield Games, had such an experience after starting his business. He opened Greenfield, currently the largest game store in Western Massachusetts, after leaving his career in public relations, with his partners Dave Fifield and  Seth Lustig.

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Jay Adan said “It was a critical time. None of us had ever run a retail store before. There really wasn't a full-time business person.”
So he and his partners took help from a former business associate, Joe Minton, to put the business in track.
Adan added “There's always stuff to learn. Passion can only take you so far. I know a lot about games and how they work, but that doesn't translate into how you run a successful business.”

Get ready for challenges


However, the risks of transforming your hobbies and passions in to a livelihood are not limited to economic challenges.
Hugh MacLeod, author of Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity, said “When your dreams become reality, they are no longer your dreams. When its a hobby, you're doing it for yourself, on your own time. But when you're doing it for a job, it doesn't feel like that. What happens is, your hobby, all of a sudden, is a source of major anxiety because you still have bills to pay.”

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Hence, the pleasant activities which could previously act as stress relief will soon turn in to anxiety-inducers when you start to make it a career. This can encourage you to pursue other hobbies and eventually lose interest in the original hobby, said MacLeod.

Although starting a business and making a career from your hobbies may sound conceptually great, You must make sure to take all the necessary steps to move through the difficulties, else you might fall flat on your face. You will need to have the right skills, knowledge, passion and determination to actually run your business successfully in the long run.


What do you think? Share your views and experiences with us by commenting below.


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