Tuesday, 4 June 2013

The Role of Technology in Education

In the current age we live in, technology has become an important component. Every day there is some new gadget or software that makes lives easier and improves on the technology and software that already exists. Making lives easier is not, however, the only role technology plays in our lives.
Technology is playing an increasing role in education. As technology advances, it is used to benefit students of all ages in the learning process.
Technology used in the classroom helps students adsorb the material. For example, since some people are visual learners, projection screens linked to computers can allow students to see their notes instead of simply listening to a teacher deliver a lecture.
Software can be used to supplement class curriculum. The programs provide study questions, activities, and even tests and quizzes for a class that can help students continue learning outside the classroom.
Technology has also become part of many curriculums, even outside of computer and technology classes. Students use computers to create presentations and use the Internet to research topics for papers and essays.
Students also learn to use the technology available to them in computer and tech classes. This ensures that after graduation they will be able to use the technology in a work setting, which may put them ahead of someone who didn't have access to a particular technology or software in their own school setting.
As technology advances, students have better access to educational opportunities like these. When something new and "better" is revealed, the "older" technology becomes more affordable, allowing it to be used in educational settings, even when schools are on a tight budget.
Technology has also advanced to help children even before they've started school. Educational video games and systems for young children helps them prepare for school and in some cases get a head start on their education.
There are people who may say children are "spoiled" by technology. Instead of being able to add a long column of numbers in their heads, for example, they turn to a calculator. Regardless of these arguments, technology is an important part of today's society. By incorporating it into the classroom, students will be better equipped to transition from the classroom to the work place.

Admission Essays - The Ticket to College

Each year millions of high school students apply for college. The hopes that something they learn in the next two to eight years will guide them into a fulfilling career of their choice is what drives students to filling out that initial application. Most students will tell you that they have anywhere from two to ten colleges on their list; each ranked according to caliber, educational standards, and excellence. While the most ambitious of applicants share a similar grade point average, test scores, and extracurricular activities; the thing that sets them apart from the rest is their admission essay.
The essay is the one part of the application that is the most defining factor to gaining an interview with the prestigious college of your choice. It is more than a summary of who you are and the things you have accomplished thus far in life; it is the map a student presents for themselves and their life, to the college. With acceptance rates decreasing as schools loose government funding and pull the ropes tighter on their expectations, you can bet that a person must display the highest caliber of life expectations and goals in order to be accepted.
There are three key parts to an admission essay - where you have been, what you want to do, and where you are going. While not every person has a Cinderella story of their life, if you want to impress, you will need to have lived. Showing a passion for life and the things you have accomplished should be the main focus of any admission essay. It is not enough to have been valedictorian and head of student government; a person must possess the leadership skills, innovational thinking, and the burning desire to make a difference. The applicant that will be chosen is one that jumps off the page with excitement for the things they will do in life and their short and long term goals. A solid admission essay should also demonstrate a problem and the ways the applicant would like to solve it.
The United States Education system uses admission essays as a way to raise the bar for their applicants. The words written on those pages display the difference between someone who is applying because they feel they should and the person who belongs on that campus. Colleges look to add students that will challenge professors, educate with other students, and start a revolution for a better future. These applicants are the next CEO's of a major economical company, the future Presidents of the United States, and the minds that will lift free enterprise from the gutters and restore a solid America.
The opportunities that are available within the United States are unmatched by any other country. Even as a college student a person has the opportunity to travel the world through study abroad programs. The life experience and education that you gain will lead a person to the future they desire. While rigorous at times, each educational milestone is simply one step towards a better, brighter future. The education system is a bridge to the future with the admission essay being the rope that ties it to your past.

Many Uses for Microsoft Word

Write Research Papers
For students, the uses for Microsoft Word include writing essays and research papers. The program is also complete with templates that can be further customized to fit your academic requirements. Footnotes and annotation systems are available as well as auto-correct functions.
Writing Letters
Word allows a simple way of writing and formatting letters. Whether it is a personal letter or a business letter, it offers special programming that serves as a guide for correct letter format. This is especially useful if you need to come up with a bunch of letters written to various business or home addresses.
For Desktop Publishing
Microsoft Word is equipped with an excellent range of layout and format functions that allows the user to lay text around objects and images. Colors, borders and columns are also easily added. Even custom graphics from external files can be included in the document. There are drawing tools and functions also available with Word. In other words, you can easily customize your document in your preferred layout using its great variety of features.
Creating Labels
Another good use of Microsoft Word is creating labels. It is designed with pre-defined templates that allow you to create labels and customize them according to specific measurements to fit your label's dimensions. There is also an available wizard that guides you through the process of creation through printing.
Creating Envelopes
Your letter will not be complete unless you have an envelope also formatted appropriately. What's good about this function is that you can either customize your own envelope or allow Word to come up with a matching envelope to the letter you have written using the application. What it does is it automatically copies the address and uses it to create the envelope. That helps you do away with manual typing.
Using Templates
Microsoft Word is well equipped with a variety of templates which you can use for creating invitations for all occasions. There are also corresponding templates that will allow you to easily write resumes. This allows you to come up with professional looking curriculum vitae without any complications.
Moreover, you can also use Word templates for letterheads, invoices and even for monthly business reports. This is because it is integrated with other Microsoft Office programs such as excel. This way, you can import graphs and other objects necessary for completing a well formatted report. There really is a long list of uses for Microsoft Word. You will certainly find it useful whether you are a student, a professor, a businessman, a home maker or whoever you are from whatever industry.