General Education – Page 7 – The Big Words Blog Site

5 Benefits Of Having A Hobby As A Professional

“While the benefits of every hobby will differ depending on what you choose to devote your time to and how much passion you put into it, one thing is for sure, having a hobby has several benefits that will help you in the short and long term.”

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Three focuses of my blog are Health/Wellness, Career Discussions and General Education. For some people, being a professional may provide all the meaning needed in one’s life. In other instances, some people need other activities to provide balance and meaning in life. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Benefits Of Having A Hobby As A Professional.

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Hobbies are regular activities usually done for enjoyment during your free time. Hobbies include playing sports, collecting themed items and objects, or engaging in creative and artistic activities like reading, among other things. The best way to pursue a new hobby is to try something you’ve never done before. The world is full of great activities to explore and adopt as our own. There are many reasons why we should all have at least one hobby, but here are the main benefits:

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5 Benefits Of Having A Hobby As A Professional

Taking Time For Yourself

Hobbies force you to take a break from everyday stress and spend time on yourself. Sometimes you have to take a break from stress long enough to disrupt your body’s stress response cycle before returning to action. If you need a short break, you can hike, ride a bike, watch a movie, or have a 5-minute meditation session. The more you focus on your hobbies, the more satisfaction and sense of achievement you will get.

Better Physical Health

Physical hobbies are a great way to stay in shape. Hobbies such as gardening, dancing, yoga, and sports can help us stay active without going to the gym. Getting started is not as difficult as one might think. For example, all you need to play soccer is a ball, some comfortable shoes, and custom gk gloves. And for yoga, you only really need a yoga mat.

Increased Social Interaction

Hobbies can improve your social life. Whether you’re in a club or playing in a league, hobbies are a great way to meet and approach people who have the same interests as you. The older you get, the harder it can get to make new friends who share your interests, but fortunately, the hobbies are something you can regularly enjoy with others.

Creativity

Creativity can allow you to view and solve problems more openly and with innovation. Some hobbies can inspire us to tap into our creative side. Engaging in a creative hobby will help you train your brain to think more creatively in other areas of your life. This can be helpful and extremely enjoyable for someone who doesn’t have a creative outlet at their work.

Hobbies Make You More Interesting

A hobby will give you something to talk about and something you can share about yourself with other people, other than what you do for a living. It will provide you with ‘layers’ because there are now more aspects to what you do every day. They also help strengthen your self-identity because you might see yourself as an artist, photographer, or an actor. Just think how much interest people would take in you if you did kung fu as a hobby, for example – you’ll definitely always have something to talk about, and talking about your hobbies is a great way to break the ice in conversations with new people as well.

There You Have It

While the benefits of every hobby will differ depending on what you choose to devote your time to and how much passion you put into it, one thing is for sure, having a hobby has several benefits that will help you in the short and long term. Finding something that makes you light up outside of work can seem like a massive task in itself, but it will be worth it to find something that makes you feel creatively and independently fulfilled!

Making It In The Financial World: Advice For Career-Builders

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. If you have the aptitude and passion for it, the financial world could yield you a promising career. The following guest post is entitled, Making it in the Financial World: Advice for Career-Builders.

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Few people know that you don’t have to be a genius to have a successful career in finance. In fact, with the right skills and attitude, anyone can make it in this industry. The key is to stay on top of the latest news and trends and to network with others in the field. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your career goals.

Why you should build a career in the finance industry

A career in finance can be extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally. This is because you’ll be working with all different types of people and helping them with their financial needs and goals. Here are a few reasons why you might want to pursue a career in finance:

• The finance industry is always growing and changing, so it’s a great sector to be involved in if you want a challenging and dynamic career.
• The pay and benefits in the finance industry are often very good, making it an attractive option for career-minded individuals.
• Finance is a global industry, so you have the opportunity to work anywhere in the world.

How to get started on the right foot in your career

A great way to position yourself for success in finance is to get a good education. Having both an undergraduate and graduate degree is extremely helpful, and you might also want to consider earning an MBA. However, not everyone has the time nor the money to afford the traditional way of earning an education.

Fortunately, there are alternate options that you can look into, such as online courses. For instance, if you want to pursue a career in accounting, you can earn your accountancy degree online through a reputable school.

This way, you can learn the material at your own pace, and you can even set up adjustable deadlines. You can also work full-time and do your homework between shifts, so you can fully maximize your time while building your future career.

Another great way to set yourself up for a successful career in finance is by networking with others in the industry. You can do this through groups or organizations, conferences, or even informational interviews.

This way, you have the opportunity to put a face to the name of the people you’ve worked with or read about, which can help you gain a better understanding of the industry as a whole.

The skills you need for a successful career in finance

One of the most important skills to have if you want a successful career in finance is math. You will constantly be using mathematical equations to solve problems and complete your work. This means that you should get very familiar with things like percentages, fractions, and decimals.

You also need to know how to build strong financial models and prepare accurate financial statements. This is a great way for you to display your skills and show what you can do. You need to make sure that you have a good grasp of things like valuation, forecasting, and budgeting.

Another important skill is your ability to think critically and analyze. You should always be able to see things from multiple perspectives, so you can come up with different solutions for the same problems. Being flexible and open-minded can help you solve issues more efficiently.

Finally, you should be able to communicate well with others. This means that you need to have excellent writing skills and public speaking abilities. You should be able to make presentations that will engage your audience and convey all the necessary information.

How to stand out in your career

A great way to stand out in your career is by staying on top of the latest news. If there is a big story or significant development in the finance world, you want to know about it. This way, you can keep your team informed and ready to act if necessary.

Aside from that, you can also show that you’re a well-rounded individual. You want to show that you aren’t just good with numbers, but you can handle all sorts of tasks and responsibilities. You should be able to take control of the situation and help others when they get stuck.

Finance is a very competitive industry, and you want to make sure that you’re giving yourself an edge above your competition. The tips above are great for both new graduates looking to get their foot in the door, or current employees looking to move up in their company.

If you just follow the simple steps mentioned above, then you will be well on your way to a highly successful career in finance. But don’t forget to have fun and enjoy your time while you’re building your career because that’s just as important.

4 Tips For Making A Mid-Career Change

Buffer

“If you are feeling bored with work or frustrated at the lack of career progression you are seeing, you could stick it out and feel resentful of your work each and every day, or you could make a change and find work that you do actually love.”

Buffer

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. Making a mid-career change is a very big deal. If you’re going to do that, there are some important aspects that you need to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Tips For Making A Mid-Career Change.

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If you are feeling bored with work or frustrated at the lack of career progression you are seeing, you could stick it out and feel resentful of your work each and every day, or you could make a change and find work that you do actually love.

Making a mid-career change is never an easy decision, but if you still have many years of work ahead of you, it is perhaps easier to give it a go than to stay in a job you hate for years to come, and the below tips will help you to make that midcareer change as easy as it can possibly be…

1. Get all your paperwork together

Before you do anything else, ensure that you have all of the paperwork you need together, whether that be your work visa, a copy of your high school diploma from diploma creator, or a profile of your creative work, so that when the opportunity for an interview arises, you are ready to act.

2. Identify all your transferrable skills

If you are making a career switch, then it is a lot easier to impress employers if you can very quickly show them the skills you have that will make you an asset to their company.

Identifying your transferable skills is the easiest way to do this. For example, if you work as a marketing exec right now, you probably have a very persuasive nature which could easily be transferred to a job in direct sales or if you are a nurse, you will be great with people, which means that you will probably be great at meeting with clients in an office job too.

3. Talk to your network

If you are mid-career, chances are you have built up a sizeable list of contacts both on and offline. If that is the case, then you would be foolish not to utilize them in your search for a new job.

Put out feelers, let your network know you are looking to make a career change, and don’t be surprised if one of them comes up trumps with a great offer you can’t refuse.

List all of your transferable skills and build a brand new resume around them, making them the focal point so the people doing the hiring can very quickly see what you bring to the table.

4. Network in your new niche

Of course, if you’re making a complete career change, it could also be useful to network within your chosen niche. If you can meet even a handful of people working in the sector you wish to move into then you can significantly increase your chances of finding a role you desire, So, attend trade events and conferences, and be as charming as you can because often who you know is just as, if not more, important than what you know when it comes to making a career move later in life.

In order to do this effectively, it’s important that you are up to date on all of the relevant knowledge of the industry. You need to know who is top of the market right now, you need to know about people who are currently making a massive success of themselves like John Kim UCLA graduate, and you need to be able to speak about the industry with confidence. If you can do this, it will really help you to network within your niche.

Good luck, I hope your mid-career move is the best one you ever make.

How To Choose The Right Career For You

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. The fortunate people choose a career that lines up with exactly who they are and don’t get stuck with one they dread daily. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Choose The Right Career For You.

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Choosing the right career is one of the most important decisions that you’ll ever make, so it can feel like a lot of pressure. If you’re wondering how to choose the right career for you, these ideas can help.

1. Assess you skills

The first step to choosing a career for you is to assess your skills. You might be just leaving college, or considering a career change, either way, it’s important to assess your skills. The following questions may come in handy:

● What transferable skills have you gained through the education system?
● What expertise and knowledge have you gained through work experience?
● What natural talents do you have? (creative practices for example).

2. Consider your passions

Not everyone is lucky enough to do a career that they love, but many people aspire to it. When you’re thinking about your career it’s a good idea to reflect on your passions. If you’re not sure what your passions are, that’s okay, you’ve still got plenty of time to find them! There are lots of ways to discover your passions, here are a few ideas to get you started:

● Try some volunteer work (it’s a great way to give back and learn about different communities).
● Take a course or a workshop.
● Join a professional networking community.

3. Establish what’s important

When you’re deciding on the right career for you, you’ll need to establish what’s important. What are you looking for in a career? Are you looking to give back to society? Perhaps job satisfaction is the most important thing to you? Alternatively, you might be more focused on a high salary? Whatever your priorities are, it’s important to establish these from the get-go. With a clear idea of what you’re looking for it’s easy to brainstorm your potential options.

4. Do your research

To choose the right career you’ll need to do lots of research. Figure out the exact qualifications you’ll need, and the different routes into the profession. Find out who the top companies are, and what you can do to stand out. You might need to build a personal brand and focus on networking. Perhaps you need to obtain a certain degree or a master’s? If you’re keen to pursue a science-related career you might be interested in articles from MedComp Sciences.

5. Meet with a careers advisor

If you’re wondering which career to pursue, meeting with a careers advisor is a great way to get support. A careers coach can help you in many different ways including:

● Help to improve your CV.
● Personality tests to determine career suitability.
● Support to prepare for job interviews (if appropriate).
● Help to move towards a new career.

Focusing on these areas will help you to choose the right career for you. With a little research and support, you’ll soon be on your way. Remember, it’s crucial to establish what’s most important to you. When you figure out what you’re looking for in a career you’ll be moving in the right direction.

The Future of Education Is Here

Two key focuses of my blog are General Education and Technology. As with everything in our world, the landscape of education has changed significantly. Some of this was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, but some of the changes were already in the pipeline. The following guest post is entitled, The Future of Education Is Here.

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Some people don’t have time to commute to school every day, while others might be too far away from schools, colleges, or universities. Distance learning gives these people more flexibility in scheduling classes around their work schedule or taking breaks when needed without worrying about missing anything in the classroom.

Additionally, distance learning provides an opportunity for individuals who might work in jobs or situations where they can’t leave and still receive a quality education. Distance learning also provides more flexibility and opportunities for students with special needs.

Many schools and universities will provide extra time on homework, tests, or classwork for students who need it. Using computers and other technology in distance learning can also help students with disabilities participate more fully in the class.

There are a lot of benefits to it, which are explored in more depth below:

1) Cost Savings

One of the biggest benefits for students is saving on tuition costs by taking some or all their classes online. For instance, if students enroll in online senior high school at AMA, they won’t have to spend money on transportation, uniforms, and miscellaneous fees.

2) Mobility

Students who take at least some of their classes via distance learning often have greater mobility, making it possible to study from various locations. This means that you can study from home, at the library, or any other place that has an internet connection.

Having the flexibility to study wherever you helps students because it can help them continue their education without taking time off. Plus, sometimes it can be very hard to focus when you’re at home, so studying elsewhere helps students stay more focused on their work.

3) Flexibility

In addition to saving on tuition costs, distance learning also offers flexibility with schedules and deadlines, ultimately making it easier for students to meet course requirements. The freedom to choose a time frame to study is an added benefit that can be a major time saver for students.

4) Variety

Distance learning provides students with a greater variety of course options to choose from, which can be more challenging and interesting than the traditional classroom setting. Plus, it’s possible to take classes from various institutions and attend courses that don’t require you to be on campus.

5) Efficiency

With no need to commute or fight for a seat in a crowded lecture hall, distance learners can save time and focus on their studies. This means an increase in efficiency and productivity when learning, both of which are crucial for students to succeed academically.

6) Independence

One of the most important benefits of distance learning is that it allows students to learn at their own pace and in their way. They are not limited by the structure of a traditional classroom, which can be restrictive. And since distance learning is more flexible, students will learn more about time management.

7) Connectivity

By using online tools, distance learners can connect with classmates and instructors from all over the globe, creating a global community of learners. This makes it easy to seek help or collaborate on projects, especially for those who have never done so before.

8) Collaboration

Distance learners can connect and collaborate with other students, instructors, experts, and professionals worldwide. They can form study groups, exchange lesson plans, and more. If this is something you are interested in, it’s helpful to check if the course you wish to take offers this option.

9) Compatibility

Most distance learning courses are designed to be compatible with various devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and smartphones. With this in mind, it’s possible to access course material no matter where you are or what technology you use.

10) Accreditation

Many distance learning courses are accredited by well-recognized organizations, which can help students when they apply for jobs or further their education. Additionally, some colleges and universities accept these credits as transfer credits, which means you can spend less money on extra coursework.

Distance learning is a method of education that involves using computers and other technology to create interactive courses. This type of learning allows students to study anywhere with an internet connection, regardless of whether they are at home or in another location.

There are many reasons why distance learning is a great option for students. Of course, it’s not the right choice for everyone, but it can offer many benefits for everyday learners and to those who cannot afford the costs of traditional schooling.

What Does It Take To Choose A Career That Brings Our The Best In Us?

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. One our most important life decisions is the career we choose. The ideal situation is that our career helps makes us our best selves and aligns with who we are inside. The following contributed post is entitled, What Does It Take To Choose A Career That Brings Our The Best In Us?

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The most difficult aspect of getting our dream job is finding something that makes a difference. Finding the right career that fits us is not necessarily about finding a job that we’re good at, but it’s about having a career that brings out the best in us over the long term. We can experience many bumps in the road towards finding or carving out an amazing career for ourselves, but it’s about looking inwards as much as investigating outwards. What does it take to choose a career that brings out the best in us?

Is it About Reaching for the Stars?
When we’re young, we have dreams that soon become dismissed by everyone, even ourselves. When we’re young, we want to be a firefighting space explorer, but the fact is that these jobs are not out of reach, just as long as we understand how we can work towards that. The fact is that an organization such as the Space Foundation CI&E actually focuses on getting people started within a career in space exploration. It may not necessarily be as an astronaut but could be within so many different roles within that industry. This is a vital lesson we’ve all got to learn. If we want to be a firefighter, we may not necessarily have the skills or even the physical capabilities, should it stop us from working within this industry if we have a passion for it? Not at all.

Don’t Worry About Preparing Ahead of Time
It’s actually difficult to figure out what you are going to be good at in the future, and, in fact, requires a lot of self-reflection. When you are choosing a career based on what you are good at, the solution is to instead go and investigate by trying it out. If you have a dream to achieve, you just need to go and ask people questions. If you have a desire to work in an organization that helps people, such as a charity, you can reach out to so many people on Linkedin these days that you can easily get an insight into the industry. And by reaching out to these people, you could see if there is a possibility of volunteering. The fact is that speaking to people is a very quick way to gain insight into something, and you will know if you want to pursue it further because you will get a good feeling about it.

Keep Adapting Your Plan
You don’t have to hit your ideal career by a certain age. There are definitely a lot of people that talk about age being a barrier to their chosen career. But if you are trying to bring out the best in you, it’s not going to happen overnight, or even over a few years. This is why it’s so important for you to keep tinkering with the plan. And whether you are starting a business or looking for something else in life, choosing a career that brings out the best in you will be worth it.

5 Tips To Improve Your Writing Skills

Two key focuses of my blog are Blogging/Writing and General Education. The ability to write is a critical skill no matter what sector you aspire to go into. The better you get at it, the better off you’ll be. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Tips To Improve Your Writing Skills.

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Writing is one of life’s most underrated skills. Of course, there are many ways to make money from being a great writer. You could craft a Booker Prize winning novel, work as a freelance copyright, or create and monetize your own blog. These are all respectable ways to earn a living, but writing is not just useful as a means to financial success. It is a valuable skill in its own right.

Whatever career you are in, there is a good chance you have to write occasionally. You may have to draft business proposals or create Powerpoint presentations to deliver to clients. Monthly reports, marketing plans, press releases, financial statements: all of these are examples of the written word in which a miscommunication could be disastrous. Even if you are in a manual line of work, you probably still have to send emails or participate in Whatsapp conversations.

Being able to write well makes you more articulate and helps you get your point across in a much more concise and meaningful way. This can benefit you when convincing a client to do business with you, asking for a pay rise, or getting yourself out of trouble. But how do you become a better writer if you’re not naturally talented with the written word? Here are five tips to improve your writing skills.

Read more

The best way to become a better writer is to read profusely. This way, you can absorb different techniques and styles and gain a better understanding of what makes for good writing. Look at things like vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation. Consume a variety of different texts from novels to news articles to scientific journals. Eventually, all this content will rub off on you and you’ll develop a keen eye for excellent writing.

Write a lot

Practice makes perfect, so make sure you devote some time each day to write. It doesn’t have to be public or even meaningful, as long as you make an effort to put pen to paper. Start a journal, publish a blog, or even just scrawl down some random thoughts in a notebook. The more you write, the more comfortable you will become and you’ll soon cultivate your own unique style.

Take a course

If you’re a complete beginner when it comes to writing, it is a good idea to learn from an expert. There are many courses and workshops that can help you develop your writing skills and turn your passion into a profession.

Edit everything

Once you’ve started writing for real, you need to become a perfectionist. It’s not enough to just churn out a blog post and hit publish. Be ruthless with the editing process and scrutinise every paragraph, sentence, and word. You need to be able to get your point across in as concise a manner as possible.

Get feedback

When you’re a writer it can sometimes be hard to see the wood for the trees. That’s why it can help to get feedback from an impartial observer. Ask friends and family to read your material and offer their criticisms and advice for how you could improve it. You’ll soon learn to identify your own flaws and work on them.

Home Schooling: Set Up The Ideal Space With These Tips

A key focus of my blog is General Education. Many parents are decided to home school these days. While you may be able to do educate your youngsters more effectively than the schools system, there are some things you need to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, Home Schooling: Set Up The Ideal Space With These Tips.

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Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Many new homeschoolers ask how to best set up their classroom. The options can be overwhelming. Here are some suggestions for creating a comfortable and productive homeschooling environment.

Keep Your Mind Open

It doesn’t have to be a classroom! You’ll need a work surface, comfortable seating, good lighting, and storage space. It should be near the parent or home teacher so they can answer questions when not directly involved in the student’s work.

Choose The Right Worksurface

If possible, set aside a large table or desk where work can be spread out and returned to as needed. Consider employing a table that is only used occasionally or for one purpose. Keep a shared surface clean and uncluttered, and make it a family habit to clean thoroughly between uses.

Make It Comfortable

Choose a chair that you can sit in comfortably. Afraid of their seats? So are their parents! Ensure that each student and the adult(s) assisting them to have enough space and comfortable sitting. Consider extra seating for colleagues.

Build Up Supplies And Materials

Some families set up a homeschooling area in a separate room, while others use the kitchen table. Large chalkboards are used for lessons or seasonal drawings. Keep your stuff organized and have your kids help you.

Locate shelves and storage containers for easy access to resources. To keep supplies organized, use a mix of shelves, drawers, and other storage solutions. Storage for curriculum, reference, and library materials is also required. Using an inbox and outbox or dividers can help organize work in progress. All of the classroom resources require a place to live.

Keep Clutter And Distraction To A Minimum

Having a clutter-free homeschool and playroom for your child can be really relaxing. Rotating play pieces frees up space and allows for more imaginative usage. Some toys may be stored for many seasons and only be used for a few weeks. Year-round toys (like blocks and dolls) can be neatly stored each afternoon. Even very young children can learn to help “put the toys to bed” at the end of the day.

Minimizing noise can also help. Avoid background noises like music, TV, and computers while in class. Singing a song between activities is simple and can be found in the library, online, or in our bookstore under K-8 Resource Books.

The Decor

Aesthetics are also vital when planning your homeschooling space. Are the colours appealing to the primary users? If you can repaint the walls, choose a soothing colour like pale green, light blue, or muted lavender. Paint a portion of one wall chalkboard.

Display current academic and artistic work in a visible homemade art gallery. To keep the learning area simple and uncluttered, choose a wall away from the learning area. If you want to decorate a specific wall, use a large bulletin board or cork wall tiles to define it. Have a look at Miss Jacobs’s succulent classroom theme for some inspiration.

Above all, don’t stress if your space isn’t ideal! Follow your emotions, creativity, and experience. Homeschooling is like life. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share some of them in the comments below.

How To Teach Children About Tolerance

Two focuses of my blog are Current Events and General Education. A key term into today’s modern world is “tolerance” which means to become accepting of other people’s differences. In order achieve this society-wide, the population must become educated on it. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Teach Children About Tolerance.

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We can all take responsibility for teaching tolerance, whether we are parents, aunts and uncles, teachers, or just neighbors to a child. We must begin with children if we want to make the world a more empathetic place. They are the impressionable ones who are still establishing their worldviews, and it’s critical that they have strong role models and positive influences in their life. Tolerance is promoted not just in terms of religious and ethnic diversity, but also in terms of gender, physical and intellectual disability, size, shape, and everything in between. With words like woke and discrimination being part of our daily lives, we must make the world a more tolerant place. Read on to find out more.

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Watch What You Say

Aside from never allowing your kid to bully or taunt others, be mindful of what you say yourself. Children are like sponges, and if they hear you say something disrespectful, they will feel it’s okay to say it; after all, you are their role model.

This is why, if you want your child to be a good, tolerant person, you must also respect others; your child will do the same. And remember, this isn’t just about talking about other people. Even remarks about your own physique (such as saying you look fat or that you’re stupid for not thinking of something or that you don’t like a particular part of yourself) might cause a youngster to form opinions about the people in their environment or even about themselves.

Encourage Self Confidence

A youngster who is secure in themselves is more inclined to accept differences and appreciate the worth in others. You will often hear that bullies are those who are unhappy in their own lives and have to lash out against others because they are afraid or worried about their own personalities.

The more confident a child is about how they are and what they can do, the less chance there is of them bullying or worrying about anyone else. As a parent or guardian, this is something that you can control – you can help your child be much more self-confident.

Talk About Differences Respectfully

Discuss the distinctions and differences between your family and friends (hair color, skin color, personal likes and dislikes, special traditions, and so on), and take the chance to discuss why it’s wonderful that people are so diverse. You might also talk about how people might be different, but that there will always be similarities. This can help a young child understand that differences are just a part of life and that there will always be something you have in common with someone, whether this is how you look, what you believe in, or something else entirely.

Answer Their Questions

Children might ask difficult questions about tolerance and discrimination, and if you don’t give them an answer, your lack of action can teach them that it is not acceptable to discuss differences or ‘uncomfortable’ things. This leads to more intolerance and misunderstandings.

Even if you’re stumped for words, assure them that you’ll come back to them with a response later. And make certain that you do. This is the ideal opportunity to learn something important yourself.

Evolution of Long Distance Education

Two focuses of my blog are General Education and Technology. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the educational landscape was evolving. In its aftermath there may be even more distance learning as gathering is not as certain a thing as it was in the past. The following guest post is entitled, Evolution of Long Distance Education.

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Education has undergone a lot of changes from when it first started. Due to not being able to conduct student-gathered classes all the time which was caused by certain historic events like wars and plagues, there came a trend that moved towards long-distance education where teachers would remotely impart their knowledge through different forms of media.

Today, we know of how many educational institutions utilize video conferencing platforms to conduct online classes. But before this digital age, many other ways were created to fit the circumstances of different classes of people, different periods, and different existing technology. Here are some of the different forms of media that were utilized for long-distance education and how they are being used today.

Correspondence Education

Correspondence education was probably the very first attempt to deliver teaching services to students without face-to-face interaction. This involved an instructor writing down lessons and sets of instructions and sending these via mail to their students. The students would then mail back their homework as their class participation.

This method was mainly used as only an alternative when attending formal classes was either impossible or plain unaffordable. This kind of correspondence can slow down the education process since it can take a while before mails are sent and received, but students in this exchange were happy to wait for the sake of learning.

Correspondence education programs are still being practiced especially in the US where some universities offer courses that can be completed remotely. Although some still make use of postal services, many have transitioned to digitalized correspondence that shortens the waiting time in between the exchange.

Printed Materials

As it was used inside the classroom, printed texts were also sent out to students’ houses for home-based learning. Books and assignment sheets proved useful but were found to require the presence of an educator to help explain the printed information. The process of sending out printed educational materials is resurging during this pandemic, especially in many public schools with students who cannot avail the newer technology required for digital education.

Telephone Communication

Telephone communication was then used to aid students who weren’t physically able to attend classes. From their homes or inside hospital wards, students got to listen to their lessons while the teachers discussed them in school. An improved telephone device resembling a radio was placed inside the classroom which collects the audio of everything said in real-time and transmits it to the student on the other line, who can press a switch on their own device if they need to speak. The gadget inside the classroom has to be carried from room to room by a volunteer student when going to another class.

Today, the telephone has strayed far from education as there are more effective ways to deliver distance learning. But it has proven to be a necessity in business settings where making and taking calls for transactions have to be quick and efficient. The telephone system is used by businesses for outside calls as well as for contacting different departments inside the same building for convenience. Different strategies like the Xorcom reseller program for companies that provide communication solutions aim to maximize this internal communication in the corporate industry.

Broadcast-based Education

Televisions and radios were also used to deliver distance learning. Educational radio media, although used primarily for university broadcasting alongside traditional classroom settings, was extended to accommodate students far from school. Television, on the other hand, broadcasts live educational programs that employ different educators for different subjects. But both the TV and radio education had the disadvantage of being a one-sided learning process where the audience can only receive the information but not respond to it, at least immediately.

Educational radio and TV shows could only get feedback from their viewers after the broadcast has ended. This meant that active learning was limited by the capacity of the audience to view these shows.

But with technological innovations on the rise, television and radio education ultimately gave way to the prevalence of today’s virtual classrooms.

The Present: Virtual Classrooms

Almost everyone nowadays possesses or has access to computers. From personal laptops to smartphones, education is only a click away for students especially now when social distancing laws are limiting class gatherings. Combining all the good aspects of the previous kinds of media mentioned, our modern personal computers make it possible to receive a quality education from the comfort of our homes.

Of course, it has its drawbacks as well. But when face-to-face learning is not the best option, we can always count on the internet to reconnect students with their teachers.

Unexpected events can happen and disrupt our societal systems but we consistently find ways to resume our lives for the sake of progress. Education, being the main driving force behind the development of humanity, will always be a primary need that we will continue to uphold and improve as the years go by.