Category: General Education

Get Off To A Good Start When Studying For A New Career

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. All careers require some level of study. When launching into a new career, you want to get off to the best start possible. The following contributed post is entitled, Get Off To A Good Start When Studying For A New Career.

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Studying for a new career, whether it’s your first career or you’re retraining, opens up new opportunities for you. It might be time-consuming and maybe expensive too, but it’s worth it if you want to improve your future. If you’ve chosen to study for a new career, you can choose to put in the minimum amount of effort to get the qualifications and experience that you need or you can try to do as much as possible to put yourself in the best position at the beginning of your career. When you are still learning and just starting out, here are some of the things you can do to find success.

Get the Right Tools

Having the right tools when you’re studying is a must. There are some things that you might be required to have while completing a course or attending lessons. However, even outside of formal learning, it can be a good idea to have some useful tools for self-led learning. As a dental student, buying your tools from dental equipment suppliers will ensure you have the right supplies to learn in your own time. If you’re learning to code, there are software programs and tools that will help you to practice.

Seek Out Work Experience

As well as learning in a classroom environment or by following educational material, it’s always helpful to get “real world” experience. Looking for work experience will help you to prepare for the world of work, once you have the required certifications and knowledge to get started in your new career. Having work experience will make it easier for you to find a job when you’re ready. You might find that there are internships available or shorter work experience days or weeks. Shadowing someone or being mentored by someone can help you to learn a lot.

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Make Connections

Knowing the right people is extremely helpful when you’re starting a new career. It’s much easier to get a foot in the door if you have some connections. You don’t need to know very powerful people, but it’s helpful if you start getting to know some people who are already established in your industry. They won’t necessarily give you a job opportunity directly, but you could know someone who can inform you of something that’s suitable for you, recommend you, give you a reference or offer advice on how to find a job.

Choose Your First Job Carefully

When it’s time to find your first role in your new career, it’s understandable that you might want to take the first opportunity that comes along. You might be scared that you won’t get anything better, even if you’re unsure about the role that’s being offered to you. However, you should be careful about finding your first job. While you can’t expect to step into your dream role, you should think about what you’re looking for and what you don’t want.

When you’re studying for a new career, there are plenty of things you can do to prepare yourself and get the best start.

Why Practicing An Art Can Help Your Math Skills

Two key focuses of my blog are General Education and STEM. While education seems to be more so now favoring the hard sciences, there is still an important role played by the arts. Not only do the arts make us ‘whole’ in a way, but they can also help with our education in mathematics and the sciences. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Practicing An Art Can Help Your Math Skills.

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Image sourced from Pixabay. CC0 License

Most things in life are numbers. Paychecks, TV channels, passwords, and shopping are just a few of the times we are faced with numbers. Math is at the basis for most things including the arts. Using the creative part of your brain is just as important as using the more cerebral (no pun intended) part of your brain. When you exercise both, your brain is more healthy, but the bonus is that your math and even science skills can be greatly improved by doing things like drawing, playing an instrument, and even dancing.

Here are a few artistic outlets you can try to balance your brain and improve your numbers game.

Take Up an Instrument

As entertaining as it is to see a musician feel the music and rock out on stage, music is really math. Each note you hear has a numerical value, and just like any scientific equation, the values all come together to make a melodious sound that is music to your ears. Notes have values like quarter notes, whole notes, and half notes that change value according to the time signature the music is composed in changing the beats and equation of the music. You will need some great math skills to be a good musician and playing music is also a great creative break from all your normal thinking.

Draw a Picture

Any architect will tell you that drawing is all inches and centimeters. To draw a great picture is all about perception and shapes, which will not only help your numbers game, but it will also help your geometry game as well. Knowing shapes like parallelogram, rhombus, or decahedron will come in handy when putting together your next great piece of art. Drawing is total perception, so knowing angles will help your artwork look like it should be hanging in a museum. Go to the store and get some art supplies and start flexing your numbers, your angles, and shapes before they get weak.

Let’s Dance

Athletes have been known to take dance because it helps them with agility and stamina on the field or on the court. Dance not only helps stimulate your physical agility, but dance can also stimulate your mental agility as well, especially in the realm of mathematics. Dance, as beautiful as it is to watch and experience, is all math. Every dancer keeps count as they dance in order to keep to the rhythm. Without music, a dancer can still perform and create a beautiful piece of art simply by using counting. By taking a dance class, you can release from the tension and stress of the world while using math to stay on the beat and move your body. If you have a science background in human physiology, dance is one of the best ways to feel the movement and workings of the body.

It may seem that art is for the artists, but little do they know, as a mathematician, without you there would be no art.

Factors to Think About Before You Choose a STEM Degree

Two focuses of my blog are General Education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The career you choose is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. While STEM degrees are very valuable these days, consideration should be taken before choosing a field of study. The following guest post is entitled, Factors to Think About Before You Choose a STEM Degree.

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STEM degrees cover the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The demand for jobs belonging to STEM has relatively heightened across industries for the past few years. Along with the high demand for STEM graduates, the salary offered in these jobs lives up to its expectations.

That is why several students consider taking up a STEM degree when they enroll in colleges or online programs like Online Education (OEd). Though students may find STEM degree majors intimidating and formidable, graduates will most likely benefit from a higher job prospect compared to other degrees. Other than these major advantages, there are multiple reasons why a STEM career is an ideal path to take in the future. Nonetheless, it is crucial to consider a good deal of different factors before deciding on taking up the challenge to study for a STEM degree.

Factors to consider

Passion/Interest

88% of college students choose their degree based on their passion. Some students will prioritize choosing a degree that they are interested in to maintain a strong drive and desire to complete their studies after a few years. A STEM degree will be challenging to complete for plenty of individuals.

That is why succeeding in this field can be difficult if a student has no interest and desire to learn about the field. Individuals who consider choosing a STEM degree based on their passion and interest will more likely experience contentment and satisfaction in their jobs in the future. In addition, job burnout and stress can also be avoided in the future as long as they love what they do and find joy in their careers.

Security

On the other hand, some students will prefer to be more realistic when choosing a degree in STEM. Getting a college degree is already an investment in itself as students pay money to study and master their chosen degrees. For this reason, most students prioritize the amount of security they can get in a specific career path.

Not all STEM degrees offer equal earning potential. Some STEM careers like chemists, psychologists, computer programmers, and geographers get paid quite less compared to high-paying careers like surgeons, petroleum engineers, and IT managers. Even so, STEM degrees still earn comparatively higher than careers in other disciplines.

Flexibility

A STEM major can specialize in different areas. As the unpredictability of the future can be a problem, having a flexible STEM degree can be beneficial at the end of the day. For example, A degree in computer science can open up endless opportunities career-wise.

As technology is apparent in society today, many areas in the industry use computer science graduates in different ways. It covers programming languages, software, algorithm design, and so much more. Moreover, a degree in math can also proceed to a variety of jobs and occupations. Expanding fields like forensic accounting and finance offer graduates an abundance of chances to gain all kinds of experiences in the industry.

The impact of STEM on society

Getting an education in STEM allows students to obtain skills and traits that can greatly impact the development of modern society today. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have an immense contribution towards creating solutions for major challenges and issues present in the world. With the skill set acquired during STEM education, current labor demands can be met. The field of science can allow students to establish a deep understanding and relationship with the world and strengthen skills in research.

For technology, young adults have the opportunity to master and navigate today’s digital age and become exposed to technologically advanced ideas and inventions. Engineering heightens an individual’s problem-solving skills and develops the technical knowledge needed for future projects. Lastly, mathematics encourages students to have a critical mind and get used to analyzing information and formulas that can be applied to large-scale problems in the world.

Overall, the different areas and fields of STEM all have one thing in common. These disciplines have the power to shape and develop societies for generations to come. STEM education upheaves social and environmental awareness as it can convey global issues and possible solutions to society.

Students who have studied in areas like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are known to be outstanding innovators and critical thinkers. The knowledge, skills, and experiences they acquire during STEM education can sustain economies, eradicate world issues, promote globalization and developing economies. As the world continues to change and evolve, civilization must keep up with its changes, which can be achieved with the help of STEM careers and professions.

Robotics: A Powerful Educational Tool

Three focuses of my blog are General Education, STEM and Technology. As the world becomes more and more automated, there will be an increasing need for individuals to be trained in robotics and associated technologies. There are also benefits to robotics as an educational tool. The following guest post is entitled, Robotics: A Powerful Educational Tool.

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The field of robotics has numerous applications in various industries, usually in manufacturing different products in high volumes. Robots are ideal in these fast-paced environments as they can work for long hours without the risk of injury or exhaustion.

Robotics has also seen its impressive share of innovation through the years. Today, robots have the capability of sight. These robot vision systems increase precision and accuracy, helping improve the quality of products in many industries.

Aside from speeding up production processes, robots assist humans in other areas such as engineering and healthcare. Robotics also enriches the learning of students through their uses in the classroom setting. It provides a unique avenue of knowledge for learners of all kinds.

These are a few examples of how educators have adopted robotics as a tool for education.

Making Inclusive Education a Reality

Students in the STEM track are not the only ones who benefit from robotics. Students with special needs receive the necessary support for their different learning requirements.

An example of this is how robotics have been helping students in the autism spectrum develop their social skills. Some learners with autism can be uncomfortable in situations in which they have to interact with unfamiliar people.

Robotic solutions startup LuxAI responded to the need for innovative learning tools for children with neurodevelopmental disorders with the creation of QTRobot, an educational robot with play-based activities for social and cognitive development. These kinds of technologies make learning more encouraging and accessible for learners with disabilities.

Students with medical conditions that keep them from leaving home also benefit from having telepresence robots that enable them to do in-school activities. These robots are built to show a student’s presence in the classroom, with a tall vertical body with a screen on top to show the student’s face.

Simplifying Programming for Students

As robots increasingly play a larger role in daily living, students have much to gain from learning how to program. Robots are an interesting way to ease students into the art of programming, as these activities make learning about these technical and mechanical processes more enjoyable.

Of course, learning programming through the traditional classroom method is important. Bringing robotics in provides students with a practical application to help them put into practice what they learn in class.

Young learners can also more easily be introduced into the world of coding through robots. Many in the market teach kids aged three years old and above simple algorithms through puzzles and interactive storytelling. Robotics company Edison even has free lesson plans available online for use with their child-friendly robots, making coding education easier for many students.

Introducing robotics to children demystifies programming at an early age, thus encouraging more students to pursue STEM for higher education.

Sharpening and Broadening Students’ Skill Sets

More and more companies are automating to bolster their production and keep up with rising demands. However, industrial robots are complicated and often dangerous tools that trained professionals must only use. The rate at which organizations worldwide are adopting robots, and artificial intelligence necessitates more laborers who are knowledgeable in this field.

As robots take the place of humans in assembly lines, more human capital will be needed to operate and maintain these machines. Managing robots requires creativity and critical thinking skills, which are unique to humans, making humans an integral part of large-scale automation.

Giving Students Practical Experience Through Simulation

There are many ways in which students gain ample practical experience through educational simulators.

For example, students at the high school level often begin taking driving lessons. Driving simulators give driving students a realistic driving experience within a safe and controlled environment.

These simulators mimic the look and feel of driving an actual car, which helps students become better acquainted with the controls of a vehicle. The replication of real-life traffic situations also allows them to be prepared to face challenges that might come up on the road once they gain their driver’s licenses.

Simulators are also immensely helpful for medical students who will have to deal with various sensitive operations as doctors. These allow future doctors to gain training on how to perform surgeries safely and with precision. Simulations of different scenarios help them make proper decisions to ensure future patients’ safety while also preparing them for possible emergencies.

With its many applications in different fields, especially in education, robotics is a highly beneficial teaching tool for students of all levels. The sooner they are adopted in the classroom setting, the more enriched students’ learning will become.

Enjoy Science with the Kids and with STEM Activities

Two focuses of my blog are General Education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). While some students are going back to schools, many are still doing their schooling at home. In some instances, parents are challenged in terms of conducting science experiments at home with their students. The following guest post is entitled, Enjoy Science with the Kids and with STEM Activities.

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Everyone has had to adjust these days. Due to the extended quarantine measures against COVID-19, parents are working from home and so are the kids. It has been a year since the pandemic; by now, parents have somehow adjusted to holding school at home. But there are always new ways to liven up your kid’s in-home schooling experience.

To inspire creativity, parents are holding piano lesson instructions, scheduling reading time or coloring with the kids. But if you’re planning to hone their skills in science while tapping into their sense of wonder, integrate STEM into their program.

The integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities do more than hone the scientific and deductive skills of your child; it also promotes interactive and meaningful learning experiences for young children. STEM activities give your kids educational opportunities to solve problems, think creatively and discover the world on their own.

Make schooling more fun this year by incorporating the following STEM activities in their usual school day at home.

Build a Balance Scale

For this activity, you’ll need a plastic hanger, string and some cups. Create a hanging balance your children can use to experiment with weights. If you have older kids, have them build the balancing scale. Let the younger siblings watch.

To encourage interaction during the experiment, ask questions like “How many LEGOs does this doll weigh?” Add variety to the activity by sorting by materials or by shapes. If your children need to weigh items for their assignments, you can use this STEM project, too.

Create Craters

Take your child to space and still stay at home by making craters with flour, Play-Dough, weighted balls and rocks. Sphere up some Play-dough to represent the moon and add rocks to create craters. Explain that craters are the result of comets and asteroids. Invite your kids to make craters with the rocks and other materials on their moons.

For the younger kids, fill your sensory bin with flour and have them drop different sizes of balls into the bin to create craters. Compare the craters’ sizes.

Make Magnetic Slime

Children are all about slime. Also, homemade slime activities are staples for many teachers and parents looking a fun science experiment. This activity adds a dash of science by adding magnets and iron oxide power into the mix. To achieve the right slime consistency, you’ll have to add more liquid starch or glue. Once the starch is ready, you’ll need a strong magnet (preferably a neodymium magnet) to play with the slime.

This science experiment serves as a conversation starter for children who have questions about how magnets work.

Build Some Jellybeans

Introduce the kids to simple engineering with some jellybeans or large marshmallows and toothpicks. Connect the jelly beans and toothpicks and ask your child which of the shapes stack well, hold together or are more interesting to look at.

This activity serves as a simple introduction to the thought, technology and design behind structural engineering. Make it more interesting by challenging the kids to build a specific structure or their jellybean home.

Enjoy Explosions with a Lunar Volcano

Take kids to see some moon volcanoes by making your own. All you’ll need are baking soda, black paint, cookie sheets or trays, vinegar, and squeeze bottles. Mix the baking soda with black pain. You can also add some glitter. Spread the mixture on the cookie sheets or trays before filling the bottles with vinegar.

Next, have your child draw and make craters on the moon. During this experiment, explain to them how scientists believe that volcanoes erupted on the moon’s surface. Let the children create their eruptions by dropping vinegar into the craters. Discuss the chemical reaction with the kids after.

Pipe Cleaner Counting

For children who are just learning how to count, understanding the increase in numbers can be confusing. Simplify math with some help from beads and pipe cleaners. These items can help the kids learn how to count while visualizing how numbers increase in size.

Take small pieces of paper and label each pipe cleaner with a number. Next, have the kids arrange the pipe cleaners in order (from greatest to smallest or vice versa) while stringing the correct number of beads. To improve their memory, have them count aloud.

STEM Projects Liven Up School Days

Now that you have more ideas on simple STEM activities for children, you are well-equipped to help the kids explore science, technology, engineering and math. There are many other STEM activities available for all ages. So, have fun exploring with your kids at home!

4 Things to Consider Before Changing Your Major

A key focus of my blog is General Education. Many students launch off into their educations eager to study one major, only to find that they want to study something else. Changing your major can have long last ramifications though. The following guest post is entitled, 4 Things to Consider Before Changing Your Major.

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You’ve taken STEM in senior high and fell in love with it, but now that you’re studying a hard science major in college, you’re thinking of shifting to something else, something that you know you truly want and would make you happier than your current major.

If you’re already decided that you want to pursue something else, congratulations. The hard part is over. However, there are still several things you should consider before rushing into the college secretary’s office. And putting more thought into these factors will help ensure that you’re making the right decision:

1. Timing

Most students can change their majors at any point in their college career, but it doesn’t always lead to making good use of one’s resources. For instance, if you’re thinking of changing your major in your third year, the huge changes in your academic plan may not be worth it. After all, you’re probably looking at adding four or more semesters of college, and that’s four more semesters of spending money on your education. Unless you’re made of money, changing your majors too late in your college career is not always a feasible option.

That said, switching to a new major is best done in your first or second year (but some students in their second year may still be hesitant to do so). If you’re already past this point but not changing your major is simply not an option, make sure that you know the implications–which brings us to our next points:

2. Financial needs

Like we said before, changing your major can mean extending your stay in college, which, of course, comes with more semesters’ worth of expenses. Even if you have a full-ride scholarship, you still have to spend money for your other necessities as a college student. And if you don’t have a scholarship, extending your stay also means paying for more years of tuition.

Be sure to mull over this particular factor, maybe even more than the others on this list. If you find the extra costs of staying a few more years is worth it, then, by all means, apply for that major change.

3. Future career options

Many students change their majors with the goal of improving their post-college opportunities. However, many of them do so with poorly informed decisions, and some don’t even know that they can get into their target industry without changing their majors to something else. If you don’t want to make the same mistake, do due diligence as early as now.

Attend career fairs, do online research, and interview professionals who are in the industry or field that you want to pursue in the future. Find out what kind of credentials you need to be able to put your foot in the door. With that, decide if you still need or want to change your major to pursue your future career. And if the answer is yes, you have to be a hundred percent sure that that career is the one you want.

Many college students don’t even know what kind of job they want to apply for after graduating. Hence, it’s always a good idea to start figuring out what you want as early as possible. In this way, you can better plan your academic route toward this future career, which can make it easier to jumpstart it after you graduate. However, remember to keep your options open; a lot can change before graduation, including your career goals.

4. Academic capabilities

Classes between two majors can have stark differences, which means the ease with which you breezed through the courses in your current major may not be present in the next. However, the opposite can also be true, and you may have an easier time with academics in your target major.

Either way, it is important to evaluate your academic capabilities before changing your major. If you’re not sure what skills or knowledge you need to complete the courses in the major that you want to shift to, you may want to take introductory or prerequisite courses in that major to gauge your academic capabilities–as well as the things you need to work on to be able to succeed in that major. If you find that it’s going to be more challenging than your current major, you have to steel yourself and perhaps rearrange your academic strategies before making the transition.

Changing your major in the middle of college can set you on a completely different path than the one you’re on now. That said, it’s only right that you think twice before making such a drastic change. So, if you’re thinking of shifting to a new major, these are the factors that you need to consider first.

4 Ways To Figure Out What Your True Calling And Career Is

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“Not many people in this life know how to find their true career, unfortunately.”

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Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. Choosing the right career is one of the biggest decisions we’ll make in our lives. What is ideal is choosing a career that fits with your passions and personal mission. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Ways To Figure Out What Your True Calling And Career Is.

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In this life, we all want to make money by doing what we enjoy. Not all of us want to work in our hobby or passion just in case it turns out that it’s not what it’s cracked up to be. Either that or the workload takes the passion or fun away for good. We all want to have a positive career path, however, and we want to be able to enjoy work life. The best way of doing this is by heading into a job that we can say we love. Waking up every single Monday morning shouldn’t have to be an issue – those who work in places they adore know this fully.

It’s just a case of making this happen, however. Not many people in this life know how to find their true career, unfortunately. It’s not really that difficult to figure out, however. You have to think a little critically and put a little effort into the pursuit. Here are some things you can do along the way.

Think About Things You Truly Love

You will have aspects of life that truly appeal to you. There will be things that you do during your free time that stimulate your mind more than others. These hobbies you have don’t have to be pointless things you do to pass the time whenever you’re not working or spending time with loved ones. Jot down what you love because the chances are that it can be turned into something rewarding.

Another area to consider is the things you’re passionate about. Pursuing a career based on your passions can be challenging but well worth it in the end. Consider Selwyn Duijvestijn, now CEO of a company, and the fuel that drives his career is his passion for his cause and dedication to making a difference. His love for environmental conservation led him to establish a successful startup focused on developing sustainable energy solutions. By following his passion, Selwyn not only found fulfillment in his work but also made a significant impact on the world around him. Similarly, when you align your career with your passions, you tap into a deep well of motivation and enthusiasm. Your work becomes more than just a means to earn a living; it becomes a meaningful endeavor that brings you joy and a sense of purpose. Whether you have a passion for art, technology, social justice, or any other field, there are countless opportunities to build a career around it.

Think About Things You Truly Hate

Conversely, you’re going to also want to write down things in life that you’d really like to stay well away from. You probably have an idea in your head about what you dislike, but literally writing it down will help out a lot in terms of getting a firm idea of the kinds of areas you’d like to avoid.

Scour The Web For All Kinds Of Careers

The internet can tell us all about an awful lot going on in the world. In terms of our professional lives, it’s pretty true that there is a job for every kind of passion, hobby, or need. So, it’s only right to look through all kinds of different fields and jobs – you’ll find some weird, wacky, and wonderful stuff! You could one day see crime scene cleanup and be interested due to an interest in crime dramas. If you have ever had an interest in courtroom movies, you might find inspiration from bios of people who have worked hard within their law careers. Consider Judge Natalie Chase, as a very inspirational example. Or you might simply see an opening for a job in a zoo. You just don’t know what you may find, so scour the web until something jumps out at you.

Watch And Listen To Inspirational Content

If you’re sitting in your home pretty down and miserable about how your future’s looking, then that’s not going to help you or those around you. If this is the case, then why not hop online and find some amazing speakers to cheer you up and make you realize that you can achieve all you want in this world. They’ll motivate you and make you find something that you’ll truly love. You don’t even have to relate them to business or the world of academic achievement, as there are many more zones of success than just this. Looking through the overachieving career of people like Domonique Rodgers NC State can be a wonderful inspiration, and teach you lessons of tenacity that will remain for quite some time. They’ll make you realize that getting up in the morning and searching for what’s truly yours will help you to eventually bear fruit.

How To Try and Identify a Career Path

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. One of the most important decisions you will make for your life is the career path. It will affect both your personal fulfillment and it will impact other aspects of your life. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Try and Identify a Career Path.

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Featured image courtesy of Pexels / Gabby K

Figuring out your career path can be very challenging. Just think about how many options there are! If you are someone that is considered indecisive, it can be a real battle to find, and stick with, one particular field of study and, or job. Still, the fact that there are endless opportunities out there should be something that brings everyone joy.

But despite the number of opportunities out there, you still have to try and decide what job is right for you. Do you want to be sitting at a desk all day? How about using heavy machinery at the crack of dawn? And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

With that being said, there are definitely some careers people can immediately cross off the list when trying to find a starting point. If you faint at the sight of blood, becoming a doctor is probably not the right path. Hate working with numbers? Do not look into becoming an accountant or statistician.

Still, the point is that you should try and coincide your passions and interests with what you will be doing day in and day out. For example, if one of your core beliefs is to help people, maybe you want to look into the great career of social work ( you can learn more about a social work degree here).

In the same breath, it is worth mentioning that some people would rather try and have a career that can promise the most money. Going to law school and becoming a lawyer may not be the most fulfilling for someone, but if their main objective is to maintain a career with a constant flow of a high amount of income it could be just the job for them.

But even if money is the motive, it is still important to try and find a career that will make you excited to go into work. As the old saying goes, money doesn’t buy happiness. In a sense that is true, but in the same breath, money can make things a lot easier. And according to some studies, there is a threshold where money does stop bringing about happiness.

And yes, it is obviously important to find a job that gives you enough income to live a normal, sustainable life. No one wants to be grinding their tail off just to end up living in a run-down apartment where hot water is as rare as winning the lottery.

But at the end of the day, whether or not you can find a great career path for yourself is up to you. If you want to live in a world where you are paid scraps but love doing your job every day, more power to you. If you want to grind yourself to a nub just to make as much money as possible for you and your family, that is your decision.

Either way, it all comes down to your choices. You may have a lot of questions on where you want to go in life, but there is only one person that can answer those questions: you.

How To Identify A Good STEM Program For Your Child

Two focuses of my blog are General Education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). As the years go by, there will be steadily more STEM jobs and a corresponding need for the STEM professionals trained in those fields. The key though educationally, is the start. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Identify A Good STEM Program For Your Child.

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The world’s progress will depend mostly on advancements made in science, technology, engineering, and math. Already, the advent of the smartphone has propelled technological advances in just ten years! Unfortunately, a report by the National Assessment of Education Progress revealed that 66% and 60% of 4th Graders are not science and math proficient. So, how can you identify a good STEM program for your child? Find out below.

1. It has rigorous Math and Science content

Every good STEM program should have intensive Math and Science content to live up to its name. However, for young children, the fun component is needed to maintain interest and develop the urge for more. On the other hand, for older children, the focus should be more on using math, science, and basic engineering knowledge to create designs.

For instance, a STEM class assigned to design a lifeguard chair should use real-world questions to influence their creation. For example, questions such as, ‘how long should the lifeguard chair be?’ or ‘How does the guard get onto the chair?’ will compel the child to apply arithmetic and science to come up with the perfect object.

2. A good STEM program should have on-site and off-site labs

In many cases, especially when it’s a private school or academy, STEM is designed to funnel all other subjects into the program. In other instances, it is a part of the school’s primary curriculum. Another approach is when the school decides to make it an elective class. Regardless of the varied ways it is taught, the most significant factor is that the STEM course should have modern labs where students can experiment with what they learn.

Unfortunately, the pandemic season makes it imperative to build more labs within and outside the school. The objective is to minimize the number of students at any given time within the lab. For this reason, some schools have opted for safe off-site facilities to conduct STEM experiments. Therefore, if you run a school and are looking for an off-site location to rent or lease, you should try ball ventures Ahlquist. This commercial development company delivers excellent service to tenants, partners, and investors.

3. It helps your child to think outside the box?

The objective of STEM programs is to cause the young mind to think beyond the ordinary. It is a structured course that requires a high level of cognitive thinking to arrive at the desired result. Introduced over 120 years ago, STEM was created at the same time as electricity. The Committee of Ten at Harvard thought it would be the Launchpad to develop interest among members of the public.

STEM became a conduit through which teaching science-related subjects evolved since that time. As proof, today, there are professionals who capitalize on their strong STEM backgrounds to service cars, electric appliances, etc. Thinking outside the box is the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to its practical aspects. This is what is required of a STEM program. Besides, it is an excellent way to assess its positive effect on your child’s cognitive abilities.

STEM fosters critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and discipline. As the world continues to develop, there is no way science-based advancements can be left behind. Therefore, the best decision you can make is to get your young ones interested in their early years.

Boost Your Career In 2021 Using These 4 Skills

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. There were a lot of changes in 2021, some of which changed whole industries and sectors. With this changes, it’s important for each individual to consider how to optimize their skill sets. The following contributed post is entitled, Boost Your Career In 2021 Using These 4 Skills.

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Due to the coronavirus, many things have changed including the way we work and learn. Thanks to technology, this has become even easier. As the world rapidly responds to these changes, you certainly cannot be left behind especially as an employee. Are you interested in gaining some new skills in time for 2021? Here are a few you definitely need to master:

1. Communication and presentation skills
Communication may seem like such a basic thing, but your ability to communicate effectively and present your thoughts in an organized manner could set you apart from the crowd. For instance, try learning a new language, especially as the world is now a global village. Doing this will not only present you with new opportunities but may also give you the chance to meet new people and learn about different cultures. Do you need to communicate with someone but have to deal with the language barrier? A voice translator app such as Vocre is a very helpful tool that enables you to hold meaningful conversations with others who speak a different language.

2. Digital and social media skills
In a technologically-driven era, having some digital and social media skills comes in very handy, and you don’t need to wait to be a sales and marketing person to learn. Whether you’re running a start-up, working for a company or have a school project, developing your digital skills could prove very beneficial to you and those around you. There are several short courses online you can try your hands on to improve these skills. Who knows, you could even start a blog or a new venture as a result.

3. Collaborative skills
The coronavirus pandemic has made remote working more common, but that doesn’t mean the human element is no longer important. Thanks to apps such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype, collaborating in groups is still possible and you need to adapt. This also tests your flexibility, ability to negotiate, manage your time and work towards a common goal. As a plus, it also enhances your cross-functional learning as it pushes you out of your comfort zone to learn more about others and smart ways to work. To flourish in a virtual environment, you certainly need this.

4. Creative skills
Before you limit this aspect to just musicians and artists, you need to be aware that everyone needs to be in touch with their creativity. Are you able to think on your feet or think outside the box? Then you’re already on the way to being creative. This skill has become even more crucial as you need a strong competitive advantage in an increasingly saturated working force. In being creative, don’t be afraid to explore and be yourself, as your unique characteristics can contribute strongly to your creativity. In developing your creative skills, also take some time to relax and allow your imagination to run freely, as this also helps to get your creative juices flowing.

These skills will not only develop you personally but help prepare you for a successful career as well.