7 Reasons Why Students Need Technology
With access to technology that we never dreamt possible, the future looks bright for education. The younger generation can enjoy more learning tools than ever before and an infinite database of information. From smartphones to tablets and the internet, these resources can enhance learning in the classroom whilst being enjoyable. Here are seven reasons why students need technology to boost development and future career prospects.
Engaging
Students enjoy technology and find it interesting to use the latest gadgets and software. This engagement creates a happier classroom environment, where the students enjoy time spent in the classroom. This makes them more apt to learning and taking on information.
Practical
Technology continues to change the way we live from how we connect with others, to our work, play and socializing. As we become more dependent on this tech, it’s essential for the younger generation to become more proficient at using it. It provides the foundation for real world success, helping them to prepare for future careers.
Transferable
Using devices such as the touchscreen tablet have been proven as an effective aid for motor skill development. Requiring hand–eye coordination, this can transfer over into fields in the medical profession, such as surgery, and other fields such as engineering and aviation.
Self-development
If you’re more adept at using technology you’ll be more inclined to use it for self-development. With an endless choice of apps available, you can continue learning out of the classroom. Puzzle games or those which stimulate problem solving will improve attention span and strengthen memory processes.
Knowledge
The internet provides limitless access to information at the click of button. This provides the opportunity for self-directed learning where a child is responsible for seeking out credible and up-to-date sources. Whether they’re learning about History, Geography or Languages, people can now soak up more information than ever before.
Convenience
Digital textbooks are now replacing the traditional books, and this means no more heavy bags full of books. Not only is it safer for a person’s posture and back, these digital alternatives store a huge selection of books which are constantly updated, providing the most relevant information.
Safety
Whilst using mobile devices and connecting to broadband, teachers can provide information on safe browsing. This form of supervision ensures appropriate use of the internet and mobile phones, and teaches students how to avoid blacklisted websites. They also learn how to overcome technical issues and improve service coverage. Learning how to solve these problems and become more tech savvy should help them in later life.
There’s never been a greater opportunity for better learning in the classroom. In this new era of technology, it’s clearly important for colleges to adopt these tools and integrate them into everyday use. This platform can provide greater opportunities for success and more fulfilment for students.
Image by US Department of Education, used under Creative Commons license
Deck the Dorm Halls – Cheap Decorating Tips for Christmas at College
For students away from home during the lead-up to Christmas, it can be hard to get into the holiday spirit. One way to change this is to decorate, but most college kids are living on a budget already. So, how can you make your dorm room as festive as possible without emptying your bank account? We’ve come up with a few ideas for you.
DIY
The first tip is to get your hands dirty! Glitter, glue, paint – these things are all minimal costs, but can be reused again and again to create spectacular holiday effect in your home away from home. There are a number of amazing decorations available to those who are willing to look in the right places. Often, the components are things found around the house. For instance, you can make unarguably adorable penguins in scarves and hats using old soda bottles or make your very own Frosty from old cans. Even a toilet paper roll can be transformed into a cute little reindeer with the right tools and a can-do attitude.
Christmas isn’t complete without a tree and there are a ton of alternatives to the fresh (pine-needle dropping) kind. You can make a tree from books, toilet paper rolls, or painted pine cones. There is also washi tape which is a great, cheap decorating tool limited only by your imagination; it doesn’t leave any marks on walls and it comes in a ton of different colors and designs.
Bargain Buys
If you have a few extra dollars to spend, try going to dollar stores or hunt for sales online. Dollar stores often have big packs of decorations that you can mix and match in various places around your room or in your hall. You may have to hunt a bit to find what you want, but there are some good options and having ornaments, tinsel and pretty fairy lights around can add a traditional element to some of your more eccentric DIY projects.
The web is also a great place to look for cheap decorations. Take advantage of sale days like Black Friday or Cyber Monday for finding great deals and use your student discount on sites to avoid shipping and handling charges.
Make it Personal
Whether you share a dorm or have a room to yourself, Christmas will be more fun if it feels like you. This means personalizing decorations where possible. On the DIY stuff, you can easily paint your name or that of your roommate onto the decorations. Printing out pictures and arranging them in the shape of a tree, surrounding them with tinsel can be a great way to make it feel like you are surrounded by family and friends.
As Christmas draws closer, why not put together a great Christmas playlist and get your roommates involved in the decorating – soon you’ll be in the holiday spirit and your room will be the envy of everyone in the dorm!
Images by amy gizienski and Karen Lee used under the Creative Commons license.
Study Abroad in Anonymity…Not in Norway!
Studying abroad is something everyone should experience during college, but, sometimes external factors might not make it the most ideal time to ship off to Europe for 6 months. If you never made it overseas to take your higher learning to another level, don’t fret, there is always grad shcool!
BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo created probably one of the coolest PR campaigns I have ever seen and they’re going to select one lucky applicant to essentially be the most popular person in the city, no, really!
Watch this video if you don’t believe me:
Imagine seeing your face and personal interests plastered all over Oslo in magazines, billboards, everyone in school friend requesting you on Facebook, everyone knowing how to pronounce your name properly, your name being placed onto a beverage, an actual national TV commercial, etc.
This is all going to happen for one lucky individual and I don’t see how that person will not be the most popular person on campus, even before they touch Norwegian soil. They’ve named the campaign, “A Flying Start” which is a pretty appropriate title given what the school plans to do for the one student who wins the honor.
Oslo is the largest city in Norway as well as the capital. It is consistently being ranked as one of the top most livable cities in the entire world. Oslo showcases a large international student population, beautiful architecture, alluring surrounding nature, a lively nightlife and much, much more.
BI Business School is very diverse and proudly holds many major accreditations recognized the world over. Currently, there are more than 1800 students from an amazing 106 different countries making it one of the most diverse on the planet.
6 Tips for Choosing the Right College
Picking a college can feel like deciding the rest of your life, but with all of that pressure it can be difficult to fully consider all of your options. Breathe, relax and follow our tips on how to pick the right college for you.
Image by Moyan Brenn used under the Creative Commons license.
Tip 1 – Ranking
There are a number of factors that go into choosing the right school, but one of the first ones that many students look at is the college’s ranking, both nationally and internationally. If you want to go to one of the best schools or find a school that specializes in your study area, rankings can be an easy way to narrow your search. Just remember that the higher the school is ranked, the more competitive it is and plan accordingly.
Tip 2 – Program
If you already know what you want to do, choosing a school based on the program of study it offers in your field can be a huge draw. Most universities have online directories where potential students can look at specific classes on offer, as well as teaching staff, alumni in the field and any connections to businesses that a school may have. Taking your program into consideration is a great way to help you choose the right school, especially for those who are already thinking about their after-college careers.
Tip 3 – Social Scene
While no one is suggesting you choose a school solely based on the clubs and intramurals offered, the social aspect of college is an important one for many students. As you embark on a new journey, usually living away from your family and friends for the first time, it’s nice to know that there are societies or clubs that you can join where you can feel accepted.
Tip 4 – Diversity
For many students, the element of diversity is very important. Whether you’re coming from a small town and want to meet people from different places or you’re from a big city with lots of diversity already, checking the diversity of each college before applying can be a big help in avoiding disappointment.
Tip 5 – International
Some students will be looking to study abroad during their time at school, so being aware of what options there are for international travel could also be a deciding factor in choosing a college. Simply doing your full four years abroad in locations like the UAE, Europe, China, Australia, South America, etc. is also a possibility. You’ll want to set yourself up for success, so double-check any language requirements, international rankings and the program you’re interested in to make sure the school fits all of your needs, not just your wanderlust.
Tip 6 – Location
Location is a key element that many students don’t think about before choosing a school. Of course, there is the proximity to home to consider, but students should also think about their new location and the opportunities it affords. For instance, if you are doing an agricultural degree, studying in a big city doesn’t make much sense. Keep in mind that if you’d like to do internships or get work experience while in school, the location of your university has to be somewhere that facilitates those desires.
We hope this has helped, just remember to research the schools you are interested in, and you will be halfway to narrowing down that exhaustive list!
Comparing College Students to Toddlers
To check out the number of similarities between toddlers and college students, www.myvouchercodes.co.uk looked into the comparisons between both and you can see from their fun infographic that students are just over grown toddlers when they are in college!
Check out some of the similarities, sound familiar?
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Sleep all day
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Eat weird food
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Absentminded
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Like being nude
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Easily disorientated
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Live in chaos
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Dubious clothing choices
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Poor conversation skills
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Sleep anyplace uncomfortable
Mark Pearson from My Voucher Codes talked about the comparisons, he said:
“Starting college is an exciting time for many young adults and for most it will be the first time they are away from their parents and essentially fending for themselves. Meeting new people, drinking and staying up all night are rites of passage for many students and something which takes a while to get used to. But their behaviours can be seen to be similar to toddlers. “
He added:
“Incidentally, although many students are prone to making mistakes at this age, many wouldn’t’ change the experience they had at college, even if they probably should have studied harder. For visiting parent’s it could be noted that student digs resembled their children’s bedrooms when they were toddlers; messy and disorganised!”
