Definition Buffer Chemistry

Definition Buffer ChemistryDefinition Buffer Chemistry is a chemical approach to the definition of substance. This definition is called a 'law of differentiation' because it defines substances as an essential part of each other's structure.The fundamental goal of Definition Buffer Chemistry is to develop a tool that is capable of breaking down the rules of chemical structure. The group of researchers would like to understand the limitations of known chemical reactions and make new molecules in an effort to overcome the limitations. The work would be complicated because the group would have to study all the processes required for making molecules that are built from scratch. With this in mind, the groups would first need to make a starting point.The basics of the idea behind Definition Buffer Chemistry is that one should define the bounds of the molecule that will be made using various reaction patterns. The definition would depend on how to make the reaction. Some reactions are based on hydrogen bonding; others are based on molecular rotation. If the goal is to create a compound which would contain neither, the groups would have to study how to break down the bonds.Definition Buffer Chemistry is used in the design of enzymes and in the research into the creation of molecular machines. Because of its current success rate, the group is advancing further with its goal of understanding the structure of compounds, how they are built, and how they function.The process definition is important because of the fact that you cannot make a good compound if the reaction was not specified. As stated previously, this approach to chemical structures may be less popular because of its complexity. However, it is still a very powerful technique because it can provide the necessary clues to determine how different compounds are created. It has many potential applications in chemistry, medicine, and materials science.To understand the field of Definition Buffer Chemistry, it is hel pful to know some basic concepts. In the end, it is just another variation of the way we use mathematics to describe things.Chemical definitions can be difficult at times, but the techniques are relatively simple to learn and can be used in an unlimited number of ways. It may be best to start learning this concept by simply studying some examples of how it works and reading books which describe the processes.

From Toy Pianos to Ukes Gift Ideas for Musically-Inclined Kids

From Toy Pianos to Ukes Gift Ideas for Musically-Inclined Kids Megan L. Would you love to give your child the gift of music? Introducing music into the life of your child provides an array of benefits, from the sheer joy of music to improved coordination, social and verbal skills, core competency skills, and more. From toy pianos for kids to technological fun, there are a variety of ways to introduce music into the life of a child. Pass the love of music on to your child with these great gift ideas: Toy Pianos Keyboards From stomping piano dance mats to mini baby grands with microphones, you can’t beat tickling the ivories for having a little musical fun with your kids. What’s more, toy pianos for kids can teach a multitude of skills, from focus and commitment to the confidence that comes from learning notes and playing their first song. Keyboard skills can build coordination and hand strength as well as spatial cognitive skills that help with math later in life. Drum Sets, Bongos, More What kid doesn’t love whacking things? Add a stick and double the pleasure! Beyond the sheer fun factor, percussion instruments have a lot to offer, including increased physical stamina and better coordination. They also aid children academically, improving concentration, increasing the brains development, and complimenting core studies. Go pro with a 5-piece drum set with cymbals, or go light on your wallet â€" and the gear â€" with Paper Jamz drums. There are also an array of percussion options for babies and toddlers as well, including the fun and saliva-proof Nino by Meinl Fruit Shakers and Melissa Doug Band in a Box. Special note: Sound-proof room not included! Guitars, Violins, Things With Strings String instruments help with upper body strength, flexibility, coordination, and fine motor skills. Some instruments, such as violins, can also improve posture. Like other musical instruments, string instruments also improve memory, self-discipline, attention span, and focus, in addition to boosting intellectual and creative development. From inexpensive and simple electronic violins and guitars for little tykes, to Paper Jamz guitars, lap harps, ukuleles, and inexpensive starter instruments for older children interested in lessons, you and your kids will be happily plucking away in no time. Wind Instruments From simple and inexpensive harmonicas and recorders  to Bontempi’s array of inexpensive, color-coded wind instruments including saxes, trumpets, clarinets, and more, wind instruments enhance lung and diaphragm function, decrease respiratory ailments, improve hand and eye coordination, and improve finger dexterity. Want something fun and different for younger children? Go for Quercetti’s Saxoflute for a variety of build and play fun from this 16-piece interchangeable set. Musical Games Don’t neglect the benefit of musical games and board games for improving memory recognition, pitch recognition, and more! From old favorites like Simon  to new additions like Nino Percussion Shake ‘N Play Memory Game  and Spontuneous, musical games offer fun for the entire family. Music Apps Take advantage of music exploration apps for younger children like Monkey Tunes, Musical Me!,  Maximus Musicus, and Little Star. Learn pitch with Blob Chorus Music Education. Compose your own music with TonePad and  GlowTunes. Learn notes the fun way with NoteWorks Note Reading Game. Try your luck with toy pianos or enhance piano skills with MiniPiano, Magic Piano HD, PianoTrainerHD,  Dust Buster Music Ed, Inversion Invasion, Piano Sight Reading HD, and many more. Blow em away with wind instrument apps like  Recorder Master.  Rock out with drum apps like Monkey Drum and  Rhythm Sight Reading Trainer, or guitar apps like Guitarist, Kasey’s Guitar Jams Play-Along Guitar Book, and Wild Chords. And theres many more out there… Just search ‘music education apps! The Gift of Music Itself Playing music for your child, whether that means purchasing CDs, downloading individual songs, or simply streaming music, is important for introducing children of any age to the joys of music. Opt for a variety, from classical symphonies to folk, jazz, rock, and more. There are many groups out there that create music specifically for kids, and these can be great stocking stuffers. Finally, if your child is a bit older, consider signing him or her up for music lessons.  Private, one-on-one lessons with a great teacher and the instrument of your childs choice can help foster a lifelong relationship with music. Incorporate the joys of music into the life of your child. Making music a part of your daily world with musical toys and gifts will foster a love of music in your child that will last a lifetime. There is no better gift you can give! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of prescreened teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for safe, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  smoorenburg

What instrument should you buy for your budding pianist

What instrument should you buy for your budding pianist Piano for children - which model should you buy? ChaptersWhy the piano is right for your childThe importance of your child’s music teacher when they learn to play the pianoProtecting the sense of joy your child gains from playing the pianoPiano for children, learning about their new instrument!Buying a piano for the houseAdvice for buying a piano for your childMany artists who began playing the piano from a young age (think Nina Simone, Ray Charles or even Mozart) become piano virtuosos by the time they reached adolescence.Just like the lion has been dubbed ‘king of the jungle,’ the piano could easily be considered king of all instruments. And its often a secret relief for parents to see their children gravitate towards the piano instead of other musical instruments like the violin.Often, a wish to see your child playing the piano is just considered a ‘nice to have’ for many parents, but for others it’s a major goal.The piano is a great first instrument for children, and by learning to play the piano they’re able to b egin learning a whole repertoire of different genres of piano music including jazz, classical - even rap!What model, and what type of piano is right for your child?“Are these pianos right for my child?Is there a better piano to play at home?What’s the difference between an acoustic piano, electric piano and an electronic keyboard?Are there other piano companies I should look at?”Rent a piano before you buyChildren have a well deserved reputation for picking up and dropping hobbies frequently.So if you aren’t sure your child will make it past learning octaves to their first recital and really becoming a piano player, it might be a good idea to rent a piano, or maybe rent-to-buy if you can find it, either a digital or acoustic piano.For about $50-100/month you can often find piano models that will let your child practice their piano playing at home without making a long term (and very expensive) commitment. It’s worth spending that little bit more to get a piano instead of a keyboard, but you definitely don’t need a baby grand piano in your living room either.Your rental agreement will specify a fixed monthly payment for the rental until it is returned, often with a clause to verify the condition of the piano at the end.Avoid the ‘pianos for young children’ modelsWhile they may seem more appropriate for little hands, and short arms and legs, we wouldn’t recommend considering pianos made specifically for children.In contrast to the smaller versions you can find of violins, drums, or guitars,  pianos for children, even though they have smaller keys, are often more of a gadget than an instrument.Which brands of piano are good for children?There’s a wide range of different piano brands and they all have different advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to choose the right piano for children (even for the customer service associates trying to help you). With names like Steinway, Kawai, Clavinova, Korg and Casio floating around your head, we’ve picked out a few of the best piano brands.Popular acoustic piano brands include:ChoiseulYamahaRameauGood digital brands include:YamahaRolandGemGiven all the different brands that are available and the new ones constantly entering the market, it’s best not to consider our list the be all and end all, and have a chat with your child’s piano teacher too. You never know what new brands and models might enter the market next year.Digital pianos - a good choice for childrenHow much should you spend to get a good quality piano?The digital piano often seems like a good choice for a child’s first piano. The built in metronome, ability to plug in headphones, and volume control are all an advantage - for parents as well as children.What’s more, it’s lacking a lot of the disadvantages of an acoustic piano, such as:The difficulty in moving the piano from one room, or even one corner of the room, to another.The volume - you can’t control the sound on acoustic pianosThe price - generally more expensive, even if you find an acoustic piano with a similar price tag to a digital piano, you won’t be getting as much for your money.They may lack a bit of style, but thanks to their weighted keys, digital pianos can often easily serve the needs of a piano student as they work on their notes, music reading, and playing their first melodies.Choosing a portable digital piano for an affordable costThanks to the profusion of portable keyboards, this segment of the market often offers a much more affordable selection, even for buying a new model.If you’re considering buying a portable digital piano for your child, you should expect to spend about $400-600 for an instrument that will serve your child well for several years.Considering the keys and sound quality of your prospective pianoWhen shopping for a digital piano, it’s key to consider the keys and sound quality on offer. These are the criteria that will help you find the right piano for your child.It’s a g ood idea to prepare a piece of music in advance - something with an interesting tempo - and try out the piece on different pianos to see how they perform.You can also play some scales on the piano to try it out, but you won’t get as good a sense of the digital piano’s musical abilities as a musical instrument.If you’re still a very fresh beginner and working on playing your first few notes, it’s worth bringing a musician friend along to help you buy your piano.If you’re really set on your child becoming a future professional pianist, it might make sense to make the leap and buy an acoustic piano. For them, technique will be paramount, and they’ll have a slight advantage on an acoustic piano, especially over learning on a piano keyboard. An upright piano is probably still more appropriate than a baby grand though!If you’re shopping for an acoustic piano, it’s a good idea to see if any piano makers are offering factory discounts for new pianos, or if you can find a gen tly used acoustic piano for sale.

Simplifying Expressions

Simplifying Expressions Simplification is a very useful method in mathematics. I helps reduce the given question or solution to a simpler form. Expressions consist of one or more than one variables with different coefficients and constant numbers. There are different types of expressions in math such as algebraic expressions, rational expressions etc. There are various mathematical operations which are used to simplify and solve the given expressions. Example 1: Find the solution by simplifying the expression 3 x/ 7 + 4 x/ 3? The given question is on Adding rational expressions. This question contains adding with the same polynomial x. The first step of the question is to calculate the LCM of the denominators 7 and 3, is 21. Now 3 /7 and 4 /3 can be added with the LCM of the denominators as 21. . This makes the solution 3 x/ 7 + 4 x/ 3 = 9 x3/ 21 + 28 x3/ 21 = 37 x3/ 21. Hence the solution is 37 x3/ 21. Example 2: Find the solution by simplifying the expression 2 x/ 5 + 2 x? The given question is on Adding rational expressions. This question contains adding with the same polynomial x. The first step of the question is to calculate the LCM of the denominators 5 and 1, is 5. Now 2/5 and 2 can be added with the LCM of the denominators as 5. . This makes the solution 2x/5 + 2x = 2 x3/ 5 + 10 x3/ 5 = 12 x3/ 5. Hence the solution is 12x3/ 5.

Qualities All Career and School Counsellors Should Have

Qualities All Career and School Counsellors Should Have What You Should Know Before Looking for Jobs as a Career Professional ChaptersWorld of Work: Gain Personal and Professional SkillsGet to Know the UK's Education SystemBecoming a School PsychologistBecoming a Career Guidance ProfessionalPeople who want to give career guidance or are interested in working as a professional school counsellor often find themselves at interesting, career path crossroads. Not only do people working in this profession have to understand the intricacies of career development and career planning, but those who want to work with children and teens also have to have skills as a career counsellor. These kinds of skills can include a range of qualities, from being able to perform a career assessment to having a grasp of child psychology.Career management, however, isn’t the only type of field these professionals have to master - having great interpersonal skills is often more important for a career advisor to have. This is especially true as well for child psychologists, an occupation that often saves the lives of many young adul ts. Becoming a career coach of sorts, whether that be for adults in the professional world or for students working on their university applications, is becoming ever more important.With the way digital media has transformed the job market, those looking for a career change or who are interested in understanding what kind of job opportunities await them in the future - having a guide to help improve their job search strategies can be vital. Here are some of the qualities you should make sure to acquire if you’re looking for career options in counselling.Search for self development courses here. Explore career options in counselling - there's many diverse options! TraceyPersonal development Teacher 4.92 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePersonal development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliverPersonal development Teacher 4.33 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWorld of Work: Gain Personal and Professional SkillsWhether you’re working at a high school or at a professional career centre, being able to help students and adults look for job offers or aid in their re sume and cover letter writing or interview skills can be viewed as one of the most important social services out there. Offering psychological or career services, however, necessitates many difficult interpersonal skills.Whether you’re helping someone with their career exploration or family life, having strong interpersonal skills will be extremely important when offering individual or career advice. These are the types of skills you use to communicate with others.For example, from helping someone accomplish their career goals to completing their cover letters, you will have to be an attentive listener and be able to keep an open mind. Similar to the ways teachers often have to adapt their courses to the needs of their students, those working in educational psychology or as career counsellors will have to adjust their methods to the needs of their clients.Interpersonal skills often figure under “soft skills,” as opposed to “hard skills” like programming and language abilit y. Whether you’re working with job seekers or students, having a demonstrated ability to utilize these skills will help you stand out from the competition.When it comes to working as an education psychologist, meaning you will offer emotional support to students while collaborating with teachers and/or parents, the most important professional skills you’ll need is vocational training in the field. Whether that be through a domestic or international practice, you should have both academic and professional experience in psychology.School counsellors, on the other hand, will have to make sure their academic and career choices have included work in psychology but aren’t strictly necessary for many school guidance career pathways. As a counsellor, it is possible that you will work with multiple schools and therefore, students will need to make an appointment with you. Having the professional skills of both schedule building and organizing academic and career resources will come in handy.Those looking for career offers in giving professional career guidance can get chose an in person or online career path. The kinds of skills involved in this kind of job will be the ability to tailor a career plan to many individuals, participate in career fairs, guide students after graduation into a new career quickly. Having these kinds of professional skills will give you many more employment opportunities.Lastly, all of these occupations will require different education levels. While working as a school or professional guidance counsellor will typically only require a bachelor’s degree in order to get jobs and internships in adult and student success, educational psychology will often require a master’s level of education and above. If you're interested in offering personalized career advice, consider a job in career consultingGet to Know the UK's Education SystemGetting any career opportunities involving personal or career assessments, whether that be through an online job or an in-person counselling centre, will require you to understand both student employment and the education system of the UK.There are many different ways you can assist students - one thing to keep in mind is that you will most likely always have to do so, no matter what ends up being your career choice. After all, what career hunt or university application doesn’t involve a minimum understanding of the education system of the country?Being a psychological or career guide means you will either be dealing with students within the school system or students on a job or internship search. Along with the education system, it will be a good idea to have general knowledge in the following categories no matter what kind of career paths you choose :Biggest private and public sectors in the countryUnemployment statistics and benefitsThe ins and outs of A-levels and university requirementsEducation requirements for public and private job postingsGeneral school guidance counsellors, as well as some education psychologists, might find it a good idea to either gather or write important student resources themselves. These can include pamphlets or brochures relating to how to ace a mock interview, different career fields, where to find a job board, local university admission requirements and more. Being able to provide student services related to counselling will mean being able to give advice on everything from job interview pointers to where to get support for school related anxiety.If you’re interested in taking part in working for a development centre or career consultant agency, you will want to know more of the education requirements that major companies or organizations typically require from postsecondary students. You wil l also have to practice delivering the career information you will continue to gather in preparation for your own walk in hours, for updating online resources, or if you choose to participate in a job fair.Becoming a School PsychologistIf your career interest lies in wanting to make a positive impact in the lives of children and families, consider becoming and educational psychologist. Because schools the world over are revaluating the traditional definition of the services schools should supply, many have expanded that definition to include counselling programs for children, young adults and families.Some of your daily tasks can include following behavioural changes in at-risk students, recommending counselling programs for troubled families, and providing emotional support to young adults with mental illnesses. If you’re interested in choosing a career that specializing in giving psychological care to children and young adults, you will need to master some basic personal and pro fessional skills such as:Understanding insurance coverage for psychological processesGreat communication and listening skillsA complete mastery of child and young adult psychologyOrganizationBecoming a professional psychologist for schools can involve either being an on-site or off-site therapist or counsellor, depending on what region and school district you’re in. For all counselling jobs, the most important step you’ll have to take in your career journey is to acquire experience in the field. Finding an undergraduate or graduate program that provides this kind of real-world training, as well as postsecondary training programs, can help you build the confidence to practice in your field.If you’re wondering what educational paths you can take to become a counsellor, becoming a school therapist will involve attaining an undergraduate degree in psychology or a specialization within the field.Counselling can mean helping people find ways to heal themselvesBecoming a Career Guida nce ProfessionalIf you’re an industry professional looking to change careers or someone who enjoys giving advice on resumes and interview skills, finding a job in career counselling might be worth checking out. Some of your daily tasks will involve anything related to career advising, from finding job shadowing programs for your clients to running workshops on how to advance in a field you’re an expert in.There are many different avenues people follow when they take up a job in career coaching. Most often, these jobs are taken up later in life, something that benefits you as a job seeker because of the experience you have built in your years on the job market. However, you can also take this up as a straight-out-of-college career, or even after high school.There are many different qualities you’ll need in this field, many of which include being an organized and independent worker. If you work on a university campus in a career centre, you’ll need to organize informational br ochures and online databases. If you work as a career consultant in the private sector, you’ll most likely have to deal with clients in a one-on-one, individualized setting.Whether you want to work as a private career advisor or as a school psychologist, getting accredited with an established body can boost your chances in getting hired!

Tutor Interview Questions Part 1 - Private Tutoring

Tutor Interview Questions Part 1 BobbiM Mar 13, 2013 If you want a job as a tutor, you need to be ready and prepared to answer the questions that potential clients will want to know. Tutor Interview Questions: An Introduction This means you need to do your homework on the following items: Who is your customer? What is their motivation for seeking a tutor? For them, what does success look like? 1. Who is Your Customer? If a client is seeking a tutor, that client is most likely a parent who is looking for a tutor for their child. So, the real customer here is the parent. 2. What is their Motivation for Seeking a Tutor? What does that mean for you, the tutor? A few things: The motivation for the parent in seeking out a tutor is that their child is not performing well in school, or that they could perform much better. Another motivation for a parent is that a standardized test is coming up such as the SAT Test or the ACT Test, and the parent would like their child to be completely prepared to take the test. 3. What Does Success Look Like? These in general are the motivations that most parents will have. So, this means, then, that you need to convey the following: I am a tutor that will help your child perform better than he is performing right now. I am the tutor that will help your child get an amazing score on the SAT or ACT test. If you convey the two items above and demonstrate in the past how youve done that for other clients, then youll be very competitive and will likely be receiving a job offer.

About the Virtual Writing Tutor Grammar Checker

About the Virtual Writing Tutor Grammar Checker Nicholas Walker, creator of the Virtual Writing Tutor For a list of Virtual Writing Tutor features with video tutorials on how to use them, see here. This article is about the motivation to build and use the Virtual Writing Tutor for pedagogical purposes. Until recently, I had been correcting student errors by hand, returning assignments a week or two later. Like other teachers, it always struck me that 7-14 days was a long time for learners to wait for corrections, but with the large number of students I had in my classes, it was the fastest I could get the job done. Even then, I was concerned that my slow method of error correction was constraining the amount of writing practice my learners were getting in my courses. To explain, if it takes two weeks to correct students writing and students expect corrective feedback on every writing task they do (or they wont do it), then the most a teacher can assign is one writing assignment every two weeks. Nevertheless, students language development benefits from writing more often. Of course, I tried using MS Word and other automatic error correctors, but they were not particularly useful at catching  second language errors in my students writing. I then turned to Moodle and developed an extensive  auto-linking glossary  of errors, but the glossary filter put a heavy load on Bokomarus  Moodle server  and slowed everything down. So, in the spring of 2012 while my college students were out on  strike, I launched the Virtual Writing Tutor and set the following goals for myself: To increase the quantity of corrective feedback available to our students To improve its quality To improve its timeliness To increase its frequency To enhance ESL writing pedagogy Increasing the Quantity of Feedback: Catching More Errors Most automatic grammar checkers miss the kinds of errors that second language learners make. They seem more focused on  the kinds of errors that writers in their first language make  instead. I want to remedy that by catching transfer errors, tense errors and  collocation errors. While human teachers can potentially catch all of these errors when they correct assignments by hand,  no teacher has either the time  or space in the margins to correct every error in a college-length writing assignment or explain at length the nature of each error. The VirtualWritngTutor can provide more detailed feedback on as many errors I program it to detect. Improving the Quality of Feedback: Details, Links, and Resources Skeptics of automatic grammar checkers sometimes interpret the occasional false alarm, bad feedback, or  missed error  as a sign that the quality of automatic feedback can never be as good as the feedback a human teacher can give. I am working on these individual problems, and I believe that I can overcome them with time. Indeed, members can help me by reporting issues with the system using the  Report button  on this website. In the meantime, there are other aspects to feedback quality that sceptics should not overlook. Hand-correction usually involves a combination of underlining, terse metalinguistic correction codes and the occasional explicit correction. The Virtual Writing Tutor does all that, too. It locates an error, provides a metalinguistic explanation of the error (not just a correction code) and suggests one or more ways to correct the error. However, the Virtual Writing Tutor goes one step further and displays a clickable link to relevant online remedial practice activities and resources. In this way, the Virtual Writing Tutor can generate a kind of instant curriculum, tailor-made for each learner and based on the learners immediate learning needs. That in itself goes well beyond current hand-coding practices. So, all things considered, the Virtual Writing Tutor has the potential to give better feedback. Example text Try it for yourself. Click the text below to see what the Virtual Writing Tutor can do. I make a lot of mistake that negatively effect my writing. Thats not good. I want always to make the good choice of verbs. I want also to improve my pronunciation. My English-speaking friends talk about to help, but they never do. I work in a big store on the south shore of Montreal where there are a lot of immigrants people. Im speaking every day to a men that works there. I think practicing with immigrants is equally as effective. So far, I have work there since 2 weeks and my English is getting more better. Also, I have learned already a lot about retail, but I will like to have a better job. I am waiting still for my first paycheck. They dont have paid me yet. When I will get paid, I will pay my parking tickets. Nevertheless if my English would be more better, I would definitely get a better paying job. I often wonder how many opportunities I would had had if I paid more attention to my nice English teacher in high school. Improving the Timeliness of Feedback With large class-sizes during the busy midterm period, the timeliness of the corrective feedback on writing we give our students tends to suffer. Teachers struggle to get corrections back to their students by the next class, but sometimes students have to wait two weeks. When assignments are returned, students exclaim, It was so long ago that I have forgotten what I was trying to say here. With the Virtual Writing Tutor, feedback is instant. What could be more timely than that? Improving the Frequency of Feedback The Virtual Writing Tutor is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Instead of receiving corrective feedback on only one draft of an essay or narrative composition, learners can now get feedback on every draft throughout the writing process. The system will never get annoyed or tired. Learners can write a paragraph, check it, write another check it, and so on. The Virtual Writing Tutor makes it possible for learners to get feedback as often as they want it. Another point worth considering is that teachers can now give more writing assignments than ever before. Whereas teachers might have been reluctant to add to their own workload by assigning additional writing tasks to their students, with the availability of the Virtual Writing Tutor they can ask for error-free texts every class and the burden of error correction will never increase. In this way, students will get feedback on errors as often as the teacher wants or thinks is necessary. Improving Writing Pedagogy In many colleges around the world, writing is taught as a collaborative exchange between student and teacher. The teacher assigns a writing task, the student produces one draft, the teacher provides corrective feedback on it, then the student redrafts the text and submits it for evaluation. Sometimes a student can feel somewhat mystified and betrayed if, after trying to respond to all the teachers correction codes, the student then receives a low score on the essay since the teacher was in effect a collaborator on the final draft. A better way to teach writing might be for teachers to ask students to consult the Virtual Writing Tutor throughout the drafting process as just one of a variety of revision strategies. Other revision strategies might include the use of self-assessment checklists, peer-review tasks, and participation in teacher-student writing conferences. In this way, the teacher can evaluate the use of a range of revision strategies and not the students success at responding to corrective feedback received on one draft of one essay from one source. During peer-assessment activities classmates might find it useful to submit a students writing to the Virtual Writing Tutor to see if the revision strategy was used and which suggestions were ignored. In this way, a teacher can put the following question on a peer-assessment grid:  Has the writer eliminated all major errors from his or her writing?  Such a question teaches all learners in the class to be judicious consumers of corrective feedback for life. Power Tools for Teachers Just as learners will have to become judicious consumers of automated corrective feedback, teachers will have to reassess their old approach to hand-coding errors. There is nothing about the Virtual Writing Tutor that prevents teachers from continuing their practice of giving hand-coded feedback. However, like a master builder with a new power saw, ESL teachers will have to reflect carefully on when to pull this new power tool out of the toolbox and when to do things the old-fashioned way. Heres why: 1.     The VWT is fast, really fast. 2.     It provides error correction upon demand 24/7. 3.     It can provide feedback on multiple drafts of text, not just the first and last draft. 4.     It can explain at length the nature of the error, something human teachers dont have time or space in the margins for. 5.     It displays links to specific resources and remedial activities to help learners eliminate errors from future writing. 6.     It is available to students and non-students alike, supporting lifelong learning. 7.     It is completely free for teachers and their students to use. However 8.     It provides unfocused feedback, correcting every error it finds without regard to the learners readiness. 9.     It generates false alarms, suggesting unnecessary corrections or providing explanations that dont always make sense. 10.  It still misses lots of errors. Get InvolvedStay in Touch Of course, the Virtual Writing Tutor is  a work in progress. If you are an ESL teacher and would like to help me make the VWT better, please Suggest a New Error or Report a False Alarm using the email utility provided or by leaving a message on my  Facebook wall or by posting a comment on my  blog. I would love to hear from you, and your feedback will help me provide the ESL world with better corrective feedback. Please follow and like us:

GMAT Review Series Sentence Correction - Meaning

GMAT Review Series Sentence Correction - Meaning GMAT MBA Admissions Blog In this portion of our GMAT Review Series, we’ll take a look at a Sentence Correction: Meaning question. One of the biggest concepts regarding sentence correction that we must remember isthe meaning of the sentence is always going to be more important than grammar. Key pointers from this video: Begin by setting up your scratch pad to help you ID the Error CategoryWrite the question number with a line beside it to write any errors you identify in the sentence or the answer choices. You are looking for a category, not a single specific error. In this example, we ID pronouns as the error. Intended Meaning Arbitrary GrammarWe must always remember that the meaning of the sentence is going to be more important than grammar. Identify the subject and make sure that the answer choices agree with it. Taking a look at the answer choices to ID any similaritiesIn this case â€" “it” appears throughout a majority of the answer choices… as we evaluate it in each answer choice we can deduce that the error being tested here is a pronoun. Read literally to identify absurd choicesPlug each answer choice into the sentence to determine if it still conveys the samemeaning or if it, in fact, makes no sense. This video was produced by MyGuru'sDirector of Online Instructionand expertonline GMATtutor Stefan Maisnier. Visit ourYouTube channelfor more GMAT analogy videos.

Teach Away Telegram - December 2010

Teach Away Telegram - December 2010 Is there anything better than the gift of education? Other than chocolate, arguably the answer is no. As teachers, providing an education to those in need is a given; but for many of you, receiving an education is most likely a lifelong journey as well. From those first days of school to the crazy college years to those language classes you take after work, the gift of education is definitely one that keeps on giving. However, for those of us raised in countries where education is a right, it is easy to forget about less privileged nations, where regular people have little or no access to schools, and may go through great challenges just to get access to books.But let’s stay away from the Grinch-like gloom and doom this Christmas, and think about the positive! As an organization that works with international education programs and inspiring educators (yes, you!) day in and day out, Teach Away would like to take a moment to highlight an amazing program, The Afghan School Project, in this month’s Telegram. A dedicated group of Canadian educators have volunteered their time to implementing this education initiative in Afghanistan. Its purpose is to help educate young, Afghan women who would at best be refused entrance, or at worst, harmed for going in to school. So how can you help?When it comes to charities, every little bit counts. But as our wallets get lighter around the holidays, we aren’t necessarily motivated to empty them altogether. What if we told you that there were alternative ways to help give the gift of education to these young women? Whether you are a seasoned teacher who has long seen the value of education and would like to take part in this wonderful initiative or a recent grad who simply hopes to add some volunteer work to your resume, the Afghan School Project is a truly inspiring project to get involved with.As you begin thinking about your New Year’s resolutions this year, why not consider devoting some of your time in 2011 to an imp ortant project such as this one? How about seeking out a similarly inspiring volunteer organization to take part in wherever you happen to be in the world? Or you could simply brainstorm how you can make a difference for the children in your classroom, and actively implement your new ideas.If you want to do what you do best for a good cause, what better time than now to give the gift of education?Our Gift to You This Season: An Eggcellent Eggnog RecipeWhether you’re missing eggnog or wondering about this crazy yellow drink your North American friends keep referring to each December, we have an antidote for an eggnog-less December for you!A great way to beat a case of not-home-for-the-holidays blues is to introduce some of your own customs into your daily life abroad. Although you may have never considered making your own eggnog back home (Why would you when you can run over to the nearest supermarket for a creamy cup each December?), desperate times call for desperate measures.Alt hough it may take a few tries (and buff up your arm muscles in the process), once perfected, your homemade eggnog will ensure a very happy holiday season-no matter where you are in the world.How to make your own eggnog (borrowed and tweaked â€" from About.com)Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 1 hourMakes 12-16 eggnog servingsIngredients:• 6 large eggs plus 2 yolks• 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons sugar• 1/4 teaspoon salt• 4 cups whole milk• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract• 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmegPreparation:Combine eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a heavy 3- or 4-quart pan, whisking until well-combined. Continue whisking while pouring milk in a slow, steady stream until completely incorporated. Turn on burner to lowest possible heat setting. Place pan on burner and stir mixture continuously until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Be patient. This should take about 45 to 60 minutes.Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a large bowl to remove any acci dental small cooked bits of egg. Add vanilla extract and nutmeg, stirring to combine. Pour into a glass pitcher, decanter, or container and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate this egg custard mixture to chill at least 4 hours or up to 3 days before finishing.Serve eggnog in chilled cups or glasses and garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg.Photo Contest - Winner December is almost over and a new year is just around the corner. No matter where you happen to be this holiday season, we hope you’ve decked your halls, hung some mistletoe, and have all your gifts bought, wrapped, and sitting under the tree!This month, giving takes on a whole new meaning in The Telegram. Learn about some unique gift-giving customs around the world and read about the gift of education in Afghanistan. For those teachers who find themselves far away from the comforts of home around the holidays, Teach Away is happy to give you the perfect recipe for Christmas cheer, so read on!Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! And a Joyous Holiday Season to All!-The Teach Away TeamIn this issue:Gift Giving Around the WorldThe Gift of EducationOur Gift to You: Eggnog RecipeAnnouncing Photo Contest WinnerGift Giving Around the WorldFor many people, ‘tis the season to find the perfect gift for friends and loved ones. For those living abroad, traditions which remind us o f home become all the more important at this time of year; however learning about the customs of one’s host country is an invaluable part of enjoying time away from friends and family. Whether or not you plan to partake in a gift exchange this December, read on to learn about some interesting gift-giving customs around the world!While we westerners tend to rip open our presents in frenzied excitement, in Japan, this behaviour is generally frowned upon. It is not uncommon to see young children delicately opening their gifts, demonstrating an appreciation for the work that went into the wrapping. Even before getting your hands on the gift, it is best to first ask for permission to open it. To do otherwise would be considered impolite. In the UAE on the other hand, the recipient will not hesitate to open his gift right away, and will go so far as to inspect it right in front of the person who gave it to himâ€" especially if a man has been presented with silver jewellery. Because gold jewellery is considered a gift choice for women only, this inspection is a search for a proper government mark which tells him that his jewellery is, in fact, silver and not an effeminate white-gold.An interesting wedding tradition in Korea finds parents of newlyweds giving them a variety of gifts; however, to be on the safe side, they will make sure not to present the groom with a pair of shoesâ€"just in case he decides to use them to run away before the big day! In Japan, on the other hand, even numbers are a no-no when choosing a wedding gift. Forget those dinner settings for a family of four; five plates is much more acceptable for the simple reason that an even-numbered gift can be split evenly, and this is considered a symbol of separation or divorce.Don’t bring a typical bottle of wine or framed portrait to a housewarming party in Korea. When someone moves into a new home, it is much more appropriate to bring over something practical, like toilet paper! And when moving in to a new place in Japan, don’t expect your neighbours to appear at your door to welcome you with a platter of cookies; instead, you should take it upon yourself to be nice and neighbourly with a knock on your neighbour’s door, a brief introduction, and a gift of dish soap or laundry detergent. Don’t try this in Saudi Arabia, where it is common to only give gifts to very close friends. Presenting a neighbour or an acquaintance with a gift would be so embarrassing that it would border on offensive.The Gift of EducationIs there anything better than the gift of education? Other than chocolate, arguably the answer is no. As teachers, providing an education to those in need is a given; but for many of you, receiving an education is most likely a lifelong journey as well. From those first days of school to the crazy college years to those language classes you take after work, the gift of education is definitely one that keeps on giving. However, for those of us raised in countries wh ere education is a right, it is easy to forget about less privileged nations, where regular people have little or no access to schools, and may go through great challenges just to get access to books.But let’s stay away from the Grinch-like gloom and doom this Christmas, and think about the positive! As an organization that works with international education programs and inspiring educators (yes, you!) day in and day out, Teach Away would like to take a moment to highlight an amazing program, The Afghan School Project, in this month’s Telegram. A dedicated group of Canadian educators have volunteered their time to implementing this education initiative in Afghanistan. Its purpose is to help educate young, Afghan women who would at best be refused entrance, or at worst, harmed for going in to school. So how can you help?When it comes to charities, every little bit counts. But as our wallets get lighter around the holidays, we aren’t necessarily motivated to empty them altogethe r. What if we told you that there were alternative ways to help give the gift of education to these young women? Whether you are a seasoned teacher who has long seen the value of education and would like to take part in this wonderful initiative or a recent grad who simply hopes to add some volunteer work to your resume, the Afghan School Project is a truly inspiring project to get involved with.As you begin thinking about your New Year’s resolutions this year, why not consider devoting some of your time in 2011 to an important project such as this one? How about seeking out a similarly inspiring volunteer organization to take part in wherever you happen to be in the world? Or you could simply brainstorm how you can make a difference for the children in your classroom, and actively implement your new ideas.If you want to do what you do best for a good cause, what better time than now to give the gift of education?Our Gift to You This Season: An Eggcellent Eggnog RecipeWhether youâ €™re missing eggnog or wondering about this crazy yellow drink your North American friends keep referring to each December, we have an antidote for an eggnog-less December for you!A great way to beat a case of not-home-for-the-holidays blues is to introduce some of your own customs into your daily life abroad. Although you may have never considered making your own eggnog back home (Why would you when you can run over to the nearest supermarket for a creamy cup each December?), desperate times call for desperate measures.Although it may take a few tries (and buff up your arm muscles in the process), once perfected, your homemade eggnog will ensure a very happy holiday season-no matter where you are in the world.How to make your own eggnog (borrowed and tweaked â€" from About.com)Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 1 hourMakes 12-16 eggnog servingsIngredients:• 6 large eggs plus 2 yolks• 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons sugar• 1/4 teaspoon salt• 4 cups whole milk• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract• 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmegPreparation:Combine eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a heavy 3- or 4-quart pan, whisking until well-combined. Continue whisking while pouring milk in a slow, steady stream until completely incorporated. Turn on burner to lowest possible heat setting. Place pan on burner and stir mixture continuously until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Be patient. This should take about 45 to 60 minutes.Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a large bowl to remove any accidental small cooked bits of egg. Add vanilla extract and nutmeg, stirring to combine. Pour into a glass pitcher, decanter, or container and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate this egg custard mixture to chill at least 4 hours or up to 3 days before finishing.Serve eggnog in chilled cups or glasses and garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg.Photo Contest - WinnerCongratulations to Sarah Van Kruistum for getting a whopping 58 votes for her gorgeous 'First Impr essions' photo (shown right)!Sarah was the lucky winner of a Polaroid digital camera, compliments of Teach Away. We look forward to watching some of your videos of your life in the UAE, Sarah!Honourable mention goes to Kate Rehbock who came in close second with 39 votes. Thanks for participating, Kate!