Today’s tough job market has left many an otherwise valued employee beating the classifieds in search of a new prospect. People who have worked loyally for companies for decades are suddenly finding themselves without jobs due to budget cuts or outsourcing. For some the next logical step seems to continuing their education in hopes of making themselves a more valuable resource to their next employer, but many are left wondering how on earth they will pay the ever-increasing costs of higher education. The following might provide some answers:

1. The Old Standby- Student Loans

Student loans have always been an option for any student who wishes to further his education by attending a college or technical institute. The downside is that, of course, these loans must be repaid whether you graduate or not. This option might seem especially unappealing for non-traditional students who have just found themselves out of work with mounting bills and in some cases mounting debt. For those with no other options, however, they do remain a surefire way of paying for your education.

2. Scholarships

Scholarships are often thought only to be given to students who are just graduating high school and entering college or technical school. To the contrary there are scholarships and grants available to non-traditional students who have been out of the realm of academia for some time, such as the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) scholarship. There are a wide variety of websites dedicated to helping students from all walks of life find scholarship and grant programs that will help pay for school.

3. State Programs

In light of the recent trend of more adults looking to get back to school or training many states have developed programs to help non-traditional students obtain a degree or certificate. Check with your local Department of Labor to see what programs they might offer for persons in your industry or for anyone looking to learn in general. Some states also offer industry-specific training programs or opportunities that aid students in their pursuit of higher education.

Going back to school is a scary experience in and of itself without then being concerned over how you’ll ever afford it. Fortunately the above referenced options offer the possibility of education to any potential student.

One of the greatest flaws in the education system is the idea that all students can learn in the same fashion. While it is true that all students possess the basic ability to learn, certain ones might require more attention than others in order to achieve that pursuit. Likewise the study methods that work for one student may do nothing to help another. The following is a list of articles relating to study skill alternatives to the traditional methods for students who might be less than conventional.

1. An Alternative Paradigm for College Reading and Study Skills Courses:  Jim Reynolds and Stuart C. Werner, Journal of Reading

This article discusses the different approaches to handling incoming college students who are ill-prepared for the advanced academic world that they are entering. It explores the idea of a learning paradigm in which students are allowed to develop learning skills in their own way or style. It embraces the idea that not every student benefits from the traditional “one size fits all” method of studying.

2. Homeschooling Study Skills: Gertrude Elizabeth Greene

This article discusses the specialized study skills that should be taught to homeschooled students in order to prepare them for entering the more public and advanced educational realm of college.

3. 4 Helpful Study Skills for Online Learners: Stefan Knapen,

In this article Mr. Knapen discusses the different study skills needed for online learning. Because learning online requires not only a different environment but a different mind-set altogether the study skills that students find useful for in-class tutelage often do not apply as well in the online learning realm.

4. 6 Study Tips for Adult Learners: courseadvisor.com,

Re-entering the academic arena after a prolonged absence can be difficult for even the most studious persons. This article provides study tips designed to help adult students balance their work, family and school lives into a smoother experience.

Not every student responds to traditional study methods, and in particular those learning in a non-traditional capacity tend to suffer from scenarios for which these methods do not fit. With the advice contained in the above articles any student can special tailor study methods that work for their specific methods of learning and situation.

Summer break means the glorious absence of early mornings, the hectic bus schedules and, of course, school in general. As your children rejoice in the freedom of days filled with playing outside instead of homework maybe it’s time to consider some summer learning advantages. In particularly for younger children it’s easy for them to simply forget the skills they learned during the year when they have the freedom of summer stretched ahead of them.

Getting Ahead

Most every student has a subject in school that gives them almost constant grief. Whether that’s mathematics or English some extra studying during the summer can help them better retain the skills they learned the previous year and prepare for the new subject matter that they’ll encounter in the year to come. Check with your local school board and see if there’s a generalized syllabus for your child’s problem subject in their next grade level. By choosing materials that can help them get a head start you can possibly prevent them from having difficulty in the year to come.

General Refreshing

For those subjects that don’t pose a psychosomatic threat to your children it never hurts to have some review. There are plenty of resources available online to help make learning feel less like a chore and more like a game. A great way to help them continue learning is to find an engaging day camp. This will not only stem boredom but also stave off the relaxation of their problem solving skills. They may not be studying math flash cards, but a good camp that keeps them active and engaged will help them continuously utilize their thinking skills. Certainly more so than a rousing 8 hour video game binge. This type of continued engagement and review will also help them transition more easily into learning mode once the school year gets going again.

The summer doesn’t have to be a time of limited brain function for your children. By working with them or providing them with engaging activities that keep their focus and thinking skills developing you’ll not only help them learn new things but prepare for the new knowledge to come.

Scott Young started his blog 6 years ago while a student. Since graduating though, his interest in building skills and further education has only been heightened. We recently posted on our Facebook 

page a link video that Scott recorded detailing his latest challenge: to complete a 4 year MIT course in Computer Science in just 12 months (see the video here).

But just today we came across an audio interview Scott had with Corbett barr of Expert Enough- a site we love over here at Stepping Stone Tutors! But what I wanted to share were a couple of points Scott made in that interview that should be of value to you, as someone who’s looking to improve their knowledge, whether you’re using one of our online or in home tutors, or simply self-studying online.

Scott often refers to the way people who learn fast are able to effectively link the data and knowledge they’re processing  together, which therefore generates a much more deep rooted understanding of the topic being taken on. This is an alternative to simple ‘rote memorisation’, where students are challenged with the almost impossible of simply learning a ton of facts only to regurgitate these when asked about them. This ability to link things together- to understand in a much fuller way is what he calls ‘holistic learning’.

A method that’s often used to utilise this method of learning called the ‘Feynman technique’, which is an informal philosophy of how we can learn something deeply. As an alternative to rote memorization, which could take hundreds of hours for some subjects, the Feynman technique can be applied effectively to almost any subject. The video below will explains exactly what this is, and how you can apply this to your own studies, whether that’s for your upcoming ASVAB test, GED classes, K-16 classes, or test preparation (read about how we can help with this here) and revision.

The reason this technique works so much is because most people simply don’t know what it is that they’re trying to learn. They don’t understand which bits of a subject they need to expand on in order to full understand what it is they’re dealing with. The Feynman technique, however, highlights the exact aspects of each subject that you need to look into more in order to holistically grasp any topic you like.

The purpose of education is something I often ponder over. Rather than the ‘how’ of providing knowledge, the ‘why’ interests me something rotten.

Why do we share knowledge? Why do we set aside so much of our GDP to education? What is our motivation here? This may seem like a ridiculous question at a first glance, but when we consider the possible ‘why’s’ of providing education, such as

• ‘to create fresh generations of non-questioning employees’
• ‘to build a tolerant and creative society’
• ‘to develop the skills that will continue to raise money in our country’
• ‘to instil a strong moral dimension to our children’.

The possible reasons for ‘why’ we educate are huge, many of which are mutually exclusive (while others are compatible), and so for teachers, in home and online tutors, as well as students and pupils, this is an important question to consider- why are we doing what we’re doing, and to for what eventual purpose?

The following articles (and video) are fantastic starting points for considering this question. Please let me know what you think…

• What is the Purpose of Education in 500 Words of Fewer?
• Martin Luther King on the Purpose of Education
• ‘”The purpose of education is to develop a creative society that will ask difficult questions.”
• The Purpose of Education: Social Uplift or Social Control?

In the past few decades there have been drastic changes in the education system in the United States. These changes far outreach our grandparents’ stories about walking 8 miles to school in the snow (uphill both ways of course) and have spilled over into the actual instruction itself. Class sizes are larger, we grapple with overcrowding in many heavily populated areas, and graduation rates have slipped drastically. Currently the United States is ranked 51^st in the subjects of Science and Mathematics worldwide. So one must beg the question: are we getting soft on education? I would like to precede this discussion by disclosing that I am not an educational professional but only a student, worker bee and mother with an opinion.

Having no school aged children of my own I’ve heard horror stories from my friends and colleagues who do have children in our local public and private schools. Among the most disturbing changes that I’ve encountered has been the introduction of calling math problems math “facts”. The word “problem” apparently is considered to have too negative a connotation. For as long as I can remember in my education and professional life I’ve been weak in the subject of math. I could pass the subject but it required immersion in it, finding a way of solving the problems that I could wrap my brain around. I simply don’t “think” that way; I can’t reason it out for some reason. So for me, a math problem is most definitely a problem. But it seems illogical to me that dressing it up with a nicer, gentler name would have made me embrace it more easily. I feel that by giving difficult subjects or problems a more politically correct or easier to process name in effect we’re sheltering our children. What happens when they do become old enough to go out into the world where there are problems and that’s exactly what they’re called? Will they be searching for a softer way of looking at the issue in order to cope with it? What does this mean for their reasoning skills?

The second most disturbing trend I’m hearing about in schools is awarding each and every student for something, no matter how mundane the achievement. I’ve even heard of students as young as kindergarten age receiving an award on a monthly basis. As parents we all want our children to feel special and successful, but is celebrating mediocrity the way to go about that? What does that say for the future of work ethic? If each student comes along knowing that no matter how poor their performance they’ll be rewarded for something it seems to me that they have no incentive to work hard. If they become appeased with mediocrity beginning at such a young age they’ll know that it’s okay to slide by.

Coupled with softening the terms we use for difficult subject matter this new advent in education equals what I predict will be a much softer generation of people, unaccustomed to facing and overcoming challenges and complacent in their mediocrity. United States students performed better on the world stage in the past where problems were called problems and rewards were given only to those who worked hard to achieve something. If the system worked so well back then with regard to these two topics, why fix what isn’t broken?

These days having an education isn’t just a good idea, it’s imperative. Many employers, including the U.S. military, are requiring workers to have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalency in order to be considered for hiring. In today’s tough job market the more qualifications an applicant has the better! The following is a brief overview of some of the most important grade levels and tests to be completed on the track to a degree.

K-12

The term K-12 refers to the courses provided from Kindergarten to 12th grade for students. These classes normally take 13 years to complete and are marked in most every state by a graduation examination comprised of a few subjects: Social Studies, Math, Reading and Science. These subjects may of course vary from state to state. In addition to the graduation tests states are also required to implement End of Course tests, or EOCT’s, for each course that a student completes in grades 9-12. Completion of the K-12 program earns the graduate a High School diploma. This diploma can be used to obtain certain entry level positions and admission into a university or technical college.

K-14

K-14 refers to students who have completed Kindergarten through 12th grade, graduated with a high school diploma and completed two years of college. This normally owns a person an Associates Degree in their field of study, which is sufficient in some trades to obtain an entry level position of employment. Some industries, however, require more education for even entry level positions. Different programs have different tests, but in general students can expect periodical examinations throughout the semester in their courses to be followed by a final examination. Many universities require that students then pass an exit examination that serves as an examination to ensure that they’ve studied and grasped the general subjects that were taken during their instruction.

K-16

This term refers to students who have completed Kindergarten through 12th grade and 4 years of undergraduate study at a university or college. This generally earns a student a Bachelor’s Degree in their area of study. This degree often offers students a wider array of job possibilities when they graduate with more employers seeking students with a higher level of education, depending on the industry. Examinations for this degree are similar to those for K-14, with periodical examinations given during the semester and final examinations given at the end of each course.

GED

The GED, or General Educational Development, test is given to students seeking an alternative means of earning a diploma which is considered to be equivalent to that given to high school graduates. Students who complete the GED have not completed the traditional 12 years of school and therefore obtain this diploma as a means of applying to universities or technical colleges, or for the purposes of obtaining employment. These days most every employer requires at a minimum a high school equivalency diploma for entry level positions. This test covers Math, Social Studies, Science, Reading and Writing.

ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude (ASVAB) test is administered to certain high school students and other persons interested in joining the military. The ASVAB consists of the following sections: the General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto Information, Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, and Assembling Objects. The scores from the test are used to determine the best vocational placement for the student within the armed services.

ACT

The ACT is a standardized test that can be taken by students for use in obtaining admission to a university or technical college. The test consists of 4 sections: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning. Often universities and colleges require either an SAT or ACT score prior to granting an applicant admission to the institution.

These terms and tests are commonly associated with attending post-secondary education in the United States and in various other countries world wide. Depending on your goals as a student chances are that you’ll be encountering them as you navigate today’s educational systems. Practice examinations and other information about each test or term is available online for preparation purposes.

1. A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated (Horace Mann).

2. An educated man is thoroughly inoculated against humbug, thinks for himself and tries to give his thoughts, in speech or on paper, some style (Alan K Simpson).

3. An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don’t (Anatole France)

4. Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow (Anthony D’Angelo).

5.  Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army (Edward Everett).

6. Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know (Daniel Boorstin).

7.  Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself (John Dewey).

8.  Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire (William Yeats).

9. Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another (Gilbert Chesterton).

10. Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence (Robert Frost).

By the time many of us reach our thirties and forties we have long assumed that our test-taking days are over. The idea of re-entering the classroom after what may be decades of school-free existence can therefore be rather disconcerting.The idea of taking exams for GED, ACT, ASVAB etc seems often a distant dream.  But with today’s job market leaving many long-term employees suddenly out of a job thousands are flocking back to schools across the country. So how do you re-train yourself for studying after years out of practice?

But, through self-study, and with online tutoring, and in-home tutoring, it’s important to realize that you’re never too old to study…

Unconventional Students and Unconventional Obstacles

One of the most difficult challenges facing older students is the change in their obstacles since they were last in school. When you’re going to college in your early twenties much of your existence is dedicated to that cause. You may hold down a part time job, but the vast majority of your time is spent in class or studying (with the exception of various other free-time activities that you always seem to make time for). When you’re in your thirties and forties, however, the obstacles standing in your way of studying are generally much more pressing than a part time waitressing position, like kids, home maintenance or a full-time job. For this reason unconventional students have to find new study methods and ways to cope with these challenges that differed from what they may have used the first time around.

Making Time

The biggest problem facing most older students is simply making time. You must make time to go to class and make time to study for tests, which can be a huge challenge with a family or full-time job to consider. The bottom line is that if you want to accomplish it badly enough there’s a way. It’s important to make time at least on an every-other-day basis to study material, allowing for more frequent studying around test and exam times. Try to dedicate one room or a secluded area of your home as a study area and designate certain times of day strictly for studying. Discuss the importance of quiet while you’re studying with your family and ask for their cooperation in helping you set aside that time for studying. Another new element that many older students find bothersome during study time is the new temptation to surf the web instead of studying. For many older students this specific distraction wasn’t around the first time.

Unless your work requires you to be connected to the internet try to leave your browser down all together. If you do have to be online try to keep your mind on track. Try sticking a post-it note to the side of your computer with your task written on it, and don’t leave open tabs with distracting or tempting sites. This will make it less tempting to check your email as opposed to studying. Just as you have to push these types of distractions out you must also remove psychological distractions such as worrying over bills. Remember that your study time is for studying and studying only. If you find yourself having difficulty concentrating stop what you’re doing, close your eyes and take several deep breathes while concentrating only on breathing. This will help reduce your anxiety momentarily and allow you to regroup.

For students of all ages the same traditional study tips still apply. Being rested, eating as balanced a diet as possible and removing distractions are all good tips to follow for students at any stage in their academic lives. For those unconventional students with families, finances and other distractions to consider making time is one of the most important considerations for fruitful study time.

Our last post discussed Richard Feynman’s study method (the Feynman Technique), which involves writing out a lecture to yourself, explaining in simple terms the topic you’re working on. As you’re working through this, you’ll reach points where you stop and become slightly confused, or unsure about something. At these points, you know you need to brush up your knowledge in these areas. By the time you’ve finished writing your lecture, you’ll have a far fuller understanding of the topic than hours and hours of rote memorization could produce. To read what we wrote about this, see here.

As a way to build upon Richard Feynman’s teaching and learning philosophy (especially from 40+), we came across the following video, which we’re sure you’ll benefit hugely from watching.

Test taking is a nerve-wracking experience for most people, no matter what you’re studying- GED, K-12. ASVAB. It’s the ultimate test prep.

While some can simply breeze through a written exam with no problems or intense heart palpitations the majority of the rest of us are completely bewildered come test time. The pressure to pass, the last-minute second guessing of answers and the sudden flooding of the mind with failure scenarios is enough to make anyone want to jump up and run out of the room. For those who have this completely normal fear of test-taking practice exams and test preparation tools are imperative. Practice tests in particular are an important staple in the preparation process for tests such as the GED.

Preparing For Testing-Taking

For those with an immense fear of testing the act itself can be enough to induce failure. Many find that they are unable to think straight, consumed with nerves over the implications of failing the test. This leads to rushed and scattered thinking, which can lead to rushed answering and misunderstanding questions themselves. All in all, this type of anxiety can lead to failure not because the student wasn’t prepared for the test, but because the act of testing itself caused them such distress that they were unable to recall the information they’d studied. Sitting for practice exams can help with this somewhat by allowing the student to practice test-taking tips such as breathing exercises or visualization techniques without the pressure of the actual examination.

Acclimating To Test

Anyone who has attended school for a long period of time, say K-12, knows that tests are different. Teachers ask questions differently, the types of test questions vary (multiple choice vs. essay), and even the type of material covered can vary (one teacher may harp on dates while another harps on event details). Practice tests such as those offered for the GED exam give the student a chance to see first-hand what the test will be like, including what types of questions they ask, what material they may expect to see covered, etc. This gives the student a leg-up in studying, offering them not only the opportunity to test their skills thus far in the studying process but also to get a handle on what and how they should be studying. After all, one preps differently for a multiple choice test than an essay exam.

Practice tests offer students a valuable opportunity to evaluate their study methods, acclimate themselves with the test itself and prepare themselves mentally for the act of test-taking. This experience is paramount for many pupils in their ability to adequately prepare for tests such as the GED, ACT, and SAT.

As parents we tend to get very touchy about the subject of how our children are disciplined, fed, taught or treated. To keep it simple you might just say that most parents are touchy about their children in general. So when it came to light recently that a school replaced a child’s home-packed lunch with chicken nuggets it should come as no surprise that the wagons were circled (don’t worry, our in-home tutors or online tutors would never do such a thing!)

Earlier this year a preschool student in North Carolina brought from home a lunch consisting of a turkey sandwich, a banana, chips and apple juice. A state inspector determined that her lunch did not meet nutritional guidelines and replaced it- with chicken nuggets.

In my opinion there are a number of factors awry here. First of all, the concept of declaring a turkey sandwich, banana, chips and juice to be less nutritious than what were surely fried chicken nuggets is beyond my cognitive grasp. Perhaps the least nutritious part of the original lunch were the chips, so if that is what flagged the inspector then why not simply remove the chips from the lunchbox and send the child on their way with the remainder? I could understand if their lunchbox contained nothing but M&M’s, chocolate milk and Cheetos, at that point it could be argued that chicken nuggets carry more nutritious value.

Then we must weigh the question of whether or not schools or the government should be dictating what we feed our children. Isn’t that perhaps getting just a little too intrusive into the parenting choices of Americans? My original inclination before hearing a story such as this one would be sure they should begin inspecting lunches; I would imagine that there are plenty of kids that go to school with ridiculously unhealthy lunches not unlike the horror that I described above. But then I hear something like this scenario and I’m reminded of how our government, however well-meaning they may be, has a tendency to take things too far. If I’d sent my child to school with the lunch in question and found out that they were instead fed chicken nuggets I would be furious for obvious reasons. For one thing I can only assume that they threw away the contents of the original lunch, a complete and ridiculous waste of money that I worked hard to pay for, not to mention woke up early, put together with a preschooler getting ready (any mother with a young child knows the terrors of the morning routine), and got them to agree to eat. Secondly I return to my earlier point that I have a hard time grasping how chicken nuggets are more nutritious than a turkey sandwich, banana and juice. Then I take into consideration the recent news about the “pink slime” beef being considered for school lunches and I find myself completely turned off as a mother from allowing my children to consume school-provided lunch.

If it could be trusted that situations such as this one, which is completely ridiculous in my opinion, would not happen and that our government would never feed our children the pink slime we’ve seen in the news, I would be all for the inspection and replacement method in school lunches. Until that day comes, however, I pity the fool who takes my kid’s sandwich.

It’s a tale as old as time for teachers: the struggle to keep students’ attention. Whether teaching in a one-room schoolhouse or a massive public school in modern day America the myriad number of reasons why students don’t/can’t pay attention has been an ever-growing problem. So how do you spark the interest of an otherwise disinterested pupil? Here are some things that I learned from being a student and looking back on my extensive learning experience. Lessons I learned that will come in handy for online and offline tutors and students alike. no matter what you’re studying, whether that’s GED, K-12 or ASVAB.

Everyone Loves a Good Game

I hated math in school (and still do to this day). Keeping my attention in a math class from kindergarten to college required no small Act of God. But when I was in second grade I remember that we played a game using the multiplication tables. The teacher would begin in the front of the class, the row closest to the door, and the first two students would stand up. She would hold up a card with an unsolved multiplication table on it and the first to solve the problem got to advance. The student who failed to respond quickest took their seat. As much as I loathed math, I loved this game. It kept me engaged throughout, and I learned far more from that game than any other tool used by my teachers to beat math into my stubborn artistic brain. The game was constant during the class period; it was interesting and competitive, which held the attention of each and every student. Breaking from lecturing or note-taking with activities such as this one can help you keep even the most Attention Deficit student in the learning loop.

Get Physical

Activities that get kids moving are sometimes a great way to keep them engaged. It’s hard to zone out when you’re clapping your hands, repeating a rhyme and trying to keep time with your fellow pupils. Introducing this type of interaction also makes it easier for students to remember facts and lesson material. Not to mention that getting all that blood flowing is a whole lot more engaging the listening to a lecture.

Keep it Challenging

Think about the last meeting you were in where someone stood at the front of the room and lectured about a topic that you were already well versed in. Adults get bored and disengaged when we do not have to try very hard, and students are much the same way. Being able to breeze through simple subject matter leaves them with a feeling that they don’t need to pay attention or focus on the task at hand, because they know (or at least think) that they can handle an upcoming test with ease. Making your class activities too easy isn’t doing anyone any favors. Even if it’s a game, keep it challenging. Vary rhymes or physical activities such as clapping or snapping every few minutes to keep them guessing and focused, use unusual factoids in your lesson and expect them to remember them. Perhaps most importantly, vary your test types. I can remember from school that after a while it became easy to detect a pattern in the way a certain teacher tested, what type of questions they would ask, etc. It meant that I was able to pick and choose through the material what I would need to retain and leave the rest, which meant that I only learned a finite amount of the lesson (in hindsight, something that did me no favors). One of the greatest teachers that I ever had was my U.S. History After 1877 teacher in college. All he did was lecture, that was it, which would normally have put me straight to sleep. But he introduced all types of little strange facts about history as he went and touched on pieces of history that other teachers would have never paid credence to, and they were on the test. In point of fact, you never, ever knew what to expect from his tests. It was impossible to ignore any part of his lecture because you were so feverishly concerned that the one thing you missed would be on the test, and usually it was. While it was the hardest class I ever took, it was also the one that I retained the most information from.

Keeping your students engaged may seem like an impossible act, but with some creative lesson planning and activities you might find yourself surprised. Some of your most difficult pupils may just be awaiting the right stimuli.

In today’s working world having a basic education is a must. In recent years it has become difficult to land even the least skilled employment without some degree of education. For most workplaces at least a GED is required.

In particularly for those who have been out of school for quite some time the art of test taking and studying can be a daunting task to master. For most, simply sitting down and reviewing material is not sufficient preparation for taking a major test such as the GED. For students who haven’t had to burn the midnight oil in a while try the following top 5 GED study tips:

1. Identify the Material- The GED consists of 5 sections: mathematics, science, social studies, reading and writing. It is essential that you review and prepare for all 5 sections before attempting the test.

2. Identify Your Weaknesses- While it is important to go over each section diligently you should also pay special attention to your weakest subject(s). If you find that you’re lagging in mathematics allot some extra study time for that subject. Get your hands on as many different types of preparatory materials as are available and become familiar with them.

3. Obtain Study Materials- There are a number of different study materials available for the GED exam. From print media to video tutorials students today have access to whichever methods they find make them the most successful. If you find you respond better to reading print materials and taking practice quizzes, do that. If you can more easily and fully absorb material that you watch on a video, obtain as many videos as possible. When studying for any test having the right materials is essential. There are several websites that also offer free practice tests.

4. Take a Preparatory Course- Most every city in the United States has an institution that offers a GED prep course. If you don’t have an institution in your town there are a number of different online courses available, some of which are free. For many students the hands-on in-class approach is superior to going it alone. Group studying in such an atmosphere might also prove helpful.

5. Prepare Your Body- Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before the test. An all night cram session might seem tempting, but you’ll be doing yourself a much larger favor by getting a good night’s sleep. If you feel the need to cram before the test try going to bed early and getting up early for some last minute studying. The morning of the test it’s also essential that you eat a good breakfast. Our bodies and minds function at their highest when they are rested and well fueled.

6. If needed, get extra help- there are companies like us here at Stepping Stone Tutors who offer online and offline tutoring for exams such as GED, K-12, SAT, ASVAB etc. We’ve masses of experience in helping people young and old to pass exams they never thought they could actually pass, and work with you one-to-one to make sure you make progress as effectively as possible.

So, with the correct preparation you could be just one step away from your GED and financial success. A good education is the cornerstone of a successful career and a happy worker.

One thing that’s been intriguing me lately is the use of blogging in education. Not just in traditional ‘classroom’ situations, but also for online and offline tutors.- the use of blogs to spark discussion, reinforce lessons and extend on topics that there wasn’t time to extend on in situ.

The past decade has brought so much of our world and our daily lives online. The world wide web and good ole’ fashioned reality collide in these days of social media and Google searches. One of the newest forms of online communication and expression is blogging. This platform can be used in several different ways, with some opting to utilize it as a publicized online journal and others using it to voice their opinions. Blogs can be informative, enticing, entertaining and occasionally… well, boring.

With much of the rest of our existence taking place online it was always a matter of time before we began to ponder online education platforms. These days students respond more to their Facebook status updates than to their teacher’s droning lecture (not that students were ever more apt to pay attention to a teacher than the not-so-private lives of their friends). As students become more stimulated by online media and platforms, some educators are reaching outside their classroom boxes and stretching their muscles online. But can blogging be an educational tool?

Blogging and other online educational tools could have what I call the “cool effect”. Students tend to respond better to technology that they know and use when outside of the classroom. It’s similar to the effect of rolling a television into a classroom: it may just be an educational film, but students are more likely to be engaged by it than a traditional lecture. Watching TV and blogging are “cool” for use in their free time, so utilizing it when they’re at school feels less like conforming to antiquated learning methods and more like learning on their own terms. Much like other forms of online education blogging makes it possible for students to interact with other peers across the globe, a feature that could be immensely useful for cultural or foreign language studies. Most blogs can also be pretty well controlled by an administrator (or teacher), even to the standard that comments cannot be published on the blog until approved by them. Blogging could also be highly effective in spurring discussion about topics that may even continue after school hours.

So outside of the possibility for foul play on the blog (which can be very well managed with platforms such as WordPress), it seems that educational blogging could provide a stimulating and modern way for students to gain, share and expand on their knowledge. If utilized correctly I believe that blogging could open up a whole new world of resources for educators and young minds alike.

For anyone undergoing any form of study- whether you’re studying for your GED, SATs, K-16- whatever qualification you’re working toward- there are plenty of fantastic commencement speeches that ring true for you as well as for the undergrads they were originally aimed at.

These are our top 5 commencement speeches to build up that motivation and inspiration you need to push your studies to the next level.

1. Steve Jobs, 2005, Stanford University

“Remembering you’re going to die, is the best way I know, to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” – Steve Jobs

2. Ellen Degeneres, 2009, Tulane University

 “Really when I look back at it I wouldn’t change a thing. I mean it was so important to me to lose everything because I found out what the most important thing is – To be true to yourself. Ultimately that’s what’s gotten me to this place. I don’t live in fear, I’m free, I have no secrets, I know I’ll always be okay because no matter what, I know who I am.” - Ellen

3. Bill Gates, 2003, Harvard

“Even with the advent of the Internet and 24-hour news, it is still a complex enterprise to get people to truly see the problems. When an airplane crashes, officials immediately call a press conference. They promise to investigate, determine the cause, and prevent similar crashes in the future.

But if the officials were brutally honest, they would say: “Of all the people in the world who died today from preventable causes, one half of one percent of them were on this plane. We’re determined to do everything possible to solve the problem that took the lives of the one half of one percent.”

The bigger problem is not the plane crash, but the millions of preventable deaths.”

So, no matter what you’re studying for- whether that’s in school, or through an in-home or online tutor- these messages, stories, and lessons ring true for all of us, whether we’re undergrads, grads, or not.

theConnecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) decided propose some pretty impressive ideas for the future of education. Imagine how this could effect future K-12, K-14, and SAT tests. This would be truly revolutionary in the way we approach education in the US…not just in formal education, but even in home tutoring, and especially online education.

Read the full report here

Just today I came across Jonathan Martin’s posts detailing the “Open Internet” tests that he’s piloting with some teachers at St. Gregory School, Arizona, and I’m just loving the thinking. One paragraph truly stood out at me:

‘We know that content memorization must no longer be the goal of our learning programs; what our goal must be is that students can make the most sense of the voluminous and fast-accelerating quantity of information which will forever be at their fingertips, and about which they must be able to think critically, to select, to evaluate, to apply, and to amend as they tackle challenging problems. So why shouldn’t our school-tests evaluate our students ability to do exactly this? Why not structure tests appropriately, and then invite and welcome (and require) our students to use their computers on their tests? Isn’t this real world, and real life, preparation?’

The thinking behind this idea is, I feel, spot on. Although we’re still deep within the rote memorization aspect of education, in the future- that fast accelerating future that’s heading toward us at an alarming rate- what does that hold?

For sure, it must necessarily hold education, examination, coursework, homework and teaching which takes full advantage of the powerful tools at our fingertips. At Stepping Stone Tutors, we’re already doing this, providing online education for ASVAB, K-12, K-14, SAT etc tests. But we’re massively excited to see where these more modern forms of education might go.

We imagine a world where test are not based on mere memorization and writing ability, but that use the Internet, smart phones, laptops and the like to place students in like-working-environments, where they can use the knowledge they have gained in simulated real-life scenarios. Surely this would be a more telling, less ‘monotonous’ way of testing?

We also see places where where lessons are held online, with feedback being streamed through Google Hangouts, or Twitter Streams. We see children using interactive materials (ebooks, interactive PDFs), which use entertainment and interactivity to the best advantage whereby knowledge retention is hugely increased, compared to simple ‘paper-based’ learning.

The possibilities are simply Amazing, and we’re delighted to be a part- if only small- of this shift.

Over the past ten years the Internet has undergone some major changes. With the advent of YouTube, Myspace, Twitter and, of course, Facebook large chunks of people’s personal lives are now lived online.

When you think about all of the advancements that the internet has made in the last decade, is social media the first thought to leap to your mind? Does that seem sad to anyone else? Thanks to search engines and the sprawling knowledge available through the internet the phrase “I wonder” should be a thing of the past, an outdated and archaic thought used by those who used to have to get their information from books or teachers instead of their Smartphone.

When you see teenagers huddled around a computer at the library it’s less likely that they’re contemplating questions for SAT test prep than watching a video where a kitten dominates a pit bull. With the better uses of the internet being overshadowed by the more social and shallow pursuits perhaps it’s time to point out that Facebook is NOT the internet.

Facebook Statistics

To make my point, I feel that it’s important to share some of the 2011 Facebook statistics as they were compiled by www.onlineschools.org. Some of the key points are as follows:

• As of 2011 there were 500,000,000 active Facebook users worldwide. Which means roughly 1 in 13 people across the globe use Facebook.
• Liking “drugs” was up 1131.9% in 2011.
• Facebook was the most searched term in 2010 for the second year running.
• 57% of people talk to people more online than they do in real life.
• 48% of young Americans said they find out about news through Facebook.
• Of the 18-34 group of Facebook users, 48% check Facebook first thing in the morning, and 28% check it on their Smartphone before they even get out of bed.
• There are 206.2 million internet users in the United States. 71.2% of them are on Facebook.

What Does It All Mean?

What do these statistics say about internet use today (besides that most of us are compulsively drawn to Facebook not unlike a drug addiction)? While they may not spell it out directly I think that these statistics make a pretty good case that most young people today spend a great majority of their time online on Facebook.

I myself have found myself falling victim to the pull of the mighty Facebook while attempting to study. While taking my real estate licensing course I had a terrible addiction to Farmville, one of Facebook’s most popular games. I would come home from work, prepared to devote only a small chunk of winding-down time to Farmville.

An hour later I would realize that I’d clipped off some imperative study time tending imaginary crops and livestock. So I had to do the unthinkable: quit cold-turkey (no pun intended).

I was able to do so in order to finish my license work, but I found myself stricken by the impact of such a pointless endeavor. Is it really necessary for me to see what pointless and mindless chatter my friends (450+, perhaps 15 of which I really know at this point) are posting before I begin my daily work?

And when did imaginary crops become more important than pursuing my coveted real estate license? I had to proverbially smack myself out of it.

What Does This Mean For Students?

For me, Facebook was becoming a serious hindrance on my ability to concentrate on school work. After all, with one simple click of the mouse you could be learning about what Mindy bought at the grocery store today!

Might not seem too exciting to the common lay-person, but when compared with studying biochemistry Mindy’s yogurt choices start looking pretty cool! For parents of high school age and younger children I think that it’s important to set Facebook boundaries now.

There are plenty of online parental control programs available that will allow you to restrict your child’s online choices, even if only for certain time frames. Helping them to set and understand the importance of parameters with respect to their study time now might help them develop healthier online decision making in the long run.

Otherwise you might find that by the time you’ve spent a small fortune on K-12 tuition for the best education around the only thing you’re left with is a child with a Master’s degree in Likes. Take time to make sure that they understand the vast resources of the internet for help with their school work. If ever there has been a place to find actual interesting teaching tools the modern internet is it!

Don’t get me wrong: Facebook has many great features. It’s a great way to connect with long lost school friends, it really is a pretty good way to keep up with current events (believe it or not!), its strength as a marketing tool is ever-expanding, and it can be a great way to vent the small but humorous happenings of your life to others. Much like you shouldn’t let alcoholism or other addictions take over your life, however, it’s important that you pay the same close attention to your Facebook time.

Because contrary to the belief of teenagers everywhere, Facebook is NOT the internet.
 

For centuries the game has remained the same: Teachers have struggled to find new and interesting ways to engage their otherwise bored-of-stimuli students. In today’s classrooms, however, there are a number of new and interesting tools available to teachers that can hold the attention of even the most cool-for-school. So in keeping with further introducing the power of the internet to the classroom is it now time that we try using social media platforms as a teaching aid?

The Pros

Nothing holds a young adults attention quite like Facebook. Ask any teenager and you’ll probably find that they spend some 20-50% of their free time on Facebook, Twitter or some other manner of social media. So how about it we try this out for size: that it stands to reason that if you could find a way to implement your instruction to a social media platform you might find their attention is more easily swayed than by the trees blowing in the wind outside the classroom window. Secondly, one of Facebook’s greatest features is that it allows users from across the globe to connect with each other. Particularly in foreign language or cultural studies this could prove a very engaging and useful tool. It could be useful to pair students in class with other’s across the country for SAT test prep sessions. Lastly, statistics have shown that young adults are learning something on Facebook: 2011 Facebook statistics released by www.onlineschools.org shows that 48% of young adults say they find out about news through Facebook. So people who would otherwise be uninterested in current events are absorbing it using social media platforms.

The Cons

In particularly when using social media I think it would be difficult to keep students on track without constant observation and monitoring. For instance, if you were to give them each their own computer and allow them time to chat with a peer from another country you’d probably want to monitor each chat to make sure they’re not deviating from the subject matter, if you will. After all, as a teacher it’s unlikely that you would want to be the cupid in charge of spurring a romantic online relationship between your student in Ohio and a nice boy in India. How would you keep them from discreetly ditching their task for a chat with a friend? Perhaps the best way to utilize social media for educational purposes would be by holding the controls yourself, teaching from a large monitor or projection screen. Another important thing to watch out for, especially in using Facebook, is the occasional hacking spree with leaves your account spewing out pornographic invitations to everyone on your friends list. More than one parent might object to their K-12 tuition dollars being used to subject their child to any form of pornographic material while at school, no matter how brief or accidental that encounter. The mere unpredictability of social media in this manner and others might be a serious hindrance to any good that might come for using it as an educational tool.

Social media has a definite place online. It’s a great marketing tool, a way for friends and family spread across the globe to stay in touch and it can offer some educational components in it’s own right. For cultural studies it could be a groundbreaking tool. But using it as an educational supplement will require some definite attention to monitoring and controls that I haven’t seen available as of yet. Until you can ensure that your students stay on task and that online predators and hackers won’t present objectionable material to young minds under your supervision it might be best to leave social media to the after school hours.

Writing doesn’t always come naturally, and even the best writers can learn to hone their skills. For any level of writing help from kindergarten through adult, there are tutors available to help the student master the art of writing. Tutors can also assist students who are learning English as a second language. The writing tutor can help with homework assignments, writing papers, preparing for exams and general knowledge. They are also helpful for students with learning disabilities.

A Qualified Writing Tutor to Help You

The tutors with Stepping Stone Tutors can meet with the student at a convenient time and place, such as the student’s home, office or the local public library. These students have college degrees and have attained at least three years teaching experience. All the tutors have also passed background checks, so you can meet with them in absolute comfort. To get the writing tutor who can help you, visit the Stepping Stone Tutors website to get started.

Many smart people need reading help. Some of them struggle with dyslexia or another learning disability and others have just never been taught how to read. There are, however, tutors that specialize in helping both children and adults learn to read or learn to read better. These tutors have experience teaching and are familiar with learning disabilities that often hinder a person’s ability to read well. This help is available through the service at Stepping Stone Tutors.

Reading Help from Qualified and Experienced Tutors

Reading help is not a mystery. These tutors have already helped many struggling students read better to do better in school or at work and to pass tests and exams that require reading. If English is your second language, these tutors can help you, too. Visit the Stepping Stone Tutors website to be matched with your tutor. These tutors have been thoroughly background checked, have attained a college or university degree and have at least three years teaching experience.

If you need help with any level of algebra, geometry, trigonometry or calculus, there are math tutors in Las Vegas to help you. For high school or college level, these tutors can help you if you are struggling with math, or can help an average student become above average to qualify for the best colleges and universities. These tutors have experience in education, and many are familiar with learning disabilities that prevent students from excelling in school.

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The math tutor in Las Vegas that meets with you has already passed a background check, and their credentials have been verified by the tutoring organization. The tutor can meet with you in your home, at your parents’ office or at the local library. They will meet with you anywhere that is safe, convenient and conducive to a good learning environment. Visit the Stepping Stone Tutors website to get started!

There are many reasons why students are not able to stay in school to complete their diploma. But eventually, many students decide that it is worth going back and getting it later in life. If you have found yourself in this position, be proud and be glad, because the help that you need to succeed is available. A GED tutor can meet with you at the time and place that is convenient for you to study and learn.

Get Matched With the Perfect GED Tutor in Your Area

The GED tutor you find through Stepping Stone Tutors has passed a background check and has at least three years of experience helping people pass their GED exam. They are able to help you through each and every section of the exam and give you the confidence you need to pass the test. Many students are able to pass on their very first try. With the help at Stepping Stone Tutors, one of these students can be you. Visit the Stepping Stone Tutors website to get your perfect tutoring match today.

Many students need algebra help. It is a complicated subject, but with the proper instructor, you can understand it. Sometimes students just need the information presented in a different way in order for it to make sense. The tutors at Stepping Stone Tutors have experience in helping students conquer algebra, and they can also help even if the student struggles with a learning disability that makes it difficult for them to learn algebra and other subjects.

Algebra Help from Qualified, Experienced Tutors

To get the algebra help you need, contact Stepping Stone Tutors. They will match the student with a qualified tutor that has proven experience and has passed a background check. The tutor can meet you in your home after school, at your parents’ office in the evenings or in a local libaray. Wherever is convenient for you and an appropriate place to learn. Visit the Stepping Stone Tutors website to get started on your way to algebra success.