Mathematics is a slightly tricky subject and kids often require some sort of guidance to be able to perform in this subject. However, in the current scenario, schools and tuition classes have been shut down and students are not being able to get the desired guidance. If your child is in middle school or primary school, these foundation years are very critical and help students in developing an interest in the subject. If the foundation is not laid properly, students develop a fear of Maths and run away from it despite it being an incredibly high scoring subject.
While it is true that students need a push and appropriate guidance to excel in Maths, it does not necessarily mean that their learning needs to stop during the lockdown. Quikik, by Pearson, the World’s Learning Company, is an innovative AI-based app, that can help students of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade learn Maths at home while also having fun. With the help of this free app, children can learn multiple mathematical concepts in an interactive way and brush up their skills in an exciting manner. Now, your kids would not run away from studying at home and would use their time productively. Here are all the features of Quikik that make this app a must-have for your child during this lockdown.
The ongoing global situation has put the world on hold. Although a lot has changed, a major impact is being seen in the education sector, with schools, universities and institutions being locked down, affecting more than 300 million students worldwide. It’s more than evident that learners across the world need to be connected with their mentors for an uninterrupted learning process, so that they don’t lose out on precious time.
Pearson, being the world’s leading learning company, understands that teachers and students share a timeless bond. And to keep that alive, we are offering a mix of our digital solutions that can enhance the process and capacity of learning and provide the needed support and skill enhancement in these times:
Learner Support
Active App- A unique interactive digital learning mobile app
With a special access code provided by Pearson, continue learning with textbook-based digital content that covers all classroom topics with related experiments, assignments and activities blended with the chapters.
Steps to Download:
Download Active App from your Android Playstore/ iOs Appstore
Register and create account/ sign in as existing user
Click on the “+” icon and enter access code as shared by school or given on the inner back cover of the textbook.
Quikik- An AI-based Math learning app for Grades 6-8
Reconnects students with Math learning through bite-sized videos, engaging content on multiple topics and a game-like interface with fun duels with friends digitally. It encourages better learning in a speedy, engaging and stress-free manner. To know more, you can download the app here.
MyInsights- Digital test series for IIT-JEE
Offers seamless preparation modules through tests and assessment methods, to help improve weak concepts and be confident for the real exam.
What you’ll get:
Mock tests marked as per latest scheme
10-years papers
Instant reports
Institute dashboard for individual student assessment
To know more about the Myinsights online test series program, visit - IIT JEE Main Test Series | JEE Main Exam Coaching Online| MyInsights
Skill Enhancement
MePro- A feedback based digital English language improvement tool
With free access for levels 1, 2 & 3, increase your chances of better employability with upgraded communication skills and proficiency level.
Be exposed to:
Adaptive learning
Measurable outcomes
Illustrated themes
Digital badges to suit job profiles
Online Teacher Training: Since teachers play a critical role in teaching and keeping students engaged and motivated while studying at home, we are also doing online teacher training and have reached out to over 500 teachers in the last week, helping them to learn to teach digitally. Through organizing online webinars with schools on different themes and topics, we have been able to extend our outreach extensively in remote places which has led to greater connectivity and confidence amongst teachers.
In India, thousands of students travel far and wide to pursue their education dreams and to fulfil their career goals. Our partners and customers play a crucial part in helping them realise their goals and hence, we are taking comprehensive action to enable our customers and learners to continue to work and study online.
With a global situation restricting our spaces, and education institutes shutting down, exams getting postponed and work shifting to homes; we can’t but worry about the impact it would have on our dreams and ambitions.
But what if we say that this doesn’t have to change anything?
What if you can make the most of your time by engaging in the best of digital learning?
Quikik- An AI based Math learning app for Grade 6-8
See your child rekindle a never-found-before love for Math with Pearson Quikik; a math learning tool that is as fun as your child’s play time and what’s even better is that it is available free of cost. With fun and engaging modules blended with their learning pace, Quikik helps children stay updated on formulas, calculations and that repeated “Practice” mantra that you always believe in when it comes to this subject!
The best educational environments are those that are fair to all students, male or female.
Gender messages are all around us. From images in school books to those on bus ads, from conversations on the train or the big screen, from clothing stores in malls or any plush office. Everywhere we turn, we are submerged in messages about what it means to be a “correct” or “normal” woman or man. Gender is everywhere.
The Annual Review of Psychology says that children develop a sense of self around 18 months, and then “begin to actively engage in seeking information about what things men and how they should behave”. Part of this process means adopting gender-normative behaviour and associating gender with basic stereotypes. For example, girls liking dolls or boys having short hair. It’s between three to five years of age, when children attend preschool during which these ideas tend to solidify.
School teachers play a pivotal role in promoting gender disparity in school, as we start building habits and opinions from a younger age. Creating equal educational opportunities for students begins in the classroom and with the teacher. A strong teacher is one who treats their students fairly creating an environment where students feel equally about taking part.
As children enter adolescence, they start taking note of the differences amongst themselves and their peers. During this stage a teacher plays a very important role in constructing social expectations of gender roles. These interactions also create long-lasting effects on their self-image and their perception of the opportunities that are available or appropriate for them.
Suggestions for teachers to promote gender equality within a classroom.
Be Reflective and Be Objective Pay attention to new trends coming up and try to give gender-neutral responses about these trends to your students.
Use gender-neutral language when referring to children E.g. instead of saying, ‘Choose a boy to go with you’ say, ‘Choose a friend to go with you’. Similarly avoid organizing children according to gender, E.g. ‘Boys line up here and girls here.’ This only reinforces gender segregation.
Avoid stereotyping children E.g. boys are noisy and loud, girls are calm and sweet or boys show less emotion and girls cry more readily.
Self-regulate your interaction with the children We tend to comfort girls more and send boys on their way earlier. Encourage all children to share feelings and emotions equally.
Ask all students to participate in a variety of classroom chores
Seat and Group Students Intentionally
Encourage boys and girls to sit together by making a seating chart.
Use Project Based Learning
Avoid asking students to speak on behalf of their gender
Ask students to speak for themselves rather than a larger group. Avoid asking questions with leading intros such as, “How do you think most boys would feel about this story?”
a. You might rephrase the question, “How did you feel about the representation of men in this story?”
b. Let both boys and girls weigh in about how gender is portrayed in a given text or work.
Choose course materials by both men and women
Avoid separating supplies or materials by gender
Mix costumes and art supplies for younger students rather than dividing them into sections for boys and girls. This will enable students to express themselves creatively without anxiety about adhering to traditional gender roles.
Be a role model Children learn by imitation. Behave appropriately with other teachers and students and be coherent with your discourse. Make your own behaviour a role model for others to follow.
Ask children to draw their idea Of a fire-fighter, police officer and nurse. Then invite a female fire-fighter and police officer, and a male nurse into the classroom. Invite them to talk about their jobs and unpack the children’s drawings and expectations about the visitors. Always use non-gender specific terms when referring to occupations.
Woman visibility
Invite women as guest lecturers who can speak about their career and experience to set an example for students.
Videotape your class to examine your own teaching methods
Review to see if you call on students of both genders, listen as intently to girls as you do to boys, and assess what types of questions you ask to students of each gender.
Feedback from Colleagues and Students
Get feedback from colleagues on any differences that they might notice and you don’t. Try getting feedback from students through an anonymous comment box.
Such efforts earnestly made in the classrooms will enable us to turn the age-old promises of GENDER EQUALITY into action along with ensuring that we adhere to the agenda of sustainable development goals by 2030 .
Congratulations! All those long working hours and hard work have finally paid off, and you have climbed the ladder to earn your first managerial role. This is the time for new responsibilities, new powers, and not to mention, new challenges. Although the chances are that you are already equipped with the skills needed to become a good manager, considering you were chosen to take up this responsibility. Here are ten tips that can be useful for you if you’re becoming a manager for the first time.
You’re Just As Good As Your Team
Gone are the days when only your personal performance could determine your success. As a manager, you only succeed if each and every member of your team does well. Your team’s performance curve is a clear indication of your ability as a manager. So, it’s essential to pull your team up and work on enhancing their skills. You must identify their strengths and weaknesses and leverage their strengths while working on their weaknesses.
Communicate With Your Team Effectively
Setting clear goals and realistic expectations is a critical part of leadership. It is crucial to communicate with your team and let them know what they need to deliver. As a manager, it is your responsibility to learn to explain the goal clearly. You need to know that your behavior will have a significant impact on your team’s motivation level. A few polite words of encouragement or a quick compliment can make someone’s day and make them respect you more. Similarly, praising a well-performing employee can show the rest of the team that you notice work hard and performance.
Accept That You Still Have A Lot To Learn
Humility goes a long way when you’re a leader. No one wants to work under someone who thinks too highly of themselves. Especially when you have been promoted from amongst your peers, it is essential to know that there’s still a lot you can learn from them. Just because you have been given a senior position does not mean there’s nothing your team can’t teach you.
Develop 1-on-1 Relationships
If you have been promoted from a particular position, the chances are that you already have a kind of bond with your former peers. It is a good idea to leverage this bond and establish a relationship with them even as their reporting manager. This includes being considerate towards their shortcomings and understanding their reasons.
Share Feedback and Credit
Often employees feel that their managers forget to share the credit. In fact, this is one of the most crucial performance manager success factors. As a manager, it is a good practice to share due credit with your team. This is a good way to motivate your peers and encourage them to perform better. At the same time, it is also important to share relevant feedback with your team to ensure that they are given a chance to identify their problem areas and work towards them.
All in all, being a first-time manager can seem like a daunting task. However, with the help of some guidance and tips, you can make a smooth transition. The entry-level managers program of Pearson allows organizations to inculcate leadership skills in their employees and prepare them for management roles.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 to be a pandemic. With shutdowns everywhere, the deadly virus has almost brought the world to a standstill, apart from taking thousands of lives. Already having affected over 219,345 people across the globe and close to 171 people in India, this virus still doesn’t seem to have peaked and can potentially cause more disruptions than it already has. To make matters worse, the disease is highly contagious, making it incredibly important to come up with quick solutions. This is where Artificial Intelligence and Data Science come into the picture.
Artificial Intelligence and Data Science are behind the scenes driving cutting edge research on COVID-19. Researchers from all over the world rely on Data Science to combat the spread of the virus by deploy vaccines and suggest new strategies to quarantine and prevent this disease. Also, the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization are working with analytics and big data to find a lasting solution for coronavirus through research.
Numerous intelligent systems have been developed with the help of different processes of AI and Data Science that can sift through data and determine the chances of the occurrence of the disease. Let’s talk about a few of these processes with examples.
Predictive Analysis
Predictive analytics refers to the utilization of data, machine learning techniques, and statistical algorithms to predict and analyse the likelihood of outcomes based on past data. These techniques has proven to be incredibly useful in this situation.
In fact, AI predicted the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019 itself using BlueDot software fueled by big data. This prediction was proven to be true when the outbreak became widespread in February 2020. BlueDot utilises machine learning and natural language processing to collect data from a large number of sources, including public health statement, digital media reports, global airline trends, animal health reports and population demographics. It was able to efficiently process huge amounts of information, every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day.
This proven capability can be used to take faster action to prevent outbreaks of other variants of COVID-19 in the future.
Deep Learning
Deep learning is another subset of artificial intelligence (AI) and has networks capable of learning from unsupervised or unstructured data. Deep learning processes, such as convolutional neural network (CNN) with a significant ability of nonlinear modeling, have extensive possibilities to aid the process of combatting the virus in medical image processing.
A revolutionary program being developed by Insilico Medicine will help doctors learn about molecules that are capable of fighting against the coronavirus, with the help of AI. This program will provide a database of molecular information that can be used by medical researchers in their projects and for fighting or preventing deadly outbreaks like the coronavirus. Data science programs are also being used to review data from different sources, like patient records, public health data and social media. With the help of this program, it is possible to understand the location-wise intensity of the outbreak.
Deep learning has also of great help to researchers and is assisting them to develop an understanding of the movement patterns of the virus from the epicenter of the disease - Wuhan, China - to other parts the world. These data science technologies have largely contributed to researches being conducted to predict the structure of the virus and also the ways in which it can spread. These developments are playing a significant role in attempting to control this pandemic.
Through a Natural Language Processing tool (NPL) researchers at Harvard Medical School are being able to search online information regarding the coronavirus and identifying the patterns in different locations of the outbreak. For example, this natural language processing tool is aiding in differentiating between people who are complaining about coronavirus symptoms and could potentially have the disease, and those just discussing the disease. According to the Harvard Medical School, these online media trends can be of great help in the discovery of a potential outbreak and promote increased awareness and solutions.
Graph Database
During the pandemic, big data processes like graph databases are also proving to be incredibly capable to display complex routes of interactions among groups of people and the formation of clusters. Through these processes, it is possible to map the trains, planes, and other automobiles that take them to their destinations. In particular, with the help of graph databases researchers are able to provide valuable information about the spread of the coronavirus. Graph databases are essentially created to efficiently map complex networks.
Thus, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence are extremely useful in addressing the coronavirus outbreak as well as for preventing future pandemics. Data science has enabled us to be better informed about the trends in the spread of this pandemic, even as new cases are being reported daily.
Seeing this, one can easily say that Data Science has made its way into all the key trades of the world. Considering today’s scenario, it won’t be wrong to say that it is a good time for students to venture into this technology and build a career around Data Science. HarvardX’s Data Science Program is an excellent course that prepares students to enter the domain of Data Science and equips them with the knowledge base and skills required to tackle the challenges of data analysis. The program covers concepts on inference, probability, regression, and machine learning. It will help you to develop a relevant skill set, giving you an opportunity to excel in this highly lucrative field.
The CBSE Board Examination and JEE can safely be called two of the most life-changing examinations an engineering aspirant has to take. While the board examination tests a student’s grasp of fundamental concepts, JEE is known to test a whole set of different skillsets. Since both of these examinations are conducted at almost the same time, the catch is to strike a balance between the two. Here we talk about a few tips that will help a student perform well in both these exams.
Prepare A Schedule:-This is one tip that can’t be stressed enough. The good thing about planning and organising is that it puts you in the right frame of mind and helps you in identifying your weaknesses and strengths. Having a schedule allows you to manage your time effectively and lets you set realistic deadlines for yourself. Now, the only thing that’s left for you to do is to stay true to these deadlines.
Prepare For JEE First:-This obviously doesn’t mean that you completely ignore your boards’ syllabus and focus wholly on JEE, but preparing for JEE can cover a majority of topics that will be a part of your boards as well. It has been established that the level of difficulty of JEE is slightly higher than the CBSE board examinations and if you have studied a particular topic for JEE, chances are that you would be able to brush it up better whilst preparing for your boards.
Don’t Ignore Mock Tests And Previous Year Papers:-It has been commonly observed that these papers prove to be incredibly beneficial for students. Not only do these papers help students in understanding the pattern and difficulty level of the examination, but they also let them build the required speed to complete the paper in time. This is why it is always a good idea to revise your concepts with the help of mock tests and previous year papers.
Read The Words, Write The Numbers:-It has been said before that writing helps learn faster. However, it is also true that writing down everything that you need to learn can be a time-consuming task. This is why it is a good idea to practice numerical problems by writing them down and understand textual concepts by reading and understanding. Try to stay away from rote learning as much as possible.
Keep Checking The Prescribed Syllabus:-Revisiting your syllabus does two things. One, it helps you avoid missing out on an important section and two, it keeps you motivated by reminding you how much you’ve accomplished so far. Keeping track of what has been done and what needs to be done is an excellent way to prevent a shortage of time at the last moment.
Stay Confident And Collect Your Thoughts:-The last and final tip would be to stay confident and keep your thoughts collected. Students often panic as the exam date comes closer and they attempt to do everything at once. This can be a problem as it can lead you to lose your confidence. Instead, it is advisable to leave very little for the last moment and stay calm and confident.
While it is true that these examinations play a crucial part in deciding your career path, unnecessary pressure and panic can make the situation more difficult. The advisable thing to do is to do the best in your capacity and attempt the paper with a calm mind.
As only a few days left for the board’s examinations, students are under tremendous pressure to perform their level best in the examinations. Every student is struggling to achieve good scores as it will help them to get admissions in their dream universities and colleges. In this article, we have discussed some tips and tricks so that you can score well in your exams.
The below-mentioned tips will help you to utilize your study time and efforts in the best possible manner and score good marks in the exams:
Stick to your NCERT Books: It has been witnessed that many students run behind tempting and heavyweight reference books to strengthen their preparation. They tend to underestimate their syllabus books like NCERT in the case of CBSE board, but they should never forget that syllabus books are best to practice with. If you want to study from guides or reference books too, first focus on finishing your syllabus. This will help you to score more percentage. Reference books are good to study but only for those who want to be a part of competitive exams after 12th class.
Analyze your Strong & Weak Points: It is quintessential to know your strong and weak points while preparing for the board exams. For this, start debugging the mistakes you made in your previous test papers, prepare a list of those mistakes, and work hard to correct them. Working hard on your weak points will not only put you on the right track but also help you to score a great percentage.
Stress on Time Management: Time management is one of the biggest factors responsible for excellent marks. You can devote more time to the complex and logical subjects like Maths, Physics, Accounts, etc. Instead of joining coaching classes at the last minute, utilize that time in self-study. Allot equal time of study to your main subjects and don’t your underestimate supporting subjects like English & Hindi as they can be a real percentage booster for you.
Practice Sample & Previous Year Papers: Don’t let the power of fancy guides and reference books overpower the value of old assets. Although students leave no stone unturned to score best in the exams, it has been observed that they don’t even consider previous year papers. The last 10 years papers are enough to boost up the preparation. You will understand the level of difficulty, figure out the repeating sequence of questions, examine your true potential.
Every activity plays an important role while you are preparing for board exams. Your one mistake can cause a big difference in your overall board percentage. It has been observed that students are very anxious and nervous while sitting in the examination hall. The performance pressure is so powerful that they forget what they have prepared for the examination.
To avoid this situation, here are some quick strategies that should be implemented to score excellent marks:
Maintain neatness and cleanliness while writing your answers. You should focus on your handwriting in leisure time to make your answer sheet look great and presentable.
Highlight the key points in your answer sheet. You can also underline the important phrases in your answer sheet and make boxes around the answer.
Instead of writing the copied answer, you can also work on writing the innovative answers to grab extra marks in the exams.
Make the right use of the additional 15 min and strategize which questions you are going to answer first.
It is not mandatory to write the answers in the same order of the question paper. You should first answer those questions you know and then attempt the difficult ones.
Avoid writing a whole paragraph while answering the question. Write in bullet points to make the answer more effective, relevant, and easy to ready. You can also use diagrams to make the answer more meaningful.
Don’t try to revise everything one night before the exam. Instead of doing this, take a long sleep to relax your brain and remember things more accurately at the time of the exam. Even if you want to revise, get up early in the morning, open your notes, and do a quick revision of all the topics briefly.
Have you recently been accepted into an Australian university? Starting a new degree can be stressful but it can come with some unique challenges for international students. Below, we explore some things about Australian universities that you may not know to hopefully make your first day that little bit less stressful.
Participate in orientation
To celebrate the start of a new semester and to make students feel welcome, universities throw an ‘o-week’ to celebrate the new university term. This social first week of university is an opportunity to participate in fun events such as barbeques, campus tours and introductory lectures, as well as a social opportunity to learn more about student clubs and societies. University campuses can be huge so it’s always helpful to participate in o-week so you can get to know your surroundings and make some new friends.
Try not to skip classes, remember why you’re there
Whilst its really tempting to skip classes in the first few weeks of your degree, it’s really important to remember why you’re at university and to attend all classes. Attending classes in your first few weeks gives you a chance to get to know your lecturers and tutors and it also gives you a chance to make new friends in classes where you may need to partner up for group for assignments.
Try to get into good study habits early in the semester
Developing a study plan will help you beat stress later in the semester once exam time comes around all too soon. It’s common for students to take 4 or 5 subjects each semester and when you consider that virtually all subjects will require you to complete assignments, conflicting deadlines can result in some serious stress if you’re not prepared. Developing a balanced study routine from semester one will help you become an expert early and make a world of difference as your progress through future semesters at university.
Use university support services
As you’ll find out during your o-week orientation, student support services are there to make your life at university more comfortable. Many Australian universities offer support to international students specifically, such as English language assistance. If you’re struggling with any aspect of your university experience, student support services are there to help you.
Is there an opportunity to head on exchange? Get after it
Whether you’re an international student or not, exchange programs can open up a heap of new opportunities both personally and professionally. Does your university has a sister school in another country where you can study for a semester? Learning in new environments can unlock a world of opportunities and you might be surprised by just how many lifelong friends you make along the way.
Embrace university social life
Whilst not everyone is confident when it comes to meeting new people and making new friends, it’s always a good idea to introduce yourself to people in lectures and tutorials so you can start building a community around you at university. Having friends on campus, especially if you’re new to Australia, can make your university experience much more fulfilling. If you’re struggling to make friends, considering visiting student services to learn what clubs you might be able to join to begin the process of embracing social life and all it has to offer at university.
Are you about to start a new degree at an australia university? How exciting! Remember, the above are just a number of tips that might make university more fun for you. In order to ensure you get the most out of your experience, make friends and immerse yourself in all that university in Australia has to offer.
Whilst it’s true that Australian’s enjoy a laid-back lifestyle and some of the world’s most stunning scenery, the process of moving to Australia requires some careful planning to ensure a smooth transition.
As always, planning is critical and it’s very important to have a number of the below items accounted for before you book a flight to begin your journey in Australia.
You Need a Visa
As we identified in the moving checklist to Australia article, depending on the career type and industry that you’re applying for, different visas are required. Remember, in order to legally gain employment in Australia, a visa is required for all migrants.
The correct visa for you depends on your unique circumstances. As we’ve touched on previously, a migrant can come to Australia on a skilled independent visa which does not require employer sponsorship if they meet the relevant skilled occupation list. To find the exact visa that you need to work in Australia, visit the visa finder at Home Affairs.
Paying Tax in Australia
The Australian government provides tax advice for international individuals to ensure they have the information to legally pay and declare income tax as soon as they secure employment.
When you get your first job in Australia, your employer will ask for your Tax File Number (TFN). Your TFN is a unique number that identifies you as a tax paying individual. To apply for a TFN, visit the Australian Tax Office website here.
Opening a Bank Account
If you’re looking to work in Australia, you’ll want to sign up for an Australian bank account so you’re not paying foreign exchange fees to an international bank. You can sign up for an account with the bank of your choice directly.
Pay & Wages
The Fair Work government agency provides information on the minimum wage for all employment categories in Australia. If you’d like to understand what you can expect to get paid in your chosen career, visit Fair Work’s full list of award wages here.
Holiday Leave & Superannuation
Thanks to strict National Employment Standards, full-time workers in Australia are entitled to four weeks of paid annual leave per year. If you’re employed casually, time off work isn’t paid, however, leave entitlements very much depend on your employer and unique circumstances.
