Improve Your Learning Skills With These Gadgets

Nowadays, integration of technology and learning comes very easy to us. However, there are still some people who remain clueless about it and the great benefits it can provide. Do you want to use technology to improve your learning skills and productivity but you don't know how or where to start? Read below the top gadgets with which you can get started.

Speech-Recognition Software

Today there are a variety of speech-recognition programs. One software program that is getting a lot of hype is Dragon Naturally Speaking. This program is being used in many different fields and lucky enough for us, it is making its way into education hop on board! Dragon is a speech-recognition software program that allows you to speak words that are translated into text at a much faster rate than most people can type. One might say that using Dragon is like having a personal scribe! This technology has many implications in the classroom. This type of program can be used during writing activities to assist: hesitant writers who struggle with the mechanics of writing, English Language Learners, students with learning disabilities and students with motor limitations. Click here to learn more about ways to use speech-recognition software to improve writing.

Clickers

Here is a neat tool that can help teachers keep track of the learning in their classrooms. The tool is called a “Student Response System” but I like to refer to them as “Clickers.” A teacher can use a class set of Clickers to get real-time data that can inform instruction. Each student has a Clicker and can use it to respond to various types of questions. Some Clickers have advanced functions such as: true/false, multiple choice, cold call and even texting! Clickers are highly engaging for students, yet also can teach them how to become more independent in their learning. I know an amazing teacher who used Clickers in his classroom and developed rules surrounding appropriate uses for students. To learn more about how he used them in his math class, click here.

Reading Pens

A reading pen is a portable device that can scan text and read it aloud. Many reading pens also have a dictionary function where new or unknown words can be defined. A reading pen can connect to a computer so that the reader may upload the words they read after each use. Challenging words can then be stored for future use.

Is There Such A Thing As Communication Etiquette?

In this time and age that street language and gay lingo are rampant, communication etiquette seem to be unimportant to most people. But some of us are still offended by jokes, sarcasm, coarse words and disrespectful remarks. This only proves the need for communication etiquette. What is it anyway? This is a kind of interaction that is courteous in all aspects and well-though of. Other elements that it involves are active listening and sincere understanding of the idea relayed. Contrary to popular belief, this is not exclusive to business meetings and other sorts of formal gatherings. Conversations done in homes, offices, stores and public places become clearer with this. Imagine people talking to each other nicely and comprehending every word spoken. Conflict is a major impediment that makes these impossible though. Conflict may be a result of something negative that transpired before the event of the communication. This is possible to happen between family mem...

4 Ways Millenials Learn Best

You cannot expect your child to learn in the way you learned your lessons back in the day. Your child belongs to a different generation, thus, he has different learning preferences and styles. Here are some techniques that can help you teach and foster successful learning for your millennial students. One-on-one mentorship - According to a research , millennial learners appreciate and benefit from the direction of a mentor. This includes establishing clear expectations and learning goals in order to focus the learner on the right behaviors. They want authentic, personalized evaluations based on their job performance so that they can achieve their specific learning and development goals. Unlike some past generations, they are not ashamed to ask for help and guidance in the spirit of improving their skills. Collaboration - Millennials have a big connection with their peers, therefore they prefer learning, working and collaborating in groups. In fact, on average, millennial employee...

Three Reasons Why Young Kids Learn to Speak a Second Language Quickly

Children learn a second language easier compared to adults. This is true in most cases but not all the time. They learn a second language faster than adults would when they have a reason for learning it. This comes with other factors as well. They are the following. Brain readiness - Children especially young ones are wired to learn language in the first few years of their lives. They unconsciously acquire the second language naturally when they're exposed to two languages. They have to learn the second language consciously - usually by studying it - when they get older. The same is true for adults. Consequently, language acquisition becomes more difficult. Lack of complexity - Young children don't need to master the complexity of language. On the other hand, older children and adults need to master complex parts of the language in order to communicate well. This shows that young children have fewer things to learn while older children and adults have a lot to learn. T...

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