Category: Education

3 Key Concepts Your Child Should Read Before Starting High School Chemistry

Key Concepts Your Child Should Read Before Starting High School Chemistry

You don’t have to be a Breaking Bad fan to know that chemistry is a fascinating subject. Yes, some aspects can be a bit dry, but it’s a subject that answers many of life’s greatest mysteries.  It can also help answer so many questions we often ask ourselves.

How are fireworks able to create such varied colors? Why does Coca-Cola fizz when you add mentos? Why do we cry when we cut onions?

All these questions and more can be answered by chemistry. That said, it’s not all fun and games. High school chemistry can be challenging, and it’s important that your child is prepared for it.

In this article, we will explore some of the fundamental concepts that your child should research before high school.

1. Read Up On Atoms and Molecules

Most middle school kids are aware that atoms form the building blocks of our universe. However, high school is going to go into this topic in greater detail. Your child will need to start learning how atoms are organized. The atomic structure, protons, neutrons, and electrons are all going to be explored extensively.

In addition, chemical, covalent, and ionic bonding are topics that are worth looking up. Molecular mass is a subject that’s also going to be looked at often. Molecular mass, or weight, is a fundamental concept in chemistry, and pre-learning about it can be extremely helpful.

For instance, high school students are sometimes assigned problems related to calculating the number of atoms in a molecule. If the question deals with chlorine, they may be asked to “calculate the FeCl3 molar mass.”

These questions can stump new high school students, but if your child has done some research, it should be easy.

2. The Different Types of Chemical Reactions

The subject of reactions is at the heart of chemistry. Your kid should read up on the different types of reactions as soon as possible. Having a basic grasp of the differences between exothermic and endothermic reactions will come in handy. These are topics that are highly likely to feature in lab work or on tests.

Similarly, reading up on how synthesis, decomposition, combustion, and displacement reactions work will be essential. Aspects like reaction rates, along with the factors that affect them, are commonly studied in high school. This would include aspects like temperature, surface area, concentration, catalysts, and the roles they play.

3. Solutions and Their Different States

Learning about solutions is also going to be critical. Thankfully, this is an interesting subject. Your child will have a lot of fun learning about the principles and rules related to solutions. Did you know that solutions can be liquid, solid, or gas? Most people think of solutions as liquid, but this is not true. Steel, for instance,  is an example of a solid solution.

Key aspects to read up on would be the concepts of concentration, dilution, saturation, and solubility rules. A thorough understanding of solutions can be invaluable if your child decides to go into chemical engineering, healthcare, or research.

Teacher with Kids in Classroom

Where to Find Reliable Sources of Information To Read Up On?

Thankfully, there are many resources available today that can help your child. While we have covered some of the most common high school topics, you should do your own research as well. Contact your school or the teacher that your child will be learning under and request reading recommendations.

With that done, you can find information more easily. The school library is a good place to start, but don’t limit it to that. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of great websites that are specifically designed to coach young kids. At the same time, remember that coaching is a massive industry, and not all institutes are equal.

Statistics show that the global market size for online coaching was valued at over $2.19 billion last year. A lot of institutions are in it for the money, so do your research.

From more reputable sources, you should be able to find workbooks and practice sheets that can be extremely handy. Proprep notes that workbooks are great at testing your knowledge and maximizing your learning.

The questions in them are often open-ended and will encourage your child to think critically. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can sign your child up for one of the many online chemistry courses.

Interestingly, university websites often have great resources, even for younger learners. It can be worth looking up some of them, as they tend to be free. Lastly, you can find tons of great tutorials on YouTube; just ensure the channel knows what they are talking about.

Conclusion

While it’s great to take an active interest in your child’s education and encourage them, do so with tact. Children today deal with pressure from multiple sources. The pressure to be competitive in school while also needing to fit in and be cool is intense.

Guide them to the right resources, but avoid becoming a helicopter parent. Trust yourself that you have raised your child well enough that they understand the importance of adequate preparation.

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Getting a Degree Without Going Into Debt

Getting a Degree Without Going Into Debt

For many, the allure of a college degree is the potential for higher earnings and a brighter future. However, the daunting specter of accumulating thousands of dollars in student debt often casts a shadow over these aspirations. With soaring tuition costs, many find themselves questioning if the financial burden is worth the eventual payout.

The people at Achieve Debt Solutions have identified a number of viable pathways to achieve that much-coveted degree without sinking into debt.

Here’s your guide on how to make this possible.

Debt Relief Programs: A Breather for Students

Debt relief programs are designed to help reduce or eliminate student debt for qualifying individuals. They typically offer loan forgiveness, repayment assistance, or interest reduction to help students manage and eventually eliminate their debt. Examples include the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for those working in qualifying public service jobs and Teacher Loan Forgiveness for educators serving low-income schools.

By enrolling in these programs early, students can strategically navigate their financial journey and drastically reduce the burden of student loans.

Choosing Community College First

Starting at a Community College

Often more affordable than four-year institutions, community colleges offer students the opportunity to complete their general education requirements at a fraction of the cost. After earning an associate’s degree or completing these initial courses, students can then transfer to a four-year institution to complete their bachelor’s degree, having saved a significant amount in tuition.

Applying for Scholarships and Grants

Your Key to Free Money

Scholarships and grants are essentially “free money” for college. Unlike loans, they don’t need to be repaid. There are countless scholarships available based on merit, interests, demographics, and more. By starting the search early and applying to as many as possible, students can potentially cover a significant portion, if not all, of their tuition costs.

Part-Time Schooling and Working

Balancing Work and Study

Enrolling part-time and working alongside can be a strategic move. Not only does it provide an immediate income source, but it also allows students to gain work experience, which can be invaluable post-graduation. Moreover, many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs, providing a dual benefit for those juggling work and study.

Consider Online and In-State Institutions

The Modern and Affordable Route

With the rise of digital technology, online degrees have become more accepted and prevalent. These often come with lower tuition fees and the added benefit of flexibility. Additionally, attending an in-state public university can also lead to significant savings compared to out-of-state or private institutions.

Living Frugally and Budgeting

Every Penny Counts

While this might seem obvious, living within one’s means and having a clear budget can save students from unnecessary debts. This includes opting for cheaper housing, sharing living costs with roommates, using public transportation, and avoiding impulsive spending.

Avoiding Private Loans

Steer Clear of Higher Interests

Federal student loans often come with lower interest rates and more flexible repayment plans than private loans. Whenever possible, students should prioritize federal loans and only consider private options as a last resort.

Conclusion: A Debt-Free Degree is Within Reach

The pathway to a college degree doesn’t have to be paved with insurmountable debt. By leveraging debt relief programs, making strategic educational choices, and maintaining a frugal lifestyle, a debt-free degree is an achievable dream. Remember, the ultimate goal is not just the degree, but the freedom and peace of mind that comes without the weight of debt. With careful planning and determination, you can indeed emerge from your academic journey both educated and financially unburdened.

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How AI Grammar Check is Used In English Language Teaching

How to Check Grammar

English has dominated all the languages of the world after becoming an international language. Because of its significance on the international level, it has been included as a mandatory subject in every country or state. Teachers use multiple ways to teach English in different schools, colleges and universities, and other teaching institutions.

These methods include teaching English tenses, parts of speech, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, etc. Moreover, in most regions, English translation lessons are taught by the teachers to give their students a strong grip on the language. In today’s digital world where artificial intelligence has been introduced, these methods seem like the talks of the past.

Nowadays, AI has revolutionized the teaching field by providing a number of different ways as well as tools. Among them, AI grammar checkers are the most recent tools used for teaching the English language. But, most of the teachers are not familiar with this method. Here we’re going to explain different ways through which the AI-Grammar checker is used in teaching the English language.

Different ways Through which the AI- Grammar Checker Is Used In Teaching English Language

How AI Grammar Check is Used In English Language Teaching

1. To Teach Grammar

Grammar is the set of rules or principles that are mandatory to govern the usage of words, sentences, correct structures and formation. In other words, it is the backbone of a particular language.

So, it is necessary for teachers to make their students acquainted with grammar rules. Moreover, the rules connote the correctness of the words they speak. Let’s discuss how you as a teacher can get help from the AI grammar checker for teaching grammar.

For this, you should paste some grammatically incorrect sentences into an AI-based tool and check grammar issues. The tool will automatically highlight all the grammar issues going against the rules. Moreover, a tool will give you suggestions to correct those errors. This method makes it easier for you to point out the grammar errors of students within a matter of seconds and give them suggestions.

For example:

We inputted a text of one of the newbie students in the well-known tool i.e. Grammarcheck.ai. The tool automatically underlines all the grammar errors in the text.

As can be seen in the below image;

The tool automatically underlines all the grammar errors in the text

2. To Teach Spelling Errors

Spelling refers to the order of letters in a particular word. As we know language is dependent on correct words and words depend on the correct use of spelling. In other words, it is necessary to teach spellings since they are the building elements of the words and ultimately English language.

On the contrary, spelling errors create Confusion, Unprofessionalism, Misunderstanding, etc. Let’s teach your students correct spelling by removing the errors with an AI-based grammar-checking tool.

For this, you just have to input the task/writing of each student in the checker and run it. The tool will automatically, sort out the words with incorrect spelling. Moreover, it’s not the end of the tool, but it provides suggestions with correctly spelt words.

For example:

We ran a text with some words of incorrect spelling, and the tool underlined them with red lines.

Here’s the demonstration;

In the same way, as teaching the students, teachers can point out their spelling errors and make them use correctly in the English language.

Teachers can point out their spelling errors and make them use correctly in the English language.

3. To Teach Punctuation

Punctuations are necessary to structure sentences that ultimately make readers know how to read the particular sentences. Moreover, punctuation help readers know;

  • Where the sentence started.
  • Where paused.
  • Where ended.
  • Where it is questioning, describing and giving extra details.

So, punctuation is considered the building block of the English language. Additionally, their correct use clarifies the meaning of written language. Now come to the matter of how to use an AI Grammar Check that can help you teach punctuation.

A tool can help you point out the punctuation errors in the writing of students and let you know what are their weak points. In this way, you can improve their language more effectively and swiftly either by giving suggestions of your own or providing by the tool.

 For example:

We inputted some sentences with punctuation errors into a tool. The tool made all the errors underlined.

As can be seen in the below image;

A tool can help you point out the punctuation errors in the writing of students

In the digital world, teaching the English language is an easy task to do, thanks to artificial intelligence. AI made the teaching field easy by integrating with online grammar check tools. They are efficient in finding “Punctuation errors, Spelling mistakes, and Grammar issues”. So, teachers can find these basic issues in the students’ work and guide them accordingly.

How AI Depends on Large Language Models

No matter much it looks like AI is behaving like a real human, it is getting a lot of help from Large Language Models, also known as LLM’s.  This video explains what happens when you ask AI a question or use AI to perform a task related to language and writing.

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What Google Looked Like 25 Years Ago

Google's 25th Birthday!

September 27, 2023: Google celebrated their 25th birthday!  That means September 27, 1998 was the day they began providing internet search to the world. Their website design was simple, but there was much more behind technology that powered this newly developed search engine.  Let’s have a look at the first images of Google 25 years ago.

We’ll also explore how the Google logo has changed over the years. Google began as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in January 1996. The two were PhD students at Stanford University in California, USA.

This was how simple Google.com looked 25 years ago

It contained a welcome message and two web links.

Image of Google's First Website 1998

The top link (Google Search Engine Prototype) directed users to the first version of Google’s search engine.  It was hosted on a subdomain on Stanford University’s website:  http://google.stanford.edu
First Google Search engine hosted on Stanford edu website

The second link on the original Welcome to Google website mentioned a more up-to-date prototype was to a more up-to-date version of Google’s search capabilities.  It was hosted on the Google web domain on a sub-domain: http://alpha.google.com
Google Beta 1998

Google’s Simple Beginnings

As you can see, Google had very simple beginnings to their website design.  However, the internet was new and websites were focused on providing access worldwide information.  This is why domains started with www, which stands for world wide web.

Google was not the first search engine.  There were others before it, but Google’s idea for search was a new idea.  They wanted to improve speed and relevancy for search terms entered.  This meant offering more relevant websites.

From Wikipedia:  “While conventional search engines ranked results by counting how many times the search terms appeared on the page, Larry Page and Sergey Brin theorized about a better system that analyzed the relationships among websites. They called this algorithm PageRank.  It determined a website’s relevance by the number of pages, and the importance of those pages that linked back to the original site.  Page told his ideas to Hassan, who began writing the code to implement Page’s ideas.

Throughout the years, there have been many Google logo changes and the creation of Google Doodles by many artists and Doodle games that have been incorporated into the log.

A few months later in February 1999, Google was now on their main url at google.com looked like this:
Google in 1999

Then in April 1999….
Google April 1999

Google in October of 1999…
Google website and logo, October 1999

Google one year later in 2000…
Google 2000

And the rest is history as many other changes were to come over the next 25 years. This included new designs to define their image, as well as updates to their algorithm to provide the most relevant search results for users.

So, on this 25th Birthday Celebration of Google, we wish you Happy (and safe) Searching! See the progression of Google logos and Doodles through the years at https://www.google.com/doodles/googles-25th-birthday.

Google images are from The Wayback Machine – Internet Archive.

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Google Safe Search Explore the Safe Search Engine - Google for Kids