How to build your online course from scratch

Do you enjoy online teaching? Do you feel like you would like to provide knowledge for your students in a well-structured, fun and engaging form? Would you like to have an additional stream of passive income? If you answer with Yes to any of the above questions, it is worth considering the idea of creating an online course. 

Making the decision is the first step. Once you have decided that this will be your next project, let us help you with advice on how to build your online course from scratch? 

1. Choose the topic of your online course 

Everyone who wants to share their knowledge can create an online course. Any experience in the sphere of online teaching, public speaking, writing or other activities in education can be highly beneficial in creating an online course. 

  • Make a list of the topics that bring you joy and where you have the most knowledge, skills and experience that can be useful to share.
  • Then make a list of the topics that your students enjoy and have interest in. How to do that? Create a questionnaire with a variety of topics and let your students rate them.
  • Find the points where the two lists match and you will have a very good idea of what the possible topics for your course are.  Keep in mind that the most engaging topics are the ones that provide a solution to a problem. It doesn’t hurt to perform research on every topic concerning what the competition is, how profitable it is and etc. Don’t forget that creating an online course is a business venture.

2. Write down the learning objectives

Create a plan for your course. Research your audience. 

  • How old are your students, and what interests do they have? 
  • What learning challenges might they experience during the course? 
  • What learning objectives would you like to accomplish with the online course?

    It is beneficial to write down the short-term goals and the long-term objectives. This is the step where you should plan the content and divide it roughly into sections.

    There are a few tips that can help you in organizing the content:
  • Choose the platform for online learning that you are planning to use. The right choice of the Learning Management System (LMS) will make your work of creating the course easier and more enjoyable. The platform provides the possibility to host the course, as well as to track the progress of the course and the students, to store the materials and much more.
  • Use an online whiteboard, like VEDAMO, to create the lessons. Teach the lectures live, record them using the features in the online whiteboard and add the sessions to the LMS as part of the course. Depending on your ideas for the course, you can combine synchronous (live lessons) with asynchronous (students learn at their own pace) learning methods. 
  • Create templates using the online whiteboard. Be sure to experiment with the various features including drawing, adding text and charts, adding media, etc. Add the templates as supportive materials for your students to download as part of the course.
  • Gather materials via research on the Internet, libraries, etc. and also, don’t hesitate to add any content you have on the topic, such as completed lessons, blog posts, videos, books and many more.


3. Prepare proper equipment for creating of the online course

The quality of the recording, the sound and the editing of the online course is almost as important as the quality of the content. It is a matter of fact that even if you offer the most valuable content, if the sound is low quality and students are not able to listen to the sessions, it will not help you in achieving your goals. Gather the highest-quality equipment you can afford and spend some time testing it out and learning how to use it correctly. The equipment depends on the media you are planning to include. For instance, if your courses consist of voice-over and lessons with speaking, you need a proper microphone. If you are planning on recording lessons where you will be on camera, you have to get yourself a decent camera or a webcam that records HD videos.

Use software of your choice for screen recording to include in depth instructions, tutorials, presentations etc. in the lessons. Teaching on the online whiteboard is an excellent way to create the most authentic and engaging learning experience for the students even with the asynchronous lessons where the sessions are pre-recorded. 

4. Ready for action

After you have created the content and you have prepared the equipment for the online course, it is time for action. It is absolutely normal to feel nervous and to lack confidence at first. Test the whole equipment with a few shots. Be sure to prepare a script for each video that will guide you through the lesson. Stick to simple sentences with clear explanations. Imagine that your students are standing in front of you and start recording the lessons. After the first lesson is recorded, take your time to edit and improve the quality. It is essential to create the video in a format that will be accessible for your students. 

5. Price and Advertise

You might be thinking that creating the course is the most challenging part, but you will be surprised how difficult it can be to price your course correctly. The perfect option is to choose a price that is attractive for students but also covers the main costs of creating the lessons.

The most common approaches are a one-time payment of the course or the subscription method. In the first case, students pay once for the course which offers them full access to the lessons whenever they want. The subscription option requires regular payments that reoccur at a certain period of time – annually, monthly etc. to provide students with access to the sessions and the materials. 

When pricing the course, you need to perform  research on the competition in the chosen niche. In this way you will get a better understanding of the earning potential of the course and will market it better. 

There are many ways to advertise your online course.  Social media is one of the most efficient channels for promoting any new project. Webinars, Podcasts and Blog posts are also very effective in promoting the course. You can also use paid advertising. 

6. Stay connected to your students

Even though the online course is considered a passive stream of income, it is not completely passive if you are doing it right. Be there for your students in case they have questions or they need help in understanding the materials. The online whiteboard is an awesome tool for organizing live lectures, consultations etc. for follow ups and additional training.

A great way to engage with the students is by participating in groups together, like a Facebook group especially created for the participants in the online course where everyone can share, discuss, ask questions and provide help. 

Creating an online course from scratch is a time-consuming project that is worth the efforts and the patience. Expand your horizons in online teaching with this great opportunity to provide well-structured valuable content for your students. 

 

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The Resume is Critical for Career Success – Few Tips for You

There are several different types of resumes, and it’s important to know which one works the best for your particular circumstances. If you want to land a dream job, the best resume is critical for your career. The following are some tips to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Reverse Chronological Resume

The reverse chronological resume format highlights your relevant work history in chronological order, beginning with your most recent position. It lists dates, job titles, and employer names. Highlight your most recent job and highlight the skills and experiences you gained within the past one to five years. Reverse chronological resumes also highlight achievements and accomplishments. Reverse chronological resumes are often preferred by hiring managers. This format is the most common and favored resume format for career seekers. You can search on Google for top resume examples and the right format. 

When writing your reverse chronological resume, you should never start with your first job. Instead, list your positions in reverse chronological order. Include a brief description of your role, numbers, and metrics where applicable. Your most recent position should be listed at the top, followed by your previous positions. This is especially important if you have no work experience. A reverse chronological resume is not suitable for job seekers who have no work history.

Functional Resume

If you are new to the job market or have little work experience, a functional resume may be a good option. It should clearly state your skills and accomplishments and show examples of how you have applied those skills in the past. Nevertheless, a functional resume should not completely ignore your past employment history as hiring managers want to see that you have some experience.

Include your greatest personal achievements. The objective of a functional resume is to persuade the hiring manager to hire you. If you are unsure of your capabilities, you can look at sample resume objectives to determine how to write your own. You’ll be glad you did! You’ll be surprised by the results! 

Side Projects

Including side projects on a resume is an important way to highlight your skills and experience, since they add to your work history and functional summary. The term “side project” is also synonymous with “external engagement,” “freelance engagement,” or “supplemental engagement.” In the event that you’re working for several clients or companies, make sure to list each project under a specific category or company.

Having side projects on your resume can demonstrate your interests, as well as your passion for a particular field. For example, you may have been working on a side project during your free time and enjoyed it so much that you decided to make it a full-fledged business. In addition to demonstrating your enthusiasm for your field, side projects also allow you to explore new technologies and increase your creativity. These projects are also an excellent way to establish your personal brand and show what you can do.

Employer Benefits

A resume is the calling card of the job-seeker. It conveys an overview of experience and skills, but it also provides an opportunity to highlight personal characteristics and personality. In this way, it will help employers gain a better understanding of you. Here are some tips for writing a good resume. Make it relevant to the job. Include relevant accomplishments and skills in your resume. Employers will appreciate your professionalism and enthusiasm.

A good resume will match keywords from the job description to the skills you offer. For instance, if the job description calls for a software developer, it’s a good idea to include the keyword “JSON” in your resume. This is because most employers use keywords to filter resumes. Indeed, some companies even auto-sort resumes based on keywords. So, a good resume matches keywords with the job description and aims to gain the employer’s attention.

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How To Choose the Best Physical Therapy School for Your Child

Students who wish to pursue their career in physical therapy are often bombarded with the different choices for DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) programs by several schools. Amid these massive options, it can be quite difficult for parents and students to determine which school suits them best. 

To make things simpler, you can look at a few factors and determine the best fit for your child. Here’s a list of these main factors that you should consider when choosing a physical therapy school for your child. 

Check Out the Infrastructure

A good infrastructure in a school is vital, as it signifies how the next few years of learning will go for your child. It’s not that difficult to get a potential visit to any school, either. In fact, many schools have programs where interested candidates can visit the campus and view how the interior of the school is. 

In essence, you want to take note of three things: the classroom sizes, type of technology (new or old), and the resources available. If you’ve only taken a look at the school’s website so far, paying a visit won’t hurt – plus you can also jot down any questions you may have which weren’t answered on the site. 

Consider the Distance

Commuting to large-distanced schools can quickly become a nightmare. Even the slightest bit of interruption along the way can cause your child to be late. Apart from the energy and time it consumes, students who enroll in schools out of their state pay far more than those who apply for local schools. 

Studying in a local school, though, gives students better freedom and flexibility to work a part-time job if they want to and return home quickly. If you live in the U.S., it will be helpful to know that out of the 50 states, 46 have a physical therapy school. 

Look for a 3+3 Program

When it comes to completing schooling for students who have yet to begin their prerequisite courses for physical therapy school, a 3+3 program is usually the least expensive and efficient alternative. 

The standard PT programs require four years to earn a bachelor’s degree and an additional three years of continued education in a DPT program, which is seven years of schooling in all. In the 3+3 program, you will be able to receive both a bachelor’s and a physical therapy degree in just six years.

The 3+3 program is ideal for students who are confident of pursuing their career in physical therapy, as students need to apply for the program within their first year of the school itself. After being accepted into the program, the student will have to maintain the minimum GPA required by the college. 

Education and Opportunities

The teaching styles and the opportunities offered at the school are yet two more vital factors to look at. Ask yourself, are the teachers motivated enough to teach and answer every student’s questions? Is the classroom filled with many students where the teachers can’t meet everyone after class for further explanations? Does the school offer a good career opportunity (i.e., a part/full-time role or internship at a reputed company or institution)? 

You can even check if the university offers standard teaching or problem-based learning. If you haven’t heard of either one, standard teaching is how we’ve all been taught in life. It’s the familiar combination of a teacher, a chalk or a marker, and a board. Problem-based learning groups students into small pieces who are asked to solve a situation that may occur in a clinic.

Consult Advisors 

Academic guidance is essential, especially when transitioning from school and deciding your further courses. Once you have found a suitable P.T. program, consulting with academic advisors will help you in decision-making and understanding the curriculum. The advisors will guide you through the following:

  • Application process
  • Academic procedures and policy
  • Acceptance rates
  • Additional information about the school (housing and meal requirements)
  • Scholarships
  • General information about the campus, such as transportation support

Stay Loyal to Your Budget

Last but not least, never go beyond your budget. Parents often go overboard and get into heavy debts, which their children need to pay off later. This is a real and serious issue which we do not pay enough attention to in our daily lives. Always ensure that the school you’ve decided on is well within your budget. You can also talk to your advisor about and find the best local college. 

Overall, physical therapy schools have a lot to offer to ambitious students. Some may stand apart as better than others, making it somewhat difficult to narrow down which one is the best for your child. When you take a few considerations in mind, though – such as the distance away and your overall budget – you can help ensure your child receives the best education possible, no matter what!

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Guarding Your Mental Health During College

Taking care of our mental health is a priority for everyone these days. Collectively we have been through a lot, and it’s hard to keep a positive attitude all the time. While feeling defeated on some days is normal, when we start to experience frequent anxiety or symptoms of depression, it’s critical that we take steps to minimize them. Throw into the mix of everything else going on a heavy class load, extracurriculars, and studying for important exams – college life can be challenging to balance responsibilities and mental health challenges. Let us take a look at some ways to guard our mental health as students and roll with the punches of student life and life in general. 

Stay Social 

Making friends in college is an essential part of the entire collegiate experience. If you struggle to meet new people, it’s worth considering joining a sorority or fraternity to have a sense of community and make like-minded friends. You can also consider joining clubs or movements with people who share the same values and interests as you. In addition to the aforementioned, just getting out and about on campus is a great way to meet people. Even if you consider yourself shy, be open to people approaching you and starting a conversation. You may not hit it off with everyone you interact with, but the more people you meet, the more likely you’ll establish a social circle that keeps you engaged. Connection is critical to human happiness, so prioritize socialization. 

Maintain Your Physical Health 

A critical part of our emotional and mental well-being is keeping up with our physical well-being. With dynamic course loads and social life, it’s easy to get caught up eating many convenience foods and overly processed late-night meals. While you likely have little room to store fresh foods or cook at home (depending on your living situation), it’s still important to make healthy food choices as often as you can. If you know, you’ll still be eating out, opt for plant-based options when you can. 

Sleep is another massive factor when it comes to our physical well-being. Late nights and partying go hand in hand with many people’s college experiences. While having a good time and enjoying your friendships is necessary, try to make sure you’re limiting that to the weekends and getting adequate sleep during the school week. You want to aim for eight to nine hours of sleep a night. If you struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep, look into sleep aids like Chamomile organic tea or diffusing a Lavender essential oil. 

Of course, one of the most significant components of physical health is exercise. While you’re likely getting in a ton of steps walking around campus, you still should prioritize getting regular cardio exercise several times a week. Most campuses have gyms that are free for students to use – take advantage of them. You can also try gentler activities like yoga if that’s more your speed. Strength training is a critical component of your exercise routines, too, especially if you’re looking to lose weight. 

Seek Appropriate Help 

Sometimes, no matter our commitment to staying social, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep and exercise, we still may struggle with our mental health. In these situations, make sure that you reach out for the appropriate help. Virtually every campus in the country has a student health department, which should be your first stop. Connect with someone in the department and let them know you need help with some mental health issues you’re dealing with. This is not weak; it is wise. Seeking treatment when you know you can’t deal with your problems on your own is stronger than letting them get worse. 

Mental health is so personal, though, and you may not feel like you’re connecting with the therapist or psychiatrist you meet with. If you find that to be the case, or want a second opinion, check with your insurance company to find other providers in your network. Mental health matters, and taking care of yourself is an investment that will pay off in spades for your entire life. By living a balanced lifestyle, you can accomplish this, most likely on your own. And, it’s okay to need some help from time to time. Here’s to your health!

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How to Improve Cognitive Learning

Learning new things and demonstrating your abilities is what makes you stand out among others. However, when it comes to understanding more complex information, it’s not always easy. Even if you know the basics, more advanced topics can lead to a lot of stress and worry. When you struggle, it may feel like you’re not even cut out to do what you’re trying to achieve. If that feeling is all too familiar, there are things you can do to sharpen your cognitive skills. Below are the most important cognitive skills you need to enhance learning and help you reach your goals, and one tried and true strategy to help cover all your bases.

Attention Span

Where you direct your attention is sometimes more important than how long you can maintain it. There are two distinct attention types: focused and selective. Focused attention, both visual auditory, is how you learn new skills, complete difficult tasks and retain information. Selective attention is different. Even though you’re present, you’re not really paying close attention to what you’re doing. 

Now, you don’t want to confuse this with not caring. It’s not uncommon to shift into selective attention mode when tasks seem too difficult or when the way in which you are attempting to focus on something is particularly distracting. In today’s virtual world, it is not uncommon for people’s attention spans to be out of whack. In spite of all the virtual learning tips that have come to light, developing the ability to focus on the task at hand when you have so many distractions at your fingertips takes time and practice. 

Never Stop Learning

Adopting the strategy of making learning ongoing instead of incremental can no doubt improve cognitive learning. Even if you have taken your education to the highest possible level, when you dedicate yourself to being a lifetime student, you are feeding your brain non-stop. This strategy is effective, but it is also a commitment of your time, patience, and finances. A strong personal discipline can help you with the first two, and scholarships can help you with the latter. 

You can utilize a free scholarship search and application platform with personalized matching and thousands of scholarships and grants where you can build your profile, get matched to eligible scholarships, and apply for these opportunities. This is great for lifetime students because of the sheer volume of opportunities as well as varied types of scholarships and grants available. Using a platform that does the matching for you also frees you up to hone your cognitive skills while you wait to see how your qualifications align with the terms of each opportunity. 

Visual Processing

Visual processing is one skill you need to improve, as it is a great method for improving memory, especially if you’re having trouble understanding visual data. Even people who work in a tech-heavy field can struggle to truly understand visual information. They might feel overwhelmed and everything they look at starts to blur together. The thing is, the faster you can process information, the easier it’ll be to understand and retain in memory.

Long-Term Memory Function

You might think information you learned in the distant past isn’t important. Unfortunately, that’s incorrect. Information you learned years ago but can recall like it was yesterday demonstrates how long you can retain new information. If you have trouble remembering things that happened in the past, you can try using flash cards to build muscle memory. Any activity that involves repetition can boost your long-term memory function and cognitive ability.

Types of Intelligence

In terms of intelligence, you need to gauge your levels of fluid and crystallized intelligence. Fluid intelligence sounds like a fancy term, however, it’s just your reasoning ability and how you use it to solve problems. Crystallized intelligence works differently. It takes information you learned in the past and applies it to the present. It’s based more on concrete facts as opposed to learning in real-time. To improve both types, you need to increase the quantity of true learning and do activities that enhance retention.

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Making STEM Programs Accessible To All Students

It is ten years into the future and a quick scan of the job listings from the online search on your screen reveals Smart Home Designer, Workplace Environment Architect, Data Collector, and Cyber Calamity Forecaster.  Jobs that once seemed specialized like weather analyst and marine biologist have stepped into the forefront as need drives the job market. Of course health care will always be important, but much of preventative health and even surgeries will be taken over by artificial intelligence. 

New technologies abound and continue to advance every year. As technologies evolve so too do jobs and the skills needed to do them.  Jobs of the future will be focused on technologies, the living planet, and global sharing and communication all of which require the workers of tomorrow to be well trained in technology, math, science, and teamworking skills that include collaboration and problem solving.  

Today, we have seen the future suddenly thrust upon us, necessitating our having to take a hard turn from what we’ve always known, to figuring out how to work and learn in a virtual world.  Unfortunately, many of us discovered we were not prepared for such a drastic change.

For years futurists proclaimed the need to refocus educational priorities from a humanities driven curriculum to a math and science concentration in order to better prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.   School districts around the world answered this call by designing STEM curriculums to emphasize science, technology, engineering, and math.  What recent events unfortunately revealed, is that this type of curriculum has not been equally accessible to all.  Many underserved populations throughout the world do not have access to basic technology and are certainly not being trained for a future that depends on such knowledge. STEM is the way to the future.  Ensuring students around the world receive a sound education that prepares them for what’s ahead, requires due diligence on the part of academic decision makers.

Lack of Standard

There are no standards for STEM programs and much of this has to do with budgets.  In some school districts the emphasis on STEM curriculum is at the secondary levels. These programs, as strong as they may be, ensure exclusivity for the few who have already shown aptitude for STEM subjects and have access to superior technology, leaving out students from underperforming schools with poorly trained teachers, overcrowded classes, and minimum resources.  

Instruction For All

A successful STEM Curriculum must be available for all participants. This begins with teacher training programs.  The most gifted teachers will tell you they have always felt a calling to teach. However, most teachers end up in education programs in college because they don’t know what else to do.  Historically, many teaching programs focused heavily on theory and less on practicality, assuming the student teaching portion would take care of the How.  Today, it is imperative that teaching programs become more rigorous and require math, science, and technology courses for their degrees.  State licensure must also show proof of expertise in these fields and require continued proof of growth in STEM knowledge before license renewal.  Ensuring teachers know their subject matter well is paramount to student success. 

STEM programs need to start early and that means in kindergarten. Young students love math, science, and technology as these disciplines encourage their innate curiosity. It’s when they are deprived of problem solving opportunities that they find difficulty in dealing with these subjects later. 

Everyone is capable of succeeding in the STEM subjects. Unfortunately, gender biases are still prevalent and greatly influence our thinking.  Girls at a young age love math and science and do well in their primary years.  Numerous studies from around the world have shown unconscious biases tend to discourage girls from believing they can succeed in STEM subjects as they grow older.  However, this changes when girls are educated in same sex classrooms, allowing them to feel confident and excel when the biases are removed. 

One Size Instruction Doesn’t Work

Because of school overcrowding, many teachers teach by lecturing as it is the easiest way to reach a maximum group.  However, students learn by doing and lecture style instruction fails to capture the attention of most.  Sadly this is the case in so many public schools across the globe.  Virtual classrooms are an ideal way to allow school districts to think outside the box. Large classes can be divided into small teams with some students online and others in attendance. Physical classroom space can be used for labs, projects, and team problem solving guided by the teacher, while virtual space can be used for research and preparation.  Teams would switch spaces to complete all activities.  Low socioeconomic students with no access to technology at home can be provided with laptops or tablets and sent to underutilized spaces within the school like the cafeteria or library, or outside weather permitting. Arrangements could also be made with public libraries for these students.  Time should be made for students who are lagging behind with tutoring sessions.  These can be with the teacher, a peer, or using virtual platforms such as Khan Academy, this Math 2212 course from ProPrep, Learn to Be, and Skooli. 

Not only do teachers need to think outside the box to afford everyone the opportunity to learn by doing, but school districts around the world need to do the same. Budgets must be prioritized towards quality STEM instruction, starting with teacher training.  Real and virtual class time must take priority in schools that are overcrowded.  The use of space must be reconsidered with traditional classrooms divided into several work areas for experiential learning.  The socio-economic background of students must be considered, and every measure taken to equal the disparity of access to technology.  Gender bias should be taken into consideration with professional development for teachers and optional same sex classes.  STEM curriculum needs to begin when children first enter school and not considered as a special program to students who excel in these subjects.  All students want to embrace STEM to be successful.  It is up to us to ensure they have equal access to quality STEM instruction throughout their school career.

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Why Do Professionals Seek Life Coaches And You Should Too?

Back in the 1980s, Mr. Thomas Leonard started life coaching and adopted it as a career. Most people rejected the idea and did not agree with Thomas’ idea of being a professional life coach.

Soon, with time and as the younger generation started to get into more troubles, the idea was accepted and recognized as one of the most important disciplines.

Life coaches are the people who work with individuals facing problems to help them resolve these issues and motivate them in their life goals. Some work to improve or save their relationships, some do it to get better at their jobs as well as personality development. 

Every human being is a work in progress and is slowly moving towards perfection. No one is perfect and we all are an unfinished work of art living to be completed.

life coach courses at The Life Coaching College Australia can help you clarify your goals, identify the roadblocks in your way, and devise solutions to overcome each one. Life coaches tailor these tactics to your specific abilities and strengths.

What Does A Life Coach Do?

It’s a teamwork between the coach and the student. The aim of each session is different depending on the specific requirement of the student but a simple layout is followed in each session. Here is what a life coach do during a session

  • First step of each course is building a connection between the coach and the student. It is indeed one of the most important steps of any life coaching course through which a deep, honest and powerful connection is established between a coach and his student.
  • A particular approach to address each issue of the student is taken by the coach based on the personality, mental level and objectives of the student.
  • A plan or a set of daily tasks or habits is formulated and the student is made to follow the routine.

Who Needs A Life Coach?

Young entrepreneurs as well as well-established individuals seeking a new path or a complete life change enrol in life coaching courses to better understand challenges and their solutions. People who are having marital problems consult life coaches in order to maintain a good relationship and live a happy lifestyle.

However, if you are experiencing any of the issues listed below, hiring a life coach may be an excellent option for you.

  • Anxiety, lack of confidence or motivation.
  • Unable to quit bad habits.
  • Dissatisfaction at work or stressful life.
  • Marriage troubles, unhappy partner.
  • Feeling stuck or loss of creativity

Suggestions

These life coaching courses come in different forms and types. Each life coach works in a different style and it also depends on your requirements. Some have face-to-face meetings where discussions take place. Some can have a seminar or public speaking session. 

If you are considering consulting with a life coach, please keep in mind that you get to choose what you want to work on throughout your meetings. Each meeting should get you feeling energized and elevated, so pick a coach whose approach and ideology you connect with.

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4 Academic Workshop Basics and Planning Tips

Are you planning to host an academic workshop? Then you already know it can be overwhelming to think of all the things that have to get done in order for the event to run smoothly.

Here, we have put together some of the most important tasks and items that you will need to check off of your list before the workshop begins. Read on for four tips to plan the best academic workshop this year.

1) IT Support Is A Must

Your focus might be on getting a venue and preparing the workshop’s content, but don’t forget about tech needs. You will need to have IT people ready and on hand to help with all the technological requirements of hosting a workshop.

Most workshops and conferences make use of PowerPoint for presentations, which require a staff of IT professionals there to help you set up and solve problems in case problems occur, especially if videos and sound are involved.

How do you find the best team for the event? IS&T Houston’s answer to IT staffing is to bring on more than just one professional. Always consult with IT staff the day before the workshop so that everyone is clear on your needs.

2) Choose a Focus and Stick to It

When you plan your academic workshop, remember that your attendees want to gain knowledge and, most times, a certificate that proves them to be capable in the subject area that you are teaching. With this in mind, you should plan carefully to maximize the time you have with those in attendance at your workshop or conference.

When you are deciding what to cover in your presentation at the workshop, make sure that you hit all the topics that are the most central to the attendee’s understanding of the subject in question.

Try not to stray too far off of these topics. Sidetracking or adding in unnecessary information can derail your schedule and cause setbacks that lead to an unsatisfying experience. Most workshops are only a day or two at the maximum, and people will be reluctant to attend an extra day if you run out of time on the first day.

3) Incorporate Breaks

Psychological studies have shown that taking breaks when studying or learning new things improves the ability to recall information. This means that when you are scheduling the day of your workshop, you should make sure that the participants have break times frequently throughout the workshop.

Even just 10 minutes between topics, or presentations for downtime will help the participants be able to recall all of the information presented more effectively.

4) Give Time For Participants to Collaborate

Using group discussions and encouraging conversations among groups of attendees will foster a better academic and learning environment. Letting the participants interact with one another is also a great way for them to meet colleagues and dicsuss their own opinions on the topic.

You can do this by posing a relevant question to the attendees and saying “among yourselves, discuss and find an answer.” After a few minutes of conversing, you can ask a few individuals what answers they came up with.

In addition to a better learning environment, you will have an opportunity to check in with attendees and receive feedback. You can see what topics need to be reviewed or clarified before moving on to the next topic.

Final Thoughts

Running an academic workshop is a difficult task to do, but it is beneficial for the individuals who are attending your workshop to gain educational credits, certifications, or a new skill for their resume.

Making the day or weekend run smoothly requires a few additional steps beforehand in the planning process to help everything go according to plan. Remember to keep the content focused on niche topics and to plan tech needs ahead of time to avoid delays.

 

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5 Reasons Why Your Company Should Use a Staffing Agency

Staffing agencies work as the middle man between a company and its potential employees. From checking references, shortlisting candidates, scheduling interviews and screening resumes, they also help people find career progression and opportunities within their chosen field.

So, if you run a business and are trying to decide whether hiring a staffing agency is worth it, then read on. Here are five reasons that will make up your mind for good:

1. They Reduce Overhead Costs

Full-time employees will cost your company much more than just a regular salary. There are other overhead costs to think about, like:

  • Health care
  • Sick pay
  • Vacation pay
  • Retirement plans
  • Employer tax

When employing a staffing agency, you won’t have to pay any of these extra fees; you pay the agency for the work they’ve provided with no additional overhead costs. For example, IT staffing firms such as IS&T at https://www.is-t.net/staffing offer employers modern, up-to-date services that factor in these additional costs.

2. They Save You Training Time

Let’s face it: training new employees requires a large investment of time and money. If your business requires the expertise of someone for just a few months, it isn’t financially viable to spend money on their training.

By using a staffing agency, you can cut the time that training takes. Simply employ someone that is already trained in the job and focus more on your business operations.

3. They Make It Parting Ways With Employees Easier

Once the contractor has finished the job, the work is completely over, and you have no ties to the employee. This means you won’t need to stress about how to part ways or worry about:

  • Unemployment insurance
  • Severance pay
  • Sourcing a replacement

4. They Handle Short-Term Staffing

As an employer, you may need to quickly hire a temp for a number of reasons. Whether it be sick leave, maternity leave, a leave of absence, or a family emergency, staffing agencies can step in and fill the position quickly and efficiently. You’ll be less thrown off by the sudden departure of an employee and have more time to focus on your current obligations.

Let’s say you need seasonal workers. The job advertisement, interviewing process, hiring, and training would also need to happen within a relatively small window, which is more often than not difficult for business owners. A staffing agency has the resources to source temporary employees for seasonal work. Skip the training and bring on an employee that’s trained to do your work for a few months.

Staffing agencies also give you the flexibility to schedule external workers for one-off shifts or short periods of time to handle specific absences.

5. They Have Large Networks

Staffing agencies have a larger network of available professionals than employers do, which means they could have more than one candidate in mind to fill the spot. This also makes it easier to hire: if one worker can’t complete the job due to other commitments, they have other people readily available to jump in.

Many agencies also have good relationships with workers, which makes it easy for them to recommend people to employers. Not only does this make the hiring process quicker, but it also provides a sense of security for employers when taking on short-term employees.

Hire a Staffing Agency to Take the Pressure Off

If you are an employer and you’re looking for ways to cut costs and make short-term hiring worth your while, you should definitely consider a staffing agency. From ensuring you have the best people working for you to saving you training time, the extra help will allow you to focus on other important aspects of your business.

 

 

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IQ Tests – Purpose, Procedure, and Results

IQ, formally known as ‘Intellectual Quotient’ comes in various forms. Broadly, it has the capacity to measure intellectual disabilities and the intellectual potential one may possess.

IQ tests are among the most commonly conducted psychological tests and their popularity prevails in all fields of life. From Medicine to Army, all of the Institutes use IQ tests to measure the cognitive abilities of the being.

Generally, IQ tests are standardized but few have open-ended questions in order to analyze various personality traits of the candidate. Each test also has a different scoring method that may not be the same as other IQ tests. The most common is: https://iq-global-test.com/

Purpose of IQ Tests

IQ tests are used for a wide range of purposes:

  • Educational enrollment or placement
  •  Various researches measuring cognitive abilities
  •  Job placement
  •   Job performance evaluation
  •   Assessment of intellectual or cognitive disabilities
  •    Assessment of skills such as memory, speed to perform a particular task, and ability to focus.

How to measure IQ

Modern IQ testing originated from the work of psychologist Henry Herbert Goddard. He translated Binet’s French IQ test into English. This test, designed by Alfred Binet, was made to evaluate the intellectual abilities of students in school settings. It served as an effective tool to highlight those students who had mental health problems.

With the success of this test, a wide range of research studies was conducted in this field. A large number of IQ tests were conducted over a period of several years. The main purpose of all the tests designed was to analyze people’s problem-solving ability, reasoning skills, and cognitive skills.

Some of the most commonly used IQ assessments are:

  • Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Kids
  •  Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Grownups
  • Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
  • Differential Ability Scales 

All these tests are required to be purchased by licensed psychologists. All the tests are different from one another and have several parts. They are normally divided into various subsets.

Each subset measures the different aspects of human personality such as mathematical skills, analytical skills, language ability, memory, speed to process the information given. The results are further combined in a form of a single score that is known as IQ Score.

Results of IQ Tests

The IQ score of 100 is considered a standardized average score. While the research studies have shown that, those students with cognitive and mental disabilities have IQ scores between 55 and 70. They have an average IQ score around 60 to 65, generally not more than that.

High IQ Scores

100 and beyond score is considered as a high IQ score. Those having 100 and above IQ scores are considered highly intelligent people. Whereas those who are considered extraordinarily intelligent have IQ scores of 130 or above.

It is assumed that those having such a high IQ score are smart people with a lot of potentials. They have a lot of mental capacity to solve complex problems and to deal with complicated situations.

Low IQ scores

Individuals having IQ scores below 100 are considered below-average beings. While the score of 70 or below is considered highly low. Such a low score causes a concern that some intervention needs to be done to increase the IQ level.

History has shown that IQ tests have proven to be an effective tool to highlight intellectual disabilities. If a particular child has an extremely low score, he/she must be taken to the doctor.

The doctor then further analyzes the child via blood tests, adaptive skills screening, ultrasound of the brain, and mental health screening.

Screening of parents can also detect intellectual disability in a child even before he or she is born. The mothers having the age above 35 are more likely to have babies with cognitive disabilities. Those who are exposed to excessive drugs usage or alcohol have more chances to deliver babies having an intellectual disability.

In case, intellectual disability is identified at such a young age, doctors or consultants can undergo the required IQ assessment. This may bring the solution at a very early stage.

Drastic Rise in IQ Scores

Since the 1900s, the average IQ score around the world has increased in most parts of the world. This particular phenomenon is known as the “Flynn effect” named after the scientist who discovered it.

He noticed that the same test used by U.S. Military in the 1980s brought better results as compared to the 1950s. After deep research Flynn discovered that the average IQ score around the world is increasing with time. It is increasing at the rate of three points or more per decade.

Scientists and researchers believe that this increase in IQ scores is due to an increase in the ability to think logically. The world is evolving and with every development, humans are developing the capacity to solve their problems in a logical way. It can also be due to an increase in the quality of formal education, better diet, and nutrition, better environment, and vaccinations available.

Concluding Thoughts

IQ tests have come a long way and one thing is for sure that they are here to stay. Usage of IQ tests is involved in nearly all fields of life. These tests are used by Army, Military Personnel, Educational Institutions, Medicine, and the corporate world.

The actual purpose of IQ tests is to measure the intellectual potential one may possess. But over time, these tests have also become highly controversial. Several research studies have claimed that IQ scores solely cannot determine intelligence. There are several other factors that are associated with intelligence and they must be taken into consideration while measuring the intelligence of an individual.

An IQ score probably does not tell the whole story. It just shows a single side. It fails to measure a few broader aspects of a human’s personality such as level of creativity, curiosity an individual may have, and social intelligence.

So, if a person doesn’t have a good IQ score that does not mean he or she will never be able to succeed in life. Success depends on several other factors as well.

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