How to Make Your Parties More Enjoyable

Are you planning a party that needs good entertainment? Are you confused about the best entertainment for your event? There is a lot of pressure that goes into planning a party. The weight of throwing a successful event is heavy on your shoulders. No one wants to host a dull event; this is a fear that plagues many newbie—and even experienced—party organizers.

Fortunately, there are tried-and-true ways to entertain party attendees. There are a variety of ways to make your party more enjoyable. Here we will highlight some of the best ways to add some fun to your next event.

DJs

The most obvious way to keep party-goers moving is to secure the services of a disc jockey (DJ). These professional music curators know how to create the right vibe and when to switch the vibe. They will play faster tempos to make the crowd work up a sweat, and they will slow down the tempo to generate a more intimate environment for couples. 

A professional DJ knows that music is only half of the job of a real DJ. A good DJ is also a master of ceremonies (MC) that will talk to the audience and look to build engagement with crowd-participation chants and statements. Pay close attention to the genre and specialty of a DJ when inquiring about their services.

Musicians

Music is the fundamental element that creates the party atmosphere. Just as the DJ provides that, live music also has a special allure to certain groups. The varieties of live musicians span from soloist that play single instruments to cover bands that specialize in cover a specific genre or era of music.

You know what kind of music will set the perfect mood for your party. Maybe you will have a group that will enjoy the smooth sounds of a solo saxophonist or the raw energy of a 1970s cover band. Regardless of your taste, live music is a refined way to entertain your guests.

Magicians

If you are throwing a children’s party, there is nothing that compares to the entertainment that magicians provide. There is something about magic tricks that is both captivating and powerfully entertaining to most people, and this goes double for children.

If you need to hire event entertainment for younger audiences, you’d be hard-pressed to find an act that will get you more bang for your buck than a magician.

Impersonators

Wouldn’t it be the coolest if you could hire a celebrity to come to your party and entertain the attendees? The odds say that hiring a major celeb is beyond your party budget. Luckily for you, there are celebrity impersonators that can do the job for much less.

Hiring a celebrity impersonator is an exciting and entertaining choice for party entertainment. There are dozens of celebrities that others have become quite accomplished at impersonating.

Conclusion

Don’t crack under the pressure of having to make your party a success. Take advantage of the professional entertainers out there just waiting to make your party a hit.

What's Trending? Influencers in Higher Education

A lot of discussion has been happening surrounding influencer marketing in higher education the past few years. A simple search shows it coming up everywhere from Inside Higher Ed, episodes of Higher Ed Live, as well as publications like The Guardian. 

Exploring how to navigate this new marketing avenue can be confusing, intimidating, and tread into some grey areas, but also provide amazing opportunities for institutions.

There are a host of amazing guides popping up out there that can help folks start with this concept, or take it to the next level (see here, here, here, here, here, and here). 

Campus Sonar also gives a great overview of influencer marketing in higher ed, as does EAB. 

Much of this content also makes note of how this type of marketing is proving especially effective with Generation Z students, who have come up immersed in the world of influencers.

The core premise here is anchored by the fact that people trust their peers more than something directly from a brand that is clearly trying to sell them something. This sort of peer to peer recommendation, which is what influencer marketing ultimately boils down to, isn’t anything new. It’s just taking that philosophy and doing it in an intentional way. In the past, this might be more common as word of mouth or reading reviews from others (which of course, people still frequently do). 

While some may think influencer marketing is simple, cheap, and easy, it is not (just like social media marketing). It takes dedicated time, money, and thought to make sure you know what goals you are trying to achieve, and work towards those outcomes in the most effective way possible.

To get some insight into the influencer experience, check out the interview with Angela Maiers, who is a speaker, author, and former educator who also is acquainted with the world of influencers.

Working with student influencers is similar to what many might know as being a “social media ambassador”. Higher education professionals may already dabble lightly with something like this, but going in on formal influencer marketing may require you to pay these ambassadors and bring them in for meetings to go over strategy and performance. You may also need to be competing for these students’ time and wallets, since other established companies are vying for these students’ audience as well.

It is important to recognize those students who are arriving at your institution with a sizable audience to make sure they are at least supported if not brought in to work with you in a more formal capacity. They’ll be making content with or without you, so it is good to at least be aware of what they’re talking about, or better yet, collaborating with you on their messaging and given access to promote anything you’re looking to spread the word on.

Engaging with your student influencers should also make sure they feel welcomed and like they have a purpose on campus. Otherwise, they may feel like school is getting in the way of their content creation and influencing (Wired asks, do influencers even need college?). 

Influencer marketing is a bold new world for most higher ed institutions, but being able to share out authentic stories with alumni, parents, prospective students, and the whole campus community, gives these venerable organizations a way to grow their own influence in a measured way. By connecting with people in a more personal, human way, we can aim to make higher education less mystified and more accessible to more people. That’s something I think we can all get behind.

What are the Best-Paying Careers in 2020?

Deciding on a career is one of the most impactful decisions you will ever make. There are a variety of things to consider while pondering this choice. You have to start with areas that you are interested in, areas that you excel in, and of course, how much you are able to earn. As far as earning power is concerned, we will outline some of the best-paying careers in 2020.

Physician Assistant

For those that are interested in getting a job in the healthcare industry, without having to spend years in medical school, a physician assistant career may be the perfect position. Many of the job functions performed by doctors can also be done by a physician assistant. 

Physician assistants can diagnose patients, perform supervised medical procedures, and write prescriptions. To become a physician assistant, you only need two years of graduate school. The median salary for this career is $93,090.

Software Developer

In this modern era, software is a major part of our daily lives. Software developers are the professionals responsible for the design and creation of software applications. The requirements for being a software developer are computer science, technology, or a bachelor’s degree in a related field. 

It is also essential for software developers to be technically savvy and problem solvers. You don’t have to live in Silicon Valley to develop software, so you can even feel free to search for Baltimore houses for sale if you’d like. The median salary for this career is $105,590.

Product Manager

As the name implies, a product manager is the team leader for a product. The product manager plays a number of roles in the management process. Some of these duties include laying down the roadmap for the product, researching users and prospects, analyzing the competition, working alongside engineers and product marketers. Leadership is the primary function of product managers, but possessing technical skills is a definite plus. The median salary for this career is $113,886.

Electrical Engineer

Far from being an electrician, electrical engineers design and build everything from mobile phones and computers to robots and more. Since so much of our modern world revolves around electronic devices, electrical engineers are in high demand. The industries that electrical engineers are most prominent in are aerospace and defense, technological hardware, automotive, and green energy. 

Electrical engineers typically hold bachelor’s degrees in either science or in electrical engineering. These engineers need to understand the fundamental concepts of electromagnetism, physics, and electricity. This career has a median income of $86,153.

Conclusion

The list above is just the tip of the iceberg. There is no shortage of careers that you can choose from. Earning power is an important factor when making your decision, but actually enjoying what you do adds to your quality of life. Take your time and do your research before settling on a career. It helps to find a career that you can find interest in and have an aptitude for.  After all, you have to live with your decision for a long time.

8 Smart Devices Every Student Should Try to Make Life Easier in 2020

There is no question that student life is pretty chaotic. Sometimes you need more than just will power and organizational skills to cope up with the struggles of it. And with smart gadgets, technology introduces some impressive tools that can help make your life easier. 

In this article, we've gathered small devices that can offer great possibilities for students in 2020. 

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Noise-Canceling Headphones 

It is becoming increasingly hard to find a quiet place to study and work.

But with a pair of noise-canceling headphones, you can now convert any room, park or cafe into a convenient place to do research, buy essay online safe or complete your assignments on your own with ease. 

While the best in the market, such as Bose and Sony, might be way too expensive, there are many affordable models. LINDY BNX-60 and Mpow H10 Active noise-canceling headphones are excellent choices. 

Price: $50 - $90

Rocketbook Everlast Endless

If you want to combine the feel of the good old note-taking with curring-edge technology, then this smart notebook ticks all the boxes. 

Rocketbook Everlast is particularly useful for those who need to include graphics and illustrations while taking notes. The pages can be erased, making it endlessly reusable. With the accompanying application, you can upload it to Google Docs, Dropbox, and elsewhere.

You can choose between different sizes and models of the book that comes along with the pen. 

Price: $20 - $40

MATEIN Laptop Backpack

Having smart devices also makes it inevitable to move around without a dozen chargers all the time. A simple alternate solution would be to buy a smart backpack that can keep your devices charged at all times. 

MATEIN slim travel laptop backpack comes with a built-in USB charger allowing you to keep all digital essentials charged. It also includes an anti-theft pocket. 

Price: $60

Laptop Cooler Pad

We all have switched places from desk to bed while working on a laptop. As comfortable as it is, better use a cooling pad to avoid your laptop heating up. 

Kootek Laptop cooling pad is one of the best in the market and offers just the right buffer for a laptop. It has six different height settings and the option to turn off some fans if required.

Price: $25

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

If you want to be more physically active while on campus, then this smart band could help. 

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 comes for an affordable price for students and offers the same functionality as many other popular brands. The model has a fitness tracker and heart rate monitor to track your sleeping patterns, which is indeed useful for learners. 

Price: $35 - $40

Tile Sticker Finder

Do you find yourself losing stuff frequently, or forgetting where you placed things? Having this new Tile App would help you save time searching for keys and wallet when you are already late for classes. 

Attach the Tile Mate to your keys or to your devices and use it to locate them whenever you need them. You can also find your phone using this. 

Price: $30 - $60

HP Portable Printer

After waiting in line at the library and almost missing the deadline, you would soon be hoping for a better solution for your printing needs. 

The HP Envy 5055 is easy to connect to your mobile device via stable wi-fi and take prints from anywhere. It is also equipped for copying and taking scans.

These features make it an all-in-one device. It also has cloud-based compatibility and will fit just right no matter how tine your dorm room can be. 

Price: $130

Tribit Portable Speaker

A major part of student life is also about having fun in college. The Tribit XSound Go is the perfect smart device that can convert your dorm into an awesome party space. 

It is one of the best models that easily fit any student's budget and has an incredible 24-hour long playtime. 

Tribit is waterproof, making it a great choice for pool parties. It also includes a built-in microphone and cord-free connection, making it easier to connect to devices with Bluetooth. 

Once you purchase these devices, be sure that anyone will want to attend the parties you host!

Price: $30 - $40

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Wrapping Up

Graduating from college is nor easy neither boring time. Still, this journey can definitely become easier with a great set of these cool smart devices. 

Choose from the list above which ones work for you and the expenses for which ones you can share with your roommates or fellow students.

Debunking the Myth: 7 Points on Why It's Cool to Be a Nerd

Education opens doors to a brighter future, says almost every parent in any corner of the globe. But when you are a child, school seems tedious and stressful. All those long classes, piles of homework, and mean classmates can turn one to drop out.

In this article, we have gathered some evidence to prove to you that education is awesome, and it does open many doors. 

Being smart is great, and there is no argument that can beat that. If you are a nerd, you will never have to ask someone: “Can you write my essay for me?” Even helping others feels good, and it might even make you some cash. 

As a nerd, you will never have to dread an exam or read a book the night before a class. 

Let's find out more points on why it's cool to be a nerd.

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Dropping out Is Costlier Than Graduating

According to LendEDU, approximately 55% of students were forced to drop out due to the lack of funds. However, the Economic Policy Institute has found that students who have attained at least a bachelor’s degree make $20,000 more per year than those who have dropped out. 

Tuition is expensive, but there are ways to decrease the cost. You could apply for grants or scholarships, the more, the better. Finding a summer job is another way to save up some money. 

And even when the summer is over, you can still have a part-time or remote job. 

The Skills You Gain Are Irreplaceable 

One of the most important things that school teaches us is how to actually study. You develop habits, schedules, and routines when managing your homework with social life. Prioritizing (or delegating) tasks and being proactive are two vital skills that one learns without even noticing. 

Besides, school is extremely important for an individual’s social and personal development. It’s easiest to form friendships at a younger age, and the older you get, the harder it becomes. If you make ten friends in your class, chances are, you might have two or three left after graduation.

Everything Has Its Time

When you are young, your brain is trained to perceive new information and form neural pathways, and it does it amazingly well. 

As you get older, without training, your brain slowly loses this ability. It becomes harder to remember and understand new things. That’s why it is best to go to university or college immediately after school. 

Your brain is fresh, your memory is sharp, and you may be the most passionate about learning then you'll ever be. 

Better Late Than Never

Whether you are 20 or 50, there is always room for self-development and growth. 

Today's schools encourage older adults to attend. Some are cutting the costs, and some are even supporting seniors with free tuition. 

Education is a path to prosperity, and it is never too late to start a new career. Older adults often get intimidated by new things, but what is the worst thing that can happen if you try?

Opportunities Are Limitless

If you are a nerd, or more specifically, the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) nerd, the whole world is at your fingertips. 

Who knows, you might become the next Mark Zuckerberg and develop an app that no one has thought about before. 

There is no reason to shy away from your love of math because it can provide you with a unique future. Technology has become the highlight of the 21st century. If you don’t chase that passion for programming, you might get stuck doing something boring (and low-paid) for the rest of your life. 

Help Improve the Statistics

The educational statistics in America are impressive but not in a good way. According to NCES, 5% fewer students are expected to pursue higher education this fall. Generally, the US lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to education. 

According to the latest PISA results, America took the 38th position in math out of 71 countries that participated. 

You have the chance to change the statistics. Embrace that nerd inside you and strive for academic excellence. You might even spark the joy of education in your friends, and there will be more students in the US. 

Education Is a Privilege

Unfortunately, even in this modern era of globalization, not everybody has access to education. For example, as of 2016, there are 63 million children that are out of school. Sub-Saharan Africa constitutes 34 million of those kids, and 10 million are from Southern Asia.

So, next time you feel lazy or tired of school, think of those children who have never even had the opportunity to attend a lesson. 

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Final Thoughts

Regardless of your age, gender, or religion, education is beneficial for everybody. Embrace your passions, learn math if that is what your heart desires, and don’t let anyone tell you it’s “not cool.”

Episode #74: Season 4 Premiere!

Welcome to another great episode of the podcast!

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This week's episode is the season 4 premiere! We're kicking off this year with a quick teaser for what is to come. Get excited and thanks so much for your support!

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Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/

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Listen to the episode below, or subscribe and listen via iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or Google Play.

Music by pond5.com

Thanks for listening!

Moving Into Your First College Apartment

One of the most common feelings for all college kids is the feeling of homesickness. They know they want to be independent of their Mom and Dad, but they don't necessarily want to be away from the things that made life feel safe and familiar. The good news is that there are so many ways to make your first college apartment feel like home. Being in dorms is different: you are in a room you likely share with someone else. However, in an apartment? You have way more space to spread out and make it feel like home. 

So, before you start planning your games room with classic arcade games for sale, start thinking of the basics that make your new college home the place to be. Below, we’ve got some tips and tricks for transforming your space.

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• Spring Clean - But All Year

Before you can start making the place feel like home, you need to gut it entirely and clean it thoroughly. Make sure that the carpet under the sofa is as clean as the carpet in the rest of the room. Donate things you don’t want, sell the things in good condition and make it a space that you can comfortably clean all year around. Use your space as efficiently as possible, as it’s likely you won’t necessarily afford a huge amount of it!

• Invest In Good Storage

College apartments are generally pretty small, which means that you need to get smart about your storage space. Investing in basket storage, closet organizers and shoe storage pockets for the back of the closet doors are a smart idea. You want everything to have a home, so start with the smaller items to avoid clutter.

• Make A Wish?

Remember we mentioned those arcade games? Well, you need to make a wish list of things that you want in your college apartment. It’s fine if you don’t start out with all of the things on your list; you need to give yourself the time to build up to that amount of money! So, look up ideas on what you’d like to have in your living space, and figure out how to get there.

• Shop For Deals

Just because you’re in college doesn't mean that you have to spend out tons of cash on new furniture - your college cash won’t stretch. So, go to the bargain shops and head to Craigslist - you’ll find tons of options that people just do not want anymore! 

• Decorate

Okay, so this one doesn't take very much work. A lick of paint? It can transform any room in the apartment. Mirrors on the walls make the space look bigger, and paintings or posters on the wall add color where you may not be able to add any.

You don’t have to splash the cash to make your new college apartment something wonderful to live in. You want a functional, beautiful space where you can enjoy yourself and feel proud that you have your feeling of home while far away!

Many Irons In The Digital Fire! Learning How To Make A Living Remotely

For so many people, it would be the dream. If you want to work full-time, or just make some extra cash, working at home seems ideal. But making a living remotely isn't just about getting a job that allows you to work from home a few days a week; if you want it to be a way of life you have got to learn how to make a living remotely, perhaps with a few different approaches. Let's see if we can help you make a living remotely.

Remote Money-Making Tactics

While there's plenty of resources suggesting that you write an ebook, or set up a blog, one of the best ways to truly get a profitable niche is to set up an affiliate account. There's a lot of talk about passive income. This is where you are earning money without necessarily putting effort into it. When it comes to earning money, there's always a gamble. And if you'd rather go for a quick gamble, there's plenty of online casinos like the Wombat Casino sign-up promotion. But when you are setting up an affiliate account, you can do this through various affiliate programs. This is usually dependent on you setting up a blog, but there are ways around becoming an affiliate marketer without a blog, but it does take a lot more effort.

Building And Selling Software

At the moment, there is a constant need for new software. From an app to a game, it's something that you can set up on the side. Yes, you need to learn to code, but there are plenty of online learning platforms that can get you started. Software is always in demand, and much like passive income, you should start to think about building something on the side. Part of making a full-time living remotely without a full-time job is about having many irons in the fire.

Doing Odd Jobs

Making a living remotely without getting a full-time job is achievable, you just have to be incredibly organized. Working as a freelancer is the best way to make money remotely, but the freelancer lifestyle is feast or famine. This means that you need to do odd jobs to tide you over. Having the foresight to envision downtime is crucial and because it can be stressful figuring out where your next paycheck is coming from, this is where remote companies like Appen can help. A lot of people need to supplement their income, and with Appen, there are numerous freelance tasks that pay regularly, just as long as you're willing to put in the time. When you start to plan a freelance career, there will be times where you need to complete odd jobs. And there are plenty of freelance websites out there, but sites like Appen and Pactera provide a lot of contracts that can potentially go on for months. Even if you're looking to make a bit of extra money, it is very useful.

There are plenty of options for you, but you must remember that if you are to do it properly, you have to be incredibly organized.

Reflections from OLC Accelerate 2019

I recently went to my first higher ed technology conference, the 2019 Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Accelerate conference which was held in Orlando, FL. It was my first national conference in several years, so I was excited in general to get back but this was also an opportunity for me to see how something more directly connected to my current work felt. I was not disappointed.

The conference was a decent size, with over 1,000 people on site (and more attending virtually, more on that later). It had people from all over the country and from all aspects of digital education.

Here are a few of my major takeaways:

Parity for All (Almost)

A big difference with this event than prior student affairs conferences I’ve been to (ACPA from 2013-15) is that there was a good mixture of those who worked on campuses and with them. It wasn’t just the vendors, it was those who were interested in connecting with other professionals from the vast ecosystem of digital education. I was one of those people. Our programs utilize a deep and diverse stack of tools to augment our student experience so it was great to be able to talk with folks from our current partners as well as meet with those from organizations we’re considering working with. I even got to see some of my campus based colleagues. Higher education is made up of partnerships with outside organizations in pretty much every functional area. Digital education programs have some of their own unique aspects in this regard, but we also touch every aspect of student support as well. The only thing that bummed me out was that OLC still does differentiate registration price between campus based professionals and those with companies. I’m looking forward to going to SXSW EDU next year which is one flat rate for all registrants, which is refreshing.

Sponsor/Vendor Presence

So following up on my prior point, there was a ubiquitous presence of sponsors and vendor set up at the conference looking to make connections and build their business. There was a lot of interesting tools and organizations to check out, and there was a deep integration of sponsors into socials, programming, and different raffles incentivizing engagement. I feel like higher ed can be a little resistant to stuff like this, but OLC feels like it thrives on making meaningful partnerships with these organizations that partner with campuses. Seeing that this was possible in this way reframed this for me. It really helped to have this funding since the whole conference experience benefitted. There were fun social events put on by vendors, awesome raffle prizes, and even monitors provided for their “discovery sessions” (basically poster sessions but with your computer) so that the audience could more easily view the content.

Live-streaming!

Something else that was refreshingly ubiquitous at this conference that I haven’t seen as much myself was the proliferation of live-streaming for sessions. I know more and more “virtual tickets” for conferences are popping up, but the way it was done for this conference was having people volunteer to be Session Chairs for each live-streamed presentation. They were able to manage the chat and relay questions live to the presenter(s). I imagine this is becoming more common, but seeing it firsthand was new for me, and I appreciated how they integrated this in for sessions and as a meaningful volunteering opportunity.

Overall Relaxed Vibe

As one might expect with a technology conference, this event had a laid back style and flow. There was a lot of different stuff going on at once and people tended to show up in more casual dress. They also served snacks and drinks throughout the time of the conference, which was a nice touch. Since it was held at a hotel near the Disney parks, they utilized those as an evening option for attendees to have fun and socialize after full days of educational content. I felt very at home with this overall experience, which I hadn’t really encountered at any conference before.

I’m very grateful I had the chance to attend this conference. I was also able to present a few discovery sessions in addition to the presentations I attended. I got a lot of helpful context and information to add to my ongoing development in this space. I look forward to hopefully attending again next year as I work to make OLC my new professional home!

Holiday Gift Idea

We all can use some help when it comes to gift ideas for all the important people in our life.

If you are looking for a fun, colorful, gift or stocking stuffer, knee high socks are a popular fashion statement that coordinates with almost any outfit.

Something to get everyone in the holiday spirit specifically are these awesome Christmas socks. They come in a variety of colors and styles and can help add a fun flair to your holiday party attire.

I love these socks and I know you will too!