Top Mistakes To Avoid When Live Streaming Professionally
Whether you’re virtually gaming, teaching, or hosting a company event, these are the top mistakes to avoid when live streaming professionally.
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Episode #123: Karthik Krishnan on MentorWorks and Alternative College Student Financing Models
Welcome to another great episode of the podcast!
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Our guest for this week’s episode is Karthik Krishnan, CEO and Co-founder at MentorWorks who gives a glimpse at how his team is helping to reshape the landscape of how students pay for college and the support they get throughout their studies.
Listen to the episode below, or subscribe and listen via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify.
Music by pond5.com
Thanks for listening!
How To Choose the Right Computer for Your Needs
Are you considering a new computer but are overwhelmed by all the different options and types available? Learn how to choose the right computer for your needs.
Read MoreEnd Of College In Sight? Don't Panic!
College always does fly by in the blink of an eye. So quick in fact that many students are left with that flighty panic as the end date creeps up. Maybe you haven’t got an internship, you haven’t applied for a job, not sure about your finances and you’re just not sure what you want to do. Try not to panic. Everyone who goes to college goes through this period of scary uncertainty. Hopefully some of these tips can help you plan the next stage in your life. It’s something to be happy about, and certainly something to look forward to.
What Did Your Idols Do?
Sometimes, looking up at the people you respect most can really help you. You can see what they did after college, how they approached life and what they did to get their working life up off the ground. It can add some levity to the situation. Especially when you see some may have dropped out, or worked minimum wage for a few years. Whether you’re looking at business leaders like Elon Musk, college experts like Stephen Troese or are keen to follow in the footsteps of your favourite celebrity. Knowing what they did can always help take some of the pressure away from where you are, and can also give some insight into what might come next. The point is that everyone does stuff at their own pace. Don’t look at others and benchmark yourself against them. Don’t let what they do, panic you.
Go It Alone?
Starting a business comes naturally to some people. Having that business acumen, the knowhow and the gift of easy communication might see you thrive in the business world. If you’ve studied business in college, or if you’ve decided to focus on entrepreneurship of some sort this might be for you. Whether you’re looking to start a business yourself, go into partnership with a friend or help out with a family business. It can be hard, it can be lonely too. But if you’ve got what it takes, you’ve spotted a gap in the market or have industry knowhow, you can really get into a great position right out of the gate. You don’t have to worry about the stress of getting a job, though of course there are other stresses in owning your own business, no matter what it is.
Can You Specialize?
You might be at the end of your undergraduate course and not really know what to you. However, if you’ve enjoyed your subject matter, to the point where you want to make a career out of it, you could move on to do a master’s degree, and then perhaps a PHD. It depends what you want and what you’ve got planned. If you’ve done well in your undergraduate degree you might be able to get a scholarship or nursery, even if you didn’t get this in your undergraduate. It’s certainly worth thinking about. However, you don’t want to get into the position where you’re just doing it because you don’t know what you want to do. Only go for it if it’s what you really want.
Top Tips To Help You Prepare For Higher Education
Whether you decide to apply for college straight out of high school or take a little break in between, you’re bound to feel a little nervous. After all, the jump between high school and college is no doubt a big one - and you need to be prepared for whatever changes this throws your way - whether that means you move out of your parent’s house for the first time or have to develop new skills in research or academic writing.
However, despite the challenges that come alongside it, there is a lot of real value in higher education that lies outside of the grades you get or the reports you turn in. For example, at college, you can:
Grow at both a personal and professional level - discovering who you truly are.
Make new friends and join a variety of clubs and societies.
Challenge yourself to try something new.
Focus on studying a subject you genuinely love.
Figure out precisely what kind of career is right for you.
Make important professional connections.
Expand your worldview.
Due to its importance, many people focus their energy on getting into college in the first place. However, it’s also important that you keep working hard once that acceptance letter has found its way to you - as you need to ensure that you are prepared for the work and journey that lies ahead, too.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to suitably prepare yourself for higher education!
Get started on your reading list early. No matter what subject you choose to study at college - be that literature or business management, you’ll likely be given a length reading list ahead of time. While you will go over the materials in class and be given a date when you should complete the reading, getting started ahead of time is essential if you want to put your best foot forward. It can also help you develop your confidence in class, as you’ll have at least a base understanding of the subject.
Buying your books ahead of time also means you can look out for deals - saving yourself a great deal of money in the long run. Alternatively, you could check them out of the library ahead of time, meaning you won’t turn up on the week of the assignment to find that your peers have taken out the books.
Consider taking an AP class. Before attending college, many students may find themselves asking the question Should I take an AP exam? This is hardly surprising as not only will they look great on any application, as they demonstrate a unique level of skill and academic interest - they can sometimes help you obtain college credits before you even walk through the door. As a result, participating in an AP (advanced placement) class can help you gain an understanding of what a typical college class will be like.
Prepare for different styles of learning. In high school, you quickly get used to a certain style of learning and teaching - after all, many classes use the same format over and over again. However, college classes often use a variety of different teaching styles and methodologies - meaning that you have to be prepared for different scenarios. For example, you will likely be taught by a variety of lectures, presentations, and smaller discussion groups (seminars). You should also prepare for the eventuality of online learning in some cases - as this continues to be the norm for teaching as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Choose your modules wisely. When it comes to obtaining your degree, you are given more academic freedom than ever before. For example, not only do you get to choose what subject you study - but you can also choose which specific topics you want to study within that course. Furthermore, many colleges encourage students to study modules in courses outside of their department to broaden their knowledge and skill set. However, it’s essential that you don’t choose a subject on the basis of it being fun or easy. Instead, think about whether or not it will present you with a challenge or help you obtain the skills you need to succeed in the future. For example, if you’re studying marketing full time, a minor in business management can help you gain the necessary skills that can help you obtain your dream job in the future. Remember, you’re going to spend a lot of money on your education, and you need to ensure this is a wise investment. Challenge yourself now to reap the rewards later.
One way to make the decision process easier is by carefully reading the information pack for each class. Find out who is teaching the course and what their credentials are, what subjects are covered and what the reading list looks like - as this is the easiest way to gain an indication of what you should expect. You should also pay close attention to how the course is assessed so that you can ensure it aligns with your skillset. For example, if you tend to perform poorly on examinations, you may want to choose subjects where your grade is based upon a presentation or an essay instead of a sit-down exam, as this means you will likely get higher grades.
Brush up on your time management skills. Many students find that the biggest difference between higher education and any studying they have done previously is the freedom. However, while this is exciting, it also means that nobody is telling you when you should do work - and you need to motivate yourself, especially when you are working towards multiple deadlines at once. Therefore, you can suitably prepare for higher education by brushing up on your time management skills. Getting to grips with your time management early can save you a lot of stress in the long run - meaning that you won’t have to spend hours in the library on the night before your deadline.
Introduce yourself to your tutors. If you are given the name or contact details of your professors ahead of time, then it is definitely worthwhile to reach out and introduce yourself to them. This means that you can start forming a relationship with them as early as possible- and they will be more likely to help you if you reach out in the future. Additionally, this gives you the chance to discuss your options with them and ask any questions you might have about the course or college life in general. The more advice you can take on, the better - as it will help you make more informed decisions.
Set up the perfect study space. When it comes to studying, you need to ensure you have the perfect setup that enables you to focus on the work without any distractions. For example, if you need to concentrate for long periods of time - don’t try and work from your bed, no matter how comfy it may be. Instead, set up a desk and surround yourself with the tools you need to get the job done. This could include books, highlighters, pencils, and more. Remember, while some people prefer to study in silence, others find it beneficial to listen to music when working - so take a little time to figure out what kind of environment allows you to thrive. If possible, turn off your phone during your allocated study hours - or at least put it on silent so that you aren't tempted to check it every few moments.
Sign up for extracurricular activities. As mentioned previously, your degree is not the only thing you get out of attending college - and you can often develop a lot of important skills outside of your academic training - such as teamwork, leadership skills, and confidence. One way in which you can develop these transferable skills is by signing up for a range of extracurricular activities. Be sure to research ahead of time what clubs and societies operate at your college - and allocate a certain amount of time for them in your weekly schedule. If your ideal society isn’t already out there - consider launching your own - this will give you the chance to try something new and will look great on your resume.
Find ways to destress. While managing your workload and studying is important, you should also ensure that you know exactly how you respond to stress ahead of time, as this will help you put the appropriate coping mechanisms in place. This means that you can avoid potential burnout, ensuring that you are always on top of your game.
Remember what your goals are. As mentioned before, college can be hard. There will be times when you will doubt your abilities, or feel as though the paper you are going to submit isn’t the best it could be. However, during this time, it’s important that you remember why you came to college in the first place and what your goals are. This can help you refocus your mind, putting you firmly on the path of success.
Why Precision, Accuracy, and Validity Are Vital in Research
In middle and high school, science teachers emphasized the importance of precision, accuracy, and validity in measurement. It may have seemed redundant in years past, but these principles have become even more important in academic research. Whether you’re an interested hobbyist or a science lecturer, every higher ed professional connected to the sciences must know why precision, accuracy, and validity are vital in research.
Replicating Precision
Precision refers to the nature of results in a series. When a scientist performs an experiment, they must be able to reproduce the same results every time. If they manage to reproduce the same or minimally different results in a series of tests, the results are precise. A lack of precision can lead to imperceptible random errors that yield widespread results.
Suppose you want to know how much hydrogen is in a gaseous mixture. If you test the sample several times and get significantly different results each time, you know your answers are imprecise. Something may be wrong with the measuring device or with the method itself. If the device is off, a scientist can use calibration gas to reset the sensors. If the technique is wrong, it will take some more theorizing to find a better, more practical solution.
Aiming for Accuracy
Imagine a target with a bullseye in the middle. Accuracy defines how close the darts are to the bullseye. While you can have replicable precision, these results may not be accurate to the truth—you could be doing the same thing wrong over and over again, getting the same answers.
Accuracy is how close a measurement is to its actual value. Imprecision is easy to notice when you have an erroneous value. Determining accuracy is a bit trickier. Maladjusted equipment and human error can lead to incorrect results that fail to represent reality.
Establishing Validity
Validity refers to the soundness of the theoretical framework backing a method. The experimental method in any new test relies upon well-established procedures and practices in the scientific community.
For example, if you want to measure a saltwater solution's volume, you will need a beaker demarcated with measured notches. If you put the beaker on a scale instead, you will measure the weight in grams, not the volume in milliliters. Your results would be invalid if you recorded the solution's weight in place of the volume since the method did not correlate with the outcome.
Knowing why precision, accuracy, and validity are vital in researchhelps students, staff, lecturers, and researchers do their work. Without these guiding principles, increasingly complex experiments would fall apart and have no direction.
It’s Never Too Late To Go Back
It’s not too uncommon to realize that you’ve gone in the wrong direction at some point in your life and to want to go back. It happens to many people all around the world, but it’s important that you know how to handle these feelings. To just accept and dismiss them isn’t the solution, and it’s only going to leave you stuck and regretting the past - you need to know how you can resolve it to start enjoying life again. When you’ve been working in a job you don’t enjoy for so long, dissatisfaction can start to kick in, and at that point, you should be looking for a way out of it.
Enjoying life
Enjoying life is the ultimate goal of anything that we do as if you aren’t enjoying it, you’re missing the point completely. Whether you get enjoyment from your job, your social life, or your hobbies, you need to be able to gain at least some satisfaction daily! If you aren’t getting any satisfaction, it’s a clear sign that you’re doing something very wrong. It’s healthy to change things up sometimes, as it could just be a sign of burnout, but there are cases where permanent changes are in order.
Square one
Going back is difficult enough as is, but going back to square one can be a very difficult decision. Sometimes the only way to get back onto the right path is by getting back into education. You need qualifications for many careers, after all, and the only way to get that is through proper teaching! Check out this veterinary technician associate course for example - it’s going to take a lot of hard work, but if that’s your goal in life it’s worth it.
The idea of going back is daunting for many reasons, but you need to understand that your position isn’t too rare! It’s almost impossible to know where you want to go in life from a young age, and you just have to hope that you’ve taken the right path or at least one that you can enjoy!
Make sacrifices
Of course, going backward in life isn’t something you can do without a few sacrifices along the way. Say you’ve studied hard to get to the position you’re in, going back in life is going to mean losing all of that time and effort. It’s difficult to make these decisions, as it renders a lot of your time spent useless, but what's known as the sunk cost fallacy. Just because you’ve invested a lot of time and money into something, doesn’t mean you should continue to do so! What’s important is knowing the direction that will make you happy, and deciding to go with it.
Getting the most out of life isn’t easy when you’re stuck in a position you wish you weren’t, and many people feel the regrets of poor decisions. Accepting that you’ve made mistakes is important, but knowing how to correct those mistakes is even more important. You shouldn’t let yourself get stuck on mistakes, and rather use them to learn and improve going forward.
5 Great Apps to Help You Save for Your Dream Home
At times, trying to save up to buy a home can seem impossible. Managing finances and budgeting costs come naturally to some, but the process can be challenging for others. If you are struggling with your saving but want to work towards a down payment, keep on reading!
In this article, we are going to take a look at five great apps to help you save for your dream home. Let’s get started!
NerdWallet
Some of you may know NerdWallet from their website, but what you might not know is that they also have a very helpful app. It will help you budget, track your spending and give you a clear view of your overall savings. But that’s not all! Here are a few other great features you can take advantage of:
- Ability to monitor and build your credit score
- Helps you discover your net worth
- Assists with paying off debt
- Provides insight and advice to help with your saving journey
Digit
Digit is another excellent app that assists with your goals. It analyses your spending patterns and helps you create an achievable budget with a savings amount that you won’t miss. The money goes into your Digit account but can be withdrawn at any time with no monthly limits. The only downfall of this service is that it isn’t free, and you’ll be charged a monthly fee of $5.
Mint
If you want a highly detailed and complex app that is still easy to use, Mint is going to be the best choice for you. In fact, many have claimed it to be one of the best free financing apps out there. It builds you a budget, allows you to link up your expenses, and sends you reminders so that you don’t forget a thing. Alongside this, you can set your own customized goals and watch your progress. You’ll be able to save for your dream property (like one of these homes for sale in Callaway FL) in no time!
PocketGuard
Another budgeting app, PocketGuard, is said to be great for those that need help with overspending. It links up all of your loans, investments, bank accounts, and credit cards so that you can easily see how much spendable money you have left after expenses. It even shows areas where you may be able to negotiate better rates. The cost for the premium version currently sits at $34.99 a year, which is certainly reasonable for the services it offers.
Ibotta
Ibotta isn’t a budgeting app but a cashback service that allows you to save money on your everyday purchases. From your regular groceries to clothing retailers and home improvement stores, there are many different brands that Ibotta has partnered with. All you need to do is sign up, find offers, redeem them, and get paid a few dollars back after you shop. It’s one of the simplest ways to save money, and it can all be put towards your new home.
Episode #122: Tim Mousseau on Masculinity, Higher Ed, and Sexual Harassment
Welcome to another great episode of the podcast!
We have a merch shop! Go find tons of cool gear and support the show at our storefront.
Support the show on Patreon to get exclusive perks!
Our guest for this week’s episode is Tim Mousseau who is a speaker nationwide on the topics of masculinity and sexual violence. Tim shares his experiences and points of view on his work in the college environment as well as how masculinity intersects with the perpetuation of sexual harassment.
Sexual Citizens by Jennifer S. Hirsch and Shamus Khan
For the Love of Men by Liz Plank
Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen
Listen to the episode below, or subscribe and listen via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify.
Music by pond5.com
Thanks for listening!
Tips for Effective Online Learning During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to several lifestyle changes; while many businesses have taken to remote working, schools embrace distance and digital learning. Studying online comes with numerous advantages and is currently the most preferred choice for many students, but it has its own set of challenges. According to a 2020 study, teachers and students have difficulty adapting to online learning, with 1 in 5 teachers admitting to being behind schedule compared to previously. Here are four tips for taking online classes if you’re looking to adjust your study habits for more effective learning.
Prepare your study area
When switching from the traditional classroom setting to studying from home, it’s essential to have a devoted area. This way, you can quickly settle in and get into a learning mood. Preparing this area is vital for adequate online studies. Ensure that all materials you need, including stationery, computer, headphones, and extra hard drives, are kept here. You can add a few enhancements to personalize your learning space for a more relaxing feel. This is useful for showing up and getting business done.
If you live in a shared or limited space, take some space in the kitchen or dining area and dedicate it to your studies. Ensure to inform everyone and remove every clutter for more productive studying.
Create a routine
After creating your dedicated learning space, it’s vital to develop a regular study schedule. However, it doesn’t only end there; you need to adhere to it. It’s common to see students in various educational institutions pursue other jobs and responsibilities along with their studies. Internship, work, family, and other obligations mean you have multiple roles competing for your time and attention. This is why it’s crucial to establish a schedule that permits you to fulfill your everyday obligations while making the most of your studies.
Get involved as much as possible
Whether you’re taking a class via the internet or face-to-face, participation is essential for your success. While displaying signs of interest to your tutors, participating in the online course with enthusiasm is a sign that you’re learning and willing to invest the efforts necessary to succeed. Education is often viewed as a passive process, yet it becomes an active one when you get involved.
While you can fully complete some courses online, others may require some in-person interactions for support, test, and experiments. For example, study platforms like PhlebotomyU have activated social distancing measures while ensuring staff is available via email, website, and phone to support you.
Ensure regular communication for group projects
College programs usually include assignments and group projects designed to be completed together with your other coursemates. Like classroom-based learning, the same principle applies even when studying remotely. However, unlike the former, which requires physical interaction, individuals learning online may need to find virtual resources like Zoom, email, shared documents, and other communication mediums to engage and minimize the odds of possible confusion. It’s best to find a platform that works for every group member and follow-up regularly.
While web-based learning might not be your best option, applying these tips should set you on a solid footing for excelling in your course. Ensure maintaining clear and open communication lines with everyone that matters and stay engaged with your study material.