Good news awaits all the educators, students and school administrators for the year ahead.

Much to the surprise of all the stakeholders, a number of exciting trends are predicted to shape up, revolutionizing the educational sphere.

The year 2018 is all set to shed light on a number of concerns and topics that are poised to transform the way educators teach and students learn.

If you are keen on exploring the much anticipated and imminent educational trends that will make a mark for themselves in 2018, here is a long list of 15 such instances that can be expected.

  1. The Internet Will Continue to be the Omnipresent and Omnipotent Learning Tool

It is now the age of technological learning that provides umpteen learning opportunities to students and teachers alike. With the booming use of internet, students will expect the seamless use of technology in classrooms as well. Since technology has already penetrated into their homes, the present generation students would be poised to bank on the internet to realize all their learning aspirations.

Students can rely on web portals to submit educational projects and assignments. Paving the way for computerization of schools, the internet will continue to provide the much-needed, unlimited access to information for students.

  1. Augmented Reality Will Rule the Roost

A number of studies that were conducted over the last couple of years have put the technology behind Augmented Reality (AR) on a pedestal. AR is the buzzword that will enhance learning alongside improving classroom interactions. Students who bank upon AR will enjoy experiential learning alongside motivating them to perform better in studies.

AR is the next big thing for tertiary learning institutes like colleges and universities. The year 2018 will witness AR to transform into a mainstay learning technology, especially for subjects like humanities, arts and sciences. AR will team up with 3D modeling software systems, allowing you to submit 3D assignments and project presentations; from your smart devices. Students majoring in architecture can employ this technology to build 3D models and assist them in their college and university project submissions.

  1. Widened Scope for Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals who support the activities of teachers will witness a plethora of opportunities in 2018. They will bring in quality learning experiences through a number of creative methods. Paraprofessionals will have access to information that will hone their skills so that they can employ them for the collective welfare of the students of a classroom. The year 2018 will see the rise of professional development opportunities for these paraprofessionals for different school districts attached to every country.

  1. A Rise in Cost of Education Continues

College education is becoming expensive on account of many reasons. Inflated costs will definitely fleece the budget of colleges, forcing them to compensate through an increased tuition fee. Along with a deliberate cut in state funding for education, public schools and colleges are forced to jack up their tuition fees. This trend of high education costs will make its strong presence felt in 2018 as well. Given the fact that low-income students are finding it difficult to enroll for college education, colleges have decreased the college enrolment fees, eventually hiking the tuition fee.

  1. Trauma-Informed Practices Will Experience a Fillip

The future lies with educationalists having a keen interest in information concerning trauma-informed practices. The present day educators and students are relying on the professional resources which can ease the effects of trauma. It is an eye-opener to know that students under the age of 16 have already experienced the debilitating effects of stress. Given the number of factors can lead to stress in students, it is for the educators to identify them. Once these are recognized, it is for the administration to come up with strategies aimed at better management of classrooms. These trauma-informed practices will help new age students to counter and surpass any sort of educational or behavioral stumbling blocks they encounter.

  1. Flipped Classrooms – The New Age Learning Arenas

Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams along with One Drive will soon become the indispensable learning tools in modern schools. Flipped classrooms will continue to make their presence felt in education, guaranteeing the benefits of collaborative learning. The year 2018 will make these online learning tools very significant and pivotal to students to make the most of modern educational practices.

  1. Niche Learning – The New Kid on the Education Block

All in an attempt to address the increased demand for skilled professionals required by various industries, it is the need of the hour to tread the path of niche learning. Enrolments to certification courses will see a rise with organizations spending monies on equipping their workforce with on-the-job trainings and certifications. This trend is expected to open up millions of jobs for certified professionals. It is for these certifications that schools will tie up with industries who are scouting for skilled workers. This will lead to a smooth transition for the learned to pass out of college and immediately get placed in companies scouting for trained professionals.

  1. Micro-Credentialism Will Witness A Major Push

Similar to niche learning that is the much-needed form of education to thrive in this highly-competitive business environment, the concept of micro-credentialism is steadily gaining ground. Businesses are no longer in need of students who attend colleges in pursuit of knowledge about various subjects. On the contrary, they are constantly on the lookout for professionals who are abreast with the working of a streamlined vocational environment. It is through micro-credentialism that students of the present generation will have to sign up for niche learning courses so as to fill the widening gap between the demand and supply of skilled labor.

  1. The Use of Collaboration Tools Will Witness a High

In 2018, as in the previous years, students will rely on technology to not only socialize and make friends but also to collaborate. While this is an external parameter to a classroom, this trend is expected to percolate into the classroom as the entire class will use similar technologies to make education enjoyable. This will not only set the stage for students to learn from each other, but also to engage better with their topics.

  1. The Prominence of Video Communication Tools

Google Expeditions is a Virtual Reality (VR) learning tool that allows students to enjoy virtual trips by travelling to any nook and corner of the globe. This is a video communication tool that holds great promise to students of modern times to enjoy real-life learning experiences that are far-fetched with traditional teaching styles. Such video-driven learning tools permit you to make the most of online content that makes visuals thrilling to watch and learn.

  1. The Modern Age of Data-Centric Schools

Another educational trend that you should be in the know of concerns the use of statistical information in school management. Be it the seamless monitoring of attendance registers or the storage of educational projects, the year 2018 is all set to witness a sea change. Schools will begin to incorporate a widespread use of EMIS (Education Management Information System) so as to better monitor the performance of both students and teachers alike. EMIS helps schools to have up-to-date and relevant information that can be retrieved effortlessly. With the EMIS in place, schools will be in a strong position to make better decisions when they can compare past trends to current happenings.

  1. Reading Will Become A Pleasure Through E-Books

It is not an overstatement to quote that e-books have a positive impact on the reading habits of students who are reluctant to hold a book in their hands. You can now pick an e-book of your choice and read it so as to not only improve your reading skills but also for the sheer pleasure of befriending black and white text. By 2018, you can expect all the schools to employ e-books as promising reading tools to make the assimilation of knowledge a pleasure for life.

  1. The Upcoming Benefits for Teaching Fraternity

New age teachers will begin to enjoy better career pathways through typical classroom practices like teacher leadership roles and mentoring skills. Given the fact that teaching is considered a flat career without any promotions, the attrition level in the teaching line is quite high.

Some teachers will sign up for new teacher mentoring roles while some become instructional coaches. It is through these novel career options that a fresh breathe of life can be bestowed to teachers. These education-centric admin roles that the teachers will embrace will help them gain recognition for their expertise in the fields of delivering curriculum. They will also become the vital instrumentals in the growth of new teachers who are aspiring to teach and inspire students.

  1. Teacher Shortage Continues To Be A Matter of Concern

Shortage of teaching staff linked to subjects like science, math and special education will still persist in 2018 apart from registering a rise. While schools continue to face a serious shortfall of teachers, it is also crucial to retain new teachers. With a steady rise in the number of school-going students coupled with a low teacher retention rate, most of the schools, across the globe will face an acute shortage of teachers in 2018 as well.

  1. The Growing Popularity of Inclusive Practices in Education

The year 2018 will witness a steady popularity of inclusive educational practices. It is through such practices that differently-abled students can be brought into the educational mainstream. These practices will help such students to excel in their academics through an endearing support coming from educators. Enabling them to meet their numerous learning needs, a free-thinking and a collaborative learning pattern will support them in more ways than one.

Closing Thoughts

There is so much in store for all the stakeholders concerning the sphere of education in 2018. The above-explained pointers highlight the developments that you can expect in 2018. It is through these fact-based predictions that you can come to a conclusion that a paradigm shift in education is imminent and here to stay.

When you speak of a traditional classroom, the first image that crosses your mind is the sight of a tutor lecturing to a class.

What about the students? They simply sit without participating in the classroom discussions. This non-participation of students does a great deal of harm, marring the basic premise of learning.

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In an attempt to encourage students to actively engage themselves with everything that happens in class, a model of instruction called the student-centered classroom is in place.

This is a concept that shifts the focus away from teachers and revolves around students, encouraging them to partake in classroom discussions. All in an attempt to allow students apply their minds, here are 10 intelligent ways to build a student-centered classroom.

  1. Bestow Students with the Freedom of Choice

A student-centered classroom is one which allows the freedom of choice to students.  The teacher can allow them to use their discretion about what projects they wish to work on. For that matter, you can also permit them to choose their bench and the company of their classmates. This sense of freedom will spark creativity in students, alongside strengthening their decision-making skill.

When students enjoy autonomy in everything they do, they will feel less restricted, constantly giving their best to academics or extra-curricular activities.  When students apply their knowledge, they will create an environment which promises individual and collaborative learning, while working on a group project.

  1. Unleash the Power of Student Reflection while Becoming Their Mentors and Coaches

When students are encouraged to reflect upon what they have been learning, they will slow down their pace and introspect their strengths and weaknesses. Teachers can help them analyze their worthiness when they will try to process all that they have learnt in their inquisitive brains. This will help them tread the path of individual and collective growth.

Teachers are the pivots of a student-centered classroom. They are required to implement a learning structure that urges the students to actively participate in classroom activities.  Every teacher needs to transform into a mentor delivering deep insights about how learning should progress. Posing questions, having discussions etc will help you comprehend the level of understanding each student has.

This will ultimately lead them to a holistic learning process revolving around their innate intelligence.

  1. The Inclusion of Academic Workshops and Educational Gadgets

A student-centered classroom works best through workshops along with plenty of professional development opportunities. Teachers should work hard by playing the role of mentors for specific subjects. You should create a concrete lesson plan supported by a host of teaching techniques that will benefit your students. Workshops which focus on different subjects will help students strengthen their fundamentals. In order to facilitate these mechanisms, teachers can sign up for training sessions about the use of teaching gadgets like iPads that will create an environment of personalized learning.

  1. Demonstrate The Strength of Open-Ended Questioning Techniques

Posing open ended questions allows students to formulate their own answers without sticking to a particular response from a series of answers. Since open-ended questions have no pre-determined limitations or boundaries, students can hone their creative thinking abilities while sharpening their problem-solving skills. You will also create an environment of clear intra-class communication which develops a sense of reassurance that your class welcomes every student’s ideas and thoughts.

  1. The Formulation of Rules

Autonomy is not about allowing students to do what they like. It is also about following certain non-negotiable rules. Given a scenario when all your students are working towards a group project, you can allow one student to start and lead the discussion. Others will step in through their comments. These comments will again be called for discussion so that you can keep a check on unruly and distractive students. through these boundaries students can make the most of collaborative learning and deliver the project on hand.

  1. Flip The Assessment Grades With Comments

Treading away from the traditional educational pattern, grades no longer come in as a measure of a student’s success. On the flip side, teachers should change the feedback process which collates all the comments and discussions of students with regard to submission of their assignments. The simple alphabetical grades should be done away with. A conscious effort to uncover the strengths and weaknesses of students through constructive feedback is required.

Academic quizzes and assessments as learning activities can be conducted frequently. This will come handy while collating performance metrics of every student.

  1. Unveil The Attraction of Student Collaboration

Teachers working towards a student-centered classroom should encourage students to constantly engage themselves in group learning activities. Students should be provided with umpteen opportunities to partake in group discussions. Such activities will not only introduce your students to varying opinions of their classmates, they will also be thrilled to assimilate different views coming from their mates. These activities set the stage for a healthy competition amongst your students.

  1. The Union of Family and School

For the success of a student-centered classroom, teachers would need the endearing support of the families of their wards. When you are striving towards a student-driven learning pattern, you should work hard in the direction of motivating them alongside making them accountable for all their actions.

These two traits of accountability and motivation should be honed from the home-front as well. Notwithstanding the fact that a school is indeed the second home of every student, it is only when you rope in the parents of your wards that you will derive synergistic benefits of well-informed families teaming with classrooms. For this, it is the need of the hour to educate parents about the principles behind a student-centered classroom so as to reap the benefits of enhanced student participation.

  1. Chalk Out Individual Assignments

It takes all sorts of students to make up a class. Contrary to the belief that one size fits all, a classroom has students with different IQ levels. They also demonstrate different speeds at which they grasp the classroom learnings. In an attempt to handhold these different students, you can chalk out individual assignments that match varying learning styles. With such assignments in place, students with diverse learning patterns can benefit from an in-depth understanding of the subject.

  1. Introduce Students To Multiple Learning Avenues

Given the rate at which technology is penetrating into every walk of human life, millennials of today have lots to explore through the internet. You can encourage them to register for online courses which are in tandem with their core interests. Such learning avenues can encourage a motivated student to look at education from a completely different perspective.

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Alongside practicing the model of self-learning, students can become a part of experiential learning that is offered by technology  like AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality). All these not only allow students to apply their knowledge but also aid in a significant paradigm shift in the learning methods employed in classrooms. Such technological interventions can become catalysts to a student-centered classroom.

Key Takeaways

After understanding the importance of student-centered classrooms, it goes without saying that this form of learning can lead to a much-needed and exciting educational transition.

All you need to do is to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of your students. After understanding these attributes closely, you can carve a student-centered classroom.

Learning is an ongoing process and you are really blessed if you get a chance to study in your life. It doesn’t matter much on how you perceive your education but what matters is the way you apply it in your real life.

A majority of the students are regular school or college goers and they gain their degrees by spending a major part of their day at the institution. However, the trend is slowly changing as many of the students are now opting for online courses. And there are enough reasons for students to think different and get their education done online.

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Here are a few among the many reasons why many students are opting for online courses:

  1. Balance time flexibly: Are you running a family or taking care of your kids or parents and finding it difficult to attend a regular course? Then why not go for an online course and get your degree by balancing your time flexibly? Most of the online courses available let you perceive it without restrictions for the time flexibility. You can invest your free time in these courses and take care of your other priorities during the prime time.

 

  1. Learn despite time and place: Are you staying in a remote area and finding it difficult to make convenient transportation to good institutions in the city? The online courses make your dream of learning possible without the hassles of travelling kilometres daily. Online courses won’t demand students to learn in a particular time and this gives them the convenience of studying despite whether it is day or night. Thus you can balance the personal and professional life well.

 

  1. Learn and work in parallel: Some people might wish to learn more but have to get into a work to earn the living. The online courses offer the flexibility to learn on your free time by still pursuing the career. You can work on day time and spend a few hours for the course during night or weekend and manage both things efficiently. Some work demands a lot of travelling and this restricts the option for going for even weekend courses regularly. Online courses with flexible timing are a solution for such students also.

 

  1. Flexible schedules: When you opt for a regular class at campus, there is no compromise on the daily attendance. You have to be present for almost half of your day at the institution to pursue your dream. The advantage of studying in flexible schedules makes the online learning a plus for people with multiple areas to focus. This also gives them a chance to focus on different areas of study in parallel. Missing a class lesson due to fever or heavy rain is out of question in this approach.

 

  1. Student-centered curriculum: This type of learning in fact promotes the student-centered curriculum. Students would get a chance to share their decisions and be confident in their capacity. Their distinct aspirations, learning needs or areas of interest can be addressed well using this mode of study. This in fact develops their communication and social skills and triggers their intrinsic motivation to learn. They can easily identify the ways through which they can transfer their abilities to the real world.

 

  1. Access to online education materials: There is no trouble of carrying heavy text books to the school or college every day. You can have access to the wide range of online education materials with just an internet connection. Moreover, they can review notes, re-watch lecture videos or access other online resources at the time of their choice. There is no botheration of returning books on time to the library as you can refer to the materials that you need at your preferred time.

 

  1. Globally discuss online: The advanced online courses will have a global community of the student members who are taking the courses worldwide. So you will get a chance to discuss about the subject from different students globally which helps you to learn about the subject on a wider perspective. This also improves their online communication and everyone gets a chance to express their views which is not always practical in a traditional classroom.

 

  1. No limits to learning by geography: The flexibility to learn despite the place where you are living is what makes online learning this much special. So you don’t need to give up your dream of pursuing certificate in your preferred subject just because the institution near your home is not offering it. Similarly, students can get courses across the country or globe and thus erasing the barriers of limited students and instructor options.

 

  1. Improved computer skills: When you gain a degree by undergoing online courses, you would be more frequently using the system. So there is a good chance for you to become masters of the computer with good technical skills. The proficiency in using the system and web gained through online learning format are really going to help you in their professional life, as well.

 

  1. More choice of course topics: There may be limitations on the courses available if you plan to pursue your degree on a campus. However, online learning opens a world of choices and you can seek a degree of your favourite subject. Staffing limitations of your favourite subject no more stops you from pursuing what you really wish. The choice can be made from a wide variety of programs that open a world of opportunities for pursuing various careers.

 

  1. Accessibility of qualified teachers: Another important advantage of taking degrees online is the availability of subject experts. Many of the courses allow you to fix a schedule for learning with the subject expert of your choice from a group of qualified teachers. There are also options to send your doubts or queries regarding the subject to the teacher’s email and get a fairly quicker response.

 

  1. Convenient group meetings: Group projects can be more flexible than in a traditional classroom. They can discuss the project ideas and plans in the discussion corner and execute it well on time. There is no need to take trouble in coordinating a time or place for discussion unlike in a regular classroom setup. Moreover, this opens up a chance to grow your professional network and friendship.

 

  1. Learn from comfort zone: Some may not prefer to study by sitting at the desk for a longer period of time. Similarly, some others won’t prefer to wear uniforms and go by the school responsibilities to study their area of interest. Online learning is an excellent option for those who prefer to study from their comfort zone. They don’t need to sacrifice their time, place or other engagements and study at their comfort.

 

  1. Self-paced learning: Independent learners would always prefer to learn at their own pace without any restrictions or pressure. This is possible with online learning unlike the traditional classroom schedules and weekly exams. In this method, a student has the sole deciding power of what to study and when to study and this flexibility proves really good for independent learners. They can invest ample time for their other passions and give dedicated time for learning at their wish.

 

  1. Character development: An institution is considered the best place where a student develops interpersonal skills and many doubts that it will be missed in online courses. However, learning online is not that easy going as many think. This requires good time management skills as well as a lot of self-motivation. This is the most important skill a student should develop that gives him a self drive to do things in life. It also teaches how to meet deadlines without any external pressure which is going to help you a lot in the work place.

 

  1. Lower costs: Most importantly, you can save pretty decent money if you opt to take up courses online. The payment is needed for just the tuition fees, any book posts and the exam fees. Students can be free of the money they spend for housing and transportation. This helps them to avoid the possible debts and save more.

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If you are trying hard to balance the learning phase for any of the reasons, don’t leave up your dream to learn more. Instead, do a thorough research and join an online course of your favourite subject and enjoy the true spirit of learning. Even when you have enough degrees in your life, you can try your intelligence or excellence in different subjects by opting for various courses online and keep up the passion for learning.

Most of the times, student behavior poses challenges to education experts. One such phenomenon is the threat of cyberbullying; bullying a student through the use of electronic media. Bullies send text messages via computers and smartphones which can be threatening or intimidating. Such students can also share content on social media platforms or via gaming apps so as to inflict emotional pain on timid and introvert students.

Here are some tips that will help teachers crack the whip on erring students who are making the lives of their peers a living hell through offensive texts and images.

  1. Inform About Cyberbullying at an Early Age

Now a days, kids as young as six are relying on technology to learn in classrooms or at home. It is this trend that paves the way for bullies to go crazy with their malicious intentions. It is hence your responsibility as a teacher to educate your pupils about cyberbullying from the time they start using technology for learning. When students are aware about cyberbullying, they will steer clear of all such occasions which can lead them to be bullied by the “so-called” dominating students.

  1. Conduct Informative E-Workshops for Parents

Teachers should work hard in the direction of nipping off cyberbullying in the bud itself through the active involvement of parents. School authorities, teamed with teachers should step in to conduct e-workshops and webinars for parents. As part of these workshops, parents should be allowed to engage in discussions concerning cyber bullying along with solutions that come in the form of filtering software. Highlighting the different forms of cyberbullying will also be of utmost help to parents to ensure that their kids are safe at home while being connected to the internet. This awareness about what cyberbullying will help parents to ensure a safe and cordial learning environment for their wards; at all times.

  1. Explain the Thin Line Between An Argument and A Bullying Comment

While teachers should educate both kids and parents about what cyberbullying is all about, the onus is on them again to inform both the parents as to what is not bullying. Since kids are free to express their differences on various online platforms, they can also engage in arguments so as to prove their point to others. Under such circumstances, it is important for students to not regard a small tiff as an act of bullying.

  1. The Privacy Factor

Teachers are ordained to impress upon students to protect their online passwords. It should be dinned into the minds of students that they should never ever share their passwords with anyone; including their closest pals. Teachers should also emphasize on the need to keep changing the passwords at regular intervals. Students should also be encouraged to come up with non-controversial tweets alongside maintaining a graceful online status for other friends to easily recall and interact.

  1. Compassion is the Key

Teachers should adopt an empathetic stance with the perpetrators by reiterating the fact that they cannot get away with what they are doing. Educators should impress upon such erring students that they cannot take refuge for their wrong doings behind a computer or phone. It is through empathy that teachers can handhold such students and tame them so that their words and actions do not inflict pain on the weak and vulnerable students.

  1. Ignorance of Law is Unpardonable

Teachers have to work in tandem with the school staff to ensure that the laws of cyberbullying are adhered to; at all times. If a teacher identifies an offensive image or content, especially of cyberbullying nature, he/she should go full on to confiscate the device. To perform such disciplinary acts, it is the prime responsibility of teachers to stay in sync with the protocols of their school along with the act of safeguarding the lawful policies of child protection. This way, a sense of lawfulness will keep such bullies on their guard.

  1. Cyberbullying is Non-Negotiable

As a strong contrast to the common adage “Spare the rod, spoil the child”, punitive actions work against your intention. Care should be taken by educators to restore the situation without indulging in any sort of punishment. Teachers should try to address cyberbullying in a healthy manner so as to avoid repeated occurrences. Allowing students to develop healthy relationships with their peers, teachers will have to work hard towards educating students about mutual understanding and responsibility.

  1. Openness to Report Abuse

Empathy is not only about understanding the mentality of bullies. It is also about helping the bullied students to report abuse. An open line of communication between students and teachers will pave the way for a cordial teacher-learner relationship. Once such a healthy relationship is established, students will gain confidence and start to open up with their faculty about becoming a victim of cyberbullying. It is hence the need of the hour for teachers to harp on the importance of breaking their fearful silence that envelops cyberbullying.

  1. Incorporate Team Building Mechanisms

Teachers deal with students coming from different walks of life. While some of them can be extroverts, a bunch of introverts in class might find it difficult to interact with the rest of the class. It is under such circumstances that team building activities come to the rescue of teachers. Allowing groups of students to collectively partake in an activity with a pre-defined goal will enhance the interaction between these groups. Once students start interacting with each other in pursuit of attaining a common goal, they will employ all their strengths to complete the task. In doing so, they will also start to engage with other students who are not a part of their class.

  1. Incorporate Technology In Classrooms

Schools which incorporate technology as a learning tool stand to ward off the instances of cyberbullying, in more ways than one. Teachers will be able to educate students about the ethical and non-ethical use of technology. Guiding them at all times, teachers through technology can help students respect each other and stay away from hurting others through malicious comments and images.

  1. A Yardstick to Cyberbullying

Teachers can seek the active participation of students in anonymous school surveys. Through such programs, teachers will be able to assess the extent of bullying that is harming students along with other malicious behaviors that are prevalent. Allowing educators to identify blind spots through nameless clues coming from the entire class, teachers will have substantial data points to address the menace of cyberbullying. They will be able to better focus on the issues and address them accordingly.

  1. The Intervention of Professionals

While teachers spend a great deal of time amidst the four walls of a classroom, constantly interacting with their pupils, they can also seek the intervention of community resources in tackling cyberbullying. School communities which have the support coming from administrators, counsellors and law enforcement personnel will be in a better position to tackle the ill-effects of cyberbullying.

Teachers can knock on the doors of counsellors to interact both with the perpetrators and the victims. Teachers should impress upon students to be open up their problems to counsellors to solve them.

  1. Knowledge About Legal Dimensions

Students can indulge in sexting, alongside engaging in conversations full of verbal aggression. They can be caught possessing an indecent video image or video of another student. Notwithstanding the fact that such actions do not call for any legal proceedings, teachers should seek the involvement of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO). Through these law enforcement officials, everyone concerned can be briefed about the legal implications that surround cyberbullying. When parents and students participate in such discussions, they will be better informed about the consequences of cyberbullying.

Wrapping It Up

With so much being said about cyberbullying and the pain it inflicts on weak students, it is time teachers take things under their control. When the above-discussed tips are implemented by educators, they can not only restore but also create a positive school environment that thrives on open communication and empathy. All in an attempt to establish healthy peer-to-peer relationships in classrooms, these anti-cyberbullying hacks will come handy to ensure the mental well-being of every student concerned.

It is the endeavor of teachers to prepare their wards in such a way that they can face the challenges that life throws at them at all times. Given the omnipresence of technology, gadgets will come as accessible instruments to favor technology-centric teaching methods. Along with this, the time is ripe to focus on personalized learning so that every student learns at his own pace to transform into a knowledgeable and responsible citizen. All such developments are lined up for the teacher-student fraternities as part of promising educational trends in 2018.

Here is the rundown of all such educational trends that will make their strong presence felt in 2018.

  1. Career-Centric Programs

It is now time for school leaders and teachers to make the most of opportunities that help them take on the role of trained leaders and mentors. They will now be able to impact the lives of other students in more ways than you can imagine. These groups of individuals will involve themselves in induction programs by extending support and mentoring students as part of building up their careers. Such programs will not only benefit students to develop management skills but will also lead to the retention of new teachers.

This can be seen as a promising career-support initiative that will weave magic in the lives of both students and teachers alike. Such opportunities are waiting to be unleashed by teachers who will carve a niche for themselves so as to tread the path of professional development.

  1. The Impressive Presence of Technology

Teachers and students will be in a favorable position to leverage the benefits of technology in education. Young children are already tapping the potential of Flipgrid; a platform which promotes social learning. This is a community learning interface which allows students to share knowledge through online discussions about various topics.

It is through short videos that students share their responses by participating in various learning dialogues. Tagged as a simple yet powerful means, it is through Flipgrid that teachers can encourage student engagement. All those young learners who lack writing abilities now have a platform to express themselves through this creative learning platform.

  1. The Prominence of Screen Capture Videos

Another impressive use of technology to learning and teaching comes in the form of screen capture videos. These are identified as the next big thing that will enable teachers to assess the assignments of students, permitting them to share personalized feedback.

Through a screen capture video, educators in 2018 can record a lecture, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of students by displaying their assignments online. Students get to learn their innate positives and areas of improvement through this form of online feedback. This trend of receiving feedback via a laptop screen is poised to continue in 2018 as a promising means to modern teaching and learning mechanisms.

  1. Drift Away From the One-Size-Fits-All Educational Approach

The concept of personalized learning has caught up in such a way that it is spreading its wings into all the spheres of education. When you blend this concept with technology, you will begin to unleash the benefits of a novel teaching approach that argues against the prominence of one-size-fits-all. Since a class is made up of students with different IQ levels who demonstrate different means of expression, personalized learning supported by technology will be the continuing trend in 2018 as well.

Teachers will be employing the next gen online tools that deliver the benefits of personalized learning. They will encourage students to communicate, collaborate and work in tandem with each other.

  1. Teachers Will Partake in Residency Preparation Programs

The year 2018 will see the teaching faculty enroll themselves with residency-based preparation programs. These residencies are primarily meant to lend a helping hand to areas which demand greater student-teacher participation, especially with subjects like science, math ad special education. These are the subjects which register a huge teacher turnover in prominent city school districts.

Through such residency preparation programs, teachers will be encouraged to not only benefit from graduate educational programs but will also receive stipends. Allowing teachers to transform into experienced teachers, it is through residency preparation programs that the present day teachers can secure their jobs for longer periods.

  1. The Inclusion of Trauma-Informed Practices

Stress is a common factor that runs havoc in the lives of modern individuals. Students too are not spared from the harmful effects of unnecessary tension. Hence it is the need of the hour for teachers and educators to rely on professionals so as to counter the effects of traumatic events witnessed by students in their past.

A study suggests that 25% of students under the age of 16 have already become the victims of trauma. Kids who have experienced turbulent childhoods call for immediate action. Teachers and school administrators should pay extra attention to stressed out students. The latest trend in this regard will be the active involvement of school authorities with stressed out students. Supporting them to face life with renewed vigor and confidence will become the ultimate goal of educationalists; an attempt to nip off the after effects of stress in students in the bud itself.

  1. Shortage of Teachers

The previous trend with regard to teacher shortage is predicted to continue in 2018 as well. There will be a dip in the number of teachers who specialize in science, math and special education. With such a situation, schools which are meant to educate low-income students, color students and those who are eager to learn the English language would need a stronger force of trained teachers.

When the society begins to register a growing number of school-going kids without the assistance of educated staff, underdevelopment is all that you can expect. This is a trend that should be addressed on a war footing for a holistic change to manifest.

  1. SEL Efforts Will Attract The Limelight

Another educational trend that you can expect in 2018 concerns the efforts towards Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in assessing the progress of a school. With a determination to build the self-esteem of students, schools will start encouraging kids to face the life ahead by introducing them to modeling teamwork. Equipping students with the social and emotional strength to resolve conflicts with peers, schools will work hard in demonstrating empathy.

It is through such well-informed moves that schools will turn into stress busters for students so that they can effectively beat the reasons causing anxiety and stress in them. Teamed as a generation which promotes a positive school culture, it is the right time for schools to offer a safe, healthy and understanding environment for students.

  1. The Promise Behind A Healthy School Culture

You can expect a number of advancements with regard to the culture of schools throughout 2018. Now is the time when a lot of attention will be given to a positive school culture which promises a healthy, scholastic well-being. Healthy school philosophies are a function of expectations, beliefs and attitudes which will be periodically expressed by the internal and external participants.

To promote a healthy school culture, it is very important to inculcate strong leadership traits amongst both teachers and students. Bringing in the importance of a group effort, it is through constructive feedback that you can take the first step towards building a strong internal and external school environment. This positive trend is expected to continue into the next year as well.

  1. School PR Strategies To Get A Fillip

Given the fact that schools are the strong pillars of every community, the year 2018 is expected to offer a host of opportunities for leaders to accept complete responsibility. When leaders start extending efforts in the direction of building a strong school brand in every community, you will be attracting the attention of stakeholders including parents, teachers and students. It is here that a strong public relations (PR) strategy should be built, giving utmost importance to transparency and study material.

Addressing the needs of these stakeholders is to reach out to them in the best possible manner. Along with smart devices, a host of PR tips like the use of conventional and social media will take on center stage. There is every chance for you to witness public schools operating via a PR and Communication professional; a liaison between the school and the stakeholders. All in an attempt to offer the best means of open communication between the various parties, it is through such tips that the right message about a school reaches the ears of active listeners.

Closing Thoughts

All set to drive a lasting and positive change in the various spheres of education, the above discussed trends will make their strong presence felt in 2018. It is hence recommended that you stay tuned to all these occasions that will slowly yet steadily unveil themselves by the end of 2018.

“Give me a break”! While this statement sounds very familiar in stressful situations, allowing your kid to enjoy a break is no less enlivening.

In fact, teachers should bestow the break-regime to the entire class for all the students to perform better in school.

Alongside helping kids to break the monotony that sets in with continuous learning, recess time can come as a powerful tool to bring about a holistic improvement in the attitude and performance of kids.

Here are all the ways in which frequent breaks during the day help kids to learn better and enjoy their schooling hours.

  1. Promote Holistic Development in Kids

It is a common scene to watch kids stuck to their study desks all day long. Sitting for long hours in front of books leads to inculcate a sedentary lifestyle. Here comes the need to include frequent day breaks to kids for them to step out of their classroom walls and play in the open.

While sitting for a long time comes in the way of kids not getting enough of physical exercise, it also leads to lack of concentration on what is being taught in class.

So, if you as parents and educators wish to see your kids pay attention to subjects and learn better, it is the need of the hour to include frequent brain breaks.

Research suggests that bodily movements have positive effects on the functioning of the brain. Lighting up the areas of a kid’s brain which are linked to learning, brain breaks which come in the form of short breaks energize kids.

Breaks allow kids to experience a boost of blood and oxygen flow, enabling them to retain and recapitulate subject knowledge better.

  1. A Sure Shot Means to Counter the Ill-Effects of Juvenile Obesity

Juvenile obesity is a major epidemic plaguing kids from across the various parts of the globe.

Sitting for extended periods in classrooms can cause a great deal of physical damage to kids which will eventually manifest in the form of emotional disturbances.

Kids who are not given frequent study breaks will sport fat bodies which will impair their overall physical and emotional makeup.

They turn lethargic and develop a low self-esteem about their bulging bodies which impairs their academic performance.

Frequent breaks to kids will help them play and sweat it out in games they love the most. In this manner, they can keep themselves away from the damages caused by unwanted fat.

If you team the lack of exercise with junk food binges that kids usually indulge in, your problem gets compounded.

This problem can be tackled by giving short and frequent breaks to kids during school hours when they will enjoy every bit of their “me time” so that they can make the most of the schooling hours.

  1. Multiple Benefits of Recess Time

Recess time is that time of the day when kids are allowed the freedom to do what they love the most.

They can rest, play, run around the campus, socialize and even set their brains to think and imagine.

Having time on your hands where you will have nothing to do with studies, you as kids can make the most of your frequent break times to divert your mind from strenuous and brain-wracking educational tasks.

It is only after a break that your brain resets giving you the power to face the rest of the day.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. This famous maxim should inspire parents and educators to offer frequent breaks to kids.

Allow your kids to play in the open unsupervised. This way, kids will not only learn the spirit behind winning and losing but will also learn to adapt themselves to a tricky situation.

This is also a part of learning when kids begin to associate themselves with their friends while trying to sort out minor disputes during play.

Recess time is hence the best time for kids to learn how to cope with life; a constant learning.

  1. Sharpens Memory And Comprehension Skills

Frequent breaks come as a perfect diversion to kids who are hooked to their books.

Give them a small break and you will witness the rise in attention spans of kids. Kids not only demonstrate increased attentiveness towards the classroom session but will also be able to fair better during exams.

The credit goes to breaks which improve the memory of kids so that they learn better.

Playing games during recess time not only helps kids get along well with their mates but also teaches them what is called as reciprocal learning.

Kids who notice others play will incorporate their moves into the game and derive the benefits of excitement coupled with learning.

  1. Paves Way for Creative Thinking in Kids

Tagged as a brain exercise, the focused-attention practice can help kids quieten the bombardment of thoughts in their minds.

It is through such a practice that kids learn to pay attention to the task at hand. One such activity is to focus on the breath.

Every time the kid inhales and exhales, the mind’s chatter still continues.

But you as educators and guardians should reiterate the fact that it is fine for the mind to experience the constant inflow of thoughts.

Through such a breathing practice that can be introduced as part of a break time, you can do a great deal of good to kids.

Teachers, most of the times find it very difficult to calm fidgety kids. Such practices of focusing on the breath will help kids to pay attention to their thoughts, choices and feelings.

Through introspection, they will be able to grab every opportunity that allows them to later such feelings and thoughts, paving way for a creative thinking in kids.

It is through such a self-awareness that kids tread the path of creativity; a deep learning in itself.

  1. Correlation Between Learning and Bodily Movements

Given the fact that kids are powerhouses of energy, it is very much essential for them to move their bodies.

Most of the kids do not get the much needed exercise that will turn on their brain-power. When the brains of kids start sending impulses for bodily movements, they start to fidget.

This brings about the correlation between bodily movements and learning. You must have heard the reaction coming from teachers and parents dealing with fidgety kids when they ask such kids to simply sit and pay attention, without fidgeting with anything.

This is a practice to allow the brain to get into an inactive mode. This is the correlation between bodily movements and learning.

For kids to learn, they need to focus their attention on the topic that is being taught in class. And for them to pay attention, they need to move their bodies. Such bodily movements are possible during recess time when kids unleash their physical power to accumulate loads of mental power.

With such frequent breaks, kids will be able to reset their brains so that they can fulfill the responsibilities of a working day to the best of their ability and go back home with lots of learning.

  1. Social And Communication Skills Witness an Upswing

Learning is not only about assimilating bookish knowledge. It also pertains to honing certain skills that will make the lives of kids worthwhile in a number of ways.

Kids who are on the threshold of stepping into the society demand certain social skills that are very important for their self-esteem. It is during a break time that kids enhance their social skills and make friends with their classmates.

Confidence starts building up in diffident and introvert kids when they find themselves in the company of active and vocal kids.

Such social interactions during recess time not only help them identify good friends but will also help them indulge in an activity that they love the most. In doing so, kids will also start building communication skills.

They start to overcome their fear of striking a conversation with an unknown student; all during their recess time.

Goal-setting and meeting their pre-defined targets is another skill that will go a long way in helping kids to excel in their chosen field.

All these things come as invaluable learning to kids; predominantly during their much-needed break time.

Key Takeaways

Mindful of all the socio-physical-intellectual and emotional learning that are bestowed by recess in schools, it is very important for kids to expend their energies in the company of their friends.

Simply allow them to play outdoors, not only within the school premises but also after they get back home.

Such breaks not only help your kids to recharge their memory and physical strength, they will also help them stay focused on their academic pursuits.

Math is one of the most troublesome subjects for most of the students. However, the minority who likes math finds it really easy and interesting than any other subject. It is the love for the subject that made them win over it. The way teachers handle the subject is also important when it comes to the end result. There should be some wise strategies applied when handling such subjects. And it is very important to encourage or incorporate growth mindset messages into math class than treating it with a fixed mindset strategy. In fact, changing a student’s math mindset itself can help them to boost their subject performance.
Here are a few among the many important ways teachers can nurture a growth mindset among students while teaching mathematics:

1. Problems with errors: Engaging them with a set of worked out problems that have output errors or step wise errors are a good strategy. This gives them a chance to think out of the box to find out what went wrong and they would come up with better solutions. Giving them such chances to think critically would foster a growth mindset when approaching the subject.

2. Solve problems independently: In most of the math classes, teachers are demonstrating the way of solving a problem at first and ask them to solve a similar problem with different variables. This gives them minimal chances for thinking more about the problem solving as they just replicate what you demonstrated at first. Change your approach to the subject and give them chances to solve the problems independently and then correct their mistakes if any.

3. Re-frame mode of assessment: Changing the mode of assessment can help lot in boosting the growth mindset in math class. Assessment should not always be targeting on the final grades they achieve. The students should be credited if they make an attempt to revisit the problems they went wrong and reworks it to reach the solution. Growth over a period of time is important when it comes to subjects such as math rather than getting a good grade once.

4. Productive feedback: Human brains are programmed to pay more attention to the negative signals. So it is important to give them feedback in the most positive way to help the students to get a growth mindset. A productive feedback with constructive criticism can play the trick rather than pointing out their mistakes in an unfriendly way that causes them to fear the subject.

5. Prepare every student: When we talk about growth mindset, the main target is on students who are performing weak. In fact, equal importance should be given on students who excel now also. This is important to help them perform better every time than living with a mindset that they are masters of the subject. Give them chances to struggle with the subject with some difficult problems and let them face failures once in a while. This works better than facing a failure all of a sudden in a higher class that kills their confidence.

6. Value the learning process: Teachers should convey the message very clearly to the students that grades and ranks are not just the mere motive behind learning. Or else the self perceptions of aptitude injects them a fixed mindset. So it is important to make them understand that the learning process should be valued more than the success achieved temporarily. Prioritizing the learning process over grades boosts their growth mindset.

7. Explore with open problems: Teachers should make an extra effort to give them a chance to explore with open problems. This helps students to understand concepts better and they relate similar problems very fast. In this approach, teacher can first give a simple problem and expand it step by step once they find solutions for each segment. This method helps them to explore the subject with their personal steps rather than looking blindly at an algorithm.

8. Thinking mathematically: Nurture a mindset in them to think mathematically when approaching a problem. You should welcome their questions even when it makes sense or not. Let them visualize the problem or generalize, justify and prove that their approach is right. Develop a curious mindset in them right from their junior classes and help them to be resourceful enough to approach even the weird problems without thinking twice.

9.Multiple entry points: It is important to set multiple entry points for students to treat the subject rather than giving them a fixed guideline. Let them solve problems in their favorite approach with mathematical reasoning. Give them chances to express their understanding and learning through multiple means or conclude their understanding with a varied strategy.

10. Ability grouping: The ability grouping approach by teachers are based on their thoughts about what a student can achieve or not. The idea of weak student groups and intelligent student groups in fact set a fixed mindset in students about their position in the group. The works for the weak groups are mostly easy and demands only less application of brain. This approach actually snatches their chance to perform better and think better with an extra effort. Ability grouping is never a good idea to promote a growth mindset.

11. Stress free classroom: A classroom which is low in stress itself gives them a peace of mind in approaching the subject. Give them ample time to solve a problem in the first time rather than forcing them to solve the problem in the fixed time frame which gives them an unwanted stress. A fixed time frame may block their thinking mindset and they might feel stressed and loss in problems. It is important to talk with them and find out a success plan in their failures rather than pushing them to perform better and stressing them.

12. No fear about mistakes: When approaching a subject like math, it is important to set a mindset that has no fear for mistakes. Or else they would step back without giving it try thinking about the failure. Making them understand that mistakes are stepping stones to success helps them to approach the problems in a confident manner.

13. Set achievable micro-goals: It is good to help them target small achievable goals rather than asking them to push hard for unrealistic targets. This in fact helps them to make an incremental and consistent progress in their approach to the subject. This is actually a psychological approach because repeated small wins continuously gives them a boost in the confidence and they slowly develops a growth mindset.

14. Praise student’s efforts: It is not advisable to praise the intelligence part of a student in their success. Teachers should actually praise their effort on the way to their success. If intelligence is praised over effort, students would lack self motivation in case of a failure in future and they easily get depressed causing repeated failures. But if their effort is praised instead, they would continue to make efforts despite the success or failure.

15. Change view about math brain: It is a common thinking that students who perform better in math are born with a math brain. In fact, it is just an illusion and there is no such brain according to research. Developing a growth mindset during the smaller classes is the key to approach the subject easily with a ‘math brain’. Hard work and determination will always be paid and there is nothing that blocks you to perform better.

16. Promote cooperative learning: According to many researches, studying in groups promotes a growth mindset than individualistic or competitive approach. So promote peer groups in class which gives them a chance to teach and learn from their peers and enjoy the process of learning. When a student performs in groups, it gives them an extra responsibility of performing for the group’s success and this in fact enhances a growth mindset in them.

17. Build up confidence: Making an effort to build up their confidence is just as important as teaching them the different strategies in the subject. A boosted confidence would always be an effective tool for a student rather than knowing some math techniques. This promotes a growth mindset in them and helps them to think on their own in solving the problems even if they are new to the technique.
A fixed mindset when learning math in fact degrades a student’s capability to think out of the box. When teacher gives focus and importance in integrating growth mindset messages while learning math, it actually opens them a world of possibilities and gives a chance to discover and explore their hidden talents. A growth mindset approach can really make a difference in the way they excel in their learning. This teaching technique helps them to think out of the box on many instances and this improves their critical thinking and logical reasoning capability.

Effective feedback in the classroom is an important tool for learning. Feedback which comes from assessing the performance becomes an indispensable instrument in the toolkit of education. While the main purpose of feedback is to help the students understand the subject in relation to where they stand, it also paves the way to improve their learning. Feedback which comes attached with a clear guidance can become the leading light for students in a number of ways. Here we shed light on the numerous ways in which meaningful feedback bridges the gap between how students are progressing with their learning and what is actually expected of them.

  1. To Provide Feedback Is To Care

Giving feedback to students is a proven means to improve their learning. Driven by an objective to better student outcomes, feedback when given correctly serves as a guiding light to students. It is through this tool of continuous improvement that students begin to harbor the feelings of care and concern coming from their instructors. They understand that the educators, in their pursuit to better the performance of the class are working very hard. Through feedback, educators can enable students to involve themselves with various educational and co-curricular activities in the classroom.

  1. The Perfect Timing

There should be a time for everything, more so when it concerns speaking about the performance of students in the class. Thus, feedback should come at the right time for students to make adjustments with regard to their pre-defined goal. When students are given feedback at an appropriate time, they will ponder over the inferences of their faculty and be receptive to their suggestions.

Allowing students to make improvements as they continue to learn, it is through timely feedback that a permanent damage can be avoided. Nipping off the problem in the bud itself, timely feedback provides enormous scope for students to analyze the pointers in the feedback and focus on addressing their deficiencies and flaws.

  1. Provides Solutions to “Where” and “What” Questions

The prime aim of feedback is to correct major issues concerning either learning or behavior. With feedback, educators will be able to guide students on to the right path by answering the questions” “Where am I going wrong?” and “What can I do to correct myself?” These are the common questions that arise in the minds of students who are assessed for their behavior and abilities.

When the areas of improvement of students are pointed out by the faculty, they will then begin to prioritize what is important. You as a student will benefit from a clear sense of direction which not only sheds light on your inefficiencies but also provides the much needed support to rectify your mistakes.

  1. A Mixed Bag of Strengths and Weaknesses

Constructive feedback comes as a boon to students willing to better themselves. Teachers should be mindful of the content they present while offering feedback to students. It is hence very important to bring out not only the weaknesses of students but to also recognize their strengths as well. When you as a student are praised about your inherent positives, you will not only take pride in your achievements but will also strive to hone them as well.

On the flipside, when your weaknesses as a student are highlighted, you will start looking at the inferences objectively. You will not get overwhelmed by their feedback since you are already convinced of the fact that your teachers love you for what you are and will begin to accept their suggestions gracefully.

  1. The Multiple Modes of Feedback

Teachers employ various means to get their point across to students. They can deliver feedback orally, in a written format or through a demonstration. Written feedbacks are helpful to you as you can refer to it at any point of time. Oral feedback comes handy in situations where you as a faculty have lots of pointers to share which cannot be put into a concise write-up.

Interactive feedback is another effective way of engaging in a question-answer session. You will have the liberty to pose questions to your faculty who will provide answers to your queries as part of your improvement plan.

  1. Sets The Stage for Repeated Practice

You as a student can bank upon feedback as a guiding light towards mastery. Allowing you to focus all your thoughts and efforts in the direction of improvement, you will become a better student with the passage of time. Practice makes a man perfect. In line with this common maxim that is so apt for students, feedback brings in an enthusiasm that will prompt you to practice harder so that you reach the top of your learning curve.

When teachers conduct periodical assessments of your performance, they will come up with recommendations as well compliments that will instil a sense of confidence that you are on the road to recovery. You will do all that is within your means to improve yourself and gain experience by taking well-informed decisions.

  1. A Boost To Students’ Morale

Learning can be a task for some students. Since every student comes with a different IQ level, not every subject appeals to every student. While you may find science interesting but math difficult, your classmate may be a man of letters. With a class full of students coming from various socio-economic sections, it is important for the faculty to provide effective feedback to students based on these parameters.

Students who are in receipt of regular feedback not only experience a boost to their confidence levels but will also begin to understand themselves better. With a sense of self-awareness, you as a student working around your feedback pointers will tread the path of learning which is fueled by enthusiasm.

  1. The Target Audience

Teachers may be concerned about a particular student, a group of learners or the entire class. All of them form the various recipients of feedback in a classroom. If you find a particular student struggling with learning, you as a faculty can provide individual feedback. This will help him/her reflect on the shortcomings and make improvements accordingly.

Teachers, most of the times would want to address a group of students or the entire class if they find that they are unable to follow an instruction or a concept that has being discussed in class. In such cases, the educator can employ the means of group feedback which speaks about the deficiencies of a group or the entire class.

  1. Uncovers The Benefits of Reflective Learning

Feedback is an excellent tool to allow students to look back into what they have been doing that is not delivering the expected outcomes. Permitting them to step back into their past actions, it is through feedback that you as a student will set the stage for an improved learning experience. This practice is referred to as Reflective Learning.

Reflective Learning has a deeper meaning to learning than simply memorizing formulae, dates or scientific facts. It is a method which helps students spare a thought about what they have read, learned or done as part of completing a lesson that was taught in the class. It is through this exercise that helps students to start thinking by asking questions, collecting information and analyzing it so that they can put the inferences into action in their real world.

  1. The Essentials of Constructive Feedback

Feedback should never be given with an intention to criticize a student. It should always come as an integral part of learning and behavioral improvement. Feedback that is given with this intention in mind will have a strong bearing on the minds of students towards continuous progress. It is for this reason that teachers should come up with effective feedback content. The content should not only provide you with clarity, but also suggest areas of improvement. A teacher providing feedback to students should also keep in mind her tone of communication.

Conclusion

Student achievement can be linked to constant feedback which you as a student will receive from your teachers. For the feedback to benefit you, it is important that you take an objective stand towards every pointer and work on the same. You will then be able to make smart improvements which will transform you into a near-perfect student. Ponder over all the inferences of your teachers so that you will finally tread the path of continuous progress; much to the surprise of your parents and educators as well. You will turn around your life for the better, banking on the observed and delivered feedback coming from your faculty.

In the current scenario, technology has developed in several ways, resulting in the increased number of amazing opportunities. Nowadays, education is no more limited to books. The internet has opened new doorways to the world of knowledge. One such doorway is educational websites that any student and teacher can refer. Some of these sites also encourage project-based learning and provide a better path for learning. These websites allow the students to attain a higher level of thinking and integrated learning in a fun and productive way. These websites can help the student a lot in their learning and in gaining more knowledge.

Let us find out which are the current most popular educational websites.

 

35 Free Educational Websites You Shouldn’t Miss_info featured image

Imagine being bound to a wheelchair knowing you will never get up from there, all at the mercy of carers and the only thing that works is your mind.

Where people usually resort to grief, objection or even self destruction in case of petty failures, Stephen Hawking decided to channelize his major biological defeat into the wild horizons of the cosmos.

With the body continually falling to the gravity of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) and the moments of life being sucked into the black hole of complications, all he had was the power of his thoughts and an unparalleled drive to find his way to the beginning of time itself.

And he did. Not just that but a lot more.

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Let’s have a look at how the man with least abilities, went on to become a man with most achievements.

Achievements

  1. One of his greatest achievements was his life itself How he grappled a fatal form of ALS to live 55 years when medical facts had only predicted a 3 year life span post diagnosis.

 

  1. Hawking Radiations – Stephen Hawking proved that given the Quantum nature of particles, it cannot be said that the black hole traps everything. They emit radiations and particles. This emission can possibly continue until the black hole evaporates. These radiations became known as Hawking Radiations.

 

  1. Creation of the universe – Applying the concepts of Quantum physics and general relativity he proved that the Universe was created due to the explosion of singularity trapped in an infinetly small space and that no creator was involved in the process. This theory was widely accepted and also helped scrutinize the behaviour of black holes and furthermore the nature of the universe.

 

  1. An international Best seller– The most complicated concepts of physics are served to the readers with utmost clarity and lucidity in his Book “A Brief History of Time”. The book sold out over 10 million copies and was translated to 40 languages. The media called him, The Master of Universe.

 

In addition he published several other books which did gain a lot of attention. Black Holes and Baby Universes and other essays (1993), The Universe in a Nutshell(2001), On the shoulder of the Giants (2002) and God created the integers: The Mathematical Breakthroughs that changes History (2005)

  1. Singularity– With the aid of English mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose, Hawking proved that the universe was a infinitely small seed of singularity which exploded to become the vastness that it is today.

A gravitational singularity is boundless energy and mass trapped inside an infinitely small space, within which the forces and laws of physics cease to behave normal as everything becomes a function of infinity.

  1. Mechanics of Black Holes – Alongside James Bardeen and Brandon Carter Hawking discovered the four laws of black hole mechanics. These laws comprehend the behavior of the physical properties of the Black holes like mass, charge, entropy, surface area etc. these laws are analogous to the Laws of Thermodynamics.

 

  1. Cosmic Inflation –Cosmic inflation was a theory proposed by Alan Guth in 1980 which proposed the exponential expansion of the universe following the big bang and later settled to a slower expansion. Hawking calculated Quantum fluctuations resulting from cosmic inflation to demonstrate how they are capable of giving rise to spread of galaxies in the universe.

 

  1. The time when there was no time – In 1983 Alongside James Hartle, Stephen Hawking suggested a model of the formation of universe where in he concluded from the behavior of particles as per Quantum physics that time did not exist before the genesis of the universe.

 

  1. Top-down cosmology – The universe according to Stephen Hawking’s theory of top-down cosmology(2006) had not just one but many possible initial conditions. Thomas Hertog who was a co-researcher in this study had a strong argument to believe that.

In the words of Hertog – “Quantum mechanics forbids a single theory”. Both Hawking and Hertog, believed that the concept of innumerable alternate worlds as put forward in famous string theory has strong grounds.

 

  1. Zero G Flight – The then 65 year old man with ALS, glued to a wheelchair, had a lifelong dream of breaking free from the confinement. And owing to the efforts of serial entrepreneur Peter Diamandis Hawking did experience a freedom like never before. On April 26, 2007, Diamandis’ Zero G team successfully executed Hawking’s zero gravity flight.

Hawking’s spirit to go ahead with the adventure inspite of the risks posed, blazed a trail many others.

He believed his physical disability had only freed his mind to explore the deepest secrets of the Universe.

Studying the truths of universe to him was more of a thrill rather than a motivation to win recognition and medals.

He once said “I don’t think the human beings have the moral obligation to learn about space. But it would be foolish and shortsighted not to do so. It may hold the key to our survival.”

He spent his entire life diving deep into mysteries of cosmology, poaching innumerable gems and romanticizing the concept of our existence.

As long as he lived, he marveled over the grand design of the universe. And now as the star scientist finds his way to the end of his time all we are left with is the knowledge he gave us, with a hope that the legacy of extrapolation and invention will continue until time is.

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