The eNotes Blog Tips for Encouraging Collaborative Learning in theClassroom

Tips for Encouraging Collaborative Learning in theClassroom How do we invite collaboration and teamwork into the classroom? It can seem easy on paper, but actually getting our students to be open minded about working together often proves more challenging. Collaborative learning gets students working together to solve problems and complete tasks- unlike the more traditional, isolated approach many of us have experienced. Collaborative learning helps students solve problems, ask more questions, and dive deeper into topics than they might on their own. In studying literature, these actions are imperative in getting to know a text. Let’s examine four tips on how to encourage students to share ideas and make the classroom a welcoming, open space for all. 1) Encourage Expression of Individual Perspectives Picture a socratic seminar, that discussion style many students dread. One student builds up the nerve to make an observation to the rest of the class and is immediately shot down. Maybe her peers disagree with the observation or aren’t used to interacting with ideas that don’t come straight from the text or the teacher. Next, imagine a student who takes a chance on an assigned essay and offers an unconventional view. However, her grade suffers because either the teacher found it too perplexing or the student did not have an opportunity to express her ideas earlier. In order to foster individual perspectives and avoid these situations, it’s important to establish our classrooms as safe spaces for expressing thoughts and ideas- no matter what. This is especially important when discussing subjective questions, which, as we need to emphasize, have no clear answer.   Let’s take this further. If we create the right environment to encourage students to express themselves, they’ll feel more comfortable with ambiguity. This will encourage them to think creatively as opposed to attempting to find the conventional answer. As physicist Albert Einstein said, â€Å"If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.† 2) Allow All Voices- Even the Quiet Ones- to Be Heard Some students consider class discussions their worst-nightmares. While others have no problem speaking up and sharing ideas, these students may suffer from some serious stage fright. We have to keep this in mind when planning discussions. Make sure all students have the chance to be heard, but include different kinds of participation activities that may be more encouraging for your most timid students. One solution is to simply break up classroom-wide discussions into smaller ones of 3-4 students. We really enjoy activities that allow students time to reflect, discuss with a partner, and then share with a small group or the class. Scaffolding discussions in this way allows all students the opportunity to contribute at multiple levels. 3) Encourage the Sharing of Ideas When asked to analyze a text, most of us have felt the pressure to discover the hidden meanings and wisdom of the author- often alone and without resources. This pressure on all of us to come up with unique, original ideas on our own is damaging because it inhibits creativity and can harm learning. The reality is that collaboration helps us come up with better, more functional ideas because it gives us multiple starting points and perspectives to learn from. By using annotation tools like Google Docs  or Hypothes.is, students can â€Å"piggyback† off one others’ annotations and thoughts with their own. This allows them to build off of one another’s ideas, creating a productive environment for discussing texts. 4) Emphasize That There Are Many Correct Answers Since our classrooms should be open-minded spaces for discussion and idea-sharing, we also need to make it clear that in discussing literature, there are few wrong answers- in fact, there are often many correct answers when analyzing a text. If teachers and students alike have a mutual understanding of this, students will feel more comfortable sharing new ideas. This understanding helps clarify how important it is to emphasize that each student’s ideas are valid. This is not to say that students cannot disagree with one another; disagreement can spark rich discussions, as well. However, consider pointing out that some answers can be insufficient. For example, if an argument lacks evidence in the text, that’s something to discuss. Focus on demonstrating how a student can improve her work rather than telling her she’s outright wrong; this damages student-teacher relationships and hurts students’ inclination to share in discussions in the future.

Old to New SAT How to Convert 2400 to 1600

Old to New SAT How to Convert 2400 to 1600 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you are taking the new SAT in spring 2016 or later, your test will be significantly different from the current SAT. What are the main differences between the old and new SAT? How do you convert between the two tests? How do these changes affect you as the test taker? Differences Between Old and New SAT There will be a lot of minute differences between the two tests, but the big changes are: There will be twosections instead of three: Math andEvidence-Based Reading and Writing. Due to these section changes, the composite scores range will be 400 to 1600, instead of 600 to 2400. The types of questions asked will be changed. For example, the newEvidence-Based Reading and Writingsection will no longer have the sentence completion vocabulary questions. Instead, there will bemore passage-based critical thinking questions. There will be no penalty for guessing on questions. On the old SAT, you received minus  ¼ point for every incorrect answer. There are many more changes to the new SAT, and I recommend you read about the others as well. However, the changes I mentioned are the biggest and most important to understanding the conversion. How to Convert 2400 to 1600 The College Board has not announced any specific conversion method (nor have colleges announced how they will compare the old and new test). However, here at PrepScholar, we have come up withtwo possible conversion methods. Fast Method: Simply multiply the old SAT score by â…”. For example, if you received 1800 on the old SAT, the calculation would be 1800 x â…” = 1200. Yournew SAT score would be 1200.There are a couple issues with this fast method. It doesn’t take into account that Math will be more heavily weighted on the new SAT (since it will make up  ½ instead of â…“ of the score), while the Critical Reading and Writing will count less as they are combined. Our next method resolves this issue. Weighted Method: First, average the Critical Reading and Writing section scores. Then, add that average to the Math section. For example, if you received 1800 on the old SAT (Math 700, Critical Reading 650, Writing 450), you would first average 650 and 450. (650 + 450) / 2 = 550, then add that to Math, 550 + 700 = 1250. Yournew score would be 1250. However, if you received 1800 on the old SAT but your score breakdowns were Reading 700, Math 450, Writing 650, you would have a different new composite SAT score. (700+650) / 2 = 675, then add Math. 675 + 450 = 1125. Your new score would be 1125. With the same composite score (1800), you can end up with two different new SAT scores based on the Fast or Weighted Method. Using the Weighted Method, your composite score will be higher if Math was your best section or lower if Math was your worst section.Use the Weighted Method for a more accurate conversion that takes into account the importanceof each section on the new SAT. What Does This Conversion Mean For You? As I mentioned before, Math is more heavily weighted, as it will now account for  ½ your composite score instead of â…”. If you're good at Math, this is great news! As you could see above, your high Math score will bring up your composite score. If, on the other hand, you struggle in Math, this change isn'tso great. As you could see above, if Math is your weakest section, you will end up with a lower composite score on the new SAT.You'll need to do more SAT Math preparation to make sure you get a high Math score, so you get a high composite score. Also, the types of questions asked will be changing. As I mentioned, there will no longer be any fill in the blank vocabulary questions. Instead, there will be more critical thinking and data analysis questions. If your strength is memorization, you'll probably not do as well on the new SAT. If you are better at critical thinking, you'll score better on the new SAT. What’s Next? Learn more about the new SAT: How to Study for the New SAT in 2016 5 Reasons the New SAT Changes Aren't Revolutionary Complete Guide to the New SAT in 2016 New SAT Essay Prompts: How Are They Changing? Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The Language used Street Billboards in Doha Essay

The Language used Street Billboards in Doha - Essay Example The data will be collected by photographing various street billboards and by surveying people on their perception of the language used in street billboards. The findings showed that the design of billboards and Qatari dialect used in most street billboards attracts people most, Arabic and English are mostly used, adverts in Qatari addressed in Arabic uphold Islamic culture, and the target group of most adverts is adults. Objectives of the Study This study aims to show the like between the advertisements’ language and the ideology of the Qatari society. Also, it focuses in the design and the texts of the billboards persuade the customers, and examining the target group behind the language of the billboards used in Qatar society. LITERATURE REVIEW This Literature Review will analyze previous studies done by other scholars on the topic. Literature review typically includes scholarly journals, scholarly books, authoritative databases and primary source. Asmi (2013) explores the role of Islam in Arabic language ideologies. Through juxtaposing of religious and secular traditions, Asmi clearly explains the relationship between Islam and Arabic. The connection between the two greatly affects the political, social and cultural agendas of the Qatari society. Arabic language is considered to be the most powerful symbol of Arabic-Islamic culture and mode of transmission. Islam played an instrumental role in helping Arabic attain its universal status as well as to emerge as one of the world’s principal languages. This is attributed to the fact that Arabic is an important means of natural and cultural revival in most Islamic countries.

SmartPhone Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

SmartPhone Security - Essay Example Hackers, who know the default setting, can gain access to wireless network. In this way the network fails to require identification and verification of all users. This paper deals with the security issues in Smart phone. We will start our discussion with a brief introduction of Smart phone. Smart phones, as name implies that it is small device. It is small device but it has more functionality of mobile phone and computer. It use used for communication like mobile phone and computing functionality like computer. With the help of smart phone, a user can interact with different application at same time. It is so small you can put in your pocket. You can install more software in your smart phones (Kenneth, 1996). Smart phones combine the functions of pagers, cellular telephones, and personal digital assistants into a small single device. A smart phone is a wireless phone with text and Internet capabilities. It can handle wireless telephone calls, voice mail, email, and faxes, save addresses, and access information from Internet. Wireless networks can be more expensive, slower, and more error prone than wired networks. Bandwidth and energy supply in wireless devices require careful management from both hardware and software standpoints (Imielinski and Badrinath, 1994). Security and privacy will be more difficult to maintain because wireless transmission can be easily intercepted. Data cannot be transmitted seamlessly between different wireless networks if they use incompatible standards. The entire point of computer security is to eliminate or protect against threats. A threat is anything that can cause harm. A threat can be simple error, burglar or virus. A threat is not harm full unless it exploits an existing vulnerability. Vulnerability is a weakness, any thing that has not been protected against threats. Threats to your smart phone hardware involve incidents that have effect on the operation or maintenance of the smart phone. The smart phones are using

Motorsport (Nostalgia Super Stock) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Motorsport (Nostalgia Super Stock) - Essay Example larity evolved into a classification of drag racing involving hundreds of drivers and cars competing in Championships and Grand Drag Racing events (nostalgiasuperstock.com). There are different series, events and clubs, running Nostalgia Super Stock —the rules applied were developed by representatives from clubs of NSS events.The largest annual drag racing event is named after Dave Duell: the Dave Duell Classic. The event has hosted as many as 90 NSS cars competition. It is regarded as the Class National event. The Dave Duell Classic is presently run at Beechbend Raceway, Kentucky (nostalgiasuperstock.com). The event is run in combination with NMCA events but is administrated by Doug- Dave’s son.Some of the rules governing Nostalgia Super Stock include: Historical accuracy of the car- should be American manufactured and models meant for drag racing, multiple carburetion preferred, slick width designation of 10.5W at a maximum, footbrake only- meaning no transmission brake is allowed, etc. Nostalgia Super Stock is popular among men and women who enjoy the classic style of 60s drag racing cars. NSS is mostly popular in the mid-west, with online platforms such as ‘Victory Nostalgia Super Series’ helping to update the enthusiasts about upcoming events (nostalgiasuperstock.com). Some of the popular cars dominating NSS include Texas Whale, Dragn Wagn, Big Red Ram and Hustling

Child sex trafficking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Child sex trafficking - Essay Example In this essay, the current activities of the United States’ government to address child sex trafficking are analyzed and discussed. The essay also provides some policy recommendations, in the form of ideas and suggestions on how to reduce the prevalence of child sex trafficking in the United States of America. Child sex trafficking is prevalent, not only in the United States of America, but also across the world because children are particularly prone to human trafficking. 27% of the global trafficking victims are children (Siskin & Wyler, 2013). These children have been exploited sexually in the commercial sex industry or as sex slaves. Women and child sex trafficking is so prevalent in the world that the United Nations Organization, through its Sectary General, Kofi Annan, termed the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation as an international plague (Phinney, 2013). This crime is more prevalent in Eastern Europe and Asia, but evidence shows that women and child sex trafficking is a significant problem in America. It is associated with abuse of human rights (Phinney, 2013). Child sex trafficking involves the ‘purchase’ of a person. Later, the ‘purchased’ person is forced to engage in sexual acts for the economic benefit of the trafficker. Child sex traffickers capitalize on poor and the illiterate children. It should be noted that in most cases, child sex trafficking victims lack escape means, forcing them to remain in torture for so long. Victims of sex trafficking in the United States are overlooked. Authorities interpret that these victims are deviant and prostitutes (Brooks, 2011). Very many women and children are trafficked into the United States each year. The precise number of human trafficking victims is not yet known because the figures provided are not absolute, but mere estimates. This means that the figures could be much higher than what is reported. For instance, more than 800,000

Concept Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Concept Paper - Essay Example licies helped to increase economic growth and development in the United Kingdom after the financial crisis of 2009?† The paper identifies the government and the Bank of England as the main actors who create and implement austerity policies. The research identifies three case studies that will help the research in focusing on the unit of analysis and drawing relevant answers to the research questions. Units of analyses are critical factors that help researchers in making accurate and reliable conclusions. This means that units of analysis are the main drivers of research without which it is impossible to undertake a study successfully. The units may be human beings, companies, laws, or geographical regions. Human beings act as units of analyses when they are being studied individually or in groups. These elements are studied when researchers are interested in drawing conclusions about social factors such as behavior, attitudes, and performance in school. Organizations are similar to individuals when studied as units of analyses because they may be studied individually or in groups. Companies are used as units of analyses when studies aim at identifying their performances and behavior (Malici, & Smith, 2013). In this study, human beings and organizations are not critical units of analyses; because the research may not be able to study each one of them in seclusion. This is because the research may not be able to identify specific individuals and organizations in the UK. Geographical regions may also be used as units of analyses in research. These may be individual countries or groups of countries that have similar characteristics. Geographical region is an essential unit of analysis in this research because it aims at focusing only on the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is a geographical area that consists of three countries. The countries in the region include England, Scotland, and Wales (CLES, 2014)s. The research will focus on the three countries in