Education (29)
Education should be a life long pursuit and our range of categories reflects this. Find information about schools, homeschooling, study tools and post-secondary eduaction here. In a series of articles you will learn the truths about homeschooling and find out why it is growing in popularity among parents everywhere. We hope that you will discover interesting articles and facts about all aspects of education in this category.
Children categories
Study Tools (2)
The study tools category encompasses all types of study methods including books, ways to use the internet effectively for study, information about language courses and much more. No one can study effectively without good study tools and this category will bring you information on the different types of tools that can help you in your studies and the all best ways to use them.
View items...
Post-Secondary (9)
The post-secondary category covers education of all kinds undertaken after secondary school. Not only information about college or university education, but vocational training, on-line courses, re-training for a second career, nursing programs and much more. Find all the information you need in our post-secondary education category.
View items...
Homeschooling (6)
Growing numbers of parents are opting to homeschool their children for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they are unsatisfied with the schooling in their area and feel they can do a much better job or would like a more direct input into their children's education. In this category will help to educate our readers on all aspects of this increasingly popular method of educating our children.
View items...
Schools (0)
Our schools category covers a wide range of topics from pre-schools up to secondary schools. Subjects that you might find here include teaching and reading strategies and how to deal with bullying. Parent teachers associations and school governance. Any subjects related to schools may be found in this category.
View items...
General (5)
In the general education category you can find articles that don't fit into the other categories. Articles about science and languages and information on all general aspects of education. Education is a wide subject and our articles in this category cover many interesting subjects.
View items...Today, there are innumerable causes of air pollution, and unfortunately they are all human causes. An example of human-caused air pollution would be factories and cars. Green living helps in cutting down air pollution, and hopefully there will be more people and businesses that decide to go green in the near future. Though there are a lot of people who hear the term green living and understand what it is, not everyone can afford to convert their way of living. However, even if we can manage to cut back half of the causes of air pollution, that will greatly help the environment.
The Pell Grant allows you to receive money for college. This money is not a loan, and you will never have to pay it back. The Pell Grant is awarded based on need, and not everybody qualifies for it, of course. In order to receive a Pell Grant, you need to fill out a Pell Grant application, which is essentially the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known commonly as the FAFSA. If you are in high school, the FAFSA can be obtained from the counseling office. It is often easier to fill out a FAFSA if you do so online, however. You can fill one out any time after July 1st of each year.
This Pell Grant application will provide the U.S. Department of Education with the information that it needs in order to determine if you are eligible for the Pell Grant or any other federally funded programs to help you pay for college. Each year that you spend in college, you will need to update your FAFSA. You will provide information about the income of your parents, if you are considered a dependent, as well as information about your grades and your financial needs. The FAFSA can be found at fafsa.ed.gov. Fill out the entire application before you submit it. If you have already submitted a FAFSA, you can make changes to it each year by reviewing step 3 of the application.
The FAFSA will determine a number known as your Estimated Family Contribution, or EFC, using the answers that you provide on the form. This number is used to determine if you are eligible for the Pell Grant or any other Federally funded programs to assist you. If you are eligible for a Pell Grant, the EFC will be used to determine the Pell Grant amount that you can be provided. The lower your EFC, the more you can be provided, with the best case scenario being an EFC of zero. Currently, the maximum EFC that you can receive and still get a Pell Grant is 5,273.
Factors that heavily influence your eligibility are your parent's income if you are a dependent, whether or not you are a dependent, if you have dependents, and your family income. You also are not eligible if you aren't a legal resident, if you are a graduate student, or if you are in default on a federal student loan.
The cost of a well-rounded education increases every year due to many factors. The difficulty of obtaining a loan generally increases alongside that factor. In most instances a traditional bank will require a college age individual to have a cosigner to take out a student loan. This can be true even if they have stellar credit. However, there are tested methods for acquiring loans for student purposes without any form of cosigner. These methods generally fall into two different varieties. Those varieties are government based and private lender based.
Government based student loans without cosigner are the easiest to acquire. The reason for this is that these loans and even grants are available via programs meant to help those in financial need. There is no credit check. The only difficulty in the situation might be a need to check an individual's tax records. This can easily be fixed by having worked a part time job and paying taxes for a while. At worst these types of grants and loans might require the use of a parent's tax records up until the would-be student is age twenty-five. This varies, however.
Private lenders are another option. However, this is the most difficult method of acquiring a student loan. Typically, an individual that wishes to acquire a loan through these lenders must have exceptional credit, solid income, and have the capacity to pass a thorough background check. If the individual has poor credit, no job, or legal issues then a cosigner will be needed without any doubt.
Between the two lending types the government based version is easiest to acquire for people with no income, bad credit, and an appreciable need for funding. The less money an individual has, the more likely they will get federal funding. However, these loans are capped at varying amounts determined by specific criteria. An individual might need to take out several of these college loans without a cosigner. However, there is no need for a cosigner at all. The private lending version is better for people that have a decent job and a solid credit rating. The interest rates vary wildly, but with good credit and a down payment these rates will tend to be low. There is also the fact that private student loans are capable of being acquired in large amount. A single private loan might fund an individual's entire education compared to the small loans of multiple number that the government method requires.
In the 1970's, when Americans decided that we should reserve one day to think about the impact of humanity on the earth's environment, the term global warming was not even in our vocabulary. Thirty-five years ago, Earth Day became a day to reflect, recycle and teach our kids about the importance of nature and preserving the planet on which we live. Back then, saving the environment was a bit of a "hippie-dippy" notion, not something we thought of or heard about on a daily basis and certainly not something we acted upon with any regularity.
A lot has changed. Nowadays, saving the environment is, at least part of the conscience of mainstream Americans, if not foremost in their minds. More and more Americans are actually starting to do something about preserving the earth's resources for the future. In the new millenium, we can actually see and feel the impact of deforestation, overpopulation, overfishing and other human activities that strain our planet's resources, to our own detriment. Saving the environment has become a hobby for some or just an added effort for others, but most of us are now onboard the environmental bandwagon.
What are the reasons American society, as a whole, has begun to put some effort into saving the environment? There are many reasons for each of us to take on some of the responsibility for preserving our planet. After all, everyone inhabiting planet earth will likely contribute to its eventual demise and certainly has a hand in using its resources. Even if you don't buy the theory that greenhouse gases will eventually destroy our air supply or that we will inevitably suffocate in a mountain of garbage, the personal investment each individual makes towards saving the environment, will improve our personal lifestyles too.
The best reasons to take some personal steps on behalf of our home planet, are the same simple things that can make our own immediate lives more comfortable. These small steps can include things like turning off the lights, minimizing our use of everyday appliances or attempting to purchase less packaged products. Consider the personal advantages to be gained by taking these environmentally-friendly actions. Turning off the lights will save us money on our electric bill. Less usage of our appliances will make them last longer, save on utility bills and minimize our work load. Purchasing products with less packaging will contribute to the health of our families, as we eat fresher and less processed foods. For each personal action we take to save the environment, there is a personal outcome that helps our own economy and lifestyle.
Take some time to think about the individual actions that you and your family can take to save the environment and then put them into practice. Driving less and choosing your shortest route saves time and money. Growing a home vegetable garden saves money and contributes to a better diet. There are dozens, if not hundreds of actions that we can all take to do our part for the environment. So, the next time your family complains that saving the environment is just too much trouble or too much work, remind them of the benefits, as well as the consequences!
Speak French Fluently
Written by Laura FranklinIt is possible to learn how to speak French fluently, but you may have to learn some new studying methods in the process. When people think about learning a foreign language, they think about learning grammar rules and vocabulary by heart. Those two are important parts of a language, but if you really want to use French in social situations, they are not enough. You will also have to practice pronunciation, intonation and just communication in French. Creating your own sentences in a regular conversation is the most demanding side of French speaking, so it makes sense to start practice it as early as possible.
Use these methods to teach yourself spoken French
It is important to give your brain a chance to get used to the sounds and rhythm of the new language. One good way to do that is to watch movies in French, find a French speaking radio online and have it as a background noise or listen to the French music. It doesn't matter if you don't understand what is being said. You will gradually learn to pick up words from the language stream and one day you will notice that you actually understood what was said.
Start training your listening and speaking skills actively. Open your mouth and repeat what you heard. Make your own sentences and start speaking! Audio lessons can give you the needed kickstart to get used to speaking French, or you can alternatively join a conversation course for your skill level. It will probably feel hard in the beginning, but don't worry. It will get easier for sure once you get used to it. Practice makes perfect!
Find places to speak and practice French. The easiest way is to do it with someone you know, but if that isn't an option, start searching online. The internet has made it possible to find people with similar interests and you might even get to choose. Polyglot club is one good option. It is a club which members are interested in learning new languages and gather together every now and then to practice. You might be able to find something similar from Meetup groups, or even from Couchsurfing. Of course you can also join a forum of French students and ask if anyone would be interested in chatting on Skype with you.
Naturally the best way to learn a new language is to take an immersion course in a country where they speak the language you want to learn. A French immersion course means traveling to France and living in a French family for one to four weeks . You will get to learn how the natives use their language and also speak fluent French in regular everyday situations.
An Insider Look at the Pell Grant
Written by Jan StevensThe Pell Grant program is the largest federal educational grant program in existence today, and while most students have at least heard of its availability, a vast proportion don’t have a clear idea of how to become eligible, how to apply, and what they can expect to receive in terms of aid if they do eventually become eligible. The good news is that the Pell Grant can be obtained with relative ease by any student who demonstrates what the Department of Education considers to be an “exceptional” financial need. This is measured primarily by the EFC, or expected family contribution, and is supposed to act as an indicator of a family’s ability to contribute money towards their child’s college education.
To qualify students must have an EFC that falls below 5,273 for the 2010-11 school year, as this threshold was increased from 4,617 in 2009-10 as a result of the passing of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, or SAFRA. EFC is calculated after the FAFSA has been completed and certain information has been inserted into a predefined formula that pays reference to certain factors. These include both the student’s and parent’s income, the size of the household, and the number of family members who are attending postsecondary institutions. Other Pell Grant eligibility requirements that students should be aware of include the fact that they should be enrolled as an undergraduate student, and that they should not be serving jail time in a federal or state penal institution. Students who may be enrolled in certain graduate or professional programs may be able to qualify, although most Pell Grants are given to students who have not received their first bachelor’s degree.
Applying for the Pell Grant is no different than applying for other forms of federal student aid such as federal Stafford Loans, and the Perkins Loan, as the FAFSA is the official Pell Grant application that students should complete in order to become eligible. Completing the FAFSA can be done online, or via its written counterpart. The online FAFSA can be completed at the website fafsa.ed.gov, while a written copy of the application can be obtained by calling the phone number 1-800-4-FED-AID. It is important to note that the earlier you can submit the FAFSA the better, as most financial aid is allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. The earliest you can go ahead and submit the FAFSA is January first, and the latest you can submit one is June thirtieth. The maximum Pell Grant amount is now set at 5,550 dollars for the 2010-11 award year, although the vast majority of college students only receive about fifty percent of this maximum amount. Contact your school’s financial aid department if you need more Pell Grant information that may cater to your own particular circumstances, and credentials.
Identifying the 2010 Pell Grant Amount
Written by Randy CannStudents considering applying for a Pell Grant during the 2010-11 school year should first identify what the maximum available award amount is for this particular academic term. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, or SAFRA has increased this maximum award amount to 5,550 dollars for all students who are attending class on a full time basis, a two hundred dollar increase from the previous year. To become eligible for this maximum award amount students must demonstrate an exceptional financial need, which is primarily determined via the expected family contribution, or EFC.
Students having an EFC value below 5,273 will be able to qualify for the Pell Grant, although the actual award amount they receive will vary in reference to their level of need, cost of attendance, and enrollment status. Most students end up receiving about half of the full award amount, although students that come from families who aren’t able to contribute any capital towards their education related expenses will almost always end up with an EFC of zero, and thus become eligible for the full amount. Students should also be aware that the maximum Pell Grant amount will increase according the Consumer Price Index plus one percent beginning in 2013-14. This was done to keep the Pell Grant in line with the rate of inflation, although it remains to be seen whether or not this modification will truly have an effect.
Overall the Pell Grant can provide students with a substantial amount of funding to utilize towards their higher education, and when used in combination with the assortment of federal student loans that are available, students who demonstrate a very high financial need should have no problem getting a large proportion of their tuition paid off via federal student aid. The current administration plans on expanding the overall reach of not only the Pell Grant program, but other federal student aid programs as well over the next few years or so. It remains to be seen what kind of effect this will have on a student’s ability to get the financial aid they need to pay for school, although most experts agree that it should only have a positive effect over the long-term. If you are interested in applying for a Pell Grant, or for any other form of federal student aid, you need to complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the government’s universal application for federal educational assistance, and the deadline for submitting one is set at June 30.
Many people who are looking to go back to school are looking for ways to get a Pell Grant and do not know how to, as they also do not know what a Pell Grant is exactly. Establishing your Pell Grant eligibility takes certain information and requires certain things to be filled out by the person who is going to be attending school. If you are one of the many students looking to qualify for a Pell Grant, keep reading below to get information on how to do just that.
A Pell Grant is money that is given to students each year from the United States government that never has to be repaid. You must be enrolled in either a college level course or graduate school courses. Many students are having a lot of trouble paying their tuition costs as the costs continue to go up, and the good news is that with new Pell Grant changes for 2010, students are going to be able to get even more aid by way of the Pell Grant.
In order to be able to qualify for a Pell Grant, you must fill out a FAFSA form that is required by the United States government each year. The forms are very easy to fill out and can take just a couple of minutes to do them. You can either fill the forms out online or you can enlist the help of the financial aid administer at your school of choice. If you prefer to do the form yourself you can call the Department of Education and they will mail the form to you.
When you get ready to fill out the FAFSA form in order to gain the appropriate Pell Grant eligibility, you must have your financial information handy. You will need your information as well the information of your parents should you still live at home with them. You will also need to have handy the prior years tax form if you are on your own filling on out for yourself. You will also need to make sure to have the schools information handy as you must submit it also. In order to get a Pell Grant, you must be a US citizen and have never been convicted of a felony.
In order to get the greatest amount of a Pell Grant aid, you must demonstrate a significant financial need. The lower income you have, the more you can get via the Pell Grant. Pell Grants are something that can help a person afford school more easily. Make sure to fill out all the appropriate information and that it is correct so you can take advantage of getting a Pell Grant for your education.
Help with Dissertation Examples
Written by Strathy
When looking for dissertation examples, you must think closely about the topic that you are choosing. You will write a better thesis if you are familiar with the topic and have a strong opinion about it. If you can honestly take a stand at a particular viewpoint you will do better in the final thesis defense (viva voce). If you find the topic interesting, it will help motivate you to study the subject matter and write about it from your own viewpoint. You must be prepared to spend a lot of time researching and proving your dissertation statement. You will need to know all the ins and outs of the topic in order to answer questions in your dissertation defense.
Here we will discuss a variety of subjects that would make good dissertation examples to choose from. First you will need to decide on a general topic area of interest. It is a good idea to choose a subject matter that is relevant to your course of study and degrees, whether you be in the math and sciences area or the arts and humanities area. Here are some examples:
Geology, entomology, biology, archeology, mathematics, sociology, IT, technology, communications, eco-tourism, fine art, music, theatre, literature, languages, writing, law, history, commerce, economics, etc.
Once you decide on a main topic area, you will then need to narrow it down to get your final thesis idea. You will need to dig deeper into the area you are interested in to find an actual thesis topic. Brainstorming with someone else will help you think of ideas as well. It is important to narrow your topic down so that it is not too broad an area or you will appear unfocused. Here are some questions to ask yourself when trying to think of dissertation examples.
- how familiar am I with the subject matter?
- do I have a strong viewpoint on the subject?
- is it something I can prove or disprove in my thesis?
- is there material available for referencing?
- can I dig up research material to support my thesis?
- is it a unique viewpoint? Has it been done before?
Perhaps there is something in your course of study that has always nagged at you. Something that you wished you could have delved into a little deeper. Or, maybe it's something that not a lot has been published on that you know people would be interested in hearing. You may have been taught to think a certain way about a particular situation in history, for example, but maybe you know of facts that point the thought in a different direction.
Carefully consider the points discussed above and they should be of help to you when looking for dissertation examples or thinking up thesis topics to do for your graduate work.
The Chemistry of Polymer Synthesis
Written by janet
Polymers can be natural or synthetic. Some examples of natural polymers include starch, cotton and rubber but in this article I'm going to talk about synthetic polymers such as nylon, polyethene or perspex. The building blocks of polymers are called monomers which are connected together into long chains. Synthetic polymers can consist of chains of thousands or even millions of monomer units. We'll look at the types of monomers and how they are bonded together to make polymers of various kinds.
Synthetic polymers can be divided into two types, addition polymers and condensation polymers. They are formed from different types of monomers and with different bonds between them.
Addition Polymers
Addition polymers are always made with a group of organic compounds called alkenes. These all contain a double bond between two carbon atoms. Double bonds are more reactive than single bonds and can be induced to react together, given the right conditions which usually include the use of a catalyst, increased temperature and sometimes an increased pressure. Alkenes bond together in an addition reaction and form addition polymers.
An alkene - ethene
All bonds contain two electrons and the ethene molecule has a double bond between two carbon atoms. One of these bonds is more reactive than the other one and this bond breaks during the polymerisation process. The two electrons in the bond split up and end up on each of the carbon atoms. Now the electrons on adjacent ethene molecules can join together to form a bond between the two carbon atoms on different molecules thus joining the two molecules together with a single covalent bond. The electrons on the other carbon atoms can do the same thing and join up with other ethene molecules to start to form a chain. This process can continue until a huge chain is formed.
Formation of Polyethene
Formation of radicals
Naming of Addition Polymers
Polymers are named for the alkene monomer from which they are formed so, for instance a polymer made from the alkene called ethene forms the polymer polyethene (usually called more simply polythene). Other examples include polyvinylchloride (PVC) made from chloroethene which used to be called vinyl chloride, polystyrene and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon).
Condensation Polymers
In this type of polymerisation, monomers are bonded together with the elimination of a molecule of water, hence the name condensation polymer. The monomers used in condensation polymerisation can be di-alcohols (containing two -OH groups), di-carboxylic acids (containing two -COOH groups) or di-amines (containing two NH2 groups). When a polymer is made from a di-alcohol and a di-carboxylic acid an ester link is formed and the resulting polymer is a polyester as illustrated below.
Formation of condensation polymers
When a polymer is formed between a di-carboxylic acid and a di-amine a polyamide is formed. An example of a di-amide is nylon. The monomers used in this type of polymerisation must have reactive groups at both ends to allow chains to be formed.
Once the polymers have formed, further treatment is needed to produce plastics. Dyes, stabilisers, fillers and pigments are added to produce finished products. Polymers have different properties depending on the monomers used in their production and are used in various ways. Polyethene for example is used for plastic bags, mixing bowls etc. PVC is used for water pipes, floor tiles, waterproof articles and insulating materials. Nylon is used for textiles, ropes and carpets.
