Steps in Achieving that Precious Scholarship

February 13, 2009 · Posted in College & University · Comment 

Are you interested with availing of a scholarship? It is a good idea if you are interested. When you gain “scholarship status”, you are considered very lucky because you can study in a good college without paying anything at all. Lucky indeed! It is easy to become the next scholarship grantee. However, there are certain steps that must be taken in a college scholarship application. They do not take this application for granted, so you must always do your best if you want to become a scholar. When you want to be one of the fortunate ones who receive this kind of grant, then you must undergo different procedures.

The first step in college scholarship application is to fill out application forms and to sort out the kinds of activities that you more likely excel in. It is just like applying for a college all over again. When you have done this, you can now make persuasive applications by including helpful information such as your achievements, recommendations, essays and interviews. One good way to make your application more convincing is through emphasizing yourself and your abilities in the essay. But mostly, you should always follow instructions and use your common sense. Next, you should plan carefully your scholarship application. You should know more about the scholarship being offered, the requirements for the application and others related to college scholarship application. Next, you should find out if you are qualified for a certain scholarship grant.

When you have fulfilled all requirements and is eligible for the scholarship applied for, then it would be a big help for you and you can now pursue your college education.

College Grants: The Answer to Great Education

February 7, 2009 · Posted in College & University · Comment 

Do you dream of being a professional doctor? Or maybe a successful lawyer? You can always be one of the best, if only you persevere and get quality education offered by colleges and universities. But how do you do it if you are financially incapable of paying for college funds? Like what most people say, every problem has a solution. In this case, the solution is to avail of a college grant.

College grants are designed to help as many college hopefuls who just do not have the money to make it through college. There are lots of sponsors who are willing to give grants to students who are knowledgeable but are not able to pay for tuition fees. Some of these grant givers include federal and state governments, public and private companies and organization and even the colleges and universities themselves.

Federal government grants are one of the most availed of grants by students. Because of the “No Child Left Behind Act”, the government has given more money to help students in dire need of money to pursue their education. The Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant are just some of the grants offered by the federal government. Public and private companies also give grants to students who have the potential to graduate with good grades. They also offer employment upon graduation to students that they have granted who have outstanding grades and knowledge.

There are numerous ways to become a professional someday. Money is not a problem through the help of these college grants. So if ever you need financial assistance, avail now of a college grant and make your way to the top.

Making it Through College with Grants and Scholarships

February 5, 2009 · Posted in College & University · Comment 

People without perseverance believes that attaining college graduate status is impossible, especially those who are lacking financial sources. This is not the case. If you have the determination to get something, you will always strive hard and find a way to gain it. But what if there are hindrances getting in your way? The best thing you could do is to find a solution for it. The best example for this kind of situation is not being able to study because of poverty. Because of poverty and lack of financial means is one of the worst enemies when it comes to getting proper education. When you are financially incapable, you are really going to have a hard time getting into college. Luckily for those who cannot afford college fees, there are college grants and scholarships that you can avail of.

College grants and scholarships are different in definition but they offer the same thing, and that is free education. In a grant, all you need to do is look for a grant source, whether it is a private or public company, federal or government grant or even from the university you applied for. When you do, you need to undergo application and interviews. When you pass and are qualified, then you can now be a grantee and get started with your college education. On the other hand, a scholarship is offered by the university to those financially incapable students but have other skills like athletics, community involvement and the like.

There are lots of ways to get into college for free. All you have to do is apply and persevere. If you are really serious with finishing college, then you should avail for college grants and scholarships to help you make your way through college.

TEACHER AS AN ELEMENT IN SCHOOL MANAGEMENT

February 4, 2009 · Posted in College & University · Comment 

The Role of Teacher

The teacher is of paramount importance in any system of education . The whole system of education revolves around the teacher . The teacher is the pivot of any educational system . The school without the teacher is the soulless body . He is spiritual and intellectual father of the students . He leads the students from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge and understanding , and helps to keep the lamp of civilisation burning . He significantly influences physical , intellectual , emotional , social , moral , cultural and spiritual development of the pupils . He turns the pupils from the animality to specialised human beings . He converts the base metals of the pupils into the gold . It is the teacher who makes one’s life worth living . He is the arbiter of the nation’s destiny . His influence is confined not only to a particular region or state but it extends to whole nation or even outside it .

Teacher as a Backbone of Society : The teacher is the back bone of our society , particularly in the remote villages , where the school is the centre of the community life . The teacher stands out as an outstanding figure among literate and semi-literate families in the rural areas . He is the national integrator , moralist , intellectual , spiritual , research worker , philosopher and guide . He keeps the lamp of the civilisation burning . He is the architect of the future .

Teacher as the Social Engineer and Social Worker : The teacher acts as a social engineer and a useful social worker . It is he who constructs the society . He plays an important role in upholding the traditions , ideals and values of the society . He assumes the role of counsellor to the community and meditates between pupils and the parents and even in the domestic affairs in the families . In almost all the progressive and leading countries of the world the teachers played their roles successfully and brought about prosperity and progress to the land and the society .

Teacher – the Affector of Eternity : The teacher plays an important role in shaping and moulding the habits , interests , behaviour and character of the pupils . For imparting good education , good teacher is needed . He affects eternity . He influences the young for all times . His influence never stops .

Qualities Of A Teacher

As the teacher is to guide the pupils by his example as well as by his precept , he must possess certain definite qualities . The teacher is expected to be somewhat an ideal person . He should have high qualities so that he may imbibe high values of life among the pupils . He can serve the pupil , the nation and the human race if in himself he has the competencies of high order . The quantities of an ideal teacher may be described as follows :

1. Mastery of the Subject Matter : A teacher must be a master of his subject . Any weakness on his part will lower his prestige in the eyes of his students . Unless a teacher himself has drunk deeply at the fountain of knowledge , he is not in a position to inspire the others the love of learning . Nor can be kindle the minds of others with the fame of knowledge unless the same flame burns within him . Besides , he must love his subject . A teacher who does not love his subject fails to inspire his students and runs the risk of becoming hypocrite .

2. Adequate General Knowledge : The scholarship of teacher should not be confirmed to the narrow field on specialisation . He must have broad based knowledge . He must be conversant with the various branches of learning . He must be jack of all trades and the master of one . He must posses a fair knowledge of current affairs . He must know about his community and other communities too . He must posses enough information to satisfy the hunger souls . Social and cultural activities cannot be guided without the knowledge of the current affairs .

3. Thirst for Knowledge : The teacher must have a zest for learning . He must possess a literary bent of mind . He must refresh himself by constant reading not only about his subjects but the books which touch life at every point . He should improve upon his knowledge by making extensive use of the libraries , visiting exhibitions and the museums and attending educational seminars etc.

Fluency in Expression : The teacher must possess fluency in expression in the speech as well in the writing . Power of expression is one of his great assets . He should possess good pronunciation . He should posses the power to speak effectively . His voice should be sweet , pleasant , clear , audible , moderately pitched and well modulated . Plenty of variety should also be introduced in the voice to generate interest in the students .

PRINCIPLES AND MAXIMS OF SUCCESSFUL TEACHING

February 3, 2009 · Posted in College & University · Comment 

Teaching – learning process has occupied an important place in the field of education . Teaching and learning are two fundamental aspects of educational process . Both are closely related to each other . One cannot be divorced from the other . The most important objective of teaching is to facilitate learning . Thus the concept of teaching is incomplete without learning . For understanding the teaching-learning process it is essential to study the nature of teaching .

Nature of Teaching

1. Traditional Concept : Teaching is the act of imparting instructions to the learners in the class-room teaching . In traditional class-room teaching the teacher just gives information about the concept , but this traditional concept of teaching is not acceptable to the modern educators . Now teaching is not merely imparting knowledge of imparting information to the students . While imparting knowledge teacher should keep in mind the child as well as the orderly presentation of subject-matter.

2. Modern Concept : Teaching is to cause the child to learn and acquire the desired knowledge , skills also desirable ways of living in the society . It is process in which the learner , teacher , curriculum and other variables are organised in a systematic and psychological way to attain some pre-determined goals .

General Principles of Successful Teaching

1. Principle of Definite Aim : Teaching should start with a definite aim . In the absence of the definite aim the teacher might go astray and at the same time his teaching might lack coherence and definiteness . The students do not gain much if the lesson is planned haphazardly and aimlessly . Without definite aim , even the best lesson would fail to achieve its objective . Definite aim is of great help to both the teacher and the taught . It makes the teaching and learning interesting , effective , precise and definite .

2. Principle of Activity : Teaching is ineffective if the students do not actively participate in the lesson . Learning becomes active and quicker if the student is made active physically as well as mentally . Teaching can be facilitated if the students actively participate in the learning process and learn while actually manipulating the things to be learnt . Children learn their best through self-activity but that activity must be psychologically sound . Learning by doing removes the dullness of the lessons and puts the children in life situations . The child engages himself fully in the activity and learns qualitatively as well as quantitatively . Only that knowledge becomes a part of the life , which he gains through self – activity . Hence teaching should be organised as to provide the maximum opportunities to the child to learn by doing .

3. Principle of Motivation or Interest : Principle of motivation is considered very important to carry out successful teaching – learning process . It is said that half the battle is won if the students are truly motivated for the lesson . Motivation is the petrol that drives the mental engine . Motivation not only promotes but also facilitates learning . It arouses the interest of child and once he is genuinely interested , he becomes attentive , and consequently learning becomes effective . Hence teacher should properly motivate the students by creating interesting learning situations .

4. Principle of Co-operation : Successful teaching is a co-operative affair between the teacher and the students . If there is no co-operation, there may not be good teaching . Hence a teacher should plan his teaching to give the pupils abundant opportunity for co-operation in organisation , management , participation in discussion , and other class-room activities .

5. Principle of Creativity and Recreation : Successful teaching is a source of happiness to the teacher and the taught as well . Work becomes its own reward for the teacher , and the students enjoy it to the maximum . Teaching is not to be continued as a routine affair It should arouse the creativeness in the children . Successful teaching proves to be a source of creativeness and recreation . It awakens in the learners the desire to be creative and engages them in activity which is a source of pleasure to them .

6. Principle of Suggestiveness : Good teaching proceeds on the basis of suggestion rather than dictation . Th military spirit is not advantageous for well conducted class-room . The teacher suggests activities , materials and modes of responses . Suggestion helps in securing co-operation of pupils . Good teachers do not give order , they give suggestions , the students obey it . Hence in good teaching a teacher gives his suggestions to the students for doing a thing or not doing a thing .

Principle of Progressiveness : Teaching should be progressive . A good teacher is concerned with the progress of the children in the development of attitudes and interests , ideas and information , skills and abilities and development of habits of thoughts and action . Good teacher looks for the improvement . Progress in method and technique should find place in good teaching . Good teaching looks forward for improvement in the light of new experiments in the field of teaching . When teaching improves steadily , it is progressive .