Learning Resources

Teaching Contracts

2010-09-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

Teaching Contracts

I often hear teachers complain that employers issue contracts and then ask them to do more than the contract requires. From the other side of the fence, employers sometimes feel that teachers are too rigid in their interpretation of the terms of the contract. It is certainly a tricky area, so what can you do to make sure that the contract offers proper protection for both teachers and the employer? My suggestions are as follows:

The first point to consider is your own attitude to the contract. It is a document that binds both parties, so as employers you should ensure that it contains only clauses that you can honor. It is hardly fair to the employee to issue a contract that binds teachers and then expect to be able to break its terms yourself.

The second point is that teachers cannot be expected to know the legal requirements of a contract in a foreign country, as these can vary enormously. You should, therefore, explain to the teacher exactly how the contract reflects current employment legislation in your country and for your sector. Some countries stipulate that the contract must be written in the home language. If this is the case, your teachers will need a clear and accurate translation into English. Some countries require the contract to contain full details of the teacher’s visa and employment permits. There may be restrictions on the number of hours a teacher can work and on the number of hours’ overtime permitted. Whatever the specific legal framework in your country, it is essential to both adhere to the legal requirements and explain these to the teacher. Even if your country does not require a written contract at all, it is worth thinking about the kinds of problems that could arise if you do not have a clearly drafted understanding of all aspects of the job: the rights and responsibilities of the teacher and the rights and responsibilities of the employer.

Legal considerations apart, the contract should cover number of class contact hours, number of admin hours and number of preparation hours. If you have a basic 38 hour week and you expect teachers to spend 25 hours in the classroom, two on admin and the remaining 9 on preparation, don’t think of the preparation time as a free pool from which you can ask teachers to do extra teaching. If you need teachers to do extra contact hours to cover for an absent colleague or a sudden influx of students, build the terms of the required flexibility into the contract. For example you may say that could be expected to do up to two extra teaching hours per week to cover emergencies. If further hours are required, offer to pay them as overtime. List any additional duties, such invigilating exams, designing teaching materials or socializing with students.

Be as precise as possible in every area. If you offer accommodation, make it quite clear how this it to be provided and describe it accurately. State whether teachers will be expected to travel to other branches or to companies and explain how such travel arrangements will be made. Make sure you are clear about sickness insurance and medical treatment: what would happen if a teacher had to be repatriated because of an accident, for example, or suffered long-term illness?

Specify holiday entitlement, grievance and disciplinary procedures, and notice terms. Above all, try to make the contract a reader-friendly document rather than one that is full of dense legal terminology. Before you issue a contract, it might be a good idea check with a lawyer to ensure that it is comprehensive enough to satisfy your local legal requirements.

Teach English: A Fulfilling Career

2010-09-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

Teach English: A Fulfilling Career That Will Take You To Great Places

All over the world, English is the accepted language for many forms of international communication. From business transactions to air traffic control, English has taken over as the language of choice. Choosing to teach English abroad puts you into a fast-moving, high-demand job that can take you almost anywhere.

If you have a sense of adventure and love the idea of a job that takes you to another country, you should seriously consider this career path. It's sure to be a unique and enriching experience.

If you Want to Teach English...

If you're considering this as a future career, chances are you already know that you'll be away from home for a while. Most schools will hire you on a contract, which will be at least a year long. Keep in mind that your students will need their teacher to be there for the entire term!

If you're teaching at a private school, or if you're hired by a corporation to teach business English to their executives, your contract may differ. Nonetheless, to make the entire trip lucrative you should plan on staying awhile. After all, it took you a lot of work to get there in the first place.

What to Expect

Your salary will largely depend on what country you decide to travel to. Obviously, some locales offer higher salaries than others, but that shouldn’t always be the determining factor for where you teach. For instance, Mexico, a country notorious for low salaries offers a rich culture, low living expenses and students dedicated to learning. On the other hand, Japan, a country known for its higher salaries has a cost of living higher than most. Remember, you won't always get rich doing this job, but you will almost always walk away rich in experiences!

The good news is, many schools and universities can and will supply you with free housing during the term of your employment. This can eliminate one of the biggest hassles about teaching abroad, which is finding an affordable place to live. Particularly if you're in a large metro area, rent can kill you (and kill your teacher's salary, too). If you get offered a job with free housing included, snap it up. The best part is that the housing they give you will likely be within walking range of where you teach. It's a good bargain.

Finding a Job

Giving general advice on finding a job teaching English is difficult. The reason for that is because your efforts are going to vary widely by country. In some areas, you'll need to be hired months in advance; other countries might need to meet you before they'll even consider hiring you.

Our best advice here is to prepare to do some legwork. Talk to your college (and any other college in the area) regarding sister school programs and other resources they may have to get you overseas. Don’t forget about the various job boards that list available teaching positions by country—this is perhaps the best way of finding a job because each listing will provide the exact requirements of that particular employer. If you're certified in TOEFL or ESL, you'll find the road is paved a lot smoother for you.

Do keep in mind, regardless of where you're looking for a job, that you do have some choice in the matter. Don't assume that the first school that offers you a position is the one you should take. Qualified and enthusiastic teachers are in demand, so you should be as choosey about the position you take as they are about the teacher they hire!

Choosing to teach English abroad is a big decision. If you're sure it's the right choice for you, the sooner you start preparing the better off you will be. Competition can be stiff, but finding the right job and the right country for your future employment will make it all worthwhile. Trust us, it will be the experience of a lifetime.

Teach English

2010-09-12T05:32:00.000-07:00

Teach English

All over the world, English is the accepted language for many forms of international communication. From business transactions to air traffic control, English has taken over as the language of choice. Choosing to teach English abroad puts you into a fast-moving, high-demand job that can take you almost anywhere.

If you have a sense of adventure and love the idea of a job that takes you to another country, you should seriously consider this career path. It's sure to be a unique and enriching experience.

If you Want to Teach English...

If you're considering this as a future career, chances are you already know that you'll be away from home for awhile. Most schools will hire you on a contract, which will be at least a year long. Keep in mind that your students will need their teacher to be there for the entire term!

If you're teaching at a private school, or if you're hired by a corporation to teach business English to their executives, your contract may differ. Nonetheless, to make the entire trip lucrative you should plan on staying awhile. After all, it took you a lot of work to get there in the first place.

What to Expect

Your salary will largely depend on what country you decide to travel to. Obviously, some locales offer higher salaries than others, but that shouldn’t always be the determining factor for where you teach. For instance, Mexico—a country notorious for low salaries—offers a rich culture, low living expenses and students dedicated to learning. On the other hand, Japan—a country known for its higher salaries—has a cost of living higher than most. Remember, you won't always get rich doing this job, but you will almost always walk away rich in experiences!

The good news is, many schools and universities can and will supply you with free housing during the term of your employment. This can eliminate one of the biggest hassles about teaching abroad, which is finding an affordable place to live. Particularly if you're in a large metro area, rent can kill you (and kill your teacher's salary, too). If you get offered a job with free housing included, snap it up. The best part is that the housing they give you will likely be within walking range of where you teach. It's a good bargain.

Finding a Job

Giving general advice on finding a job teaching English is difficult. The reason for that is because your efforts are going to vary widely by country. In some areas, you'll need to be hired months in advance; other countries might need to meet you before they'll even consider hiring you.

Our best advice here is to prepare to do some legwork. Talk to your college (and any other college in the area) regarding sister school programs and other resources they may have to get you overseas. Don’t forget about the various job boards that list available teaching positions by country—this is perhaps the best way of finding a job because each listing will provide the exact requirements of that particular employer. If you're certified in TOEFL or ESL, you'll find the road is paved a lot smoother for you.

Do keep in mind, regardless of where you're looking for a job, that you do have some choice in the matter. Don't assume that the first school that offers you a position is the one you should take. Qualified and enthusiastic teachers are in demand, so you should be as choosey about the position you take as they are about the teacher they hire!

Choosing to teach English abroad is a big decision. If you're sure it's the right choice for you, the sooner you start preparing the better off you will be. Competition can be stiff, but finding the right job- and the right country- for your future employment will make it all worthwhile. Trust us- it will be the experience of a lifetime.

Teaching English As A Foreign Language:

2010-09-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

Teaching English As A Foreign Language: A Life-Altering Challenge

If you're considering teaching English as a foreign language, congratulations. You've chosen a career that many people don't attempt. Although it's one of the most rewarding jobs imaginable, the truth is that it can be a massive commitment. Of course, if you have a passion for it, then the work involved will be a true pleasure.

There are two basic ways to teach English as a foreign language. One way is to do so in your home country. All over America and other English-speaking countries, there are English classes offered by the government and by various learning institutions. These classes are designed to help non-native English speakers learn English in a fast-paced, student-centered environment. Programs like this are great for EFL teachers who can't make the commitment to travel abroad.

The other option is to teach English as a foreign language in another country. This is where the majority of teachers end up, since there is a much greater demand for teachers in the students' native countries. Teaching abroad is also considered more of a challenge because of the travel required- most teachers are expected to spend at least a year at a time in the country where they are employed.

With the spread of English worldwide as an essential tool in business communication, many foreign students are ready to learn- and they're not always children. Corporations and businesses also hold English classes for their employees who must communicate overseas. If you're not afraid of travel, the field of job possibilities is nearly endless.

TEFL

The first thing you'll need to obtain to teach English as a foreign language is a TEFL certification. This gives you the qualification to teach in a classroom and covers the basic structure of English grammar. There are several ways to become TEFL-certified. Many language schools offer one-month certification courses. Colleges and universities can also provide TEFL certification.

Although it is possible to get a job teaching English as a foreign language without certification, your chances of employment are not nearly as good. As more and more people become certified, competition for the good positions is increasing. We recommend TEFL certification for anyone who is seriously interested in this career.

Finding a teaching job

Even if your eventual goal is to teach English in your home country, you may want to seriously consider teaching abroad at first. Most teachers start out with at least a year in a foreign country, and the experience gained in doing so is nearly invaluable.

While we don't necessarily recommend heading to a foreign country to find a job, you can certainly do so if you're feeling adventurous. However, there are plenty of resources online that can help you line up a position before you go. Many TEFL certification courses offer job placements for teachers who are interested in going abroad, and these can be a wonderful resource.

Whether you're in a foreign country or on home soil, teaching English as a foreign language can be a challenging field. Be prepared to work hard and devote a lot of time to your career, especially at first. In exchange for your efforts, you'll be experiencing firsthand one of the most rewarding and interesting jobs there is.

Telecommuting Idea: Online Tutor

2010-09-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of kids from 1st grade to college that could use some help with their schoolwork. Parents are often not able to give them the help and attention they need to get them back on track on a particular subject. A tutor is the perfect solution.

While there are many people who will tutor locally, in the student’s home, or their own house, the idea of an online tutor is still fairly new. If you have been tutoring kids in your neighborhood, taking your tutoring job online to attract more clients may be a great idea.

If you haven’t worked as a tutor, but this sounds like an interesting idea, take a look at your skills. Are there particular subjects in school that you excelled at?

You will need a website to promote your service, as well as a way to communicate with your young clients and their parents. Let’s take a look at a couple of different ways you could tutor your students online.

Email
Your students can simply email you questions they have. You answer the email and send them exercises and practice tests this way. Even if you are not using email as your main means of communication, keep it in mind when you want to get something to your students while they are not online, or to send them exercises and other files.

Chat Program
Using a chat program will give you more one-on-one interaction with your student. You are able to respond to their questions immediately and will also get feedback from your students. You can check right away if your student understands the problem you are explaining. The students can also ask follow up questions immediately.

Instant Messenger
Instant Messenger works very similar to a regular chat program. There are quite a few instant messengers available for free download. You get the benefit of the chat software without having to install it. Most kids will already be familiar with using Instant Messenger, making it easy to get started.

Message Board
The message board is another great tool to stay in contact with your students. Just like email students will be able to ask you questions any time of the day and you can respond during your regular working hours. If you have a group of students on a similar subject, they may benefit from being able to read and discuss their questions among themselves in addition to getting help from you.

Video Conferencing
Video Conferencing is as close as you can get to being in the same room with your students. You will be able to see your students, observe how they are doing and are also able to read their body language, which can help you determine if your student understands what you are talking about or not. Video Conferencing services have become very affordable over the past year, making this a viable option for you as an online tutor.

You could even offer a subscription-based service that would give students and their parents access to a database of tutorials, articles, FAQ’s and other resources compiled by you to help the kids with their school work. If becoming an online tutor sounds like something you are interested in doing, give it a try. Get the word out and start accepting a few students.

Pursuing Your Post-Retirement Passions Online

2010-09-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago, computer literacy was an issue with older Americans. My father was insistent that one of those machines would never be seen near his desk. So we bought him one for Christmas and let the instruction manual drag him in. Now he paints with it.

It seems that resistance to computers is largely a thing of the past among most of us these days. They are a part of everyone's life, and grandparents are no exception. The ease and simplicity of email has spread computer use through all generations. Instant communication with children and grandchildren who are far away have brought millions of older Americans online and having arrived there, they have learned about the remarkable resources on the Internet.

You Don't have to Go to School

Those among us who are retired, who may be older but are wondering about the mechanics and uses of this technology, ought to consider learning to work with it. The basic tool for creating a web page is HTML, a techie acronym for a simple term: HyperText Markup Language. Learning to use HTML and create web pages is not, repeat NOT beyond anyone's reach. It's pretty easy, and once you realize how easy it is you'll want to continue do develop your abilities with it.

You can find an excellent tutorial on the basics of HTML at http://www.case.edu/its/itac/web/lrnhtml.html. It was written by an information technology specialist at Case Western Reserve University and it is truly written for beginners. He goes out of his way to use common English and translate tech terms into comprehensible language. The document is dated; it is eight years old and that is a long time in the computer world. However the basics haven't changed and it is a great place to start. Moreover, there are two additional tutorials for "intermediate students" dealing with later versions of HTML.

Use the Resources Online Instead of on the Shelf

Once you have a working knowledge of web pages and how to assemble them, you can look elsewhere for the newer, flashier tools and tricks that have been developed in recent years. There are lots of software packages out there for creating web pages with a minimum of technical background. It's better to start with the basics and understand what you're doing as your skills grow. A good resource for additional tools and tutorials can be found at http://www.ianr.unl.edu/internet/htmlhelp.html. It's a collection of links to free information and software for web page builders.

For my father, the computer became a recreational resource when daily golf was no longer an option. For many of his friends, the ability to create web pages has become a source of entertainment and creative satisfaction. You will find an abundance of 'family' web pages on the internet that have been created as a way of passing family history along. The scrapbooks with captioned pictures have become electronic documents, which can be amended at will - every time a new grandchild or another family gathering occurs, up goes another photograph. You can scan pictures and arrange written copy in an attractive format that is really very different than traditional scrapbooks. The limits of page size do not exist in the HTML universe.

Good Enough to Turn Pro?

Once you're comfortable with your abilities and have developed some unique formats of your own, you might give some thought to marketing your skills. Lots of retirees sell their services on a spot basis just as some sell quilts or ornaments at Christmas fairs. Charge an hourly fee to develop the types of pages that you're comfortable with. That might mean family pages for your friends, or home pages for small businessmen that you know and who are intimidated by the professional online graphics houses. Consider the internet an opportunity, as have thousands of young people developing careers. It can be an avocation as well.

Using Video in Learning

2009-08-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

Using Video in Learning

Videos often have the ability to not only be compelling, but to teach ideas and concepts in a way that can be very exciting to students. This experience not only gives you and your students a break from the norm, watching school videos also introduces a different method of teaching that can be very effective.
Video has certainly come a long way from the traditional 16mm projectors used years ago. Now, technology allows for interactive engagement in the viewing experience unlike ever before. According to James Marshall of the Department of Technology at San Diego State, educational technology complements what a great teacher does naturally.
Dr. Marshall went on to note that with the ever-expanding content and technology choices available - from video to multimedia - there is an unprecedented need to understand the recipe for success, which involves the student, the teacher, the content and the environment in which the technology is used.
Students that come into your classroom today are considered to be digital natives in that they are used to graphics and clever visual images. As a result, many students struggle to sit quietly for a dry set of notes delivered by you. They delight in visual examples and as long as they move, they grab their attention.
To get the most out of the use of school videos, help your students interact with the video by stopping and discussing the ideas or images for a few minutes. This can lead to a better learning experience, and it helps to get the students' attention.
Students today are not used to waiting for gratification; they expect it quickly. The use of school videos helps to meet the needs of short-tem gratification, while also taking students deeper to help them to learn the pleasure of a more delayed gratification. As video offers a fast and active learning mode, you can use it to lure your students into a more in-depth learning experience.
According to researcher, Susan Neuman, television - as one type of video - opens up new learning avenues for students, providing them with a knowledge base that can be extremely useful in school. Video is engaging, activates emotions, stimulates interest in a topic and allows students to absorb and process information.Videos can be found on nearly every imaginable topic to use in every school subject.

READ ALSO:

* Using Educational Software
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* Tech. in Hi Education

Technology in Higher Education

2009-08-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

Technology in Higher Education

Problems have plagued the use of technology in higher education classes throughout the country. Many people within the system see five major trends that will affect the future of technology/distance learning. The following is a list these current trends in higher education:
•Growing population of students enrolling combined with inadequate infrastructure (faculty, administration, buildings, etc.)

•Changing student needs (lack of time and need for flexibility are foremost)

•Instruction altered to more student centered, non-linear, and self-directed (needed in order to meet the diverse academic needs of students)

•Necessity of lifelong learning classes

•knowledge and competency of students in the use of the Internet
All of these trends can be traced back to distance learning. Higher education institutions need to take action now, in order to enhance their distance education programs.
There are ways in which schools can meet the current trends through distance education. One way is to provide more help through Student Services. By encouraging the use to of help desks at schools, students will have their needs assessed and met.
The website has given future and current students access to information quickly. The majority of the states have become a part of statewide coordinating board or consortium of distance education learning programs. These boards/consortiums have provided support, financial sources, evaluation procedures, and the establishment of clear missions for distance learning education courses throughout the states.
All of these efforts work toward the goal of implementing valid distance learning programs.By examining current trends, campuses will be better equipped to meet the needs of today’s student.

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* Using Educational Software
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Advance technology in Learning

2009-08-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

Advance technology in Learning

As new information technologies infiltrate workplaces, home, and classrooms, research on user acceptance of new technologies has started to receive much attention from professionals as well as academic researchers. Developers and software industries are beginning to realize that lack of user acceptance of technology can lead to loss of money and resources.
In studying user acceptance and use of technology, the TAM is one of the most cited models. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was developed by Davis to explain computer-usage behavior. The theoretical basis of the model was Fishbein and Ajzen’s Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA).
The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is an information systems (System consisting of the network of all communication channels used within an organization) theory that models how users come to accept and use a technology, The model suggests that when users are presented with a new software package, a number of factors influence their decision about how and when they will use it, notably:
The goal of TAM is “to provide an explanation of the determinants of computer acceptance that is general, capable of explaining user behavior across a broad range of end-user computing technologies and user populations, while at the same time being both parsimonious and theoretically justified”.
According to the TAM, if a user perceives a specific technology as useful, she/he will believe in a positive use-performance relationship. The relation between PU and PEOU is that PU mediates the effect of PEOU on attitude and intended use. In other words, while PU has direct impacts on attitude and use, PEOU influences attitude and use indirectly through PU.
User acceptance is defined as “the demonstrable willingness within a user group to employ information technology for the tasks it is designed to support” (Dillon & Morris). Although this definition focuses on planned and intended uses of technology, studies report that individual perceptions of information technologies are likely to be influenced by the objective characteristics of technology, as well as interaction with other users. At the same time, her/his perception of the system is influenced by the way people around her/him evaluate and use the system.
Studies on information technology continuously report that user attitudes are important factors affecting the success of the system.
In the context of information technologies, is an approach to the study of attitude - the technology acceptance model (TAM). TAM suggests users formulate a positive attitude toward the technology when they perceive the technology to be useful and easy to use (Davis, 1989).
A review of scholarly research on IS acceptance and usage suggests that TAM has emerged as one of the most influential models in this stream of research The TAM represents an important theoretical contribution toward understanding IS usage and IS acceptance behaviors. However, this model -- with its original emphasis on the design of system characteristics – does not account for social influence in the adoption and utilization of new information systems.

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Using Educational Software

2009-08-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

Using Educational Software

Educational software is a powerful tool, capable of providing compelling, appealing, easily internalized lessons on multiple subjects, from reading and math to typing and chess. In a world exploding with exciting forms of entertainment for kids, educational games can teach children that the computer is a tool and not simply a hi-tech distraction.
The family computer is a centerpiece of the modern home and an indication of the supreme importance of technology in children's education. Kids in current society must learn how to filter the hi-tech input they receive from every angle, and how to use the abundant information and power available from the internet and computer software for positive ends.
While some may be skeptical about the value of kids learning games and educational software, it is important for teachers in the classroom and at home to recognize the positive influence software based learning games can have on the modern day child.
Children love computer games, spending hours in virtual worlds of fast paced, highly charged competitive games and simulations. The excitement of computer games does not have to end before the educational experience begins for kids of all ages. From preschool learning games that teach children to recognize colors and animals, to interactive education games for middle-schoolers that ask them to create the software and write their own puzzles, the world of educational software is ripe with benefits for kids and teachers alike.Rather than separating the world of "games" from school and leaning, learning games teach kids the value of technology and the importance of interactive learning.
The term edutainment, the combination of entertainment with education, has been used to describe the current climate of kids' education. The thought goes, if kids of are entertained while they learn, they will tune out and learn nothing. Kids have been predisposed to interact with information in the computer and internet age. So our educational methods must involve tools that will equip children in a way that develops interactive learning and that has technology at the center of their classroom experience, as well as their entertainment.