A Guide To GCSE Art Final Piece 2018

A Guide To GCSE Art Final Piece 2018 All About Your Art GCSE Final Piece ChaptersGCSE Art Course SummaryRemembering How Your GCSE Artwork Fits InPlanning For Your Art Final PieceDeveloping Your GCSE Art Final Piece IdeasGCSE Art Final Piece EvaluationThe GCSE Art ExamHelp With GCSE Art Final PiecesBefore they've even started the course, some pre-college GCSE pupils begin to get nervous about the concept of a ten-hour-long exam but, in actual fact, the final piece assessment isn't as daunting or scary as you might think.If you are familiar with the Art Design course, you will know that your final piece counts as 40% of your overall grade and that the other 60% is awarded for the effort you put into your portfolio during the two academic years leading up to the final exam. So it doesn't all lie on those two days of full-on pressure!The key, however, is not to produce an exceptional final piece and a separately superb sketchbook, it is to make them both absolutely brilliant and (most importantly) for them to  link together.As you will see below, the ideas, images, texts, and experiments that you display in your sketchbook should all be stepping stones towards your final art piece. It's all about the journey, not just where you're headed!As such, in this article, we will look at how you can gain those top marks by making your portfolio and final piece tie together. or the OCR equivalent. Here, we will refer to the AQA curriculum.During your time as a GCSE Art student, you will be given a very good grounding and a general introduction to the subject of Art and will be given the opportunity to choose from a range of options.Below, we have provided some detail on the subtopics available to you in the Art classroom.Fine artDuring a fine art module, you can expect to do drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, photography, installation and other lens or light-based media and mixed media art.A fine art option enables you to learn about classical and modern painters and develop your own drawing and painting style. Photo credit: rverc on Vis ualhunt / CC BYGraphic communicationThis area focuses on  communication graphics, design for print, advertising and branding, illustration, package design, typography, interactive design, (including web, app, and game), multi-media, motion graphics, and signage and exhibition graphics. This choice is therefore very well-suited to those wishing to fulfil a career in advertising.Textile designThis subtopic is all about textile art like fashion design and illustration, costume design, constructed textiles, printed and dyed textiles, surface pattern, stitched and/or embellished textiles, soft furnishings and/or textiles for interiors, digital textiles and installed textiles. Therefore, anyone who sees themselves in the textiles industry would benefit from having studied this module.Three-dimensional designThis particular section offers those wishing to express themselves artistically with the opportunity to do with varying mediums and within different settings. For example, this module is made up of architectural design, sculpture, ceramics, product design, jewellery and body adornment, interior design, environmental/landscape/garden design, exhibition design, three-dimensional digital design and designs for theatre, and film and television.PhotographyFinally, budding photographers will no doubt be drawn to this area of study because it allows them to develop their skills and experiment with portraiture, location photography, studio photography, experimental imagery, installation, documentary photography, photo-journalism, moving image: film, video and animation, and fashion photography.Learn more about your GCSE art syllabus in this complete guide!Remembering How Your GCSE Artwork Fits InYour portfolio, i.e. the work that you will spend your class time and homework time completing over the course of the two-year programme, should be a good representation of your academic journey in this subject.This shouldn't be hard, because your sketchbook will naturally evolve along with your ideas and interests. Some content will be classroom-led to get the cogs in your head turning, so it's not all down to you from the start. What you can expect is for your teacher to introduce topics and ideas for you to explore in your own individual way, and then to see what ideas take off from there.While presentation and aesthetics are obviously very important in this artistic subject, the content is equally as important. The examiner isn't going to hold it against you if your drawing skills aren't excellent but they will mark you down if you show little effort to record and annotate your thoughts. Your tutor will no doubt encourage you to illustrate your thought processes from the beginning of the course to get your sketchbook looking nice and full.Look up for  Art classes near me  now.If you are wondering how on earth to even begin your journey on the art syllabus, then don't panic!You will be given an overriding theme, subject, task or brief which you will be a sked to focus your attention on and to engage with in a personal way.It is this overarching theme that your teacher will help you to develop in class without actually telling you what to do. They might, however, help you along by pointing out which are your strongest areas and suggesting that you use certain styles and mediums in your exploration as these best showcase your artistic ability.As a result of being given a subject by the examiners, you should ensure that the pages in your sketchbook (from start to finish) respond in some way to this theme, eventually communicating your intentions for your final piece. If you do go off on a tangent, this is ok but just ensure that you make your thought process and pattern clear to the examiner.Living in Scotland, find art classes Edinburgh.Learn more about how you can ace the GCSE sketchbook component!One example of a theme you might be faced with is 'reflection' and you will be asked to interpret it as you wish. Photo on Visual huntWhil e you may be better at using one particular medium, don't forget to show a wide range of mediums and materials in your art projects from term to term as well as attacking the subject from various analytical angles. Even though you may feel that you are perfecting your style, using one single medium throughout your GCSE course and ending the art project with a piece created using this same exact material could come across very cautious. Also, the variety of media you use can be used to enhance your different approaches to the subject, for instance, you might like to vary the use of colour, texture size and so on to show how you are feeling when examining a particular part of the brief.The examiner wants to see you come out of your comfort zone and be bold and courageous whilst experimenting with new materials and mediums, learning something about yourself or others in the process.That said, it isn't wise to use a completely new medium during your final exam. If you have a particular medium or tool you wish to use, then make sure that you have shown in your portfolio that you've dabbled with this prior to entering the exam.The assessment is not the time to be experimental!Find some  art classes London  right now.Planning For Your Art Final PieceIf you are in your first year of the course and are stuck for ideas with your GCSE Art final piece, then don't worry too much. If, however, you are fast approaching the Summer term with no clue as to which direction your art course is going to take you, then now is the time to really firm up your ideas and plans.Remember, it isn't necessarily a bad thing to let the subject run its course while you explore it, but there comes a time when you need to start to narrow down your ideas again and bring the brief back onto a particular line of enquiry. Imagine a diamond shape on its side... You start off with a single theme, you widen your search to cover a broad range of interconnected sub-themes and then you head to a specific, related yet developed point once again which will culminate in your final piece.Whether you have already decided that you are going to specialise in Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, Textiles or Sculpture, selecting the topic to go along with this is where most students struggle. It is a decision that many find difficult because of a lack of inspiration, an inability to choose between two or more possible final outcomes or ideas for their brief, or a general misunderstanding about the type of topic that is appropriate.The key is to brainstorm, evaluate and select an outstanding subject, topic or theme for your project. Also, don't  be afraid to ask for other people's opinions where you feel you need the support, like your art teacher or family and friends.A Guide To Picking Your ThemeBrainstormEven if you had an image inside your head from the moment your art course theme was announced, don't fail to explore other avenues too. You may come across an idea that is way better tha n you could have imagined, especially after a year or so of added experience and practice.Start by writing down all subjects, themes, places, songs, things or issues that you feel are personally relevant (because any art course must have some personal meaning or connection to be successful) and that matter to you as an individual. Don't feel embarrassed about being too 'deep', the idea of the art curriculum is for you to explore yourself and your feelings whilst also examining artists and art.Remember, the purpose of the coursework and final piece put together is to communicate a message, no matter how big or small. It could be about something that has happened to you in your private life or it could be your way of screaming at the world about a global issue.If there is no meaning or emotion behind the work, there is no driving force and nothing will be able to move this forward, only sideways with no destination to reach.Be sure to include topics that are a bit 'out there' (unusual , challenging, controversial, or inspiring subject matters) as those are often the ones that spur the most passion.Students who extract an emotive response from the examiner by selecting issues that they really believe in are much more likely to achieve better results than those who simply choose aesthetically pleasing but somewhat superficial subjects. So, try to make the markers and moderators sit up and take notice of your work!Find online art courses on Superprof now.EvaluateThink carefully about the topics that you have written down during the above activity and now start to filter through your options.Eliminate those which are insignificant and lacking in substance, along with those that are out of reach (i.e. themes relying on others or on equipment you simply can't access). Remove the topics for which the source material is too simple and won't provide enough visual variety to explore for two academic years.Get rid of those topics for which the source material lacks any aest hetic appeal. This doesn't mean it needs to be obviously 'pretty', as often the beauty of art is finding the beauty in the ordinary or mundane.Most importantly, however, dismiss any topics which are common or over-done, especially if someone in your class is already attacking one of them.  Unless you have a unique angle, you may feel that you are comparing your work or playing catch up the whole time if you know someone else is working along the same lines. It's really easy to get disheartened and feel you disappointed that you didn't think of something first because you put so much emotion into the course.Finally, as mentioned, ensure that the topic you choose is something that you really care about and that will keep you interested for a year or more. If you have more than one topic left on your list, pick the thing that you are most passionate about. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discove r all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDeveloping Your GCSE Art Final Piece IdeasWe have focused a lot on the nature of your theme, but when you come to develop an idea you should make sure that you bring in various visual elements to support those thought-provoking ideas.Using a different combination of materials to create different effects and styles, like line,  tone,  colour,  shape,  form,  texture and pattern will help to move your development phase forward and will help you to decide which medium you prefer and which works best with your chosen subject.The development stage should be focused on exploring and experimenting and, remember, every idea and effort has its place even if it is less successful than another idea. You should never omit to put an explorat ion in your sketchbook because it didn't work out - it may be that this idea illustrates perfectly why and how you moved on to the next idea.Whilst developing your thoughts, it is not important to produce 'finished' studies or pieces so be aware that your experiments can be rough and ready.If working with an idea inspired by a painting, you may wish to try exploring different types of paints, alternative surfaces, expressive brushstrokes and so on. If working from an idea that stemmed from photography, then you could play with monochrome versus full colour.When it comes to 3D design, however, you might use 2D thumbnail drawings to sketch out ideas and then work on illustrating perspective, shapes and patterns before making 3D models. For your sketchbook, you can take photos of your models to insert and analyse.Although your work shouldn't look identical to a particular artist, you should most certainly explore artists that are relevant to your topic. For instance, a surrealist proje ct that focuses on Alice in Wonderland should identify links with artists such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso and talk about how their work makes you feel and what you take away from their style that you can put in your own artwork.GCSE Art Final Piece EvaluationWhen it comes to evaluating your own artistic journey from start to finish ahead of your final exam, you should return to where it all started: the brainstorming phase.Go back to the beginning of your course and ask yourself these questions:Do I have a clever approach to this subject? Is the subject matter I've developed relevant to the brief? Does the work I am producing have an aesthetic quality? Is the story of my sketchbook intended to simply be controversial or does it show I care? Does my teacher support my choice of topic?The chances are that there will be some gaps in your thought process. This is easily fixed in the weeks or months before your final exam by going back through your journey and inserting evidence or referring to experiments completed around this time.Do not worry about your sketchbook becoming messy. Your teacher will no doubt tell you that more is best and that examiners like to see a sketchbook that barely closes because it is bursting at the seams with ideas! Even sticking pieces of fold-down paper in and changing the orientation of pages can add to the book's charm and bring it to life.The GCSE Art ExamYou will have a number of months, to research the theme of your choice (or the theme set out by your course) and create a preparation journey in your sketchbook.The final part of the examination project is a 10-hour exam where you will create your final piece, but what exactly are you allowed to do in that time under the exam settings?You will be able to add to your sketchbook during the exam however you ideally want to be focused on your final piece and have already completed all the preparation you need ahead of the day of the exam.You might be interested to know, howeve r, that  the following  activities, according to the AQA exam board website, do not get counted as part of your exam time:preparation of print materials, such as filing edges of perspex or metal print plates stretching of screens, preparation of blocks and plates mixing of photographic chemicals, washing and drying prints arrangement of a still life. You can take the materials for a still-life group into the exam. rest time for life models the making of a bare model stage fixing dye, dyeing yarn, washing and finishing of hand-woven fabrics or stretching of embroidery casting and mounting of models and sculptures drying of printing inks, oil paints, varnishes, glues or papier-mâché drying and firing time for sculptural work For ceramicists: the firing of the kiln is not counted in the time you're given but preparing the clay and the shaping of the work is. Ceramic work should be fired and completed before you present it for assessment, and you'll need plenty of time for drying-out and firing.What you decide to work on during your exam should not be a decision you take lightly, and should be something that you have planned and put a lot of thought into.In theory, you will have had an idea in your head from quite early on in the course and will have used your portfolio to identify a path towards this final piece of artwork.Make sure that you are familiar with your chosen medium before you go into the exam. Photo credit: samstockton on VisualHuntAs you can probably expect, the 10 hours will fly by.You can either set out an hourly schedule or guide or you can simply set out objectives for your first and second days. The exam more often than not takes place in your classroom so you can at least feel comfortable completing work within your usual learning environment.In most cases, the exam is spread across two consecutive days to ensure uninterrupted creativity.Your GCSE Art final piece must be a conclusion to your research and experimentation, directly related to all key aspects of your investigations.It must be well informed by various sources (as well as by making references to artists or periods of art) and should tell a story of your thought process from initial idea to final conclusion. The final piece produced in the exam should answer a key question or communicate a response to an issue, rather than be there simply to look pretty.Help With GCSE Art Final PiecesIn a way, 2018/2019 Art students are quite lucky because they have such a breadth of information at their fingertips. For instance, you can look at and seek help from numerous student websites, exam boards and forums with regards to your course, and a quick search on Google Images or Pinterest will result in a load of images and examples of others' final art pieces.However, as we have already mentioned, while it can be reassuring to see the work completed by others during their 10-hour assessment, it doesn't always help you because your personal connection to the theme and your unique style will be so very different to everyone else's.In fact, you might find it quite daunting looking at other people's artwork!  I know I felt very self-conscious painting my A3 watercolour  picture during my exam whilst one of my peers was working on a 6-foot sculpture right next to me! Once again, remember that everyone has a different response to a subject and a different way of expressing themselves.If you are getting close to the exam period and you are starting to feel a bit on edge about your choices when it comes to your final piece, then run your ideas and concerns past your art instructor, your family and your friends to see if they can offer you some encouragement or constructive criticism.Alternatively, you might like to speak to a private tutor who can help you to realise your best efforts.A tutor will certainly not do work for you or put ideas into your head but, as creative beings and professional artists (in some cases), they can often help you to open your ey es that little bit wider and to step a little further out of your comfort zone.After all this, you may want to review the benefits of learning art at GCSE level!

How to Solve Maths Problems

How to Solve Maths Problems Maths Help with Equations, Variation and Sign Tables ChaptersAdvice For Solving Maths ProblemsHow Do You Solve a Maths Equation?How to Solve FunctionsUnsolved Maths ProblemsMaths can cause problems for children and adults alike. Do you panic when you have to solve a quadratic equation or have to think about graphing? It turns out that even physicists have worries when it comes to maths and algebraic problems!How good are you when it comes to solving equations? Do you know your exponent from your elbow or are you in pieces just thinking about fractions?A lot of people bemoan maths in schools, at A-level and GCSE maths revision, saying they'll never use it in real life. However, the inverse is true. While you mightn't use a particular theorem, your brain will often put them to use by substituting an approach into a real-life situation without you even realising.Furthermore, adopting a rational and mathematical approach will allow you to not only solve all manner of problem and polynomial equation but also improve your memory.After learni ng to do sums, it's time to get to grips with problems. (Source: pixabay.com)These problems arise all the way through school. You have to know, if you want to get better at maths, how to simplify your problems and solve the equation, be it a linear equation or a quadratic formula.Whatever the problem (or equation), the approach is always algebraically the same. When you solve equations, you usually have to solve for x. This means you're given a formula with certain expressions, sometimes a coefficient, and your job is to rearrange it so that the unknown number (usually represented by x) becomes a known quantity.Sometimes these problems are presented without the formula in the form of word problems whereby you have to create and solve equations, rather than just being given algebraic equations.If you have gaps in your maths knowledge or you just want to improve, you have to master these essential maths skills.Don’t forget that maths is a core subject and the skills you learn from i t will accompany you throughout your academic and professional life! MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAdvice For Solving Maths ProblemsLearning the necessary approaches to solve maths problems is at the heart of maths teaching.  In fact, that’s why we deal with problems all the way through our maths lessons.Whether it’s geometry or algebra, most of the exercises you do during your maths revision classes are also on the exams you take.  Whatever your level, the approach to solving a maths problem is the same.You have to imagine the problem like an investigation. You have the clues in the question and you have to carry out an inquiry and take the necessary steps to find the solution.  If you want to succeed in maths, you have to know these concepts.Whether in maths class or in a private tutorial, you’ll learn concepts that are essential to the discipline. Maths exercises are simply applying these concepts.  Thus, revision sheets and studying the exercises done in class are essential to getting ahead in maths.If you want to solve maths problems, you have to pay attention in class! (Source: pixabay.com)Once you’ve mastered these essential concepts for solving problems, you have to:take care of your work environment, keeping a calculator at handtake time to read the problem several times before starting to tackle itrecognise the clues that you already havetest hypotheses on a scrap piece of pap ercheck your results several timesBeing able to solve problems is essential if you want to progress in maths.  Nevertheless, you may still have difficulties.  In this case, you need to stay motivated and persevere.A math tutor, through their private tutorials, can help a student to gain confidence in themselves and develop the essential maths skills.If the problems are becoming a problem, the tutor can also provide regular training and adapt their teaching methods in order to help the maths student progress more quickly.How Do You Solve a Maths Equation?Before solving an equation, you need to understand what mathematicians mean when they say this.An equation means that both sides are equal and there’s a variable, normally called x, which we need to find out.We usually learn about addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and mental arithmetic in primary school.  However, it’s not until we’re older when we start to see equations popping up in this form:7x + 5 = 3x â€" 15 This is when we first meet the x. and we start having to solve these equations which still involve adding, subtracting, dividing, and multiplying.  As we move on through school, we start seeing more and more of them.These equations get more complex in line with the level of maths taught as you get to the end of compulsory education.Equations are an integral part of secondary school maths. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)Throughout your time in school and for those that decide to study maths or a scientific subject, these equations never disappear.  So you'll have to learn to solve them sooner or later!The simplest equations (linear or first degree equations) are those that we first learn to solve and these are the steps you have to take to do it:Isolate the unknown (this means putting it on its own on one side of the equal sign)Regroup the termsDivide, multiply, add, and subtract (as per the equation)Write the solutionSo, for example, the equation 3x - 5 = â€"x  + 2 is solved as follows :3x + x = 5 + 24x  = 7x =  7/4Therefore x = 1.75Remember that when you solve equations, whatever you do to one side, you have to do to another, else you'll end up with inequalities.You should also remember that in order to find a solution, adding is the opposite of subtracting, dividing is the opposite of multiplying, taking the square root is the opposite of squaring, and factoring is the opposite of expanding.Once you’ve worked how to solve linear equations, you can then move onto zero-product or second degree equations like: (ax  + b) (cx+d) = 0.The key rule that your maths teacher will tell you is that the product of these factors is zero only if one of the factors is zero.  That means you need to solve as many equations as there are factors in your problem.However, there are other types of quotient equations which can seem really complicated to students.  Quotients are presented as follows: f(x) / g(x) = 0.You need to remember that a quotient is null only if its numerator is null and its denominator is not.You must therefore exclude prohibited values all while reducing the denominator in order to bring the equation to a null quotient.  You need to use cross products:x/  x+1 =  x-1 /  x+2x  (x  + 2) = (x  - 1)(x  + 1) x (x  + 2) - (x  - 1) (x  + 1) = 0x ² + 2x  â€" (x ² â€" 1)   = 0x ² + 2x  â€" x ² + 1 = 02x  + 1 = 0x  = -(1/2)The solution is therefore = -(1/2)These can be either a simple maths problem or a geometry problem.  In this case, you have to use the methodology for solving problems while adding everything we know for the equation, too.You must translate the problem into maths terms in order to then solve it and, in these cases, don’t forget to provide the literal solution as well.How to Solve FunctionsStudying functions is one of the more advanced aspects of maths we learn at school.In maths, a piece of scrap paper is your best ally. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)We study polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric equations, thei r variations, and their limits.You need to find their extremums, asymptotes, and, above all, draw the function.  This mean you need to learn how to draw a variation table by taking the following steps:Derive the functionFactorise in order to express under the form of a product or a quotientStudy the sign f’(x) against IDraw the variation table of F against IDraw the function on its intervalYou can work on the derivatives and variation tables with your private maths tutor. Regular maths exercises will help you improve.In fact, you should always pay attention to carefully placing your plot point on a curve in order to avoid mistakes.You can use A Level past papers to practice on in order to avoid any surprises when it comes to taking your exam and give you the best chance of passing.Unsolved Maths ProblemsIn addition to the mathematical notions you learn, maths also teaches us how to think mathematically.  Even the less mathematical of us can use maths in our everyday lives.Some of us love the subject so much that we want to dedicate our lives to it.  If you’re the latter, you may be interested in some of the unsolved mathematical problems.  In fact, there are plenty of problems that mathematicians have never found the answer to.Computers can't even solve these problems! (Source: pixabay.com)The Clay Mathematics Institute defined 7 of them in 2000. These are a little trickier than finding the intercept in systems of equations, substitution, or messing about with a graphing calculator.In fact, that's why if you solve one of these problems, you can win a million dollars:Riemann hypothesisHodge conjectureBirch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjectureNavierâ€"Stokes existence and smoothnessYangâ€"Mills existence and mass gapThe seventh problem, the Poincaré conjecture, was solved by the Russian mathematician Grigori Perelmann in 2003. Don't worry, though. There are six left to solve!In addition to these unsolved problems, there are also Ramsey numbers and Lychrel numbers (with 196’s famous unfindable palindrome).To better prepare for these challenges, you’re going to have to get a good grasp of maths and problem solving.Whether you're still not sure how to solve quadratic equations or are struggling with systems of linear equations, calculus, complex numbers, trigonometry, notation, or just simply simplifying formulae, a maths tutor could help you with this and lead you to future mathematical success.How much does a maths tutor cost? For that, there's no absolute value!

Redefining the Path to Success with Online Tutoring

Redefining the Path to Success with Online Tutoring 0SHARESShare Online tutoring is such process of teaching that needs the source of internet, networked environment or virtual environment in which learners or students along with teachers separated by space and time. Online tutoring, as diverse reflection of wider Internet, is experienced with the use of several approaches and lectured to distinct user’s sets. ‘Tutor Pace’ an online teaching company has understood this aspect quite well and possess huge number of satisfied users. Definitions related to online tutoring fluctuate widely, led to the continuing evolution of technology and studies, the variation and refinement in methodology of online learning, and interactions of organizations. Such new developments deliver the excellent services of online tutoring to the individuals, institutions and avid learners. ‘Tutor Pace’ has adopted all novel innovations in the field of online teaching and created an environment that passes on the best of education in present times. With immense online tutoring facilities Tutor Pace has now started giving more scope of learning to its existing as well as new users. The new online interaction tools like document sharing, video conferencing and digital blackboard etc. are changing the scenario of online teaching. So, now make a positive move and begin your journey to success with Tutor Pace Online teaching programs. [starbox id=admin]

Improve Your English While You Sleep - Listening Exercise

Improve Your English While You Sleep - Listening Exercise Should you stay up late to study English tonight, or close the books and get a good nights sleep? According to this TED video, you and your English may be better off with more sleep.Check out the TED video below about how sleep improves your memory, then see if you can complete our listening exercise.Answer the questions in comments, and we will correct them.You might be ____ __ closing the books, ____ ____ the music, and ____ to sleep.What is our misunderstanding about sleep?It ____ __ that sleep is also crucial for your brain.What does the hippocampus do for memory?What happened to HM after his hippocampus was removed?What 2 factors do they mention that influence memory?What, according to the video, is the best time to sleep after studying a language?Do you give yourself enough time to sleep? Do you think that studying less and sleeping more would help you learn?

Interview with Simon Singh

Interview with Simon Singh We had a very special treat yesterday: a visit from Simon Singh! Yes that’s the Simon Singh, science and maths author who has worked for the BBC’s Science and Features Department, directed the BAFTA award-winning documentary ‘Fermat’s Last Theorem’, created education programmes Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme and the Enigma Project and has written many fantastic books: ‘Fermat’s Last Theorem’, ‘The Code Book’, ‘Big Bang’, ‘Trick or Treatment’ and his latest, ‘The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets’.  Whoa! Simon has a vision to inspire young people with maths and science. In a world that progresses via innovations in maths and science we need more mathematicians, scientists and engineers - and for that, we need more maths and science teachers - and for that, we need more people studying maths and science at university. But how can we make this happen? Simon has some revolutionary ideas about how to nurture and develop students’ talents in maths and science, encouraging them to study these subjects at higher levels. We managed to grab Simon for a little interview at the end of our chat: Tutorfair: Why do you love maths and science? Simon: I think the question is, why wouldn’t you? Science is exciting! Just think about everything that’s been going on with the Big Bang at the moment. It’s fantastic. For maths, it’s a bit different. I originally did maths in order to do science, but after writing a lot about science, I began to see the beauty of maths. Take the number 26: it’s the only number between a squared number (25) and a cubed number (27). Despite the fact that there is an infinite quantity of numbers, we can prove that 26 is the only one. That’s really cool. In maths you can answer the questions, ‘How does that happen?’ and ‘How do we prove it?’ Why did you decide to study Physics at university? I grew up during the space race so I was drawn to the physical sciences. I love learning about the universe. Why do you think it’s important for children to learn maths and science? Maths and science can bring tremendous joy! If they excite you, then they could become your career. But otherwise, maths and science have an impact on our lives â€" they help us understand how things work which is important. Even if your job has nothing to do with science, you will need to vote on issues like climate change or genetic engineering; you will need to decide whether to vaccinate your children and so on. So it’s important to understand the science and maths behind these concepts. We find that children need tutoring the most for maths and science. Why do you think that is? Maths is particularly not natural. Take my son, for instance: he learnt to talk and to walk and a lot of other things, all by himself. But counting did not come naturally; he had to be taught it. The idea of using a symbol to represent something is not natural for him. And maths becomes more and more abstract. Science is a bit different, but it has been argued that it’s also not so natural, making it more difficult to learn. What would your words of wisdom be to kids who are currently struggling with maths or science? They are such important subjects. You need to know the basis of maths and science to be an active citizen so stick at it and you’ll get there. Can you tell us a bit more about the education projects you started â€" the  Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme (UAS) and the Enigma Project? UAS provides university departments with the framework for a module which awards academic credit for undergraduates studying STEM subjects to work with teachers in local schools. They go into the schools once a week for about 10 weeks. Everyone is happy. The students love getting the experience and the teachers love having the support. The students are learning skills highly valued by employers, and the course is tough, so the academic credits are well deserved. This module runs in about 100 university departments now across the UK. The Enigma project involves me lending my Enigma machine to Cambridge University so that they can take it around schools to run workshops with students about code breaking. It travels throughout the United Kingdom and abroad, visiting over 100 schools and organisations. â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"- As you can see, Simon does some awesome work with STEM in education so it really was the perfect treat to have him visit us during National Science and Engineering Week. Thank you Simon, we look forward to chatting to you again soon. If you’d like some amazing scientists to come to your house try: Alfredo C  - Doing a PhD in how galaxies are formed. Recommended for maths tuition and physics tuition. Celine H - Just loves teaching science. Recommended for GCSE biology tuition, GCSE physics tuition and GCSE chemistry tuition. Stuart M -Recommended as a private biology tutor, private chemistry tutor and private maths tutor.

Halloween - Treats not Tricks! - ALOHA Mind Math

Halloween - Treats not Tricks! Here are a few tips that ALOHA recommends to keep your Halloween activities safe so that it is more Treats than Tricks! Make sure your older children travel with at least one friend. Enlist a TRUSTED friend, parent or adult to accompany your younger children on their trick-or-treat route. Accompany your children to the door of the homes on your route. Know who will be giving your children treats. Children should avoid entering homes, unless you have discussed it the specific home with them. Only approach homes that are well lit inside and outside. Do not approach vehicles unless accompanied by you or the trusted adult is with them. Be seen wear reflective clothing, carry a glo-stick or flashlight. Stay in high-traffic areas, dont take short-cuts or enter isolated areas. Teach them to be aware of their surroundings. If someone they dont know attempts to grab them, tell them to get loud and draw attention. Mask safety is important as well can your child see and breathe properly. Hopefully these tips will help you and your family have a wonderful Halloween!

A new teachers perspective on teaching abroad

A new teacher’s perspective on teaching abroad Back in 2009, newly-qualified teachers were graduating in their droves, only to be greeted by a global financial crisis. In Dublin, Ireland, I was one of those teachers. Filled to the brim with enthusiasm, drive and passion to make an impact in my very own classroom, yet faced with the reality of unemployment and a serious lack of education funding in my home country. Like many a young teacher faced with a problem, I searched for a solution. That solution was discovering the worldwide demand for teachers as a result of the economic crash. There was (and still is) a drive for countries, organizations and individuals to upskill in response to an economic downturn. I decided to explore this opportunity and to leave home for warmer shores. Ten years later, I still haven’t returned. Here are some of the reasons why teaching abroad (whether for a short or long period of time) is the best thing you can ever do as an educator: Your bucket list will be never ending During my four years teaching in Abu Dhabi, I was in the perfect geographic location to access some of the coolest places on Earth. With the very generous holidays afforded to teachers, I was lucky enough to travel to Sri Lanka, Iceland, Oman, Zanzibar, Kazakhstan and even achieved a personal lifelong goal: visiting Nepal to see Mt. Everest in the flesh. As a teacher abroad, you will have ample holidays to explore and visit new places. The bucket list opportunities really are endless. Want to hear more first-hand stories from teachers in Abu Dhabi? Check out these posts fromAnchen and Lindsey. Impromptu lesson while on my holidays walking in the Himalayas. You’ll get out of that comfort zone Living in another country and culture will test you and push you outside your safe zones. Not only will you grow as aperson and learn an incredible amount about yourself - your strengths, weaknesses and limitations as an educator will also be revealed. The education system that we all grew up with and now work within is not the same as other education systems across the globe. Other countries have very different, and sometimes opposite approaches to education. In the Republic of Georgia for example, students are given more opportunities to explore practical skills, as well as the academic side of things, which reflects the particular needs of their economy and society. As a teacher, I learned a lot from this, and have brought elements with me from this experience. As part of this particular experience in Georgia, I also had to live with a host family, in a small town in the mountains. The challenges of living with a family who didn’t have much English, or electricity at times, served to build character and shifted my perspective on many previously-held ideas about the world. Lifelong dream realized - trekking to Everest Base camp! You’ll become more culturally aware I think we can all agree that the current global political climate seems to be emphasizing our differences rather than promoting what’s great about our diversity of thought and culture. The best antidote to this, in my opinion? Having the opportunity to experience living and working among other cultures. Over the course of my four years teaching in the public sector in the UAE, I was lucky to be able to challenge some of my own preconceived notions around life in the Middle East. Many things that I believed to be true, from the western perspective I was used to, were challenged. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. I worked exclusively with local, Emirati children and their families. As a result, I gained some unique insights (that as a tourist I might not have experienced) into how their culture operates. I experienced communities and kids that were exactly like the small towns and communities I had grown up within Europe. These interactions really drove home for me how similar we all really are the world over. Through the nine countries I have been lucky to teach in so far (Australia, New Zealand, Georgia, Spain, Costa Rica, Indonesia, the UAE and Canada), I have also shared my own culture and background with the students and colleagues I’ve worked with. As a result, there are students in far-reaching corners of the globe that now know all about Ireland and Irish music (and probably speak English with a strong Irish accent!) On the Island of Bali, there are a group of teenagers who now know how to do the Riverdance. Forget about curriculum, being able to dance like Michael Flatley is a seriously important life skill. Bali, Indonesia: Connecting with local students through the magic of Riverdance! You’ll become a better teacher than you ever thought possible Needless to say, the valuable international experience you receive abroad will be in demand once you return home. Your experience with different curricula, different styles of leadership and approaches to education, will shine on your resume. During my time teaching in the UAE, I was lucky to be given the opportunity to be a head teacher for a year. In Bali, I had the opportunity to write courses and curricula for local teachers. In Georgia, I helped to train local teachers. All of these experiences have propelled me forward in so many ways with my career in international education. Simply put, now is an incredible time to teach internationally. Not only is there currently an acute shortage of teachers in many regions of the world, over the next four years estimates show that an additional 150,000 qualified teachers will be needed. It’s the only profession that I know of where the whole world is open for you to explore and where you can make a true impact. I mean, who doesn’t want their legacy to be teaching 50 Indonesian kids to dance the Riverdance? Psst: Before you go, have a read of our earlier post on where you can earn and save the most money teaching abroad this year!

Independent Language Learning The Freer Way to Fluency

Independent Language Learning The Freer Way to Fluency Independent Language Learning: The Freer Way to Fluency Independent language learning.Sounds like some new movement of which you might be skeptical.Something cool and exclusive.And possibly weird.Something news publications are claiming is the latest millennial trend.When in fact, its just a flexible, effective approach to learning a new language.But why does this thing need a name in the first place, what is it exactly and why should you, as a language learner, strive to be independent?Furthermore, what the heck do you need to do to achieve such a status?In this post, well cover all of that.But before we talk about what independent language learning is, lets clear up some false ideas and focus on  what its not. What Independent Language Learning Is NotIndependent language learning is not teacher-lessOne of the most common misconceptions about independent language learning is that it means steering clear of teachers and tutors.But it doesnt mean that at all. In fact, independent learning can be applied in a language classroom, which, na turally, has an assigned teacher. (Teachers or tutors, in this case, function as mentors and facilitatorsâ€"guiding the students towards their goals, instead of spoon feeding them tightly structured lessons.)Independent here means not depending on anybody else for your learning. It means not being a passive learner waiting on the world to unfold before your eyes. It means actively working with your teachers and plotting a route which will get you to your destination. A great independent learner actually actively enlists the help of tutors and mentors to help themselves get to pre-determined goals.Independent language learning is not peer-lessLikewise, independent language learning doesnt mean you lock yourself in your room and go it alone.No language learner is an island. Independent learning, on the contrary, means full engagementâ€"opening yourself up to the world and immersing yourself in the languageâ€"employing all types of materials you can get your hands on. It means engaging with anyone and everyone who can get you closer to your language goals.Independence here shouldnt be used as an ego trip and doesnt mean you should avoid talking to fellow language learners or native speakers. Quite the opposite. The immersive experience gained from interacting with native speakers and fellow learners gets you feedback, the obtaining of which is one of the jobs of an independent language learner.What Independent Language Learning Actually IsIndependent language learning is self-directed learningIndependent language learning is taking full responsibility for the process. Its deciding for yourself what  you want to learn and how you want to learn it. Its about autonomy. Its about having the freedom to customize one’s learning experience.The complete opposite is someone who depends on others telling them what they should be doing. They take a program developed by others and swallow it hook, line and sinker. Not so with the independent learner, who carefully tailors the process to their needs.Again, nobodys saying that you should go it alone or that you shouldnt benefit from the experience of others. Its really about the realization that you are responsible for your own linguistic fate. What worked for others may not work for you, and what made sense to them might actually seem weird when you try it. There are many ways to meaningful language learning, and at the end of the day, you are responsible for your own journey.Independent language learning develops your confidence and effectiveness as a learnerIndependent language learning is empowering and liberating. It motivates you because it gives you control over your own agenda. In other words, youre setting yourself up for success!In addition to putting that fire in your belly, independent language learning is inherently fun and interesting. When you eat at a buffet, you only take what you want and leave the rest on the table, right? Likewise, in language learning it makes sense to pick the rou te you want to experience so that you enjoy the journey, not just the destination.The end result?Well, because youre more interested in the parts of the process, you become more effective at the task at hand. You efficiently acquire the target language. You might just ending up saying, Hey, learning Mandarin wasnt so bad after all!Now lets look at how you can go about being independent.Independent Language Learning: The Freer Way to FluencyIndependent learning has a lot to do with self-knowledge. If youre going to be engaging with your own learning, you better know a lot about yourself, your motivations and the specific things that you want. But learning these things, as weve discussed above, is beneficial for any learner and highly worth it.So, youre convinced? You want to be an independent language learner? Below are the things you should be doing.1) Set your own goals.The first thing you need to do is to figure out what you want.Learn Spanish is actually very vague and it can mea n different things for different people. As an independent learner, you need to ask yourself some basic questions:So what do you really mean when you say you want to learn a language?  A) Learning enough phrases to get by when traveling in a foreign country.B) Learning the language in the context of being able to use it in a job (e.g., as a nurse, businessperson, lawyer).C) Reaching native-level fluency.Which of the major language skills is most important to you?  A) SpeakingB) ReadingC) WritingD) Listening(Note: In the course of your language studies, youll inevitably be practicing and developing all four of these linguistic skills. Its not like theyre mutually exclusive. They in fact reinforce each other. But for your goals, its good to determine which of the four skills you want to prioritize.This should be clear to you at the outset because it will dictate the kinds of exercises and activities you need to engage in. If you ultimately want to be able to speak in the language, you ll align yourself to the goal and do more activities that involve actually speaking rather than spending the majority of your time in silent reading.)What time frame do you have in mind for learning the language?A) 3 monthsB) 6 monthsC) 1 yearWhat could be some realistic daily/weekly goals?A) Study for 10 minutes a day.B) Study for 30 minutes before going to bed.C) Meet up with your language exchange partner twice a week.There are unlimited ways you can customize your own experience, so the options above are only meant to serve as examples. In any case, you should not only customize your experience but determine the above factors from the very beginning. Most people simply decide that they want to learn a language and click the first YouTube video that comes their way. To gain the benefits of being an independent learner controlling your own fate, youve got to have a higher level of self-awareness.2) Choose your own materials.The choice for learning materials is another way to exerc ise your autonomy. And theres no better time to be an independent language learner than today! The internet, with its near infinite variety of content, is spoiling you for choice.So you need to be deliberate about choosing your learning materials. Here are a few guidelines to help you.Assemble Your Own Greatest HitsCreate your own mix of language learning material. Make sure you have all your bases covered to give yourself a nice cross-section of the content landscape.If you want to skip the hard work, though, FluentU gives you a big chunk of that nice cross-section right off the bat and then lets you customize it yourself. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, news, movie trailers and moreâ€"and makes them into personalized language lessons.You can choose your own material, schedule and the amount of help you get along the way. Its super easy to create your own vocab lists and flashcard sets, so your learning stays in one place.Regardless of how you go about curating your learning materials, consider going with at least one of each of the following content categories or something roughly equivalent (examples are included):Grammar textbook (e.g., Complete Spanish Grammar  or Easy French Step-by-Step)Podcast (e.g., any of these great podcasts you can find online)Dictionary app (e.g., English-Korean Dictionary  or French-English Dictionary)Translation app (e.g.,  Google Translate)Flashcard app (e.g., Anki)Language exchange app (e.g.,  Bilingua  or HelloTalk)Tutorials (e.g., the YouTube channel Butterfly Spanish  for Spanish, or Sweet and Tasty TV for Korean)Language teacher/tutor website (e.g., Verbling, a site where you can search for a tutor for the language youre studying using a huge variety of different factors like price and specialty, then take your lessons right there on the site)So even if youre a visual learner, dont solely go for visual content. Check out some podcasts and audiobooks, too! Get the whole shebang so you know youre not mis sing anything that could possibly be beneficial.Mix, Match and MicrosliceLets say youve found a suitable language program. Because theres no such thing as a perfect program equally strong in all aspects of a language, you might find it wanting in some areas. Feel free to use other content for support.If a chapter in your grammar book doesnt do the job explaining French verbs, for example, perhaps a video tutorial can. Dont be afraid to hunt for material that resonates with you on a certain topic.Discard, Discard, DiscardHave you ever had the experience of reading something for two hours and not understanding any of it? Maybe its telling you to look for something else.You should be ruthless in weeding out content. Yes, theres plenty of material out there, but its not all for you. In all honesty, you dont have enough time to go over all of it. The key is to know quickly if a textbook, a YouTube channel or a language tutor is working for you. If not, then move on.3) Get a lot of feedba ck.Ive already mentioned the importance of self-knowledge or self-awareness in independent language learning. For this to happen, you need to get a lot of feedback. Feedback tells you if youre moving in harmony with your goals, if youre stuck or if you need to institute changes.Here are some activities that help you get feedback directly from others or by yourself:Doing language exercises and drills.Recording yourself talking in the target language.Talking to a native speaker and asking for tips.Joining and being active in language learning communities.Maintaining a language learning diary or journal.Getting a language exchange partner.Activities like those above help language learners gauge the pace and direction of their journey. Based on your test scores, comments from native speakers or what you read in your journal, you can assess if changes are necessary.4) Make your own changes.As stated earlier, the independent learner plots their own route to language acquisition. You can g et the help of a whole village, but at the end of the day, its up to you to institute changes when the need arises.And the changes were talking about here can come from all corners:You can change your goals. For example, you can revise, expand or cut them.You can change your materials. Especially if theyre putting you to sleep.You can change your language teacher.You can change your study schedule or the amount of time you put into it.You can change the language itself.Basically, you can change anything. The wonderful thing about being an independent language learner is that youre not boxed in or forced into doing anything just because its part of the curriculum. You are the curriculum master and you can tailor everything to your liking.So when should you make changes? I mean, a new study schedule or learning under a new French tutor is initially challenging, even if its a good fit. So how do you know somethings not working and that its time for some needed changes? Good question!Fo llow the rule of three:Three sessions with your new tutor and you guys are still not clicking? Surely you can find another who you bond with from the get-go.Three sessions on the new study sked and you feel your progress is just not fast enough? Try a different one.When what youre doing isnt taking you to your goals or its not getting you there at a reasonable pace, try something else. (Hey, you can always go back later.)Keep in mind these four things you need to do as an independent language learner.Theres exhilarating freedom in plotting your own personal language journey. I hope you grab that opportunity.Good luck! And One More ThingIf youre digging independent language learning, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.