Category: Learning

How to stop procrastination – BBC Science Focus Magazine

Sorry. I meant to post this last week.

You’re procrastinating right now, aren’t you? Don’t worry, we’re not judging. But we are here to tell you that you’re not alone: an estimated 20 per cent of adults (and above 50 per cent of students) regularly procrastinate.

In fact, procrastination – defined as voluntarily and unnecessarily delaying a task – is so widespread that scientists have even found evidence of the behaviour in pigeons.

So, why do so many people procrastinate? What causes it? And, most importantly, how can you stop procrastinating?

Procrastination Cycle (Procrastination, and how to beat it)

Source: How to stop procrastination, explained by a psychologist – BBC Science Focus Magazine

Writers’ block? 8 Creators share tips and inspiration

Writing is hard. This article shares some tips to unblock the muse and get writing.

Writing Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

Building an audience for your brand takes time, commitment and a lot of content. Most successful web creators have been publishing consistently for years. That can seem daunting to new creators and it’s easy to panic when the well runs empty, but there is no reason to worry. We recently spoke with eight creators about the habits, tools and inspirations that help them spark fresh content ideas.

Source: Writers’ block? 8 Creators share tips and inspiration

Top 20 Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks for 2021 // All the features you didn’t know existed! – #MIEexpert

A step-by-step tutorial on Mike Tholfsen’s top 20 tips and tricks for Microsoft Word. He covers many of the new Microsoft Word features that have come out in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

This is not your parents’ Word! These Microsoft Word tips and tricks include our new features based on AI and inclusive features like Editor, Dictation, Immersive Reader, Translation, and many more.

Use these MS Word tips to improve your productivity!

Top 20 PowerPoint tips and tricks for 2021 – #MIEexpert

A step-by-step tutorial on my Mike Tholfsen’s 20 Microsoft PowerPoint tips and tricks for 2021.

The PPT Tips and tricks are the latest and greatest features, and include Microsoft Teams and PowerPoint integration, PowerPoint Presenter coach, Narrate Slide Show, PowerPoint Designer, Dictation, and a bunch of other core features and new improvements for PowerPoint.

This is the modern and AI-infused PowerPoint, so check it out and learn the latest and greatest for Microsoft PowerPoint.

Adobe Believes Every Student is Creative

Adobe for Education have a YouTube channel with helpful teaching videos both for Adobe products but also for creativity generally.

A good idea deserves to be shared with the world, in whichever media will make the most impact. Whether it’s a video, a website, posters, flyers, t-shirts, an app, or a social media campaign. We believe that when students learn to express themselves in any medium, they’ll find their voice. They’ll find new ways to make an impact, in school and beyond. The students of today are the ones with the new ideas, for whatever challenges come next. So let’s give students the chance to create a better word. Subsc

New resources on the gender gap in computer science

A continuing disappointment in Computing is the large and accelerating gender disparity in its recruitment. Due in part, I think, to some muddled thinking that occasionally equates computing with the often sexist pastime of computer gaming attracting female students to Computer Science is hard and getting harder.

Three poster images next to each other that have stats from a Google commissioned research study with K-12 young women's quotes next to the stats. First poster: 9% of girls think learning computer science is important. 91% do not. Quotes on this poster next to the 9% stat, in small font: It's exciting. Building stuff is fun.I'm good at it. It's rewarding. It could be a career, I love it. Quotes under the 91% stat, in much larger font: I've never considered it. It's too hard. I'm the only girl in the class. It's geeky. It's what the boys do. I don't belong. My school doesn't teach it. Second poster: 12% girls are likely to pursue a career in computer science. 88% are not. Quotes on this poster next to the 12% stat, in small font: I met some amazing computer scientists. I feel inspired. I'm good at it. Quotes on the poster next to the 88% stat in much larger font: I feel judged. I don't know what a computer scientist does. It's a boys career. None of my friends want to either. I don't know any female engineers. Third poster: 29% of parents of girls are eager for them to pursue a computer science career. 71% are not. Quotes in small font next to the 29% stat: It's a good opportunity. She really enjoys it. Tech is the future. She is so talented. Quotes, in much larger font next to the 71% stat: It's a man's job. I won't be able to help her.Can she do it? It might be too hard.I want her to do a more traditional job.

This resource helps to address the problem.

When it comes to computer science, we still have a lot of work to do to address gaps in education. That’s evident in our latest report with Gallup, Current Perspectives and Continuing Challenges in Computer Science Education in US K-12 Schools. This report is our most recent in a multiple-year series of Diversity in K12 CS education reports with Gallup in an effort to share new research with advocates, administrators, nonprofit partners and the tech industry to continue addressing gaps in computer science education.

Source: New resources on the gender gap in computer science

10 things academics say students get wrong in exams | #mieexpert

Why yes, it is that time of year again. Why do you ask?

Not many students would admit to enjoying taking exams or writing essays, but if you want to get a degree, they’re an ordeal you have to survive.

So we’ve worked out how to make the whole thing a little less stressful. We’ve persuaded four academics from a range of subject areas to tell us the top 10 things students get wrong in exams and coursework. This is what they’ve told us:

via 10 things academics say students get wrong in exams | Education | guardian.co.uk.

Humble Book Bundle: Head First Programming by O’Reilly (pay what you want and help charity)

Get a head-start on learning to program with O’Reilly in our newest bundle, Head First Programming by O’Reilly! Dive into ebooks like Head First Java, 2nd Edition, Head First Python, 2nd Edition, and Head First C#, 3rd Edition. Plus, your purchase helps support Code For America!

Source: Humble Book Bundle: Head First Programming by O’Reilly (pay what you want and help charity)

Googles Coder tool turns Raspberry Pi into a mini web server | ZDNet

English: Extract from Raspberry Pi board at Tr...
English: Extract from Raspberry Pi board at TransferSummit 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Google has released Coder, a free open source tool to make it easier to use Raspberry Pi mini-computers to build for the web.

Hatched by Google Creative Lab creative technologist Jason Striegel, designer Jeff Baxter, and a small team in New York, Coder offers a stepping stone for people interested in building for the web by converting cheap Raspberry Pi mini-computers into personal web servers through a stripped-back web-based development environment.

Google’s pitching Coder at an education audience, a potential sweet spot for Raspberry Pi given its $35 price tag and one Google has focused on previously, gifting 15,000 of the devices to UK schools earlier this year. Raspberry Pi supporters in the UK have also been urging schools to use the devices to spur interest in coding, hacking and building.

via Googles Coder tool turns Raspberry Pi into a mini web server | ZDNet.

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