The Rise Of Behavioural Economics In The 21st Century

The Rise Of Behavioural Economics In The 21st Century What Is Behavioural Economics? ChaptersBehavioural FinanceKey Figures in Behavioural EconomicsFind Out More By Reading Popular Behavioural Economics BooksBehavioural economics is a relatively new field within economics, compared to more established areas, such as neoclassical economics or post-Keynesian economic theory.Essentially, behavioural economics stands in opposition to classical economics. This is because behavioural economics, through a combination of both psychology and economics, is based on the assumption that people, when presented with economic decisions, do not always go with the rational option.Behavioural economists would argue that this is because individuals are not completely detached from their emotions when making economic decisions, and as such the heart can overrule the head at times.Classical and neoclassical economic schools of thought, on the other hand, believe that individuals:Are rational economic agents;Who are able to weigh up the benefits and drawbacks of a decision with objectivit y; andAre able to adjust and account for new information when making decisions.Until recently, neoclassical economics has enjoyed a period of almost unrivalled popularity, with many of the school’s theories and models taking pride of place among economics students and economists alike.However, with the rise of global events, such as the 2008 financial crisis, that could not be explained by traditional neoclassic economic models, other schools of economic thought are gaining even more traction. Behavioural economics, as a result, is enjoying a period of increased attention, and it’s easy to see why.With a number of Nobel prize-winning economists in the field, along with the fact that behavioural economics helps to better explain why we make the decisions we do, this relatively new, and growing field, will only gain traction.This article outlines some of the key areas of behavioural economics theory, while also highlighting some of the key figures within the field and their respec tive works.Behavioural finance examines trends in the stock markets. (Source: CC BY-ND 2.0, QuoteInspector, Flickr)Drastic plunges in stock market prices.There are many benefits to studying and understanding behavioural finance. For example, fund managers have a vested interest in understanding how behavioural finance may affect the investment decisions that they make, by helping such managers to understand the unconscious biases that they may hold which influence a decision to buy or sell an investment.Some of the main concepts of behavioural finance are outlined below.Confirmation BiasConfirmation bias is one way through which individuals have a tendency to interpret information in a biased manner. This happens because individuals tend to acknowledge evidence that supports their own interpretations or beliefs while ignoring evidence that may contradict them.Herd InstinctThe idea behind the herd instinct is people’s tendency to follow the actions of others without giving much con sideration as to whether they should actually be doing it.Herd instinct can be used to explain changes in the stock market, notoriously bubbles, for example, the dotcom bubble in the 1990s, and large-scale stock sales.Loss AversionLoss aversion is one of the cornerstone concepts of both behavioural finance and behavioural economics more generally. The theory posits that individuals feel the loss of something much more keenly than they feel about the prospect of gaining something. This means that individuals are happier to take a risk to prevent losses.Self-Attribution BiasAlso known as the self-serving bias, this concept has been studied in great detail within psychology. It describes individuals’ tendencies to attribute positive outcomes to their own abilities and knowledge, but to assign negative outcomes with events that were out of their control.Behavioural economics tries to make sense of stock market bubbles and crashes. (Source: CC0 1.0, Chrom72, Pixabay)Key Figures in Beha vioural EconomicsOver the years, a number of economists, and psychologists have emerged as prominent figures within the field of behavioural economics. Below are just a few of those pioneering economists, although you will come across many more if you end up studying behavioural economics in further detail.Daniel Kahneman and Amos TverskyKahneman and Tversky are, in some circles, considered to be some of the founding figures of the field of behavioural economics.Although Daniel Kahneman has done much to contribute to the field of behavioural economics, oddly enough, he is not actually an economist himself. A psychologist by profession, Kahneman worked with his late friend Tversky on a number of projects, with their collaboration spanning decades.In 2002, Kahneman received the Nobel Prize in economics for his contributions, although Tversky could not be in receipt of the award as well, as the awarding body does not grant posthumous Nobel Prizes.Some of their main contributions to the field of behavioural economics have been concepts such as:Loss aversion (as outlined above); andProspect theory, which in brief, posits that net losses and gains are valued and assessed by individuals differently.Richard ThalerRichard Thaler has certainly received a lot of media attention over the past few years and deservedly so. With a Nobel Prize in Economics under his belt, which was awarded in 2017, the general public’s interest in behavioural economics has continued grown along with the rise of Thaler’s ideas.Although Thaler has worked with Kahneman and Tversky previously, he is also known for his own achievements. He is perhaps most well-known for theories such as:Bounded rationality;Individuals’ inherent lack of self-control; andNudge theory.Of course, as with any area of economic thought, there are those that support the concepts outlined in behavioural economics, just as there are those that critique the field’s ideas.The main detractors of behavioural economics a re economists who believe in the concept of an efficient market, which is understandable, as essentially those that believe in efficient markets believe almost the opposite of what a behavioural economist would when it comes to analysing and predicting consumer behaviour!For instance, Eugene Fama, known as the founder of the theory of market efficiency, is not a fan of behavioural finance. One of his main arguments against behavioural finance is the fact that, while the efficient market hypothesis isn’t perfect, it’s better at predicting economic trends and behaviour compared to what behavioural finance or economics is capable of.There are lots of behavioural economics books you can read if you'd like to learn more about this area of economics. (Source: CC BY-SA 2.0, Ginny, Wikimedia Commons)Find Out More By Reading Popular Behavioural Economics BooksIf you find behavioural economics might be an area you’d like to study further, then it may be worth spending time reading some of the most popular books out there on behavioural economics.Not only should these works highlight some of the key concepts in behavioural economics, but they should also help familiarise you with the leading minds in this field, and the kinds of topics that you may end up studying if you took a behavioural economics module at university.Some popular, relatively accessible works include the following:Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness, by Richard ThalerWhy Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes,  by Gary Belsky and Thomas GilovichThe Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us, by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons; andThinking,  Fast and Slow, by Daniel KahnemanHowever, this list isn't exhaustive, so if you find a book on behavioural economics that appeals to you, or a friend or teacher recommends, then feel free to pick that up and give it a read instead. Ultimately, try to find behavioural economics books about topics that appeal to you, are writ ing in an interesting or engaging manner, and can help teach you something new about the field.If you’d like to learn more about behavioural economics and its key concepts, then you can also reach out to a tutor for some additional help and guidance. Superprof, for example, has tutors across a range of subjects, including psychology and economics.Simply let your economics tutor know in advance what areas of behavioural economics or behavioural finance you’d like to learn about, as this should then give your tutor plenty of time to prepare tailored teaching materials to help you get the most out of your tuition sessions. Superprof offers tuition in an online or in-person setting, on a schedule that works for you, so it’s never been easier to find a tutor to work around your schedule and budget.If you enter your postcode, then you can be matched with suitable local tutors in your area. So whether you'd like to learn more about Kahneman, or want to know the latest theories by Tha ler, there is help at hand.Read more on:the UK economy's historythe Roman Empire economythe Industrial Revolutionthe inter-war periodthe post-war boom

Should I Go To University of Washington

Should I Go To University of Washington The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Bryce earned his Bachelors degree in Bioengineering in 2012 from the University of Washington. He is currently a New York City tutor specializing in Biology tutoring, MCAT prep tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, and much more. See what he had to share about his time at the University of Washington: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Bryce:The University of Washington is in its own enclave of Seattle. It is about three miles from downtown, and while it is still in an urban setting, the entire neighborhood revolves around the campus. The off-campus safety is sometimes questionable, but there is an incredibly low crime rate on campus, even very late at night. I had a bike all four years, and a car during my final two, but the bus system is good enough to get you where you need to be within 20 minutes. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Bryce:The University of Washington is a huge school; my largest class was 770 students. That being said, the professors are amazing at being available to students via office hours, email, and private appointments. Almost every class has at least one teaching assistant, and they are even more available than the professors. The key to getting the attention of your professors at the University of Washington is to, 1.) stand out in class (positively, obviously), ask questions, and go to office hours and/or, 2.) choose a strong but small major. For instance, my bioengineering class had 50 students in it, and I knew all of my professors quite well. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Bryce:Dorm life is so fun. There are a ton of dining options, the rooms are big enough for you to survive and have your own space, and Housing Services puts on all kinds of events for those living on campus, as well as off. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Bryce:The sciences are very strong at the University of Washington, especially those that stress research (because they are the ones that bring in national and private funding). I studied bioengineering because it was a beautiful mix of medicine and engineering, and it provided me with a fantastic perspective of medicine before I applied to medical school. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Bryce:I played on the ice hockey team, so I immediately had a group of 25 friends. For those not immediately joining a sports team, I would recommend joining a club or at least engaging in all of the social events put on by the dorms. You should definitely live on campus your freshman year; if you like it, you can stay, and if you do not, you can find off-campus housing or join a fraternity or sorority. Greek life is quite prevalent on/near campus, but if you choose not to join (I chose to avoid Greek life), it is pretty easy to avoid, as well. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Bryce:I did not use the Career Center much, as I was on a straight track to medical school. My friends and colleagues, however, went to several career fairs and got interviews/jobs as a direct result. The University of Washington is one of the most prestigious universities in the northwest, so all major companies (Boeing, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, etc.) recruit from it. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Bryce:The student union was just renovated, and it is absolutely gorgeous. They have a bowling alley, an arcade, ping-pong tables, a ton of dining options, a small bookstore, a bike repair shop, and more. The libraries are great, but the best and most beautiful ones are closed overnight. There is one 24-hour library, and they are currently renovating it, so it should be great when they finish. The best libraries have cubicles and big workspaces, but they do tend to get swamped during midterms and finals. There are a lot of off-campus study options, as well (e.g. coffee shops). VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Bryce:Seattle is great. The music scene is fun, and there is always an event going on somewhere in the city. There are generally on-campus events every weekend. I did have some difficulty finding things to do on the weekends before I turned 21, but that can easily be changed by finding like-minded individuals willing to join you in exploring, going to movies, etc. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Bryce:The University of Washington has a huge student body the typical entering class is 5,500 students, and there are more than 40,000 students if you count graduate students. Entry-level classes are generally quite large, ranging from 100-770 students. I really did not like my large classes, but thankfully they were few and far between, and the bulk of my work was in classes that were 30-60 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Bryce: Dr. Scott Freeman taught my entry-level biology class. This man could not only captivate a 400-person audience each day, but he truly cared about each of his students. I was working on campus my first two years, and one day he bought coffee from me about two hours before his class. I introduced myself, and he proceeded to say hi to me and call me by name for the next two years. He somehow recalled the name of every student who introduced him or herself to him, and nothing made him happier than learning that one of his old students achieved a goal. When I told him I got into medical school, he smiled as if I were his own son getting admitted. I hope to teach one day, and I will do my best to care about my students as much as Dr. Freeman. Check out Bryces tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What is the Difference Between Higher-Order Thinking and Critical Thinking

What is the Difference Between Higher-Order Thinking and Critical Thinking Which is more In-Demand: Higher-Order or Critical Thinking Skills? ChaptersCritical Thinking SkillsWhat is Higher Order Thinking?Thinking Skills and Formal EducationWhere do Tutors Fit In?Every human being thinks, save for those in a persistent vegetative state and newborns â€" that said with due awareness of the ethical controversy of labelling humans ‘vegetative’.As the human psyche â€" the mind develops and intellect grows, we become capable of thinking beyond our direct environment, needs and wants.We start to conceptualise, a fancy word for ‘imagine’, and then move on to problem-solving rather quickly. Those two types of rationalisation form the basis of higher-order thinking.Till recently, it was thought that higher-order thinking skills developed in step with the acquisition of knowledge, meaning that only highly-educated people might be higher-order thinkers.However, recent studies reveal that children as young as four exhibit higher-order thinking skills.What are critical thinking skills and higher-order thinking skills? Why are the y such a big deal these days? How do they differ from other thinking such as inductive and deductive reasoning?And how can tutors help their charges develop thinking skills in general?Therefore, it should be up to individuals to probe any issue and give each one deep thought before accepting any idea as deserving of belief or credibility.Essentially, Socrates advocated for self-reliance, something Ralph Waldo Emerson, a 19th-century philosopher staked his entire fortune and reputation on.Meanwhile, far from philosophical thought, the concept of critical thinking took a divergent turn, away from rational thinking that involves critique, towards an intellectually disciplined process.That meant that, far from being egocentric, critical thinking called for nearly dispassionate reasoning by examining facts through the lens of logic and arriving at a conclusion.The trouble with that premise is that humans are, for the most part, incapable of separating their experiences from their process of analysis.Therefore, the concept of critical thinking still represents, at least in part, individual biases.Discover the limitations current educational standards place on cultivating thinking skills...What is Higher Order Thinking?Critical thinking, along with problem-solving, is a higher-order thinking skill because it goes beyond exposure to information and rote memorisation.Higher order thinking skills, often abbreviated as HOTS, is an educational reform initiative based on Bloom’s Taxonomy, among others.Analysing, evaluating and synthesising â€" the process of consolidating knowledge requires a different pedagogy than the current process of presenting information and concepts, the memorisation of which is periodically tested.There is a certain resistance to implementing learning activities targeted to the knowledge consolidation process described above. We'll talk about that in our next section.For a long time, researchers and educators believed that the development of tho ught processes was incremental, based on the acquisition of knowledge.Ongoing cognitive studies like the ones mentioned in this article's introduction have proven that, far from thinking skills being based on intellect, they are a natural process of cognitive development that happens much earlier than anyone had ever suspected.Not only is higher order thinking evidenced in small humans who have never been in an academic setting, but their higher-order thinking skills outdo most anyone who has stayed the entire course of academic development.How do you put a giraffe in a refrigerator?This deceptively simple question befuddles many adults but youngsters know that you simply open the door to the fridge, put the giraffe in and close the door.No consideration is given as to the size of the animal versus the size of the appliance; for young minds, the answer is a simple matter of opening the door, inserting and closing the door.As the quiz progresses, through your answers you’re clued t o various aspects of your thinking ability, such as being able to think through the consequences of your decisions and your ability to contextualise.How is it that preschool children can think their way through seemingly complex problems with a minimum of effort while adults, armed with years of formal education cannot seem to make sense of simple concepts?Discover also what defines higher-order thinking...Small children do not give consideration to the size of a giraffe when asked how to put it in a fridge Source: Pixabay Credit: Amigos3DThinking Skills and Formal EducationAdvocates of traditional education disdain HOTS in favour of continuing instructional strategies to impart basic skills.In this context, the phrase ‘basic skills’ represents a concept that is in direct opposition to HOTS, in that:academic subjects are segregated: sciences are learned separately from maths; language mechanics are taught independent of literature and art, with reading skills being taught as yet another subject.Basic skills learning is a teacher-centred methodologyThe teaching and learning of basic skills is for the sake of academic accrual rather than any real-life applicationby contrast, project-based learning applies subject knowledge to real-life situationsAssessments are summative, often in the form of multiple choice questionsFacts are learned in a particular sequence.Let’s take a standard maths curriculum, to illustrate that last point.Students learn the order of numbers, and then the sense of numbers, and then the properties of numbers and basic arithmetic. In higher key stages they will study algebra and geometry... but all of these concepts are taught independent of one another even though they are all branches of the same subject.Basic Skills methodology suggests that a student’s capacity to absorb, understand and retain knowledge is predicated on the gradual unveiling of increasingly complex ideas of concepts.HOTS advocates for a spiral curriculum: introduc ing concepts early in a student’s academic career and revisiting them throughout their time of formal learning, albeit with incrementally greater degrees of complexity.Again, we draw on maths to illustrate this point.Early Years Foundation Stage pupils are taught about numbers. They are also often assigned work that calls for them to detect patterns â€" ‘what’s missing’ worksheets, for example.Why not combine those two activities?Elementary algebraic concepts do not require mastery of arithmetic to understand them; the study of set theory is perfectly suitable for EYSF students.Key Stage 1 students would then go on to explore magmas, tap on quasigroups and semigroups...Even though those students might not actually meet an equation until much later in their school years, the foundation for understanding and working with algebra will have already been laid.How about using higher-order thinking in problem-solving?Perhaps the clearest example of the concept of ‘basic skills’ is how it is applied in our country.Literacy and numeracy programmes for adults lacking in those skills is known as ‘adult basic skills’ education.Those learners are not expected to build on the knowledge they gain; the reading and maths skills they are taught are for the sole purpose of functioning better in society.Isn’t it scary that basic education is what is taught in classrooms across the country?Learn how tutors can be instrumental in helping their students gain higher-order thinking skills...Many HOTS proponents advocate for a spiraling curriculum Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltWhere do Tutors Fit In?Private tutors have the luxury of developing their curricula in accordance with each of their students’ needs. They also have substantial leeway in how they teach their subject matter.Whereas a school teacher may be constrained from encouraging debate or independent thinking by time and the number of students s/he teaches in each class, those very functions are where a t utor’s role has the most impact.Let’s say that your tutoring skills have been sought out to provide homework help in chemistry.Standard curricular activities involve learning the names of the elements studying their molecular structure and memorising the periodic table.The homework assignment: what’s the difference between a molecular formula and an empirical formula?Your student has prior knowledge of empirical formulae but is missing the connection between them and the ‘true’ formulae. How would you guide him/her to the correct answer?You might, perhaps, clue him/her into the structural formula â€" the arrangement of the atoms, and then present the lowest whole number ratio of atoms (empirical formula) versus the number of atoms in each of the elements that comprise the molecule (molecular formula) and encourage him/her to draw conclusions.That is how tutors encourage higher order thinking: by reinforcing known concepts, blending them with new concepts and guiding studen ts to conclusions.By supporting students in navigating their academic challenges rather than feeding them answers, tutors cultivate a level of student engagement that would be difficult for teachers to match.Not because teachers aren’t dedicated; just because the focus in the classroom  at this point is on academics rather than on students developing their cognitive skills and thinking skills.The open-ended questions you pose your students forces them to conceptualise. Your focus on concept formation â€" the process of connecting ideas,  along with your ongoing formative assessment of your pupils so that you can better determine how to entice your student towards maximum investment in his/her assignments...As a tutor, you are the essential link between general education and students’ learning outcomes.Just be careful! It is necessary to know when and how hard to push students towards thinking skills...

Finding Chemistry Courses in London

Finding Chemistry Courses in London Find the Right Chemistry Lessons in the City of London ChaptersChemistry at School: Preparing for your GCSEs and A-LevelsFinding Summer Courses in a London SchoolLearning Chemistry at London UniversitiesGeneral Chemistry Courses at a London UniversityLearning Chemistry with a Private TutorChemistry is a fascinating study. If you want to consider it for your further education, maybe applying to University, you should consider taking Chemistry for your GCSEs and A-Levels. Or if you’re not sure that chemistry is the right subject for you, you can take summer courses or seek counselling from professors at a university to discuss your higher education.So what are your options when you want to study chemistry in London? Imperial College has summer schools for year 9 that include chemistry.See what adult learning chemistry courses Birmingham has to offer.general Chemistry Bachelor’s and specialise for your Master's or doctorate.Research project: what do the teachers at the university specialise in, what specialised research projects might y ou be able to participate in as an undergraduate or graduate student?Interdisciplinary offers: Does the university offer any interdisciplinary courses, such as Chemistry and Medicine or the application of chemistry to the creative arts?Do they offer postgraduate courses or will you need to continue your education elsewhere?Many London universities offer chemistry degrees. Photo on VisualHuntGeneral Chemistry Courses at a London UniversityWhen looking for your prospective campuses, here are a few London colleges that offer general chemistry at an undergraduate level. Most have tuition of £9,250 per annum and last for 3 years, culminating in a Bachelor:CollegeTuitionLengthQueen Mary University £9,2503 yearsUniversity of East London £9,2503 yearsKingston University £9,250Offers a 4-year programme with sandwich year in addition to the 3-year programme.London Metropolitan University £9,250also offers a 4-year course part-timeUniversity College £9,250has a 4-year full-time programme rath er than a 3-year one to an undergraduate degreeKing’s College also has a 4-year programme, however, you will be graduating with a Master of Science rather than a Bachelor’s.Queen Mary, Imperial and King’s College all offer programmes with industry tie-ins or professional placement, partnering with firms to allow you to get professional experience before graduating.Specialised Chemistry at Universities in LondonUndergraduates who know what they want can specialise in the following aspects of chemistry at a London college:Analytical Chemistry - used for anything from jet-engine engineering to archaeology - is offered by Birkbeck for a one- or two-year Master’s degree, or as a postgraduate diploma; also by University College London (Master’s).Biochemistry is offered by Queen Mary University (Master’s; also with a year abroad), Kingston University (Bachelor’s), the University of East London (Bachelor’s with a foundation year - perfect if you don’t have the usual qualif ications), King’s CollegePharmaceutical Chemistry / Medicinal Chemistry is offered by University College, Kingston University, Queen Mary University, the University of Greenwich (as a Foundation Degree in Science over two years) and Middlesex University.In addition, if you’re all afire for CSI work, Kingston University offers degrees in Forensic Science  - or learn Forensic  Investigation and other chemistry classes in Glasgow.You might want to see if your chemistry courses are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Photo credit: Nick D-J on VisualHunt.comLearning Chemistry with a Private TutorBecause chemistry requires a lab, it’s difficult to find a private tutor who will teach you chemistry in all its aspects. If you are very lucky, your tutor will have a home lab where you can visit or be able to rent space for his or her chemistry lessons at a school lab or college lab.However, a private tutor can help with the basics - learning formulae and equations, everything y ou need to know about the periodic table of elements and transition metals. When it comes to theory, a private tutor is ideal. He or she can come to your home or offer a seminar online through Skype, can adapt to your schedule and work on what you need to practise and perfect.A private tutor may not be what you need to get a job in the field of chemistry, but they can help you master your undergraduate or postgraduate courses and improve your grades while studying for GCSEs or A-Levels.Here at Superprof, we have over 700 tutors in the London area offering rates ranging from £10 to £120 an hour (but averaging about £23). Most will even offer their first lesson for free!Or you can post at one of the universities mentioned above to see if a graduate or undergraduate student is willing to make a few extra pounds by tutoring someone else. There are many ways to learn Chemistry UK! And other cities offer a great curriculum, cities with great universities such as Leeds.

ASVAB Study Tips (even if you dont have a lot of time) - Private Tutoring

ASVAB Study Tips (even if you don’t have a lot of time) Amy W Jan 31, 2019 Find a Top Rated ASVAB Tutor Near You! It's Simple and Secure - Get Real Results Fast. Find Expert Private Tutors at Reasonable Rates Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson Studying and preparing for any test is difficult and stressful, especially one where the results so directly impact on your future. The ASVAB is a unique test so knowing how to study for the ASVAB is critical. You need some pretty specific ASVAB study tips to help you ace this exam! This article will clarify what exactly the ASVAB is and how you can achieve success without stress or pressure, even with minimal preparation time. As you know, the ASVAB, or Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery Test, is required by anyone wishing to enlist in the United States military service or Coast Guard. It is a multiple choice test that is divided into several categories. Each military field has a minimum score that you must achieve to gain acceptance. However, in many cases it is safe to say that entrance will be granted with a score of 50. For this reason, you will want to figure out how to pass the ASVAB with a 50 (minimum) to give yourself the greatest chance of a positive result. This article offers some simple, yet effective, tips and strategies to help you reach your desired score. In order to be successful, it is important to know how to study for the ASVAB, so keep reading. ASVAB Test Areas Each of the ASVAB test areas are designed to measure your aptitude and capabilities in certain fields deemed essential by the military. All the content has been covered during high school, so you already have the knowledge required to pass. It’s just a matter of applying the knowledge and understanding the format of the test. The results from the tests help decide which Military Occupational Specialties (MOS), or Army Jobs, the applicant is most suited for. The ASVAB Test areas are; • General Science • Arithmetic Reasoning • Word Knowledge • Paragraph Comprehension • Mathematics Knowledge • Electronics Information • Auto and Shop Information • Mechanical Comprehension • Assembling Objects Some military branches will also use an area called Verbal Expression in their requirements. Verbal Expression is the combined score of Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension. How Many Questions are on the ASVAB? The answer isn’t exactly straightforward. There is a difference between to computer-based test and the pen and paper version. The former has 145 questions, whilst the pen and paper applicants have to attempt 225 questions. In both versions, the questions are fairly evenly distributed amongst the test areas so it is important to spread your study time equally. Six Sensational ASVAB Study Tips Don’t let the slightly unusual structure and complicated scoring system deter you from sitting for the ASVAB. You’d be surprised at how simple and straightforward your preparation can be. If you are nervous about taking the ASVAB, follow these points and you will be on your way to success â€" you might even learn how to pass the ASVAB with a lot higher than a 50! Plan a realistic study schedule â€" like many other tests, your results often reflect the time and effort you have put into preparing for them. The most effective way to ensure you have enough time to thoroughly review and prepare is to create a study schedule, and stick to it! The only way you will actually follow your study schedule is to make sure it is a realistic one. Start by making note of all your necessary commitments and then fill in the blanks with study blocks of around two hours at a time, a sufficient study period. You should also make note of what exactly you will be studying during each session to ensure you have everything covered Practice, practice, practice â€" this is another familiar test preparation recommendation. The best way to study for the ASVAB is to take as many practice tests as you can. Not only will this help you understand the format and style of the questions, it will help highlight any areas of weakness. If you notice some weak spots, adjust your study schedule accordingly to help you improve. You can find plenty of practice tests online and a great review book is this one! Perform weekly reviews â€" allocate a session once a week to test yourself. You can take a practice test in timed conditions or assess your weak areas using other means. By doing this, your learning process will be ongoing and there won’t be any gaps in your preparation. Understand the format â€" this is more crucial than learning the content. Make yourself aware that there are points lost for incorrect answers and therefore guessing isn’t always a viable option. In the paper version of the test, blank answers are considered incorrect, whereas blank answers in the computer tests will incur a penalty. Know which format of the test you are taking and focus on its structure and key elements. Get a tutor â€" a tutor can help with the content, but more importantly they will help you become familiar with the test format. Using a tutor from Private Tutoring at Home will alleviate the pressure and stress that often comes with both test preparation and test day. Enroll in an ASVAB prep course â€" whether you attend one in person or participate in an online version. These courses will guide you through the style of questions asked on the ASVAB and have the added bonus of ensuring your study schedule stays on track. You Might Also Enjoy: What is the ASVAB Test? Getting an ASVAB Tutor Can Help What if I’m Running out of Time? Like most tests, it is in your best interest to allow yourself plenty of preparation time. However, sometimes things don’t work out exactly how you planned and you find yourself with less than a desirable timeframe to work with. Don’t worry, success is still achievable. You’ll just have to tweak your study timetable a little. These ASVAB study tips are designed to help give yourself the best shot with as little as one month study. Sit and take a baseline practice test â€" if you are short on time, the first thing you should do is sit a practice test in exam conditions (you can get some sample tests HERE). Use the results to help highlight your areas of weakness. Create your study schedule based around these weaknesses and ensure each study block is a minimum of 45 minutes and no longer than two hours. Any less than this and you won’t have enough time for the information to sink in, any longer and your brain will find it harder to retain the information. Follow an existing ASVAB study guide â€" save time building a schedule from scratch and find a study guide that already exists. Swap the topics around to make sure you spend sufficient time on your weak areas. Alternatively, find a printable ASVAB study guide template to help create an easy-to-follow, yet personalized study timetable. Have breaks â€" even though time is tight, don’t forget to have a break every few hours to help keep your brain fresh and ensure you retain important information. Don’t waste time learning content â€" all the content in the ASVAB test has already been taught to you during your high school years. Sure, you may have forgotten some of it, but your limited time is better spent familiarizing yourself with the style of questions asked. Continue to take practice tests â€" sit and take a practice test every week (always in exam conditions) and make note of your score. Ideally your weak areas will improve and your score will increase. After each test, adjust and tweak your study schedule based on the results that you are getting. Know someone else that is taking the test as well?   Study together and partner   up 1-2 times a week.   That way you can quiz and review and compare how things are going.   It also eliminate feeling like youre doing all of this solo.   Even a bit of complaining can ease the pressure and the stress of prepping for the ASVAB exam. Once the exam is done, celebrate!   Whatever the results you deserve a little celebration for prepping for the exam and seeing it through. Our ASVAB study tips are the first step in an exciting, new phase of your life!   Planning as much time as possible to prep is your best move to getting the results that you are looking for.   If time is short, then increase the amount of time you are spending to prepare in what time you have.   Move other things to the side (where possible) for now. Following our ASVAB study tips and suggestions will help you ace the ASVAB the next time you take it! We can help you find the best private tutor near you! It’s simple and secure â€" Get real results fast. Your first hour with any tutor is protected by our Good Fit Guarantee: You don't pay for tutoring unless you find a good fit. Choose Your Subject â€" Add Your Zip Code â€" Find Top Rated Tutors Starting Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson

Finding Your Inspiration

Finding Your Inspiration Improving Academic Performance In a previous article The Underestimated Power of Practice, we talked about the power of practice when considering what makes someone an expert in any given subject. We explored the idea that genes aren’t as essential as we tend to believe, that an incredible amount of concentrated practice is a much better determinant of future success. We argued that talent is overrated, and practice is underrated. We talked about a rule that researchers on performance have developed â€" you may need to spend 10,000 hours practicing intensely and deliberately to become a world-class athlete, musician, or mathematician. 10,000 hours. 10,000 hours of ‘deep practice’ seems to be the rule to live by when desiring to become a world-class expert at something. When you begin to really consider that, it’s overwhelming. Now, you of course don’t need to spend 10,000 hours to build certain types of skills for specific events. It either isn’t necessary, or isn’t practical. But, the point is that you need to spend a lot of really intense, focused time practicing and pushing yourself to improve. If you are reading this article as a high school or college student or parent of a student, it’s important to know that we are not recommending you spend 10,000 hours studying for the SATs to achieve a perfect score. But, the idea is: To realize that practice can, to an extent, “make perfect,” so investing more time can typically lead to better results. If the average person is investing 25 hours, double or triple that, and you’ll do far better than average. To use the time that you do have in the most efficient way possible, whether it be 20 hours or 200. If the average person is texting or watching TV while studying, put away the phone and engage fully with the material, pushing yourself to understand every concept. How can someone be passionate enough to push themselves like this? When you imagine an individual willingly spending thousands of hours practicing a subject or a specific talent, you have to realize that he or she was probably inspired in some implicit or explicit way. No one can embark on that kind of task without a driving force behind the desire to practice. We fully realize that it may be incredibly difficult to be motivated, or to motivate your high school or college student, to fully engage in math homework or SAT/ACT practice exams that just aren’t enjoyable. The key to maintaining a sufficient drive in an area that may not necessarily be naturally appealing is to truly believe that making mistakes and learning from those mistakes is a GOOD thing that will lead to impressive performance. The struggle is well worth it. Making mistakes and learning from them is what literally builds new connections in the brain and leads to higher and higher skill levels over time. Once you believe that skills are built this way, it can change your mindset, and that can lead to higher levels of inspiration and motivation naturally. So, we might recommend setting a specific goal that stretches your current abilities quite a bit, and enjoying the path towards meeting that goal. Setting a finish line and enjoying the progress you’ve made are all essen tial parts of being motivated to keep practicing â€" in the right way. However, natural challenges, role models, family expectations, and culture can all help explain why some folks are inspired to practice more and better than most of us. Here are a few examples to illustrate our point that inspiration is essential to putting in the practice that will lead to success. These examples can all be found in some of the extremely interesting, entertaining and informative books about talent that we list on our page devoted to the latest research on academic performance. Statistically, sprinters are third or fourth children in large families. Why is it that the younger children are natural runners? Where did that initial drive come from? Research shows that siblings observe older brothers and sisters walking and running, and that sparks an incredibly strong desire to get up and do it themselves. The urge to follow is so powerful that the motivation to walk sparks the development of foot speed. Professional female golfers didn’t exist in South Korea. Then one woman broke the mold in the early 90’s and won many golf tournaments. Soon after, there were five professional women golfers in South Korea. Then fifteen. These days, there are as many as twenty-five. Something is triggered in our brains when we see someone like us doing something incredible. A spark is ignited. Motivation grows and encourages us to achieve the previously unheard-of accomplishment. Apply these examples to your own life. Find inspiration. Even when the spark does not come naturally, you can find it through researching examples of individuals like you who have succeeded. Know that the key to ‘deep practice’ is being willing and dedicated to the task at hand. Now that you know that progress is possible with practice, run with it. Observe the individuals who receive the highest grades in each of your classes and make it a goal to reach their level of understanding and academic performance. If they can do it, why not you? Realize and believe the power of practice, find the spark. That’s when you achieve the motivation necessary to get that A, the 99th percentile on the SAT/ACT, or acceptance letter to that undergraduate or graduate institution. With strong motivation, the sky’s the limit.

What its really like to teach English in Japan A teachers perspective

What it’s really like to teach English in Japan A teacher’s perspective Teaching English in Japan is unlike teaching, well, anywhere else in the world. Not only is it a country full of magnificent sites â€" both natural and historic â€" but it also has a rich culture with many beautiful customs. While we have previously covered a few tips and tricksfor getting ready to teach English in Japan, our team here at Teach Away wanted to dive deeper into how to best prepare for teaching English in Japan. While country research is key to understanding your next home away from home â€" and tips and life hacks are important to creating convenience in your day to day â€" we believe there is nothing like learning from other teachers’ personal experiences to truly prepare you for your next adventure. That’s why we spent some time getting to know Alex Barnes from Benesse BE studio. We wanted to learn what took him all the way from North Carolina to Japan to teach English to some very little and very special young learners. Alex’s Story Originally from North Carolina, USA, Alex Barnes studied Japanese at university, which is when he first became interested in this beautiful country. It wasn’t until he started tutoring Japanese exchange students in the English language that he really found his passion for teaching English. This work led him to eventually move to Japan, where he has been working in the English teaching industry since 2011. His success and life there has been so rewarding that he is now keen to share his experiences with others thinking about, or already looking into, teaching English in Japan. He told us: “I’m really interested in sharing with others how [teaching] English works, and I feel like I learned a lot more about my native language by teaching it.” When Alex started applying for teaching positions in Japan, he had a variety of interview experiences. He found that some interviews were information sessions followed by group interviews, sometimes involving quite a bit of travel. Whether in a group or individual setting (or both), interviews usually involved a recruiter giving an explanation of the company and job. Then applicants were often asked to model part of an English lesson. One unique thing that Alex did during this recruitment process, which really helped him stand out from his peers, was preparing some sample lesson plans and teaching materials ahead of time. That way, he was ready in case he was required to use his own material. “Eventually, I accepted a position for an English conversation school in a city called Tsukuba, about one hour outside of Tokyo,” says Alex. He was there for a while before he took a position with a company that had a focus on teaching English to young learners in Japan. “I started at Benesse BE studio in May 2018. I was brought in to head up training, observations, and employee care for the Instruction Section,” he says. He notes that “since BE studio is focused on teaching children, especially younger learners, the training and school atmosphere is very fun. Games, songs, and crafts are a big part of lessons, so teachers that enjoy these types of activities and enjoy teaching young children are the kind of people working here. Teachers might have a lot of students, but schools tend to be small, so a typical work environment is more personal and friendly than many large private conversation schools or public schools.” Alex was a quick study and soon settled into his life at BE studio, a company that he says “has a different company culture and lesson style. I was pleasantly surprised that BE studio places a lot of importance on employee care and communication with instructors. We also have regular workshops to improve teaching skills, and because new and experienced teachers come to share ideas, it’s a very supportive environment.” Alex explains that many of the large companies in the industry don’t have the time or resources to see instructors often after initial training. Usually, this means that the head office only gets involved when a teacher, or their school, have a problem. The philosophy at BE studio is different, however, and Alex tells us that the staff are very committed to continuing to support teachers and building their teaching skills long term. This kind of work environment was exactly what Alex needed and hoped for, as it lends itself to a long career. Some of the foreign employees at the company have been working there for more than 20 years! Alex did say that teaching English to young learners in Japan may not be a great fit for everyone. “This may seem self-obvious, but you need to enjoy working with younger children. Some people think that they’ll have a good time, but find the job not to their liking when they actually have to teach children every day,” Alex says. “If you love working with kids of various ages, you’ll be fine.” Teaching English to young learners in Japan is definitely a unique experience. Alex says of his work: “you’ll often find that kids have high enthusiasm for English and want to involve fun in the lessons. That’s not to say you won’t find that with adult students. Many beginner adult students will enjoy games and learning English as well, even if the type of enthusiasm is different from children. The biggest difference is probably in how you approach teaching those students. When teaching kids, you will have to take into account their personality and learning style more often. Whereas teaching adults is often focused more on their goals and purpose for studying English.” Alex tells us that it is extremely rewarding work for him: “When you see the ‘oh, now I get it’ look on a student’s face, or a parent tells you their child had a conversation with foreign tourists last weekend, or a student finally passes the English test they’ve been studying for, it makes it all worth it.” For Alex, teaching English to young learners in Japan with a company like BE studio was a dream come true. He was fulfilled in his work, his company was supportive and he could see a clear career path for himself that would allow him to stay in the country he fell in love with as a University student. That said, when it comes to embarking on teaching English as a foreign language career in Japan, it’s best to understand what to expect. Alex’s main advice for those reading his story is setting expectations of working for a Japanese company. “You have to take everything with a grain of salt and manage your expectations. Step one is accepting the major differences between working in Japan and working, in say, the US or Canada.” He says it’s important to not only really understand the country’s culture, but to specifically be prepared for a very different working culture. That’s the best way to set yourself up for success. Preparing for the little things After learning first-hand from Alex’s success story for working and living in Japan, we began to see that sometimes it’s the smallest things in life that can really trip you up. Based on his experiences, here are four things to consider before your boarding call. Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork Before you’ve even left on your trip, make sure to have all your paperwork in order. The last thing you want is to travel for 15+ hours only to discover that you need a certain form signed by someone back home! When you first arrive in Japan, there is naturally going to be a bit of running around getting this, that and the other thing. Alex’s sage advice is: “Make sure to prepare well for initial costs as much as possible. Getting through all the paperwork (city hall, phone contracts, etc.) can be frustrating, but you just need to have patience.” This part of the process is certainly not unique to Japan. When it comes to paperwork and settling in, relocating anywhere to teach English abroad is going to require some calming deep breathing techniques. But Alex adds one key tip for arriving in Japan: “after you’re all set up, find your closest 100-yen store (think dollar store); you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how many everyday goods you can buy there!” Learn the language Kajsa, another English teacher at BE studio, says that what surprised her the most when she arrived in Japan is “how little people speak English.” While being fluent in Japanese was definitely an asset for Alex Barnes, it’s not necessarily required in order to be fully prepared for life in the country. That said, knowing a handful (ok, maybe a few more than a handful) of key Japanese phrases will definitely be handy. It’ll help you get oriented and manage some of those day-to-day tasks, which can seem insurmountable when faced with the inability to communicate in the local language. Check out these great resources for learning some Japanese before you take off: Japanese Phrasebook Dictionary Memrise Duolingo Get to know the culture You could probably read endlessly about Japanese culture to try to understand everything this amazing country has to offer. Reading up on Japanese cultural practices on our blog is one place to start. Or you could do what Erin, another BE studio teacher, did before her move: “I mostly prepared by checking out videos about living and working in Japan.” But in her experience, it seems that it’s best not to take everything you hear about Japan too seriously. She says: “There was some content that didn’t match what I actually experienced. For example, they talked about manners in Japan a lot, like not eating and walking at the same time, but I see people doing that all the time.” As for Alex Barnes, he says that based on his experience in Japan, “life is very comfortable, the food is great, and the people are polite and helpful. The culture is very different from back home, but that’s what drew me to Japan in the first place.” Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. What it’s like working in Japan Where Alex thinks you might find the biggest shock, and where he indeed was perhaps most challenged, was adapting to the work culture in Japan. For example, if you’re like us and roll into the office at 9:01, then you’re going to need to rethink your approach to punctuality in order to be successful in a Japanese work environment. Alex kindly warned us that “Japanese employees typically arrive at least 15 minutes before their shift starts, and showing up only a few minutes before work starts, or being right on time, is considered late.” He explained that for Japanese people, work time is paid time. Therefore, they believe that everyone needs some time to catch a breath and get ready for their shift: “The main idea is that everything is prepared and you are actually ready to start working when the shift time begins.” In addition, Japanese people like to keep their workplace tidy â€" not that you can blame them! No one likes a messy desk; it’s distracting. In Japan, Alex says “many workers place a lot of importance on cleaning the work area and expect everyone to contribute.” While he didn’t technically have to contribute, what he discovered was that “it made relationships with my co-workers so much better once I started pitching in with the cleaning.” Alex also noted about his job: “In the Eikaiwa (English conversation school) industry specifically, it’s important to remember that you’re working for a business; it’s not 100% teaching lessons. You might be asked to hand out fliers or help promote the school in similar ways. So as long as you keep a flexible attitude about assigned tasks, you’ll avoid a lot of problems and have better relationships with Japanese co-workers.” These tips might seem very specific, but as our friends at BE studio reminded us, in Japanese culture, not everything is communicated directly, so you need to learn to ask the right questions. As we mentioned in our article about teaching young learners in Japan, the presence of foreigners is quite limited, which means the average person has fairly low exposure to different ways of doing things. We suggest taking the time to really read up on what to expect. Because the more you know, the better prepared you’ll be. Find a community! Speaking of getting prepared, there is nothing like having a support network to ensure you’re in the know and set up for success. There are definitely going to be many other English teachers just like you, who you can meet and learn from. Don’t underestimate the kindness of strangers. We learned this from another BE studio teacher named Mary Kate, who shared with us her biggest surprise in Japan: “People have been really willing to help a lot. I was surprised by how helpful everyone wanted to be. People just come up to you and ask if you’re doing okay, or if you need anything.” If you want to make some friends before you leave, you can join the Teach Away Community Facebook Group to connect with other English teachers getting ready to ship out. Then you can plan to meet up with them when you arrive. Happens all the time! To wrap it up In short: make sure you’re as prepared as possible! That includes everything from understanding your workplace, to ensuring you have your TEFL certificate for authentication purposes. A TEFL is not always necessary, but a really great way to get prepared for teaching English abroad. Of course, one person’s experience can be very different from another’s. We urge you to read up on Japan and learn as much as possible before deciding to explore opportunities for teaching English abroad. Even for Alex, it wasn’t a totally clear path: “I didn’t know completely that I wanted to teach English overseas. I knew I wanted to work in Japan and use the Japanese language in my job long term, but I was open to the idea of working in other industries in the future. However, I found that teaching became a passion for me, and working my way up to training felt like a natural progression from my love of teaching. While being involved in training and employee development satisfied my desire to teach, I also studied Japanese with the intention of using it for work. With my current position, I really enjoy the challenge of using Japanese on a daily basis, and I’ve warmed to a management position more than I would have thought when I first came to Japan.” He admits that: “My experience might be a bit rare specifically as a foreign manager, but those who do move up here are the ones who are dedicated to learning the language and accepting and working with cultural differences in the workplace, which is likely true in any country.” Regardless of your career path, teaching English in Japan can be one of the most important and valuable things you can do for your future. As Alex told us in his interview, “those I’ve talked to who made careers in other industries or careers back home have said that the transferable, non-teaching skills they learned here came in handy in unexpected areas. In addition to people who have used teaching or Japanese language skills in work back home, skills such as customer service, content creation, and intercultural communication have often opened doors to a variety of careers for many people I have met through work.” Ready to teach English abroad in Japan? Check out all the latest job opportunities. Specifically interested in teaching English to young learners? See what’s available.

10 Things I wish I was Told in School

10 Things I wish I was Told in School Im 27. I do not think about the past and do not regret it too much. But sometimes I would like to have learned a little more of other things. Things I have learned over the past years. It would be great to have self-development lessons in courses at school. But I still think it would be nice to highlight a few hours of all these activities on some German lessons in self-development. Perhaps only one hour a week in high school. This could be useful for many students and on a larger scale for our whole society. So here are 10 things that I would have liked to learn more about in school (or just known about). 1) Rule 80-20 or the Pareto principle. 80 % of all income received bring only 20% of your activities. From this we can conclude that much of what we do doesnt really bear income and therefore is not necessary. So many things you do,might  not so useful, or even not as important as it might have seemed to be. You can just throw engaged or severely cut back on the time you spend on a huge variety of activities. And if you do, you will have more time and energy on what really brings results, happiness, satisfaction, and so on. 2) Rule of Parkinson. You can do things a lot faster than you realize. So the more time you give yourself to for any job, the more time it will take in the end. You can move faster than you think. This law states that work expands in volume and apparent complexity to fill all her allotted time. For example, if you promise yourself to find a solution in a week, it would seem that the problem becomes more complicated, and you will spend more and more time trying to come to a decision.  So focus your time on finding solutions. Give yourself one hour (instead of the whole day) or the day (instead of the whole week ) to address the problem. This will cause your brain to focus on finding solutions and actions. The result may not be as perfect as if you spent a week on the task , but ,as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, it is still 80 % of the results obtained from 20 % of the effort. You can also come to a better solution, because you do not overdo it. This law will help you do the job faster, improve your concentration and ability to provide you with more free time in which you can concentrate fully on what you need to do. And in your subconscious you will not have outstanding work sticking out, causing stress. 3) The group operation. This is a method of performing boring and monotonous tasks as quickly as possible. A good way to do it quickly group tasks. That is, you make them all one after another. You can deal with them quickly, because you will have less time acceleration than if you have them stretched out. And when you group, you are more involved in the work and more focused. 4) Give first and then get. Give first and then receive. Life is not like a restaurant where you pay for the food only after it is received. In life, to achieve something, you must first pay for it. If you want to maximize what you get (money, love, kindness, opportunities etc.), you have to increase what you give. Because in the future, you very often get exactly what give. Maybe it would be nice to get something for nothing. But this rarely happens. 5) Do not brake run ahead! so you first get rid of expectations, and secondly it will give you pleasure, because you will get the feeling that you have the power to control your life. 6) Errors and failures it is good. Its good. Thanks to errors you gain experience, learn new things and learn how to avoid such mistakes in the future. Handled properly, the errors can teach you to be a successful person. When your having negative experience, ask yourself: what an opportunity it gives me? What could be useful for me in this situation in the future? One negative experience over time can help you to get a set of a very positive experiences. Negative experiences, mistakes and failures can sometimes be even more useful to success, because they teach you something completely new, what would you would never have been taught by another successful experience. 7) Use the reticulation  activating system (RAS) Use the reticulation activating system (RAS). RAS is a focusing system. To use it, you need to focus on what you want and keep the attention. 8)Your attitude determines reality Most pessimists consider themselves realists. However, in reality, the reason that bad things happen with them, is because of their reticular activating system constantly tuned to the perception of negativity. That is why they find confirmation of their pessimistic ideas. In any case to be an optimist is much better than the realist. Think about it. 9)  In order to feel happy, you need to be grateful. In order to feel happy,you need to be grateful. The fact is that only in a few minutes when you feel gratitude, you can turn a bad mood into a good one. In this regard, each person will be useful to practice being grateful. This tool will also help you maintain a positive attitude towards  reality and thus directly linked with the preceding paragraph. 10) From 80 to 90% of what you fear will never happen. From 80 to 90% of what you fear will never happen. In fact, our fears are greatly exaggerated. In most cases, anxiety its a waste of time. Of course, its easy to say. But if you remind yourself how little of what you feared in your life, has happened in reality, you can begin to worry less and less.