February, 2011
28
Feb 11
How to Find Your Element
For most people Friday is their happiest day of the working week, while others don’t count the days until the weekend because they love their job. Many people choose their career based on market needs, but some decide to follow their passions. Does it mean that this minority are more talented than everyone else?
Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources, says that everyone is born talented. In his bestselling book “The Element: How finding your passion changes everything”, he explains that all children believe they are creative, but growing up they loose confidence in their own capabilities. The main reason he says, is that the education system kills this creativity and uses a standardized approach for each child.
According to Sir Ken “One of the essential problems for education is that most countries subject their schools to the fast-food model of quality assurance”. But is there any good alternative to such systems?
A key message of the book, which was translated into 16 languages and recognized by famous writers Stephen R. Covey, Susan Jeffers, Alvin Toffler and others, is that finding your true passion or element can make you successful in your career and personal life. Sir Ken claims that our life makes sense only when we do things that we are naturally talented in. To validate this statement he gives examples of people who discovered their talents and converted them into their professions. These include Gillian Lynne, Matt Groening, Ridley Scott, Paul McCartney, and others who are not so famous but are successful in what they do. These people also make a social impact by bringing about positive changes and being proactive.
From Sir Ken’s point of view, looking for an element is a process that doesn’t depend on age, IQ level or social status. The element can be found with the help of outstanding thinking, luck, mentors and good education, although many schools and universities still don’t provide these conditions. Sir Ken has a solution for this issue:
“The future of education is not in standardizing but in customizing; not in promoting groupthink and “deindividuation” but in cultivating the real depth and dynamism of human abilities of every sort. For the future, education must be elemental.”
Right now Sir Ken Robinson is looking for new stories for the sequel to his book, and you can contribute by sharing your own story.
25
Feb 11
How to Improve Your Online Image
Have you recently graduated from college and are looking for a job? There is one thing you should bare in mind: recruiters will review some social media sites to do a background check on you. Most young people tend to express themselves freely on social sites like MySpace, Facebook or Twitter, and a Microsoft survey found that 70% of recruiters rejected a candidate based on their online reputation.
Don´t worry, we have some tips on how to repair your online image:
1.Google Yourself
Google your name and variations of it to read what has been written about you. The Search Engine Results can reveal a lot, and some of that information could be misleading. Take time to remove these negative search results. You don’t want a recruiter to uncover unfavourable or even false information about you.
2.Clean up Your Profiles
You don’t want information that you share on your profile to be used against you. Visit your favourite social media sites to check if anything unsuitable needs to be removed.
3.Protect Your Privacy
Go through your contacts and assign them to different groups: eg. friends, limited profile view and acquaintances. You can decide what sort of information you want to share with each group. You can also decide if you want to appear in public search results. Investigate the options carefully.
4.Use a Professional Email Address
ThePirateMajesty@cutey.com or DjTara@popstar.com are funky emails for music forum members but not for serious job applicants. Be more mainstream and establish your email account at Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo. The safest would be a combination of your name and surname.
3.Update Your Photos
The photos you post on social media speak a lot about you and put you in a social context. Select photos that represent you best. Remove photos that you wouldn’t like even your parents to see.
4.Cancel Community Memberships
You probably belong to a lot more social communities than you realize. Cancel all inactive accounts if you don’t use them anymore.
6.Check Your Blog Comments
The comments you leave on someone else’s blog or forum never disappear. It they’re harsh and spicy they could come back to bite you. Be prepared to explain it to the interviewer if that conversation is brought up.
7. Think Twice Before you Make a new Post
You don’t want to make the same mistake again, do you? Before you make a comment on a blog or post a photo, think about who will see it. Colleagues from work that you just accepted as a friend? Your boss?
If you’re keen on learning more on the subject of privacy and IT, you might find these programmes interesting:
Postgraduate Training in the Security of Computer Networks and Information Systems offered by University of Essex, UK or Bachelor of Information Technology in Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
23
Feb 11
Fashion Week in Buenos Aires
Fashion Week Buenos Aires
This week in Buenos Aires it’s Fashion Week, from the 22nd until the 25th of February. Established local designers show their collections for the upcoming winter season, and the who’s who of the local scene gather to watch and be seen. The great thing about fashion week here is that anyone can buy a ticket for 30 Argentine Pesos and attend a show, you don’t have to know someone who knows someone on the inside. Are you a budding designer looking for some inspiration? A student of fashion design finding your own style? Someone who has a cool blog and wants to document the scene on and around the runway? Even if you are none of the above, fashion week may just give you the push you need to get creative in your own life, and what with all the energy buzzing around the main event, some may just rub off on you.
Are you adept at picking the next big thing? Do you think you can create a buzz around a brand, and create a cool image? A course in Cool Hunting may help you to sharpen your skills, as you analyse fashion trends and look at what is to come and what is happending on the streets where you live.
If you already have experience working with fashion design, illustration or textiles, or have an undergraduate degree, a Master of Art in Fashion could give you the refinement and direction to establish yourself as a designer. University of the Arts in London who run the course, help students with placements in companies such as Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and Gucci. Excited at the prospect? Fashion design could be for you!
21
Feb 11
Google Art Project
Source: http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl
Last week Google unveiled its latest initiative Google Art Project, in which a selection of high-resolution images of famous art works are available online on a new website.
The project utilises the Street View tool, usually reserved for exterior landscapes, letting users take a virtual 360 degree tour of 17 of the world’s most acclaimed museums such as MoMA in New York, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid or the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Users also have the ability to view individual pieces that have been photographed at a high resolution, enabling art fans to see the full details of the selected works (imagine being able to see an almost microscopic view of the brushstrokes of Van Gogh’s paintings!).
The web site also offers you the chance to create your own personal gallery, where you can save your favorite works, add comments and then share it with anyone.
For fans of art, museum lovers and for those who enjoy cultural activities in general, this initiative is a great opportunity to access museums and works of art that may have otherwise been out of reach. And in terms of art education, while nothing can replace the gallery, this sort of accessability can only be a good thing.
18
Feb 11
Why do Chinese Pupils Perform so well?
Photo: Alamy
According to a British ethnic breakdown of exam results published this week, children of Chinese origins whether rich or poor, have the best results of all ethnic groups in national curriculum tests at age 11. They outperformed caucasian British children by 6%. Similarly, British Chinese youngsters are the highest performing ethnic group in England for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject). Further evidence of Chinese students’ success was shown through the PISA, a global exam of 15-year-old students, where students from Shanghai got the best scores and were ranked at the top.
Why do Chinese pupils perform so well at school? What can we learn from them? We asked our colleague Ying, the Content Manager for Educaedu China, to give us some insight:
- Fierce competition
With such a huge population, and the fact that there can be 1000 people fighting for 1 job, it’s pretty common that children and students in China study a lot more than others. And the competition is not just between students but also parents. A pupil who performs well gives the parent a sense of superiority among other parents, so they help their children by signing them up for various tutoring classes after school.
- Academic score matters
The Chinese are taught during their entire childhood that ranking matters a lot. And GPA (Grade Point Average) is considered to be the easiest way to evaluate one’s ability. A GPA of 3.9 usually guarantees a much better school/university and a much better life compared to a GPA of 3.89.
Source: guardian.co.uk and independent.co.uk
16
Feb 11
New Facebook App – Admission Splash
Applying to university can be a long process, and a new social media application is here to help . The Facebook application Admission Splash allows students to see their chances of being accepted to a university, based on certain details they provide. Students enter their address, test results, major selection and other such information into the application, which then predicts the likelihood of the students’ acceptance, on a scale from very poor to very good. The questions are based on the admissions data that each particular school uses.
While the application is not designed to be the determining factor in the choice for higher education, it´s definitely a fun way to see how your data possibly rates at different schools. Co-creator of the application 19-year-old student Allen Gannett, says that for now the app is free, but that eventually he wants it to be a channel between students and universities. If someone ends up with a good chance of getting into say, the University of Southern California, they could choose to receive a brochure from them, and the school would get the connection with a potential student.
Two interesting things about the app: it doesn´t take into account extra-curricular activites, essays or special abilites, and of the 75 students tested who were admitted to ULCA and New York University, it accurately predicted admissions chances in 90 to 97 percent of the cases.
Source: http://blogs.edweek.org and http://mashable.com
14
Feb 11
Learning a Second Language Improves Your Mother Tongue
Recent studies undertaken by the UK and the Ministry of Education in Spain show that learning a second language has a direct impact on the improvement and enrichment of the mother tongue. This research, carried out in 120 bilingual schools in Spain, highlighted an improvement in the written use of Spanish by the students, especially in the areas that relate to the understanding of the structure of grammar.
Argentine experts have confirmed the same, using the example of public schools in the city of Buenos Aires that have a multilingual program. Teresa Davis, Executive Director of the University Language Center at the University of Buenos Aires, began the multilingual initiative, and as a result of the project said: “There are proven benefits. Sometimes in the first year, students begin this reflection that allows them, for example, to discover the order of the adjective and the noun. These activities are used to make comparisons and develop the plasticity to move from one language to another. “
It was also found that the benefits of learning a second language have been shown not only through teaching English but also with French, Portuguese and Italian.
11
Feb 11
Valentine’s Day, a History
Photo: whollyroamincatholic.com
As the 14th of February approaches many people find themselves thinking about roses, handmade cards, perfume, boyfriends, romance…and the list goes on. But where did this notion of romance and gift-giving come from? You may have heard of a Saint Valentine that the day was named after, but what is the real deal? Well there isn´t one story or person that this day traces back to, but rather a couple of figures from Roman Catholic history and some romantic legends that have possibly been embellished by big business.
Although there are thought to be three, the two principal Valentines associated with the date of February 14th are Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. Both were Christian martyrs, the fomer a priest, the later a bishop, and were burnt at the stake around 100 and 200 AD. The 14th of February was officially the feast day of Saint Valentine until 1969, when it was removed from the General Roman Calendar, apparently because there was little known about Saint Valentine.
The legend that stems from this, reveals Valentine as a priest under the rule of a Roman Emperor who forbid his soldiers to marry, and Valentine would wed young couples in secret. After being caught and sentenced to death, the story continues that he wrote a note to his love the night before his execution and signed it from your Valentine…
If uncovering the history of events such as this tickles your fancy, how about taking a course in history? Or if your interest is religion and the way it has shaped our world, check out some courses on offer in the UK here.
9
Feb 11
Learn Spanish in Argentina
- Photo: Expanish
Have you planned anything for your vacation time this year? Instead of sitting on a beach somewhere, what about immersing yourself in the culture and language of another country? Latin American countries are a great choice for a holiday, gap year or even to study abroad and Argentina is one of the most popular choices owing to its charm, affordability and European history.
Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is where you will find the most Spanish schools. There are many that offer courses ranging from just a couple of hours daily to more intensive courses that will have you speaking Spanish, or at least mastering the basics, before you leave. Expanish is a Spanish school in the heart of Buenos Aires who offer a variety of learning options depending on your needs. Their objective is to immerse you in the language and culture, giving you the best chance at learning while enjoying your time in Argentina.
Intensive Spanish is a program of small group Spanish classes that are 4 hours per day, 20 hours per week. They offer all levels of Spanish classes starting every Monday, so students can begin a program at any time of the year. You can choose to take from 1 to 20+ weeks, depending on your specific goals and schedules. To complement the classes, they also offer a variety of activities and workshops where you can practice your Spanish and participate in the local culture. From tango classes to watching football games, studying Argentine films, bike tours and even weekend trips to exotic places like the Iguazu waterfalls, it doesn´t have to be all about the study because after all, it´s a holiday too.
Still not convinced? Spanish is the second most natively-spoken language in the world now (after Mandarin), Buenos Aires is regarded as one of the safest big cities in Latin America and you will get to see just how passionate the Argentine people really are. You may even find that after leaving this vivid city that the old custom of a firm handshake when greeting someone will give way to a friendly kiss on the cheek, even long after returning home to your country.
7
Feb 11
How to Cultivate a Sense of Wonder
Cultivating a sense of wonder in life is essential for people of every age, but the older we get the more difficult it becomes to marvel at our day to day lives. We lose our sense of wonder as it is replaced with daily routines, college deadlines, exams, social obligations and responsibilities, and the simple pleasure of a sunrise may not be enough to amuse us in our increasingly sophisticated world.
Have you experienced something remarkable recently? We would like to share with you a few ideas on how to cultivate wonder in your life this year:
1. Learn about creativity, and how to enjoy freedom of imagination and to generate more outstanding ideas. Get yourself a book on creativity to understand what it is. You can also join a creative art workshop like Hand Painting on Silk or take up a Course in Creativity to enhance your natural abilities.
2. Take up photography to memorize beauty around you. Create a photo blog to share your photographs with others. Enrol in one of the many photography courses around to learn how to find and capture the moment and the beauty in the smallest of things. A Photography Distance Learning Course from UK Open Learning is for all ages and all ability levels. They defiene photography as an art form that allows you to appreciate who you are and what you do.
3. Study abroad to learn about other cultures, open your mind, and to think more originally. Studying abroad will also help you to increase your self-confidence and will benefit your career. Consider Latin American destinations like Argentina and Mexico if you’d like to improve your Spanish. UIC Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico offers a Spanish program aimed at foreign students interested in learning the language and Mexican culture.
4. Watch kids. Do you remember your childhood? Do you remember how every day brought new and exiting experiences? Discover the child in you. Spend time with your younger brothers and sisters or volunteer at a child care centre.
5. Learn something new every day! Fashion, modern architecture or breading dogs, what is it that has always interested you? What subjects did you enjoy at school? Find time to investigate them and dig deeper. Watch popular science tv channels, read travel magazines or visit your local museum.
Source: Psychcentral.com
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