Online Tutoring.....

Hello Everyone,

Today I want to talk about how tutoring, like many other things, has gone digital.  I remember when I was in school and I needed help with a class the first thing I did was get my dad.  To have a tutor was looked at as you being stupid.  It meant having to stay after school and have a fellow student who was smarter than you helping you out.  Well I wish I would have looked at that differently, because I had such a hard time with math that a tutor would have been great for me.  With how fast paced our society is today it is hard to get you child a tutor and make it work with your busy schedule.  Well now that is not a problem.  Now you can get you child a tutor that is there for them 24 hours a day 7 days a week online.

Students today actually prefer having an online tutor because they can use their computer and really feel like they are connected.  The best part is that many of these tutoring sites archive their sessions so  you can see how effective their session are, since you are paying for it, and know that my kid is actually learning something.  The cost for online tutoring is about $35 per hour, which gets you about two sessions.  So the cost will really depend on how much help you child might need.  Part of being a parent is understanding that when you child has a problem they are going to come to you first.  Well when it comes to school work that isn't always the best idea.  School is nothing like it was when I was a kid.  Not only that but I can't remember half of what I learned, which means I am not the best option to help.

Well there are many online tutoring options out there.  I want to talk about one I looked at that got some good reviews from both parents and students and that is www.tutor.com.  There were some related articles from the NY Times and a great small video from CNN's tech expert Mario Armstrong.  Technology is really giving students a leg up.  Knowing that if they have a test tomorrow and need help studying a certain part, now they can get online and have a tutor help them with that last minute studying.  I wish I would of had that capability when I was growing up.

Technology is not just helping students in the classroom, but it is helping them outside as well.  At the end of the day all we want is our kids to do well in school.  I think it is great that there is an option out there that doesn't start with dad that will help my kids if they are having a hard time in a particular class.  I don't want to be the one responsible for giving them the wrong answer because I don't understand it.  Getting them in touch with a student or teacher that understands what they need is a win-win situation.  Check out this video I found on YouTube that talks about tutor.com and what hey do.  It really opens your eyes to the benefits of having an online tutor.




Picture used with permission from flickr.com Some rights reserved by cityyear
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityyear/5078921886/sizes/z/in/photostream/

The impact the iPad has in schools.....

The affect of the iPad worldwide is amazing.  It seems like everyone needs to have one of these new amazing tablets.  Now with the launch of the iPad 2 within the last couple of weeks that rage is starting all over again.  What a lot of people don't understand is the effects the iPad is having in our schools.  It is becoming more and more apparent how much technology is changing education.  Now Apple with this new tablet is taking it to another level.  Now you have a device that you can download apps dedicated for education and a device that will end up replacing textbooks and saving schools thousands of dollars a year.

Well not everyone is jumping up and down when it comes to using the iPad in schools.  The reality is the initial cost can be high.  The average cost of the iPad can be around $600 and Apple is only offering the standard student discount.  So most schools are not saving a lot of money but instead spending a lot in order to get these amazing devices into students hands.  I was reading an article published by the New York Times that talks about how schools are testing in limited classes the use of the iPad.  Many educators love the idea of the iPad and are embracing it.  Students are loving the idea of being able to carry around one device that will allow them to complete homework assignments, have all of their textbooks on one device, and be able to use it at school and at home.  Now many schools are talking about getting all of their students an iPad for the next school year.

I am seeing it first hand in classrooms at my sons elementary school.  Each grade level has one iPad that they rotate between classes.  Teachers love them, students love them, and most of all it gets kids excited about technology and what it can do for them.  In most cases the challenge is teachers that did not grow up with technology and are having to learn as they go.  Most students today are more tech savvy than the teachers and will know a lot more.  This can be tough for teachers, but it is important to understand that this is the future.  Once I know that my textbooks can be downloaded to a tablet I will be buying one that day.  It is tough carrying around all of these textbooks on top of everything else a teacher assigns.  It is amazing to see how one device has the possibility to change how students learn.

Picture used with permission - Some rights reserved by PhotoStephanie

Student and Educator Discounts on Computers.....

Hello Everyone,

The reality today is that students are needing technology to be a part of their school life.  More and more students are using computers in all grade levels.  Now parents have to deal with having a working computer so students can do homework and complete projects.  As college approaches it becomes a priority for parents to shop for a new computer for their son or daughter so they are prepared for what the next step in the education process.  This investment is not easy for many parents to make.  Not only do they have to worry about paying tuition, but now this is another chunk out of the pocketbook.  What many parents don't know is that there are options out there where you can receive discounts on a new computer because their son or daughter is a students.

The other part here as well is that educators qualify for these discounts as well.  So not only do the students have to keep up to date with technology so do teachers.  Many schools now are providing teachers with computers for their classrooms, but it is also nice for teachers to have computers at home that will give them the capabilities to do they same thing they can do at school.  So where can students and teachers get these discounts?

There are many websites out there that can give you college tips for buying a new computer.  Any tips a parent can get to help ease some of the stress on the pocketbook is huge.  Many manufactures are also doing their part when it comes to giving student and educator discounts on new computers.  One company does a great job and they realize how important it is to have a good computer because their computers are in thousands of schools across the country.  That's right I am talking about Apple.  Apple has a great Apple Educators Store that can give students and educators anywhere from $50-$250 off a new Macbook or iMac computer.  The reality is that many manufactures including Dell and HP are also providing discounts as well. 

It is great to see manufactures being able to give discounts to students and educators.  With technology becoming such an important in our child's education the more help we can get the better.

Image used with permission from Pics4Learning.com

Reward Zone for Schools....

Hello everyone,

This is my first ever blog post and I am excited to take the plunge into the world of blogging.  Something I am very passionate about is education and how it is continuing to evolve.  Technology is really going to be such an important role in a students education.  I know there are schools around the U.S. that are making technology purchases to improve their classrooms every year.  I really want to take a minute and talk about a program, that not many people know about, that can help schools make their technology purchases.  That program is called Reward Zone for Schools.  This program was created by Best Buy in 2008 and gives customers that are Best Buy Reward Zone members the chance to donate their points to a school of their choice.

I have worked for Best Buy for eight years now and this is one of the best programs they have created.  I am going to school to be a teacher and I understand how important technology is to the classroom.  The best part about this program is that it is FREE.  I am personally working with schools in my area to get them set up for a Reward Zone account.  How it works is simple, for every $250 a customer spends at Best Buy they earn a $5 certificate that can be redeemed at any Best Buy store nationwide, and on any product they want.  By donating these points to the school the community is giving schools more buying power to the schools for their technology needs.  I know being a parent of a student that I do what I can to help, and many parents feel the same way.

School budgets are always being cut and adjusted, but the money given to the school through this program will never go away until they spend it.  Click on the link in this blog and check it out.  I am also attaching a youtube video that talks a little more about the program. I do believe that we need more programs like this that are free and give the parents the capability to give back.