Many University of Phoenix students are working adults who are either finishing their degree, earning a certificate or advancing their education through a graduate program. The University offers flexibility in its online course offerings, touting that classes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This method has proven effective in attracting students in states across the country.

University of Phoenix also offers on-campus learning for those students who learn best in person and provides a variety of cost-saving options that help students graduate and enter the workforce prepared to lead.

Recently, the college announced its 3+1 Transfer Program, providing cost-saving benefits to students earning their degree in high-demand industries. The 3+1 Transfer Program allows students to earn the majority of their eligible credits at the community college level (up to 87 credits) and then transfer to University of Phoenix during their final year where they will earn the remaining 33 credits needed to graduate.

Enhancing Educational Knowledge to Become an Industry Leader

University of Phoenix graduate Missy Martin enjoyed a profession as a public school educator but knew that she wanted to continue her educational career as well. She obtained her Master of Arts in Education while maintaining her full-time job and being a mom to three boys.

Martin notes that the program was conducive to her professional career and advancement. She says, “Everything I learned in the program was 100 percent relevant to my career.” A life-long learner, Martin lives by the motto that “If you’re not challenged, you’re not learning anything.”

She is grateful to University of Phoenix for allowing her the flexibility to earn her graduate degree and to her instructors for providing relevant, real-world experience.

Alma Villa is another University of Phoenix alumna who knew that enhancing her educational background could lead her to being recognized as an industry leader. Villa wanted to obtain her MBA but was nervous that she would be stuck in a stuffy, boring, executive-type learning experience. She was pleasantly surprised when she enrolled in the University’s graduate program and found that the class sizes were small and instructors were engaging.

“Being able to obtain an MBA in 18 months is valuable because I have a busy life,” Villa says. “I enjoyed the flexibility of my schedule and the classroom setting. All instructors are industry leaders so I could get real-life experience from them.” She notes the value provided by the instructors made her feel comfortable and confident to move ahead in her career.

Instructors Provide Current Industry Experiences to Promote Success After Graduation

University of Phoenix graduates say that the flexibility offered throughout their time at the University was a major advantage in enrolling at the school. Secondly, students are continually surprised by the level of current industry experience the instructors possess.

The instructors at University of Phoenix bring an average of 26 years of working experience to the classroom. Not only are they passionate about their students’ educational success, but they are also invested in providing real-world experiences within their classes. Understanding what employers are looking for now, as opposed to when they began their teaching career, is a crucial step in ensuring students are prepared to enter their careers upon graduation.

University of Phoenix alumnus Spencer Carpenter enrolled after spending three years in the financial services industry helping clients manage their assets. He says he knew that obtaining his degree would catapult his career.

As a new father already working 50 hours a week, Carpenter needed a flexible option. He went on to complete his bachelor’s degree as well as obtain an MBA and is now recognized as an industry leader. He recently earned recognition as 40 Under 40: Black Leaders of Today and Tomorrow in Legacy South Florida Magazine.

Carpenter credits the well-established coursework designed by his instructors for his success. The combination of individual and group work helped prepare him for real-world practice. “It isn’t just theoretical learning,” he said. “It’s what real life is all about. What you learn about working with others in those interactions is crucial to success.”

About University of Phoenix

Founded in 1976 by economist Dr. John Sperling, University of Phoenix is now North America’s largest for-profit online university, helping students further their educational journey with flexible options to obtaining a degree. The University is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and offers online and on-campus learning in states across the country.

University of Phoenix maintains an innovative approach to helping working adults enhance their careers by offering flexible schedules, relevant courses and interactive learning options. With over 100,000 students enrolled, the University serves a diverse student population in advancing their education from obtaining certificates to entering graduate programs. The 3+1 Transfer Program is one of the innovative ways the University works to enhance the talent pipeline in communities across the country.

For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.

For many, it feels as if today’s political climate is becoming increasingly polarized. Recent cultural events have brought controversial voices to a fever pitch. With the help of social media, information and opinions are shared instantly and constantly across the globe, and not all of this information is accurate. A search across the web or a browse through popular news platforms can leave users feeling overwhelmed with conflicting information, exaggerated claims, and heavily biased points of view. Despite these downsides, instant access to information can be of great advantage to the layperson wanting to stay up-to-date and form their own opinions. There are a few key tactics that will help you to cut through the noise and make sure you are getting good information as you develop your own opinions.

1. Join a Community

One of the disadvantages of instant access in this digital age is that internet algorithms can quickly create an echo chamber of ideas. A crucial part of navigating politically-charged information and forming informed political opinions is taking the time to view trending topics from multiple points of view. One helpful way to do this is to find a community where differing opinions and ideas can be shared and discussed respectfully. You might find this locally, through a group of friends or coworkers. You can also find it online through social media pages. One such page is No Labels on Facebook, which is centered around having civil discussions on political ideas from a centered point of view, rather than from a left- or right-aligned ideology. Wherever you find your best fit, utilize your community to expand your ideas. Find or create a culture that facilitates listening to understand and sharing ideas without attacking. The best way to access information in a more multi-dimensional way is to practice tolerating new information and ideas without becoming overly defensive. The right community can provide that practice.

2. Utilize Primary Sources

Once you’ve found community support, you will want to consider how to ensure the information you are discussing is accurate. One way to assess accuracy is to utilize primary sources whenever possible. A primary source is an original source of the information being discussed. This could include going to the official website of Congress in order to read up on bills being discussed in news sites. Or, if you are reading analysis given on a speech or official address, you can look up video coverage or official transcripts of those speeches so that you get the full context. In the case of research being discussed, there are often sites where you can read the full research article so that you can view the methods being used and the authors’ original conclusions. Many news and opinion articles cite statistics; looking up the methods of the poll or study that was done can give a clearer picture of how those numbers are being interpreted. In general, referencing a primary source is a useful tool to make sure you are getting a complete picture of the topic at hand. It will also allow you to better judge how accurate the secondary sources you are coming across are, and therefore how much they can be trusted to give other accurate information.

3. Check Your Bias

Primary sources can help you to evaluate accuracy, but even technically accurate information comes with bias. Bias is inevitable, but you can mitigate the effects of the biased information you consume by making an effort to regularly access news and opinions across the political spectrum. If you consider yourself to be more conservative, it could be helpful to include some left-leaning news sources into your daily or weekly reading and viewing. If you consider yourself to be more liberal, then including some right-leaning sources into your routine can help. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum on any number of issues, try to avoid getting all of your information from one source or from multiple sources aligned with only one ideology.

4. Articulate Your Point of View

Once you have gotten the hang of navigating information for accuracy and bias, practice articulating your point of view to others. This is another place where your community of respectful idea-sharers can come in handy. Find a few peers willing to engage in a discussion on your topic of interest. Give your thoughts on the subject to the best of your ability, and then welcome feedback. Putting your thoughts into words can help you to better understand what it is you think and why. You may identify holes in your logic or gaps in your knowledge. That can lead you to better questions to consider the next time you come across information on the topic. With practice, you will gain confidence in both forming and explaining an educated point of view on any topic that holds your interest.

Information and misinformation are both incredibly accessible in our modern era. It takes some effort and practice, but with these strategies, you can be sure that you are well informed and getting the best information possible.

The Graduate Records Examinations General Test, or GRE, is one of the most common assessments required for graduate admissions. If you’re interested in attending graduate school, therefore, you may be facing many questions, including how long is the GRE? How difficult will the test be? What is considered a good score?

These questions are quite common for first-time test-takers. There are several things you can and should do to prepare for the GRE, one of which is learning all the test basics.

1. You Will Not be Penalized for Guessing

Most competitive exams are based on a positive-correct, negative-incorrect system, which penalizes examinees more harshly for getting a question wrong than for leaving it unanswered. The GRE, however, does not dock your score for wrong answers, so incorrect questions count the same as questions left blank.

For this reason, guessing wrong on a question you are unsure about will not hurt your score at all and can only help you. When taking the GRE, you should attempt to answer as many questions as possible.

2. Practice Will Make an Enormous Difference

To avoid being caught off-guard by the format or material, you’ll need to practice for the GRE. The more you practice, the more familiar you’ll be with the exam on test day.

One of the best ways to prepare for the exam day is by taking advantage of the plethora of practice exams available online. When it comes to studying for the essay portions, you can find online samples and rewrite them in your language and style.

3. You Will Receive a Preliminary, Percentage-Based Score

The GRE is an extremely competitive examination with hundreds of thousands of test-takers every year from around the world. When you complete your test, the GRE will rank your performance with an estimated percentile based on statistics from past exam cycles. However, you should note that the number of candidates increases every year, and this estimation can have a fair degree of inaccuracy.

4. You Can Return to Previous Questions in the Same Section

While the previous versions of GRE did not allow for this, those taking the test today have the option to revisit questions within the same section. For this reason, it may be a good idea to sift through the questions upon receiving the exam quickly. Make a mental note of the more challenging ones that will require extra attention or complete the easier questions first.

5. You Actually Need to Study

Many graduate programs use GRE scores as an evaluation tool because it is designed to eliminate non-serious candidates. Even if you are brilliant, you will still need to brush up and revise your weaker points if you want to score well.

Once you figure out what study methods work best for you, stick to those to help you prepare efficiently and effectively. Create a plan of attack for the test as well, such as completing easier questions first like mentioned previously.

6. The GRE Measures your Ability to Perform Under Pressure

Apart from testing your quantitative, verbal aptitude, and reasoning skills, the GRE will also test your ability to perform under pressure. Not only does the exam cover a breadth of topics, but it also asks some difficult questions and is long. The actual exam is just shy of four hours, not including breaks.

If you find yourself struggling, make sure that you set a time limit and adhere to it during practice. This will familiarize you with how much time you should put in for each question and help develop mental stamina, making sure you’re not tired during the actual exam.

7. You Can Do GRE Prep Online

Since the exam is now administered virtually, test-takers should practice accordingly. As mentioned before, there are many online exams you can take. Ensure that you prepare and attempt each of them with the same diligence and discipline you would on the actual exam day.

8. The GRE is Not Program-Specific

The GRE is accepted by hundreds of graduate programs worldwide, from journalism schools to public policy programs to business administration degrees. The number of universities that accept the GRE is also continually increasing. Also worth noting is the fact that your score on the GRE remains valid for five years.

9. You Cannot Bring Anything Into the Testing Room

Although the GRE is currently being administered mainly online, some in-person facilities have re-opened, and more will continue to do so when deemed safe by the proper authorities. If you do take the GRE in-person, it’s important to know that you will not be allowed to bring anything with you into the testing room.

This includes wristwatches, jewelry, and any personal belongings that you might have. You will be allowed to bring a tidy snack and water to access outside the testing room during the break. You’ll be required to empty your pockets and potentially even register your fingerprint before entering the testing facility.

10. The GRE is Different From the SAT

While both are highly competitive exams, SAT scores are used to evaluate applicants for entry into undergraduate programs, while graduate programs use the GRE General Test. Candidates take these tests at different points in their lives, with different education levels and different perspectives on academic goals. Objectively, the GRE sets a higher standard of questions as compared to the SAT.

A Gateway to Your Dreams

If you have ambitions to be accepted into a highly selective graduate program, it’s likely candidates are evaluated partially on some type of graduate assessment, like the GRE. In this case, you should learn everything you can about the GRE before you dive into your preparations. This will ensure that you know what the exam demands of you and what you should do to prepare for it the best way you can.

Social workers are the voice of the unrepresented among the masses. They help people confront their demons and teach them how to withstand adversity. They advocate for at-risk populations and work tirelessly for social justice. Furthermore, they dedicate their lives to serving those who need it most.

But, it is a challenging job. Social workers face humans at worst every day, which can be detrimental to their health. Additionally, they are overworked, underpaid, and underpaid despite doing vital work. So, most social workers end up devoting so much time and energy to the vulnerable that they forget to care for themselves. It is why burnout and stress are both rampant in people who work in this field.

According to a study, 75% of all social workers experience burnout at some point in life.

If you are a social work major, then you know all of this already. Indeed, you might have already weighed the pros and cons of this job. Or you might have already undergone training to manage the incredible stress of social work. You must do some community service to get an inkling of the everyday challenges in your profession. Indeed, some bachelor of social work online degree programs need relevant work experience for a qualifying degree.

If you are looking for inspiration for a community service idea, then look no further. Keep in mind that as a volunteer, you will only be allowed to do limited work. And most of the work you find will be with organizations and agencies after you go through a screening process. So, get ready to wow them at the in-person interview.

Now that we have that out of the way, here is our list of four community service ideas for social work majors you can use as motivation:

1. Help the Elderly:

Most of the elderly lead an alienating lifestyle. With limited mobility and chronic health issues, doing everything on their own might be challenging. You can either help senior citizens by volunteering at nursing homes or help the elderly in your neighborhood.

Volunteering at a nursing home or a senior living community can improve the lives of the residents. Interesting fact is that the most people in nursing centers are lonely, and they will be glad of your company. You can visit them to have a conversation or take them for outdoor walks. Or you can help nurses to take care of them by giving them manicures and brushing their hair. Regardless of what you do, your presence will provide them much needed support and encouragement.

You can also help an elderly neighbor with their daily chores. Offer to pick up their medicines and drive them to important events and appointments. Or you can help them maintain their lawn and help around the house. Most senior citizens do not know how they will get their next meal. According to research, 9 million American senior citizens face hunger daily. You can volunteer for Meals on Wheels programs to deliver food to geriatrics and do safety checks on them.

By helping out a senior citizen, you can gain a new perspective on life and strengthen your skills.

1. Become a Mentor:

As a young adult, you have the potential to change a life. And it would be a shame to waste that. More than 2.2 billion children around the world live in vulnerable situations. As a mentor, you can provide a positive and empowering change to their lives.

Be a stable authority figure in the lives of children to help create stable and happier adults. According to research, 46% of children with mentors are less likely to use drugs or controlled substances.

And the good news is that anyone can be a mentor. All you need to do is: be at least 21 years of age and live in a stable living situation. By meeting vulnerable youth 2 to 4 times per month, you can bring real change to their lives.

As a mentor, you can help juveniles overcome adversity by interacting with them. Become an inspiring role model for the youth to help them build a brighter future.

1. Work with Veterans:

Military life is not easy. Trying to return to society after years with the military is very challenging. Veterans have to face PTSD, manage injuries acquired in battle, and try to reenter society as a functional citizen. After years of stress and trauma, this is more than most can bear on their own.

Social workers can help veterans do their everyday activities. You can volunteer to give them necessary transport services as part of the VA volunteer transportation network. Not only can volunteering benefit veterans, but it can also make you eligible for multiple college scholarships.

You can also help active-duty troops and wounded soldiers through Operation Gratitude. Most troops and wounded soldiers lead a challenging life, and they need to believe that people are rooting for them. Send a care package to say “Thank You” to a first responder.

1. Help the Homeless:

Thousands of people in America struggle with homelessness every year. And with COVID-19, the situation is only becoming worse. Homeless people are the most vulnerable to the virus and its effects.

Fortunately, you can volunteer to help the homeless in their time of need. Often, homeless people usually want others to look at them with humanity. Try to strike a conversation with them to make them feel valued. Strike up a conversation with them and show respect and compassion for their situation. This gesture alone can improve their lives.

Many areas have local services to help the underprivileged. You can donate necessary resources to these organizations. Since proper hygiene is vital to protection from the spread, you can pass the hygiene kits to help homeless people disinfect. Just collect travel-size shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes, and combs to donate to homeless shelters. You can also donate warm clothing and blankets to shelters to protect the hungry and destitute from the elements.

There are few places where homeless people can get a free meal without any judgment, and one of them is a soup kitchen. Try to volunteer at your local kitchen to help out the homeless. You can volunteer to cook, clean up, or assemble the food.

Homelessness is widespread around the world. Unfortunately, people usually treat the homeless with contempt by others. By helping these people, you can restore some dignity to their lives.

The Final Word:

Volunteering is an excellent way to get a lay of the land before you jump into the social work sector. Not only will you gain hands-on experience through community service, but you will also improve your resume. Furthermore, you will give back to the community and bring real change to the lives of others.

An index in layman’s language is a measure or an indicator of something. In finance, a stock index helps investors calculate the market performance by comparing the current prices with past prices. The stock index represents a group stock from a country. For example, the FTSE 100 index is a representation of 500 companies that are on the London Stock Exchange.

The stock market is something that people talk about everywhere on television, magazines, and radios, not to forget the internet. A day will not go by without hearing index names such as SP 500, DAX-30, Don Jones Index, and many others.

How indices work

Since stock indices represent the value of a group of stock, when they fall or increase, they indicate the stock’s overall performance. For example, If the S&P 500 from the US goes up, the stock’s overall performance within the index goes up as well. The higher the price of stock indices, the higher the overall value of the indices. The overall value of the index decreases when the stock index decreases.

It is important to note that the individual stock prices may not be directly affected by the stock-index direction. Some stocks may be going down while others are falling.

How to calculate stock indices?

The weight average formula is the calculator of stock indices. It is used to determine the index value. To calculate the weight of the share, do the following math.
Share price X the number of shares/market capitalization of all shares. Market capitalization is the method used by indices weigh companies.

Pros of trading market indices

1. Better trends

When you compare stock indices with stock, they have better trends because their moves are dependent on the stock market price. It is easy for an investor to determine the stock indices’ direction because the stock market price moves in one direction. When the stock price increases, the indices increase as well, and vice versa. If you are an investor already, you may need to keep track of insiders and their trading. Check out insidertrades.com.

2. Diversification

It is easy for an investor to get all-stock diversification to reduce the risk of losing their investments. Diversification allows investments to be allocated in various industries and financial instruments to maximize returns.

3. There is no manipulation in indices

Compared to other financial instruments such as Forex, it is difficult to manipulate indices. Indices are not a matter of purchasing. An investor can invest any amount of money on indexes. A person does not determine the change of price in an index but the price of shares. The price change is the weighted average of several companies, and if the cost is manipulated, it can cause significant changes.

4. Trading in indices is less risky

Investment in other companies can lead you to lose all your investments. Trading in indices has never and can never make you bankrupt. Risk-averse investors can consider this type of investment.

5. Every index has its own personality

Indices do not have the same characteristic. They differ from one to another by adapting to the day trading scalping and swing trading.

6. They have long-term trading options

The long-term option is for people who want to sell their industries at a profit.
You trade in a market you know. Trading in a market you know is important because it helps you again on your investment. It also enables an investor to spread risks and earn a greater reward.

Cons of trading market indices

• There are more gaps in indices when the market is closed compared to Forex. The stock price may fall drastically from one level of trading to another and cause loss to an investor.
• The brokerage fee on less traded indices is higher.
• Trading is only applicable during the local business hours and like Forex, where you can trade 24hrs.
• Some indices are not liquid.

How to trade in stock indices

If you’re planning to trade in stock indices, follow the following steps:

1. Open a trading account – A trading account is opened through a Contract for Differences (CFD) broker. The broker act as an intermediary between you as an investor and the market.
2. After opening an account, open a Meta Trader 5 trading platform. This is a free application used by traders to perform trading operations and does the trading analysis.
3. In the application, look for the index you will be trading with, such as in NQ100, SP500, or DJI30.
4. Open the chat and open a buy or sell trade.

1. Take Time to Explore the Campus

Even if you don’t live on campus, go out every now and then and explore your school. Visit a different part of the campus each time you go out. That way, you’ll learn your way around better and learn about the amazing attractions there seem to be everywhere on the campus. Whether it’s a gift shop, a statue of the mascot, or a new store you didn’t know was there, you’ll learn how to appreciate your school even more so that you’re happier there. Taking time to explore the campus helps you spend some time by yourself and allows you to relax in the meantime.

2. Use an Essay Writing Service

While it’s not recommended that you use an essay writing service on a regular basis, using one occasionally is never a bad idea. Similar services can also help you find a BMAT tutor to prepare for exams. This way, you’ll be able to forget about your writing assignment and have time to do something else. You’ll get a great paper in the end, but it’ll save you hours of your time that you can spend on something else. These are professional, reputable companies that you can trust to do the job right, saving you a lot of time in the long run.

3. Eat a Meal by Yourself

Eating a meal by yourself can be a great way to collect your thoughts and clear your head so that you can move onto other things. No one is going to judge you and in fact, it can be a great solo activity that can have you refreshed by the end of the meal, especially if you sit by a window with a great view and listen to some of your favourite music as you eat. You deserve to do this for yourself! Most eateries on campus have small dining tables that allow you to sit by yourself without feeling awkward about it.

4. Pamper Yourself Occasionally

College students are always on the run, so it’s a good idea occasionally to make an appointment at a spa or anywhere else that allows you to pamper yourself. A good pedicure or massage is likely just what you need to relax both your body and your mind, and if you visit a good cosmetology or esthetician school, you can let the students work on you and save a lot of money in the meantime. It’s easy for college students to spread themselves too thin, and a day of pampering is just what you need to refresh yourself and start all over again.

5. Go to the Gym Occasionally

Unlike using an essay writing service, going to the gym doesn’t replace something you would’ve done anyway, but it is still a great idea to try and make time to go to the gym and give yourself a workout. Exercise can help you mentally and physically, and you don’t have to spend hours there just for it to benefit you in some way. A good 20- to 30-minute workout a few times a week can work wonders on your psyche as you go through college.

“Excellence in education is when we do everything that we can to make sure they become everything that they can.”

Educational leadership encompasses the importance of guiding the teachers and improving the education process in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions. Educational leaders are majorly involved in management and administrative tasks. They are the policymakers and the regulatory bodies of an educational system. They are highly trained in their abilities to make reforms that are in the students’ best interest. The principal, administrator, or the dean of an institution are the educational leaders.

Qualities Of An Effective Educational Leader

Since the teachers are the builders of nations and societies, they must possess the best of the qualities to perform effectively in their field. The success of any institute, department, or organization depends on them. They should be very productive, full of ideas, empathetic, understanding, and firm in their character. They should be able to serve as the bridge between the students, teachers, and workers. They are the role models that play a crucial role in developing the reputation of an institution.

The Role Or Function Of An Educational Leadership

There are a variety of roles that are played by educational leaders. It includes collaboration with the teachers to guide and direct them about the curriculum. They play a vital role in assisting educators in making a properly planned structure of the new programs and projects introduced for the betterment of the students. They generate and apply new effective educational plans and applications in a very high-yielding manner. They instill ethical, moral values and character in an individual by their excellent traits of thorough judgment and observation of a matter.

World’s Focus Today

Today the world has changed its focus from the old primitive styles to the new modern trends of adapting changes to almost everything. Leadership is the core of the matter. There have been many latest reforms in the current years ranging from offering new leadership courses to educators to conducting online workshops. The focus has shifted towards arming the educators with state-of-the-art techniques and strategies to strive for the best, which are learned through different educational programs.

Different Educational Programs

Many colleges and universities offer different educational programs for the teachers to help them become remarkable educational leaders in the future. However, Masters in educational policy is the new favorite of everyone nowadays. Those seeking a tremendous experience with ease of understanding and application should enroll themselves in this course.

There are other courses such as technology-enhanced learning, philosophy in education, practice and innovation, education, and international development, which are also available at different colleges and universities.

The Need To Become More Qualified

As the world progresses day by day, and innovations are developed, the field of education is also in the race! By attaining further education in educational leadership, an individual becomes trained and mastered in all forms of educational policies, reforms, and strategies.

Career Opportunities

The courses offered in the educational field to the teachers enable them to become influential educational leaders who can have various career opportunities.

Enlisted below are the five career opportunities for educational leaders.

• Principal
• Assistant principal
• District administrator
• Instructional coordinator
• Dean

The advanced courses offer new gateways to individuals to explore new opportunities.

Role As A Principal

A principal is considered as the most superior body of a school, college, or university in general terms. A principal’s key responsibility is to create a positive environment by making laws that interest everyone. A principal is responsible for casting a vision of the success of every student. He introduces a sense of responsibility and leadership by becoming a role model for the students. He processes the curriculum and approves of any new reforms and changes. He bridges the students, workers, and teachers together. Hence, A principal is the soul of the institute without which the institute can’t survive.

Role As An Assistant Principal

The primary role of the assistant principal is to assist the principal in daily tasks and duties. He also acts as the principal in his absence. They are mostly involved in administrative tasks. Their roles include; creating an annual calendar, making the timetable for the classes, making the duty rosters, managing the examinations, and conducting the exams, heading the staff meetings. They also regulate the extracurricular activities in the institutes such as sports or trips.

Role As A District Administrator

A district administrator such as a superintendent and central administrator staff is responsible for the tasks related to finances, special education, law and order, treasury, and social welfare. The district administrator governs all the educational reforms and structural reforms in the institutes of the district. They make many prime decisions about the protection of society.

Role As An Instructional Coordinator

The instructional coordinator does the curriculum assessment. The overview and review of the teaching methodologies and to ensure the quality standards of education provided. They develop useful tools for learning and introduce them to effective teaching practices.

Role As A Dean

A dean of any institute has a wide variety of roles and functions to perform. They range from mere academic matters to the most complex affairs. His fundamental purpose is to connect the institute with the outside world through different pathways. The agenda is based upon the research and innovation to bring more significant advantages and benefits to the institution. To sum up his role, it can be said that they are the heads of economic, political, fundraising, alumni, budget, and public policies.

Conclusion

For any nation’s growth and success, it is essential to nurture the society with the right kind of leadership qualities. Moreover, the real sense of self-recognition and exploration of new endeavors can be obtained only through proper learning, which can be attained if we offer ourselves the urge to develop every day!

I opened my eyes to the bright lights of the recovery room and my husband standing over me. It was a Friday afternoon. I should have been waking my daughter from her nap, picking my boys up from school, and celebrating the official start of Spring Break. Instead, I was fresh out of back surgery—looking up at my husband—waiting for him to tell me if my legs would ever work again.

I was certain of the answer before he even uttered a word. I knew seconds after I landed at the bottom of that 10-foot-hole I had likely used my legs for the last time. I spent the hours leading up to surgery assuring myself that I would be okay inside that reality—repeating over and over It’s just your legs. You can still be a mom. It’s just your legs. Even so his confirmation obliterated any shred of hope I had held onto and, for the first time since I took my last steps almost 24 hours before, I cried.

In that post-surgery haze, still oblivious to the complicated and mostly invisible aspects of paralysis, I mourned the loss of my legs. The line is you will never walk again, so why would I think to grieve anything else? That line is straight out of a Hollywood writer’s room and falls into the conversations between doctors and thousands of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients every year. It is full of shock-value and false impressions. It is five words. Five words that showcase the obvious but in no way accurately summarize the upheaval paralysis inflicts upon a life—upheaval I was about to experience first-hand.

Over the course of 12 days in the hospital, eight weeks at rehab, and more than three years since it all went down, my understanding of SCI changed rapidly—I got up close and personal with all of its realities. From the loss of bladder and bowel control and how to best manage that, to the changes in sexual function, to the constant physical pain and everything in between, I could no longer tell myself that it was just my legs. However, I found myself uncharacteristically resilient and even if this injury was more than I had originally bargained for I was determined to fight for my life. I would be okay inside this reality. I had to be.

I was prepared to push myself physically in order to learn how to exist in this foreign body. Every goal I reached was met with celebration but also veiled in sadness for what it meant would never be the same. But with hard work I truly believed we would find our way back to a life that felt familiar—a life where I could still be the wife, mother and woman I wanted to be. I was prepared for the work to rehabilitate my body. What I wasn’t prepared for was the work to rehabilitate my spirit. What I underestimated was the grief.

The grief paid no attention to my determination and had no place my for my resilience. There were many nights it hung in the air like a thick smoke that stole the oxygen from my lungs and turned my world an unforgiving shade of black. It left me gasping for air through the panic and convinced me that I would make a deal with the devil if my life could go back to normal. At its strongest it persuaded me I would never be enough and that I would never reconcile the life I knew before and the life I was about to discover. Grief is cruel and it is strong. But while I may have underestimated it, I soon realized I also underestimated myself. Because hell hath no fury like a mama trying to get back to her kids.

Getting back to my kids—going home—was my motivation from the start. My husband and I had the support system that dreams are made of but, paralyzed or not, my babies needed me. And while there were days I wanted to run—okay roll—away and hide from the world, I refused. This injury would not take away my motherhood and in fighting for that I found my life waiting for me. And even though I was terrified to experience my life in a series of firsts that I thought were far behind me—sex, being home alone with my children, driving, taking my kids to school, cooking, throwing birthday parties and everything else you could possibly think of—I forced myself into all of it because I would not let my life happen without me.

Normalcy is such a relative term. Certainly what I consider to be normal life now would be absolutely mind-boggling to the able-bodied woman I used to be. On the day of my accident, I lost pieces of myself I had wrongly assumed were non-negotiable aspects of my existence. I lost pieces of myself I had taken for granted and pieces I had truly believed were necessary for me to feel like a complete person. But on the day of my accident I didn’t know what I was capable of.

Since that day I have surprised myself. Every tear I shed, assumption I made, and self-doubt I possessed helped me to unveil a woman who could take the fragments of her broken self and exist happily within them. A woman who could welcome her grief in for a moment of suffocation because she knows acknowledging it will help her breathe again so much quicker than if she tries to bury it. A woman who got her life back.

Bio

 Codi Darnell lives in Vancouver, Canada with her husband and three children. After a fall in 2016 left her paralyzed she wanted to avoid pity and help people see who she was behind the disability. In her attempt to demystify wheelchair life and spinal cord injury, she started her blog Help Codi Heal (www.helpcodiheal.com ) in 2017 and won Vancouver Mom Top Blogger in 2018. She takes a candid approach in her writing—even when it’s uncomfortable and awkward—because she figures if people understand the disability they are more likely to see past it. Follow her journey on Instagram and Facebook @helpcodiheal.

The thing is making a blog successful is not rocket science. There are things one must do to achieve that. According to thesisrush.com, having a professional-looking or highly attractive blog is one of the factors that can make a blog successful. Let’s consider other steps you can take to make your blog successful.

1. Develop an undying love for your niche

If you want your blog to be successful, pick a niche you are passionate about. Do not choose a niche because others are successful in it. Choose it because you can comfortably write on it without compromising on the quality. The thing is when you write on something you know very well, it would be easier for you to convince your readers and establish yourself as an authority in the said niche.

That said people like reading or follow blogs considered as an authority in their respective niches. They quickly build trust and put to use information acquired from such blogs. Reader base can also increase with such blogs.

2. Ensure your blog is easy to navigate

Alright, this is one critical issue every blogger should pay attention to. It is crucial because the success of any blog depends on it. The point is making your blog easy to navigate can make it successful. In this case, your readers do not have to struggle to move from one page to another, read articles or download materials from your blog, if that is the action you want them to perform.

That said the design of your blog should be simple but attractive. Your blog should also be highly responsive. It should also be accessible through any platform, whether mobile device or PC. A blog that loads faster, particularly on mobile devices entices Google. And by now, you may have noticed that the number of mobile device users is increasing tremendously. So keep in mind that most of your potential visitors are likely going to access your blog via their mobile phones.

3. Start a contest or giveaway

Creating a contest or giveaway is another smart idea bloggers can use to increase traffic to their blog. It will also make followers more active and encourage others to develop interests in your blog. The contest can be anything. You also need to recognize the winner and offer an award at the end. But you have to be transparent from the beginning till the end. Let all the participants know how you picked the finalist, and be ready to answer questions to clear any doubt.

Offering a giveaway is a great idea to make a blog successful. But you do not need to break the bank to make this happen. You should also not try to be smart with your followers by promising something you cannot do. Making false promises or trying to outsmart them will only dent your reputation.

4. Focus on adding value first not making money

A blog that is more focused on making money can quickly lose its value. So even if you plan to monetize your blog in the future, focus on adding value to your visitors first. Provide contents that will help readers solve their problems. Once you gain their trust, then you can start recommending products or monetize your blog in other ways. It will be totally out of place to start blogging and the next thing you are trying to recommend a product or service to your visitors.

5. Create stunning content

Content is king! That is something every blogger or writer knows. But the question is how many are treating content as a king? Many bloggers are so eager to rank high on search engines that they only focus on SEO (search engine optimization. Do not follow them if you want your blog to be successful. Whether you are writing long or short-form articles, make sure they are simple to read, informative, and unique. You should also place keywords strategically if you are bent on using them.

Your articles should also have few images, at least to 2-3. And try to eliminate fluffs from your articles and go straight to the point.

Conclusion

The power to make your blog successful is in your hands, start using it. Whether you are dreaming of starting a new blog or working on your old one, know that you can make your blog successful by doing the right thing. However, the things you need to do to get your blog back on track are not difficult. So you have no excuse regarding the performance of your blog. So if you are ready, get more ideas from this post to improve your blog.

Types of Essays and Basic Essay Structure

Essays at a college or a university have to provide an answer to the question by developing a convincing argument that is based on relevant evidence or critical reasoning.

There are different types of essays that differ in their purposes, but all of them have the same basic structure no matter what. The first step to writing an essay is to decide what type of essay you are going to write:

• Narrative essay tells a story or present information about the subject in an orderly manner
• Descriptive essay describes the topic by creating a picture in the reader’s mind
• Expository essay presents an argument based on an investigation
• Comparative essay compares 2 or several different things
• Persuasive essay convinces readers about some fact
• Argumentative essay provides an argument on a certain topic by giving opinions from both sides
• Synthesis essay involves writing a summary by combining content from different sources
• Informative essay educates the audience on a specific topic
• Cause and effect essay makes an attempt to determine the cause and effect of different phenomena, actions or situations
• Analytical essay breaks a certain topic into several components and explains each component in detail

All essays must include certain elements:

• An introduction with a strong thesis statement that answers the question
• Body paragraphs that provide argument and include supporting evidence from scholarly sources
• A concluding paragraph (paragraphs) that restates the thesis and summaries the content

Steps in Writing Essay

The essay writing process consists of several essential steps that you should follow. Let’s discuss these steps in detail.

Choose a Topic

Sometimes, an essay topic may be assigned to you but, typically, you’ll need to select a topic to write about. So you should brainstorm essay topics ideas and choose a topic that interests you most of all. Then you’ll really enjoy doing research and writing on the topic. Your next step is to evaluate your topic and decide whether it is manageable – your essay topic should be neither too broad nor too narrow.

Do a Research

Now you have to find relevant primary and secondary sources and do some research to find information that you will use for your argument. You can search the internet and find some scholarly books or articles in the library. You should read your sources and make notes of some interesting facts and ideas that you can use in your essay.

Create a Thesis Statement and Make an Outline

Your thesis statement is the main point of your essay. It will guide your writing and will help you stay focused. It is the statement that you will argue in your essay and support with relevant evidence and examples.

A strong thesis statement typically consists of two parts: in the first part, you need to state your essay topic, and in the second part, you have to state the point of your essay. Or you can use another approach and just list 3 key points in the second part of your thesis statement. These are the points that you will discuss in your essay.

After that, you have to create a working outline for your essay. You can also organize your ideas in the form of mind map. If you devote your time to creating a detailed outline, it will be easier for you to write your essay and you will spend less time writing your draft. Besides, a detailed outline can help avoid the writer’s block because you will be able to start writing from any part of your essay.

Write an Essay

You should start your essay with an introduction. It’s important to attract the attention of your readers from the very first sentence so you should begin your essay with a hook. It can be a provocative question, statistics or an interesting fact. Then you should introduce your topic and write your thesis. Then you need to outline briefly the key ideas of your essay.

Write your body paragraphs. You should write as many body paragraphs as the key ideas in your essay.  Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence. Then you should provide supporting points for your ideas and give some evidence or examples that prove your point. You can also end each paragraph with a summary sentence.

Write a conclusion. Don’t make it long. You need to sum up your points or give your readers a final perspective on your topic. You may simply review your main points or restate your thesis statement.

Edit and Proofread

When you finish your essay, you need to carefully read it and improve the content, the logic, and the flow. You should also revise for consistency, clarity, and the structure. Make sure you use transition words and phrases between your paragraphs. Check the word choice and make sure you use the most appropriate words.

When you are satisfied with the content and the logic, you should check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. The good idea is to use an online spell-checking tool. Finally, read your essay once again and fix minor errors and typos if there are any to ensure that your essay looks the best it can be.

Follow these easy tips and practice a lot and you are sure to succeed in writing good essays.