Friday, March 6, 2020

Wake Up to Justin Bieber Baby A Lesson on Positivity - Private Tutoring

Wake Up to Justin Bieber Baby A Lesson on Positivity BobbiM May 6, 2013 Something dawned on me recently: how you begin your day can (and usually does) impact the rest of your day. Then I thought to myself how do I wake up? and the answer was sobering: I wake up to a loud and irritating beep, beep, beep from my alarm. Thats not good because the sound of that alarm and the feelings it creates can already set the mood and tone for the rest of my day. So, what did I do? I turned to Justin Bieber for the answer. Justin Bieber Baby I programmed my iPhone (which is my alarm clock now) to go off at 6 AM, but instead of an irritating alarm, I have the alarm set to Justin Biebers Baby song. And, I have to say, after a while, Justin Bieber has made a big difference. So, here are the lessons learned: How you begin your day can determine the rest of your day. Start strong and positive. Drink water and eat well. Wake up with Gusto. Consider the small habits you have, such as the alarm you use. Make small changes tiny changes can make a big difference. Yes, Im talking to you Tutor, Parent, and Student. This article is for all of you. Take it as a good advice from someone who learned the hard way and who has missed out on the joy of Justin Biebers Baby for years.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Who Won E3 2013 - A Students Perspective

Who Won E3 2013 - A Student's Perspective Sony at E3. Photo via Flickr user tarciltarcil At E3 2013, June 11-13 this year, gamers everywhere got a glimpse of the near future in video game tech and software. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, the big three gaming companies, all strutted their soon-to-come line up of new games and consoles. When it comes down to it, who won? Cost/Value: Nintendo For a student, one of the biggest things we worry about is money. As students, many of us dont have time to work to put moolah in the bank and many of us are just learning how to get a grip on our finances. We look for value per dollar in a gaming console since we have relatively few to spend. Nintendo wins here. Their Wii U is $100 or more cheaper than Sonys PS4 launch price of $399. Sony almost won here, but we have yet to see the Vita really build itself a reputable library and $399 is still a steep price for a college students wallet. Convenience/Size: Sony and Nintendo tie PS4 controller, photo by Flickr user technomcr Having had to move all my worldly possessions twice a year since I began college and having had to live in small dorm rooms, I can safely say that size is a big concern for college students. Consoles require a TV, which in of itself is a huge hassle to have, but the build of the consoles themselves should also be considered. While it is true that the Wii U is smaller than the other next-gen consoles, it also comes with a tablet controller that is roughly twice the size of a normal gaming controller. Sonys PS4, while somewhat boxier, is still considerably slim for a gaming console and the controllers are smaller and therefore easier to store in small spaces such as a dorm room. Microsofts Xbox One came in last for convenience, with considerably larger dimensions and assumingly heavier build since the Kinect One is built into the Xbox One. Games: Microsoft When it comes down to it, E3 is about the games, and on that front, all of the Big Three came out swinging. New Halo? New Halo. Commence the fangirling. Photo via Flickr user BrickUltra Microsoft had a very strong conference of games, having come under fire for the hardware and entertainment focused Xbox One reveal. Appealing to its fanbase of first-person shooters and action games, Microsoft revealed trailers and gameplay for an exclusive Killer Instinct reboot, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, a gorgeous Forza Motorsport for racing game fans, Dead Rising 3 and Quantum Break (both exclusives), and Witcher 3 and more. And who could forget that astonishing Battlefield 4 and Titanfall trailer. and new Halo teaser? Microsofts conference was jam-packed every which way with games that (while not my favorite genre of games) would appeal to a lot of college gamers looking to blow some steam after class. While Microsoft came out strong, thats not to say that the other two big gaming companies didnt have amazing game line-ups as well. Nintendo went for its niche of dedicated first-party games, announcing new installments in fan-favorite franchises such as Pikmin 3, a new Super Smash Bros., Pokemon X/Y, and Mario games. While Nintendo did bring out the inner fangamer in everyone with its clips of Megaman, the WiiFit Trainer, and Animal Crossing Villager entering the Smash arena and had an overall strong conference at E3, those less interested in Nintendos first-party games walked away less satisfied. Sony sent some gamers squealing with their announcements of the long-awaited Final Fantasy XV and longer-awaited Kingdom Hearts 3, and announced Infamous: Second Son, showed Destiny gameplay, announced new games The Order and Transistor, and showcased the work of many indie developers bringing their games to PS4, supporting their dedication to the independent game developers. However, when it was announced that FFXV and Kingdom Hearts 3 would not be PS4 exclusives, those big announcements were somewhat lost. Microsoft won this round by bringing out plenty of enticing One-exclusives that will definitely help sell the console. Policy: Sony Policy-wise, Sony wiped the floor with Microsoft When it comes down to the features that the college gamer wants, Sony was the clear cut winner, and they knew they were. At the end of their E3 conference, Sony had some not-so-subtle jabs at the Xbox-One, which has endured weeks of criticism for its many restrictive policies, including a necessary online connection at least every 24 hours, always-on Kinect, necessary Xbox Live Gold subscription to access many of the advertised features of the console, and extremely restrictive policies on used games and trading with friends. On top of all this, Microsoft slapped at $499 price tag on the package, sealing the deal as a no for many gamers. Sony directly addressed these concerns in their E3 conference and a seriously hilarious if somewhat gloating Youtube video  by announcing no online connection required for the PS4, no restrictions on used games which alone earned a standing ovation from the E3 crowd, a whopping $399 price tag (and another standing ovation), and PSN+ subscriptions and games announced as carrying over to the PS4 as well. For college gamers, swapping games with friends is almost a fact of life. To have that taken away makes Xbox One extremely unappealing to a lot of students. Also, the always-on Kinect is plain creepy. With all of these policies in place, it seems clear that Sony won by a landslide. Xbox One might be needing some ice for that burn. Conclusion While in the end, it will be up to each gamer to decide which console to go with for next-gen gaming, I think that Sony won E3 just with its unrestrictive used-game policies and solid lineup, though its games were not on the exclusive level that Nintendo or Microsoft had. Sony created the largest ripples in the gaming community, in my college community, and on the interwebs. I, and probably a great majority of college gamers, will be leaning towards the PS4 for my next-gen console. Though I may consider getting a Wii U just for that Super Smash Bros. because of all the glorious memes that have surfaced. No. No, it does not.

How to Stand Out During In-Person Interviews

How to Stand Out During In-Person Interviews pixabay.com Give off good energy   While interviewers can certainly pick-up your personality over the phone or over a Skype interview, in-person interviews allow them to study you very closely. The tone of your voice and tone, movement, and facial expressions all tie in together to make the interviewers impression of you. That being said, you need to be aware of how you are reacting to the interviewer and what your body language could possibly say about you. If you know that your natural facial expression tends to come off as bored or annoyed, make an effort to look more engaged throughout the interview. Show that you are interested by nodding along and smiling when its applicable and wont seem forced. At the same time, you do not want to come off as overly excited or happy and appear as if you are trying too hard to kiss up or fake a personality that you really dont have. Dont slouch in your chair or lean your head on your hand as you would if you were bored in class, as these are signs that can tell your interviewer that you are disinterested or not taking the interview seriously. Prepare yourself for some hard or strange questions With interviews conducted over the phone, you can get by with notes on the company or your experience by your side, referring to them when you start drawing up blanks when asking questions. However, in in-person interviews, taking out a piece of paper when asked a question you cant answer isnt exactly acceptable. Instead, try to prepare yourself before going into the interview. This preparation can be going through your application and resume again or doing research on the company and position you are applying for. They can ask you why you wanted to apply with this specific company or why you think you would fit this company specifically. If youre improvising, youll most likely answer with something general like you wanted to take the opportunity to improve your skills or you wanted a job in that particular field. Do your research beforehand, learn the company values and their mission statement, their current projects, etc. Bringing these up in the interviews as points of interest shows the interviewer that you are interested in the company, even before you are properly involved with them. Employers will want employees that take a  genuine interest in the company and it will make you stand out among other applicants that just want a job, rather than a place in the company. Many interviews also include one or two strange questions. These questions are designed to test your creativity when it comes to problem-solving and planning. They can range from listing out uses for a pencil other than as a writing instrument or trying to advertise a common object on the spot. They are meant to be curveballs, and when you are asked you may find yourself stumbling through an answer. First, know that its okay to take time to process the question and articulate your answer. Let the interviewer know you need a few moments by saying something along the lines of Is it okay if I take a minute to articulate my answer? By taking that moment to think over your answer, youre saving both you and the interviewers time that would be wasted from you thinking out your answer out loud and getting both of you confused.

5 Ways your Study Space can affect your Concentration

5 Ways your Study Space can affect your Concentration Tips from a San Diego Private Tutor: 5 Ways your Study Space can affect your Concentration Tips from a San Diego Private Tutor: 5 Ways your Study Space can affect your Concentration Concentration can be hard to come by with finals week not too far away. Things like stress and anxiety can easily take away from the ability to sit down and truly focus on a particular assignment or project. If students are going to be studying, either alone or with a tutor, for an extended period its important that they pay attention to their study space and know that it can affect their concentration negatively or positively. 1. Peace and Quiet It’s important that students have enough peace and quiet so they can give their undivided attention to the task at hand. Students who are struggling to find a quiet place can consider reserving a private room at the library, working behind closed doors, or asking one of their teachers if they can stay late and work in an empty classroom. Students who simply cant find a peaceful area can use ear plugs or even play serene music while working on their homework (READ: Sleep, a Healthy Lifestyle, and Academic Success). 2. Study Groups Most study groups prefer to meet at a coffee shop or cafe so that their study session can be a little bit more lively and fun. Unfortunately, many groups veer away from their tasks and end up enjoying the social atmosphere more than their studies. Students who need to get a group project done, and done quickly, should also consider finding a private room in a library or another place that allows collaboration but not excessive noise. Libraries can still allow for a limited amount of socialization but highly discourage loud discussions, which can help students finish their assignments and move on to things that are more fun. 3. Comfort Students who are in for a long haul study session should consider whether or not they are comfortable. Back and neck pain certainly will not help with concentration. Students are encouraged to choose a comfortable chair or couch and make sure that they have the appropriate lighting to suit their eyes so that they are not distracted by physical discomfort. 4. Snack Breaks Students who are enduring multiple hour study sessions will need to take a break here and there to have a snack or stretch. Its also important that students stay hydrated so that their brain can function at maximum capacity. In addition to snack breaks it’s a good idea for students to get up and walk around once every 30 to 45 minutes and try and look away from their computer every 20 minutes or so. Walking around the house or getting some fresh air can be helpful; however, tabbing over to social media sites will just provide an unnecessary distraction (READ: 10 Study Tips from an Irvine History Tutor). 5. Important Materials It’s essential for students to make sure that they have all the necessary materials before they sit down to complete a project. Students who have to get up several times throughout their study session to find a particular item will find themselves more frustrated than productive. If a student needs an electrical outlet for their laptop or tablet, they should find it before they sit down. If they need highlighters, paper clips, or Post-it notes, they should gather all of those things ahead of time. In Short Concentration, or lack thereof, has been an issue for many generations of students. New technology comes with new distractions and students will have to find improved ways of concentrating on their particular assignments. One way students can give themselves a better chance of getting things done on time and without excessive interruption is to create a study area that is conducive to the task at hand ask your private San Diego tutor from TutorNerds where they like to study. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Using Public Speaking Gestures for Teaching

Using Public Speaking Gestures for Teaching It’s a well-known fact that body language conveys a large portion of the tone and meaning in our speech. Consider texting: without a winking emoticon, it would be much harder to tell if a text was sarcastic. With our bodies, we can add meaning and excitement to any lesson. Most of us use gestures instinctively, and they add just a bit of meaning and tone to our speech. But, to really influence and teach people, we need to actively practice our gestures. A good place to start is to get comfortable with these four simple types:1. Gestures outside of the frame of your body.These gestures are BIG. Get your shoulders moving, and toss your arms out wide. When you convey a big idea, show how big it is with your arms and chest raised high. If you do this right, you can take up the listener’s whole field of vision, and they can’t help but pay attention to what you have to say. Be excited, and let your listener share in that excitement.2. Gestures within the frame of your body.These gestures are small. After a big gesture, bring things into focus. Use your hands right in front of your chest, lower your voice slightly, and draw in the listener’s attention. These gestures are great for conveying detail, and making the listener lean in close.3. Numbers on you r fingers.Now that the listener is leaning in and paying attention, use your fingers to show the total number of points you want to make before you dive into your topic. In general, people pay attention best to two or three points. With each point you make, show its number. People react faster to what they see than to what they hear, so your fingers will jog their memory.4. Miming.Finally, between your points, use your hands to mime props and shapes. This is the most abstract and difficult type of gesture to master, but it is also the most powerful. After numbering a point, you can introduce the point as a pretend object: a ball, a box, a stick, or any other simple metaphor that will add life to your speech. Play with the imaginary object by twisting, turning, and shaping it according to what you say. By showing the listener a mimed prop, you give them a physical representation of your words to picture and to remember.As with all things, these techniques take practice. Get each type of gesture in your body language vocabulary, then start stringing them together. Soon enough, you’ll be saying just as much with your hands as with your words.

What Is Doping Chemistry and How Do You Know What Youre Getting Into?

What Is Doping Chemistry and How Do You Know What You're Getting Into?In sport, the word 'doping' has become synonymous with any and all means to improve a performance; it was once, to most, just a dirty word. But today, as scientists continue to explore the mind and body of athletes using sports drugs, the word 'doping' has been broadened to also refer to an athletic drug which is chemically engineered in order to enhance athletic performance.Doping is an issue for some athlete who are so dedicated to their sport that they think nothing is out of the ordinary when it comes to their sport. What is doping chemistry? Basically, it is a growing concern about the doping of athletic performance. There are those who believe that no way can someone be so dedicated to their sport as to give up their own health to do so.As more athletes become better at their sport, the incidence of serious athletic performance issues is on the rise. That's when concerned parents ask, 'what is doping?' The an swer, according to some experts, is that many sports are using designer-drugs in order to create a better sport - with the goal of gaining a better place in the athletic world.Doping Chemicals could be used by any professional athlete to increase their performance; something like this has been rumored to occur since the discovery of an amino acid called epimedium, which is a common ingredient in so many athletic supplements. It enhances a blood's 'aspirin effect' in terms of preventing 'aching muscles,' by boosting protein synthesis. However, like anything else, it should not be taken or prescribed without the approval of a medical professional.However, there is also growing concern about the inclusion of amphetamines in some of the sports supplements that can be found over the counter at most pharmacies. These designer amphetamines are often taken to increase the performance of athletes, but can cause a host of negative side effects, both in the short and long term. On top of that, it has been found that these amphetamines alter a person's brain chemistry, making it difficult for them to get a full night's sleep.Whether or not the synthetic chemicals or amphetamines will have an effect on a person's performance, the thing is, is that no one knows. The only sure way to know for sure is to ask a medical professional who can tell you if the product you are taking has adverse side effects or not.In the end, the best advice you can give your child about how to stay safe while participating in the sports they love is to follow the rules and if they're unsure or want to talk to a sports trainer, make sure they ask their parent first. If they ask you, you're the best person to tell them what is doping chemistry.

How to Study at Penn Chemistry

How to Study at Penn ChemistryIt can be frustrating to go to Penn Chemistry and not know anything about the course. However, you are very fortunate that it is just that easy. If you visit any local college bookstore, they will probably have the full guide for you to take. But for the many students who do not have the luxury of that, here are some helpful tips.What is the most relevant information you can have? Some colleges have paid for or arranged for a tutor to attend every lecture you missed during your initial attempt at getting to know the class. Others are much more lenient. They offer the course at no cost or with a small fee. Either way, if you feel you do not want to commit to studying at Penn Chemistry, then these can be good sources of information.Do some reading. Get some information from other people who took the course before you. Make notes of what was discussed and what you could improve on as a result of that conversation.Another good choice is to ask a teacher. A p rofessor is likely to be more understanding than a fellow student. Take them up on the offer of sitting in for you. You might also want to ask them to visit your dorm room. That might give you a better idea of what you should expect.Finally, a great option is to attend one of the chemistry lab sessions. These can be free to you if you live in an apartment or house that has an open courtyard and is not officially off campus. It can also be a wonderful way to catch up on the knowledge that you had not yet. If you have not been to one in the past, now is the time to consider attending one.One last thing to consider is what you might not know. There are so many different laboratories out there, and you never know which ones you might like to attend. After all, it is only natural to have gaps in your knowledge. For example, you might have no idea about the proper way to measure Eismann points. In addition, knowing about something that is relatively new to you might be interesting.As you can see, there are many options for learning how to take your PHY at Penn Chemistry. While most people begin at the same level, there are many ways to continue improving. Learn about all of the possibilities.