Did you know that, in a Pew Research Center survey taken last March, 67 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 said they have a smartphone? Two-thirds of young adults! And that’s not even counting the ones that are using iPads.
That means a whole lot of college students are carrying around mobile devices. But is there any educational value to this technology (other than the ability to Google answers and make your professor think you’re a genius)? Of course! Here are some of the best apps that college students can use to help them study and do better in class.
Dragon Dictation
Taking notes in class can be such a chore, especially when your professor talks like the Micro Machines guy. (YouTube it if the reference is too dated, kids.) The point is, it used to be that your only alternative to taking notes was to record the lecture and play it back later. That’s great, but sometimes you just want to be able to read what was said. Well, now you can, because Dragon Dictation is a free (!) iPhone and iPad app that will record your professor’s lecture and instantly transform what he or she is saying into text. Awesome!
Tired of writing flashcards out by hand or typing and printing them? StudyBlue Flashcards is a free app that works on just about any mobile device (Android and anything Apple), and it boasts lots of benefits that regular flashcards don’t. First off, you can access cards created by other users, so there’s no need to recreate common flashcards that a dozen people have already made for you. Second, you can set the app up so that you get study reminders. And finally, these flashcards actually keep score, so you know how well you’re doing and where to focus your studying efforts.
Much of college is dedicated to working on larger projects, and often that means teaming up with other people. Dropbox makes group work a breeze by allowing you to share documents on the cloud and choose who gets access to what. It’s also nice for when you somehow forgot to turn in that paper and can show your professor that you really are sending it while you’re standing in front of them instead of cheating and adding a few final touches.
Sign up for Dropbox with your student email and get double space!
Graphing Calculator
Okay, obviously not every college student is going to need one of these, but consider this. Before apps, anyone in math, science, or technology-related fields would have to spend at least $50 (and often $100 or more) to get a good graphing calculator. Want to know how much this app featured in Time magazine costs? $1.99. See, sometimes technology really does make things better. Except maybe for Texas Instruments.
For college students who do like to take notes or documenting things, Evernote is essential. It lets you record lectures, jot down information, take photos, store documents, and even “favorite” websites for research purposes. But the best part is that you can keep all of this information in a single, easy to find location so that when you’re studying for your essay on Chaucer or your Bio midterm, you can just access that folder and everything will be there waiting for you. Pretty convenient.
Samuel Clemens is a former educator who spends his time reviewing study materials for students. Click here to view the study guide he recommends for Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
A train operator is responsible for checking the mechanical conditions of a locomotive. When an issue arises, the operator documents the problem and makes adjustments. Without train conductors, freight and passenger trains would stop running properly. All railroad employees work closely together. They are in constant contact to inform each other about any changes that occur with the train. Locomotive engineers commonly travel with conductors, switch people, and brake operators.
Educational Requirements
Most railroad companies require applicants to have a high school diploma. Since these rail companies prefer to provide on-the-job training, additional schooling is not required. During a typical orientation, hired applicants will receive two to three months of training before they can operate a train. Throughout their time in training, applicants ride with other experienced train conductors. Besides learning about the train, they also learn about the route. After working several years on the job, many train conductors go on to become locomotive engineers.
With the Union Pacific train crew, applicants can apply for an entry-level position where they will start working as either a switch person or a brakeman. After gaining some experience, the workers eventually become conductors or locomotive engineers. As a conductor, the employee is responsible for the train, crew, and freight.
Good Qualities
The ideal candidate for a train operator position will have good communication and decision-making skills. Since all train employees must work together, being able to communicate efficiently is important. In fact, effective communication helps avoid accidents and delays. Another important quality to have is hand-eye coordination. Locomotive engineers and conductors must operate various controls while paying attention to their surroundings. Having visual ability helps operators respond to situations properly. Many railroad companies perform visual tests before they will hire any applicants. During the vision test, employers are examining a person’s eyesight, color recognition, and peripheral vision. Other important qualities for applicants to display include hearing ability, mechanical skill, and physical strength.
Job Outlook
Projections show that employment opportunities for train operators will only grow one percent from 2010 to 2020. There is a growing demand for rail transportation; however, a lack of track capacity will interfere with the demands. Building new railroad tracks is expensive, so companies are finding new ways to increase capacity. For example, they are stacking train cars on top of each other. Fortunately, these projections can change at any time. Due to the rise in population growth, more global trading is occurring.
Salary and Hours
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage of a train operator is $46,100. The lowest 10 percent of workers made less than $31,000, but the top 10 percent earned more than $71,000. Since trains operate 24 hours a day, most conductors work full-time. A survey in 2010 showed that nearly one-third of train operators worked 50 hours a week. Working nights, holidays, and weekends is not uncommon. Fortunately, federal regulations exist to grant operators a minimum number of rest hours.
Train conductors often have irregular schedules. For example, those who work on freight trains may travel long routes and can be away from home for quite a while. Some conductors work on passenger trains with short routes, so these workers generally have a more predictable schedule. Since assignments are based on seniority, new employees rarely have a say in the matter. It is also important to note that train conductors work in various weather conditions.
Dexter Crawford is a freelance writer based in the great city of Chicago. Dexter writes on education, professional training and development, business and commerce, shipping and international trade, and other kindred issues; to learn more about trains and shipping it may be beneficial to view top companies in this area, such as Freight Forwards Houston.
Literally tens of millions of Americans play golf on a regular basis, and nearly every one of them would love to experience a career as a professional golfer. Unfortunately, this is not realistic. Fortunately, there are a bevy of careers in the golf industry that golfers and fans of golf can get into. PGA touring pro may be at the top of everyone’s list, but the truth is that only a few of the most talented and dedicated players are able to fulfill that role. Here are some careers that folks who are simply hooked on golf should think about exploring.
Golf Course Manager
Just about anybody that has truly been in love with the game of golf for their entire lives qualifies to be golf course manager, and thousands of golf courses are in need of a good leader. A golf course manager handles the daily goings-on of a golf course, including everything from answering phones to deciding pin placements. The good golf course manager is patient, polite and willing to listen to the input and requests of the customers. Those with aspirations of becoming a professional golf course manager should go through the right avenues or get in at the ground level at their favorite course as soon as possible.
Golf Merchandise
Golf merchandise is a multi-billion-dollar annual industry, and literally hundreds of businesses are in on the action. Everything from golf clubs to golf carts are manufactured and sold on a continual basis, and many bodies are needed to fill the roles along this corporate chain. From salesman to designers, the golf merchandise industry employs thousands of people. As the need to exceed traditional standards continues to grow and the sport of golf continues to embrace technology, jobs in the golf merchandise industry are likely to increase. The sport of golf has benefited greatly from a surge of technology that has actually been congruent with the surge in the popularity of the sport, originally spawned by the arrival of Tiger Woods in the late 1990s.
Professional Caddy
Few children have ever proudly announced they want to be a professional Caddy when they grow up, but the plain truth is that can be a very lucrative and enjoyable profession. Caddies are typically very good golfers in their own right, and they make a decent chunk of the earnings of the professionals that they work with. Professionals make their way through golf courses much differently than recreational golfers, and they are aided by the knowledge, wisdom and suggestions of their caddies, whom they trust with their careers. Breaking into the field of caddying can be difficult, and like many jobs, it is all about establishing connections.
Turf Specialist
Not many people realize that turf management is a major at many universities throughout the nation. A person who graduates with such a degree can easily get a job at a golf course managing the goings-on of the greens, fairways and rough. The difference in quality greens and fairways and lackluster facilities is basically the difference between a popular golf course and one that is soon to go be of business, so turf specialists are worth every penny they are paid. With the proper training and certification, any golf lover and turf specialist should be able to land a full-time job somewhere in North America.
This article was crafted by Ty Whitworth for the team at Keiser University; they have the resources to help you earn a golf management degree in a relatively short period.
For many freshmen, college marks the entry into a world of freedom, filled with endless opportunities and significantly fewer restrictions. However, college can be pretty intense, so you probably won’t have as much leisure time as you had imagined (or hoped). However, if you adopt good time-management skills, you’ll be able to navigate the unfamiliar college terrain and do all the things you want and need to do. Here are five tips to help you budget your time:
1. Space out classes.
When choosing classes, it may be nice to give yourself two full days of classes and leave the rest of your week open, but as a freshman getting a feel for your school and your workload, that isn’t the smartest thing to do and can add unnecessary stress. When creating your schedule, try not to have difficult courses on the same day or back to back. By spreading them out, you’ll give yourself more time to do the homework, and you won’t be stuck doing all of your intense studying the same night. Read the rest of this entry »
In today’s troubled economic times, people are struggling to earn enough money just to live. It’s no surprise then that many students are being forced to base their choice of a higher education institution on cost. Fortunately, there are affordable schools out there, no matter where you live, and you don’t have to sacrifice a great education in order to attend them. We’ve compiled a list of the top schools in terms of affordability and quality education for each state.
Alabama: In the land of the South, there’s no better place to be than Alabama A&M University, located in Normal. This school’s average tuition is an affordable $4,072 per year. This is an awesome place to be for anyone who is considering a career in agricultural, mechanical, or other hands-on fields.
Alaska: If you can stand the cold, then get yourself on down to Alaska Pacific University, based in Anchorage. Here, the average tuition rate is only $21,010. Best of all, you’ll get to live in one of the most happening cities in the entire state. Anchorage has a vibrant and fun college life.
Arizona: For a private school that won’t cost a fortune and to live in an awesome, thriving city, consider the American Indian College of the Assemblies of God Inc. Here, you’ll only pay around $6,645 per year. Plus, you’ll be a part of a very small student body (68 students at last count!). Not everyone is eligible but, if you are, you’ll get the most hands-on, dedicated attention you’ll find anywhere. Read the rest of this entry »
College life can be overwhelming as you try to manage your classes, extracurricular obligations and social life. Some students get so flustered that they procrastinate or miss assignments, with their grades suffering in the process.
Whether you’re pursuing a business degree, science degree or hotel management degree program or course, college life can be overwhelming as you try to manage your classes, extracurricular obligations and social life. During this busy time, technology can make your life more manageable. Here are five apps that will help you organize your time and increase your productivity:
1. Evernote
Not only is Evernote free, it is on the list of The New York Times “Top 10 Must-Have Apps.” With this app, you can write notes, capture photos, keep to-do lists and record voice reminders. You can sync Evernote with all your devices and search for specific notes. You can organize notes into specific “notebooks” or with tags and email them to others via Twitter or Facebook. College students can use this app to snap photos of PowerPoint slides and textbooks, take and organize class notes for studying later and even to upload their favorite recipes and grocery lists.
2. Dropbox
As a student, you may do work on multiple computers, even working on your smartphone when you’re out. Dropbox eliminates the need to email documents from one computer to another. It also eliminates the need for a flash drive. By installing the free app on your computer, phone or tablet, you can save any file to a Dropbox folder that you can access from anywhere. You can even create folders that you can share with other people.
Sign up with an .edu email address and get extra space!
3. iStudiez Pro
Hailed as a “sophisticated student’s planner” and a bargain at 99 cents, iStudiezPro helps you organize your life. It is a virtual planner, complete with class schedules, a calendar, grade book and homework tracker. The grade tracker helps you estimate your current GPA, and notifications will remind you of future classes, events and due dates. You can even back up your data via email or a cloud option.
4. gFlash + Flashcards & Test
Another great freebie, gFlash + Flashcards & Test lets you create and edit an unlimited number of flashcards for studying, with the option of adding images and sounds. You can also download existing cards from the gWhiz collection. Cards can have up to nine sides, and as you quiz yourself, you have the ability to track your progress. Because it’s free, there are some ads, but they don’t get in the way of your studies.
5. GradeFix
For all of the procrastinators out there, there is finally a planner with intelligence. GradeFix will organize your tasks for you: By entering details of your upcoming assignments, this app uses algorithms to plan the best schedule for you. Your work is separated into four categories (reading, homework, quiz study, test study) and prioritized. If you somehow miss an assignment, it will be placed at the top of your priorities. The only catch is that while it is free to sign up, it costs $5 per month to use.
Melissa Woodson is the community manager for @WashULaw, a premier program for foreign attorneys to earn their LLM Online in U.S. law and just one of the llm degree programs offered by Washington University in St. Louis. In her spare time, she enjoys running, cooking, and making half-baked attempts at training her dog.
The number of student loans and the amount owed on them is growing by the year. Over $1 trillion of student debt threatens to impact those borrowing to go to school for the foreseeable future. With concerns over debt, many people are questioning the wisdom of going to college. The question is even more serious when people start to question the value of what they study. Many people ask “what good is an education if a person will not directly use much of what is learned?”
Income
There are benefits to getting a good education. The first is related to income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who have less than a high school diploma have a median weekly income of just over $450. This number jumps for those with a college education, and those with a bachelor’s degree have a median weekly income of $1,053. This amount is well over double the amount that those without a high school diploma earn.
Unemployment Rate
Employment prospects are much better for those who have more education. Those without a high school diploma had an unemployment rate of 14.1% in 2011. This number dropped to 9.4% for those who completed high school but did not go to college. For those with a bachelor’s degree, the unemployment rate in 2011 dropped to 4.3%.
Is an Education Useful?
The previous statistics show that more education is useful in terms of both general prospects for employment and the amount of money that workers make after getting an education. Some people will wonder what benefit a degree in the humanities or social sciences can provide considering the reputation these studies have for low-paying employment. One example is retail management. One of the leading economic sectors in the United States is the retail sector. With a wide variety of stores looking to sell goods to a wide marketplace, there is a need for competent management. These stores will frequently hire managers from within and require only a bachelor’s degree. This educational requirement frequently does not include a specific major. Any bachelor’s degree will work for some companies as long as there is also some experience in the industry that shows the possibility of improvement.
History and English are usually among the degrees that are frequently decried as useless in the real world. However, there are many career fields that a person trained as a historian can enter that are not related to history. Many organizations want researchers or people with communication skills. These are important skills that are transferable even though they may not be related to the major directly. Higher education of any type can provide critical thinking and analytical skills that many people in society do not have. Any advanced education is likely to open doors that are unexpected and unrelated to one’s college studies. Many times, these doors are quite lucrative and fulfilling.
With an increased emphasis on continuing education, companies are frequently on the lookout for trainers. People with an education degree may be a perfect fit for this job, even though it does not involve K-12 teaching, especially if they also obtained computer skills. The tools gained through an education are indispensable for this type of career. Even studying marketing can benefit people in ways that they may not think of. A personal trainer needs to market himself or herself to get clients. An aspiring author will have to market his or her book to publishers or the public if self-publishing. Writing skills learned through English classes can lead to freelance careers. Math skills transfer to just about any career that deals with money. The skills learned in school can benefit in ways not initially considered, thus making school an even more profitable proposition.
This article was penned by Karl Stockton for the team at petap.org. Visit them in the future to learn about PETAP online information technology schools.
