Learning

The human brain is amazing. It starts developing in the womb and keeps on growing as the child starts to form more complex thoughts.

 

Intelligence may be inherited, but brain development can be supported, enhanced, and optimized. As parents, we try our best to promote cognitive growth so that children hit their cognitive milestones on time. The good news is, we can do this in different ways.

Tips for Promoting Cognitive Growth

 

Studies say that the first three years of life are critical to brain development. So what can you do to encourage it?

 

Proper nourishment is certainly imperative. However, besides giving them the best brain food, what other efforts can we make as parents, and which other areas can we explore, to support cognitive development during nursery or early years education?

 

1. Music

 

You can use music to help children learn several things, from letters and numbers to colors and shapes – all the basic concepts and more. From hearing educational songs over and over again, they’ll pick up the tune as well as the words and what they mean. Songs are definitely a great aid in developing memory and language skills.

 

2. Educational Games and Toys

 

You can reinforce the learning by using other tools and activities such as flash cards and puzzles. There are plenty of affordable options, but you can also make them, using materials you already have on hand.

 

You can even just make a game using the items around you as they are. For instance, you can make a habit of counting things that come in multiples, spotting letters and numbers in the room, or touching the color that you call out.

 

3. Sounds

 

This is a fun way for children to learn how to identify objects. By associating the sounds they hear with the corresponding sources, they are able to add to their knowledge. By imitating sounds, they get better command of the muscles in their mouth, which helps in speech development.

 

4. Choices

 

This is important in teaching independence. By letting them choose which snack they will eat or which outfit they will wear, they realize that they have a say in their life. It gives them opportunities for exercising control, building confidence, and understanding consequences.

 

When they’re really young, just offer them two things of your own choosing. Don’t give them free rein in the kitchen or their closet. This way, you can guarantee that their choice is healthy or appropriate.

 

5. Questions

 

Your children will come up with a plethora of questions as they learn about the world. It’s important to pay attention. Reply accordingly when you know the answer, and when you don’t, demonstrate your interest in their learning by helping them figure out the answer. Search engines are a gift, in this sense.

 

Besides receiving questions, pose them as well. Encourage your children to think, work out problems, discover solutions, and form opinions. Just by asking simple questions, you get to stimulate their thoughts and challenge their minds.

 

6. Spaces

 

Let them explore new places. This doesn’t have to be exotic destinations or expensive parks. Children are curious. They’ll be fascinated by the most mundane things. The mall, the market, the local park, the church, the office — the options are endless. These are all avenues that will add to their observations and learning.

 

7. Activities

 

If you can afford baby and toddler classes, that’s good. An early start on skills training does give them an advantage.

 

You can also take them to playgrounds, play with pets, go on playdates, meet different people, watch free shows, and engage in outdoor activities. As long as they keep on having new experiences, you can be certain that they’re enriching their lives with more learning.

 

Understanding Your Influence

 

Whether nature or nurture, parents play a significant role in how children’s cognitive abilities develop. You can’t do much about genetics, but you definitely have a huge say on their environment. Make sure that it is conducive to optimized brain development, especially in the critical years.

Author Bio

Alan Williamson is the Chief Education Officer at Kings’ Education, a premium school brand in Dubai which leads a fantastic group of premium UK curriculum schools, including Child’s Play Nursery. As well as being passionate about teaching and learning, Alan has been actively involved in school leadership related to Special Educational Needs.

There are all sorts of reasons why you may want to go back into education. Whether it’s to gain new skills, network with others, or climb the career ladder, each person’s journey is different. With many of us working long hours in the office, finding the time to commit to a full-time course can be challenging, making online studying more attractive than ever for students across the world. If you’re interested in going back into learning, here are five ways online studying can benefit you.

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Freedom & Flexibility

Many of us don’t have the time to attend lectures and seminars. If you’re serious about going back into education but you have duties that you can’t move around, picking an online course instead can provide you with the freedom and flexibility you crave. Whether you’re holding down a full-time job or looking after the kids, you will be able to find windows of opportunity to get stuck into your learning.

Lower Total Costs

Once you’ve completed a degree, the last thing you want is to be burdened with a mountain of debt. Unlike a traditional college or university where you will not only have to factor in course fees but accommodation and transport too, online courses tend to be much cheaper overall, meaning you can go into employment without worrying about a snowball of debt.

Study at Your Own Pace

Being in a classroom environment can be too much for some people. Being among those in the same boat as you may hinder your learning and make you worry that you aren’t on the same page as everyone else. If you aren’t good with pressure, why not study from home instead? Not only will you be in an environment you know and love, but you can study at your own rate and pace.

Teaches Self-Discipline

With no professors breathing down your neck to complete coursework, it’s up to you to get everything done within the set deadline. In the working world, you may be set all sorts of projects and tasks that need completing within a timeframe, so learning about self-discipline and time management are key traits that you can take with you into the workplace.

Variety of Course Topics

Unlike in the past where the choice of course topics was slim, there are tons of subjects that you can pick from nowadays. Whether you would like to go into business, healthcare, IT, construction or preparing for the SAT test, there are plenty of courses and degrees that you can study that will equip you with the skills, qualifications, and credentials you need to go far. You can visit providers such as Everglades University, where you can read student reviews. Getting an honest account from those who have been there and done it will make you feel more confident when choosing what degree is right for you.

Whether you prefer to work from the comfort of your own home or you like the idea of slotting your studying in around your work and family commitments, these are just a couple of reasons why online studying may benefit you.

 

There is no denying that the nursery years are the most important in terms of development as they set the standard for your child’s future learning and success.

Many parents opt to send their offspring to a nursery because they know that – even at this age – a positive learning environment can make a significant difference to their child’s development. Therefore, as a parent, you want to make sure that you find the right place for your child to blossom. Take the necessary time to choose; after all, this is your child’s future!

From your family’s goals to a well-rounded curriculum, the importance of safety measures to the benefits of outdoor play, read on for the essential considerations when choosing a nursery for your child. These will ensure your child receives the best foundation for their future learning.

1. The Purpose

Before you start looking into potential nurseries for your child, you first want to consider what you are hoping your child will gain from the experience. There is a wide variety of benefits that come from sending your child to a nursery. Also, all parents have their personal reasons; there is no right or wrong answer. However, to ensure you are selecting the right one for your family, you need to reflect on your own purposes.

Some of the benefits of sending your child to nursery include helping them develop their social and emotional skills through play-based teaching methods and giving them opportunities to spend time with other children, as well as developing their language skills. Moreover, sending your child to nursery helps them to prepare for their formal education as they provide a fantastic foundation for later learning. At an early age, children are able to absorb a plethora of information, which is why it is crucial that you open them up to new knowledge as soon as possible and do not forgo early learning for your little one.

2. The Curriculum

While there are various methods for teaching young ones, one of the most revered is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). For children up to age five, this stage refers to the time in which they are first presented with new ideas and styles of thinking. EYFS focuses on seven areas of learning and development:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language Development
• Physical Development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding The World
• Arts and Design

The three prime areas (Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language; Physical Development) help prepare children for their future and emerge through the relationships and experiences they have in the nursery. The four specific areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Arts and Design) ensure that children are establishing the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their future education.

Therefore, when looking for a nursery for your child, you want to think long and hard about the style of curriculum that they offer. You can be assured that a nursery that has EYFS at its core is going to be providing your child with a well-rounded education.

3. Safety and Security Measures

While there may be some separation anxiety at first, in reality, attending nursery should be an exciting time for both you and your child. However, if you aren’t comfortable with the safety and security measures at the nursery you choose, then it is going to be challenging for you to get through the days. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you consider health and safety with as much regard as the curriculum.

When looking at potential nurseries, make sure to inquire about the design and materials of the building, as well as the level of comfort for each child. Speak with other parents (or read reviews) about their views on the standard of teachers and caregivers. The educators within the nursery must be appropriately qualified and experienced. Plus, working with young children should be their passion. When visiting potential nurseries, you will be able to tell if that is the case.

You want your chosen nursery to have dependable learning tools (you don’t want to see broken equipment) and a superior standard of cleanliness. Moreover, child-friendly design (such as having gates to protect your child from falling off stairs) and unobstructed fire emergency procedures are also necessities.

Make sure to inquire as much as you want when it comes to safety and security. Don’t settle until you have found a nursery that satisfies your questions and adequately demonstrates that all necessary steps have been taken to minimize potential risks.

4. Outdoor Play

In addition to the classroom offerings, you also want to consider the options for outdoor play that a nursery provides. Just as important as education, outdoor play yields a multitude of benefits for your child.

First and foremost, outdoor play enables your child to engage in physical activities on a regular basis. It is harmful for a young one to spend all their time inside, doing sedentary activities; instead, they need to have time to play outdoors. The exposure to nature (and moderate sun) that they will have during these periods will help with bone growth, better immunity, and an increase in serotonin production.

Furthermore, outdoor play helps to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and reduces the risk of developing anxiety. Just as adults need to be physically active for both physical and mental reasons, children also benefit from outdoor activities in the same way.

Last but not least, it is during outdoor playtime that children are more prone to making friends and improving their cognitive, social, and emotional skills. These are all crucial skills for them to develop at a young age.

It is for all these reasons that the best nurseries and early learning centres incorporate outdoor play into their curriculum.

Are you currently looking for a nursery for your child? What aspects are you most concerned about? Are you having a hard time finding a nursery that fulfills your requirements? Alternatively, if you have recently gone through the nursery selection period, do you have any tips for other parents? Let us know your thoughts and any relevant experiences in the comments below.

AUTHOR BIO

Ayesha Hoda is a marketing and communications specialist working at Step By Step Nursery Group in the UAE. She holds an MBA degree from a leading business school in Pakistan and has more than 13 years of experience in corporate communications and journalism. She has worked in both agency and client-side roles, designing communication strategies for multinational clients, nonprofits and small businesses in various industries, such as education and healthcare.

Windows 10 is the latest Operating System released by Microsoft which runs in the personal computers. Windows 10 was released in July 2015. Since then, it has become the most popular Windows OS being used in PCs with share of 33.92%. Although a lot of users are running Windows 10 in their machines, some of them are not familiar with its hidden features. Let’s have a look on its attributes:

1. Hidden Start Menu:Windows 10 provides a Shortcut Menu to some powerful tools which give access to many options to handle some functions. Pressing Right Click on Start Menu Icon or Windows Key + X pops up a menu which has access to many functions such as Power Options, Task Manager, Mobility Center, etc. A user may have an easy-to-do facility with this feature of Windows 10.
2. Minimizing All Windows Except the Active One: 

   As clear from the above title, Windows 10 facilitates with a feature to minimize rest of the windows at once while keeping active window on display. This feature is called as Shaking. To use this, you simply have to Left-click on the title bar of a window and dragging the mouse back and forth while keep pressing the left mouse button. Many a times, this feature is not already set to use. You can turn it on manually by searching Local Group in Search Bar, an option comes with the name Edit Group Policy, open it up, and go to Administrative Templates >> Desktop and double click on Desktop option. Then look for the “Turn off Aero Shake window minimizing mouse gesture”, a new dialogue box appears, click on the Disabled and there you go…

3. Touchpad Gestures:Just like Apple’s OS-X supports touchpad gestures in its laptops, so do the Windows 10 provides trackpad gestures which prevent a user from a typical routine of Clicking the Mouse Buttons. Some of the gestures are as follows:
4. 1-Finger tap: Works as Left Mouse Button and selects an item.
5. 2-Fingers tap: Works as Right Mouse Button and shows Context Menu.
6. 3-Fingers tap: Opens up Cortana.
7. 4-Fingers tap: Opens up Notification Panel.
8. 2-Fingers Swipe works as a Scrolling tool.
9. 3-Fingers Swipe gives facility to switch between any of the tasks being run on the same desktop as same as Alt Key + Tab Key do.
10. 4-Fingers Swipe let you switch between the Virtual Desktops opened in the device.
11. Pinching in or Stretching out two fingers Zooms out or Zoom in respectively.

 

1. Cortana:Cortana

   is actually a virtual assistant being provided by Microsoft in its Windows 10 just like Apple facilitates with Siri and Amazon offers Alexa. Cortana can be enabled manually. It helps in performing many functions as well as it covers many areas from searching a thing offline in computer to perform various Google’s online commands. Cortana can bring weather news for you, can be used as a reminder for events, can play music or radio of your taste, can open any app in the computer on your command and can also be used to do chit chat and to play games. You can set Cortana’s Voice Recognition quality to only to your own self, otherwise it will work for anyone. Select its ‘Respond Best’ to ‘To Me’ and teach Cortana your voice and you are all set…

2. God Mode:
   
   As per the name speaks, the ultimate ‘God Mode’, it gives access to all the settings and managements that can alter the software of a computer. God Mode is also known as Windows Master Control Panel shortcut. When you have to alter any property of a driver related to any hardware, you usually go to Control Panel. Different options have been categorized in different sub-folder in Control Panel. But in this Mode, all of the options are shown in the same page with easy-scrolling from one category to another one unlike the control panel where you have to go to specific sub-folder to gain access to these functions. Enabling God Mode is very easy, all what it demands is a New Folder on the desktop. So, create a New Folder on the Desktop, and name it “GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}”. A new folder is generated with same icon as of Control panel that contains more than 200 settings ordered alphabetically.
3. The Slide Shutdown:
4. Since Windows 10 has the latest UI and advance features like touchpad gestures, Cortana, and many other properties, some people like to set Slide to Shutdown option for their ease though it is not that much worthy. There are two options to set it, first Manually and second Downloading an already built shortcut to shut down. To create it manually, go to the Desktop, and create a Shortcut from Context Menu by clicking Right Mouse Button on any blank space on the desktop. After that, a dialogue box appears which demands a Location of the Item, and write the given code in there: “%windir%\System32\SlideToShutDown.exe” and save it. You can also update its icon from its properties. When you click on it, the Slide comes from the above and requires to drag it down while clicking and holding the left mouse button.
5. Transparent Command Prompt:Command Prompt is basically a Line Interpreter with Command Line Interface that comes pre-installed in most of the computers which runs many commands provided by the user. You can access this from the Start Menu searching the keyword CMD or you can create its shortcut from the Context Menu by giving code conhost.exe and saving it. Here, we are to talk about its feature of Transparency. Command Prompt can be made transparent in two ways; first – from its Properties, second – by Hotkeys. Open the CMD, Right-Click the Top Border and select Properties. Make sure that the Use Legacy Console box is unchecked. Then move to the Color option and adjust the Opacity on a scale from 0 to 100%. On the other hand, one can adjust the opacity using hotkeys. To increase transparency, use CTRL + SHIFT + Plus (+) and to decrease transparency, use CTRL + SHIFT + Minus (-).

If you’d like to learn how to confidently find out the size of a wide variety of angles, in different shapes, simply continue reading to discover how to find out the size of most common angles. As an example, you’ll be able to figure out how to find out the value of an angle in a right angled triangle.

How to find the measure of the indicated angle:

1. How to find out the size of an angle in a right angled triangle

To start off with, it’s a great idea to learn how to figure out the easiest angle in geometry, a right angled triangle. To be able to accurately work out a mystery angle in a right angle triangle, you need to know the length of two of your triangle’s three sides.

The three sides of a triangle are named the adjacent angle, which is located adjacent to the angle, the opposite angle and the hypotenuse. It doesn’t matter which two sides you have the measurements of as long as you know the length of two of the three sides which make up your right angled triangle.

The next step which you have to take the figure out your angle is to decide whether to use sine, cosine or tangent. Use sine or sin if you know the lengths of your opposite side and your hypotenuse side. Use cosine if you have the measurements of your adjacent side and your hypotenuse side and if you have opposite side and your adjacent side you’ll need to use tangent.

Once you’ve figured out to use sine, cosine or tangent you’ll ned to use the corresponding formula. As an example if you need to use the sine equation, use the equation Sin (x) = opposite length multiplied by hypotenuse angle = your answer.

A faster way to find out the angle inside a right angled triangle:

If you have a scientific calculator you can save yourself time by using your calculator to perform your equation as scientific calculators have cos, tan and sin buttons.

Tips on how to find angles in a triangle:

If you already know two angles within a triangle, you should be able to figure out the value of the remaining angle without using an algebraic formula. Even if you only know the value of one angle within a triangle, you may be able to figure out the value of the remaining angle, by using the rules below.

1. All the angles within a triangle always add up to 180 degrees.

So if you know two angles within a triangle, simply add both the angles which you have together and subtract them from 180 degrees, to find out the size of your remaining angle.

2. Opposite angles always equal 360 degrees.

If you know the opposite angle within a triangle, you also know how large your mysterious angle is.

Hopefully you now have a few ideas of how you can find out the size of an unknown, mysterious angle in a regular triangle.

If you’re interested in learning a few basic algebra formulas, continue reading on to discover some of the most useful basic algebra formulas to learn.

The most useful algebra formulas to learn:

1. The difference between two squares

The difference between two squares refers to when two binomials have only one difference, when one term features a plus and the other term features a minus sign. To quickly discover the difference between two squares use the following basic algebra formula (x+y) (x-y) = x squared – y squared.

2. The difference of cubes

To figure out the difference of cubes use the formula a to the power of 3 – b to the power of 3 = (a-b) (a+b).

3. The sum of cubes

If you need to find out the sum of cubes, the formula which you should use is a to the power of 3 + b to the power of 3 = (a+b) (a squared -ab + b2).

4. The pythagorean theorem

The pythagorean theorem is one of the most commonly used algebraic equations and is used to accurately figure out the lengths and sides of a right angled triangle. Thankfully the pythagorean theorem equation is one of the simplest algebraic equations to learn.

When a and b refer to the two sides of a triangle which stem from either side of a triangle’s right angle use the equation a squared plus b squared = c squared. In this equation c, refers to the the side which you’re trying to work out the value of, which is known as the hypotenuse.

5. How to multiply powers which boast the same base

To multiply powers which feature the same base make sure to add your exponents. The formula which you should use to multiply powers which boast the same base is x to the power of a, x to the power of b = x to the power a+b.

Before you try to figure out a trickier algebraic problem such as this particular problem, you may be better off learning simpler equations such as the pythagorean theorem. Which is much easier to grasp and will give you a solid base to learn more difficult algebraic equations.

6. How to raise a power

If you’re unsure of how to raise a power, simply use the formula (X to the power of a) to the power of b = X to the power of ab. Just remember that when you need to raise a power by a power to multiply your exponents.

7. How to discover the power of a product property

To workout the power of a product property use the algebraic formula (xy) to the power of a = x to the power of a, y to the power of a. Also make sure that when you raise a product to a power to find out the power of each factor, in order to multiply your factors.

So if you haven’t looked at an algebra book since high school and you’re looking to brush up on your algebra skills, it’s well worth starting off with mastering the simple formulas listed above.

To construct a 135-degree angle you need basic tools you find in your mathematics geometrical set.

For this project we need the following tools;

1. a protractor

2. a 15 cm ruler

3. a compass

4. a pencil and rubber

This is how to construct a 135-degree angle using the above tools.

METHOD 1

The first steps to constructing a 135-degree angle are constructing a right angle first (90 degrees angle)

1. using your ruler draw a straight line and name the ends O and B

Now you have to create intersecting arcs using the following instructions

1. Open your compass to any radius, using O as your center, draw an arc to cut line OB, and name the point of meeting X

2. Do not change the radius of the compass you used in step 1 above, using X as your center, draw another arc to cut the first arc and name that point D

3. Without changing the radius of your compass, this time place your compass at point D, draw another arc to cut your first arc and name that point C

4. Keeping the radius of your compass constant as the steps 1, 2 and 3 above, place your compass at point D and draw an arc, repeat the step placing your compass at point C and draw an arc to cut the arc you just drew. Name this point E.

5. Using a ruler draw a line from point E to point O, extend OE to a point A. the angle AOB you have just formed is a 90-degree angle

6. Extend line BO to your left and name the point Z, since this is a straight line, the angle AOZ formed is also a straight equivalent to 90 degree

PART B.

For this part, we now construct a 135 degree by splitting angle AOB into 2 equal parts.

7. Using a compass open it to a radius of your choosing, using O as your center, draw an arc to cut the line OB and AO at point P and Q respectively

8. Now using your compass set at the same radius as step 7 above, place the compass at point Q and draw an arc, place the compass at point P without changing the radius and draw an arc to cut the arc you just drew and name that point F

9. Using your ruler join point F to O and extend the line to point G.

Observation

– Angles GOB and AOG are both equal to 45 degree

– Adding right angle ZOA (90 degrees) with angle AOG

90+45 = 135

Therefore angle ZOG is a 135-degree angle

METHOD 2

1. Draw a line using your ruler and name the ends A and B

2. Find the center of your line using the ruler, for example; assuming your line AB measures 6 inches, your center is at the 3-inch mark. Name this point O.

3. Now place your protractor aligned to line AB, make sure the center of the protractor is at point O.

4. Find the 135-degree mark on the protractor, mark it with a dot and name it C

5. Join CO with a straight line

6. The angle AOC is a 135-degree angle

If you’re interested in finding out detailed facts and formulas which relate to two common types of prisms, rectangular prisms and triangular prisms, simply continue reading to discover a simple guide to understanding both types of prisms.

How many sides does a rectangular prism have:

A rectangular prism has six sides or faces, all of which are rectangles. Hence the name rectangular prism.

What are some fascinating facts about rectangular prisms:

1. All the angles in a rectangular prism are right angles. No matter how small or large a rectangular prism happens to be.

2. Common every day examples of rectangular prisms include rectangle buildings and rectangle boxes.

3. If you were to slice the length of a rectangular prism at any point, the shape which you’d slice would be exactly the same shape and size as if you were to slice your rectangular prism at another point.

How to find the volume of a rectangular prism:

To find out the volume of a rectangular cuboid, you can use a standard formula to find out the volume of a cuboid as a rectangular prism is a type of cuboid.

Simply multiply the length of your rectangular prism by the width of your prism and the height of your rectangular prism.

How to find the surface area of a rectangular prism:

If you need to work out the surface area of a rectangular prism, you can use the formula A = 2wl + 2lh + 2hw. In this formula A = surface area, w = width, l = length and h = height.

How many faces does a triangular prism have?

A triangular prism features five faces and also boasts 9 edges and 6 vertices. A common example of a triangular prism is a Toblerone chocolate bar.

How to find the height of a triangular prism:

One formula which you can use to accurately find out the height of a regular triangular prism is SA = 2B + Ph. In this formula SA = surface area, B = the area of your prism’s base, P = the perimeter of your prism’s base and h = the height of your prism.

To be able to use this particular formula to work out the height of your triangular prism you’ll need to know the surface area of your triangular prism as well as the length of each side of your triangular prism’s base and the area of your triangular prism’s base.

How to work out the surface area of a triangular prism:

It’s a little tricker to work out the surface area of a triangular prism than to simply find the height of a triangular prism. To work out the surface area of a triangular prism you’ll need to use the formula 3 andndash; a andndash; (a + h). In this particular formula a = area and h = height.

In conclusion, hopefully you found the facts and formulas about rectangular prisms and triangular prisms which were presented above informative and now have a better understanding about both types of common, regular prisms. Both of which are commonly found in everyday life, so you may find the formulas listed above useful.