Tests show indigenous education lacking The Age, Australia - 21 hours ago The figures, published by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, show a gradual decline in achievement as students ... Tasmanian students' education lagging ABC Online One in five students falling short in maths The Age ACT's students excel in tests The Canberra Times Sunday Times.au - Advertiser Adelaide all 49 news articles |
Friday, February 1, 2008
Tests show indigenous education lacking - The Age
Community colleges need funds, study says
Community colleges need funds, study says
As elite universities debate with Congress over how much of their multibillion-dollar endowments to spend, a new report argues that higher education's heavy-lifters, community colleges, need both more money and better results.
As elite universities debate with Congress over how much of their multibillion-dollar endowments to spend, a new report argues that higher education's heavy-lifters, community colleges, need both more money and better results.
Speed Reading Techniques Offers Great Benefits
With so many ways that information comes speeding in, from the printed texts to audio recordings to streaming videos, people are becoming increasingly overwhelmed with it all and finding it difficult to keep up with the pace. Because of this, there has been a surge in interest in speed reading techniques, as people search for ways to stay ahead of the daily data deluge. In addition to helping people process information better, knowing how to read fast can also be instrumental in helping to lower stress levels.
It would be easier if most of the information that swirls around was worthless, but the fact of the matter is that in this information age, people must keep up with the news and facts coming at them. However, having to deal with more than one is able to process, is one of the major reasons why people say they are constantly stressed. One of the best techniques that busy people can quickly and easily apply, is the trick of learning how to quickly identify what is important and what is not.
With people feeling overwhelmed by information overload more than at any other time in history, speed reading techniques can be useful to people in all walks of life, as well as those of varying ages. When people begin to sense that they simply cannot keep up with the key information that they need, in order to stay informed and on top of the happenings in the world around them, it is very easy to begin to feel that their world is becoming unstable and that their lives are spinning out of control.
Even though there are some people who dismiss the stresses that come from trying to keep up with so much information, there are experts who point to measurable statistics about why learning how to read faster is important today. One expert recently stated that in order to be considered functionally literate in today's world, a person must be able to read at a minimum of 400 words per minute.
However, most average adults handle approximately 240 words per minute. And, even though this is a very good reading speed, it is the gap that puts well-educated and highly accomplished people in a category above that of functional literacy.
In fact, the definition of functional literacy can be defined as the reading speed that one must have in order to keep up with the pace of today's society. Bridging this gap is where speedier reading techniques come into the picture.
In addition to helping people to prioritize and identify the important from the irrelevant, its techniques also train the eye of the reader to move more quickly across the page. Reading speed improvement comes as the reader learns to take in information in chunks, allowing the brain to more quickly process the data being presented.
A great side effect of learning speed reading techniques is the level of comprehension, which improves at the same time that their reading rate increases. For some people, this fact runs opposite to logic, and is somewhat confusing. However, this effect is fundamental to how the brain processes information. Because the brain works much faster than an average persons reading speed, this actually interferes with good comprehension and recall.
Want to speed read faster ? Visit Mike Selvon portal at http://speedreading.trustprofitableniche.com/ to learn more about speed reading techniques. Your feedback is much appreciated at our speed reading tips blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/career-education/
It would be easier if most of the information that swirls around was worthless, but the fact of the matter is that in this information age, people must keep up with the news and facts coming at them. However, having to deal with more than one is able to process, is one of the major reasons why people say they are constantly stressed. One of the best techniques that busy people can quickly and easily apply, is the trick of learning how to quickly identify what is important and what is not.
With people feeling overwhelmed by information overload more than at any other time in history, speed reading techniques can be useful to people in all walks of life, as well as those of varying ages. When people begin to sense that they simply cannot keep up with the key information that they need, in order to stay informed and on top of the happenings in the world around them, it is very easy to begin to feel that their world is becoming unstable and that their lives are spinning out of control.
Even though there are some people who dismiss the stresses that come from trying to keep up with so much information, there are experts who point to measurable statistics about why learning how to read faster is important today. One expert recently stated that in order to be considered functionally literate in today's world, a person must be able to read at a minimum of 400 words per minute.
However, most average adults handle approximately 240 words per minute. And, even though this is a very good reading speed, it is the gap that puts well-educated and highly accomplished people in a category above that of functional literacy.
In fact, the definition of functional literacy can be defined as the reading speed that one must have in order to keep up with the pace of today's society. Bridging this gap is where speedier reading techniques come into the picture.
In addition to helping people to prioritize and identify the important from the irrelevant, its techniques also train the eye of the reader to move more quickly across the page. Reading speed improvement comes as the reader learns to take in information in chunks, allowing the brain to more quickly process the data being presented.
A great side effect of learning speed reading techniques is the level of comprehension, which improves at the same time that their reading rate increases. For some people, this fact runs opposite to logic, and is somewhat confusing. However, this effect is fundamental to how the brain processes information. Because the brain works much faster than an average persons reading speed, this actually interferes with good comprehension and recall.
Want to speed read faster ? Visit Mike Selvon portal at http://speedreading.trustprofitableniche.com/ to learn more about speed reading techniques. Your feedback is much appreciated at our speed reading tips blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/career-education/
Top 10 Ways To Improve Your Sight Reading
Ready to play on the spot? Here are some great ways to improve your sight reading:
1. Learn every bit of notation that you can get your hands on. The more notation that you learn, the easier it is to interpret the notes you see. Don't just stop at the basics. Go on to learn intermediate notation and advanced notation. Sure, the deeper that you delve into notation, the more advanced and complicated the music becomes -- but don't let that scare you. You're in the learning stage right now, so have at it. You'll thank yourself for all the hard studying you've done once you're placed into the spotlight.
2. Check out the key. When you're faced with a piece of sheet music, look at the key. This will quickly let you know which notes are sharp and which notes are flat.
3. Try to hum the song before playing it. If the crowd that you're playing for is patient, give the notation a good look-over and hum it as you read it. If you're lucky, there'll be a friendly musician standing by who'll walk you through the piece before you begin.
4. Hear or know the song before you read its notation. You'll be even luckier if you're already familiar with the song that you're expected to play! This is where the benefit of exposure begins to shine. The more music that you expose yourself to, the easier it is to "know" how a song is supposed to "go."
5. Get your hands ready. Time permitting, see if you can place your hands in several important chord positions before starting.
6. Keep your eyes on the music. "Never let them see you sweat," they say -- a feat that's certainly easier said than done! The key here is to, at the very least, look as though you know what you're doing even if you don't. While you're faking it, you can use a little improve to stall and quickly find a place in the music that's easy to interpret. This will be a place where you can restore your confidence, play like a pro, and give your audience a convincing nod and wink (as though you never missed a beat).
7. Speaking of keeping the beat, you'll also want to keep up the tempo no matter what happens. We guess the cat's out the bag now and your question of whether pianists ever make mistakes is now answered. They do -- but the most skillful ones won't let you know it. They keep the beat going even if they drop notes or lose their place in their sheet music. Like the Energizer Bunny, they move on full force as if they were born savants. As a sight reader - that's your job now.
8. Keep the left hand busy. The role of the left hand is to maintain a steady rhythm and key. The role of the right hand however is to embellish what the left hand is doing. If things get hectic and you're stuggling with a song's melody, stop playing the melody but keep that left-hand going! The lead singer or other instruments will fill in what your right hand is incapable of playing. As a rule, rhythm, key, and chords are more important than the melody.
9. Practice seeing sheet music. Before placing yourself into a sight-reading situation, envision what a song's notation would look like. Pick any song from the radio or television, and start picturing its notes. This will help train your mind to associate sounds with notes and notes with sounds, anywhere... anytime.
10. Try to write your own music. This too, will help train your mind to make appropriate note-sound associations.
Go to http://www.piano-lessons-central.com/ and Claim your free Piano Lessons eBook entitled, "The Secrets To Playing Piano in Less Time Than You Ever Thought Possible!" plus our jam-packed eZine filled with tips to help you reach your piano greatness!
1. Learn every bit of notation that you can get your hands on. The more notation that you learn, the easier it is to interpret the notes you see. Don't just stop at the basics. Go on to learn intermediate notation and advanced notation. Sure, the deeper that you delve into notation, the more advanced and complicated the music becomes -- but don't let that scare you. You're in the learning stage right now, so have at it. You'll thank yourself for all the hard studying you've done once you're placed into the spotlight.
2. Check out the key. When you're faced with a piece of sheet music, look at the key. This will quickly let you know which notes are sharp and which notes are flat.
3. Try to hum the song before playing it. If the crowd that you're playing for is patient, give the notation a good look-over and hum it as you read it. If you're lucky, there'll be a friendly musician standing by who'll walk you through the piece before you begin.
4. Hear or know the song before you read its notation. You'll be even luckier if you're already familiar with the song that you're expected to play! This is where the benefit of exposure begins to shine. The more music that you expose yourself to, the easier it is to "know" how a song is supposed to "go."
5. Get your hands ready. Time permitting, see if you can place your hands in several important chord positions before starting.
6. Keep your eyes on the music. "Never let them see you sweat," they say -- a feat that's certainly easier said than done! The key here is to, at the very least, look as though you know what you're doing even if you don't. While you're faking it, you can use a little improve to stall and quickly find a place in the music that's easy to interpret. This will be a place where you can restore your confidence, play like a pro, and give your audience a convincing nod and wink (as though you never missed a beat).
7. Speaking of keeping the beat, you'll also want to keep up the tempo no matter what happens. We guess the cat's out the bag now and your question of whether pianists ever make mistakes is now answered. They do -- but the most skillful ones won't let you know it. They keep the beat going even if they drop notes or lose their place in their sheet music. Like the Energizer Bunny, they move on full force as if they were born savants. As a sight reader - that's your job now.
8. Keep the left hand busy. The role of the left hand is to maintain a steady rhythm and key. The role of the right hand however is to embellish what the left hand is doing. If things get hectic and you're stuggling with a song's melody, stop playing the melody but keep that left-hand going! The lead singer or other instruments will fill in what your right hand is incapable of playing. As a rule, rhythm, key, and chords are more important than the melody.
9. Practice seeing sheet music. Before placing yourself into a sight-reading situation, envision what a song's notation would look like. Pick any song from the radio or television, and start picturing its notes. This will help train your mind to associate sounds with notes and notes with sounds, anywhere... anytime.
10. Try to write your own music. This too, will help train your mind to make appropriate note-sound associations.
Go to http://www.piano-lessons-central.com/ and Claim your free Piano Lessons eBook entitled, "The Secrets To Playing Piano in Less Time Than You Ever Thought Possible!" plus our jam-packed eZine filled with tips to help you reach your piano greatness!
Community colleges need funds, study says
Community colleges need funds, study says
As elite universities debate with Congress over how much of their multibillion-dollar endowments to spend, a new report argues that higher education's heavy-lifters, community colleges, need both more money and better results.
As elite universities debate with Congress over how much of their multibillion-dollar endowments to spend, a new report argues that higher education's heavy-lifters, community colleges, need both more money and better results.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
