Reviewing Journal of Polymer Science Part A

Reviewing Journal of Polymer Science Part AWith Journal of Polymer Science, you can understand and appreciate the latest advances in polymer chemistry. This journal is an invaluable source of information and news related to the subject matter of polymer chemistry.You can enjoy the journal by choosing one of its specialized chapters. Each chapter is divided into various parts. One such section deals with solids, especially those that are porous and include a diagram. At the end of the chapter, you will find more details about that particular solid and if possible, additional pictures and some explanations.One of the major advantages of this journal is the capability to get updates on all the scientific developments in the field of polymer chemistry, from recent journals and conferences to scientific journals and conference proceedings. As a reader, you have to be aware of what is going on in the field of polymer chemistry and make a decision based on the information contained in the j ournal.The publication lists the publications of many important and prominent researchers. As a subscriber, you will be able to see the publications and quotes related to your selected subjects. If you choose one of the specialized chapters, you will be provided with citations for the writings, as well as biographical information.Many polymer chemists to publish in this journal, but a few select scientists have the authority to submit their papers in this publication. It is also possible to subscribe to this journal, and do not get access to the articles published. On the other hand, you can also read the publications and quotes provided by specialists.Other services offered by this journal include a list of resources related to polymer chemistry, along with the addresses of universities offering courses in polymer chemistry. This makes it easy for the readers to seek the necessary details about this subject matter.You should remember that to improve your knowledge about polymer che mistry, you should try to read journals devoted to polymers and the products produced by polymerization. This way, you will be well prepared to get into the topic.

ordering fractions

ordering fractions Learning about fractions is one of the basic and important topics in math. A fraction is number written in p/q form. Where p is the numerator and q is the denominator of the fraction. The denominator of a fraction cannot be equal to zero i.e. q not equal to zero. Fractions can be compared by checking if the fractions are lesser than, greater than or equivalent to each other. Fractions can be ordered after comparing them to each another. Ascending order or descending order can be used to order any group of fractions. Example 1: Order the following fractions from smaller to larger fraction: 3/11, 8/11, 4/11, 1/11, 10/11. Solution: Given are five fraction 3/11, 8/11, 4/11, 1/11, 10/11 in random order. Arranging from smaller to larger is called as ascending order. Since the denominator is the same compare the numerators of the two fractions. The fraction with the smaller numerator is the smaller fraction. This gives 1/11 3/11 4/11 8/11 10/11. Hence, ascending order of the fractions is: 1/11, 3/11, 4/11, 8/11, 10/11. Question: Multiple choice question (Pick the correct option.) Order the fractions 4/5, 1/5 and 2/5 from greater to smaller? a) 1/5, 2/5, 4/5 b) 4/5, 1/5, 2/5 c) 4/5, 2/5, 1/5 d) None of these. Correct answer: option c. Explanation: In the given question the denominators are the same compare the numerators of the three fractions. The fraction with the greater numerator is the greater fraction. This gives 4/5 2/5 1/5.

Equity in Education

'Equity' in Education Improving Academic Performance The word ‘equity’ often carries a loaded meaning, and in no realm is the debate more polarizing than in the field of education. When it comes to education, equity appears to be a noble goal â€" an end in and of itself to which society should aspire. . A recent article in The Atlantic highlights some of the most relevant issues in the debate by contrasting the American system to the Finnish system. Click here to read the Atlantic ArticleIndeed, the lessons gleaned from the comparison are quite striking â€"Finland’s move to a national system focused on school equality hasbeen linked to a massive increase in student performance while theincreasing inequities apparent in the American system have paralleleda considerable decline. However, with regards to equity of educationin the United States, the debate often reduces itself to a small setof practical realities, some of which go far beyond schools, teachers,and students. If equity is indeed the ideal goal, what hurdles mustbe overcome for us to get there? More importantly, what practicalsolutions are there for students caught in a system where the gapbetween the “haves” and “have nots” continues to grow?The American school system is in urgent need of reform â€" it’ssomething that every politician and American can (should) get behind.However, one philosophical and one practical question divide mix anddivide the public:1 ) How should we define “equality” with regards to education?2) What is the most equitable way to fund schools?With regards to the first question, many will argue that equality ofeducation means identical educational programs and facilities acrossall grade levels (this is essentially the Finnish model). Othersopine that equality means equal access to a public school which meetscertain minimum standards set by the Federal/State/Local government(this is the American model today). Still others will argue thatequality of education is purely about equal outcomes for studentpopulations.1) Equality of programs (current Finland)2) Equality of access (current US system)3) Equality of outcomes (objective of NCLB?)No matter which goal one believes our society should strive for, it isclear that the underlying practicality of how whether/how to equitablyfund schools stands in the way. This issue is deeply rooted in thefabric of America. The American Federal system checks the power ofthe federal government by empowering state and local governments tocontrol many government functions (e.g., police, fire). The eleganceof the system, in theory, is that people will vote with their feet ifthey disagree with state policies, and thus the best policies will winout in the long run. The control of education funding is left tostate and local school boards and comes primarily from local propertytaxes. Only national/interstate matters fall under the control of theFederal government. It is this system which is responsible for themassive disparity in funding between the best and worst schools inthis country â€" and this level of funding can be directly linked tooutcomes (I cite no literature here, but challenge the reader toreader to find either empirical and experiential evidence to thecontrary).In fact, the question about equity in education really comes down toeconomics â€" who will control funding, and how will those decisions bemade. The reality of this debate in the United States is that localfunding will continue to hold sway unless the greater good ANDindividual good is demonstrated to be better with State control.Thus, for all the rhetoric that national politicians put on the stateabout national education reform, the real power rests with the stateand county tax authorities. It is the beauty of the American Federalsystem which perhaps brings change closer than one might imagine.Populists rejoice!

Decoding College Tips for Time Management [Part 1]

Decoding College Tips for Time Management [Part 1] Improving Academic Performance So, you’ve survived four years of high school; Congratulations! Just as you’re getting comfortable, the world and its karma throw you into a completely new environment called college. That’s right. You’re a confused freshman once again. All of a sudden you have no clue. “What’s going on, where to go, how to make friends, and where in the world are my classes?!” Not to mention the lack of parental control and the copious amount of “free” time. It can be overwhelming, to say the least. I’m here to tell you that there is a helpful tactic in deciphering it all. TIME MANAGEMENT. Here are a few tips to make sure you make the most of your time in college, without flunking out. SET GOALS…and WRITE THEM DOWN. We all know the fantastic feeling we can get out of crossing something off the To-Do list. But the existence of such a list isn’t just a boost of confidence, it keeps us organized. Otherwise, you may find yourself spending all of your time wondering how to get everything done instead of doing. Setting reachable, daily goals for yourself will allow you to organize the chaotic world of college and your time in a way that aidsprogress and achievement. We all love to cross those goals off the To-Do list, so make it a priority to create a new list for the next day each night before you go to bed. Just think of how many tasks you’ll get to accomplish! Now that’s something to look forward to. GET A PLANNER…and USE IT. Now that you’ve decided to set goals and make daily To-Do lists, where are you going to write it all down? In a planner! Especially when dealing with a new class schedule, club meetings, and activities that aren’t programmed into your brain yet, it is immensely helpful to have one place that displays every obligation you have. This way, you can keep track of plans and work around them. Without a planner, you WILL forget things. College is stressful enough; don’t let yourself make it any harder. BLOCK AND BALANCE YOUR COURSES. When building your schedule for the next semester of college, it’s important to note that blocking courses back to back instead of spreading them out over the course of a week is the most effective use of your time. As a freshman, you may not like this idea; one or two classes a day sounds pretty awesome. But in reality, you will spend those awkward amounts of time between classes on Facebook or eating a long lunch. If you can schedule classes back to back on two or three days in a week, you will find that you have larger chunks of time better suited to studying. Also, make sure you’re balancing courses and not spending too much time focusing on one and neglecting others. It is important to know where your strengths and weaknesses lie in each subject area and to plan your time accordingly. A good rule of thumb is for every 1 hour of class, commit to two hours of study time. Although this may seem excessive, if you follow this guideline, things like midterms and finals will be much easier to conquer. OWL? OR ROOSTER? It’s important to be honest with yourself when determining your best times to study and focus. Some of us are night owls while others are more productive in the morning hours. Although many times we’d like to think we could wake up at 7am and finish all the homework we didn’t do the night before, that’s not a good idea if you just aren’t a morning person. Just because your new roommate studies at 4pm doesn’t mean that will work best for you too. Listen to your body’s natural biological clock! It’s important to be honest with yourself and schedule study time appropriately. GET HELP BEFORE YOU REALLY NEED IT Most teaching assistants have office hours all semester. They are free to attend, and you can ask questions in a quiet, 1-1 environment. As the year progresses, you could probably go every week, perhaps more than that, and get free, private tutoring from your professor â€" because almost nobody seems to take advantage of these office hours until right before a big test, midterm, project, or final. Similarly, many colleges offer free private or small group tutoring at places that have names like “Academic Resource Center,” etc. The same story goes for these resources as well. Don’t be afraid to use these services. The earlier, more proactively you use them, the quicker you’ll understand the material, and the less time you’ll need to spend rushing around before a big test. Time invested now will save time later, and you’ll almost always end up with a better grade in the class. If you are a college freshman feeling overwhelmed, let me tell you a little secret: you’re not the only one. Making good use of your time and staying organized is a big part of becoming a successful university student. STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO OF DECODING COLLEGE: TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT Note: We really liked the below article and leveraged it as a source in this blog postUSNews hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'f08a3c58-464f-4164-a82e-313b7951bbb2', {});

What can you find down the back of the Internet

What can you find down the back of the Internet Education today is inextricably linked with the use of Information Technology. This reliance has developed very swiftly in the last ten years or so and has seen IT move from a fringe benefit, useful in studying, to an absolute essential. It's even used increasingly for online tuition. The Internet is probably the biggest symbol of this increased bonhomie between education and IT. It is an invaluable research tool, bringing a wealth of information on any given subject to a student in a one click, instant search. It can save huge amounts of time in identifying dates, sources, and synopses, checking references and even - within reason - sourcing images. At present, the Internet cannot help students access most secondary sources and modern set texts, especially for A-level and university studies. These texts, essential to a curriculum, have to be sourced more 'traditionally' from the library or bookshop. In the coming months and years that may change, thanks to Google Books and the rise of e-reader devices. In a way, the weakness of the Internet lies in its trustworthiness. It is a free resource which anyone can use, meaning that wrong information can be made available just as easily as accurate information. A student fluent in Internet use will quickly learn what sites are to be trusted and which are not. This allows them to find their way around the myriad sources of information on the web with ease. Today this is a key research skill, as important in the workplace as the classroom, but is this reflected in current IT teaching? Should we be embracing the web as a research tool and providing lists of reputable online sources to our students? After all, if knowledge is power, then the Internet is the most potent resource we have.

How to Conquer the 4 Top Foreign-language Speaking Fears

How to Conquer the 4 Top Foreign-language Speaking Fears How to Conquer the 4 Top Foreign-language Speaking Fears Arachnophobia: The fear of spiders.Coulrophobia: The fear of clowns.Xenoglossophobia:  The fear of foreign languages.Okay. Well be the first to admit that foreign languages arent half as horrifying as a massive spider or an angry clown (or a tiny spider and happy clown for that matter).Yet when it comes to using a foreign language, even many well-educated speakers get sweaty palms, an upset stomach and the urge to find the nearest hiding place.Even if youve studied your target language extensively, you may still be afraid to actually use it.And beyond just making you feel uncomfortable,  one study  suggests that apprehension can make you underestimate your language abilities.  Another study  takes it a step further, suggesting language anxiety can actually affect your skills in your second language.Self-doubt and diminished skills are a high price to pay for a little nervousness, but you dont need to sacrifice any of the  benefits of learning a foreign language  just yet.With the rig ht approach to foreign language anxiety, you can decrease your fear and stay on track with your language skills. You just need to be aware of what youre afraid of in order to address your fears.Heres all you need to know about the most common language fears and how to address them. Why Is It Important to Understand and Face Your Fear of Speaking a Foreign Language?The nature of foreign language anxiety can vary between cultures and learners.  You cant just assume that what scares you is what scares everyone. Everyone has different fears.  One study  suggests that the nature of language anxiety could vary between cultures and even genders. Regardless, since every learner is different, it can be assumed that there will be some variations between stressors.You must identify barriers  in order to overcome them.One study  suggests that there are several possible psychological barriers to language comprehension. Issues like aphasia (difficulty understanding speech caused by brain damage ) and dyslexia can be more challenging to address, but language anxiety is one identified barrier that you can start working on overcoming right away.Facing and reducing your fear will help you get the language practice you need to improve.  One of the biggest paradoxes of language learning is that interacting in your target language can be stressful without practice. However, that same stress keeps many learners from practicing. If you never use your target language, you wont get all the  social benefits of learning a second language. Luckily, if you can reduce your stress, it will be much easier to get the language practice you need to continue improving, and the more you improve, the less stress youre likely to feel.How to Conquer the 4 Top Foreign-language Speaking FearsFear #1: What if I dont know enough words to make it through a conversation?Many learners fear that they wont know or understand enough words to interact in their target language. After all, how do you know when your skills are strong enough? Luckily, there are some simple tricks you can use to overcome this fear and be confident in your vocabulary.Build your functional vocabulary with authentic media.Once you have practice understanding words in context, you might find your fears about your vocabulary subsiding. Thats why its so valuable to build your functional vocabulary with authentic media. Not only does this help you learn more words, it also helps you understand them in native speech.One fun way to ease yourself into understanding native speech is with FluentU. FluentU features real-world videos, like news, music videos, movie trailers and more. However, with FluentUs unique system, each video is transformed into a powerful learning tool. Videos are captioned, and the captions are annotated, giving you easy access to any words definition, example sentences and an associated image. You can even enjoy quizzes that help you practice what you learned in a fun, interactive format.Another great option is to use YouTube. You can find a huge array of authentic materials just by searching in your target language, giving you plenty of tools to use to practice understanding vocabulary in context.Prepare to make the most out of the words you do know.When speaking another language, you probably dont need as many words as you think. You just need to make the most out of the words you do know.To practice this, practice thinking in your target language. Even if you dont have all the words you want, you can often find workarounds that still allow you to communicate what you want.Recognize the value of nonverbal communication.To quote the great Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Dont underestimate the importance of body language! For language learners, that couldnt be more important. If you dont have the vocabulary to communicate what you want, you might have the body language, facial expressions, hand gestures or drawing skills.Want to practice? Find a friend and try to communicat e with each other without using any words.Dont be afraid to use translators/dictionaries.  When in doubt, a good translator or dictionary can help you fill any gaps in your vocabulary, and theres no shame in using these to help you along. For instance, with Google Translate, you can enter in text or audio for speedy translation, so youll never need to worry about not knowing a word again.Fear #2: What if I feel shy and freeze up?Shyness can hold people back from interacting in their native languages, so it should come as no surprise that the same trait can hold people back in a foreign language. Here are some ways you can overcome your shyness and put yourself out there.Build up your confidence in an online chat room or message board.Chatting online through platforms like Reddit can be less intimidating than face-to-face interactions. You can post on message boards in your target language. For instance, there are subreddits that use predominantly Chinese,  French, German,  Spanish   or another language. Not only will posting in your target language give you practice, it can also help you build up your confidence to overcome your shyness.Pretend youre playing a role.Purposely not being yourself can make you less nervous. When speaking your target language, just create a character in your mind that youre playing. That character can be confident and outgoing. You might even give them a fun name for a little extra excitement.Find groups that are designed to help you meet people.When everyone is together in order to interact, it can take away some of the intimidation factor of trying to interact.  Services like  Meetup  can help you find groups that are getting together specifically to practice language skills. Hey, if everyone else is doing it, so can you!Build yourself up.  Theres no shame in talking yourself up, especially when youre reminding yourself how awesome you are. Positive self talk can go a long way in helping you overcome your shyness.You might go over nice things people have said to you, think about the strides youve made in your target language or even listen to a motivational song in your target language to pump yourself up.Fear #3: What if I embarrass myself?Its easy to come up with ways you might embarrass yourself when using your target language, and this fear can fester. However, with some preparation, youll be ready to push that fear of embarrassment to the back of your mind.Run through common scenarios ahead of time.People who fear embarrassment often have worry about all the ways a conversation could go wrong. One way to overcome that fear is to run through common scenarios. You can consider what someone might say and also consider your response.For instance, if you want to use your language skills at a restaurant, consider what the waiter might ask and how you might answer. You might even role play. If you dont have a friend who will do it with you, you could always play both roles yourself.This extra level of prepared ness can help reduce fear of embarrassment.Consider using a chatbot or virtual reality program for practice.  There are some chatbots and virtual reality programs specifically designed to simulate real conversations, allowing you to practice without fear of embarrassment. This will give you time to build up your confidence before you use your skills in real life.For instance, Mondly VR  is a virtual reality Android app that engages you in realistic conversations. Mondly apps also feature a chatbot to give you extra language practice.Fear #4: What if I accidentally offend someone?If you havent mastered your target language, you might fear that your imperfect communication could actually offend someone. However, as long as youre prepared to react to possible snafus, you can move past your fear of offending.Remember you can use your smile to your advantage.Even if you accidentally say something offensive, a smile can help show that you mean well. Most native speakers will be able to te ll that youre a non-native speaker and will cut you some slack if you seem pleasant.Learn how to apologize and admit you made a mistake.If things go poorly, you can always apologize.  Im sorry, Im confused can go a long way, so be sure to learn this phrase in your target language.Never fear! By identifying and addressing your language learning fears, you can continue your journey towards fluency confidently. As long as no spiders or clowns pop up along the way.

Summer Camp as a Summer Job

Summer Camp as a Summer Job pixabay.com Summer break is the perfect time to make some extra money without the schedule constraints of class. There are many different types of jobs that you can go for at many different skill levels. From retail jobs  and restaurant jobs to office work, many companies are willing to hire summer employees. If the thought of sitting in an office all day or working a deep frier for hours on end makes you antsy just to imagine, there is another great option for a summer job: summer camp counselor. Being a summer camp counselor is a great job for college students over their summer break. One of the biggest draws of working a summer camp is the active nature of the job. You get to spend your days outdoors playing and enjoying nature. It’s a great way to see a new part of the country and experience the wildlife in that area. Being a camp counselor can help you cultivate valuable leadership skills that will be applicable in any profession. Learning how to lead children is one of the best ways to get hands-on experience in fundamental leadership methods. Connecting with kids can also be an incredibly meaningful personal experience. The relationships you cultivate with other counselors is a great way to not only expand your network but create lasting friendships. If you are thinking about applying to be a summer camp counselor, here are some things to keep in mind. Be prepared for hard times Being a camp counselor can be hard. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of managing a bunch of seven-year-olds in a wide open space. If you are going to be a camp counselor, you have to be prepared to wear many different hats. You need to be able to straddle the line of friend and counselor. You should have genuine fun with your kids, but you also need to be able to lay some discipline on them if the opportunity warrants it. It’s not always frisbee and swimming; sometimes you have to step up and be their leader as well as a comforting figure for them to lean on. Become comfortable with teaching Being a camp counselor means being a friend to your kids, but it also means teaching them. Whether you’re teaching them a class about arts and crafts or teaching them about the local wildlife while on a hike, you will learn, and should be prepared to learn, how to help others learn. This is a skill that will prove valuable throughout your entire life. Whether you are looking to enter a profession that requires pure teaching or if you are entering a profession that will involve explaining your ideas and reasoning, being able to teach kids about things in simple terms will remain useful beyond the summer. Get ahead professionally Working as a camp counselor might just seem like a fun personal experience, but it will really help you as you move forward in your academic career and eventual profession. Communicating well with kids will help you communicate well with adults, which shines through in interviews, presentations, and any communal situation. You will gain incredible problem-solving skills that are necessary for caring for children that will translate well into any fast-moving environment. This is a huge draw for employers and will show through in your academic work as well. And of course, being a camp counselor means being a leader. Leading well and efficiently is one of the most important skills that you can have in your academic and professional life. If these features of being a camp counselor sound appealing to you, you should seriously consider applying for a position. The first step you will need to take is to research some camps and their application requirements and deadlines. Camp counselor positions are incredibly sought after and will often give priority to applicants who are also ex-campers, so it’s best to get your application in as early as possible. If you are an ex-camper looking to be a counselor at your old camp, research your camps application process for ex-campers as many places offer an early application process for old campers. If you aren’t an ex-camper, you still have a chance, but make sure you have a stellar resume and cover letter to show. If you are not familiar with what your resume and cover letters should contain for a counselor position, there are tons of templates that you can find online to help you out. While summer is far away, it’s never too early to think about what you are going to do to fill your time and make some money. Being a camp counselor is a great job for college students and one that everyone should at least consider.