Writing Quality Online Content On Educational Topics

With the future of education in limbo and everyone drawing lines in the sand and picking sides, it seems there is enough chaos and controversy to fill up a 1000 newspapers with articles about how we ought to be running our education system. Whereas, we as Americans all seem to agree on the importance of education, it appears to be the getting everyone on the same pages as to how to get there which may never be agreed upon, in fact, I bet you'd agree to all this so far right? Good, so let's talk.

Think about all the sub-topics available for education article writing, you can write about getting admitted to the college of your choice, choosing which college to attend, and the need for stronger education in subjects of math and science. You can also talk about controversial topics such as the political correctness, socialism slant, and left-leaning professors indoctrinating students in college. And if you do like contentious issues, education is full of them, here are some more things that I've written on and you can too:

Vouchers 

School Sports 

Homeschooling 

For-Profit Colleges 

College Tuition Costs 

Student Loan Problems 

Special Education Needs 

English As a Second Language 

Rote Memorization and Creativity 

Standardized Testing and the NCLB Law 

Teachers Unions, Pay, Legacy Costs, Tenure 

Textbooks Versus Digital E-Textbook in the Future

Indeed, I would urge all online article writers as the 2012-2013 school season begins to put forth your very best articles on these topics and topics of a similar vein. Education is on everyone's mind, and not just because it is an election year, because it very much has to do with the future of our nation. We are only as good as our schools were 20 years the prior. If we mess up our education, we will have hell to pay, and we will find ourselves nothing more than a footnote in the annals of history of great nations which once were.

Keeping the topic of education at the top of our list in our society guarantees that we will continue to put energy in the right spot and as our civilization becomes more technologically advanced we need well-trained, well-schooled, and highly educated people to run it. Just because in the future the robots may be doing all the work, or our education system may be completely be online that doesn't mean we don't need educated folks to make it work. We definitely will.

It is my hope that you will please consider all this and think on it, and put in your two cents when it comes to education, let's hear about your ideas, innovations, and new concepts to take this great nation forward.

How to Fly Safely in Icing Conditions

Airframe icing is probably at the top of most aviators' hazard list. As such we need to not only understand the condition, but have an effective game plan to deal with it. This information below pertains equally as well to both de-iced and non-deiced aircraft, however, much greater caution needs to be exercised when applied to non-deiced aircraft as if caught in very adverse conditions, one's options are much more limited.

I have been flying all types of aircraft for 35 years, in all manner of winter conditions and have found that icing does not have to be feared if planned properly. Different aircraft have different characteristics in icing conditions. Generally speaking, an aircraft such as a Piper Seneca with a very fat leading edge wing can carry a significant load of ice with only 10 or 20 knots loss of airspeed. Other types such as the Beech Barron or Cessna 310 do not do so well. The thinner the leading edge on an aircraft, the bigger the airflow disruption under icing conditions.

As with everything else in aviation, success begins with a good plan of action. In preparing for a flight that has the potential to encounter icing conditions, there are a few critical tests to run before departure.

1. Escape Hatch 1 - What does the route look like ceiling and visibility-wise. Are the bases higher, perhaps above 4000 feet AGL, or are the very low across the route. A reasonable ceiling across the route is preferable. If things get dicey in icing conditions at a particular altitude, you always have the option of descending below the conditions under IFR.

2. Escape Hatch 2- Where are the tops? Your flight altitude in cruise will hopefully be able to keep you in top and out of icing conditions enroute. Tops reports can be had, although it takes a little effort. The first place to look is in PIREPS form the weather service. Pilots often make reports to NWS or ATC about tops and icing conditions. Another effective method that I have found extremely valuable on departure and arrival it to call the towers by phone before departure and get the information from them. Often they will know this from in and outbound aircraft. If they are not aware of the tops, if you ask, they will usually ask an inbound or outbound aircraft to call the tops. There is no better and more current way to get area tops and icing conditions, as this information will be as current as it can get.

3. Escape Hatch 3 - Air temperatures. As part of your preflight, know what the temperatures aloft are and take them with you for departure. Ideally you want to see freezing levels of at least 4 to 5 thousand feet, but there are many days in winter when the temperature is freezing at the ground. On days where there is a freezing level aloft, you will have warmer air to descend to should you be in icing conditions.

Preflight - Your aircraft. Thoroughly pre-flight your de-ice equipment. Wing and tail boots, props boots, pitot heat, windshield heat (if you have it), should all be thoroughly check and proven before departure. Propeller anti-ice boots are 4 or 6 separate components (depending on whether you have two or three bladed props) dependent on each other to function properly. This can only be dome by turning the system on, stepping outside the aircraft and putting a hand on the blade itself for warmth. Most systems have an ammeter in the cockpit that will indicate the various phases of heat being activated on each blade. Amperage varies, but the target for most systems is somewhere in the area of 20 to 30 amps. If the ammeter indicates this range of draw, chances are pretty good that the system is working correctly. It cycles down to say 5 or 10 amps, then return to 20 to 30, you most likely have a weak or no power to at least one blade. I have found that when this condition occurs, it is most often a frayed wire in the prop hub ground or partially grounding to the prop cone. Another telltale sign is static in you r headset that you do not normally hear. This would be that voltage getting to the radios and causing slight interference. Discovering a blade out in-flight can often render the entire system useless under certain conditions where ice could build up on the weak or dead blade and create a violent shaking of the aircraft. The only way to recover from this condition is to shut the entire system off, power back the engine to reduce the shaking, and find warmer air if possible as quickly as possible.

If your aircraft checks out properly and you have at least one escape hatch that passes the test, you are in pretty good shape for departure. I like to have at least two. Not to say you should not depart with none, but in such case be very confident of you aircraft's ability to deal with icing conditions. Non de-iced aircraft should NOT depart without at least 2 of the escape hatches available to them.

Flying In Icing Conditions

Prior to entering any icing conditions, turn any available anti-icing devices on. I most cases this will be t propeller heat and pitot heat. This combination is also appropriate before taking off into possible icing conditions when icing can be expected soon after takeoff.

Should you find yourself in a situation where ice is beginning to accumulate, most aircraft will take at least a ¼ inch give or take with out too much negative effect on flight. Once any more than that begins to accumulate, the first symptom will probably be a noticeable loss of airspeed starting with 5 or 10 knots, increasing as the accumulation of ice increases. Adding bit of power can help counter this airspeed loss. Your most important task is to take positive action immediately. Where are the tops? Can you request clearance to climb above them. Ask ATC where the tops are. Often they will know or can ask another aircraft in the area where they are. Where is the warmer air? Another option is to descend to a point above the freezing level. Once you attain 32 degrees or more, any ice will peel off within a minute or two at most. If you find yourself in conditions that have changed to afford no escape hatch options, find the nearest airport and land.

Independent Schools Offer Several Benefits For Students

Independent schools differ from public institutions in a few ways. The main one is that they are self-funded and self-governed, so they do not depend on the city, state, or federal government to stay funded. Instead, they usually charge tuition, and they may also accept cash donations. No matter where the funding comes from, there are a few advantages of a school that does not rely on the government for money.

One of the most important benefits of independent schools is that they usually offer high-quality education for all students. This is because they can carefully budget based on the money they either already have or know they will get from benefactors. By contrast, a public school often has a fluctuating budget that depends on the tax rate and overall economy since it is funded by taxpayers. Therefore, in a bad economy, programs may be unexpectedly cut, and due to this, there may not be a good variety of classes available for students.

This advantage applies to extracurricular programs, too. Since many independent schools have control of their own budget, they can offer a wide variety of after-school options. If you want your kids to have their pick of several sports, clubs, and performing arts options, choosing this type of school may be a good idea. This will help them with their college applications since most universities like to see a variety of extracurricular activities on any student's resume. If your kids have a passion for a program that the typical public school cannot afford, independent schools may be the best choice.

Additionally, due to the fact that the budget is often higher, this type of option usually attracts experienced teachers. This can clearly be quite beneficial for students. You want to send your kids to an educational institution that is able to appeal to the best teachers, not just new graduates or average teachers who are simply desperate for a job. This type of educational institution offers enough benefits and opportunities to teachers that it has its pick of several applicants. Such teachers usually end up offering students the help they need, which may include one-on-one assistance and constant communication with parents to update them on how their kids are doing.

If you are trying to decide whether public or independent schools are the best for your kids, you should keep these benefits in mind. There is no way to say that either type is the best for everyone, but you can look at the benefits of each. Then you should schedule a time to check out the campus and talk to administrators before making up your mind.

Key Learning Skills

Learning takes place through the active behavior of the learner. It requires the ability of the learners to plan how to meet their targets, follow their plans and improve their performances. Key learning skills refer to a particular set of skills that is commonly needed in a range of activities in learning process. These skills include listening skill, communication skill, note-taking skill and test taking skill.

Listening skill: 

To achieve short term goals, medium term goals and career goals efficiently, learners must be good listeners. The ability to listen carefully allows them to better understand assignments, build rapport with classmates and teachers, work in a team-based environment, answer questions and find underlying meanings in what other say. To demonstrate to the speaker that they are paying attention, they should do these things.

1. Maintain eye contact 

2. Sit still 

3. Nod their head 

4. Lean toward the speaker 

5. Repeat instructions 

6. Ask appropriate questions when the speaker has finished

Communication skill: 

To describe thoughts clearly, concisely and convincingly, learners need good oral communication skill. It is extremely important to develop the ability to converse, to discuss, to argue persuasively and to speak in the classroom.

Note-taking skill: 

It is one of the most effective ways to understand the material being presented in the class. To take notes effectively from the lectures, learners should do these things.

1. Write title and date on the page 

2. Leave a wide margin to add questions, comments and new information later 

3. Skip lines between the subtopics 

4. Highlight key phrases

To take notes from textbooks, they should do these things.

1. Skim the whole section 

2. Write in their own words 

3. Describe a sequence of events 

4. Enlist main topics and the subtopics in outline form 

5. Make graphical organizer if necessary 

6. Categorize detail 

7. Write a summary for each section

To take notes from the classroom discussion, they should do these things.

1. Use a personal form of short hand of symbols and abbreviations of common words 

2. Listen for key words 

3. Use arrows or stars to indicate most important points

Test taking skill: 

It is another effective way to get good performance. Before taking the test, learners must have knowledge about test anticipation. It includes format of the test, time required for the test and worth of the test. To prepare the test, they should do these things.

1. Study difficult and boring subjects first 

2. Schedule study time during their best time of the day 

3. Take regular short breaks 

4. Study where they will be alert (not in bed, or in easy chair or sofa where they can get too comfortable) 

5. Concentrate on remembering the main idea 

6. Ask questions of themselves 

7. Study with a partner to compare notes

Lastly, to post test analysis of the test, they should do these things.

1. Analyze the received grades 

2. Analyze the missing answers 

3. Analyze the type of questions (did they perform better on certain types of questions) 

4. Analyze the time of the test (did they have enough time to finish the test and to review answers).

What Advantages Does A Private High School Offer Students?

If you are thinking of putting your child in a private high school instead of a public one, you should do some research on the features to look for. You will find that most private schools offer some advantages that you cannot get just anywhere, but you need to sift through them to narrow down your search. You should learn about a few of the top benefits that you may find at schools of this type, and then you can decide if they are important to you. You can then look for schools with these features.

One of the most important details of a good high school is small class size. Many public schools are overflowing with kids, as each class might have upwards of 30 or even 35 students. However, many private institutions limit the size to about 15 to 20 kids per class. This is a good thing because it allows each teacher to offer every student more attention, which tends to improve the ability to learn. Therefore, you should keep this in mind when looking for schools for your child.

Another feature to look for is a range of interesting classes. For example, while the typical high school might only offer Spanish and French as foreign languages, private schools often have several other languages to choose from. This is especially important if your child is actually interested in studying a particular language that is not usually offered. Of course, many colleges tend to look at a wide range of classes as a good thing, since they can teach students more varied subjects than usual. If you want your child to have a chance to take unique courses, you should find a high school with several classes to choose from.

In addition, some colleges actually work closely with schools to make sure students are prepared to get an advanced education. This means that teachers are careful to teach skills that can be used in college, along with advanced coursework when appropriate. Also, college counselors may be on-hand to talk to students and give them advice. If you think your child could use some help of this kind, which would likely help prepare him or her for college, you should look into schools offering these features.

A simple visit to the website or campus of a local private high school could give you the answers you are looking for. If you think your child would benefit from and appreciate these advantages, you should start researching. You are sure to find at least one location that offers these benefits.