Posts published in June, 2018

International Conferences Can Improve your Writing A Lot

BY LINDA ANDERSON

Conferences are a great place to not only learn new things and hone your skills but also to meet others who are from the same craft as you are. Something that is important in a student life as it eventually helps to you connect to more people, build professional contacts and even help you out big time when you are left with the responsibility to plan one for your institution. “Attending top writing, event planner or marketing conferences will connect you to business professionals and transform your business growth.” says Jessica Stewart, Vice President, Marketing, EMRG Media.

Here are some of the top international writing conferences you should look out for in your student life:

1. San Francisco Writers Conference

Held annually in San Francisco, United States of America, this is a must-attend conference with over a hundred sessions, workshops, and panels which is excellent to hone your skills as a writer and experiment with all varieties of writing genres. From writing to publishing to everything in between this is your one-stop destination for an intellectually stimulating experience.

2. The Geneva Writers’ Conference

This internationally acclaimed conference which is held biennially in Geneva, Switzerland boasts of several excellent writing workshops, panels, writing labs and sessions. Peppered with an equal amount of fun as The Geneva Writers’ Conference hosts bookshop coffee sessions and the cocktail meet, which is something all writers must look forward to!

3. The London Book Fair

Held in London, United Kingdom, this highly awaited event is one of a kind and you should absolutely never miss it. As they say, “The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels.”

4. The Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival

This conference is held annually in Vancouver and it hosts poets, authors, publishers and their readers from all over the world. This six-day long saga celebrates the art of writing and is a perfect place for everyone who wants to soak in the brilliance of writing and reading world.

5. International Conference on Books, Publishing and Libraries

If you are looking for some serious inspiration, be it for writing or managing a conference, this London-based international conference is the place to be. Started since 2003, it has been attracting a crowd of some serious literature lovers from across the globe, making it a hot spot for anyone looking for some good old-world charm of books, publishing and libraries.

6. Canterbury Arts Conference

This ancient place, which is already famous in English literature, holds an excellent international conference for the lovers of literature and the art of writing. Hosting authors from all over the world, it is a mind-blowing event that one has to attend to understand its magnitude and power!

7. NonfictionNOW

While most of the conferences are based on all forms of literature or fiction, this unique literary conference focuses on non-fiction. Held in Reykjavik, Iceland, this conference hosts a number of non-fiction authors, readers, teachers and students who participate in various enriching sessions. If you are someone who gets easily engrossed in the charm of fantasy writing, then this is a must-attend conference for you.

8. Melbourne Writers Festival

Created and managed extremely efficiently, this Australian international conference explores the art of literature through storytelling sessions, house discussions and debates. It also hosts a number of educational programs along with live performance of music and various art forms.

9. Africa Century International African Writers Conference

This South Africa based international conference explores the literary culture of the continent and its development and progress. It plays host to prominent African authors as well authors and readers from all over the world.

10. San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival

The beautiful country of Mexico takes its literature seriously and this excellent conference is the proof of that. Held in San Miguel de Allende it plays host to some of the top writers as well as budding writers who are yet to have an established literary career along with excited fans of writing.

11. Bread Loaf in Sicily Writers’ Conference

Well however hungry the name gets you this conference is actually more about writing than food! This conference is extremely exclusive and coveted as the attendance to this event is limited to only five groups of maximum six participants.

12. Jaipur Literature Festival

The quaint city of Jaipur comes to life every year as it hosts a number of brilliant authors from all over the world and readers who play an equally crucial and stimulating role in this beautiful literature festival.

13. The Bookworm Literary Festival

A celebration of literature and art, this international writers’ conference is held in Beijing and it plays host to some of the most talented Asian and international authors of the world. It is a true literary delight for anyone in academics.

14. Strokestown International Poetry Festival

Dedicated exclusively to poetry, this Irish event is unique and enriching. Every year, poets from all over the world flock to this picturesque country as it hosts its poetry festival. A large number of budding poets also join the frenzy to meet their idols as well as to learn the craft of poetry.

15. When Words Collide

This beautifully named conference which is held in Calgary, Canada focusses mainly on works of fiction. Every year it boasts of a number of writers, editors, publishers and of course writers who make this event a grand success.

Conferences are an integral part of an academician’s life. Thus, it is a good idea to attend these for enriching ideas as well as to learn how to organize one for your institution. While the best event planning conferences will guide you through the process of organizing a successful conference attending one, on the other hand, will give you a hands-on understanding. With the help of both, you can learn the ropes easily.

By line for Linda Anderson

I’m a writer and musician residing in Boise, ID in the United States, although I spent a small amount of time (about three years) living in the UK growing up, due to my father’s occupation. I graduated from the College of Idaho with a bachelor’s Degree in Business and a focus in marketing in 2014.

Scared of Talking in Class? 3 Ways To Increase Participation  

 

BY DARINA MURASHEV

As a college student, you’re going to consistently find yourself in unfamiliar situations that will challenge you as an individual. And though it may feel uncomfortable at times, this is among the most important aspects of your education. As you transition from school into grad school or the job market, you’ll continue to find yourself being challenged in similar ways, whether that means adjusting to new rules, taking on new levels of responsibility, or simply accepting that you won’t always be at the very top of the social ladder.

While it’s a natural part of the human experience, don’t let social anxiety stand in the way of your success inside or outside the classroom.

Introverts, Extroverts, and Social Anxiety

The types of transitions common throughout the college experience are often accompanied by social anxieties. Despite popular opinion, social anxieties are not defining characteristics of introverted personalities. If you’ve spent most of your education studying literature, you may encounter a situation where you feel uncomfortable asking questions in a new math class. If you’re in an engineering program, you may feel nervous about whether or not you studied hard enough previously to keep afloat in the next series.

The anxiety triggered by these types of events isn’t exclusive to introverts or extroverts. However, these groups tend to react to these feelings differently. Introverts that normally feel comfortable studying alone may feel pressured to reach out to others for help. Extroverts that are typically at the center of class activity may stop feeling confident about speaking out or start talking nervously. In either case—introverted or extroverted—putting yourself at the center of attention, even for just a moment, may seem out of reach. This can have a significant impact on your education, perhaps making it difficult to get the information that you need in order to be successful.

Tips and Tricks for Speaking Out and Participating

It’s happened to everyone: You’re sitting in class diligently taking notes and you look out the window for what seems to be no more than a second or two. However, when you turn back around you realize that you’re lost. You know that you can raise your hand to get clarification, you understand that’s even expected, but instead you feel frozen because you’re worried about looking foolish.

Do not lose heart. Here are some tips that can help you navigate social anxiety issues as they come up throughout your college experience—and beyond!

• Try not to panic. While easier said than done, remembering not to panic is imperative in these situations. Take a few deep breaths and refocus on the situation you are in—you’ll be amazed by how helpful a few deep breaths can be. If you are prone to these types of panics, take a few moments to mentally prepare before class.
• Reassure yourself. It’s okay to ask questions and contribute to discussions in class. While you’re preparing, take some time to acknowledge that you’re probably going to need to speak out at some time during class, and that is perfectly normal.
• Encourage others. Maybe you have something great to say, but you’re having trouble finding the words. That doesn’t mean you can’t participate in a discussion. When someone else makes a great point, let them know it. This can relieve the pressure you’ve placed on yourself to speak while helping to push the conversation in a useful direction.
• Prepare for the next class. If you didn’t get to ask a question or join the class discussion like you wanted to, that’s okay. Try writing down your questions and ideas so you are ready to bring them up in the future. You can also try engaging a more intimate group of classmates about it later.
• Set goals. Are you concerned about your level of participation? Set incremental goals that you can work on over the course of a semester. Start small and work your way up so it’s easy to see your personal progress unfold.
• Fake it till you make it. It’s a cliché for a reason. If you still don’t feel comfortable participating, it’s ok. Keep practicing and eventually it will begin to feel more natural.

Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Help

It is worth noting that American culture is primarily built around rewarding extroverted behavior, and that system places some significant costs on the social structure (not to mention extra pressure on introverts). Regardless, remember that social anxiety is universal to introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between.

Broadly speaking, a small amount of occasional anxiety isn’t something to be concerned about. However, if your anxieties start to recur frequently, last for long periods of time, or consistently interfere with your ability to function normally, seek the guidance of a mental health professional that can help make your anxieties manageable.

 

By Darina Murashev

Darina Murashev is a freelance writer from Chicago based in Salt Lake City. She writes about tech, moving, career building and finance. She enjoys travel, live music, and spending time in the great outdoors.

 

 

Enrolling in college: from the application to financial aid

BY ANTON LUCANUS

In the 1990s, college students prepared for college in a vastly different way than college students do in 2018. There were no laptops required for classes. Notes were taken on notebook paper, with pencils and pens and highlighters and post-it notes. Cell phones didn’t have FaceTime. Mom had to come to campus to see her college kid. Registration was done in a registrar’s office full of other students, because there were no online webpages to select and confirm classes. Computers had to be rented in the computer lab to write papers or print homework and rarely appeared inside dorms like laptops do today. Google Scholar didn’t exist to do research, but the librarians were more than happy to spend hours helping compile those tricky sources. There was no way to contact a professor, other than attending office hours. Spotify didn’t play music at parties, but remix CDs kept them just as loud. Today, all of those things are different and have changed and will continue to differ and change.

 

In the 1990s, a college degree weighed heavier than it does today. A high school diploma landed an 18 year- old a job that paid more than enough to get by. Top level jobs could be fulfilled with a four- year degree. Today, not so much. A four-year degree is the new requirement for basic entry-level positions. Even experience in a field isn’t enough to land a job today. Figuring out which college to attend is the first step in the long process to making it there. Tuition costs, scholarships that are available, financial aid packages that are offered by the university, dorm fees for living in dorms on campus, graduation rates, transfer rates, length of time for the average student to obtain a Bachelor’s degree, class and campus size, athletic clubs or teams, majors offered, and location of a college are just some of the different topics to think about before choosing a college. Partnering with friends, family, school counselors, and teachers will ensure that the questions to those answers and major decisions are discovered before it’s too late to apply or accept an offer of admission.

 

Once a university accepts an application of admission, there are various steps before enrollment and the beginning of classes. Financial aid and scholarships must be taken into consideration to determine the out-of-pocket cost that a university will run each year. These estimates are sent along with or shortly thereafter an acceptance of admission letter. The cost of education is the top concern for college aged- students and their parents. It is a tough decision to make, whether to take on the debt for the education or find a cheaper school to settle for. Whatever decision, once the acceptance letter comes in and a final decision has been made, visit the campus- even if it’s the second or third visit. Make sure that this is the correct decision and after the visit is over, send in the formal acceptance of admission offer.

In the remaining months before it’s time to pack the car and move out, there will be shopping lists and gifts to open. In 2018, technology changes what seems like every few months. There are Pinterest lists to guide the packing process and advice from older college aged friends to help it go by smoothly. Essentials needed are the obvious: clothes for different seasons, shoes, a backpack that carries the expensive books that classes will require, shampoo and conditioner, decorations for those bare and atrocious walls, and more. Technology also means more money for technologically advanced products, like noise-cancelling headphones for long nights spent writing papers, a laptop lock, a portable charger to keep your laptop on throughout those long days, a cell phone signal booster for those spots on campus and in the dorm rooms where service seems to be nonexistent, and more. A master list broken up into categories will help keep the process of packing somewhat organized.

 

After the packing is completed and has been sitting in the living room corner for days on end, it’ll be time to go. Whether a plane ride hours away or a car ride to the next town over, the travel to campus will feel endless. Unpacking will take hours, and may include climbing up a lot of stairs in the late summer heat, but once it’s all there, the next stage of life will begin. Parents will leave, siblings will feel heart pangs about parting, roommates and dorm resident assistants will chatter and make small talk. In a few days, classes will begin again and summer will end. All of the preparation over the last six months will bring relief in the form of naps, Netflix, and welcome week activities. Friends will be made, parties will be busted, and the college life will really start.

Byline – Anton Lucanus is the Director of Neliti. During his college years, he maintained a perfect GPA, was published in a top cancer journal, and received many of his country’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships. Anton writes for The College Puzzle as a means to guide current students to achieve personal and educational fulfilment during college life. You can contact Anton via email at antonlucanus@gmail.com

 

 

Ideas To Improve College Science Teaching And Learning

.BY EMMA BONNEY

Thanks to the advancements brought about by modern science and technology, we are living in the future! From smartphones to high end medical gadgets to space exploration to robotics, the entire world is witnessing a revolution of scientific breakthroughs. In this ethos of constant and ground-breaking developments, it’s imperative that we work extra hard to improve the education system to make science more palatable for our next generation.

Introducing interactive classroom teaching

When it comes it science it’s time that we realize science simply cannot be taught out of just a textbook! It is a vibrant and exciting subject which needs much more than monotonous lectures and exams. This is where modern technology can come to rescue. With the help of various interactive and engaging e-learning tools classroom sessions can be made way more interesting and exciting for both students and teachers. With the integration of technology lessons can be imparted more effectively. Moreover, it is not possible to demonstrate various concepts and experiments owing to the lack of equipment or practicality which can be viewed using technology, thus, giving the students a real feel of the subject.

Practical along with theoretical lessons

Those theory classes can get incredibly boring. Poring over a textbook trying to understand complex circuits or carbon structures can make science seem like an excruciatingly difficult subject. Therefore, it is important to lay adequate stress on practical classes and laboratory sessions which improve the learning experience of students. Be it a simple identification of the structures of a leaf to complex chemical reactions to the construction of a simple motor, everything can be learned in a more effective manner if the students are given the opportunity to experience and experiment with these concepts first hand.

Science camps

Schools should organise science camps and fairs which demonstrate exciting experiments and projects in order to make science fun and approachable for kids. Science is often viewed as something quite difficult, serious and definitely not easy. It is important to break these stereotypes to get more and more young boys and girls interested to study, love and actively participate in science. We need to get this generation of children excited about science the way scientists like Bill Nye did in their times. It is important to encourage the pursuit of science outside the curriculum so that students can explore and appreciate the magic of science.

Encouragement to pursue beyond syllabus

What is often lacking from our academic system is that students are so bound to exams and grades their curiosity is often curbed. If a student walks up to their science teacher and wants to talk about anything outside the syllabus be it the clamp on flow meter or advanced Nano technology, it is important that teachers should try to encourage the quest for knowledge in every way possible! If the teachers are not qualified enough to give adequate support on that particular topic, they can refer the student to someone or some material which can satiate their curiosity, which can be of immense help in the advancement of science.

Science is the step stool to a more advanced future. With each moment we see better and more revolutionary scientific researches and revolutionary developments in technology which are committed to making the quality of life better. This makes it important that we work on our education system in order to get younger minds to explore and understand science better. This will help us raise a generation of relentless and challenging scientific minds.

A bit about myself:

Emma Bonney is a successful blogger whose articles aim to help readers with self-development, Women’s Empowerment, Education, entrepreneurship and content management. My work has been featured and mentioned in a wide range of publication.