College-Level AP Biology Course

College-Level AP Biology CourseAre you interested in taking AP Biology? Are you wondering what a college course in AP Biology will be like? If so, this article should help you make up your mind.What most people don't realize is that AP Biology is an online course. No one will be sitting with you in a classroom. However, each and every section of the course is studied on an interactive online platform, where you'll actually get to participate in the discussion. In addition, each section will also feature real-time assessments, with participants able to participate and earn their own grades. So don't forget to start planning for AP Biology as soon as possible.To get started, you'll need to find a college or university that offers this course. You can find these through the help of your high school counselor, by searching the Internet, or by asking your high school guidance counselor. However, if you are having a hard time deciding which college to attend, then you may want to consult a n advisor from your college or university. They will be able to recommend a suitable college to you.With that said, how do you go about choosing the college to attend? The first thing you need to do is to understand what you will be studying for. Will you be taking AP Biology? If you're unsure, you may want to choose from other AP courses offered by the college. For example, you may want to consider taking AP Biomedical Sciences, AP Botany, AP Chemistry, or AP Engineering.From there, you need to decide on your college's requirements for this course. You'll want to ensure that you will be able to successfully complete the course, and complete it in a reasonable amount of time. Here, again, you can use the guidance of your guidance counselor or advisor.Once you've decided on your college, the next step is to plan how you will pay for your college. It's important to know the cost of your college before applying. Since AP Biology is an online course, many colleges do not charge for this type of course. However, you may still have to pay your own way. If you want to go to a college that does not charge for the course, then you may want to look into a community college or a four-year college.By now, you should have enough information to help you make up your mind about AP Biology. Take the time to research online and check out the cost of the college and if you want to study at home, a community college may be a better option for you.

Ways to enhance creative thinking in your child - ALOHA Mind Math

Ways to enhance creative thinking in your child In today’s competitive world, thinking out of the box has become a very necessary trait for success. Every parent hopes to nurture a creative spirit in their child not only in terms of being competitive, but more importantly as a way of fostering originality in their thinking. Both as teachers and parents, it would be great if we could develop an environment where children are enthusiastic about developing ideas and feel free to do their own experimenting. This is the best way to give free rein to their imagination and let them find a way to explore and find their own answers. In order to enable this, we can use the following to enhance creativity: Curiosity â€" This is a very important trait and it isn’t even something we have to develop; it comes naturally to children. From the age when they start to understand things around them, we as parents have answered tons of questions to the best of our abilities. As they learn to read, we can make sure that they have all the information they need, both from books as well as from using the internet as they are older. It is also very important that they understand that is not wrong to ask questions, which could happen if they find us to be impatient with them at times when we do not have the time or resources to respond to them properly. Experimentation â€" Expose the child to simple science kits from a young age, and allow them to experiment with new material and information and you will definitely notice the learning curve that your children go through. It is also a good idea to try to teach more through practical means and even through play, as this leaves a better impression on the child’s mind and will help them retain the information better. It also enables them to change things around themselves to try and find out how things work differently with different parameters. Environment â€" Try to make sure that the environment around the child nourishes creative thinking. Plan activities such as a scavenger hunt or a hypothetical problem solving session from time to time, so that fun and creativity together create the perfect environment. Even watching a fun TV show such as “Whose Line Is It Anyway” where an abundance of creativity is on display can be a great thought provoker at a young age (Do check for age appropriateness first). With all these small steps, we can make a start towards encouraging creative thinking and prepare our child to face life’s challenges in a confident manner. Visit our website to understand how our programs can help your child http://www.aloha-usa.com/

This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon

This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon Soccer practice at 3p.m., violin lessons at 4:30p.m., Spanish class at 6p.m. Does this schedule seem familiar? Children today have a reputation for being overbooked, with some parents even facing criticism for putting their kids in too many activities. Is there a point when extracurricular activities become too much? Kailaash thought that point came when his parents enrolled him in Kumon at 12 years old. His friends had done well in the program so Kailaash’s parents hoped it would help him in school. Kailaash thought it would have the opposite effect.  He was already booked solid with sports and other activities. When would he have time to complete his homework if he had to do extra work after school? Kailaash was so concerned about the extra work that he figured out a way to avoid it without his Kumon Instructor or parents realizing. He would hide his worksheets in a cupboard at home and tell his Instructor he forgot to bring his work to class. He could only fool the adults for a few classes, however, and eventually his Instructor called his parents to ask why he never brought his homework in. His mom was astounded to find a cupboard filled with Kumon Worksheets, and Kailaash knew the jig was up. After the cupboard incident, Kailaash’s mom sat him down and helped him create a schedule to complete all of his activities. First on the list was Kumon. Once he started getting his Kumon done before anything else, he realized it wasn’t so difficult to complete after all. Creating a routine made it easy to get the work done, and he steadily started seeing improvements in school in addition to Kumon. Kailaash noticed another change once his Kumon routine became second nature; his homework didn’t take nearly as much time. Since math and reading became easier, he could breeze through those subjects, and even his other classes started to make more sense. Kailaash originally dreaded Kumon because he thought it would take him too much time. In the end, it freed up all the extra time he was spending on his homework and gave him more time to pursue his favorite sport, basketball. Kailaash found many similarities between basketball and Kumon. Just as long division became easier the more he practiced, so did free throws. When practicing a new skill in basketball, he’d break it down into parts, as he had learned to do with math problems. With a lot of hard work and practice, he was able to make his school’s team and play the sport competitively. Kumon taught Kailaash that with a little perseverance, anything is possibleâ€"even finding more time in the day. Establishing a routine can have powerful results. In Kailaash’s case, Kumon was the key to balancing school and extracurriculars, and improving in both. You might also be interested in: How One Student Learned to Love the Kumon Program How this Aspiring Hockey Pro Applies What He Learned from Kumon THIS KUMON STUDENT HAS A BLACK BELT IN TAEKWONDO AND APPLIES SELF-LEARNING IN HER EVERY DAY ROUTINE This Young Kumon Student Learned To Love New Challenges in Math This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon This Student Learned the Power of a Routine with Kumon Soccer practice at 3p.m., violin lessons at 4:30p.m., Spanish class at 6p.m. Does this schedule seem familiar? Children today have a reputation for being overbooked, with some parents even facing criticism for putting their kids in too many activities. Is there a point when extracurricular activities become too much? Kailaash thought that point came when his parents enrolled him in Kumon at 12 years old. His friends had done well in the program so Kailaash’s parents hoped it would help him in school. Kailaash thought it would have the opposite effect.  He was already booked solid with sports and other activities. When would he have time to complete his homework if he had to do extra work after school? Kailaash was so concerned about the extra work that he figured out a way to avoid it without his Kumon Instructor or parents realizing. He would hide his worksheets in a cupboard at home and tell his Instructor he forgot to bring his work to class. He could only fool the adults for a few classes, however, and eventually his Instructor called his parents to ask why he never brought his homework in. His mom was astounded to find a cupboard filled with Kumon Worksheets, and Kailaash knew the jig was up. After the cupboard incident, Kailaash’s mom sat him down and helped him create a schedule to complete all of his activities. First on the list was Kumon. Once he started getting his Kumon done before anything else, he realized it wasn’t so difficult to complete after all. Creating a routine made it easy to get the work done, and he steadily started seeing improvements in school in addition to Kumon. Kailaash noticed another change once his Kumon routine became second nature; his homework didn’t take nearly as much time. Since math and reading became easier, he could breeze through those subjects, and even his other classes started to make more sense. Kailaash originally dreaded Kumon because he thought it would take him too much time. In the end, it freed up all the extra time he was spending on his homework and gave him more time to pursue his favorite sport, basketball. Kailaash found many similarities between basketball and Kumon. Just as long division became easier the more he practiced, so did free throws. When practicing a new skill in basketball, he’d break it down into parts, as he had learned to do with math problems. With a lot of hard work and practice, he was able to make his school’s team and play the sport competitively. Kumon taught Kailaash that with a little perseverance, anything is possibleâ€"even finding more time in the day. Establishing a routine can have powerful results. In Kailaash’s case, Kumon was the key to balancing school and extracurriculars, and improving in both. You might also be interested in: How One Student Learned to Love the Kumon Program How this Aspiring Hockey Pro Applies What He Learned from Kumon THIS KUMON STUDENT HAS A BLACK BELT IN TAEKWONDO AND APPLIES SELF-LEARNING IN HER EVERY DAY ROUTINE This Young Kumon Student Learned To Love New Challenges in Math

Task Management Applications for the Student

Task Management Applications for the Student (Image Provided by blog.mindjet.com) Elements of Task Managers There are many task managers offered for free as well as for sale and they typically function on any internet connected device. Though many paid features of task managers are probably more useful to a business owner or someone in charge of a team, simple task managers are nonetheless useful to a college student with a busy schedule. An example of such an app is HiTask  which offers features such as Google Calendar synchronization, recording time spent on projects and project management, plus drag-and-drop file sharing. HiTask offers its application for computers and also for iPhone and Android devices. There are also features of this application specifically designed for teams. The time consuming process of having to email documents to team members or delegating on projects can now be done using one task manager. Why Students should Consider Using One This might sound like something more suitable for working professionals, but its utility to college students can be just as good, especially if that student is in some type of leadership position. Even those not in a leadership position may find this extremely helpful since many college students work while also attending college. The burden of working while going to school can be very harsh when time is not managed correctly. Some people think the features of task management apps are too complex, and pretty much useless, but there are some that are simple enough to meet each persons’ specific needs. Using a task management application will make it a lot easier to remember to turn in an assignment or email a professor back. Difference Between Task Managers and To-Do lists So a task manager just sounds like a fancy name for a to-do list right? They are very similar, but have a few differences. The features of task managers give a person more options and flexibility with organizing on how to do tasks, not just what to do. Many of them are oriented towards business professionals with features specifically for working in teams, but knowing that some college campuses can have hundreds of student organizations, there has to be a way to manage these groups, or waste a lot of time. To-Do lists are just simple bullet point lists with reminders, which is something you would typically use when going to do some shopping. More information on task management applications can be found here. Better Time Management Just means a smoother life. As a student, having poor time management skills will lead to poor grades, higher stress, and neglect of personal relationships. As a professional, it could cause you to lose your job. Task managers are a great way to sort a busy schedule and organize your life so you can become a better student, or overall a more efficient individual. (Image provided by www.lifehack.org)

What to Put on Your Resume When You Dont Have Much Relevant Experience

What to Put on Your Resume When You Dont Have Much Relevant Experience pexels.com Include any relevant and transferable skills. The fact that you’re even considering applying to this job must mean that somewhere in the back of your mind (even if it’s buried way, way in the back) you think you have what it takes. Scour your brain and any old versions of your past resumes for some inspiration. It’s entirely possible that a job or task you did in previous years imparts some kind of relevant skill or experience that you can use towards the new job you’re applying for. Perhaps you’re going for a teaching assistant (TA) position at a high school but don’t have any directly relevant experience that involves teaching. However, maybe one summer you spent a few months working as a camp counselor with kids … which, in some ways, can be useful. Even if you didn’t spend time strictly teaching the kids academic subjects, but instead focused your energy on arts and crafts, that “teaching” experience can still prove valuable in allowing you to get a feel for instructing others and practicing patience. And, even though you were working with younger children rather than with high school teenagers, those interactions are still important for the interpersonal skills you gained throughout the process. To help yourself brainstorm specific relevant, transferable skills that you can emphasize on your resume, sit down and write out a list of all the jobs, tasks, volunteer opportunities, etc. that you’ve done in the past whether or not you initially think they’re related to what you’re applying for. Then, for each responsibility you’ve listed, write down everything you learned from it anything you can think of. In this brainstorming process, you may come across at least a few important skills that stand out to you, which you may be able to use, or transfer over, to the job you’re currently eyeing. With that being said, including relevant and transferable skills on your resume is extremely important if you want to make a good first impression to prospective employers. To make sure your skills are noticeable, you may want to create a specific “skills section” and put it somewhere towards the top of your resume. That way, hiring managers might have a clearer understanding of who you are and what you can do before they read any further. Infographic by Kailey Walters Make use of your academic background. What you’ve accomplished in school is also entirely worthy of being included on your resume. Just because your academic work doesn’t count as a “job” doesn’t mean it’s not valuable! If you’ve taken any classes in college (or maybe even outside of your college or university) that seem relevant to the job you’re applying for, go ahead and put those down. Applying for an engineering internship but don’t have any work experience? Well, if you’re an engineering major, you’re sure to have taken some engineering classes in the past that are somewhat relevant to the internship. If you have any experience doing academic research at your college, perhaps in a lab for one of your professors, that could also be something worthwhile to include. Employers will be sure to acknowledge the dedication and hard work that’s involved in being a research assistant at a university. If this is the case for you, it may be helpful to create a  â€œProjects” section  on your resume. You can write about a project that you completed for one of your classes perhaps something that you spent a lot of time and effort working on and feel particularly proud of, or something that is most clearly relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you happen to have any relevant projects or experiences outside of school or work (such as volunteer experience), feel free to include that on your resume as well, if you think it fits. Format the details about your project work in the same way you normally would for regular work experience. Another thing you can take advantage of is your involvement in extracurricular activities in college. Although clubs and organizations may not give you the hard skills and knowledge you learn from your classes and big projects, they can still help you gain proficiency with interpersonal skills, such as learning how to interact and work on a team. Especially if you have some sort of leadership position with a club that you’re involved in, you can put that down on your resume as well. Any employer is sure to appreciate the fact that you took time out of your own busy college schedule to take on an extra responsibility, and that you excelled in whatever position you held. No matter what job you’re applying for, leadership potential of any sort is highly valued and can only help you rise up in the ranks. So really, the lesson here is to take advantage of the opportunity to express your leadership capabilities and milk it for all it’s worth! Think about your volunteer experience. As briefly mentioned previously, volunteer experience is also a good thing to include on your resume if you don’t exactly have work experience. In fact, volunteering can show a great deal about your character and your willingness to learn more about whatever field you were involved in all without the enticement of monetary payment. As a result, volunteer experience shows that you are dedicated enough to spend your own personal time learning something new and helping others. You also might want to include study abroad experience. Another potentially worthwhile extracurricular to include on your resume is time spent studying or traveling abroad. While this sort of experience might not be relevant in every context, there are some situations (depending on what type of job you’re applying for) where your time abroad could come across as quite valuable. After all, there are many positive takeaways from studying abroad, one of which is your ambition in taking on new challenges. Not everyone has the gumption to travel across the world to study something they’re interested in, so the fact that you took that chance enables you to stand out from the rest of the pack. It also reveals that you are adventurous and not afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone, which is definitely a valuable quality in any individual. Consider including your achievements. This one might not be applicable all the time, but depending on the situation, it could be worth a shot. There may be some past awards and accolades you’ve received that are relevant towards the job you’re applying for. Maybe you earned some sort of special recognition for the project you worked on or some research you conducted. Or perhaps you were recently inducted into an honors society at your college. Whatever it is, it doesn’t hurt to gauge its importance to the job you’re applying for and see where it might fit on your resume. pexels.com Don’t include everything you’ve ever done. In crafting a well-polished, relevant resume, a main objective of yours should be efficiency. That being said, you shouldn’t include every single job, volunteer opportunity, or class you’ve had in the past, as doing so could potentially be a turn-off to some hiring managers. (More is not always better!) A good idea to keep in mind is to not include high school experience unless you think it’s absolutely necessary and relevant to the job you’re applying for. Otherwise, in most situations, sticking with relevant college experience is the best bet. Employers want to see what you’ve been doing most recently and how you’re continuing to grow onward and upward. Employers will also be looking through your resume pretty quickly, as they probably have tons of different applications to review each day. As a result, it’s important to keep your resume sharp and to the point. Only include what you believe is most relevant at present, and leave out any unnecessary experiences that would only cause extra baggage. Include a summary statement or clear career goal. When it comes to writing a summary statement for your resume, you want to avoid sounding unoriginal and boring. Instead, you want to come up with something that will catch the hiring manager’s attention right away something that clearly shows your career goals align with this job you’re applying to. A good way to do so is by being as succinct as possible; three sentences should be enough to at least briefly explain how you will apply your skills to the position you’re interested in, and how that relates to your career goals. With that being said, it may be a good idea to place your summary statement somewhere at the top of your resume or near your “skills” section, so that prospective employers can see the logical flow. Customize your resume. If you’re applying to several different jobs, it may be a good idea to customize  or at least slightly modify your resume so that it best fits each particular job. Think about what the specific job requires and which of your experiences best match. In certain situations, “modifying” your resume could simply entail changing around the format or the organization of the sections. For example, moving your “skills” section to the top could be beneficial if you want to emphasize your skills over other areas that you may be lacking in. Do whatever you can to best catch the eye of a prospective employer! Ultimately, if you don’t have a whole lot of experience related to the job you’re interested in, don’t fret too much. If the job caught your eye in the first place and you think you could potentially be a good fit for it, then there must be a good reason behind it! That reason can be found in your past experiences, whether or not they seem directly relevant to the job you want. If you spend some time thinking about why you would be a good fit for the job and what skills you can use towards it, you’re sure to be headed on the right path already. Just keep in mind: everyone has to start somewhere, and sooner or later, you will be able to say that you do have relevant work experience.

How Does Spherification Chemistry Work?

How Does Spherification Chemistry Work?Spherification Chemistry is the science of performing a chemical reaction in order to form a new element or compound. In simple terms, you would want to break up something into a number of smaller components.Spherification is the fastest and simplest method of producing molecules from their molecular elements by simple 'spontaneous' chemical reactions that involve complex chemical reactions and low temperatures. Also known as 'spherification,' this method has been used for centuries as a technique to produce element and compound molecules in the laboratory.Spherification is also called Grafton Process because it is widely used in the field of biochemistry and cell biology. In the field of biochemistry, specification is performed by growing a plant cell (such as a tomato) under the proper conditions to form a cell containing the desired molecule. After the growth of the cell has reached a certain point, it is implanted back into the same location where it was grown and given a more favorable environment.The use of hydrogen on carbon was invented by Nathaniel Manfra during the year 1855. It was an essential component of the invention of chloroform, but today, the use of the Manfra system has been discarded as an effect of chlorine depletion.Chemists and scientists working with the Manfra system of chemical reactions are not necessarily allowed to disclose how they accomplish the synthesis of molecules. For the time being, it is believed that in this process, certain beneficial drugs are produced, but this concept is not confirmed by any scientific organization or country. Scientists working in specification chemistry are still struggling to find more applications and benefits from this method.It is important to understand that in the process of chemical reactions, everything we know is created out of the combination of matter. Chemical reactions are the processes that combine two substances into one. The most basic of chemic al reactions is the transformation of matter into energy, which in turn produces matter out of energy.The process is very simple: One substance reacts with another, resulting in the production of a strong acid, with the use of strong acids, like HHO, or hydrogen peroxide. This chemical reaction produces what is called a 'cyclic compound,' or a combination of two molecules of two different kinds of molecules. They come together in a manner that allows them to combine in a different manner than the original elements that formed them. In the case of specification, the difference comes in the splitting of the original elements and the formation of a new, stable and more highly concentrated compound.

How to Do Percent Composition Chemistry at Home

How to Do Percent Composition Chemistry at HomeIf you want to learn about how to do percent composition chemistry at home, then this article is right for you. In this article, I'm going to show you how to do it from the comfort of your own home. Here's what you need to do.First, you need to get hold of a few textbooks. You can buy these in bookstores or online. I always recommend buying the ones that are focused on the subject.Second, you need to get hold of some samples of the materials that you're going to be using. You can use other things, but if you're doing much more than just a little bit of science, then you should get hold of some useful materials so that you can test out the substances and see whether they're suitable for what you're looking to learn.Third, you need to decide which materials you need to buy. There are a few ways to do this.You can buy them all from one place, or you can try and get some of the materials from various places. I tend to buy a lot of these at o nce.Fourth, you need to learn how to blend them up to make sure that they're all mixed properly. To do this, you can use the graduated cylinder method. As the name suggests, you add a little bit of one of the components and then put the rest of the material on top.You now know how to do percent composition chemistry at home. It's a very easy way to get into the subject of chemistry and you'll definitely learn something useful. Don't be put off by the expensive price - you can get an excellent book that will teach you the subject at great rates for just a few pounds.

Maths Tuition A Guide to Calculus

Maths Tuition A Guide to Calculus A Maths Tutor Guide to Calculus ChaptersAn Introduction To CalculusCalculus: A Speedy Introduction MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAn Introduction To CalculusCalculus, which takes its name from the Latin word for ‘small pebble’, is a Maths term that describes the study of continuous change.There are two principal branches of Calculus: Differential Calculus and Integral Calculus. (Learn more about Differentiation/integration problems  here).While t he first is concerned with rates of change and curves and slopes, the latter is focused on the accumulation of quantities and the spaces under and between curves.As such, they can be as somewhat opposites of one another yet the two are directly related by the fundamental theorem of calculus.Modern Calculus, was thought to have been developed by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in the 17th century. The mathematical theory has since been adopted by various subject fields, including the Sciences, Engineering, and Economics. Calculus itself acts as a gateway to other, more advanced areas of mathematics.The individual principles of Calculus include Limits and Infinitesimals, Differential  Calculus, Leibniz Notation, Integral Calculus and Fundamental Theorum. As previously mentioned, Physics makes particular use of Calculus and its principles, however it is also applied to Computer Science, Statistics, Business, Economics, Engineering and Medicine. This shows just how broad the concepts and theories reach.Calculus: A Speedy IntroductionLet’s face it, Calculus is not something that you can learn overnight. However, to make the principles of Calculus less daunting, why not approach the subject in bitesize chunks?Also important is to understand what Calculus is all about before you set off on studying it in depth. By knowing a bit more about what to expect, there will (hopefully!) be no surprises during the course and you will be able to absorb the information given to you with more of a level head.What Is Calculus?Calculus, as explained above, is a term used to describe the study of continuous change â€" but what does that even mean? In simpler terms, Calculus is about finding, splitting and rearranging patterns and shapes. Let’s take a circle, for example.If you imagine that circle is made up of a series of rings, then rotate the 3D image, you will notice that the once disc now takes a dome shape.If you take a circle and flip it on its side to imagine a dome shape, this is just one of the ways that Calculus manipulates shapes to work out areas and other information related to lines, curves and spaces inbetween them. Photo by ANBerlin on VisualHuntBy unrolling these rings which make up the triangular shape and plotting them on a graph, we can come up with a simple formula to measure the circle’s area. (Area = ½ base x height)Even more mindblowing than obtaining  the area of a circle, another way to look at Calculus is to think that of it as a branch of Maths that covers tiny to huge numbers, called (in Maths terms) ‘infinite and infinitesimal'.Not only does it study these numbers, it takes them and uses them to describe an intangible event, like figuring out how fast objects move in a certain direction. Mathematicians refer to this as 'acceleration and velocity'.So, taking all of this into account, Calculus combines lessons in Algebra and Trigonometry and then adds a few extra rules and theories to take take on board. Be prepa red to hear about parabolas, see a bunch of new symbols and to use the famous Pi!What Is Interesting About Calculus?“Calculus is really exciting”, said nobody ever! However, elements of Calculus are very interesting. For example, the concepts play a role in various aspects of our every day lives from cars to aeroplanes to mobile phones.Calculus concepts are present in our everyday lives, from how vehicles and planes work to how we are able to use our mobile phones. Photo on VisualHunt.comFor instance, a number of elements linked to Calculus and its theories are examined in the build of an aircraft, specifically when it comes to parts like the wings.Engineers must study lift force to inform them of the design that they must adopt for the wings, adjusting the curve according to purpose. In addition, they must consider the pressure on the part as velocity increases.For this reason, many equations and calculations are required to ensure that the aircrafts are safe and fit for purpos e.On the subject of speed and velocity, take a look at our next point which expands further on why Calculus is so interesting to learn about.If you are already familiar with Algebra, then you will understand that if we have two bananas and add three bananas, we will have five bananas in total, and be able to visualise a formula.Calculus, on the other hand, highlights things that are less obvious and that can’t be seen with the eye, like how fast one of those bananas hits the ground when dropped from the picnic basket. This process is really useful for people studying the fields of Technology, Physics, Chemistry and Engineering as the results or solutions found will directly impact on the working processes they undertake.Breaking Down CalculusFunctions, Variables And LimitsYou can’t expect to understand Calculus without first of all learning about what makes up this branch of Maths.First of all, just like in Algebra, there is a basic element called a 'function'. This is normally a group of letters separated by an '=' sign and is described as a 'rule'.When a value is added to the mix, what goes in one side will be reflected on the other side, just like a standard algebraic formula. Within each function, there is also an 'independent variable' (input) and a 'dependent variable' (output).The biggest thing to consider, however, is the 'limit': the value that the dependent variable approaches as the independent variable approaches a given value.Derivatives And IntegralsOnce again, you will have heard of slopes being mentioned in Algebra lessons. A slope is used to describe the change in y divided by the change in x, i.e. the slope between two points on a graph. This calculation then serves to determine the average rate of change between y and x too.Derivatives take this slope and then work out the gradient of the slope at a point on a curving line, which is where limits come into play.An integral is a term used to describe a way of  finding an area. Integrals ca n be used to find the area of a circle, a square, or any other irregular shape. It’s basically the opposite process of a derivative, and it’s yet another way to take away even more data from a graph.Calculus enables us to find the area of circles, squares and irregular shapes. Photo by pedrosimoes7 on VisualHunt.comAdditional Calculus ThemesOver the course of your study programme, you will be faced with the above themes, along with many more such as Graphs, Tangents and Areas.If all of this sounds like too much to take, do not despair. Your course will be designed to give you a fully comprehensive and well-rounded view of Calculus and its many themes, to the point where you'll know each of them inside out.Not only will you understand how each of them works, you will also be able to make links between the themes and how they all relate to one another to make up this complex mathematical subject.Until then, focus on taking each step one at a time and to give yourself plenty of tim e to absorb the different themes covered before jumping ahead to the next.Remember also that there is no shame in feeling unsure of yourself - this is after all a very tricky subject to tackle, even for advanced mathematicians.If you feel you might need a little extra support in the way of homework assistance, revision maths help  or you just want someone to go over the content at a slower pace with you, then why not consider contacting   private maths tutors  to offer you that tailored one-to-one experience.For more on A level Maths problems, see our blogs on  Solving Exponentials and Logs  and  Solving Mechanic Forces.

Help Your Child Work Well in Groups With These Tips

Help Your Child Work Well in Groups With These Tips Nearly every student finds it difficult to work well in groups at least once in his or her academic career. Group work involves sharing responsibility and control, and it can take years to hone these skills. Help your childdevelop positive and productive habits early on so he or she can work well in groupsthroughout the rest of his or her school years and adult life. There are actually great benefits to group study!Here are several tips for the most common types of group members: Apathetic or shy group members These students are either shy or don't care to contribute to their groups. The best way for your child to approach this group member is to talk to him or her. Have your student explain (clearly, firmly, and politely) that his or her input and assistance is necessary for the group to succeed. Have your child directly ask shy students for their thoughts or suggestions, and remind your student to be responsive to their contributions. With apathetic students, the above advice may not be sufficient. If they still fail to participate, it is best for your child to inform his or her teacher. Also ensure that your student understands that it is not okay to take on this group members role instead, work should always be shared evenly. Controlling group members Controlling group members can be especially challenging to work well in groups with. They may badger their groupmates, they may not trust other team members to carry their weight, or they may want tasks done just so. Again, the best way for your child to deal with this kind of person is to speak to them. Have your studentexplain that they know their responsibilities and that they are doing their part accurately and on time. Remind them to convey that they understand that their group member cares a great deal, and that they appreciate all the work he or she does. Your student should ask this person to trust him or her and to respect his or her abilities. If your child has become a controlling group member, do your best to discover why. Ask them why this project is so important, why they do not trust their group members, and what might happen if they give their peers some space. Then address these underlying problems. Confused group members These students honestly do not understand the concepts or processes central to their group work. Their parts of the project may contain numerous errors, or they may shy away from taking on responsibility because they fear making mistakes. The best thing for your child to do is to explain those concepts that are unclear. This is why group work exists: for students to help one another with difficult material. Vocalizing the concepts can help cement them for your student too, so the act of teaching can actually help your child learn. If your studentis struggling and feels like he or she is letting the group down, pursue academic help either by talking to the teacher, requesting a tutor, or studying together. Remind your child that he or she can always ask for help and that there's no shame in doing so. These tips may also help your child to deal with group projects.