Do End of Course Evaluations Reflect Your Classroom Performance Accurately?

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What is your belief about the end of course evaluation? Do you believe it accurately reflects your performance in the classroom? Do you live in fear of the outcome you’ll receive, as to your standing with the school you teach for now? Do you focus on the potential outcome of the evaluation, and do everything you can to ensure your learners are satisfied with the course, even if it means becoming more lenient than you might naturally be?

Those of us teaching for online schools know the weight these evaluations hold for determination of the future of our positions. The online school I work for takes these evaluations very seriously, and yet, there is a holistic view taken and that means all factors of performance are weighed in. The reason why is there are typically only a few learners who will respond to these evaluations, and those who do, are the ones who are either extremely satisfied with the course or are unhappy for any number of reasons. In other words, the reason why a learner responds will be emotional in nature. But not all online schools approach the evaluation in this manner. Many have a minimum score to attain with no other factors taken into consideration. If the score is not attained, your position may become in jeopardy.

This evaluation can be a learning experience for the instructor, whether or not the score received was expected. For learners who were highly satisfied, I look for specific reasons why and seek to enhance those aspects in the next course. The converse is also true for learners who may be unsatisfied, which is often related to the nature of the course design. For example, if there are unclear assignment instructions, I’ll see if I can request an update within the course. In the meantime, I’ll develop supplemental instructions. I also understand the fear that is associated with this evaluation among instructors and not meeting the required minimum score, as it seems to be out of your direct control. Yet there are strategies that are within your control you can take to improve learner satisfaction during the course.

The Basics of Learner Satisfaction

When you are looking at a rating scale, the numbers itself can be challenging to understand. For example, if your school requires you to maintain a 4.4 out of a 5.0 as an average, you may not fully understand what a 4.4 means in terms of learner satisfaction. Is there a significant difference between a learner who is satisfied at a rate of 4.0 by the end of the term, versus a learner who you know is highly satisfied at 4.8, 4.9, or 5.0? If so, to what extent is the significance? Perhaps it would be of greater benefit to consider the relationship you are developing with your learners.

Consider this: Every learner is likely to feel some level of satisfaction if they are valued and appreciated. That would be a helpful perspective and disposition to start your class. Now as to how that translates into their expectations and outcomes is another perspective. But to begin, this is a basic starting point for learner satisfaction and how they are likely to begin the class. If you can start the class with this frame of reference and encourage them with this as your intended disposition, you are starting with a positive level of satisfaction. Now the question becomes: How to sustain this disposition, both for you and your learners, throughout the entire class.

The Challenges Associated with Learning

As those of who teach online know quite well, our classes are filled with learners who have a wide variety of learning styles, persistent rates, capacities, capabilities, and academic skills. When they interact with the materials provided, and attempt to complete what is required of them each week, this occurs without someone physically present to guide them. Whether or not they are able to learn and complete the required activities is going to depend upon their ability to master the concepts, acquire new skills, and develop coherent thoughts into discussion posts and written assignments.

Many learners can do this with minimal assistance needed, and others will struggle to overcome mental, emotional, and other related learning challenges. They may reach out to you for assistance in a positive manner, and often, in an aggressive manner via messaging and email. I’ve witnessed an increase in unprofessional communication over the past few years, with learners hiding behind anonymity, believing classroom communication to be no different than that of social media or text messaging. It is not uncommon for learners to find themselves not only frustrated, but highly frustrated and the escalation occurs quickly, despite the availability of assistance. This is where the balance of maintaining their satisfaction becomes the most challenging, when they believe they cannot learn and it is all because everything was designed to work against them.

This is also related to the level of the learner’s involvement in the classroom. They may choose to be engaged for only the minimum required, or become highly engaged. They may elect to read and implement the feedback provided each week, or disregard it and continue to struggle. As an instructor, I can continue to coach, guide, nudge, and help them along, but those efforts can ultimately frustrate the learner, especially if they notice their grade is not improving. Then their level of satisfaction may go down as they now believe it is “my fault” because I am reducing their grade. In other words, if I am not passing students along, and grading them according to their actual performance, they are likely to express their frustration at the end of the term.

Seeking to Make an Improvement in Learner Satisfaction

If you have a large class size, it can become quite challenging to determine if your learners are fully satisfied each week, at the 5.0 level. You could examine the gradebook and assess satisfaction from the perspective of who is earning the highest grade, and yet, many learners at the top of the scale could still be unhappy. This is where a strategic plan is needed for your instructional practice. There is one approach I use and it is a weekly Course Announcement. I create a PowerPoint lecture and record it with both myself and the PowerPoint deck visible during the recording. The reason why I believe this is effective, and related to learner satisfaction, is that I’m reviewing course concepts, sharing examples, and I’m reviewing all of the learning activities for the week in detail. In other words, I’m fully preparing learners for the week ahead, and removing the likelihood of confusion about requirements. Does it always work? Not necessarily, as there are learners who still will not utilize resources provided; however, most learners will take advantage of these resources.

There is another approach and it is self-reflection, which I began to discuss at the beginning of this post. I take the evaluations received and develop my own form of self-development plan. What I’m focused on is the development of a learner-centered environment. I cannot control the 5.0 score directly, but indirectly I can influence the environment learners are in and as a result, the score will naturally adjust. As I noted, I will consider where learners are struggling, both from the evaluations and during the course, and I’ll address those areas with the weekly Course Announcement and even a mid-week Course Announcement. I’m continually reflecting upon the feedback I provide and determining if I am meeting the needs of learners, as this ties directly into their academic growth, and perhaps their satisfaction of the course.

I know it is possible there will be negative statements made by learners on the evaluations from time to time, and I usually know who those came from and why. I find myself not getting upset about it as I know why the learner or learners struggled, and often, how they resisted receiving the assistance needed to help them succeed and/or overcome the inherent challenges they were facing. It also helps me develop new methods of outreach to become even better with future learners. For example, I use weekly videos to reach out, assist, and inspire learners.

Do End of Course Evaluations Reflect Your Classroom Performance Accurately?

To answer the question posed in the title of this post, I believe the evaluations measure one aspect of your performance as an instructor. The end of course evaluations can show trends; however, these forms do not always provide an overall picture of the scope of the work completed in a classroom. Learners are not fully capable of evaluating how an instructor provides feedback or engages in class discussions. What learners can do is describe the emotions of what they experienced and how their instructors contributed (or did not contribute) to their overall learning. An emotional reaction speaks to the relationship established with you as the instructor.

If you have a school that is willing to conduct a holistic view of your performance, then you are fortunate to work for a school that supports its faculty like I do. You cannot and should not live in fear of these evaluations, but you should use them as a learning opportunity. Every instructor, myself included, can and should continue to grow. This is for the benefit of yourself and your learners. When your learners feel a sense of satisfaction about their engagement with you as their instructor, and it includes being valued and appreciated, it is usually a positive sign that indicates you have developed a strong and productive working relationship with them. This is what you should work towards with every class you teach, as it will help nurture your development and theirs.

Unlocking the Secrets to Dog Training

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There are many secrets to dog training that professionals possess in their efforts to train animals. When the high cost opportunity of utilizing these professionals is not something that appeals to your financial interests, it is important to make great efforts to discover what these secrets may be. There are many guides that are available to an individual offering opportunities to train your dog and discovering the most efficient method available for your situation is important. When looking to discover one of the most efficient opportunities that exist with dog training, look to the possibilities that exist with clicker training.

Most individuals associate styles of dog training with barking orders and then rewarding an animal through treats. While this option is used by many, there can be greater results discovered through the utilization of clicker training. This style of training utilizes audio signals to help train your family friend so that they have incredible behavior and obedience. It is very clear that one of the biggest secrets to dog training is clear audio commands and nothing provides an individual with a clearer opportunity than the utilization of a clicker. Additionally, this sound helps in bringing subtlety to your commands, rather than constantly having to bark orders like sit or lay down when in public.

The opportunities that exist with clicker training are incredible and when properly utilized this style of training is very simple for any individual to take advantage of. Of course, it is highly unlikely that any individual can simply go out and buy a clicker, expecting to understand the secrets of dog training related to this style. It is important that you look into the opportunities of educational material that can help you in identifying what these secrets may be, so that your efforts are not wasted. When seeking this incredible resource, make sure to discover a well reviewed product that can help provide simple instructions, aiding the training of your dog through your full understanding of the process.

Any form of professional dog training can prove to be incredibly expensive for an individual to invest in. Most individuals still pursue this option, due to the many secrets to dog training these individuals possess and their success with pets. In order to improve your own opportunities in training your dog, it is important to identify effective methods that would be easy for both your animal and yourself to understand. Taking advantage of clicker training can represent this effective style that will help you in training your dog and establishing the home you desire. This is only possible when you take the time to discover a well reviewed product that can offer incredible results through simple understanding.

Developing Cursive Writing in Children

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Writing is one of the important methods of communication and as such it is required to be clear and legible to the reader. There are many times when we have come across writing which is illegible or untidy, making reading an annoying experience. Writing clearly and impressively is an art which one develops over a period of time and childhood forms a base for this impressive art.

Children of the modern world learn to write in kindergarten and are expected to write sentences by the time they are in Class 1. This puts immense pressure on teachers, parents and the child to write legibly and clearly such that none of the alphabets are misunderstood. Children learn to write individual alphabets and teaching them to blend the various alphabets to form legible words is important. This is possible through cursive writing.

Encouraging children to write is a tough challenge faced by parents and teachers. These days’ children prefer to listen, feel and talk while learning, as compared to the older version of learning and writing. Here are some tips for parents and teachers to help build an interest and improve writing in their children.

1. Introduce them to the world of letters and words by way of stories and simple discussions. This will get them eager to explore reading and writing.

2. Do not force them to write. Let them start writing slowly, but do make it a point to get them to write everyday for a stipulated time.

3. Start with cursive writing from the time they learn to write, because this will help children build on this art, rather than starting afresh later. Give them a board on which they can write using a chalk. This will also help them develop their motor skills.

4. Use books and worksheets specifically designed to help children develop cursive writing in children. Start with words and then gradually move over to sentences.

5. Using ‘one finger space’ method can help them bring about neatness in their work.

Of all the important pointers, sitting upright and proper holding of the writing instrument is important. Parents and teachers need to help them build on their cursive writing skills by taking into consideration their interest, motor skills and the amount of concentration that a child would be able to give. An activity that can go with the writing can lend a helping hand. Time and patience is an important part of developing this skill which parents and teachers need to set aside.

The Advantage of a Christian School

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If you are a parent trying to decide on a private school for your child, you may want to seriously consider sending your child to a Christian school. There are many Christian schools across the country and they are affiliated with many different Christian denominations. Probably the most well-known Christian school is the Catholic school network affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. However, you will find non-denominational Christian schools as well. In our part of the country, the Mennonite church has a large number of Mennonite schools.

Many people erroneously assume that if they are not a Christian that they can not attend a Christian school. Or, that you can’t attend a Christian school of another denomination. This is entirely untrue. Most, if not all, Christian schools accept students of all faiths and beliefs. Some schools may require that you attend a church on a regular basis or attend a church of the same faith. However, most Christian schools only require that you have the same or similar Christian beliefs that they do.

Christian schools are typically priced a little lower than other private schools since they usually are supported by a local church and consider their schools a part of their outreach ministry. Most also offer financial aid to help those who might not otherwise be able to afford private school.

One thing your child will get at a Christian school is an excellent education. Christian schools are held to the same standards as public schools so the classroom time is very similar to public schools. However, Christian schools will also have Bible teaching as part of their curriculum. But you will also find English, Math, Science, Art, Social Studies, History, Home Economics, and other classes that your public school offers. They will also offer many of the same sports such as basketball, field hockey, soccer, track and field and others.

Attending a Christian school is like attending a public school with the added benefit of having Bible teaching. Also, since it is a private school, the class sizes may be smaller and the teaching may be better for this reason. And since Christian schools are run with Biblical principles, discipline problems may be lesser.

5 Tips To Learn The Chinese Language

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Have you been looking for a way to learn the Chinese language as fast as possible? If so, we suggest that you follow the 5 tips given below. Read on.

1. Chinese is Easy to Learn

According to most people, learning Chinese is hard as this language is the most difficult one in the world. This is partially true. As a matter of fact, the writing system of this language is non-alphabetic consisting of tons of pictographs known as “characters”. You have to study and internalize them through constant reading and rote memorization. Aside from this, you have to write in the language over and over again.

The thing is that the language has a very easy grammar to learn. The sentence structure is similar to that of the English language. The verbs have only one form with zero conjugations. Aside from this, Chinese has no gender and no plural forms of nouns. All these things make this language easy to learn.

2. Learn Mandarin

If you have been trying to learn Chinese, you may want to go for Mandarin. This is the most common dialect of Northern China. Aside from this, this is the official language of education, politics and the media in Taiwan and China. Moreover, this is on the list of top languages spoken in Singapore.

In Mainland China, Mandarin means the “common language”. Outside of Mainland, Mandarin is considered the national language. To Chinese students, Mandarin is the easiest of the dialects to learn.

3. Speak first

Since the written Chinese is hard, it’s a good idea that you focus on practice speaking the language first. Once you have done enough practice, your next step is to improve your writing skills, especially if this is your study or business requirement. While it’s a challenge to speak the language, you can master it quickly.

As a matter of fact, the majority of Chinese language apps teach both written and spoken Chinese. So, it’s up to you to choose between the written or spoken Chinese.

4. Learn “simplified” characters

Nowadays, there are two main writing systems in China: “complicated” characters and “simplified characters”. Now, the traditional characters evolve from the classic Chinese pictographs. They were used throughout the history of China. As a matter of fact, they have still been used.

Around 100 years ago, the government of China started promulgating an alternative system of writing known as “simplified” characters in order to add to the written literacy in the country.

Nowadays, simplified characters is considered the official script of China and Singapore. On the other hand, the traditional characters are popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

5. Be Serious

Unlike most of the western languages, learning the Chinese language requires that you have a commitment and perseverance. The reason is that the language doesn’t have linguistic roots in the English language.

So, you should stick to these 5 tips if you want to learn and improve your Chinese. With these tips, you can learn to speak and write the language in a short period of time.

Education For Enterprise Development and Revolution

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This admission by a captain of Nigerian industry confirms the essential suspicion about the quality of education in Africa’s second largest economy. Tangentially, it gestures towards the problems of massive unemployment, brain-drain and manpower shortages that continue to cripple domestic efforts to achieve rapidly sustainable growth. For qualified youths looking for a job, it also explains the prolonged and intensive pre-recruitment tests that Nigerian corporate houses insist on before hiring local talent.

Western education first came to Nigeria with missionaries in the middle of the 19th Century, who set up the country’s first schools. By the time Nigerians declared independence from colonial rule in 1960, there were three distinct education systems in operation: indigenous community training and apprenticeship in rural areas, schools of Islamic learning and finally formal education provided by European-influenced institutions. Although pressure on the formal education system remained intense in the years following, the collapse of global oil prices in the early ’80s forced huge reductions in government spending on education. The outcome was a gradual degradation at all levels of learning, from primary schools to universities, and a corresponding fall in literacy and employment rates. According to a 2005 report, the overall literacy rate had fallen from almost 72% in 1991 to 64% at the end of the last century2. More disturbing facts were put forward by the Employment and Growth Study launched by the Nigerian government and the World Bank’s International Development Agency in 2008. According to this study, unemployment levels remained unfazed between 1999 and 2006 despite a 7% growth of the non-oil economy in the same period3. Moreover, while job opportunities grew corresponding with the labour force, youth unemployment actually showed substantial increase. The report notes accordingly that “Nigeria’s growth performance has not responded to the employment aspirations of its population as a whole”. Despite considerable initiatives in the fields of education and employment generation, one out of five Nigerian adults continues to be unemployed according to some estimates, and only every tenth university graduate ever manages to get a job.

The findings are revelatory in the context of Abuja’s frantic efforts to prioritise educational restructuring as a tool for economic competitiveness. It is also a sad commentary on the efficacy of well-intended but probably token policy initiatives – like the compulsory entrepreneurship training programme for all college graduates ordered by former president O Obsanjo.

While the relative merits of such measures can be debated endlessly, the focus on enterprise is hardly in question. Emerging out of a turbulent economic and political history at the beginning of the new millennium, the civilian leadership in Nigeria was grasped with the formidable challenge of reversing decades of economic stagnation and negative growth trends. Abuja’s answer to accelerated development was vigorous enterprise promotion in the SME space. The government simultaneously embarked on an enthusiastic reforms programme aimed at correcting basic macroeconomic imbalances, eradicating poverty and raising average living standards. To further consolidate national ambitions, it signed the UN Millennial Declaration of 2000 for universal human rights and formally adopted targets to establish Nigeria as one of the top 20 world economies by 2020. With its abundance of natural and human resources, Nigeria is primed to drive an enterprise revolution that will deliver explosive growth and sufficiently diversify the economy beyond its traditional obsession with oil and gas. Education is critical to this scheme of things because of its direct link to productivity, and because the extent of Nigeria’s economic growth is fundamentally dependent on the skills of its workforce.

The following are some of the biggest problems facing Nigerian education:

1. Inadequate infrastructure, manpower and equipment across all levels of education, from primary to tertiary.

2. Under-funding from government, which continues to shrivel resources and stunt growth in the sector.

3. Restrained private participation and almost exclusive dependence on government aid.

4. Issues of responsibility and control due to overlapping federal, state and local government jurisdiction.

5. Insufficient use of information and communication technologies, modern equipment and innovative methods of teaching.

6. Reliance on expatriate faculty in higher educational institutes due to lack of local manpower.

7. Absence of curricula relevant to national manpower requirements and human development goals.

Advisory commissions set up by colonial governments in the early 20th Century were among the first to report basic deficiencies in educational systems across Africa. They noted that the quality of education provided in the continent was singularly detached from the needs and aspiration of local populations. Sadly, that continues to be the problem in Nigeria at least, where the government has been hard put to revamp the education system in line with the MDG and 2020 goals. Because of the time-bound nature of these programmes, Nigeria needs to deliver fast on several counts.

* The government must design broad strategies to revive and develop the education system in tune with socio-economic realities and the country’s long-term growth targets.

* Investment in education has to be substantially enhanced; expenditure models need to be reworked to allow for universal basic education together with effective vocational training.

* A substantial portion of the investment must go for infrastructure development and training and orientation programmes for teachers at all levels.

* Radical transformation of higher education must be achieved with the aim of providing socially relevant skills to unemployed youths in both rural and urban regions.

* Development of sound tertiary institutions to provide quality skills education and training to internationally acceptable standards is vital.

* Government must create conditions for increased participation by the private sector and civil-society organisations in educational reform and execution.

* Effective monitoring and supervision of budgetary allowances in education must be made a priority to ensure accountable utilisation of resources.

In August this year, the present government under President UM Yar’Adua announced that it would declare a state of emergency against unemployment and joblessness by extensively using IT systems and operations to train unemployed Nigerians. Although the assurance of rapid improvement in the employment scenario is spirited, whether Abuja approaches the challenge holistically remains to be seen. The long-term economic growth of this nation of 148 billion people is effectively tied to the skills of its manpower. The question before Nigeria is whether it adequately recognises education as the key to expanding economic opportunities.

Drive Career Results That Are Realistic

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A career should be the job that makes you enjoy getting up in the morning. Unfortunately, as the market continues to flood with candidates, the competition continues to increase. Career resources are abundant, and everywhere you turn you hear about networking events and job fairs. But in this market of competition, is it realistic to continue the search and wait for that ideal career position? Or should you consider finding a transitional job while continuing to look for your ideal career?

Sally was one of those job seekers focusing on her ideal career, yet struggling with the pressure of the I just need a job before it is too late and I lose everything I have mindset. You see, Sally was a banker and most of her career was spent as a VP managing real-estate investments and estate planning. Sally, like so many others, was trying to make a career decision based on her skills, experience and what she read as openings on job boards. She was also influenced by what she was reading in the paper and online. It felt like the marketplace was full of doom and gloom.

Sally was out on the street like everyone else, looking for her next opportunity. But the real question she had was this: Now what do I want to be when I grow up? She laughed at herself as she thought about it and realized that this might be a chance to do something different. Still, in the back of her mind, she thought, Yes, I can do many things, but I need to make at least a six-figure salary! So what Sally was doing was starting with an ideal number in her mind, and then working backward into a career that met her financial criteria.

Sally spent the next six months looking for career opportunities in banking because it was what she had always done and would most likely be able to pay her well. Or, at least that was what she thought.

During the months she was looking for her ideal career, Sally spent some time helping local businesses that she had met and developed a relationship with while she was at the bank. She began doing a little consulting work with these businesses, conducting financial audits, recommending and giving financial advice, and identifying growth opportunities.

What happened next took her by surprise. Sally started bringing in a real income! As word spread about her ability to help local businesses with their financial issues, it did not take long for her to notice an increase in workload and salary. Sally began to make real money, but unfortunately, it still did not reach her six-figure goal. What she realized, though, was that she was applying to her own life the same advice she had given her clients, how to build a solid financial business model! Although she had thought living under a six-figure salary was unrealistic, it simply was not true.

Sally once again looked at what she thought her ideal career was and what she had to have to find out what was realistic. Her conclusion confirmed that it was realistic to live on less than six figures, and, yes, actually be happier!

The following are suggestions that will help you think through what makes up a realistic career for you.

Career Realism No. 1: Look at your financial state. Where do you spend your money and on what? What is really necessary? If you eliminated what is unnecessary, could the starting salary on positions you are seeking be lowered by several thousand dollars per year? Lowering the salary range on positions now opens up new opportunities that may be of interest to you. This does not mean giving up everything. But we all know that we can tend to be excessive. For instance, lower the number of times you eat out each week or repair clothes and shoes as opposed to buying new. Work at making your life simpler.

Career Realism No. 2: What work is really satisfying to you? Sure, you have an expertise in an area, but can this skill be applied in another area or industry? For example, my known skills and the manner in which I work give me the expertise to be a career coach. But they also are skills that could have made me successful in landscaping! Two very different careers, but a skill set that gives me expertise and a work ethic to excel in either. Think outside the box. Where could you apply your skill besides the industry you are currently in?

Career Realism No. 3: Networking, networking, networking! I know I say this a lot, but it is especially true if you want to consider other opportunities, think outside the box and discover where your skills can be used. Talk to people in various industries. Find out what they know and do in their industry and assess if this could be a right career fit for you. Ask them for an introduction to other people that could shed some light when you are investigating the job and culture fit. This is not a job interview, but an informational meeting. Gather information about specific industries that interest you. They will gladly lead you to job opportunities if they know of one. They just might be the one to walk you through the back door of the company. Never ask if they know of an opening.

The challenge for all of us is to not draw conclusions on the ideal career, but to ask ourselves, What else could I do, and what is realistic? The answer is not found in your own reasoning but in fact finding. Sally created an opportunity for herself and now makes, you guessed it, over six figures!

Is your ideal career getting in the way of what is realistic? You might find that what is realistic might be your ideal career. And, yes, you might even be happier!

A Great Eye Exam Is More Than Just a Test!

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As an Optometrist I need to know that I am providing a great eye exam for all of my patients. However, most people have no idea what constitutes a great eye exam and so settle for an inferior test without even knowing it! To the average consumer, one eye exam is pretty much the same as another, but as a practitioner I can assure you there is a radical difference between what some practitioners do and a comprehensive eye exam and vision test.

The Basic Eye Exam

Most eye care professionals can adequately provide a basic eye exam. This involves the measurement of your sight, which we called visual acuity, an assessment of your eye health (retina and eye pressures) as well as the prescription for your glasses. This can be done fairly quickly if necessary, so Optometrists in commercial situations, whose income is directly dependent on the number of eye examinations they perform in a day, tend to stop at this point because they simply do not have the time to go further.

For me as a practitioner, this constitutes the bottom rung on the eye care ladder, and the minimum requirement that any professional can offer.

Eye Health Checks in the Eye Exam

It should also be pointed out that not all eye health checks are the same either! A 10 second look at each retina with an Ophthalmoscope and a quick puff tonometry is all some eye practitioners provide, but I believe that in order to take care of our eyes and visual systems effectively for many years to come, we need to have more than this!

In our practice we not only examine the retinae, but we also photograph the patient’s retinae and optic disks, sometimes in 3D. We check the front of the eye (lids, cornea, lens and iris), examining angles and structures to make sure that everything is healthy. We can also measure macular pigment density for macular degeneration, as well as eye pressure for glaucoma and visual fields, to make sure vision is not being compromised in any area.

Many people do not realise that most eyes disease remains completely unnoticed by the patient until it is too late, so it is important that we run comprehensive and careful eye exams on every patient be they old or young.

The Missing Element of the Eye Exam

One element of an eye exam often overlooked by patients involves the Optometrist interpreting the figures and measurements taken to offer the best visual strategies and solutions going forward. It is not enough to simply churn out what your instruments have measured, because each person’s visual requirements are unique and need to be thoroughly investigated.

For example, a truck driver may require multifocals to drive and fill out forms, but these will be different than the multifocals required by a teacher who spends most of their day looking at books. A surgeon may need a specific design of multifocal, different to what a housewife and mother needs. A student who is not long or short sighted may require reading lenses to help them sustain their focus and eye coordination for long hours of study.

The oftentimes missing element of the eye exam is the optometrist talking to the patient, discovering what they use their eyes for in their day, and tailoring the exact lenses to suit their purposes. It takes a little more time on the practitioner’s part, but I believe that this practice yields great fruit in many thousands of happy patients getting the very best out of their eyes and vision.

As an Optometrist who cares about his patients and takes pride in a job well done, I need to know that I have offered the very best to my patients. So if you are due for an eye examination don’t compromise your eye health and don’t battle with your eyes as you live each day at work or play. Visit a practitioner who will perform a great eye exam, and get the best from your eyes for years to come!

Life Coaching – Myth Or Reality?

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Is life coaching effective for getting my life on track? Isn’t that like therapy? I’m not depressed why would I need a life coach? What’s a life coach?

These are some of the questions that you will discover in this article. There’s a general misconception that life coaching is a form of therapy and that like it’s far cousin one has to be going through emotional distress to even consider seeking out a coach. You go sit on a long, reclined couch to discuss your problems until you can move yourself forward to resolve the challenge you might be experience at the time.

Coaching has nothing to do with your past experiences, what your parents did or did not do, neither does it have anything to do with a failed marriage 10 years ago that is holding you back from dating. In fact coaching doesn’t really care about anything else then right now.

There are as many different styles of coaching as there are different type of personalities. Coaching discovers where you are at the present moment, goes through a deep exploration of who you are, finding your strengths and putting them in practice to the extreme.

Most people are held back due to fears, this is where coaching reigns supreme, rather then push it aside or ignoring it, the coaching process works with you to uncover the origin of the fear within your mind to dissolve it, and therefore achieve your maximum potential. It provides a road map to your destination, establishing mile markers along the road and most importantly an accountability system to stay on track.

The most important thing about the process is the coaches ability to actively listen, identify hidden obstacles in your psychology, the word judgment does not exists in the coaching practice, everyone is exactly where they should be right now based on the information they currently have in their mind.

Have you ever talked to a friend about a challenge you might have? Have you noticed how eager they are about giving you advice and tell you what you should do, even when you haven’t finished sharing your story? People can only give advice based on their own interpretation of reality and where they are in their lives. Coaching works with you to find your own answers based on your background and skills. Thinking of it as a sports coach who helps each athlete perform at their best of their own ability. That is coaching.

If you are experiencing depression or anxiety coaching may not the path for you. However a combination of therapy and coaching has been known to be an effective combination. Here are some examples of related coaching practices:

Relationship coaching
Marketing coaching
Business coaching
Executive coaching
Health coaching

And so on. Many coaches offer free discovery sessions to experience the process and identify if coaching could be of a value in your life. I encourage you to take advantage of it and find out for yourself.

Developing Cursive Writing in Children

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Writing is one of the important methods of communication and as such it is required to be clear and legible to the reader. There are many times when we have come across writing which is illegible or untidy, making reading an annoying experience. Writing clearly and impressively is an art which one develops over a period of time and childhood forms a base for this impressive art.

Children of the modern world learn to write in kindergarten and are expected to write sentences by the time they are in Class 1. This puts immense pressure on teachers, parents and the child to write legibly and clearly such that none of the alphabets are misunderstood. Children learn to write individual alphabets and teaching them to blend the various alphabets to form legible words is important. This is possible through cursive writing.

Encouraging children to write is a tough challenge faced by parents and teachers. These days’ children prefer to listen, feel and talk while learning, as compared to the older version of learning and writing. Here are some tips for parents and teachers to help build an interest and improve writing in their children.

1. Introduce them to the world of letters and words by way of stories and simple discussions. This will get them eager to explore reading and writing.

2. Do not force them to write. Let them start writing slowly, but do make it a point to get them to write everyday for a stipulated time.

3. Start with cursive writing from the time they learn to write, because this will help children build on this art, rather than starting afresh later. Give them a board on which they can write using a chalk. This will also help them develop their motor skills.

4. Use books and worksheets specifically designed to help children develop cursive writing in children. Start with words and then gradually move over to sentences.

5. Using ‘one finger space’ method can help them bring about neatness in their work.

Of all the important pointers, sitting upright and proper holding of the writing instrument is important. Parents and teachers need to help them build on their cursive writing skills by taking into consideration their interest, motor skills and the amount of concentration that a child would be able to give. An activity that can go with the writing can lend a helping hand. Time and patience is an important part of developing this skill which parents and teachers need to set aside.