Page 25 - Education Guide

Tips for grads considering studying abroad

tudy abroad programs only a handful of students.
give students unique Large programs provide a built-
opportunities to experi- in social network, and students
S ence other cultures may feel safer exploring for-
while pursuing their degrees. eign cities in large groups made
Such programs appeal to stu- up of fellow students than go- EDUCATION
dents who want to see the ing it alone or traveling in small
world without interrupting their groups.
studies, and many students who
study abroad develop an affin- Documentation
ity for travel that remains with Students should speak with
them for the rest of their lives. program directors about the GUIDE
When considering studying documentation they may need
abroad programs or attending to make the most of their time
college overseas, recent high overseas. CEA Study Abroad
school graduates or current Metro Creative Connection recommends that students bring
high school students should Studying abroad can be a very rewarding experience for young students, who photocopies of all important
consider a few factors before must consider a host of factors before committing to a program. documents, including pass-
committing to a program. ports, driver’s licenses, airline
guage spoken in the country term commitment to living and tickets, health insurance cards,
Language barrier where they will be studying. studying there. and student identification cards,
Students, particularly those with them when studying over-
who are not fluent in a foreign Life overseas Program size seas. This protects students
language, may find it easier to Students who want to attend The safety in numbers phi- should their wallets or back-
live in countries where English school full-time overseas may losophy is applicable for all packs be lost or stolen while
is the primary language. While benefit by first studying travelers, but it can be espe- they’re overseas. Students also VIEW
study abroad students can ex- through a study abroad pro- cially beneficial for young should include a list of any
pect to work with professors gram before committing to a students studying abroad. Stu- medical conditions or medica- SPECIAL
who speak English regardless two- or four-year program in dents may feel more safe and tions they take among their THIS
of where they go, life outside another country. This gives comfortable when signing up documentation and include
the classroom can be difficult students a chance to get a feel for programs that include many their emergency contact infor-
for young students who do not for a country and its culture and students as opposed to more mation on this list. ADVERTISING
understand the primary lan- lifestyle before making a long- exclusive programs that include Metro Creative Connection EDUCATION
Mobile devices and their place in the classroom

Mobile phones are ubiqui- cited boredom and staying phones can hinder their ability GUIDE SECTION
tous. Most people would admit connected to the outside world to pay attention in school when OF
that they’d rather leave home as motivating factors. phones are not being used in ONLINE
without their wallets than with- Until recently, many schools conjunction with their lessons. THE
out their phones. According to implemented strict policies Schools vary in their rules
statistics provider Smart In- regarding mobile phones in regarding mobile phone usage AT
sights, 80 percent of internet school. Some forbade students in the classroom. Some schools MORNING
users own a smartphone, while from carrying them on campus. let teachers decide, while oth-
more than 50 percent of mobile Many schools are now realizing ers have more liberal policies.
phone users admit to reaching the ways students can harness The following are some ideas CALL
for their phones first thing the technology of mobile for broaching the subject.
when they wake up. phones in creative and innova- ■ Research educational apps.
Since more than 90 percent tive methods. Plus, as smart- A number of apps and websites Metro Creative Connection SUNDAY,
of today’s teenagers own a phone capabilities continue to are educational. Whether stu- Teachers can look at ways to harness
phone, schools are forced to evolve, educators are increas- dents are connecting via a the power of mobile phone technology
find ways to include mobile ingly recognizing the potential phone, laptop or tablet, these in the classroom. THEMORNINGCALL.COM/SPECIALSECTIONS
phones in the classroom with- of educational apps and how applications can encourage stay on task while on mobile
out having them overshadow they can be used in the class- class participation. Some apps phones when the teacher roams FEBRUARY 18,
lessons or distract students. room. can report students’ progress to the classroom to keep an eye on
A University of Nebraska- Using mobile phones in the teachers in real time. Re- phone activity.
Lincoln study of 777 students classroom for educational pur- mind101 is an app that can text ■ Cut down on tech expenses.
at six American universities poses also may cut down on reminders for assignments and Not every school can afford to 2018
found that the average respond- how much the phones are used tests to students. give each student a laptop or
ent used a digital device for for nonschool purposes, such as ■ Teachers can monitor dili- have 20 to 30 tablets in the
nonclass purposes 10.93 times texting or checking social me- gently. The image of teachers classroom. When students
during a typical school day. dia. According to data pub- standing in the front of the embrace BYOT (Bring Your
Students’ activities included lished in the journal Computers classroom lecturing is becom- Own Technology), teachers can
texting, social networking and & Education, 80 percent of ing more and more obsolete. maximize resources.
emailing. Many respondents students admit that mobile It’s easier to guide students to Metro Creative Connection 25