Keeping Promises

Teacher: Didn’t you promise to behave?
Student: Yes, Sir.
Teacher: And didn’t I promise to punish you if you didn’t?
Student: Yes, Sir, but since I broke my promise, I don’t expect you to keep yours.

Best Online Resources for Students By Syed Talal

These days internet has become an invaluable resources for students. There’s no question that these days students can further their academic success by appropriate use of it.
But due to the sheer vastness of the Internet, finding relevant information can be a bit of a challenge as well as time consuming unless you know exactly what you’re looking for.
So here I present various resources of use to a student that I have come across.

Library.nu:
Link: http://library.nu/
The new home of Gigapedia, which hosted the biggest collection of e-books relating to any subject imaginable on the internet. It has always been of great help to me since one can find almost any textbook or solution manuals on it.
It also has novels, autobiographies. In short, if you need an e-book, this should be your first stop. The site requires registration to search for documents though. Most of the files are hosted on rapidshare, hotfile, ifile.it etc.

Free Ebook spot:
Link: http://www.freebookspot.biz/
On the rare occasion when you cant find a specific ebook on Library.nu, chances are free ebook spot has it. Between these two sites, I have found almost every book and novel I have ever searched for.

MIT OCW:
Link: http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
Its an online project started by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which is one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Basically, selected courses (being offered at MIT) are available here. There are lecture notes, quizzes, their solutions and even videos of the lectures delivered in the class rooms.
Students can access all the content for free and without registration.

Yale OCW:
Link: http://oyc.yale.edu/
The principle is same as OCW offered by MIT, but the range of topics in the introductory courses available here, are related more to the arts.

Cramster:
Link: http://www.cramster.com/
Cramster is basically a community of students and professors etc, who offer help with studies. They have step by step solutions to many textbooks and there’s an community of experts who answer any questions you might have as well as guide you with your problems.
Catch is, its not free. You can register for free but free members get limited access to the resources, but in most cases its adequate, specially when coupled up with the above sites.

All Free Essays:
Link: http://www.allfreeessays.com/
This site offers free access to thousands of essays, reports and papers written by students from all over the world.

Simple English Wikipedia:
Link: http://simple.wikipedia.org
No doubt Wikipedia is an invaluable source of information. But sometimes the language in which it is written can a bit too technical. Which makes it difficult to understand for people whose first language isn’t English.
So here’s the alternative. Simple English Wikipedia is the same as Wikpedia but all the articles are written in easy to understand English.

Khan Academy:
Link: http://www.khanacademy.org/
Khan Academy aims to be a world class education to anyone, anywhere and it does that by providing video lectures of thousands of topics from all subjects.
The quality of the lectures provided here is simply superb. An easy to understand approach is given to every topic. If you are having issues with any topic, specially from Mathematics and Physics, I highly recommend Khan Academy.

DogPile:
Link: http://www.dogpile.com/
Dogpile lists all results from the four major search engines namely, Google, Bing, Yahoo! and Ask. So its a far more effective tool for finding relevant information. It has a ton of features including side by side comparison of search engines etc. Check it out for yourself.

Microsoft OneNote:
Link: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote/
OneNote is one of the best notetaking softwares I’ve come across for a long time. It has brilliant features like adding images, audio clip, free hand drawings etc to your notes. Its not free, but then again, we Pakistanis are not known for the massive profits we provide to the companies. For a free alternative check out EverNote. Its equally capable, if not better.

By the we recently did a list of must have iPhone apps for students. You can check the list here.

You are welcome to share links that you have found useful in the comments section.

Source:  ProPakistani.pk
 ·http://propakistani.pk/2011/01/21/best-online-resources-for-students/#comments
Friday, Jan 21, 2011

Laptop Vs Mobile Phone for School Girls, which is better? Samia Adnan

Many of the students are using mobile phones and some insist in having a laptop too, so should they have both or any one of these gadgets but which one of the two is better for them?

The school going girls are not mentally matured, thus they are more attracted and inclined towards the social evils and immoral activities. They do not like taking guidance from their elders and like to undergo different experiences themselves.

Mobile Phones Can Easily Get Un-noticed: They can easily take their mobile phones with them at school and tuition centres – unnoticed by their parents. They should only own a mobile phone when they get really mature enough to use them properly. I think girls should not be allowed to have a mobile phone until they reach to 14 grade (Graduation).

School have Strictly Prohibited Mobile Phones: Almost all the schools in Pakistan have implemented policies that prohibit using mobile phones in school. They even rusticate those girls who are found with the mobile phone. Many girls bring their SIM card instead of a mobile phone and they use their SIM on a mobile phone brought by one of their classmates. Therefore, school administration and parents should make sure that the girls do not have a SIM card with them – they should check them and their belongings (books, school bag, hair bands, water-bottle, lunch box etc.). Now many of you might be thinking that how their daughters and sisters can contact home if they are away – simple – they can make a call with the permission of their school administration via school’s landline number. Many girls use the mobile phones in washrooms.

SMS/MMS: Many school students are addicted to the SMS service . Some also send their pictures via SMS to the opposite gender – especially when they have made friends in co-ed schools and tuition academies. According to a survey the most text messages are sent by teenagers. Texting can also have adverse affects on one’s health.

Wastage of Time: The students waste their valuable time in sending and reading text messages, playing mobile games, use mobile applications – instead of wasting that time in their studies. Mobile Cellular companies are also introducing ‘Youth Packages’ and SMS-bundles offers to promote their business and indirectly spoiling the youngsters. The students are seen messaging and calling late nights as they have subscribed to these packages. Parents should make sure that their children have a mobile phone and if they have then make them use post-pay package so that parents can monitor on their daughters.

Use of Laptop for doing the School Homework: Laptop is a better for school girls as they can compose their assignments and search for the materials for their assignments from the internet. Not only this, they can have a record of their assignments in their laptop. The laptop will also help them in making PowerPoint slides to aid them in their classroom presentations.

Observe School-going Children when they Use their Laptop: Laptop is better for school going girls because – if they do not have a mobile phone they would not be able to give their mobile phone numbers to boys and strangers – is it that simpel? No! they can communicate via internet too. It is the duty of the parents that they observe their activities on the internet and disallow them to make accounts on the social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, MSN Live Spaces, Hi5, Friendster and Orkut etc. School going girls (boys too) should not be allowed use on the Instant Messengers and visit websites with Chat feature and web-messengers. As many school students trick their parents and even school staff by using web-messengers – as they can be used without being installed on the system. Parents should make sure that the girls do not upload their photographs on any website or given their contact details or information, as some girls join different discussion forums too. Parents and school Computer Lab Dept should install programs like NetNanny www.netnanny.com and Spector Pro etc. in the computers, to keep a check on the and restrict their activities by blocking some websites that are not fit for them – including Social Networking websites and YouTube etc.

Also read:

• Teens with Cell Phones, Schools & Parents annoyed
• India: Unmarried Girls can’t Use Mobile
• Teenagers Sending 3,339 SMS/Month
• College Students Use Mobile Phones in Classroom

Have a Blast in Biology Class!

Ask the average student to name the most boring class and 7 out of 10 are likely to name biology and chemistry. That could change radically in a couple of months when an online interactive education game that is currently in the final phase of development by a team of biologists and computer programmers in the United States, is ready.

Meta!Blast, a real-time 3D action-adventure game promises to put students in the pilot's seat, allowing him or her to shrink down to microscopic size and explore the vivid, dynamic world of a soybean plant cell spinning out of control. One can interact with numerous characters, fight off plant pathogens, and discover just how important plants are to the survival of the human race. The goal of the application is to dynamically illustrate modern concepts in cell and metabolic biology, prepare students for their public role, and stimulate students to join the biological and medical teaching and research professions.

"The interactive software module on cell biology will immerse students in a three-dimensional, biologically-accurate plant cell. Biological concepts will be parsed into student tasks, while keeping these in the context of the whole environment. Meta!Blast will combine simulation technology with accurate biological information, allowing students to explore and interact with a cell to discover concepts such as cellular energetics, gene function, cellular defenses against pathogens, and the consequences of compartmentalization. The application will dynamically illustrate modern concepts in cell and metabolic biology, prepare students for their public role, and stimulate students to join biological and medical teaching and research," said Eve Syrkin Wurtele from department of genetics, development and cell biology at Iowa State University, who is leading the project to make cell-biology a fun-to-learn experience.

Wurtele was in Kolkata to give a talk on A green world of biological network and plants: Turning Air to Oil' to students at the Birla Industrial & Technological Museum, Kolkata. She has been touring the country to interact with students and teachers to get them interested in microbiology and make them aware of Meta!Blast that would be available for use in classrooms and homes soon.

Meta!Blast will provide a medium a dynamic virtual cell that lends itself to the comprehension of cell biology. Building and populating an accurate 3D representation of a plant cell was a huge challenging and the team spanned numerous disciplines with faculty and students in biology, art, computer science, music, and game design constructed the compelling and accurate virtual cell. The game will be tested by 5,000 students in 20 high schools in Iowa and Mississippi in the next semester before being released worldwide.

"Knowledge of cellular structure and function has increased dramatically with the advent of modern molecular and computational technologies. Helping students understand cellular dynamics is a major challenge to educators. Meta!Blast will contain virtual plant cell containing a prototype chloroplast in which students can enter, activate light reactions, including electron excitation, and create molecular oxygen and ATP," she said.

Wurtele has been researching metabolic networks in plants and how they can be regulated to manipulate the levels of valuable compounds both natural ones already available in plants and add different genes to create new compounds. "Plants produce a wide range of nutrition, energy, industrial materials, fibre, medicines, flavours and fragrances and designer compounds. We are trying to develop a small molecule that can be used by chemical industry to replace the molecules derived from petroleum," Wurtele added.

Source: Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Have-a-blast-in-biology-class-with-virtual-game/articleshow/7007084.cms

Three books on language

Environmentalists are alarmed by the rapid decline of biodiversity over the last century, with species becoming extinct at a rate that outpaces science's ability to discover, let alone study, them. The same is true of languages the world over. A 2007 study by the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages painted a dire picture, identifying five "hotspots" (eastern Siberia, northern Australia, central South America, Oklahoma and the U.S. Pacific Northwest) where languages are vanishing at a pace that outstrips that of species extinction. So what's to blame? Colonialism, technology, industrialization, the (gulp) English language itself? All of them, actually.

1 The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World's Most Endangered Languages, by K. David Harrison (National Geographic, $27). A linguist at Swarthmore College, K. David Harrison helped conduct that 2007 survey. This chronicle is as much an homage to noble elders who often struggle to surmount indifference in their own communities as it is an op-ed by the author, who sounds the alarm among a skeptical public, and even other scientists, about the incalculable loss posed by a language's extinction.

2 The English Is Coming! How One Language is Sweeping the World, by Leslie Dunton-Downer (Touchstone, $24). Fascinated since childhood by words (especially compound ones), the author aims to decipher something much more complex: the entire English language. Today, with more nonnative speakers than native ones, English has become the world's lingua franca, the preferred choice in entertainment, science, business and (much to the chagrin of the French) diplomacy. We're given a tour of English's remarkable rise from its Anglo-Saxon roots through the Renaissance (and all the words Shakespeare added to the lexicon) to Modern English and the 21st century's texting variety. Chockablock with facts, figures and interesting tidbits, this is no stodgy history lesson.

3 Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages, by Guy Deutscher (Metropolitan, $28). The thrust of this title, that language does indeed mirror culture, is one of the arguments that linguist Harrison makes for preserving language diversity. Guy Deutscher confidently asserts that a language influences how its users perceive the world. The book is a thrilling and challenging ride, and in the end you may find yourself agreeing with Frenchman Étienne de Condillac that "each language expresses the character of the people who speak it."



-- Christopher Schoppa

Leads University U.K Issues iPhone to Medical Students

 

Leeds University UK is issuing iPhone 3GS models to its students within the Department of Medicine for learning purposes. The devices will be used to complete assessments and to access various course materials.

This will be the first time that a UK medical school has provided undergraduates with all the tools they need to study off-campus via mobile phone technology. According to the University, the provision of tools such as an iPhone 3GS to the students in the fourth or fifth years makes sense because in their final years students spend extensive time off campus, working in hospitals and clinics which makes it difficult for them to maintain regular contact with teachers.

Access to Medical Mobile Applications: According to Professor David Cottrell, Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds: “Copies of key medical textbooks and reference works, including up-to-date guidelines on administering prescription drugs, will also be distributed as iPhone apps. A range of other relevant medical mobile applications that can be downloaded free-of-charge or purchased will be provided too. This is a fantastic scheme and one that Leeds should be proud of. By equipping our students with smartphones, we are putting a whole suite of training tools and educational resources in the palm of their hand.

Also read:

• ‘iStethoscope’ – iPhone Application to Monitor Heartbeat
• Nike Releases GPS Mobile Application for iPhone
• “H’andy Sana” Mobile phone to Record & Send ECGs

iPhone Applications that Students Must Have

There’s no doubt that the largest number of mobile phone applications are being developed for the iPhone – this brilliant gadget from Apple has revolutionized the way we use a mobile phone.

While the BlackBerry may have the highest worldwide sales, but when it comes to students, the iPhone rules! If a student can afford a smartphone, you can bet that he or she is going to buy iPhone, if not for its cool looks and utility value, then at least for the many mobile applications that are designed exclusively to make a student’s life more exciting and productive.

Lets take a look at a few iPhone mobile applications for students:

1. Jott: This mobile application allows you to voice record your lectures and then transcribe them to your notepad. This is surely a great way to take note. You can email these files to yourself, in order to have a whole set of notes ready to study when the examination time is near.
2. Stay Organized with ‘iStudiez Pro’: A college student’s life is haphazard with all that’s going on with them, they find it hard to stay organized. This smashing mobile application allows you to organize your classes, homework, exam schedules, assignment due dates and your social calendar in one place – now you don’t have to carry all this information in your head and kick yourself for forgetting that important date or having to rush to meet that assignment deadline.
3. Wikipanion: Wikipedia on the web is brought to your mobile phone. This mobile application makes a quick reference that much easier when you’re on the go. This mobile application is free; however, if you want one with more features, you can buy it for $4.99.
4. Dictionary.com: With this mobile application you don’t have to worry about finding the right spelling or meaning of a word anymore – it provides access to more than 275,000 definitions and 80,000 synonyms.
5. eTextbooks for iPhone: Buying textbooks when you’re in college is not a joke – you seem to be shelling out all your money for the huge tomes that you must have. With your iPhone you have the chance to buy eTextbooks – which are not only easy to carry around on your mobile phone, but you can also read them wherever you are and raise your productivity.
6. iTalk Recorder: This app will let you record notes or anything else you want to remember.
7. Margins: This iphone application is an ideal tool for students or researchers. It allows users to jot down notes about books, indicating the page and quote as well as your note.
8. Assignments: Assignments is an application that, as the name implies, allows you to keep track of your assignments and classes. This is perfect for both teachers and students that need to keep track of assignments in each class. Not only can you add an assignment with a due date/time and importance, but you can also add recordings. Being able to make a voice recording of your assignment is a quick way to make a reminder, etc. The “Overview” tab allows you to see anything upcoming or due. You can sort by “All” or “Due Soon.” You can also search through your assignments. In the “Assignments” tab, you can view all assignments sorted by class. The “Notes” section allows you to quickly jot a note, add a title, and add a date/time. Overall, this mobile application performs smoothly and works well when adding/deleting assignments and classes. Assignments sells for $5.99 (US) at the iTunes App Store.
9. ezMemorize: Improve your memorization skills with this app that allows you to make and store class notes.
10. iBlueSky: This mind-mapping tool can help you get your thoughts organize and decide what to do next.
11. SnapTell: This is a very useful mobile application when it comes to finding cheap and affordable textbooks (or any other book or CD or DVD) – just take a photo of the cover and it provides a list of prices and sellers along with their location.
12. Accela Study Vocab Builder: Students studying for the GRE or GMAT will appreciate this tool that allows them to study anywhere and anytime.
13. Sugar Sync: With this application you’ll be able to sync up your files on your computer and your iPhone.
14. Wi-Fi Finder: This free mobile application enables you to find Wi-Fi hotspots, thus saving you money on your data plan and allowing you to browse the internet for free.
15. Instapaper: Many students run out of time when they have to browse the internet in search of some information for their assignment or examination. This mobile application allows you to save websites in a format that is easy to read on your mobile phone. This mobile application also facilitates offline browsing and bookmarking.
16. WordPress: With this mobile app you’ll be able to blog from anywhere, share your ideas and make sure your site stays updated. Great for students and web workers alike.
17. Urban-spoon: This mobile application helps you find cost-effective food outlets within a half-mile radius of your college/university campus. So now, with this mobile application you can eat to your heart’s content without the worry of your wallet getting lighter!
18. Melodies Voice Dialer: Using this application you won’t need to dial your phone anymore, just say the name of the person you want to call and you’re good to go.
19. VoiceNotes: VoiceNotes is a plain and simple way to quickly record a quick note, or even a lecture (just make sure you have enough space on your iPhone). Tapping on “Quick Voice Note” will start recording immediately, but is limited as to the length of the recording. If you tap on the + button at the top, you will be given more recording length. Voice-notes allows you to sync notes back to your computer using some additional software provided by the developer. Overall, this is a solid app and can definitely be used for the quick “remember to bring these books to class tomorrow” voice notes. You can download Voice-notes for free from the iTunes App Store.
20. A2ZPro: A2ZPro is a super-converter of an application, perfect for anyone in the math or science fields- or just anyone who needs to figure out how many cups are in a quart after all. There are 154 things between which you can convert, and you can add any one that’s not already included. You can customize the list to your liking, and all the converting you could need is right in front of you.
21. iClckr: PowerPoint Remote: Whether you’re presenting for school or work, this tool can help make the process seamless with slide changing capabilities right on your iPhone.
22. LockBox: Don’t let your personal information get out to identity thieves. This mobile application helps make sure info like passwords and credit card numbers stays secure.
23. Remember The Milk: This iPhone application lets you add, edit, and manage your tasks either on or offline. The best part, particularly for students, is the “Nearby” feature- you can view all the tasks, errands, etc. that take place near wherever you currently are. It’s perfect for anyone who’s mobile, but still needs to be able to get things done.
24. Stanza: With Stanza, you’ll have an e-book reader available right on your iPhone. You can download books, either for a fraction of their print price or often nothing at all, and read them at your leisure, right from your iPhone. There is a huge, and growing, list of books to read- both school-like and otherwise. With Stanza, you might not need a Kindle, an eReader, or anything else!

Besides these mobile applications, there are many other mobile applications for the iPhone which are specially designed for students. So of you want more mobile applications for your iPhone you can browse the iTunes store or even Getjar to find what you need.

• With ‘EdServ’ Students can get Answers on Mobile Phones