Finding Tutoring Jobs In Katy TX

Finding Tutoring Jobs In Katy TXWith the various districts and schools in Katy, TX providing a wide variety of tutoring services, there are several sources for searching for these positions. It is important to make a list of all of the available job opportunities before choosing a position to pursue.Visit the district's website for more information about jobs offered in the area. A district's website provides a detailed listing of all available positions for those students who are looking for more information about tutoring. The district's website also has descriptions of the different positions that are available, along with an online application.Another method of finding tutoring positions in Katy TX is by using a local job directory. Most job listings in this directory are by district or school officials. Job listings from this directory are updated daily.If you have not already applied for any positions with a district or school in Katy TX, it is a good idea to write down all of the hiring policies to make sure that you understand what you are expected to do upon hire. It is a good idea to have some experience working with students to ensure that you are hired appropriately for the position.Many districts in Texas have not yet filled their positions for upcoming classes. If you have an opportunity to fill a position, it is important to apply for the position as soon as possible. Carefully research the available jobs on the district's website to make sure that you have made a positive impression on the hiring manager.Districts and schools in Katy TX are trying to provide student tutors with excellent teaching environments. Working with students at all levels helps them learn better by allowing them to get the help they need when they need it.The district and schools in Katy TX have realized that teaching kids how to do math, reading, spelling, and writing takes more than one teacher's attention. Using the internet to find tutoring jobs can provide a great ad vantage when you are trying to find a position in Katy TX.

Are Border Fences Americas Only Hope at Halting Illegal Immigration

Are Border Fences America's Only Hope at Halting Illegal Immigration Despite spending over $4 billion on border fencing, 1,300 miles of the US-Mexico Border remains open to defectors. The majority of illegal immigrants entering the United States do so through the country’s southern border from Mexico, a boundary stretching almost 2,000 miles from California to Texas.   As of February 2012, the United States has constructed 651 miles of fencing along the US-Mexican border, covering just over 33% of the total length of the boundary. A U.S Government Accountability Office report in 2011 found the U.S Border Patrol had “operational control” of 873 miles of the US-Mexico border, but with over 50% of the international border unprotected by fencing and more than $4.5 billion spent constructing more fences in the past five years, are fences America’s best option at halting illegal immigration? Lower estimates derived from recent fencing projects implemented by U.S Border Control put the cost of one mile of fencing at roughly $16 million. With 1,300 miles still fenceless and open to Mexican defectors, estimates show the total cost of fencing the remaining border at over $22 billion, a figure which does not take into account land acquisition costs or fence maintenance. As more illegal immigrants enter the United States, the idea of a physical border is becoming less and less pragmatic during times of economic recovery, but what other options does the United States government have to stop illegal immigration? The increase in drone and UAV aircrafts by the U.S military in recent years sheds light on a new option to beef up border security. Currently the United States has roughly 680 drones, 172 of which are Predator drones, an unmanned aircraft which is used for air-to ground combat, surveillance and intelligence all over the world;  however, the weapons on the aircraft can be removed. Drone usage has been on the rise by the military as the United States gathers more information on potential national security threats, with the added benefit being that drones eliminate the loss of human life when gathering intelligence. A U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle.Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Stanley Thompson Predator drones cost a little over $4 million per aircraft, but recent technology has drastically improved their ability to see a full picture of the area they are scanning. The development of the ARGUS sensor (Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance) by multinational defense company BAE Systems brings UAV surveillance to levels never seen before. The ARGUS sensor can be mounted on any Predator drone and is equipped with 368 cell phone cameras, enabling the sensor to mold together a 1.8 billion pixel video that spans fifteen square miles. With the highest quality video ever produced available to Predator drone operators in real time, the ARGUS sensor has the ability to pinpoint every moving human being in the fifteen square mile area with colored squares, zooming close enough to watch a solitary bird soar across the sky. Surveillance of the remaining open regions of the U.S-Mexico border could be conducted with the use of just under 100 Predator drones, each equipped with an ARGUS sensor. The cost of manufacturing the necessary drones hovers around $400 million, less than 2% of the lowest estimate cost of constructing fencing on the rest of the United States’ southern border. While the estimated total cost of manufacturing the Predator drones needed does not take into account the cost of the ARGUS sensors and drone operators, Predator drones clearly are winning the battle of the most cost-effective options to sure up America’s southern border and put a stop to illegal immigration.

4 Things Job Rejection Teaches You

4 Things Job Rejection Teaches You pexels.com The wonderful thing about rejection letters, as ironic as that sounds, is that they can teach you something maybe not a lesson you want to learn, but in the end, you can use that rejection as something to strengthen you for next time. Perhaps that job wasn’t meant for you or just maybe there is something you could have done better that would have made you a more sought after candidate. You thought your personal statement was great, but maybe it needed a second layer of proofreading. Even rejection can teach you something. 1. Don’t be a fake: Sometimes we go into job interviews pretending to be something that we aren’t. We pretend to be something that the employer would want. Believe me, dedication is a good thing, but lying isn’t. Ultimately, that’s what you are doing. You aren’t being yourself; you are being someone that you think they would like. That can only mean that if they hire you, they aren’t hiring you for you, but for the person that they think you are. Do you think you can pull off that façade for the duration you hold that job? I don’t think so. And honestly, why would you? Be you and if they don’t like you, then the job wasn’t meant for you. Period. 2. Confidence is key: Interviewing can be intimidating, to say the least. You can clam up, go blank when asked a question, stutter, start sweating (a lot), etc. When you are about to go into the interview, take deep breaths and tell yourself you can do this. Confidence is one thing that every employer likes in their employees. They want to know that you know what you are talking about and that you honestly believe in your abilities to do the work. I think they can live with some slight intimidation, but remember that they were in your shoes once and if they are a good employer, they want you to just feel good about yourself fully. 3. Improvement, improvement, improvement: As I said earlier, what you think is perfect may not be as perfect as you think. Maybe your resume needed a bit of a touch-up or maybe you should have elaborated more when they asked you about your past experience. Maybe you should have remembered to take that negative about yourself and turn it into strength somehow. Everything can do with some improvement, even when you think it’s perfect. If you get a rejection, sometimes employers are willing to let you know how you can improve for another interview you may have. You have already been rejected by the company, so what do you have to lose by asking them how you could improve? 4. Rejection: the silent blessing: Lastly, sometimes rejection could quite possibly be the best thing that ever happened to you. Did you ever think that maybe that company just wasn’t right for you? You could have been miserable there and wanted to quit immediately. Sometimes things happen to us and we realize that certain jobs would have gotten in the way of what’s happening at the moment. You never know, so try to move on and move forward with life, putting rejections behind you.

Certified teachers 5 reasons why you should try online teaching (and where to start)

Certified teachers 5 reasons why you should try online teaching (and where to start) Got your teaching license? Want to make some extra cash and build a whole new set of teaching skills for the future? If you do, that’s awesome. And this also happens to be the exact article for you, so be sure to keep reading. Here’s how to decide if online teaching is right for you You might have heard about other licensed teachers who’ve made the decision to work from home - or even to take their teaching careers on the road altogether - by teaching online. Or, you may have read about the many qualified educators who opt to teach English online while looking for their next classroom teaching job. If you’ve done even a little research on the topic, you’ll probably already know that online teaching is also a great part-time option for lots of different types of qualified teachers. Here’s just a sampling: Working teachers looking to supplement their existing salary. Education graduates who have yet to land their first classroom teaching gig. Teacher retirees (and supply teachers) looking to earn some money on the side. Takeaway: Regardless of your current working situation, teaching online is both lucrative and chock full of potential for certified teachers, regardless of your subject expertise or experience level. And the career option with perhaps the brightest future for qualified educators right now is - drumroll please - teaching English online. Teaching English online: The hottest job for North American educators As we’ve mentioned on the Teach Away blog a time or two, there’s really no way to overstate the almost mind-boggling growth happening in the global online English teaching sector right now. This is, in no small part, due to the huge growth in China’s online English education industry. Fueled by the surge in demand for English language lessons delivered by North American teachers, online English teaching platforms like VIPKID, are currently ramping up hiring for a large number of teachers who hold a US or Canadian teaching license. We’ve covered the benefits of teaching English online for graduates of all majors before, There are, however, some specific perks of the job are well worth talking about if you’re a certified teacher. The pros of teaching online if you’re a licensed teacher 1. Freedom One big pro - if not the biggest - is that you can teach at home - or anywhere in the world, really. Balancing online teaching alongside a full-time teaching job is surprisingly straightforward. And getting started is easy - you just need the essentials, like a working computer/laptop, webcam, a solid internet connection, mic and headset. Some additional props you might want to use you’ll likely already have lying around, like a whiteboard and flashcards. For those contemplating turning teaching online into a long-term career, it’s totally normal to worry about missing the buzz of the staffroom. Seeing colleagues each day provides much-needed inspiration, a sounding board and support base for educators. Luckily, online English teaching companies like VIPKID are home to an amazing community of teachers. On the VIPKID forum, you’ll be able to get advice and support on pretty much anything related to teaching online. Recommended reading: Are you ready to teach online? 2. Money The pay can be quite lucrative, especially if you possess a teaching license. Qualified teachers command the highest hourly rate and are in huge demand at English tutoring companies like VIPKID. By teaching as little as three hours a day, you could earn as much as $2,000 USD extra a month. Part-time online teaching is a win-win situation - you get to keep your regular teaching job and benefits and earn some extra income in the process. Bonus for full-time online English teachers: You’ll also save on transportation costs, time spent getting to and from work, buying lunch and other work-related expenses. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. 3. Flexible working hours We’ve all got busy lives and it can be hard juggling personal and work commitments. Online teaching makes all of that so much easier. One of the main advantages of teaching online is the ability to set your own schedule. This means balancing online English teaching alongside your regular, full-time teaching job is surprisingly straightforward. You can choose to start small, teaching anywhere from a few hours and build your way up to 20 hours a week. There’s no grading or lesson planning required, just your time spent physically teaching lessons. So long as you’ve got some free time in the early mornings or evenings, it should be relatively easy to teach online for a few hours during the working week, as well as on the weekends, if you’re so inclined. If you do choose to teach online on a full-time basis, you’ll get to tailor your online teaching hours to different peak times - mornings, evenings and weekends - depending on your personal preferences. For example, if you’re more of a night owl, you might prefer to teach into the small hours of the morning and sleep later than a standard teaching job will permit. By making online teaching your primary source of income, it also means you’ll have the freedom to take vacation time when it suits you - and beat those pesky peak prices during school breaks. 4. Motivated students As educators, we all want to create a disruption-free learning environment for each and every student in our class. But motivating a class of 20 or more students to listen and remain on task is no easy feat. If you can relate to this common teaching challenge, then teaching English online with VIPKID will be a breath of fresh air for you. All lessons are conducted on a one-on-one basis, meaning you get to fully focus on your true passion - helping your students learn. Thanks to our increasingly global economy, English language skills are no longer an asset - they’re a necessity. There is no greater sense of accomplishment as a teacher than knowing that the knowledge you impart will make a positive, measurable impact on your student's future. 5. New career path? The K12 virtual schools market in North America is expected to grow by 13% per year through to 2021. Because online instruction is in the midst of a historic growth streak in the US, teaching English online with VIPKID is a great way to test the waters for a potential career transition to teaching your chosen subject online at a K12 virtual school at some point in the future. What’s more, English learners are a quickly growing segment of the student population in Canada and the US - meaning that experience teaching English language learners online can be a great addition to your resume. It’s time to make that teaching license work harder for you! Apply today to learn more about a teaching career (or part-time gig!) with VIPKID, including upcoming jobs, requirements, work environment and more.

12 companies in China that are hiring English teachers like crazy

12 companies in China that are hiring English teachers like crazy Do you suffer from wanderlust? Is your travel bucket list 10 feet long? Have you decided that this is the year you’re going to teach English in China? Then we’ve got good news for you - with a massive population eager to learn English, China is the perfect destination for new grads across all majors, as well as new and experienced licensed educators looking for travel and career growth opportunities. (And hey, if you’re still on the fence, here’s five reasons why teaching in China is a good idea.) So long as you meet the basic requirements to teach in China, you’re in luck. There are plenty of companies in China are actively searching for tons of English teaching candidates to help them fill their open positions. A great-paying new job (and travel adventure) could be just on the horizon. The best companies to teach English in China In fact, here are 12 of our favorites. Go ahead and block off a few hours of your weekend, because we guarantee you'll want to apply for them all. 1. The Explore Program Let’s start with the obvious one - the Explore Program, Teach Away’s very own teaching program in China for college graduates, ESL instructors and certified teachers! A TEFL certificate and some teaching experience can come in handy for your Explore Program application, but these are by no means required. We do require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree as a minimum prerequisite for Z visa acceptance, however, and the program is only open to people from the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. Hundreds of teaching jobs with the Explore program are up for grabs year round, and successful applicants are placed at top English language schools we’ve partnered with throughout the country. The salary and benefits are also undeniably awesome - you could be paid up to the equivalent of $3,300 USD a month, plus flight and housing allowance, paid vacay and health insurance - a pretty appealing prospect if you ask us! Interested? See open jobs with the Explore Program today. 2. First Leap You can’t go too far wrong with sending your application in to First Leap. The First Leap teaching team isonly continuing to grow, and there’s plenty of room for graduates of all majors with native English speaking skills who are up for a year (or even more) of teaching and traveling around China. Teaching salaries with First Leap are pretty decent, ranging from $2,100 - 2,800 a month, plus extra perks like free flights, medical insurance and settling-in allowance. Interested? See open jobs with First Leap today. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. 3. Disney English Like the idea of Disneyland season passes? This is probably one of the most unusual - but awesome - English teaching perks we’ve ever heard of at Teach Away. On top of this, as an English teacher with Disney English, you can expect to earn anything from 10,000 - 13,000 RMB a month on top of benefits like a housing and resettlement allowance, paid vacation, health insurance and more. They’re keen to hire native English speakers with a college degree and a passion for teaching little kids. Teaching experience isn’t essential but it could give you a leg up when it comes to landing a job in one of the more competitive Disney English locations. Interested? See open jobs with Disney English today. 4. English First With English teaching vacancies across more than 200 schools in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou English First is a great option for TEFL-certified graduates from the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. They’ll also give you a helping hand with the Z visa process. English First teacher perks are nothing to be sneezed at either - you can expect to be paid anything from 13,000 - 15,000 RMB a month (depending on your credentials and experience), as well as a flight allowance, paid vacation, health insurance and free Mandarin lessons. EF is known for fostering a strong team environment for their teachers, and hold weekly social events and well as a job swap program for English teachers. Interested? See open jobs with English First today. 5. Happy Goal Kid Want to get away from the daily grind and gain overseas work experience? How about getting paid to live in Shanghai, one of the most spectacular cities in China? Yes, please! There are a ton of English teaching positions available with Happy Goal Kid for bachelor’s degree holders, no classroom experience required. Class sizes are small (10 students, max) and you’ll get lots of hands-on training to help you find your feet in the classroom. The ESL teacher pay at Happy Goal Kid is highly competitive, ranging from $2,200 - 2,900 USD a month and paid overtime is an also option for those who want to bump up their take-home pay. Teaching jobs with Happy Goal Kid do fill up quickly, though, so this is an opportunity not to be missed. Interested? See open jobs with Happy Goal Kid today. 6. Bright Scholar Hey, certified teachers and ESL instructors, looking for a new life experience and want to travel? The problem with that is, it takes a good chunk of change to visit those must-see places on your bucket list. Instead of blowing your savings or going into debt by traveling Asia, why not get a job with Bright Scholar in China and travel in your free time? Bright Scholar has some fantastic K-12 English teaching opportunities across their various school locations, including Guangzhou and Lanzhou. For as little as 20 teaching hours a week, you can earn up to $2,800 USD a month. This leaves plenty of free time to tutor English privately or teach English to Chinese students online on the side if you’re looking to boost your earning potential. Bright Scholar will also pay for your meals, reimburse you for your flights and pay you over the summer and winter holidays - the list of perks goes on and on! Interested? Apply to teach with Bright Scholar today! 7. Scholastic English For all you 90s kids, Scholastic is synonymous with the elementary school wonderland that was the Scholastic Book Fair. What you might not know is that Scholastic China has a handful of English language training centers located in Shanghai and recruit overseas English teachers on a year-round basis. Scholastic English class sizes run on the smaller size (12 students, max), come with a teaching assistant and cater to elementary-aged children after school and on weekends. Eligible applicants will need to be be native English speakers and have, at minimum, an undergraduate degree, one to two years of teaching experience and a TEFL certificate. Benefits for English teachers working with Scholastic China are nothing to be sneezed at and include paid teacher training and a highly competitive salary (up to $3,500 USD a month), plus return flights. Interested? Apply to teach with Scholastic English today! 8. Kid Castle Kid Castle is one of the best-known operators of English language schools in China, with hundreds of branches in Shanghai and other major cities. Kid Castle run preschool programs in the morning for young English language learners under the age of six, as well as after-school programs in the afternoon and evening. Kid Castle is currently on the lookout for TEFL-certified native English speakers with a bachelor’s degree. Pay ranges as high as $2,600 USD for an average 34-hour working week. But that’s not all - Kid Castle will also throw in visa, flight and housing allowances, as well as medical insurance and a PD bonus of $800 USD for successful candidates who sign on for a one-year contract. Interested? Apply to teach with Kid Castle today! 9. Shane English How does $2,000 USD a month sound, in exchange as little as 20 hours of work a week? Pretty sweet, right? To sweeten the deal even further, English teaching jobs with Shane English School come with ample paid overtime opportunities, paid vacation, airfare and housing allowances. Shane English are keen to hire native English speaking candidates with a TEFL certificate and a university degree, from either Canada, Ireland, the UK, America, New Zealand or Australia. Interested? Apply to teach with Shane English today! 10. Web International English Got your bachelor’s degree done and dusted? How about two years of teaching experience? And a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate? If this sounds like you, then there are a bunch of highly lucrative English teaching jobs with Web International English, one of China’s leading English training centers, for native English speaking applicants. The pay for ESL teachers working with Web International English is in line with other language schools in the country. Before you know it, you could be teaching in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing - you can essentially take your pick of the most desirable cities to live in China for expat teachers! Interested? Apply to teach with Web International English today! Whether you’re looking to teach in China for a year, tops, or for the long haul, teaching English with any one of these 12 companies will help you make your globetrotting dreams come true. But don’t delay - apply now before these vacancies get snapped up by other aspiring jet-setters! Recommended reading: What’s the average salary for a teacher in China? You can teach English in China without a degree (and 3 other myths people think are true)

What Are Significant Figures in Chemistry?

What Are Significant Figures in Chemistry?When you consider what are significant figures in chemistry, the chances are you will come up with a simple answer. These figures are units that denote chemical ingredients and quantities of these ingredients. They are generally in mass, but their properties vary from chemical to chemical.Volumes can be either mass or volume. A formula, in mathematics, is a collection of numbers that are related to each other to arrive at a single result. The result can be interpreted as a result of using a chemical formula. It is a unit that is commonly used to measure the mass of chemicals and products.A volume is defined as the length of a distance of one cubic centimeter. It can also be used to measure the amount of water that is contained in a chemical solution. In chemistry, volumes are measured in mass and it can be defined as the mass of the chemical solution minus the mass of the surrounding solids.Volumes are used in modern chemistry as a means of m easurement. There are volume units that are used in areas such as therapeutics, medical products, cancer research, and more. These volumes are frequently expressed in weight. There are also systems of weight that can be used for specific applications and this is the most commonly used.A variety of common measurements are important when considering what are significant figures in chemistry. The most common units are mass and volumes. The units are also used to describe the weight and mass of substances. Some other common units are moles, grams, milligrams, mililiters, centimeters, etc.The quantities of chemicals involved in a product are also important to consider. They can also be defined in the mass terms. These are formulas that show the amounts of chemical components of a material, so that calculations can be made for quantities of the material, so that it is easier to make correct product design and dosage information.What are significant figures in chemistry is an area of study that will lead to new chemical and medicinal ideas. Although this field is quite wide-ranging, some topics are already being tested in the laboratory, while others are being developed in the lab. Scientists and researchers will continue to use the figure in chemistry to study the behavior of materials, especially when it comes to natural materials that are found naturally.

How to Teach K=1 Chemistry?

How to Teach K=1 Chemistry?K=1 Chemistry has recently emerged as one of the most popular and useful subjects for children. To make sure that they are taught with the utmost care, parents must first determine what level they should be at.What is K=1 Chemistry? It is a term used to refer to subjects that are introductory and designed to start children off on the right foot in science and/or mathematics, thus boosting their confidence in both areas. It is used in most parts of the world, though sometimes the term 'K=6'K=8' is used.But what are the requirements to learn this subject and what does it involve? A bit of background knowledge is required to understand the role that the teacher plays in the classroom environment. The classroom atmosphere is designed to suit the needs of the child. It is essential that the child knows how to go about learning such subjects.For example, with K=1 Chemistry, the teacher will need to set the homework. It is important that the child understands what he/she is expected to do to complete the assignment. This can be done by putting the answer key in front of the child and asking him/her to find the required answer by himself/herself.When the child finds the correct answer, they should be able to write it down using their own hand (something like a post-it note) and label it. When the child has finished writing the question and answer, it is important that the child can explain what they were trying to figure out to the teacher and explain the process they went through to reach the answer.It is important that the teacher is able to understand how much the student can comprehend and be able to give them specific instructions and support. They should also be able to provide assistance if needed, whether it is bygiving the student additional test materials or simply explaining certain processes in the instruction. This is something that goes beyond simple verbal instructions.When looking for a teacher to teach K=1 Chemistry, it is im portant that they understand the instructional process and how to best approach this subject. There are many different teaching styles and approaches that can be used to help educate children and hopefully increase their confidence and knowledge.

A Day in the Life at Pomona College

A Day in the Life at Pomona College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Krista is currently a sophomore at Pomona College. She tutors students in Algebra tutoring, Geometry tutoring, Essay Editing tutoring, and much more. Check out her review of Pomona College: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Krista: Pomona College is located in Claremont, California in Los Angeles County. The town of Claremont is a very safe environmentit is a quiet suburb in the foothills of the San Bernardino Valley. Although the town is not very lively late at night, it is conveniently located within walking distance from all parts of Pomona Colleges campus. Pomona College is one of seven private institutions that form the Claremont College Consortium, which also includes Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College, and Scripps College, as well as Claremont Graduate University and Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences. The colleges share one campus, so you can easily walk between the campuses without a car. Many students opt for bikes or longboards, but these are not absolutely necessary. For the students who like to stay in and around Claremont, the bus system is advisable. There is an hour-long train to downtown Los Angeles, although most students who frequently visit the city or beaches prefer cars, whether their own or a rented Zipcar. First-year students may not park cars on campus. Ontario Airport is the nearest airport, about 15 minutes from campus, although Los Angeles International Airport often has a wider range of flight options. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Krista: Professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants are always available at Pomona College. A professor teaches every class, and every professor holds weekly office hours that their students can attend for additional help or conferencing. I have attended the office hours of more than half of my professors at Pomona College, and many even required periodic meetings during the semester or when embarking on large individual papers and research tasks. A huge benefit to knowing your professors is their increased ability to write personalized letters of recommendation and their increased willingness to advise independent studies or other research projects, even over the summer. In my experience, professors also love to get meals with their students. I have dined with six or so Pomona College professors and many more administrators, too. It is always fun to have a lively conversation about the economic detriments of globalization, and then walk to lunch as a class. Academic advisers are first chosen for the student, but you may seek a new academic adviser at any time. My adviser, a professor of history, is always willing to meet, and we meet two to four times a semester. Not every time is for business: I have gone out to watch a soccer match with my adviser, and on another occasion, she treated all of her advisees to Thai food. In general, teaching assistants (TAs) will hold their own office hours. Sometimes, instead of TAs, Pomona College professors have mentors or writing fellows as their assistants. In any case, I never had trouble meeting with them, and they were frequently in contact with the professor on behalf of all of the students. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Krista: At Pomona College, somewhere around 97% of students choose to live in on-campus housing all four years. Student housing is required as a freshman, and there are six possible freshman dorms. One unique feature of Pomona College residential life is the sponsor program, where housing forms are used to determine groups of individuals and two upperclassmen who will all live on the same floor of a dorm. All dorms are co-educational, and there are options for living in singles or in doubles. I got along well with my first-year roommate and became friends with many people in my dorm, despite initially knowing no one. All of the dorms are located on campus, with most underclassmen on South Campus and most upperclassmen on North Campus. Resident Assistants (RAs), sponsors, and a few sophomores live in the freshmen dorms, as well. On-campus housing is guaranteed all four years, and it tends to get better as the student progresses. Campus is really the focus of all socialization opportunities. At a school where almost every student lives on campus, almost everyone eats on campus too. Most students are on the dining plans that are shared across the five undergraduate Claremont Colleges (5Cs). This provides access to all eight dining halls, three of which are located at Pomona College, and a number of student-run stores and cafs. Dining is good by college standards, and plans are underway to make it even better in years to come. In addition to dining, most of the social life happens on campus, among all of the different schools. Generally, weekend events are open to the approximately 5,000 students that live at the Consortium, making Pomona College feel like less of a small school in terms of social life, even though the personalized academics prove otherwise. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Krista: I am currently an undeclared major, which Pomona College actually encourages! The community believes in learning for the sake of learning, and I have been encouraged to explore many different interests instead of jumping into a major straight out of high school. I am focusing on social sciences, although I have taken courses in the humanities, the arts, and the applied sciences. There are loosely defined breadth of study requirements that aim to enroll students in a variety of different disciplines. That said, many students come to Pomona College to study pre-medicine, and biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and neuroscience are some of the more popular fields. The social sciences, particularly economics, politics, and international relations, also get a lot of attention at Pomona College. The Cognitive Science and Linguistics department, which has connections to the Psychology and Computer Science departments, has been of great personal interest, as well. Even though many Pomona College students graduate with degrees in the hard and soft sciences, the most popular career field of alum is education. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Krista: By the end of freshman year, I already felt close to my classmates and had made many solid friendships. My own reluctance to turn my focus away from friends back home did cause me a few months of struggle, but even at that time, I was making connections to people. The community at Pomona College, and the people I have found there, are the most important thing that I take from my college experience. Greek life is limited to three local fraternities (one of which is co-ed) that do not have their own houses, but that do hold public parties in reserved on-campus spaces. Unlike many Greek parties, Pomona College parties have security officers and are less about the organization hosting the event than the event itself. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Krista: The Career Center has many post-graduate opportunities, but they also love to help students get involved in (paid) internships and (paid) research while students are still in school! Ask about SURP and PCIP for more information. Pomona College is definitely a big name for employers, especially in the California area, and I knew people who recently graduated that had already secured jobs with companies like Apple. A lot of students also choose graduate school instead of going directly to work, and Pomona College has very high acceptance rates if that is in your future plans. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Krista: There are always buildings to study in. If you do not want to study in your dorm room or in your halls study lounge or the dorms lounge, the library (shared by all seven colleges) has a busy caf area. Each floor gets increasingly quieter as you move up the stairs. There are several buildings open all night long (with free coffee!), and the student union in the Smith Campus Center has a fireside lounge where many students like to study. Of course, in sunny California, it is a personal favorite to study out on the lawn, because then you can be more productive by working on your tan while you work on your linear algebra problem sets. On the rare occasion that it is not sunny, there are plenty of cafs in nearby Claremont that will welcome you with open arms. Finally, many students prefer to study in various lounges that are the safe spaces of campus, whether that be the Womens Union, the Office of Black Student Affairs, the Students of Color Association, the Chicano/Latino Studen t Association, the Writing Center, the Foreign Language Resource Center, or any of the other student spaces on campus. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Krista: The town of Claremont does not have tons to do in terms of entertainment, but there are many cafs, restaurants, and bars. Claremont has a village center that attracts visitors from the nearby areas, and there is a movie theater. Many Claremont students go to the Village for Starbucks or frozen yogurt. All of this is within walking distance of the school. For concerts and sporting events that are not directly related to Pomona College students, Los Angeles is the place to go, and Anaheim/Irvine in Orange County also offer lots to do. California has many outdoor opportunities, including surfing, skiing, and hiking. Many of these require a car, however, but the school does have an Outdoor Education Center that provides gear and sometimes vehicles. Most students do go to the downtown area, but not very frequently. I went a couple times a month to Los Angeles, and even to San Diego and the Bay Area, but a lot of people only went to Los Angeles once per semester. The malls in Montc lair (the next town) or Ontario are both within a short bus ride of campus. Arguably, most students stay on campus most of the time. There is a big culture of involvement that includes weekend activities, and many students cannot afford the time away from campus or simply do not feel the need when there is so much going on in Claremont every day. Yet with a car, or with fewer weekend commitments, or perhaps no classes on Fridays, it becomes much easier to explore Southern California and to get off campus. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Krista: The student body is on the small side, with about 380-450 students in each class, and a total school size of 1,600 students. This may look small, but it is an incredible academic resource because class sizes are usually around 15 students. My largest class was an introductory chemistry lecture of 42 students, but most of my classes have been under 20 students. Small classes are always beneficial. You get more of the professors attention, and you are forced to participate, which leads to greater intellectual investment and growth. Cross-enrollment at all of the 5Cs is allowed, and those classes will be similarly small. The small overall student body also means that each person gets more involved in many clubs and organizations, and that the community is very tight knit because it is actually possible to meet everyone in your graduating class. Although I was personally disappointed in the lack of a major Division One football team to cheer for (Pomona College students have more reserved school pride than crazy school spirit), so far that is the only downside of attending a small school, and I made up for that by rooting for nearby teams. The social scene does not feel too small by any means: having four other undergraduate schools on the same campus means that there is always a larger pool of people to meet and socialize with, at least for the first couple of years on campus. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Krista: I loved my Introduction to Drawing class, the first formal art class I ever took. Not only did my professor, Mercedes, make us switch seats every day so we would not get too comfortable, she also had us actively toilet paper the classroom so we could draw the long, flowing lines of toilet paper during one class. She also read aloud to us while we drew on another occasion. Check out Kristas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What Are Ceramics

What Are Ceramics Ceramics in Close-up ChaptersWhat Are Ceramics?A Brief History of CeramicsCommon and Not So Common Uses of CeramicsConnecting With CeramicsWithout exaggeration, we can state that ceramics shape our daily life.From the tiles in your bathroom and kitchen to the mug you drink your tea or coffee from, ceramics beautify our lives and make them safer and easier.To wit, ceramic components make it possible for you to read this on your computer, laptop or even your phone.  Of course, the form ceramics take in electronic applications is vastly different from anything you might eat or drink out of.On the other hand, you might well recognise ceramics on your way to work or school; even now they top most of our electric poles, acting as insulators.What exactly are ceramics? How did they come to dominate modern life? Why are they still so important?Superprof answers these questions and more... 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You may decide that art ceramics is your niche Image by LoggaWiggler from PixabayNow that we’ve planted the idea that ceramics are everywhere in our daily life, in visible and invisible forms, the pertinent question would be: what, exactly, do we mean by ceramics?The easiest way to explain what ceramics are is by defining what they aren’t: Ceramics aren’t metallic or organic.That’s the short answer. The more comprehensive one is going to take a few more words. Let’s give that a try.Compile a list of things that are familiar to you; they can be made of any substance or compound.Once you take away all organic material including wood, rubber, plastic, plant fibres and anything else that once lived, and once you scratch out all metal... what’s left is ceramic.Building materials such as bricks, glass, mortar and cement; dishware like earthenware or the more popular and durable stoneware; plates, mugs and cups â€" all of those fall under the heading of ‘ceramics’.  We’ll add diamonds and graphite for good measure; they too are ceramic.What if your plates are made of porcelain? What is the difference between porcelain and ceramic?For one, they are both made of clay but porcelain is fired at much higher temperatures. Also, ceramic is opaque but, depending on how thin your porcelain is, you could see through it because porcelain is translucent.Most importantly, porcelain is finer â€" less porous than ceramic, meaning that porcelain resists staining and provides a much smoother surface: bacteria are less likely to take root and fester. That is why your bathroom sink is made of porcelain.Porcelain is also easier to mould into complex shapes and add colouring to, in case a pristine white does not suit your décor.All of which begs the question: if porcelain is so much smoother, finer and better, why isn’t everything made out of porcelain instead of ceramics?The short answer is that porcelain is not suitable for every application that ceramic is.Another reason is cost: everyday things would be much more expensive if they were made of porcelain, that is why glazed ceramics are suitable for most daily applications â€" like your fav mug or cup, your floor tiles and...And decorative pieces. Ceramic arts are quite popular these days; in just about every city in the UK you can find a ceramic studio where people practise the art and craft of ceramics sculpting.Also, many university art programmes offer Master of Fine Arts degrees â€" in fact, a whole art education revolving around ceramics.Find the best art courses near me on the Superprof platform.A Brief History of Ceramics Pottery-making is an ancient art that spans the globe Image by Sharon Ang from PixabayIt is truly amazing how simple it is to create ceramic art; only four factors come into play:  clay-based material, dug from the ground  mixing the material with water to make it a proper consistency for moulding  forming the mixture into the desired shape (often using pottery wheels)  firing the sample â€" your clay form is placed in a kiln and fired to a specific temperatureThe end result is, invariably, a perfect ceramic sculpture that only needs finishing: maybe painting or glazing.Most interesting, the same process is used whether the artist is working with terracotta or bone china!Art history reveals that this process has changed little over the millennia that humans have been working with ceramic material; archaeologists have found ceramic figurines in the Czech Republic that date back nearly 45,000 years.Around 14,000 BC, people in India and Mesopotamia were painting and drawing on ceramic t iles while in China, people were using terra cotta vessels to cook in or store liquids.Sometime between 7,000 and 6,500 BC, humans starting forming clay into bricks but it was definitely in 6,000 BC that our ancestors built a kiln to fire their ceramic materials.  Back then, it would have been a wood kiln; today we have a choice of gas or electric kilns.Between 8,000 and 5,000 BC, Egyptians experimented with ceramic glazes; soon came the discovery and use of glass.These are all remarkable discoveries but the best is yet to come: sometime between 3,500 and 2,500 BC, the potter’s wheel was invented.Join the discussion: should every ceramic artist have a pottery wheel, extruder and electric kiln?Nobody is exactly sure who the first were to use such as device; evidence of pottery made on a wheel has been found in China, Romania and Iraq â€" in the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur.Amazingly, after all of these early advances, the act of working ceramics remained the same for about 5,000 years.Sure, those clay artists discovered that not every material they dug from the ground had the same toughness; some clays were better suited than others for certain applications but, by and large, working with clay stayed the same for centuries.The next big advance in ceramics came in the mid-1800s, in tandem with the installation of telegraph lines. Later, as electricity became commonplace, insulators were needed on those lines as well.And then, in the 1940s, the need for ferrite magnets â€" for motors and loudspeakers spurred yet another innovation in ceramics production.Finally, the development that opened up all sorts of possibilities for technology that we use every day: the discovery of high-temperature superconductors, in 1986.Common and Not So Common Uses of CeramicsAs we’ve seen so far, ceramics have a place in virtually every aspect of human life, from the ceramic artists creating contemporary art to beautify our homes to jet engines whose individual parts need prot ection from the heat generated by the engine.Take a look around your home. Is it concrete or brick-faced? Are there tiles in your kitchen and bathroom? Naturally, your loo and bathroom sink are at least coated in porcelain if not made wholly out of ceramic.Does your home have windows?Keep in mind that ceramic is anything inorganic or non-metallic, meaning the glass in your windows also falls into the broad category that is ceramics.Building techniques and materials are common uses for ceramics; now let’s take a look in places where you never thought ceramics would play a part.Do you have any incandescent lightbulbs in your house? That tungsten filament that glows when you switch the light on is ceramic. So is the glass bulb that contains it.Your hoover, washing machine and refrigerator motors most likely have ceramic components.Do you have an electric kettle? Most likely, its heating element has ceramic insulators built-in, as do the heating elements of your electric cookstove.Tha t’s not the only place you’ll find ceramics: new-style cooktops are made of ceramic glass, as are oven doors. Be careful! Your new stove top can withstand high temperatures but it doesn't like to be scratched Image by Fernando Arcos from PixabayAnd that’s just in your house. Have you ever had an ultrasound scan at the hospital? Those machines contain piezoelectric transducers (yep, ceramic!) that create the ultrasonic waves.That’s just one instance of ceramics usage in medical equipment. They’re also used in all types of prosthetics from bone implants to tooth implants.But, if you’re a student working your way toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, you may not be wildly concerned about the many and varied composite materials in medical equipment or the building trades.Your department of art may just want you to come up with new ideas for contemporary ceramics... or maybe you just want to make some new tableware ahead of the holiday season.Connecting With CeramicsThe good news is that you don’t have to enrol in a school of art to get started in ceramic art and design; knowing a litt le about ceramics and what you’d like to try your hand at is enough, at the outset.Knowing what equipment you'll use to make your ceramic creations would help, too...But first, you should really pick up on the basics, such as wheel throwing â€" placing the clay on the wheel and shaping it, and coiling; the way pottery was made before the invention of the wheel.Are you looking for adult classes? You might check in at the community centre or your local art center.As long as you are working with the artist in residence â€" maybe in a weekend ceramics class, you might try more advanced techniques such as slip casting, wedging and even mold making.In fact, you should try a variety of techniques and mixed media before settling on a type of clay with a given porosity, lest your creations become too brittle after firing.According to one clay sculptor, people new to the art of clay should learn at least one new skill per lesson...Now discover how you can get started with pottery lessons.