Font Choice On Learning And Retention

Which font is your favorite? Consider the fonts you detest. Do you frequently experiment with fonts to achieve the ideal appearance and feel for a brand, piece of content, or digital product? Even though you might not give them much thought, this tiny little font significantly impacts learning and the sensation of mental stimulation in general. This article will discuss the importance of fonts for learning and retention.

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Understanding The Significance Of Fonts

Further research says that your brain interprets the visual cues in a text as you read it in order to make sense of the information. It’s likely that you don’t focus much on the material’s presentation of the information because reading comprehension—rather than aesthetics—is your primary goal. But sometimes, the writing or content you see published is engaging enough—especially the font choice—that you can immerse yourself in it. Each font in a typeface has its own distinct qualities, like condensation, width, size, design, slant, italicization, and visual appeal, and each one is linked to a specific creator.

According to an expert from RMIT university, a crucial part of the visual appearance of educational materials is typography. Not only should content look attractive, but it should also be easier to read, help with information retention, and increase the involvement of learners. Typography is essentially the arrangement of type to provide the reader with a readable, readable and visually pleasing text. It entails choosing fonts (such as monotype corsiva, New Roman, comic sans, sans forgetica, and others), line lengths, point sizes, spacing between lines, and modifying the distances between collections of letters and pairings of words. Typography lecturer Stephen Banham often believes that these specifically designed fonts helped create desirable difficulty that allows individuals practice.

Despite the fact that most individuals (apart from design fanatics) ignore typography, it is essential to make texts intelligible, legible, and visually appealing to readers. Research indicates that fonts are important for the cognitive processes involved in reading a text and their visual impact. Although the effect of a font on your learning and retention of knowledge may not always be apparent, your brain is undoubtedly sensitive to it. That is the main goal of memory retention.

The ability to recall information over time is referred to as memory retention. Retrieval is the process of getting information back from certain brain regions after it has been encrypted and kept there. Your ability to retain information may occasionally deteriorate, and stored memory is lost with time. Thankfully, there are some factors that encourage the development of new brain cells and assist the cognitive system in creating new neural pathways. These may involve taking up a musical instrument, traveling, learning a new language, taking culinary or art classes, solving puzzles, engaging in board games, etc. However, writing and reading may be the most effective ways to improve memory retention in the near term.

A crucial part of learning involves memory retention, and over time, several methods and instruments have been developed to help with this. Effective study tools are still being researched in recent years, with options ranging from scribbling notes to taking information on digital platforms. It’s interesting to note that a component that may have gone unnoticed in this investigation—the fonts that individuals choose—has just come into the spotlight. This fresh viewpoint that results from the junction of typographic design and memory function can potentially improve educational opportunities and illustrates the importance of displaying font designs or styles in this way. It is created to emphasize a particular note, create a lasting impact, and enhance readability. These are intended to be utilized in some instance at predetermined sizes to draw attention to a certain message or improve legibility. Since individuals can better recall information they deem important, using styles of fonts like bold or italic to show relevance in a given text might boost retention.

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Examining The “Size of Font”

An idea that has gained interest in memory research is the “font-size effect.” those exhibited in greater font sizes are thought to generate better perceptions of learning and represent higher worth, even if they may not actually boost memory compared to those in smaller fonts. This phenomenon is known as a “metamemory illusion.” Larger and bigger font texts are slightly better regarding learning and memory precision, although this was usually compared to smaller font texts.

While the benefit is relative, it is crucial to remember that increasing the font size throughout an entire document does not significantly improve memory recall. The concept of the font-size effect extends beyond the letterforms’ actual resizing. Instead, it refers to the notion that, in a written environment, a specific word or sentence holds a lot more weight than the other fonts.

Contrary to popular belief, fonts have more significance. Even though font selections might appear unimportant, they can greatly impact how engaged a reader is with written content, whether it’s a piece of writing or a branding idea. Font design also fulfills a functional need since it can influence people’s subconscious thoughts and how individuals perceive information.

Additionally, fonts are helpful as it allows readers enhance their reading comprehension and understanding, awareness, and general performance, aiding in memory retention and cerebral stimulation. Certain typefaces are made expressly to assist participants with dyslexia. This condition impacts the language processing regions of the brain and can lead to a person’s inability to distinguish between letters and numbers and their distortion of words.

Expected difficulty is created by hard-to-read fonts, making it challenging to interact with the content without distracting the reader. Rather than being a legibility problem, it can be a readability one. While both factors contribute to a text’s visual clarity, readability is the ease with which words and phrases may be understood, whereas legibility is the capacity to discern between individual characters or strokes. Consequently, because certain typefaces demand more mental effort than others, there is a cognitive weight that results in a need to increase performance. The complex letterform, which is just out of the ordinary enough to be noticed, is paired with a difficult-to-read font that was created especially to stimulate more complex thought processing and help with memory recall.

When evaluating a font’s efficacy, it is important to consider its internal consistency. This concerns how an independent variable like font size, text spacing, and form affects everything. It’s also critical to consider how readers view and interpret fonts that are visually appealing but difficult to comprehend and commit to memory. Important font-size characteristics like body size and length of lines are related to angles of vision and eye movement. Font design is essential to a person’s familiarity or unfamiliarity with a particular word. Hence, font attributes like style and color affect information retention or memory. Thus, these elements impact and further shape an individual’s reading ability.

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Fonts Influence Engagement And Reflect Writers And Reader’s Attitude

You might not realize it, but when you compose or read a context, your attention is drawn to the illustration on the paper. Generally, you can quickly turn to the next page or look for another resource if the text, letter, or material is difficult to read. This is because you eventually feel a bit uneasy putting your gaze into congested letters (not emphasizing those intricate typefaces that you inadvertently find difficult to read).

Upon closer inspection, fonts play a significant role as they promote a website or text passage with personality. Their subliminal elicitation of emotions influences your perception of the content. For this reason, you characterize it as either cluttered, disorganized, or out-of-date or as trendy, crisp, sophisticated, and clean. Given the abundance of typefaces available, it stands to reason that the choice of font can influence how readers or learners initially perceive the information being presented. In other words, students are more likely to interact with material when it appears in a font style they find appealing, readable, and soothing.

While it also offers a great deal of design creativity and readability, the fact that online learning is essentially the primary source of education for the majority of individuals in the current world puts a lot of pressure on designers. Legibility is the degree to which one can easily tell a word from another in a given font. Legibility is influenced by font dimension, form, and variation. Legibility is vital to a user’s ability to read and engage with material on a website. However, creating a paper that people will read is one of the biggest writing obstacles. The intended audience may not feel compelled to read your work, particularly if it is more difficult to understand or placed in an unsuitable writing style.

There are practical uses for understanding how fonts affect your brain functions. You need to learn and understand safety information more quickly because you are likely exposed to various phrases and styles at your job, school, or home, and you read hundreds of messages daily. Font research may also assist individuals in remembering safety precautions, medical information, or even simple details like the birthdays of loved ones. Due to its simplicity, clarity, and ease of use, Arial is a sans-serif typeface that most users prefer. And these are the only answers and attributes that are suggested in writing.

Final Thoughts

Researchers said that these kinds of typefaces are a lot more than just fonts in general. They act as instruments to aid in reading speed, obtaining data, and memory retention. They also help a team of people with vision or reading impairments have easier access to information. Even while such assistive devices can enhance reading ability, there is still much to learn about how people read, comprehend, overlooked and retain information, even when they only use the fonts that they find comfortable and appealing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Font Is Best For Memory Retention?

Which Font Is Best For Learning?

How Fonts Affect Learning And Memory?


What font is associated with education?
What is the font for easy memorization?
What is the best font color for memorization?
What is the best font for learning difficulties?
Does font affect learning?
Does writing improve memory retention?
Do fonts affect memory?
Does font affect reading comprehension?
Does font color affect memory?
Is it better to read small or big font?
What font style is more appropriate for longer text?
Why readable fonts are important?

Teaching Children With Dyslexia In Homeschooling

You’re most likely interpreting the situation from the incorrect angle if you’re feeling overburdened by your children’s daily education due to dyslexia or other language-based learning challenges. Differential learners require various approaches to education. If you are considering this alternative, what supplies, tools, or techniques would work best in addition to or in lieu of conventional homeschooling techniques?

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Learn how to give your children a meaningful education even if they have dyslexia or other language-based learning disabilities. Knowing that your child has dyslexia can empower you to make the appropriate decisions, regardless of whether you started dyslexia homeschooling your child after receiving the diagnosis or were already doing so. Without worrying about learning differences, taking charge of the educational experience for your kid is already a significant duty.

In recent years, homeschooling has gained a lot of popularity, and it has proven beneficial for homeschooling parents and students. Many families homeschool their children because they desire a learning experience different from what public school systems provide. Traditional schools don’t always offer the direct, methodical, and individualized training dyslexic kids need.

Benefits of Homeschooling A Child With Dyslexia

Schools are spending less time attending to students’ needs individually due to growing educational responsibilities. A self-sufficient, specialized boarding school or day school might not apply to some parents. Certain individuals might struggle to even go to learning facilities every day. And with their long journeys getting in the way of other family activities, they might find it challenging to complete other significant tasks. Furthermore, a lot of kids require remedial direct instruction on a daily basis, which private tutors and learning centers are unable to offer. Fortunately, homeschooling is an option for working parents and kids with specific learning requirements. It promotes confidence and allows kids to explore the world their living in.

Families wanting to homeschool their children can personalize their education and design a setting most conducive to learning for all parties. For a growing number of families, homeschooling has become an option. Traditional schools don’t always offer the individualized, direct, and methodical reading and spelling program training and structured literacy that dyslexic students need. It can give a homeschool parent direct access to their child’s development and offer effective rehabilitation without the hassle of travel.

Some Of The Benefits Of Homeschooling

Reading, spelling, composition, understanding, and other subject areas require individualization, which is the most evident advantage of homeschooling. Both students and parents can tailor their teachings to the interests of their children by focusing on those areas.

With no learning inequalities, homeschooled kids cannot compare their skills and progress to their schoolmates or classmates. Youngsters can work at their own pace through an arrangement that specifically meets their requirements. In many typical educational institutions, there is an emphasis on uniformity, speed, tight time management, and standardized exams. Homeschooling may offer an alternative to that.

According to an international dyslexia association expert, when a student with dyslexia is homeschooled, parents can create a curriculum tailored to their child’s specific needs. You can meaningfully and individually adjust a learning course to meet your child’s necessities, competence, and growth. Learning best resources can be tailored to your child’s learning style, academic goals, and disposition. Working alongside people using the same learning paradigm can also help you save time and feel less stressed. If you’d like, you can work with dyslexia professionals who listen and create a personalized lesson plan that is executed and adjusted in a way that is both efficient and focused on the student’s needs.

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Few Challenges Of Homeschooling A Child With Dyslexia

Relationships between the student and parent might present a problem for parents. In addition to the parent’s obligation to guide while yet being strict, the student must disclose their condition at home. Learning how language functions is something that dyslexic students require clear, concise teaching. It could take extensive analysis and specialized instruction to determine what to demonstrate, how to educate and teach it, and which effective teaching strategies to employ. To the detriment of dyslexic pupils, even many high school reading courses are often too vague and generic to provide appropriate instruction.

According to research experts, it is necessary for the parent to obtain extensive training in language and reading or to locate professional resources that can offer a framework for a methodical approach suitable for the kid’s requirements. Although many parents are proficient readers, they frequently lack the language skills and reading development background to effectively homeschool dyslexic children. Parents might want to think about working with a certified instructor, educational expert, or academic advisor who has been educated to work with dyslexic children. This individual can assist the parent in creating the best methods and programs they can subsequently implement with their child, or they can focus and work actively with the youngster for great success.

How To Start Homeschooling A Student With Dyslexia

Although each dyslexic child is unique, there are certain useful pointers and tactics that you may use in the majority of homeschooling scenarios. Here are some professional pointers on how to begin homeschooling a dyslexic child.

Learn And Familiarize Yourself With Available Resources

To obtain a comprehensive assessment that identifies your student’s strengths and shortcomings, arrange for someone with expertise in reading, just like in Orton Gillingham approach, to do the assessment. Remember to only move forward at the student’s own speed. In this manner, you may inspire children to become engaged learners via investigation and learning. From there, you may provide fresh educational experiences in a secure, encouraging setting so kids can learn new skills and improve their arithmetic, reading, and writing abilities while having fun. That should help you recognize that introducing various tools and activities to a child’s learning process keeps them interested and motivated. The session should include new words with a comparable spelling structure, review phrases, and previously taught differently and unpredictable, frequently occurring terms.

Examine the resources that are at your disposal. Respect the state’s particular laws on homeschooling. Be aware that several states provide access to specialized services for homeschoolers with learning difficulties. Establish strong relationships with other homeschoolers before removing the child from traditional school and spent their week in another program. The same way a skilled instructor, teacher, or therapist would, when organizing lessons, begin with a complete grasp of your child’s spelling, reading, writing, and understanding skills. Examine homeschool online courses thoroughly before deciding on multisensory approach. Verify the ability to write and read textbooks to ensure they are relatively easy.

Always Consider Your Dyslexic Child’s Needs

Students must turn in a significant amount of mastery work for many homeschool programs that use prepackaged materials. For children with dyslexia, this might not be the best option because they do not take tests in a classroom. It’s also critical to keep your expectations reasonable. Children who struggle with delayed writing or comprehension may struggle to finish all the needed mastery exercises. Recognize that direct, systematic language training is the most effective way to remediate dyslexia and that there is no silver pill. Multifunctional learning approaches include writing on a hard surface or in the air, pounding syllables, and focusing on mouth movements related to a particular speech sound. Finding a range of resources is now easier, thanks to modern technologies. This accessible and practical information may be found in state curricula, which are easily obtained.

Select a combination of homeschool programs that best suits your child’s educational requirements. There is no one ideal curriculum for dyslexia since there are several ways that dyslexia impacts learning. However, you may tailor the greatest homeschool course options for your child by paying attention to their individual talents, limitations, and interests. Recognize that frequent practice with writing, spelling, and oral reading is typically necessary for language retraining. Even in the era of word processors, spelling is still significant since it reinforces reading. A lecture should cover the following steps methodically, such as phoneme or the use of sound, grapheme, or letter/letters that spell a particular sound, syllable, phrase, word, and pronunciation.

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Keep an Eye On the Experts You Hire

Seeking a comprehensive assessment capable of diagnosing dyslexia, you might want to speak with an educational psychologist. Asking the assessor to offer extremely detailed advice is crucial. The expert can ask you to consult a tutor or teacher for assistance. But remember that you must maintain a watchful eye on them. A tutoring organization or education consultant should be hired after you have asked pointed questions concerning their background, supervision, and training. Find out about the structure and modifications made to the homeschool program curriculum for students similar to you, and ask for examples from previous experiences. You are your child’s greatest teacher, so don’t be afraid to follow your instincts and ask pointed questions.

Even though tutors can be very beneficial, you want to ensure they are giving your kid only a little information. Working with a qualified tutor or educational professional aims to help your child gain increasingly more independence and self-learning skills. If the teacher is doing most of the work, modifying the educational strategy or providing different training could be necessary.

Things To Consider

Some days, it can feel like nothing is working properly so you should watch out for a sign. The learner seems bored and restless as the educational experience progresses slowly. Education was never meant to be completed in one sitting. In order to help your dyslexic child develop significant objectives for the following class, give yourself and your child a break. Although no single educational approach can satisfy the demands of every child, homeschooling experience is a practical and fruitful choice for parents dedicated to providing their kids with excellent educational opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Teach My Child With Dyslexia At Home?

What Type Of Teaching Do Students With Dyslexia Learn Best?

What Is The Teaching Method For Dyslexia?

How Do You Teach A Child About Dyslexia?

How Do You Teach Phonics To A Dyslexic Child?

How Do I Make My Classroom Dyslexia-Friendly?

What Not To Do For Students With Dyslexia?

How do you encourage a dyslexic child to read?
How can I help my dyslexic child with comprehension?
How do you teach time to students with dyslexia?
What is the best intervention of dyslexia?
How teachers can support students with dyslexia?
What is an example of dyslexia reading?
How do you teach vocabulary to dyslexic students?
What is the curriculum for students with dyslexia?

I’m A Slow Learner, And I Need An Educational Therapist’s Help

I love school. Unfortunately, I don’t do well in my class. Often I get bullied by my classmates because I am always the last one who gets to understand the topic. I can barely retain the things I read or hear during the class. I get entirely embarrassed as they call me names like “ding-a-ling,” “stupid goat,” “slow-learning chop,” and a lot more. I can’t say they are wrong because that is exactly my problem. I can’t receive and process information like the other students in my class.

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Is It A Mental Health Condition

With my current situation, my mom decided to visit a health expert because she thought there might be something wrong with me. She said I might be struggling with ADHD or autism because slow learning is one of the criteria for those disorders. Some even convinced her that I needed someone who’s capable of teaching children with dyslexia in homeschooling. I was hesitant to go with her and see a specialist because I didn’t want to get diagnosed with a condition. I don’t want to live a life constantly dealing with mental health recovery and changing routines all the time. Also, another anxiety-triggering factor is if my classmates find out about it, I’m sure they will never stop teasing me and might call me more humiliating names.

During the examination by the psychologist, I was asked a lot of questions. Some I answered since it was just about my daily experiences and random thoughts. But I can’t seem to understand and process those questions regarding the subject matter. My brain won’t cooperate with me during the therapy session, and I felt so embarrassed that the therapist could see that. It was the worse experience because I was at the point where I had to prove to someone that I was still capable. I was not unwilling to be tested. But I am not comfortable either.

Fortunately, I’m good. I don’t have any brain impairment. However, what the expert believe I have is a learning difficulty. She said my cognitive ability is in the right state, so I cannot be considered intellectually disabled. It just means I don’t belong to the average students with standard IQs. I am also above those unable to receive, process, and interpret information. She said I was in between the two.

The psychologist told me that what I need is an educational therapist. She advised that I consult one because she believes I am smart, just like everyone else in my class. It is just that I am at the last leg of the race. The expert said she knew I would succeed someday. Her words are so comforting that I do not regret going with my mom. The therapist’s words helped me realize that I can do my best to complete a better performance. I was happy to hear that. My anxiety becomes hope and motivation.

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How To Process With The Struggle

My mom took me to an educational therapist. During the session, she told me that she would do all she could to help improve cognition for future academic achievements. I was so happy to know that, like my psychologist, she is willing to assist me with my needs.

One particular thing she mentioned is that I have a different and challenging learning process. I gather information the same as the others, but I process those differently. My learning patterns and behaviors are unusual, so I need to follow a learning structure tailored just for me. This tailored learning structure includes repetitive lessons and requires educational tools. And since I am slow, I will need longer than my peers to study to grasp and understand a concept. The therapist said this is a tiring process, and I might lose interest in learning when the pressure is too much. However, I assured her that knowing I don’t have a mental health problem is enough for me to try my best.

Parts of my tailored learning strategies include:

  • Recording the lessons and listening to them over and over again.
  • Asking my teachers and tutors to use basic words and avoid complicated ones
  • Using visual aids often and utilizing multi-sensory learning techniques
  • Having extra time to understand the first few chapters of the book I read
  • Dealing with directions and instructions in several formats
  • Assigning a friend to be my study buddy.

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Final Thoughts

What my therapist said was true. It is a tiring process, and it may take a while to get the hang of it. But with the help of the learning strategies, I can accomplish something. I may not learn things like everyone else, but I am still thankful that people are willing to help me with this situation.

Yes, I may be a slow learner. But it will not stop me from attending school and obtaining academic achievements. Soon I knew I could improve and prove that despite my learning difficulty, I could still succeed.

 

Educational Therapist-Approved Study Tips

Have you ever experienced studying for exams late in the evening and thought you got everything figured out, but then the results came, and you failed? If this is always the case, you may be doing it wrong. While cramming and studying all-nighters is a ritual you follow, it turns out to be bad for your overall health. Your reasoning and memory can suffer damage. With that, you might reconsider your studying habits and follow these study tips approved by an educational therapist.

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Study In Sessions

You have to realize when it comes to studying that you have to do it smarter instead of longer. Studying for long periods of hours does not guarantee a perfect compilation of information since most of them will get lost in the way and fail to get through the parts of your brain. Instead, give yourself 20 to 30 minutes daily to study in chunks. It is the most effective method in retaining almost a hundred percent of the small piled information.

Your brain can only take up and encode synapses in short and repeated sessions, so spreading the lessons helps you understand them better. This is the reason why attending activity lessons such as piano, singing, dancing, swimming, biking, driving, and many more only requires a couple of hour/s and would have to be repeated daily for another week.

Study At A Specific Time

In some instances, retaining information is easy, especially when the brain is pumped up and at its peak mental strength. However, despite the ability to lock in those lessons, it is still hard to comprehend each or everything. With that, take into consideration to least study at a specific time of the day. Make it a habit to set a schedule to study to help prime your brain for better understanding.

The repetitive routine with a specific time will provide you with great results as studying will become easy and comfortable to do over time. Your brain will accept that it is its training in those moments and will absorb every bit of information.

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Study With Flash Cards

Studies have shown that your constant habit of highlighting notes is an ineffective way of learning. It does not at all improve your understanding of the lesson, nor does not help you link key concepts together. Highlighting notes can somewhat become detrimental to your learning progress as it can divert your attention to less important information. That explains why you sometimes study with different things on your notes, and the exams turn out to be different.

Study experts suggest that instead of highlighting your notes or a few contexts in a book, using flash cards is proven more effective. It is a tool for analyzing topics, enriching vocabulary, and reinforcing memory. It focuses on a specific goal for each academic lesson. Flashcards are beneficial for cognitive development and are useful for immediate learning.

Study And Practice

Practice is one of the key factors that improve your study. It allows your brain to think critically and analyze situations based on rational context. Practice helps you identify the learning gaps from your error and eventually makes you aware of your knowledge. It helps your cognitive function to stick itself with a longer form of focus and concentration. Sometimes the process may be boring and exhausting, but it clears your head and shows you that there is always a better way to answer difficult questions.

Practice ensures the decrease of slow learning progress as it supports mental, physical, and emotional stimulation. It helps you set reasonable goals and harness your learning skills leading to better performance. It also enables you to understand yourself better and gives you time to reflect on the unnoticed things in your academic requirements.

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Study Without Phone

This is a no-brainer, and perhaps you already know why. It is not the literal phone that is affecting the study session but the notifications from texts and social media. Your brain can only handle so much that when you get distracted by the pop-up sounds of your mobile device, your concentration and study enthusiasm eventually become lower. You desire to use your phone and eventually spend more time scrolling and watching videos than studying.

Yes, studying can sometimes be boring, and you need fresh air and a break from time to time. This is the right moment to use your phone for a couple of while. However, research suggests that to focus more, you need to move your phone away from your table to avoid overly utilizing it on your breaks.

Insights And Takeaway

Of course, it’s tough to handle the emotional and mental pressure of studying. Changes: But if you want to get good grades and better understand your lessons, you need to exert an effort in making the best study habit that benefits your development, or you can try taking advantage of a font choice on learning and retention. If you are having trouble following these routines or perhaps dealing with something else, seek help from an education therapist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Forensic Psychology

I was already a sophomore in college when an old professor barged into my afternoon class to tell us that we would be excused from all classes the next day. The reason was that the local police department would talk to us about methamphetamines and other drugs that people often abused.

Many of my classmates were excited about this mini-seminar, considering it was exclusive for our department. They felt proud to think that those law enforcers would take the time out of their busy schedule to talk to many college kids regarding a relevant matter. In my head, though, it was not too surprising since we were Chemistry students. After all, among the students on the campus, who would likely have access to the lab and get their hands on the ingredients required to concoct a new type of illegal drug? It won’t be the teaching or music kids, for sure. It’s us.

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When I strolled into the function hall the next day, I was excited initially for a different reason. My schedule had been toxic the entire semester, but I could not skip classes, no matter how much I wanted to. Hence, I initially intended to sit in that dark hall and nod off freely.

I was still awake when the police chief introduced the law enforcers who would act as keynote speakers on that day. Many of them worked hard at fighting and catching illegal drug trade in our city, so I clapped with everyone as I thought, “Yeah, yeah, drug busters in a drug seminar – a real shocker.” But then, I sat up straighter when the chief introduced a forensic psychologist.

“A forensic what?” I whispered to the girl on my right.

“Psychologist,” she replied, repeating what we both heard.

“Huh,” was all I said.

As a fan of crime shows, I already heard about forensic scientists going to crime scenes to study the place, the possible murder weapon(s), and whatnot. As a Chemistry major, I also got wind of forensic chemists who helped solve crimes by testing the toxicology of substances and giving a name to unknown chemicals found in the scene. In truth, I even considered following the latter path after graduation because of how valuable that job was. And now, here’s this lady – a forensic psychologist. I knew in that instant that I could not fall asleep during that seminar. I needed to wait for her turn to speak as I was incredibly interested in the field of forensic psychology.

What does a forensic psychologist do? 

A forensic psychologist does the following:

  • Collect physical evidence for analysis and interpretation.
  • Interview different people connected to the crime.
  • Create a profile for the criminal.
  • Assess mental disorders in accused individuals.
  • Find out if a person is mentally healthy enough to join a trial.
  • Offer counseling to prisoners.
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What skills do you need to be a forensic psychologist? 

These are the skills that every forensic psychologist needs:

  • Attentiveness: Considering you are most likely working with people who may be hiding under too many layers of lies, you need to be extremely observant with their facial expressions, speech, and overall body language.
  • Compassion: No matter how heinous a crime is, remember that even a criminal needs compassion. Hence, a forensic psychologist’s task is to determine if they are mentally fit to attend a trial.
  • Critical Thinking: Forensic psychology is a mix of diverse disciplines to think in the psychological or sociological sense when you need to decide on things. Instead, it will be best to think critically every time to come up with an excellent decision.
  • Effective Communication: Forensic psychologists should excel at appropriating your tone or choice of words on the situation. That is especially true when you are dealing with aggressive people who may snap anytime and attack you.
  • Objectiveness: A forensic psychologist needs to set their opinions or emotions aside at work, primarily when talking to criminals or victims (or their families). Although it is common to feel awful while interviewing people, you should cast that feeling aside and start being objective.

Is forensic psychology dangerous? 

Yes, forensic psychology tends to be dangerous, although it is not as dangerous as what people who study criminal justice or criminology may face. After all, forensic psychologists try to work closely with all kinds of criminals almost every day to figure out why they have committed a crime. This entails that you may be around dangerous individuals or, worse, locked in a confined room with them. 

Nevertheless, aspiring forensic psychologists should keep in mind that your safety is of utmost importance. While it is ideal to have a one-on-one conversation with a criminal, you may request a police escort anytime. That is especially true if the individual seems highly aggressive.

What is the difference between a forensic psychologist and a criminal psychologist? 

Though forensic and criminal psychologists may seem to be the same, they have distinct job descriptions. In reality, law enforcement tends to dispatch a forensic psychologist to the crime scene with police officers to assess any physical evidence and interpret how it connects to the criminal. They try to trace what may have led the latter to commit a crime and go as far as interviewing witnesses and victims (if possible) before explaining the matter in court.

As for criminal psychologists, they usually do most of their work behind the desk. When they receive a case file, they tend to analyze all known records that may convict or free an individual. If there is no substantial evidence to work with, they may visit the prison and converse with criminals in question to understand their actions.

Do criminal psychologists work with serial killers? 

Yes, criminal psychologists work with serial killers, although not all of them do or can. It typically starts when the law enforcement asks them to talk to the convicted people to determine the reason behind their heinous acts. Sometimes, they may need to talk to the serial killers’ confidantes or relatives to understand how their minds work. The information that criminal psychologists gather may then be used in court.

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Which is better, psychology or criminology? 

The answer to this question solely depends on what you want to achieve as a professional. For instance, if you’re going to help people understand why they feel so sad, angry, delusional, or do things that normal individuals never do, psychology is better than criminology. In case you want to help people obtain criminal justice or ensure that a crime never happens again, then criminology is better than psychology.

What is a forensic criminologist? 

A forensic criminologist is a criminality expert who may or may not work at a law enforcement agency. In truth, insurance companies, local governments, and other facilities may have at least one forensic criminologist. Despite that, all forensic criminologists have the same goal: to figure out what may have caused the crime based on behavioral patterns.

Is it hard to be a forensic psychologist? 

Yes, it is hard to become a forensic psychologist. For one, getting a doctoral degree is a must; otherwise, your career may not progress. Before writing your dissertation, you also need to ensure that it focuses on your field of interest. On top of that, you are required to go into internships, join the American Psychology-Law Society, volunteer at forensic-related facilities, and stay updated with forensic psychology journals.

Is psychology criminology? 

No, psychology is not criminology – they are only related but not synonymous to each other. It is relatively easy to tell the two terms apart. Psychology studies how thought patterns dictate how a person feels or behaves, while criminology studies crime and actions that violate social or legal norms.

What can I do with criminology with a psychology degree? 

If you have earned criminology with a psychology degree, you can seek a broader range of jobs than when you only have a single field of expertise. For instance, you may join law enforcement and become a probation or police officer. In case you don’t want to be a law enforcer, you may become a data analyst, academic researcher, offender case administrator, etc.

Is criminology psychology or sociology? 

Criminology technically falls under the sociology category, even though many people mistake it as a psychology branch. This confusion is not surprising, given that criminology can have both psychological and sociological aspects. However, since this field does not focus on improving their thinking or behavior, sociology covers it more.

Is it hard to be a criminal profiler? 

Yes, it is challenging to become a criminal profiler. You may not realize it while still trying to earn a bachelor’s degree, but once you are done studying, the vast number of training programs you must sign up for may reveal the truth. Not to mention, it can take years – or more than a decade for some – before you can apply for a criminal profiling job.

Is an FBI profiler a real job? 

Yes, an FBI profiler is a real job that allows people to earn money and help the community. However, a profiler technically does not qualify to be called an FBI agent, considering their background and training are different. Instead, a profiler is more appropriately known as an FBI special agent.

frequently-asked-questions-about-forensic-psychology
Source: pixabay.com

How do you become a profiler for the FBI? 

If you want to become an FBI profiler, you need to do the following:

  • Focus on government or psychology courses during your secondary level. If possible, try volunteering at a law enforcement agency in your area before graduation.
  • Obtain a related bachelor’s degree. In case you cannot get into the forensics program, you may consider law, psychology, criminal justice, and other four-year associated degrees. This is practically your ticket to a law enforcement academy.
  • Speaking of which, you must send your application to a law enforcement academy. Once accepted, you most likely need to attend classes for three to five months. They may ask for other requirements, including proof of US citizenship, driver’s license, lack of criminal record, etc.
  • Spend several years gaining experience in the field. Truth be told, you should prepare to do that for up to 15 years, depending on your skills.
  • Don’t stop training, no matter how busy you are. Various institutions offer hands-on practice, but BSU provides the most prestigious ones. If you prove your skills well, you may get invited to train at an FBI academy.
  • Consider furthering your education while waiting to become a profiler. Many successful FBI profilers have earned their master’s or doctoral degree, which supposedly helps them secure their position.

What’s the most an FBI agent can make?

An FBI agent’s salary depends on the General Schedule, a 15-grade pay system that governs most white-collar federal jobs. For reference, according to various reports, an agent at a GS-10 pay level may have a starting fee of $52,000 annually by 2020. Two years before that, the minimum pay was approximately $48,000 for the same level.

Final Thoughts

I left that seminar feeling like I discovered another dimension. I still wanted to become a forensic chemist someday. Still, I also felt a new interest in taking a few psychology classes in the following semester to understand how a human mind could work. It was made up of a complex network of neurons; after all – any change in those connections could make someone snap and commit a crime. I believe it would eventually help me find my footing in the law enforcement field someday.

5 Tips For Tutoring Youngsters In The Family

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Source: pxfuel.com

My husband and I have been blessed with twin boys in 2015. We were both surprised in the delivery room because we merely assumed that I was only carrying one child. Before that, we asked the doctor not to reveal the gender of the baby (or in our case, babies), and she agreed, a bit too happy to do so. Little did we know that she already saw two fetuses in my womb and practiced how to say, “Here are your newborns!” for some time.

Of course, we were overjoyed because our family of two doubled in less than a year of our marriage. Before my doctor allowed me to go home, my husband already went shopping and bought two of every baby product he could find, starting from car seats to bassinets to clothes. Luckily, we decided to wait until after my childbirth because we had no idea if we would have a girl or boy.

The experience of parenting twins has mostly been a positive one. The boys were both very calm and giggly; they loved baths and lullabies. Objective speaking, I thought that they would grow up to become smart kids, considering they seemed to be memorizing everything at a young age.

5-tips-for-tutoring-youngsters-in-the-family
Source: pxfuel.com

Before the twins celebrated their first birthday, they had already taken their first steps and could say “Mama” and “Dada.” After letting them watch shows that taught children how to recognize letters and numbers, my husband brought home rubber mats with letters and numbers. When I showed ‘A’ to the boys, I was sure I heard them say the letter, although their pronunciation was still not clear. When I tried again and raised the number 4, they uttered the correct word again. The entire family was incredibly amazing, knowing that some children were not as advanced as our twins. Thus, we could not wait until they turned five years old and became old enough to pre-school.

As expected, my sons were supposed to start going to pre-school after the summer of 2020. My husband and I already picked a great school not too far from home last year and even fixed our schedules so that we could always collect them from pre-school together. Unfortunately, it appears now that our plans need to wait a little longer because of the coronavirus that has been lurking around everywhere.

When I spoke to the principal about it, the kind woman said we did not need to postpone the kids’ education. She uttered, “We offer online classes at every level. However, since the teachers cannot meet the students in person, the parents must step up to the plate and become the kids’ tutor until the pandemic ends.”

5-tips-for-tutoring-youngsters-in-the-family
Source: pxfuel.com

I relayed the information to my husband, and he was on board with the idea. Still, we had the same question: “How can parents effectively tutor young children?”

Here are a few suggestions I received.

Start With The Favorite Subjects

The first thing you should do is figure out which subjects your kids like — or will like — the most. We noticed that the boys are chirpiest in our little family when they could identify numbers and letters. They were excellent at knowing the names of different objects, too.

Once you know the kids’ favorite subjects, they should be the first ones you focus on. This way, your children will undoubtedly give the lessons their full attention.

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Source: pxfuel.com

Be Creative With Examples

When it is time to tackle the subjects that they are not interested in, you need to be creative with your examples. Otherwise, the children will try to do anything but listen to you.

Considering my twins are not tracing letters and numbers, I decided to spice things up by giving them differently colored pens. We also have a mini blackboard in the house where they can trace the dots with colorful chalks. Sometimes, I would give them green peas and beans and line them up like the traceable dots, and then I’d ask the boys to complete the letters and numbers with carrot slices. They started to feel interested in it in no time.

Study When The Kids Are In The Mood To Learn

My husband and I also made sure to tutor the kids when they seemed more curious than ever. We never tried to teach them anything when they were not in the mood to learn because it would never work.

5-tips-for-tutoring-youngsters-in-the-family
Source: pxfuel.com

The best window for learning in our household is typically before lunchtime. That’s when the kids have a lot of energy and want to do many things at once. So, if they want to play in the backyard, for instance, we go there and ask them to count to plants, identify the flowers’ colors, etc.

Final Thoughts

Tutoring youngsters in the family may not always be easy-peasy, but we are grateful to continue teaching our kids. Nonetheless, we hope for the pandemic to end soon so that our twin boys will meet their new classmates and experience the joys of becoming full-bloom pre-schoolers.

 

 

In-Demand Job Skills Post COVID-19

 

Source: pexels.com

 

Across the world, people are following lockdown and stay-at-home measures and are left with questions about what the world will be like post-COVID-19. There is so much that is uncertain about the changes after the coronavirus has gotten under control and has subsided or stopped. However, it is improbable that things will simply go back exactly the way they were. The way we work will most probably be different, along with the types of skills that businesses and companies will be looking for.

Below is a list of some job skills that are possibly among the most in-demand post-COVID-19.

Techy skills. This may probably be at the top of the list of skills you should have to prepare for the post-COVID world. Companies are accelerating their efforts in establishing digitally transformed staff and employees as they anticipate future pandemics and outbreaks. The truth is that technologies like big data, IoT, artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality will enable businesses to become more resistant to future outbreaks, and those who can have experience and knowledge on these fields have an edge.

Innovation and creative skills. These have already been proven and tested in the wake of the pandemic. Companies have created various ways to bring their products and services to their consumers through the web, and they have been able to overcome the challenges. Post-pandemic, people’s creativity and determination to invent and promote new ways to compete with the ‘new normal’ will be welcomed with open arms.

Data mastery. For centuries, data has played a significant role in the success of conglomerates big and small. With the appropriate data, businesses can predict the effect of future disruptions in the business world. They will be able to serve their consumers with the products and services that they need during and after a global health crisis. But data will not be beneficial if a company does not hire people who are literate and capable of understanding and making better decisions for the company’s success. Do you have what it takes?

 

Source: pxfuel.com

 

Critical thinking. This is another crucial skill, particularly since it will take the global economy quite some time to recover from the losses that have resulted from the coronavirus outbreak. We have witnessed several fake news and falsifications of information, as politicians, leaders, and governments are exhausting their efforts in shifting the blame on others. Critical thinkers can assess information objectively from various sources to identify which ones are credible and which are simply false. They are excellent decision-makers.

Coding skills. The digital trend happening in companies began to rise because of the current pandemic; hence, individuals who are endowed with digital skills, including digital marketing, web programming, and coding will become even more in-demand, as they are more than capable of keeping businesses running during pandemics and other unfortunate circumstances. Almost all, if not all, companies are moving into the digital trend in their ways, so there are a lot of opportunities for people with these skills.

Emotional intelligence. EQ is even more significant during dark and uncertain times. An emotionally intelligent person can express and control his feelings and is aware of other people’s emotions as well. When others feel unsure about their job and the fate of their business, it is crucial to connect with them emotionally. With that explanation, it is clear why people with high EQ are in-demand during and after COVID times.

Leadership skills. Among the transformations that are significantly improved by the help of machines and where physical distancing and working at home might prevail in the future, is that most people at all classifications of a company will possibly be able to lead others. The economy will have nowhere to go after the pandemic, but upwards and more and more people will be closely working with those who can conduct different kinds of people at different times. Professionals with robust leadership skills will be coveted.

 

Source: thevetrecruiter.com

 

Commitment To Continuous Learning

The World Economic Forum issued a statement saying that 35% of the skills considered important now will change, and the only way to stay ahead and in-demand in the post-COVID world is to commit to continuous learning.

Amidst the critical job market, professionals with specialized job skills will be sought-after and are less pressured to find other means of earning. The upside is the fact that there is always room for improvement – for everyone. It won’t take years of studying and reviewing and spending money. The Internet has opened many doors of opportunity for us to learn for free and become relevant in the post-COVID world.

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 And The Rise Of Online Learning

Source: pikist.com

 

Countries around the world are at different phases when it comes to their COVID-19 infection and recovery rates. While this is happening, there are also more than one billion children in the world that are tremendously affected by the closure of schools due to the coronavirus outbreak. Reportedly, however, Denmark’s students are slowly returning to their nursery schools, and in South Korea, students have been responding to their teachers online.

With this unexpected move from the classroom setup, people, especially parents, are speculating that the rampant use of online learning will persist even after the pandemic subsides. How would such a move impact their children’s education?

The Education Sector

Responding to the substantial demand, several online learning programs are currently providing free access to some of their services. BYJU’S, an online tutorial company based in Bangalore, is now one of the world’s most popular educational technology companies since it began offering free live classes on their app. The Tencent Classroom became a hit since February when the Chinese government obliged their students to resume their learning online. Ding Talk, created by Alibaba, is a distance-learning program designed to support remote learning and work. Within just two hours since it started last month, it has already installed over 100,000 cloud servers.

Source: pxfuel.com

The Challenges Of Remote Learning

Indeed, there are challenges to surpass. Students who do not have the technology or Internet access are having trouble participating in online learning. This barrier is visible in different countries around the world. For instance, while there are almost 100% of students in Norway, Austria, Switzerland have computers and the Internet at home, only less than 40% in Indonesia do.

In the United States, a substantial difference between those from the wealthy and unprivileged backgrounds is seen. In Australia and New South Wales, governments and private schools provide digital equipment to their students. Many people fear that the persisting pandemic will further widen this difference.

The Effectiveness Of Learning

For adults and students who fortunately have access to the appropriate technology, it has been proven that online learning is equally effective in several ways. Studies have shown that generally, students are capable of absorbing between 25% and 60% of what they learn online compare to only about 10% in the classroom setup. This is probably because of the students’ capacity to learn quicker online. E-learning takes them about 60% less time to learn than when they went to their classrooms because they can re-read when they want to, can skip if they already know the lesson given to them, and can study at their own speed. And it helps that they are more relaxed and comfortable learning remotely, without their doting teachers.

Nonetheless, it is safe to say that the efficiency of learning online will depend on the age group as well. With younger kids, the percentage could be lower as they are more distracted compared to older children and teens. To acquire the most out of online learning, there has to be a joined effort to disseminate this system and replicate a physical lecture through videos, apps, tools, and other methods that enhance learning.

Source: pikrepo.com

The Future Of Learning

While most traditional people agree that the unexpected and quick transformation to online learning – with no formal training, insufficient preparation, and lack of bandwidth – will lead to an unsatisfactory user experience that is not beneficial for students’ growth and improvement, others believe that from this system will emerge a newer and better-crossbred system of education that will yield significant benefits.

The Essence Of Spreading Knowledge Amidst COVID-19

Current improvements are usually inflected from major world events, like the success of E-commerce after SARS. There are still many doubts and speculation whether or not e-learning will continue to succeed post-coronavirus, but this is one of the areas where continuous investment is seen. What’s clear as of now is the essence of spreading knowledge across companies, borders, and the world. If digital technology can help with this, it is only worthwhile that we look into its potential.

 

 

 

Costless Ways To Drive Traffic To Your Website

Getting traffic can be very simple and fast if you pay for it. You can buy adverts on your niche-related websites or use more sophisticated tools like Google AdWords (Google Pay-Per-Click Solution) and Facebook ads (a similar product from Facebook), to name two of the most famous ones.

Source: flickr.com

Now, I am aware that not everyone has a massive marketing budget. Paying your way through advertisements, therefore, may not be an option. So, I want you to focus on some free traffic-driving techniques that you can use to drive traffic either to your websites or the merchant’s website.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

If your site or contents are well-positioned on Google among the organic results, you can get a lot of free traffic. According to Hamza Salim Khraim, PhD, “Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an Internet marketing strategy that used widely for improving the volume and quality of customer traffic to a company website through search engines.” However, SEO is a long-term process, and that means that you cannot and should not expect fast results. It can take weeks or even months to get a decent position, and it requires a lot of effort from you.

Forum Marketing

A fast and effective way to get traffic is through forum marketing. All you have to do is find forums that are already on Google in your niche (e.g., category keywords, secondary keywords, brand keywords, and other buying keywords). You can start writing valuable replies and comments and embed your affiliate links inside the post or in your forum signature. Consumers use social media, such as online communities, to generate content and to network with other users,” M. Nick Hajli, Ph.D. pointed out.

Blog Commenting

Source: pixabay.com

Blogs often offer the possibility to comment on posts. If you find popular blogs with posts related to the product you are promoting, you can add your comments with your affiliate links (or links to your site). However, make sure that it adds value to the content, it is natural, and you do not send SPAM.

Facebook Posts

You can post or add your comments also on niche-related Facebook fan pages or groups with your affiliate links or the link to your website. “As a social networking site, Facebook provides people with the tools and opportunity to be of international communities that share opinions and contents and communicate directly with one another or to other large communities,” Church S. Akpan, PhD and co-author wrote.

Twitter Posts

You can find tweets that talk about a product of a category of products related to your niche. Try to help people in their decision-making process by posting tweets with a link to your site or your affiliate link. However, with tweets, it is difficult to add a lot of value in 160 characters, so sending the users to your website where they can get more valuable information before buying is more recommended.

YouTube Videos

You can create YouTube videos with information about your products or categories. Then post your affiliate link in your profile or the video description.

Source: flickr.com

Yahoo! Answers

Yahoo! Answers is a popular community of people with a lot of questions and answers. You can find niche-related items there, and then you can add your replies with your affiliate link.

Article Directories

Article directories are third-party websites where you can write and publish your articles. It is another good source of free traffic that you can mainly use if you do not have a website yourself.

You should be able to measure where your best traffic comes from. If you do that, you can start trying different techniques before moving on to those channels that bring more traffic and convert better.