Volume of a Triangle Tutors

Volume of a Triangle Tutors A triangle is a 2-dimensional closed geometric shape which consists of 3 sides and 3 angles, and belongs to the polygon family of shapes. We can easily calculate the area and the perimeter of a triangle using formulas, but it is not possible to calculate the volume of a triangle since volume needs 3 dimensions. However, a triangular prism is a 3-dimensional figure consisting of congruent triangular bases and we can find the volume of this prism by using its volume formula. Example 1: Calculate the volume of a triangular prism whose base of the triangle is 5m, height of the triangular base is 3m and length of the prism is 8m. Given: base of the triangular prism == b= 5m Height of the base triangle, h = 3m Length of the prism, l = 8m Volume of a triangular prism, V = 1/2 *b* h * l This gives, volume, V= 1/2 * 5m * 3m * 8m= 60m3 Therefore, volume of the given triangular prism is 60m3 Example 2: Calculate the volume of a triangular prism whose base of the triangle is 4m, height of the triangular base is 7m and length of the prism is 10m. Given: base of the triangular prism == b= 4m Height of the base triangle, h = 7m Length of the prism, l = 10m Volume of a triangular prism, V = 1/2 * b * h * l This gives, volume, V= 1/2 * 4m * 7m * 10m= 140m3 Therefore, volume of the given triangular prism is 140m3

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Taking an AP Course

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Taking an AP Course Although summer is still new, certain students may already be thinking about more than their family vacations and trips to the pool. The summer represents an opportunity to form a study strategythat will lead to academic success in the coming yearand beyond. Here is some great information on how to identify your study style. If your school is among the thousands worldwide that offer AP courses across a multitude of subject areas, you may be considering your course options. But is an AP courseright for you? 1.What are my future academic goals? AP courses prepare students to sit for AP exams, which often allow students to forego introductory college or university seminars, enter high-level classes, and fulfill general education requirements. By completing AP courses in high school, many students find time for more experiences (internships, study abroad, etc.) during their years of collegiate study. But this path is not universalcertain schools offer credit for high AP scores, while others simply acknowledge them in the admissions process. Colleges and universities are not required to acknowledge AP courses by awarding placement or credit, so be sure to check the requirements for the schools you believe you may attend. The class and test are only worth your time and money if you understand how they will be acknowledged. 2. Do I have the necessary background to be successful in an AP course? While AP coursework is beneficial for many students, it certainly is not for everyone. The goal of the class is to pass the exam, so it is helpful to have a history of success in the subject area you wish to pursue. Many courses offer suggestions for prerequisite classes, and school guidance counselors are often good resources for assessing your readiness. If there is a subject you have excelled at, an AP course may extend your knowledge and enhance your passion for it. Alternately, a student who struggles in calculus may become frustrated in an AP Calculus class because of the overall difficulty and depth of study required. Remember, college admissions officers often respect AP courseworkbut rarely at the expense of a good GPA. Here is some great information on when you should start taking AP courses. 3. Will the class allow me to successfully pass the AP exam? Before enrolling in an AP course, note that it is possible to sit for (and succeed on) an AP test without enrolling in the course. Assuming your exam score is strong, you will be afforded the same advantages as those students who took a class in preparation for the test. If you are homeschooled, or you are a very successful independent learner, you may not need the AP course. 4. At what cost will passing the AP class/test come? Passing an AP exam looks great on a college application, but it is not the only aspect that admissions committees consider. Schools take into account internships, work experience, extracurricular activities, grades, etc. If you are not good at balancing your academic life, an AP course may not be a wise decision. Here are 4 myths about AP prepthat you may find interesting. It is also important for you to be well rested, to take time to explore your passions, and to maintain all of your grades. AP coursesinvolve a great deal of dedication, so carefully consider your learning style, testing ability, and schedule. 5. What other options are available to me? You should understand that AP courses and assessments are only one route to academic success. Some students test out of courses once they have enrolled in a college or university, and others benefit from the introductory classes offered during the more traditional first year of higher education. Certain students find that dual credit courses (which offer credit through a community college) are more suited to their academic goals and needs. AP coursesare a wonderful fit for some students, while others find that the course and exam are not conducive to their particular learning style. Ultimately, the intelligent, successful students are those with a passion for learning, no matter how they achieve the knowledge.

Online Surface Area of Triangular Prism Tutors

Online Surface Area of Triangular Prism Tutors In geometry, there are different kinds of prisms like a square prism, rectangular prism etc. Triangular prism is also one type of a prism whose base is a triangle. Triangular prisms are 3-dimensional solid geometric figures and they consist of 2 congruent triangles situated opposite to each other surrounded by 3 parallelograms which connect the two triangular bases. The total surface area of a triangular prism is calculated by finding the area of each surface and adding all the areas together. Example 1: What is the area of the triangular prism, whose base of the triangle is 8m and the remaining two sides are 5m, 7m. The height of the triangle is 9m and the length of the prism is 12m. Given: base of the triangle, b= 8m Sides, x= 5m and y= 7m Height of the triangle, h= 9m Length of the prism, l= 12m Surface area of the triangular prism, A = lx+ ly+lb+bh A = (12*5+ 12*7+ 12*8+ 8*9) = 60+ 84+ 96+ 72= 312m2 Hence the Surface area of the triangular prism, A= 312m2 Example 2: What is the area of the triangular prism, whose base of the triangle is 5m and the remaining two sides are 6m, 7m. The height of the triangle is 8m and the length of the prism is 13m. Given: base of the triangle, b= 5m Sides, x= 6m and y= 7m Height of the triangle, h= 8m Length of the prism, l= 13m Surface area of the triangular prism, A = lx+ ly+lb+bh A = (13*6+ 13*7+ 13*5+ 5*8) = 78+ 91+ 65+ 40= 274m2 Hence the Surface area of the triangular prism, A= 274m2

Where to Teach Private Tutorials

Where to Teach Private Tutorials How Do You Know Where to Teach a Student? ChaptersThe Advantages of Teaching Private Tutorials at the Student’s HouseTeaching Private Tutorials at Your HouseCan You Teach Private Tutorials Outside?How Much Should You Charge for Your Private Tutorials?“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” - William Arthur WardAcademic support tutorials are making a comeback for good, which is great for private tutors everywhere. Not only that, but they can be taught almost anywhere! A private tutor can choose to teach their tutorials wherever works for both them and the student.The tutoring market in the UK is estimated at around £2 billion per year. This is one of the reasons that you should give teaching private tutorials some thought.Experienced tutors will tell you that where you teach your tutorials is one of the most important aspects to consider if you want to offer quality guitar, mathematics, algebra, geometry, economics, or French tutorials, etc .So which are the best places for teaching private tutorials?You’ll have the answers to your questions soon enough!You can still teach tutorials in a classroom if it works for you and your students. (Source: 12019)Of course, just because it takes less time to get to your online tutorials, that doesn't mean that the tutorials require less preparation. A student who's hired a chemistry tutor to help them with an assignment will still expect to be tutored by a skilled, experienced, and qualified tutor even if they're not in the same room as them.How Much Should You Charge for Your Private Tutorials?When you start teaching private tutorials, you’ll quickly wonder about exactly how much you should charge for them. Looking at the average rates where you live is a good place to start as you need to ensure that your rates are competitive.If you really want to help your students, you need to find the ideal environment for them to work in. (Source: ludi)Whether you live in a city like Lon don, a town, or in the country, there are probably still other private tutors around that you can compare yourself to. You’ll need to take a look at the market, see what’s being offered, and offer competitive rates. The price will also differ depending on whether you’re offering German lessons, maths lessons, or guitar lessons, too!In certain places, and even certain neighbourhoods, there are a lot of factors that will considerably affect the price of private tutorials. You need to work out how long your private tutorials will be, adjust your rates based on supply and demand, and offer the fairest rates for your tutoring. You don’t need to be able to teach all levels, you just need to ensure that you’re good at teaching the levels you do teach.When you compare the rates of different tutors where you live, you’ll also see that their students have probably had their say on their tutor. Have a look at what students have said about them and see whether they thought their rat es were fair. You’ll see the same things coming up:Their expectations for private tutors.The quality of teaching offered in local educational establishments.How much money they have to pay for private tutorials.How much time they required for private tutorials or academic support.What type of tutorials these were; exam prep, private language tutorials, etc.And other criteria that the students deem important.In short, by considering and analysing the local private tutor market where you live, it’s very likely you’ll be able to see where to position yourself in terms of your rates for private tutorials or online tutorials over webcam.If you want to start offering one to one tutorials either in person or online, you can sign up to Superprof. Keep in mind that a lot of the tutors offer free tutoring for the first hour in order to attract new students.

Food Groups Dairy

Food Groups Dairy What is Dairy? ChaptersDo We Need Dairy?Dairy Intolerance and Milk AllergyDairy AlternativesIn the UK, dairy is consumed on a daily basis: a staple food group in many people’s diets. Although this is starting to change, milk and dairy products are not challenged as much as they probably should be; milk can be found in so many foods we consume every day without us even realising it.When we talk about dairy, we are referring to milk or products containing milk, produced mainly by cows and goats. The dairy products include butter, yoghurt, cream and cheese. These products and their variations go through many processes including pasteurization, fermentation and churning to create the different consistencies of dairy and remove bacteria.The consumption of milk, in all forms: whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed, according to one report in 2016, is declining but, due to the belief that dairy products are the best source of calcium, the United Kingdom still remains one of the highest consumers of milk in the world.We rarely question our consumption of milk and dairy despite not being a necessary source of calcium. (Source:  Photo credit:  Pedro Moura Pinheiro  on  Visualhunt)That being said, dairy foods come in a variety of forms: cheese, yoghurt, butter and cream as well as food containing these ingredients such as cakes, biscuits, pizza and pastry are all dairy products. Although these are seen as very normal food products, often consumed daily by many, they can make avoiding dairy harder than expected.The best option is to eat less processed foods which automatically helps limit dairy intake and cuts calories. Natural and animal free foods are generally low in fat (saturated fat) and higher in nutrients.Lactose and milk powder are also used in other, less assuming foods acting as fillers and additives for longer shelf life, such as cereals, crisps and sauces.This brings us onto another element of dairy consumption.Dairy Intolerance and Milk AllergyLactose intolerance is one of the mo re well-known consequences of dairy consumption. If someone is lactose intolerant, it  means the body cannot digest lactose because the it does not produce enough lactase, which breaks lactose down into two sugars called glucose and galactose. This lack of lactase causes digestive problems such as bloating, stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhoea. Not a nice experience for anyone and perhaps one indicator of why we should not consume cow’s milk  as regularly as we do.However, despite lactose intolerance becoming a common and prevalent illness that could help us in the decision to ditch dairy altogether, there is instead a full range of lactose-free dairy products on our supermarket shelves. These products are not only more expensive to buy than average dairy products but they are also unnecessary for our health.Less well known is the fact that many people are  allergic to dairy,  suffering from mild symptoms such as hives, vomiting and diarrhoea and, in extreme cases, anaphylactic sh ock. Although both an allergy and an intolerance can cause uncomfortable and painful symptoms, an allergy can be life-threatening caused by the protein found in milk and needs to be taken very seriously.Find the best nutrition courses here.Dairy ice-cream is something allergy sufferers have to avoid. (Source:  Photo credit:  m01229  on  Visual hunt )Dairy AlternativesThe decision to ditch dairy is a personal one and, in the UK, consuming milk has become so ingrained in our everyday habits, for some, living without dairy can seem impossible. We take it in our tea, on our cereal, and spread on our toast. It is found in all our favourite biscuits and cakes and even in our favourite pack of crisps.So how do avoid it and what are the alternatives?In terms of replacing milk, there are now a variety of choices available to us. There is soya, hemp, coconut, almond, and oat to name a few.This is not to say making the switch is an easy one, adapting to the different tastes does take time espe cially if we have consumed milk all our lives. It is best to find the right alternative that suits personal taste. It is also a good idea to test the different varieties of milk on cereal, and in the variety of tea we drink to see which one works best.For example, depending on how we drink our coffee, almond milk and soya milk are great for frothing up lattes and cappuccinos, whereas adding soya or oat milk into our cup before adding an English breakfast tea prevents cuddling, and makes a great brew.Transitioning is all about trial an error but there is the right alternative out there for everyone. And, if we are lucky, old un-serving traditions could transcend into new, healthier ones. Tea drinking in the average UK home could receive a total makeover!Yoghurt can be replaced by soya, coconut or even nut variations, and butter can be swapped for plant-based varieties, too.Harder to replace are those everyday luxury items we buy in the UK, such as biscuits, chocolate, cakes and ice-c ream. Although replacements cannot yet be found in many  convenience or local stores, larger supermarkets are starting stock more dairy-free options and of course, there are more specialised shops if you are lucky enough to live close to one.Most dark chocolate contains soya  derivatives instead of dairy, it is just a matter of checking the ingredients. There are many plant-based supermarkets starting to appear across the UK, and these stores carry many of the luxury items we have become used to just without the dairy.You can learn more about food choices and substitution from nutritionist courses!Almond milk is a great substitute in lattes and cappuccinos.  (Source:  rawpixel on Unsplash)Check out Superprof's list of nutrition courses.There is also the option to bake our own treats and use nut butter or certain oils to replace butter: it is not surprising to find out that these alternative ingredients are delicious in baked foods. A recent episode of the The Great British Bake off featured a variety of treats that could be made with eggs and dairy.Last but by no means least, is the issue of cheese. Cheese is most the common complaint when it comes to avoiding dairy. Many people believe that they cannot live without cheese. This belief is mainly because it contains a high concentration of casein created through the cheese making process. Casein contains has fragments of what is called casomorphins (morphine compounds). This can make cheese very addictive, making it very hard to give up.However, the taste of cheese is hard to replace and although there are many alternatives out there, it is hard to convince cheese lovers to ditch it altogether. If this is the case and cheese is the last thing to go, it is a good idea to just to limit cheese where possible. Many people find that once they have transitioned to milk alternatives, after time, cheese starts to taste unnatural and strange. It is worth taking time to break habits to become healthier in the long run.Ca lcium is a nutrient our body needs and with more and more research becoming available, people are opting to avoid dairy as it no longer known to be the  best source. It is not only a factor relating to our health but also a factor for dairy cows and the planet. If we can avoid suffering and become healthier by doing so, there are no strong reasons why we can’t consider alternatives.It is a personal choice but it is important to know that despite dairy being on the government's Eatwell Guide as a food group, it is not necessary to consume. The Guide can only serve as the basis for our nutrition with the hope that more up to date research will mean it becomes more accurate.Calcium does not have to be dairy. The more people make the switch, the more convenient and cheaper alternatives will become so that everyone can afford to buy them.Want to learn more about your food groups...?Read about carbohydrates.Read about protein.Read about fat.Read about fruit and vegetables.

How Introverts Can Become the Team-Building Superstars of their Workplace - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How Introverts Can Become the Team-Building Superstars of their Workplace - Introvert Whisperer How Introverts Can Become the Team-Building Superstars of their Workplace Some people say that it’s not what you’re doing that matters, but who you’re doing it with. That’s true in the workplace, especially. Even the most mundane job can be fun and satisfying when you have positive relationships with your co-workers.   The majority of people want to work in spaces that are supportive and collaborative, so why do so many people cringe at the thought of team building activities? Perhaps it’s because most traditional team building activities are geared toward extroverts.   It can be difficult to bring people from different backgrounds and perspectives together in an organic way, so how can introverts become the team building superstars of their workplace? While many introverts might not feel like fostering team building is one of their strengths, introverts might actually possess the perfect skill set for true team building, trust, and cooperation.   By understanding the importance of team building, learning to utilize their specific strengths, and practicing some alternative methods of team building, introverts can be leaders in the workplace. The Importance of Team Building Team building might spark images of trust falls, weird company picnics, and name games, but team building doesn’t have to suck. True team building goes beyond all this. For team building to be successful, everyone must be comfortable and understand why they’re being asked to do each activity.   “Team building exercises are useful for improving communication, setting goals, and solving problems,” according to experts. “Team building activities can be used to build trust, which also improves a team’s ability to reach necessary objectives. These activities are a social way for employees to have fun while learning skills that better the effectiveness of your organization.”   It’s clear that team building isn’t overrated and that when it’s done well, the dynamic of your team will be improved and people will feel more engaged at work and even perform better. The Unique Strengths of Introverts Introverts bring a unique set of skills to the table. While introverts might not initially be seen as charismatic leaders, their tendencies can actually be great for team building.   Because introverts often spend less time talking and more time listening, they’re likely pretty well tuned in to the needs, concerns, and problems different team members are having. This can help set up the team building activities in a way that will benefit everyone instead of a select few.   Also, because it’s rarer for introverts to voice their opinions in a group setting, when they do speak up, people are more likely to listen. Their words are valued because they are few.   Surviving organizational stress in the workplace is something introverts often deal with, so the last thing you want is for an activity that’s supposed to be positive actually be dreaded by more introverted employees. So when you want to build team synergy in the workplace, look no further than your team’s introverts to lead the charge.   A good place to start is to ask the introverts on your team how they would go about team building in their ideal world. What would the activities look like? How would they be executed? The unique skills of introverts make them well-suited to answer these questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. Alternative Ways to Connect with Co-Workers When it comes to organizing team building activities for people who hate team building, introverts might have different ideas of how to connect. There are plenty of alternative ways to connect with co-workers that can be utilized in any workplace.   Sometimes, the best way for people to connect with each other is to get out of the work setting and unwind together somewhere new. Spending a day at a resort can offer opportunities for group activities as well as time for introverts to relax and recharge. It can be important to make sure the entire day isn’t extremely high energy, as it will likely leave introverts exhausted and irritable.   Another team building idea for introverts is to change the method of communication in some team building games, like “two truths and a lie” or other verbal games. Consider writing down answers or discussing questions with a single partner instead of the entire group to better suit the preferences of introverts.   When introverts lead these activities, they can be even more powerful. Introverted leaders might also appreciate using technology for team collaboration because these tools can help them communicate and contribute in non-verbal ways.   If introverts are on board with the team building activities, it’s likely that everyone will be. By turning the leadership of such activities over to the introverts and flipping the script on what’s expected during team building, all employees can get more out of the efforts. Playing to the strengths of introverts during team building can benefit everyone involved and help your organization thrive. Image Source: Unsplash By Sam Bowman Sam Bowman  is a freelance writer and introvert who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for the community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Can I evaluate a film-analysis essay automatically

Can I evaluate a film-analysis essay automatically This article discusses automatically scoring film analysis essays. Here are links to other automated evaluations on the Virtual Writing Tutor. Pen pal exchange projectIELTS practice testsArgument essay evaluation system Lately, I have been developing automatic essay evaluations for IELTS and now for college-level academic writing. I sent an email to colleagues in my department to share my progress, and one colleague wrote back to share his concerns about my new automatically self-scoring film analysis essay writing assignment. I had shared a sample of a film analysis essay and a link to the academic essay writing test. He had tried the test with the sample essay, and though impressed, he was concerned about the extent to which we can automate essay evaluations. Use this Blade Runner sample essayDownload Score my film analysis essay now There are lots of variables in such texts that, I believe, cannot be analyzed in a systematic way. And those variables are often what separates a great essay from a passable one. A grabber is not just a question. It has to be stimulating. A thesis has to be precise and thought provoking. The topic sentences have to be directly linked to the thesis as well as provide further insight. Can a computer truly give relevant feedback on whether or not something is stimulating, precise, thought-provoking and providing further insight on a previous idea? An ESL teacher on the VWTs new automatic essay evaluator College teachers are required to assign a value to a students text, but if we are not assigning a value based on observable, measurable criteria, what are we scoring? Are teachers scoring essays based on their own subjective reaction to an essay? Or are we looking for features that indicate achievement, features that indicate the student has learned how to answer a question in-depth and in a systematic way? If teachers are just feeling their way to a score, woe to the poor student whose academic advancement depends upon such a non-rational scoring rubric. Can a computer give relevant feedback? Even so, I share all my colleagues doubts about brute force calculations of good writing.Surely, narrow artificial intelligence that calculates scores based on lists of structural features, lexical items, and grammatical error patterns will miss the value of a meaningful expression of nuanced human intelligence. Chuang-Tzu Can computers provide feedback of real value? Is automatic essay scoring just an impossible dream? Doubts about what computers can do remind me of an observation made by the ancient Taoist philosopher Chuang-Tzu. All things have different uses. A horse can travel a hundred miles a day, but it cannot catch mice. Chuang-Tzu, translated by Thomas Merton I read those words back when I was a college student. They have stuck with me for 30+ years. Is it wise to determine the value of a horse by what it cant do? It seems like the kind of argument one might make at the market while trying to negotiate a lower price. Let me put it another way. Oisin Woods, a German teacher and colleague in our Modern Languages Department at Ahuntsic College, told me something I wont soon forget. He said, Of course computers cant do everything a teacher can do, but lets not make perfection the enemy of the good. Lets not make perfection the enemy of the good.Oisin Woods These two epigrams seem to point in the same direction. Focusing on what a computer cannot do distracts us from what it does well. It is like complaining that horse cannot catch mice. Whats more, if we make pedagogical perfection our only goal instead of energetic strides toward better feedback and better pedagogy, well get neither perfection nor the progress we crave. Rather, it is better to explore what machines can do in the service of good pedagogy. Machines can count, they can match patterns, and they can respond to errors in seconds. Humans can count and match and correct, but much more slowly. More importantly, humans understand and reflect. We should be allies in the provision of feedback, dont you think? After all, feedback works best when it is just-in-time, just-for-me, just-about-this-task, and just-what-I-need-to-improve. If we can use technology to ensure faster, personalized, and more focused feedback, that has got to be a good thing. Will non-human feedback and scoring technology help students learn faster? A research question and a hypothesis The practical pedagogical question I ask myself these days is this, Can narrow artificial intelligence provide useful formative feedback to learners and help teachers score essays more reliably? The answer seems to be, on balance, yes. Automatic scoring and feedbackwillhelp students become better writers and help teachers evaluate essays more reliably.My current hypothesis A null hypothesis Lets see if there is any evidence in the research literature to support anull hypothesis.Science doesnt try to prove a point that can just as easily be disproved. The case is not as open and shut as technophiles might have hoped. Computers can be fooled by clever nonsense(Monaghan Bridgeman, 2005).Brilliant non-conformist writing will score lower because it is eccentric (Monaghan Bridgeman, 2005).Automatic scoring of complex argument essays is less reliable than of inherently less complex opinion essays (0.76 vs. 0.81) (Bridgeman, 2004). The difference in reliability of 0.05 is small but significant. These seem to fit with concerns that some elements of meaningful essays cannot be analyzed programmatically in an effective way. Computers do not construct and test a world model in their imaginations the way humans do when they read. Text coherence will thus remain elusive for non-conscious computerized agents because pattern-matching is not reading in our sense of the word. So what, you say? Horses cant catch mice! Lets consider another objection to automatic evaluation. My colleague asked, Can a computer truly give relevant feedback on whether or not something is stimulating, precise, thought-provoking and providing further insight on a previous idea? The answer is probably, no. I certainly have my doubts, but I also have my doubts that a teacher can explain the mechanics of why a sentence stimulates or provokes thought. All I have ever been able to do in these areas of writing is dramatize the presence of a reader by indicating when a sentence stimulates or provokes me, often with cryptic or terse comments in the margin: Wow! Nice! Interesting! Provocative! A reasonable hypothesis Turning to possibilities and evidence for my hypothesis that automatic scoring and feedback could help students become better writers and help teachers evaluate essays, here is what I have observed and what I have read. Faster feedback At my college, we see students once a week, and teachers regularly take two weeks to provide feedback on a first draft. The VWT takes two seconds.Thats 20,160 minutes versus 2 minutes, which is a million times faster. Workload reduction Teachers limit the number of essays students write because of the impact of corrections on the teachers workload. With 150 student essays to grade, if a teacher spends just 10 minutes grading an essay, one essay assignment adds 25 hours of non-stop grading and correction work to a teachers workload. Necessity has made us put time-resource limitations ahead of the pedagogical goal of maximizing meaningful practice with a focus on form. In other words, there are not enough teachers to provide all of the feedback students require (Monaghan Bridgeman, 2004). Latent essay feature analysis Automatically comparing multiple features of a student’s essay to an ideal essay was found to provide useful formative feedback to students (Foltz et al., 1999). This is interesting! Students want to improve, and one way to measure essay writing skill is by comparing what the student has written to a model essay to show the student how to improve further. By abstracting the features of the model essay and comparing the studentès essay to it programmatically, we can show the student where he or she has diverged from the ideal. Reliability Automatic scores using grammar, topic, discourse features, and sentiment analysis are very highly correlated to expert human scores (Farra et al., 2015). Thats encouraging because the reliability of a teachers ratings of student essays declines with fatigue. Machines dont tire and can evaluate essays consistently. Researchers found that using one essay task and one human evaluator to measure achievement produced unreliable scores (Brendland et al., 2004), and yet that is what we do at finals every semester. A computer rating combined with 1 human rating was found to be more reliable than the combination of scores by 2 human raters (Bridgeman, 2004). Computer-assisted scoring is more reliable than both exclusive computer scoring and exclusive human scoring. Humans diverge too much in their judgements. All that said, I think that there is evidence that a fast and free source of computerized formative feedback available online 24 hours a day is likely to help students improve their writing and their self-assessments of their writing. Two ways to improve performance dramatically John Hattie (2009) found in his meta-analysis of 800+ meta-analyses that the most effective thing students can do to improve their own performance is to openly declare to the class what score they expect to achieve on an upcoming evaluation. Why? Because making a prediction about your next score is akin to setting a goal to achieve that score. Curiously, minority group students tend to inflate their predictions. In contrast, girls tend to minimize their predictions. However, practice tests make all students more reliable at predicting their own performance. This is important because when students get better at predicting their performance, they need less feedback from the teacher. They already know how well they are doing. The second most effective intervention that teachers can use to maximize student performance is to give formative evaluations/practice tests (Hattie, 2009). If a robot that can score and give detailed feedback on early drafts of essays, we can count these self-scoring essay tests as variations on the paper-based and hand-corrected practice essay-tests of the past. Conclusion Im not arguing for teachers to stop scoring or giving feedback on essays. Rather, I think that a computer-assisted-practice-test approach to writing instruction will help students get the scores and feedback they need to improve without increasing teachers workloads. I therefore remain reasonably optimistic that the Virtual Writing Tutor can, in time, reliably score essays and provide helpful formative feedback to students during the drafting process. One reason for my optimism is anecdotal but encouraging nonetheless. Frank Bonkowski recently sent me a text message about his experience using the VWTs automated scoring system with a group of his students earlier in the day. Here is what he wrote. A super-motivated girl visited the VWT 3x today for feedback on her film analysis essay. She went from 40% to 56% to 88%. She was super happy. Me, too. Text message from Frank Me, three. Works cited Bridgeman, B. (2004, December).E-rater as a qualitycontrol on human scorers.Presentation in the ETSResearch Colloquium Series, Princeton, NJ. Farra, N., Somasundaran, S., and Burstein, J., 2015. Scoring persuasive essays using opinions and their targets. In Proceedings of the Tenth Workshop on Innovative Use of NLP for Building Educational Applications, pages 64â€"74. Foltz, P. W., Laham, D., Landauer, T. K. (1999). The Intelligent Essay Assessor: Applications to Educational Technology. Interactive Multimedia Electronic Journal of Computer-Enhanced Learning, 1(2) Hattie, J. A. C. (2009). Visible learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. London, UK: Routledge. The Way of Chuang-Tzu, by Thomas Merton Monaghan, W., Bridgeman, B. (2005). E-Rater as a Quality Control on Human Scores. ETS RD Connections: Princeton, NJ: ETS. Actively Engaged in Academic Writing Please follow and like us:

Improving Analytical Thinking in English Class

Improving Analytical Thinking in English Class English students face many challenges unique to the humanities classroom. From reading books whose relevance remains elusive to in-class writing projects where rubrics prompt fear and trembling, the young writer enrolled in a Bay Area English course has myriad reasons to seek tutoring. The greatest obstacle to success in the English classroom is often cited as sparse or unconstructive feedback. Students do receive one bit of feedback with alarming regularity: “Go deeper! Needs more analysis! Too vague!”Tutors in AJ’s English department receive extensive training in transforming these vague comments into actionable steps. Our tutors practice finding patterns in students’ writing to help the young writer break out of ingrained habits. We develop an expertise in communicating effective instruction in grammar, structure, and prewriting techniques so as to predict what the classrooms of our area schools prioritize. Lastly, we privilege building confidence first so that our English students become self-assured writers. From this confidence, we can expect the young writer to become ever more independent, self-starting, and proud of their compositions.To build this confidence, the English Department has developed a series of arcs that mimic the curricula of local schools in subjects ranging from reading comprehension and textual analysis to grammar basics and creative writing. To scaffold our curriculum work, we employ a battery of proprietary materials, each focusing on a single skill which contributes to a holistic writing approach.But how specifically to “go deeper” with analyzing text? A lot of analysis instruction at AJ rests on the strengths and challenges of each student and their assignments. Because needs can differ, 1-on-1 English tutoring is the most efficient way to grow. At the same time, we have recognized larger patterns in the problem of student analysis. It begins with confidently choosing your evidence. Our quotation integration worksheet will provide students with valuable practice in setting up their evidence. We have also developed a three-step approach to analysis. Once we have chosen a quote, we encourage the student to move beyond a superficial paraphrase or summary and help the student 1) show the context, 2) make a valuable observation, and 3) interpret the effect of our observation on the text as a whole.Our approaches to analysis will help the humanities student, whether it is in the English classroom, the history classroom, or any project that requires critical analysis, such as a senior thesis. This same approach also applies to standardized testing across many disciplines, such as AP, SAT, and ACT test prep.If your student needs help developing his or her analytical thinking with schoolwork, please give us a call today!