How to cope with study related stress? (Infographic)

Enhancing reading through technology

Being part of the twenty first century and the technology it offers deems an uncertain and sometimes scary future, but not necessarily for our youth as they are an integral part of the way technology is shaping our future.

                                                                                                             

Children nowadays are digital natives and for them the future isn’t moving at a fast enough pace. Technology is part of their everyday lives and many of them are adept at Internet research, cell phone browsing, social sharing, navigating through interactive books and multi media production.  Thus this dooming technology, as we sometimes perceive it, is providing valuable support in attaining reading and writing skills.

In literacy, instruction technology has both traditional and authentic uses, the traditional instruction implies skills reinforcement; for example, students who need additional practice in reading might work individually on computers that are equipped with reading-comprehension software.  Whereas the authentic instruction will be using technology to achieve a complex task; for example students who need to write an essay will need the internet for research and word processing tools to write and format text.

Considering assistive technology is no longer a subject to linger about, but one that is vital to help those that struggle with reading related issues such as; reading fluency, comprehension and decoding.

Assistive technology that assist with reading fall into several categories:

Audio books

The recording and presentation of text, referred to as audio books or books on tape, promotes students interest in reading as well as better their comprehension of text and some studies have shown this technology to have been used successfully by students who are visually impaired.

Paper based computer pen

This technology records and links audio to what a person writes using a pen and special paper. It basically assists the person to record audio whilst taking notes. The user will then be able to later listen to the recording when going through his/her notes.  This technology may be beneficial to those that struggle with reading in recognizing words as well as those that suffer from memory loss.

Screen readers or electronic text

Screen reading technology is programmed to read the text as presented on the screen of your computer. This digitized reading offers assistance in the pronunciation of words and supports as well as coaches the student as they are reading text. This helps in the decoding of text as well as promotes reading fluency.

Tape recordings

Tape recorders allow a student to listen to pre-recorded text or to capture spoken information.  The student can then later listen to the track in an environment that he/she feels safe to study in. This has proven to be valuable to students who struggle with attention deficits and reading.

Whether this technology is used to improve the skills of those you teach, the primary goal or objective should be to utilize digital natives to use their technology to address their own needs.  Although much is still in the grey as to the promise these technologies offer, and researchers still warrant a cautious approach, the reality is that this technology is available and should at some point be used to benefit the educational approach. 

Eduloan: Opening Doors Across All Markets

Since 1996, Eduloan has helped over 720 000 South Africans to unlock potential by furthering their education. Eduloan is dedicated to offering a variety of loan solutions to students, parents, businesses and corporates as well as civil employees to further their education in order to unlock potential and to contribute to a brighter South Africa.

Whether you, your child or your employee is looking to complete school, graduate from college, technicon or university or if you require a solution to invest in your employees’ skills, we have a product to make education more accessible:

	Students and parents	Bursars and sponsors	Business and corporates	Civil employees	Schools and Tertiary institutions
Tuition loans for fulltime and part-time studies at school, university, collage and technicon	l	l	l	l	l
Further education opportunities to up-skill	l	l	l	l	l
A refresher course at a training facility	l	l	l	l	l
Study related equipment (including laptops and tablets)	l	l	l	l	l
Accommodation loans	l	l	l	l	l
Salary deduction	l	l	l	l	l
Fund and bursary management	l	l	l	l	l
Training fund management			l	l	l
Expense management			l	l	l
SCI fund management			l	l	l
Student attendance management	l	l	l	l	l

We have allocated over R 3, 7 billion in study loans and continue to pioneer products to allow South Africans to further their education, despite the current financial climate.

For more information and to find out how Eduloan can assist you to unlock even more potential, visit our website, contact out call centre 0860 55 55 44 or sms ‘EDU’ to 32150 and we will call you back!

The advantages of distance education

With the need to education becoming increasingly more, universities have to find innovative ways on how to hold up the masses.

Although sometimes considered as second best, distance learning has become the answer to many a prayers and the solution to the mass universities are struggling with.

Not just a can you continue with your everyday working routine and tend to your family and other commitments, but you will be able to attend to a full time study course.

What is the value of distance learning, the answer to that is simple, it depends solely on you as the student.  The advantages of distance learning however allows for:

Flexibility

Probably being the biggest advantage of distance education is that depending on your diary and the responsibilities you have you can fit your study time to a time that best suits you. 

Saves time and money

These courses are most of the time a whole lot cheaper for the same quality material, you will also be saving on university accommodation as well as on commuting.

Convenient

Having the luxury of studying for your own home, you can sit in you PJ’s and do the required tasks.  It’s sometimes as easy as dropping your assignment off at the post office and or submitting it online.

Self and community empowerment

Changing you career and future prospects wherever you are not matter how rural the area.  Being from a rural area will allow you to educate those around you as well showing them that everything is possible.

24/7 access to study material and other students

Be included in university life through contact with other students through online learning environments, as well as through direct contact with your lecturers via the provided forums, through emails or by phone.

Although the over-dependence on technology, the lack of discipline or the fact that there is little to no direct contact with faculty could be a few disadvantages of distance learning, many studies have shown this to be a valuable and efficient way of education.   Just believe in yourself and make the best of the opportunities presented.

 

Don’t let your outstanding study fees keep at you up at night

If you are struggling with outstanding study fees at your institution do not despair.  Students on average struggle with paying their study fees as well as entertaining their busy student lifestyles due to the fact that they usually have little or no income at all.

Although receiving those threatening SMS’s at the end of every week or month might cause feelings of fear and despair, don’t give up hope help might be easier to access than you think.

The best way to deal with debt is to be aware of the problem and to manage it so that you are in control.

Here are a few tips to help you gain control.

Don’t stress,

As the only education finance specialist in the country Eduloan wants to help you tie those loose ends.  All you need to do is, go on to our website: www.eduloan.co.za and fill out an application form.  You might also consider going to an Eduloan office situated conveniently for you on campus to find out what other choices you have in this regard.

Ignoring those letters wont make the problem go away

Your debt won’t just go away and if you choose to ignore the problem it will only get worse.  The best way to deal with debt is to deal with it head on, know how much you owe and correspond with those you owe informing them of your current situation. Keep copy of these emails and written letters.

Double your income

Most of the time your student loan / grant won’t cover all your expenses.  Apply for a waiter job or something that will secure another source of income.

Budgeting

Most of the time, working on a budget will entitle you to distribute your money accurately and help you not go without the essentials.

Advice is always welcome

Speak to our Eduloan client services agents right on campus for some sound advice.

Never give up!

Giving up will mean that your debt has gained control of you and your life and this will only make things worse for you and those around you.  Pay those that need paying or try your best at persuading them to accept the offer that you can make.

As the leading education finance specialist, Eduloan caters for all levels of tuition. Whether you need to settle your outstanding balance, looking to continue your studies or if you are already working and hope to improve your skills, we have a study loan solution for you. Visit our website for more information or SMS “edu” to 32150 & we’ll call you back! (SMS charged at R1).